With Rifle and Bayonet Part 40

Within little more than a week after leaving Natal, Jack Somerton and the staff-officer whom he had met on board the transport were seated in the train _en route_ for Lord Methuen's camp on the Modder River. It was a long and tedious run--now crawling along the iron track, and scaling steep acclivities which barred their onward progress, and round the sides of which the railway could be seen winding in and out, and later rattling down the other side till the veldt was reached; then on and on, over an endless, brownish waste of sand and barren earth, here and there relieved by a bright patch of vivid green, where the young spring gra.s.s had made its appearance.

"Here is a note for you, Mr Somerton," said the staff-officer as the train came in sight of the Modder camp. "Take it to the quartermaster who looks after the general staff, and he will give you a tent and bedding, and also obtain a good pony for you. When you have settled down come over to the general's quarters. You know, Lord Roberts is here. He arrived last night, and sent special orders to me by telegram to introduce you to him. Goodbye for the present! I shall see you in an hour's time."

Thanking him for his kindness, Jack made his way into the camp as soon as the train drew up at the rough platform that had been built, and after making enquiries, was shown where the quartermaster was to be found. Half an hour later his tent was pitched close behind those allotted to Lord Roberts's staff.

"You want a pony too, I see," said the quartermaster. "Well, Mr Somerton, a number of them arrived only this morning, and are now being taken out of the train. I will speak to the officer in charge of remounts and transport animals, and if you will come back later on I have no doubt you will be able to choose your animal from amongst three or four hundred."

Accordingly Jack retraced his steps, and shortly afterwards walked across to the little farmhouse in which the celebrated general had taken up his quarters. When he emerged from the commander-in-chief's sanctum an hour later, Jack was not only delighted with the kindness and urbanity of Lord Roberts, but had mastered all the particulars which he was to carry into Kimberley.

Then he went across to the remount-camp and selected a likely-looking pony. That night he on-saddled, and without a word to anyone slipped out of the camp, taking care to avoid the notice of the British sentries. This was in accordance with the general's wishes, which had been communicated to him only an hour before by his friend the staff-officer.

"Look here, Somerton," the latter had said, "the general has just sent me across to tell you that he wants you to get away from the camp without anyone knowing. There is never any saying whether or not spies are about I firmly believe they are everywhere; and the news you are to take into Kimberley is so important that it is absolutely necessary that no one should have an idea as to what are our intentions. Get away from this secretly. There--I will leave the rest to you. Do as well as you did while escaping from Ladysmith, and we shall have nothing to complain about."

It was still pitch dark, therefore, when Jack vaulted into his saddle and rode silently across the camp. Arrived at the outskirts, he turned to the left and kept steadily on, keeping carefully on the gra.s.s, which dulled the sound of his pony's hoofs. Very shortly he was clear of the pickets, and turning once more to the left pushed forward for the beleaguered town of Kimberley. Soon a brilliant moon came up, and he carefully concealed himself amongst the rugged boulders of a kopje, and, raising his head, swept the country round with his gla.s.ses. There was no one in sight, so he mounted his pony again and cantered on at a rapid pace. Early the next morning he rode into Kimberley, having slipped through the circle of Boers with the greatest ease.

He was immediately taken before Colonel Kekewich, the commander of the town, and delivered his message.

"I was instructed by Lord Roberts," he said, after saluting the colonel, "to tell you that, all being well, you may expect him to relieve you in a month's time from this date. He also asks that you will be ready to act, as far as possible, in conjunction with his relieving force."

The news, meagre though it was, was eagerly listened to, and Jack had to answer many questions before he was permitted to leave. Outside the house he found Tom Salter, his old friend, waiting for him with a welcoming smile on his sunburnt face.

"Ah, Jack!" he cried out with a merry laugh, "turned up again like a bad penny, have you? Well, I quite expected it, and my only wonder is that you haven't been here before. You've so many friends to meet again, haven't you, old boy? Why, I can a.s.sure you that I know several who are simply longing to see you, one especially, Eileen Russel, turned as white as a sheet, poor girl, when she heard the news. Ha, ha, it's a shame to tease you now, but she's a splendid girl is Eileen Russel!"

