On the Knees of the Gods

Chapter I

self 1ST IX CTLY heard amid the murmur ==fl of conversation, and above the beat of screw and throb and whirl of machinery, is the ting, ting of the electric bell. In an instant, the vibration and tremor of the huge vessel are reduced to a minimum, and the engines but languidly revolve. A hushed expectation reigns on the deck, when again the ear-piercing note sounds forth, and the great P. and O. steamship Cape Comorin, with way still on her, glides majestically forward a few yards further, VOL. I. I till the plunge of the anchor brings her to her temporary mooring, and she swings round with the tide, safe at last in Bombay Harbour. The scene changes at once. Those on board, eager as they are to be oft, can find no point of exit, for countless visitors to the ship are now swarming up her sides and blocking the gangway ; and when the passengers, recovering from their temporary surprise, attempt to force a passage, the noise and confusion become bewildering to a degree.

The high and potent Anglo- Indian magnates — and there are one or two such on board the Cape Comorin — contend eagerly, and waste strength and energy in vain ; for who in this seething mass of humanity cares one jot for even such an exalted personage as a Member of the Supreme Council ? Had, indeed, the re nowned Joseph Sedley, the stout Collector the ladder being at last gained, there still comes that fearful descensus Averni into a swaying native craft, which is, of course, found to be engaged, as are the next six alongside ; and the march of the unfortu nate passenger has to be resumed over bales, and boxes, and deck-chairs, and loose ropes, and drifting oars, till eventually the haven of refuge is reached, and away the party sails for the Apollo Bunder. All this, however, is not without its amusing aspect to the looker on ; and when young Blagg, of the Bengal Civil Service, with his hat so knocked over his eyes that he cannot see what he is about, runs his package of sticks and umbrellas into the small of Colonel Gramby's back, nearly sending that obese officer head foremost down the gangway, the wrath of this gentleman is so forcibly enunciated, that the observers shriek aloud.

Then the piously thanking Heaven that his cares for the nonce are over, and his responsibilities matter of the past. A temporary clearance ! The skir mishers advance and seize the position, for there is actually a narrow road open to the gangway ; but before they can to the full realize their good fortune, those in front are being impelled by the strain behind them, and are almost forced upon the shaky ladder. To endeavour to scramble down a trembling staircase, with the chance of dropping through, or of for ever losing the packages which encumber hands and arms, and impede every step of progress, is bad enough in itself; but when to add to this, comes a fresh rush of deter mined escaladers, just at the most critical moment, when to stumble is destruction and to stop an impossibility, mortal patience dies away.

And the bottom of it's always the same when a P. and O. ship comes into port here ? No one ever dreams of keeping one gangway for those who are leaving, and another one for the crowd that comes pushing in. We shall be able to get off soon. I fancy Lucka Sing will show up presently. I sent word to him to come and meet us." " Who's Lucka Sing ? " asked Guy. " My jemadar, I mean the head man of my orderlies. Ah ! there he is, confound the fellow ! looking everywhere but in the right direction. By Gad, Susie, I am glad to see his old phiz again ! Come ! we can move ahead now. I see Gramby is off." " Poor little Blagg!" laughed Dashwood, " I suppose it was that chap Maguire who bonneted him. Lord ! how Blagg did ram those sticks into the colonel '! " " I should not be surprised," mused Rawnsley, " if Blagg was sent to me to be pair of combatants are swept on by the advancing swarm, and we may hope, as they are actually seen in the same native craft, that they came to terms before they reached shore.

There were, however, three of the passengers that took matters more philo sophically. Two of these, Major Rawnsley, of the Rechana Civil Commission, and his brother-in-law, Sir Guy Dashwood, stood as it were on guard over the person and properties of the very charming Mrs. Rawnsley, and calmly smoked while they watched the tumult around them. " You were right, Jack," said Dash wood ; " we did well to hold our souls in patience." " I have gone through this sort of thing too often," said the major, " not to know the folly of being in a hurry. Queer, too, is it not, when you come to think of it, that it's always the same when a P. and O. ship comes into port here ? No one ever dreams of keeping one gangway for those who are leaving, and another one for the crowd that comes pushing in. We shall be able to get off soon.

