burlesques-第42章

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caused　in　her　bosom　an　emotion　so　strongit　was　hunger！　　〃Oh！　my

Goliah；〃　whispered　she；　〃for　three　days　I　have　not　tasted　food

I　could　not　eat　that　horrid　elephant　yesterday；　but　nowoh！

heaven！　。　。　。　。〃　　She　could　say　no　more；　but　sank　almost　lifeless

on　my　shoulder。　　I　administered　to　her　a　trifling　dram　of　rum；　which

revived　her　for　a　moment；　and　then　rushed　down　stairs；　determined

that　if　it　were　a　piece　of　my　own　leg；　she　should　still　have

something　to　satisfy　her　hunger。　　Luckily　I　remembered　that　three　or

four　elephants　were　still　lying　in　the　field；　having　been　killed　by

us　in　the　first　action；　two　days　before。　　Necessity；　thought　I；　has

no　law；　my　adorable　girl　must　eat　elephant；　until　she　can　get

something　better。



I　rushed　into　the　court　where　the　men　were；　for　the　most　part；

assembled。　　〃Men；〃　said　I；　〃our　larder　is　empty；　we　must　fill　it　as

we　did　the　day　before　yesterday。　　Who　will　follow　Gahagan　on　a

foraging　party？〃　　I　expected　that；　as　on　former　occasions；　every

man　would　offer　to　accompany　me。



To　my　astonishment；　not　a　soul　moveda　murmur　arose　among　the

troops；　and　at　last　one　of　the　oldest　and　bravest　came　forward。



〃Captain；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　of　no　use；　we　cannot　feed　upon　elephants

