One of Clive's Heroes: A Story of the Fight for IndiaStrang, Herbert
History
One of Clive's Heroes: A Story of the Fight for India
Strang, Herbert
Adventure stories; British -- India -- Juvenile fiction; India -- History -- 18th century -- Juvenile fiction
It was a mellow day in October, 1760, a little more than six years since
the day when Market Drayton gave rein to its enthusiasm in honour of
Clive. From a flagstaff newly erected on the roof of the _Four Alls_ on
the Newport Road a square of bunting flapped in the breeze. Inside the
inn the innkeeper was drawing a pint of ale for his one solitary
customer, a shambling countryman with a shock of very red hair, and eyes
of innocent blue.
"There, that makes a quart, Tummas Biles, and ’tis as much as your
turnip head can safely carry."
He passed the can across the bar on a hook that projected from a wooden
socket in his sleeve.
"Why now, Mr. Bulger," said Tummas the tranter, "what fur do you go fur
to miscall me like other fowk? I’ve been miscalled ever since that day
since I drove a stranger into Market Drayton six year ago. I mind me he
had a red feather in his cap, and not knowing my name was plain Tummas
he called me Jehu, he did, and I never forgot it. Ay, and I tell ya
what, Mr. Bulger: it took me two year to find out why he give me such an
uncommon name. I mind I was sittin’ by a hayrick of Mr. Burke’s--that
was long afore he was lamed by that terrible horse o’ his--and ponderin’
on that heathen name, when all at wunst it comed to me like a flash o’
lightnin’. ’Jehu!’ says I to myself. ’I bin and got ya at last.’ Ya
see, when that stranger saw me, I were drivin’ a horse. Well, I says to
my horse, ’Gee-ho!’ says I. Not knowin’ my true chrisom name, the
stranger takes up my words an’ fits ’em to me. ’Gee-ho!’ says I;
’Gee-ho!’ says he; only bein’ a kind o’ furriner he turns it into
’Jehu’: an’ the name fits me uncommon. Hee! hee!"
"I may be wrong," said Bulger, "but ’tis my belief ’Hee-haw!’ would fit
you a big sight better. But hark! en’t them the bells a-ringin ’?"
The two hastened to the door, and stood looking down the road towards
Market Drayton. From the distance came the faint sounds of a merry
peal. By and by a four-horsed open carriage with outriders appeared on
the crest of the hill. Amid the dust it raised another could be seen,
and behind this a long line of vehicles. Every coachman’s whip was
decorated with a wedding favour. The cavalcade approached rapidly. As
the first carriage drew nearer Bulger became more and more excited, and
when it dashed past the inn he raised his hook and shouted "Hurray!
hurray!" with the full force of his lungs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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