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diff --git a/27908.txt b/27908.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0625770 --- /dev/null +++ b/27908.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13835 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fix Bay'nets, by George Manville Fenn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Fix Bay'nets + The Regiment in the Hills + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Illustrator: W.H.C. Groome + +Release Date: January 27, 2009 [EBook #27908] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIX BAY'NETS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Fix Bay'nets, by George Manville Fenn. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +ON THE MARCH. + +Trrt--trrt--trrt. Just that little sound, as the sticks flirted with +the drumheads to keep the men in step; for Her Majesty's 404th Fusiliers +were marching "easy." So it was called; and it meant with the men +smoking, and carrying their rifles as they pleased--shouldered, at the +trail, slung muzzle up or muzzle down. But, all the same, it was a +miserable fiction to call it marching easy, for it was impossible to +make that march anything but hard. Why? Because of the road. + +No; that is a fiction, too. It is absurd to call that stony shelf of +rock, encumbered with stones of all sizes, full of cracks and holes, a +road. It was almost in its natural state, with a smooth place here and +there where it had been polished in bygone ages by avalanches of ice or +stones. + +But the sun shone brightly; the scenery was glorious, and grew in places +awe-inspiring, as the regiment wound up and up the pass, and glimpses of +snow-capped mountain and glowing valley were obtained. + +To any one perched on high, as were a few scattered goats, the regiment, +with its two mounted officers, its long train of mules, ambulance, and +baggage-guard, and the native attendants, must have looked like a colony +of marauding ants on their march, so wonderfully was everything dwarfed; +even the grand deodar cedars growing far down the precipitous slopes +below the track, which were stately trees, springing up to a hundred and +a hundred and fifty feet, looking like groups of shrubs in the clear, +pure air. + +It was as much climbing as marching, and, as Bill Gedge said, "all agin +the collar;" but the men did not seem to mind, as they mounted higher +and higher in the expectation of finding that the next turn of the +zigzag was the top of the pass. + +"Here, I say," cried the owner of the just-mentioned name, a thin, +wiry-looking fellow, whom so far drill and six months in the North-west +Territory of Her Majesty's Indian dominions had not made +muscular-looking; though, for the matter of that, he did not differ much +from his companions, who in appearance were of the thorough East-end +Cockney type--that rather degenerate class of lads who look fifteen or +sixteen at most when twenty. Stamina seemed to be wanting, chests +looked narrow, and their tunics covered gaunt and angular bodies, while +their spiked white helmets, though they fitted their heads, had rather +an extinguisher-like effect over the thin, hollow-cheeked, beardless +faces. + +Defects, all these, that would naturally die out; but at the time now +under consideration any newspaper writer would have been justified in +calling them a regiment of boys. + +But, boy-like, it did not trouble them, for, apparently as fresh as when +they had started hours before, they seemed to be revelling in the +wonderful air of the mountain region, and to be as full of antics as a +party of schoolfellows out for a day. Songs had been sung, each with a +roaring chorus; tricks had been surreptitiously played on the "pass it +on" principle--a lad in the rear tilting the helmet of the file in front +over his eyes, or giving him a sounding spank on the shoulder with the +above admonition, when it was taken with a grin and passed on right away +to the foremost rank; while the commissioned officers seemed to be +peculiarly blind and deaf so long as their lads marched well, and there +was no falling-out of done-up fellows waiting for the ambulance to +overtake them for the rest of the march. + +"Here, I say," cried Private Gedge, "I ain't a-going to drop no coppers +in no blessed hats when that there band comes round. They don't 'arf +play." + +"Don't keep _on_," said the file on his left. + +"Play? Yah! Why, we might jest as well have a dozen of them +tom-tomming niggers in front saying `Shallabala' as they taps the skins +with their brown fingers." + +"You are a chap, Bill," said another. "Talk about yer Syety for Cruelty +to Hanimals! Why, yer orter be fined. It's all I can do to keep wind +enough to climb up here, let alone having to blow a brass +traction-engine, or even a fife." + +"Gahn! They're used to it. They don't half play. Pass the word on for +`Brish Grannydiers.'" + +Bang--bang--bang--bang! Four distinct beats of the big drum, which were +taken up by the echoes and repeated till they died away in the distance, +in company with volleys of notes in a spirited crash from the brass +instruments far in front, as the band struck up a rattling march, whose +effect was to make breasts swell, heads perk up, and the lads pull +themselves together and march on, many of them beginning to hum the +familiar melody which had brightened many a long, up-country tramp. + +"Talk about telly-phoning, Billy; they heered you without." + +"Yes, that's your style," cried the first speaker, bursting out with a +very good imitation of Punch in one of his vocal efforts, and +supplementing it with a touch of the terpsichorean, tripping along in +step with a suggestion of a nigger minstrel's jig. + +Marching easy does not mean free and easy: and this was too much for one +of the sergeants of the company, a tall, gaunt, particularly bony-faced +fellow, frowning and full of importance, but almost as boyish of aspect +as those who bore no chevrons on their sleeves. + +He came up at the double, unnoticed by the dancer, and tried to range up +alongside; but the rocky shelf was for some minutes not wide enough. +Consequently he had time to grow redder in the face and more angry. + +At last, though, he was in a position to speak. + +"Here, you, sir," he shouted; "drop that. You're not on a cellar flap +now. Recollect where you are." + +Private Gedge gave a start, and squinted horribly for the benefit of his +comrades right and left, as he pulled himself together, jerked his rifle +over from one shoulder to the other, and marched on with his body stiff +as a rifle-barrel. + +"You're too full of these monkey-tricks, sir; and if there's any more of +them I shall report you." + +Private Gedge squinted more horribly than ever, as he marched on now as +stiffly as if being drilled--too stiffly to satisfy the sergeant, who +kept close behind. + +"March easy, sir! march easy!" he cried importantly, and the offender +dropped his rigidity, the result being that the sergeant returned to his +place in the rear of the company, while Private Gedge relieved his +feelings in a whisper. + +"Yah! Gee up! Gee! Who wouldn't be a sergeant? Bless his heart! I +love him 'most as much as my mother dear--my mother dear--my gee-yentle +mother deear." + +He sang the last words, but in a suppressed voice, to the great +amusement of his fellows. + +"Oh, I say, I wish I warn't a swaddy," he whispered. + +"Why?" asked the lad on his left. + +"So as to give old Gee one on the nose, and then have it out with him. +I'd make him warm. It's this sort o' thing as makes me hate it all. +The orficers don't mind us having a bit of a lark to make the march go +light. They takes no notice so long as we're ready for 'tention and 'll +fight. It's on'y chaps like Tommy Gee as has got his stripes that comes +down upon you. Why, I was singing and doing that plantation song on'y +yesterday, and Mr Bracy and Cap'en Roberts come along, and they both +laughed. Bet sixpence the Colonel would have looked t'other way.--Oh, I +say, ain't I hungry! Is it much farther?" + +"I dunno," said another; "but ain't the wind cold up here?" + +"Band's done again," said Gedge. "That was a short un. I s'pose if I +was to cry `Hongcore' old Gee 'd be down upon me again." + +Ten minutes later the men had something more substantial to think about +than music, for the shelf-like track came to an end in a great natural +amphitheatre, whose walls were dwarfed mountains streaked with rifts and +ravines which glistened white and sparkling as they scored the green +grassy slopes, while the floor of the great hollow was a beautiful mead +through which a fairly rapid torrent ran. + +The halt was called upon a tolerably smooth level, arms were piled, and +with the celerity displayed in a regiment on the march, the camp +kitchens were formed, the smoke of fires rose, and videttes being thrown +out after the fashion observed in an enemy's country, the men were free +for a couple of hours' halt for rest and refreshment, to their great +delight. + +Pending the efforts of the regimental and camp follower cooks, some of +the men began to roam about within bounds; and the group to which +Private Gedge was joined made for one of the little ravines which +glistened white in the sunshine, and the joker of the company soon made +his voice heard. + +"Oh, I say," he cried. "Only look! Here yer are, then. Here's yer +hoky-poky. Here's yer real 'apenny ices laid on free gratis for +nothing. Here yer are, sir; which 'll yer 'ave, strorbry or rarsbry? +The real oridgenal 'stablishment, kep' by Billi Sneakino Pianni Organni. +Who says hoky-poky?" + +"Why, 'tis real ice, Bill," said one of the men. + +"Snow," said another. + +"Gahn!" cried Private Gedge, scooping up a couple of handfuls. "It's +hailstones, that's what it is. You on'y get snow atop o' the high +mountains." + +"But it is snow, my lad," said a voice from behind, and the party +started round, to see that a couple of their officers had followed to +look at the glittering rift which ran right up hundreds of feet. "We're +pretty high now." + +"How high, sir?" said Gedge, saluting. + +"We're at the top of the pass now," said the young officer who had +spoken; "ten thousand feet above the sea." + +"Why, that's higher than the top of Saint Paul's, sir," said one of the +men. + +"Top o' Saint Paul's," cried Gedge scornfully. "Why, it's higher than +the Monniment atop o' that. Higher than 'Amstead, ain't it, sir?" + +"Yes," said the young officer, smiling.--"Don't straggle away, my lads. +Keep close in." + +The speaker strolled away back with his companion towards where the +native servants were busily preparing the mess meal, and their men +looked after them. + +"Ain't them two chummy?" said one. + +"They jest are," said Gedge. "That Captain Roberts aren't a bad sort; +but Mr Bracy's the chap for my money. He looks as if he could fight, +too, if we had a row with the niggers." + +"Oh, I don't know," said another superciliously; "you can't never tell. +Some o' them nice-looking dossy chaps ain't up to much. They can talk, +but they talk too fast. How could he know we were ten thousand foot +high? Why, that must be miles, and that's all stuff." + +"What do you know about it, stoopid?" cried Gedge fiercely. "Miles. +Why, of course it is. Ain't we come miles this morning?" + +"Longwise, but not uppards." + +"Not uppards? Why, it's been sich a gettin' upstairs ever since we +started this morning. Don't you be so jolly ready to kick again' your +orficers. Mr Bracy's a reg'lar good sort; and if we comes to a set-to +with the niggers he'll let some of yer see. I say, though, think we +shall have a row?" + +"You bet! I heered Sergeant Gee say we should be at it 'fore long, and +that these here--what do they call 'em?" + +"Dwats," said one of the men. + +"Yes, that's it," cried Gedge. "That's right. I remember, because I +said to myself if we did we'd jolly soon give 'em Dwat for." + +Just then a bugle rang out, and the men doubled back for the lines, +where, thanks to the clever native cooks, a hastily prepared meal was +ready and made short work of, the keen mountain air and the long march +having given the men a ravenous appetite. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE COLONEL. + +"Well, Colonel," said Dr Morton as the officers sat enjoying their +lunch, breathing in the crisp mountain air and feasting their eyes at +the same time upon the grand mountain scenery, "I must confess to being +a bit lazy. You may be all athirst for glory, but after our ride this +morning pale ale's good enough for me. I'm not a fighting man, and I +hope when we get to the station we shall find that the what you may call +'em--Dwats--have dissolved into thin air like the cloud yonder fading +away on that snow-peak. If, however, it does come to a set-to, here I +am, my dear boys, at your service, and I'll do the best I can." + +"Thank ye, Doctor," came in chorus from the officers; "but the less the +better." + +"We shall have something to do, for certain," said the Colonel, a +keen-looking, deeply bronzed man of fifty, "for these hill-tribes will +never believe in England's strength till they have been well thrashed; +but a fight does not mean for certain that we shall want the doctor's +help afterwards." + +"So much the better," said that gentleman, laughing. "But, as I said, +here I am if you want me, and I've got as well-arranged an ambulance +as--" + +"Oh, I say, Doctor, don't talk shop," cried the young officer spoken of +as Captain Roberts, a handsome, carefully dressed young fellow of seven +or eight and twenty. "They're regular curs, are they not, sir--these +Dwats?" he added, turning to the Colonel. + +"Certainly not," replied the latter gravely. "They are decidedly a +brave, bold, fighting race. Tall, dark, big-bearded, just such fellows +as hill-tribes are; restless, pugnacious fighting-men, always engaged in +petty warfare with the neighbouring chiefs, and making plundering +expeditions." + +"I see, sir," said the Captain; "like our old Border chieftains used to +be at home." + +"Exactly," said the Colonel; "and each chief thinks he is one of the +greatest monarchs under the sun. England is to them, in their +ignorance, only a similar nation to their own, and the Empress a +lady-chief." + +"We shall have to teach them better," said the Major, a gentleman with +an eyeglass and a disposition to become stout. "We shall soon do it. A +good sharp lesson is all that's wanted. The only difficulty is that, +though they are as a rule always busy cutting one another's throats, as +soon as one of the tribes is attacked they all become friends and help +one another." + +"Save us trouble." + +"What's that, Bracy?" said the Colonel. + +"Save us trouble, sir," said the young man, laughing; "we can thrash +half-a-dozen of the tribes together." + +"With a regiment of raw boys?" said the Major, frowning so fiercely that +he shot his glass out of his eye and replaced it angrily. + +"Look here, Graham, you and I are going to quarrel." + +"What about, sir?" + +"Your bad habit of depreciating our lads." + +"Yes," said the Doctor, nodding his head sharply. "You do, Major, and +it isn't good form to cry bad fish." + +"But it's true," said the Major sharply. "The War Office ought to be +ashamed of itself for sending such a regiment of boys upon so arduous a +task." + +"The boys are right enough," said the Colonel. "What do you say, +Bracy?" + +"I say of course they are, sir." + +"Yes, because you're a boy yourself," said the Major in a tone which +made the young man flush. + +"I wish I had some more boys like you, Bracy, my lad," said the Colonel +warmly. "Graham's a bit touched in the liver with the change from warm +weather to cold. He doesn't mean what he says--eh, Morton?" + +"That's right, Colonel," said the Doctor. "I have my eye upon him. +He'll be asking for an interview with me to-morrow, _re_, as the lawyers +say, B.P. and B.D." + +"Hang your B.P.s and B.D.s!" said the Major hotly. "I mean what I say, +Colonel. These boys ought to have had three or four years in England +before they were sent out here." + +"But they are sent up into the hills here where the climate is glorious, +sir," cried the Doctor, "and I'll answer for it that in a year's time +they will have put on muscle in a wonderful way, while in a couple of +years you'll be proud of them." + +"I'm proud of the lads now," said the Colonel quietly. + +"I'm not," said the Major. "I feel like old Jack Falstaff sometimes, +ready to say, `If I be not ashamed of my soldiers, I'm a soused gurnet.' +They're boys, and nothing else." + +"Nonsense," said the Colonel good-humouredly. "I've seen some service, +and I never had men under me who marched better or more cheerfully than +these lads have to-day." + +"And not one fell out or came to me with sore feet," said the Doctor +stoutly. "Boys? Well, hang it all! they're not such boys as there were +in the old 34th." + +"What do you mean?" said the Major, shooting his eyeglass again. + +"In the Peninsular War, sir," said the Doctor; "a regiment of boys, +whose ages were from fourteen to sixteen, and they behaved splendidly." + +"That's right," said the Colonel, nodding his head. + +"Oh yes," cried the Major superciliously; "but they had only the French +to fight against. Any English boy could thrash a Frenchman." + +"Don't despise the French, Graham," said the Colonel quietly. "They are +a very brave and gallant nation; and as to our lads, I certainly agree +that they are very young; but when, as the Doctor says, they have been +out here a bit, and put on more muscle--" + +"But, hang it all, sir!" cried the Major, "they didn't come out here to +put on muscle, but to fight. And as to your 34th, our fellows haven't +got to fight Frenchmen, but these big hill-tribes. The boys are right +enough in their place, and we shall make soldiers of them in time; but +suppose to-morrow or next day we come plump upon the enemy--what then?" + +"Our boys will make them run, sir," cried Bracy, flushing up. + +"You mean they'll make our lads run," growled the Major. + +"No, I don't, sir. I'll answer for our company. What do you say, +Roberts?" + +"Same as you do, old man. Go on; you can put it stronger than I can." + +"No," said Bracy: "perhaps I've said too much, as the youngest officer +in the regiment." + +"Not a bit, my lad," cried the Colonel warmly. "I endorse all you say. +They are terribly young-looking, but, take them all together, as bright +and plucky a set of fellows as any officer could wish to command." + +"Yes," said the Major through his teeth; "but look at them to-day. Hang +me if they didn't at times seem like a pack of schoolboys out for a +holiday--larking and shouting at one another, so that I got out of +patience with them." + +"Better like that than limping along, discontented and footsore," said +the Colonel gravely. "The boys are as smart over their drill as they +can be, and a note on the bugle would have brought every one into his +place. I don't want to see the life and buoyancy crushed out of lads by +discipline and the reins held too tightly at the wrong time. By the +way, Graham, you dropped the curb-rein on your horse's neck coming up +the rough pass, and thoroughly gave him his head." + +"Yes," said the Major; "but we were talking about men, not horses." + +"Bah! Don't listen to him," cried the Doctor, laughing. "He's a bit +yellow in the eyes, and he'll be singing quite a different song soon. +The boys are right enough, Colonel, and all the better for being young-- +they'll mould more easily into your ways." + +"Humph!" growled the Major, frowning at the Doctor, who responded by +raising his glass, nodding, and drinking to him. + +It did not seem long before the bugle sounded, and the men fell in, +every lad drawing himself well up, trying to look his best and as proud +as a peacock, when the Colonel rode along the ranks, noting everything +and ready to give boy after boy a look of recognition and a word of +praise about something which had been improved; for Colonel Graves had +one of those memories which seem never to forget, and it had long been +borne in upon the lads in the ranks that their leader noted and +remembered everything, ready for blame or praise. + +In this case he drew rein opposite one very thin-looking fellow, making +his sallow face turn red. + +"Felt any more of that sprain, Smith?" + +"No, sir; right as can be now. Ain't felt it a bit." + +"That's right. Fall out, my lad, if it turns weak in the least, and get +a ride." + +"Yes, sir; thanky, sir. I will, sir." + +A little farther on there was another halt. + +"Those boots right, Judkins?" + +"Yes, sir; fit splendid, sir." + +"Good. Take care for the future; you and all of you. A man can't march +well unless he has a comfortable boot, and a chafe once begun and +neglected has sent many a good soldier into hospital." + +"These are fust-rate, sir," said the man quickly. "Easy as a glove." + +And so on as the Colonel rode along the ranks, making every man feel +that his officer had a real interest in his welfare. + +The inspection over, the advance-guard set off, then the order, "Band to +the front," was given, and the regiment filed off past the Colonel's +horse, making for a narrow opening between two hills which seemed to +overlap, and sent back the strains of the musical instruments in a +wonderful series of echoes which went rolling among the mountains, to +die away in the distance. + +Half-an-hour later the only signs left of the occupation of the pass +were a few birds hovering about and stooping from time to time after +some fragment of food. But all at once the birds took flight, as if in +alarm, and the cause was not far to seek; for there was a flash in the +afternoon sunshine among the rugged masses of half-frozen rocks on one +side of the amphitheatre; then another flash, and a looker-on would have +seen that it came from the long barrel of a gun. + +Directly after appeared a tall, swarthy man in white which looked dingy +by comparison with the beds of snow lying on the northern side of the +mountains. + +The man stole cautiously from stone to stone, and after making sure that +the last soldier forming the baggage and rear-guard had disappeared, he +ran quickly back to one of the snow-filled ravines and made a signal by +holding his gun on high. + +This he did three times, and then turned and ran steadily across the +meadow-like bottom of the halting-ground, till he was near the narrow +gap through which the regiment had passed, to recommence his furtive +movements, seeking the shelter of stone after stone till he disappeared +between the folding rocks, while in his track came in a straggling body +quite a hundred active-looking men of the same type--strongly built, +fierce-looking, bearded fellows, each carrying a long jezail, +powder-horn, and bullet-bag, while a particularly ugly curved knife was +thrust through the band which held his cotton robe tightly about his +waist. + +By this time the last of the rear-guard was well on its way, and the +hill-men followed like so many shadows of evil that had been waiting +till the little English force had passed, and were now about to seek an +opportunity for mischief, whether to fall upon the rear or cut up +stragglers remained to be seen. Possibly they were but one of many +similar parties which would drop down from the rugged eminences and +valleys which overlooked the track, completely cutting off the retreat +of Colonel Graves's regiment of boys, of whose coming the tribes had +evidently been warned, and so were gathering to give them a warm +reception when the right time came. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +FIRST TROUBLES. + +"Steady, my lads! steady!" said Lieutenant Bracy. "Not too fast, or we +shall leave the baggage behind." + +Warnings like this had to be given again and again; for, though the +track was as bad as ever, it was for the most part downhill, and the +patches of snow lying in the jagged hollows on either side of the pass +were less frequent, while the sheltered slopes and hollows were greener +with groves of stunted fir and grass, and, far below, glimpses were +obtained of deep valleys branching off from the lower part of the pass, +whose sides were glorious in the sunshine with what seemed to be tiny +shrubs. + +For the men required checking. They were growing weary, in spite of +their midday halt, and longing to get to the ground below the snow-line, +where they were to camp for the night. + +Colonel Graves was no less eager; for, though his little force was safe +enough on the right, where the side of the pass sloped precipitately +down, the track lay along a continuation of the shelf which ran upon the +steep mountain-side, the slope being impossible of ascent, save here and +there where a stream tumbled foaming down a crack-like gully and the +rocks above them rose like battlements continued with wonderful +regularity, forming a dangerous set of strongholds ready to conceal an +enemy who could destroy them by setting loose stones in motion, or, +perfectly safe themselves, pick the men off at their leisure. + +"I shall be heartily glad to get on to open ground again, Graham," said +the Colonel. + +"My heart has been in my mouth for the last two hours," was the reply. +"We can do nothing but press on." + +"And trust to the rocks up there being impassable to the enemy, if there +is one on the stir." + +"Yes; I don't think he could get up there," replied the Major; "but +there is an enemy astir, you may be sure." + +"I suppose so. The fact of a force like ours being at their mercy would +set all the marauding scoundrels longing. Well, we have done everything +possible. We're safe front and rear, and we can laugh up here at any +attack from below on the right." + +Just about the same time Bracy and his friend Roberts were tripping and +stumbling along with their company, the slowness of the baggage giving +them time to halt now and then to gaze in awe and wonder at the +stupendous precipices around and the towering snow-mountains which came +more and more into sight at every turn of the zigzag track. + +"I suppose the Colonel knows what he's about," said Bracy during one of +these halts. + +"I suppose so," replied Roberts. "Why?" + +"Because we seem to me to be getting more and more into difficulties, +and where we must be polished off if the enemy lies in wait for us in +force. Why in the world doesn't he try another way to Ghittah?" + +"For the simple reason, my boy, that there is no other way from the +south. There's one from the north, and one from the east." + +"That settles the question, then, as to route; but oughtn't we to have +flankers out?" + +"Light cavalry?" said the Captain grimly. + +"Bosh! Don't talk to me as if I were a fool. I mean skirmishers out +right and left." + +"Look here, young fellow, we have all we can do to get along by the +regular track." + +"Irregular track," said Bracy, laughing. + +"Right. How, then, do you think our lads could get along below there?" + +"Yes; impossible," said Bracy, with a sigh; and then glancing upward at +the towering perpendicular rocks, he added, "and no one could get along +there even with ropes and scaling-ladders. Well, I shall be precious +glad to be out of it." + +"There, don't fret. I expect we shall find any amount of this sort of +country." + +"Then I don't see how any manoeuvring's to be done. We shall be quite +at the mercy of the enemy." + +"Oh! one never knows." + +"Well, I know this," said Bracy; "if I were in command I should devote +my attention to avoiding traps. Hallo! what's amiss?" + +The conversation had been cut short by the sharp crack of a rifle, which +set the echoes rolling, and the two young officers hurried forward past +their halted men, who, according to instructions, had dropped down, +seeking every scrap of shelter afforded by the rocks. + +"What is it?" asked Bracy as he reached the men who were in front, the +advance-guard being well ahead and a couple of hundred feet below. + +Half-a-dozen voices replied, loud above all being that of Private Gedge: + +"Some one up there, sir, chucking stones down at us." + +"No," replied Bracy confidently as he shaded his eyes and gazed up; "a +stone or two set rolling by a mountain sheep or two. No one could be up +there." + +"What!" cried the lad excitedly. "Why, I see a chap in a white +nightgown, sir, right up there, shove a stone over the edge of the +parrypit, and it come down with a roosh." + +"Was it you who fired?" + +"Yes, sir; I loosed off at him at once, but I 'spect it was a +rickershay." + +"Keep down in front there, my lads," said Captain Roberts. "Did any one +else see the enemy?" + +A little chorus of "No" arose. + +"Well, I dunno where yer eyes must ha' been, pardners," cried Gedge in a +tone full of disgust; and then, before a word of reproof or order for +silence could be uttered, he was standing right up, shaking his fist +fiercely and shouting, "Hi, there! you shy that, and I'll come up and +smash yer." + +The words were still leaving his lips when Bracy had a glimpse of a +man's head, then of his arms and chest, as he seemed to grasp a great +stone, out of a crack five hundred feet above them, and as it fell he +disappeared, the sharp cracks of half-a-dozen rifles ringing out almost +together, and the stone striking a sharp edge of the precipitous face, +shivering into a dozen fragments, which came roaring down, striking and +splintering again and again, and glancing off to pass the shelf with a +whirring, rushing sound, and strike again in a scattering volley far +below. + +"Any one touched?" cried the Captain. + +"No, sir; no, sir." + +"I think that chap were, sir," whispered Gedge, who was reloading close +to Bracy's side. "I didn't have much time to aim, sir, and the smoke +got a bit before my eyes, but he dropped back precious sudden. But oh, +dear me, no!" he went on muttering, and grinning the while at his +comrades, "I didn't see no one up there. I'd got gooseb'ries in my head +'stead of eyes. Now then, look out, lads; it's shooting for nuts, and +forty in the bull's-eye." + +"Hold yer row; here's the Colonel coming," whispered the man next him. + +"Keep well under cover, my lads," said Bracy as the clattering of hoofs +was heard. + +"Right, sir," said one of the men. + +"Why don't you, then?" muttered Gedge. + +"Silence, sir!" snarled Sergeant Gee, who was close behind. + +"All right," said Gedge softly; "but I don't want to see my orficer go +down." + +For, regardless of danger, while his men were pretty well in shelter, +Bracy was standing right out, using a field-glass. + +"Cover, cover, Mr Bracy," cried the Colonel sharply, and as he reined +up he was put quickly in possession of the facts. + +"Shall we have to go back, Sergeant?" whispered Gedge. + +"You will--under arrest, sir, if you don't keep that tongue between your +teeth." + +"All right, Sergeant," muttered Gedge. "I only wanted to know." + +He knew directly after, for the Colonel cried sharply: + +"That's right, my lads; keep close, and fire the moment you see a +movement. You six men go over the side there, and fire from the edge of +the road." + +The section spoken to rose and changed their positions rapidly, and as +they did so a couple more blocks of stone were set in motion from above, +and struck as the others had done, but did not break, glancing off, and +passing over the men's heads with a fierce _whir_. + +"Cover the advance with your company, and change places with the +rear-guard when they have passed. Steady, there, my lads," continued +the Colonel to the next company of the halted regiment; "forward!" + +He took his place at their head, and advanced at a walk as coolly as if +on parade; and the first movement seemed like a signal for stone after +stone to be sent bounding down, and to be passed on their way by the +long, thin, bolt-like bullets from the covering company's rifles, which +spattered on the rocks above and kept the enemy from showing themselves, +till, finding that every stone touched in the same place and glanced off +the projecting shoulder half-way up, they became more bold, irritated +without doubt by seeing the soldiers continue their course steadily +along the track in spite of their efforts to stop their progress. + +"That's got him," cried Bracy excitedly as he watched a man, who at the +great height looked a mere dwarf, step into full view, carrying a block +upon his shoulder. + +This he heaved up with both hands above his head, and was in the act of +casting it down when three rifles cracked, and he sprang out into space, +diving down head first and still grasping the stone, to pass close over +the marching men, strike the stony edge of the shelf, and shoot off into +the deep valley below. + +The horrible fall seemed to impress the covering party strangely, and +for a brief space nothing was heard but the irregular tramp of the +passing men. + +"That's put a stop to their little game," whispered Gedge. + +"Look out! fire!" growled the Sergeant; and a couple more of the enemy +fell back, after exposing themselves for a few seconds to hurl down +stones. + +"Serve 'em right, the cowards," said Gedge, reloading. "If they want to +fight, why don't they come down and have it out like men?" + +"I say," whispered his neighbour on the left, "you hit one of them." + +"Nay, not me," replied Gedge. + +"You did." + +"Don't think so. Fancy I hit that beggar who pitched down, stone and +all. I felt like hitting him. But don't talk about it, pardner. One's +got to do it, but I don't want to know." + +"No," said Bracy, who overheard the words and turned to the lad, "it's +not pleasant to think about, but it's to save your comrades' lives." + +"Yes, sir, that's it, ain't it?" said the lad eagerly. + +"Of course," replied Bracy. + +"And I ought to shoot as straight as I can, oughtn't I?" + +"Certainly." + +"Hah!" ejaculated Gedge, and then to his nearest comrade, "I feel a deal +better after that." + +The stony bombardment continued, and Bracy watched every dislodged block +as it fell, feeling a strange contraction about the heart, as it seemed +certain that either it or the fragments into which it splintered must +sweep some of the brave lads steadily marching along the shelf, horribly +mutilated, into the gulf below. + +But it was not so; either the stones were a little too soon or too late, +or they struck the side and glanced off to fly whirring over the line of +men and raise echoes from far below. For, after certainly losing four, +the enemy grew more cautious about exposing themselves; and as the +minutes glided by it began to appear as if the regiment would get past +the dangerous spot without loss, for the baggage mules and heavily-laden +camels were now creeping along, and the covering party at a word from +Captain Roberts became, if possible, more watchful. + +It was about this time that Bill Gedge, who tired seldom, but with the +effect of keeping the stones from one special gap from doing mischief, +drew the Sergeant's attention to that particular spot, and, hearing his +remarks, Bracy lay back and brought his field-glass to bear upon it. + +"It ain't no good firing at a pair o' hands coming and going," said +Gedge. "I want to ketch the chap as is doing that there bit o' brick +laying." + +"Bit of what!" cried Bracy. + +"Well, I calls it bricklaying, sir. You see, I've watched him ever so +long, sticking stones one above another, ready to shove down all +together. I think he means to send 'em down on the squelchy-welchies." + +"The what?" cried Bracy, laughing. + +"He means the camels, sir." + +"Oh. Yes, I can see," continued Bracy. "Looks more like a breastwork." + +Even as he spoke there was a puff of smoke, a dull report, and a sharp +spat on the rock close to the young officer's hand, and he started up, +looking a little white, while Sergeant Gee picked up a flattened-out +piece of lead. + +"Right, sir," he said; "it is a breastwork, and there's a couple o' long +barrels sticking out." + +"Let them have it there," cried Captain Roberts. "They're opening fire +with their jezails." + +"Yes, sir," said Gedge in a whisper; "we've just found that out for +ourselves." + +He drew trigger as he spoke, and as the smoke rose and he looked up, +loading mechanically the while, he caught sight of a long gun dropping +swiftly down, barrel first, to fall close by one of the camels, grunting +and moaning as it bore its balanced load along the shelf. + +"Mine," cried Gedge. "I hit the chap as he was looking down. I wants +that there long gas-pipe to take home." + +"Thank you, Gedge," said Bracy in a low voice. "I believe you've saved +my life." + +"Not me, sir; he shot first, but it did look near." + +"Horribly, my lad, and he'd have had me next time." + +"Think so, sir?" said the lad, taking aim again. "Well, there's another +on 'em shooting, and I want to get him if I can. Stop him from +committing murder, too." + +Gedge took a long aim, and his finger trembled about the trigger for +nearly a minute, but he did not fire; and all the while, evidently set +in motion by a good strong party of the enemy, the stones came crashing +and thundering down, in spite of the firing kept up by the covering +sections, whose rifle-bullets spattered and splashed upon the rocks, and +often started tiny avalanches of weathered debris. + +Then all at once Gedge fired, and the long barrel, which had been thrust +out from the little breastwork and sent down dangerous shots time after +time, was suddenly snatched back, and the lad reloaded, looking +smilingly at the lieutenant the while. + +"Good shot," said Sergeant Gee importantly. "You didn't do your +firing-practice for nothing, my man." + +"Did you hit him, Gedge?" cried Bracy eagerly. + +"Yes, sir; he had it that time. I could ha' done it afore if he'd ha' +showed hisself." + +"But he did at last." + +"That he didn't, sir, on'y his shadder on the stone, and I aimed at +that." + +"Nonsense!" cried the Sergeant. + +"Ah, well, you'll see," said Gedge, and he turned with a grin to his +officer. "I foun' as I should never hit him strite forrard, sir, so I +thinked it out a bit, and then aimed at his shadder, and it was like +taking him off the cushion--fired at the stone where I could see the +shadder of his head." + +"Ah! a ricochet," cried Bracy. + +"That's it, sir; a rickyshay." + +The stones continued to fall without effect; but no one above attempted +to expose himself again to the deadly fire from below. + +Suddenly Bracy started from his place. + +"Up with you, my lads; forward!" + +Waving his sword, he made a rush, leading his men along the +deadly-looking piece of road swept by the stones from above, for the +rear-guard had passed in safety; and, with his breath coming thick and +fast, he dashed forward, knowing full well that their first movement +would be the signal for the stones to come down thick and fast. He was +quite right; for, as the men cheered and dashed after their two +officers, block after block came whirring down, crashing, bounding, +shivering, and seeming to fill the air with fragments so thickly that it +was quite impossible to believe the passage of that hundred exposed +yards could be accomplished in safety. But they got across untouched, +and the men cheered again as they clustered about their officers, the +precipitous spot where they now stood being sheltered from the danger, +apparently inaccessible even to the enemy. + +"Bravo, my lads!" cried the Captain. + +"Splendidly done," said Bracy, breathless, "and not a man hurt." + +"All here?" said Captain Roberts. + +"Yes, sir;" "Yes, sir," came in a scattered volley of words. + +"No--stop!" said Bracy excitedly. "Where's Gedge?" + +There was a dead silence, the men looking at one another and then back +along the stone-strewed track, only a third of which was visible. But +there was no sign of the missing man, and after a word or two with his +brother officer Bracy doubled back, followed by Sergeant Gee, till they +had rounded a bend of the track and could command the whole distance. +As they halted to examine the road, another stone fell from above, +struck the road, and then bounded off into the valley. + +"There he is," cried Bracy excitedly, thrusting his sword back in its +scabbard. "Just beyond where that stone fell." + +"Yes, sir; I see him now. It's all over with the poor lad. Here, sir; +don't, sir. What are you going to do?" + +"Do? Fetch him in," said Bracy sharply. + +"No, sir; don't, sir. It's like going to a 'orrid death," faltered the +Sergeant, whose face was of a clayey hue. "You mustn't go, sir. You +ought to order me to fetch him in, and I will if you tell me." + +"I'm not going to tell our lads to do what I daren't do myself," said +Bracy coldly. "They can't see us here--can they?" + +The Sergeant glanced upward, but the view in that direction was cut off +by projecting masses of stone. + +"No, sir; they can't see us here." + +"Then here goes," cried the young officer, drawing a deep breath and +pressing his helmet down upon his head. + +"No, sir; don't--" began the Sergeant in tones of expostulation; but he +did not finish, for before the second word had left his lips Bracy was +bounding along as if running in an impediment race, leaping masses of +stone, avoiding others, and making for where he could see the motionless +figure; of Gedge still grasping his rifle and lying face downward among +the stones. + +A yell arose from above as Bracy bounded into view, and stones began to +fall again; while, upon reaching the fallen man, the young officer, +completely ignoring the terrible peril in which he stood, bent down, +passed his arms about the waist, raised him, and with a big effort threw +him over his shoulder; and then turned and started back, carrying the +poor fellow's rifle in his right hand. + +The yells from above increased, and before Bracy had gone half-a-dozen +yards of the return journey there was a loud _whish_, and he stopped +short, for a block of stone struck the path not a yard before him, and +then bounded off. For a moment or two Bracy felt mentally stunned by +the close approach of a horrible death; then, recovering himself, he +strode on again, feeling strongly that it was more perilous to stand +still than to go on, with every step taking him nearer to safety. + +There was an intense desire burning within him to try and run, but the +rugged path forbade that, and he tramped slowly on with his load, with +the air seeming to his heated imagination to be thick with the falling +missiles which came hurtling around. + +"The next must do it," he found himself muttering, as he went on with +what, though only a matter of minutes, seemed to be a long journey, +before, coming confusedly as it were out of a dream, he heard the +cheering of his men, and Sergeant Gee and three more relieved him of his +load, while the crash and rattle of the falling stones seemed to be far +behind. + +"Hooray!" A tremendously hearty British cheer--only that of a company, +but as loud it seemed as if given by the whole regiment; and the next +thing out of the confused dream was the feeling of his hand being +grasped, and the hearing of his brother officer's voice. + +"Splendid, old man!" he whispered. "Talk about pluck! But what's the +matter? Don't say you're hurt?" + +"No--no, I think not. Only feel a bit stunned." + +"Then you're hit by a stone?" + +"No, no. There, I'm better now. Here! That poor fellow Gedge! I hope +he isn't killed." + +They turned to the little group of men who surrounded poor Gedge, now +lying on his back, with Gee upon one knee bending over him, and trying +to give him some water from his canteen. + +"Dead?" cried Bracy excitedly. + +"'Fraid so, sir," replied the Sergeant. "Stone hit him on the 'elmet, +and I expect his head's caved in." + +"Bathe his face with a handful of the water," said Bracy sadly. "Poor +lad! this was horribly sudden." + +Both he and Roberts looked down sadly at the stony face so lately full +of mischievous animation, and in view of the perilous position in which +they stood and the duty he had to do, the Captain was about to order the +men to make an extempore stretcher of their rifles and the Sergeant's +strong netted sash, so that the retreat could be continued, when Gee +dashed some water in the prostrate lad's face. + +The effect was marvellous. In an instant a spasm ran through the stony +features. There was a fit of coughing and choking, and as the men +around, always ready for a laugh, broke out, the supposed dead opened +his eyes, stared blankly, and gasped out: + +"Stow that! Here, who did it? Here, I'll just wipe some one's eye for +that, here, I know--I--here--I s'y--I--er--Mr Bracy, sir! You wouldn't +play tricks with a fellow like that? Ah, I recklect now!" + +The poor fellow's hand went to his bare head, and he winced at the acute +pain the touch gave him. + +"I say, sir," he said, "ketched me a spank right there.--Is my 'elmet +spoiled?" + +"Never mind your helmet, Gedge, my lad," cried Bracy, who was bending +over him. "There, you must lie still till we get something ready to +carry you to the ambulance." + +"Kerry me, sir! What for? Ain't going to croak, am I? Not me. Here, +I'm all right, sir. Give's a drink outer my bottle.--Hah! that's +good.--Drop more, please, Sergeant,--Thanky.--Hah! that is good. Feel +as if I could drink like a squelchy-welchy.--Here, I s'y, where's my +rifle?" + +"I've got it, pardner," said one of the lads. + +"Oh, that's right. Ain't got the stock skretched, hev it?" + +"No, no; that's all right, Bill." + +"Glad o' that. Here, I s'y; I went down, didn't I?" + +"Yes, my lad; just in the middle of the worst bit where the stones were +falling." + +"That was it--was it? Well, I did wonder they never hit nobody, sir, +but I didn't expect they'd hit me." + +"What are you going to do, my lad?" said the Captain sharply. + +"Get up, sir.--Can't lie here. 'Tain't soft enough. I'm all right. +Only feel silly, as if I'd been heving my fust pipe.--Thanky, +Sergeant.--Here, it's all right; I can stand. Who's got my 'elmet?" + +The poor fellow tottered a little, but the British pluck of his nature +made him master the dizzy feeling, and the old familiar boyish grin +broke out over his twitching white face as he took hold of the helmet +handed to him and tried to put it on. + +"Here, I s'y," he cried, "no larks now; this ain't in me." + +"Yes, that's yours, Gedge," said the Sergeant. + +"Got such a dint in it, then, that it won't go on." + +"No, my lad," said Bracy. "Here, Sergeant, tie my handkerchief round +his head." + +"Yes, sir; thank ye, sir. Here, hold still, Gedge," cried the Sergeant. + +"Well, I'm blest!" muttered the poor fellow; "there's all one side +puffed out like arf a bushel basket. Here, I've often heard of chaps +having the swelled head when they've got on a bit; but I won't show it, +mateys. I won't cut your company.--Thank ye, Sergeant." + +"Fall in," cried the Captain. "Gedge, you'll have to be carried. Two +men. Sergeant, and change often." + +"I can walk, sir, please," cried Gedge. "Let me try. If I can't some +un can carry me then." + +"Very well, try.--Forward." + +The march was resumed, but after a few steps the injured lad was glad to +grasp the arm offered him by Gee. + +"Thanky, Sergeant," he said. "Just a bit dizzy now, and I don't want to +go over the side. Better soon; but, I say, did you fetch me in?" + +"No: it was Mr Bracy," said Gee gruffly. + +"Oh, him!" said the lad quietly, and with a curious look in his eyes as +he gazed in the young lieutenant's direction. "Well, thank ye, sir; +much obliged," he said in an undertone. "I'll say so to you some time. +But I say, Sergeant, talk about having a head on; I've got it now." + +"Yes; but don't talk. Hullo! they're up above us again yonder." + +"What, the Dwat you may call 'ems?" + +"I s'pose so," said the Sergeant gruffly, as a stone crashed down close +to the foremost man. + +"And me not able to shoot!" muttered Gedge. "Well, of all the hard +luck! But I owe some on 'em something for that shy at my coco-nut; and +oh! I s'y, Sergeant, it's just as if some one was at work at it with a +pick." + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +WOUNDED MEN. + +The Sergeant was right, for, after turning a rib-like mass of stone +forming an angle in the path, it was to find that either a fresh party +of the enemy were waiting for them, or the others had by taking a short +cut reached an eminence commanding the path; and as soon as the company +came in sight they were saluted with an avalanche of stones, on a spot +where they were terribly exposed, there being no shelter that could be +seized upon by a few picked marksmen to hold the stone-throwers in check +while the rest got by. + +Matters looked bad, for the whole; of the baggage with the guard had +disappeared, and, to make matters worse, shot after shot came whistling +by from behind, indicating that the hill-men had come down to the track, +and were closely following them in the rear. + +"We must make a rush for it, Bracy," said Captain Roberts, as he gazed +up at the heights from which the invisible enemy were bombarding the +path. "We'll hold them back for a few minutes, and then you take half +the company and dash across to yonder rocks. As soon as you are in +shelter open fire and cover, as I fancy you can get a sight of them from +there. It's waste of ammunition to fire from here, and--Who's that +down?" + +For there was a sharp cry from one of the men, who staggered forward a +few yards, fell, and sprang up again minus his helmet, which had been +struck by a bullet from behind. + +"All right; not much hurt, sir," cried the sufferer, rejoining his +companions, after picking up his helmet, the back of which had been +scored by a nearly spent rugged missile, whose track was marked in a +long jagged cut across the man's right cheek-bone, from which the blood +was trickling down. + +The rear men were on the alert, watching for a chance to retaliate upon +their troublesome enemy, but holding their fire, for not a man was +visible, and it seemed useless to fire at the rocks they had just left. + +"The sooner we are out of this the better," said the Captain quietly. +"You know your work.--Wait a minute, and then at the word rush across to +the rocks." + +The minute had nearly passed, the time filled up by the rattle and roar +of falling stones, and Bracy's half-company, though at rest, were +panting hard with excitement like greyhounds held by a leash. Then, +just as the falling stones were beginning to slacken as if the throwers +grasped the fact that they were wasting their strength, and were +reserving their discharge till the half-company made its rush, there was +a sudden quick movement among the rocks they were to try and reach, and +Bracy's blood ran cold as, puff, puff, puff, and then crack, crack, fire +was opened. + +"Hah!" ejaculated Roberts excitedly; "they've got down somehow to cut us +off. We're between two fires, Bracy, man. There's nothing for it now +but to dash forward. You must clear them out of that. Don't stop to +pick up your men who go down. We shall be close behind, and will see to +them. Get across, and then turn and cover us if you can." + +Bracy nodded, and drew his revolver, just giving one glance upward at +the heights from whence the stones came, and then fixing his eyes upon +the rocks on the other side of the curve of the track, from which fresh +puffs of smoke arose, making their position look desperate with the +enemy in front and rear, supplemented by those hidden among the rugged +natural battlements of their stronghold. + +"How many men shall I lose?" thought the young officer; and then, "Shall +I get across alive?" + +The next moment all was changed. + +"Why, Roberts," he cried, "it's our own men yonder, firing up instead of +at us, to cover our advance." + +"Forward, then," cried Roberts. "We shall be close behind." + +Bracy dashed ahead, waving his sword, and his half-company of boys +cheered as they followed him; while as soon as they started there was a +tremendous crashing of dislodged masses of rock, which came thundering +down, fortunately sent too soon to injure the charging soldiery, who +were saved from a second discharge by a sharp crackling fire from the +rocks which they were to have occupied, the rapid repetitions telling +that a strong company of their friends were at work, and the bullets +spattering and flicking among the enemy, driving them at once into +cover. + +There was a hearty cheer to greet Bracy and his half-company as they +successfully crossed the stone-swept track and reached the shelter of +the rocks, ready to turn on the instant and help to keep down the +stone-throwing as Roberts and his men came along at the double. + +But Bracy's lads did not fire a shot aloft, for a glance at the second +half of the company revealed a new danger, and his men dropped into +position, ready to repel that with a volley. For no sooner had the +second half started than the track, a quarter of a mile in their rear, +suddenly seemed to become alive with white-garbed hill-men, who came +bounding along in a little crowd. + +"Steady, steady! make every shot tell, boys," cried Bracy. "Fire!" + +A ragged volley was the result; the hill-men stopped suddenly as if +petrified, and were hesitating still as to what they should do, when a +second volley sent them to the right-about, leaving several of their +number on the track, while half-a-dozen more were seen to drop before +their comrades were out of sight. + +There was another burst of cheering as the second half-company pressed +on without the loss of a man, Gedge having so far recovered that he was +able to double with one of his comrades, who came steadily on with him, +arm-in-arm. As the young officers stood breathless and panting with +their exertions, the stern, keen face of Colonel Graves suddenly loomed +above the smoke, and his horse bore him into their midst. + +"How many men down?" was his first eager question. + +"Two slightly wounded; that's all, sir," was the reply. + +"Forward, then," he said, and he signed to Roberts and Bracy to come to +his side. + +"You've done well," he said. "Retain your places as rear-guard. I'll +keep in touch with you.--Hark!" + +"Firing, sir," said Captain Roberts. + +"Yes; the Major must be clearing the way for us. We must get off this +shelf and on to open ground before dark." + +He turned his horse's head and made his way towards the front as rapidly +as the nature of the wretched rock-strewn shelf would allow; and the two +young officers tramped on at a fair distance from the rear of the +baggage-guard, keeping a sharp lookout for enemies in pursuit, feeling +little anxiety about the rugged eminences up to their left, knowing as +they did that they would have ample warning of danger by an attack being +made somewhere along the line whose extreme rear they were protecting. + +Their task was comparatively easy now, for their two wounded men had +been passed on to the baggage-train, so that they could be in charge of +the ambulance men and have the benefit of the Doctor's help. A shot +came now and then from behind, showing that the enemy were in pursuit; +but no mischief was done, a return shot or two from the rear files, who +retired in skirmishing order, silencing the firing at every outbreak. +Every step taken, too, now was more and more downward, and the keen +winds, sharpened by the ice and snow, which had cut down the ravines at +the higher part of the pass, were now tempered by the warm afternoon +sunshine, which bathed the tops of the shrubs they had looked down upon +from above, the said shrubs having developed into magnificent groves of +cedars, grand in form and towering in height. + +These last were for the most part on the farther side of the now verdant +valley--verdant, for its rocky harshness was rapidly becoming softened; +even the shelf along which they tramped began to be dotted with alpine +flowers, which gave the march the appearance of having lasted for +months, for the morning; had been in part among mountains whose +atmosphere was that of a sunny day in February. Now they were in May, +and according to appearances they were descending into an evening that +would be like June. + +Matters were going on so quietly now that the two officers found time +for a chat at intervals, one of which was as they passed a +formidable-looking spot where the thickly scattered stones and marks of +lead upon the rocks showed that it must have been the scene of one of +the attacks made by the enemy from the rocks above. But there was no +sign of them now, the only suggestion of danger being the presence of a +score of their men left to keep any fresh attack in check, and who +retired as soon as the rear-guard came in sight. + +"This must be where the Major had to clear the way," said Roberts as he +scanned the heights with his glass. + +"Yes," replied Bracy; "and I hope he was as well satisfied with the boys +as we were." + +"Shame if he wasn't," cried Roberts. "Pooh! don't take any notice of +what he said. You know his way." + +"Yes; he must have something to grumble at," replied Bracy. "If he were +with a regiment of veterans--" + +"Yes, of course; he'd be snarling because they were what he'd call +worn-out, useless cripples, only fit for Chelsea Hospital. The Doctor +was right: it's his liver." + +"Yes," said Bracy; "and when we are in camp to-night and at dinner he'll +be in the highest of glee, and do nothing but brag about how he made the +enemy run." + +"Well, yes; a bit of work always does him good. It isn't brag, though, +for I believe the Major to be a splendid officer, and if we have much to +do he'll begin showing us greenhorns what a soldier ought to be. But, I +say, don't talk about dinner. I didn't think of it before; now I feel +famished. My word! I shall punish it to-night." + +"If we get safely into camp," cried Bracy excitedly. "Down with you, my +lads, and look out. It came from across the valley there, from among +those trees." + +Even as he spoke, pat, pat, pat came as many bullets, to strike against +the bare face of the rock over their heads and fall among the stones at +their feet, while the reports of the pieces fired were multiplied by the +echoes till they died away. + +"Nothing to mind," said Roberts coolly. "They're trying to pick us off! +We can laugh at any attack if they try to cross the depths below +there." + +"Nothing to mind so long as we are not hit," replied Bracy; "but I +object to being made a mark for their practice. What have you got +there, Jones?" + +"One of their bullets, sir," said the man, who had picked up a messenger +which had come whizzing across the valley. + +"Bullet--eh? Look here, Roberts," and Bracy handed his brother officer +a ragged piece of iron which looked as if it had been cut off the end of +a red-hot iron rod. + +"Humph! Nice tackle to fire at us. Lead must be scarce. Now, that's +the sort of thing that would make a wound that wouldn't heal, and +delight old Morton." + +Pat, pat, again overhead, and the missiles fell among the stones. + +"We must stop this," said Roberts.--"Hold your fire, my lads, till you +have a good chance. One telling shot is worth a hundred bad ones." + +"Ah! Look out," cried Bracy, who was scanning the distant grove of +large trees across the valley a quarter of a mile away. "There they go, +breaking cover to take up ground more forward, to have at us again." + +For, all at once, some fifty white-coats became visible, as their owners +dashed out of one of the patches of cedars and ran for another a furlong +ahead. The lads were looking out, and rifle after rifle cracked. Then +there was quite a volley to teach the enemy that a quarter of a mile was +a dangerous distance to stand at when British soldiers were kneeling +behind rocks which formed steady rests for the rifles they had carefully +sighted. + +Five or six men, whose white-coats stood out plainly in the clear +mountain air against the green, were seen to drop and not rise again; +while the rest, instead of racing on to the cover in front, turned off +at right-angles and made for a woody ravine higher up the right face of +the valley; but they did not all reach it in safety. + +The firing brought back the Colonel, who nodded thoughtfully on hearing +Roberts's report. + +"Hurry on," he said; "the shelf descends to quite an opening of the +valley a quarter of a mile farther on, and there is a patch of wood well +out of reach of the hills, where I shall camp to-night. The +advance-guard have cleared it of a similar party to that you describe." + +"It was getting time," said Bracy to Roberts as the Colonel rode on. "I +shouldn't have liked for us to pass the night on this shelf. Think +they'll attack us after dark?" + +"Can't say, my son. If they do--" + +"Well, what?" asked Bracy. + +"We shall have to fight; but not, I hope, till we have had a comfortable +meal." + +"I hope the same; but I suppose there'll be no rest till we've had a +good set-to and thrashed the ruffians. Why, the country seems to be up +in arms against us." + +"Yes," said Roberts; "it's a way these genial hill-men have." + +"Fortunately for us it is very thinly peopled," observed Bracy as they +tramped along, seemingly as fresh as when they started. + +"Don't be too sure. We've been up among the mountains. Wait till we +see the vales." + +But the troubles of the day ceased at sunset, one which was made +wonderful with the hues which dyed the mountains of the vast Karakoram +range; and when the cooking-fires were out in the cedar grove and the +watches were set, officers and men slept well in the aromatic air; even +the mules did not squeal and kick so very much in their lines, while the +weary camels groaned and sighed and sobbed in half-tones, as if +bemoaning their fate as being rather better than usual, for none had +been riddled by bullets, fallen, or been beaten overmuch, and their +leaders had taken care that they were not overloaded, and that they had +plenty to eat and drink. The only men who slept badly were Gedge and +Symons, the man whose cheek-bone had been furrowed by a bullet. But +even they were cheerful as they talked together in the shelter of a +canvas tent, and passed the time comparing notes about their ill-luck in +being the first down, and calculating how long it would be before they +were back in the ranks. + +"Hurt much, matey?" said Gedge. + +"Pretty tidy, pardner. How's your nut?" + +"Been easier since the Doctor put the wet rag on it soaked with some +stuff or another. Oh, I shouldn't care a bit, only it keeps on swelling +up like a balloon, and it'll make a fellow look such a guy." + +"Hist!" said the other; "some one coming. The Doctor." + +"Are you asleep in there?" said a low voice. + +"Mr Bracy, sir," cried Gedge eagerly. "No, sir; we're wido." + +"How are you, my lads--in much pain?" + +"Oh no, sir; we're all right." + +"I came just to see how you are. Good-night. Try and get to sleep." + +"Yes, sir; thank ye, sir. Good-night, sir." + +"Good-night." + +There was a faint rustle as of feet passing over cedar needle, and then +a faint choky sound as if some one in the dark were trying to swallow +something. + +"I like that," said Symons at last in a whisper; "makes yer feel as if +yer orficers do think o' something else besides making yer be smart." + +"Like it?" said Gedge huskily. "I should just think you do. Oh, I say, +though, what a guy I shall look in the morning! Wish we'd got a box o' +dominoes and a bit o' candle." + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +BOYS IN ACTION. + +"Look at those boys," said Bracy the next morning on meeting his brother +officers at their attractive-looking mess breakfast, spread by the +native servants beneath a magnificent cedar. "Yes, they look cheery and +larky enough, in spite of yesterday's experience." + +"As full of fun as if this were a holiday," said another. + +"Ah," said Roberts, "no one would think that we were surrounded by the +enemy." + +"Are we?" asked Bracy. + +"Are we?--Just, hark at him.--Where have you been?" + +"Having a glorious bath in that torrent. The water was as clear as +crystal." + +"And cold as ice," said the Major, with a shudder. "I tried it in my +gutta-percha wash-basin." + +"Oh yes, it was cold," said Bracy; "but it was like a shower-bath +squared and cubed. It came down on my head in tubfuls, sent an electric +thrill through one's muscles, and a good rub sent every trace of +stiffness out of my legs. Feel as if I could walk any distance to-day." + +"Well, be patient, old man," said Roberts, laughing. "I dare say you'll +have a chance." + +"But what's that you were saying about the enemy?" + +"Why, every hill's covered with them, and they evidently mean to +attack." + +"Oh, very well," said Bracy, beginning upon his breakfast; "then I +suppose we must fight." + +There was a laugh behind him, a hand was laid upon his shoulder, and the +young man looked up sharply, to see that the Colonel had come up +silently over the thick carpet of cedar needles. + +"Good-morning, sir." + +"Good-morning--all," said the Colonel quietly. "All well?" + +A chorus of assent ran round the group, and the Colonel continued: + +"That's the spirit to take it in, Bracy. Of course we must fight; and +the sooner the scoundrels give us the chance the better--eh, Graham?" + +"Yes; we've come to give them a lesson, and they'll get it. We ought to +reach the station by evening. The poor fellows there must be anxiously +looking out for us." + +"Yes; I've sent three different messengers to say that we shall be there +by night, and I hope one out of the three will get there with the news." + +"Then you mean to go on at once?" + +"Of course. Did you think I meant to stay here?" + +"I only thought it possible that, as this was a strong place, and we +have plenty of provisions and good water, you might hold on and let them +attack us." + +"Oh no," replied the Colonel, taking his seat on the ground with the +rest. "If we do that the enemy will take it for granted that we fear +him. It must be forward, and plenty of dash." + +"Yes; but while our lads are raw they would be more steady behind such a +breastwork, or zareba, as we could soon make round us." + +"I thought the boys were steady enough yesterday," said the Colonel +quietly; "and we shall be far better off in the open than drawn out in a +line on that narrow shelf." + +"Oh, then we shall have a better road to-day?" + +"Yes," said the Colonel, going on calmly enough with his meal. "As far +as I can gather from our guides, who all agree as to the character of +the road, we have wide, open valleys, with forest till within a couple +of miles of Ghittah; then the mountains close in again, and we have a +narrow shelf to traverse high above the bottom of a gorge." + +"With plenty of places for stone-throwers?" said the Major. + +"Plenty," replied the Colonel; "so you know what you have to expect, +gentlemen. But I hope and believe that unless they are too closely +beleaguered the little garrison at the station will make a sally to meet +us, and help to clear the way." + +"What a jolly old humbug Graham is!" whispered Roberts. "It's all to +belittle our lads. He knew that as well as the Colonel." + +"I suppose so," replied Bracy. "Ah, here's the Doctor." + +For that gentleman came bustling up, smiling and nodding to all in turn. + +"Morning, Doctor," said the Colonel. "What do you think of your +patients this morning?" + +"My patients? Seen them?" + +"Yes," said the Colonel quietly. "Bracy and I had a look at them as +soon as it was light." + +"Getting on splendidly," said the Doctor, rubbing his hands. "Narrow +escape for that boy whose cheek is scratched; an inch or two more to the +left, and--" + +"Ah! Bah! The old story, Doctor," said the Major contemptuously. + +"Yes, sir," replied the Doctor tartly, as he fixed his eyes on the +portly, middle-aged officer on the opposite side of the cloth. "You +didn't take those pills, then?" + +"How do you know?" + +"By the way you talk," said the Doctor, chuckling, and screwing up one +eye and glancing round at the rest. + +"No, sir, I did not take the rubbish," said the Major angrily, as he saw +every one smiling. "Was it likely that I should take them at a time +like this?" + +"No, I suppose not," said the Doctor coolly; "but I should. But, as I +was going to say, Colonel, it's wonderful what a deal the human skull +can bear. Now, for instance, that boy Gedge: a great stone comes down +many hundred feet, increasing in velocity with the earth's attraction, +strikes him on the head, and down he goes, insensible, with his skull +crushed in, you would expect; but no: it is the old story of the +strength of the arch and the difficulty in cracking an egg-shell from +outside, though the beak of a tiny chicken can do it from within." + +"Then there's no fracture?" said Bracy eagerly. + +"Not so much as a faint crack, sir. Fellow was too thick-headed." + +The Colonel sprang to his feet the next minute, for one of the officers +appeared to announce the appearance of three several bodies of men +descending from the distant heights. + +"How near?" asked the Colonel. + +"The nearest about a mile and a half, sir." + +"Another live minutes for you to finish your breakfast, gentlemen, and +then we march." + +The bugles were sounding directly after, and in less time than their +leader had given out, the officers were with their companies, the native +servants had replaced the camp equipage, and at the end of the quarter +of an hour the march was resumed in the most orderly way, the +baggage-train being strongly guarded, and the men well rested, flushed, +and eager for the coming fray. + +It was like a glorious late spring morning in England, and the wide +valley the regiment was traversing presented a lovely series of +landscapes, backed up in front and to right and left with mighty +snow-capped mountains, whose peaks looked dazzling in the early morning +sun. But though every breast breathed in the crisp air with a strange +sense of exhilaration, no one had eyes for anything but the two bodies +of white-robed men approaching them from right and left, the third being +hidden by the forest patch where the troops had bivouacked, and for +which the enemy had made as soon as it was evacuated, evidently to cover +their movements prior to a rush upon the rear. + +The Colonel, upon seeing this, made a slight alteration in his plans, +halting Captain Roberts's company with orders to close in and follow the +rear of the column, thus bringing the impedimenta and servants more into +the centre, the movement being performed without the slightest check to +the advance, though the appearance of the bodies several hundred strong, +to right and left, was very suggestive of an immediate attack. + +This was delivered, evidently by an agreed-upon signal; for suddenly a +tremendous burst of yelling arose, and the two unorganised crowds came +rushing down upon the column, which halted, faced outward, and the next +moment, while the enemy on either hand was about a couple of hundred +yards off, there was a rolling volley nearly all along the line, and the +white smoke began to rise, showing the two bodies of the enemy +scattering and every man running for his life back towards the hills, +but leaving the flowery grass dotted with patches of white, others +dropping fast as they grew more distant and the wounds received began to +take effect. + +There was a little disorder in the centre among the servants, and mules +and camels were restive as the shouting hill-men came rushing on, with +their swords flashing in the sunshine, and the rattle of the musketry +threatened to produce a panic; but the native servants behaved well, and +were quieting their animals, when there was another suggestion of panic, +as Captain Roberts suddenly exclaimed: + +"Here they come, Bracy!" + +For the sergeants and men thrown out in the rear a couple of hundred +yards suddenly turned and fired and came running in to take their +places, as the two rear companies were halted, swung out right and left +in line, fixed bayonets, with the peculiar ringing, tinkling sound of +metal against metal, and waited the coming of the third body of the +enemy, as strong as the two which had attacked in front. + +They came out from the shelter of the cedar forest with a rush, yelling +furiously, each man waving his long jezail in his left hand, while a +long curved tulwar, keen as a razor, flashed in his right--big, +stalwart, long-bearded, dark-eyed men, with gleaming teeth and a fierce +look of determination to slay painted in every feature. + +It was enough to cow the stoutest-hearted, for in numbers they were +enough to envelop and wipe out of existence the handful of +slight-looking lads ranged shoulder to shoulder across their way. + +But not a boy amongst them flinched; he only drew his breath hard as if +trying to inflate his chest to the utmost with courage, and then at the +word every other lad fired low, sending a hail of bullets to meet the +rushing force when it was about a couple of hundred yards distant. + +The men were staggered for the moment, but for the moment only, and they +dashed on again, leaping over or darting aside to avoid those of their +companions who staggered and fell. Then, as they reduced the distance +by about one-half, the yelling grew fiercer, and the enemy came running +and leaping on with increased speed. + +"Fire!" + +Some fifty rifles delivered their deadly contents with a roar as if only +one had been discharged. + +The effect was magical. + +The yelling ceased, and as the cloud of soft grey smoke arose it was to +show the crowded-together enemy halted in front, while those behind were +pushing and struggling to get within reach to strike at the hedge of +glittering bayonets, from which a third volley flashed out. + +That was enough. As the smoke rose and the lads stood in double line +now, ready to receive the charge upon their glittering points, the enemy +was seen to be in full flight. + +"Stand fast!" roared Roberts. + +"Back, back!" shouted Bracy; and, sword in hand, the officers rushed +along in front of their men, literally driving some of the most eager +back, to re-form the line; for the sight of the flying enemy was too +much for some of the younger, least-trained lads, who were in the very +act of dashing forward with levelled bayonet in pursuit. + +"Well done; very well done, my lads!" cried a familiar voice as the +Colonel galloped back to them. "Steady, there; steady!" he shouted as +he rode right along the little line and reined up his horse, to sit +gazing after the flying enemy, frowning the while as he saw how many +white cotton robes dotted the soil before the uninjured disappeared +again in the cedar grove, from which they had delivered their attack. + +"Capital, gentlemen!" he said a minute or so later; "but I did not like +that unsteadiness. You must keep your men well in hand." + +The next minute the orders were given, and the column resumed its march, +for it was no time to think of prisoners or attending to the enemy's +wounded. In fact, before the regiment was half a mile away their +friends were back from the hills seeing to their dead and wounded, and +gathering up their arms, greatly to the annoyance of the rear-guard +lads, who one and all were troubled with longings for some of the keen +tulwars to take back to England as trophies of their fight. + +But the stern order "Forward!" rang in the lads' ears, and the +expectation of being attacked at any time by one or other of the bodies +of the enemy hovering on the hill-slopes on either side, or of a fresh +dash being made upon the rear in the hope of cutting off the baggage, +kept every one on the alert. