One of Clive's Heroes: A Story of the Fight for India
Herbert Strang
Produced by Al Haines.
Cover]
THE SUBAHDAR FALLS INTO THE TRAP.]
ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES
A Story of the Fight for India
By HERBERT STRANG
HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY
Copyright, 1906, by the Bobbs Merrill Company, in the United States of America
REPRINTED 1938 IN GREAT BRITAIN BY R. CLAY AND SONS, LTD., BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.
Preface
I have not attempted in this story to give a full account of the careerof Lord Clive. That has been done by my old friend Mr. Henty in _WithClive in India_. It has always seemed to me that a single book providestoo narrow a canvas for the display of a life so full and varied asClive's; while a story is bound to suffer, structurally and in detail,from the compression of the events of a life-time into so restricted aspace. I have therefore chosen two outstanding events in the history ofIndia and of Clive--the capture of Gheria and the Battle of Plassey; andhave made them the pivot of a personal story of adventure. The wholeaction of the present work is comprised in the years from 1754 to 1757.
But while this book is thus rather a romance with a background ofhistory than an historical biography with an admixture of fiction, thereader may be assured that the information its pages contain isaccurate. I have drawn freely upon the standard authorities: Orme's_History_, Ives' _Voyage_, Grose's _Voyage_, the lives of Clive byMalcolm and by Colonel Malleson, and many other works, in particular themonumental volumes, by Mr. S. C. Hill recently published, _Bengal in1756-7_, which give a very full, careful and clear account of thatnotable year, with a mass of most useful and interesting documents. Themaps of Bengal, Fort William, and Plassey in the present volume aretaken from Mr. Hill's work, by kind permission of the Secretary of Statefor India. I have to thank also Mr. T. P. Marshall, of Newport, forsome valuable notes on the history and topography of Market Drayton.For Indian words and names the Hunterian spelling has been adopted inthe main.
For several years I myself lived within a stone's throw of the scene ofthe tragedy of the Black Hole; and though at that time I had nointention of writing a story for boys, I hope that the impressions ofIndian life, character, and scenery then gained have helped to create anatmosphere and to give reality to my picture. History is more than amere record of events; I shall be satisfied if the reader gets fromthese pages an idea, however imperfect, of the conditions of life inwhich our empire-builders laboured in India a hundred and fifty yearsago.
HERBERT STRANG.
Contents
CHAPTER THE FIRST
In which the Court Leet of Market Drayton entertains Colonel RobertClive; and our hero makes an acquaintance
CHAPTER THE SECOND
In which our hero overhears a conversation; and, meeting with theexpected, is none the less surprised and offended
CHAPTER THE THIRD
In which Mr. Marmaduke Diggle talks of the Golden East; and our herointerrupts an interview, and dreams dreams
CHAPTER THE FOURTH
In which blows are exchanged; and our hero, setting forth upon histravels, scents an adventure
CHAPTER THE FIFTH
In which Job Grinsell explains; and three visitors come by night to the_Four Alls_
CHAPTER THE SIXTH
In which the reader becomes acquainted with William Bulger and othersailor men; and our hero as a Squire of dames acquits himself withcredit
CHAPTER THE SEVENTH
In which Colonel Clive suffers a defeat hitherto unrecorded; and ourhero finds food for reflection
CHAPTER THE EIGHTH
In which several weeks are supposed to elapse; and our hero isdiscovered in the doldrums
CHAPTER THE NINTH
In which the _Good Intent_ makes a running fight; and Mr. Toley makes asuggestion
CHAPTER THE TENTH
In which our hero arrives in the Golden East; and Mr. Diggle presentshim to a native prince
CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH
In which the Babu tells the story of King Vikramaditya; and thediscerning reader may find more than appears on the surface
CHAPTER THE TWELFTH
In which our hero is offered freedom at the price of honour; and Mr.Diggle finds that he has no monopoly of quotations
CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH
In which Mr. Diggle illustrates his argument; and there are strangedoings in Gheria Harbour
CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH
In which seven bold men light a big bonfire; and the Pirate finds ourhero a bad bargain
CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH
In which our hero weathers a storm; and prepares for squalls
CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH
In which a mutiny is quelled in a minute; and our Babu proves himself aman of war
CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH
In which our hero finds himself among friends; and Colonel Cliveprepares to astonish Angria
CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH
In which Angria is astonished; and our hero begins to pay off old scores
CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH
In which the scene changes; the dramatis personae remaining the same
CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH
In which there are recognitions and explanations; and our hero meets oneCoja Solomon, of Cossimbazar
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST
In which Coja Solomon finds dishonesty the worse policy; and a journeydown the Hugli little to his liking
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND
In which is given a full, true, and particular account Of the Battle ofthe Carts
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD
In which there are many moving events; and our hero finds himself acadet of John Company
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH
In which the danger of judging by appearance is notably exemplified
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH
In which our hero embarks on a hazardous mission; and Monsieur Sinfray'skhansaman makes a confession
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH
In which presence of mind is shown to be next best to absence of body
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH
In which an officer of the Nawab disappears; and Bulger reappears
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH
In which Captain Barker has cause to rue the day when he met Mr. Diggle;and our hero continues to wipe off old scores
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-NINTH
In which our hero does not win the Battle of Plassey; but, where all dowell, gains as much glory as the rest
CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH
In which Coja Solomon reappears; and gives our
hero valuable information
CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FIRST
In which friends meet, and part; and our hero hints a proposal
CHAPTER THE THIRTY-SECOND
In which the curtain falls, to the sound of bells; and our hero comes tohis own
