Through Three Campaigns | Page 2

means a rich man, and crammers are very expensive; so the next

time I see a chance of sending you down to Calcutta, down you go. My
agents there will see you on board a ship, and do everything that is
necessary."
"Of course, father, if I must go, I must; but it will be beastly, after the
jolly time I have spent in the regiment, to set to and do nothing but
grind, for the next three years."
"We all have to do a good many unpleasant things, Lisle; and as we
have decided that you shall enter the army, you must make up your
mind to do the necessary work, even though it be disagreeable."
"All right, father! I know what depends upon it, and I will set to."
"I have no doubt you will, Lisle, for you have plenty of common sense,
though you are a little inclined to mischief--not that you are altogether
to blame for that, for the officers encourage you in it."
This conversation took place between Captain Bullen, of the 32nd
Pioneers, and his son. The regiment was in cantonments near the
northern frontier of India. The captain had lost his wife some years
before and, as their two youngest children had also died, he had not
been able to bring himself to send the remaining boy home. The
climate was excellent, and the boy enjoyed as good health as if he had
been in England. Captain Bullen had taken a great deal of pains with
his son's education but, as he said, he had now taught the boy all that he
knew; and felt that he ought to go to England, and be regularly coached
for the army.
Next day the captain entered his quarters, hurriedly.
"I am off," he said. "Those rascally Afridis have come down and looted
several villages; and I am to go up, in command of a couple of
companies, to give them a lesson."
"They are not very strong, are they, father?"
"No, I don't suppose they can put a couple of hundred men in the field.

We shall take the two mountain guns with us, and batter holes in their
fortresses, and then attack and carry them easily. There is no sign of
movement among the other tribes, so we need not expect any serious
opposition."
A week later, the little detachment entered the valley in which the
Afridi villages lay. The work had been fatiguing, for the country was
very rough; and the mules that carried the guns met with such
difficulties that the infantry had to turn to, and improve the paths--if
paths they could be called, for they were often little better than
undefined tracks. As the expedition moved up the valley, the tribesmen
opened on them a distant fire; but scattered after a few shells from the
mountain guns were thrown among them. The fortified houses,
however, were stubbornly held; and indeed, were only carried after the
guns had broken in the doors, or made a breach in the walls.
During the attack on the last house, a shot struck Captain Bullen in the
chest, and he instantly fell. When they saw this, the Pioneers dashed
forward with a howl of rage, carried the fort, and bayoneted its
defenders. The doctor of the party at once examined the wound, and
saw that it would probably be fatal.
"Patch me up, Lloyd, so that I may get back to camp and see my boy
again," the wounded man whispered.
"I will do my best," the doctor said, "but I doubt whether you will be
able to stand the journey."
The Pioneers, after setting fire to all the houses in the valley, started at
once for home. Captain Bullen was placed on a stretcher, and four men
at a time carried him down, taking the utmost pains not to jolt or shake
him. His face was covered with light boughs, to keep off the flies; and
everything that was possible was done to conduce to his comfort.
The doctor watched him anxiously. His condition became more serious,
every day. As they neared the camp, a messenger was sent down with a
report from the native officer of what had happened; and the Pioneers
all came out to see their favourite officer brought in; and stood,

mournful and silent, as he was carried to his bungalow.
"Don't come in yet, lad," the surgeon said, to Lisle. "Your father, at
present, is incapable of speaking; and he must have a little rest before
you see him, for the slightest excitement would probably cause a gush
of blood to the wound, which would be fatal."
Lisle's grief was unbounded. He could not listen to the kind words with
which the officers tried to soothe him, but wandered away out of