I fancy Lucka Sing will show up presently. I sent word to him to come and meet us." " Who's Lucka Sing ? " asked Guy. " My jemadar, I mean the head man of my orderlies. Ah ! there he is, confound the fellow ! looking everywhere but in the right direction. By Gad, Susie, I am glad to see his old phiz again ! Come ! we can move ahead now. I see Gramby is off." " Poor little Blagg!" laughed Dashwood, " I suppose it was that chap Maguire who bonneted him. Lord ! how Blagg did ram those sticks into the colonel '! " " I should not be surprised," mused Rawnsley, " if Blagg was sent to me to be knocked into shape, for I know he is going to Rechana. A nice job I shall have with him. Nearly all competition-wallahs now are gentlemen, but there are excep tions. Now then, Susie, up you get ! Guy. you take the bag and look after the mem sahib, while 1 push ahead with this lot."

And so they bustled on to the gangway. which was now fast emptying of its freight. " I declare," said Dashwood to his sister, "it's worth coming all the way from Eng land to see this " — leaning over the side as he spoke. "Just look, Susie, at this mass of people. By Jove, that's a toucher ! It's the parson. He'll be over. No ; he's recovered himself.'' "Come, dear; there's Jack beckoning. He has got hold of Lucka Sing at last. Now you will^see how he greets your beloved sister." Hardly had the words been said, than before Mrs. Rawnsley, his face beaming with satisfaction, stood the jemadar, in all the swagger of his official costume, his long moustache sweeping a la Sikh across his face, and being carefully carried behind his ears, the last ornamented with massive gold rings. He at once fell at the feet of the lady, exhibiting, in the most distinct manner, his joy at again beholding her.

" Come, come, Susie," cried Rawnsley, cutting short his wife's kindly speeches to the Sikh, " we really must be off. Now then, Lucka Sing, which is our boat ? You show the way. Chullo/" (Hasten.) " If the Government will go on first," remonstrated the jemadar, " this slave will follow " — as he spoke, easing Mrs. Rawns ley of everything she was carrying. " WThat does he say ?" asked Dashwood, a good deal interested in this new arrival. " Can't stop to interpret," hastily replied the major. " You two follow me." '* But, oh, it is so nice to see his honest face again ! Lucka Sing " — talking Hindu stani—" this is my brother, Dashwood Sahib. But don't stop now." The native at once took in the situation. This broad-shouldered, comely young Englishman, with his lordly manner, was, of course, coming out to see the country.

Lucka Sing had a most exalted idea of his own sahib's social position, having quite made up his mind that the major was what his class would term a very pucka sahib of the bluest blood in Britain ; and of necessity his wife's brother must be of similar standing. And it may be noted that no one is shrewder than the native at appraising an Englishman at his proper worth in the social scale. So now, free of the ship, and bounding over the blue waters, they were soon to put foot on the marvellous land, that both marks Britain's greatness and so many triumphs, with, alas ! not a few most terrible disasters. And while the party is pressing on towards the landing-stage, the opportunity may be taken to say something of the personages whose doings must for a short time occupy our attention. The province of Rechana boasts of a Lieutenant-Governor, of a Court of Justice, Financial and other Commissioners, Divi sional Judges, Deputy-Commissioners (or Collectors), of Assistant-Commissioners, and the like.

It comprises a territory about the size of Great Britain, and has scenery which ascends from the lowest depth of flat and dreary commonplace to all the glories of forest and lofty moun tain ; and if in the summer and the rainy season the climate is detestable, on the other hand the cold-weather months are charming. The earlier administration was made up chiefly of officers taken from the army, with a small admixture of the pure civilian, who like oil on water, is always at the top. There was the contingency that many of the military would in the course of years rise by virtue of seniority and long service to the highest grades ; but this was all on the knees of the gods, and such a catastrophe as must ensue on their advancement, could always be averted by timely supercession. And meanwhile, if the army gentlemen were going to be admitted into the strict preserves of the civilian, though merely in subordinate capacities, they had, none the less, to pay for their footing ; their salaries for one thing being considerably lower than those holding in adjacent provinces, only two men being allowed for the work of three.

Perhaps this was not altogether equitable ; but, after all, it was merely the old story of the labourers in the vineyard. Each man that took office in the Civil Commission did so with his eyes open, and under the implied guarantee that, having borne the heat and burden of the day, he should in due course have his reward in higher place and emolument. It is always charming to see a simple and childlike faith in the honesty of man kind. Rawnsley, coming out to India during the Mutiny, had seen some service, and, attached to an irregular cavalry regiment, was marching through Rechana, when he was offered an assistant - commissionership, which he was so strongly advised to accept, that he threw up his military career. After seven or eight years of very hard work, and a desperately lonely life, he went home on furlough and mar* ried.

