Fix Bay'nets Part 24

His companions gave; a short, sharp nod, and acquiesced.

"If we only knew what is below us!" said Bracy as he gazed down-stream.

"n.i.g.g.e.rs," 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 cl.u.s.ter 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 pa.s.s along that only a few moments had pa.s.sed 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 hoa.r.s.e 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 pa.s.sed 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 antic.i.p.ation of some marksman opening fire.