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +UP THE GORGE. + +"Yes," said Colonel Graves, as the morning glided by without incident +and midday approached, with the men beginning to show traces of their +hot, rapid march. "Pass the word on, for we cannot halt yet. It will +cheer the lads, and have a good effect upon the enemy." + +The next minute, just as many of the lads were straining their eyes +forward in search of the place likely to be chosen for their midday +halt, and making frequent use of their water-bottles, there were the +preliminary taps on the big bass, a few vigorous rolls on the +kettledrums, and the fifes began to shrill out their sharp notes in a +merry air, which brightened every face at once. Some of the lads began +to whistle the tune as they stepped out more briskly, and Judkins, of +Captain Roberts's rear company, burst out with: + +"Poor old Bill; that 'll do him good. Pity he ain't with us. Wonder +how he is." + +"Getting on, my lad," said Bracy, who overheard the remark; "and I don't +think he'll be many days before he's back in the ranks." + +Just then a cheer was given right in front, to be taken up and run right +along the column, sounding as if it had been started by the men in +thankfulness for Bracy's good news about Gedge, though it was only the +effect produced by the band; while as soon as the air came to an end, +and there was silence for a minute, another hearty cheer was given for +that which was to come, the men knowing well the meaning of the silence, +which was broken directly after by half-a-dozen beats of the drum, and +then with a sonorous clash the brass instruments of the excellent band +burst forth in a grand march, the clarion-like triumphant notes echoing +softly from the hills on their right, where clusters of the enemy could +be seen staring at them as if in wonder. + +"Hear that, you black-muzzled old women? You in white night-gowns?" +shouted Judkins. "That's better than your wheezy old squealing pipes, +made to imitate our Highlanders'. I say, lads, how come they to have +pipes like our fellows? Wish some one would ask Mr Bracy. I dessay he +knows." + +"Why don't you ask me yourself, Judkins?" said Bracy, who was close; at +hand. + +"Oh! Beg pardon, sir. I didn't know you could hear me." + +"Don't be a sham, Judkins. You know I was just behind you." + +The lad coloured like a girl, and his comrades laughed; but Bracy took +no notice, and said quietly: + +"I don't profess to understand these things; but the use of bagpipes for +music seems to be a custom with the ancient tribes that migrated from +the north of Asia and spread right away through Europe till they were +stopped by the sea." + +"Hullo, Bracy!" said Roberts, coming up. "Giving the men a lecture? +You don't mean that the Scotch and Irish pipes had their origin out +here?" + +"I have read so. These hill-men have theirs right away east, and you +pick up tribes of people with them at intervals till you get to Italy, +where the mountaineers play them. Then it is not a very long jump to +the Highlands and Ireland, where they use bellows instead of blowing +into the bag." + +"A discourse on wind," said Roberts quietly. "I want something more +solid. How soon are we going to halt for a feed and rest?" + +The bugle rang out soon after, for they readied a broad stream of bright +clear water, and in a loop of this, which offered itself as a capital +protection for two-thirds of the distance round their temporary camp, +the regiment was halted, and with strong videttes thrown out along the +unprotected portion, the men fell out, when a hasty meal was eaten, and +the men ordered to lie down for half-an-hour, with their arms ready, so +that they could spring to their places at the first alarm. + +When the bugle rang out it was at the end of the hour's rest, and, +thoroughly refreshed, the march was recommenced, the men stepping out to +the merry strains of a favourite song, which was repeated in chorus as +the band ceased playing; and the birds that had been hovering near were +the only objects visible when the halting-place was vacated, though the +thick woods on the hill-slopes on either side were felt to be lull of +the enemy. + +"Haven't given them all they wanted, have we?" said Roberts as they +tramped towards where through the clear air the sides of the valley +could be seen closing in and growing higher and more jagged of outline. + +"No," said Bracy thoughtfully. "It will take something more than a +brush like that to beat them off. We shall have our work ready for us +yonder where the Colonel said the track rose again to continue like a +shelf right away to Ghittah." + +"I suppose so. Well, good luck to us, and may we have no more +casualties." + +"Amen," said Bracy. "I wish, though, if we are to have a sharp +encounter, we could have it now we're fresh, instead of just at the end +of a heavy day's march." + +"Soldiers have to fight when the time comes, and they can't pick and +choose, I suppose. But never mind; the lads won't be done up, for this +is easy marching. It is not too hot, and we have plenty of good water. +I say, I suppose we shall follow this stream right away now?" + +"No doubt. It must come down from the snow-mountains, and through that +gorge yonder." + +"Yes, the one that seems so near, and does not get a bit nearer. It's +capital, our having this river on our right flank, for it would be a +nice job for the enemy if they tried to ford it." + +Roberts was right, for every mile of their forward journey made the +river a greater protection, the torrent growing fiercer and the banks +rocky in the extreme, and for the most part nearly perpendicular, till +at last it was a good fifty feet down to the water's level, so that it +ceased to be of use for refreshment to the men. + +At last the sides of the valley began to close in more rapidly, and +their track became steeper, till all at once they were brought up short +by what seemed to be the mighty gates of the gorge, up which they could +see but a short distance, for it turned off to the right. But there, +plainly enough in the western sunshine, crossing the end in a steep +slope, was a part of the terrace-like path they were to follow, while on +their left was its commencement, one heavy stone-strewn track, which in +places rose like a series of gigantic steps. + +Here a halt was called, and the men lay down for a brief rest, while the +perilous-looking path in front was reconnoitred first by the officers +with their glasses, the eminence above the track being carefully +searched for hidden bodies of the enemy ready to commence their attack +as before by thrusting off the stones which hung aloft ready to fall, +almost at a touch. + +But there was no sign of danger apparent. A great eagle was gliding +here and there in the mouth of the wild ravine, out of which came the +deep roar of the river in a series of foaming cascades; while no sign +was visible of the enemy in the rear, and the officers soon came to the +conclusion that there was nothing to fear from their left unless there +was some pass known to their foes by which the mountains high above the +shelf-like track could be reached. + +"We're to form the rear-guard again, lads," said Roberts, who had just +received his orders. "Did it so well before, the Colonel says," he +added a little bitterly. + +"Well, if we want more fighting we ought to have been sent in advance," +replied Bracy, "for I feel convinced that there's something unpleasant +waiting for us as soon as we enter that black rift." + +"Most likely," said Roberts. "The Major leads again, but they're going +to send half a company on first scouting. Yes," he said impatiently, +"there must be something bad ready for us. The enemy would never be +such fools as to let us go through there. Why, Bracy, give us our +company, and twenty-four hours to prepare, and we could hold that place +against a thousand." + +"Yes, I suppose we could." + +"Well, what are we waiting for?" cried Roberts impatiently. "It doesn't +want above two hours to sunset, and to be caught there with the night +coming on--Ugh!" + +"There they go!" cried Bracy excitedly, as the active lads selected as +scouts began to ascend the track in the lightest order; and their +progress was watched with the keenest anxiety as they rose more and more +into the full view of the regiment, apparently meeting with no obstacles +to their progress, and showing the track to be followed by the waiting +party below. + +Just then the Colonel rode back to where the young officers were +standing. + +"This track is so narrow, Roberts," he said, "that your company will be +ample to protect the rear; so I shall trust entirely to you. If we are +to be attacked it will be in front; of that I am convinced, though +probably the attacking will be on our part, for sooner or later we shall +find a rough hill-fort, strongly held." + +"Hope we shan't fall into some trap, sir," said Roberts earnestly. + +"I hope not," said the Colonel, turning his horse and moving forward, +but only to turn his head again. + +"It will be stiff work for the train," he said; "but they must do it. +You will help to keep the baggage-men well up to their work, for I mean +to get through this pass to-night." + +"Nice job," said Roberts bitterly. "We shall have the enemy behind us, +stirring us up, and we shan't be able to get on without pricking up the +mules and camels." + +"No firing yet," said Bracy, without heeding the foreboding remarks of +his companion. "They're getting well on. Ah! there goes the advance." + +For a bugle rang out, its notes being repeated again and again with +wondrous clearness from the faces of the black-looking barren rocks on +high, and the scene became an animated picture to the men of the +rear-guard, who lay on their arms, resting, while the regiment filed up +the track, two abreast, giving life to the gloomy gorge, which grew and +grew till the baggage animals added their quota to the scene. + +"At last!" cried Roberts, as their own turn came, and after a long and +careful search backward from a point of vantage with his glass, he gave +the word, and his rested lads began to mount eagerly, but with every one +keeping an eye aloft for the blocks of stone they expected to come +crashing down, but which never came any more than did the sharp echoing +rifle-fire announcing the attack upon some rough breastwork across the +shelf. + +It was a toilsome, incessant climb for an hour, and then the highest +point was gained, the men cheering loudly as they clustered on the +shelf, nowhere more than a dozen feet wide, while the rock fell +perpendicularly below them for over a thousand feet to where the river +foamed and roared, one terrible race of leaping cascades. + +There had not been a single casualty with the mules, and the track, in +spite of its roughness, was better for the camels in its freedom from +loose stones than the former one they had traversed. + +And now their way was fairly level for a time, and the descent of the +path gentle when it did begin going down towards the river, which from +the slope seemed to rise. But they could see only a little way forward, +from the winding nature of the gorge, which now grew more and more +narrow. + +"Not so far to fall," said Bracy coolly, "if we do come to a fight." + +"Deep enough to break our necks," grumbled Roberts. "Here, I say, it +will be dark soon; look how black it looks below. I wish those fellows +had not cheered; it was like telling the enemy we were coming on, for +they must be round the corner yonder. There--look!" + +As he spoke one of the men in front suddenly turned and pointed to where +the gorge was at its narrowest. + +"Yes, we can see them, my lad. Keep a sharp lookout to the rear," he +shouted to the men behind. "We shall be hearing from them now, Bracy, +for, take my word for it, they're flocking along the path. Well, we +shall have to fight in the dark, old man, like rats, in this confounded +trap." + +"Very well," said Bracy between his teeth, as he took out and examined +the chambers of his revolver, before he replaced it in its leather +holster; "if the dogs do come on I mean to bite." + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +BOOTS FOR BOOTY. + +"Well, you needn't bite this time, old fellow," cried Roberts, with a +sigh of relief, as a burst of cheers arose faintly from the front once +more, to be taken up and run down the column, even the native mule and +camel drivers joining in, till it reached the company which formed the +rear-guard. "What does this mean?" cried Bracy excitedly. "That we're +too far back to know what is going on in the front. Those are not +enemies, but friends." + +"What! people from the station come to meet us?" + +"That's the right nail, struck well on the head, old chap; and I'm jolly +glad of it, for I feel more like feeding than fighting, I can tell you." + +"Roberts, old fellow, this seems too good to be true," cried Bracy +joyfully. + +"But for once in a way it is true. Push on, my lads; there'll be +something better than bullets for a welcome to-night." + +Roberts was right, for upon the last of the weary beasts bearing the +baggage reaching the end of the defile, the young officers found +themselves face to face with a couple of companies of their +fellow-countrymen, bronzed, toil-worn looking men, many of them bearing +the marks of hardly-healed sword-cuts, and looking overstrained and thin +as if from anxiety and overwork, but one and all with their faces lit up +by the warmth of the welcome they were ready to give the regiment which +had come to their help. + +The bandsmen played their best as they led the way across the lovely +amphitheatre into which the gorge had opened out, towards where, high up +along the northern side, and upon the rocky bank, stood the station and +town of Ghittah. The river, which here flowed smooth and deep, seemed +as if of ruddy golden metal, as it glistened in the rays of the sun +dipping down behind the snow-mountains which shut them in. And every +now and then the cheery echoing strains of the band were pretty well +drowned by the cheers and counter-cheers of the relievers and the +relieved. + +Bracy felt his breast swell with pleasure at the warmth of the welcome, +for the fraternisation was complete, the war-worn veterans seeming as if +they could not make enough of the raw striplings marching by their sides +towards where the British colours could be seen floating over the grim +castle-like place that had been the home of one of the old hill-chiefs +till the district was added to the British dominions. But look which +way he would, the young officer could see no trace of the enemy. + +Birds of a feather flock together naturally, and before half a mile had +been covered a tall, thin, boyish-looking officer, with a star of merit +in the shape of a series of strips of diachylon upon his brow, +gravitated towards the rear-guard and suddenly joined their ranks, +holding out and shaking hands with the new-comers. + +"How are you?" he cried. "How are you? I say, don't look at a fellow +like that. I'm an awful scarecrow, I know; but I'm Drummond--Tom +Drummond of ours." + +"Oh, you look right enough," cried Bracy merrily. "Only a bit of the +polish rubbed off." + +"And a bit chipped," said Roberts, laughing. + +"Eh? Oh, this!" cried their new friend. "Getting better, though, now. +Doesn't improve a fellow." + +"Doesn't it?" cried Bracy. "I should be proud of such an order." + +"It's very good of you to say so," said the young subaltern, with his +eyes glistening. + +"How did you get it?" asked Roberts. + +"Oh, in a scrimmage with those treacherous beasts. They'd got me and +about a dozen of the lads in a corner among the rocks, and it was either +stand still and be cut up or make a dash with the bayonet. There were +about fifty of 'em." + +"So you made a dash?" + +"Yes, but only six of us got through, and all damaged. One big fellow +was nourishing a sharp tulwar, and he was in the act of cutting down one +of my fellows, and I went at him to try and save the poor lad, but I was +too late. The great brute cut him down and rushed at me." + +"Well?" said Bracy, for the thin, boyish-looking officer stopped, and +looked red. + +"Oh, I gave point, and got well home. I put all my strength into it, +and it brought me so close that instead of having my head split by his +blade I had the hilt on my forehead here. It struck in a nasty place, +but being, as my old Latin coach said, awfully thick-skulled, the pommel +of the tulwar didn't break through. I say, though--never mind that-- +have either of you fellows a spare pair of boots? I can swap a lot of +loot with you--fancy swords and guns and a chief's helmet--for them. +Look; I've come down to this." + +He laughed and held up one leg, the lower part of which was bound in +puttees, while the foot was covered with a bandaged raw-hide sandal. + +"Not smart on parade," said Bracy, laughing, "but good to keep off +corns." + +"Yes," said the subaltern; "but I'm blest if they keep out chilblains. +Oh, crumpets, how my feet do itch of a night by the fire." + +"Well, I should say my boots are about your size. Roberts's wouldn't +lit. He has such big, ugly feet." + +"Come, I like that, Bracy. Hang it all! my trotters look liliputian +beside his." + +"Now," said Bracy mockingly; "but wait till you can see Drummond's feet. +Look here," he added, turning to the subaltern; "you have a pair of +Roberts's too; they'll do for goloshes." + +"I don't care how old they are, so long as they are boots." + +"All right, old fellow; we'll set you up with anything we've got," said +Bracy. + +"Bless you, my children!" cried the young officer. "Bless you! Never +mind the dramatic business. Oh, I say, we are all glad you've come." + +"You've been in a tight corner, then?" + +"Tight? We've lost a third of our number, and were beginning to think +the Government was going to let us be quite wiped off the slate. Here, +I feel like a schoolboy again, and want to cheer." + +"All right; cheer, then," cried Bracy, smiling, and clapping the speaker +on the shoulder as if he had known him for years. + +"No; hoarse as a crow now, and I want my breath to talk. I say, we have +been sharp set. We began to feel like the talking parrot who was +plucked by the monkey, ready to say, `Oh, we have been having such a +time!' Those Dwats are beggars to fight." + +"We've found that out--that is, when they can take you at a +disadvantage," said Roberts. + +"Ah, that's their idea of manoeuvring," said Drummond. "They can tight, +though. We must have killed hundreds, but they come on all the same. +There were thousands of them all about the hills here yesterday." + +"But where are they now?" asked Bracy. + +"They melted away like snow last night and this morning, just when we +were expecting an assault on the old fort yonder, which we thought would +be final." + +"Final?" + +"Yes; we were getting dead beat. That's what makes us all so fond of +you." + +"I see," said Bracy, who noticed a hysterical vibration in the youth's +voice. + +"That was the first inkling we got of your coming." + +"What! Didn't you hear from our messengers?" said Roberts. + +"Didn't they get through?" cried Bracy. + +"Get through? No. They wouldn't let any messengers get through. Never +mind. You've all come, and if we don't have a jollification to-night my +name's something else." + +"Then you're all right for provisions?" + +"Oh yes, for some time to come. Ammunition was his weak point. We've +blazed away till the men's barrels have been hot." + +"It seems as if the men of your regiment are beggars to fight too," said +Bracy dryly, "judging by the appearance of some of you." + +"Fight? Obliged to," said the subaltern, laughing. "Talk about +practising the art of war; we ought to pass any examination. But, +joking apart, it has been an awful time for the poor women and +children." + +"Ah!" cried Bracy. "You have women and children yonder?" + +"Yes, any number, bless 'em! The ladies and the men's wives have worked +like slaves--hospital work, you know. As to our doctor, he'll be mad +with joy to meet yours to share the work with him. Ah! there they go." + +For just then a burst of cheering came from the grim walls of the old +fort, which were lined by its occupants; and mingled with the +enthusiastic cries came the strains of music. + +"You have your band, then?" said Roberts. + +"Bits of it," said the subaltern dryly. "The brass instruments are +battered horribly; and as for the wood, they are all cracked and +bandaged like wounded men; while the drums are nearly all as tubby as +tom-toms, through the men having mended them with badly-cured +goat-skins. I say, though, talk about goat-skins, I ought to have added +sheep." + +"Why?" said Bracy. + +"Are you fellows fond of shooting?" + +"Yes," said Bracy eagerly. "Is it good up here?" + +"Grand, when there's a chance of the shooting being all on your side." + +"The beggars try to stalk you, then, sometimes?" said Roberts. + +"Sometimes? Nearly always." + +"But what have you got here--tiger?" + +"Never saw one. Plenty of bear." + +"All! that will do." + +"Chamois-like deer, goats, and splendid mountain sheep. Pheasants too. +Ah! I can give you some glorious pheasant shooting. Here they come. +Oh, I say, what a pity for the old man to march our poor ragged Jacks +out to see you! They'll look--" + +"Glorious," cried Bracy. "I should be proud of being one of your +regiment. By George; what shrimps our lads seem beside them!" + +"Your lads look perfection," cried the subaltern enthusiastically. +"Don't you run them down. If you'd been looking despairingly for help +for a whole month you'd feel as I do. Here, I must trot back to my +chiefs. Just fancy; my captain and lieutenant are both down, _non com_, +and I'm in command of my company. Isn't it disgusting for the poor +fellows? But they behave very well. So glad to have met you, dear +boys. Ta-ta for the present. We've got a splendid feed ready for you +all, and we shall meet then.--Don't forget about the boots, old chap. +You shall have these to present to the British Museum. Label 'em +`Officer's Foot-gear. End of Nineteenth Century. Rare.'" + +The subaltern trotted off, and with the regiment going half-mad and +cheering wildly in response to the cries of welcome which greeted them, +the boyish ranks marched on, solid and stiff, for a time, their rifles +sloped regularly, and step kept in a way which made even Sergeant Gee +smile with satisfaction. But directly after, as caps and helmets, +mingled with women's handkerchiefs, began to wave from the walls, the +strong discipline of the corps was quite forgotten, helmets came out of +their proper places and were mounted on the ends of rifles, to be +carried steadily at the slope, to be held up on high at arm's-length, +and even danced up and down, in the wild joy felt by the whole body, +from the Colonel down to the meanest bugle-boy, that they had arrived in +time to succour the brave and devoted men, marched out of the dark +gateway and formed up in two lines for their friends to pass in between +them. Hardly a dark face, lined, stern, and careworn, was without +something to show in the shape of injury; while nearer the gate there +was a body of about two-score badly wounded and bandaged men who had +hobbled or been carried out, ready to add their faint share of cheering +to that of their comrades. + +As Roberts and Bracy led their company towards the gate, and the young +officers caught sight of the ladies standing in a group ready to greet +them with outstretched hands, one of them--never mind which--perhaps it +was Bracy--felt half-suffocated, while the thin, careworn faces, many of +them wet with the coursing tears, looked dim and distorted as if seen +through bad spectacles on a wet day; and when, after having his hand +shaken a score of times and listening to fervent greetings and +blessings, he got through the gateway to the great inner court, where +the baggage and pack-mules, camels, and the rest were packed together in +company with the native servants, the said one--as aforesaid, never mind +which--said to himself: + +"Thank goodness that's over! If it had lasted much longer I should have +made a fool of myself. I never felt anything like it in my life." + +"Bracy, old chap," said Roberts just then, "we mustn't forget about that +fellow's boots. I've a pair, too, as soon as I can get at my traps. I +say, I know you've got a mother, but have you any sisters?" + +"Yes; two." + +"I've three. Now, can you explain to me why it was that as soon as I +was marching by those poor women yonder I could think of nothing but my +people at home?" + +"For the same reason that I did," replied Bracy rather huskily. "Human +nature; but thank Heaven, old man, that they're not here." + +"Oh, I don't know," said Roberts thoughtfully. "It would be very nice +to see them, and I know my dear old mother would have been very proud to +see us march in. My word, this has been a day!" + +"Yes, and here we are. Shall we ever get away?" + +"Of course we shall. But, hullo! what does that mean?" + +Bracy turned at the same moment, for rather faintly, but in a pleasant +tenor voice, there came out of a long box-like ambulance gharry, borne +on two mules in long shafts at either end: + +"When Johnny comes marching home again--Hurrah!" + +And from another voice a repetition of the cheer: + +"Hurrah! Hurrah! When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah! +Hurrah!" + +"Ah, Mr Bracy, sir, just having a bit of a sing-song together." + +"Why, Gedge, my lad, how are you--how are you getting on?" + +"I don't look in, sir, and I'll tell yer. Doctor says it's all right, +but my blessed head keeps on swelling still. I don't believe I shall +ever get my 'elmet on agen. My mate here, though, is getting on +swimming." + +"That's right. You'll lie up in hospital for a hit and soon be well." + +"Orspital, sir? Yes; but it's longing to be back in barracks, tents, or +the ranks as worries me. But never say die, sir. We've got here.--How +do, Captain? Thank ye for asking. Yes, sir; getting on, sir. We've +got here with on'y us two knocked over. Now then, sir, what next?" + +"Yes, Gedge," said the young officer thoughtfully; "what next?" + +"I'll tell you," said Roberts cheerily; "find our traps and that +fellow's hoots." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +IN QUARTERS. + +There was rest and refreshment in the old fort of Ghittah that night +such as the regiment had not enjoyed since their march up-country; and +to have seen the occupants of the stronghold, no one could have imagined +that a few hours before the beleaguered were in a state of despair. + +But they had cause for rejoicing, since, after a month's brave +resistance, with heavy losses, they were now strengthened by the +presence of nearly a thousand light, active young fellows, perfectly new +to warfare, but well officered, in a high state of discipline, and eager +to prove themselves against the enemy, whatever the odds. + +There was plenty of room for the new-comers, for the stronghold was a +little town in itself, and the regiment shook itself down into its new +quarters as quickly as it would have formed camp out in the upon, so +that the men paraded the next morning fresh and ready for anything; the +senior Colonel inspecting the grand addition to his force, while his own +men, after busy efforts, showed up in very different guise to that of +the previous day, the thin and gaunt seeming to have plumped out during +the night, while the officers' ladies showed that they had not quite +forgotten how to dress. + +Over the mess breakfast, which was had in common with the officers of +the garrison, the new-comers had been made well acquainted with the +enemy's tactics, and warned of the suddenness of the attacks made and +attempts at surprise, so that they might be well prepared. They had +already heard the result of the council of war held by the seniors of +the two regiments, and were prepared to take over nearly all the duty, +so as to give the harassed, worn-out regiment a rest. + +Then the parade was held in due form, the lads of the new regiment +mounted guard, and their officers made a tour of inspection afterwards +with their new friends, who pointed out the strength and feebleness of +the old fort. + +The latter predominated, especially on the side of the river, and there +were plenty of weak spots where Colonel Graves saw at a glance how +easily an active body of mountaineers might scale the lower rocks of the +mighty clump upon which the fort was built and mount to the ramparts, +and unless the defence was strong there the place must fall. + +"It tells well for the brave efforts you have made," said Colonel Graves +to his brother in rank. "I should propose throwing up an additional +wall at two of these spots--walls well loopholed for musketry." + +"I have proposed it, and intended to do it," said Colonel Wrayford; "but +it has been impossible. The enemy has kept us too thoroughly upon the +_qui vive_." + +"Well, there will be an opportunity now," said Colonel Graves as he +stepped up on to an open place on the wall and began to sweep the +mountain-slopes with his glass. + +"See anything of them?" asked Colonel Wrayford. + +"Nothing. Are they well in hiding?" + +"Possibly. I do not understand our not having had a visit from them +before now. We generally have their white-coats streaming down those +ravines in two parties. It looks as if your coming had scared them +away." + +"That's too good to expect," said Colonel Graves, laughing. "They'll +come, sure enough, and when least expected, no doubt. So much the +better, so that we can give them a good lesson to teach them to behave +with respect towards Her Majesty's forces, for this place is to be held +at all hazard." + +"Yes; of course," said Colonel Wrayford rather bitterly. "Well, it has +been held." + +"And bravely," said Colonel Graves, bowing, with a show of deference, +towards his senior. + +"Thank you," said the latter simply. "We have done our best." + +He turned away, to begin using his glass, sweeping the different +ravines--dark, savage-looking gorges which disembogued upon the smiling, +garden-like expanse on both sides of the river, and seeming strangely in +contrast, with their stony sides, to the tree-besprinkled verdure and +lovely groves of the little plain not more than a mile long by half that +space wide. + +"Hah! I thought the visit would not be long deferred," said Colonel +Wrayford, lowering the glass and pointing to a thin line of white +figures slowly coming into sight and winding down a zigzag path on one +side of the gorge, through which the river came down from the mountains +beyond. + +"I see," said Colonel Graves; "but I was watching those ravines to right +and left." + +"Yes; the enemy is changing his tactics to-day. You see, he does not +mean us to have much rest." + +The bugles rang out at the first appearance of the enemy, and the walls +were manned with a strength to which they had been foreign; and as the +two Colonels walked round and supervised the arrangements, the senior +asked whether the new-comers could shoot. + +"Admirably," said Colonel Graves, and then, with a smile--"at the +target; they have to prove what they can really do now." + +"They will have every opportunity, and from behind strong walls." + +Meanwhile the white-robed enemy came streaming down to the plain in the +most fearless manner, till they were well within shot, and still they +came on. + +"This seems strange," said Colonel Wrayford; "they have generally begun +firing before this." + +"They look more like friends than enemies," observed Colonel Graves. + +"They may look so," replied the other as he scanned the advancing force, +"but we have no friends among these tribes. They are all deeply imbued +with the Mussulman's deadly hatred of the Christian, and only when +firmly held down by force do they submit to the stronger power. +Unfortunately they have broken out, and we have had enough to do to hold +our own, while the very fact of one tribe boldly shutting us in has made +half-a-dozen others forget their own enmity among themselves and come to +their aid." + +Meanwhile Captain Roberts's company occupied a strong position along a +curtain defending the great gate, and the lads were all in a state of +eager expectation of the order to fire. + +"It's our turn now, Sergeant," said one of the youngest-looking. "I +could pick off that chap in front before he knew where he was." + +"Silence, sir!" said the Sergeant shortly; and then looking to right and +left, he gave a general admonition: + +"Less talking in the ranks." + +"Yah!" whispered the lad who had been snubbed. "Why don't they make him +curnel?" + +"See Drummond just now?" said Bracy, where he and his companion stood +together. + +"Just a glance," replied Roberts. + +"Why, he came close by you." + +"Yes; but my attention was taken up by his boots--yours, I mean. I +never saw a fellow look so conscious and proud of being well shod +before." + +"Hullo! What does this mean?" said Bracy. "Not an attack, surely? My +word! that's brave; one, three--six of them. Why, Roberts, the cheek of +it! They're coming to order us to surrender." + +"Well, it will be exercise for them, for we shan't. We'll let them give +up if they like." + +"I say, look!" continued Bracy, as half-a-dozen of the well-built +fellows came on alone, making for the gates. The officers scanned them +with their glasses, and noted that their thickly-quilted cotton robes +were of the whitest, and of line texture, while each wore about his +waist a fine cashmere shawl stuck full of knives and supporting a curved +tulwar in a handsome scabbard. "I say," cried Bracy, "what dandies! +These must be chiefs." + +Whatever they were, they made straight for the gates, and the two +Colonels walked down to meet them. + +"Keep a sharp lookout up there, Captain Roberts. You command the +approach. Are these men quite alone?" + +"Quite, sir, as far as I can see." + +"Can you make out any strong body stealthily approaching, Mr Bracy?" + +"No, sir; they seem to be quite alone." + +"Be on the alert for a rush, and fire at once if you see anything.--You +will have the gates opened, I presume?" continued Colonel Graves. + +"Oh yes; it is an embassage, and they will expect to enter the place. +Send for the two interpreters." + +A couple of lithe-looking, dark-eyed hill-men came forward at once, the +gates were thrown open, and the party of six stepped in, looking smiling +and proud, ready to salute the two officers, who stood forward a little +in advance of half a company of men with fixed bayonets. + +Salutes were exchanged, and in a brief colloquy the eldest of the party, +a smiling fellow with an enormous black beard, announced through one of +the interpreters that he was the chief of the Red Dwats, come with his +men to meet the English Captain and tell him that he and his people wore +the most staunch friends the famous white Queen had, from there to the +sources of the great river, the Indus. + +Colonel Wrayford replied that he was glad to hear it, and if the chief +and his people were faithful to Her Majesty's sway they would always be +protected. + +The chief said that he was and always would be faithful, and that he +hoped the great white Queen would remember that and send them plenty of +the guns which loaded at the bottoms instead of the tops, and boxes of +powder and bullets to load them with. Then he would be able to fight +for Her Majesty against the other chiefs who hated her, because they +were all dogs and sons of Shaitan. + +"Roberts, old fellow," whispered Bracy, high up on the wall, "I could +swear I saw one of those fellows leading the attack made upon us from +the cedar grove." + +"Shouldn't be a bit surprised, dear boy. Perhaps he has repented and +has come to say he is good now and will never do so any more. Can you +understand any of his lingo?" + +"Not a word. It doesn't seem a bit like Hindustani. What's that?" + +"The Colonel asked what was the meaning of the attack made upon us +yesterday." + +"Ah, then he knows that fellow?" whispered Bracy. + +"No doubt. The old man's pretty keen, and if that chap means treachery, +I'm afraid he didn't get up early enough this morning if he has come to +take in old Graves." + +"I'm sure that's one of them. I had him at the end of my binocular, and +I know him by that scar on his cheek." + +"They all seem to have a good deal of cheek," said Roberts coolly. + +"Look here; I'd better warn the Colonel." + +"No need, old fellow. He knows what he's about. These niggers are +precious cunning, but it's generally little child's deceit, and that's +as transparent as a bit of glass. Don't be alarmed. Old Graves can see +through any tricks of that kind, and Wrayford hasn't been on this +station a twelvemonth without picking up a few native wrinkles." + +"Pst! Listen to what they're saying." + +"Can't: it's rude," said Roberts. + +"Not at a time like this, when perhaps men's and women's lives are at +stake." + +"All right; let's listen, then. What's the boss saying?" + +"I don't like it, Wrayford. These are part of the tribe that tried to +destroy us as we came up yesterday, and now they find we have escaped +them they want to make friends." + +"Well, we want the tribes to be friendly." + +"Yes, but not with sham friendliness, to lull us into security, and +then, after waiting their time, to join their fellows in a general +massacre." + +"I am afraid you are misjudging our visitors here," said Colonel +Wrayford quietly. + +"I am sure I am not. I swear I saw that dark fellow with the cut on his +cheek leading a charge." + +"There; what did I tell you?" whispered Bracy. + +"And what did I tell you about the old man seeing as far into a +millstone as is necessary for being on the safe side?" + +"Yes; and I am glad his observation was so keen." + +"He's all right, old fellow; but hist! what is it? Ah, that's right. +Wrayford is glad to hear that the chief of the Red Dwats is so friendly +to the Queen, and his request for arms and ammunition shall be sent to +the proper quarter. Now, then, what does he say to that?" + +One of the interpreters spoke to say that the great chief of the Red +Dwats would camp in the valley above, so as to be close at hand if any +of the sons of Shaitan who had been molesting the fort before should +dare to approach again. They were all gone back now to their own +valleys in fear, through his approach, and now the two great English +Generals and their men might sleep in peace. + +"Thank you. Bravo! Encore, Sambo!" said Roberts softly. "Going? Pray +remember me to all at home." + +"Ugh!" raged out Bracy below his breath; "if ever treachery was plainly +marked upon a smiling, handsome face, it is there in that scoundrel's. +Roberts, we must never trust these men within our guard." + +"Most certainly not, old fellow; but I suppose we must let them go back +in safety, like the noble ambassadors they are." + +"What is going on now?" said Bracy. "Why, they're shaking hands with +Colonel Wrayford, English fashion. Surely he is not going to trust +them?" + +"Seems as if he is," replied Roberts softly as the young men stood +gazing down at the party below. "Perhaps he knows the native character +better than we do, and thinks it's all right." + +"Well, I don't," said Bracy shortly, "young as I am. Those fellows have +come as spies, and I'm more and more convinced that they are the set who +harassed us as we came." + +"I begin to think you are right, old man," said Roberts. + +"Well, of all--That scoundrel is going to offer to shake hands with +Graves!" + +"No, he isn't," replied Roberts softly. "Doesn't like the look of the +old man's eyes. Made a sort of shy at him. Now they're off, after +picking up all that they could about our strength and position. Well, +it isn't right, perhaps, for us to pull our superior's actions to +pieces; but I don't think Wrayford is right." + +"And Graves seems to think as you do," said Bracy thoughtfully as he +watched the departure of the chiefs. "Look! those fellows are not +missing much with their rolling eyes. I wonder what they think of our +lads. The poor fellows don't show up very well against these stout +hill-men." + +"They showed up well enough yesterday," said Roberts tartly. "Pooh! +What has size got to do with it? Well, I'm glad they've gone; but I +should like to know what they are saying to one another." + +"Talking about the strength of the gates, you may depend, and whether +this would be a good place to make their first attack when they come to +put the garrison to the sword," said Bracy slowly. + +"Well, you are a cheerful sort of a fellow for a companion," said +Roberts, laughing. + +"That's what they came for, cheerful or not." + +"Perhaps so; but coming to do a thing and doing it are two different +matters. Well, the show is over, and we may come down. Let's go and +see about getting our new quarters a little more ship-shape. I want to +see what the men are doing." + +"Not yet," said Bracy. "I want to watch these fellows back to their own +men, to see what they are about." + +"You can't tell from this distance." + +"Not much; but my glass is very powerful, and I want to try and judge +from their actions what is going on yonder." + +"All right; I'll stop with you." + +Two-thirds of the guards mounted were dismissed, and soon after, the +walls and towers were pretty well deserted. The two young officers +remained, however, Captain Roberts dreamily watching the wondrous +panorama of snowy mountains spreading out to the north as far as the eye +could reach, while Bracy sat with his double glass carefully focussed +and resting upon the stone parapet, watching the departing chiefs, who +strode away looking proud and haughty, and apparently without holding +any communication with one another till they were well on their way, +when Bracy noted that they suddenly began to talk with a good deal of +animation. + +Bracy kept up his watch till they reached their followers, who closed +round them in a very excited way. + +It was just then that Roberts roused himself from his reverie. + +"Hullo, there!" he cried; "'most done? Can't make out anything, can +you?" + +"Yes; there's a regular mob of fighting-men crowding round those +fellows, and they're holding a regular meeting." + +"Good little glass. I say, old man, I'll swop with you. Mine's a +bigger and better-looking binoc. than yours. Anything else?" + +"One of the party--I think it's the one with the scar on his face, but I +can't be sure--" + +"Can't you tell him?" + +"Not at this distance." + +"Then I won't swop. It's not such a good glass as I thought. Well, +what next?" + +"He's telling his experiences, and the beggars are lancing about, +roaring with laughter." + +"Can you see that?" + +"Yes, quite plainly." + +"Then I think I will swop, after all. Can't hear what they say, I +suppose?" + +"Hardly." + +"Humph! Not so good a glass, then, as Pat's, that brought the church so +near that he could hear the singing. Go on." + +"He's gesticulating. Now he's marching up and down stiffly like Graves +did while the conference was going on." + +"Well, of all the impudence! But no flam: can you really make out all +that?" + +"Perfectly. Now he is taking off his puggree and pretending to take a +handkerchief out and mopping his bald head." + +"Like Wrayford does. Why, the scoundrel stood as stiff as a poker when +he was here and let the others do the talking." + +"Yes, while he was studying his part. Now they're laughing again and +stamping about and holding their sides. He is going through everything +he noted for their amusement, and telling them what absurd-looking +people the English are." + +"Oh yes," said Roberts; "we're a very humorous lot, we British--very +amusing indeed, but best at a distance, for we're rather prickly, and +easily induced to make use of our knives. What next?" + +"The show's over; and look--you can see that?" + +"What! that flashing in the sunshine?" + +"Yes; every man has drawn his sword and is waving it in the air. He +must have said something which excited them." + +"Made 'em all draw and swear that they'd cut us to pieces and fling us +in the river, I dare say." + +"Oh, there you are!" cried a familiar voice, and the tall, thin +subaltern hurried to their side. "I say, what do you think of that for +a fit?" he cried, stopping, and then holding out one foot. "Just as if +they had been made for me." + +"If you say any more about them I'll take them away again," said Bracy, +smiling. + +"Then mum it is, for I wouldn't be so cruel to my poor plantigrades. +They haven't been so happy and comfortable for months. Watching those +Dwats?" + +"I've been doing so," said Bracy, closing his glass and returning it to +its case. "What do you think of them?" + +"Think they're a set of humbugs. They've come here hunting for +information and pretending to be friends; and the worst of it is, old +Wrayford believes in them." + +"Nonsense! He couldn't be so weak," cried Roberts. + +"Oh, couldn't he? But he could. He hasn't been the same man since he +was cut down about a month ago. Poor old man! he's as brave as a lion +still, but he has done several weak things lately which none of us like. +What do you think that thick-lipped, black-bearded ruffian proposed?" + +"I don't know," said Bracy eagerly. + +"To send on a couple of hundred of his cut-throats to help to defend the +fort against the enemy." + +"He proposed that?" cried Roberts. + +"To be sure he did." + +"But Colonel Wrayford," said Bracy, "he declined, of course--at once?" + +"No, he didn't. He hesitated, and told your old man that an ally would +be so valuable, and that it would not do, hemmed in as we are, to offend +a powerful chief who desired to be friendly." + +"But that's absurd," cried Roberts. + +"Of course it is," replied Drummond. "The only way to deal with these +fellows is to make 'em afraid of you, for they're as treacherous as they +are proud. But there, it's all right." + +"All right, when the senior Colonel here temporises with the enemy!" + +"It was only one of his weak moments. He won't do anything of that +kind. He'll talk it over with your old man and think better of it. +Besides, we shouldn't let him." + +"Oh, come, that's a comfort," said Roberts, glancing at Bracy, with a +twinkle in his eye. + +"Yes, I see," said Drummond, "you're chaffing because I bounced a bit; +but I'm blessed if you don't have to bounce up here in the mountains if +you want to hold your own. I should be nowhere amongst these +hill-niggers if I didn't act as if I thought I was the biggest pot under +the sun. That's one reason why I was so anxious about my boots. Why, +if it hadn't been for you two I couldn't have shown my face before that +party this morning. I wouldn't have had them see me with my feet +bandaged up like they were for anything. It would have been lowering +the dignity of Her Majesty's service in the eyes of the heathen." + +"Of course," said Bracy, smiling; "but never mind that. You don't +believe in these fellows, then?" + +"Oh yes, I do." + +"But just now you said--" + +"What I say now, that they're a set of impostors, pretending to be +friendly so as to see what your regiment was like and how the defences +looked." + +"There, Roberts!" + +"All right, dear boy. Well, when they come again we must show them our +boy-regiment, and how they've improved with the excellent practice we +can make in firing." + +"That's the way," said Drummond cheerily. "They'll soon come again with +two or three other tribes, for they've all made up their minds to have +us out of this old fort, palace, or whatever they call it." + +"And we shan't go--eh?" said Bracy, with a quaint look in his eyes. + +"Most decidedly not," replied Drummond. "Now then, you're not on duty. +Come and have a look round. Hullo! this is your doctor, isn't it?" + +"Yes," said Bracy. + +"Don't like the cut of him," said Drummond. "He's doing it again." + +"Doing what?" + +"Same as he did first time we met--last night at the mess--looking me up +and down as if thinking about the time when he'll have me to cut up and +mend." + +"Well, my dear boys," said the Doctor, coming up, rubbing his hands. +"Ah! Mr Drummond, I think? Met you last night. Glad to know you. +Come, all of you, and have a look at my hospital quarters. Splendid +place for the lads. Light, airy, and cool. They can't help getting +well." + +"But I thought you had no patients, sir," said Drummond. + +"Oh yes, two that we brought with us; and if Colonel Wrayford is +willing, I propose that your wounded should be brought across, for it's +a far better place than where they are. Come on, and I'll show you." + +"Thanks, Doctor; I'm just going to see the Colonel," said Roberts. + +"That's a pity. You must come without him, then, Bracy." + +"I really can't, Doctor; not now. I am going with Roberts." + +"Humph! that's unfortunate. Mr Drummond would like to see, perhaps, +how we arrange for our men who are down?" + +"Most happy, Doctor--" + +"Hah!" + +"But I am going with my friends here." + +"Standing on ceremony--eh, gentlemen?" said the Doctor, smiling quickly +and taking a pinch of snuff. "Well, we'll wait a bit. I dare say you +will neither of you be so much occupied when you are once brought in to +me. I thought perhaps you would like to go over the place first." + +Bracy turned and took hold of the Doctor's arm. + +"All right, Doctor," he said, laughing. "You had us there on the hip. +I'll come." + +"What, and keep the Colonel waiting?" + +"We can go there afterwards," said Bracy quietly. "Come, Roberts, you +can't hold back now." + +"Not going to, old fellow. There, Doctor, I beg your pardon. I'll +come." + +"Granted, my dear boy," said the Doctor quietly. "There, Mr Drummond, +you'll have to go alone." + +"Not I," said the subaltern, smiling. "I'll come and take my dose with +them." + +"Good boy!" said the Doctor, smiling. + +"I suppose you have not had your two patients taken to the hospital +yet?" said Bracy. + +"Then you supposed wrongly, sir. There they are, and as comfortable as +can be." + +"That's capital," cried Bracy, "for I wanted to come and see that poor +fellow Gedge." + +"That fits," said the Doctor, "for he was asking if you were likely to +come to the hospital; but I told him no, for you would be on duty. This +way, gentlemen, to my drawing-room, where I am at home night and day, +ready to receive my visitors. Now, which of you, I wonder, will be the +first to give me a call?" + +"Look here, Doctor," said Roberts, "if you're going to keep on in this +strain I'm off." + +"No, no; don't go. You must see the place. I've a long room, with a +small one close by, which I mean to reserve for my better-class +patients.--Here, you two," he said to the injured privates lying upon a +couple of charpoys, "I've brought you some visitors." + +Sergeant Gee's wife, whose services had been enlisted as first nurse, +rose from her chair, where she was busy with her needle, to curtsey to +the visitors; and Gedge uttered a low groan as he caught up the light +cotton coverlet and threw it over his head. + +"Look at him," said the Doctor merrily, and he snatched the coverlet +back. "Why, you vain peacock of a fellow, who do you think is going to +notice the size of your head?" + +"I, for one," said Bracy, smiling. "Why, Gedge, it is nothing like so +big as it was." + +The lad looked at him as if he doubted his words. + +"Ain't it, sir? Ain't it really?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Hoo-roar, then! who cares? If it isn't so big now it's getting better, +'cos it was getting bigger and bigger last night--warn't it, sir?" + +"Yes," said the Doctor; "but the night's rest and the long sleep gave +the swelling time to subside." + +"The which, please, sir." + +"The long sleep," said the Doctor tartly. + +"Please, sir, I didn't get no long sleep." + +"Nonsense, man!" + +"Well, you ask him, sir. I never went to sleep--did I, pardner?" + +"No," said his wounded companion. "We was talking all night when we +wasn't saying _Hff_! or _Oh_! or _Oh dear_! or _That's a stinger_!-- +wasn't we, Gedge, mate?" + +"That's right, pardner. But it don't matter, sir--do it?--not a bit, as +the swelling's going down?" + +"Not a bit," said Bracy, to whom this question was addressed. "There, +we are not going to stay. Make haste, my lad, and get well. I'm glad +you are in such good quarters." + +"Thank ye, sir, thank ye. Quarters is all right, sir; but I'd rather be +in the ranks. So would he--wouldn't you, pardner?" + +His fellow-sufferer, who looked doubtful at Gedge's free-and-easy way of +talking, glancing the while at the Doctor to see how he would take it, +nodded his head and delivered himself of a grunt, as the little party +filed out of the long, whitewashed, barn-like room. + +"A couple of wonderful escapes," said the Doctor, "and quite a treat. +I've had nothing to see to but cases of fever, and lads sick through +eating or drinking what they ought not to. But I dare say I shall be +busy now." + +"Thanks, Doctor," said Roberts as they returned to the great court of +the large building. "Glad you've got such good quarters for your +patients." + +"Thanks to you for coming," replied the Doctor; and the parties +separated, Drummond leading his new friends off to introduce them to +some of the anxious, careworn ladies who had accompanied their husbands +in the regiment, and of the Civil Service, who had come up to Ghittah at +a time when a rising of the hill-tribes was not for a moment expected. +On his way he turned with a look of disgust to Bracy. + +"I say," he said, "does your Doctor always talk shop like that?" + +"Well, not quite, but pretty frequently--eh, Roberts?" + +The latter smiled grimly. + +"He's a bit of an enthusiast in his profession, Drummond," he said. +"Very clever man." + +"Oh, is he? Well, I should like him better if he wasn't quite so much +so. Did you see how he looked at me?" + +"No." + +"I did. Just as if he was turning me inside out, and I felt as if he +were going all over me with one of those penny trumpet things doctors +use to listen to you with. I know he came to the conclusion that I was +too thin, and that he ought to put me through a course of medicine." + +"Nonsense." + +"Oh, but he did. Thank goodness, though, I don't belong to your +regiment." + +The young men were very warmly welcomed in the officers' quarters; and +it seemed that morning as if their coming had brought sunshine into the +dreary place, every worn face beginning to take a more hopeful look. + +Drummond took this view at once, as he led the way back into the great +court. + +"Glad I took you in there," he said; "they don't look the same as they +did yesterday. Just fancy, you know, the poor things sitting in there +all day so as to be out of the reach of flying shots, and wondering +whether their husbands will escape unhurt for another day, and whether +that will be the last they'll ever see." + +"Terrible!" said Bracy. + +"Yes, isn't it? Don't think I shall ever get married, as I'm a soldier; +for it doesn't seem right to bring a poor, tender lady out to such +places as this. It gives me the shivers sometimes; but these poor +things, they don't know what it will all be when they marry and come +out." + +"And if they did they would come all the same," said Roberts bluffly. + +"Well, it's quite right," said Bracy thoughtfully. "It's splendidly +English and plucky for a girl to be willing to share all the troubles +her husband goes through." + +"So it is," said Drummond. "I've always admired it when I've read of +such things; and it makes you feel that heroines are much greater than +heroes." + +"It doesn't seem as if heroes were made nowadays," said Bracy, laughing. +"Hullo! where are you taking us?" + +"Right up to the top of the highest tower to pay your respects to the +British Raj. I helped the colour-sergeant to fix it up there. We put +up a new pole twice as high as the old one, so as to make the enemy +waxy, and show him that we meant to stay." + +"All right; we may as well see every place while we're about it." + +"You can get a splendid lookout over the enemy's camping-ground, too, +from up here." + +"Then you still think that these are enemies?" + +"Certain," said Drummond; and words were spared for breathing purposes +till the flag-pole was reached, and the young subaltern passed his arm +round it and stood waiting while his companions took a good long +panoramic look. + +"There you are," he then said. "See that green patch with the +snow-pyramid rising out of it?" + +"Yes; not big, is it?" + +"Awful, and steep. That mountain's as big as Mont Blanc; and from that +deodar forest right up the slope is the place to go for bear." + +"Where are the pheasants?" asked Roberts, taking out his glass. + +"Oh, in the woods down behind the hills there," said Drummond, pointing. +"Splendid fellows; some of reddish-brown with white spots, and bare +heads all blue and with sort of horns. Then you come upon some great +fellows, the young ones and the hens about coloured like ours, but with +short, broad tails. But you should see the cock-birds. Splendid. They +have grand, greeny-gold crests, ruby-and-purple necks, a white patch on +their back and the feathers all about it steely-blue and green, while +their broad, short tails are cinnamon-colour." + +"You seem to know all about them," said Bracy, laughing. + +"Shot lots. They're thumpers, and a treat for the poor ladies, when I +get any; but it has been getting worse and worse lately. Couldn't have +a day's shooting without the beggars taking pop-shots at you from the +hills. I don't know where we should have been if their guns shot +straight." + +"Well, we shall have to drive the scoundrels farther off," said Roberts, +"for I want some shooting." + +"Bring your gun?" cried Drummond, eagerly. + +"Regular battery. So did he; didn't you, Bracy?" + +There was no reply. + +"Bracy, are you deaf?" + +"No, no," said the young man hurriedly, as he stood in one corner of the +square tower, resting his binocular upon the parapet, and gazing through +it intently. + +"See a bear on one of the hills?" said Drummond sharply. + +"No; I was watching that fir-wood right away there in the hollow. Are +they patches of snow I can see in there among the trees?" + +"Where--where?" cried Drummond excitedly. + +"Come and look. The glass is set right, and you can see the exact spot +without touching it." + +Bracy made way, and Roberts stepped to the other side of the tower and +looked over the wide interval to where their visitors of the morning +were forming a kind of camp, as if they meant to stay. + +"Phee-ew!" + +Drummond gave a long, low whistle. + +"Snow?" said Bracy. + +"No snow there; at this time of year. That's where some of the enemy +are, then--some of those who disappeared so suddenly yesterday. Those +are their white gowns you can see, and there's a tremendous nest of +them." + +"Enemies of our visitors this morning?" + +"They said so," replied Drummond, with a mocking laugh; "but it seems +rather rum for them to come and camp so near one another, and neither +party to know. Doesn't it to you?" + +"Exactly," cried Bracy. "They would be sure to be aware, of course." + +"Yes, of course. What idiots they must think us! I'd bet a penny that +if we sent out scouts they'd find some more of the beauties creeping +down the valleys. Well, it's a great comfort to know that this lot on +the slope here are friends." + +"Which you mean to be sarcastic?" said Bracy. + +"Which I just do. I say, I'm glad I brought you up here, and that you +spied out that party yonder. Come away down, and let's tell the +Colonel. He'll alter his opinion then." + +"And send out a few scouts?" said Bracy. + +Drummond shook his head. + +"Doesn't do to send out scouts here." + +"Why?" + +"They don't come back again." + +"Get picked off?" + +"Yes--by the beggars who lie about among the stones. We have to make +sallies in force when we go from behind these walls. But, I say, you +two haven't had much fighting, I suppose?" + +"None, till the bit of a brush as we came here." + +"Like it?" + +"Don't know," said Bracy. "It's very exciting." + +"Oh, yes, it's exciting enough. We've had it pretty warm here, I can +tell you. I begin to like it now." + +"You do?" + +"Yes; when I get warm. Not at first, because one's always thinking +about whether the next bullet will hit you--'specially when the poor +fellows get dropping about you; but you soon get warm. It makes you +savage to see men you know going down without being able to get a shot +in return. Then you're all right. You like it then." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Bracy, and his brow wrinkled. "But had we not +better go down and give the alarm?" + +"Plenty of time. No need to hurry. They're not going to attack; only +lying up waiting to see if those beggars who came this morning can do +anything by scheming. I fancy they're getting a bit short of lead, for +we've had all kinds of rubbish shot into the fort here--bits of iron, +nails, stones, and broken bits of pot. We've seen them, too, hunting +about among the rocks for our spent bullets. You'll find them very nice +sort of fellows, ready to shoot at you with something from a distance to +give you a wound that won't heal, and cut at you when they can come to +close quarters with tulwars and knives that are sharp as razors. They +will heal, for, as our doctor says, they are beautiful clean cuts that +close well. Never saw the beauty of them, though. He's almost as bad +as your old chap for that." + +"But we had better go down and give the alarm," said Bracy anxiously. + +"None to give," said Drummond coolly. "It's only a bit of news, and +that's how it will be taken. Nothing to be done, but perhaps double the +sentries in the weak places. Not that they're very weak, or we +shouldn't have been hen; when you came." + +"Well, I shall feel more comfortable when my Colonel knows--eh, +Roberts?" + +"Yes," said the latter, who had stood frowning and listening; "and I +don't think he will be for sitting down so quietly as your old man." + +"Not yet. Be for turning some of them out." + +"Of course." + +"Very spirited and nice; but it means losing men, and the beggars come +back again. We used to do a lot of that sort of thing, but of late the +policy has been to do nothing unless they attacked, and then to give +them all we knew. Pays best." + +"I don't know," said Roberts as they were descending fast; "it can't +make any impression upon the enemy." + +"Shows them that the English have come to stay," interposed Bracy. + +"Yes, perhaps; but they may read it that we are afraid of them on seeing +us keep behind walls." + +A minute or two later the news was borne to headquarters, where the two +Colonels were in eager conference, and upon hearing it Colonel Graves +leaped up and turned to his senior as if expecting immediate orders for +action; but his colleague's face wrinkled a little more, and he said +quietly: + +"Then that visit was a mere _ruse_ to put us off our guard and give them +an opportunity for meeting the fresh odds with which they have to +contend." + +"Of course it was," said Colonel Graves firmly. + +"Well, there is nothing to be alarmed about; they will do nothing till +they have waited to see whether we accept the offer of admitting as +friends a couple of hundred Ghazees within the gates.