The Story of the Guides | Page 7

and that he had half determined on flight. The man of the
Guides, leaving his friend in charge of a comrade, with commendable
acumen hastened to Lumsden and told him the story. That officer at
once saw that the moment had come to strike, lest the prey escape. He
therefore immediately clapped the Sikh general's retainer into the
quarterguard, much to that individual's astonishment, and promptly
parading the Guides, hurried down to the city and surrounded Khan
Singh's house.
It was now past eleven o'clock, the house was in darkness and strongly
barricaded all round; the city was that of a foreign power, and no police,
or other, warrant did Lumsden hold. But he was no man to stand on
ceremony, or shirk responsibility, nor was he one for a moment to
count on the personal risks he ran. Finding the doors stouter than they
expected, his men burst in a window, and headed by their intrepid

officer dashed into the building. There, overcoming promptly any show
of resistance, they seized General Khan Singh, his _munshi_[3] and a
confidential agent, together with a box of papers, and under close guard
carried them back to the Guides' camp. In due course the prisoners
were tried and conclusive evidence being furnished, and confirmed by
the incriminating documents found in the box, General Khan Singh and
his munshi were sentenced to be hanged. This prompt dealing served at
once to check rebellion in the vicinity of Lahore, and placed the
Company's troops beyond the schemes of conspirators.
[3] Munshi, a secretary or clerk.
Amongst other papers found in Khan Singh's box were some which
clearly inculpated the Maharani, and it was at once decided to deport
her beyond the region of effective intrigue. The lady was, under
arrangements made for her by the Government, at this time residing in
one of the late Maharaja's palaces at Sheikapura about twenty-three
miles from Lahore. To Lumsden and his men was entrusted the duty of
arresting and deporting the firebrand princess. As taking part in this
mission, first appears in the annals of the Guides the name of
Lieutenant W.S.R. Hodson, afterwards famous for his many deeds of
daring, and whose name still lives as the intrepid and dashing leader of
Hodson's Horse. Appointed as adjutant and second-in-command to a
born exponent of sound, yet daring, methods of warfare, his early
training in the Guides stood him in good stead in his brief, stirring, and
glorious career.
In the execution of their orders Lumsden and Hodson with the Guides'
cavalry set off quietly after dark for their twenty-three miles ride. The
service was of some difficulty and of no little danger, for not only
might the Maharani's numerous partisans make an armed resistance, but
failing this they might organise a formidable rescue party to cut off the
enterprise between Sheikapura and the Ravi. Against any such attempt,
made with resources well within hail, the slender troop of the Guides
would naturally come in for some rough buffeting. Much, however, to
the surprise, and possibly the relief, of the British officers, they were
received not only without any signs of hostility, but with smiles of

well-assumed welcome. The explanation of this was that somehow
news of the fate of General Khan Singh had already reached the
Maharani, and with Eastern diplomacy she was preparing to trim her
bark on the other tack. Even to the suggestion that she should prepare
to make a journey she raised no objection; and it was only when she
found herself on the road to Ferozepore, and learnt that her destination
was Benares, that the courtesy and dignity of a queen gave place to
torrents of scurrilous abuse and invective such as the dialects of India
are pre-eminently capable of supplying.
CHAPTER II
THE FIGHTING ROUND MOOLTAN AND AFTER
These prompt measures, however, served only a local and temporary
purpose, effective but little beyond striking distance of the troops
stationed at Lahore. The flame of unrest damped down here had burst
forth under a different banner at Mooltan, where the Diwan Mulraj
farmed the province under treaty with the Sikhs. The Diwan himself
was a miserable personality, but carried away by the tide of popular
feeling, he became inextricably involved in antagonism to the British
cause by the cold-blooded murder of Agnew and Anderson. These two
British officers, with the full consent and support of the Sikh Durbar,
had been sent to Mooltan on special duty in connection with the
voluntary abdication of Mulraj, which had been accepted by his
suzeraine. The escort sent with the British officers was a strong one,
and, if loyal, perfectly competent to deal with any disorders. It
consisted of fourteen hundred Sikhs, a regiment of Gurkhas, seven
hundred cavalry, and six guns.
This seemingly formidable and carefully composed