Знак четырех
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Someofthempointedatme,andacoupleofbulletssangpastmyhead;soIbrokeawayacrossthepaddy-fields,andfoundmyselflateatnightsafewithinthewallsatAgra.
“Asitproved,however,therewasnogreatsafetythere,either.Thewholecountrywasuplikeaswarmofbees.WherevertheEnglishcouldcollectinlittlebandstheyheldjustthegroundthattheirgunscommanded.Everywhereelsetheywerehelplessfugitives.Itwasafightofthemillionsagainstthehundreds;andthecruellestpartofitwasthatthesementhatwefoughtagainst,foot,horse,andgunners,wereourownpickedtroops,whomwehadtaughtandtrained,handlingourownweapons,andblowingourownbugle-calls.AtAgratherewerethe3rdBengalFusiliers,someSikhs,twotroopsofhorse,andabatteryofartillery.Avolunteercorpsofclerksandmerchantshadbeenformed,andthisIjoined,woodenlegandall.WewentouttomeettherebelsatShahgungeearlyinJuly,andwebeatthembackforatime,butourpowdergaveout,andwehadtofallbackuponthecity.
“Nothingbuttheworstnewscametousfromeveryside,—whichisnottobewonderedat,forifyoulookatthemapyouwillseethatwewererightintheheartofit.Lucknowisratherbetterthanahundredmilestotheeast,andCawnporeaboutasfartothesouth.Fromeverypointonthecompasstherewasnothingbuttortureandmurderandoutrage.
“ThecityofAgraisagreatplace,swarmingwithfanaticsandfiercedevil-worshippersofallsorts.Ourhandfulofmenwerelostamongthenarrow,windingstreets.