--Thank you, +gentlemen, for your information. There is no cause for alarm." + +The young officers left their two seniors together, and as soon as they +were alone Drummond frowned. + +"Poor old Colonel!" he said sadly; "he has been getting weaker for days +past, and your coming has finished him up. Don't you see?" + +"No," said Bracy sharply. "What do you mean?" + +"He has Colonel Graves to lean on now, and trust to save the ladies and +the place. I shouldn't be surprised to see him give up altogether and +put himself in the doctor's hands. Well, you fellows will help us to do +the work?" + +"Yes," said Bracy quickly, "come what may." + +"We're going to learn the art of war in earnest now, old chap," said +Roberts as soon as they were alone again. + +"Seems like it." + +"Yes. I wonder whether we shall take it as coolly as this young +Drummond." + +"I wonder," said Bracy; "he's an odd fish." + +"But I think I like him," said Roberts. + +"Like him?" replied Bracy. "I'm sure I do." + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +WARM CORNERS AND COLD. + +It was a glorious day, with the air so bright, elastic, and inspiriting +that the young officers of the garrison felt their position irksome in +the extreme. For the Colonel's orders were stringent. The limits +allowed to officer or man outside the walls were very narrow, and all +the time hill, mountain, forest, and valley were wooing them to come and +investigate their depths. + +It was afternoon when Roberts, Bracy, and Drummond, being off duty, had +strolled for a short distance along the farther side of the main stream, +and paused at last in a lovely spot where a side gorge came down from +the hills, to end suddenly some hundred feet above their heads; and from +the scarped rock the stream it brought down made a sudden leap, spread +out at first into drops, which broke again into fine ruin, and reached +the bottom like a thick veil of mist spanned by a lovely rainbow. The +walls of rock, bedewed by the ever-falling water, were a series of the +most brilliant greens supplied by the luxuriant ferns and mosses, while +here and there, where their seeds had found nourishment in cleft and +chasm, huge cedars, perfect in their pyramidal symmetry, rose spiring up +to arrow-like points a hundred, two hundred feet in the pure air. +Flowers dotted the grassy bottom; birds flitted here and there, and +sang. There was the delicious lemony odour emitted by the deodars, and +a dreamy feeling of its being good to live there always amidst so much +beauty; for other music beside that of birds added to the enhancement-- +music supplied by the falling waters, sweet, silvery, tinkling, rising +and falling, mingling with the deep bass of a low, humming roar. + +The three young men had wandered on and on along a steep track, more +than once sending the half-wild, goat-like sheep bounding away, and a +feeling of annoyance was strong upon them, which state of feeling found +vent in words, Drummond being the chief speaker. + +"I don't care," he said; "it's just jolly rot of your old man. Wrayford +was bad enough, but old Graves is a tyrant. He has no business to tie +us down so." + +"There's the enemy still in the hills," said Roberts. + +"Yes, but whacked, and all the other tribes ready to follow the example +of those fellows who have come down to make peace and fight against the +rest who hold out. They're not fools." + +"Not a bit of it," said Bracy. "They're as keen as men can be; but I +shouldn't like to trust them." + +"Nor I," said Roberts. "They're too keen." + +"There you are," said Drummond petulantly. "That's the Englishman all +over. You fellows keep the poor beggars at a distance, and that makes +them wild when they want to be friends. If every one had acted in that +spirit, where should we have been all through India?" + +"Same place as we are now," said Bracy, laughing. + +"Right, old fellow," said Roberts. "We've conquered the nation, and the +people feel that they're a conquered race, and will never feel quite +reconciled to our rule." + +"Well, I don't know," said Bracy. "I'm not very well up in these +matters, but I think there are hundreds of thousands in India who do +like our rule; for it is firm and just, and keeps down the constant +fighting of the past." + +"Bother!" cried Drummond pettishly: "there's no arguing against you two +beggars. You're so pig-headed. Never mind all that. These thingamy +Dwats have come down to make peace--haven't they?" + +"You thought otherwise," said Bracy, laughing. "But, by the way, if we +two are pig-headed, aren't you rather hoggish--hedge-hoggish? I never +met such a spiky young Scot before." + +"Scotland for ever!" cried Drummond, tossing his pith helmet in the air +and catching it again. + +"By all means," said Bracy. "Scotland for ever! and if the snow-peaks +were out of sight wouldn't this be just like a Scottish glen?" + +"Just," said Roberts, and Drummond looked pleased. + +"Here, how am I to speak if you boys keep on interrupting?" he said. + +"Speak on, my son," said Bracy. + +"Well, I was going to say these fellows have come down like a deputation +to see if we will be friends; and if we show that we will, I think now +that all the rest will follow in the course of a few weeks, and there +will be peace." + +"And plenty?" said Bracy. + +"Of course." + +"No, my boy; you're too sanguine, and don't understand the hill-man's +character." + +"Seen more of it than you have," said Drummond. + +"Possibly; but I think you're wrong." + +"Oh, very well, then, we'll say I'm wrong. But never mind that. We've +done the fighting; the niggers are whopped, and here we are with the +streams whispering to us to come and fish, the hills to go and shoot, +and the forests and mountains begging us to up and bag deer, bear, and +leopard. I shouldn't be at all surprised even if we came upon a tiger. +They say there is one here and there." + +"It is tempting," said Bracy. "I long for a day or two's try at +something." + +"Even if it's only a bit of a climb up the ice and snow," put in +Roberts. + +"All in turn," said Drummond. "Well, then, when we go back to mess this +evening, let's get some of the other fellows to back us up and petition +Graves to give us leave." + +"No good," said Roberts; "I know him too well. I have asked him." + +"And what did he say?" cried Drummond eagerly. + +"As soon as ever I can feel that it is safe," said Bracy. "I was +there." + +"Oh!" cried Drummond. + +"He's right," said Roberts. "I don't believe that we can count upon +these people yet." + +"Then let's have a thoroughly good fight, and whack them into their +senses. We're sent up here to pacify these tribes, and I want to see it +done." + +"So do we," said Bracy; "but it must take time." + +"Don't believe that any one else thinks as you do," said Drummond +sulkily; and they toiled on in silence till they came near the side of +the falling water, whose rush was loud enough to drown their approach; +and here they all seated themselves on the edge of the mere shelf of +rock, trampled by many generations of sheep, dangled their legs over the +perpendicular side, and listened to the music of the waters, as they let +their eyes wander over the lovely landscape of tree, rock, and fall. + +The scene was so peaceful that it was hard to believe that they were in +the valley through whose rugged mazes the warlike tribes had streamed to +besiege the fort; and Bracy was just bending forward to pick a lovely +alpine primula, when he sniffed softly and turned to whisper to his +companions. + +"Do you smell that?" he said. + +"Eh? Oh, yes; it's the effect of the warm sunshine on the fir-trees." + +"'Tisn't," said Drummond, laughing. "It's bad, strong tobacco. There!" +he said as the loud scratch of a match on a piece of stone rose from +just beneath their feet, as if to endorse his words, and the odour grew +more pronounced and the smoke visible, rising from a tuft of young +seedling pines some twenty feet below. + +"Here, wake up, pardners," cried a familiar voice. "You're both +asleep." + +"I wasn't," said a voice. + +"Nor I," said another; "only thinking." + +"Think with your eyes open, then. I say, any more of these niggers +coming in to make peace?" + +"S'pose so. The Colonel's going to let a lot of 'em come in and help do +duty in the place--isn't he?" + +"Ho, yus! Certainly. Of course! and hope you may get it. When old +Graves has any of these white-cotton-gowny-diers doing sentry-go in +Ghittah, just you come and tell me. Wake me up, you know, for I shall +have been asleep for about twenty years." + +"He will. You see if he don't." + +"Yah! Never-come-never," cried Gedge. "Can't yer see it's all a dodge +to get in the fort. They can't do it fair fighting, so they're +beginning to scheme. Let 'em in? Ho, yus! Didn't you see the Colonel +put his tongue in his cheek and say, `Likely'?" + +"No," said one of Gedge's companions, "nor you neither." + +"Can't say I did see; but he must have done." + +The officers had softly drawn up their legs and moved away so as not to +play eavesdropper, but they could not help hearing the men's +conversation thus far; and as soon as they had climbed out of earshot so +as to get on a level with the top of the fall, where they meant to try +and cross the stream, descend on the other side, and work their way +back, after recrossing it at its exit into the river, Bracy took up the +conversation again. + +"There," he said to Drummond, "you heard that?" + +"Oh yes, I heard: but what do these fellows know about it?" + +"They think," said Bracy, "and--I say," he whispered; "look!" + +He pointed upward, and his companions caught sight of that which had +taken his attention. + +"What are those two fellows doing there?" whispered Roberts. + +"Scouting, evidently," said Bracy. "I saw their arms." + +"So did I," replied Roberts. "Let's get back at once, and pick up those +lads as we go. One never knows what may come next. There may be +mischief afloat instead of peace." + +At that moment Drummond gave Bracy a sharp nudge, and jerked his head in +another direction. + +"More of them," said Bracy gravely; "yes, and more higher up. Well, +this doesn't look friendly." + +"No," said Roberts. "Look sharp; they haven't seen us. Let's get back +and take in the news." + +It was a difficult task for the three young Englishmen to compete with +men trained as mountaineers from childhood; but the living game of chess +had to be played on the Dwats' own ground; and for a short time the +party of officers carefully stole from rock to rock and from patch of +trees to patch of trees till Roberts stopped short. + +"No good," he said softly. "I feel sure that the beggars are watching +us." + +"Yes," said Bracy; "they have the advantage of us from being on the high +ground. Let's go on openly and as if in perfect ignorance of their +being near." + +By this time the young officers were on the farther side of the stream, +below the falls, with it between them and the men they wished to turn +back and take with them to the fort. + +"What do you propose doing now?" asked Drummond. + +"I'll show you," replied Roberts, and, parting the underwood, he +threaded his way till he was close to the deep gully down which the +water from the falls raced; and then selecting the most open spot he +could, he placed his whistle to his lips and blew. The rallying whistle +rose up the mountain-slope towards the falls, like the note of some wild +bird startled from its lair among the moist depths of the gully. + +To their great delight, the call had instant effect; for, unwittingly, +they had made their way to where they halted just level with the party +of their men who were not forty yards away. Consequently, before the +note had died away the voice of Gedge was plainly heard. + +"I say, boys," he cried, "that's a whistle." + +"Nobody said it was a bugle," was the laughing reply. + +"But it means cease firing," said Gedge. + +"That it don't, stoopid, for no one's shooting. Get out! Only some +kind o' foreign bird." + +"I don't care; it is," cried Gedge. "Way ho! Any one there?" + +"Yes, my lads," cried Roberts; "make for the fort at once. Follow the +stream down to the river, and join us there. Quick! Danger!" + +There was a sharp rustling sound as of men forcing their way downward on +each side of the gully, and the next minute, as the place grew lighter, +consequent upon the trees being absent for a space of about, a dozen +yards, there was the sharp whiz as of some great beetle darting across, +followed by the report of a gun, which was magnified by echoes which +died away into the distance. + +"Forward!" cried Roberts. "Steady! don't make a stampede of it. Keep +to all the cover you can." + +Necessary advice, for the whiz of a second roughly-made bullet, seeking +but not finding its billet, was heard, followed by a smothered report. + +"I say, this is nice," said Drummond: "and you two seem to be right. I +don't like it at all." + +"Well, it's not pleasant," said Roberts, smiling. + +"Pleasant? No. These people may not mean war, but only sport. They're +beating this part of the valley." + +"And routing us up," said Drummond, "as if we were pheasants. I say; I +wonder whether pheasants feel the same as I do when they're beginning to +be driven to the end of a spinney?" + +"Don't know," said Roberts shortly; "but I'm glad we came." + +"Oh! are you?" said Drummond. "Well, I'm not. A little of this sniping +goes a very long way with me." + +"Ditto," said Roberts shortly. Then, aloud, "How are you getting on +there, my lads?" + +"Oh, fairly, sir, and--phew! that was close!" + +For a bullet whizzed by the speaker's ear. + +"Keep under cover. Steady!" said the Captain; and then the cautious +descent of the steep slope--more of a passage by hands as well as feet +than a steady walk down--was kept up, and diversified in the most +unpleasant way by shots, till the rocky shallow where the stream dashed +into the main river was reached. + +Here the deep gully, down which the stream ran, had grown shallower till +it debouched, with the valley on either side reduced to a dead level and +the banks only a foot or so above the surface of the rushing water, +which only reached to the officers' knees when they stepped in. But, +unfortunately, the last of the cover had been passed, and a couple of +shots reminded the party of the danger they ran. + +"Here y'are, sir," cried Gedge, reaching out his hand to Bracy and +helping him out. "Oh! why ain't I got my rifle?" + +"Don't talk," cried Bracy as his companions leaped, dripping, out of the +stream. + +"No; open out and follow, my lads," cried Roberts. "Forward! double!" + +"Ugh!" grunted Gedge to his nearest comrade; "and they'll think we're +running away." + +"So we are, mate." + +"Yah! only our legs. I ain't running. Think I'd cut away from one o' +them black-looking, bed-gown biddies? Yah! go back and send yer clothes +to the wash." + +The retiring party had separated well, so as not to present too good a +mark for the enemy, whose practice was far from bad. For the stones +were struck close to them again and again, and leaves and twigs were cut +from the low growth which here fringed the bank of the river, always in +close proximity to where the party ran, and teaching them that not only +were the hill-men who fired good shots, but many in number, the high, +precipitous ascent to the left being evidently lined with concealed +scouts. + +"Forward there!" shouted Bracy suddenly, for Gedge began to slacken and +hang back. + +"Beg pardon, sir," puffed the lad; "wouldn't you rayther lead?" + +"Forward, you scoundrel!" cried Roberts angrily; and Gedge darted back +into the position in which he had been running before, with his two +companions, the officers having kept behind. + +"Getting pumped, pardner?" said his comrade on the left. + +"Pumped! Me pumped!" said Gedge derisively. "Hor, hor! Why, I feel as +if I'd on'y jus' begun to stretch my legs. Go on like this for a week +to git a happy-tight. But orsifers ought to lead." + +"Advancing, matey," said the man on the right. "Fust inter action; last +out, you know." + +"Ho, yus; I know," grumbled Gedge; "but 'tain't fair: they get all the +best o' everything. Here, I say, look out, laddies. We're getting +among the wild bees, ain't us? Hear 'em buzz?" + +"Yes; and we shall have one of 'em a-stinging on us directly. There +goes another." + +For bullet after bullet came buzzing by the flying party's ears, but +still without effect. + +"I say," cried Gedge; "keep shying a hye back now and then to see if the +gents is all right." + +"No need," said the man on his left. "We should know fast enough." + +Meanwhile the three officers had settled down behind to a steady double, +and kept on their conversation as if in contemptuous disregard of the +enemy hidden high among the patches of wood to their left. + +"Thought they were better shots," said Bracy. "Nothing has come near us +yet." + +"Quite near enough," growled Roberts. + +"Don't you holloa till you're out of the wood," said Drummond; "they can +make splendid practice at a mark not moving; but it's not easy work to +hit a running man." + +"So it seems," said Bracy coolly. + +"Here, I've been thinking that we must have passed a lot of these +fellows as we came along," said Roberts. + +"Not a doubt of it," said Bracy; "fresh ones keep taking up the firing. +We're regularly running the gauntlet. Surely they'll soon hear this +firing at, the fort." + +"Hope so," said Roberts. "We ought to have known that, the beggars had +advanced like this." + +"Well, we have found out now," cried Drummond. "I say, you two; this +means that the war has broken out in real earnest. But I say,"--He +stopped suddenly. + +"Say on," said Bracy merrily; "we can't stay to listen to your speech." + +"What a fellow you are!" cried the subaltern. "I can't cut jokes at a +time like this. I was going to say--phee-ew--that was close! I felt +the wind of that bullet as it passed my face." + +"Miss is as good as a mile," said Bracy cheerily. "We shall be having +men out on the opposite bank before long, ready to cover us; and they +will not have running objects to aim at. They'll soon crush out this +sniping." + +"Hope so," said Drummond; "but I say--" + +"Well, let's have it this time," cried Roberts. + +"All right," panted Drummond; "if I go down, don't stop for a moment, +but get on. The relief can come and pick me up. I shall creep into +cover, if I can." + +"Yes," said Roberts coolly--"if you can. Now, just look here, my lad; +you want all your breath to keep your machinery going; you've none to +spare to teach us our duty." + +"Well said, Rob," cried Bracy. "Just as if it's likely. But you'd +better go down! I should like to see you!" + +Crash! in the midst of some bushes, as a single shot succeeded a +spattering fire, and one of the privates went down just ahead. + +"Almost got your wish, Bracy. Wrong man down." + +As Roberts spoke he and Bracy dashed to where two of the privates had +pulled up to aid their comrade, who had pitched head first into the +clump of growth ahead of where he was running. + +"Don't say you've got it badly, Gedge," cried Bracy huskily, helping the +men as they raised the lad, who stared from one to the other in a +half-dazed way. + +"_Habet_," muttered Roberts, with his face contracting. + +"Eh?" panted the lad at last, as he tried to pull himself together. + +"Here--where is it?" cried Drummond excitedly. "Where are you hurt?" + +"Oh, my toe!" cried the lad. "Ketched it on a stone outer sight, sir. +My! I did go down a rum un." + +"Not wounded?" cried Bracy joyfully. + +"Not me, sir! Yah! they can't shoot. Here, I say, mateys, where's my +bay'net? There it is." + +Gedge limped to where it lay with the hilt just visible amongst the +shrubs, and he made a dart to get it, but overrated his powers. He +seized the bayonet from where it had been jerked by his fall, but went +down upon his face in the act, and when raised again he looked round +with a painful grin upon his lips. + +"Got a stone in my foot, p'raps, gen'lemen," he said. + +"Carry him!" said Roberts briefly; and the men were lowering their arms +to take the poor fellow between them, but he protested loudly. + +"No, no; I can walk, sir," he cried. "One o' them just give me an arm +for a bit. Leg's a bit numbed, that's all. Look out, mates. Bees is +swarming fast." + +For the enemy had stationary marks for their bullets now, and they were +falling very closely around. + +"In amongst the trees there," cried Roberts; and the shelter ahead was +gained, Gedge walking by the help of one of his comrades, and then +crouching with the rest. + +But the shelter was too slight, and it became evident that they were +seen from the shelves and niches occupied by the enemy, for the bullets +began to come thickly, sending leaves and twigs pattering down upon the +halting party's heads. + +"We must get on," said Roberts after an anxious look out ahead. + +"All right," said Bracy. "We may leave the scoundrels behind." + +"Behind, sir? Yus, sir," cried Gedge, who had caught the last word. +"You go on, sir, and I'll lie down here till you sends some of the lads +to fetch me in." + +"What's left of him," thought Bracy, "after the brutes have been at him +with their knives." + +"Can you walk at all?" said Roberts quietly. + +Gedge rose quickly. + +"Yus, sir," he cried. "There, it aren't half so bad now. Felt as if I +hadn't got no foot at all for a time. Hurts a bit, sir. Here, I'm all +right." + +Roberts looked at him keenly without speaking. Then he cried: + +"Rise quickly at the word; take two paces to the right, and drop into +cover again. Make ready. Attention!" + +The little manoeuvre was performed, and it had the expected result. A +scattered volley of twenty or thirty shots made the twigs about them +fly, the fire of the enemy being drawn--the fire of old-fashioned, +long-barrelled matchlocks, which took time to reload and prime. + +"Forward!" cried Roberts again, and at a walk the retreat was continued, +the Captain keeping close beside Gedge, who marched in step with his +comrades, though with a marked limp, which he tried hard to conceal. + +After a brief pause the firing started again, but fortunately the growth +upon the river-bank began to get thicker, hiding them from their foes; +though, on the other hand, it grew unmistakably plain that more and more +of the enemy were lying in wait, so that the position grew worse, for +the rushing river curved in towards the occupied eminences on the +retiring party's left. + +"Beg pardon, sir," cried Gedge suddenly; "I can double now." + +"Silence, my lad! Keep on steadily." + +"But I can, sir," cried the man. "I will." + +"Try him," whispered Bracy. + +"Double!" cried Roberts; and the retreat went on, Gedge trotting with +the rest, but in the most unmilitary style, for he threw his head back, +doubled his fists in close to his sides, and, squaring his elbows, went +on as if engaged in a race. + +"Looks as if he were running for a wager," said Drummond. + +"He is," said Bracy coldly. "We all are--for our lives." + +The way they were about to go had now so markedly come towards the face +of a precipice, from which puffs of smoke kept appearing, that it was +evident something fresh must be done, or the end would lie very near, no +mercy being expected from the foe; and as they went on Bracy kept +turning his eyes to the right, seeking in vain for a glimpse of the +rushing river, now hidden from their sight by tree and rock, though its +musical roar kept striking plainly upon their ears. + +"Rob, old chap," he suddenly cried, "we must get down to the water, and +try to cross." + +"Yes," said Roberts abruptly. "I've been thinking so. It's our only +chance, and I've been waiting for an opening." + +"We must not wait," said Bracy. "It's chance, and we must chance it." + +"Halt! Right face, forward!" + +As Roberts spoke he sprang to the front in one of the densest parts, +where a wilderness of bush and rock lay between them and the river, and +led on, with his companions following in single file; while, as perforce +they moved slowly, they had the opportunity to regain their breath, and +listened with a feeling of satisfaction to the firing which was kept up +by the enemy upon the portion of the bosky bank where they were supposed +to be still running. + +"Wish they'd use all their powder," said Drummond breathlessly. + +"Why?" said Bracy. + +"They've no bayonets." + +"Only tulwars and those horrible knives--eh?" said Bracy harshly. + +"Ugh!" ejaculated Drummond. "You're right; but if they came to close +quarters we could take it out of some of the brutes before we were done +for. It's horrible to be doing nothing but run till you're shot down." + +"Not shot down yet, old fellow. There, don't talk; we may get across." + +"May!" muttered Drummond. "But, my word! how they are firing yonder! +They're beginning to think we're hiding, and are trying to start us +running again." + +"Will you leave off talking!" cried Bracy angrily. "Here, Gedge, how +are you getting on?" + +"Splendid, sir. I could do anything if the pavement warn't so rough." + +"In much pain?" + +"Pretty tidy, sir. Sort o' bad toothache like in my left ankle. Beg +pardon, sir; are we going to wade the river?" + +"Going to try, my lad." + +"That's just what'll set me up again. Had a sprained ankle once afore, +and I used to sit on a high stool with my foot in the back-kitchen sink +under the tap." + +"Cold water cure--eh, my lad?" said Drummond, smiling. + +"That's right, sir." + +"Steady there!" came from the front, where the leaders were hidden from +those behind. "Steep rock-slope here." + +A rush and the breaking of twigs. + +"Some one down," cried Bracy excitedly. "Any one hurt?" + +Splash! and the sound of a struggle in the water. + +Bracy dashed forward, forcing his way past the two men, his heart +beating wildly as he reached the spot from whence the sound came. + +"All right," cried Roberts from below; and, peering down through a +tangle of overhanging bushes, Bracy saw his leader standing breast-high +in foaming water, holding on by a branch and looking up at him. + +"I fell. Unprepared. You can all slide down. Lower yourselves as far +as you can, and then let go." + +The distance was about thirty feet, and the descent not perpendicular. + +"You go next," said Bracy to one of the men. "You can't hurt, it's only +into water." + +"Let me, sir," cried Gedge. + +"Silence," said Bracy sternly, and he watched anxiously as the man he +had spoken to set his teeth, made his way to the edge of the rock, +lowered himself by holding on to some of the bushes through which +Roberts had suddenly fallen, and then let go. + +Hush--splash! and Bracy saw him standing in the water opposite to his +Captain. + +"Next, Gedge," said Bracy. + +Gedge sprang forward as if his leg were uninjured, lowered himself down +till his head was out of sight of those behind, and then, muttering the +words of the old school game, "Here comes my ship full sail, cock +warning!" he let go, glided down, made his splash, and the next minute +was standing beyond Roberts, holding on, for the pressure of the rushing +water was great. The others followed rapidly, Bracy last, and feeling +as if he had suddenly plunged into liquid ice, so intensely cold was the +water, which reached nearly to his chin. He glanced outward to get a +dim peep of the river they were about to try and cross, and another +chill ran through him, for it was like standing face to face with death, +the surface eastward being one race of swirling and rushing foam, dotted +here and there by masses of rock. There was a few moments' anxious +pause, and, above the hissing rush of the water, the echoing crack, +crack, crack of the enemies' jezails reached their ears, but sounding +smothered and far away. Then Roberts spoke: + +"You can swim, Drummond?" + +"Yes, in smooth water," was the reply. "I don't know about cascades." + +"You've got to, my lad," said Roberts shortly. "What about your men? +You can, I know, Gedge." + +"Yes, sir." + +"You others?" + +"I can swim a few strokes, sir," said one. + +"Never was no water, sir, where I was," replied the other. + +"A few strokes!" cried Roberts fiercely. "No water! Shame on you, +lads! No one who calls himself a man ought, to be in a position to say +such a thing. Well, we'll do our best. Don't cling, or you'll drown us +as well." + +"I can get one on 'em across like a shot, sir," cried Gedge excitedly. + +"Silence!" cried Roberts. + +"But I done drowning-man resky, sir, in Victory Park lots o' times." + +"Then rescue the drowning-man with the injured leg--yourself," said +Roberts, smiling--"if it comes to the worst. Draw swords, gentlemen. +I'll lead. You take hold of my sword, my lad, and take fast grip of Mr +Drummond's hand. Drummond, hold out your sword to Gedge. Gedge, take +Mr Bracy's hand. Bracy, you can extend your sword to the last. We may +be able to wade. If not we must go with the stream, and trust to the +rocks. Each man who reaches a shallow can help the rest. Ready? +Forward!" + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +A NICE WALK. + +"Halt!" cried Roberts in a low tone of voice; for, as he gave the order +to advance for the attempt to ford the river, a fresh burst of firing +arose from what seemed to be nearer, and he hesitated to lead his +companions out into the rushing flood and beyond the shelter of the +overhanging trees. + +"It is like exposing ourselves to being shot down while perfectly +helpless, old fellow," he said, with his lips close to Bracy's ear. + +"But we can't stay here: they'll track us to where you fell, and see the +broken branches overhead. What then?" said Bracy. + +"Right; we shall be easy marks for the brutes. Now, then, forward!" + +Without hesitation this time, and with his following linked in +accordance with his orders, Roberts began to wade, facing the rushing +water and leaning towards it as it pressed against his breast, to divide +it, forming a little wave which rushed by to right and left. Step +followed step taken sidewise, and at the third he and the private +following him stood out clear of the overhanging growth, so that he +could see plainly the task that was before him. + +It was enough to startle the strongest man, for there were about fifty +yards of a rushing torrent to stem, as it swept icily cold along the +river's rocky bed, and already the pressure seemed greater than he could +bear, while he felt that if the water rose higher he would be perfectly +helpless to sustain its force. But a sharp glance upward and downward +showed him spots where the water foamed and leaped, and there he knew +that the stream must be shallower; in fact, in two places he kept on +catching sight of patches of black rock which were bared again and +again. Setting his teeth hard, and making the first of these his goal, +he stepped on cautiously, this choice of direction, being diagonally +up-stream, necessarily increasing the distance to be traversed, but +lessening the pressure upon the little linked-together line of men. + +"We shall never do it," thought Bracy as, in his turn, he waded out into +the open stream, his arms well extended and his companions on either +side gazing up-stream with a peculiar strained look about their eyes. +But there was no sign of flinching, no hesitation; every man was full of +determination, the three privates feeling strengthened by being linked +with and thus sharing the danger with their officers; while Roberts, as +leader, felt, however oppressed by the sense of all that depended upon +him, invigorated by the knowledge that he must reach that shallow place. +Once he had his men there, they could pause for a few minutes' rest +before making the next step. + +On he pressed, left shoulder forward, against the rushing waters; +feeling moment by moment that the slightest drag from the next man must +make him lose his footing, to be swept downward, with the result that if +the links of the chain were not broken asunder there would be pluck, +pluck, pluck, one after the other, and they would be all swept down the +torrent. + +Had he allowed his imagination free way, he would have let it picture +the result--so many ghastly figures, battered out of recognition, found +somewhere, miles away perhaps, among the blocks of stone in the shallows +of the defile. But the stern man within him kept the mastery; and he +went on a few inches at a time, edging his way along, with the water +deepening, so that he was ready to pause. But he felt that hesitation +would be fatal; and, pressing on, his left foot went down lower than +ever, making him withdraw it and try to take a longer stride. + +"It's all over," he thought, in his desperation; but even as the thought +flashed through his brain he found that he reached bottom again, having +passed a narrow gully, and his next and next, strides were into +shallower water; while, toiling hard, he was in a minute only +waist-deep, dragging his companions after him, and aiding them, so that +they all stood together a third of the way across, with the rushing +stream only knee-deep. + +"Five minutes for faking breath," he cried, "and then on again for that +white patch where the water is foaming." + +No one else spoke, but all stood panting and not gazing up-stream or at +the farther shore, with its rocks, trees, and ample cover, but throwing +the pressure of every nerve, as it were, into their hearing, and +listening for sounds of the enemy only to be heard above the roar of the +water. For the firing had ceased, and one and all felt that this meant +an advance on the part of the hill-men, who would be sweeping the wooded +valley right to the river-bank, ready at any moment to open fire again; +while now it would be upon the unprotected group part of the way towards +mid-stream. + +"Forward!" cried Roberts; and, with their grip tightening, the little +party followed their Captain as he once more edged off to the left, +performing his former evolution, and, to his delight, finding that the +stone-bestrewn polished bottom never once deepened after the first few +steps, which took him waist-deep, and kept about the same level, the +result being that the next halt was made where the river was roughest, +tossing in waves churned up as it was by the masses of rock in its way, +a group lying just below the surface, with the water deepening behind +them, so that the party had once more to stand breast-high, but in an +eddy, the rocks above taking off the pressure which in the shallows had +threatened to sweep them away. + +The water was numbing, and the leader felt that their pause before +recommencing their efforts must be very short; but he was face to face +with the most difficult part of their transit, for it was only too plain +that this last portion ran swift and deep, the bold, steady rush +suggesting a power which he knew instinctively that he would not be able +to stem, and he looked downward now to see what was below in the only +too probable event of their being swept away. + +As he turned to gaze upward again he caught Bracy's eyes fixed upon him +inquiringly; but he paid no heed, though he did not for the moment read +them aright, the idea being that his brother officer was mutely asking +him if he thought he could do it. + +He grasped Bracy's meaning the next minute, for he heard that which had +reached Bracy's ears. It was a shout from the woody bank they had left, +as if one of the enemy had made a discovery, followed by answering +cries, and all knew now that their foes were close upon their track, and +that at any moment they might be discovered and fire be opened upon +them. + +"Forward!" cried Roberts, and once more he set off, to be again +agreeably surprised, for the water did not deepen in the least as he +moved from out of the eddy, being still about breast-deep, with very +little variation, the bottom being swept clear of stones and literally +ground smooth by the constant passage over it of the fragments borne +down from the glaciers in the north. But before many steps had been +taken, and the little chain was extended to its extreme limit, Roberts +knew that disaster was imminent. For it was impossible to stand against +the dense, heavy rush of water, bear against it as he would. + +He shouted back to his companions to bear against the pressure, and +strove his best, but all in vain. At one and the same moment the double +calamity came: there was a shot from out of the patch of forest they had +left, and the leader was lifted from his feet. Then pluck, pluck, +pluck, as if mighty hands had seized them, the men in turn were snatched +from their positions, and with a scattered fire opened upon them from +among the trees, they were being swept rapidly down-stream. + +Roberts shouted an order or two, and discipline prevailed for a space, +the links of the chain remaining unbroken; but even the greatest +training could not hold it together for long at such a time, and the +non-swimmers were the first to go under and quit their hold, rolling +over with the tremendous rush of the stream, and rising again, to snatch +wildly at the nearest object, and in two cases to hamper the unfortunate +who was within reach. + +"_Sauve qui peut_," muttered Bracy a's he glided along, with his sword +hanging from his wrist by the knot; but his actions contradicted his +thoughts, for instead of trying to save himself he turned to the help of +Drummond, to whom one of the men was clinging desperately, and the very +next minute he felt a hand clutch at his collar and grip him fast. + +The rattle of firing was in his ears, and then the thundering of the +water, as he was forced below the surface into the darkness; but he did +not lose his presence of mind. He let himself go under, and then, with +a few vigorous strokes, rose to the surface, with the man clinging to +him behind, and wrenched himself round in his effort to get free. He +was only partially successful, though; and, panting heavily, he swam +with his burden, just catching sight of Drummond in a similar position +to himself, many yards lower down the stream. + +"Let go," he shouted to the man. "Let go, and I'll save you." + +But the man's nerve was gone, and he only clung the tighter and made a +drowning-man's effort to throw his legs about his officer's. + +"Help! help!" he gasped, and a desperate struggle ensued, during which +both went beneath the surface again, only to rise with Bracy completely +crippled, for the poor drowning wretch had been completely mastered by +his intense desire for life, and arms and legs were now round his +officer in the death-grip. + +Bracy cast a wild, despairing look round as he was borne rapidly along, +and all seemed over, when a head suddenly came into sight from behind +them, an arm rose above the surface, and the swimmer to whom it belonged +drove his fist with a dull smack right on the drowning-man's ear, and +with strange effect. + +It was as if the whole muscular power had been instantaneously +discharged like so much electricity at the touch of a rod, the horrible +clinging grasp ceased, and with a feeble effort Bracy shook himself free +and began to swim. + +"A jolly idgit!" panted a voice; "a-holding on to yer orficer like that! +Want to drown him? Can you keep up, sir?" + +"Yes, I think so," said Bracy weakly. + +"That's right, sir. You'll do it. I'll give yer a 'and if yer can't. +It's easy enough if yer swim with the stream." + +"Can you keep him up?" said Bracy more vigorously. + +"Oh yus, sir; I can manage to keep him on his back and his nose out o' +the water. Knocked him silly." + +"Where are the others?" + +"There they are, sir, ever so far along. The Captain's got old Parry, +and Mr Drummond's swimming to his side to help him. You'll _do_ it +now, sir. Slow strokes wins. Feel better?" + +"Yes. I was half-strangled." + +"Then it's all right, sir." + +"But the enemy?" panted Bracy, trying to look round. + +"Never you mind them, sir. They're far enough off now, and can only get +a shot now and then. River windles so. We're going ever so much faster +than they can get through the woods. Ain't this jolly, sir? Done my +ankle a sight o' good. I allus did like the water, on'y sojers' togs +ain't made to swim in." + +"I can't see any one in pursuit," said Bracy at the end of a minute. + +"Don't you keep trying to look, sir. You've got enough to do to swim." + +"I'm getting right again now, Gedge, and I think I can help you." + +"What! to keep him up, sir? I don't want no help while he's like this; +but if he comes to again and begins his games you might ketch him one in +the ear. Chaps as thinks they're drowning is the silliest old idgits +there is. 'Stead o' keeping still and their pads under water, they +shoves them right up to try and ketch hold o' the wind or anything else +as is near. 'Spose they can't help it, though. Hullo! look yonder, +sir. Rocks and shaller water. Think we could get right across now?" + +For a shout now reached them from fifty yards or so lower down, where +their three companions in misfortune were standing knee-deep in +mid-stream, and a rugged mass of rocks rose to divide the river and +towered up twenty or thirty feet, forming a little rugged island about +twice as long. Bracy's spirits, which were very low, rose now at the +sight of Roberts and Drummond helping the other private up into safety, +and turning directly to offer them the same aid if they could manage to +get within reach. + +"Keep it up, sir," cried Gedge, who was swimming hard, "or we shall be +swep' one way or t'other. It'll be nigh as a touch, for the water +shoots off jolly swift." + +Bracy had needed no telling, and he exerted all his strength to keep so +that they might strike the shallows where the island was worn by the +fierce torrent to a sharp edge, for to swim a foot or two to the left +meant being carried towards the side of the enemy, while to the right +was into swifter water rushing by the island with increased force. + +"Stick to it, sir," cried Gedge. "Side-stroke, sir. No fear o' not +keeping afloat. That's your sort. We shall do it. Ah!" + +Gedge's last cry was one of rage and disappointment, for, in spite of +their efforts, just as they seemed to be within a few feet of the point +at which they aimed, they found themselves snatched as it were by the +under-current, and, still holding to their half-drowned companion, they +would have been carried past but for a brave effort made by Roberts, who +was prepared for the emergency. By stepping out as far as he dared, +holding by Drummond's long arm, and reaching low, he caught Gedge's +extended hand. + +The shock was sharp, and he went down upon his face in the water; but +Drummond held on, the little knot of struggling men swung round to the +side, and in another minute they were among the rocks, where they +regained their feet, and drew the insensible private up on to dry land. + +"That was near," said Roberts, who was breathless from exertion. "Hurt, +Drummond?" + +"Oh no, not at, all," was the laughing reply. "I never did lie on the +rack, having my arms torn out of the sockets; but it must have been +something like this." + +"I'm very sorry," cried Roberts. + +"Oh, I'm not, old man. How are you, Bracy--not hit?" + +"No, no; I shall be all right directly. Thank you, old chaps, for +saving us. Never mind me; try and see to this poor fellow. I'm afraid +he's drowned." + +"No, sir; he ain't, sir," cried Gedge; "he's coming round all right. +It's more that crack in the ear I give him than the water. I hit him as +hard as I could. There! look, gents; his eyes is winking." + +It was as the lad said; the unfortunate non-swimmer's eyelids were +quivering slightly, and at the end of a minute he opened them widely and +stared vacantly at the sunny sky. The officers were bending over him, +when they received a broad hint that their position was known, a couple +of shots being fired from the farther bank, higher up-stream, one of +which struck the rock above them and splintered off a few scraps, which +fell pattering down. + +"Quick!" cried Roberts. "We must get those two along here for a bit. +The high part will shelter us then; but as soon as possible we must have +another try for the shore." + +The shelter was soon reached, and all crouched together in the sunshine, +with the water streaming from them, the officers busily scanning the +bank of the rushing river opposite, and calculating the possibility of +reaching it. There was plenty of cover, and very little likelihood of +the enemy crossing the river in its swollen state; but there was that +mad nice some twenty yards wide to get over with two helpless men; and +at last Roberts spoke in a low tone to his companions. + +"I can't see how it's to be done, boys. I dare say we four could reach +the bank somewhere; but we're heavily handicapped by those two who can't +swim." + +"And there isn't time to teach them now," said Drummond sardonically. + +"And we can't leave them," said Bracy. "What's to be done?" + +Gedge was eager to offer a suggestion upon the slightest encouragement, +and this he obtained from Roberts, who turned to him. + +"How's the sprain, my lad?" + +"Bit stiff, sir; that's all," was the reply. "Water done it a lot o' +good." + +"Think you could drop down with the stream and land somewhere near the +fort to tell them how we're pressed?" + +"Dessay I could, sir; but don't send me, please." + +"Why?" asked Roberts and Bracy in a breath. + +Gedge gave them a comical look, and waved his hand in the direction of +his comrades. + +"We all come out together to have what we called a nice little walk, +sir, and a look at that there waterfall, as turned out to be farther off +than we reckoned on. I shouldn't like to cut off and leave 'em in the +lurch, sir." + +"Lurch? Nonsense, my lad," said Bracy. "You would be going on a very +risky errand to try and save us all." + +"Yes, sir; o' course, sir; but I could get one of 'em over that little +bit if you three gents could manage t'other. They'll be all right in a +few minutes." + +"I don't like sending him," said Roberts. "It is very dangerous, and we +must, try it together." + +His companions gave; a short, sharp nod, and acquiesced. + +"If we only knew what is below us!" said Bracy as he gazed down-stream. + +"Niggers," said Drummond shortly. "There'll be a dozen or two beyond +these rocks waiting to pot us as soon as we are carried into sight by +the stream." + +"Well, there'll only be our heads to aim at," said Bracy; "and we must +not go down in a cluster this time." + +"No," said Roberts. "As soon as you feel ready, Bracy, we must start. +It is madness to stay here. You and Gedge take that fellow between you; +and Drummond and I will go as before." + +"Hear that?" whispered Gedge to his comrade, who gave him a sulky nod. +"That's right; and mind, I'm ready for yer this time. I shan't hit yer; +but if yer moves hand or foot when I've turned yer over on yer back to +float, we lets yer go, and yer can get across the blessed river by +yerself." + +"All right," said the man; "but I don't believe yer, Billy Gedge. I +never learnt to swim, but if I could I shouldn't talk about leaving a +pardner to shift for hisself." + +"Er-r-er!" growled Gedge, whom these words seemed to mollify. "Well, +keep them 'ands o' yours in the water, for as long as you holds 'em down +you helps me to keep yer afloat, and as soon as yer begins to make +windmills of 'em and waves 'em, or chucks 'em about as if you was trying +to ketch flies, down you goes." + +"All right," said the man, as they heard more bullets spattering on the +rocks above them; "but, oh, how my hands does itch for a rifle and a +chance to be taking shots at some of these beauties!" + +"Yes," said Gedge; "and I hope it won't be long first. I hadn't any +spite partickler agen 'em before, but I have now. Ha' they got any +orspitals or doctors?" + +"I dunno," said the other; "but if we gets outer this and in the ranks +again, there's going to be some of the beds filled, and a bit o' work +for their doctors to do." + +"Well, my lads," said Roberts, stepping to where the three men crouched +gazing at the deep, rushing water; "feel strong enough to start?" + +"Yes, sir," came in chorus. + +"And we shan't get in a tangle this time, sir, I hope," said Gedge. + +"I hope not, my lad. Up with you, then." + +There were no preparations to make; nothing to do but for the two +officers to get their man face upward between them, and stand ready +while Bracy and Gedge followed suit with theirs. + +"Ready?" said Roberts. "Count ten after we've started, and then +follow." + +As soon as he had spoken he gave Drummond a nod, and they stepped among +the rocks to the swift water, bent down, and, as they lowered themselves +in, the strong current seized them, as it were, their helpless companion +was drawn out, and away they went as fast as a horse could have trotted, +down what was a veritable water-slide. + +"Now, my lad," cried Bracy as Gedge, at a signal, went on counting the +ten slowly. "Keep a good heart. We won't leave you." + +"All right, sir;" said the man, drawing a deep breath. + +"Nine--ten!" counted Gedge. + +"Off!" cried Bracy, but checked himself for a moment, startled by the +noise of the ragged volley which was fired from the enemy's bank as soon +as they caught sight of the three heads gliding down the stream. + +"If they are hit!" mentally exclaimed Bracy; and then, making a sign to +Gedge, they followed out the precedent shown them, and the water seized +and bore them along, with the private floating between them, their +steady subsidence into the water and slow strokes keeping them well upon +the surface. + +So swiftly did they pass along that only a few moments had passed before +the crackling of the firing from the far bank came plainly, and bullets +ricochetted from the water to strike the other bank, but without effect, +the rate at which they were descending making the aim taken with the +long, clumsy matchlocks of no effect. Not a word was littered; and with +their friends far ahead, their heads just seen, the fugitives glided +along the straight course below them, free as it was from rocks. But +they were evidently in full view of fresh parties of the enemy, and shot +after shot splashed the water. + +"Now for the bank, Gedge," cried Bracy suddenly. + +"Yes, sir; all right, sir; but it's of no use." + +"It is," cried Bracy angrily. "They are making for it now." + +"Yes, sir: and they're swept by it. Can't you see it's like a smooth +wall, with the water running by it like a railway train?" + +Gedge was right; and there was nothing for it but to go with the stream +towards the rocks which now rose right in their way, the long race +ending in a wide chaos of foaming water, which leaped and sparkled in +the afternoon sun. + +"We shall be torn to pieces there," thought Bracy; and he strained his +eyes to try and make out an opening; but his attention was taken up the +next moment by the cracking of matchlocks and the puffs of smoke rising +to his left, as fire was opened upon their leaders, who were running the +gauntlet that it would be their fate to share in another minute, when +Gedge suddenly uttered a hoarse cheer, and nearly lost his grip of his +companion; for, quick, sharp, and loud, a genuine British volley rattled +out, almost like a report from a piece of artillery, the bullets sending +the leaves on the enemy's bank pattering down. Then another, and at +regular intervals others; while the eyes of the swimmers were gladdened +by the sight of friends making their way down among the rocks, towards +which they were being rushed. Another volley rang out; there was a +cheer, in which the two helpless privates joined; and directly after the +fugitives were saved from being battered among the rocks by ready hands, +whose efforts were covered by the rapid firing from the bank above. + +Five minutes after, the dripping party were retiring with a company of +their regiment, whose captain contented himself with giving the enemy a +volley from time to time, as they doubled to reach their quarters, now +not a quarter of a mile away, the young officers learning that the enemy +was out once more and converging upon the fort, this unexpected news of +the termination of the temporary peace having been brought in by scouts, +and none too soon. + +"Graves said that you must be brought in somehow," said the officer in +charge of the company; "but I was not to cross the river where you did, +but to come up this side, for you would turn back after crossing higher +up." + +"Yes; I remember telling the Colonel so," said Bracy eagerly. + +"Well, it has turned out all right; but he needn't have told me, for we +could not have crossed, as far as I can see." + +"We did," said Drummond, laughing; "and brought in these three fellows, +too." + +"Yes; but I wouldn't holloa too soon," said the officer addressed. +"We're not safe yet. Look yonder; they're swarming down that gorge, and +we must race for it, or they'll cut us off. Forward, my lads." + +Ten minutes later there was a halt and a clinking rattle, as the order +was given to fix bayonets ready for a strong body of the hill-men, who +had crossed the shallows lower down and were coming on to dispute their +way. + +"Why doesn't Graves send out another company to cover us?" panted +Roberts. "We shall be cut off after all." + +The words had hardly passed his lips when--crash!--there was a +tremendous volley from their right front, which checked the enemy's +advance, the white-coated hill-men hesitating. The officer in command +seized the opportunity, and a volley was fired by the rescue company, +the men cheering as they dashed on with bristling bayonets. That was +enough: the enemy turned and fled, their speed increased by another +volley from the covering company; and ten minutes later the fugitives +were marching along coolly, protected by the fire from the walls of the +fort, where they were directly after being heartily shaken by the hand, +the sally-port clanging to in their rear. + +"Quite enough for one day," said Drummond. + +"Yes," said Bracy grimly; "that's having what Gedge called a nice long +walk." + +"Yes," said Roberts; "with a swim thrown in." + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +WHICH WAS BRAVER? + +"Steady, there; steady, my lads. Not too fast. Seize upon every bit of +shelter, and have a few steady shots at them. They're beaten, and we +shall soon scatter them now." + +The lads were as steady as the most exacting officer could desire; and +though the two sides of the narrow, winding defile were lined with the +enemy, who made good use of their clumsy jezails, of whose long range +several of the Fusiliers had had bitter experience, the deadly fire +which searched out every sheltering crag was too much for the Dwats, who +were retiring as fast as the difficult nature of the ground would allow. + +Bracy felt that, the enemy was beaten, and knew that the fierce +tribes-men would be only too glad to escape as soon as they could: but +as the tight had gone against them, their supposed to be secure +hiding-places were one by one growing untenable as the Fusiliers +advanced; and consequently, as giving up was about the last thing they +thought of doing, their action was that of rats at bay--fighting to the +bitter end. The men of Roberts's company knew, too, what they must do-- +drive the enemy completely out of the defile, or they would return +again; so, partly held back by their officers, they advanced by a series +of rushes, taking possession of every bit of fallen rock for shelter, +and driving their enemies on and on, farther into the mountains, fully +expecting that in a short time they would completely take to flight. + +But disappointment followed disappointment. No sooner was one niche +high up on the rocky sides cleared than there was firing from one on the +other, and the work had to be gone through over again. Still they +advanced, and the enemy retired; while the officers knew that sooner or +later, in spite of numbers, this must come to an end, for nothing could +withstand the accurate fire of the young Englishmen whenever they +obtained a chance. Men dropped from time to time; but they had to lie +where they fell till the fight was at an end, some to rise no more; +others, knowing as they did the nature of the enemy, managed to creep to +the shelter of a rock, where they laid their cartridges ready, and sat +back watching the faces of the defile in anticipation of some marksman +opening fire. + +The company was in full pursuit, under the belief that they had +completely cleared the defile as far as they had gone, when, in the +midst of a rush led by Roberts and Bracy, both making for a rough +breastwork of rocks built a hundred feet up one side and held by two or +three score of the enemy, the latter uttered a sharp ejaculation, +stopped short, and then dropped upon his knees, his sword, as it fell +from his hand to the full extent of the knot secured by the slide to his +wrist, jingling loudly on the stones. Roberts was at his side in a +moment, and leaned over him. + +"Not badly hurt?" + +"No, no," cried Bracy; "never mind me. On with you, and lead the boys; +they're close up to that breastwork. On--on!" + +Roberts turned and rushed up the rock-strewn defile, reaching his men as +they crowded together for a rush, and Bracy and the man hurrying to him +saw them go over it as if they were engaged in an obstacle race. The +next minute they disappeared round another bend in the jagged rift, in +full pursuit of the late occupants of the murderous shelter. + +"And me not with 'em, and me not with 'em!" groaned the private who had +fallen back. "But I don't care. I ain't going to leave him." + +Before he could double back to where Bracy knelt, the wounded officer +sank over sidewise, with the rugged defile seeming to swim round before +his eyes, and, for a few minutes, glory, the hot rage of pursuit, and +the bitter disappointment of failure were as nothing. Then he opened +his eyes upon the lad who was bending over him, holding a water-bottle +to his lips. + +"Try and drink a drop, sir, if it's ever so little." + +The words seemed to come from a great distance off and to echo in +Bracy's head, as he made an effort and swallowed a few drops of the +lukewarm fluid. + +"Gedge," he said at last with difficulty, staring hard at the lad, whose +head seemed to have gone back to its old state after the blow from the +falling rock, but only to swell now to a monstrous size. + +"Yes, sir; it's me, sir. Ought to have gone on with the boys, but I +couldn't leave you, sir, for fear of some of the rats coming down from +the holes to cut you up." + +"Rats? Holes?" said Bracy feebly. "What's the matter?" + +"Not much, I hope, sir; on'y you've got hit. Whereabouts is it? Ah, +needn't ask," he muttered as he saw a dark mark beginning to show on the +left breast of the young officer's tunic, and spreading like a big blot +on a writing-pad. + +"Hit? Nonsense--ah!" Bracy uttered a low groan, and clapped his right +hand across to cover the spot. + +"Yes, sir. Jus' there," said Gedge; "but don't you mind. It's too high +up to be dangerous, I know. Now, then. Amb'lance dooty. Must +practice; I ain't forgot that." + +Gedge gave a sharp look round and up and down the defile, before laying +down his gun and taking out a bandage and some lint. + +"Hold still, sir," he said, drawing his breath through his teeth +afterwards with a hiss, as he rapidly stripped open his officer's +jacket, and then tore away the shirt, to lay bare his white breast, +where, just below the collar-bone, an ugly red patch showed itself. + +"Sponge and cold water," muttered Gedge; "and I ain't got 'em." Then +aloud: "That hurt yer, sir?" for he was examining the wound. + +"Never mind that; go on," said Bracy faintly. "Plug the wound." + +"Right, sir. Jus' going to.--One o' their ugly bits o' hiron," muttered +the lad as he stopped the effusion of blood in a rough-and-ready way +which must have been agonising to the sufferer, who, however, never +winced. + +"That's done it, sir; but I must turn you over to fasten the bandage." + +"Go on," said Bracy in a faint whisper.--"Hah! the firing's getting more +distant." + +"Yes, sir; they're driving 'em right out of it this time, and we not in +it, and--oh, a mussy me!" whispered the speaker now, as in his +manipulations he became conscious of the fact that his task was only +half-done, for there was the place where the ragged missile had passed +out close to the spine, and the plugging and bandaging had to be +continued there. + +"That's good, sir," he said cheerily. "You won't have the doctor +worriting you to get the bullet out, as he does with some of the lads. +Now, then, a drop more water, and then I'm going to get you up yonder, +more out of the sun, so as you'll be more comf'table till they come +back." + +"Yes!" sighed Bracy. "I can't help you, my lad. Listen! they're firing +still." + +"Oh yes, sir; they're doing the job proper this time. Shots is a good +way off too. How they eckers, and--Hullo!" Gedge gave a sudden start, +snatched at his rifle, and looked up the defile in the direction where +his companions had passed, for there was a report from close at hand +following upon the small stones close to his side being driven up, and +he was watching a puff of smoke slowly rising high up the left +precipitous side, finger on trigger, ready for a return shot, when-- +whiz--something like a swift beetle in full flight passed close to his +ear, and he ducked down, simultaneously with an echoing report from the +right side of the defile. + +"Just like 'em!" he muttered. "Oh, you cowards! Only just show your +muzzles, and I'll let yer see what British musketry practice is like." + +But all Gedge saw was the gleam of a ramrod a hundred yards away, where +one of the hill-men who had kept to his coign of vantage was rapidly +reloading. + +"No good to stop here," muttered Gedge; "they'd be hitting him 'fore +long. Me too, p'raps. Well, here goes." + +The lad rose upon his knees, took off his helmet and passed the strap of +his rifle over his head and arm, slung it, replaced his helmet, and +turned to Bracy. + +"Won't hurt yer more than I can 'elp, sir; but we can't stop here." + +"No; lie down, my lad. Get into cover, and wait till you can reply." + +A sharp report from below them stopped Gedge from answering, and the +bullet flattened against the rock a yard from where the lad knelt. + +"Well, this is pleasant," he said, showing his teeth in a grin which +looked as vicious as that of a hunted dog. "Urrrr!" he snarled, "if I +only had you three down on the level with my bay'net fixed. Draw a big +breath, sir. Up yer comes. Now, then, you hold fast with yer right. +Hook it round my neck, and don't get the spike o' my 'elmet in your +eye.--Now, then, my lad; right-about face--quick march!" + +Gedge strode off with his load held in his arms as a nurse would carry a +baby, and at the first step--bang! bang! and echo--echo--two shots came +from behind, and directly after another from the front, but from the +opposite side to the spot from whence the former shot had been fired. + +"Well, if they can't hit me now they orter," muttered Gedge as he strode +on with his heavy burden. "This is going to be walking the gauntlet if +any more on 'em's left behind on the sneak. Oh dear! oh dear! if I only +had a snug shelter and plenty o' cartridges I think I could stop that +little game.--Hurt yer much, sir?" he continued aloud after a few dozen +yards had been covered. "Fainted! Poor chap! Better, p'raps, for he +won't know what's going on.--Go it!" he snarled as shot after shot was +fired; while, though he managed to get out of the line of fire of the +two first enemies, he had to pass closer to the two next, who fired +again and again from their eyries far up the sides of the defile, these +nooks, fortunately for Gedge and his burden, having been reached from +above--the perpendicular walls precluding all descent into the dried-up +torrent-bed. + +The young fellow was right; he had to run the gauntlet, for to his +dismay, as he tramped on with his load, he awoke to the fact that the +Dwats, who had retired from the upper shelves as the Fusiliers rushed up +the defile, were coming back to their hiding-places, and, warned by the +firing of their companions, were ready to harass the retreat. + +"I don't care," he muttered, "if I can only get him outer fire; but they +must hit one of us before long. 'Tain't possible for 'em to keep on +without." + +Bang! and then bang! again, and the stones close by where the brave +fellow trod were struck up, one of them giving Gedge a sharp blow on the +knee. + +"Talk about hitting a 'aystack!" he snarled. "Why, I could make better +practice with a indyrubber cattypult and a bag o' marbles." + +"Gedge--Gedge!" came from Bracy's lips in excited tones, for he had +slowly revived to a knowledge of their position. + +"Yes, sir; all right, sir. I know. I'd double, but the going is too +bad." + +"Of course, my lad; impossible. But are you mad?" + +"Yes, sir; downright savage at the murderous brutes. This is their way +o' treating the wounded." + +"I didn't mean that, my man, but the way you're carrying me." + +Shot after shot came whistling and buzzing by them from behind as he +spoke, but still without effect. + +"I'm carrying you all right, sir. Can't help hurting you a bit. It's +easy this way." + +"Nonsense, man. Set me down at once. I can stand. Then sling your +rifle in front, and take me on your back." + +"There they go, sir," said Gedge as another shot buzzed by, telling of +its rough shape. "They never did no pigeon-shooting, sir, nor practised +at sparrers from the trap." + +"Did you hear what I said, sir?" cried Bracy angrily. "Set me down, and +get me on your back. I can hold on with one hand and leave yours free." + +"Couldn't use 'em if they was, sir." + +"Halt! Take me on your back at once, sir," cried Bracy, panting with +anger and pain. + +"Can't, sir. Who's a-going to halt with them firing at us like that +from behind? Ain't I 'bliged to keep ree-treating?" + +"Obey my orders, sir. I tell you I shall be easier to carry on your +back." + +"Oh yes, sir, a deal easier to carry, and a nice deal easier to hit. +Aintcher got it bad enough as it is?" said Gedge sulkily. + +Bracy was silent for a few moments as he felt his suspicions realised. +Gedge was carrying him in that awkward fashion so as to shelter him from +any better-aimed bullet that might come. To make quite sure, though, he +drew a deep breath and spoke again: + +"I am wounded, sir, but I will be obeyed." + +"All right, sir; soon as ever we get out o' shot." + +"But you are hurting me horribly; and can't you see that, carrying me +like this, you may receive the next bullet?" + +"Oh yes, sir; I can see," said Gedge coolly; "but you be quiet, and I +won't hurt you more'n I can help." + +Bracy's voice had lost all its anger, and it was in no tone of command +that he said: + +"Set me down, my lad, and hold my arm. I'll try to walk beside you +while you take a shot or two at those cowardly brutes." + +"Ah, that's just what I'd like to do, sir; but it would on'y be waste o' +time. They'd hit us, too, if we stood still for me to fire. It's our +keeping moving that helps. 'Sides, I know it would only make your +wounds break out worse, and shift the bandage. You keep quiet, for I +ain't got no breath for talking." + +Bracy was silent, and slowly and steadily Gedge trudged on, growing more +and more exhausted, and looking to right and left for some cavernous +hole in which he could take refuge so as to screen his burden and defend +him so long as he had a cartridge left. + +"And even then," he muttered softly, "there's the bay'net. Wonder how I +could get on in fair fight against one of the niggers with his tullywar. +Too much for him, I fancy, for I am good at that game. Urrrr!" he +snarled again, for half-a-dozen shots were fired at them almost +together, but this time from lower down the defile in front, where the +enemies who had fled were gathering again in force. + +"That was a near un, sir," said Gedge as a bullet whizzed just over his +head. "Well sir, I beg pardon, sir, and hope you won't report me for +disobeying my sooperior orficer. I was a bit waxy and warm with +a-carrying of yer; for you are a bit heavy, sir. Now, sir, please, I'm +a-going to set you down gently and take you up on my back." + +Bracy paid no heed, but gazed down the narrow gorge, from whose sides +more shots were fired. + +"D'yer hear, sir? You're most a-choking o' me with that there arm." + +"Forward!" said Bracy between his teeth. "Mind, there's a great rift +there. Don't stumble." + +"I'm a-going to shift you first, sir. Once you're on my back I can +straddle that easy." + +"Yes, Gedge, I know," said Bracy as firmly as he could; "but don't +insult me any more." + +"Insult yer, sir? I wouldn't do it. How!" + +"By thinking your officers want to shelter themselves behind their men. +Forward, my lad, unless you find a place where we can shelter till our +comrades come back." + +"There aren't no shelter, sir, and there aren't no more mercy for them +Dwats if we gets clear of this, which I don't think we shall. There, +sir! It's all over, I suppose. Ain't hit, are yer?" + +"No. But that volley." + +"Yes, sir, there's any number waiting for us. Here, we must walk the +gauntlet back again now. We may meet our chaps coming." + +The firing was going on along the sides of the gorge, but just then +there was another crash, a regular volley, and Gedge uttered a hoarse +yell of excitement. + +"It's hoo-roar, sir," he panted, "on'y I can't shout. That's our +reserves coming up, and firing to keep the beggars' fire down. See, +they've stopped now. Oh, if my rifle wasn't slung! Look at 'em. One-- +two--three of the cowardly beggars scuffling up yonder like great white +rabbits, and on hands and feet, too." + +Crash! again. A sharp volley from much nearer, and Gedge stopped short +to gaze with his companion at the three hill-men away in front, a couple +or three hundred feet above the level where Bracy's bearer stood +forgetting his dangerous wound and his pangs as he felt horror-stricken +at the terrible sight to his left. + +There were, as Gedge said, three hill-men, crawling rapidly up a long +shelf to reach a cluster of stones for shelter--a shelter they had left +to get better aim at the struggling pair down below. And as the +climbing Dwats were watched directly after the last volley, one who was +last started up into a standing position, threw up his arms, and his +long jezail fell from them down into the defile, while he balanced +himself for a few moments and then dropped, turning over once, and +disappearing from the watchers' eyes. The next moment the top one came +to a stand by a great stone, and rolled over and over till he reached +the steep precipice, down which he plunged, the horrible thud with which +he struck the stones coming plainly to Bracy's ears. + +There was still another white figure crawling up the narrow shelf, but +he had stopped short; and as Bracy and his companion gazed, the poor +wretch seemed to collapse and lie closer down to the rock. Just then +another shot rang out, and the body gave a jerk, but did not move again. + +"Hah!" ejaculated Gedge. "It's very horrid, sir, but it was their turn, +and our lads can shoot. Come on, sir. I think we shall do it now." + +He started off towards the body of their friends, who were coming +rapidly on, but before they had gone a score of yards the firing from +the enemy recommenced, and--spat! spat!--the bullets struck the stones +close at hand. + +"Oh, I say, sir, this is too bad!" groaned Gedge. "I did think we +should do it now. Never mind. Britons never shall be slaves, and I +will do it after all." + +There was a rattling fire opened at once on the sides of the gorge, +completely crushing that of the hill-men; and a few minutes after, as +Gedge tramped on with his load, it was to be met by a burst of cheers, +and a score of his comrades came racing on to his help. It was just +then that a final shot came from somewhere behind, and poor Gedge +started violently, staggered forward, and the next moment he would have +gone down heavily with his burden but for the ready help of a dozen +willing hands. + +Directly after a distant cheering was heard. Roberts and his company +were coming back. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +WOUNDS. + +The enemy had been driven off with heavy loss, but the little victory +had been dearly-won. Several men had been wounded, and most serious to +all seemed to be the fact that among them was the gallant young officer +who was liked by every man in the regiment. So it was that the march +back to the great fort was made in silence; and when a few of the enemy, +encouraged by what they looked upon as a retreat, hung about the rear +and harassed the retiring column with shots from the heights, they paid +dearly for being so venturesome. For Captain Roberts, leaving a little +party in hiding to wait till the enemy showed in their pursuit, listened +with a grim smile upon his lip till there was a sudden outburst of +firing, and then tramped on with the remainder of his company, keeping +as much as he could by the mule ambulance which was bearing his friend +back to the fort. + +Within half-an-hour the little firing-party overtook the rear of the +column, and Roberts halted till they came up to him. + +"Well, Sergeant?" he said. + +"All right now, sir," said Gee, who looked what the men called ugly. "I +think we've brought 'em all down." + +"You're not sure, of course?" + +"Well, pretty nigh, sir. There ain't been a shot since." + +"Good. Be on the lookout. I hate for our poor fellows to be harassed +like this." + +"It's horrid, sir; but, begging your pardon, sir, how's Mr Bracy?" + +"Bad, Gee, bad. I'm afraid he is shot through the lungs." + +Sergeant Gee's brow went into a mass of puckers and frowns, and there +was the peculiar sound of one grinding his teeth together, as the man +tramped on behind his officer for a few minutes before speaking again. + +"Beg pardon, sir; there's that Bill Gedge. Is he much hurt?" + +"Very gravely, I'm afraid. Dr Morton can't tell yet from the hasty +examination he made, but he shook his head." + +"Poor lad!" said the Sergeant. "We were always bad friends, sir; he was +so full of his Cockney monkey-tricks, and he hated me, but we couldn't +spare him. What a soldier he would have made!" + +"Hah!" ejaculated Roberts; "as full of pluck as a lad could be. Mr +Bracy's been telling me how he carried him through the fire, and +sheltered him with his own body. That's how it was he had his wound." + +There was another pause, with the silence only broken by the echoing +tramp, tramp of the men. + +"Won't die--will he, sir?" whispered Sergeant Gee. + +"I pray Heaven no," said the Captain. + +"That sounds bad, sir," said the Sergeant huskily. "I should like to +shake hands with him afore he goes; and if he gets better I won't be so +hard on him again." + +"I suppose you have only done your duty by him." + +"I hope so, sir." + +"Double on to the ambulance, and see how he is. Corporal Green, take +the Sergeant's place." + +Roberts halted to let his men pass him, keenly watching every one in his +company, and a man limping caught his eye. + +"Here, Bracy, what's the matter?" he said. + +"Oh, nothing much, sir. Spent shot glanced off the rock and hit me in +the ankle." + +"Give him your arm, Sergeant, and get him on one of the mules." + +"Beg pardon, sir; I can walk back." + +"You're making your leg worse at every step, sir," cried Roberts +angrily. "Get on and ride." + +The words were spoken sharply, the young Captain being in no very +amiable mood, for he was cooling down after tremendous exertion and the +reaction from the wild excitement of the fight. But he spoke in the +man's interest and with the desire to save him from after-suffering. + +Then the weary tramp went on almost in silence, but no one flagged, and +at the end of a couple of hours they obtained a glimpse of the flag at +the top of the staff. The silence in the column was broken by a hearty +cheer, the men's spirits rising again after what had been a depressing +march back; and when the gates were reached they were cheered by the men +on the walls, and the hills around softly echoed back the replies to the +hearty welcome they had received. + +The Colonel, with the officers left behind, stood at the gate waiting, +and the answer to his inquiry regarding the enemy brought forth a fresh +cheer. + +"Splendidly done!" said the Colonel; and then sharply, "What +casualties?" + +"Mr Bracy severely wounded. Privates Down and Gedge had bullet-wounds. +Other hurts slight." + +The Doctor hurried away to his operating-room, and his assistants went +to the door to help in the three patients, who were attended to in turn. + +The first man who had fallen had to have a bullet extracted from his +leg, half-way to the hip, where it was deeply embedded in the muscle. + +"Now, my dear Bracy," said the Doctor, "let's look at you." + +"No, I can wait," was the reply. "My bandages is quite firm, and the +bleeding has ceased." + +The Doctor frowned, and was about to say something regarding +interference; but he checked himself, glanced at the bandage, and +nodded. + +"Very well," he said; "the other man." + +Poor Gedge was very white and remarkably quiet, but his eyes were full +of motion; and he watched the Doctor's face and every action of his +hands. + +"Why, Gedge, my lad," said the Doctor cheerily after a certain amount of +busy manipulation, "this isn't fair. I didn't want to have you in +hospital again." + +"Same to you, sir," said the sufferer, with a ghastly attempt at a +smile, as he screwed his head round to look at the Doctor. + +"Hold still, sir. Look the other way." + +"Yes, sir," said Gedge faintly. "'Tain't my head this time, sir." + +"No, my lad; it's not your head this time." + +"Sorry it's my back, sir; but I warn't a-running away." + +"Bah! of course you were not; our lads don't know how." + +"No, sir; course not, sir." + +"Got it carrying Mr Bracy out of the fire--eh?" + +"Well, yes, sir, I s'pose so, sir. Shall I--shall I--" + +The poor fellow stopped short. + +"Shall you what?" said the Doctor kindly; "try to move?" + +"No, sir," said the poor fellow feebly; "I didn't mean that. It was, +shall I be a goner?" + +"Oh, nonsense--nonsense! Humph! poor fellow! he has fainted." + +"Is his wound serious, Doctor?" said Bracy huskily. + +"Never you mind. You lie still and wait. Well, there. Yes, the hurt +is a very bad one. I don't think he'll die; but the bullet is in a +dangerous place, and I dare not try to extract it to-day." + +A short time after poor Gedge was lying in a state of stupor upon the +bed he had previously occupied, and the Doctor was examining the young +officer's wounds. + +"Very bad, Doctor?" asked Bracy. + +"Bad enough, sir. I don't like this exit so close to the vertebrae.