The Disputed V.C.: A Tale of the Indian MutinyGibbon, Frederick P.
History
The Disputed V.C.: A Tale of the Indian Mutiny
Gibbon, Frederick P.
India -- History -- Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1858 -- Juvenile fiction
"Delhi," Ted replied. "We've just arrived with some Irregular Horse."
"Delhi! And you two had the luck to take part in the siege?"
"I served all through," Ted answered with a little pride. "I went there
with the Guides."
"Lucky young cub! Wish I could have taken my boys there."
"Rummy customer!" was Claude's comment, as the stranger turned away.
"Who is he?"
"I wonder. Looks more like a sailor than a soldier. But whoever he is,
he's accustomed to command; I could see that. But I fancy it's time to
find our way back to our own lines."
At 9 a.m. next day the column moved off in high spirits, Lieutenant
Roberts conducting the advance, with the aid of a native guide he had
secured. The enemy had been led to believe that the movement would be
made direct, by the northern route taken by Havelock two months
previously. But from the Alambagh the column struck eastwards for the
Dilkusha (Heart's Delight) Palace. The ruse was successful. Having made
their plans to meet the direct assault, the sepoys were not prepared for
the flanking movement, and no time was given them to strengthen the
defences of the positions now threatened. Outside the wall of the
Dilkusha Park the column halted until a large enough breach had been
made by the guns, and Ted watched the Highlanders of the 93rd pulling up
carrots in a field, and, after a hurried scrape, munching them with
great content.
The obstruction was short; a portion of the park wall was soon broken
down, and in went the Highlanders, eager to close. But the rebels had
fled. A staff-officer, short and slight, trotted past as Ted's Arab was
picking its way over the fallen masonry.
"There goes plucky wee Bobs!" he heard a sergeant of the 93rd remark to
his mate; and Ted recognized the officer as Lieutenant Roberts. It was
the first time he had heard the affectionate nickname bestowed upon the
much-loved hero by the soldiers of forty-five years ago. Roberts, an
artillery officer, had, of course, never served with the 93rd, but the
"Scotties" had seen much of him lately, and even so early in his career
he had won a place in their hearts rarely filled by any whose name is
not prefixed by "Mac". "Bobs" they had christened him, "Plucky wee
Bobs". To be known by such a name among these gallant fellows of the
93rd--the famous Thin Red Line of Balaclava--told of unusual coolness
and daring.
Ted saw Lieutenant Roberts shoot ahead to reconnoitre, a native trooper
following. The artillery officer halted, gazed in front, and signalled
for the guns to advance. As he did so the roar of cannon thundered from
behind the yellow palace. The rebels had opened point-blank upon the two
solitary horsemen from a hidden battery, cutting the orderly's horse in
two, and the trooper fell beneath his dead steed. Roberts was seen
coolly to dismount in the face of the guns, and a loud huzza rose from
the throats of the Highlanders as he dragged the orderly from under the
weight, though the grape whizzed about them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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