Знак чотирьох
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Iwasselectedtotakechargeduringcertainhoursofthenightofasmallisolateddooruponthesouthwestsideofthebuilding.TwoSikhtrooperswereplacedundermycommand,andIwasinstructedifanythingwentwrongtofiremymusket,whenImightrelyuponhelpcomingatoncefromthecentralguard.Astheguardwasagoodtwohundredpacesaway,however,andasthespacebetweenwascutupintoalabyrinthofpassagesandcorridors,Ihadgreatdoubtsastowhethertheycouldarriveintimetobeofanyuseincaseofanactualattack.
“Well,Iwasprettyproudathavingthissmallcommandgivenme,sinceIwasarawrecruit,andagame-leggedoneatthat.FortwonightsIkeptthewatchwithmyPunjaubees.Theyweretall,fierce-lookingchaps,MahometSinghandAbdullahKhanbyname,botholdfighting-menwhohadbornearmsagainstusatChilian-wallah.TheycouldtalkEnglishprettywell,butIcouldgetlittleoutofthem.TheypreferredtostandtogetherandjabberallnightintheirqueerSikhlingo.Formyself,Iusedtostandoutsidethegateway,lookingdownonthebroad,windingriverandonthetwinklinglightsofthegreatcity.Thebeatingofdrums,therattleoftomtoms,andtheyellsandhowlsoftherebels,drunkwithopiumandwithbang,wereenoughtoremindusallnightofourdangerousneighboursacrossthestream.Everytwohourstheofficerofthenightusedtocomeroundtoalltheposts,tomakesurethatallwaswell.
“Thethirdnightofmywatchwasdarkanddirty,withasmall,drivingrain.Itwasdrearyworkstandinginthegatewayhourafterhourinsuchweather.