-- +That hurt?" + +"No; it feels dull and cold just there." + +"Raise that hand a little." + +"Can't, Doctor; I'm so tightly bandaged." + +"Humph! Yes, you are pretty well tied up. That poor fellow Gedge did +wonderfully well for you, considering. He attended to his ambulance +lessons. First help's a grand thing when a man's bleeding to death." + +"Was I bleeding to death?" said Bracy rather faintly. + +"Of course you were; or perhaps not. The bleeding might have stopped of +itself, but I shouldn't have liked to trust it. There; shan't do any +more to you to-day. We'll have you to bed and asleep. That's the first +step towards getting well again. Sorry to have you down so soon, Bracy, +my dear boy. There, keep a good heart, and I'll soon get you right +again." + +The Colonel was at the hospital door soon after, along with Major +Graham, both anxious to hear about Bracy's hurt. + +"Bad," said the Doctor shortly as he put on his coat. "Don't ask to see +the poor boy; he's just dropping off to sleep." + +"Bad?" said the Colonel anxiously. + +"Yes, bad, sir. A young fellow can't have a hole drilled right through +him by a piece of ragged iron without being in a very serious +condition." + +"But the wound is not fatal?" + +"H'm! no, not fatal. He's young, strong, and healthy; but the exit of +the missile was in close proximity to the spine, and there's no knowing +what mischief may have been done." + +"What do you mean?" said the Colonel anxiously. + +"Injury to the nerve centre there. I can't say. Possibly nothing may +follow, but I am obliged to say the wound is bad, and there is danger of +his being crippled--permanently injured in a way which would render him +unfit for service." + +"But look here," said the Major excitedly, "you have a bad habit of +making the worst of things, Morton. Come, explain yourself. Are there +any symptoms suggestive of what you hint at?" + +"My dear Graham, I never come and interfere with your work; don't you +meddle with mine." + +"I don't want to, sir," said the Major tartly. "I only want for the +Colonel and yours obediently not to be left in the dark." + +"Graham is quite right," said the Colonel gravely. "We should like to +know a little more." + +"Very good," said the Doctor, "but I can only say this: there is a +peculiar absence of sensation in the lower extremities, and especially +in the poor fellow's left arm. This may be temporary, and due to the +terrible shock of the wound; but it also may be consequent upon injury +to the nerves in connection with the spine. I can say no more. Time +only will show." + +The two officers left the hospital-room, looking terribly depressed. + +"Poor lad! poor lad!" the Major kept on saying. "Such a brave, +unassuming fellow. It's wonderful how little we realise how we like our +fellow-men, Colonel, till they are badly hurt. Hah! I am sorry--more +sorry than I can express." + +The Colonel said nothing, but turned and held out his hand, which the +Major took and pressed warmly. + +"Thank you, Graves," he said, taking out a showy silk handkerchief and +blowing his nose very hard, making it give forth sounds like those made +by a boy beginning to learn the bugle. "Hah!" he said; "one never +knows. Here to-day and gone to-morrow, Graves. May be our turn next." + +"Yes," said the Colonel quietly: "but if it is in the way of duty, I +don't see that we need mind." + +"Humph! Well, I don't know about that. I should like to live to a +hundred, if only for the sake of finding out what it feels like. Some +people do." + +"Yes," said the Colonel, smiling; "and over a hundred; but then they +die." + +"Yes, of course; but from old ago." + +"And other things too, as the old epitaph says." + +"What old epitaph?" + +"On the venerable lady. The lines run something like this:-- + + "She lived strong and well to a hundred and ten, + And died by a fall from a cherry-tree then." + +"Bah! don't talk about dying, Graves. Poor Bracy! Oh, the Doctor must +set him all right again. But this sort of thing does make one feel a +bit serious." + +"It is very, very sad," said the Colonel. + +"Yes, very. By the way, though, have you noticed how splendidly our +lads are behaving?" + +"Magnificently, for such mere boys," said the Colonel meaningly. + +"For such mere boys?" said the Major sharply. "I never saw men in any +regiment behave better. Why, sir, it was magnificent to-day. I didn't +say anything to Roberts about it, because I don't want the lads to hear +and get puffed up by pride. But, really, sir, I'm very proud of our +regiment." + +"And so am I. But you have changed your ideas a little." + +"Bah! Pooh! Nonsense! Don't jump on a man because he spoke out a bit. +You'll grant yourself that they are a very boyish-looking lot." + +"Yes; but I do not judge them by appearances. I look at their +discipline and acts." + +"So do I," said the Major, "and I recant all I said about them before. +There, sir, will that satisfy you?" + +"Quite, Graham," said the Colonel. "There, we must be hopeful. I +couldn't bear for poor Bracy to become a wreck." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +A BIT QUEER. + +"Tell us all about it," said Bracy as he lay partially dressed outside +his simple charpoy bed in the small room Doctor Morton had annexed for +his officer patients. + +"All about what?" said Roberts, who had come in, according to his daily +custom, to sit for a while and cheer up his suffering friend. + +"All about what? All about everything that has been going on--is going +on." + +"And is going to go on!" said Roberts, laughing. "That's a large order, +old chap." + +"You may laugh," said Bracy dolefully; "but you don't know what it is to +be lying here staring at the sky." + +"And mountains." + +"Pah! Well, at the mountains too, day after day, in this wearisome way. +I hear the bugle and the firing, and sometimes a shout or two, and then +I lie wondering what everything means--whether we're driving them away +or being beaten, and no one to tell me anything but that dreadful woman; +for old Morton thinks of nothing but sword-cuts and bullet-wounds, and +will only talk of one's temperature or one's tongue. I tell you it's +maddening when one wants to be up and doing something." + +"Patience, patience, old man. You're getting better fast." + +"How do you know?" cried Bracy petulantly. + +"Morton ways so." + +"Morton's an old--old--old woman," cried Bracy angrily. "I'm sick of +him. I'm sick of that other disagreeable woman. I'm sick of physic-- +sick of everything." + +"Poor old chap!" said Roberts, laying his cool hand upon his friend's +burning forehead. "Come, you'll feel better after that." + +"Don't--don't talk that way--and take away your hand. You make me feel +as if I must hit you." + +"I wish you would, old man, if it would make you feel better." + +"Better! Pah! It's horrible. Morton only talks. Says I'm better when +I'm worse." + +"Oh, come now, that won't do, you know. You are stronger." + +"Pah! How can I be stronger when I am as weak as a baby, unable to move +hand or foot? There; I beg pardon for being so disagreeable." + +"Oh, nonsense! Who thinks you disagreeable?" + +"You do, Rob; only you're such a good old chap that you won't notice my +sick man's whims." + +"Love 'em," said Roberts coolly. "More you go it the better I like it, +because it's all a sign of the spirit in you kicking against your +weakness. I know how you feel--want to come and have another go in at +the Dwats?" + +"Yes," said Bracy in a sharp whisper through his closed teeth. "I do +long to help give them an awful thrashing." + +"Of course you do, my boy; and you shall soon. Now, if, instead of +kicking against hospital routine, you took to it in a mean, spiritless +sort of way, and lay there waiting to be roused up to speak, I should +feel uncomfortable about you, for I should know it was a bad sign.-- +You'll be all right soon." + +Bracy was silent for a few minutes, and lay gazing wistfully through the +window at the dazzling snow-peaks flashing miles away in the bright +sunshine. Then he shook his head slowly from side to side. + +"It's of no use to be self-deceiving," he said at last. "I know as well +as can be, Rob, what's wrong. I'm not going to die." + +"Die? Ha, ha! I should think not. Take more than a bullet-hole to +kill you." + +Bracy smiled, and looked sadly in his friend's eyes. + +"It's precious hard, old fellow," he said; "for as I lie here I feel +that I'm almost a boy still, and it comes so soon." + +"What comes so soon?" + +"My big trouble, old fellow. Morton won't say a word about it; but I +know." + +"Come now; what do you know? You lie awake imagining all sorts of +things." + +"But I don't imagine that. You can see it for yourself. I'm strong +enough in mind, but the weakness of body is terrible." + +"Of course it is. You have had a hole right through you, made by a +rough piece of iron fired from a gun; but it's healing up fast." + +"Yes," said Bracy, with a sigh, "the wound is healing up fast." + +"Then, what more do you want?" + +"My old manly strength," cried the sufferer with energy. "This +horrible, helpless weakness!" + +"Dull! What an unreasonable patient you are!" cried Roberts. "How can +you expect the strength to come till the wound is healed?" + +"I don't expect it," sighed the poor fellow. "Roberts, old man, it will +never come back. My spine was injured by that bullet." + +"Yes; we know that." + +"And it has affected the nerves so that I am going to be helpless for +the rest of my life--a poor invalid, whose fate is to be carried about +or wheeled everywhere." + +"Don't believe it," said Roberts shortly. "Who told you that stuff?" + +"My own instinct. You know I cannot move hand or foot." + +"Not yet. Nature has bound you down so that your wound may not be +disturbed till it is well." + +"There, don't talk about it," said Bracy quickly. "I want to know how +things are going on. I don't hear half enough." + +"All right, old man," cried Roberts cheerfully. "You shall have it in +brief. This is a hole--we're in a hole--the Dwats, bless 'em! are like +the sand upon the seashore, and they come sliding into the hole. Then +we shovel 'em out, and just like sand they come trickling down again +upon us. Now it's down one of the gullies, now it's down another; and +the more we kill the more seem to come on." + +"Yes--yes--yes," sighed Bracy; "just as it has been from the first. We +ought to have reinforcements." + +"That's right, and I dare say some have been sent; but the tribes south +and east have all risen, and are holding them in check, so we've got to +do the work here ourselves." + +"How are the supplies?" + +"Tidy--tidy; and we keep on fretting a little game, only it's risky +work; and I never feel as if I should get back again when I'm out +shooting. Had some narrow escapes." + +"What about ammunition?" + +"That's all right. Enough for a couple of months yet, fire as hard as +we like." + +"Why didn't Drummond come to see me yesterday? Ah, I know; he has been +wounded." + +"Just scratched; that's all. I dare say he'll come in some time +to-day." + +"Poor fellow! I am sorry." + +"He isn't--he's delighted. Goes about with his arm in a sling, showing +it to everybody, and telling them about the fight he had with a big +Dwat. Says he should have cut him down, only one of our lads was so +precious handy with his bayonet and ran him through." + +"Ah!" cried Bracy, flushing slightly, as he mentally pictured the scene. +"How bravely our lads do stand by their officers!" + +"They do. Good fellows; brave boys. I like the way, too, in which that +chap Gedge waits on you." + +"Yes," said Bracy, with a sigh; "and the poor fellow is not fit to be +about. Morton owned to it; but he will wait on me hand and foot, to +that horrible woman's disgust." + +"What! Mrs Gee?" + +Bracy nodded. + +"Well, she is a disagreeable, tyrannical sort of female Jack-in-office; +but she has her good points." + +"Yes; but they're such sharp points, and they prick dreadfully." + +"Ha, ha!" laughed Roberts. "A joke; and you say you're not getting +better.--I say, what were we talking about? Oh, Gedge. I wish he +wasn't such an awful East-end Cockney in his ways, for he's a splendid +fellow inside. Times and times he has brightened the poor fellows up +out yonder, singing and telling stories and playing some of his +india-rubber games, bad as his own wounds are. I believe he'd pretend +to laugh even if he were dying." + +"I can never be grateful enough to him," sighed Bracy. + +"Oh yes, you can. We must all petition for him to get his stripes as +soon as we can, only it will make old Gee mad with jealousy." + +"Yes," said Bracy thoughtfully; and then: "How long have I been lying +here?" + +"Three weeks, old man." + +"And you are no further with the Dwats?" + +"Not a bit. That thrashing we gave them together when you went down +ought to have settled 'em and made 'em sue for peace; but they began +sniping at us the very next day." + +"It seems to be their nature to be always fighting," sighed Bracy. + +"Yes. I don't believe they could live without it. They must fight +something or somebody, and regularly enjoy a good skirmish." + +"You haven't said anything about Colonel Wrayford the last day or two." + +"No, poor fellow! he's in a very low state. Between ourselves, boy, we +only came just, in time." + +"What, do you mean?" + +"To save Ghittah. Those fellows would have done their best; but they +would have been overmatched, and without their Colonel they'd have given +way at last, and the people at home would have been reading of a +terrible reverse in the Dwat district. Massacre of the British force." + +"Not so bad as that surely." + +"I don't know. Poor Wrayford had worked till he was utterly exhausted, +body and mind, and as soon as Graves began to relieve him of part of the +strain it was just as if something snapped, and he curled up at once. +Morton says it was all from overstrain after his wound, and that he'll +want a twelvemonth at home to get back his strength." + +"I beg pardon, sir," said a hard, acid voice; "it is quite time Mr +Bracy had his lunch." + +Roberts turned quickly upon the stern, frowning, youngish woman who had +entered silently in a pair of home-made list slippers, and stood in the +doorway gazing at him fixedly. + +"That's right, Mrs Gee," said Roberts; "bring it in, and feed him up +well, for he wants it, poor fellow!" + +"Mr Bracy has everything, sir," said the woman coldly, "and given him +to the minute when there's no one here." + +"Oh, I'm nobody," said Roberts good-humouredly. + +"No, sir." + +"Eh? Oh, all right; bring in his lunch.--Hang the woman! I didn't mean +that," he said to himself. + +"No, sir; not while you are here," replied the woman in the most +uncompromising way. "Mr Bracy can't lift his arms yet, and I have to +give him his meals, and it troubles him for any one to see him fed." + +"Yes, yes, of course. I ought to have known, Mrs Gee. Where is the +lunch?" + +"Being kept hot for him, sir." + +"Go and fetch it, then, and I'll be off the moment you come." + +Mrs Gee said nothing, but turned silently and disappeared, while +Roberts rose and leaned over the bed. + +"The tyrant of the sickroom, old boy. Never mind; she's a capital +nurse, and sympathetic under her hard shell. But I say, old fellow, can +you imagine it to be possible that Gee fell in love with that female +dragon?" + +"No," said Bracy, smiling. "It seems impossible. One can't understand +these things. I don't mind her so much now, but I do wish she wouldn't +be quite so hard on poor Gedge." + +"Poor lad; no. What's that, though?--the click of crockery. Only fancy +the willow-pattern plate out here in the hills!" + +"Not so far out of place," said Bracy, smiling. "Chinese pattern, and +we are very near to China." + +"Good-bye, old man," said Roberts hastily. "Here she comes. Never mind +about shaking hands yet. Do it in a look. Good-bye. See you +to-morrow--if I don't get knocked over first," he added to himself; and, +bonding low, as there was a short, hard cough outside, evidently meant +for a signal to him to depart, he laid one hand upon Bracy's shoulder, +the other on his brow, and gave him a very brotherly look and smile. + +"You'll be all right soon, my helpless old cockalorum," he cried +cheerily. "There, pitch into your corn well, and grow strong. Ta, ta!" + +He turned quickly to cross the room, and then made a bound a yard away +in his astonishment, for he received a tremendous blow across the loins, +which made him turn sharply to gaze in wonder at his helpless friend, +who was looking at him wildly. + +"What the dickens did you do that for?" he asked. + +"I beg pardon, sir. I thought you said--" + +"Yes, yes, all right, Mrs Gee, I'm off," he cried; and he hurried away +and out into the great court, where he passed one hand behind him to +begin softly rubbing his spine. + +"Is the poor fellow off his head?" he muttered in his wonderment and +confusion. "Helpless and weak? Why, it was enough to break a fellow's +back. Has he got a club in the bed?" + +Roberts stopped short, as if about, to turn back. + +"Ought I to go and warn that woman of his antics? No; she could summon +help directly, and--" + +"Morning, sir. Find Mr Bracy better, sir?" + +Roberts looked up sharply, to find Gedge, with his face looking very +thin and more angular than ever, leaning as far as he could out of a +narrow window. + +"Yes--no--well, getting on, Gedge." + +"Oh yus, sir; he's getting on. Pecks better now." + +"I'm glad of it. You're better too, my lad." + +"Me, sir. Oh, I'm getting a reg'lar impostor, sir. Ought to be back in +the ranks, only I don't want to leave Mr Bracy, sir." + +"Certainly not. Keep with him, and do all you can." + +"Right, sir. Do a lot more if old Gee's wife wasn't there, sir." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Roberts, with his hand involuntarily busy rubbing +his back. "By the way, Gedge, have you noticed anything particular +about Mr Bracy when you've been with him?" + +"No, sir. Oh yus, sir; I know what you mean." + +"Ha!" cried Roberts. "You have noticed it?" + +"Oh yus. You mean those fits o' the blue dumps as he has." + +"Well--er--yes," said Roberts. + +"Yus, sir; he has them bad. Gets a sort o' idee in his head as he'll +never be all right again." + +"Yes, yes; all weakness." + +"Jest what I telled him, sir. `Look ye here, sir,' I says; `see how you +bled that day 'fore I could stop it. Yer can't expect to be strong as +you was till you gets filled up again.'" + +"Of course not," assented Roberts. + +"That's it, sir. And I says to him, I says, `Look at me, sir. Just +afore I got my blue pill--leastwise it warn't a blue pill, but a bit o' +iron--I was good for a five-and-twenty mile march on the level or a +climb from eight hay-hem to eight pee-hem, while now four goes up and +down the orspital ward and I'm used up.' He's getting on though, sir. +You can see it when you cheers him up." + +"Yes; I noticed that," said Roberts. + +"Specially if you talks about paying them roughs out for shooting at us +that day as they did." + +"Ha! cowardly in the extreme." + +"Warn't it, sir? When we're up and at it, we lads, we're not very nice; +but fire at a poor beggar carrying his wounded orficer--why, I wouldn't +think one of ours 'd do such a thing--let alone believe it." + +"Of course they would not, my lad," said Roberts. "There, I'm glad to +hear about how well you attend to Mr Bracy." + +He nodded, and went on to his quarters, wondering to himself over what +had taken place at Bracy's bedside. + +"It was very queer," he thought; "but it shows one thing--the poor +fellow's a good deal off his head at times, or he wouldn't have hit out +at me like that; and it shows, too, that all his ideas about being so +weak are fancy. That crack on the back didn't come from a weak arm. +But it's all due to the wound, and it would be better not to say +anything to him about it." + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +THE UNCOMFORTABLE SYMPTOMS. + +Captain Roberts intended to go and sit with his friend for an hour or +two next day, but he was called off on duty, and Drummond seized the +opportunity to pay a visit. He was met at the door by Mrs Gee, who +looked at him sourly as she passed, for she had just been summoned by +one of Doctor Morton's ambulance men to go and attend to one of the men +who had been taken worse. + +"How do, nurse?" said Drummond. "Just going in to see your patient." + +"Then you must not stay long, sir. Ten minutes will be plenty of time. +Mr Bracy can't get well if he is so bothered with visitors." + +"Oh, I won't bother him, nurse; only cheer him up a bit." + +The woman frowned and hurried away, leaving the course open, and +Drummond went straight on, thinking aloud. + +"Glad my arm's not worse," he said, as he nursed it gently, "for I +shouldn't like to be under her ladyship's thumb. She ought to be called +to order. Talk about a hen that can crow; she's nothing to my lady +here. I wonder Bracy stands it. Hullo! what's the matter?" + +Loud voices came from the door of Bracy's room--those of the latter and +Gedge; and upon hurrying in the young subaltern was astounded to find, +as it seemed to him, Private Gedge with one knee upon the edge of the +charpoy, bending over the patient, holding him down by the arm, which +was pressed across his chest close up to the throat. + +"Here! Hi! Hullo here!" cried Drummond. "What's the meaning of this, +sir?" + +The words acted like magic. Gedge slipped back, drawing Bracy's arm +from where it lay, and he then carefully laid it down beside him. + +"It's all right, sir, now, sir; ain't it, Mr Bracy?" + +"Yes, yes," said the latter faintly, and looking up at his visitor in a +weary, dazed way. + +"This fellow has not been assaulting you, has he?" cried Drummond. + +"Me? 'Saulting him, sir?" cried Gedge. "Well, come now, I do like +that!" + +"Oh no; oh no," sighed Bracy. + +"It was like this here," continued Gedge; "I was a-hanging about waiting +to see if he wanted me to give him a drink or fetch him anything." + +Bracy's lips moved, and an anxious expression came over his face; but he +said nothing, only looked wildly from one to the other. + +"Then all at once I hears him calling, and I went in. `Here, Gedge, my +lad,' he says--just like that, sir, all wild-like--`take this here arm +away; it's trying to strangle me.' + +"`What! yer own arm, sir?' I says, laughing. `That won't do.'--`Yes, +it will,' he says, just in that squeezy, buzzy way, sir; `I can't bear +it. Take it off, or it'll choke me!'" + +"Well?" said Drummond anxiously; "did you?" + +"Yes, sir, of course I did; for he spoke just as if it was so; and I got +hold of it and tried to pull it away, but he wouldn't let me. He kep' +it tight down close to his throat, and looked quite bad in the face." + +"You should have used force," said Drummond. + +"I did, sir; lots o' force; but he'd got it crooked, and it was just as +if the joint had gone fast, so that I was afraid that if I pulled too +hard I might break something; and it was just while I was hanging fire +like that you came, and he let it come then quite easy. Didn't you, +sir?" + +"Yes, yes," said Bracy hurriedly. "It had gone to sleep, I suppose, and +was as heavy and as cold as marble." + +"Oh, I see," said Drummond, smiling; "been lying in an awkward position, +I suppose?" + +Bracy nodded, but there was a curious look in his eyes that his visitor +did not see. + +"Come to take a look at you and have a chat.--I say. You heard about me +getting in for it?" + +"Yes, I heard," said Bracy sadly. "You were wounded." + +"Bit of a chop from a tulwar," replied Drummond, touching his bandaged +arm lightly. "Nothing much, but I am off duty for a bit. Precious +nuisance, isn't it?" + +Bracy looked at him so piteously that the young fellow coloured. + +"Of course," he said hurriedly; "I understand. Precious stupid of me to +talk like that and make a fuss about being off duty for a few days, when +you're in for it for weeks. But I say, you know, you are a lot better. +Old Morton said you only wanted time." + +"He told you that?" cried Bracy eagerly. + +"Yes, last night when I met him and he asked me about my scratch. Said +he was proud of your case, for with some surgeons you would have died. +Ha, ha! He looked at my arm the while, with his face screwed up as if +he pitied me for not being under his hands. I say, he's a rum chap, +isn't he?" + +"He has been very good and patient with me," sighed Bracy; "and I'm +afraid I have been very ungrateful." + +"Tchah! Not you, old fellow. We're all disagreeable and grumble when +we're knocked over. That's only natural. Children are cross when +they're unwell, and I suppose we're only big children. I say, heard the +news?" + +"News? No; I hear nothing here." + +"Poor old man! Well, the scouts have brought in news that two more +tribes have been bitten with the idea that they want their ranks thinned +a bit, and so they've joined the Dwats; so I suppose we shall have some +warm work." + +"And I am lying here as helpless as a lump of lead. No; I did not +hear." + +"Why, sir, I telled you all that only this morning," broke out Gedge. + +"Eh? Did you, my lad?" + +"Yes, sir; d'reckly after breakfast." + +"So you did. I went to sleep afterwards, and it passed out of my +memory. I'm getting weaker, I suppose." + +"Not you," cried Drummond. "Here, I say, as I'm a cripple too, I shall +come on more. What do you say to a game or two every day? Chess?" + +Bracy shook his head. + +"Of course not; chess is hard work. Well, then, draughts?" + +Bracy shook his head again. + +"Right; not much of a game. What do you say to dominoes? We've got a +set of double doubles; regular big ones. Shall I bring 'em on?" + +"No," said Bracy decisively; "bring your field-glass, and come and sit +at that window. You can command a good deal of the valley there." + +"What! and tell you all the movements I can make out? To be sure, dear +boy. Now, I never thought of that. So I will. I'll come on this +afternoon, and you and I will criticise them all and see if we could +have planned the beggars' attack better. There, I promised your +she-dragon of a nurse not to stay long, so off I go. Bye, bye, old +chap; you're beginning to look blooming. We'll do some Von Moltke, +and--ah! would you? I say, you are getting better. Larks--eh? But I +was too quick for you." + +The young officer smiled and nodded merrily, and then went out of the +room, Gedge opening the door for him, and slipping out after. + +"Well, what is it?" said Drummond, as Gedge stood looking at him +anxiously, and as if waiting for him to speak. + +"Thought you was going to say something to me, sir, 'bout Mr Bracy +there. Don't speak so loud, or he'll hear you." + +"Don't matter if he does, my lad. We're not conspiring against him. +What did you expect me to say?" + +"Something about that arm of his'n, sir, and about him trying to kick +you just now." + +"Oh, pooh! nonsense! His arm had gone dead; and as for his kicking at +me--well, we're getting old friends now, and it was for a bit of fun." + +"Think so, sir?" + +"Of course." + +"Then you wouldn't tell the Doctor about it?" + +"About that? Absurd! Here, you're not up to the mark yourself, my +lad." + +"Well, no, sir; can't quite reach it yet; but I'm a deal better." + +"Full of fancies, that's all. What! were you thinking that your master +was a bit off his head?" + +"Something o' that sort, sir." + +"Then don't think so any more. He's fanciful enough without you +beginning." + +"Then you don't think it's anything to mind?" + +"No, of course not. I'm glad to see him getting so much stronger." + +Drummond nodded, and being in a good deal of pain, began to nurse his +arm again, and tried whether whistling would soothe the sharp, gnawing +ache which seemed to run from his wrist up to his shoulder. + +Gedge waited till his footsteps died out, and then turned to go back to +Bracy's room. + +"His is only a clean cut of a tullywor," he muttered, "and'll soon grow +together. Different thing to a ragged bullet-wound right through the +chest and back, or one like mine, right in the back. I don't like the +looks o' all this, though; but he must know better than me, after seeing +a lot o' poor fellows cut down and shot; but I think I ought to tell the +Doctor." + +He opened the door softly and went in, to find that Bracy had been +watching for him anxiously. + +"Here, Gedge!" saluted him. + +"Yes, sir. Get yer a drink, sir?" + +"No, no; I want to speak to you. I think I can trust you, Gedge?" + +"Yes, sir; of course, sir. What yer want me to do?" + +"Hold your tongue, my lad." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Don't tell the Doctor or Mrs Gee that I hit Captain Roberts on the +back yesterday." + +"How could I, sir? Did yer?" + +"Yes, yes," said Bracy hurriedly. "Nor yet about my arm doing what it +did." + +"No, sir, cert'n'y not; but I say, sir, you know, your arm didn't do +nothing but go to sleep." + +"Nor yet about my trying to kick Mr Drummond," said Bracy, without +heeding his fellow--sufferer's words. + +"Oh no; I shan't say nothing to nobody, sir, unless you tell me to." + +"That's right," said Bracy, with a sigh of relief. "That will do. Go +now; I want to sleep till Mr Drummond comes back." + +"Right, sir," said Gedge, and he went to the bed's head and gently +raised the sufferer, while he turned the pillow. + +"Makes yer head a bit cooler, sir." + +"Yes, thanks, Gedge," said Bracy drowsily; and by the time the lad was +outside he was half-asleep. + +"I don't like them games of the guvnor's," said Gedge to +himself.--"Guvnor? Well, why not? I'm like being orficer's servant +now. There's something queer about him, as if he was a bit off his head +and it made him get up to larks; for he can't be--No, no, that's +impossible, even if it looks like it. He ain't the sorter chap to be +playing at sham Abram and make-believe because he was sick of fighting +and didn't want to run no more risks." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +THE DOCTOR IN A FANTIGUE. + +Drummond returned to the hospital with his glass, and, to Mrs Sergeant +Gee's disgust, installed himself in the window and sat for a couple of +hours lightening the painful monotony of Bracy's imprisonment by +scanning the movements of the distant enemy hovering about in the hills, +and making comments thereon. + +"Ah," he said at last, "what we want here is a company of gunners, with +light howitzers to throw shells a tremendous distance. If we could have +that cleverly and accurately done, we could soon scatter the beggars; +but as it is--" + +"Yes, as it is," said Bracy peevishly, "we have no gunners and no +howitzers; and if we had, how could they be dragged about among these +hills?" + +"It would be difficult," said Drummond. "There are some fellows +crawling out of that west ravine now. Wait till I've focussed them, +and--" + +"No, no; don't do any more to-day," cried Bracy. "I can't bear it. You +only make me fretful because I can't be about doing something again." + +"Of course it does; but what is it, old fellow? Are you in pain?" + +"Pain? I'm in agony, Drummond. I can't sit up, for I seem to have no +power; and I can't lie still, because I feel as if there; was something +red-hot burning through my spine." + +"Poor old chap! I say--think the bullet is still there?" + +"No, no; it passed right through." + +"What does the Doctor say?" + +"Always the same--always the same: `You're getting better.'" + +"That's right; so you are," said the Doctor, who had just come to the +door.--"Ah, Mr Drummond, you here?" + +"Yes, sir. Cheering poor old Bracy up a bit." + +"That's right. How's your wound?" + +"Horrible nuisance, sir." + +"Hum! ha! I should like to have; a look at it, but I suppose it would +not be etiquette. All the same, etiquette or no, if it does not begin +to mend soon come to me." + +"I will, sir. Good-afternoon. Ta, ta, Bracy, old man. Keep up your +spirits." + +"You needn't go, Mr Drummond," said the Doctor. "I can't stay many +minutes, and you can talk to him after I'm gone. Well, Bracy, my lad, +wounds easier?" + +"No. Worse." + +"That they are not, sir. You told me you felt a little numbness of the +extremities." + +"Yes, sir. Arm and leg go dead." + +The Doctor nodded. + +"That agonising pain in the back goes on too," continued Bracy. +"Sometimes it is unbearable." + +"Do you think the bullet is still there, sir?" ventured Drummond. + +"You stick to your regimental manoeuvres, sir," said the Doctor gruffly. +"What do you know about such things?" + +"Not much, sir; only one of our fellows was very bad that way before you +came, and it was through the bullet remaining in the wound." + +The Doctor nodded slowly, and made an examination of his patient, +promised to send him something to lull the pain, and then, after a few +cheerful words, went away, sent a draught, and the sufferer dropped into +a heavy sleep. + +The days went on, with plenty of what Shakespeare called alarums and +excursions in the neighbourhood of the great fort, the enemy being +constantly making desultory attacks, but only to find Graves's boys and +Wrayford's men, as they were laughingly called, always on the alert, so +that the attacking party were beaten off with more or less loss, but +only to come on again from some unexpected direction. + +Bracy had plenty of visitors, and Mrs Gee told him that this was the +cause of his want of progress; but the visitors dropped in all the same, +and the patient made no advance towards convalescence. Now it would be +the Colonel, who was kind and fatherly, and went away feeling uneasy at +the peculiarity of his young officer's symptoms, for Bracy was fretful +and nervous in the extreme; now an arm would jerk, then a leg, and his +manner was so strange that when the Colonel went away he sent for Dr +Morton, who bustled in, to meet the Colonel's eye searchingly. + +"Doctor," said the latter, "I've just come from Bracy's bedside. He +does not get on." + +"Not a bit," said the Doctor gruffly. + +"I have been watching his symptoms carefully." + +"Very good of you," said the Doctor gruffly. "I've been watching your +manoeuvres too." + +This was meant for a sarcastic retort, but the Colonel paid no heed, and +went on: + +"That poor fellow has the bullet still in the wound." + +"No, he has not," retorted the Doctor. + +"Then there is something else?" + +"Tell me something I don't know," said the Doctor gruffly. + +"You think there is, then?" + +"I know there is," replied the Doctor. "Do you think, sir, I don't +understand my profession?" + +"Don't be pettish, Morton. I don't wish to interfere; but I am +extremely anxious about poor Bracy." + +"Can't be more so than I am, sir." + +"Tell me what you feel is wrong." + +"Bit of iron, I expect, close up to the vertebrae. The abominable +missile broke up, and part remained behind." + +"Then, in the name of all that's sensible, why don't you extract it?" + +"Because, in the name of all that's sensible, I don't want to see the +poor fellow die of _tetanus_--lockjaw, as you call it." + +"You dare not extract it?" + +"That's it, sir. The piece--a mere scrap, I dare say--keeps his nerves +in a horrible state of tension, but it is beyond my reach. Are you +satisfied now?" + +"Perfectly; but can nothing be done?" + +"Nothing but leave it to Nature. She may do what I can't." + +"Danger?" + +"Of being a cripple; not of anything fatal." + +"Poor fellow!" said the Colonel sadly. + +"Yes, poor fellow!" said the Doctor. "I'm doing all I know, and must be +off now, for you keep me very busy." + +Roberts had been sitting with the patient that same afternoon, and +towards evening the Major dropped in, glass in eye, and sat talking for +a bit, with Bracy fighting hard to keep down his irritability, for the +Major was a bad visitor in his way. + +"You ought to be up and about, Bracy," he said. + +"Yes; I long to be." + +"Then why don't you try to brace yourself up--be bracy by nature as well +as by name--eh? Ha, ha! Don't you see?" + +"Because I am so weak, sir," replied the patient grimly. + +"Ah, that's what you think, my dear boy," said the Major, yawning, and +shooting his glass out of his eye. "That's what you think. Now, if you +were to pull yourself together and make up your mind to get well you'd +soon master that weakness." + +"Do you think I'm shamming, then, sir?" + +"Well, no, my dear boy," said the Major, stretching the string of his +eyeglass as he picked it up, and then giving the latter a polish with +his handkerchief before proceeding to stick it into its place; "I don't +think you are shamming, but that you are in a weak state, and +consequently have become hypochon--what you may call it. If you were +to--" + +Flick! and a sudden jump of the Major to his feet, as he turned sharply +to look down at Bracy. + +"Confound you, sir! What do you mean by that?" + +"Mean by--mean by what?" stammered Bracy, who lay perfectly motionless, +with his arms by his sides. + +"Mean by what, sir? Why, by striking at my eyeglass and sending it +flying." + +"No, Major; no, I assure you I--" + +"Don't prevaricate with me, sir. There's the string broken, and there's +the glass yonder. I--I can forgive a certain amount of irritability in +a sick man; but this is impish mischief, sir--the action of a demented +boy. How dare you, sir? What the dickens do you mean?" + +"Major, I assure you I wouldn't do such a thing," cried Bracy wildly. + +"Don't tell me," muttered the Major, striding across to where his glass +lay, and picking it up. "Cracked, sir, cracked." + +"Indeed, no, Major; I am sure I am quite--" + +"I didn't say you were, sir: but my glass. The last I have, and not a +chance of replacing it. How am I to go on duty? Why, you must be mad, +sir. You might have struck me." + +The Major's words were so loud and excited that they brought Mrs Gee to +the door, to glance in and hurry away, with the result that directly +after the Doctor appeared. + +"What's the matter?" he cried. "Bracy worse?" + +"Worse, sir?" cried the Major, who was now in a towering rage, the +broken glass, a part of which had come out of the frame into his hand, +having completely overset his equanimity. "Worse, sir? Look at that." + +"Broken your eyeglass?" said the Doctor angrily, "and a good job too. +You can see right enough, for we tested your eyes. Only a piece of +confounded puppyism, of which you ought to be ashamed." + +"Doctor Morton," cried the Major, puffing out his cheeks, his red face +growing mottled in his anger. "How dare you!" + +"How dare I, sir?" cried the Doctor, who was quite as angry. "How dare +you come here, disturbing my patients, and turning the place into a +bear-garden just because you have dropped your idiotic eyeglass and +broken it? Do you know I have poor fellows in the next room in a +precarious state?" + +"What! Dropped my eyeglass, sir? I tell you, this lunatic here struck +at me, sir, and knocked the glass flying." + +"What!" cried the Doctor. "Did you do that, Bracy?" + +"No, no, Doctor," stammered the young man; "I assure you I--I--" + +"I--I--I!" roared the Major. "How dare you deny it, sir! He did, +Doctor. The fellow's stark staring mad, and ought to be in a +strait-waistcoat. He isn't safe. He might have blinded me. I came in +here quite out of sympathy, to sit with him a little while, and this is +the treatment I received. Suppose I had lost my sight." + +"Look here, Major," said the Doctor, turning to him, after stepping to +the bed and laying his hand upon Bracy's forehead; "the poor fellow is +as weak as a babe, and could no more have done what you say than flown +out of the window and across the valley. You are exaggerating, and--Oh, +my gracious!" + +The Major had just time to hop aside and avoid the Doctor's head, for +all at once a tremendous kick was delivered from the bed, and the +receiver was propelled as if from a catapult across the room, to bring +himself up against the wall. Here he turned sharply, to see Bracy lying +perfectly still upon the bed, staring at him wildly, and the Major +holding his sides, his always prominent eyes threatening to start from +his head, while his cheeks became purple as he choked with laughter and +stamped about, trying hard to catch his breath. + +"Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!" he laughed hoarsely. "Oh Doctor! you'll be +the death of me. This is too rich--this is too rich--this is too rich!" + +"Too rich? Be the death of you? I wish it would," panted the Doctor, +turning to the bed to shake his fist at Bracy, but keeping well out of +reach of his leg, "You treacherous young scoundrel! How dare you play +me such a trick as this?" + +Bracy's lips moved, but no sound was heard, and his eyes looked wildly +pathetic in their expression. + +"I didn't give you credit for such monkey-tricks; but I've done with you +now. You've been imposing upon me--you're shamming--malingering, so as +to keep out of going on duty again. You might have injured me for +life." + +"Don't bully the poor fellow, Doctor," cried the Major, wiping his eyes, +and picking up one piece of his glass which he had dropped. "I don't +think he's shamming, he's off his head. Look how his eyes roll. Poor +lad! Give him a dose of something to quiet him, for he's as mad as a +March hare." + +"Mad as a March hare!" snarled the Doctor, rubbing himself. "I told you +it's all a trick." + +"I--I--I--d-d-don't care what it is," stammered the Major; "but I +wouldn't have missed it for a hundred eyeglasses. Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, +ho! I can't stop myself. I never laughed so much in my life.--Ha!" he +added as he sank into a chair and wiped his eyes; "I feel better now." + +"Better!" cried the Doctor. "You may as well let me give you something, +or you'll be disgracing yourself before the men." + +That was enough. The Major sprang to his feet, to look threateningly at +the Doctor. + +"Disgrace myself, sir?" he cried furiously. + +"Bah!" cried the Doctor, and he bounced out of the room, and, forgetting +his patients in the ward near, banged the door. + +"There, you've done it now, Bracy!" cried the Major, calming down, and +going up to the bedside. "No more of those games, sir, or I shall hit +out too. What's the matter with you? Are you shamming, or are you off +your head?" + +"Beg pardon, sir," said Gedge, entering the room; "the Doctor's sent me +to keep watch by Mr Bracy, sir; and he has given me orders that no one +is to be near him till he has decided what is to be done." + +"What! Order me to go?" said the Major fiercely. "You go back to +Doctor Morton, and tell him never to dare to send me such a message as +that again." + +"Yes, sir," said Gedge, saluting. + +"No; stop. This is his own ground," said the Major. "Here, go on with +your duty, my lad, and keep a sharp eye on Mr Bracy. He is... or--er-- +not quite so well to-day. You needn't tell the Doctor what I said." + +"No, sir; cert'n'y not, sir," replied Gedge, and he held the door open, +standing like a sentry till the Major had passed out, closed it, and I +hen stood looking down at Bracy, who lay gazing at him despairingly for +some moments before raising his hand cautiously and doubtingly towards +his lips. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +LOW SPIRITS. + +"Drink o' water, sir? Yus, sir--there you are." + +Gedge gently raised Bracy's head and, all the time on the watch, hit him +drink with avidity: but lowered his burden quickly the next instant, for +with a sudden jerk the remainder of the water in the brass cup presented +was jerked over his face, and the lotah went flying with a bell-like +ring. + +"I was on the lookout for that, sir," said Gedge good-humouredly, "but +you was too quick for me. I say, sir, don't you say you ain't getting +better no more." + +"Better, Gedge?" said Bracy pitifully. "I am horribly worse." + +"Not you, sir, when you can play games like that." + +"Oh, my lad--my lad, I could not help it!" Gedge grinned as he looked +at him, and shook his head. + +"You don't believe me," said Bracy sadly. "Well, you see, sir, I can't +very well after that. I couldn't quite take it in when the Doctor told +me what you'd done to him, and how you'd served the Major." + +"What did he say?" asked Bracy eagerly. + +"Said you'd broke out, sir, and was playing all kinds o' games; and that +you had been cheating him and everybody else." + +"Anything else?" + +"Yus, sir; that it was a reg'lar case o' malingering, on'y I don't think +he quite meant it. He was cross because he said you kicked him. Did +you, sir?" + +"Yes--no--my leg jerked out at him, suddenly, Gedge." + +"Same thing, sir. Said you'd knocked the Major's eyeglass off and broke +it. Did you do that, sir?" + +"My arm jerked out and came in contact with his glass, Gedge." + +"Same thing, sir, on'y we call it hitting out." + +Bracy made a weary gesture with his head, and then, in despairing tones, +asked for more water. + +"All right, sir; but no larks this time." + +"What?" + +"Don't get chucking it in my face, sir, unless it does you a lot o' +good. If it do I won't mind, for I should like to see you full o' fun +again." + +"Fun!" groaned Bracy. "Give me the water. It is no fun, but a horror +that is upon me, my lad." + +"Sorry to hear that, sir," said Gedge, filling the brass cup again from +a tall metal bottle. "Still, it do seem rather comic. What makes you +do it, sir?" + +"I can't help it, my lad," groaned Bracy, who once more drank thirstily +and emptied the cup; Gedge, who had been watching him sharply, ready to +dodge the water if it were thrown, managing to get it away this time +without receiving a drop. + +"Now you'll be better, sir." + +"Thank you, my lad. I wish I could think so." + +"Well, do think so, sir. You ought to, for you must be an awful deal +stronger." + +"No, no; I am weaker than ever." + +"Are yer, sir?" + +"Yes, my lad. I was a little like this the other day." + +"Yus, sir, I know." + +"And it has been getting worst; and worse." + +"Better and better, sir. It's a sign the nat'ral larkiness in yer's +coming back." + +"No, no, my lad. The Doctor noticed it when my arm twitched, and told +me it was involuntary action of the nerves, caused by the injury from +the bullet." + +"Well, sir, he ought to know: and I dare say it's all right. But I say, +sir--I don't, mind, and I won't say a word--you did it o' purpose." + +"No, Gedge; indeed no." + +"But really, sir, do you mean to tell me that when your arm was laid +acrost your chest you couldn't get it away?" + +"Yes, of course I do." + +"And that you hit out and kick at people like that without being able to +help it?" + +"Yes; it is quite true, my lad, and it is horrible." + +"Well, I dunno about being horrible, sir. Things like that can't last, +no more than a fellow being off his head and talking all kinds o' stuff +for a bit." + +"You can't grasp it, Gedge," sighed Bracy. + +"No, sir; wish I could." + +"What!" + +"Only wish you had my shot in the back, and I'd got yours." + +"You don't know what you're talking about, my lad." + +"Oh, don't I, sir? I just do. Voluntary action, don't you call it? I +just seem to see myself lying in yonder with old Gee coming to see me, +and with a leg and a arm ready to go off as yours seem to do. My word, +the times I've felt like giving old Gee one, but dursen't, because it's +striking your sooperior officer. Just think of it, sir; knocking him +right over all innercent like, and not being able to help it. Why, I'd +give anything to have your complaint." + +"Nonsense, nonsense! You are talking folly." + +"Can't help that, sir. It'd be worth months o' pain to see old Gee's +face, and to hear him asking yer what yer meant by that." + +"No, no; it's horrible--and it means, I'm afraid, becoming a hopeless +cripple." + +"There, you're getting down in the mouth again. Don't you get thinking +that. But even if you did, we'd make the best of it." + +"The best of it, man!" groaned Bracy. + +"O' course, sir. You could get me my discharge, I dessay, and I'd come +and carry yer or push yer in one o' them pramblater things as gents sets +in and steers themselves. Then yer could ride o' horseback, or I could +drive yer in a shay; and then there's boats as you could be rowed about +in or have sails. It don't matter much about being a 'opeless cripple, +so long as you're a gentleman and don't have to work for your living. +Then, as to them two spring limbs, I could soon get used to them, sir, +and learn to dodge 'em; and if I was too late sometimes, it wouldn't +matter. All be in the day's work, sir. So don't you be down." + +Bracy was silent for a few minutes; and seeing that he wished to think, +Gedge moved silently about the room, sponging up the water, that had +been spilled, taking down Bracy's sword and giving it a polish, +rearranging his clothes upon a stool, and whistling softly, though he +was in a good deal of pain, till he began chuckling to himself, and +Bracy turned his head. + +"What are you laughing at?" he said. + +"Only thinking about old Gee, sir. He 'listed just at the same time as +me, sir; and then, all along of his bumptiousness and liking to bully +everybody, while I was always easy-going and friends with every one, he +gets first his corp'ral's stripes, and then his sergeant's, and begins +to play Jack-in-office, till his uniform's always ready to crack at the +seams. Just fancy, sir, being able to give him a floorer without +helping it. Ho, my!" + +Gedge had to wipe his eyes with the backs of his hands, so full of mirth +seemed the thought of discomfiting the tyrant who had hectored over him +so long; and Bracy lay looking at him till he calmed down again. + +"You don't believe in all this being involuntary, Gedge?" he said at +last. + +"Didn't at first, sir. I thought it was your larks, or else you were +off your head. But I believe it all now, every bit, and I can't get +over it. Just to be able to hit your sooperior officer, and no +court-martial. Then the Doctor. Just to be able to make him feel a +bit, after what he has made us squirm over." + +"Then you do believe me now?" + +"Of course, sir. And I tell yer it's grand to have a complaint like +that. I mean for such as me. No punishment-drill, no lines, no prison, +no nothing at all, for bowling your sooperior officer over like a +skittle." + +Bracy turned his head wearily. + +"Ah, Gedge, you can't realise what it all means, to be a hopeless +cripple, always in pain." + +"Wuth it, sir, every twinge; and as to being a hopeless cripple, what's +that so long as there's plenty o' crutches to be had? Pst! Some un +coming, sir." + +Gedge was right, for directly after the Doctor entered the room, signed +to Gedge to go, and then detained him. + +"How has Mr Bracy been?" he said sharply. + +"Bit low-sperrited, sir." + +"Yes; but has he exhibited any of those peculiar phenomena?" + +Gedge passed his hand over his chin and stared. + +"Bah! Has he kicked at you, or struck you, or done anything of that +kind?" + +"No, sir; not a bit." + +"That's right. Well, Bracy, you quite startled me, my lad; I was taken +by surprise, and I looked at it from the commonplace point of view. +I've had time to think of it now from the scientific side. Tell me, can +you control yourself when those fits come on? I mean, this involuntary +nerve and muscular action!" + +"Do you think that I should let it go on if I could, Doctor?" said Bracy +sadly. + +"No, of course not, my dear fellow. Pardon me for asking you." + +"Tell me, then: can you cure it? Can you stop these terrible +contractions?" + +"Yes, with Nature's help, my dear boy." + +"Ha!" sighed Bracy: "then may it come. But why is it? I never heard of +such a thing before." + +"Naturally; and I never encountered such a case. It is all due to the +irritation of the spinal nerves, and until we can get rid of the cause +we cannot arrive at the cure." + +"But, Doctor--" + +"Patience, my dear boy--patience." + +"Can you give me some?" said Bracy sadly. + +"I hope so, for I am going to appeal to your manliness, your strength of +mind. You must try to bear your sufferings, and I will help you by +means of sedatives." + +"Thanks, Doctor. If you could only get me to be strong enough to act in +some way." + +"Go out with the men and help them to shoot a few of the enemy--eh!" + +"Yes," cried Bracy eagerly. "It would keep me from thinking so, and +wearing myself out with dread of my helpless future." + +"Well, listen to reason," said the Doctor cheerily. "Your helpless +future, in which you see yourself a miserable cripple, old before your +time, and utterly useless--" + +"Yes, yes," cried Bracy eagerly; "it is all that which keeps me back." + +"Of course; and what is all that but a kind of waking ill-dream, which +you invent and build up for yourself? Come, you must own that." + +"Yes," said Bracy, with a sigh; "but I am very bad, Doctor." + +"Were." + +"I am still; but I will and can fight harder--" + +"No, no; not as you did this morning," said the Doctor, smiling. + +"I say, I can fight harder if you tell me that I may recover from these +terrible fits." + +"I tell you, then, that you may and will. There, you've talked enough. +Shake hands, and I'll go." + +He held out his hand, but there was no response, for Bracy's right arm +lay motionless by his side, and a look of misery crossed the poor +fellow's face. + +"Never mind," said the Doctor quietly; and he took Bracy's hand in his, +when the fingers contracted over his in a tremendous pressure, which he +had hard work to hear without wincing. But he stood smiling down at his +patient till the contraction of the muscles ceased, and Bracy did not +know till afterwards the pain that his grip had caused. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +ON THE BALANCE. + +The enemy had been very quiet for some days. The weather had been bad. +Heavy rains had changed the rills and streams which ran along the +gullies and ravines into fierce torrents, which leaped and bounded +downward, foaming and tearing at the rocks which blocked their way, till +with a tremendous plunge they joined the river in the valley, which kept +up one deep, thunder-like boom, echoing from the mountains round. + +Before the rain came the sun had seemed to beat down with double force, +and the valley had become intolerable during the day, the perpendicular +rocks sending back the heat till the fort felt like an oven, and the +poor fellows lying wounded under the doctor's care suffered terribly, +panting in the great heat as they did, feeling the pangs of Tantalus, +for there, always glittering before their eyes in the pure air, were the +mountain-peaks draped in fold upon fold of the purest ice and snow. + +"We should lose 'em all, poor fellows!" the Doctor said, "if it were not +for these glorious evenings and perfect nights. It wouldn't matter so +much if we could get a few mule-loads of the ice from up yonder. Can't +be done, I suppose?" + +"No," said Colonel Graves sadly. "Plenty of men would volunteer, but, +much as every one is suffering--the ladies almost as bad as your +wounded, Morton--I dare not send them, for they would never get back +with their loads. Many of the brave fellows would straggle back, of +course, but instead of bringing ice, Doctor, they would be bearing their +wounded and dead comrades." + +"Yes, that's what I feel," sighed the Doctor, "and, Heaven knows, we +don't want any more patients. Must be content with what coolness we get +at night." + +"And that's glorious," said the Major, wiping his wet brow. + +"Delightful," added Captain Roberts. "It's the making of poor old +Bracy. He seems to hang his head and droop more and more every day, +till the sun goes down, and to begin to pick up again with the first +breath that comes down from between the two big peaks there--what do +they call them--Erpah and Brum?" + +"Ha! wish it was coming now," said the Doctor; "iced and pure air, to +sweep right down the valley and clear away all the hot air, while it +cools the sides of the precipices." + +"Why don't you let me go, Colonel!" said Drummond suddenly. "I want to +get some ice badly for poor old Bracy. Six mules, six drivers, and a +dozen of our boys. Oh, I could do it. Let me go, sir." + +The Colonel shook his head, and every day at the hottest time Drummond +proposed the same thing; till on the last day, after gradually growing +weaker in his determination, urged as he was on all sides by the +sufferers in hospital, the wan looks of the ladies, and the longings of +the men, the Colonel said: + +"Well, Mr Drummond, I'll sleep on it to-night, and if I come to a +determination favourable to the proposition, you shall go; but not +alone. One of my officers must go with you." + +"Glad to have him, sir," cried the subaltern eagerly. "Whom will you +send, sir?" + +"I'll volunteer, sir," said Roberts quietly. + +"Good," said the Colonel; "so it will be as well for you and Drummond +here to quietly select your men and the mules with their drivers, plus +tools for cutting out the ice-like compressed snow. If I decide against +it there will be no harm done." + +"Better make our plans, then, as to which way to go. Study it all by +daylight with our glasses." + +"Needn't do that," said Drummond eagerly. "I know. We'll go straight +up the steep gully that I followed when I went after the bears, it's +awfully rough, but it's the best way, for the niggers never camp there; +it's too wet for them." + +"Very well," said the Colonel; and the two young officers went straight +through the scorching sunshine, which turned the great court of the fort +into an oven, to where Bracy lay panting with the heat, with Gedge doing +his best to make life bearable by applying freshly wrung-out towels to +his aching brow. + +"News for you, old chap," said Drummond in a whisper. "But send that +fellow of yours away." + +"There is no need," said Bracy faintly. "I can't spare him, and he's +better worth trusting than I am." + +"Oh yes, we can trust Gedge," said Roberts in a low tone, while the lad +was fetching a fresh bucket of water from the great well-like hole in +the court, through which an underground duct from the river ran, always +keeping it full of clear water fresh from the mountains, but in these +days heated by the sun as it flamed down. + +The news was imparted by Drummond, and Bracy shook his head. + +"It would be glorious," he said; "but you ought not to go. Graves +mustn't let a dozen men run such risks for the sake of us poor fellows. +It would be madness. We must wait for the cool nights." + +"He will let us go," said Drummond; "and we can do it." + +"No," said Bracy, speaking with more energy, and he turned his head to +Roberts. "I beg you will not think of such a thing, old lad," he said +earnestly. + +"Well, we shall see." + +"Ready for another, sir?" said Gedge, coming in with the bucket. + +"Yes, yes, as soon as you can," said Bracy. "This one feels boiling +hot." + +The fresh, cool, wet cloth was laid across his forehead; and, rousing up +from the disappointment he felt at Bracy taking so decided a view +against an expedition which the young subaltern had proposed to make +almost solely in his friend's interest, and moved by the boyish spirit +of mischief within him, Drummond suddenly exclaimed: + +"Look out, Gedge, or he'll bowl you over!--Oh, I beg your pardon, Bracy, +old chap. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Knock me over, Roberts. +I deserve it." + +For Bracy had winced sharply, and a look as of one suffering mental +agony came into his eyes. + +"It does not matter," he said, smiling faintly and holding out his hand, +which Drummond caught in his. + +"Ain't no fear, sir," said Gedge, who was soaking the hot cloth. "The +guv'nor ain't had a touch now for a week." + +"Quiet!" whispered Roberts to the man. + +"He is quite right, Roberts, old fellow," sighed Bracy; "I am certainly +better. But if I could only get rid of that constant pain!" + +"That must go soon," said Drummond cheerily. "I wish I could take your +agony-duty for a few hours everyday. Honour bright, I would." + +"I know you would, old chap," said Bracy, smiling at him; "but I shall +beg Graves not to let you go." + +"Nonsense! Don't say a word," cried Drummond. "If you do, hang me if +ever I confide in you again!" + +Bracy laughed softly. + +"I am pretty free from scepticism," he said; "but I can't believe that. +Now you fellows must go. The dragon will be here to start you if you +stay any longer. Serve him right, though, Roberts, to let him go on +this mad foray, for he'd get wounded, and be brought back and placed +under Dame Gee's hands." + +"Oh, hang it! no; I couldn't stand that," cried the young officer; and a +few minutes later they left the room, for Drummond to begin grumbling. + +"I don't care," he said. "If the Colonel gives us leave we must go. +You won't back out, will you?" + +"No; for it would be the saving of some of the poor fellows. But we +shall see." + +They did that very night, for, instead of the regular cool wind coming +down the upper valley, a fierce hot gust roared from the other direction +like a furnaces-blast from the plains; and at midnight down came the +most furious storm the most travelled of the officers had ever +encountered. The lightning flashed as if it were splintering the peaks +which pierced the clouds, and the peals of thunder which followed +sounded like the falling together of the shattered mountains, while +amidst the intense darkness the sentries on the walls could hear the +hiss and seething of the rain as it tore by on the rushing winds which +swept through gorge and valley. + +The next morning the storm broke dark and gloomy, with the rain falling +heavily and the river rolling along thick and turbulent, while one of +the first things the sentries had to report was the fact that one of the +hostile camps--the one nearest to the fort--was being struck. + +By night the tribe in another of the side valleys was withdrawn, and +during the days which followed one by one the little camps of +white-robed tribes-men melted away like the snow upon the lower hills, +till not a man of the investing forces remained, and the long-harassed +defenders looked in vain from the highest tower of the fort for their +foes. + +The falling rain had effected in a few days that which the brave; +defenders had been unable; to compass in as many weeks; while the +alteration from the insufferable heat to the soft, cool, moist air had a +wonderful effect upon the wounded, and made Doctor Morton chuckle and +rub his hands as he rejoiced over the change. + +And still the rain went, on falling; the valley seemed surrounded by +cascades, the streams rushed and thundered down, and the main river +swept by the walls of the fort with a sullen roar; while, as if dejected +and utterly out of heart, the British flag, which had flaunted out so +bravely from the flagstaff, as if bidding defiance to the whole +hill-country and all its swarthy tribes, hung down and clung and wrapped +itself about the flagstaff, the halyard singing a dolefully weird strain +in a minor key, while the wind whistled by it on its way down towards +the plains. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +UNCOOKED MUTTON. + +Two days passed--two of about the wettest and most dismal days +imaginable. There was no sign of the enemy, and the scouts sent out +came back dripping, and always with the same news--that the hill-men had +given up the siege in disgust, and were right away making for their +homes in the valleys at the foot of the mountain-slopes. + +There was no relaxation in the watchfulness of the garrison, however, +the treacherous nature of the tribes being too well-known. Hence it was +that the sentries in their heavy greatcoats stood in such shelter as +they possessed, keeping watch and ward, with the valley stretched out +dark and gloomy, and the booming and roaring river dimly-seen through +the gloom of the night, as it foamed and tossed itself in spray against +the various obstacles it encountered on its way towards the lower gorge +whence Colonel Graves's regiment had made its appearance when it first +came to the assistance of the beleaguered in Ghittah Fort. + +The rain had ceased and given place to a thick mist, so peculiar in its +appearance that one of two officers going the rounds, both nearly +invisible in their long overcoats, said softly to the other: + +"Might fancy we were at home after one of our muggy days." + +"Yes; just like a London suburban fog, old fellow." + +Then there was silence for a minute, as they walked on along the +terraced wall, before the one who had just spoken said in a quick +whisper: + +"I say, Roberts, oughtn't there to be a sentry here?" + +"I was just thinking so," was the reply. "I hope to goodness he isn't +asleep, for I hate having to report a man for neglect." + +He had hardly whispered the words when there was the click of a rifle, a +voice challenged them, and they gave the customary response. + +"This is not your place, my man," said Roberts then. + +"No, sir; twenty yards farther that way. But there's something down +below then; that I can't quite make out. It seemed to come past and on +this way." + +"What! up on the ramparts?" said Drummond quickly. + +"No, no, sir; right down below the face of the wall, and I come on a bit +so as to follow and look down. I didn't like to give the alarm." + +"Why?" said Roberts sharply. + +"Because it might be a false one, sir." + +"Better give a dozen false alarms, my lad, than miss a real danger. +Now, then, what did you see?" + +"Well, sir, if we was at home I should say it was a drove o' sheep or a +herd o' pigs; but these hill-niggers are so artful and ready to be down +upon us that I fancied it might be men." + +"Men haven't four legs," said Drummond, laughing softly. + +"No, sir; but these Dwats don't think anything o' going down on +all-fours." + +"But there have been none about lately," said Drummond; "the rain seemed +to be too much for them." + +"Yes, sir; but ain't they the more likely to come down on us when they +think we believe we're safe?--Change guard, sir." + +For steps were heard, and a party of men came up smartly, were +challenged, and the non-commissioned officer in charge answered. + +"That you, Gee?" said Roberts. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Come here. The sentry thinks there are people below there. Come and +have a look." + +"The sentry I've just relieved thought the same, sir," replied Gee +sharply, "and I had a good look. They're sheep driven down from the +hills by the bad weather. I was going to report to the Colonel, sir, +and ask whether he'd order a sally from the gate to drive them in. Be +useful, sir." + +"To be sure. You'd better do it. Let's have a look over first." + +They stepped together to the embattled wall, and peered down into the +darkness; but nothing was visible now, and Roberts was about to give the +matter up as all a mistake, when, from where the mist was most dense, +there was the pattering of hoofs in the wet mud, followed by the +peculiarly human cough of one of the sheep of the district. + +"No mistake about what they are, sir," said Sergeant Gee softly. +"They've come down to the low grounds on account of the storm." + +"Yes," said Roberts, "and because there are none of the Dwats to keep +them back. Why, Gee, we're in luck. We must have the men out and the +flock driven in." + +"Not much room for them in the court, sir," said the Sergeant. + +"No; but to-morrow we must have something in the way of hurdles to shut +them in close under the wall, and they can be driven out to pasture +every day by some of the men, with a guard to watch over them. You try +and keep them under your eye now while I go and tell the Colonel." + +The two young men peered down at where the pattering of hoofs could be +heard through the mist twenty feet below them; though nothing was +visible but a dimly-seen moving mass. + +A few minutes later they announced the find to the Colonel. + +"This is good news, gentlemen," he said; "such a store of fresh +provisions will be a treasure. Order out your company, Roberts, and you +had better get five-and-twenty or thirty of your men, Mr Drummond." + +"Yes, sir," said the subaltern, smiling. + +"What's that you're thinking--rather absurd to get out two companies to +drive in a flock of sheep?" + +"Well, sir, I was thinking something of the sort," said the young man, +colouring. + +"I want them to strengthen the guard," said the Colonel quietly. "A +dozen of the native servants can be sent round the flock to head the +sheep toward the open gates. There is nothing like being on your guard +when dealing with a venturesome as well as a treacherous enemy." + +"You think the enemy may make a rush, sir, as soon as the gates are +open?" + +"No, Roberts," said the Colonel, laying his hand on the young man's +shoulder. "I think the enemy might make a rush if they were near; but, +happily, I do not believe there are any of the hill-men for many miles +round. The last reports are that they are heading homewards, and I +begin to hope that the breaking-up of the weather has set us at +liberty." + +The arrangements were soon made, everything being done quietly and +without any display of lights. The Fusiliers and the draft of Colonel +Wrayford's regiment were stationed on either side of the gates, and +about twenty of the native servants, under the guidance of a couple of +the friendly hill-men, accustomed to look after the camp live-stock, +were detailed with their orders to divide as soon as the gates were +opened, and steal cautiously round to the far side of the flock before +trying to head them in. + +Strict orders had been given to keep the court still and dark, so that +the sheep might not take fright upon reaching the gates; while the news +spread very rapidly, and the men turned out of their rough quarters, +seeking the walls, so as to try and see something of what was going on. + +At last, all being ready, the Colonel gave the order for the guard +occupying the two towers which commanded the gales to report the state +of affairs. Sergeant Gee had taken his place there, and he came down to +announce that the sheep were in a very large flock, apparently huddled +together about a hundred yards from the gate. But they were quite +invisible, and their position could only be made out by their fidgety +movements. + +"Sounds to me, sir, as if they'd got wolves hanging about them, or maybe +a bear." + +"Then they'll be all the more ready to come into shelter," said the +Colonel, who then gave the word. The great leaves of the entrance were +drawn inward, and, each party under his leader, the native servants +slipped silently out in Indian file, turned to right and left, and +disappeared in the darkness, the mist seeming to swallow them up after +their third step. + +"Quite a bit of sport, old fellow," whispered Drummond, who had charge +of the men on one side, Roberts being on the other, while the regular +guard manned the tower and adjacent wall in strength, so as to see the +fun, as they dubbed it. + +All was silent now, and the only lights visible were those of the +windows in the officers' quarters, so that it was hard to imagine that +many hundred men, for the most part unarmed, were listening eagerly for +the first approach of the unsuspecting sheep. + +The listeners were not kept in suspense as to whether plenty of roast +mutton was to supersede the short commons of the past. There was what +seemed to be a long period of silence and darkness, during which a cloud +of dense mist floated in through the gateway to fill the court; and +during this time of waiting the watchers, by other senses rather than +sight, pictured the dark scouts playing the same part as falls to the +lot of a collie dog at home, doubling round the great flock, whose +restless trampling they could hear in the soft, wet soil. But at last +there was the sound of many pattering feet, telling that the flock was +in motion; and the suspense deepened, for the question was, "Would the +men be able to head the sheep in, or would they dash off to right or +left, avoiding the big opening through the gates as the mouth of a +trap?" + +"Will they--won't they?" muttered Drummond; and Roberts, like the men in +the angle hidden by the tower on the side, held his breath. + +The minutes seemed long drawn out now, as the pent-up excitement +increased; and Gedge, who was at the open window of the hospital +quarters, reached out as far as he could, his heart beating hard as he +listened, hearing the pattering quite plainly, and reporting progress to +his officer, stretched upon his pallet. For the news had penetrated to +where they were. Gedge had heard it from an ambulance sergeant, and +hurried in to Bracy. + +"Hoo-roar, sir!" he said excitedly, panting hard the while. "Tell yer +direckly. It's wonderful how soon I gets out o' breath since I had my +last wound,"--the knock-down from the stone in the pass was always "my +first wound."