Tom laughed heartily, and smacked Jack on the back, and then grasped his hand and shook it up and down like a pump-handle.

"Then she is all right, Tom!" exclaimed our hero, with a sigh of relief, for ever since he had ridden north to Mafeking he had been wondering whether the brave English girl who had stood so staunchly by them in Frank Russel's ruined farmstead had survived the trials of a siege which had lasted now so many weeks.

"Tell me all about her and the others, Tom," he proceeded eagerly. "I have been over in Ladysmith, and ever since I left Mafeking and was taken to Pretoria I have heard not a single word of you."

"Goodness, Jack! Pretoria and Ladysmith! whatever do you mean?"

exclaimed Tom in astonishment. "You left us here to carry despatches to Baden-Powell--and precious sorry hearts you left behind you, my lad, I can tell you--and since then, as we heard nothing of you save that you had reached your destination, we quite believed that you had taken up your quarters with the plucky garrison in Mafeking and were helping them to keep out the Boers. And now you talk about Pretoria and Ladysmith!

What does it all mean? Out with it, man!"

"Oh, it's a long yarn, Tom!" Jack laughed, "and I'll give it to you this evening, but just now I should like to see the others."

"Of course you would, old boy!" exclaimed Tom. "Come along, and follow me closely, or else you will have a shower of millets flying around your head. Ah, here we are! Hop down into that trench. Now push on and take the third turn to the right. We are bound to take care of ourselves here, and as our streets are often swept by bullets, and a bursting sh.e.l.l is a common thing, we have dug these shelter trenches."

Dropping into a deep trench, Jack and his friend pushed along rapidly, halting once, however, and crouching low as a huge sh.e.l.l shrieked just overhead, and, striking a storehouse opposite, shivered it into a thousand fragments, scattering the ruins on every side.

"That's about the only thing our friends are any good at," said Tom Salter with a growl. "They've sat outside this town for weeks and weeks, and all that time they've never given us a chance for a healthy fight. Bless you, they thought that the taking of Kimberley was a simple matter, and when they found that they had got men to deal with, they just sat down to starve us out, or worry us to death with their sh.e.l.ls; but a.s.sault us, or make anything like a plucky effort to take us, they have never done. But here we are; hop up, old boy. Now, follow me along here to the chamber of horrors; that's what we call our bomb-proof rooms. There it is; five steps down, and turn to the left."

Jack descended a flight of wooden steps, and, turning to the left, entered a low subterranean chamber, lighted by a spluttering candle stuck into the neck of a bottle standing upon a table in the centre. It was Tom Salter's sanctum, in which he and three others lived and sheltered from the Boer sh.e.l.ls, thousands of which had fallen into the beleaguered town since the commencement of the siege.

"Now, put your traps down there and have a wash," said Tom, indicating a bucket of water and a towel; "then I will take you along to Frank and his girl. Halloo! Come in!" he shouted, as a knock was heard just outside the chamber.

The next moment Wilfred Hunter burst in, and rushed up to Jack. The two lads shook hands warmly.

"Back again, Jack? I'm glad to see you, old chap!" Wilfred cried excitedly. "Why, what a whopping big fellow you've got; as broad as a house, and taller, I am sure. But come along, I must not forget my message. The Russels want to see you, and ordered me to bring you along immediately. Ah, you lucky dog! I'd give anything to be in your shoes, for she's the best and sweetest girl that I or any other fellow ever set eyes on!"

Jack blushed red with pleasure, and his chest swelled and his heart beat with pride and hope, for, young though he was, since he had met Eileen Russel his thoughts had dwelt continuously upon her. Had he been at home, perhaps it would have been ridiculous folly; but for months now he had been doing man's work, and doing it well too,--work which required strength and pluck, and which moreover brought him at any hour of the day face to face with a sudden death. No wonder then that, sobered down from the usual impulsive rashness of a boy, our hero had thought seriously of Eileen. Many a time, as he lay in Pretoria suffering from his wound, had he wondered how she was, and whether she ever gave a thought to him. Sometimes he felt certain she did, and then at others the fear that it was some other--someone older and more of a man than he--turned his heart sick, and made the hopes which were now beginning to gain ground disappear in an instant. But they would return again, and as he had ridden towards Kimberley that day they had been surging through his heart, and he had determined to see Eileen, if she were yet alive, and ask the question for himself.

