"Halt!" cried Roberts in a low tone of voice; for, as he gave the order
to advance for the attempt to ford the river, a fresh burst of firing
arose from what seemed to be nearer, and he hesitated to lead his
companions out into the rushing flood and beyond the shelter of the
overhanging trees.
"It is like exposing ourselves to being shot down while perfectly
helpless, old fellow," he said, with his lips close to Bracy's ear.
"But we can't stay here: they'll track us to where you fell, and see the
broken branches overhead. What then?" said Bracy.
"Right; we shall be easy marks for the brutes. Now, then, forward!"
Without hesitation this time, and with his following linked in
accordance with his orders, Roberts began to wade, facing the rushing
water and leaning towards it as it pressed against his breast, to divide
it, forming a little wave which rushed by to right and left. Step
followed step taken sidewise, and at the third he and the private
following him stood out clear of the overhanging growth, so that he
could see plainly the task that was before him.
It was enough to startle the strongest man, for there were about fifty
yards of a rushing torrent to stem, as it swept icily cold along the
river's rocky bed, and already the pressure seemed greater than he could
bear, while he felt that if the water rose higher he would be perfectly
helpless to sustain its force. But a sharp glance upward and downward
showed him spots where the water foamed and leaped, and there he knew
that the stream must be shallower; in fact, in two places he kept on
catching sight of patches of black rock which were bared again and
again. Setting his teeth hard, and making the first of these his goal,
he stepped on cautiously, this choice of direction, being diagonally
up-stream, necessarily increasing the distance to be traversed, but
lessening the pressure upon the little linked-together line of men.
"We shall never do it," thought Bracy as, in his turn, he waded out into
the open stream, his arms well extended and his companions on either
side gazing up-stream with a peculiar strained look about their eyes.
But there was no sign of flinching, no hesitation; every man was full of
determination, the three privates feeling strengthened by being linked
with and thus sharing the danger with their officers; while Roberts, as
leader, felt, however oppressed by the sense of all that depended upon
him, invigorated by the knowledge that he must reach that shallow place.
Once he had his men there, they could pause for a few minutes' rest
before making the next step.
On he pressed, left shoulder forward, against the rushing waters;
feeling moment by moment that the slightest drag from the next man must
make him lose his footing, to be swept downward, with the result that if
the links of the chain were not broken asunder there would be pluck,
pluck, pluck, one after the other, and they would be all swept down the
torrent.
Had he allowed his imagination free way, he would have let it picture
the result--so many ghastly figures, battered out of recognition, found
somewhere, miles away perhaps, among the blocks of stone in the shallows
of the defile. But the stern man within him kept the mastery; and he
went on a few inches at a time, edging his way along, with the water
deepening, so that he was ready to pause. But he felt that hesitation
would be fatal; and, pressing on, his left foot went down lower than
ever, making him withdraw it and try to take a longer stride.
"It's all over," he thought, in his desperation; but even as the thought
flashed through his brain he found that he reached bottom again, having
passed a narrow gully, and his next and next, strides were into
shallower water; while, toiling hard, he was in a minute only
waist-deep, dragging his companions after him, and aiding them, so that
they all stood together a third of the way across, with the rushing
stream only knee-deep.
"Five minutes for faking breath," he cried, "and then on again for that
white patch where the water is foaming."
No one else spoke, but all stood panting and not gazing up-stream or at
the farther shore, with its rocks, trees, and ample cover, but throwing
the pressure of every nerve, as it were, into their hearing, and
listening for sounds of the enemy only to be heard above the roar of the
water. For the firing had ceased, and one and all felt that this meant
an advance on the part of the hill-men, who would be sweeping the wooded
valley right to the river-bank, ready at any moment to open fire again;
while now it would be upon the unprotected group part of the way towards
mid-stream.
"Forward!" cried Roberts; and, with their grip tightening, the little
party followed their Captain as he once more edged off to the left,
performing his former evolution, and, to his delight, finding that the
stone-bestrewn polished bottom never once deepened after the first few
steps, which took him waist-deep, and kept about the same level, the
result being that the next halt was made where the river was roughest,
tossing in waves churned up as it was by the masses of rock in its way,
a group lying just below the surface, with the water deepening behind
them, so that the party had once more to stand breast-high, but in an
eddy, the rocks above taking off the pressure which in the shallows had
threatened to sweep them away.
The water was numbing, and the leader felt that their pause before
recommencing their efforts must be very short; but he was face to face
with the most difficult part of their transit, for it was only too plain
that this last portion ran swift and deep, the bold, steady rush
suggesting a power which he knew instinctively that he would not be able
to stem, and he looked downward now to see what was below in the only
too probable event of their being swept away.
As he turned to gaze upward again he caught Bracy's eyes fixed upon him
inquiringly; but he paid no heed, though he did not for the moment read
them aright, the idea being that his brother officer was mutely asking
him if he thought he could do it.
