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blowing our own bugle…calls。 At Agra there were the 3d Bengal Fusiliers；
some Sikhs； two troops of horse； and a battery of artillery。 A volunteer
corps of clerks and merchants had been formed； and this I joined； wooden
leg and all。 We went out to meet the rebels at Shahgunge early in July；
and we beat them back for a time； but our powder gave out； and we had to
fall back upon the city。 Nothing but the worst news came to us from
every side；which is not to be wondered at； for if you look at the map you
will see that we were right in the heart of it。 Lucknow is rather better
than a hundred miles to the east； and Cawnpore about as far to the south。
From every point on the compass there was nothing but torture and murder
and outrage。
〃The city of Agra is a great place； swarming with fanatics and fierce
devil…worshippers of all sorts。 Our handful of men were lost among the
narrow； winding streets。 Our leader moved across the river； therefore；
and took up his position in the old fort at Agra。 I don't know if any of
you gentlemen have ever read or heard anything of that old fort。 It is a
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very queer place；the queerest that ever I was in； and I have been in some
rum corners； too。 First of all； it is enormous in size。 I should think that
the enclosure must be acres and acres。 There is a modern part； which
took all our garrison； women； children； stores； and everything else； with
plenty of room over。 But the modern part is nothing like the size of the
old quarter； where nobody goes； and which is given over to the scorpions
and the centipedes。 It is all full of great deserted halls； and winding
passages； and long corridors twisting in and out； so that it is easy enough
for folk to get lost in it。 For this reason it was seldom that any one went
into it； though now and again a party with torches might go exploring。
〃The river washes along the front of the old fort； and so protects it； but
on the sides and behind there are many doors； and these had to be guarded；
of course； in the old quarter as well as in that which was actually held by
our troops。 We were short…handed； with hardly men enough to man the
angles of the building and to serve the guns。 It was impossible for us；
therefore； to station a strong guard at every one of the innumerable gates。
What we did was to organize a central guard… house in the middle of the
fort； and to leave each gate under the charge of one white man and two or
three natives。 I was selected to take charge during certain hours of the
night of a small isolated door upon the southwest side of the building。
Two Sikh troopers were placed under my command； and I was instructed
if anything went wrong to fire my musket； when I might rely upon help
coming at once from the central guard。 As the guard was a good two
hundred paces away； however； and as the space between was cut up into a
labyrinth of passages and corridors； I had great doubts as to whether they
could arrive in time to be of any use in case of an actual attack。
〃Well； I was pretty proud at having this small command given me；
since I was a raw recruit； and a game…legged one at that。 For two nights I
kept the watch with my Punjaubees。 They were tall； fierce…looking chaps；
Mahomet Singh and Abdullah Khan by name； both old fighting…men who
had borne arms against us at Chilian… wallah。 They could talk English
pretty well； but I could get little out of them。 They preferred to stand
together and jabber all night in their queer Sikh lingo。 For myself； I used
to stand outside the gate…way； looking down on the broad； winding river
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and on the twinkling lights of the great city。 The beating of drums； the
rattle of tomtoms； and the yells and howls of the rebels； drunk with opium
and with bang； were enough to remind us all night of our dangerous
neighbors across the stream。 Every two hours the officer of the night
used to come round to all the posts； to make sure that all was well。
〃The third night of my watch was dark and dirty； with a small； driving
rain。 It was dreary work standing in the gate…way hour after hour in such
weather。 I tried again and again to make my Sikhs talk； but without
much success。 At two in the morning the rounds passed； and broke for a
moment the weariness of the night。 Finding that my companions would
not be led into conversation； I took out my pipe； and laid down my musket
to strike the match。 In an instant the two Sikhs were upon me。 One of
them snatched my firelock up and levelled it at my head； while the other
held a great knife to my throat and swore between his teeth that he would
plunge it into me if I moved a step。
〃My first thought was that these fellows were in league with the rebels；
and that this was the beginning of an assault。 If our door were in the
hands of the Sepoys the place must fall；and the women and children be
treated as they were in Cawnpore。 Maybe you gentlemen think that I am
just making out a case for myself； but I give you my word that when I
thought of that； though I felt the point of the knife at my throat； I opened
my mouth with the intention of giving a scream； if it was my last one；
which might alarm the main guard。 The man who held me seemed to
know my thoughts； for； even as I braced myself to it； he whispered； 'Don't
make a noise。 The fort is safe enough。 There are no rebel dogs on this
side of the river。' There was the ring of truth in what he said； and I knew
that if I raised my voice I was a dead man。 I could read it in the fellow's
brown eyes。 I waited； therefore； in silence； to see what it was that they
wanted from me。
〃'Listen to me； Sahib；' said the taller and fiercer of the pair； the one
whom they called Abdullah Khan。 'You must either be with us now or
you must be silenced forever。 The thing is too great a one for us to
hesitate。 Either you are heart and soul with us on your oath on the cross
of the Christians； or your body this night shall be thrown into the ditch and
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we shall pass over to our brothers in the rebel army。 There is no middle
way。 Which is it to be； death or life？ We can only give you three
minutes to decide； for the time is passing； and all must be done before the
rounds come again。'
〃'How can I decide？' said I。 'You have not told me what you want of
me。 But I tell you know that if it is anything against the safety of the fort
I will have no truck with it； so you can drive home your knife and
welcome。'
〃'It is nothing against the fort；' said he。 'We only ask you to do that
which your countrymen come to this land for。 We ask you to be rich。 If
you will be one of us this night； we will swear to you upon the naked knife；
and by the threefold oath which no Sikh was ever known to break； that
you shall have your fair share of the loot。 A quarter of the treasure shall
be yours。 We can say no fairer。'
〃'But what is the treasure； then？' I asked。 'I am as ready to be rich as
you can be； if you will but show me how it can be done。'
〃'You will swear； then；' said he； 'by the bones of your father； by the
honor of your mother； by the cross of your faith； to raise no hand and
speak no word against us； either now or afterwards？'
〃'I will swear it；' I answered； 'provided that the fort is not endangered。'
〃'Then my comrade and I will swear that you shall have a quarter of
the treasure which shall be equally divided among the four of us。'
〃'There are but three；' said I。