Another fortnight passed, during which the officers had a day's shooting
as often as they could be spared; and, though the Colonel's face grew
more and more serious he made no further objection to these excursions
so long as they were sensibly carried out, for he had realised how
thoroughly the enemy avoided the higher portions of the mountains, the
snow-line being rarely crossed; and when they did break through their
rule, it was only in crossing from one valley to another, and it was
necessitated by the pass which linked the two being more than usually
high.
It was a bright, sunny morning, and glasses had been busy in the fort,
for certain well-known signs suggested that the day would not pass
without their hearing from the enemy, of whom glances were obtained,
first in one well-known locality, then in another, which they seemed to
affect as a matter of course, showing very little disposition to break
out of their regular routine, while one tribe followed in the steps of
another so closely that it was generally possible to prognosticate where
the attack would be made, and make arrangements to foil it.
The officers were chatting together; and in the group where Drummond
stood with his friends he started a good grumbling discourse, something
after this fashion:
"It's always the case. So sure as I overlook my tackle, and have a good
clean up of the rifles ready for a long day amongst the muttons, some of
these beggars come and plant themselves just in the way we mean to go."
"Mr Bracy," said an orderly, coming up and saluting, "the Colonel
wishes to see you."
"Ha, ha!" laughed Drummond; "it's to tell you that we are not to attempt
a shoot to-day. Tell him, Bracy, that we had given it up."
Bracy nodded, and went straight to the Colonel's room, to find him
busily writing.
He just glanced up and nodded.
"Sit down, Bracy," he said, and he went on writing, his table being a
couple of bullock-trunks, with a scarlet blanket by way of cover.
"Enemy are out pretty strong this morning."
"Yes, sir."
"Ha! yes."
There was a pause, filled up by a good deal of scratching of the pen,
before the stern-looking officer began again.
"You are quite strong now, Bracy?" he said at last, without looking up.
"Never felt better in my life, sir."
"I said strong, Bracy."
"Nor stronger, sir."
"That's right," said the Colonel, reading over his despatch and crossing
i's and dotting i's here and there.
"Wound trouble you much still?"
"Gives me a sharp sting, sir, at times, back and front; but I always
find that it is when we are going to have a change of weather."
The Colonel paid no heed, and Bracy added:
"I dare say it will soon pass off, though."
"It will not," said the Colonel quietly, and to the young man's dismay.
"You will feel it more or less all your life. Yes," he added, looking
up and smiling, "a twinge to remind you that you were once a brave
officer of the Queen."
Bracy coughed, for he felt a little husky, and as if he were standing
near a fire.
"Now, Bracy, business. I cannot go on sending despatch after despatch,
none of which reach their destination. Either going or coming, my
messengers have come to a bad end or been unfaithful."
Bracy made no reply, for none was expected; and the Colonel now looked
up, and, with his hands resting upon the table, gazed full in the young
man's eyes.
"I want a messenger whom I can trust," he said, "a man who will
undertake the task of delivering my despatch as a duty to his country.
There are plenty of good, trusty lads in the regiment. Whom would you
select--the best you know?"
Bracy was silent for a few moments before speaking.
"I should be sorry to see him go upon so dangerous a mission, sir; but
if I had to select a lad in whom I should have perfect confidence, I
should choose Private Gedge."
"A very good selection, Bracy; but I want an officer."
The young man stalled, and drew his breath hard.
"There is Andrews, or Elder, or Morrison," continued the Colonel, "or
Drummond, of Wrayford's; but he is too volatile. Roberts would be a
splendid fellow for the task, for, like Drummond, he is strong amongst
ice and snow, and my messenger will have to take to the snow nearly all
the way to save being stopped."
"A wise plan, sir," said Bracy eagerly; "one that should succeed."
"I think it will; but my messenger will be face to face with death from
the hour he starts, doubly facing it--from nature as well as man. But I
cannot spare Roberts. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir; you wish me to volunteer."
"Yes, Bracy," said the Colonel, holding out his hand, which Bracy caught
in both his. "God bless and protect you, my dear boy! I do."
"Yes, sir," said the young man firmly. "I'll go."
"Not alone. Take that man Gedge with you; he has had little to do
amongst the snow, but--"
"Yes, sir; he'll learn anything. When am I to start?"
"As soon as you can be ready. Then, I will clear the way for you by
making a feint, so that you can make at once for the upper ground."
"Not by the mountains above the Gor Pass, sir?"
"No; the other direction entirely. You are to make for the Ghil Valley,
and bring back the Ghoorkas, Bracy. It is time that we took the
offensive; the enemy must be driven back before the autumn closes in.
