Draw Swords! Part 58

"And what will you do?" said the chief who had spoken, looking at him curiously.

"I shall guard the approach to the palace with our guns," said Wyatt.

"I could sweep the streets clear, but I do not wish to fire a shot; it would mean slaying friends as well as foes. But the palace courts must be kept free, or the Ranee's followers will get the upper hand."

"Yes, that is right," said the chief. "Then get all your men in hand,"

said Wyatt, "and, as we drive the crowd back, station guards to hold the different entries, at the temple as well as here." The chief swung his flashing tulwar on high, and his followers imitated his action as they uttered a wild and warlike cry, all following Wyatt and d.i.c.k down into the court, where, by the light of the many lamps, the troop of artillery sat drawn up; and they cheered again in their way as the two officers sprang into their saddles.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

MOTHER AND SON.

The court in front of the palace was already filling with a menacing crowd of armed men; but as they gathered they held back from the troop and seemed to be awaiting leaders, not knowing what it would be best to do.

But there was no indecision on the part of Wyatt. He rode at once to where Hulton was seated, in uniform once more, consulted with him for a few moments, and then, in answer to an order, the six guns were unlimbered and run into position so that their muzzles were ready to pour forth a radiating discharge, and the effect was to make the gathering crowd fall back.

This done, a detachment about thirty strong was formed up, opened out, and rode slowly forward, pressing back the crowd; and as the great s.p.a.ce was cleared, the Rajah's guards took up position to keep the people from returning.

Wyatt was right; they had their work cut out that night, and, through the apparently interminable long watches, it seemed as if again and again the moment of encounter had come.

But it did not. For it was as Wyatt said:

"It's like this, d.i.c.k, lad--we began by being ready; they were all unready. Friends and enemies were all mixed up into a confused ma.s.s, and no one trusted his neighbour. Then they seemed to have no leaders at first, or else all their loaders were in the wrong places. We've got ahead of them so far without bringing the guns to bear, but how much longer we can get on by making evolutions no one can tell. But we must keep it up."

And they did, hour after hour, thoroughly mastering the great mob which eddied and seethed round the precincts of the palace, always on the point of making a rush, but invariably driven back helter-skelter by the charges made by the horse artillery-men and their allies.

For they soon began to be strengthened through the efforts of the chiefs of the Rajah's guard, who were indefatigable. As they caught sight of friends of the cavalry they called to them, had them in past the vedettes and sentries, and then a few words sufficed to send them away again to give the word to others; and in a short time there was a constant accession of mounted men coming in from far enough away through the crowd in twos and threes and half-dozens, well-mounted and armed, and ready in the Rajah's defence to take up their positions alongside of the artillery-men, till towards morning fully a thousand troopers were in the open s.p.a.ce before the palace, setting the mounted artillery-men free to join their comrades at the guns, and making the position more secure.

Time after time inquiries were made as to the Rajah's state, but the news Doctor Robson sent was always bad, and hope seemed to be dying out.

At last the sun rose upon the position, and by that time something like cohesion and order were a.s.serting themselves, the two parties having gradually separated, with the supporters of the Rajah close up to the east end of the palace, those of the Ranee on the west; and the new day had come with the prospect of a pitched battle on the point as to which side was to have the supremacy--the Rajah's followers with their English allies, or the Ranee's backed up by the priests.

It had been their intention to make a bold stroke to get rid of the English invited by the Rajah--a mad and reckless blow, for retribution would have been certain to fall--but the accident to their plans had upset everything, and, just at the time appointed for their rising, they were confronted with the news that the Rajah was stricken down, and the Ranee and their chief conspirators were prisoners; while, though they had been in readiness to take advantage of the confusion that must ensue when it was found that the chief officers of the artillery were dead, their advance was completely frustrated by Wyatt's prompt action and the confusion into which they were thrown by the rush made for the palace by the Rajah's admirers, and their bold front.

The latter readily consulted with Wyatt as to what should be done, and at once accepted his counsel.

"Keep on the defensive," he said, "and in every way possible draw in all who are faithful to the Rajah. If they attack, let them find us ready; for, whatever misfortune comes in regard to the Rajah, we must hold the place. To let his enemies get the upper hand means ma.s.sacre for us all."

Richard Darrell watched the faces of the cl.u.s.ter of officers as Wyatt spoke out clearly in their tongue, and saw them lighten up, while glances pa.s.sed between them full of good omen; and as soon as his brother-officer had done speaking, they pressed round him to signify their determination to die sooner than give up, declaring that they had perfect faith in the English, and that they would carry out their gallant young Rajah's wishes to the end.

So intent were they upon the little council of war which they were holding in front of the guns, that they had noted nothing of what was going on elsewhere, and they turned as one man and stared in wonder as a hoa.r.s.e shout was uttered, and even d.i.c.k imagined that a horse had suddenly turned restive on seeing Stubbs come tearing at them, sword in hand, shouting, and waving the steel.

But the next moment they saw that he was pointing, and wheeled round to defend themselves, for, from the enemies' side, a body of about fifty hors.e.m.e.n were charging at full gallop, in a bold dash to cut down or take prisoners the leaders of the Rajah's force.

It was so sudden that scarcely anything was done. The matchlock-men were unprepared, the irregular cavalry were away behind, and the artillery, fully ready as they were, with men at the trail and others standing linstock in hand, could not fire for fear of sweeping their own officers and their friends away.

