sight of us, and some of our number were published as among the dead.
In the midst of these vicissitudes the question was discussed whether we had not better, for the ladies' sake, try to cross the Himalayas and strike the Brahmapootra behind them, and so make our way by that river to Burmah; a proposition that would have been madness to have attempted, situated as we were, without resources, and which would have involved our destruction. The fact of the proposition, however, shows the extremity to which we were reduced when intelligent men could seriously propose such a mode of escape.
The English judge at Budaon, near Bareilly, was a pious gentleman of the name of Edwards. Before the rebellion I had gone, at his earnest request, to visit that place and hold divine service with his family on a Sabbath day. Two or three natives had been led to embrace Christianity, one of whom, named Wuzeer Singh, had resigned his position in a Sepoy regiment to join the little band whom Mr. E. cared for. The “mutiny” broke out soon after. Judge Edwards had sent his wife and child to Nynee Tal, but resolved, to use his own words, “to stick to the ship as long as she floated,” and he remained, the only European officer in charge of his district, with 800,000 people within its bounds. “I went,” he says, “into my room and prayed earnestly that God would protect and guide me, and enable me to do my duty.”
At six o'clock on Monday morning the Sepoys broke into open mutiny. . . . Mr. Edwards, revolver in hand, forced his way through the crowd, and approached a “fine, powerful Patan, about fifty years of age,” named Moottan Khan, one of the leaders. Mr. E. rode up to him, and putting his hand on his shoulder, said, “Have you a family and little children?” The Patan nodded. “Are they not dependent on you for bread?” “Yes,” was the answer. “Well, so have I,” said Mr. E., “and I am confident you are not the man to take my life, and destroy their means of support.” Moottan Khan hesitated a moment, then said, “I will save your life; follow me;” and he escorted him out of the city.
