Unfortunately their friendship, such as it is, will not
weigh in the slightest degree in the event of a struggle. At any
rate, I am sure they are not behind the scenes, and know nothing
whatever of any coming trouble. Going as I do among them, and
talking to them as one of themselves, I should have noticed it had
there been any change in them; and of late naturally I have paid
special notice to their manner. Well, if it is to come I hope it
will come soon, for anything is better than suspense."
Two days later Major Hannay read out to the men on parade an
official document, assuring them that there was no truth whatever
in the statements that had been made that the cartridges served
out to them had been greased with pigs' fat. They were precisely
the same as those that they had used for years, and the men were
warned against listening to seditious persons who might try to
poison their minds and shake their loyalty to the Government. He
then told them that he was sorry to say that at one or two stations
the men had been foolish enough to listen to disloyal counsels,
and that in consequence the regiments had been disbanded and the
men had forfeited all the advantages in the way of pay and pension
they had earned by many years of good conduct. He said that he had
no fear whatever of any such trouble arising with them, as they
knew that they had been well treated, that any legitimate complaint
they might make had always been attended to, and that their officers
had their welfare thoroughly at heart.
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