N. Francis Xavier
Part XXXIII,(Continued from last week)
“Did you say Ferozepur district?”, Hemraj asked suddenly, turning towards Harpal.
The men were all sitting around the fire after listening to Goodur’s story, narrated by Harpal.
Harpal froze. Did he say something wrong? He tried to read the face of Hemraj, but, as usual, it was inscrutable.
Hemraj spoke after a full minute of silence.
“Capt. Wimberley was the District Superintendent of Police in Ferozepur prior to his posting to the Andamans….
The words fell like a bombshell among the stunned audience.
They all understood the implication of the statement. It means that Capt. Wimberley still has many informers there, who would report the return of a runaway from the Andamans.
All the members knew that Hemraj was close to Capt. Wimberley. He took special care of his sickly son Reginald Gordon Wimberley, known all over the settlement as Reggie Baba. He was a loveable lad of about 14 years of age, but weak in constitution. The Island climate did not suit him. He was also lame in one leg.
Capt. Reginald Justus Wimberley was known for his quiet efficiency in running the prison administration. Unlike the boisterous Capt. Birch he went about his job with utmost sincerity. Coming from an impoverished British family whose ancestors squandered their inheritance in gambling and other vices, he hoped to make a fortune for himself and retire to either Australia or New Zealand where huge land grants were being allotted to loyal ex-India men. When he retires as a Colonel in 1887, after a service of 37 years in the colonies, he would surely be considered for a good sinecure. With this hope he went about developing large plantations which would make the settlement self-sufficient in vegetables and crops. He went to Ceylon specially to bring the cuttings and seedling of many exotic species of plants that grew there.
Hemraj was always welcome in the house of the Wimberleys. As a ferryman he was constantly in demand as they chose to stay on the other side of the bay. A small village of the name Wimberley gunj was already coming up there.
Wimberley’s wife Minnie was a gracious hostess who did not discriminate between convicts and free men. A hot cup of tea would be ready as soon as Hemraj entered the house. She was loved by one and all in the settlement. Already the stretch of sea beyond Viper came to be known as Minnie Bay. During the time he waited for taking them to Ross she would narrate to Hemraj stories from their earlier postings in India.
However, the Wimberley’s were not lucky with their children. Soon after their marriage Minnie gave birth to a still-born daughter. Now Reggie was a weakling and lame. But the youngest, Charles Francis Irvine, or Charlie as everyone called him, was robust. He wanted to be a soldier, like his father.
Sheobrat spoke up first.
“We know how close you are to the Wimberleys Hem, but he would not hesitate to arrest you and bring you back to the islands. He has no power to countermand the orders of Col. Cadell. We are already dead men. Even if one of us is to be captured we’ll all be hunted down and brought back … to be hanged like dogs on Viper.
Everyone remained silent for some time.
“We must take a solemn oath, with this fire as witness, that we shall under no circumstances betray the whereabouts of the others, in case we are captured. But, we should try never to be captured”, Hemraj said.
Harpal sat crestfallen. He had no alternate plan. Where would he go?
Hemraj spoke again. “We must head for the Princely states — areas that are not controlled by the British. But there are many who are stooges of the British among them. Don’t go to the Nizam’s domains. He’s the biggest admirer of the British, and his Prime Minister Salar Jung. Don’t go to Darbhanga, Tonk, Rewa, Punjab or any of the southern states. Nepal is safe for us, but the entry points are heavily guarded. Burma or the North West Frontier Provinces are safe, but we’ll be easily recognized by our appearance. Change your names. Invent a story of being a travelling mendicant, or a sadhu. Never stay in the same place for more than a month. We must do this for some years at least — till the hunt becomes less hot.
“Also remember, if anyone betrays one of us the others should hunt him down, even to the ends of the earth, and subject him to the most horrible death — more horrible than what awaits us in the Andamans
Hemraj’s words sent a chill down the spines of the men sitting there.
One by one they stretched forth their arms over the fire and swore that they would remain loyal to one another till the end of their lives.
The tide started coming in. The whaler was gently launched. With the addition of one more passenger the boat rode a bit heavily over the monsoon swells. The sails went up and Hemraj turned the bows towards the East, where freedom lay. (To be continued….)
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