As if in a dream he sluiced his head and hands with water, and tidied his hair before a small, angular piece of cracked gla.s.s, a process which he had scarcely troubled about for many weeks. Then he followed Wilfred and Tom out of the bomb chamber and along the trench towards the Russels' quarters, feeling every yard he went more and more like a lamb going to the slaughter.

Had he but known it, there was no reason for his fears. A minute later all three had dived down into another subterranean chamber, and before Jack had had time to notice that it was neatly carpeted, and provided with chairs, and a table upon which a clean white cloth and gla.s.ses were laid, there was a joyful shout, and Frank Russel had seized him by the hand, while Eileen, looking pale, but more beautiful than ever, had stepped towards him, hesitated, and then, with a radiant blush and a cry which was half-laugh, half-sob, had thrown herself into his arms, and had embraced him as if he were a long-lost brother.

Jack was a bashful lad, and at any other time would have been covered with confusion. But now it was different. Eileen was truly glad to see him, and he returned her kisses with an impetuosity which surprised himself. A few seconds later he was himself again, and being eagerly questioned.

"Tell us how it is you happened to come back to us," said Frank Russel.

"You said you would, but none of us believed it possible, save perhaps Eileen, who always declared that you would return before the end of the siege."

"Yes, Father, I felt sure that Jack would fulfil his promise," Eileen cried.

"There, my lad, you see what a reputation you have," laughed Frank.

"But get ahead with the yarn, and let us know what has happened to you since we parted."

Jack readily complied with the request, and then asked how the besiegers had fared.

"Ah! it was all very well at first," Tom Salter exclaimed, "but these last few weeks our trials have been awful. Water has not been too good, though there's been plenty of it. But grub's the thing that has been wanting. We've been on short rations for a long while, and if that relief-column does not turn up pretty soon there will be none of us left. We are eating horse and mule now. Vegetables are practically exhausted, and what with that, the impure water, the heat, and living here below-ground, death and disease have been very busy amongst us.

The women and the children--poor little souls!--have suffered terribly, and the little ones have died like flies. But mark my words, Jack; we're far from giving in. There's not a man of us who would listen to surrender, and if we did, the women-folk would soon make us ashamed of ourselves. No. This town's kept out the Boers for a goodish time.

They haven't the pluck to take us, and we haven't the numbers or the strength to beat them off. Starvation and disease are our biggest enemies, and we're going to face them. Seems to me that we're like Ladysmith; we're in a precious tight fix. But we'll get out of it, both of us, and I don't mind betting a pipe of baccy--which, considering we've scarcely an ounce left, is a biggish bet--that B.-P. will stick to Mafeking too till that town is relieved. But, to return to you, my lad.

You have indeed seen as much of this terrible war as anyone, and, as your old friend, I am proud of you. Now tell us what you intend doing with yourself. If you decide to stay here, I need not say how glad we shall all be."

"Thanks, Tom," Jack answered, "but I leave Kimberley to-morrow for Mafeking. Perhaps by the time I return you will have been relieved, but if not, you may be sure shall join you with the relieving force."

Jack had indeed much work before him. He had been entrusted with a message to the garrison of Kimberley, telling them that the British forces lying on the banks of the Modder river would advance to their aid in one month's time, and meanwhile, having delivered the message, he was to push north to Colonel Baden-Powell, and inform him that, once Kimberley was free, a strong column would march to the help of gallant Mafeking. The news of coming relief, distant though it might be, would be of the greatest service. It would help to hearten a garrison still far from dispirited, and above all it would show them how much longer they would be compelled to rely upon themselves, and therefore induce them to husband their scanty provisions and ammunition.