for　ever；　we　have　not　a　grain　of　powder　left；　and　must　give　up　the

fort　when　the　attack　is　made　to…morrow。　　We　may　as　well　be

prisoners　now　as　then；　and　we　won't　go　elephant…hunting　any　more。〃



〃Ruffian！〃　I　said；　〃he　who　first　talks　of　surrender；　dies！〃　and　I

cut　him　down。　　〃Is　there　any　one　else　who　wishes　to　speak？〃



No　one　stirred。



〃Cowards！　miserable　cowards！〃　shouted　I；　〃what；　you　dare　not　move

for　fear　of　death；　at　the　hands　of　those　wretches　who　even　now　fled

before　your　armswhat；　do　I　say　YOUR　arms？before　MINE！alone　I

did　it；　and　as　alone　I　routed　the　foe；　alone　I　will　victual　the

fortress！　　Ho！　open　the　gate！〃



I　rushed　out；　not　a　single　man　would　follow。　　The　bodies　of　the

elephants　that　we　had　killed　still　lay　on　the　ground　where　they　had

fallen；　about　four　hundred　yards　from　the　fort。　　I　descended　calmly

the　hill；　a　very　steep　one；　and　coming　to　the　spot；　took　my　pick　of

the　animals；　choosing　a　tolerably　small　and　plump　one；　of　about

thirteen　feet　high；　which　the　vultures　had　respected。　　I　threw　this

animal　over　my　shoulders；　and　made　for　the　fort。



As　I　marched　up　the　acclivity；　whizpiffwhir！　came　the　balls

over　my　head；　and　pitter…patter；　pitter…patter！　they　fell　on　the

body　of　the　elephant　like　drops　of　rain。　　The　enemy　were　behind　me；

I　knew　it；　and　quickened　my　pace。　　I　heard　the　gallop　of　their

horse：　they　came　nearer；　nearer；　I　was　within　a　hundred　yards　of

the　fortseventyfifty！　　I　strained　every　nerve；　I　panted　with

the　superhuman　exertionI　rancould　a　man　run　very　fast　with　such

a　tremendous　weight　on　his　shoulders？



Up　came　the　enemy；　fifty　horsemen　were　shouting　and　screaming　at　my

tail。　　O　heaven！　five　yards　moreone　momentand　I　am　saved！　　It

is　doneI　strain　the　last　strainI　make　the　last　stepI　fling

forward　my　precious　burden　into　the　gate　opened　wide　to　receive　me

and　it；　andI　fall！　　The　gate　thunders　to；　and　I　am　left　ON　THE

OUTSIDE！　　Fifty　knives　are　gleaming　before　my　bloodshot　eyesfifty

black　hands　are　at　my　throat；　when　a　voice　exclaims；　〃Stop！kill

him　not；　it　is　Gujputi！〃　　A　film　came　over　my　eyesexhausted

nature　would　bear　no　more。





CHAPTER　IX。



SURPRISE　OF　FUTTYGHUR。





When　I　awoke　from　the　trance　into　which　I　had　fallen；　I　found

myself　in　a　bath；　surrounded　by　innumerable　black　faces；　and　a

Hindoo　pothukoor　（whence　our　word　apothecary）　feeling　my　pulse　and

looking　at　me　with　an　air　of　sagacity。



〃Where　am　I？〃　I　exclaimed；　looking　round　and　examining　the　strange

faces；　and　the　strange　apartment　which　met　my　view。　　〃Bekhusm！〃

said　the　apothecary。　　〃Silence！　　Gahagan　Sahib　is　in　the　hands　of

those　who　know　his　valor；　and　will　save　his　life。〃



〃Know　my　valor；　slave？　　Of　course　you　do；〃　said　I；　〃but　the　fort

the　garrisonthe　elephantBelinda；　my　lovemy　darling

Macgillicuddythe　scoundrelly　mutineersthe　deal　bo　。　。　。　。〃



I　could　say　no　more；　the　painful　recollections　pressed　so　heavily

upon　my　poor　shattered　mind　and　frame；　that　both　failed　once　more。

I　fainted　again；　and　I　know　not　how　long　I　lay　insensible。



Again；　however；　I　came　to　my　senses：　the　pothukoor　applied

restoratives；　and　after　a　slumber　of　some　hours　I　awoke；　much

refreshed。　　I　had　no　wound；　my　repeated　swoons　had　been　brought　on

（as　indeed　well　they　might）　by　my　gigantic　efforts　in　carrying　the

elephant　up　a　steep　hill　a　quarter　of　a　mile　in　length。　　Walking；

the　task　is　bad　enough：　but　running；　it　is　the　deuce；　and　I　would

recommend　any　of　my　readers　who　may　be　disposed　to　try　and　carry　a

dead　elephant；　never；　on　any　account；　to　go　a　pace　of　more　than

five　miles　an　hour。



Scarcely　was　I　awake；　when　I　heard　the　clash　of　arms　at　my　door

（plainly　indicating　that　sentinels　were　posted　there）；　and　a　single

old　gentleman；　richly　habited；　entered　the　room。　　Did　my　eyes

deceive　me？　　I　had　surely　seen　him　before。　　Noyesnoyesit

WAS　he：　the　snowy　white　beard；　the　mild　eyes；　the　nose　flattened　to

a　jelly；　and　level　with　the　rest　of　the　venerable　face；　proclaimed

him　at　once　to　beSaadut　Alee　Beg　Bimbukchee；　Holkar's　prime

vizier；　whose　nose；　as　the　reader　may　recollect；　his　Highness　had

flattened　with　his　kaleawn　during　my　interview　with　him　in　the

Pitan's　disguise。　　I　now　knew　my　fate　but　too　wellI　was　in　the

hands　of　Holkar。



Saadut　Alee　Beg　Bimbukchee　slowly　advanced　towards　me；　and　with　a

mild　air　of　benevolence；　which　distinguished　that　excellent　man　（he

was　torn　to　pieces　by　wild　horses　the　year　after；　on　account　of　a

difference　with　Holkar）；　he　came　to　my　bedside；　and　taking　gently

my　hand；　said；　〃Life　and　death；　my　son；　are　not　ours。　　Strength　is

deceitful；　valor　is　unavailing；　fame　is　only　windthe　nightingale

sings　of　the　rose　all　nightwhere　is　the　rose　in　the　morning？

Booch；　booch！　it　is　withered　by　a　frost。　　The　rose　makes　remarks

