We pick up the story of Captain Scot and the Nowgong fugitives where we left off in the last chapter – posing as prisoners of the remaining sepoys of the 12th BNI. They were standing on the outskirts of the city of Kabrai, and the de facto leader of the sepoys, one Durga Singh, was making himself troublesome.
He no longer believed there was any authority left with the EICo nor in the men, he had once recognised as his officers. The women and children continued to be a nuisance and their very presence was making the ruse difficult to sustain; in short, he wanted to be rid of them.
The city of Kabrai too, posed a problem. For some reason, the very name struck fear into the sepoys, and they suddenly asked Scot and the others to go and hide in the jungle – they promised to come back to them at night. Scot did not like the sound of this, and the other officers less so. As they were already posing as prisoners, why not just enter the city likewise?
Fidelity carried the day. A watchman who had accompanied them the whole distance from Nowgong was cajoled to enter the city first; he was to tell the same story: the Europeans were prisoners on their way to death. The sepoys were still hesitant, unsure if such a tale would fly in as big a city as this and returned the officers their swords – in case of an attack, the sepoys would be unable to protect them. Promising the watchman 500 rupees as a reward, he was sent on his way.

“He had a good villainous countenance that helped his tale out. It alone was worth the money. He carried a murderous iron bar that also helped out appearances, so we sent him off. Things seemed very gloomy, and we were obliged to look upwards for a ray of light. A drummer’s wife was moaning loudly here and was said to be dying. It was a melancholy assembly. After half an hour, we moved on, and soon, the town came in sight. The dak bungalow was untouched by fire, which was a strong argument in favour of the city being faithful to Government, and we made the most of this with the men. We all stopped at a well while the city people were being humbugged. We were glad when we were told to move on and that all was right. The men surrounded us, and we passed through the city as prisoners; not a man suspected we were not. Our position was a strange one. The natives were quiet. Many praised and congratulated our men, who put on the air of conquering heroes, who did not think very much of the praise of quiet citizens. I am glad to say for the city people that none abused us in any way. One man, standing almost naked on a raised platform, drew his sword and held it up aloft as we passed, in a very fine attitude. He was quite a study for a painter. It was an admirable declaration of the nation having drawn the sword to free themselves.”

They passed through the city unmolested. Taken to a hill outside the walls, an order was given to the city to send “to the Sahibs fresh water, and cakes, and fruit, and sweetmeats at once; and they obeyed the order liberally, and expeditiously. Grass was given us to lie on, and our horses were fed and watered. I heard one of the men say to one of the city people, “They are great men; we must give them an entertainment ere we kill them.” I was pleased that the other had the good taste to approve. Few men have been in such a situation. The whole city came out to see us. Some rejoiced at our fate and praised the Sepoys. One man said our rule was good and just. None were insulting, and none practised any reserve or concealment. I do not think that, on the whole, they wished our death. Two villainous Mussulmans, on ponies, wanted to have us walked off at once—zealous, pious fellows. Others, I believe, thought it very hard that the city should not have the pleasure of seeing just one or two heads taken off.”