On the following day Jack was taken to a sand-bag fort, and shown with much pride a long cannon manufactured in the besieged town. It was the work of the engineers of the great De Beers Company, and it had filled a most important post, for its range being very great, it was able to successfully dominate and keep down the fire of the big Creuzot guns which had for so long been throwing sh.e.l.l into the town. As Jack was taken up to it a Kimberley-made sh.e.l.l, bearing the inscription "With Cecil Rhodes's compliments" was placed in the breech and backed by a charge of explosive. The gun was carefully sighted, there was a thunderous roar, and a minute later a flash, a leaping column of smoke and dust, and a faint answering report told that the missile had done its allotted work inside the sangar which protected the Boer gun. That evening, after a scanty meal consisting of horse-soup, known as "chevral", and a piece of beef suspiciously unlike that usually provided, Jack bade his friends good-bye.

"We'll go along and look after your pony," said Tom Salter, with a knowing wink, a few minutes before his departure. "Come along, Frank, and you too, Wilfred, while Jack picks up his traps and settles himself.

Now bustle up, boys, or else we shall find that someone has got hold of his mount, and perhaps has started already turning him into sausages."

All at once sprang to their feet and left the underground chamber, Frank Russel turning round just as he was stepping out, and smiling kindly at Jack and at Eileen. Then with "So long, my lad, I'll see you later," he ran up the steps and disappeared from sight.

It was an awkward moment. Standing close to the table, with one hand grasping the back of a chair, was Eileen Russel, her beautiful face lit up by the lamp, and clearly showing the pain which this parting would give her. Close to the door was Jack. St.u.r.dy, handsome, and stalwart, dressed in riding-breeches and gaiters, a khaki jacket, and a wide-brimmed hat, and with his upper lip adorned by a thin line of fair hair, which looked almost white when contrasted with his sunburnt face, he was a young man whom any of the gentle s.e.x might have looked upon with pleasure. But when one knew that behind those smiling eyes there lurked a determined will, and that beneath that coat beat a heart as kindly and as brave as any man possessed, it should not seem wonderful that Eileen had long ago fallen in love with him. He was no namby-pamby lad, given to soft manners and flattery, but a brusque young fellow, kind, considerate, but undoubtedly shy, and a man, moreover, who had already made a good name for himself for bravery. She herself had witnessed his courage. It was he who had rescued her from the Boer ruffians in her father's house, and from that day Jack had been her hero. And now he was to go, to leave her and run still further risks.

It was hard indeed, and her lips trembled at the thought.

"Good-bye, Jack!" she said, tearfully, holding out her hand, but not trusting herself to look at him. "Good-bye, and do take care of yourself!"

Jack walked across to her, and, taking her hand in his, Pressed it gently and said to her, "Eileen, look at me. You ask me to take care of myself. Why should I do so? Who would care if anything did happen to me? My mother and brother might, and Wilfred and Tom Salter would, I am sure. But who else? Tell me, Eileen dear, that you would care. Tell me that you love me now as I love you, and have done ever since we first met, and I promise you I will guard my life for your sake alone."

"Ah, Jack, you know how I love you without asking me!" whispered Eileen, looking now directly into his face, and smiling so sweetly at him that all his fears left him in an instant, and he forgot everything but the fact that Eileen was there and that he loved her and she him.

It was the happiest moment of their lives, and when Jack at last kissed her and strode from the room he and Eileen were engaged to pa.s.s through life together if it pleased G.o.d to spare them during the remainder of the war.

Walking along the trench, Jack turned sharp to the left, and half-way to the point at which his friends were to wait for him, met Frank Russel, leaning against the wall of earth, and thoughtfully staring at the sky.

"Got it over, lad?" the former asked kindly.

"Yes, Frank, I've said good-bye to Eileen," Jack answered, "and before we join the others I want to tell you something. Perhaps I ought to have spoken to you before, but the fact that I have had so little time must be my excuse. With your consent Eileen and I will be married some day."