Draw Swords! Part 33

"Well done!--Come, gentlemen, or we shall be last."

He led the way to a little terrace at the head of the steps, where the trumpeter, already mounted, sat close by the messenger, waiting, the latter's horse looking startled and uneasy at the flashing helmets close at hand and their scarlet, waving, horse-tail plumes; but his rider steadied him, and once more horse and man stood there like a bronze group.

Meanwhile the sergeants were hurrying here and there, seeing that everything was ready, and then came to a standstill.

This was the signal for Hulton to spring upon his charger. The buzz of preparation had given place to a silence broken only by the uneasy stamp of a hoof and the champing of bits, while the windows and doors of the different buildings were thronged by the white-robed servants who would be left behind.

"Can you remember the way to the palace taken by the elephant last night, Mr Darrell?"

"Yes, sir," said d.i.c.k sharply.

"Lead," said the captain laconically. Then, after a final look round, he signed to the trumpeter, whose notes rang out, and every man stood at "attention."

Another blast, and gunners sprang on horse or limber as the three drivers to each gun mounted.

Another blast, and the advance-guard marched with d.i.c.k, the messenger trotting without orders to his side; and all filed out beneath the gateway into the narrow street, the gun-wheels, limbers, and ammunition-wagons rattling and rumbling, while way was made for the strangers.

A note rang out from behind, and the troop broke into a trot, d.i.c.k feeling doubtful of finding his way through the intricate streets and lanes; but some object which had struck his attention overnight always came to his help, till he successfully performed his task, and reached the wide opening in front of the palace.

As they were debouching on to this place at a trot, Hulton cantered up alongside of the leaders, for he had grasped the position at once.

"We should only be crippled here, Darrell," he said. "Lead the men to the bridge, cross the river, and out on to the plain."

This was easily done, for a broad avenue of trees led from the palace to the river gate and the bridge over which they had entered the town.

The road was pretty clear, so the trumpet was sounded again, and the troop broke into a gallop, tearing along till the gate, whose tower was manned now with troops, came into view; and through this they dashed and over the bridge, where quite a crowd of mounted men could now be seen.

These were all in motion, apparently without discipline or motive; but as d.i.c.k rode on he could see that they were not without a leader, for several brilliantly dressed officers were amongst them, and the Rajah himself was present on his elephant.

The horse artillery troop bore off a little to the right, thundering by this body of irregular cavalry--apparently about a thousand strong-- swept round them into line, and, at the trumpet-sound, halted as perfectly as if on parade, when Captain Hulton cantered up to the Rajah's side.

"How quick you have been!" said the latter involuntarily.

"Quick, sir?" replied Hulton; "and yet we were last."

"Yes; but my people were out here before the messenger was sent to you.

Listen now; the enemy is coming by the open road from the north. I have left all my footmen to hold the walls of the city, and I propose marching to meet these people and attack them at once. You can take the lead, or follow, whichever will be best."

"Neither will be best, sir," said Hulton gravely. "To be of most service I must be free. We can help you better by riding in advance on either flank where-ever it is open. But, tell me, are there any mountain-pa.s.ses beyond the forest there?"

"No; open ground fit for cavalry. If we are forced to retire, make for the city at once. We can hold that."

"And we shall be of no use," thought Hulton as he saluted the Rajah and rode back to the troop, fully determined to act as he thought best, and not to be shut up in the city if it was possible to maintain himself and his men outside.

Giving the order to dismount, to rest the horses for a few minutes, he had a short consultation with Wyatt, telling him all he had heard from the Rajah.

"He must go on his own way," he said in d.i.c.k's hearing. "It will be a fight quite in the old fashion, as they have always fought, but it will be against an enemy who fights in the same way; so, if they are not too many, our bit of civilised warfare may turn the tables on the Rajah's side."

A few dozen more mounted men came galloping up to join the Rajah's force, and then he evidently made preparations for an advance.

"He is wrong," said Hulton, "for there are narrow roads and jungle yonder, while here he has room for his cavalry to act."

Then, seeing that the Rajah was sending out detachments to feel for the enemy, and two more at intervals to act as supports, the captain felt better satisfied, knowing that the attack on the part of the enemy could not occur without due warning; while, to make the best use he could of the guns, he moved the troop up to a little hill, which gave him a commanding view of the country for a couple of miles round--the detachments of cavalry sent forward coming once more into view--but the gla.s.s showed no sign of the enemy.

Wyatt came to where d.i.c.k was seated once, looked at him sharply, and nodded.

"It may turn out to be a false alarm," he said. "Humph! Hulton thinks so too," he added, for the order was given to dismount, so as to ease the horses as much as possible, and keep them fresh for any work they might be called upon to do.