--"The boys have captured a flock o' sheep, sir, and it's +going to be cuts out o' roast legs and hot mutton-chops for us every +day." + +Bracy sighed on hearing this. + +"Ah, you go like that, sir," said Gedge; "but just you wait till you +smell one o' them chops, frizzled as I'll do it, and peppered and +salted--wonder whether there is a bit o' pepper to be got." + +Gedge did not get the news till the arrangements were well in progress, +and a pang of disappointment shot, through him, mingled with a longing +to go and join in the fun. But he kept his thoughts to himself, and set +to work to make his invalid participate as much as was possible by +listening and reporting all he could hear. + +"Just you hark, sir; can't hear a whisper, and it's as black as can be," +he said softly. "Hope; those chaps as they've sent won't muff it and +let the sheep get away to the mountains." + +"They most likely will," sighed Bracy, who was more low-spirited than +usual that night. + +"That's what I'm afraid on, sir. Can't hear nothing, sir," he said +mournfully. "Yes, I can; just a soft sort o' sound as is getting +louder. It's pitter-patter o' little feet in the mud. Yes, that's it, +sir. They're a-coming nigher and nigher. Oh! don't I wish I was out +behind 'em with a couple of those grey dogs without any tails the +drovers uses. I'd have 'em in through the gates in no time, without +losing one." + +"Are they going to drive the flock into the courtyard?" said Bracy +wearily. + +"Why, I telled him they were just now," muttered Gedge; and then aloud, +"Yes, sir, that's it; and here they come, and--I can't see, but I can +hear--they're a-getting quite near. And of course, as soon as they're +all in, bing-bang our chaps'll swing them great gates to and make 'em +fast, and there, you are. What a glorious grab, and won't the niggers +be wild! Say, Mr Bracy, sir." + +"Yes." + +"Don't you feel as if you want to shout?" + +"No, Gedge, no." + +"I do, sir. I say, sir, if I was you I'd give me orders to see the +butchers, and buy four o' the sheepskins. I could dress 'em, and you +could have 'em made up into a rug, or let the tailor line your greatcoat +with 'em. For if we're going to be shut up here all the winter, every +one of them skins 'll be better for you than two ton o' coals." + +"Buy six for me, my lad," said Bracy, "and have three to line your own +coat." + +"Oh, thank ye, sir; but--" + +"No, no; three will do, my lad, for I shall be lying asleep under the +turf before the winter comes." + +"Mr Bracy, sir!" cried Gedge in a husky voice. "Oh, sir, plee, sir, +don't go and talk like that, sir! Oh, blow the sheep, and the mutton, +and the skins!" he muttered; "what do I care about 'em now?" + +He was turning away, when, regretting what he had said, Bracy raised +himself a little on one elbow, and said softly, and with his voice +sounding stronger: + +"Why don't you go on telling me, my lad! Is the flock coming nearer?" + +Gedge thrust his head out again, and then partly withdrew it. + +"Yes, sir--close in, sir. You can hear 'em now; they must be coming in +at the gates. Oh, do be careful!" he whispered to nobody, once more +full of excitement, and imagining everything in the darkness. "Steady, +steady! Mind, you nigger to the left. Yah! don't get waving your arms +like that; you'll scare one o' them old rams. Can't you see him tossing +his head about? He'll bolt directly, and if he does the whole flock 'll +be after him and off and away to the hills." + +"Can you see them, Gedge?" said Bracy, beginning to take interest in the +capture now for his lad's sake, for deep down in his breast there was a +well-spring of gratitude for all the poor, rough, coarse fellow had +done. + +"See 'em, sir? No; it's as black as the inside of a tar-barrel: but I +can hear and fancy it all, and I've helped drive many a flock out +Whitechapel way when I was a small boy. Here they come, though, patter, +patter, and the chaps have done it splendid; they haven't made a sound. +Here they come; they must be half in by now. There's some on 'em close +under the winder, sir. Hear 'em puffing and breathing?" + +"Yes, yes; I can hear them there quite plainly, Gedge. I hope they will +secure them now, for every one's sake." + +"So do I, sir; but they're not caught till they're all in and the gates +is shut. Our sheep in London's wild enough when they take fright, while +these things is more like goats, and you know how they can run up among +the rocks. Oh, steady, steady, out there; look sharp and shut those +gates," whispered the listener. "Oh, do mind! If I sees all them legs +o' mutton cutting their sticks off to the mountains I shall go mad." + +"What's that?" cried Bracy, as in the wild flush of excitement that +flashed through his brain it seemed as if he had received a galvanic +shock, and he sat right up in his bed, to keep in that position, gazing +wildly towards the darkened window. + +Gedge doubtless replied, but his voice was drowned by the wild, warlike +yell of triumph which rose from the court--a yell which told its own +tale of the success of a _ruse_. The sheep had been driven into the +court through the mist and darkness--a great flock; but with them fully +a hundred tulwar and knife armed Dwats in their winter sheepskin-coats, +who had crept in with the quiet sheep on all-fours, the placid animals +having doubtless been accustomed to the manoeuvre, thought out and +practised for weeks past, with a so far perfectly successful result. + +The yell was answered by the Colonel's voice shouting clearly the order +for the gates to be shut; but the massacre had begun, the mad Mussulman +fanatics who had undertaken the forlorn hope being ready to do or die; +and, as the rattle of the moving gates began, an answering war-cry came +from not far away, the rush of a large body of men making for the +opening being plainly heard. + +"Taken by surprise!" shouted Bracy wildly as he realised the horror. +"Gedge, it means the slaughter of the poor women and our wounded +comrades in the ward. Here, quick, my sword! my revolver! Quick! get +one yourself." + +"I've got yours, sir, here," cried Gedge excitedly as he snatched them +from where they hung. "Don't--don't move, sir; you're too weak and bad, +and I'll keep the window and the door, sir. They shan't come near yer +while I'm alive. After that--here, ketch hold, sir--your pistol, sir-- +after that you must lie still and shoot." + +The light had been extinguished, so that the sheep should not be scared +by a glare from the window; and in the darkness, amidst the howls, +yells, and shouts in the courtyard, Gedge felt for the bed so as to +thrust the loaded revolver into Bracy's hand. But, to his astonishment, +a strong hand was laid upon his shoulder, and the sword was snatched +from his grasp, while Bracy cried in a voice the lad hardly knew: + +"Keep the pistol, close that door and window, and come on. Gedge, lad, +we must try and keep the ward, before these savages get in." + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +GHAZIS AND CUNNING. + +As Bracy, closely followed by Gedge, made for the door, the noise and +confusion in the darkness were horrible. There were nearly a score of +sick and wounded in the two rows of beds, some of whom were groaning and +appealing for help; but the majority were making brave efforts to get on +some clothes, and one man was shouting for the nurse to go to the +armoury and bring as many rifles and bayonets as she could carry. But +there was no answer to their appeals, as Bracy, tottering at first, but +growing stronger as he passed between the two rows of beds, struggled +for the door at the end, and passed through into a little lobby, from +which another door led at once into the court, a mere slit of a window +at the side admitting a few faint rays of light. + +"Ha!" ejaculated Bracy in a tone of thankfulness. "The door's fast, +Gedge, lad, and we must defend it to the last. We can do no good +outside." + +"Who's this?" cried a harsh, sharp voice. "Bracy, my dear boy, you +here?" cried the Doctor almost simultaneously. + +"Nurse!--Doctor!" panted the young officer. + +"Yes, here we are, my boy, on duty; and bless this woman! she's as +plucky as half-a-dozen men." + +"Nonsense!" said Mrs Gee harshly. "You don't suppose I was going to +stand still and let the wretches massycree my patients--do you, Doctor?" + +"No, my dear, I don't think anything of the kind, and certainly I won't. +Have you got plenty of cartridges?" + +"A dozen packets, and there's four rifles with fixed bayonets behind the +door." + +"I'll have one, my lass. I was afraid I should have to take to my +surgical instruments. But, look here, Bracy, my boy, you can do no +good, so go back to bed and send that scoundrel Gedge here. He's hiding +under one of the beds. He could load for nurse, here, and me, while we +fired." + +"If you warn't like one o' my sooperior officers," snarled Gedge, "I'd +say something nasty to you, Doctor. Give us one of them rifles, old +lady; I'm better with them and a bay'net than with this popgun. You +take your pistol, Mr Bracy, sir." + +"No, no--yes, yes," said the Doctor hurriedly. "You may want it, my +boy. Now, then, go back to your bed. You'll be in the way here." + +"In the way of some of these yelling fiends, I hope, Doctor," said +Bracy, thrusting the revolver into the waistband of his hurriedly +dragged on trousers. "Now, then, where will they try to break in?" + +"The first window they can reach, when they fail at this door. You, +Gedge, watch that window. No one can get in, but some one is sure to +try." + +The keen point of a bayonet was held within a few inches of the opening +the next moment, and then the little party, awaiting the attack, stood +listening to the terrible sounds from without. It was hard work to +distinguish one from the other, for the confusion was now dreadful; but, +from time to time, Bracy, as he stood quivering there as if a strange +thrill of reserved force was running through every vein, nerve, and +muscle, made out something of what was going on, and primarily he +grasped the fact, from the loud clanging, that the great gates had been +closed and barred against the entrance of those who were rushing forward +to the support of the fanatical Ghazis who had been so successful in +their _ruse_. + +Then came other sounds which sent a ray of hope through the confusion; +first one or two shots rang out, then there was a ragged volley, and a +more or less steady fire was being kept up from the towers and walls. +But this was doubtless outward, begun by the sentries, and aided by the +two companies that rapidly mounted to their side by the orders of their +officers, who felt that it would be madness to begin firing in the dark +upon the Ghazis raging about the court, for fear of hitting their +unarmed friends. + +It was some minutes before the Colonel could reach the guard-room, which +was held by the relief, and he had a couple of narrow escapes from cuts +aimed at him; but he reached the place at last, in company with about a +dozen unarmed men, and in a few minutes there was one nucleus here ready +with fixed bayonets to follow his orders. Other men made a rush for +their quarters from the walls where they had flocked, unarmed, to be +spectators of the capture; but to reach them and their rifles and +ammunition they had to cross the court, which was now one tossing chaos +of cutting and slashing fiends in human form, rushing here and there, +and stumbling over the frightened sheep, which plunged and leaped +wildly, adding greatly to the din by their piteous bleating, many to +fall, wounded, dying, and struggling madly, beneath the sword-cuts +intended for the garrison. These were flying unarmed seeking for +refuge, and often finding none, but turning in their despair upon their +assailants, many of whom went down, to be trampled under foot by those +whom they sought to slay. + +The firing now began to rapidly increase, the flashings of the rifles +seeming to cut through the dense mist, now growing thicker with the +smoke, which, instead of rising, hung in a heavy cloud, mingling with +the fog, and making the efforts of the defenders more difficult as it +increased. For some time every one seemed to have lost his head, as, in +spite of the efforts of the officers, the panic was on the increase, and +the Ghazis had everything their own way. Colonel Graves, as soon as he +had got his little force together, gave the word for a rush with the +bayonet, and led the way, his men following bravely, but the +difficulties they encountered were intense. It was almost impossible to +form in line, and when at last this was roughly achieved in the +darkness, and the order to advance was given, it was upon a mass of +struggling sheep mingled with the yelling fiends; and, to the horror of +the line of sturdy men, they found that to fire, or advance with the +bayonet, would be to the destruction of friend as well as foe. + +To add to the horror, the wild and piteous shrieks of women arose now +from the portion of the fort containing the officers' quarters; and at +this Roberts, who was firing with his men down into the seething mass of +fresh assailants swarming at the gates and striving, so far vainly, to +mount the walls, gave a sharp order. + +"Here, cease firing, my lads," he yelled. "Drummond--Drummond! Where's +Mr Drummond?" + +"Gone, sir," came from one of the men. + +"What! down?" cried Roberts. + +"No, sir; he said something about go on firing, and hooked it off along +the ramp." + +An angry groan arose, and Roberts muttered something about his friend +before shouting again. + +"Sergeant," he cried, "take the command of your men, and keep these dogs +from mounting the gate. I am going to lead my company to the officers' +quarters. Ready, my lads? No firing. The bayonet. We must save those +women, or die." + +A loud, sharp, snapping hurrah rang out, seeming to cut through the +mist, and then at Roberts's "Forward!" they dashed after him at the +double, to reach the next descent into the court, which meant right +among the yelling Ghazis, but at the opposite end to that where Colonel +Graves and the Major--who had reached them now with a couple of dozen +men, mostly armed with the Indians' tulwars--had managed to struggle +into line. + +Very few minutes elapsed before the shouting of Captain Roberts's men, +as they dashed down, two abreast, cutting into the mass below, added to +the wild confusion, and for a time it seemed as if the struggle would +become hopeless, as the brave fellows' strength began to yield to +exhaustion, for the power to combine seemed gone, and the _melee_ grew +more a hand-to-hand fight, in which the savage Ghazis had the advantage +with their keen swords, their adversaries wanting room to use their +bayonets after a few fierce and telling thrusts. + +"This is useless, Graham," panted the Colonel at last; "these sheep +hamper every movement. We can do nothing in this horrible darkness. I +am going to give the order for every man to make for the walls, where we +must defend ourselves with the bayonet as the fellows attack us. We +must wait for morning, and then shoot them down." + +"And by then they will have slaughtered every woman and non-combatant in +the fort," growled the Major savagely. + +"No; we must each lead a company or two for the quarters. You take as +many as you can collect straight for the ladies' rooms." + +"Roberts has gone ten minutes ago, and is fighting his way across." + +"Go round by the walls on the other side and get in behind. I am going +to rush for the hospital. Bracy and all those poor fellows must be +saved." + +"Too late," said the Major bitterly. "Two of the men here left a score +of the hounds fighting their way into the ward. Oh, if we only had a +light!" + +Strange things occur when least expected, and there are times when, as +if by a miracle, the asked-for gift is bestowed. + +"God bless you, Graves!" whispered the Major; "if we don't meet again, +I'll do all that man can do." + +"I know it, Graham. You'll save the women, I'm sure. Ah! what's that?" + +"Fire--fire!" shouted a voice, and a yell of triumph rose from the +Ghazis, to be echoed by the seething mob of fanatics outside the gates, +who burst forth with their war-cry of "Allah! Allah--uh!" + +"We're done, Graves," said the Major in an awestricken, whisper. "It's +the fodder-store, and it will attack our quarters soon. It's all of +wood." + +"If it does we shall see how to die fighting," said the Colonel +hoarsely, as a wreath of flame and sparks rolled out of a two-story +building at the far end of the court, lighting up the whole place and +revealing all the horrors of the scene. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +NON-COMBATANTS. + +Meanwhile, completely cut off by the enemy from the rest of the +garrison, the occupants of the hospital made such preparations as they +could to strengthen their defences. Little enough they were, consisting +as they did of three or four pieces of wood placed like stays from the +floor to the cross-pieces of the roughly-made door; and when it was done +the Doctor said sadly: + +"It's of no use. If they come with a rush they will drive that in as if +it were so much cardboard." + +"Let them," said Bracy. "They will find three bayonets and a +sword-point ready for them to fall upon." + +"Yes; and then?" said the Doctor bitterly. "There will be four bodies +lying in front of us between our breasts and the men who come on, and so +again and again till we have made a rampart of the wretched bodies." + +"Very well in theory, my good patient," said the Doctor sadly; "but I'm +afraid we shall have made part of the breastwork ourselves. These +Ghazis not only know how to fight, but they do fight as if there were no +such thing as fear." + +"There's not much of that in British soldiers when they are at bay," +said Bracy proudly. "But it's of no use to talk, Doctor; we must defend +this door to the last, and then retreat into the ward, barricading that +next." + +"And after that?" + +"There are my quarters: but we must carry the helpless in there first." + +"And lastly?" + +"Never mind that," said Bracy coldly; "let us get through firstly and +secondly; a dozen things may happen before then." + +"Hist!" whispered Mrs Gee. "Some one is coming." + +All listened, and heard a swift movement like a hand being passed over +the rough door as if feeling for the fastening. Then there were several +hard thrusts, and directly after a quick whispering, a scratching as of +feet against the wall, and then a slight change in the appearance of the +window, the darkness growing a little deeper. In an instant there was +the loud rattle of a rifle being thrown out to the full extent of its +holder's arms, the bayonet darting through the narrow slit; there was a +savage yell, the dull thud of some one falling, and with a fierce shout +of rage two or three of the enemy flung themselves at the door, +repeating the act again and again, but without result. + +"Can't some of us come and help, sir?" said a feeble voice. + +"Yes; there's six of us, sir," said another; "and we've all got rifles." + +"Back to your beds directly," cried the Doctor. "What's the use of me +trying to save your lives, and--Well, it's very good of you, my lads," +he said, breaking off suddenly. "Fix bayonets, and stand outside the +ward ready to help if we, the first line, are driven in." + +There was a sharp crackety-crack as the metal sockets of the bayonets +rattled on the muzzles of the rifles, and the six invalids took their +places on either side of the ward-door, where the rest of the sufferers +lay in silence listening to the yelling outside and the firing now going +vigorously on. + +There was another crash against the outer door, but still it did not +yield, though it sounded as if it was being dashed from its fastenings, +and then a shuffling, scraping sound told that another attempt was being +made by one of the mad fanatics to get in by the slit of a window. But +again there was the peculiar rattling sound of a thrust being made with +a rifle thrown right forward and grazing the sides of the opening. A +wild shriek followed, and Gedge withdrew his piece, panting heavily and +trembling from weakness. + +"Did you get home?" whispered the Doctor. + +"Yes, sir, clean," whispered back Gedge; "and oh, if that only was the +chap as shot Mr Bracy that day!" + +There was a crash at the door now, as if a mass of stone had been hurled +at it; a couple of boards were driven out, and a strange animal odour +floated in, with a yell of triumph, heard above the piteous bleating of +sheep and the sharp rattle of the rifles. + +"Give me room, Doctor; I can do it. My man taught me," said the nurse, +standing with Gedge, friendly for the first time in their lives; and +they delivered rapidly thrust after thrust with their full strength, one +of the savage Ghazis going down at each. + +It was too dark to do much, and Bracy felt his helplessness, after +trying to parry a cut or two delivered by one of the enemy; so, drawing +his revolver, he fired slowly shot after shot as the enemy reached in to +cut at the defenders, their blows mostly falling upon the sides of the +broken door. + +"It's of no use to try and hold this place longer, Doctor," he said, +bringing now to bear his military knowledge. "We have to bear the full +rush of these men." + +"But it's like giving up to them," panted the Doctor. + +"Never mind; let's retire into the ward. You see, the door is at +right-angles to this, and when they press in they can only fill this +little place, and we shall have to contend with four or five instead of +fifty." + +"That's good talk," said the Doctor. "I'm not a soldier. Very well, +then, back in, and I'll cover you." + +"No; you retire with the nurse and Gedge, and I will hold them at bay +till you get in. Make the men present their bayonets as soon as we are +in. Just give the word, and they will know. It will check the wretches +while we try to get the door closed." + +"No," cried the Sergeant's wife through her teeth. "Bill Gedge and I +will keep them off till you are in and tell us to fall back." + +"Right," said the Doctor; "don't stop to parley, Bracy, my lad. Ah, +what does that mean?" he cried sharply, for Mrs Gee and Gedge both +thrust and then thrust again. + +"Means a roosh, gentlemen," said Gedge hoarsely. "In with you; we can't +hold 'em back any longer." + +"Back in," said Bracy hoarsely. "We must do it, Doctor; they're mad for +our blood." + +The Doctor stepped through the inner door, and Bracy followed. + +"Right and left," he said sharply; "cover the advance as they fall +back." + +A low hissing sound accompanied a quick movement, and then, after +delivering a couple more thrusts, Gedge whispered: + +"In with you, nurse." + +"You first, boy," she answered, as she thrust fiercely again, a sharp +cry following her delivery. + +"I don't go afore a woman," said Gedge bluntly, as he delivered point +once more. + +"Nor I before my patient," said Mrs Gee, following his example, and +feeling the bayonet strike flesh. + +"Back, you two, at once," cried Bracy sternly; and as the strangely +assorted couple took a step or two back and darted into the ward, a +hedge of bayonets dropped down breast-high, in time to meet the rush of +Ghazis who dashed forward with upraised swords. + +Then, to the surprise of all, there was the crackle of a little volley, +and the faces of the fierce warriors were for a moment illumined, +efforts being made to strengthen the position by dragging a charpoy +across, planting a second upon the first, and heaping thereon everything +that could be seized upon in the darkness. There was a fresh burst of +yelling, the Ghazis raging in their disappointment and at the losses +that had befallen them, just, too, when they believed that an entry had +been made. + +The Doctor took advantage of the pause in the attack to order every +invalid who could move by his own efforts to seek refuge in the +officers' ward, and with groans and sighs they obeyed, one helping the +other, and in many instances having to be helped in turn, while several +by slow degrees managed to crawl. A pause in the attack did not give +time for all this, the enemy coming fiercely on again before the ward +was half clear; but the bristling array of bayonets presented at the +narrow doorway kept them from gaining an entrance, each stroke of their +tulwars being received on the rifle-barrels, and several going down as +deadly thrusts were made. + +It was evident enough to Bracy and the Doctor that their defence could +not last, much longer. A party of able-bodied men, dividing and taking +their duty in turn, might have kept the whole body of the hill-men at +bay for an indefinite time; but the efforts of Gedge and Mrs Gee were +growing weaker, and at last it was all that the invalids could do to +keep their bayonets from being beaten down. + +"We must make for our last refuge, Doctor," said Bracy at last. + +"Yes, and none too soon," was his reply; "but first of all let's have as +much of the bedding as we can get taken to the other room to form a +breastwork. Half you men retire and carry mattresses and blankets till +you are ordered to cease." + +This was done, and then the order was given, just as the enemy was +making one of its most savage attacks, the men pressing on with all +their might, till a volley was fired which made them recoil. It was +only to recover themselves and pour fiercely in through the dense smoke, +to begin yelling with rage as they found by degrees that the long ward +was empty, and a fresh barrier of bayonets bristling ready for them at +the farther door, where a couple of charpoys had been hastily thrown +across one upon the other, and piled on the top was all the bedding, +principally rough straw mattresses and blankets--a slight enough +breastwork, but impervious to sword-cuts, while to reach over in order +to make a blow was to expose whoever struck to a deadly bayonet-thrust. +Here the defence was gallantly maintained again, the attack as fiercely +made, till the floor became wet with blood, and several of the +carnage-seeking enemy slipped and fell, either to crawl or be dragged +away by their companions. + +"It's getting to be a matter of minutes now," said the Doctor in a +whisper to Bracy. "This is the last of it." + +"The window," said Bracy, calmly enough now. "Take Mrs Gee and help +her out. Then you and Gedge climb out, and drop down; you may make your +escape in the darkness. You hear, Mrs Gee?" + +"Yes, sir, I hear," said the woman in her sourest tones; "but my man +told me I was to stick to my patients, no matter what happened." + +"And I order you to escape." + +"Yes, sir; but I'm not one of your men," said the woman, with a +triumphant masterful ring in her words, "and under your orders; but you +are my patient and under mine. So you go and get as many of the poor +boys away with you as you can. Off with you, Gedge; you're as bad as +any of them, in spite of your brag. Then you others follow, one at a +time; me and the Doctor can't leave, the rest, and we're going to stay." + +"Go!" said Gedge sharply. "Go and leave my comrades and my orficer as +can't help theirselves. Not me!" + +There was a low murmur at this, and then a cessation of all words in the +desperate defence forced upon the little party; for, as if maddened by +the long resistance, and utterly reckless of the losses they had +suffered, the Ghazis came on, howling and bounding to the door, leaping +up and reaching in to strike downward with all their force, and +generally paying the penalty of death; for even with their swords +extended to the full extent of the holders' arms, not once was a +damaging cut inflicted. + +The result of this last rush was that, horrible to relate, the +breastwork was raised by the bodies of three fatally wounded Ghazis, who +in their dying moments sought to revenue their deaths by cutting +savagely at their foes as they lay. + +"I can't bay'net chaps who are down," muttered Gedge, shrinking back; +while at the same moment Mrs Gee uttered a wild cry, for one of the +dying men had inflicted a horrible upward cut, which, as she was leaning +forward, took effect upon her chin. + +This movement on the part, of two of the strongest of the defenders +seemed to be fatal. A weak place in their defence was displayed, and +with a fierce yell the enemy crowded on in a final attack. This would +have been fatal but for the bravery of the tottering invalids, who met +the rush with a sharp volley from half-a-dozen pieces, and the flash and +smoke were followed by a sudden burst of light, which flooded the ward, +showing the enemy retiring a little, startled by the unexpected volley +and wondering at the glare. This gave time for reloading, and another +volley was fired as the enemy came on again. + +This volley was followed by the commencement of a rolling fire outside, +mingled with yells of rage, imprecations, loud orders, and the hoarse +commands of officers. For the light given by the burning building was +the opportunity required; and minute by minute the firing increased from +the walls, as the scattered soldiery, many of whom had remained unarmed, +found their way into their quarters to obtain rifles and bayonets, and +joined their companions on the wall, able, and willing too, to take aim +down into the seething mob of savages in the court, without risking +destruction to a comrade or friend. + +Three times over Colonel Graves summoned the enemy to surrender, and +twice over native attendants were dragged forth to yell down to the +Ghazis that their lives would be spared. All was in vain; the +announcements were received with shouts of defiance, yells of hatred at +the Christian dogs, and savage rushes were made at the steps leading up +to the ramparts, in each case for the venturers to be partly shot down, +the residue being hurled back from the point of the bayonet. + +"It's of no use, Graves--Roberts," cried the Major; "it's their lives or +ours. Fire, my lads, fire!" + +And by the increasing light of the flaming building, whose ruddy rays +illumined the horrible scene of carnage, the fight went on, till the +courtyard was dotted with the bodies of the wounded and slain, the +survivors of the great flock of sheep cowering together close to the +main gate, while others lay trampled down amongst the fallen, their +thick fleeces having protected many from the cuts of the Ghazis' swords. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +A PAUSE. + +The moment the court could be crossed, a rush was made for the hospital, +where the fight was still going on; but the mingled company of excited +men were checked twice over by wounded and shamming Ghazis springing up +to foot or knee to deliver one final blow at their hated Christian +conquerors, and several of the soldiers were badly wounded by the deadly +razor-edged tulwars before the wielder was borne to the earth by +bayonets, struggling fiercely still, though riddled with wounds. + +Then the entrance to the hospital was reached, and the wild cheer of a +dozen men sent a reviving thrill of hope through the fast-falling +defenders, and they held their _chevaux-de-frise_ of bayonets once more +now, though with trembling, unnerved hands. + +A minute before it seemed to them that their last blow had been struck, +and that there was nothing else to do but die with their face to the +dead and living enemy. But that wild British cheer sent a thrill +through them; the massacre of the wounded was after all to be stayed, +and they stood firmly there in the brightly illumined room, witnesses of +the bayoneting, till the last savage lay dying on the floor. + +Roberts had headed his party, and was the first to return to try and +save his friend and comrade; and it was into his arms Bracy fell and was +carried out, while the men crowded in now to bear out Mrs Gee, the +Doctor, Gedge, and the rest, those outside cheering madly as first one +and then another bloodstained, ghastly object was borne into the light; +while, in the interval between two of the outbursts, poor Gedge, who was +being cheered by his comrades, seemed drunk with excitement, as he +contrived with failing arm to wave his rifle above his head and shout: + +"Three cheers for Mr Bracy; three cheers for the Doctor and old Mother +Gee! Three cheers for us all!" + +There was a tremendous roar at this, heard loudly above the crackling +fire kept up on the enemy still striving to force a way in from beyond +the walls. + +"Three more," cried Gedge. "Cripples, all on us, but we held our own, +and hip--hip--hip--hoo--" + +Gedge did not finish his cheer, for half-way through the last word he +fell forward, utterly exhausted, fainting dead away. + +It was just then that an officer with blackened face and sword in hand +suddenly made his appearance high up in the golden light of the fire, +and the moment he appeared a howl of execration was raised, which ran +through the crowd of soldiery, while the officers scowled and turned +away. + +The tall, thin figure stopped short in front of the burning building, to +gaze down wonderingly. + +"Drummond--Scotch coward!" roared a voice, and a yell of execration +burst forth. + +Just at that moment, from behind an angle of the building, four of the +Ghazis, who had lain hidden there and escaped the deadly fire, rushed +forth yelling and waving their swords as they made for the figure +standing apparently beyond the reach of help. + +"Quick, some one--fire, fire!" shouted Roberts. + +The figure heard the cry, and turned just in time to face his enemies, +two of whom reached him together, cutting at him with all their might. +But, active as a cat, the tall, lithe youth avoided one of his foes by +leaping aside, ran the other man through, and swinging round, with a +tremendous cut severed the wrist of the wretch he had avoided, when +coming at him for a second blow. + +The other two did not reach him, for half-a-dozen shots rang out, and +the true firing of the boy-regiment was again proved, the two Ghazis +leaping high in the air, and falling backward on to the bayonets of the +men below. There was another cheer at this, but it was dominated +directly after by a renewal of the howl of execration which had broken +out before. + +The hearer looked for a moment or two puzzled, and hesitated to advance; +but the next minute he turned half-face, doubled along the rampart to +the steps, and descended to the court, passing coolly among the men +where Colonel Graves was standing giving orders. + +"Mr Drummond," he said, "I am told that you left your men in a way that +disgraces a British officer." + +"That I didn't," cried the young man indignantly. "I heard you say that +if we only had light we could see to fire, or something of that sort." + +"Yes, sir, I did," said the Colonel sternly. + +"Well, sir, I ran along the ramp and climbed up three times before I +could get to the store, and then set fire to the fodder; but it was ever +so long before I could get it to burn, and then I couldn't get out." + +"You did that?" cried the Colonel. + +"To be sure I did, sir. Wasn't it right? Oh, I see now; the men +thought I went and hid to get out of the light." + +"My dear boy," cried the Colonel; "of course." + +"Oh," cried Drummond, "what jolly fools the lads can be! But I say, +sir, who's hurt? and was old Bracy safe?" + +A minute later the men cheered even louder than before, as they watched +Drummond--a hero now in their midst--place a bag of powder to blow down +the burning building and save the place from risk of the fire spreading. + +That was soon done. It was a risky task, but bravely set about; and, as +the place went up in a rush of flames and sparks, the assault from +outside ceased, the enemy drawing off under cover of the mist; and an +hour later silence fell upon the horrible scene of carnage, not even a +bleat arising from the sheep. + +But the fort was safe, the dim morning light showing the British flag, +wet and clinging, but still hanging in its place upon the flagstaff; +while by that time all save the doubled sentries upon the walls and the +suffering wounded lay plunged in a heavy sleep wherever a place could be +found roomy enough for the poor fellows' aching limbs. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +BRACY'S NURSE. + +"Bracy, my dear old man!" + +"My dear old chap!" These were the salutations of Drummond and Roberts +later on in the morning, when they sought him out, to find him with +Gedge in a portion of the soldiers' quarters which had been temporarily +turned into a hospital. + +"Ah, Roberts," sighed Bracy drowsily as he raised himself on one arm. +"Not hurt, I hope?" + +"Not a scratch. But you--you? Morton tells me you fought like a lion +all through that horrible attack." + +"Like a very weak lion," said Bracy, smiling faintly. + +"But how are you?" + +"Oh, so much better," said the young officer, with a sigh. "I feel so +restful, and as if I could do nothing but sleep." + +"Thank Heaven! But what a change in you!" + +"And you, Drummond? But your face--blackened. Were you in that +explosion I heard?" + +"Yes; I helped to pop off the powder." + +"Helped!" cried Roberts. "Why, you placed the powder-bag and fired the +fuse." + +"Well, what of that? Some one had to do it. I wasn't hurt there, +though, old man. It was in setting fire to the store and coaxing it +into a blaze, for the blessed wood refused to burn. Spoiled my lovely +looks a bit--eh? But I say--it's harder work than you would think for +to burn a--I say! Bracy, old chap!--Why, he's asleep!" + +"Fast," said Roberts, looking wonderingly at their friend, who had sunk +back on his rough pillow, formed of a doubled-up greatcoat, and was +breathing deeply, with his face looking peaceful and calm. + +"Here, I say, you, Bill Gedge," cried Drummond; "this can't be right. +Go and fetch the Doctor." + +"No, sir; it's all right, sir. The Doctor was here half-an-hour ago. +He was fast as a top then; but he heard the Doctor speaking to me, and +roused up while he had his wounds looked at. What d'yer think o' that, +sir?" + +He drew a small, ragged scrap of something from his pocket, and held it +out before the two officers. + +"Nothing," said Roberts shortly; "but I don't like Mr Bracy's looks. +This can't be right." + +"Doctor says it is, sir, and that it's exhorschon. He's to sleep as +much as he can. You see, he had a horful night of it, sir, just when he +wasn't fit." + +"But how in the world could he fight like the Doctor says he did?" + +"I dunno, sir," replied Gedge, grinning. "Doctor says it was the +excitement set him going, and then he couldn't stop hisself. You know +how he was a bit ago, gentlemen, when he hit out and kicked, and +couldn't help it." + +Roberts nodded. + +"And he did fight wonderful, and never got a scratch. That's what the +Doctor said it was, and when he zamined his bandages he found this here +under his back." + +"That! What is it?" said Drummond, now taking the object and examining +it curiously. + +"His complaint, sir, that kept him bad so long. The bit of iron the +Doctor said he dursen't try to get out. It worked out last night in the +fight. He's going to get well now." + +It was Roberts's turn now to examine the little ragged scrap of +discoloured iron. + +"Seems wonderful," he said, "that so trifling a thing as that should +cause so much agony, and bring a man so low." + +"Oh, I dunno, sir," said Gedge respectfully. "I had a horful toe once +as got bigger and bigger and sorer till I couldn't get a boot on, only +the sole; and when my leg got as big as a Dan'l Lambert's, some un says, +`Why don't you go to the orspital?' he says, sir; and so I did, and as +soon as I got there I began to wish I hadn't gone, for there was a lot +o' doctors looked at it, and they said my leg must come off half-way up +my thigh, but they'd wait a day or two first, and they did; but only the +next morning one of 'em has another good look, and he gets out +something--just a teeny bit of a nail as had gone into my toe out of my +boot." + +"Humph!" said Roberts rather contemptuously. + +"Lor' bless yer, gentlemen, I was 'nother sort o' feller that night, and +was just like Mr Bracy here; hadn't had no proper sleep for weeks, and +there I was at it like one o'clock, going to sleep as you may say all +over the place. Shouldn't ha' been here if it hadn't been for that +there doctor. Wouldn't have had a one-legged un in the ridgiment, sir-- +would yer?" + +"No," said Roberts, who was leaning over and gazing at his sleeping +comrade curiously. "Yes, he is sleeping as peacefully as a child. And +what about you, Gedge?" + +"Me, sir? Oh, I'm all right, sir. Bit stiff in the arms with all that +bay'net exercise, and got the skin off one elber with ketching it agen +the wall. Yer see, we'd no room." + +"We've been there this morning," said Roberts, with a slight shudder. +"The woodwork is chipped and cut into splinters, and the sight is +horrible." + +"Well, yus, I s'pose so, sir. It was horrible work, but we was obliged +to do it; they'd have cut us all to pieces. Reg'lar butchers--that they +are--and deserved it. Coming on like that at a lot o' poor cripples and +a woman, besides the nong-combytant. Savages they are to try and cut +down a doctor who's ready to 'tend to everybody, either side, and tie or +sew them up." + +"You're right, Gedge, my lad; they are savages," said Drummond, patting +the speaker on the shoulder. + +"Hff! gently, please, sir," said Gedge, flinching. + +"I beg your pardon. Are you hurt there?" cried Drummond hastily. + +"Oh, all right, sir," said the lad, grinning; "but you said, `Hurt +there.' Why, it's all over, sir. There aren't a place as I've found +yet where you could put a finger on without making me squirm. Doctor +made me yell like a great calf. But there's nothing broke or cracked, +and no fresh holes nowhere." + +"That's a comfort," said Drummond. + +"Yus; but it aren't very comf'table yet, sir. He says I shall soon be +better, though." + +"Yes, Gedge, you must regularly lie up till the pain has gone." + +"I mean to, sir, all the time that I can get from tending Mr Bracy +here. I must tend him." + +"You can stay with him; but someone else ought to be sent in." + +"No, sir, please; I can manage. It wouldn't be fair, sir, for some un +else to come in now the gov'nor's getting better. Doctor says I've +saved his life so fur, and I wants to go on and save his life so +further. See?" + +"Yes, of course," said Roberts, smiling. "It would not be fair for you +to be robbed of the credit of what you have done." + +"Thank ye, sir. That does a chap good, sir. But I beg your pardon, +Captain: you see, I'm noo to sojering and fighting. I thought we'd had +it tidy 'ot in the coming up along o' the stone-throwing. Then it was a +bit warm when Mr Bracy was shot down and I got my bullet. But that was +all like playing skretch-cradle to our set-to last night in the dark. +Shall we have it much worse by-and-by?" + +"Worse? No," cried the Captain sharply. "Nothing could be worse than +last night's work." + +"Oh, come, I'm glad o' that, sir; for arterward, when I begun to cool +down, it seemed to me that if it could be much worse I should begin to +think as sojering might get to be a little bit too strong." + +It was just then that Doctor Morton came in, and for the moment he +frowned; but the angry look passed off after a glance at Bracy. + +"I was afraid you would disturb him," he said; "but there is no need to +mind; he will sleep a great deal for days, till this state of exhaustion +has passed off. My dear boys, what a night we had! I wonder that any +of us are alive." + +"There were some narrow escapes, Doctor," said Roberts. + +"Awful, awful; and what a morning for me! I feel as if I could do as +Bracy is doing--sleep for days; but here I am with a terrible load of +fresh cases on my hands, and my chief nurse turned into a patient--Gee's +wife. What a woman! what a woman! She must have descended from the +Amazons of old. But there, I must go; I only wanted to see that poor +Bracy was all right." + +"And you do think he is, Doctor?" said Roberts. + +"Sure of it, sir. He'll be back with his company before long." + +He nodded sharply, and after a word or two with Gedge, who looked ten +years older for his night's work, the room was left for sleep, and the +young officers hurried off to their several duties. For there was ample +work for every one of the defenders, whose loss had, however, been +wonderfully small, the Ghazis having been comparatively helpless after +their successful entry, their attacks being repulsed by the bayonet, and +the soldiery for the most part having the advantage of the walls, while +their fanatical foes were raging about the court, repulsed at every +attempt to get on close quarters with the infidels they sought to +destroy. + +As the morning wore on, and the horrible traces of the deadly fray were +rapidly removed by the fatigue-parties set to work, a soft breeze from +the mountains waited away the heavy clouds of mist, the sun came out, +and with it the horrors of the night faded away so rapidly that, had it +not been for the blackened ruins of the fodder-store, it would have been +hard to realise the fact that such a night had been passed. + +Scouting parties went, out in different directions, and returned all +with the same report--that the enemy had disappeared, not a trace of +them being visible, not even one of the dead or wounded, though their +losses must have been considerable. That evening a time of perfect rest +seemed to have descended upon Ghittah, which, by the light of the +sinking sun, looked, with its magnificent surroundings of dazzling +snow-peak, verdant hill, forest, and falling water, orange, golden, and +sparkling in the reflections from the glorified sky. + +"Yes, lovely, lovely," said Colonel Graves sadly, "if one could only +feel that we might lie down and sleep in peace." + +"Well, can't we?" said one of the younger officers. "Surely, sir, this +has been such a lesson as the enemy will not forget." + +"Quite right," said the Colonel; "they will not forget it, nor rest till +they have had revenge." + +"But look at their losses last night," said the Major. + +"I do," replied the Colonel; "but men are plentiful up here in the +hills, and they all belong to a fighting race. If they were not +fighting with us they would be among themselves, and it is the education +of their boys: being taught to fight." + +"Then you think they'll renew their attacks, sir?" said Roberts. + +"I feel sure of it, and they must find us more upon the _qui vive_ next +time. I feel ashamed for allowing myself to be such an easy victim to +their cunning _ruse_." + +"Never mind now," said the Major; "it has furnished us with a fine +supply of fresh meat." + +"Yes," said the Colonel sadly; "but at a heavy cost of wounded men." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +AFTER A REST. + +The Colonel was right; there were plenty of men in the hills, and they +all belonged to fighting tribes-men who, whether Moslem or of the +various sects which inhabited the vast tracts of mountainous countries, +looked upon it as a religious duty to cut off every one who believed +differently, as an infidel or a dog. Many days, then, had not elapsed +before there was another gathering of the fierce tribes, whose object +was to secure the fort, with its wealth of arms and ammunition. But +during the week of respite Colonel Graves and his officers were busy +enough. The country round was foraged for stores; and, partly in fear, +but as much for the sake of cheating good customers and making +everything possible out of the people whom they might be helping to +slaughter the very next day, a couple of the tribes brought in grain, +fodder, and other necessaries largely. + +So the loss incurred by the burning of the store was soon made up, and +the fort was better provisioned than ever, even to being prepared to +stand the stern winter when it should leave the hills and descend to the +valleys and plains. + +No despatches had reached the fort for some time past; but the last, in +answer to the Colonel's report of his having relieved the fort, where +all was well, and that he had no doubt of being able to hold it as long +as was necessary, bade him go on holding it at any cost, and wait for +further orders. But if he found reinforcements necessary to give the +tribes a severe lesson, he was to communicate with the station in the +Ghil Valley, whence a Ghoorkha regiment would be immediately despatched +to his help. + +A little council of war was held, in which Colonel Wrayford managed to +take part; and, after due consideration, it was decided that the help +was not required, for the unanimous opinion was that the Ghittah force +could hold its own, and that they did not need any regiment to come in +and carry off part of the laurels they wished to keep for themselves. + +Doctor Morton had probably been the busiest man at the station; for, +after the repulse of the night attack, every hospital-bed had been +occupied, and an additional ward provided; but he had hardly a loss, and +he went about, as Gedge said, "looking as proud as a two-tailed peacock +in a 'logical garden." + +Certainly he chuckled and rubbed his hands a great deal over his +patients; and one evening at the mess dinner, when the topic had arisen +of the number of men he had sent back to duty cured, and all were +rejoicing in the fact, that Bracy--looking thin and careworn, but now +wonderfully well--was back in his place, the Doctor, who was pleased and +flattered, became exceedingly confidential, and talked more freely than +was his wont. + +"There, dear boys," he said: "I won't be a sham. I've worked hard among +my cripples, of course, and I'm proud of what I've done. If you want an +example of the powers of surgery, there you are--look at Bracy. He's a +better man than ever now. Look at his condition--hard as a nail. Got +rid of all that superfluous fat." + +"Here, gently, Doctor," cried Bracy, flushing. "What superfluous fat?" + +"All that you got rid of, sir." + +"Why, I've always been thin." + +"You leave me to judge best what you have always been, sir. I know. +Come, you'll own that you're well as ever now?" + +"Certainly." + +"Be satisfied, then. Well, as I was saying, my dear boys, I'll be quite +open with you all. I've been wonderfully successful with all my cases-- +have I not?" + +"Wonderfully," came in a chorus. + +"And frightfully modest," whispered Drummond. + +"Eh! what is that, Mr Drummond?" cried the Doctor. "I heard what you +said. Don't you offend me, for you may come under my care some day. +Now, then, all of you--wonderfully successful. Yes, Mr Drummond, and +modest too, as you'll own if you'll let me finish my remarks before you +stick yourself up as a judge. For I'm going to let the cat out of the +bag." + +"Let's have her, Doctor," cried the younger men merrily. + +"Here she is, then," said the Doctor. "My colleague. She has done ten +times as much for the wounded as I have." + +"He means Mrs Gee," said Bracy quietly. "Well, she is a splendid +nurse." + +"Ha! what a woman!" said the Colonel. "She is quite well now, Doctor-- +is she not?" + +"Always is," said the Doctor. "Absolutely perfect." + +"I don't understand you, Doctor. The poor woman suffered a great deal +in her daring defence of her patients." + +"Hah! we're playing at cross purposes," said the Doctor importantly. +"You're talking about Mrs Gee." + +"Of course. Weren't you?" + +"Pish! Poo! Bah! No. I meant my great help and patroness Dame +Nature." + +"Oh!" ran round the table, in disappointed tones. + +"Yes, gentlemen," repeated the Doctor; "Dame Nature. She has set all my +wounded right again, and put it to my credit. Why, if the poor fellows +had been in stuffy barracks down in the hot plains they'd have died like +flies. But up here, in this wonderfully pure mountain air, all I have +to do is to see that the wounds are carefully bandaged, and cuts and +bullet-holes grow up and together again in no time. As for the +hill-men, their surgeon seems to be the next man, who operates with a +bit of rag." + +"And kills or cures at once," said Roberts, smiling. + +"Exactly," said the Doctor good-humouredly; "but really it's wonderful +how Nature does nearly all the work. Well, any news, Colonel?" + +"About the enemy?" + +"Yes; you've been doing nothing lately, and my last bed was vacated +to-day." + +"I am very sorry that you should be in so low a condition, Doctor," said +the Colonel coldly; "but you must understand that I shall do my best to +keep you so." + +"Why, of course," cried the Doctor. "You don't suppose I want to have +the poor fellows cut or shot down to keep me busy--do you?" + +"You spoke as if you did?" + +"Then I spoke clumsily," cried the Doctor. "But tell me--the Dwats are +collecting again--are they not?" + +"Yes; they mean to give us no rest." + +"So much the better for the men. Keep 'em active. You boys had any +sport to-day?" + +"Yes; we got six mountain sheep," said Roberts. + +"Safe into camp?" said the Doctor eagerly. + +"Oh yes. It was hard work, though; for three of them fell right down +into one of the deepest gorges from the snow-slope on which we shot +them--splendid shots Drummond made after our stalk, he killed with right +and left barrels. My one dropped at the first shot, but sprang up and +was going off again till my second barrel stopped him." + +"Had an awful job to get them out of the gorge and home; but the hunters +fetched them out, and we got all safe into quarters." + +"Ha!" cried the Doctor; "I'm glad of that. Splendid gamy meat, that +mountain mutton. Glorious stuff for convalescents. It gives me the +heartache when I hear of you leaving lost ones to the wolves and +vultures." + +"I quite agree with the Doctor about the quality of the mutton," said +the Colonel gravely; "but I'm getting anxious about these +shooting-trips, gentlemen. Your guides belong to one or other of the +tribes." + +"Yes, I suppose they do, sir," said Roberts carelessly. + +"Well, what is to prevent them from leading you some day into a trap, +and, instead of the news coming into mess of there being an extra supply +for the larder, I hear that I am minus two or three of my best +officers?" + +"I don't know about best officers, sir," said Roberts, laughing; "but I +don't think there is anything to fear. These hill-shikarees are very +genuine fellows, and their intense love of the sport will keep them +honest and true to us. You cannot think how proud they are of leading +us to the quarry if we are successful." + +"I grant all that," said the Colonel, "knowing as I do what a +freemasonry there is in sport, and how clever hunters have a feeling of +fellowship for men of their own tastes, whatever their religion; but you +must not forget that the hill-tribes are completely under the thumb of +their Mullahs, and that the will of these priests is the law which they +must obey. Supposing one of these Mullahs to give them orders in the +interest of their tribe, they would lead you into an ambush for a +certainty." + +"Oh, Colonel Graves," cried Drummond, "this is spoiling the only +pleasure we have!" + +"I hope not," said the Colonel, smiling gravely. "Set it down to +interest in my officers' welfare. I only ask you to be careful--well on +your guard--and not to do anything rash." + +"Just as if it was likely that we should do anything rash," said +Drummond pettishly later on. "I'm sure I'm always as careful as can +be." + +"Always!" said Roberts, laughing, and giving Bracy a peculiar look. + +"Here, I say--what does that mean? You two are chaffing me again." + +"Oh dear, no," said Bracy. "Our consciences are smiting us for being so +reckless, and we're making up our minds to be more careful in future." + +"Yes, as the Colonel suggests," chimed in Roberts, "and take friend +Drummond o' that ilk for our example." + +"Here! Yes, you are chaffing me," cried Drummond anxiously. "I say, +old chaps, though--you don't think I am rash, do you?" + +"Rather," said Roberts. + +"Bosh with your rather! Chaff, because I'm so tall and thin. Bracy, +you're not half such a boy as the Captain. You don't think I'm wild and +harum-scarum, do you--regularly rash?" + +"Well, to speak frankly,"--began Bracy. + +"Of course I want you to be frank," cried Drummond hastily. "That's why +I like you chaps." + +"Well, then, my dear boy," said Bracy, "I do think you are about the +most rash fellow I ever met." + +"Oh!" cried Drummond, with a look of distrust. + +"You do things that no thoughtful fellow would ever think of doing." + +"I? Come now; when?" + +"Over those sheep, then, to-day. I felt quite sick to see you walk +along that shelf of snow, when the slightest slip would have sent you +down headlong a thousand feet on to the jagged rocks below." + +"Yes, it was horrible," said Roberts. + +Drummond exploded into a tremendous burst of laughter, and sat at last +wiping his eyes. + +"Oh, I say, come. That is good. I like that. Dangerous--made one of +you feel sick and the other think it was horrible!" + +"Well, it's the truth," said Bracy. + +"And you both came along it afterwards, and we got that magnificent +sport." + +"I came along it after you had set the example," said Bracy quietly. + +"But you are a couple of years older than I am, and ought to know +better." + +"I was not going to show the white feather after what you had done." + +"Same here," said Roberts sharply. + +"Oh, that was it--eh? I was a boy to you, and you wouldn't let me think +you daren't." + +"Something of that kind," said Bracy. + +"Humph!" said Drummond thoughtfully. "I suppose it was dangerous." + +"Of course it was," replied Bracy. "You saw that the guide wouldn't +venture." + +"Yes; but that made me determined to do it. We can't afford to let +those chaps think we're afraid to go anywhere. Come now--didn't you two +think something of that kind too?" + +"Probably," said Bracy. + +"But it didn't seem dangerous when I was doing it," cried Drummond. "I +never thought about toppling down, only about getting right across and +after those moufflons." + +"Same here," said Roberts. + +"Well, I did look down once and think of what might happen," said Bracy. + +"Ah, that's where you were wrong. Never do that, lad. Keep perfectly +cool, and you can get almost anywhere up yonder in the snow. I've got +to be quite a climber since I've been here." + +"Well, I gave myself the credit of being pretty good on ice and snow +to-day," said Bracy, smiling. "I mean pretty well for a cripple. I +wish I had done as well over the shooting. That was a miserable show of +mine. Thanks for not exposing me at the mess." + +"Rubbish!" said Drummond. "Who's going to tell tales out of school? I +say, though, that ice-climbing in the mountains is splendid--isn't it? +The more one does the easier it seems. It feels quite cool and +comfortable." + +"Which one can't help feeling on the ice," said Bracy, laughing. "But +seriously, we are getting pretty good at it up yonder in the snow." + +"Regular climbers," said Drummond; "and I vote that we do as much of it +as we can while our shoes are good. There, don't look at a fellow like +that--your shoes, then, that you gave me. But I didn't mean shoes +literally. I mean before the old man puts a stop to our hunting and +climbing." + +"He soon will, you may depend upon that," said Roberts. "He's getting +nervous about us all." + +"Because we are such splendid officers," put in Bracy merrily. + +"Well, we are what he has; and, judging from the way we are shut in and +left by the authorities, he is not likely to get a fresh supply if he +loses us." + +"What about the messengers he has sent, Bracy? Think they get through +with the despatches? I feel sure they do not. Either they are killed +or so scared by the dangers they run that they destroy their despatches +and dare not show their faces again." + +"Well, I hope that's not the case," said Bracy. "I don't want to give +the poor fellows the credit of being treacherous." + +"Like enough it is that, treacherous as we deem it; but they are so much +accustomed to the tricks and cunning amongst which they have been +brought up that they look upon such a thing as being very venial--a kind +of cleverness by which we, their conquerors are bested." + +"Here, I say, don't get into a dissertation upon the moral character of +the natives," cried Drummond, "because there is no end to that. Here, I +say--" + +"Say away," said the others. + +"I've been thinking about what old Graves said as to the shikarees +selling us to the enemy. They won't." + +"I hope not," said Bracy, laying his hand upon his chest. + +"Hullo! What's the matter? Wound hurt?" + +"Gives me a stab like that sometimes when the weather is going to +change. We shall have rain, I think." + +"Ha! and that means snow higher up. Hoo-roar! as the lads say. A nice +light coating of fresh snow, and every bear footprint showing clearly. +We mustn't miss one. Bear ham is good, and then there are the skins. +We shall want 'em in the winter for warm rugs." + +"You mean to stay the winter, then?" said Bracy, laughing. + +"We shall have to; see if we don't." + +"We shall get no bearskins," said Roberts. "The Colonel will stop our +going on account of his uneasiness. I heard him say that we should be +running upon some prowling body of the enemy one of these times, and +never be heard of any more." + +"He doesn't know what he's talking about. Just as if it were likely. +They sneak along in the lowest valleys; they never go up among the +snowfields. No one does but the hunters. It's the same as it was in +Switzerland; you never caught the people climbing the mountains till the +English taught them, and bribed them to come as carriers. They'd never +have made the ascent of any of their mountains. I tell you that in our +shooting-trips up yonder we're as safe as we are here. Safer, for the +beggars keep away from there, while here they're lying up in every hole +and corner all around." + +"He's about right," said Roberts thoughtfully; "and, now you're strong +enough again, I don't like to lose our trips. We don't get much +pleasure up here. Let's make our hay while the sun shines." + +"Even if it is in the snow," said Bracy. "Very well; I'm glad enough to +go, for the mountain air seems to send fresh vigour through me every +time I climb." + +The result of this was that whenever the way up into the mountains was +clear, and the Dwats who acted as guides to the different hills came in +with news, the young officers had their excursions, and generally +returned with their men pretty well laden, while the three friends +became masters of the district among the heights in a way that suggested +years of active residence in that silver land. + +There were plenty of alarms, plenty of little encounters with the +parties who were always on the lookout to harass the occupants of the +fort; but a little extra work for the Doctor and excitement for the men, +to keep off the stagnation which threatened them, was all that ensued. + +In the interim the Colonel sent off five more messengers with +despatches, in the hope that they would get through the enemy and bring +back letters; but they were seen no more; and the Colonel's face grew +more serious day by day. + +"Thinks the tribes mean to starve us out," said Roberts one evening when +the Colonel went away from the table looking more depressed and anxious +than usual. + +"And they won't," said Drummond. "Why, there are mountain sheep enough +up yonder to keep us for years." + +"They get more difficult to shoot, though," said Bracy. + +"Pooh! not they. A few close by are a bit shy; but, look here, when we +get right up on the shoulder of that left-hand peak and look north what +do we see?" + +"Mountains," replied Bracy. + +"And when we were right up on that farthest peak last week, and looked +north, what did we see then?" + +"More mountains." + +"That's it; and you might go on and on for a month, and it would be the +same--more mountains." + +Bracy nodded and looked thoughtful. + +"Yes," he said at last; "the world's a long way from being played out +yet. We can see hundreds of peaks, and the soft blue valleys between +them, which I suppose have never been traversed by man." + +"That's right enough, and that's where the wild sheep and goats are just +as they always have been, perfectly undisturbed. Thousands--perhaps +millions, without counting the goats and yaks, which look as if they +were a vain brood of beast who try to grow tails like a horse." + +"I suppose you're correct, Drummond," said Bracy. + +"Of course I am; and if we shoot down all the sheep near at hand one +month, more will come down from the north next month." + +"Just the same as when you catch a big trout out of a hole at home, +another is sure to come within a day or two to take his empty house." + +"Why, they do up here, and the little seer in the river too," cried +Drummond. "I say, I wish this was a bigger and deeper stream, so that +it held the big forty and fifty pound fish." + +"Quite deep and swift enough for us," said Bracy merrily. + +"Ah, yes," said Drummond slowly; "I haven't forgotten our going for that +nice long walk." + +"No," said Roberts; "that was a close shave for all of us. How many +more times are we going to run the gauntlet and not get hit?" + +"Hundreds, I hope," replied Drummond; and Bracy, who was very quiet, +thought, by no means for the first time, of his escapes, and of how it +would be at home if a letter reached them some day reporting that one of +the lieutenants had been checked once for all in his career. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +PERIL IN A POSHTIN. + +Another fortnight passed, during which the officers had a day's shooting +as often as they could be spared; and, though the Colonel's face grew +more and more serious he made no further objection to these excursions +so long as they were sensibly carried out, for he had realised how +thoroughly the enemy avoided the higher portions of the mountains, the +snow-line being rarely crossed; and when they did break through their +rule, it was only in crossing from one valley to another, and it was +necessitated by the pass which linked the two being more than usually +high. + +It was a bright, sunny morning, and glasses had been busy in the fort, +for certain well-known signs suggested that the day would not pass +without their hearing from the enemy, of whom glances were obtained, +first in one well-known locality, then in another, which they seemed to +affect as a matter of course, showing very little disposition to break +out of their regular routine, while one tribe followed in the steps of +another so closely that it was generally possible to prognosticate where +the attack would be made, and make arrangements to foil it. + +The officers were chatting together; and in the group where Drummond +stood with his friends he started a good grumbling discourse, something +after this fashion: + +"It's always the case. So sure as I overlook my tackle, and have a good +clean up of the rifles ready for a long day amongst the muttons, some of +these beggars come and plant themselves just in the way we mean to go." + +"Mr Bracy," said an orderly, coming up and saluting, "the Colonel +wishes to see you." + +"Ha, ha!" laughed Drummond; "it's to tell you that we are not to attempt +a shoot to-day. Tell him, Bracy, that we had given it up." + +Bracy nodded, and went straight to the Colonel's room, to find him +busily writing. + +He just glanced up and nodded. + +"Sit down, Bracy," he said, and he went on writing, his table being a +couple of bullock-trunks, with a scarlet blanket by way of cover. + +"Enemy are out pretty strong this morning." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Ha! yes." + +There was a pause, filled up by a good deal of scratching of the pen, +before the stern-looking officer began again. + +"You are quite strong now, Bracy?" he said at last, without looking up. + +"Never felt better in my life, sir." + +"I said strong, Bracy." + +"Nor stronger, sir." + +"That's right," said the Colonel, reading over his despatch and crossing +i's and dotting i's here and there. + +"Wound trouble you much still?" + +"Gives me a sharp sting, sir, at times, back and front; but I always +find that it is when we are going to have a change of weather." + +The Colonel paid no heed, and Bracy added: + +"I dare say it will soon pass off, though." + +"It will not," said the Colonel quietly, and to the young man's dismay. +"You will feel it more or less all your life. Yes," he added, looking +up and smiling, "a twinge to remind you that you were once a brave +officer of the Queen." + +Bracy coughed, for he felt a little husky, and as if he were standing +near a fire. + +"Now, Bracy, business. I cannot go on sending despatch after despatch, +none of which reach their destination. Either going or coming, my +messengers have come to a bad end or been unfaithful." + +Bracy made no reply, for none was expected; and the Colonel now looked +up, and, with his hands resting upon the table, gazed full in the young +man's eyes. + +"I want a messenger whom I can trust," he said, "a man who will +undertake the task of delivering my despatch as a duty to his country. +There are plenty of good, trusty lads in the regiment. Whom would you +select--the best you know?" + +Bracy was silent for a few moments before speaking. + +"I should be sorry to see him go upon so dangerous a mission, sir; but +if I had to select a lad in whom I should have perfect confidence, I +should choose Private Gedge." + +"A very good selection, Bracy; but I want an officer." + +The young man stalled, and drew his breath hard. + +"There is Andrews, or Elder, or Morrison," continued the Colonel, "or +Drummond, of Wrayford's; but he is too volatile. Roberts would be a +splendid fellow for the task, for, like Drummond, he is strong amongst +ice and snow, and my messenger will have to take to the snow nearly all +the way to save being stopped." + +"A wise plan, sir," said Bracy eagerly; "one that should succeed." + +"I think it will; but my messenger will be face to face with death from +the hour he starts, doubly facing it--from nature as well as man. But I +cannot spare Roberts. Do you understand me?" + +"Yes, sir; you wish me to volunteer." + +"Yes, Bracy," said the Colonel, holding out his hand, which Bracy caught +in both his. "God bless and protect you, my dear boy! I do." + +"Yes, sir," said the young man firmly. "I'll go." + +"Not alone. Take that man Gedge with you; he has had little to do +amongst the snow, but--" + +"Yes, sir; he'll learn anything. When am I to start?" + +"As soon as you can be ready. Then, I will clear the way for you by +making a feint, so that you can make at once for the upper ground." + +"Not by the mountains above the Gor Pass, sir?" + +"No; the other direction entirely. You are to make for the Ghil Valley, +and bring back the Ghoorkas, Bracy. It is time that we took the +offensive; the enemy must be driven back before the autumn closes in. +No; you are going upon an extremely dangerous mission, Bracy; I tell you +so frankly. I will be quite open with you. I am sending you upon this +horribly risky journey; but it is as a soldier to risk your life to save +ours." + +"To save yours, sir?" said Bracy wonderingly. + +"Surely the fort is quite safe if you act on the defensive." + +"It would be, my dear boy, if we had an ample supply of ammunition." + +Bracy started, and gazed wide-eyed at his Colonel, who had leaned across +the table and said these last words almost in a whisper. + +"I am speaking quite openly to you, Bracy--telling you what must be a +secret between us two; and I tell you because it is just to one sent +upon such a perilous enterprise that he should feel satisfied as to the +urgency of the need." + +Bracy made a gesture, but the Colonel checked him. + +"Yes; I know what you would say," he continued: "that dangerous or no, +you would do your duty. I know you would. I have perfect faith in my +officers; but this is a matter of conscience on my side. Bracy, I find +that our ammunition will not last a month. Once that is gone, we are no +longer the superiors of the enemy. The bayonet is a splendid weapon; +but these hill-tribes are magnificent swordsmen, and when, many times +outnumbering us as they do, they come on to a hand-to-hand fight, adding +their reckless religious fervour to their natural bravery, they must +master us in the end; and that means taking the fort, and--you know what +would follow." + +Bracy bowed his head; he could not speak. + +"An indiscriminate massacres a horrible death to every man and woman in +the place." + +"Horrible, sir," cried Bracy excitedly. "Oh, Colonel Graves, surely +things are not so bad as you think!" + +The Colonel smiled. + +"You ought to know me by this time, Bracy," he said quietly. "I don't +think I am a man likely to raise bugbears." + +"No, no, sir! I beg your pardon." + +"That will do," said the Colonel quietly. "When you leave me, be +prepared to start. You must not confide in your nearest friend; go +about your work cheerfully, and as if only to bear a despatch, but +conscious the while that our lives here depend upon your success. You +understand?" + +"Yes," said Bracy gravely, "I understand; and if I do not bring the +help, sir, it is because--" + +"You have died trying to do your duty to your friends. I know. There, +we need no more words, Bracy. Look here." + +He took the despatch from the table and tore it up into bits. + +"Your appearance before the Ghoorka Colonel will be sufficient, and you +will have no alarming announcement upon you if you are taken prisoner. +Certainly it would be by people similar to those who are besieging us; +but one never knows what soldiers of fortune may be among them, ready to +be summoned by a chief to interpret the message." + +"I understand, sir." + +"Once you are well on the road you must make your companion fully +understand the importance of the mission, so that if you go down there +may still be the chance left to us of this man carrying on the news of +our urgent need." + +Bracy nodded shortly and drew a deep breath, waiting for the Colonel to +speak again. + +"As to preparations," said Colonel Graves at last, "go as you are; but +you will each need a _poshtin_ [long sheepskin coat] to cover your +Kharkee uniforms, for concealment and warmth. You will be a great deal +among the snow and rocks, and nothing can be less likely to attract +attention. You will take sword, revolver, rifle, and bayonet. See that +Gedge carries the same weapons. In addition, take as much simple +provisions and ammunition as you can carry." + +"And rob you all at such a time of need, sir?" + +"The amount you two can carry away in cartridges will not be missed if +it comes to the worst, Bracy," said the Colonel, smiling. "Once more, +are you quite satisfied that you have selected the right lad?" + +"A man who will carry his wounded officer, with the enemy firing down at +him from both sides of a rocky defile, cannot be bettered, sir," said +the young officer quietly. + +"Right, Bracy," cried the Colonel. "He is the man. Ha! here comes +Roberts to announce the advance of the enemy. I could hear the +war-cries.