Then a great change came over his prospects, for, his elder brother dying, he became the heir to the old place in Berkshire. But he preferred independence, and determined, though often bitterly disappointed at seeing civilians preferred before him, to stay on and secure the pension, which, if he now quitted the service, would be lost. Once more then he had, with his wife, returned to the East, leaving behind them their two boys, the separation from whom had been a bitter wrench. But he had quite made up his mind, come what might in the way of advancement, to give up the service in a couple of years. Mrs. Rawnsley's brother, three or four years her junior, with a mania for travel ling, and more money than he knew how to spend, had been all over the globe, but had not as yet seen India, and having made up his mind to go out with his sister, the three found themselves at the end of a pleasant journey, and located for a day or two in the city of Bombay.

It was now well on in the afternoon, and, wrorn out with the heat, Mrs. Rawns ley had retired to her own room, leaving the gentlemen to discuss iced drinks and cigars on the lofty verandah of the Great Western Hotel. They were thoroughly enjoying their dolce far niente, as no one can better enjoy it than the traveller just emancipated from a long sea voyage, which, however luxurious it may have been, is still a sea voyage. Reposing on lengthy cane lounges, with their feet as high as their heads, the major and his brother-in-law began at last to feel that life was tolerable. What an energetic party you are, ig gloriously beautiful in this warm] and ruddy light. Looking to the other side, where Butcher Island and Elephanta lay, though now in the glare so lost to view that their shadowy impress is barely visible, there stretches the harbour, crowded with vessels of every sort and kind, and smaller craft with lateen sails, which show for a minute in the blind ing sunshine, and then as if by magic disappear.

There are no reflections, for the faintest ripple flits over the till now ■oily sea, and sends out a million sparkles like so many diamond points. Close by, in the foreground, lies the winding street, the houses a dirty yellow and much rain-stained, with patches of white, dull green, or duller blue, to show where are the Venetians, all still closed to keep out the evening glare, which here uninterruptedly beats on the roadway. " But hang it ! " growled Dashwood, who did not care to have his plans put out, " this spoils everything." " Only to some extent. I should have liked to have shown you Jeypore and Delhi, but that is now out of the question. But I'm not tied to a day, and at any rate the present is our own. Now what do you think of Bombay ? " " I feel too lazy to form an opinion. All the same, the languorous air is delightful ; and it's not too hot, either."

" No, not up here in the open ; now that the sun is off us, it's pleasant enough. I always think Bombay such a drowsy, vaporous place. I should be sorry to live here." In the distance the smoke from the huge factories floated lazily away, as the health giving sea breeze, now in gentle puffs, and anon with more steady force and volume. vol. 1. bore inland with it the faint murmurs of life and action from the streets and busy highways of the great capital of Western India. A haze of golden mist lay over Colaba, Mazagon, and Byculla, and the horizon, turn where the gaze might, was charmingly broken by pleasant mansion, waving tree, and distant mountain. Look ing seaward, in the dreamy far-away, you caught the shimmer and play of light upon the dancing waters, the bay here changing as if by some magic touch from deepest blue to long streaks of dusky grey, head land after headland rising up behind in soft uncertain outlines.

Beyond the Yacht Club and the buildings crowding round the Apollo Bunder, the masts of stately vessels disturb the contours of the far-off islets, some bare and gaunt, and others covered with rich verdure to the ocean's brink, but all gloriously beautiful in this warm] and ruddy light. Looking to the other side, where Butcher Island and Elephanta lay, though now in the glare so lost to view that their shadowy impress is barely visible, there stretches the harbour, crowded with vessels of every sort and kind, and smaller craft with lateen sails, which show for a minute in the blind ing sunshine, and then as if by magic disappear. There are no reflections, for the faintest ripple flits over the till now oily sea, and sends out a million sparkles like so many diamond points. Close by, in the foreground, lies the winding street, the houses a dirty yellow and much rain-stained, with patches of white, dull green, or duller blue, to show where are the Venetians, all still closed to keep out the evening glare, which here uninterruptedly beats on the roadway.

Verandah after verandah crowds up to the topmost story of each mansion, while great lines of shadow cut across the cause way and throw at any rate a portion of it into pleasant coolness. Below surges the never-ceasing tide of life of the busy city. The yellow-turbaned policeman at the magazine over the way, tired of chatting with those two red-coated chuprassis who have gone inside, has an easy time of it, and leans against the nine-pounder cannon, whose muzzle is sunk deep under ground, and converses affably with an itinerant sweetmeat-seller, who, as he speaks, his tray still on his head, lifts up his foot and deftly shakes his shoe free of the gravel that is in it. The two sellers of refresh ments at the corner have now a little time to themselves, for one rush of customers has gone ; and they carry on a conversation with each other, all the while languidly "Yes; I'm a bit curious to see what sort of a life you lead.

