The last echoes of the distant firing had quite died out; the windings
of the river valley had long enough hidden away the mountainous hills
which surrounded the fort; and far below where they slowly toiled along
the faintly-marked track, worn where there was pasture by the feet of
the mountain sheep, the river rushed, torrent-like, along in a greatly
narrowed bed, whose perpendicular shrub and fern decked sides hid its
leaping and tearing waters from the travellers' gaze. At rare intervals
the river made a plunge over some mighty rock and flashed into sight,
though its position was often revealed by a cloud of spray, which rose
like steam into the sunshine, to become brilliant with an iris which,
rainbow-like, spanned the falls.
The ascent had been gradual but marked, for, though trees were in
abundance, rising in clumps of spires, their tops were well below the
adventurers, while, where they trod, the forest was dwarfed and
scrub-like, but thick enough to greatly hinder their advance.
Hardly a word had been spoken for hours, during which the watchfulness
observed had been painful, especially when they had crept along under
cover by three lateral valleys, familiar to both as the roads by which
the enemy had approached for their attacks, one to the east being that
made unenviable by the terrible adventure when they had received their
wounds.
The passing of the mouths of these gorges was a crucial task, from its
being almost a certainty that part of one or the other of the tribes
would be, stationed there. But the slow approaches and all the caution
exercised, as far as Bracy could judge, were waste of energy: not an
enemy was seen, and when, twice over, rifles were brought to the ready,
and their bearers stood prepared to fire at the foe rustling along among
the low growth and tangle, it was to find, to their great relief, that
the alarm was caused in the first instance by goat-like sheep, and in
the other by a bear, which had been feasting upon the berries growing
low down the cliff towards the hidden torrent.
The sun was long past the meridian, and, in spite, of the height, their
shut-in position made the breathless valley seem hotter than ever, while
the thorny nature of the low growth hindered them so much that at last
Bracy had hard work to force his way through a tangled mass, whose
thorny hooks clung to the _poshtin_ he was wearing, and kept on robbing
it of its wool. This brought them to a standstill, and Gedge, who had
just freed himself from similar hindrances, stepped back, with his
dagger-like bayonet in his hand, with which he delivered a few sharp
cuts, and Bracy struggled out.
"Ha!" he said; "that's better."
"Yus, sir; these are handier tools than the old-fashioned bay'nets; but
what we ought to have had was a couple o' those pretty, bill-hooky
blades the Ghoorkha boys use. They'd make short work of briars and
brambles and things. Toothpicks, our lads calls 'em; and the little
fellows the Toothpick Brigade.--Tired, sir?"
"Terribly!" said Bracy. "This is awful going; but we shall be out of
the wood before many hours have passed. We might have avoided this by
striking up to the left, but I felt that it was not safe. Better be
slow and sure. Look, my lad, it is more open yonder, and seems like a
way down to the torrent. We've earned a rest, and we must have one.
Let's get down to where we can reach water, and lighten our load by
making a meal."
Gedge's eyes sparkled, and he led on at once, reaching at the end of
some hundred paces a sharp slope, which showed traces of the moss and
ferns having been trampled down, while twigs were broken here and there,
some being left hanging, and others snapped sharp off!
"People been along here, Gedge," said Bracy, taking suspicious notice of
the signs around.
"No, sir, I think not," said the lad, whose keen eyes were busy. "I
should say it was only goats. Pst!"
Gedge had been speaking in a low tone, but the "Pst!" was sharply
distinct, and had its effect. For in an instant there was a rush, and
something brown came into sight, making the adventurers present their
rifles in the full belief that they were about to be face to face with
an enemy. But the next moment the object rose up to peer over the
bushes and all around, proving to be a great brown bear, whose little,
pig-like eyes flashed and glistened as it scanned the place, looking
wonderfully human in its actions as it balanced itself upon its
hind-legs, its fore-legs hanging half raised on either side, till it
caught sight of the disturbers of its solitude, when it uttered a
growling grunt, dropped down on all-fours again, and dashed up the slope
towards the mountains.
"Might easily have shot him, sir," said Gedge as the sounds of the
breaking twigs died out.
"Easily," said Bracy; "but we have as much as we can carry now, and--
Hark!"
Gedge was already listening, for, from up in the direction taken by the
bear--which, unfortunately, was the continuation of their route--the
report of a gun rang out, followed by another and another. Then there
was a burst of exultant shouts, and the pair drew back more into
shelter.
"They've hit him, whoever they are, sir," whispered Gedge excitedly:
"and they'll be along here direckly. Which way will you go, sir? We
can't go that."
"Away towards the water, my lad," said Bracy, quickly. "They're coming
down to reach the fort."
He led the way himself now, following the easier portions of the slope,
and when close to where the now narrow river came thundering down, he
plunged in amongst a chaos of creeper and fern hung rocks, down in a
hollow of which they sank into a kneeling position, crouching low and
waiting.
