312 MACKENZIE'S STRENUOUS EFFORTS. Chapter VI. 1857. May 31. his men; rides to hasten the BOOK VIII. the battery guns and the discharge of musketry came to confirm his story. Colonel Troup followed almost immediately. Mackenzie and Becher at once mounted their horses and rode down to He turns out their lines to turn out the men. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd troops of the 8th, forming the right wing, were soon drawn up in front of their lines facing the station. But it seeming to Mackenzie that the troops of the left wing showed unusual delay, he proceeded amongst them to hasten their movements. Meanwhile, the confusion was every moment increasing. From all parts of Barélí officers, movements of civilians, and others, were running and riding the left wing; into the lines for protection. The artillery and infantry were keeping up a constant and rapid fire on the fugitives, whilst all around bungalows were beginning to smoke and blaze. Keeping his head cool all this time, Mackenzie, gallantly aided by Becher, had turned out the troops of the left wing, and was getting them into order, when happening to look round, he saw the troops of the right wing go "Threes right," and move off at a trot to the right and rear of the lines. Digging gallops after his spurs into his horse Mackenzie quickly headed the wing, halted it, and asked by whose order they had moved. The Rissaldar, commanding the 1st squadron, replied that Colonel Troup had given the order. Upon this, Mackenzie rode on to Colonel Troup, who had moved ahead in company with some officers and civilians, and asked what he proposed to do. Troup, who by the death of the brigadier had become the senior officer in the station, replied that he proposed to Cos the right wing go off; hem; TREASON OF MAHOMED SHAffi'. 313 BOOK VIII. Chapter VI. 1857. May 31. retire on Nainí Tál. Mackenzie, still feeling sure Colonel mission to attack the mutineers. the influences and upon The fact was that Colonel Troup, influenced Diversity of by the information he had received on the operating night of the 30th of May and the impression upon Troup then formed having been strengthened by the Mackenzie. delay of the left wing to turn out, entirely mistrusted the 8th Irregulars. Mackenzie, on the other hand, whilst thoroughly believing in them, felt satisfied that the order given to them by Colonel Troup to follow the Europeans to Nainí Tál was the one order which would try their fidelity to the utmost, as the carrying it out would impose upon them the necessity to leave all their property, and, in some instances, those for whom they cared more than for their property, at the mercy of the rebels. There can be no doubt now that the information on which Colonel Troup acted was partly true. There were traitors amongst the 8th Irregulars. Prominent amongst these was the senior native officer, Mahomed Shaffí. This man had been Mahomed gained over by Khán Bahádur Khán, and had in his turn done his best to gain the men. Yet it is to be regretted, I think, that Mackenzie's arrangements were interfered with before the temper of the men had been actually tested. The movement to the right, and the remonstrance Shaffí. 314 MACKENZIE GALLANTLY PERSEVERES. BOOK VIII. with Colonel Troup, lost many precious moments at a most critical period. Chapter VI. 1857. May 31. Mackenzie Mahomed Shaffi. Does not at once realise his perfidy. The value of a few moments was never more clearly demonstrated than on this occasion. betrayed by Whilst Mackenzie had been talking to Colonel Troup, the left wing had been drawing up in line. The moment they were quite ready, the traitor, Mahomed Shaffí, watching his opportunity, gave the order to the men of the wing to follow him, and at once rode towards the cantonment. Mackenzie heard the tramp of their horses' feet the moment after he had received Colonel Troup's permission to do as he liked. He did not at once realise the cause of their action, for almost simultaneously with it arose the cry that they had gone Brings up the to charge the guns. Mackenzie at once addressed the men of the right wing, and told them he was going to take them to recover the guns. The men received the intelligence with apparent delight, and followed Mackenzie-accompanied by Mr. Guthrie, the magistrate, and some officers at a steady trot to the parade-ground. On arriving there they found the left wing drawn up, apparently fraternising with the rebels. It was necessary to bring them back, if possible, to their allegiance, so Mackenzie leaving his right wing under charge of Becher, rode up to them and addressed them. Whilst, however, in the act of speaking, and after the men had shown a right wing. *Their names were Cap- Warde, 68th Native Infantry, tain Kirby and Lieutenant Lieutenant Hunter, 18th NaFraser of the Artillery; Cap- tive Infantry. tain Paterson and Lieutenant IS ABANDONED AT THE CRITICAL MOMENT. 315 Chapter VI. 1857. May 31. gulars: disposition to follow him, there arose from the BOOK VIII. magazine of the 18th Native Infantry-the point where the mutinous sepoys were massed, and where a gun had been placed-a cry summoning Passionate all the sowars to rally round the Mahomedan flag appeal of the and to uphold their religion, "otherwise," shouted the 8th Irrethe speaker, "the Mahomedans will be forced to eat pork, and the Hindús beef." At the same time a green flag was hoisted. The cry and the sight of the flag arrested the favourable disposition of the men of the left wing, and Mackenzie finding his efforts with them hopeless, rode back to the right. Here, however, a new disappointment awaited him. The men of this wing had felt the influence acting on the left, and had begun to steal off. By the time Mackenzie returned men to the number of about one troop alone remained. Amongst these were most of the native officers. With so small a body it was hopeless to charge, and it was almost certain that an order to that effect would not have been obeyed. Mackenzie retired then in the direction taken by Colonel Troup and the others. As he passed his regimental lines more men dropped away, and before he had gone half a mile, the number of the faithful was reduced to twenty-three, of whom twelve were native except twenty-three. officers! They overtook Colonel Troup, and It is due to these twenty. Amid many trials they rethree men to place on record mained faithful, and managed that though every possible to do excellent service. The temptation was held out to Rissaldar, Mahomed Nazím them to desert the Europeans Khán, not only left all his not one of them yielded to it. property, but three children who all go rebels, over to the 1857. May 31. 316 TROUP'S RECEPTION OF MACKENZIE. BOOK VIII. his party twenty-three miles from Barélí. Troup Chapter VI. was warm in his acknowledgments. In truth he never expected to see them. "Thank God," he exclaimed to Mackenzie, as the latter rode up, "I feared you had gone to certain death." The retiring party now united, proceeded without a halt to Nainí Tál, accomplishing the distance, sixty-six miles, in twenty-two hours. The Euro peans reach Nainí Tál. The rebel rule is inaugurated at Barélí On the departure of the fugitives for Nainí Tál the rebel rule was inaugurated at Barélí. Every European house but one had been burnt down. Khán Bahádur Khán was proclaimed behind, to obey the call of officers that the opinion of the |