No; you are going upon an extremely dangerous mission, Bracy; I tell you
so frankly. I will be quite open with you. I am sending you upon this
horribly risky journey; but it is as a soldier to risk your life to save
ours."
"To save yours, sir?" said Bracy wonderingly.
"Surely the fort is quite safe if you act on the defensive."
"It would be, my dear boy, if we had an ample supply of ammunition."
Bracy started, and gazed wide-eyed at his Colonel, who had leaned across
the table and said these last words almost in a whisper.
"I am speaking quite openly to you, Bracy--telling you what must be a
secret between us two; and I tell you because it is just to one sent
upon such a perilous enterprise that he should feel satisfied as to the
urgency of the need."
Bracy made a gesture, but the Colonel checked him.
"Yes; I know what you would say," he continued: "that dangerous or no,
you would do your duty. I know you would. I have perfect faith in my
officers; but this is a matter of conscience on my side. Bracy, I find
that our ammunition will not last a month. Once that is gone, we are no
longer the superiors of the enemy. The bayonet is a splendid weapon;
but these hill-tribes are magnificent swordsmen, and when, many times
outnumbering us as they do, they come on to a hand-to-hand fight, adding
their reckless religious fervour to their natural bravery, they must
master us in the end; and that means taking the fort, and--you know what
would follow."
Bracy bowed his head; he could not speak.
"An indiscriminate massacres a horrible death to every man and woman in
the place."
"Horrible, sir," cried Bracy excitedly. "Oh, Colonel Graves, surely
things are not so bad as you think!"
The Colonel smiled.
"You ought to know me by this time, Bracy," he said quietly. "I don't
think I am a man likely to raise bugbears."
"No, no, sir! I beg your pardon."
"That will do," said the Colonel quietly. "When you leave me, be
prepared to start. You must not confide in your nearest friend; go
about your work cheerfully, and as if only to bear a despatch, but
conscious the while that our lives here depend upon your success. You
understand?"
"Yes," said Bracy gravely, "I understand; and if I do not bring the
help, sir, it is because--"
"You have died trying to do your duty to your friends. I know. There,
we need no more words, Bracy. Look here."
He took the despatch from the table and tore it up into bits.
"Your appearance before the Ghoorka Colonel will be sufficient, and you
will have no alarming announcement upon you if you are taken prisoner.
Certainly it would be by people similar to those who are besieging us;
but one never knows what soldiers of fortune may be among them, ready to
be summoned by a chief to interpret the message."
"I understand, sir."
"Once you are well on the road you must make your companion fully
understand the importance of the mission, so that if you go down there
may still be the chance left to us of this man carrying on the news of
our urgent need."
Bracy nodded shortly and drew a deep breath, waiting for the Colonel to
speak again.
"As to preparations," said Colonel Graves at last, "go as you are; but
you will each need a _poshtin_ [long sheepskin coat] to cover your
Kharkee uniforms, for concealment and warmth. You will be a great deal
among the snow and rocks, and nothing can be less likely to attract
attention. You will take sword, revolver, rifle, and bayonet. See that
Gedge carries the same weapons. In addition, take as much simple
provisions and ammunition as you can carry."
"And rob you all at such a time of need, sir?"
"The amount you two can carry away in cartridges will not be missed if
it comes to the worst, Bracy," said the Colonel, smiling. "Once more,
are you quite satisfied that you have selected the right lad?"
"A man who will carry his wounded officer, with the enemy firing down at
him from both sides of a rocky defile, cannot be bettered, sir," said
the young officer quietly.
"Right, Bracy," cried the Colonel. "He is the man. Ha! here comes
Roberts to announce the advance of the enemy. I could hear the
war-cries.--Yes, Roberts--the rascals worrying us again?"
"Yes, sir; coming down the right gully in strong numbers. Will you come
and look?"
The Colonel picked up his glass and held out his hand.
"I shall lead the men to-day, Bracy," he said, "for a change. Major
Graham will be in command here. I shall tell him of your mission.
Within an hour I shall depend upon you making your start."
"Within an hour, sir," said Bracy, as Roberts looked on in wonder.
"I have been thinking that a mule would help your journey at the first.
What do you think?"
"I think not, sir," said Bracy quietly. "We should be better free to
climb anywhere. A baggage animal would tie us down to tracks."
"Quite right. Go as we arranged.--Roberts," he continued, turning to
the Captain, "Bracy is going to take a despatch for me. He starts
directly."
"Directly, sir?" said Roberts, looking aghast.
"Yes; he has his instructions. You can have half-an-hour with him
before he starts; but you will ask no questions, only help him in any
way you can to start without delay, while I am keeping the enemy well
employed at this end of the valley."