Then half-an-hour pa.s.sed, and this grew into an hour, during which the Rajah's men changed their position again and again, but, as in accordance with Hulton's notions, they kept well out in the open; and d.i.c.k was watching the restless movements of the body, where every man seemed to be acting according to his own ideas--there being no signs of cohesion or mutual support--when he found that the old sergeant was close to his elbow.

"I expect these fellows can fight, sir," he said in a low voice.

"You've never seen anything of the kind, I suppose?"

"Nothing but sham fights, Stubbs," answered d.i.c.k.

"Ah! there'll be nothing sham about this, sir. I expect the enemy will get well within reach, and then make one big charge, if our side doesn't begin the business; and then they'll all brush up, and it'll be hand-to-hand lighting, scattering all over the field, and giving us a very poor chance, for we shan't be able to fire for fear of hitting our friends. Look, sir, look!" he said sharply. "Your eyes are keener than mine. Can you make anything out yonder, a mile away, by that patch of wood?"

"Cavalry," said d.i.c.k excitedly.

The officers had caught sight of the movement, and Hulton's orders were given sharply. The men sprang to their saddles, the guns were wheeled round, unlimbered, loaded; and d.i.c.k's heart began to throb heavily as the movement developed, and they could make out a detachment of horse galloping back towards them, followed by another and another--evidently the parties sent out in search of the enemy.

There was no doubt of this being the case, for, directly after, a cloud of hors.e.m.e.n came into view in full pursuit; and, from a movement in the neighbourhood of the Rajah's elephant, it was evident that all this was seen, for fully half of his force began to gallop forward in support of their friends.

"That's what the captain was afraid of, sir," said Stubbs. "Before long they will all be mixed up together, and there'll be no telling which is which. They ought to keep retiring and leading the enemy on, so as to give us a chance. Hullo, what does this mean?" he said aloud, and he looked anxiously in the captain's direction.

It meant that, however inexperienced the enemy's chief might be in European tactics, he was a better general than Rajah Doon, for the attack was to be made from two quarters at once, and the horse artillery troop was to have its chance of doing good after all.

Hulton saw the danger at once--a serious peril not yet noticed by the troops about the Rajah's elephant.

For a large force of mounted men had suddenly come into view away to the left in the most unexpected way, so that the attack was about to be delivered in front and rear; and if the Rajah's men proved unable to hold their own, there was the possibility of a disastrous business, the only way of retreat being over the river, and there was no infantry to hold the front of the bridge while the mounted men crossed it into the shelter of the town.

"Looks bad for us," thought d.i.c.k, who in imagination saw the troop and their guns helplessly wedged in amongst the irregular horse.

But there was no more time for thought; Hulton's orders were being obeyed. The front was changed, and the little battery faced round towards the approaching cloud of hors.e.m.e.n, who were about to deliver their attack at a gallop before the Rajah's troops could recover from their surprise.

From where the young subaltern was seated he could command every movement, and though wanting in the steady rush of a European cavalry charge, the enemy's horse kept well together quite a thousand strong; and d.i.c.k's heart palpitated as he loosened his sword in the scabbard, and then saw to his pistols, for it seemed to him that before many minutes were over the enemy would be upon them, riding them down.

But the surprise was to the foe, whose leaders were under the impression that they would sweep away the little group of horses and men stationed upon the hill.

Hulton waited till the enemy were only a few hundred yards away before giving the word to fire. Then _thud--thud--thud_--the guns began to belch forth their clouds of white smoke, and the rapid reloading went on, so that the regular intervals could be preserved, the discharge of number six being followed by that of number one, ready again, but with a different charge.

It was horribly exciting, and the young subaltern had ample time to see the effects of the fire. The disorder began in the approaching body with the first discharge, horses and men coming to the ground at every shot; but there was no check in the rush--men leaped their horses over those who fell, and a wild yell now smote the ears of the troop, heard well above the roar of the guns.

But as the first gun delivered its second round, this time with grape instead of round-shot, the havoc caused had its due effect; while as the five more discharges followed, tearing through the densely-packed crowd, there was a few moments' check; but finding the firing suddenly cease, the hesitation pa.s.sed away, and, with fierce cries of rage, the enemy dashed up the slope, and charged straight through the dense cloud of smoke, dispersing it in all directions.

A yell of rage burst forth as they encountered a second surprise. For as the second discharge roared from the guns, the order to limber up was given, and while the enemy was still a hundred yards away the swift battery was in motion, and, covered by the smoke, swept off down one side of the hill and away at right angles, to take up a fresh position nearly a mile away.

Then was the time for the Rajah's force to have delivered their charge, while the enemy was halting in a state of confusion, but it did not come; and as soon as the enemy had recovered from its surprise, there was a rush made in pursuit of the battery, which halted, turned, and poured in another half-dozen rounds, and was off again, with the guns b.u.mping and leaping as the horses stretched out and raced over the ground.