It was a wild dash, and the first help likely to come was from the little knot of horse artillery-men mounted by the guns, who spurred forward at a word from Hulton.

The enemy came upon the group of officers like a whirlwind, taking them at a terrible disadvantage; and, for the first time in his life, Richard Darrell found himself in the midst of a fierce melee where discipline went for naught, and all depended upon the strength of a man's arms and his skill in the use of the sword he bore.

Wyatt shouted to him, but in the wild rush and concussion his words were inaudible. Whether it was to follow him or save himself he did not know, and he wanted no orders then, for he was nearly unseated by the shock, one of the friendly officers having his horse driven against Burnouse, making him plunge violently, bound three or four yards, and then rear up, saving his master from a savage cut delivered from the left, which pa.s.sed within a few inches of his neck as a horseman swept by. Still, it was from Scylla into Charybdis. d.i.c.k kept his seat, but received a blow from a man on his right, who rose in his stirrups and struck downward at the lad's head.

There was a sharp, ringing clang as the blow fell upon the young officer's helmet, glanced off, and the man fell forward over his saddle-bow.

"Well cut, sir!" yelled a hoa.r.s.e voice a short distance away; but d.i.c.k's blood was up, and he hardly realised the fact that the words were meant for him. He had the Rajah's keen tulwar in his hand, and he had long tried hard to become a master in the use of the sword, so that it was almost instinctively that he cut with all his might from his left shoulder, his blade flashing in the morning sunshine, with terrible effect upon the back of his enemy's neck, his horse bearing him on to meet another attack.

For another horseman rode at him following his fellow's tactics of rising in his stirrups to deliver a cut at his young enemy's head.

It was a fierce blow, but d.i.c.k's guard was ready, his hilt close up to his right ear, blade perpendicular, and edge outward--that thin, keen edge which seemed so slight a defence from a cut which might have meant death by an active swordsman--instant decapitation.

There was a loud, jarring ring as d.i.c.k received the blow on the forte of his sword, whose back struck against the side of his helmet with a sharp rap, and the next moment the man was by, giving the young officer's sword-arm a slight jerk before he sank backward with his arms extended, sword and reins falling from his nerveless hands.

For, like lightning, after receiving the jarring cut on his guard, d.i.c.k's keen blade dropped to the horizontal and he delivered a fierce thrust.

Another was at him as Burnouse bounded forward, and he, too, rose to cut at the English lad, who was bringing forward his blade to the recovery in a long, sweeping stroke which had, with the strength of the wielder's arm, the swift bound of his horse to give it impetus, so that the swarthy horseman received the blow full on his sword-arm, and pa.s.sed on helpless.

A cut at the lad's bridle-arm missed, and the man who delivered it escaped with a sharp p.r.i.c.k in the ribs in retaliation; and the next moment d.i.c.k was borne clear of the fierce struggle, but only to turn and gallop forward to join half-a-dozen of his own men, who were together forcing double their number back as they laid about them with their long sabres, used with the full strength of their muscular arms.

Half-blind with excitement now, d.i.c.k was riding at a dark, turbaned horseman when the trumpet rang out, and his charger followed the example of those in a line with him. The next moment there was the dull roar of a gun, so close that the horses of the enemy were thrown into a state of confusion, while the artillery-men's stood pa.s.sive from the familiarity which breeds contempt.

For the opportunity had come at last, and a second gun sent forth its white puff of smoke, the sequence to the charge of grape which tore a lane through the enemy's body of horse, now coming on at a gallop to follow up the daring attack made by the first body, which had caused such dire confusion.

This second gun checked the advance, and created havoc amongst a crowd of matchlock-men coming up behind the horse; while a third discharge seemed to be the signal for a retreat to commence.

There was a pause before the fourth gun could be fired with effect.

Then it and the fifth and sixth were fired in rapid succession, while the Rajah's hors.e.m.e.n now saw their opportunity, and dashed after the scattering enemy in a disorderly but brilliant charge, whose effect was to drive the enemy fleeing for their lives into the narrow streets of the city; and the rout was continued till fully half had poured over the bridge to make for the open country, while the rest sought shelter in the bazaars and lanes.

The little battle was only a matter of a few minutes, and as nothing more was to be done there, the artillery had limbered up ready to pursue; but Hulton saw that before he could get out into the open the enemy would be beyond his reach, and he halted his men where they stood, leaving the Rajahs hors.e.m.e.n to complete the rout.

"I couldn't get to you, sir--I couldn't get to you," cried a fierce voice full of reproach, and Sergeant Stubbs rode up to d.i.c.k's side.

"Don't say you're hurt, sir--don't say you're hurt!"

"No, Stubbs, I won't," replied d.i.c.k. "Yes, I am," he added hastily.

"My head."

He let his sword fall to the extent of the knot, and took off his helmet.

"Quiet, Burnouse!" he cried, as the horse snorted and tore up the ground with his off forefoot. "My head's all jarred and aching. My word!

That's saved me from an awful cut."

The sergeant leaned forward to take the bright helmet from the lad's hand, looking down at a deep, dinted bruise, and then at its owner.

"That saved your life, sir," said Stubbs rather huskily. "Hurt anywhere else?"

"Right shoulder feels a bit dragged," replied d.i.c.k. "But where's Captain Wyatt?"

As he spoke the captain came into sight, riding back with about a dozen of the Rajah's hors.e.m.e.n, who came up flushed with triumph, cheering after their fashion and crowding round d.i.c.k, all eager to shake hands.