"Yes, sir."
"After Bracy has started you can bring your company along the upper
track to act as a reserve, and cover us if it is necessary when we
retire. That will do."
The two officers left the Colonel's quarters and hurried out.
"My dear boy," cried Roberts excitedly, "this is horribly sudden. Had
you any idea of it before this morning?"
"Not the slightest," said Bracy gravely.
"Glad of it, for I should have been hurt if you had not told me."
"But you will not be hurt now? You heard what Graves said."
"I was not to question you? Yes. Still, you have some confidences to
make?"
"Not one, old fellow."
"But surely--it is such a risky thing. Oh! it is preposterous; he ought
not to have sent you. It is like sending a good man and true to his
death."
"The Colonel thinks it best, and I agree with him. As to the risk--is
it not risk enough to stay?"
"But Bracy, old fellow, if--"
"If," said the young man calmly. "Soldiers should not talk to one
another about the `if.' Let that be."
"Tell me this, though: are you satisfied to go?"
"Quite. Help me to get off--"
"I will; but--"
"By being silent, and then putting everything in one good grip of the
hand."
"I see," he said, accompanying Bracy to his quarters. "Now, what can I
do?"
"Send for Gedge."
"What for? Surely you have not chosen him for your companion?"
"I have. The Colonel said he could not spare you."
"Ha! That's better, old fellow. I was beginning to feel horribly set
aside."
"I was to have one of the men for my companion. Can you suggest a
better?"
"No," said Roberts, and he hurried out to seek the lad, who was standing
in line with his fellows of the company, looking gloomy and
discontented, for the sally-party to follow the Colonel, who was to lead
them himself, did not include "Roberts's lot," as they were termed.
"Fall out, Private Gedge," said Roberts sharply.
"Didn't hear what I said, did he?" muttered the lad, with an anxious
look, for he had been growling at what he called the favouritism served
out to some of the companies in choosing them to go out and have the
first chance of being shot; and this, he told himself, was mutinous.
But he pulled himself together and stood as erect as a ramrod, waiting
for the next order, which came directly:
"Right face; march!"
And he marched after his Captain, with heart beating heavily, and then
sinking deeper and deeper, as he found himself led to the officers'
quarters.
"It's court-martial for a threep'ny-bit," he muttered. "Next thing 'll
be `Disarm!' and all because I wanted to go and fight. Oh! they are
jolly 'ard on us chaps in the ranks."
"Come in, my lad," said Roberts, stooping to enter the low door, and
Gedge's heart went down to its lowest point as he found himself face to
face with Bracy.
"Them two to drop on me!" he thought. "Wouldn't ha' keared if it had
been the Major."
The next moment poor Gedge's heavily plumping heart jumped, as he
afterwards expressed it from his boots right up to his throat.
"Gedge," said Bracy coldly and quietly, "I am going on a very dangerous
mission."
"Oh, sir, please don't go without me!"
"I have sent for you to say that I have selected you for my companion."
"Hoo--beg pardon, sir," cried the lad, turning scarlet.
"No cheering, no nonsense, no boy's tricks, my lad. This is desperate
men's work. I have chosen you to go with me on a journey of many days,
during which we shall suffer terrible hardships."
"That's right, sir; used to it ever since I was--"
"Silence, man!" said Bracy sternly. "We shall go with our lives in our
hands, and probably never get to our journey's end; but we shall have to
try. Now then, if you feel the slightest qualm, speak out honestly, and
I will choose some one else."
"Don't do that, sir, please; but I will speak out honest. I must, when
you axes me to."
"Ah!" cried Bracy.
"I'm strong as a horse again, sir; but sometimes I do get a sorter dig
in the back, just as if a red-hot iron rod were touching up my wound
when the bit o' iron--"
"No, no, man," cried Bracy, laughing. "I mean qualm of dread, or
shrinking about running the risk."
"Oh, that, sir? Not me. Ain't I just as likely to be shot if I stop
quiet here? They're allus trying to do it. I gets more sniping than
any chap in the company."
"Then you will go with me?"
"I just will, sir. Anywheres."
"Thank you, Gedge. I'll say no more, for I know that you will stick to
me like a man."
"Ha!" ejaculated Gedge, exhaling an enormous amount of pent-up emotion,
and drawing his arm across his thickly perspiring brow, while a
pleasant, contented smile lit up his plain features, as he drew himself
up more stiffly to attention, waiting for orders.
"Well done, Gedge!" said Roberts softly.--"You've picked the right lad,
Bracy."
