Draw Swords! Part 70

"Then--"

"I have a duty to do, sir, and it is partly done. In one hour you will ride out from here on your homeward way. If you are attacked, remember that I and my men are fighting for our brothers-in-arms, for there is not a man in my guard who would raise a sword against you. I only say, be ready and well prepared."

He rode back to the gate without another word, and Wyatt cried warmly:

"I'd trust that fellow with my life. In an hour, then?"

"Yes," said Hulton; "we must leave all our heavy stores, and go as a flying column on the march in an enemy's country."

"Yes," said Wyatt with a grim smile: "and the sooner we have got rid of our escort the better."

"Why?"

"Because there will be no friends in the way of our guns?"

The trumpet rang out, the preparations were made with wonderful celerity, and d.i.c.k looked gloomily at the quant.i.ty of ammunition and stores that was to be left behind.

"Hadn't we better blow up the powder before we go?"

"No," said Wyatt sharply. "Let it be locked up where it is. Who knows but we may come back for a fresh supply?"

Within the hour the captain of the guard was summoned from where he was busy overlooking his men, patrolling the streets and driving the people back; and when he rode into the courtyard he once more gazed round wonderingly.

"I am ready, sir," said Hulton, making a brave effort to master his weakness and retain the command of the troop, though his brother-officers and the doctor had all implored him to give up and ride in one of the wagons. But, "No," he said; "as I rode into this place I'll ride out."

Without a word the captain of the guard divided his men into two bodies for advance and rear-guard, gave the order to march, and the trampling of the hoofs began through the streets. The guns, limbers, and wagons rattled and rambled, and amidst the sharp trampling of horses the train pa.s.sed on, with every man's sabre loose in the scabbard, and pistols ready for the attack they momentarily expected at the various crossings.

But, to the surprise of all, the main way was reached, and as they came in sight of the great gate opening upon the bridge, it was to see the route open, and only the ordinary number of guards stationed upon the gate-towers and about the gates.

"I don't understand this, d.i.c.k," said Wyatt, riding alongside; "surely they're never going to let us ride off without a row."

"It seems like it. The Rajah's orders."

"Then it is horribly disappointing, lad. I meant to go straight for that Wazir, and here we are riding off like a lot of mangy, whipped dogs with our tails between our legs."

"It does seem very meek and tame."

"Yes; look at our escort. Bless it! what do we want with an escort? I say, do you know what the Irishman said?"

"Which? The one who made the bull?"

"No, no; the one in a _timper_. He said he was spoiling for a fight.

That's just how I feel--spoiling; and here we go riding away like this."

"Well," said d.i.c.k dryly, "it will make it easier for the doctor. I say, though, would you ever have thought that the Rajah would turn out so weak as--as--"

"To be led by the nose by the Wazir's party?" said Wyatt smartly. "Oh, yes, I could believe anything of an Eastern prince."

The conversation soon flagged, and the troop trotted steadily on after the bridge was crossed, the escort riding well in front and rear, but holding thoroughly aloof, even the officers keeping apart.

Now, for the benefit of the teams drawing the ammunition-wagons through the deep, sandy parts, the speed was eased and the horses well breathed from time to time. Then, upon their reaching some gentle slope where the ground was hard, the word was given and the horses broke into a gentle canter for a mile, but only to ease again, till at last the captain of the Rajah's guard suddenly wheeled his troop round from the front to form up in the rear of those behind, and as the evolution was in progress he turned his own horse and rode up alongside of the artillery officers.

"This is the end of my course," he said, "and I wish you safety for the rest of your way."

"Thanks; and we wish you the same," said Hulton.

"I have no right to speak," continued the captain, "but if I were in your place I would journey on the whole night through."

"Ah!" cried d.i.c.k, "you fear treachery?"

"I say nothing, only that I think the way is clear before you. May we meet again."

He turned, gave the word, and rode off at a gallop; while, after watching him and his troop till they disappeared, Hulton continued his course for a time, till a suitable spot appeared, and then called a halt in the middle of an open part of the country, where ample notice could be given by the outposts of any danger that might be approaching.

The halt was short, but several little matters needed seeing to after the hurried start. Then the word "Forward" was given once more, and the troop went on at a fair pace, the intention being to get well on with the march before dark, or till a suitable place for a bivouac could be found.

This last showed itself sooner than had been reckoned upon, about a mile on the hither side of a mountain range and a long gorge they had pa.s.sed through while coming--a part so full of opportunities for an active enemy on foot to contrive an ambush, that Hulton called a halt just at sundown, keeping up the air of its being merely temporary till dark, and hurriedly making preparations for the night by unlimbering and loading the guns, which were placed at intervals with the wagons in a circle about the halting-place, the horses being picketed in the centre with their bits only removed, while the men lay down to rest, ready for action at the slightest alarm. Then vedettes rode out to keep their lonely watch, and all was still.

It was some time before sleep would come to d.i.c.k, but he slept soundly and restfully at last in the cool, fresh night air, and did not wake till the men were roused just before daybreak to partake of the simple rations they had brought, eating hurriedly in the darkness before the order was given to fall in, and the officers rode forward a short distance to reconnoitre.

All looked calm and peaceful in the soft, grey dawn, but a long reach of rugged track extended before them for miles and miles, and there was the possibility, slight though it was, of the enemy having made a detour and reached some suitable spot from whence a sudden attack might be made, this of course being chosen where the guns would be of little or no avail.

The doctor rode with them, and while they were carefully examining every rock and clump of trees, he asked d.i.c.k if he did not think they were being too cautious.

"We can't," said the young officer, "for it seems impossible that the Wazir, now he is getting back into power, could let us ride off so quietly."

"He dare not attack," said the doctor, "for fear of the punishment he would bring down upon his head when the news reached headquarters."

"I don't know," replied d.i.c.k. "These petty chiefs who have never seen England's power cannot believe that it is stronger than theirs, and-- What's that?"

"Runaway horse, seemingly," replied the doctor, shading his eyes, as a swift animal came galloping out from the defile before them, straight along the track which led to where they were about to continue the march.

The officers watched the coming horse curiously, and soon made out that it was gaily caparisoned and evidently belonged to some one of note; the question now arising--How could that horse have escaped, and be galloping towards them from out of the rugged defile ahead?

All at once it was sighted by d.i.c.k's Arab, which snorted out a challenge. This the coming steed heard, stopped short, threw up its head, answered the challenge, and then came galloping up to join the group of its kind.

"I know that horse," cried d.i.c.k eagerly, "by the one white hindleg and hoof."

"Where have you seen it?" said Wyatt.

"One of the Wazir's friends used to ride it."

"There, what did I tell you?" said Wyatt turning to Hulton. "I knew it directly. They've prepared a nice little trap for us; but we might have guessed it without this warning. Now then," he continued, as the horse cantered so closely up to Burnouse that d.i.c.k deftly caught the loose bridle and secured the steed, "how will this do? We can pretty well guess where they will be. We must draw them out."

"What! dismount men and skirmish with them?" cried Hulton warmly. "They will be too cunning for us."

"If we did that," said Wyatt quietly. "I meant something very different."

"You must bear in mind that we are being watched."