He grasped Bracy's meaning the next minute, for he heard that which had
reached Bracy's ears. It was a shout from the woody bank they had left,
as if one of the enemy had made a discovery, followed by answering
cries, and all knew now that their foes were close upon their track, and
that at any moment they might be discovered and fire be opened upon
them.
"Forward!" cried Roberts, and once more he set off, to be again
agreeably surprised, for the water did not deepen in the least as he
moved from out of the eddy, being still about breast-deep, with very
little variation, the bottom being swept clear of stones and literally
ground smooth by the constant passage over it of the fragments borne
down from the glaciers in the north. But before many steps had been
taken, and the little chain was extended to its extreme limit, Roberts
knew that disaster was imminent. For it was impossible to stand against
the dense, heavy rush of water, bear against it as he would.
He shouted back to his companions to bear against the pressure, and
strove his best, but all in vain. At one and the same moment the double
calamity came: there was a shot from out of the patch of forest they had
left, and the leader was lifted from his feet. Then pluck, pluck,
pluck, as if mighty hands had seized them, the men in turn were snatched
from their positions, and with a scattered fire opened upon them from
among the trees, they were being swept rapidly down-stream.
Roberts shouted an order or two, and discipline prevailed for a space,
the links of the chain remaining unbroken; but even the greatest
training could not hold it together for long at such a time, and the
non-swimmers were the first to go under and quit their hold, rolling
over with the tremendous rush of the stream, and rising again, to snatch
wildly at the nearest object, and in two cases to hamper the unfortunate
who was within reach.
"_Sauve qui peut_," muttered Bracy a's he glided along, with his sword
hanging from his wrist by the knot; but his actions contradicted his
thoughts, for instead of trying to save himself he turned to the help of
Drummond, to whom one of the men was clinging desperately, and the very
next minute he felt a hand clutch at his collar and grip him fast.
The rattle of firing was in his ears, and then the thundering of the
water, as he was forced below the surface into the darkness; but he did
not lose his presence of mind. He let himself go under, and then, with
a few vigorous strokes, rose to the surface, with the man clinging to
him behind, and wrenched himself round in his effort to get free. He
was only partially successful, though; and, panting heavily, he swam
with his burden, just catching sight of Drummond in a similar position
to himself, many yards lower down the stream.
"Let go," he shouted to the man. "Let go, and I'll save you."
But the man's nerve was gone, and he only clung the tighter and made a
drowning-man's effort to throw his legs about his officer's.
"Help! help!" he gasped, and a desperate struggle ensued, during which
both went beneath the surface again, only to rise with Bracy completely
crippled, for the poor drowning wretch had been completely mastered by
his intense desire for life, and arms and legs were now round his
officer in the death-grip.
Bracy cast a wild, despairing look round as he was borne rapidly along,
and all seemed over, when a head suddenly came into sight from behind
them, an arm rose above the surface, and the swimmer to whom it belonged
drove his fist with a dull smack right on the drowning-man's ear, and
with strange effect.
It was as if the whole muscular power had been instantaneously
discharged like so much electricity at the touch of a rod, the horrible
clinging grasp ceased, and with a feeble effort Bracy shook himself free
and began to swim.
"A jolly idgit!" panted a voice; "a-holding on to yer orficer like that!
Want to drown him? Can you keep up, sir?"
"Yes, I think so," said Bracy weakly.
"That's right, sir. You'll do it. I'll give yer a 'and if yer can't.
It's easy enough if yer swim with the stream."
"Can you keep him up?" said Bracy more vigorously.
"Oh yus, sir; I can manage to keep him on his back and his nose out o'
the water. Knocked him silly."
"Where are the others?"
"There they are, sir, ever so far along. The Captain's got old Parry,
and Mr Drummond's swimming to his side to help him. You'll _do_ it
now, sir. Slow strokes wins. Feel better?"
"Yes. I was half-strangled."
"Then it's all right, sir."
"But the enemy?" panted Bracy, trying to look round.
"Never you mind them, sir. They're far enough off now, and can only get
a shot now and then. River windles so. We're going ever so much faster
than they can get through the woods. Ain't this jolly, sir? Done my
ankle a sight o' good. I allus did like the water, on'y sojers' togs
ain't made to swim in."
"I can't see any one in pursuit," said Bracy at the end of a minute.
"Don't you keep trying to look, sir. You've got enough to do to swim."
"I'm getting right again now, Gedge, and I think I can help you."
"What! to keep him up, sir? I don't want no help while he's like this;
but if he comes to again and begins his games you might ketch him one in
the ear. Chaps as thinks they're drowning is the silliest old idgits
there is. 'Stead o' keeping still and their pads under water, they
shoves them right up to try and ketch hold o' the wind or anything else
as is near. 'Spose they can't help it, though. Hullo! look yonder,
sir. Rocks and shaller water. Think we could get right across now?"
