e incarnation of the Brahman god, and he soon gathered
about him a little company of enthusiastic fellow-worshippers. To
their hero's annoyance, the "Nikalseyns," as they styled themselves,
indulged in open adoration, even prostrating themselves at his feet.
In vain did he threaten them with condign punishment, and at last
actually resort to flogging. The devotees admired him all the more for
his severity, and sang his praises still louder.

"After the last whipping," says Sir Herbert Edwardes in a character
sketch of the hero, "Nicholson released them, on the condition that
they would transfer their adoration to John Becher (Abbott's successor
at Hazara), but, arrived at their monastery, they once more resumed the
worship of the relentless Nikalseyn."

In his reminiscences of India[1] Mr. R. G. Wilberforce states that the
Sikhs declared they would raise a Taj to Nicholson, beside which the
famous Golden Taj at Umritsur should be as nought, did he but openly
profess their religion.

"During the time that Nicholson was with the column," he continues,
writing of the days before the march to Delhi, "it was a common sight
of an evening to see the Sikhs come into camp in order that they might
see him. They used to be admitted into his tent in bodies of about a
dozen at a time. Once in the presence, they seated themselves on the
ground and fixed their eyes upon the object of their adoration, who all
the while went on steadfastly with whatever work he was engaged in,
never even lifting his eyes to the faces of his mute worshippers."

[Illustration: "They seated themselves on the ground and fixed their
eyes upon the object of their adoration."]

"Sometimes, overcome perhaps by prickings of conscience, or carried
away by feelings he could not control, one of them would prostrate
himself in prayer. This was an offence against the committal of which
warning had been given, and the penalty never varied: three dozen
lashes with the cat-o'-nine-tails on the bare back."

With Chuttur Singh's open revolt the second Sikh War had fairly begun.
Nicholson was now more and more in demand, doing guerilla service, or
engaged in such useful work as collecting boats for Sir Joseph
Thackwell to cross the Chenab River and acting as intelligence officer
to the forces. At the battle of Chillianwallah he did duty as
aide-de-camp to Lord Gough, and at Guzerat, which followed soon after,
he and his Pathans enjoyed the distinction of captur