"
But although no news of any outbreak similar to that at Barrackpore
was received for some days, the report that came showed a widespread
restlessness. At various stations, all over India, fires, believed
to be the work of incendiaries, took place, and there was little
abatement of the uneasiness. It become known, too, that a native
officer had before the rising of Berhampore given warning of the
mutiny, and had stated that there was a widespread plot throughout
the native regiments to rise, kill their officers, and then march
to Delhi, where they were all to gather.
The story was generally disbelieved, although the actual rising
had shown that, to some extent, the report was well founded; still
men could not bring themselves to believe that the troops among whom
they had lived so long, and who had fought so well for us, could
meditate such gross treachery, without having, as far as could be
seen, any real cause for complaint.
The conduct of the troops at Deennugghur was excellent, and the
Colonel wrote that at Cawnpore there were no signs whatever of
disaffection, and that the Rajah of Bithoor had offered to come
down at the head of his own troops should there be any symptoms
of mutiny among the Sepoys. Altogether things looked better, and a
feeling of confidence that there would be no serious trouble spread
through the station.
The weather had set in very hot, and there was no stirring out
now for the ladies between eleven o'clock and five or six in the
afternoon.
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