"Well hidden, are we not, Gedge?" whispered Bracy.
"Splendid, sir. Couldn't see us 'less they was close to, and if we kept
our heads down they'd take us then for sheep."
"And fire at us."
"They'd better not!" growled Gedge. "But, say, sir, as we're resting
mightn't we just as well have a bite?"
"Could you eat now?" whispered Bracy.
"Could I eat now, sir?" said the lad wonderingly. "It's couldn't I eat!
My! If you only knew what I've been feeling ever since dinner-time you
wouldn't ask that."
"Go on, then," said Bracy, and as he listened he saw his companion take
a packet of bread and meat from his haversack and begin to munch, when
the sight of the food so woke him up to the state of his own appetite
that he opened his wallet, drew out some hastily-cut mutton and
bread-cake sandwiches, and went on eating till there was the sound of
voices close at hand, followed by the rustling of leaf and twig, with
the dull tramp of soft feet telling that a large body of men were
passing in Indian file, talking loudly; but the hidden pair were well
concealed and satisfied that they were perfectly safe, till all at once
a voice was raised, and they heard the word "Water" uttered in the Dwat
dialect.
There was an eager buzz of voices at this, and instead of continuing
their course the party clustered together, and, to Bracy's horror, began
to descend the sharp slope as if coming right upon their hiding-place,
but turning off by one of the bigger rocks, and rapidly crushing through
the thin shrubs and ferns so close that Bracy, as he lay there, could
have touched one man by stretching out the barrel of his rifle.
For the next ten minutes the position was agonising, the men coming and
going, and even the noise they made in drinking just below was plainly
heard; while Bracy, as he cowered down among the ferns, felt that it was
impossible for them to escape the observation of the keen-eyed
mountaineers.
But still the discovery was deferred; and, as the drinking went on, a
gleam or two of hope illumined the position, but only to be damped
again, and Bracy held his revolver ready, for there was a sudden
movement on the part of one of the men, whose sword and shield seemed to
be of a superior type, like his cotton clothes and the turban he wore.
It was as if this man had just caught sight of them, and, his curiosity
being excited, he came straight on, drawing his keen tulwar and striking
with if to right and left so as to clear the way towards the rocks, his
eyes seeming to be fixed upon those of Bracy, who slightly raised the
muzzle of his revolver, his finger resting upon the trigger.
Probably never was man nearer to his death, for the slightest additional
pressure of the young officer's finger would have sent a bullet crashing
through the man's breast, as he came on till almost within touch, when
he suddenly turned round, and seated himself upon a mossy rock just in
front, his broad back, in its loose while cotton garb, effectually
hiding the fugitives from the men going up and down.
Bracy felt as if he would have given anything to have been able to utter
a low "Hah!" of relief, as he breathed long and heavily, instead of
crouching there nearly suffocated by holding it back; for he knew that
the slightest movement, the faintest sound, must result in the man,
evidently the leader, turning sharply, sword in hand, to discover the
pair lying so close.
"I should have a bullet through him 'fore he could lift his sword," said
Gedge to himself; "but what's the good o' that? Twenty or thirty would
be upon us before we could get away, and a nice condition we're in for
that! Why, I feel like a fat sheep at Christmas. Couldn't run if I
wanted to, and I don't, 'less he runs fust, and he won't, I know. Know
him too well."
Bracy's thoughts were many as he crouched there. He wanted to feel
decisive; but the weary walk, heavily-laden as he was, had dulled his
brain a little, and he could not come to a conclusion as to whether it
would not be best to take the initiative and attack at once, trusting to
their sudden appearance and the shots they could be creating a panic;
for it was not likely that the enemy would imagine such an attack would
be made unless by a force at least equal to their own.
The idea was tempting; but, on the other hand, it seemed madness to make
so wild a venture; and he was giving it up, when they were both startled
by half-a-dozen of the party who were going and coming stopping short
just in front of their leader, to begin taking out some blackish-looking
cakes. Then others beginning to join them, they looked round, and a
couple of the party pointed to the rocks behind which Bracy and Gedge
were hidden.
That was fatal, and from the movement which followed it was evident that
they were about to make this their resting-place.
At the same moment Gedge's hand stole forward and touched his leader's
arm, when Bracy softly turned his head, to see his follower holding his
revolver in his right hand, signing as if asking should he use it.
Bracy did not delay his silent reply, for, quick as lightning, he had
realised that in another few moments they would be forced to fight in
defence, and that it was far better to take the initiative and make the
enemy believe that they had fallen into an ambuscade. He gave a short
nod, raised his own revolver, glanced at Gedge to see that he was ready,
and then roared at the top of his voice:
"Fire!"