Gedge did not move a muscle, but stood as upright as the rifle at his
side, and looking as inanimate, but quite as dangerous, while his two
officers said a few words in a low tone. The next moment Roberts went
out of the room, and Bracy turned to the lad.
"We have to carry everything ourselves, and we must take all we can
without overloading, my lad, for we shall have to climb a great deal
amongst the snow. Now, mind this: we have just three-quarters of an
hour for preparation. Then we must pass out of the gate."
Gedge did not move, but stood as if carved out of a block of hardened
putty by the hand of an artistic drill-sergeant; listening, though, with
his ears, which looked preternaturally large from the closeness of the
regimental barber's efforts, and seeming to gape. Then he left his
rifle in a corner, and was off.
The result was that, with five minutes to spare, officer and man,
strangely transformed by their thick, woolly overcoats, stood ready in
that room. Haversacks of provisions hung from their broad leather
bands; revolvers balanced dagger-bay'nets from their belts; as much
ammunition as they could carry was in their pockets, and necessary odds
and ends were bestowed in satchels.
"All ready?" said Roberts at last.
"All ready. Nothing forgotten that I can think of."
"Then you will start at once. I have warned the men that you are to be
allowed to slip out quietly, or they would have cheered you."
"Thanks," said Bracy.--"You hear that, Gedge?"
"Yes, sir."
"You will follow me without a word."
Gedge's face now looked as if if had been carved in oil-stone, it was so
hard, and he made no reply. But mentally he was discoursing vigorously
in his wild state of excitement, for he could judge of his own
appearance by that of his officer.
"Just like a couple o' second-hand Robinson Crusoes out of a pantymime,
and bound for the North Pole. Talk about a lark. Oh, don't I wish my
poor old mother could see her bee-u-tiful boy!--Poor old chaps! Poor
old pardners! Won't they be waxy when they knows I'm gone! Here,
blessed if I can get, at my clean pocket-'ankychy, and I wants to shed a
purlin' tear for poor old Sergeant Gee."
"Ready!" came to check the flow of Gedge's thoughts, and, picking up his
rifle, the fellow to that placed ready for Bracy, he stepped out into
the court, to find all the men left in the fort gathered to see them
start, for the news was every one's property now; and as they marched
towards the gates there was a low murmur, but no man stirred.
It was different, though, with the women; though here, too, all was done
in silence. Officers' wives stepped forward to press Bracy's hands,
with the tears standing in their eyes, and many a "God-speed!" was
murmured in the ears of both.
"But no one shakes a hand with me," said Gedge sadly to himself; and
then, "Well, I'm blessed!"
For Sergeant Gee was on one side of him to lay a hand upon his shoulder.
"Good-bye, Gedge," he said in his harsh, uncompromising way; "you'll
stick to your officer like a brave lad, I know."
"Thank ye, Sergeant; and same to you," growled Gedge; and then the tears
stood in his eyes, for Mrs Gee had hold of his unoccupied hand, to
press it hard, with a grip, in fact, like a man's.
"Here," she said, taking a small, flat, black packet from her breast,
and Gedge saw that it was envelope-shaped, but home-made in oil-skin,
and instead of being adhesive; there was a neat button and buttonhole.
"Put that in your breast-pocket, my boy," she said, "and never part with
it. Bandages, oiled silk, needles and thread, and a pair o' scissors.
And mind this: plug a bullet-hole directly; and whatever you do, clean
water, and lots of it, for all wounds."
"Thank ye, missus."
"For you and Mr Bracy too. There, Bill Gedge, you're a brave lad, and
I'll kiss you for your mother's sake, in case you don't come back; and
if ever I return to England I'll write and tell the Queen how her brave
boys are always ready to do or die, though I know she won't get my
letter if I do."
The men nearly disobeyed orders when Mrs Gee took hold of Gedge by his
woolly _poshtin_ and gave him a sounding kiss first on one cheek and
then on the other, but they forbore; and the brave lad's eyes very
nearly brimmed over the next moment, for, leaving Bracy, now on his way
to the gate, the officers' ladies crowded round Gedge and shook hands,
two dying to thrust upon him packages of what would have been luxuries
to them in nights to come; but he was obliged to shake his head, for he
was already laden to the fullest extent.
"Now, Gedge!" came from the gate, and the next minute it had been opened
and closed after two bulky, stooping figures, who, with rifles at the
trail, started off in Indian file along the track by the river-side,
making for the upper portion of the valley, but without uttering a word.
Their ears were listening, though, to the sounds of firing in the
distance, the reports of many pieces coming reverberating out of the
chasm-like rift leading south. Their eyes, too, were as much upon the
alert as those of some timid animal whose life depends upon its
watchfulness from day to day, existing, as it does, in the midst of
numberless enemies, who look upon it as their natural prey.