regarding　the　nightingale；　and　where　is　that　delightful　song…bird？

Penabekhoda；　he　is　netted；　plucked；　spitted；　and　roasted！　　Who

knows　how　misfortune　comes？　　It　has　come　to　Gahagan　Gujputi！〃



〃It　is　well；〃　said　I；　stoutly；　and　in　the　Malay　language。　　〃Gahagan

Gujputi　will　bear　it　like　a　man。〃



〃No　doubtlike　a　wise　man　and　a　brave　one；　but　there　is　no　lane　so

long　to　which　there　is　not　a　turning；　no　night　so　black　to　which

there　comes　not　a　morning。　　Icy　winter　is　followed　by　merry　spring…

timegrief　is　often　succeeded　by　joy。〃



〃Interpret；　O　riddler！〃　said　I；　〃Gahagan　Khan　is　no　reader　of

puzzlesno　prating　mollah。　　Gujputi　loves　not　words；　but　swords。〃



〃Listen；　then；　O　Gujputi：　you　are　in　Holkar's　power。〃



〃I　know　it。〃



〃You　will　die　by　the　most　horrible　tortures　to…morrow　morning。〃



〃I　dare　say。〃



〃They　will　tear　your　teeth　from　your　jaws；　your　nails　from　your

fingers；　and　your　eyes　from　your　head。〃



〃Very　possibly。〃



〃They　will　flay　you　alive；　and　then　burn　you。〃



〃Well；　they　can't　do　any　more。〃



〃They　will　seize　upon　every　man　and　woman　in　yonder　fort；〃it　was

not　then　taken！〃and　repeat　upon　them　the　same　tortures。〃



〃Ha！　Belinda！　　Speakhow　can　all　this　be　avoided？〃



〃Listen。　　Gahagan　loves　the　moon…face　called　Belinda。〃



〃He　does；　Vizier；　to　distraction。〃



〃Of　what　rank　is　he　in　the　Koompani's　army？〃



〃A　captain。〃



〃A　miserable　captainoh　shame！　　Of　what　creed　is　he？〃



〃I　am　an　Irishman；　and　a　Catholic。〃



〃But　he　has　not　been　very　particular　about　his　religious　duties？〃



〃Alas；　no。〃



〃He　has　not　been　to　his　mosque　for　these　twelve　years？〃



〃'Tis　too　true。〃



〃Hearken　now；　Gahagan　Khan。　　His　Highness　Prince　Holkar　has　sent　me

to　thee。　　You　shall　have　the　moon…face　for　your　wifeyour　second

wife；　that　is；the　first　shall　be　the　incomparable　Puttee　Rooge；

who　loves　you　to　madness；with　Puttee　Rooge；　who　is　the　wife；　you

shall　have　the　wealth　and　rank　of　Bobbachy　Bahawder；　of　whom　his

Highness　intends　to　get　rid。　　You　shall　be　second　in　command　of　his

Highness's　forces。　　Look；　here　is　his　commission　signed　with　the

celestial　seal；　and　attested　by　the　sacred　names　of　the　forty…nine

Imaums。　　You　have　but　to　renounce　your　religion　and　your　service；

and　all　these　rewards　are　yours。〃



He　produced　a　parchment；　signed　as　he　said；　and　gave　it　to　me　（it

was　beautifully　written　in　Indian　ink：　I　had　it　for　fourteen　years；

but　a　rascally　valet；　seeing　it　very　dirty；　WASHED　it；　forsooth；

and　washed　off　every　bit　of　the　writing）。　　I　took　it　calmly；　and

said；　〃This　is　a　tempting　offer。　　O　Vizier；　how　long　wilt　thou　give

me　to　consider　of　it？〃



After　a　long　parley；　he　allowed　me　six　hours；　when　I　promised　to

give　him　an　answer。　　My　mind；　however；　was　made　upas　soon　as　he

was　gone；　I　threw　myself　on　the　sofa　and　fell　asleep。



　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。



At　the　end　of　the　six　hours　the　Vizier　came　back：　two　people　were

with　him；　one；　by　his　martial　appearance；　I　knew　to　be　Holkar；　the

other　I　did　not　recognize。　　It　was　about　midnight。



〃Have　you　considered？〃　said　the　Vizier　as　he　came　to　my　couch。



〃I　have；〃　said　I；　sitting　up；I　could　not　stand；　for　my　legs　were

tied；　and　my　arms　fixed　in　a　neat　pair　of　steel　handcuffs。　　〃I

have；〃　said　I；　〃unbelieving　dogs！　　I　have。　　Do　you　think　to　pervert

a　Christian　gentleman　from　his　faith　and　honor？　　Ruffian

blackamoors！　do　your　worst；　heap　tortures　on　this　body；　they　cannot

last　long。　　Tear　me　to　pieces：　after　you　have　torn　me　into　a

certain　number　of　pieces；　I　shall　not　feel　it；　and　if　I　did；　if

each　torture　could　last　a　life；　if　each　limb　were　to　feel　the

agonies　of　a　whole　body；　what　then？　　I　would　bear　allallall

allallALL！〃　　My　breast　heavedmy　form　dilatedmy　eye　flashed

as　I　spoke　these　words。　　〃Tyrants！〃　said　I；　〃dulce　et　decorum　est

pro　patria　mori。〃　　Having　thus　clinched　the　argument；　I　was　silent。



The　venerable　Grand　Vizier　turned　away；　I　saw　a　tear　trickling　down

his　cheeks。



〃What　a　constancy；〃　said　he。　　〃Oh；　that　such　beauty　and　such

bravery　should　be　doomed　so　soon　to　quit　the　earth！〃



His　tall　companion　only　sneered　and　said；　〃AND　BELINDA？〃



〃Ha！〃　said　I；　〃ruffian；　be　still！heaven　will　protect　her　spotless

innocence。　　Holkar；　I　know　thee；　and　thou　knowest　ME　too！　　Who；

with　his　single　sword；　destroyed　thy　armies？　　Who；　with　his　pistol；

cleft　in　twain　thy　nose…ring？　　Who　slew　thy　generals？　　Who　slew　thy

elephants？　　Three　hundred　mighty　beasts　went　forth　to　battle：　of

these　I　slew　one　hundred　and　thirty…five！　　Dog；　coward；　ruffian；

tyrant；　unbeliever！　　Gahagan　hates　thee；　spurns　thee；　spits　on

thee！〃



Holkar；　as　I　made　these　uncomplimentary　remarks；　gave　a　scream　of

rage；　and；　drawing　his　scimitar；　rushed　on　to　despatch　me　at　once

（it　was　the　very　thing　I　wished　for）；　when　t