For a shout now reached them from fifty yards or so lower down, where
their three companions in misfortune were standing knee-deep in
mid-stream, and a rugged mass of rocks rose to divide the river and
towered up twenty or thirty feet, forming a little rugged island about
twice as long. Bracy's spirits, which were very low, rose now at the
sight of Roberts and Drummond helping the other private up into safety,
and turning directly to offer them the same aid if they could manage to
get within reach.
"Keep it up, sir," cried Gedge, who was swimming hard, "or we shall be
swep' one way or t'other. It'll be nigh as a touch, for the water
shoots off jolly swift."
Bracy had needed no telling, and he exerted all his strength to keep so
that they might strike the shallows where the island was worn by the
fierce torrent to a sharp edge, for to swim a foot or two to the left
meant being carried towards the side of the enemy, while to the right
was into swifter water rushing by the island with increased force.
"Stick to it, sir," cried Gedge. "Side-stroke, sir. No fear o' not
keeping afloat. That's your sort. We shall do it. Ah!"
Gedge's last cry was one of rage and disappointment, for, in spite of
their efforts, just as they seemed to be within a few feet of the point
at which they aimed, they found themselves snatched as it were by the
under-current, and, still holding to their half-drowned companion, they
would have been carried past but for a brave effort made by Roberts, who
was prepared for the emergency. By stepping out as far as he dared,
holding by Drummond's long arm, and reaching low, he caught Gedge's
extended hand.
The shock was sharp, and he went down upon his face in the water; but
Drummond held on, the little knot of struggling men swung round to the
side, and in another minute they were among the rocks, where they
regained their feet, and drew the insensible private up on to dry land.
"That was near," said Roberts, who was breathless from exertion. "Hurt,
Drummond?"
"Oh no, not at, all," was the laughing reply. "I never did lie on the
rack, having my arms torn out of the sockets; but it must have been
something like this."
"I'm very sorry," cried Roberts.
"Oh, I'm not, old man. How are you, Bracy--not hit?"
"No, no; I shall be all right directly. Thank you, old chaps, for
saving us. Never mind me; try and see to this poor fellow. I'm afraid
he's drowned."
"No, sir; he ain't, sir," cried Gedge; "he's coming round all right.
It's more that crack in the ear I give him than the water. I hit him as
hard as I could. There! look, gents; his eyes is winking."
It was as the lad said; the unfortunate non-swimmer's eyelids were
quivering slightly, and at the end of a minute he opened them widely and
stared vacantly at the sunny sky. The officers were bending over him,
when they received a broad hint that their position was known, a couple
of shots being fired from the farther bank, higher up-stream, one of
which struck the rock above them and splintered off a few scraps, which
fell pattering down.
"Quick!" cried Roberts. "We must get those two along here for a bit.
The high part will shelter us then; but as soon as possible we must have
another try for the shore."
The shelter was soon reached, and all crouched together in the sunshine,
with the water streaming from them, the officers busily scanning the
bank of the rushing river opposite, and calculating the possibility of
reaching it. There was plenty of cover, and very little likelihood of
the enemy crossing the river in its swollen state; but there was that
mad nice some twenty yards wide to get over with two helpless men; and
at last Roberts spoke in a low tone to his companions.
"I can't see how it's to be done, boys. I dare say we four could reach
the bank somewhere; but we're heavily handicapped by those two who can't
swim."
"And there isn't time to teach them now," said Drummond sardonically.
"And we can't leave them," said Bracy. "What's to be done?"
Gedge was eager to offer a suggestion upon the slightest encouragement,
and this he obtained from Roberts, who turned to him.
"How's the sprain, my lad?"
"Bit stiff, sir; that's all," was the reply. "Water done it a lot o'
good."
"Think you could drop down with the stream and land somewhere near the
fort to tell them how we're pressed?"
"Dessay I could, sir; but don't send me, please."
"Why?" asked Roberts and Bracy in a breath.
Gedge gave them a comical look, and waved his hand in the direction of
his comrades.
"We all come out together to have what we called a nice little walk,
sir, and a look at that there waterfall, as turned out to be farther off
than we reckoned on. I shouldn't like to cut off and leave 'em in the
lurch, sir."
"Lurch? Nonsense, my lad," said Bracy. "You would be going on a very
risky errand to try and save us all."
"Yes, sir; o' course, sir; but I could get one of 'em over that little
bit if you three gents could manage t'other. They'll be all right in a
few minutes."
"I don't like sending him," said Roberts. "It is very dangerous, and we
must, try it together."
His companions gave; a short, sharp nod, and acquiesced.
"If we only knew what is below us!" said Bracy as he gazed down-stream.
"Niggers," 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 cluster 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 pass along that only a few moments had passed 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 hoarse 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 passed 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."