Are any of the ship people going up our way ? " asked Guy. " I suppose we start to-morrow ? " " Yes ; to-morrow evening. I saw Thelson at the brigade-major's, and he told me that he was bound for Sheeshum pore, and I dare say there are one or two more." " Do you know the station well ? " I have only passed through it. I can't congratulate myself much upon my commissioner, for Thorndyke, in a social point of view, is useless. But, personally, he is not a bad fellow." " Any soldiers in the place ? " "Yes; we have the Cromarty High landers, a Sikh regiment, and a light field battery, with a native cavalry corps ; but the winter manœuvres, I should say, would pretty well empty out the station." over the road, creeping on with their groaning, creaking wheels at barely two miles an hour. " I suppose," said Dashwood, presently, " this is a fair specimen of a Bombay hotel ?

" " They are not much to boast of any where in this benighted land," replied Rawnsley ; " and this is about the best. After all, we shall not be at their mercy long." 0 " Yes, but I shall, for I can't be with you for at least a week after we separate." " At Delhi ! Ah, by-the-by, I will get Jones, the deputy-commissioner there, to put you up. I'll write to him to-night." " Oh, but I can't plant myself on a stranger in this fashion," remonstrated Dashwood. " He will be only too glad. He is an old friend, and will be delighted to see you. But times are certainly not what they were." " How do you mean ? " "When I came out first, I was passed up from Calcutta to Agra, staying at each big station on the road with people I had never before met. A letter of introduction carried me on from place to place.

I don't even recollect the names of half the people who were so kind. More shame to me." " And there's nothing of that sort now ? " " No ; except in out-of-the-way locali ties. In those days people thought little of saving. They lived for the present. A careless, idle, go-to-the-devil sort of existence." ' How did they amuse themselves ? ' " I can't recollect that there was much in that line. Croquet, lawn tennis, and Badminton were not invented, and cricket was hardly played at all. The men smoked, played at cards and billiards, and occasionally went out shooting." " And the women ? " " Hang me if I know what they did ! They must have had a dull time. And, mind you, very few ever went to the hills. That sort of thing only came in after the Mutiny, when railways made it easier." " What a cheerful lot you must have been," laughed Dashwood.

" You may well say that. However, the Mutiny shook us all up a bit. The wonder to me has always been that it did not break out long before." " What makes you think that ? " "We had let everything slide. But there " — waving his hand with some im patience — " it wearies me to talk of it ! Well, at any rate, you will, I hope, have a fairly good time out here." "Yes; I'm a bit curious to see what sort of a life you lead. Are any of the ship people going up our way ? " asked Guy. " I suppose we start to-morrow ? " " Yes ; to-morrow evening. I saw Thelson at the brigade-major's, and he told me that he was bound for Sheeshum pore, and I dare say there are one or two more." " Do you know the station well ? " I have only passed through it. I can't congratulate myself much upon my commissioner, for Thorndyke, in a social point of view, is useless.

But, personally, he is not a bad fellow." " Any soldiers in the place ? " "Yes; we have the Cromarty High landers, a Sikh regiment, and a light field battery, with a native cavalry corps ; but the winter manœuvres, I should say, would pretty well empty out the station." " Cheerful for us. But you said some thing about going into camp. I should like that. And as to shooting, how do you stand ? " "Only so-so. But we have our rajah, and I shall be able to manage some sport for you. Now, what do you say to a drive ? We will go and hear the band." " Is Susie coming ? " " I fancy so. I'll go and look her up. I have ordered a trap, and we will meet you down below."

Chapter II

|||fl OR some occult reason, which has never yet been properly explained, nearly all the cantonments in Rechana are situated two or three miles distant from the civil stations adjoining ; and Sheeshumpore was no exception to this rule, a broad metalled road connecting the military with the city. The civil lines were much as they are everywhere — some half a dozen good-sized houses with gardens — or, to speak correctly, com pounds — which term includes a space of, say, from one to twenty acres, the greater part running to waste, with here and there a grass-plot, and such trees as grew in the locality, the servants' houses and the stables being generally well out of sight. There was a Govern ment garden, in which was a species of municipal hall and library, useful for meetings, dances, and such-like entertain ments.

The court buildings were a range in themselves, and were close to the city, a large bustling town of some seventy thousand inhabitants. With a slack deputy-commissioner, a civil station soon assumes a decayed and melancholy aspect, for in no country in the world is neglect more fatal than in India ; but under a chief civil officer, who desires to have everything at its best, a little extra attention soon brings out whatever good points there may be in a not very attractive locality. resemblance to her father, who was short and insignificant in form and face. He was evidently, also, to judge by his rather dark complexion, not a pure - blooded European. However, one sees too much of that all through India to wonder very greatly, some of the children of quite half-caste parents being inexplicably fair.

