i6o PATNA DURING THE MUTINY. 



fellows in serving under such go-a-head men as Cotton, and my 

 " master — Tayler." He said the surrounding hills up there had 

 been lined with armed Afghans, who held aloof, watching the 

 course of events, before deciding which side to take. But when 

 they saw the English vigorous policy, they came in by thousands, 

 for Nicholson to enlist, and send off to fight for us at Delhi. 



I found the volatility, of which my masters complained at school, 

 stood me in good stead at Patna, for, notwithstanding the storm 

 which was going on around, I had arrived at the happiest epoch of 

 my life, with companions fully as joyous and light-hearted as myself. 



Another of my companions, whose name calls up many pleasant 

 recollections, was Frank Vincent, the magistrate of Barh, an out- 

 lying station, thirty miles from Patna. Ross Mangles, Colvin, and 

 I, whilst the Mutiny was going on, occasionally would drop down 

 the Ganges in a boat to Barh, for duck or snipe shooting, and we 

 were sure to find a hearty welcome. I thought that Frank must 

 feel so very helpless in case of an attack, being the only Englishman 

 in the place, that I volunteered to stay and keep him company ; but 

 he took me to his stable, and exhibited a thoroughbred, whose 

 saddle was hung up handy, and he said that as his scouts would 

 give him warning if the enemy approached, he could easily ske- 

 daddle, and arrive at Patna within two hours. 



Although Frank leisurely rode over to Patna to see us all, when 

 he felt a longing to talk in his mother-tongue; thanks, I believe, 

 to Mr. Tayler's vigorous policy, he never had occasion to try the 

 metal of his steed, except at the local races. 



At first I lived at Patna, in a house called Rosy Bower, close to 

 the bazaar, and spent much of my time studying with a Munshi, 

 who, as regards manners, contrasted very pleasantly with most of 

 my Marlborough masters. For he would 



" . . . bend his body, 

 If I did carelessly but nod at him." 



And whilst at school, my Preceptors would shout out wildly. 



