(原版)澳大利亞語(yǔ)文第六冊(cè) LESSON 27

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LESSON 27 THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW [1]

THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW [1]

On every side death stared us in the face. As far as we could tell, no human skill could prevent it any longer. We saw the moment approach when we must bid farewell to earth, yet without feeling that awful horror which must have been the lot of the unhappy victims at Cawnpore [2] . We were resolved rather to die than yield, and were fully persuaded that in twenty-four hours all would be over.

We women strove to encourage each other, and to perform the light duties which had been given to us, such as conveying orders to the batteries [3] , and supplying the men with provisions, especially cups of coffee.

I had gone out to try to make myself useful, in company with Jessie Brown, the wife of a corporal in my husband's regiment. Poor Jessie had been in a state of restless excitement all through the siege, and had fallen away visibly within the last few days.

A constant fever consumed [4] her, and her mind wandered that day, when the thoughts of home seemed powerfully present to her. At last, overcome with fatigue [5] , she lay down on the ground, wrapped up in her plaid [6] . I sat beside her, promising to awaken her when, as she said, her "father should return from the ploughing."

She fell into a profound slumber, her head resting in my lap. I myself could no longer resist the desire to sleep, in spite of the roar of the cannon. Suddenly I was aroused by a wild, unearthly scream close to my ear; my companion stood upright beside me, her arms raised, and her head bent forward in the attitude [7] of listening.

A look of intense delight broke over her countenance. She grasped my hand, drew me towards her, and exclaimed, "Dinna ye hear it? dinna ye hear it? Ay. I'm no dreaming: it's the slogan [8] o' the Highlanders! We're saved! we're saved!"

Then flinging herself on her knees, she thanked God with passionate [9] fervour [10] .

My English ears heard only the roar of cannon, and I thought my poor Jessie was still raving [11] . But she darted to the batteries, and I heard her cry: "Courage! courage! Hark to the slogan—to the Macgregor, the grandest of them a'! Here's help at last."

A few moments more of this death-like suspense, and Jessie, who had again sunk on the ground, sprang to her feet, and cried in a voice that was heard along the whole line, "Will ye no believe it now? The slogan has ceased, indeed, but the Campbells are coming! D'ye hear? d'ye hear?"

At that moment all seemed indeed to hear the voice of God in the distance, when the pibroch [12] of the Highlanders brought us tidings of deliverance, for now there was no longer any doubt of the fact. That shrill, ceaseless sound, which rose above all other sounds, was indeed, the blast of the Scottish bagpipes, now shrill and harsh, then in softer tones, seeming to promise succour [13] to their friends in need.

THE CAMPBELLS ARE COMING!

Never, surely, was there such a scene as that which followed. Not a heart in the residency of Lucknow but bowed itself before God. All, by one impulse, fell upon their knees, and nothing was heard but bursting sobs and the murmured voice of prayer. Then all arose, and there rang out from a thousand lips a great shout of joy.

To our cheer of "God Save the Queen," they replied by the well-known strain that moves every Scot to tears, "Should auld acquaintance be forgot." After that nothing else made any impression on me. I scarcely remember what followed. Jessie was presented to the general on his entrance into the fort, while the pipers marched around playing once more the familiar air of "Auld Lang Syne."

—From a Letter by the Wife of an Officer

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[1] Lucknow: A town besieged during the Indian Mutiny.

[2] Cawnpore: A city where all the people had been killed by the rebels.

[3] batteries: Groups of cannon.

[4] consumed: Exhausted.

[5] fatigue: Weariness.

[6] plaid: Shawl.

[7] attitude: Position; posture.

[8] slogan: War-cry; watchword.

[9] passionate: Vehement; full of emotion.

[10] fervour: Warmth; zeal; intensity of feeling.

[11] raving: Crying wildly.

[12] pibroch: A martial tune played on the bagpipes.

[13] succour: Help.