No one could have imagined that Hazel De Souza had what is vulgarly termed a touch of the tar-brush about her. She had not, perhaps, all that charm and spontaneity of manner which can only come from association with women of a high class — that jc ne sais quoi air of truest good breeding, which makes all of a certain rank at ease in any society ; but she had everything else in her favour, her total absence of self-consciousness giving an attraction to her every action that completely removed her from the commonplace girls of her own rank in life. The glass must daily have revealed to her how very fair to look upon she was, but it was a lesson that, strange to say, she had never learnt ; and as to her own exceeding loveliness, she was absolutely indifferent. She had quite made up her mind that her home life must be a very quiet one, contented and happy, having now left school for good, to have the opportunity of tending to the comfort and well-being of the father who loved her so devotedly.

It was one of those delightful afternoons that often mark the approach of the colder weather in Rechana. Not a breath stirred, and there was a crisp feeling in the air of a frost that was just held in the back ground by the still doughty efforts of the sun to maintain his summer reputation. A faint odour of the fuel cakes burning gentleman belonged to the subordinate civil service, being invested with certain magisterial powers. He was also the treasury officer. Properly speaking, he should have lived in the civil lines ; but as every tenement there was occupied, he had been permitted — he had only arrived a few months back at Sheeshum pore — to take up his abode in cantonments. A quiet, diffident, retiring little man, De Souza was perfectly contented with his position ; and if the prizes of the civil service were, as he knew, quite beyond his reach, that did not in the least disturb his equanimity.

He was a very good treasury officer, his work had always given satisfaction, and he considered himself amply rewarded for his toil when, year after year, in the annual revenue report, he found the old stereotyped " Mr. De Souza's treasury work has been excellent. He is a most valuable and reliable officer," or some such commenda tion. In the earlier days of the commission. when any sort of a man was made an E.A.C, very few of this class were ever in society, which, indeed, in that period. consisted, up country, simply of the military and of those holding civil ap pointments of the higher grade. The rule in the Rechana Province was for the new-comer to call on the residents ; and De Souza being very shy of forcing himself upon those who might not desire his acquaintance, he had visited no one except his official superiors.

So it came about that he knew not a single soul in cantonments. This did not distress him in the least, for he was quite satisfied to be left alone ; but just now the arrival of his daughter from a school in the hills — she had been educated in a convent there — rather changed matters. He had long since lost his wife, and though, so far as he was himself concerned, he was quite willing to be ignored, he was a little troubled in his mind as to how his dearest Hazel would appreciate the very secluded life which he felt must be in store for her. The last deputy-commissioner had returned his call, but no further notice of him had been taken, and he hardly supposed that the new man would be at all more friendly. But to his surprise, Major Rawnsley actually called first, and brought his wife with him, and they both unmistakably showed their desire to be friendly to him and his motherless girl.

Hazel De Souza was a very handsome English-looking maiden. She bore no vol. 1. resemblance to her father, who was short and insignificant in form and face. He was evidently, also, to judge by his rather dark complexion, not a pure - blooded European. However, one sees too much of that all through India to wonder very greatly, some of the children of quite half-caste parents being inexplicably fair. No one could have imagined that Hazel De Souza had what is vulgarly termed a touch of the tar-brush about her. She had not, perhaps, all that charm and spontaneity of manner which can only come from association with women of a high class — that jc ne sais quoi air of truest good breeding, which makes all of a certain rank at ease in any society ; but she had everything else in her favour, her total absence of self-consciousness giving an attraction to her every action that completely removed her from the commonplace girls of her own rank in life.

The glass must daily have revealed to her how very fair to look upon she was, but it was a lesson that, strange to say, she had never learnt ; and as to her own exceeding loveliness, she was absolutely indifferent. She had quite made up her mind that her home life must be a very quiet one, contented and happy, having now left school for good, to have the opportunity of tending to the comfort and well-being of the father who loved her so devotedly. It was one of those delightful afternoons that often mark the approach of the colder weather in Rechana. Not a breath stirred, and there was a crisp feeling in the air of a frost that was just held in the back ground by the still doughty efforts of the sun to maintain his summer reputation. A faint odour of the fuel cakes burning in the servants' quarters — pungent, and yet not altogether unpleasant — pervaded the atmosphere, the long lines of horizontal, flat-lying smoke stretching away from the stables for hundreds of yards, till meeting another and yet another little flaky cloud, the combined mass bore slowly and imperceptibly towards the wide spaces encircling the cantonment.