--Yes, Roberts--the rascals worrying us again?" + +"Yes, sir; coming down the right gully in strong numbers. Will you come +and look?" + +The Colonel picked up his glass and held out his hand. + +"I shall lead the men to-day, Bracy," he said, "for a change. Major +Graham will be in command here. I shall tell him of your mission. +Within an hour I shall depend upon you making your start." + +"Within an hour, sir," said Bracy, as Roberts looked on in wonder. + +"I have been thinking that a mule would help your journey at the first. +What do you think?" + +"I think not, sir," said Bracy quietly. "We should be better free to +climb anywhere. A baggage animal would tie us down to tracks." + +"Quite right. Go as we arranged.--Roberts," he continued, turning to +the Captain, "Bracy is going to take a despatch for me. He starts +directly." + +"Directly, sir?" said Roberts, looking aghast. + +"Yes; he has his instructions. You can have half-an-hour with him +before he starts; but you will ask no questions, only help him in any +way you can to start without delay, while I am keeping the enemy well +employed at this end of the valley." + +"Yes, sir." + +"After Bracy has started you can bring your company along the upper +track to act as a reserve, and cover us if it is necessary when we +retire. That will do." + +The two officers left the Colonel's quarters and hurried out. + +"My dear boy," cried Roberts excitedly, "this is horribly sudden. Had +you any idea of it before this morning?" + +"Not the slightest," said Bracy gravely. + +"Glad of it, for I should have been hurt if you had not told me." + +"But you will not be hurt now? You heard what Graves said." + +"I was not to question you? Yes. Still, you have some confidences to +make?" + +"Not one, old fellow." + +"But surely--it is such a risky thing. Oh! it is preposterous; he ought +not to have sent you. It is like sending a good man and true to his +death." + +"The Colonel thinks it best, and I agree with him. As to the risk--is +it not risk enough to stay?" + +"But Bracy, old fellow, if--" + +"If," said the young man calmly. "Soldiers should not talk to one +another about the `if.' Let that be." + +"Tell me this, though: are you satisfied to go?" + +"Quite. Help me to get off--" + +"I will; but--" + +"By being silent, and then putting everything in one good grip of the +hand." + +"I see," he said, accompanying Bracy to his quarters. "Now, what can I +do?" + +"Send for Gedge." + +"What for? Surely you have not chosen him for your companion?" + +"I have. The Colonel said he could not spare you." + +"Ha! That's better, old fellow. I was beginning to feel horribly set +aside." + +"I was to have one of the men for my companion. Can you suggest a +better?" + +"No," said Roberts, and he hurried out to seek the lad, who was standing +in line with his fellows of the company, looking gloomy and +discontented, for the sally-party to follow the Colonel, who was to lead +them himself, did not include "Roberts's lot," as they were termed. + +"Fall out, Private Gedge," said Roberts sharply. + +"Didn't hear what I said, did he?" muttered the lad, with an anxious +look, for he had been growling at what he called the favouritism served +out to some of the companies in choosing them to go out and have the +first chance of being shot; and this, he told himself, was mutinous. + +But he pulled himself together and stood as erect as a ramrod, waiting +for the next order, which came directly: + +"Right face; march!" + +And he marched after his Captain, with heart beating heavily, and then +sinking deeper and deeper, as he found himself led to the officers' +quarters. + +"It's court-martial for a threep'ny-bit," he muttered. "Next thing 'll +be `Disarm!' and all because I wanted to go and fight. Oh! they are +jolly 'ard on us chaps in the ranks." + +"Come in, my lad," said Roberts, stooping to enter the low door, and +Gedge's heart went down to its lowest point as he found himself face to +face with Bracy. + +"Them two to drop on me!" he thought. "Wouldn't ha' keared if it had +been the Major." + +The next moment poor Gedge's heavily plumping heart jumped, as he +afterwards expressed it from his boots right up to his throat. + +"Gedge," said Bracy coldly and quietly, "I am going on a very dangerous +mission." + +"Oh, sir, please don't go without me!" + +"I have sent for you to say that I have selected you for my companion." + +"Hoo--beg pardon, sir," cried the lad, turning scarlet. + +"No cheering, no nonsense, no boy's tricks, my lad. This is desperate +men's work. I have chosen you to go with me on a journey of many days, +during which we shall suffer terrible hardships." + +"That's right, sir; used to it ever since I was--" + +"Silence, man!" said Bracy sternly. "We shall go with our lives in our +hands, and probably never get to our journey's end; but we shall have to +try. Now then, if you feel the slightest qualm, speak out honestly, and +I will choose some one else." + +"Don't do that, sir, please; but I will speak out honest. I must, when +you axes me to." + +"Ah!" cried Bracy. + +"I'm strong as a horse again, sir; but sometimes I do get a sorter dig +in the back, just as if a red-hot iron rod were touching up my wound +when the bit o' iron--" + +"No, no, man," cried Bracy, laughing. "I mean qualm of dread, or +shrinking about running the risk." + +"Oh, that, sir? Not me. Ain't I just as likely to be shot if I stop +quiet here? They're allus trying to do it. I gets more sniping than +any chap in the company." + +"Then you will go with me?" + +"I just will, sir. Anywheres." + +"Thank you, Gedge. I'll say no more, for I know that you will stick to +me like a man." + +"Ha!" ejaculated Gedge, exhaling an enormous amount of pent-up emotion, +and drawing his arm across his thickly perspiring brow, while a +pleasant, contented smile lit up his plain features, as he drew himself +up more stiffly to attention, waiting for orders. + +"Well done, Gedge!" said Roberts softly.--"You've picked the right lad, +Bracy." + +Gedge did not move a muscle, but stood as upright as the rifle at his +side, and looking as inanimate, but quite as dangerous, while his two +officers said a few words in a low tone. The next moment Roberts went +out of the room, and Bracy turned to the lad. + +"We have to carry everything ourselves, and we must take all we can +without overloading, my lad, for we shall have to climb a great deal +amongst the snow. Now, mind this: we have just three-quarters of an +hour for preparation. Then we must pass out of the gate." + +Gedge did not move, but stood as if carved out of a block of hardened +putty by the hand of an artistic drill-sergeant; listening, though, with +his ears, which looked preternaturally large from the closeness of the +regimental barber's efforts, and seeming to gape. Then he left his +rifle in a corner, and was off. + +The result was that, with five minutes to spare, officer and man, +strangely transformed by their thick, woolly overcoats, stood ready in +that room. Haversacks of provisions hung from their broad leather +bands; revolvers balanced dagger-bay'nets from their belts; as much +ammunition as they could carry was in their pockets, and necessary odds +and ends were bestowed in satchels. + +"All ready?" said Roberts at last. + +"All ready. Nothing forgotten that I can think of." + +"Then you will start at once. I have warned the men that you are to be +allowed to slip out quietly, or they would have cheered you." + +"Thanks," said Bracy.--"You hear that, Gedge?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You will follow me without a word." + +Gedge's face now looked as if if had been carved in oil-stone, it was so +hard, and he made no reply. But mentally he was discoursing vigorously +in his wild state of excitement, for he could judge of his own +appearance by that of his officer. + +"Just like a couple o' second-hand Robinson Crusoes out of a pantymime, +and bound for the North Pole. Talk about a lark. Oh, don't I wish my +poor old mother could see her bee-u-tiful boy!--Poor old chaps! Poor +old pardners! Won't they be waxy when they knows I'm gone! Here, +blessed if I can get, at my clean pocket-'ankychy, and I wants to shed a +purlin' tear for poor old Sergeant Gee." + +"Ready!" came to check the flow of Gedge's thoughts, and, picking up his +rifle, the fellow to that placed ready for Bracy, he stepped out into +the court, to find all the men left in the fort gathered to see them +start, for the news was every one's property now; and as they marched +towards the gates there was a low murmur, but no man stirred. + +It was different, though, with the women; though here, too, all was done +in silence. Officers' wives stepped forward to press Bracy's hands, +with the tears standing in their eyes, and many a "God-speed!" was +murmured in the ears of both. + +"But no one shakes a hand with me," said Gedge sadly to himself; and +then, "Well, I'm blessed!" + +For Sergeant Gee was on one side of him to lay a hand upon his shoulder. + +"Good-bye, Gedge," he said in his harsh, uncompromising way; "you'll +stick to your officer like a brave lad, I know." + +"Thank ye, Sergeant; and same to you," growled Gedge; and then the tears +stood in his eyes, for Mrs Gee had hold of his unoccupied hand, to +press it hard, with a grip, in fact, like a man's. + +"Here," she said, taking a small, flat, black packet from her breast, +and Gedge saw that it was envelope-shaped, but home-made in oil-skin, +and instead of being adhesive; there was a neat button and buttonhole. +"Put that in your breast-pocket, my boy," she said, "and never part with +it. Bandages, oiled silk, needles and thread, and a pair o' scissors. +And mind this: plug a bullet-hole directly; and whatever you do, clean +water, and lots of it, for all wounds." + +"Thank ye, missus." + +"For you and Mr Bracy too. There, Bill Gedge, you're a brave lad, and +I'll kiss you for your mother's sake, in case you don't come back; and +if ever I return to England I'll write and tell the Queen how her brave +boys are always ready to do or die, though I know she won't get my +letter if I do." + +The men nearly disobeyed orders when Mrs Gee took hold of Gedge by his +woolly _poshtin_ and gave him a sounding kiss first on one cheek and +then on the other, but they forbore; and the brave lad's eyes very +nearly brimmed over the next moment, for, leaving Bracy, now on his way +to the gate, the officers' ladies crowded round Gedge and shook hands, +two dying to thrust upon him packages of what would have been luxuries +to them in nights to come; but he was obliged to shake his head, for he +was already laden to the fullest extent. + +"Now, Gedge!" came from the gate, and the next minute it had been opened +and closed after two bulky, stooping figures, who, with rifles at the +trail, started off in Indian file along the track by the river-side, +making for the upper portion of the valley, but without uttering a word. + +Their ears were listening, though, to the sounds of firing in the +distance, the reports of many pieces coming reverberating out of the +chasm-like rift leading south. Their eyes, too, were as much upon the +alert as those of some timid animal whose life depends upon its +watchfulness from day to day, existing, as it does, in the midst of +numberless enemies, who look upon it as their natural prey. + +But though their rolling eyes scanned every spot familiar, from long +experience, as the lurking-place; of an enemy, there was not a glimpse +of a white coat nor the gleam of a polished weapon to be seen. At the +same time, careful watch was kept upon the track they traversed every +time it opened out sufficiently for a forward glance of any extent, and +the heavy, matter-of-fact, hill-country-looking pair had nearly reached +a spot from whence a good view of the fort could be obtained before a +word was spoken. + +Then the silence was broken by Bracy, who said abruptly: + +"Don't look back, my lad." + +"No, sir," came promptly from the front. + +"Our lookout is forward from this hour till the time we bring back help +to those we leave behind." + +Gedge was silent, and kept on the watch, as, with rounded shoulders and +camelled back, he planted his puttee-bandaged legs in the safest parts +of the rugged track. + +"Well, don't you want to know where we're going?" + +"Yus, sir; 'orrid." + +"Over the mountains to bring back a Ghoorka regiment, my lad." + +"Right, sir." + +"And by the hardest way we can find." + +"Something like them ways over the snow, like you goes for the bears and +sheep, sir?" + +"Yes: and harder ways still, Gedge: for to meet any of the people may +mean--" + +Bracy paused, and Gedge waited for him to end his sentence. But he +waited in vain, till he was tired, and then finished it to himself, and +in the way he liked best. + +"May mean," he said, and then paused--"having to put bullets through +some o' these savage savages, for I'm blest if I'm going to let 'em have +the first shot at us. Yes," he added, "savages; that's what's about +their size. I never see such beasts. Yes, that's what they are--wild +beasts. I don't call such things men. The best of it is, they thinks +they're so precious religious, and sticks theirselves up to pray every +morning and every night, I'm blest!--praying!--and often as not with +their knives and swords! Ugh! and phew! My word! it's warm walking in +these here coats. Wish I hadn't got mine." + +Is thought electric, or magnetic, or telepathic, or scientific, some way +or another, that so often it is communicated from one person to another +free of cost, and without a form, or boy to leave it, and wait for an +answer? Certainly it was in that, clear mountain air, which blew softly +among the cedars in the valley, coming off the clear ice and dazzling +snow from one side, getting warmed in hot sunshine, and then rising up +the mighty slopes on the other side, to grow from pure transparency, in +its vast distance and extent, to be of a wonderfully delicious +amethystine blue. + +Anyhow, Gedge had no sooner given himself his opinions about the heat +engendered by walking in a thick, sheepskin coat than Bracy said: + +"Find the _poshtin_ hot, Gedge?" + +"'Ot ain't the word for it, sir," was the reply. "I ain't quite sure +whether it's me, or whether they didn't scrape the fat off proper when +they tanned the skin, sir; but something's running." + +"Steady down, then. It is very warm here among the cedars; but they +hide us from the enemy, my lad. As soon as we begin to climb we shall +be getting out of summer into winter; and by the time it's dark, and we +lie down to sleep, we shall think it would be pleasanter if we had two +apiece." + +"Shall us, sir? Well, you know, sir; but all this caps me. Here we +are, as you say, in summer, and we've on'y got to climb up one o' them +mountains and there we are in winter. They say it freezes there every +night." + +"Quite right, Gedge." + +"But all the snow melts away some time in the year?" + +"Never, my lad. Up there before you, where the sun shines on those +glorious peaks, it is eternal winter, only that there is so much melting +in the hottest parts of the day." + +"To make the rivers, sir?" + +"Of course!" + +"And the rain helps when they're all in the clouds up there, I suppose, +sir?" + +"Rain!" said Bracy, laughing; "there is no rain there, my lad; when the +clouds discharge their burden it is in the form of snow. But now, +silence once more. The less we talk the better till we are among the +snow, for at any moment we may be walking into a trap." + +"Like we did, sir, when you three gentlemen come and whistled us from +the side o' them falls?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, we don't want none o' that sort o' thing, sir, or we shall never +be bringing that ridgement back." + +"Right. Now you see the necessity for taking to the snow where the +hill-men rarely climb." + +"Yus, sir, going; but what about coming back?" + +"The same, or a nearer way." + +"But with a ridgement, sir?" + +"Oh yes; the Ghoorkhas will go anywhere if they are told." + +"So'll us," said Gedge to himself; and then, with a word or two at times +from behind, he trudged on and on towards the mighty snowfields, but +ever with his eyes on the lookout for the danger--keen knife, tulwar, +matchlock, ball, or spear--invisible so far, but which at any moment +might be so near. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +FIRST CHECKS. + +The last echoes of the distant firing had quite died out; the windings +of the river valley had long enough hidden away the mountainous hills +which surrounded the fort; and far below where they slowly toiled along +the faintly-marked track, worn where there was pasture by the feet of +the mountain sheep, the river rushed, torrent-like, along in a greatly +narrowed bed, whose perpendicular shrub and fern decked sides hid its +leaping and tearing waters from the travellers' gaze. At rare intervals +the river made a plunge over some mighty rock and flashed into sight, +though its position was often revealed by a cloud of spray, which rose +like steam into the sunshine, to become brilliant with an iris which, +rainbow-like, spanned the falls. + +The ascent had been gradual but marked, for, though trees were in +abundance, rising in clumps of spires, their tops were well below the +adventurers, while, where they trod, the forest was dwarfed and +scrub-like, but thick enough to greatly hinder their advance. + +Hardly a word had been spoken for hours, during which the watchfulness +observed had been painful, especially when they had crept along under +cover by three lateral valleys, familiar to both as the roads by which +the enemy had approached for their attacks, one to the east being that +made unenviable by the terrible adventure when they had received their +wounds. + +The passing of the mouths of these gorges was a crucial task, from its +being almost a certainty that part of one or the other of the tribes +would be, stationed there. But the slow approaches and all the caution +exercised, as far as Bracy could judge, were waste of energy: not an +enemy was seen, and when, twice over, rifles were brought to the ready, +and their bearers stood prepared to fire at the foe rustling along among +the low growth and tangle, it was to find, to their great relief, that +the alarm was caused in the first instance by goat-like sheep, and in +the other by a bear, which had been feasting upon the berries growing +low down the cliff towards the hidden torrent. + +The sun was long past the meridian, and, in spite, of the height, their +shut-in position made the breathless valley seem hotter than ever, while +the thorny nature of the low growth hindered them so much that at last +Bracy had hard work to force his way through a tangled mass, whose +thorny hooks clung to the _poshtin_ he was wearing, and kept on robbing +it of its wool. This brought them to a standstill, and Gedge, who had +just freed himself from similar hindrances, stepped back, with his +dagger-like bayonet in his hand, with which he delivered a few sharp +cuts, and Bracy struggled out. + +"Ha!" he said; "that's better." + +"Yus, sir; these are handier tools than the old-fashioned bay'nets; but +what we ought to have had was a couple o' those pretty, bill-hooky +blades the Ghoorkha boys use. They'd make short work of briars and +brambles and things. Toothpicks, our lads calls 'em; and the little +fellows the Toothpick Brigade.--Tired, sir?" + +"Terribly!" said Bracy. "This is awful going; but we shall be out of +the wood before many hours have passed. We might have avoided this by +striking up to the left, but I felt that it was not safe. Better be +slow and sure. Look, my lad, it is more open yonder, and seems like a +way down to the torrent. We've earned a rest, and we must have one. +Let's get down to where we can reach water, and lighten our load by +making a meal." + +Gedge's eyes sparkled, and he led on at once, reaching at the end of +some hundred paces a sharp slope, which showed traces of the moss and +ferns having been trampled down, while twigs were broken here and there, +some being left hanging, and others snapped sharp off! + +"People been along here, Gedge," said Bracy, taking suspicious notice of +the signs around. + +"No, sir, I think not," said the lad, whose keen eyes were busy. "I +should say it was only goats. Pst!" + +Gedge had been speaking in a low tone, but the "Pst!" was sharply +distinct, and had its effect. For in an instant there was a rush, and +something brown came into sight, making the adventurers present their +rifles in the full belief that they were about to be face to face with +an enemy. But the next moment the object rose up to peer over the +bushes and all around, proving to be a great brown bear, whose little, +pig-like eyes flashed and glistened as it scanned the place, looking +wonderfully human in its actions as it balanced itself upon its +hind-legs, its fore-legs hanging half raised on either side, till it +caught sight of the disturbers of its solitude, when it uttered a +growling grunt, dropped down on all-fours again, and dashed up the slope +towards the mountains. + +"Might easily have shot him, sir," said Gedge as the sounds of the +breaking twigs died out. + +"Easily," said Bracy; "but we have as much as we can carry now, and-- +Hark!" + +Gedge was already listening, for, from up in the direction taken by the +bear--which, unfortunately, was the continuation of their route--the +report of a gun rang out, followed by another and another. Then there +was a burst of exultant shouts, and the pair drew back more into +shelter. + +"They've hit him, whoever they are, sir," whispered Gedge excitedly: +"and they'll be along here direckly. Which way will you go, sir? We +can't go that." + +"Away towards the water, my lad," said Bracy, quickly. "They're coming +down to reach the fort." + +He led the way himself now, following the easier portions of the slope, +and when close to where the now narrow river came thundering down, he +plunged in amongst a chaos of creeper and fern hung rocks, down in a +hollow of which they sank into a kneeling position, crouching low and +waiting. + +"Well hidden, are we not, Gedge?" whispered Bracy. + +"Splendid, sir. Couldn't see us 'less they was close to, and if we kept +our heads down they'd take us then for sheep." + +"And fire at us." + +"They'd better not!" growled Gedge. "But, say, sir, as we're resting +mightn't we just as well have a bite?" + +"Could you eat now?" whispered Bracy. + +"Could I eat now, sir?" said the lad wonderingly. "It's couldn't I eat! +My! If you only knew what I've been feeling ever since dinner-time you +wouldn't ask that." + +"Go on, then," said Bracy, and as he listened he saw his companion take +a packet of bread and meat from his haversack and begin to munch, when +the sight of the food so woke him up to the state of his own appetite +that he opened his wallet, drew out some hastily-cut mutton and +bread-cake sandwiches, and went on eating till there was the sound of +voices close at hand, followed by the rustling of leaf and twig, with +the dull tramp of soft feet telling that a large body of men were +passing in Indian file, talking loudly; but the hidden pair were well +concealed and satisfied that they were perfectly safe, till all at once +a voice was raised, and they heard the word "Water" uttered in the Dwat +dialect. + +There was an eager buzz of voices at this, and instead of continuing +their course the party clustered together, and, to Bracy's horror, began +to descend the sharp slope as if coming right upon their hiding-place, +but turning off by one of the bigger rocks, and rapidly crushing through +the thin shrubs and ferns so close that Bracy, as he lay there, could +have touched one man by stretching out the barrel of his rifle. + +For the next ten minutes the position was agonising, the men coming and +going, and even the noise they made in drinking just below was plainly +heard; while Bracy, as he cowered down among the ferns, felt that it was +impossible for them to escape the observation of the keen-eyed +mountaineers. + +But still the discovery was deferred; and, as the drinking went on, a +gleam or two of hope illumined the position, but only to be damped +again, and Bracy held his revolver ready, for there was a sudden +movement on the part of one of the men, whose sword and shield seemed to +be of a superior type, like his cotton clothes and the turban he wore. + +It was as if this man had just caught sight of them, and, his curiosity +being excited, he came straight on, drawing his keen tulwar and striking +with if to right and left so as to clear the way towards the rocks, his +eyes seeming to be fixed upon those of Bracy, who slightly raised the +muzzle of his revolver, his finger resting upon the trigger. + +Probably never was man nearer to his death, for the slightest additional +pressure of the young officer's finger would have sent a bullet crashing +through the man's breast, as he came on till almost within touch, when +he suddenly turned round, and seated himself upon a mossy rock just in +front, his broad back, in its loose while cotton garb, effectually +hiding the fugitives from the men going up and down. + +Bracy felt as if he would have given anything to have been able to utter +a low "Hah!" of relief, as he breathed long and heavily, instead of +crouching there nearly suffocated by holding it back; for he knew that +the slightest movement, the faintest sound, must result in the man, +evidently the leader, turning sharply, sword in hand, to discover the +pair lying so close. + +"I should have a bullet through him 'fore he could lift his sword," said +Gedge to himself; "but what's the good o' that? Twenty or thirty would +be upon us before we could get away, and a nice condition we're in for +that! Why, I feel like a fat sheep at Christmas. Couldn't run if I +wanted to, and I don't, 'less he runs fust, and he won't, I know. Know +him too well." + +Bracy's thoughts were many as he crouched there. He wanted to feel +decisive; but the weary walk, heavily-laden as he was, had dulled his +brain a little, and he could not come to a conclusion as to whether it +would not be best to take the initiative and attack at once, trusting to +their sudden appearance and the shots they could be creating a panic; +for it was not likely that the enemy would imagine such an attack would +be made unless by a force at least equal to their own. + +The idea was tempting; but, on the other hand, it seemed madness to make +so wild a venture; and he was giving it up, when they were both startled +by half-a-dozen of the party who were going and coming stopping short +just in front of their leader, to begin taking out some blackish-looking +cakes. Then others beginning to join them, they looked round, and a +couple of the party pointed to the rocks behind which Bracy and Gedge +were hidden. + +That was fatal, and from the movement which followed it was evident that +they were about to make this their resting-place. + +At the same moment Gedge's hand stole forward and touched his leader's +arm, when Bracy softly turned his head, to see his follower holding his +revolver in his right hand, signing as if asking should he use it. + +Bracy did not delay his silent reply, for, quick as lightning, he had +realised that in another few moments they would be forced to fight in +defence, and that it was far better to take the initiative and make the +enemy believe that they had fallen into an ambuscade. He gave a short +nod, raised his own revolver, glanced at Gedge to see that he was ready, +and then roared at the top of his voice: + +"Fire!" + +Gedge's shot followed his sharply, and then in rapid succession they +fired again and again till a dozen bullets had gone hurtling over their +sheltering rock amongst the trees, and then, springing up, they fixed +bayonets with a rattle, and stood ready to fire again; but not an enemy +was visible to charge or be shot down. + +For at the word "Fire!" the chief had made a sudden bound from the +stone, upon which he had sat, and rushed at his men, who turned and fled +at full speed away in the direction from which our adventurers had come: +and for the next few minutes Bracy and Gedge stood listening as they +recharged their revolvers, hearing the distant crackling and rustling of +leaf and twig till all was still. + +"Think they'll rally, Gedge?" said Bracy at last. + +"Not them, sir: it was too much of a scare, and so sudden. It's hard +work to start these beggars running, but once you do get 'em on the move +it's twice as hard to stop 'em." + +"You are right," said Bracy quietly. + +"They'll go on till they come upon the next lot o' their pardners, and +then they'll tell 'em they were attacked by two whole ridgements, and +show their wounds, if they've got any. Don't think I hit one, sir. Did +you?" + +"I did not even try to," said Bracy. "I only thought of firing as +quickly as I could. Now, then, a drink of water apiece, and forward. +We can't stop to rest, but must eat as we go." + +They hurried down in turn to where the tribes-men had refreshed +themselves, each watching while the other drank hastily, and remounted +to the track; after which, food in hand, they were about to recommence +their journey, when Gedge started. + +"What is it?" said Bracy quickly. + +"One on 'em down, sir. Didn't think we had hit any of 'em, but yonder's +one lying among the bushes." + +"Yes," said Bracy; "perfectly still. I saw and covered him while you +were drinking, and was going to see if he is dead as we went by, in case +he might be only wounded, and dangerous." + +"Pouf!" + +"What is it?" said Bracy wonderingly, for Gedge had broken into a quiet +little laugh. + +"It's the bear they shot, sir, and brought into camp with 'em. Won't +come back to fetch it--will they?" + +"We will not stop to see," said Bracy quietly. "Now, forward once +more." + +Their path took them by the dead bear, whose paws were bound together +with twigs, and a freshly-cut pole was thrust through, showing how the +trophy had been borne so far. The next minute the pair were steadily +climbing again, and finding by degrees that, though the slope increased, +the way was less cumbered with dense growth, so that the advance was +easier; while as the sun sank lower a gentle breeze sprang up to refresh +them, making Gedge stretch out and increase the pace, in spite of the +path growing more steep. + +"Don't think they're after us--do you, sir?" said the lad at last, as +they trudged on, watching the gradual ascent of a shadow on one of the +hills in front. + +"No; I think we succeeded in our scare." + +"Because it makes a lot o' difference, sir." + +"I don't understand you," said Bracy. + +"We've a lot to do to-morrow, sir; and while it's dark I s'pose you'll +bivvywack." + +"I shall keep on till it's too dark to see, my lad," said Bracy, "and +then we must sleep till it is light enough to see, and go on again. I +want to get twenty-four hours' walking between us and the fort." + +"Exactly, sir. Be safer then." + +"Perhaps," said Bracy, smiling grimly. + +"O' course, sir," said Gedge sharply; "but I was thinking about +to-night. Is it to be watch and watch, sir--one on dooty, t'other off." + +"No; our work will be too hard for that, Gedge," replied Bracy. "We +must have as many hours' heavy sleep as we can, or we shall never get to +the Ghil Valley. The work to-day has been play to some of the climbing +we shall have." + +"Yus, sir; I s'pose so," said Gedge cheerily; "lot o' uphill, o' +course." + +"Up mountain, my lad." + +"Yus, sir; only got in the way o' calling all these snow-pynts hills; +but it'll be very fine; and after getting up one there must be some +downhill on the other side. Do you know, sir, I've been reg'lar +longing, like, ever since we come here, to go up a mountain--a reg'lar +big one; but I didn't think I should ever have the chance, and here it +is come." + +Instead of rapidly growing darker a glorious sunset lit up cloud and +mountain, till the peaks literally blazed and flashed with the colours +of the various precious stones, wondrously magnified, till the +ever-changing scene rose higher, fading rapidly, and only a few points +burned as before. Then, in a minute, all was grey, and a peculiar sense +of cold tempered the climbers' brows. + +"We shall just have time to reach that great patch of firs, Gedge," said +Bracy; "yonder, this side of the snow." + +"Right, sir, I see; but it's a good two mile away." + +"Surely not," said Bracy sceptically. + +"'Tis, sir," persisted the man. "Distances is precious deceiving." + +They kept on, with the gloom darkening rapidly now in the valleys, and +the peaks in the distance standing up of a ghastly grey; while Gedge +shook his head and said to himself: + +"Gov'nor ought to know; but it 'll be dark 'fore we get there." + +The next minute Gedge was looking in wonder at the peculiar rosy glow +which suddenly began to suffuse the great mountain. The chilly grey +died out and the ruddy glow grew richer and brighter for a time, while +the sky in the west seemed to be blazing and as if the glow were being +dragged backward, to aid the weary messengers till they could reach the +fir-tree forest that was to form their camp. + +"Think there's a tremenjus fire somewhere, sir?" said Gedge at last. + +"No; it is only what people call the Alpenglow," said Bracy softly, for +the wondrous beauty of the scene impressed him. "It will soon die out +again, but it will help us on our way: for you were right, Gedge; that +patch of trees was fully two miles from where we stood, and we have all +our work cut out to reach it before dark. If we cannot we must shelter +beneath the first wind-screen of rock we can find. What about your +sheepskin coat? Is it too hot?" + +"Not a bit, sir; I'm cooling down fast; and, I say, there goes the last +of the light. Shall we get to the wood?" + +"I'm afraid not," said Bracy. "Look to the left, and I'll look to the +right. We'll stop at the most likely spot we see." + +"Don't, sir. I can keep my eye on that tall tree that goes up like a +spike, and hit it if it gets twice as dark. Wind feels cool now; +by-and-by it'll be like ice up here. Hadn't we better get right, into +shelter?" + +"Go on, then, my lad. I was thinking of you." + +"Then don't, please, sir; I can keep on as long as you." + +The next minute--it seemed so close--the stars were shining brightly out +of the deep purple sky, and it was as if their coming brought on a +cooler breath of wind, which Gedge suggested had a sniff of frost in it. +But they had no time for conversation; and, making a final effort to +overcome their weariness, they pressed on till it had grown so dark that +they felt that it would be hopeless to persevere, for the forest could +not be readied. The next minute the darkness was profound; they were no +longer stumbling along a stony way, but passing silently over a thick +carpet of fir-needles; the sky was blotted out as if by a dense black +cloud; and there was a strange humming overhead as of the sea upon the +shore. For they had unwittingly reached and plunged into the forest +when giving it up in despair. + +"Mind the trees, sir," said Gedge warningly. "I've just ketched myself +an awful rap." + +"Feel your way with your rifle," said Bracy hoarsely. "We need only go +a little farther, so as to be well in shelter." + +So, after cautiously advancing about a hundred yards, feeling their way +from trunk to trunk, they stopped short beneath one of the largest +trees, and sank down amongst the fir-needles. + +"Shall I make a fire, sir?" said Gedge; "here's heaps of wood as 'll +burn like hoorrah." + +"Fire! Are you mad?" cried Bracy. + +"No, sir; but I was feared you'd be cold." + +"No fire, and no watch, my lad," said Bracy. "It would be impossible +for any one to find us here. Make the best meal you can in the dark; +then take out your revolver, and lie down with it in your hand, as I +shall. You must sleep as hard as you like till daybreak. Think you +can?" + +Gedge said something indistinctly, for he had begun eating, but ten +minutes later his voice sounded clear again. + +"Likely to be any bears, sir?" he said. + +"Very likely," replied Bracy. "If one comes supper-hunting he'll wake +us by pawing us about and sniffing. Use your revolver then, only make +sure of his head. Good-night, my lad." + +"Good-night, sir," said Gedge, snuggling himself as close as he could, +and nestling among the fir-needles. "Here," he muttered; "and I was +grumbling because I had to carry this here coat. Why, it's a patent +feather-bed, wool mattress, and blankets, all in one. Scrumptious!--How +my trotters aches!--And if one comes supper-hunting he'll wake us by +pawing us about and sniffing. `Use your revolver then, only make sure +of his head,' he says. Just as if I was going to fire at his tail! I +say, though, have bears got tails? I never see one at the 'Logical +Gardens as had--and it don't matter now. Well, this here is a change, +and--and--" + +The next muttered word somehow stretched itself out thin, and into a +long deep-sighing breath, which seemed to be the echo of another close +at hand, and to have nothing to do with the cool breeze which rushed +through the pines, making that soft peculiar sound as of the sea +breaking upon a sandy shore; for the two adventurers, relieved of their +loads, and tightly buttoned up in their _poshtins_, were sleeping the +sleep of the weary through that long night, undisturbed by enemy, wild +beast, or dream. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +HUMAN STALKING. + +"Eh? Yes, sir. All right, sir? I'm awake. Didn't know it was my turn +to-night." + +"It is morning, Gedge," said Bracy as he bent over his companion, whose +face was just visible in the faint grey light which seemed to be +creeping in beneath the fir-boughs. + +"My word, sir, so it is! I thought I was being called for sentry-go. +Nights seems precious short up here in the hills." Bracy laughed. + +"Oh no," he said; "we've had a good long rest. Now, then. We must have +our wash at the first stream we come to. Let's get on at once." + +"Ready in a jiffy, sir. Seems a pity, though, not to have our +breakfast, first." + +"Why?" said Bracy sharply as he slung on his haversack. + +"Such a nice lot o' dry wood to make a fire, sir." + +"To make tea or coffee, or to boil eggs, my lad?" said Bracy. + +"Think o' that, now! I forgot, sir. Seemed to come nat'ral for me to +get your breakfast ready, sir. Think o' that." + +In two minutes Gedge was as ready as his officer, and he finished off by +shaking and beating the fir-needles off his _poshtin_, and stroking his +very short hair down first with one hand and then with the other, so as +to look as respectable and smart as he could when going on what he +called parade. + +"Forward!" said Bracy suddenly. "We'll halt at the edge of the forest, +and have a good reconnoitre, though it is not light enough for us to see +far." + +Bracy was quite right; for as they cautiously advanced to the open they +could see very little but the tall pyramidal peaks here and there, one +of which stood out more clearly than the others, and served as a +familiar landmark by which to steer for that day's journey, another +which Bracy had noted on the previous evening being set down as to be +somewhere about the end of their second day's march; but it was not +visible yet, a pile of clouds in its direction being all that could be +seen. + +"Right. Forward!" said Bracy as he finished his careful look round. +"Two hours' good walk in this cool air, and then breakfast. To-morrow +we must begin to look out for anything that will serve for our future +meals, and use our rifles." + +"Not try at any of the villages?" + +"Villages!" said Bracy, smiling. "By that time we shall be far above +any villages, and up amongst the snow." + +"Right, sir; all the same to me. I love a bit o' sport, though I never +got no farther at home than rats." + +"Talk lower," said Bracy. "Sound travels far when everything is so +still." + +Striking to the right now, and keeping near the deep gully along which +the river ran, Bracy sought for a spot where they could cross to the far +side, and before long they came upon a rock-strewn part opposite to +where another of the several streams joined it from the east. Here, +with a little careful balancing and stepping from stone to stone, they +had not much difficulty in crossing to the other side; where, the minor +affluent being also crossed, their course was directed up its right bank +to the north and east. The side of the little ravine being surmounted, +a far wider scope of view was obtained, the mountain before hidden in +clouds now showing its crest in the coming sun; and, satisfied as to the +course he was to take, and marking it down by the little pocket-compass +he carried, Bracy pointed to a sheltered spot amongst some scrub pine, +and a halt was made for a short time for the promised breakfast. + +Nothing could have been more simple, nothing more delicious. For the +glorious mountain air gave a wonderful zest to everything; and in about +a quarter of an hour they were ready to resume their journey, refreshed, +in high spirits, and with their task in the bright morning sunshine, +which glorified the wondrous panorama of snow-peaks, seeming to assume +the aspect of a holiday trip. + +"I'll take one look round first," said Bracy, "in case our friends of +yesterday are anywhere upon our track;" and, before exposing himself, he +drew out the little glass he had brought, and swept the sides of the +valley they had ascended, then slowly turned his glass upon the ridge +they had gained, following it to where it joined the main valley, and +afterwards turned from the varied panorama of grassy upland forest and +rock, over the boundary-line to where to his right all was snow--pure +white snow, which looked deliciously soft, and sparked with a million +rays. + +"All seems clear, Gedge," he said at last. "So let us start. That is +to be our resting-place to-night, or as near to it as we can get." + +"That mountain with a big point and a little un, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"Don't seem half a day's journey, sir. Everything's so clear that +things look close to yer. But I know better now. Ready, sir?" + +"We'll keep a little to the left, so as to get nearer to the snow, and +where it seems easy walking we'll take to it; but for the most part I +shall keep to the division-line between the snow and the scrubby growth. +It will be rough travelling; but we shall not have to cut our way +through briars. I'll lead now. Forward!" + +They started at once, and soon found the journeying far more rough than +either could have imagined, for what had looked in the distance a pebbly +track was a slope burdened with blocks of shaley rock, which yielded to +their tread, and slipped and rattled to such an extent that Bracy was +glad to strike off higher still, towards the snow, which ran up in a +beautiful curve towards one of the nearest mountains, round whose +shoulder they could make a cut which would bring them out miles nearer +their goal. + +At the end of a couple of miles the bottom of the snow-slope was +reached, and the line of demarcation was boldly marked, the flattened, +broken stones ending at once, so that the leader stepped directly upon +the dazzling crystals, which filled in all the little rifts and hollows, +and treacherously promised smooth, easy going for miles. But Bracy was +undeceived at the first step, for he plunged his leg to the knee in +granular snow, as yielding and incoherent as so much sand. Withdrawing +it, he walked on a few steps and tried again, to find the frozen +particles just as yielding; while Gedge had the same experience. + +"Not much chance o' sliding and skating over this stuff, sir," he cried. + +"No. It is impossible. We should be done up at the end of a mile. We +must keep to the rocks and stones." + +Bracy was looking wistfully at the soft, tempting-looking expanse, when +a quick movement on Gedge's part took his attention. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"Didn't you say we must soon be thinking of shooting something for +rations?" + +"Yes. But it is too soon yet. We don't want anything more to carry. +But what can you see?" + +"Looks like a drove o' somethings, sir--goats, I think--right across the +snow yonder, where there's a dark mark like rocks. I can't quite make +'em out; for I dessay it's a couple o' miles away; but it's moving." + +"Wait a moment," said Bracy; and he got out his glass, set the butt of +his rifle on a stone, and rested the glass on the muzzle, so as to get a +steady look. + +"I see nothing," he said--"nothing but field after field of snow, with a +few rocky ridges; and beyond them, rocks again, a long slope, and--Yes, +I see now. Why, Gedge, man, there must be a couple of hundred." + +"Well, sir, we don't want 'em," said Gedge, on the fox and grapes +principle; "and goat's meat's awful strong, no matter how you cook it." + +"Goats? Nonsense! Armed men, Gedge, for I could see the flashing of +the sunshine off their weapons." + +"Phee-ew!" whistled Gedge. "See us, sir?" + +"I hope not. But they are going in a direction which will take them +right across our road just at the same time as we reach the spot." + +"That's awk'ard, sir. But I thought we'd been getting high up here +because there'd be no people to hinder us." + +"So I thought, my lad; but this is an exception. These people are +crossing the mountain-passes, possibly to join the tribes besieging the +fort." + +"And what about them yonder?" said Gedge, nodding to the right. + +"What! You don't mean to say that you can see more in that direction?" + +As Bracy spoke he snatched out the glass he was replacing, and held it +half-way to his eyes, for he did not need it. The object seen was too +plain against the sky-line, where a few tiny figures could be seen, and +trailing down a slope from them towards the east was a long, white, +irregular line, which the glass directly after proved to be a strong +body of followers. + +"Same sort, sir?" said Gedge coolly. + +"Yes; going as if to cut us off. Gedge, we must start back into the +little valley, and follow it up, so as to get into another. It means +miles more to tramp; but we can do nothing in this direction." + +"Right, sir. When you're ready." + +"But we can't walk right away, for these last would see us. We must +crawl for a few yards to those rocks below there." + +The next minute they were on all-fours, crawling from stone to stone--a +laborious task, laden as they were; but, short as the distance was, they +had not half-covered it before Bracy whispered sharply: + +"Flat down. Perhaps they have not seen us." + +"Not they, sir. They were too far off." + +"Hush! Don't you see--right in front, four or five hundred yards away-- +those four men stalking us? Why, Gedge, they see our coats as we crawl, +and are taking us for sheep." + +"Ah-h!" ejaculated Gedge, as for the first time he realised the fresh +danger threatening them, in the shape of a little party, evidently +coming from the direction of their last night's resting-place. As he +saw that one of them had thrown himself down, and, dragging his gun +after him, was making for a heap of stones, from whence he evidently +intended to fire, Gedge prepared to meet the shot in military fashion. + +"Trying to stalk us, sir. You're right; that's it. Give me the word, +and I'll open fire. He'll think he never stalked such a sheep as me +before." + +"It was my fancy, Gedge," said Bracy. "They belong to the party whom we +scattered yesterday, and they've been following on our track. Quick! we +must have first fire." + +The last words had not quitted his lips when Gedge's rifle cracked, and +the danger was averted, for the man's long gun dropped from his hands as +he sprang up, crawling though he was, into a curious position on +all-fours, rolled over on to his side, and them back again, to spring to +his feet, and run as hard as he could after his companions, who had +already taken to their heels. + +"That's a bad shot, and no mistake, sir," said Gedge. + +"The best you ever made, Gedge," cried Bracy; "for it has done all we +required." + +"Took him in the arm, sir, and spoiled his shooting for a month, I know. +As good as killing him, I s'pose." + +"Better," said Bracy. "We don't want the poor wretch's life; only to +save our own. Now, what next? We'd better lie still for a bit to see +if they rally and come on again." + +"Yes, sir," said Gedge, watching the retreating party, and fiddling with +the sighting of his rifle--"five hundred yards--six--eight,"--and last +of all "thousand. I think I could send a bullet among their legs, sir. +Shall I? Let 'em see that they'd better keep their distance." + +"Try and scatter the stones close to them," replied Bracy. And as he +lay upon his chest, with his feet raised and legs crossed, Gedge took a +long and careful aim, pressed the trigger gently, and the next moment +the retreating party bounded apart, scattering, and running swiftly on. + +"Another good shot," said Bracy; "though I could not see where it +struck; it is evident that it did strike close to their feet." + +The glass was in the young officer's hand, and he followed the enemy's +movements with it, seeing the little party close up again, and then make +for a ridge in the distance--one which threatened to conceal them as +soon as it was passed; but there was something else to see, for all at +once the solitude of the elevation was broken by a figure springing into +sight, to be followed by a large group, who began to descend slowly to +meet the retreating four; and of their movements Bracy kept his +companion aware with a word or two at intervals, without changing his +position or removing his glass from his eye. + +"They're close together now--the last man has joined them--they're +looking in this direction--they've turned round, and are going up the +slope again. Ha! the last man has passed over--gone." + +"Would you mind having a look at the other two lots now, sir, to see +what they're doing?" said Gedge quietly. + +The little glass was slowed round on the instant, and Bracy examined the +party to the right, and then, turning to the left, made a long +examination of the danger there, before closing the glass again. + +"They are keeping steadily on along those slopes, Gedge, as if to +converge some miles farther on." + +"Hadn't we better play the same game, sir?" said Gedge quietly. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Do a bit o' converging, sir, whatever it is." + +"I don't set; how we can at present," replied Bracy, laughing sadly. +"No. It seems as if the only thing left for us to do is to lie still +here till the coast is clear--I mean, the enemy out of sight; then keep +on cautiously, and trust to getting beyond them in the darkness. It is +terribly unfortunate, Gedge." + +"'Tis, sir, and wastes so much time. Think they have seen us?" + +"No." + +"Nor those chaps as was stalking us?" + +"The distance is too great unless they have powerful glasses." + +"That's good, sir. Then all we've got to mind is those chaps we've been +skirmishing with. They'll be like the rest of 'em, I expect--hanging +after us till they can get a shot." + +"Yes; and I'm afraid that they will descend into yon little side valley +to try and get ahead of us, so as to lie in wait, farther on." + +"Like as not, sir. Just the sort of mean thing they would do, never +stopping to think as we could easily have shot their chief in the back +when we were in ambush, just as I could have dropped that chap in his +tracks just now. I don't want to brag, sir; but I could." + +"It is not boasting, my lad," said Bracy. "You have your marks for good +shooting. But we must countermarch those fellows. We have nearly a +mile the start of them, and I don't suppose those two bodies of men are +likely to take any notice of such a pair of rough-looking objects as we +are; so come along." + +"Which way, sir?" + +"Straight for our mountain yonder. What we want is a deep gully into +which we could plunge, and then we could walk fast or run part of the +way." + +"And hide again, sir? Well, it'll be strange if in all this great +mountainy place we can't puzzle those fellows behind." + +"We can, Gedge," said Bracy, "if once we get out of their sight." + +"So we are now, sir." + +"We don't know that. Several pairs of keen eyes may be watching our +movements, for I dare say as soon as we stand up our figures will show +plainly against the snow. But we must risk all that. There, we must +chance it now, so let's get on our way." + +Bracy took another good look round with his glass from where he lay upon +his chest among the stones; and though the enemy looked distant, the +mountain he had marked down seemed to have doubled its remoteness, and +the snowy passes and peaks which moved slowly across the field of his +glass raised themselves up like so many terrible impediments to the +mission he had set himself to carry through. Only a brief inspection, +but there was time enough for a rush of thoughts to sweep to his brain, +all of which looked dim and confused in the cloud of doubt which arose +as to the possibility of reaching the Ghil Valley. + +It was horrible, for he could see in imagination the scene at the fort, +where all were gathered to see him off, and every eye was brightened +with the hope its owner felt; each countenance looked full of trust in +one who, they felt sure, would bring back success, and save the fort in +its terrible time of need. While now a cold chill seemed to be stealing +through him, and failure was staring him in the face. + +A quick mental and bodily effort, a blush of shame suffusing his face, +and he was himself again--the young soldier ready for any emergency; and +the next minute he was biting his lip with vexation at his momentary +weakness. For there was Gedge watching him patiently, his follower who +looked up to him for help and guidance--his man ready to obey him to the +death, but, on the other hand, who looked for the payment of being cared +for and protected, and not having his services misused by the cowardly +action of a superior. + +"It is just as I felt that day when I was swimming a mile from shore," +he said to himself. "I felt that same chill, and thought that there was +nothing for me to do but give up and drown. Then the same feeling of +shame at my cowardice attacked me, and I struck out quietly, and went on +and on to land. The fort is my land this time, and I'm going to reach +it again by being cool. Oh, what a brain and power of self-control a +General must possess to master all his awful responsibilities! but he +does, and leads his men to victory against tremendous odds; while here I +have but my one man to lead, and am staggered at a difficulty that may +dissolve like a mist. Gedge!" + +"Sir?" + +"Forward for that patch of rocks a quarter of a mile away in front, +without hesitation or turning to look back." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Once there, I'll bring the glass to bear again on our rear. Make a +bee-line for it, as if you were going to take up new ground for your +company. Once there, we can make for another and another, and if we are +pursued each clump of rocks will make us breastworks or rifle-pits. Up! +Forward!" + +Gedge started on the instant, talking to himself, as he felt that he +ought still to maintain a soldierly silence. + +"Quarter of a mile--eh? That's a good half, or I've failed in judging +distance, after all, and turned out a reg'lar duller. Cheeky, though, +to think I know better than my orficer. Dunno, though; I've done twice +as much of it as he have.--Wonder whether them beggars have begun +stalking us again. Dessay they have. Sure to. My! how I should like +to look back! That's the worst o' being a swaddy on dooty. Your soul +even don't seem to be your own. Never mind; orders is orders, and I'm +straight for them rocks; but natur's natur', even if it's in a savage +nigger with a firework-spark gun and a long knife. If those chaps don't +come sneaking after us for a shot as soon as they've seen us on the +move, I'm a Dutchman." + +Bill Gedge was not a Dutchman, but East London to the backbone, and +quite right; for, before he and the officer were a hundred yards on +their way to take up new ground, first one and then another +white-clothed figure came cautiously into the wide field of view, quite +a mile away, but plainly seen in that wonderfully clear air, and came on +in a half-stooping way, suggesting hungry wolves slinking steadily and +surely along after their prey. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +A QUESTION OF HELMETS. + +Bracy felt quite sure that they were being tracked, but he did not look +round till they were well within the shelter of the rocks for which they +aimed. Then, as soon as he could feel that he was certain of being +unobserved, he raised his head above one of the blocks, and took his +glass to read more fully their position. For, in a long line, at +intervals of some ten yards or so, the enemy was coming on, without a +sign of haste, but in the quiet, determined way of those who know that +they are following an absolute certainty, and that it is only a matter +of time before their prey drops down at their mercy. + +The day was gloriously bright, and the vast landscape of rock, forest, +and gleaming water to their left, and the dazzling stretch of peak, +snowfield, and glacier, with its many gradations of silver and delicious +blue, on their right, presented a scene which the mind might have +revelled in for hours. But Bracy saw nothing of Nature's beauties, for +his attention was centred in the long line of tribes-men coming slowly +on, their movements being so full of suggestion and offering themselves +for easy reading. + +Bracy closed his glass, and turned with wrinkled brow to Gedge, who took +this as an invitation to give his opinion; and he went on at once, as if +in answer to a few remarks from his officer. + +"Yes, sir," he said; "it is a nice game, and no mistake. The cowards! +Look at 'em, sir. That's what they mean to do--come sneaking along +after us, waiting for a chance to rush in and take a stroke, and then +slipping off again before we can get a shot at 'em. That's what they +think; but they're making the biggest mistake they over made in their +lives. They don't know yet what one of our rifles can do." + +"You think they mean to follow us up, Gedge?" + +"That's it, sir. They'll hang about for a chance. These niggers +haven't got anything to do; so, when they see a chance of doing a bit of +a job so as to get something, they give theirselves up to it and go on, +spending days and weeks to get hold of what they could have got honestly +in half the time. But, look here, sir." + +"Yes," said Bracy, nodding, as his companion tapped his rifle. "We +could keep them off by good shooting, Gedge, while it is light; but what +about the darkness?" + +"Yes; that's what bothers me, sir. They don't try the shooting then, +but sets their guns on one side, and lakes to those long, sharp knives." + +Bracy nodded again, and Gedge drew back, and began to make quick points +with his rifle, acting as if the bayonet were fixed. + +"That'll be it after dark, sir. Bay'net's more than a match for any +knife in the dark." + +"Yes," said Bracy; "but it means one of us to be always awake, and in +such a journey as ours this will be distressing." + +"Never mind, sir. We'll take double allowance of sleep first chance +afterwards. Yes; I see, sir; that patch o' stones, one of which lies +over o' one side--to the left." + +"Forward!" said Bracy; and the spot indicated was reached, the short +halt made, and they went on again, after noting that the enemy was +slowly following on their track. + +That seemed a day of days to Bracy, and interminably long and wearisome. +They kept along as near the edge of the snow as they could, and watched +the two bodies of men to right and left till they were hidden by the +inequalities of the ground; but they came into sight again and again. +About midday the two parties were seen to meet, and then come to a halt, +about a mile from where Bracy and his companion crouched, as usual, in +among some loose rocks, in the unenviable position of being between two +fires, the enemy in the rear halting too, and making no effort to come +to close quarters after the lesson they had learned about the long, +thin, pencil-like bullets sent whistling from Gedge's rifle. + +"Can you make out what they are doing, sir?" asked Gedge. + +"Sitting together, and I think eating." + +"That's what you said the others were doing, sir." + +"Yes." + +"Then wouldn't it be a good time for us to be having a refresher, sir?" + +"Very good time indeed, Gedge, if you can eat," said Bracy meaningly. + +"If I can eat, sir?" said Gedge, turning over his officer's words. +"Why, sir, I feel famished. Don't you?" + +"No," said Bracy sadly. "I suppose the anxiety has taken away my +appetite." + +"But you must eat, sir. Make your load lighter, too. There are times +when I feel as if I should like to eat all I want, and then chuck all +the rest away. One don't seem to want anything but cartridges; but +then, you see, sir, one does, or else the works won't go. I'm wonderful +like a watch, I am--I want winding up reg'lar, and then I go very tidy; +but if I'm not wound up to time I runs down and turns faint and queer, +and about the biggest coward as ever shouldered a rifle. I'm just no +use at all, not even to run away, for I ain't got no strength. Yes, +sir, that's how it is: I must be wound up as much as a Waterbury watch, +and wittles is the key." + +"Go on, then," said Bracy, smiling; "wind yourself up, Gedge, and I'll +do the same." + +"Thank ye, sir; that's done me no end o' good," cried the lad, +brightening up. "You've give me a reg'lar good appetite now." + +Gedge proceeded to prove this fact at once, and his words and the +example set him had the effect of making his leader begin to eat a few +mouthfuls, these leading to more; and at the end of a minute or two both +were heartily enjoying their repast, although the prospect before them +seemed to promise that this would be the last meal of which they would +partake. + +As they watched the enemy in front and rear they could only come to the +conclusion that it was as impossible to continue their journey as it was +to retreat. There was the open north to the left of their intended +course, but as far as they could make out it was impassable. By stern +endeavour they felt that they might in time wade through the deep snow +and reach the mountains; but, as far as they could judge, farther +progress in the way of striking through them, and then turning round to +their right, was not possible without the aid of ice-axe and rope. And +again, there was the less mountainous part of the country across the +side valley they had traversed, and where they might climb the ridge and +make a circuit to the left; but that course would probably lead them +more amongst the encampments of the enemy besieging the fort; and they +had hardly begun discussing this course when Gedge exclaimed: + +"Take your spy-glass, sir. There's game or something on the move over +yonder to the south." + +"A strong body of men, Gedge," said Bracy decisively. "The country's +alive with the wretches, and these are evidently going to join those in +our valley." + +"Hard lines for the two Colonels and our poor lads, sir," said Gedge, +with his face puckering up. "If it wasn't for orders I wouldn't mind +them beggars behind; we'd get through them somehow, for it would be far +better to go at 'em sharp and have it out, so that it might end one way +or t'other, than keep creeping on here, never knowing when they may make +a rush." + +"I feel the same, Gedge," said Bracy firmly; "but we have our orders, +and that mountain we must reach by night." + +"Right, sir; I'm not grumbling; we're a-going to do it; but don't it +seem rum? Only the other day the place was empty everywhere, and it was +just as if the enemy had all been shot and buried theirselves, while +when you gents went out shooting, and the Colonel sent out little +parties to scout and cover you coming back, in case the niggers showed, +we went about over and over again, and never see a soul. And now, just +because you've got to take word to the Ghoorkha Colonel that we want +help, all of 'em have turned out so as to send us back to our quarters." + +Bracy let his companion chatter on; but he was actively busy the while +with his glass, which gave him a clear picture in miniature of every +movement of their pursuers, at the same time convincing him that neither +the enemy in front, nor those, perfectly plain now on the ridge across +the little valley, were aware of their presence. + +"We must be getting on, Gedge," he said at last; "the enemy behind is on +the move, and they are opening out to the left." + +"That means getting down to the hollow yonder, sir, to come upon our +flank or cut us off. Oh! don't I wish you could detach a party +skirmishing, ready to counter upon them and send 'em back; but the force +aren't strong enough, sir. You see, you want me to form the reserve." + +Bracy smiled, and once more they stepped out, making for patch after +patch of rocks, the more boldly now that they saw the enemy in front was +crossing their intended track as if to get to the ridge on the other +side of the valley, and form a junction with the men there. + +"Double!" said Bracy suddenly; and they trotted now wherever the ground +would allow of such a way of progressing, and in the hope of getting +well forward; but, to their disgust, it was to find that their +indefatigable pursuers imitated every movement, running when they ran, +and settling down again to a walk as soon as they slowed. + +And so the afternoon wore on, with the position in the rear unchanged, +but the front clearing as the sun sank lower in the west. + +"There's a more hopeful lookout yonder, Gedge," said Bracy, "but these +scoundrels seem more determined than ever." + +"That's right, sir; and the worst of it is they won't come, within shot. +They're waiting for the dark. That's their game. Couldn't we steal a +march on 'em somehow, sir? for this is getting a bit stupid." + +"We can steal the march as soon as it's dark," replied Bracy. "I have +been thinking of that; but then there is the difficulty of getting along +in this rough place, and we may be getting out of the frying-pan into +the fire." + +"Well, I don't know as if would be any hotter, sir. Don't you think +we'd better lie down behind some of the stones and pick a few of 'em off +as they come up?" + +"It might cheek them, if we could do it; but if you look through the +glass you will see that they keep sending a couple of men up all the +high places, who keep watch, and they'd signal to their companions that +we were in ambush." + +"I was afraid so, sir," said Gedge grimly; "that's always the way with +my plans. There's always a hole in the bottom o' the tub I make 'em in, +and they run out like sand." + +"How would this do?" said Bracy. "Suppose we pick out a good place just +as it is getting dark, and settle ourselves down to watch." + +"That sounds right, sir," said Gedge encouragingly. "Then, as soon as +they have got used to seeing us there looking over the stones, suppose +we slip off our 'elmets, and leave them on the rocks, and creep away for +some distance before we rise, and then go on as fast as we can so as the +'elmets may keep 'em off for a bit, sir." + +"Yes; I see what you mean, but the trick is too old. Remember how the +men put their helmets or caps above the breastworks to tempt them to +fire. Depend upon it they would suspect." + +"May be, sir, may be not; but we're in a fix, and we must do something." + +"But the thing is what?" + +"If we wanted to go back, sir--to retreat," began Gedge. + +"Which we do not," said Bracy coldly. + +"Of course not right away, sir; but to make a fresh start, that dodge +would do." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, this, sir; suppose we put our 'elmets on the tops o' two stones +just as it's getting dark." + +"Well, go on," said Bracy impatiently. + +"Then we keep our eyes upon our gentlemen to see whether they come in +nigh enough first so as to give us a shot, and if they don't we wait +till it's dark enough." + +"And then go on as fast as we can, and without our helmets, to be +exposed to the sun by day, the cold wind and snow by night, if we were +not overtaken and finished. Bah, my lad! that will not do." + +"No, sir; but that ain't the way my story goes," said Gedge, grinning. + +"Let's have your way, then," said Bracy impatiently, as he scanned the +enemy in the distance with his glass. + +"I mean this, sir. We puts our 'elmets as 'fore-said on the rocks, +watches till it's quite dark, and then, instead o' doubling off on our +journey, we just creeps away to right or left, say a hundred yards, and +then lies down." + +"Yes?" + +"Bimeby, one by one, my gentlemen comes creeping up with their long +knives, ready to cut us up in the dark, supposing that we're there on +the watch. Dessay dozen of 'em would come, front, right, left, and +rear; and then, after they've surrounded our 'elmets, they goes right in +for us, and slashes them instead of us. Next minute there's a reg'lar +hoo-roar, and most likely, if we're lucky, they've chopped one; another +awful. But whether they have or not, they've found out we're not there, +and that they've been done; and on they goes in a passion right away, +hoping to catch up to us again in the morning to carry on the same game +of following us and giving us no rest till we're quite done, and the job +to finish us is as easy as that." + +He kissed his hand by way of illustrating the simplicity of the +business. + +"Yes; we should get rid of their hideous, heart-wearing pursuit," said +Bracy thoughtfully, "and then be able to make a fresh start, of course. +But what about covering for our heads?" + +"Oh, don't you worry about that, sir. I'm on'y a thin un, and there's +plenty o' spare stuff in this skin coat to spare for a couple o' woolly +busbies as 'll suit us for this journey far better than 'elmets. The +niggers at a distance would take us for the real article then. Now the +spikes on our heads says English to every one as sees 'em." + +"Yes," said Bracy thoughtfully; "that might be done if we could make the +wool hats." + +"Don't you worry yourself about that, sir. It's on'y like cutting two +big long squares to measure, and doubling 'em over sidewise, and sewing +two edges together. Then you sews the top edges, turns the thing inside +out, and--" + +"Well, and what?" said Bracy, for the lad stopped short and grinned. + +"Puts 'em on, sir. That's all." + +"And we have scissors and needles and thread and thimbles, of course," +said Bracy mockingly. + +"That's right, sir. In my pocket. Didn't Mother Gee give me 'em all +ready for sewing up bandages and seeing to wounds? I'd a deal rather +make caps with 'em; wouldn't you?" + +"Of course, of course, Gedge," Bracy hastened to say. "Here, it's time +we began to put our plan in action." + +"Time to get on a bit farther first, sir. But do you really think that +dodge would do?" + +"I think enough of it to make me say that we'll try it, Gedge; and, if +it succeeds, I tell you what, hard as it may be, we'll try the snow." + +"That's the place to hide in, sir, when we creep away." + +"Of course. Capital!" + +"Might roll ourselves over in it, and it would stick to our coats, and +they'd never find us. But I don't know about going on that way, sir." + +"We must; I see no other." + +"But what about footmarks afterwards, sir? It's like putting down a lot +o' holes to show 'em the way we've gone." + +"Holes that the sun would soon till in, or fresh snow fall to hide. But +we need not study that. The enemy would go on and never think of coming +back to make a fresh start. Even if they did, they would never find the +place again that they went to in the dark." + +"Not by the 'elmets, sir?" + +"No; they'd make sure of them--carry them off as trophies. But I see a +terrible difficulty." + +"Do yer, sir? I'm very sorry." + +"Suppose, while we're lying in the snow, one or two of the ruffians come +and stumble right over us?" + +"I hope they won't, sir," said Gedge, with a grim look in his eyes, as +he drew his dagger-like bayonet out and touched the point with his +thumb. "That's pretty sharp, sir, and we should be on the lookout, and +holding 'em in our hands, as what Sergeant Gee calls a shiver-de-freexe. +They might tumble on them." + +"Gedge, my lad, you're full of resources," said Bracy eagerly. "We'll +try your plan, exactly as you propose." + +"Thank ye, sir," said the lad uneasily; "but I don't want you to think +I'm cocky and knowing, and like to be thought double cunning." + +"That will do," said Bracy, smiling. "Let's think of the task we have +in hand. It is no time to discuss trifles. This is all part of +fighting for our lives." