Draw Swords! Part 37

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

SERGEANT STUBBS OPENS HIS EYES.

Hulton was sleeping and the men were lying fairly restful, but the doctor was awake and eager to know of everything that had been done.

d.i.c.k told him as much as he could, the doctor nodding his satisfaction.

"Good," he said at last. "Your father must be a clever man, Darrell.

Now, do your duty by me."

"How?" said d.i.c.k, smiling.

"Tell me to leave off talking and go to sleep, so as to lessen the fever that is sure to supervene."

"I'll ensure that by going away, and leaving this man to keep watch,"

said d.i.c.k: and the next minute he followed Wyatt out into the yard, where the men of the troop were seeing to the cleaning up and oiling of the guns and carriages, while the syces were busy over the horses, which were dry now, and none the worse for the galloping they had gone through, save two which had bullets in their haunches. Fortunately the bullets were small, and had penetrated but a little way, and the farrier of the troop had decided that the poor animals would be fit for work in a day or two.

While the officers were inspecting the horses, the fire that had been going on by the bridge gate slackened, and then died out, but scattered shots which had been heard at intervals on the other side of the city increased now to a roar, broken by the rattle of musketry.

News soon came in that the enemy had been making a fierce attack upon the other gate, and had been repulsed, while now the firing died out, and it was evident that the fighting was over for the day.

Soon after the Rajah, followed by a retinue of his officers, made his appearance at the great gates, and was challenged by the sentry. The guard turned out, and a message was sent to Wyatt, while the Rajah sat frowning in his howdah, and the officers who accompanied him scowled and looked furious, each man seeking the Rajah's eye, as if asking leave to cut down the insolent Englishmen who blocked the way into the Rajah's own palace, the place where his father had held his court.

But they were not kept waiting long; Wyatt and d.i.c.k came quickly out to the gate. The Rajah and his retinue were ushered in, and taken about the old place, where everything had been so rapidly transformed.

It was evident that the Rajah and his followers were duly impressed by the orderly and businesslike appearance of men, horses, and weapons; and, after the way all had behaved that day, some of the scowling officers' faces showed that, if they were not friendly towards the new-comers, they were at least disposed to treat them with respect.

It was not deemed advisable for Hulton to be disturbed, and the Rajah was content to dismount and enter the mess-room, where he warmly thanked both officers for the help they had rendered that day.

Wyatt did not mince matters; he questioned the Rajah at once as to the possibility of a fresh attack that day or night, but he was told that such a thing was highly improbable.

"But," said the Rajah, "we shall most likely have a renewal of the fighting to-morrow. I may count upon you?"

"Of course, sir," said Wyatt quietly; "that is why we are here. But I cannot help thinking that it would be better if you refrained from leaving the city. You have guns and ammunition. Why not content yourself with waiting behind the walls?"

The Rajah looked at him in astonishment.

"Would you do so?" he said.

"I belong to the Flying Artillery," said Wyatt quietly; "my work is on the open plains."

"So is mine, at the head of my hors.e.m.e.n," said the Rajah, with a look of pride. "If I were to do as you propose, Rajah Singh would think that I was afraid: and, what is worse, my people would think so too, and refuse to obey a king who was a coward."

Wyatt bowed.

"If he comes to-morrow, he will find me with my hors.e.m.e.n drawn up, waiting. You will come?"

"Of course," said Wyatt quietly; "but I should advise that your general should hold a body of your cavalry ready to attack each time our fire has thrown the enemy into disorder."

"Yes," said the Rajah, "that shall be done. It would be wise."

At this he rose to go, and walked slowly to where his elephant was waiting, with his mounted guard in attendance, all scowling and looking exceedingly fierce, as if, in fact, they fully believed that their chief was in danger, and it was their duty to attack the sentries stationed here and there in his defence.

Wyatt and d.i.c.k stood watching the party file through the gate, and then the former turned to d.i.c.k.

"What are you thinking?" he said.

"That we don't seem to have many friends here," replied d.i.c.k. "Hallo!

what does this mean? One of the enemy?"

For a richly-dressed officer rode back to the gateway, and after a moment's parley with the sentries was allowed to pa.s.s.

His face as he rode up to the two officers plainly showed that he was upon no inimical mission, but the bearer of a message from the Rajah, requesting that the officers would come and dine with him that evening.

"I can't go," said d.i.c.k sharply; "I have my wounded. Besides, I was there last night."

"It is impossible for me to go," said Wyatt.

"You must go," whispered d.i.c.k. "Go for as short a time as you can. It would give offence to refuse."

"Tell the Rajah I will do myself the honour of coming," said Wyatt shortly, and the messenger rode away.

"It would have been bad policy to refuse," continued Wyatt; "and I must get the Rajah to follow out my plans if we are to help him. Look here, d.i.c.k, I'm in command of a troop sooner than I expected--worse luck!--so I must make a couple of temporary promotions. You will act as my lieutenant, and Stubbs must take your place."

"Why not yours?" said d.i.c.k hurriedly.

"Because I want you," was the reply.

Wyatt deferred his departure to the last minute, and before leaving upon the elephant and with the guard the Rajah had sent, he summoned Sergeant Stubbs and announced to him that he was to act for the time being as a commissioned officer.

"You will help Mr Darrell in every way you can?" said Wyatt.

"Of course, sir."

"And, Mr Darrell, you will have an orderly on duty ready to send me a despatch if any emergency occurs. That is all, I think;" and he mounted and rode off.

A peculiar feeling of awe came over d.i.c.k as the last echo of the horses'

trampling feet died out. It was almost indescribable, for he was conscious of being horribly alone and left to his own resources in a place where he was surrounded by enemies. He felt horribly young and helpless, and as if the great responsibility was crushing him down to such an extent that he must run away from it all before matters drove him wild.

The sensation was horrible while it lasted, and in a despairing way he felt that he was hopelessly overburdened, far more so than he could bear, and that everything now was sure to go wrong.

"Suppose," he argued, "the wounded get worse, and Hulton was to die.

"Suppose the men object to having n.o.body in command but me.

"Suppose the people in opposition to the Rajah should seize this time for attacking us, what could I do--how could I defend the place? I must have been half-mad to let Wyatt go and leave me.

"Suppose--suppose--suppose--"