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
"I ought to have introduced you two before. Goria Thapa, can you guess
who the ensign sahib is? He is Ensign Russell, son of your father's
comrade, of whom you have often heard. Ted, this is Jemadar Goria Thapa,
son of Jaspao Thapa, your guvnor's great pal of 1815."
Goria Thapa's jolly countenance became wreathed in grins. He held out
his hand, saying:
"I have heard much of thy father, Russell Sahib, who was my father's
brother. I am glad to fight side by side with thee as our fathers
fought."
Ted pressed the young jemadar's hand. This was, then, the grandson of
the famous Nepalese general, Amir Sing Thapa, who had kept our troops at
bay for so long a period in the year of Waterloo. Ted had often heard
the story, and was glad indeed to meet the hero's grandson.
That night the troops slept soundly both on and below the Ridge. In the
early morning the Gurkha picket heard the sound of cheering from the
British camp, and the report ran round that the Guide Corps was marching
in. Ted, Paterson, and their four Pathans--two had fallen on the
previous day--went down to rejoin their regiment, which was being
greeted with the same enthusiasm that had been accorded to the Sirmuris
a few days before.
Though the Guides had taken no part in the battle they had already
covered themselves with undying glory. Daly had promised that the seven
hundred and fifty miles should be covered in a month, and he had done it
in twenty-eight days. The stately height and military bearing of the
frontiersmen and the perfect horsemanship of the cavalry took everyone
by surprise, and such exclamations as "A splendid lot!" "Fighters every
inch of them!" were heard on all sides. Though they had accomplished the
magnificent march--a march that still holds the record--during the
hottest season of the year, they came in, as an onlooker remarked, "as
firm and light of step as if they had marched only a mile".
The Guides had barely arrived before they contrived to give the Delhi
rebels a taste of their temper. Large bodies of horse and foot had been
sent out from the city to harass our advanced posts, and, full of a
fierce joy, the Guides were ordered to the front.
Charlie was engaged in chaffing his cousin, Ted throwing in a word here
and there, when Lieutenant Quintin Battye strolled up, a smile on his
handsome face. He nodded towards the two ensigns.
"I've a bone to pick with you two," he gaily remarked. "What do you mean
by risking the lives of my best troopers by charging a regiment with
half a dozen men? Throw your own lives away if you like, but remember
that our sowars are of value to the state."
Ted had a joke on the tip of his tongue before the slower Paterson had
framed any suitable reply, when the order came for the Guides Cavalry to
advance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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