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +IN THE SNOW. + +In the tramp which followed, with the hill-men creeping on after them in +the same slow, untiring way, Gedge had his eyes about him, and drew +forth a sharp order from his officer when he began to deviate a little +from the straight course towards a dwarf clump of pines, the highest of +which was not above six feet. + +"What are you going there for?" + +"Want 'em, sir, for rifles," was the reply. Bracy nodded; and upon +reaching the clump, a few sharp strokes from the lad's bayonet cut down +and trimmed what formed a couple of longish walking-sticks, one of which +he handed over to his officer, who used his in the latter capacity, +Gedge soon following suit. + +"That's what I want them to think, sir," said Gedge, digging his down at +every second pace. "Now, sir, what do you say? Don't you think we +might edge in more towards the snow?" + +"Soon," said Bracy, pointing. "There's just the spot we want;" and, +raising his glass, he stopped to examine a group of blocks of stone some +fifty yards from the edge of the snowfield, which here sent down a few +sharp points, giving it the appearance at a distance of a huge, vandyked +piece of white lace. + +"Couldn't find a better place if we tried, sir," said Gedge; "but we +ain't left ourselves time enough. If we had thought of it sooner, I +could have cut out and made the busbies." + +"We shall have plenty of time for that to-morrow," said Bracy. "We must +manage by tying on handkerchiefs for to-night, and pulling up the great +collars as if they were hoods." + +A short time after, each with his handkerchief over his head, the pair +crouched behind two stones, upon which their helmets had been placed; +and beside them the two sticks were planted, so that at a short distance +any one would have been deceived and made to believe that a couple of +men were on the watch for danger. + +Two men were on the watch for danger, but in a different way, both lying +prone, Bracy, with his glass to his eyes, carefully sweeping the +distance, and keeping it fixed upon the enemy, who looked strangely +quiet, as they grouped together and seemed to be feasting. + +"Looks as if they meant to settle there, then, for the night, sir," said +Gedge, as Bracy reported to him everything he noted. + +"Yes; it looks so." + +"But we don't trust 'em, bless yer, sir. That's their artfulness; +foxing--that's what they're doing. Won't be able to see 'em much +longer--will you, sir?" + +"No; it's getting dark very fast; but I can make them out, I dare say, +till they begin to move." + +"Hope you will, sir," said Gedge softly, and lying with his knees bent, +kicking his feet about in the air, after the fashion of a boy in a field +on a sunny day, and looking quite unconscious of the fact that this +night might be one of the most terrible they had ever been called upon +to pass. + +Some minutes elapsed now in perfect silence, during which a fiery look +on the topmost peak of one of the mountains died out slowly into cherry +red, and finally became invisible, a few stars twinkling out as the red +light died. + +"Gedge," said Bracy in a quick whisper, such as he might have uttered +had the enemy been close upon them, and about to spring, instead of many +hundred yards away. + +"Sir?" + +"They are on the move." + +"Can't see 'em, sir." + +"No; and they cannot see us, but I can dimly make them out with the +glass. They are separating from their centre, and coming on. Ha! gone. +I can see no more." + +He put away the glass in the darkness, which now seemed to roll down +upon them like a cloud from the mountains, giving the snowfield a +ghastly look which made Bracy hesitate. + +"I'm afraid it would be better to go off to the left among the stones." + +"Don't, sir, pray," said Gedge earnestly. + +"But our dark bodies will show against the snow." + +"Not they, sir. We'll roll in it, and it'll be darker in half-an-hour. +They'll be all that before they get here--won't they?" + +"Quite. They are sure to come on very slowly, and allow time for part +of them to get right into our rear." + +"Yes, sir; that's right." + +"Now, then, are you ready?" + +"Yes, sir." + +There was again silence, and, but for the ghostly glare of the snow, all +was very dark. + +"We seem to be going into the most dangerous place," whispered Bracy, +with his breath coming thickly. + +"And that's the very place they'll never think we should hide in, sir, +if they were likely to think we were going to hide. No, sir: their keen +eyes 'll just make out them two 'elmets, and they'll think o' nothing +else but driving their long knives into them as wears 'em, from behind. +I do hope we shall hear 'em blunting the points against, the stones." + +"Have you everything?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then, forward! Go fifty paces slowly over the snow. I shall follow +close behind you in your steps." + +The snow yielded, so that they were knee-deep, but it was still loose +and so sand-like in its grains that as each foot was withdrawn the icy +particles flowed together again into each freshly-made hole. + +Five minutes later the adventurous pair lay softly down, and rolled over +and over a few times, before lying prone upon their chests, each with +his head towards the invisible helmets, and near enough to whisper or +touch one another with the hand. Their rifles lay by their sides, with +the cartouche-boxes handy: and, in case of a close attack, their +revolvers were in the right sides of their belts, half dragged round to +the back, while each held his dagger-like bayonet in his band. + +"Do you feel the cold, Gedge?" whispered Bracy. + +"Cold, sir? Why, I'm as hot as hot. This work's too warm for a fellow +to feel the cold. Do you, sir?" + +"No; my face burns as if with fever, and every nerve tingles with +excitement. There, we must not even whisper again." + +"Right, sir." + +"The first moment you hear a sound of any one approaching, touch my left +arm." + +"Right, sir; but hadn't I better lie t'other side of you? They'll come +that way." + +"They'll come from all round at once, my lad. There, don't be afraid. +If we are going to have trouble, I dare say you will get your full +share. Now, silence; and when they come you must hardly breathe." + +Then silence ensued, and seemed to Bracy the most oppressive that he had +ever encountered in facing danger. For the solemnity of the night in +the great mountains was brooding over them, out of which at any moment +death, in the shape of a keen knife, might descend. There was not a +breath of air, but an icy chill dropped down from above, making the snow +crystals turn sharp and crisp, crackling softly at the slightest +movement. But the frosty air had no effect upon them, save to make +their blood tingle in their veins and a peculiar, pricking sensation +play about their nostrils as they drew their breath, tiny needles of ice +twining as they respired, and making a hoar-frost upon Bracy's +moustache. + +The time went on as if the movement of the earth had been checked by the +frost; but, listen as they would, the silence was profound, and a full +hour seemed to have passed, though it was not a fourth part of that +time. + +"They will not come," thought Bracy, as his eyes were turned in every +direction he could force them to sweep, and the change appeared very +striking from the black atmosphere in front, and right and left to the +faint light suggestive of electricity or phosphorescence which made the +snow dimly visible. + +But the enemy made no sign: and, with that horrible stillness as of +death reigning and seeming to crush them into the snow, they lay waiting +and longing for some sound--for the coming of the enemy; for the wild +excitement of an encounter would, Bracy felt, be far preferable to that +maddening suspense. + +As he lay there and thought, his ever-active brain was full of +suggestions regarding what would take place. The enemy would not dare +to come, and a night's sleep would have been lost--they would come, see +them with their penetrating eyes, pounce upon them, there would be a few +savage unexpected strokes, and all would be over; while poor Colonel +Graves would watch and wait, looking ever for the succour that did not +come. + +"But he will not lose faith in his messengers," Bracy thought, with a +thrill of satisfaction running through him. "He will know that I strove +to do my best." + +Then his thoughts took another direction. Why should not--after the +careful preparations made--the _ruse_ be successful, the enemy be +deceived, and go in pursuit according to their ideas, leaving the two +adventurers free to make their fresh departure? But that, the most +natural outcome of the plan, Bracy, in his excitement, set aside as +being the least likely to occur, and he lay in agony, straining every +nerve to condense his faculties into the one great sense of hearing, +till it seemed to him that his companion's breathing sounded +preternaturally loud. + +"Why, he's asleep! The miserable, careless scoundrel!" thought Bracy. +"Those men have no thought beyond the present. How can one trust them? +How easily we might be surprised if he were the watch!" + +A flush of shame made the thinker's cheeks burn the next moment, he had, +in his annoyance, stretched out his left hand to reach dodge's shoulder +and give him a violent shake. But half-way he checked the progress of +his hand; for, sotting aside the danger of waking a sleeper and making +him start and utter some ejaculation, which might betray them to a +lurking enemy, he recalled the fact that a touch was to be the signal to +announce the coming of the enemy. + +The next moment, as his hand lay upon the snow where he had let it fall, +another hand was laid upon it, and his fingers were gripped by a set of +fingers which held it fast and gave it a firm, steady pressure, to which +he warmly responded, his heart beating fast, and a genial glow of +satisfaction running through him in his penitence for misjudging his +faithful companion. + +Then the hand that grasped his was snatched away, and he lay listening +and gazing in every direction that he could command for the danger just +signalled to him by Gedge. Nothing to right or left, and he dared not +stir to look back over the snow. Nothing in front, not a sign of any +one near; and in his excitement he began to wonder whether his companion +had made a mistake in his over-eagerness, for the silence was more +oppressive than ever. + +"What was that?" + +A spasm shot through the listener, making every nerve and muscle tense +as steel; his breath came thick and fast, and the dull, heavy throb, +throb of his heart sounded loudly in his brain--so loudly that he held +his breath and would have checked the pulsations if he could. + +There was no doubt now: the enemy was close at hand, and Bracy's fingers +closed over the hilt of his bayonet with a tremendous grip, for he felt +that his revolver would be useless in that terrible darkness, and he +shrank from wasting a shot. + +He could see nothing, but there was the danger just in front in the snow +of those thirty yards which lay between them and the rocks. That danger +was represented to the listeners in imagination by the figure--two +figures--of the white-coated enemy, crawling slowly as huge worms might, +have progressed over the snow. At times they were perfectly still, but +ever and again there was the extremely gentle, crackling sound of the +icy grains rubbing together with a soft, rustling sound, no more than a +snake would have made passing along a dusty track. + +Bracy strained his eyes, but he could see nothing. He could not tell +whether the two enemies were a yard or ten or twenty away from where he +lay; but his straining ears told him that they were there, passing him +from right to left, and he felt convinced that others must be moving +slowly from all directions towards that one point, where the helmets +were placed upon the pieces of stone. + +So far, then, all was right; but he felt that at any moment he might +hear others coming along behind, and those might strike the very spot +where they two were lying. + +Thought after thought of this kind flashed through Bracy's brain, as he +tightened his hold of the bayonet, and held it point upward ready for +use against his first assailant, while the strange crepitation of the +frozen snow went on for what seemed like a long period, so greatly was +everything magnified by the excitement through which it was mentally +viewed. + +By degrees, though, the creeping sound, which had seemed to stop more +than once, ceased entirely, and the listeners waited quite half-an-hour, +fancying twice over that they heard the faint click of stone against +stone; but they could not be sure, and they dared not communicate +otherwise than by a pressure of the hand, for there was still the +possibility of the enemy being close in front. Though as the minutes +crawled slowly by, and no fresh sound was heard, the feeling grew +stronger and stronger that they had attributed the creeping noise to the +enemy, when it was probably some inoffensive wild creature seeking for +food, while the enemy had passed the spot in the dark, and were by now +far away. + +Bracy had just come to this conclusion, and had begun to think of the +wisdom of crawling off the snow, which was beginning to melt beneath him +from the warmth of his body, when his heart gave a leap as if some nerve +had received a sudden twitch. For there came low and clear from a short +distance away a peculiar sound such as might be produced by a night-bird +on the wing. Then all was still once more. + +"Was that a signal?" thought Bracy; "or have we been deceived?" + +He thought earnestly, and felt that, after all, the enemy would under +the circumstances act just as they were acting. There seemed to be an +excess of caution, but none too much, approaching as they would be to +surprise whoever was on the watch, and going with their lives literally +in their hands. + +"Phit!" + +The same low, peculiar sound again, making Bracy start into a wild fit +of excitement. Then there was a quick running as of many feet towards +the central spot, followed by clink, clink, clink--the striking of steel +on stone, and then a momentary silence, followed by a peculiar rumbling +and a burst of voices. + +"Gug!" + +Bracy turned sharply, bayonet in hand, ready to strike, for the horrible +thought struck him that Gedge had just received a tierce thrust which +pinned him to the frozen snow; but as he leaned in his direction a hand +touched his wrist and gave it a grip, holding it tightly, and making him +draw a deep breath full of relief. + +Meanwhile the voices increased, their owners talking fiercely, and +though the tongue was almost unintelligible, a word was caught here and +there, and they grasped the fact that every man seemed to want to talk +at once, and to be making suggestions. + +But the speakers did not keep to one place. As far as Bracy could make +out, they had broken up into parties, which hurried here and there, one +coming so near to where the listeners lay that they felt that their time +for action had come at last, and, palpitating with excitement, they +prepared to meet the first attack. + +And now Bracy heard a sound as of some one breathing hard, and turned +his head sharply to whisper a word of warning to his companion; but it +was not uttered, for the sound came from beyond him, and with its +repetition came the sound of laborious steps being taken through the +snow, he who made them panting hard with the exertion as he came on to +within a couple of yards of Gedge, and then suddenly turned off and made +for the rocks. + +He made so much noise now that he knew there was no need for +concealment, that Gedge took advantage of the man getting more distant +to reach over to his officer and whisper, with his lips close to Bracy's +ear: + +"That chap 'll never know how near he was to leaving off snoring like +that, sir, for good." + +"Hush!" whispered Bracy, and a fresh burst of talking arose as if to +greet the man who had returned to the rocks from making a circuit round +the trap. + +And now it seemed as if the whole party were spreading out and coming +towards where the couple lay, for the voices sounded louder and came +nearer, making Bracy gently raise himself ready to hurry his follower +away: but the sounds came no closer, the speakers pausing at the edge of +the snow, where it sounded as if their plans were; being discussed. + +Then all at once the talking ceased, and the beat of many feet, with the +rattling of loose stones, fell on the listener's ears, telling that the +enemy was in motion; and the sounds they made grew fainter and fainter, +and then died out entirely. + +"They seem to be gone," whispered Bracy, with his lips close to Gedge's +ear. + +"Oh yes, they're gone, sir, at last," was the reply. + +"We must not be too sure. A few may be left behind to keep watch." + +"Not them, sir. I can't see as it's likely." + +Bracy was silent for a few moments, during which he listened intently +for the faintest sound; but all was still. + +"Get up," he said briefly, and then started at his own voice, it sounded +so husky and strange. + +Gedge uttered a sigh of relief as he shook the adhering snow from his +woolly coat. + +"Stiff, Gedge?" said Bracy. + +"Horrid, sir. A good fight wouldn't come amiss. Hear me laugh, sir?" + +"When you made that sound?" + +"Yes, sir: that bit would come out, though I'd shut my mouth with my +hand." + +"What made you laugh at such a time?" + +"To hear them cuttin' and stabbin' at the rocks, sir, and blunting their +knives." + +"Oh, I see!" + +"Wonder whether they chopped our 'elmets, sir. Would you mind ordering +me to see if there's any bits left?" + +"The task is of no good," said Bracy. "But we'll walk back to the place +and try if we can find them. Take out your revolver. No. Fix +bayonets--we could use them better now." + +There was a faint clicking, and then, with their rifles levelled, the +pair marched laboriously off the snow, and then cautiously felt their +way among the stones, Bracy's main object being to find out for certain +that there were no sentries left. The noise they could not help making +among the stones proved this directly, and they unwittingly, in spite of +the darkness, went straight to the spot where they had set up the sticks +and helmets, when Gedge uttered a low cry full of excitement. + +"Why, they never come across 'em, sir. I've got 'em, standing here just +as we left 'em. Well, I'm blessed! I know the difference by the feel. +That's yours, sir, and this is mine. Talk about luck! Ha! I feel +better now. Woolly busbies is all very well, but they don't look +soldierly. I could have made some right enough, but we should ha' +wanted to take 'em off before we got back to the fort." + +"A splendid bit of luck, Gedge," said Bracy as he drew the strap of his +helmet beneath his chin. "Now for our next step. What do you think?" + +"Wittles, sir. Can't think o' nothing else just now. I should say, +with what we've got to do, the next thing's to begin stoking before our +fires go out." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +AWFUL MOMENTS. + +It was with serious feelings of compunction that Bracy set this example +to his eager companion, by seating himself on one of the stones and +beginning to combat the weary sensation of faintness which troubled him +by partaking of a portion of his fast-shrinking store of provisions. +For the fact was beginning to stare him in the face that, going on as +they had begun, their little store could not by any possibility last, +till they reached the Ghoorkha camp, and that in depending upon their +rifles for a fresh supply they would be leaning upon a very rotten reed, +since, surrounded as they seemed to be by enemies, it would be +impossible to fire, while everything in the shape of game had so far +been absent. But his spirits rose as he refreshed himself. + +"I will not build imaginary mountains," he said mentally; "there are +plenty about us at last." + +"There, sir," said Gedge, breaking in upon his musings suddenly; "I'm +ready for anything now. I should like to lie down and have a good +sleep; but I s'pose we mustn't do that." + +"Not till we have crossed that ridge up to the north, Gedge. It will be +hard work, but it must be done." + +"And get into the valley on the other side, sir, 'fore we go on +east'ard?" + +"Yes." + +"S'pose there'll be a valley t'other side, sir?" + +"No doubt about it." + +"Then, when you're ready, sir, I am. If we've got it to do, let's begin +and get this soft bit over, for we shan't get along very fast." + +"No; the soft snow makes the travelling bad; but we go higher at every +step, and by-and-by we may find it hard. Now then, I'll lead. The +ridge must be right before us, as far as I can make out." + +"Don't ask me, sir," said Gedge. "Wants a cat to see in the dark; but I +think you must be right. Best way seems to me to keep on going uphill. +That must be right, and when it's flat or going downhill it must be +wrong." + +Bracy made no reply, but, after judging the direction as well as he +could, strode off, and found that his ideas were right, for at the end +of a few minutes the snow was crackling under their feet. + +"Now for it, Gedge. You'll have to lift your feet high at every step, +while they sink so deeply. Hullo!" + +There was a sharp crackling as he extended his left foot, bore down upon +it, and with a good deal of resistance it went through a crust of ice, +but only a short way above the ankle. Quickly bringing up the other +foot, he stepped forward, and it crushed through the hardening surface, +but only for a few inches. The next step was on the rugged surface of +slippery ice, and as they progressed slowly for about a hundred yards, +it was to find the surface grow firmer and less disposed to give beneath +their weight. + +"There's one difficulty mastered," said Bracy cheerily. "The surface is +freezing hard, and we can get on like this till the sun beats upon it +again." + +"I call it grand, sir; but I hope it won't get to be more uphill." + +"Why?" + +"Because if we makes one slip we shall go skating down to the bottom of +the slope again in double-quick time. I feel a'ready as if I ought to +go to the blacksmith's to get roughed." + +"Stamp your feet down if you are disposed to slip, my lad. I do not +want to do this, but if the slope grows steeper we must fix bayonets and +use them to steady us." + +"Take the edge off on 'em, sir." + +"Yes; but we must get across the ridge. Forward." + +They toiled on, the task growing heavier as they progressed, for the +gradient became steeper, and they halted from time to time for a rest, +the plan of using the bayonets being kept for a last resource. But +there were compensations to make up for the severity of the toil, one of +which was expressed by the travellers at one of the halts. + +"Makes one feel jolly comf'table and warm, sir." + +"Yes; and takes away all doubt of our going in the right direction, for +we must be right." + +"I didn't think we was at first, sir. 'Tain't so dark neither." + +"No: we are getting higher, and the snow and ice are all round us. Now +then, forward!" + +Crunch, squeak, crunch went the snow as they tramped steadily, with the +surface curving slowly upward, till all at once there was a slip, a +thud, and a scramble, Gedge was down, and he began to glide, but checked +himself with the butt of his rifle. + +"I'm all right, sir; but I was on the go," he said, panting. + +"Hurt?" replied Bracy laconically. + +"Not a bit, six. Knocked some o' the wind out o' me, but I'm all right +again now." + +"Forward!" + +Bracy led on again, to find that the curve made by the snowfield rose +more and more steeply, and the inclination to slip increased. But he +stamped his feet down as he kept on, with his breathing growing quicker, +and had the satisfaction of hearing his follower imitate his example, +till he began to find that he must soon make another halt. + +His spirits were rising, however, with an increasing hopeful feeling, +for this was evidently the way to avoid pursuit or check. They were on +the ice, and to this they must trust for the rest of their journey till +they were well within reach of the Ghil Valley, to which they must +descend. + +Slip. + +In an instant Bracy was down, starting on a rapid descent toward the +place they had left; but at his first rush he heard beneath him a sharp +blow delivered in the glazed surface, and he was suddenly brought up by +the body of Gedge. + +"Hold tight, sir! All right. I've got something to anchor us." + +"Ha!" ejaculated Bracy breathlessly. "It was so sudden." + +"Yes, sir; don't give you much time to think. You'd better do as I do." + +"What's that?" + +"Keep your bay'net in your hand ready to dig down into the ice. Stopped +me d'reckly, and that stopped you." + +"Yes, I'll do so. A minute's rest, and then we'll go on again." + +"Make it two, sir. You sound as if you haven't got your wind back." + +"I shall be all right directly, my lad. This is grand. I hope by +daylight that we shall be in safety." + +"That's right, sir. My! shouldn't I have liked this when I was a +youngster! Think we shall come back this way?" + +"Possibly," said Bracy. + +"Be easy travelling, sir. Why, we could sit down on our heels and skim +along on the nails of our boots, with nothing to do but steer." + +"Don't talk, my lad," said Bracy. "Now, forward once more." + +The journey was continued, and grew so laborious at last from the +smoothness of the ice, which increased as the gradient grew heavier--the +melted snow having run and made the surface more compact during the +sunny noon; and at the end of another couple of hours the difficulty of +getting on and up was so great that Bracy changed his course a little so +as to lessen the ascent by taking it diagonally. + +This made matters a little better, and tramp, tramp, they went on and +on, rising more swiftly than they knew, and little incommoded now by the +darkness, for the stars were shining out through the cloudy mist which +hung over the slope, while their spirits seemed to rise with the ascent. + +"Have we passed the rocks along which we saw that body of men moving?" +said Bracy at last. + +"I s'pose not, sir, or we must have felt 'em. They must have been a +long way off when we saw 'em going along." + +"Yes; the distances are very deceptive, and--Ah! stones, rocks. Here is +the rough track at last." + +They halted again, for by walking here and there they could make out +that there was a rough track to right and left, comparatively free from +snow, and if this were followed to the right there would be travelling +which would necessitate their waiting for daylight, since it was all in +and out among huge masses of stone. + +"We couldn't get along here, sir, very fast," said Gedge after making a +few essays. + +"No, it is impossible now," replied Bracy. "It would be a dangerous +way, too, for it must, as we saw, cut the valley when; the enemy will +come out." + +He stood looking back and around him, to see that the darkness was +lightened by the strange faint glare from the ice and snow around him; +then, turning, he crossed the ridge of broken rocks and tried what the +slope seemed like upon the other side, to find that it was a +continuation of that up which they had toiled, and apparently much the +same, the gradual curve upward to the mountain being cut by this band of +rocks. + +"Forward again, Gedge," he cried. "This must be right, for we are +getting a trifle nearer to our journey's end, and more out of reach of +our pursuers." + +"Then it is right, sir; but I suppose we shall get a bit o' downhill +some time." + +They tramped on for the next hour, but not without making several halts, +three of which were involuntary, and caused by more or less sudden +slips. These were saved from being serious by the quick action of +driving dagger-like the bayonet each carried into the frozen snow; and +after repetitions of this the falls seemed to lose; their risky +character, the man who went down scrambling to his feet again the next +instant and being ready to proceed. The still air was piercingly cold, +but it only seemed to make their blood thrill in their veins, and a +sense of exhilaration arose from the warm glow which pervaded them, and +temptingly suggested the removal of their woollen _poshtins_. But the +temptation was forced back, and the tramp continued hour after hour up +what seemed to be an interminable slope, while fatigue was persistently +ignored. + +At last, though, Bracy was brought to a halt, and he stood panting. + +"Anything wrong, sir?" whispered Gedge hoarsely. + +"No; only that I can get no farther in this way. We must fix bayonets, +and use our rifles as staves." + +"Right, sir." + +"Be careful not to force your barrel down too far, so as to get it +plugged with the snow," said Bracy; and then, as soon as the +keen-pointed weapons were fixed, he started onward again, the rifles +answering this new purpose admirably, and giving a steadiness to the +progress that had before been wanting. + +Consequently far better progress was made for the next half-hour, with +much less exertion, and Bracy made up his mind that the first patch of +pines they came to on the lower ground should supply them with a couple +of saplings whose poles should have the bayonets fixed or bound upon +them, so as to take the place of the rifles. + +"I'm longing for the daylight, Gedge," said Bracy suddenly, for they had +plunged into a mist which obscured the stars, "so that we can see better +in which direction to go, for we ought to be high enough now to be safe +from--Ha!" + +Then silence. + +"Safe from what, sir?" said Gedge, stopping short. + +There was no reply, and after waiting a few seconds, feeling alarmed, +the lad spoke again. + +"Didn't quite hear what you said, sir; safe from what?" + +There was no reply, and Gedge suddenly turned frantic. + +"Mr Bracy, sir," he said hoarsely, and then, raising his voice, he +called his officer by name again and again; but the same terrible +darkness and silence reigned together, and he grew maddened now. + +"Oh Lor'!" he cried, "what's come to him?" and he went upon his hands +and knees to crawl and feel about. "He's gone down in a fit, and +slipped sudden right away; for he ain't here. He's half-way down the +mountain by now, and I don't know which way to go and help him, and-- +Ah!" he shrieked wildly, and threw himself over backwards, to begin +rolling and sliding swiftly back in the way he had come, his rifle +escaping from his grasp. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +A PRAYER FOR LIGHT. + +Gedge glided rapidly down the icy slope for a good fifty yards in the +darkness, with the pace increasing, before he was able to turn on his +back and check himself by forcing his heels into the frozen snow. + +"And my rifle gone--where I shall never find it again," was his first +thought, as he forced back his helmet, which had been driven over his +eyes: but, just as the thought was grasped, he was conscious of a +scratching, scraping noise approaching, and he had just time to fling +out his hands and catch his weapon, the effort, however, sending him +gliding down again, this time to check himself by bringing the point of +the bayonet to bear upon the snow. And now stopped, he lay motionless +for a few moments. + +"Mustn't be in a flurry," he panted, with his heart beating violently, +"or I shan't find the gov'nor, and I must find him. I will find him, +pore chap. Want to think it out cool like, and I'm as hot as if I'd +been runnin' a mile. Now then; he's gone down, and he must ha' gone +strite down here, so if I lets myself slither gently I'm sure to come +upon him, for I shall be pulled up same as he'd be." + +He lay panting, still, for a few minutes, and his thinking powers, which +had been upset by the suddenness of the scare, began to settle +themselves again. Then he listened as he went on, putting, as he +mentally termed it, that and that together. + +"Can't hear nothing of him," he said to himself. "He must have gone +down with a rush 'stead o' falling in a fit as I thought fust; but it +ain't like a fall. He wouldn't smash hisself, on'y rub some skin off, +and he'll be hollering to me d'reckly from somewheres below. Oh dear! +if it only warn't so precious dark I might see him: but there ain't no +moon, and no stars now, and it's no use to light a match. I say, why +don't he holler?--I could hear him a mile away--or use his whistle? +He'd know that would bring me, and be safer than shouting. But I can't +hear nothing on him. Here: I know." + +Gedge rose to his feet and drove his bayonet into the snow to steady +himself, without turning either to the right or the left. + +"Mustn't change front," he said, "or I may go sliding down wrong and +pass him," he thought. Then raising his hand, he thrust two fingers +into his mouth and produced a long drawn whistle, which was a near +imitation of that which would be blown by an officer to bring his men +together to rally round him and form square. + +"That ought to wake him up," he thought. "He'd hear that if he was +miles away." + +There was a faint reply which made his heart leap; and thrusting his +fingers between his lips, he whistled again in a peculiar way, with the +result that the sound came back as before, and Gedge's heart sank with +something akin to despair. + +"'Tain't him," he groaned. "It's them blessed eckers. I'll make sure, +though." + +He stood listening for some minutes, and then, with his heart feeling +like lead, took off his helmet and wiped his dripping brow. + +"Oh dear!" he groaned; "ain't it dark! Reg'lar fog, and cold as cold. +Makes a chap shiver. I dunno how it is. When I'm along with him I feel +as bold as a lion. I ain't afeared o' anything. I'd foller him +anywheres, and face as many as he'd lead me agen. 'Tain't braggin', for +I've done it; but I'm blessed now if I don't feel a reg'lar mouse--a +poor, shiverin' wet mouse with his back up, and ready to die o' fright +through being caught in a trap, just as the poor little beggars do, and +turns it up without being hurt a bit. I can't help it; I'm a beastly +coward; and I says it out aloud for any one to bear. That's it--a +cussed coward, and I can't help it, 'cause I was born so. He's gone, +and I shan't never find him agen, and there's nothing left for me to do +but sneak back to the fort, and tell the Colonel as we did try, but luck +was agen us. + +"Nay, I won't," he muttered. "I'll never show my face there again, even +if they call it desertion, unless I can get to the Ghoorkha Colonel and +tell him to bring up his toothpick brigade. + +"Oh, here, I say, Bill, old man," he said aloud after a pause, during +which he listened in vain for some signal from his officer, "this here +won't do. This ain't acting like a sojer o' the Queen. Standin' still +here till yer get yerself froze inter a pillar o' salt. You've got to +fetch your orficer just as much now as if if hailed bullets and bits o' +rusty ragged iron. Here goes. Pull yourself together, old man! Yer +wanted to have a slide, so now's your time." + +Grasping his rifle, he squatted down on his heels, and laid the weapon +across his knees preparatory to setting himself in motion, on the faint +chance of gliding down to where Bracy would have gone before him. + +"Would you have thought it so steep that he could have slithered away +like that? But there it is," he muttered. "Now then, here goes." +Letting himself go, he began to glide slowly upon his well-nailed shoes; +then the speed increased, and he would the next minute have been rushing +rapidly down the slope had he not driven in his heels and stopped +himself. + +"Well, one can put on the brake when one likes," he muttered; "but he +couldn't ha' gone like this or I should have heard him making just the +same sort o' noise. He had no time to sit down; he must ha' gone on his +side or his back, heads up or heads down, and not so very fast. If I go +down like this I shall be flying by him, and p'raps never stop till I +get to the end of the snow. I know--I'll lie down." + +Throwing himself over on his side, he gave a thrust with his hands and +began to glide, but very slowly, and in a few seconds the wool of his +_poshtin_ adhered so firmly to the smooth surface that he was brought up +and had to start himself again. + +This took place twice, and he slowly rose to his feet. + +"Wants a good start," he muttered, and he was about to throw himself +down when a fresh thought crossed his brain. + +"I don't care," he said aloud, as if addressing some one who had spoken; +"think what yer like, I ain't afraid to pitch myself down and go +skidding to the bottom, and get up with all the skin off! I sez he +ain't down there. I never heerd him go, and there's something more than +I knows on. It is a fit, and he's lying up yonder. Bill Gedge, lad, +you're a-going wrong." + +He stood trying to pierce the thickening mist, looking as nearly as he +could judge straight upward in the course they had taken, and was about +to start: but, not satisfied, he took out his match-box, struck a light, +and, holding it down, sought for the marks made by the bayonets in the +climb. But there was no sign where he stood, neither was there to his +left; and, taking a few paces to the right, with the rapidly-burning +match close to the snow, the flame was just reaching his fingers when he +uttered a sigh of satisfaction: for, as the light had to be dropped, +there, one after the other, he saw two marks in the freshly-chipped snow +glistening in the faint light. Keeping their direction fresh in his +mind, he stalled upward on his search. + +"How far did I come down?" he said to himself. "I reckon 'bout a +hundred yards. Say 'undred and twenty steps." + +He went on taking the hundred and twenty paces, and then he stopped +short. + +"Must be close here somewhere," he muttered; and he paused to listen, +but there was not a sound. + +"Nobody couldn't hear me up here," he thought, and he called his +companion by name, to rouse up strange echoes from close at hand; and +when he changed to whistling, the echoes were sudden and startling in +the extreme. + +"It's rum," said Gedge. "He was just in front of me, one minute talking +to me, and then `Ha!' he says, and he was gone." + +Gedge took off his helmet, and wiped his wet brow again before replacing +it. + +"Ugh, you idjit!" he muttered. "You were right at first. He dropped +down in a sort o' fit from overdoing it--one as took him all at wunst, +and he's lying somewheres about fast asleep, as people goes off in the +snow and never wakes again. He's lying close by here somewheres, and +you ought to have done fust what you're going to do last. + +"Mustn't forget where I left you," he muttered as he gave a dig down +with his rifle, driving the bayonet into the snow, and sending some +scraps flying with a curious whispering noise which startled him. + +"What does that mean?" he said, and he caught at the butt of his piece, +now sticking upward in the snow, but dropped his hand again to his +pocket and again took out his match-box. + +"Sort o' fancy," he muttered; and, getting out a match, he struck it, +after shutting the box with a snap, which again made him start, +something like an echo rising from close at hand. + +"Why, I'm as nervous as a great gal," he muttered, as the tiny match +burst into a bright flame which formed a bit of a halo about itself, +and, stooping to bring the tiny clear light burning so brightly close to +the surface, he took two steps forward, the ground at the second giving +way beneath him, and at the same moment he uttered a wild shriek of +horror, dashed the match from him, and threw himself backward on to the +snow. For the tiny light had in that one brief moment revealed a horror +to him which was a full explanation of the trouble, and as he lay +trembling in every limb, his shriek was repeated from a short distance +away, and then again and again rapidly, till it took the form of a wild +burst of laughter. + +"Get up, you coward!" growled Gedge the next minute, as he made a brave +effort to master the terrible shock he had sustained, for he felt that +he had been within an inch of following his officer to a horrible death. + +The self-delivered charge of cowardice brought him to himself directly, +and he sprang to his feet. Then, with fingers wet with a cold +perspiration, and trembling as if with palsy, he dragged out his +match-box, took out one of the tiny tapers, and essayed to light it, but +only produced streaks of phosphorescent light, for he had taken the +match out by the end, and his wet fingers had quenched its lighting +powers. + +With the next attempt he was more successful; and, setting aside all +fear of being seen, he held out the flaming light, which burned without +motion in the still air, and, holding it before him, stepped towards the +edge of the snow, which ended suddenly in a black gulf, over which he +was in the act of leaning, when once more he sprang back and listened, +for the snow where he stood had given way, and as he remained motionless +for a few moments, there suddenly came up from far below, a dull thud, +followed by a strange whispering series of echoes as if off the face of +some rocks beyond. + +"Oh!" he groaned. "That's it, then. It was down there he went; and he +must be killed." + +It was one of the young soldier's weak moments; but his life of late had +taught him self-concentration and the necessity for action, and he +recovered himself quickly. The trembling fit passed off, and he look +out another match, lit it, stepped as near as he dared to the edge of +the gulf, and then pitched the burning flame gently from him, seeing it +go down out of sight; but nothing more, for the place was immense. + +He lay down upon his breast now, and crawled in what seemed to be +greater darkness, consequent upon the light he had burned having made +his eyes contract, and worked himself so close that his hand was over +the edge, a short distance to the left of where he had broken it away +with his weight. Here he gathered up a handful of the frozen snow, +threw it from him, and listened till a faint pattering sound came up. + +His next act was to utter a shout, which came back at once, as if from a +wall of rock, while other repetitions seemed to come from right and +left. Then, raising his fingers to his mouth, he gave vent to a long, +shrill whistle, which he repeated again and again, and then, with a +strange stony sensation, he worked himself slowly back, feet foremost, +at first very slowly, and then with frantic haste, as it suddenly dawned +upon him that he was going uphill. For the snowy mass was sinking, and +it was only just in time that he reached a firmer part, and lay +quivering in the darkness, while he listened to a rushing sound, for his +weight had started an immense cornice-like piece of the snow, which went +down with a sullen roar. + +"It's no use while it's like this," groaned Gedge. "I can't do nothing +to help him till the day comes. I should on'y be chucking my own life +away. I'd do it if it was any good; but it wouldn't be no use to try, +and I might p'raps find him if I could only see." + +He had risen to his knees now, and the position brought the words to his +lips; the rough lad speaking, but with as perfect reverence as ever came +from the lips of man: + +"Oh, please, God, can't you make the light come soon, and end this +dreadful night?" + +Poor, rough, rude Bill Gedge had covered his eyes as he softly whispered +his prayer; and when he opened them again, it was to look upon no marvel +greater than that grand old miracle which we, with leaden eyes sealed +up, allow to pass away unheeded, unseen. It was but the beginning of +another of the many days seen in a wild mountain land; for the watchings +and tramps of the two adventurers had pretty well used up the hours of +darkness; and, black though the snow lay where Bill Gedge knelt, right +beyond, straight away upon the mighty peak overhead, there was a tiny +point of glowing orange light, looking like the tip of some huge spear +that was heated red-hot. + +For the supplicant was gazing heavenward, and between the sky and his +eyes there towered up one of the huge peaks of the Karakoram range, +receiving the first touch of the coming day. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +THE LIGHT THAT CAME. + +Gedge knelt there gazing upward, unable to grasp the truth of that which +he saw; for all around him seemed blacker than ever; but as he looked +there was another glowing speck high up in the distance, and then +another and another started into sight, while the first he had seen went +on increasing in brightness; and, as he still kept his eyes fixed upon +it, the fact came to him at last--the belief that it was indeed the sun +lighting up the glittering peaks of the vast range--and he started to +his feet with a cry of exultation. + +"Why, it is to-morrow morning!" he shouted. "Ah! I can help him now." + +But for a time he could only wait on patiently, and watch the bright +glow extending, and stealing slowly downward, in a way which suggested +that it would be hours before the spot where he stood would be lit up by +the full light of day; and, hardly daring to move, he listened, and +twice over gave one of his long, piercing whistles, which were echoed +and re-echoed in a way which made him shudder and hesitate to raise the +strange sounds again. + +"It's o' no use," he said. "He's gone down there, and he's dead--he's +dead; and I shall never see him again.--Yah! yer great snivelling +idjit!" he cried the next moment, in his rage against himself. "The old +woman was right when I 'listed. She said I wasn't fit for a sojer--no +good for nothing but to stop at home, carry back the washing, and turn +the mangle. I'm ashamed o' myself. My word, though, the fog's not so +thick, but ain't it cold! If I don't do something I shall freeze hard, +and not be able to help him when it gets light." + +It was a fact; for, consequent upon standing still so long, a peculiar +numbing sensation began to attack his extremities, and it was none too +soon when he felt his way down the slope for a few yards, and then +turned to climb again. A very short time longer, and he would have been +unable to stir; as it was, he could hardly climb back to the place from +which he started. Cut he strove hard to restore the failing +circulation, keeping his body in active motion, till, by slow degrees, +his natural activity returned, and, forgetting the weariness produced by +such a night of exertion, he felt ready to do anything towards finding +and rescuing his officer. + +"There's no mistake about it," he muttered, "standing still up in these +parts means hands and feet freezing hard. It's wonderful, though, how +these sheepskins keep out the cold. I ought to feel worse than I do, +though, at a time like this; but it's because I won't believe the +gov'nor's dead. It ain't possible, like, for it's so much more sudden +than being caught by a bullet through the heart. Oh he ain't dead--he +can't be--I won't believe it. Tumbled down into the soft snow +somewhere, and on'y wants me to go down and help him out." + +He took another turn up and down to keep up the circulation, and by this +time he could move about freely, and without having to climb the ascent +in dread of going too far and reaching the perilous edge, with its +treachery of snow. + +"Getting lighter fast," he said, "and I shall be able to get to work +soon. And that's it. I've got to think o' that. There's no help to be +got. You've got to find all the help in yourself, old man. My! ain't +it beautiful how the light's coming! It's just as if the angels was +pouring glory on the tops o' the mountains, and it's running more and +more down the sides, till these great holes and hollows are full, and +it's day once more." + +As the golden rays of sunshine came lower, the mountain in front grew +dazzling in its beauty. Minute by minute the glaciers which combed its +sides leaped into sight, shining with dazzling beauty, like rivers and +falls of golden water; the dark rifts and chasms became purple, +lightening into vivid blue; and the reflected light kept on flashing +upon hollows and points, till, saving the lower portions, the vast mass +of tumbled-together ice and snow shone with a glory that filled the +ignorant common lad with a strange feeling of awe. + +This passed off directly, however; and, as the darkness on a level with +where he stood grew more and more transparent, Gedge's active mind was +searching everything in the most practical way, in connection with the +task he had in hand. He could see now dimly that the snow to right and +left of him curved over the vast gulf in front--vast in length only; +for, thirty or forty yards from where he stood, there was the huge blank +face of the mountain going downward, as one vast perpendicular wall of +grey rock, streaked with snow where there were ledges for it to cling. +In fact, the snow from above hung hen; and there as if ready to fall +into the black gulf, still full of darkness, and whose depths could not +be plumbed until the light displaced the gloom, and a safe coign of +vantage could be found from which the adventurer could look down. + +In fact, the young soldier was on the edge of a stupendous +_bergschrund_, as the phenomenon is termed by Swiss climbers--a deep +chasm formed by the ice and snow shrinking or falling away from the side +of a mountain, where the latter is too steep for it to cling. And then, +after a little examination to right and left, Gedge, with beating heart, +found the place where Bracy had stepped forward and instantaneously +fallen. There was no doubt about it, for the searcher found the two +spots where he himself had so nearly gone down, the snow showing great +irregular patches, bitten off, as it were, leaving sharp, rugged, +perpendicular edges; while where Bracy had fallen there were two +footprints and a deep furrow, evidently formed by the rifle, to which he +had clung, the furrow growing deeper as it neared the edge of the snow, +through which it had been dragged. + +Gedge's face flushed with excitement as he grasped all this and proved +its truth, for, between where he stood and the footprints made through +the crust of snow, there were his own marks, those made by his bayonet, +and others where he had flung himself down, for the snow here was far +softer than upon the slope. + +In spite of the darkness still clinging to the depths, Gedge began at +once searching for a safe place--one where he could crawl to the edge of +the gulf, get his face over, and look down; but anywhere near where +Bracy had gone down this was in vain, for the snow curved over like some +huge volute of glittering whiteness, and several times over, when he +ventured, it was to feel that his weight was sufficient to make the snow +yield, sending him back with a shudder. + +Baffled again and again, he looked to right and left, in search of some +slope by whose means he could descend into the gulf; but he looked in +vain--everywhere the snow hung over, and as the light increased he saw +that the curve was far more than he had imagined. + +"Oh, if I only knowed what to do!" he groaned. "I can't seem to help +him; and I can't leave him to go for help. I must get down somehow; but +I dursen't jump." + +This last thought had hardly crossed his brain when a feeling of wild +excitement rushed through him; for faintly heard from far away below, +and to his left, there came the shrill chirruping note of an officer's +whistle, and Gedge snatched at the spike of his helmet, plucked it off, +and waved it frantically in the air. + +"Hoorray!" he yelled. "Hoorray! and I don't care if any one hears me. +Hoorray! He ain't dead a bit; he's down somewhere in the soft snow, and +hoorray! I'm going to get him out." + +At that moment the whistle chirruped faint and shrill again, the note +being repeated from the vast wall. + +"He's this side somewhere," cried Gedge. "Out o' sight under this +curl-over o' snow. There he goes again, and I haven't answered. Of all +the--" + +The cramming of his fingers into his mouth checked the speech, and, +blowing with all his might, the young soldier sent forth a shrill +imitation of the officer's whistle, to echo from the mountain face; and +then, unmistakably, and no echo, came another faint, shrill whistle from +far to the left. + +"All right, Mr Bracy, sir! Hoorray! and good luck to you! I'm +a-coming." + +He whistled again, and went off in the direction from which his summons +seemed to have come, and again he was answered, and again and again, +till, quite a quarter of a mile along the edge, the young soldier +stopped, for the whistles had sounded nearer and nearer, till he felt +convinced that he had reached a spot on the snow hanging just above his +summoner's head. + +As he stopped he whistled again, and the answer sounded shrill and near. + +"Below there! Ahoy!" he yelled, and mingling with the echoes came his +name, faintly heard, but in the familiar tones. + +"Oh dear! What's a chap to do?" panted Gedge. "I want to holler and +shout, and dance a 'ornpipe. Here, I feel as if I'm goin' as mad as a +hatter. Hi! Oh, Mr Bracy--sir--ain't--half--dead--are--yer?" he +shouted, as if he had punctuated his words with full stops. + +"Not--much--hurt," came up distinctly. + +"Then here goes!" muttered Gedge. "I must try and get a look at yer, to +see where yer are." + +The speaker threw himself on his faces once more, and began to crawl +towards the edge of the cornice, to look down into the fairly-light +chasm; but shrank back only just in time to save himself from going down +with a great patch of snow; and he listened, shudderingly, to the dull +rush it made, followed by a heavy pat and a series of whispering echoes. +Then faintly heard came the words: "Keep back, or you'll send an +avalanche down." + +"What's a haverlarnsh?" muttered Gedge. Then aloud, "All right, sir. +Can yer get out?" + +"I don't know yet. I must rest a bit. Don't talk, or you'll be sending +the snow down." + +"All right, sir; but can't yer tell me what to do?" + +"You can do nothing," came slowly back in distinct tones. "The snow +curves over my head, and there is a tremendous depth. Keep still where +you are, and don't come near." + +"Oh, I can keep still now," said Gedge coolly. "It's like being another +man to know that's he's all alive. Oh! can't be very much hurt, or he +wouldn't call like he does. Poor chap! But what's he going to do? +Climb up the side somehow? Well, I s'pose I must obey orders; but I +should like to be doing something to help him out." + +Gedge was of that type which cannot remain quiet; and, feeling irritated +now by his enforced state of helplessness, he spent the time in looking +down and around him for signs of danger. + +The sun was now above the horizon, lighting up the diversified scene at +the foot of the mountain, and away along the valleys spreading to right +and left; but for some time he could make out nothing save a few specks +in the far distance, which might have been men, or a flock of some +creatures pasturing on the green valley-side, miles beyond the +termination of the snow-slope up which they had climbed. He made out, +too, the continuation of the stony track leading to the head of the +valley, and along which the party of tribes-men had been seen to pass; +but there was apparently nothing there, and Gedge drew a breath full of +relief as he felt how safe they were, and beyond the reach of the enemy. + +Then, turning to the gulf again, he went as near as he dared to the +edge, and stood listening to a dull sound, which was frequently +repeated, and was followed by a low rushing noise, which kept gathering +in force till it was like a heavy rush, and then dying away. + +"What's he doing?" muttered Gedge. "Sounds like digging. That's it; +he's been buried alive; and he's hard at work trying to dig himself out +of the snow with his bayonet stuck at the end of his rifle. Well, good +luck to him. Wonder where he'll come up first." + +Gedge watched the cornice-like edge of the snowfield as the sounds as of +some one feebly digging went on; but he could gain no further hint of +what was going on, and at last his excitement proved too much for him, +and he once more began to creep towards the edge of the snow, getting so +far without accident this time that he could form an idea of what must +be the depth from seeing far down the grey face of the wall of rock, +certainly four or five hundred feet, but no bottom. + +"He couldn't have fallen all that way," he said to himself. "It must go +down with a slope on this side." + +A sharp crack warned him that he was in danger, and he forced himself +back on to firm snow, receiving another warning of the peril to which he +had exposed himself, for a portion many feet square went down with a +hissing rush, to which he stood listening till all was still once more. + +Suddenly he jumped back farther, for from somewhere higher up there was +a heavy report as of a cannon, followed by a loud echoing roar, and, +gazing upward over a shoulder of the mountain, he had a good view of +what seemed to be a waterfall plunging over a rock, to disappear +afterwards behind a buttress-like mass of rock and ice. This was +followed by another roar, and another, before all was still again. + +"Must be ice and snow," he said to himself; "can't be water." + +Gedge was right; for he had been gazing up at an ice-fall, whose drops +were blocks and masses of ice diminished into dust by the great +distance, and probably being formed of thousands of tons. + +"Bad to have been climbing up there," he muttered, and he shrank a +little farther away from the edge of the great chasm. "It's precious +horrid being all among this ice and snow. It sets me thinking, as it +always does when I've nothing to do.--If I could only do something to +help him, instead of standing here.--Oh, I say," he cried wildly, "look +at that!" + +He had been listening to the regular dull dig, dig, dig, going on below +the cornice, and to the faint rushing sound, as of snow falling, +thinking deeply of his own helplessness the while, wondering too, for +the twentieth time, where Bracy would appear, when, to his intense +astonishment, he saw a bayonet dart through the snow into daylight about +twenty feet back from the edge of the great gulf. + +The blade disappeared again directly, and reappeared rapidly two or +three times as he ran towards the spot, and then hesitated, for it was +dangerous to approach the hole growing in the snow, the direction of the +thrusts made being various, and the risk was that the weapon might be +darted into the looker-on. Gedge stood then as near as he dared go, +watching the progress made by the miner, and seeing the hole rapidly +increase in size as the surface crumbled in. + +Then all at once Gedge's heart seemed to leap towards his mouth, for +there was a sudden eddy of the loose snow, as if some one were +struggling, the bayonet, followed by the rifle, was thrust out into +daylight, held by a pair of hands which sought to force it crosswise +over the mouth of the hole, and the next instant the watcher saw why. +For the caked snow from the opening to the edge of the gulf, and for +many yards on either side, was slowly sinking; while, starting from the +hole in two opposite directions, and keeping parallel with the edge; of +the cornice, a couple of cracks appeared, looking like dark jagged +lines. + +It was a matter of but a few moments. Gedge had had his lessons +regarding the curving-over snow, and knew the danger, which gave him the +apt promptitude necessary for action in the terrible peril. + +Dropping his own rifle on the ice, he sprang forward, stooped, and, +quick as a flash, caught hold of the barrel of the rifle lying on the +surface just below the hilt of the bayonet. Then throwing himself back +with all the force he could command, he literally jerked Bracy out from +where he lay buried in the loose snow and drew him several yards rapidly +over the smooth surface. The long lines were opening out and gaping the +while, and he had hardly drawn his officer clear before there was a +soft, dull report, and a rush, tons of the cornice having been +undermined where it hung to the edge of the icefield, and now went +downward with a hissing sound, which was followed by a dull roar. + +"Ah-h-h!" groaned Gedge, and he dropped down upon his knees beside the +prostrate snowy figure, jerked his hands towards his face, and then fell +over sidewise, to lie motionless with his eyes fast closed. + +When he opened them again it was to see Bracy kneeling by his side and +bending over him, the young officer's countenance looking blue and +swollen, while his voice when he spoke sounded husky and faint. + +"Are you better now?" he said. + +"Better!" replied Gedge hoarsely as he stared confusedly at the speaker. +"Ain't been ill agen, have I! Here, what yer been doing to make my +head ache like this here? I--I--I d' know. Something's buzzing, and my +head's going round. Some one's been giving me--Oh, Mr Bracy, sir! I +remember now. Do tell me, sir; are yer all right?" + +"Yes, nearly," replied the young officer, with a weary smile. "Twisted +my ankle badly, and I'm faint and sick. I can't talk." + +"Course not, sir; but you're all right again now. You want something to +eat. I say, sir, did you finish your rations?" + +"No; they're here in my haversack. You can take a part if you want +some." + +"Me, sir? I've got plenty. Ain't had nothing since when we had our +feed together. I ain't touched nothing." + +"Eat, then; you must want food." + +"Yes, I am a bit peckish, sir, I s'pose; but I can't eat 'less you do." + +Bracy smiled faintly, and began to open his snow-covered haversack, +taking from it a piece of hard cake, which he began to eat very slowly, +looking hard and strange of manner, a fact which did not escape Gedge's +eyes; but the latter said nothing, opened his canvas bag with trembling +hands, and began to eat in a hurried, excited way, but soon left off. + +"Don't feel like eating no more, sir," he said huskily. "Can't for +thinking about how you got on. Don't say nothing till you feel well +enough, sir. I can see that you're reg'lar upset. Ain't got froze, +have you--hands or feet?" + +"No, no," said Bracy slowly, speaking like one suffering from some +terrible shock. "I did not feel the cold so much. There, I am coming +round, my lad, and I can't quite grasp yet that I am sitting here alive +in the sunshine. I'm stunned. It is as if I were still in that +horrible dream-like time of being face to face with death. Ha! how good +it is to feel the sun once more!" + +"Yes, sir; capital, sir," said Gedge more cheerfully. "Quite puzzling +to think its all ice and snow about us. Shines up quite warm; 'most as +warm as it shines down." + +"Ha!" sighed Bracy; "it sends life into me again." + +He closed his eyes, and seemed to be drinking in the warm glow, which +was increasing fast, giving colour to the magnificent view around. But +after a few minutes, during which Gedge sat munching slowly and gazing +anxiously in the strangely swollen and discoloured face, the eyes were +reopened, to meet those of Gedge, who pretended to be looking another +way. + +The sun's warmth was working wonders, and shortly after Bracy's voice +sounded stronger as he said quietly: + +"It would have been hard if I had been carried back by the snow at the +last, Gedge." + +"Hard, sir? Horrid." + +"It turned you sick afterwards--the narrow escape I had." + +"Dreadful, sir. I was as bad as a gal. I'm a poor sort o' thing +sometimes, sir. But don't you talk till you feel all right, sir." + +"I am beginning to feel as if talking will do me good and spur me back +into being more myself." + +"Think so, sir? Well, you know best, sir." + +"I think so," said Bracy quietly; "but I shall not be right till I have +had a few hours' sleep." + +"Look here, then, sir; you lie down in the sun here on my _poshtin_. +I'll keep watch." + +"No! no! Not till night. There, I am getting my strength back. I was +completely stunned, Gedge, and I have been acting like a man walking in +his sleep." + +Gedge kept glancing at his officer furtively, and there was an anxious +look in his eyes as he said to himself: + +"He's like a fellow going to have a touch of fever. Bit wandering-like, +poor chap! I know what's wrong. I'll ask him." + +He did not ask at once, though, for he saw that Bracy was eating the +piece of cake with better appetite, breaking off scraps more frequently; +while the food, simple as it was, seemed to have a wonderfully reviving +effect, and he turned at last to his companion. + +"You are not eating, my lad," he said, smiling faintly. "Come, you know +what you have said to me." + +"Oh, I'm all right again now, sir; I'm only keeping time with you. +There. Dry bread-cake ain't bad, sir, up here in the mountains, when +you're hungry. Hurt your head a bit--didn't you, sir?" + +"No, no," said Bracy more firmly. "My right ankle; that is all. How +horribly sudden it was!" + +"Awful, sir; but don't you talk." + +"I must now; it does me good, horrible as it all was; but, as I tell +you, I was stunned mentally and bodily, to a great extent. I must have +dropped a great distance into the soft snow upon a slope, and I was a +long time before I could get rid of the feeling of being suffocated. I +was quite buried, I suppose; but at last, in a misty way, I seemed to be +breathing the cold air in great draughts as I lay on the snow, holding +fast to my rifle, which somehow seemed to be the one hope I had of +getting back to you." + +"You did a lot of good with it, sir." + +"Did I?" + +"Course you did, sir. Digging through the snow." + +"Oh yes, I remember now," said Bracy, with a sigh. "Yes, I remember +having some idea that the snow hung above me like some enormous wave +curling right over before it broke, and then becoming frozen hard. Then +I remember feeling that I was like one of the rabbits in the sandhills +at home, burrowing away to make a hole to get to the surface, and as +fast as I got the sand down from above me I kept on kicking it out with +my feet, and it slid away far below with a dull, hissing sound." + +"Yes, sir, I heard it; but that was this morning. How did you get on in +the night, after you began to breathe again? You couldn't ha' been +buried long, or you'd ha' been quite smothered." + +"Of course," said Bracy rather vacantly--"in the night?" + +"Yes; didn't you hear me hollering?" + +"No." + +"When you were gone all in a moment I thought you'd slipped and gone +sliding down like them chaps do the tobogganing, sir." + +"You did call to me, then?" + +"Call, sir? I expect that made me so hoarse this morning." + +"I did not hear you till I whistled and you answered, not long ago." + +"Why, I whistled too, sir, lots o' times, and nigh went mad with +thinking about you." + +"Thank you, Gedge," said Bracy quietly, and he held out his hand and +gripped his companion's warmly. "I give you a great deal of trouble." + +"Trouble, sir? Hark at you! That ain't trouble. But after you got out +of the snow?" + +"After I got out of the snow?" + +"Yus, sir; you was there all night." + +"Was I? Yes, I suppose so. I must have been. But I don't know much. +It was all darkness and snow, and--oh yes, I remember now! I did not +dare to move much, because whenever I did stir I began to glide down as +if I were going on for ever." + +"But don't you remember, sir, any more than that?" + +"No," said Bracy, speaking with greater animation now. "As I told you, +I must have been stunned by my terrible fall, and that saved me from a +time of agony that would have driven me mad. As soon as it was light I +must have begun moving in a mechanical way to try and escape from that +terrible death-trap: but all that has been dream-like, and--and I feel +as if I were still in a kind of nightmare. I am quite faint, too, and +giddy with pain. Yes, I must lie down here in the sunshine for a bit. +Don't let me sleep long if I drop off." + +"No, sir; I won't, sir," replied Gedge, as Bracy sank to his elbow and +then subsided with a restful sigh, lying prone upon the snow. + +"He's fainted! No, he ain't; he's going right off to sleep. Not let +him sleep long? Yes, I will; I must, poor chap! It's knocked half the +sense out of him, just when he was done up, too. Not sleep? Why, +that's the doctor as'll pull him round. All right, sir; you're going to +have my sheepskin too, and you ain't going to be called till the sun's +going down, and after that we shall see." + +Ten minutes later Bracy was sleeping, carefully wrapped in Gedge's +_poshtin_, while the latter was eating heartily of the remains of his +rations. + +"And he might ha' been dead, and me left alone!" said Gedge, speaking to +himself. "My! how soon things change! Shall I have a bit more, or +shan't I! Yes; I can't put my greatcoat on outside, so I must put some +extra lining in." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +ONLY HUMAN. + +As the sun gathered force in rising higher, a thin veil of snow was +melted from off a broad patch of rock, which dried rapidly; and, after a +little consideration, Gedge went to Bracy's shoulders, took fast hold of +his _poshtin_, and drew him softly and quickly off the icy surface right +on to the warm, dry rock, the young officer's eyes opening widely in +transit, and then closing again without their owner becoming conscious, +but, as his head was gently lowered down again upon its sheepskin +pillow, the deep sleep of exhaustion went on. + +"Needn't ha' been 'fraid o' waking you," said Gedge softly, and looking +down at the sleeper as if proud of his work.--"There, you'll be dry and +warm as a toast, and won't wake up lying in a pond o' water.--Now I'll +just have a look round, and then sit down and wait till he wakes." + +Gedge took his good look round, making use of Bracy's glass, and in two +places made out bodies of white-coated men whose weapons glinted in the +sun shine; but they were far away, and in hollows among the hills. + +"That's all I can make out," said Gedge, closing the glass and replacing +it softly in the case slung from Bracy's shoulders; "but there's holes +and cracks and all sorts o' places where any number more may be. Blest +if I don't think all the country must have heard that we're going for +help, and turned out to stop us. My! how easy it all looked when we +started! Just a long walk and a little dodging the niggers, and the job +done. One never thought o' climbing up here and skating down, and have +a launching in the snow." + +Gedge yawned tremendously, and being now in excellent spirits and +contentment with himself, he chuckled softly. + +"That was a good one," he said. "What a mouth I've got! I say, though, +my lad, mouths have to be filled, and there ain't much left. We were +going, I thought, to shoot pheasants, and kill a sheep now and then, to +make a fire and have roast bird one day, leg o' mutton the next, and +cold meat when we was obliged; but seems to me that it was all cooking +your roast chickens before they was hatched. Fancy lighting a fire +anywhere! Why, it would bring a swarm of the beauties round to carve us +up instead of the wittles; and as to prog, why, I ain't seen nothing but +that one bear. Don't seem to hanker after bear," continued Gedge after +a few minutes' musing, during which he made sure that Bracy was sleeping +comfortably. "Bears outer the 'Logical Gardens, nicely fatted up on +buns, might be nice, and there'd be plenty o' nice fresh bear's grease +for one's 'air; but these here wild bears in the mountains must feed +theirselves on young niggers and their mothers, and it'd be like being a +sort o' second-hand cannibal to cook and eat one of the hairy brutes. +No, thanky; not this time, sir. I'll wait for the pudden." + +Human nature is human nature, which nobody can deny; and, uncultivated +save in military matters, and rough as he was, Bill Gedge was as human +as he could be. He had just had a tremendous tramp for a whole day, a +sleepless night of terrible excitement and care, a sudden respite from +anxiety, a meal, and the glow of a hot sun upon a patch of rock which +sent a genial thrill of comfort through his whole frame. These were the +difficulties which were weighing hard in one of the scales of the young +private's constitution, while he was doing his best to weigh down the +other scale with duty, principle, and a manly, honest feeling of liking +for the officer whom he had set up from the first moment of being +attached to the company as the model of what a soldier should be. It +was hard work. Those yawns came again and again, increasing in +violence. + +"Well done, boa-constructor," he said. "Little more practice, and +you'll be able to swallow something as big as yourself; but my! don't it +stretch the corners of your mouth! I want a bit o' bear's grease ready +to rub in, for they're safe to crack. + +"My! how sleepy I am!" he muttered a little later. "I ain't been put on +sentry-go, but it's just the same, and a chap as goes to sleep in the +face of the enemy ought to be shot. Sarve him right, too, for not +keeping a good lookout. Might mean all his mates being cut up. Oh! I +say, this here won't do," he cried, springing up. "Let's have a +hoky-poky penny ice, free, grashus, for nothing." + +He went off on tiptoe, glancing at Bracy as he passed, and then stooped +down over a patch of glittering snow, scraping up a handful and +straightening himself in the sunshine, as he amused himself by +addressing an imaginary personage. + +"Say, gov'nor," he cried, "you've got a bigger stock than you'll get +shut of to-day.