And then the Captain and the Subaltern understood the Colonel's silence generally, and his fierce anger when he did speak of those days.
It was the next day before Gascoyne resumed his story.
"After Nanukchund's story," he went on, "a dull feeling of hatred, mingled with my purpose of vengeance, took possession of me; and though I loathed the sight of a black face, I found myself under the necessity of assuming one myself. With great care I stained myself all over, and at length both Nanukchund and I were satisfied that my disguise was perfect.
"Some of our men had spent months among the natives undetected; and my own perfect knowledge of the languages spoken in the Gangetic districts, and of the habits and customs of the people, rendered me secure. To Nanukchund I said nothing of my project. So far as he knew, I was only going to join my countrymen where-ever I could find them in force. I said good-bye to him, and promised, when things were settled, he should be gratefully remembered, and I gave him a letter that should have insured his safety in case our people laid hands on him. The next day I was one amongst the ruffians who had butchered my comrades and my countrywomen. That very night I had a chance of killing Survur Khan the butcher. I found him drunk in the doorway of a deserted house. No one was near. I dragged him inside. He laid like a log on the floor. I stood over him, and was about to plunge my knife into his heart, but I reflected.
"He would die insensible to his end; he would not know why he died. So I altered my mind, and on his forehead I made two deep incisions in the form of a cross. The brute moved and groaned, but he was too far under the influence of bhang to be conscious. When I next saw him, although the wound was covered by his turban, I knew by the look in his eyes there was a terror in his heart, which would remain with him until his hour came. The next day Nana retreated on Bithoor, accompanied by the Begum. Then after Futtehpore he retreated with about 3,000 followers into Nepaul, whither I accompanied him."
"From this," said the Colonel, "nothing certain of him was known."
"You shall hear now," said Gascoyne, and continued—
"From the first, dissensions and quarrels arose, which, with desertions, soon reduced their followers to half their number. With the remainder, for nearly two years Nana lived like an outlaw, moving from place to place, his followers slowly diminishing in numbers, from desertion and deaths, disease and hunger, for provisions were terribly scarce and dear. Nana and the Begum were both carried, whenever a move was made, in dhoolies, but now it began to be difficult to find bearers; and here my great opportunity opened for me.
"With the money supplied to me by Nanukchund I paid certain of the ablest-bodied bearers to become my servants. These I humbly placed at the Rajah's disposal. With gratitude he accepted my offer, for he looked with the anticipation of terror toward the time when he might be compelled to walk, for his obesity was now so great, as also was the Begum's, and his Oriental hatred of exertion was so pronounced, that death would almost be preferable. I kept my bearers fed and ready at his will, and I became his favoured slave, but I laughed in my heart, for I was preparing his sacrifice.
"After another year of wandering, the word spread of a great reward offered by the English Government for the Nana, dead or alive, also of pardon for all not actually guilty of murder. Then a conspiracy among the hundred or so followers left was set on foot to earn the reward, but, still determined to feed my unsatisfied vengeance, I betrayed it to the Rajah, and, heading those who were still faithful to him, I fell on the conspirators the night before their projected outbreak, and slaughtered them to a man; and no word can paint the fierce joy I felt as my sword found its sheath in the hearts of the murderous villains. Our numbers now scarcely reached 50, amongst whom was Survur Khan. This man's life had now become a terror to him. I haunted his sleeping and his waking hours. I always made him feel that Nemesis hovered near. He had long ago found that I knew of the scar on his forehead.