But though their rolling eyes scanned every spot familiar, from long
experience, as the lurking-place; of an enemy, there was not a glimpse
of a white coat nor the gleam of a polished weapon to be seen. At the
same time, careful watch was kept upon the track they traversed every
time it opened out sufficiently for a forward glance of any extent, and
the heavy, matter-of-fact, hill-country-looking pair had nearly reached
a spot from whence a good view of the fort could be obtained before a
word was spoken.
Then the silence was broken by Bracy, who said abruptly:
"Don't look back, my lad."
"No, sir," came promptly from the front.
"Our lookout is forward from this hour till the time we bring back help
to those we leave behind."
Gedge was silent, and kept on the watch, as, with rounded shoulders and
camelled back, he planted his puttee-bandaged legs in the safest parts
of the rugged track.
"Well, don't you want to know where we're going?"
"Yus, sir; 'orrid."
"Over the mountains to bring back a Ghoorka regiment, my lad."
"Right, sir."
"And by the hardest way we can find."
"Something like them ways over the snow, like you goes for the bears and
sheep, sir?"
"Yes: and harder ways still, Gedge: for to meet any of the people may
mean--"
Bracy paused, and Gedge waited for him to end his sentence. But he
waited in vain, till he was tired, and then finished it to himself, and
in the way he liked best.
"May mean," he said, and then paused--"having to put bullets through
some o' these savage savages, for I'm blest if I'm going to let 'em have
the first shot at us. Yes," he added, "savages; that's what's about
their size. I never see such beasts. Yes, that's what they are--wild
beasts. I don't call such things men. The best of it is, they thinks
they're so precious religious, and sticks theirselves up to pray every
morning and every night, I'm blest!--praying!--and often as not with
their knives and swords! Ugh! and phew! My word! it's warm walking in
these here coats. Wish I hadn't got mine."
Is thought electric, or magnetic, or telepathic, or scientific, some way
or another, that so often it is communicated from one person to another
free of cost, and without a form, or boy to leave it, and wait for an
answer? Certainly it was in that, clear mountain air, which blew softly
among the cedars in the valley, coming off the clear ice and dazzling
snow from one side, getting warmed in hot sunshine, and then rising up
the mighty slopes on the other side, to grow from pure transparency, in
its vast distance and extent, to be of a wonderfully delicious
amethystine blue.
Anyhow, Gedge had no sooner given himself his opinions about the heat
engendered by walking in a thick, sheepskin coat than Bracy said:
"Find the _poshtin_ hot, Gedge?"
"'Ot ain't the word for it, sir," was the reply. "I ain't quite sure
whether it's me, or whether they didn't scrape the fat off proper when
they tanned the skin, sir; but something's running."
"Steady down, then. It is very warm here among the cedars; but they
hide us from the enemy, my lad. As soon as we begin to climb we shall
be getting out of summer into winter; and by the time it's dark, and we
lie down to sleep, we shall think it would be pleasanter if we had two
apiece."
"Shall us, sir? Well, you know, sir; but all this caps me. Here we
are, as you say, in summer, and we've on'y got to climb up one o' them
mountains and there we are in winter. They say it freezes there every
night."
"Quite right, Gedge."
"But all the snow melts away some time in the year?"
"Never, my lad. Up there before you, where the sun shines on those
glorious peaks, it is eternal winter, only that there is so much melting
in the hottest parts of the day."
"To make the rivers, sir?"
"Of course!"
"And the rain helps when they're all in the clouds up there, I suppose,
sir?"
"Rain!" said Bracy, laughing; "there is no rain there, my lad; when the
clouds discharge their burden it is in the form of snow. But now,
silence once more. The less we talk the better till we are among the
snow, for at any moment we may be walking into a trap."
"Like we did, sir, when you three gentlemen come and whistled us from
the side o' them falls?"
"Yes."
"Well, we don't want none o' that sort o' thing, sir, or we shall never
be bringing that ridgement back."
"Right. Now you see the necessity for taking to the snow where the
hill-men rarely climb."
"Yus, sir, going; but what about coming back?"
"The same, or a nearer way."
"But with a ridgement, sir?"
"Oh yes; the Ghoorkhas will go anywhere if they are told."
"So'll us," said Gedge to himself; and then, with a word or two at times
from behind, he trudged on and on towards the mighty snowfields, but
ever with his eyes on the lookout for the danger--keen knife, tulwar,
matchlock, ball, or spear--invisible so far, but which at any moment
might be so near.