--Eh? You don't expect to? Right you are, old man. +Break yer barrer if yer tried to carry it away. Say; looks cleaner and +nicer to-day without any o' that red or yeller paint mixed up with it. +I like it best when it's white. Looks more icy.--What say? Spoon? No, +thank ye. Your customers is too fond o' sucking the spoons, and I never +see you wash 'em after.--Ha! this is prime. Beats Whitechapel all to +fits; and it's real cold, too. I don't care about it when it's +beginning to melt and got so much juist.--But I say! Come! Fair play's +a jewel. One likes a man to make his profit and be 'conimycal with the +sugar, but you ain't put none in this. + +"Never mind," he added after a pause, during which the Italian +ice-vendor faded out of his imagination; "it's reg'lar 'freshing when +you're so sleepy. Wonder what made them Italians come to London and +start selling that stuff o' theirs. Seems rum; ours don't seem a +country for that sort o' thing. Baked taters seems so much more +English, and does a chap so much more good." + +He walked back to the warm patch of rock, looked at Bracy, and then +placed both rifles and bayonets ready, sat down cross-legged, and after +withdrawing the cartridges, set to work with an oily rag to remove all +traces of rust, and gave each in turn a good polish, ending by carefully +wiping the bayonets after unfixing them, and returning them to their +sheaths, handling Bracy's most carefully, for fear of disturbing the +sleeper. This done, he began to yawn again, and, as he expressed it, +took another penny ice and nodding at vacancy, which he filled with a +peripatetic vendor, he said: + +"All right, gov'nor; got no small change. Pay next time I come this +way." + +Then he marked out a beat, and began marching up and down. + +"Bah!" he cried; "that ice only makes you feel dry and thirsty.--My! how +sleepy I am!--Here, steady!" he cried, as he yawned horribly; "you'll +have your head right off, old man, if you do that.--Never was so sleepy +in my life." + +He marched up and down a little faster--ten paces and turn--ten paces +and turn--up and down, up and down, in the warm sunshine; but it was as +if some deadly stupor enveloped him, and as he kept up the steady +regulation march, walking and turning like an automaton, he was suddenly +fast asleep and dreaming for quite a minute, when he gave a violent +start, waking himself, protesting loudly against a charge made against +him, and all strangely mixed up the imaginary and the real. + +"Swear I wasn't, Sergeant!" he cried angrily. "Look for yerself.-- +Didn't yer see, pardners? I was walking up and down like a clockwork +himidge.--Sleep at my post? Me sleep at my post? Wish I may die if I +do such a thing. It's the old game. Yer allus 'ated me, Sergeant, from +the very first, and--Phew! Here! What's the matter? I've caught +something, and it's got me in the nut. I'm going off my chump." + +Poor Gedge stood with his hands clasped to his forehead, staring wildly +before him. + +"Blest if I wasn't dreaming!" he said wonderingly. "Ain't took bad, am +I? Thought old Gee come and pounced upon me, and said I was sleepin' on +duty. And it's a fack. It's as true as true; I was fast asleep; +leastwise I was up'ards. Legs couldn't ha' been, because they'd ha' +laid down. Oh! this here won't do. It was being on dooty without +arms." + +Drawing himself up, he snatched his bayonet from its scabbard, and +resumed his march, going off last asleep again; but this time the +cessation of consciousness descended as it were right below the +waist-belt and began to steal down his legs, whose movements became +slower and slower, hips, then knees, stiffening; and then, as the drowsy +god's work attacked his ankles, his whole body became rigid, and he +stood as if he had been gradually frozen stiff for quite a minute, when +it seemed as if something touched him, and he sprang into wakefulness +again, and went on with his march up and down. + +"Oh, it's horrid!" he said piteously. "Of course. That'll do it." + +He sheathed his bayonet, and catching up his rifle, went through the +regular forms as if receiving orders: he grounded arms; then drew and +fixed bayonet, shouldered arms, and began the march again. + +"That's done it," he said. "Reg'larly woke up now. S'pose a fellow +can't quite do without sleep, unless he got used to it, like the chap's +'oss, only he died when he'd got used to living upon one eat a day. Rum +thing, sleep, though. I allus was a good un to sleep. Sleep anywhere; +but I didn't know I was so clever as to sleep standing up. Wonder +whether I could sleep on one leg. Might do it on my head. Often said I +could do anything on my head. There, it's a-coming on again." + +He stepped to the nearest snow and rubbed his temples with it before +resuming his march; but the relief was merely temporary. He went to +Bracy's side, to see that he was sleeping heavily, and an intense +feeling of envy and longing to follow his officer's example and lie down +and sleep for hours nearly mastered him. + +"But I won't--I won't sleep," he said, grinding his teeth. "I'll die +first. I'm going to keep awake and do my dooty like a soldier by my +orficer. I'd do it for any orficer in the ridgement, so of course I +would for the gov'nor, poor chap! He's watched over me before now.-- +Yes, I'm going to keep on. I shall be better soon. Ten minutes would +set me right, and if there was a mate here to take my post I'd have a +nap; but there ain't a pardner to share it, and I've got to do it on my +head. Wonder whether I should feel better if I did stand on my head for +a minute. Anyhow, I ain't goin' to try." + +Gedge spent the next ten minutes in carefully examining his rifle; then +he turned to Bracy, and soon after he took out the latter's glass and +swept the country round, to find more groups of men in motion. + +"Why, the place is getting alive with the beggars," he growled. "We +shall be having some of 'em cocking an eye up and seeing us here. Don't +know, though; they couldn't make us out, and even if they did we look +like a couple o' sheep. I've got to look out sharp, though, to see as +we're not surprised. Almost wish three or four would come now, so as I +could have a set-to with 'em. That would wake me up, and no mistake.-- +Ah! it's wonderful what one can see with a bit or two o' glass set in a +brown thing like this.--Ah! there it is again." + +Gedge lowered the glass and started violently, for the feeling of sleep +was now overmastering. + +"Nearly dropped and smashed his glass," he said petulantly, and, laying +down his rifle, he closed the little lorgnette slowly and carefully with +half-numbed fingers, which fumbled about the instrument feebly. + +"He'd ha'--he'd ha'--fine--tongue-thrashing when he woke--foun' glass-- +smashed." + +Gedge sank upon his knees and bent over the sleeper, fumbling for the +strap and case to replace the glass. + +"Where ha' you got to?" he muttered. "What yer swinging about half a +mile away for? Ah! that's got yer," he went on, aiming at the case with +a strange fixity of expression. "Now then--the lid--the lid--and the +strap through the buckle, and the buckle--done it--me go to sleep--on +dooty, Sergeant? Not me!--I--I--ha-h-h!" + +Poor Gedge was only human, and his drowsy head sank across Bracy's +breast, so wrapped in sleep that the firing of a rifle by his ear would +hardly have roused him up. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +LIKE A DYING DOG. + +The sun was rapidly going down towards the western peaks, which stood +out dark and clear against the golden orange sky, when Gedge opened his +eyes and began to stare in a vacant way at a little peculiarly shaded +brown leather case which rose and fell in regular motion a few inches +from his nose. He watched it for some minutes, feeling very comfortable +the while, for his pillow was warm; though it seemed strange to him that +it should move gently up and down. But he grew more wakeful a minute +later, and told himself that he knew why it was. He and two London +companions had made up their minds to tramp down into Kent for a +holiday, and to go hop-picking, and they slept under haystacks, in +barns, or in the shade of trees; and at such times as the nights were +cool and they had no covering they huddled together to get warm, taking +in turns that one of the party should lie crosswise and play pillow for +the benefit of his two companions. + +It was one of his comrades that time, and the sun was rising, so they +ought to be stirring to see about, something for breakfast. But in his +drowsy state he could not make out that this was six years ago, nor yet +what this brown leather thing was which kept going up and down. + +Then all at once he could. It was not six years ago, neither was it +early morning, but close upon sunset; that movement was caused by +Bracy's respirations, and the brown leather case contained the little +field-glass; while the well-drilled soldier, and one of the smartest +lads in Captain Roberts's company, had shamefully disgraced himself by +going to sleep at his post. + +Before he had half-thought this he was upon his feet, to stoop again and +pick up his rifle, and then begin stamping up and down with rage. + +"Oh!" he groaned; "I ought to be shot--I ought to be shot! Why, the +niggers might ha' come and knifed Mr Bracy as he lay there helpless as +a kid, and all through me. Slep'? Why, I must ha' slep' hours upon +hours. What's the good o' saying you couldn't help it, sir? You ought +to have helped it. Call yourself a soldier, and go to sleep at your +post in the face of the enemy! That's what the Colonel will say. I +can't never face no one agen. I shall desert; that's what I shall do-- +cut right away and jyne the rebels if they'll have me. Better go and +jump down into that hole and bury myself in the snow; but I can't. + +"How am I to go and leave the gov'nor when he wants me as he does? Oh +dear, oh dear! This is the worst of all. And I was hoping that I +should have my stripes when I got back to the fort. Yes, that's it-- +stripes. I shall get 'em, o' course, but on my back instead of my +sleeve. There, I'm a marked man now, and it's about all over." + +Gedge grew calmer as he went, on pacing up and down, for he stopped +twice over by Bracy, to find that he was sleeping as quietly as a child, +and he evidently had not stirred. The young soldier's next act was to +get possession of the little field-glass again, and, to his dismay, he +made out no less than three bodies of men in the valley far below, one +of which was streaming along as if marching quickly, while the other two +were stationary, close up to a little clump of pines or cedars, he could +not make out which. + +"T'others are going to ketch up to 'em and camp for the night, I bet. +Yes, that they are," he added as a tiny cloud of grey smoke began to +rise. "They're going to cook, so they must have something to roast, and +I'm--oh, how hungry I do feel! Better not hold up this rifle, or they +may see it in the sunshine, and come and cook us." + +He had a good long look, swept the valley as far as he could see, and +then laid down his rifle, to go down on one knee by Bracy and begin +replacing the glass in its leather case. + +"It's all right, sir; on'y me," cried Gedge, for, awakened by the light +touch, Bracy seized one hand and made an effort to pull out his +revolver. + +"Ha!" he cried. "You startled me, Gedge. Want the glass?" + +"Had it, sir, thank ye." + +"See anything?" + +"Yes, sir. There's three lots o' them Dwats down low there--six or +seven hundred of 'em, I should say." + +"Ah!" cried Bracy, rising quickly into a sitting position, but yielding +to an agonising pain and letting himself sink back with a groan. + +"Hurt yer, sir?" said Gedge commiseratingly. + +"Horribly. But tell me; have I been asleep?" + +"Hours and hours, sir. It's just sundown. I was in hopes you'd be +better, sir." + +"I am, Gedge. I was in a horrible state before. My brain seemed +numbed." + +"No wonder, sir, lying in the snow all night; but you talk quite +straight now." + +"Did I seem incoherent before?" said Bracy excitedly. + +"Well, sir, I don't say you was ink-o--what you call it: but you was a +bit touched in the upper story; and that was only nat'ral, sir." + +"Tell me about the enemy down below. Have they made us out?" + +"I think not, sir; but I must out with it, sir." + +"Ah! there is danger?" + +"Oh no, sir, I don't think so; but I can't give much of a report, for I +had to do sentry-go while you slep', sir." + +"Did you? Well, you're a good fellow, Gedge." + +"Not a bit of it, sir. There, it must come to the top. I'd rather tell +you than you should find it out, sir. I held up as long as I could, and +kep' going to sleep walking or standing still; and at last, after +getting out your glass, I knelt down to put it back, and down I went +right off to sleep, just as if some one had hit me on the head with the +butt of his piece." + +"I'm glad of it, Gedge," said Bracy, smiling. + +"Glad of it, sir?" said the lad, staring. + +"Heartily. It was the only thing you could do after what you had gone +through." + +"Beg pardon, sir, but as a soldier--" began Gedge. + +"Soldiers cannot do impossibilities, my lad. I have all the will and +spirit to get on to the Ghil Valley, and yet here I am with my urgent +message undelivered, and lying sleeping the greater part of a day." + +"Oh, that's different, sir. You're sorter like being in hospital and +wounded." + +"If not wounded, Gedge," said Bracy sadly, "I am crippled." + +"Don't say that, sir," cried the lad excitedly. "I thought you said +there was nothing broke." + +"I did not think so then, my lad, but there is something wrong with my +right leg." + +"Amb'lance dooty--first help," said Gedge quickly. "Let's look, sir." + +Bracy bowed his head, and the young soldier ran his hand down the puttee +bandage about his officer's leg, and drew in his breath sharply. + +"Well," said Bracy faintly, "what do you make out?" + +"Leg's not broke, sir, but there's something awfully wrong with the +ankle. It's all puffed up as big as my 'elmet." + +"I was afraid so. Here, help me to stand up." + +"Better not, sir," protested Gedge. + +"Obey orders, my lad," said Bracy softly, and with a smile at his +attendant. "You're not the Doctor." + +"No, sir, but--" + +"Your hands." + +Gedge extended his hands, and by their help Bracy rose, to stand on one +leg, the other hanging perfectly helpless, with the toes touching the +rock. + +"Help--me--" said Bracy faintly, and he made a snatch at Gedge, who was +on the alert and caught him round the waist, just in time to save him +from a fall. + +The next moment he had fainted dead away, to come-to in a few minutes +and find his companion laying snow upon his temples. + +"Ah!" he sighed; "that's refreshing, Gedge." + +"Have a bit to suck, sir?" + +"Yes." + +Bracy lay for a few minutes letting the snow melt in his mouth; then +calmly enough he went on: + +"I've got a bad wrench, my lad. My ankle must have doubled under me +when I fell. There's no help for it; we have had nothing but +misfortunes from the start, but this is the culmination--the worst of +all." + +"Is it, sir? I'm glad o' that." + +"Glad?" + +"Yes, sir; 'cause, you see, when things comes to the worst they begins +to mend. So will your leg if you let me get the puttee and boot off. +If you don't I shall be 'bliged to cut it off before long." + +"Go on; you're quite right, my lad," said Bracy calmly; and as the young +soldier eagerly busied himself over the frightfully swollen place, +unwinding the bandages, which cut down into the flesh, and unlacing the +boot, he went on talking calmly: + +"About this boot, sir; I've unlaced it as far as I can, and it's quite +fast on. Shall I cut it or will you try and bear a wrench?" + +"Don't cut it, my lad. Give a quiet, firm drag. I'll bear the pain as +well as I can." + +The next moment the boot was off, and Bracy lay with his eyes closed. + +"Like some more ice, sir?" said Gedge eagerly. + +"No, my lad; I'm not going to faint this time. Got some snow, and take +my handkerchief to bind some round the ankle. But look first whether +you can make out any movement amongst the enemy." + +"It's getting dark down there, sir, though it's so bright up here, and +the great long shadders of the mountain seems to have swallered 'em up. +But they've got a whacking great fire, sir, so they must be going to +camp there for the night." + +"I don't think they could have made us out, Gedge.--Ha! that feels +comforting. But now listen to me." + +"Yus, sir. I may go on doing up your leg, though?" + +"Oh yes; only attend." + +"Of course, sir." + +"You can tell the Ghoorkha Colonel--" + +"Yes, sir?" said Gedge, for Bracy stopped short.--"He's going off his +head again." + +"And Colonel Graves, if you get back--" + +"Yus, sir." + +"That I did everything that man could do to reach the Ghil Valley." + +"That I'll swear, sir." + +"And that he must lose no time in hurrying to the fort. If he likes to +detach half a company to try and pick me up, he will do so; but the fort +is to be the first consideration. Do you hear?" + +"Yus, sir.--Oh yus, I hears," said Gedge through his teeth as, with the +help of Mrs Gee's pocket-book packet, he put some oil-silk over the +snow, and then applied the broadest bandage he could find cleverly +enough. + +"That's right. I'm a bit of a coward, Gedge," continued the poor +fellow, with a smile. + +"Yes, sir, you are, sir," said Gedge; "an out-and-outer." + +"And I want to have as little pain to bear as I can while you're gone." + +"Course you do, sir. That's why I'm doing this." + +"Make haste, while the light lasts. I want you then to take the rest of +the food and put it in your own haversack." + +"Yes, sir; not inside?" + +"To use as sparingly as you can, so as to make it last till you reach +the Ghil Valley. I have broken down, Gedge, but you must get there. Do +you hear?--must." + +"Yes, sir, I hear--must." + +"It means salvation for the poor creatures yonder, holding out their +hands to us for help." + +"Yes, sir.--But a deal you can see that," muttered Gedge. + +"And it means a sergeant's stripes for the brave lad who took the +message in the terrible emergency." + +"Sergeant, sir? As big a man as old Gee?" + +"Yes; and as good a non-commissioned officer, and I hope a more popular +man." + +"Rigid, sir. That sounds good," cried Gedge cheerily. "But about you, +sir? If you get the ridgement o' little chaps and saves the fort, it +means your company, don't it--Captain?" + +Bracy groaned. + +"I was not striving for promotion, Gedge, but to save our +fellow-countrymen and women yonder. But listen: in case I faint again-- +give me a scrap or two more snow, my lad." + +He took and sucked the icy particles handed to him, and felt refreshed. + +"Now, then," he said; "listen once more, and be quick. Just tie that +bandage, and then put the food together. I am not going to load you +with instructions which you may not be able to carry out, but look +yonder--there is the top of the mountain you have to skirt, shining +bright and hopefully in the distance." + +"I can see it, sir." + +"That is your guide. Once you compass that the way will be easier." + +"Yes, sir. When ought I to start?" + +"To-night, man, as soon as the sun is down; therefore, mark well where +the bright peak lies, so as to take your bearings. The enemy's fire +will enable you to avoid that danger. Quick; there is no time to spare; +and remember--you must get there." + +"Yes, sir; I won't forget." + +"Leave me some cartridges to defend myself, if I can. It would be more +like a soldier to die like that." + +"Yes, sir, o' course; more English and plucky," said Gedge, giving the +last bandage its final knot, and then opening his haversack to take out +what it contained and divide it. + +"What are you doing?" said Bracy sharply. + +"Getting your supper ready, sir, and mine," said the lad coldly. + +Bracy tried to raise himself up in the fit of anger which attacked him, +but fell back with a groan. Fighting back the sensation of weakness, +though, he spoke as firmly as he could. + +"I want no food," he said quietly, "and you are wasting time. A good +twenty-four hours have been lost. Go at once." + +"But you must eat something, sir," said Gedge stubbornly. "There's the +cold coming on awful now the sun's down, and it will keep it out." + +"Those poor creatures at the fort are waiting and praying for help to +come, while the hungry wolves of Dwats are crowding closer and closer in +ready for the massacre." + +"Yes, sir--the beasts!--it's precious hard, but let's hope--" + +"There is no hope, Gedge. It was the last card the Colonel had to play +in sending us, and we must not fail. You must go at once." + +"But I aren't had nothing to-day, sir," pleaded Gedge, "and my inside's +going mad. Wolves? Why, I feel just as if one was tearing me." + +"Take all the provisions left, and eat as you go." + +"And what about you, sir?" + +"Never mind me. Go at once." + +"But it'll be dark as pitch in 'alf-a-hour, sir. How am I to see my +way?" + +"I told you. The descent will be easy. You can almost slide down all +the way, for the snow is getting glassy again, and you must guide +yourself by leaving the enemy's fire on the right. Look! it is glowing +brightly now." + +"That's right, sir, till I get to the bottom. But what then?" + +"Gedge, are you going to fail me in this terrible emergency?" + +"Not me, sir," cried the lad excitedly. "I'll stick to you till we both +goes under fighting to the last, for they don't want to make prisoners +of us; their knives are too sharp." + +"Then go." + +"But I'm sure I couldn't find the way, sir. I should be taking the +first turning to the left, or else to the right, or tumbling into +another hole like this, or doing some stoopid thing. I'm no use, sir, +without my orficer to tell me what to do." + +Bracy drew a deep breath and pressed his lips together, as he fought +hard to keep down his anger against his follower. + +"I have told you what to do," he said at last quite calmly. "You must +use your brains." + +"Never had much, sir," replied Gedge bitterly; "and now they're about +froze up with cold and hungriness and trouble. I ain't fit to send on +such a job as this, sir. I'm sure to muff it." + +"Do you want to find out some day, my lad, that those poor comrades of +ours have been massacred to a man through your hanging back from doing +what might have saved them?" + +"I wish I may die if I do, sir!" cried Gedge passionately. + +"Then go." + +"But I'm cold and hungry, sir, and it's getting dark, and I don't know +my way." + +"Crush those feelings down like a hero, and go." + +"Hero, sir? Me a hero!" cried Gedge bitterly. "Oh? there's none of +that stuff in me." + +There was just enough light reflected from the upper peaks to enable the +couple to see each other's faces--the one frowning and angry, and +belying the calm, stern fixedness into which it had been forced; the +other wild, anxious, and with the nerves twitching sharply at the +corners of the eyes and mouth, as if its owner were grimacing in mockery +of the young officer's helplessness and suffering. + +"Gedge," said Bracy suddenly, after making an effort as if to swallow +down the rage and despair from which he suffered. + +"Yes, sir, I know what you're going to say; but you're awful bad. Now, +you have a bit to eat, and then go to sleep, and when you wake up let's +see if I can't manage to get you on one of those flat bits o' slaty +stone, and then I'll get a strap to it, and pull you down the slope-- +you'll quite slide like--and when we're off the snow I'll pig-a-back you +to the first wood, and we'll hide there, and I'll keep helping you on a +bit till we get to this here Jack-and-Jill Valley. You see, the job +can't be done without you." + +"This is all shuffling and scheming, Gedge, to escape doing your duty," +said Bracy sternly. + +"Is it, sir?" said the lad, with an assumption of innocence. + +"You know it is, sir. You don't want to go?" + +"Well, sir, I suppose that is about the size of it." + +"Do you want me to look upon you as a contemptible cur?" said Bracy, +flashing out into anger now. + +"No, sir; o' course not." + +"I see how it is. I've been believing you to be all that is manly and +true, while all the time I've been labouring under a gross mistake, for +now you are put to the test you are only base metal. Go; leave me. +Gedge, you are a miserable, contemptible coward after all." + +"Yes, sir; that's it, sir," said the lad bitterly; "bit o' common brass +as got into the service, and you orficers and old Gee and the rest of +you drilled up and polished and dressed up and put some gilt on; but +when yer comes to rub it off, I'm on'y a bit o' brass after all." + +"Yes, you know exactly--coward!--dog!" + +"Don't, sir!" cried the poor fellow in a choking voice; "don't! It's +like laying it on to a chap with a wire whip." + +"Then do your duty. Go." + +"I can't, sir; I can't," cried the lad, literally writhing, as if the +blows were falling upon his back and sides. "I dessay I am a coward, +but I'd follow you anywheres, sir, if the bullets was whistling round +us, and them devils were waiting for us with their knives; but I can't +go and leave you now, sir. You ain't fit to leave. It'd be like +killing you--murdering of you, sir, with the cold and starvation." + +"It is your duty to go." + +"But you don't know how bad you are, sir," pleaded the lad, with the +great sobs struggling to escape from his breast. "You don't know, sir; +but I do, sir. You'd be frozen stiff before it was light again." + +"Perhaps; but I should die knowing that an effort was being made to save +those we have left behind." + +"You've done all you can do, sir," pleaded Gedge passionately. "We +can't do no more." + +"I can't, but you can. I call upon you once more to go and do this +thing. If you have any manhood in you, go." + +"I can't, sir," groaned Gedge. + +"You coward!--it's your duty to go." + +"It ain't, sir; it can't be, to leave my orficer to die like this. I +know it can't. Why, if I did, and got the help, and took the men back, +and the Colonel got to know how, he'd think it warn't worth getting it +at such a price. He'd call me a cowardly dog and a hound, and the lads +would groan and spit at me. Why, they'd cob me when they got me alone, +and I couldn't say a word, because I should feel, as I always should to +the last day I lived, that I'd been a miserable sneak." + +"I tell you it is your duty, my man," cried Bracy again. + +"Don't send me, sir! I ain't afraid," pleaded Gedge once more. "It's +leaving you to die in the cold and dark. I can't go!--I can't go!" + +Bracy struggled up at this, supporting himself with his left hand, moved +now as he was by his companion's devotion; but he choked down all he +longed to say in the one supreme effort he was making to fulfil the +mission he had failed in by another hand. + +"I am your officer, sir. You are a soldier, sworn to serve your country +and your Queen." + +Gedge looked down at the speaker through the gloom, and saw him fumbling +beneath his sheepskin coat with his right hand. The next minute he had +drawn his revolver, and Gedge heard it click. + +"You hear me, sir?" cried Bracy sternly. + +"Yes, sir, I hear." + +"Then obey your officer's orders." + +"You ain't an officer now, sir; you're a patient waiting to be carried +to the rear, after going down in front." + +"How dare you!" cried Bracy fiercely. "Obey my orders." + +"They ain't your orders, and it ain't my dooty to obey a poor fellow as +has gone stick stark raving mad." + +"Obey my orders, dog, or--" + +"I won't!" cried Gedge passionately. "I'll be drummed out if I do." + +"You dog!" roared Bracy, and the pistol clicked. + +"Shoot me, then, for a dog," cried Gedge passionately, "and if I can +I'll try to lick yer hand, but I won't leave you now." + +The pistol fell with a dull sound as Bracy sank back, and in that +terrible darkness and silence, amid the icy snow, a hoarse groan seemed +to tear its way from the young officer's breast. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +A WILD IDEA. + +How long that silence lasted neither could have afterwards said, but +after a time Bracy felt a couple of hands busy drawing the spare +_poshtin_ more about him. Then a face was placed close to his, and a +hand touched his forehead softly. "I'm not asleep, Gedge," he said. +"Ha!" sighed the lad, with a long drawn breath: "getting afraid, sir; +you lay so still." + +"It's all over, my man," said Bracy wearily. + +"No, no; don't say that, sir," cried Gedge. "I was obliged to--" + +"Hush! I don't mean that. I only feel now that I can sleep." + +"Yes, sir; do, sir. Have a good try." + +"I cannot while I know that I have your coat." + +"Oh, I don't mind, sir; and I've got to be sentry." + +"We want no sentry here, my lad. Take the coat from under me." + +"But--" + +"Come, obey me now," said Bracy quietly. "Get close to me, then, and +cover it over us both." + +"You mean that, sir?" + +"Yes.--There, my lad, all men are equal at a time like this. I have +striven to the last, but Fate has been against me from the first. I +give up now." + +"I didn't want to run against you, sir; but I was obliged." + +"Yes, I suppose so." + +"You wouldn't have gone and left me, sir?" + +"I don't know," said Bracy slowly. + +"I do, sir; I know you wouldn't." + +"Let it rest, my lad, and we'll wait for day. God help the poor +creatures at the fort, and God help us too!" + +"Amen!" said Gedge to himself; and as the warmth began to steal through +his half-frozen limbs he lay gazing at the distant glow of the enemy's +fire far away below, till it grew more and more faint, and then seemed +to die right out--seemed, for it was well replenished again and again +through the night, and sent up flames and sparks as if to give a signal +far away, for the supply of fir-branches was abundant, and the fire rose +in spirals up into the frosty sky. + +Bracy too lay watching the distant blaze till it grew dim to his +half-closed eyes. A calmer feeling of despair had come over him, and +the feeling that he had done all that man could do softened the mental +agony from which he had suffered. This was to be the end, he felt; and, +if ever their remains were found, those who knew them would deal gently +with their memory. For the inevitable future stared him blankly in the +face. Gedge would strive his utmost to obtain help, but he felt that +the poor fellow's efforts would be in vain, and that, if they lived +through the night, many hours would not elapse before they perished from +hunger and the cold. + +The feeling of weary mental confusion that stole over him then was +welcome; and, weak from the agony he had suffered, he made an effort to +rouse himself from the torpor that, Nature-sent, was lulling the pangs +in his injured limb, but let his eyelids droop lower and lower till the +distant light was shut out, and then cold, misery, and despair passed +away, for all was blank. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The specks of golden light were beginning to show on the high peaks, and +gradually grew brighter till it was sunny morning far up on the icy +eminences, chilly dawn where the two sheepskin-covered figures lay +prone, and night still where the fire was blazing by the pine-forest, +and the great body of the enemy had bivouacked. + +The two motionless figures were covered by a thick rime frost, which +looked grey in the dim light, not a crystal as yet sending off a +scintillation; and tiny spicules of ice had matted the moustache and +beard of Bracy where his breath had condensed during the night, sealing +them to the woolly coverlet he had drawn up close; while a strange +tingling sensation attacked his eyes as he opened them suddenly, waking +from a morning dream of defending the fort and giving orders to his men, +who fired volley after volley, which, dream-like, sounded far away. + +He was still half-asleep, but involuntarily he raised a warm hand to +apply to his eyes. In a very few minutes they were clear, and he began +breaking and picking off bit by bit the little icicles from his +moustache. + +It was strange how it mingled still with his dreams--that firing of +volleys; and the half-drowsy thoughts turned to wonder that there should +be firing, for he must be awake. Directly after he knew he was, for +there was a sharp rattle in the distance, which came rolling and echoing +from the face of the great cliff across the gulf, and Gedge jerked +himself and said sleepily: + +"That's right, boys; let 'em have it." + +"Gedge!" cried Bracy hoarsely. + +"Right, sir; I'm here," was the answer; and the young soldier rolled +over from beneath the _poshtin_, rose to his feet, staggered, and sat +down again. + +"Oh, murder!" he cried. "My poor feet ain't froze hard, are they?" + +"I pray not," said Bracy excitedly. + +"'Cause I can't stand. But, hallo! sir; what game's this? They're +a-firing at us, and coming up over the snow." + +"No, no, it can't be!" cried Bracy wildly. "No tribes-men could fire +volleys like that." + +"Course not, sir. Hoorray! then the Colonel's sent a couple o' +comp'nies to help us." + +"Impossible!" cried Bracy. "Hark! there is the reply to the firing. +Yes; and another volley. I almost thought I could see a flash." + +"Did yer, sir? Oh, don't talk; do listen, sir. There they go. There +must be a big fight going on down there." + +"Then friends have attacked the enemy in camp--advanced upon them so as +to catch them before daylight." + +"Oh! they might ha' waited till it was light enough for us to see, sir. +Mr Bracy, sir, don't, pray don't say it's reg'lars, because if it ain't +I couldn't stand it now. I should go down and blubber like a great +gal." + +"It is a force of regulars, my lad," cried Bracy, whose voice sounded as +if he were choking. "Friends are there below in the valley. I know: +the Colonel must have been badly beaten at the fort." + +"Oh, don't say that, sir." + +"It must be. They have been too much for him, and he is retreating with +our lads trying to make for the Ghil Pass. That is the meaning of the +gathering last night to bar their way." + +"Oh Lor'! oh Lor'! and us not able to fire a shot to help 'em. Be any +use to begin, sir, like for signals to show we're here?" + +"No," said Bracy sadly; "our single shots could not be heard." + +"Not if we fired both together, sir?" cried Gedge wildly. "I'll load +for you." + +"How could they distinguish between our shots and those of the enemy you +can hear crackling?" + +"Course not, sir. I'm a poor idjit sometimes. But oh! why does it keep +dark down there so long when it's getting quite light up here? We can't +see what's going on a bit." + +"No; but my ears tell me pretty plainly," said Bracy excitedly. + +"Mr Bracy, sir." + +"Yes?" + +"We aren't worse, are we, and all this a sort o' nightmare before we +loses ourselves altogether?" + +"No, man, no. Listen. They must be getting the worst of it." + +"Our lads, sir? Oh, don't say that! There must be a lot of them, by +the volley-firing. Don't say they're being cut up." + +"The enemy, man. Can't you hear how steady the firing is?--Splendid. I +can almost see them. The enemy must be retiring stubbornly, and they're +following them up." + +"Yes, sir; that's it," cried Gedge wildly. "Go on, sir; go on." + +"Their officers are holding the men well in hand, so as not to come to a +charge in that broken country, and withering the crowd with their fire +to make them scatter." + +"Right, sir, right. That's it. Oh, if we was only there!" + +There was a pause--the two men listening. + +"The enemy's firing sounds more broken up, and is getting feebler." + +"Yes, sir; I can make out that," panted Gedge. "Oh! I say, don't let +the lads get out of hand and follow the beggars where they can get hold +of the bay'nets and use their long knives." + +For another half-hour the pair lay listening to the engagement going on, +till it seemed as if the daylight below would never come. Then the +darkness gave way, to display far below a cold grey mist, through which +clouds of smoke were softly rising; and Bracy brought his glass to bear +upon the fight still raging furiously, and looked in silence till Gedge +turned to him: + +"Oh, do say something, sir! Our lads--they ain't being cut up, sir, are +they?" + +"No, no, I think not, my lad; but I can hardly make out what is going on +at present. Ha! it's gradually growing lighter there. The enemy are +not where they were last night, and the troops are there." + +"Then they've took the beggars' camp, sir?" + +"That does not follow," said Bracy, whose eyes were glued to his +glass.--"I can make out the white-coats now. They have divided, and are +upon the rising ground all round. Our poor fellows must have fallen +into a trap." + +"No, sir; no, sir, they couldn't, sir," cried Gedge; "they'd have seen +that fire and known there was an enemy." + +"Yes, I forgot the fire," said Bracy. "Oh, if the sun would only shine +down upon them now!" + +"But he won't, sir; he never will when he's wanted to. He won't shine +there for an hour yet." + +"Yes--no--yes--no," panted Bracy at slow intervals; and Gedge wrung his +hands, like a woman in trouble, whimpering out: + +"Oh! who's to know what that means, with his `Yes--no--yes--no'? Mr +Bracy, sir, do--do say that our lads are whipping the beggars back." + +"Yes," cried Bracy excitedly; "I can see now; the hill-men are scattered +and running towards the mountains." + +"Hoorray!" yelled Gedge. "Hoorray! Hoorray! Hark at the steady +volleys still, sir! Hoorray! Who wouldn't be a soldier of the Queen?" + +"Ha! Who indeed?" sighed Bracy. + +"And it don't matter, sir, now?" said Gedge. + +"No; not so much, my lad; but they'll be harassed like this all the way +to the Ghil Pass." + +"And drive the beggars back, sir. But don't you think we ought to make +one try to get down to them, sir? Same as I said last night?" + +Bracy was silent as he kept on using his glass, with the valley below +growing clearer--so light now that, the young soldier could begin to see +something of the fight with the naked eye, and he joined in the eager +watch downward for a time before repeating his question. + +"I fear not, my lad," said Bracy, with a sigh. "The enemy are cut in +two; one body is retreating down the valley in the direction of the +fort; the other, widely scattered, is making for the snow-slope." + +"Not coming this way, sir?" cried Gedge. + +"Yes, as far as I can see; and our men are steadily in pursuit, firing +wherever a crowd collects." + +"That's the way to do it, sir; but that's cutting off our retreat." + +"Yes." + +"Well, then, sir, we must lie low till the enemy is cleared off. They +won't come up here." + +"No; they must be making for the track we crossed--the one below there, +where we saw the men going towards the valley-bend." + +"That's it, sir, and they've got their work cut out; but our lads won't +follow 'em right up there." + +"No; they will only follow till they have scattered them as far as +possible." + +"And then go back, sir, and leave us where we are." + +"Yes," said Bracy sadly. + +Gedge was silent for a few minutes, during which they still watched the +scene below. Then he broke out with: + +"It's all downhill, sir." + +"Yes, Gedge," said Bracy drearily; "it is all downhill now to the end." + +"You ain't listening to me, sir," cried the lad. "Do put that glass +away, sir, and we'll have a try." + +"A try? What! to get down below? You try, my lad; but there is the +terrible risk of being cut to pieces by the enemy if they see you." + +"Don't begin that again, sir, please. You know I won't leave you, but +let's have a try." + +"I am helpless, my lad--as helpless as a figure half of lead." + +"But I ain't, sir," cried Gedge. "The sight of our lads below there +seems to ha' woke me up. I'm ready to die game; but I want to make one +spurt for life first." + +"Why, Gedge," cried Bracy excitedly as he lowered the glass from his +eyes, "they're not our fellows after all." + +"What, sir!" + +"No; and there's a detachment down yonder coming from the east. I can +almost see that they're doubling to get up in time." + +"From the east, sir? Then the Colonel ain't retreating?" + +"No.--Hurrah!" + +"Hoorray!" roared Gedge, joining in. + +"They're the Ghoorkhas, Gedge. They must be a thousand strong." + +"Then one o' the messengers must ha' got to them after all." + +"Yes; that must be it, Gedge; and they surprised the enemy's camp at +dawn." + +"That's it, sir!" yelled Gedge. "Hoorray! hoorray again! Then there is +life in a mussel after all." + +"They've scattered this force, Gedge, and the fort will be relieved, for +the bravo little fellows will cut their way through all." + +"Yes, sir. Now then, sir, you needn't hardly move. There's a bit o' +slaty stone yonder as'll do, and all I want of you, sir, is for yer to +sit still upon it, and nuss the rifles while I steer you down to the +truck." + +"Right in among the enemy, my lad?" + +"Right through 'em, sir. They're on the run, and won't dare to stop to +go at us. I never heard of a nigger as'd stand a moment when a Ghoorkha +was coming after him with his crooked knife." + +"Let's try," said Bracy, setting his teeth. "Life is sweet, my lad." + +"Even without sugar, sir. Why, bless your 'eart! there's a lot of it in +us both yet, sir. This here's nothing to what we've been and done." + +Wild with excitement now, Gedge fetched the heavy slab of stone, almost +as much as he could lift, drew it close up behind Bracy, and placed his +arms under the young officer's shoulders. + +"Now, sir," he said, "you set your teeth just as if the doctor was going +to use his knife." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"Draw you right back on to this stone, sir. I must hurt you a bit, but +I can't help that." + +"Go on," said Bracy; and the next moment he was drawn back upon the +stone, with no worse suffering than a fit of faintness, for his leg was +numb with the cold. + +"Right, sir. Now your rifle and mine across your legs. Stop; my +_poshtin_ first. May want it again. Got the cartridges handy?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I sits here between your legs, sir. Just room, and I can steer +and put on the break with my heels. Ready, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"Then off." + +The surface of the snow was like glass with the night's frost, and the +stone began to glide at once, just as the first gleams of the rising sun +lit up the spot where such terrible hours had been spent; and the next +minute, with a strange, metallic, hissing sound, the pair were gliding +down the slope at a steady rate, which Gedge felt it in his power to +increase to a wild rush by raising his heels from the surface upon which +they ran. + +"All right, sir?" + +"Yes, all right. Go on." + +"Ain't it wonderful, sir? Why, we can get down to the track long before +any of them can get up to it." + +"Stop, then, to let them reach it and retreat." + +"If you order me to, sir, I will; but they'll never try to stop us; +they'll scatter to see us coming down like this. Why, in less than an +hour, sir, we shall be all among the Ghoorkha lads, and then hoorray for +the fort!" + +"Go on, then. I trust to you." + +"Right, sir," cried Gedge excitedly; and in spite of several risks of +overturning, he steered the novel toboggan sledge down the gigantic +slide, with the wild, metallic, hissing sound rising and falling on the +keen wind that fanned their cheeks, and a glistening prismatic, icy dust +rising behind them like a snaky cloud. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +THE IDEA TAMED. + +Onward, swifter or slower, they moved as the undulations of the mighty +snow-slope ruled with the rough track crossing at right-angles far below +and gradually growing plainer, the white-coats of the fleeing enemy, the +kharkee jackets of the advancing line of Ghoorkhas, and the pulls of +smoke from each discharge coming nearer as if in a dream. The +excitement of the wild rush seemed to madden Gedge, who, as he found out +that he could easily control his rough chariot of stone, let it glide +faster and faster, his eyes sparkling, and the various phases of the +fight below sending a wild longing to be amongst it thrilling through +his nerves. + +"Oh," he shouted, "if there was only a hundred of us coming down like +this to take the enemy front and rear! Are you all right, sir?" + +"Yes, yes; but beware of the rocks down below there by the track." + +"Right, sir. Wish they weren't there, though, and we could go right on; +charge through 'em in no time." + +He had to speak without turning his head, and Bracy did not catch half +his words. But it was no time for speaking; and, forgetting for the +time being his injuries and partial helplessness, Bracy began to share +in his driver's excitement, and watched the movements going on below. + +The height to which they had climbed had been great, and some memory of +the labour they had gone through in the ascent came back as they swept +rapidly down, till in an incredibly short space of time they neared the +rocky track, with its rugged pinnacles and masses standing right up out +of the snow. + +Gedge saw that the enemy was still far below the track; and as he +checked the way on the stone by gradually driving in his well-nailed +boot heels, he looked to right or left for a spot where there would be a +clear crossing of the track, free from projecting rocks, so that a +stoppage would not be necessary. There it was, lying well to the right, +narrow but perfectly practicable. For, plainly enough, he could see +that there had been a snow-slide burying a portion of the track, and if +he could steer between a couple of rocks, not ten yards apart, the glide +down could be continued without a pause. + +"It's all right, sir," he cried. "Signals is clear, and we don't stop +at that station. Hoorray! Her Majesty's mails. Fast express." + +It was on Bracy's lips to cry, "Take care," but he nipped them together +and sat fast, feeling their pace slacken as if, to carry out Gedge's +simile, they were easing down to run through a station. + +Nearer, nearer, with rough crags half-buried in the snow on both sides +and seeming to close in upon them as they glided down, with the narrow +pass between the two rocks unaccountably growing for the moment closer +together. But directly after, by clever steering, Gedge made a curve in +their descent, brought the stone opposite the opening, and then let it +go. + +Their way rose a little as they approached the track where it was buried +in the snow, but directly after the descent was steeper; and as soon as +Gedge felt sure of his course they dashed through the opening at a +greatly increased speed. Then he shouted in his wild excitement as they +tore down towards the enemy, who were toiling upward, slipping, and even +crawling on all-fours in places, while their active little pursuers were +striving their best to overtake them, but pausing at times to fire. + +Pursued and pursuers were still far below, but Bracy saw that it was +only a matter of a short time before they would be amongst them; and +now, for the first time, it was evident that their descent had caught +the attention of the hill-men striving to reach the track, some of whom +stopped short to stare, while a party of about twenty immediately bore +off to their left as if meaning to intercept them. + +"What's it to be, sir!" panted Gedge. "Charge through 'em, or stop and +let 'em have it? They'll be `twix' two fives." + +"Stop!" shouted Bracy. "They'll try to check us, and slash as we come; +and if we strike against even one we shall be upset." + +"That's right, sir. Be ready with the rifles. Mine's charged, I think. +'Nother five hundred yards right for that lot o' twenty, and then slide +off and open fire--eh?" + +"You don't want your orders, Gedge," said Bracy dryly. "Quite right." + +Gedge did not hear him, for, as they rushed down over the icy snow, he +had his work cut out to check his awkward car, as it nearly mastered +him, his heels gliding over the smooth surface and refusing to cut in. +Forcing them down, though, the speed began to slacken, till they neared +the ascending group of savage faces of those who had borne off to +intercept them; and as the car was brought to a stand a couple of shots +were fired, and the missiles sent whistled by their heads. + +"Can yer roll off, sir, and lie on yer face?" cried Gedge as he snatched +his rifle, threw himself down behind the stone, and opened his +cartridge-pouch. + +"Yes. Look to yourself. Fire sharply, or they'll be upon us." + +"Or our bay'nets," said Gedge through his teeth. + +The next moment he fired as he rested upon his elbows, and a shot from +Bracy rang out, with the result that two of the group below them +dropped, and a yell came from the remainder as they made a rush to reach +them. But their running powers were exhausted, and at the end of twenty +yards they resumed their heavy climb, with their feet breaking through +the crust of frozen snow. + +Crack, crack! from the English rifles, and one more dropped in his +track, while another sprang wildly in advance for a few yards, before +pitching forward upon his face and lying still. + +"Fire steadily," said Bracy hoarsely, "and we may cheek them." + +"Right, sir. Quick, too, for the beggars on the left are closing in to +help." + +A couple more shots were fired, and another man went down, and then +there was a yell of rage and an order from one of the party, with the +result that all dropped upon their faces, checked, and began to fire at +the pair crouching behind the stone, made to look bigger by Gedge's +_poshtin_ lying in a little heap on the top. + +"It's all right, sir; they couldn't hit a haystack. Their hands are all +of a tremble with climbing. We're right enough. I hit that chap." + +Proof was given, for one of the enemy started up, dropped his long +jezail, and fell backwards. + +"Keep on firing steadily, Gedge," said Bracy huskily. "I must open upon +that group on our flank. They're coming on." + +"Then we're done, for, sir," said the young soldier. "But mind this, +sir; I die game, though you did call me a coward last night." + +"I did, Gedge, and it was a cruel lie, my lad. Fire away. I wish I had +your pluck. Look here." + +"Yes, sir.--One for you," growled Gedge as he fired again.--"I'm +listening, but I can't look. Hit him, sir?" + +"Yes," said Bracy. "Look here." + +"Can't, sir." + +"Then listen. When it comes to the worst--one grip of the hand, my lad, +before we go." + +Crack--crack! + +Two more shots in answer to the scattered fire of the enemy, whose +bullets whistled over their heads, seeking billets in the snow around. + +"Won't be long, sir, I'm afraid," said Gedge. "No, I ain't afraid--not +a bit. But those chaps are coming on faster. 'Tain't climbing, sir, +now." + +"No; they'll be upon us before five minutes have passed. Turn your +rifle upon them, my lad, for two or three shots, and we may check them +too." + +Before Gedge could change his position a scattered volley from below +somewhere rattled out, and the flanking-party coming on needed no +checking, some of them falling dying or wounded, while the remainder +threw themselves down and began firing, some at their pursuers below, +the rest at Bracy and Gedge. + +"Hoorray, sir! Didn't I say there was life in a mussel? The Ghoorkhas +are at 'em. Look, sir, there's about a dozen of 'em lying down to cover +the advance, and another dozen coming on with their knives. Let's show +'em how to shoot, sir. It 'll help the little chaps, too, when they +charge." + +It was as Gedge said; and as shot after shot was sent with good aim, the +party of tribes-men in front was lessened by half-a-dozen before the +little Ghoorkha party came up within charging distance and made their +rush. + +"Fix bayonets!" cried Bracy. "The enemy may come at us;" and the +little, dagger-like weapons clicked and clicked as they flashed in the +sunshine. + +But Bracy and Gedge got in a couple more shots before their foes sprang +up to charge them. Then a couple more dropped as they came on, while a +volley from below rattled out and made their attack feeble and aimless, +though they reached their goal, one to make a slash at Gedge as he was +pinned by the lad's bayonet, while two more struck at Bracy. Then the +Ghoorkhas were upon them, racing over the snow, their crooked knives +flashing, and the remaining enemy were fleeing for their lives, +scattering far and wide, with their pursuers overtaking man after man, +whose white-coats made blots on the glistening snow, and many a terrible +stain. Then a whistle rang out as an officer came up to the stone at +the double, sword in hand. + +"Hullo, here!" he cried; "who, in the name of wonder, are you? I +couldn't get up in time. My boys didn't do that?" + +Bracy's lips parted, but no sound came. + +"No, sir," panted Gedge; "it was the straight knives did it, not them +pretty little blades." + +"I'm glad of that. I was afraid my boys had made a mistake. But who +are you?" + +"Private Willyum Gedge, in the 404th Fusiliers; and here's my +lieutenant, Mr Bracy, sir. We was coming from the fort to fetch you." + +"Ah!" cried the officer. "How is it with them there?" + +"All right, sir; but hard pushed when we come away. Ain't got such a +thing as a doctor about yer, have you?" + +"Yes, yes. My boys shall carry you down. All right," he cried as a +bugle rang out from below with the recall; and by that time the little +group were surrounded by some twenty of the active Ghoorkhas, for the +most part with a begonia-leaved kukri in hand, laughing, chattering, and +ready to dance with delight around the two British soldiers they had +saved. + +Meanwhile their officer was down on one knee rendering first aid to the +wounded, the knife of one of the enemy having slashed Bracy's thigh, +which was bleeding profusely; and a havildar of the Ghoorkhas was +cleverly bandaging Gedge's left arm, chattering to him merrily in broken +English the while. + +"Try and swallow a drop more," said the officer to Bracy, who was +reviving a little, and smiled his thanks, his eyes wandering round +directly after in search of something, till a movement on the part of +their rescuers enabled him to see Gedge, to whom he feebly held out his +hand. + +"Much hurt?" he said faintly. + +"Tidy, sir. Smarts a lot; but I don't mind, sir. Say you've not got it +bad." + +"Bad enough, my lad; but we've won." + +Gedge turned to the officer with a wild, questioning look in his eyes, +for Bracy sank back, half-fainting. + +"A bad, clean cut; that's all," said the officer, smiling encouragement. + +"But it ain't all, sir," cried Gedge passionately. "He's badly hurt +besides. Crippled in the leg." + +"Ah! and you fought like that! Well, we must get him down to the +doctor; he is not far below. Ambulance party here." + +"Beg pardon, sir; why not lay him on the stone again, and let him slide +down easy? I can ride, too, and steer." + +"I don't understand you, my lad," said the officer, looking at Gedge as +if he thought him wandering. + +He soon did comprehend, though; and the little Ghoorkhas cheered with +delight as, with Bracy lying upon the sheepskin-coats, the stony sledge +went gliding slowly down the slope, half-a-dozen of the little fellows +forming its escort, and ready to check it from breaking away, till the +end of the snowfield was reached, and the two sufferers were soon after +being well tended by the doctor in the temporary camp. + +This was near the fir-wood hold by the enemy the night before--the +enemy, after heavy loss, having been scattered far and wide. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +HOW THE FORT WAS SAVED. + +It was on the third morning after Bracy and Gedge had been with the +Ghoorkhas, who were in camp in a natural stronghold of the upper valley, +resting before making their final advance to the fort. Gedge, with his +arm in a sling, and a frost-bitten foot, which made him limp about the +little tent they shared by the doctor's orders, was looking anxiously +down at his officer, who lay perfectly helpless, appearing terribly thin +and worn, but with a bright look in his eyes, which augured well for his +recovery. + +"Yes, sir; you look a deal better," said Gedge in answer to a question: +"and, of course, the doctor ought to know; but I don't think you ought +to be so weak." + +"Wasn't it enough to make me weak, my lad?" said Bracy in a faint voice. +"Why, I have hardly a drop of blood left in my body." + +"Course not, sir; and you do eat and sleep well." + +"Yes, my lad; and if we can only cut our way through these swarming +wretches, and relieve the fort before it is too late, I shall soon begin +to mend. It is horrible, this delay, and no news." + +"No news, sir?" said Gedge, staring. "Didn't the doctor tell you?" + +"The doctor? I have not seen him this morning." + +"But he's been here, sir. He said you were in such a beautiful sleep +that you warn't to be woke up, for it was doing you no end of good." + +"But he said something?" said Bracy anxiously. "Have we had news?" + +"Tip-top, sir. One of the little Ghoorkha chaps got back soon after +daylight--one of the three that was sent different ways." + +"But the news?" + +"He got into the fort, sir, and brought a despatch from the Colonel." + +"Yes, yes," said Bracy breathlessly. + +"They was all well, but hard up for everything, 'speshly ammynition; but +they could hold out for three days; and as soon as we come up he's going +to make a sally and attack the Dwats in the rear.--Oh, sir, it is hard, +and no mistake!" + +"Thank Heaven!" cried Bracy softly. "There, my lad, I can lie and rest +now." + +"Yes, sir, that's the worst of it." + +"It is hard--the worst of it?" said Bracy wonderingly. "What do you +mean?" + +"You and me, sir, having to lie up and be out of all the fun." + +"Oh, I see," said Bracy, smiling, and with the careworn look seeming to +die out of his thin face. "Well, I think we have done our share." + +"Did you hear the firing last night?" + +"I? No. Was there an attack?" + +"A big un, sir; but the enemy was driven back everywhere, and left a lot +of dead behind. I never see such fellows as these little Ghoorkha chaps +is to fight." + +"If they can only cut their way through to the fort, Gedge, there will +be nothing then to fear, for Colonel Graves will hold the place, against +any number that can be brought against it." + +"And they will, sir," cried Gedge proudly; "nothing can stop 'em. +They've got so much dash and go in 'em. There's going to be a big fight +to-day, for the hills seem dotted with white-coats as far as you can +see; and in an hour's time I hear we're to advance, so as to get the job +done before it's dark." + +Gedge's news was correct: and in an hour the column was in motion, the +order coming to advance in skirmishing order, with ample supports, and +no following up of the enemy was to be attempted, the sole object, being +to reach the fort before night, and trust to the future for giving +adequate punishment for all that had been done. + +The orders of the officers were splendidly carried out, and the gallant +regiment advanced along the right bank of the river as fast as the front +was cleared, but at a severe cost, for the hills and patches of forest +and rock swarmed with the enemy, and but for the abundance of cover the +attempt must have failed. But by a series of rushes and their deadly +fire the brave little fellows won their way on till well into the +afternoon, when farther progress seemed impossible, the enemy's leader +holding a patch of cedar forest most determinedly with a dense body of +men. All this Bracy knew, for Gedge, in spite of his wound, was active +enough, and kept his officer well furnished with accounts of their +progress; but his face looked grave as, in obedience to Bracy's +question, he told him all. + +"Yes, sir," he said, "we're in a very tight place; and the Colonel here +is looking a bit down in the mouth. The little chaps are raging about +being kept back, and if he'd let 'em go they'd kill till they couldn't +lift those head-choppers of theirs; but as soon as one's shot or cut +down a dozen seems to spring up, and the place swarms with white-gownds, +as if they'd quite made up their minds to kill us to a man before we can +get to the fort. There, sir--hear that?" + +"Yes, I hear," said Bracy, breathing hard. "It means an attack on the +rear." + +"That's it, sir. We're surrounded; and if it weren't for that rushing +river being so full they'd come swarming over, and we should be done." + +Further conversation was put an end to by the order to advance, after a +brief halt to rest and refresh the men, the Ghoorkha Colonel seeing that +the enemy must be dislodged from the forest in front at any cost. It +was a desperate business, and could only be achieved at a terrible loss, +for the river and precipitous rocks on either side put a stop to all +idea of turning the enemy's flank. A bold dash was the only chance, and +this was about to be attempted, while the rear of the regiment was being +terribly harassed by the enemy closing in. + +The last arrangements had been made, and the swarthy little fellows, so +long held in by the tight rein, were trembling with excitement as they +stood together in shelter, with fixed bayonets and kukris, waiting to +make the rush. The bugle was being raised to the holder's lips to sound +the advance, when a thrill of joy surged through the British leaders' +breasts, for the help they needed came in the nick of time. + +A sharp volley was fired from behind the dense patch the enemy was +holding, and the Ghoorkhas cheered wildly as the bugle rang out; and +then as volley after volley followed from beyond the trees they +literally flew over the broken ground, not a man stopping to fire, but +raced into the wood, hewing with their terrible knives, and driving the +enemy out like a flock of sheep right on to the fire, and soon after +upon the bayonets of Colonel Graves's men. It was only a matter of ten +minutes, and then, fleeing to right and left, the enemy was springing up +among the rocks or plunging into the river to escape the tierce little +regiment they had sought to destroy. + +Ill news flies swiftly, and the sight of their fellows streaming +scattered up among the hills disheartened those who were making a savage +attack upon the rear. A couple of volleys from the two companies who +formed the rear-guard turned their hesitation into flight, and amidst +tremendous cheering the advance was continued, with Colonel Graves's men +clearing the way; and, merely harassed by a few distant shots, the +column readied the fort whose walls were lined by non-combatants, women, +and the weak garrison left behind. The men marched in cheering and +counter-cheering, intoxicated as they were with success, while even the +wounded carried on litters and mules, and the brave fellows who +persisted in tramping on in spite of injuries terrible to bear, added +their feeble cries to swell the jubilation of the scene. + +But the wildest, most exciting moments were when, in the bright evening +glow, the rear-guard of the little Ghoorkhas marched in, proud of two +burdens they carried shoulder-high in litters, singing and cheering and +waving their caps, as if they bore the greatest triumph of the relief. + +One of those they carried lay prone and helpless, his sallow face +quivering slightly from time to time with the emotion which attacked him +as he was borne into the court--most painfully perhaps when his face was +recognised by those at the windows of the buildings and on the walls. +It was then that his name was shouted, first by shrill women's voices, +and then thundered out and half-drowned by the cheers. + +The other burden carried by the brave little Ghoorkhas would not lie, +but insisted upon sitting; and somehow, in the midst of the wild +excitement of their reception as the heroes who had brought back the +help, Gedge seemed to go quite mad with boy-like joy. For as soon as he +appeared, bandaged and damaged as he was, Mrs Gee called out his name. +A burst of fresh cheering arose then from the men of his company who +were near, and as their shouts arose and were echoed by those around, +"Bill Gedge! Bill Gedge!" the poor fellow sat up as high as he could +upon the little Ghoorkas' shoulders, threw himself into one of his +favourite nigger minstrel attitudes, with left arm outstretched and +right hand seeming to thump with all his poor strength upon the +imaginary banjo held against his breast. + +"Welcome, welcome back!" cried Colonel Graves a few minutes later, as he +forced himself through the crowd to where Doctor Morton was excitedly +superintending the carrying in of his two old patients to the officers' +ward. + +"Thanks, thanks, Colonel," said Bracy in a feeble voice. "I did my +best, sir, but I only failed." + +"Failed!" cried the Colonel proudly. "Why, the fort is saved." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +"FOR VALOUR." + +There is little more to tell, for, after this last repulse and the +strengthening of the but by doubling its garrison, the enemy's ranks +melted away once more, the white-coats, terribly lessened, vanishing +like snow from the hills. + +Two days later long processions of unarmed villagers were bringing in +stores for sale; and before twenty-four more hours had elapsed a +deputation of chiefs from different tribes were suing for peace, the +Empress Queen's authority being acknowledged, and the fort and its +approaches became safe, so that it seemed hard to realise the truth of +the great change. But change there was, the various hill-tribes round +apparently accepting the position of being under the stronger power, and +devoting themselves to the arts of peace. + +It was while getting slowly over his injuries that Bracy's quarters +became the favourite resort of many of the officers, even Colonel +Wrayford, once more himself, often coming in company with Major Graham +and the Doctor. But the chief visitors were Roberts and Drummond, the +three young officers exchanging notes as to what had taken place during +their separation. + +"I never knew such a lucky chap as you are, Bracy," said Drummond on one +occasion. "You seem to get most of the titbits and all the fat." + +Bracy's face assumed such a peculiar aspect of perplexed wonder as he +carefully shifted his injured leg so as not to jar his wound while +moving, and he directed such a questioning look at Roberts that the +latter burst into a roar of laughter. + +"What is it?" said Drummond. "Have I said something stupid--a bull?" + +"More like the bleat of an innocent calf," said Roberts--"eh, Bracy?" + +"Oh, all right; chaff away, old chaps. But, I say, I hear that there +are a lot of supplies coming up the pass--mule-loads and loads. There's +sure to be a bullock-trunk for me, and I shall be able to get out of you +fellows' debt." + +"Our debt?" said Bracy. "You don't owe me anything." + +"Oh, don't I? What about those boots?" + +One morning, when Bracy was getting on towards convalescence, Gedge, who +was acting as invalid servant, entered the homely room holding out one +arm. + +"Why, Gedge!" cried Bracy; "the sergeant's chevrons?" + +"That's right, sir," cried their owner proudly. "Youngest sergeant in +the ridgement, Colonel says, and that he was proud to give me my +promotion." + +The young soldier held out his arm, upon which the regimental tailor had +sewn a patch of very shabby cloth, bearing the three stripes of the +sergeant's rank, the thing itself being a weather-stained rag. + +"I congratulate you, my lad, with all my heart." + +"I knew you would, sir. Ain't much to look at, sir, to some people. We +shall get fresh togs served out some day; but I don't believe the noo +stripes 'll shine out half so bright as these here do, sir, to me." + +Bracy sighed. + +"Can't help feeling as proud as a dog with two tails--ought to say +three, sir, because that's the number of the stripes. But somehow I +don't feel as I thought I should." + +"I suppose not," said Bracy sadly. "I feel the same, Gedge. We did not +fetch the Ghoorkhas." + +"No, sir," said Gedge, grinning; "but we brought 'em back, and I don't +see how any two could ha' done more than we did. But I didn't mean +that, sir. I meant about Sergeant Gee. I thought it would make him as +waxy as could be; but as soon as parade was over, and the boys had done +cheering me for my promotion, I got showing off, for old Gee was coming +up to me, and I was getting ready to give him back as good as he give +me. But what d'yer think, sir?" + +"I don't know, Gedge," said Bracy, smiling. + +"Knocks the wind outer me at once." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Comes up to me and offers me one hand, and claps t'other on my +shoulder. `Glad to welcome so brave a brother,' he says, `to the +sergeants' mess.' My! I was took aback, sir, and couldn't say a word; +and if next minute his missus wasn't shaking hands too with the tears in +her eyes, sir--real uns, for I counted four as tumbled out and fell spat +on the front of her dress. `Willyum Gedge,' she says, and then she +stops short with her lower lip dithering, and she couldn't say another +word, only stood shaking her head, while the boys cheered again. Think +Sergeant Gee meant it, sir, or was it only showing off?" + +"He meant it, my lad. Gee has a great deal of harsh tyranny in his ways +of dealing with those under him; but a braver and more honest man never +joined the regiment." + +"I'm glad o' that, sir," said Gedge. "Then, as he did mean it, why, of +course we're going to be friends." + +"Ah, Sergeant, you here?" said Colonel Graves, entering Bracy's +quarters. "One moment before you go. I have mentioned you in my +despatch for displaying signal bravery in protecting your officer upon +two occasions." + +"Me, sir? Oh, thanky, sir, but I--" + +"Silence!--Bracy, my dear boy, I came to tell you that I have spoken so +of you that if they do not give you the Victoria Cross I shall say there +is something wrong." + +"For me, sir?" cried Bracy, with his pale, thin face flushing faintly. +"Impossible, sir. Oh, I have not deserved all this!" + +The Colonel's eyes did not look quite so bright as usual as he warmly +shook his young officer's hand. + +"Let me be the best judge of that," he said. "You have always been one +of my smartest officers, and in this last dangerous expedition you +showed the will and did your utmost. It was fate that helped you in the +last extremity to perfect the deed." + +The day came when the simple little much-prized decoration was pinned on +Captain Bracy's breast, and the motto never shone upon a truer heart. + +"For Valour," he said softly as he looked down upon his breast. "Was it +really well deserved?" + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fix Bay'nets, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIX BAY'NETS *** + +***** This file should be named 27908.txt or 27908.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/0/27908/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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