e commander of the Punjaub Movable Column, to
perform, in fact, that "desperate deed" of which Edwardes had spoken to
Lord Canning.

CHAPTER VIII.

WITH THE MOVABLE COLUMN.

On the formation of the Movable Column to which the council of war at
Peshawur had agreed, Sir John Lawrence gave the command to
Brigadier-General Neville Chamberlain. Nicholson, like Edwardes and
Cotton, had volunteered for the post, and, in view of the fact that the
suggestion had been his, was somewhat disappointed at being passed
over; but he made no protest. On the other hand, he affirmed that the
Chief Commissioner had made the best choice. His loyal friendship to
Chamberlain would admit of no jealousy.

Soon after the cutting up of the 55th Regiment of Sepoys at Mardan,
however, Neville Chamberlain was promoted to be Adjutant-General, and
Nicholson, with the rank of Brigadier-General, was placed in command of
the column. It was a popular choice. After Chamberlain there was no
one better fitted for the post. With the exception of, perhaps,
Edwardes, Nicholson surpassed any of his _confreres_ in the Punjaub in
his intimate knowledge of the native mind, while his commanding
presence and strong personality marked him out as the man for a crisis
such as had arisen.

The first thing to be done in Nicholson's estimation when he took over
the leadership of the Movable Column was to purge it thoroughly of any
taint of disaffection. Two native regiments were suspected, and he
resolved on disarming these at once. On the morning of the 25th of
June, while the column was halting on the high road leading to Delhi,
the British regiments, with the guns, were manoeuvred into position so
that they would completely command the sepoys of the 33rd and 35th, who
were marching into camp a little later. When they arrived they would
walk straight into a trap.

There was no hitch in the proceedings. Not a native of the suspected
regiments had any idea that anything out of the usual was about to
occur. Some of the British officers were lying carelessly on the
ground laughing and talking as the 35th came up and found themselves
suddenly confronted by a menacing line of infantry and guns. As
Nicholson, through his staff officer, Roberts, gave the order to "pile
arms," the sepoys' faces fell. But a moment's reflection showed them
that they were outwitted, and sullenly they threw down their muskets
and belts, which were immediately carted off to