Gedge's shot followed his sharply, and then in rapid succession they
fired again and again till a dozen bullets had gone hurtling over their
sheltering rock amongst the trees, and then, springing up, they fixed
bayonets with a rattle, and stood ready to fire again; but not an enemy
was visible to charge or be shot down.
For at the word "Fire!" the chief had made a sudden bound from the
stone, upon which he had sat, and rushed at his men, who turned and fled
at full speed away in the direction from which our adventurers had come:
and for the next few minutes Bracy and Gedge stood listening as they
recharged their revolvers, hearing the distant crackling and rustling of
leaf and twig till all was still.
"Think they'll rally, Gedge?" said Bracy at last.
"Not them, sir: it was too much of a scare, and so sudden. It's hard
work to start these beggars running, but once you do get 'em on the move
it's twice as hard to stop 'em."
"You are right," said Bracy quietly.
"They'll go on till they come upon the next lot o' their pardners, and
then they'll tell 'em they were attacked by two whole ridgements, and
show their wounds, if they've got any. Don't think I hit one, sir. Did
you?"
"I did not even try to," said Bracy. "I only thought of firing as
quickly as I could. Now, then, a drink of water apiece, and forward.
We can't stop to rest, but must eat as we go."
They hurried down in turn to where the tribes-men had refreshed
themselves, each watching while the other drank hastily, and remounted
to the track; after which, food in hand, they were about to recommence
their journey, when Gedge started.
"What is it?" said Bracy quickly.
"One on 'em down, sir. Didn't think we had hit any of 'em, but yonder's
one lying among the bushes."
"Yes," said Bracy; "perfectly still. I saw and covered him while you
were drinking, and was going to see if he is dead as we went by, in case
he might be only wounded, and dangerous."
"Pouf!"
"What is it?" said Bracy wonderingly, for Gedge had broken into a quiet
little laugh.
"It's the bear they shot, sir, and brought into camp with 'em. Won't
come back to fetch it--will they?"
"We will not stop to see," said Bracy quietly. "Now, forward once
more."
Their path took them by the dead bear, whose paws were bound together
with twigs, and a freshly-cut pole was thrust through, showing how the
trophy had been borne so far. The next minute the pair were steadily
climbing again, and finding by degrees that, though the slope increased,
the way was less cumbered with dense growth, so that the advance was
easier; while as the sun sank lower a gentle breeze sprang up to refresh
them, making Gedge stretch out and increase the pace, in spite of the
path growing more steep.
"Don't think they're after us--do you, sir?" said the lad at last, as
they trudged on, watching the gradual ascent of a shadow on one of the
hills in front.
"No; I think we succeeded in our scare."
"Because it makes a lot o' difference, sir."
"I don't understand you," said Bracy.
"We've a lot to do to-morrow, sir; and while it's dark I s'pose you'll
bivvywack."
"I shall keep on till it's too dark to see, my lad," said Bracy, "and
then we must sleep till it is light enough to see, and go on again. I
want to get twenty-four hours' walking between us and the fort."
"Exactly, sir. Be safer then."
"Perhaps," said Bracy, smiling grimly.
"O' course, sir," said Gedge sharply; "but I was thinking about
to-night. Is it to be watch and watch, sir--one on dooty, t'other off."
"No; our work will be too hard for that, Gedge," replied Bracy. "We
must have as many hours' heavy sleep as we can, or we shall never get to
the Ghil Valley. The work to-day has been play to some of the climbing
we shall have."
"Yus, sir; I s'pose so," said Gedge cheerily; "lot o' uphill, o'
course."
"Up mountain, my lad."
"Yus, sir; only got in the way o' calling all these snow-pynts hills;
but it'll be very fine; and after getting up one there must be some
downhill on the other side. Do you know, sir, I've been reg'lar
longing, like, ever since we come here, to go up a mountain--a reg'lar
big one; but I didn't think I should ever have the chance, and here it
is come."
Instead of rapidly growing darker a glorious sunset lit up cloud and
mountain, till the peaks literally blazed and flashed with the colours
of the various precious stones, wondrously magnified, till the
ever-changing scene rose higher, fading rapidly, and only a few points
burned as before. Then, in a minute, all was grey, and a peculiar sense
of cold tempered the climbers' brows.
"We shall just have time to reach that great patch of firs, Gedge," said
Bracy; "yonder, this side of the snow."
"Right, sir, I see; but it's a good two mile away."
"Surely not," said Bracy sceptically.
"'Tis, sir," persisted the man. "Distances is precious deceiving."
They kept on, with the gloom darkening rapidly now in the valleys, and
the peaks in the distance standing up of a ghastly grey; while Gedge
shook his head and said to himself:
"Gov'nor ought to know; but it 'll be dark 'fore we get there."
The next minute Gedge was looking in wonder at the peculiar rosy glow
which suddenly began to suffuse the great mountain. The chilly grey
died out and the ruddy glow grew richer and brighter for a time, while
the sky in the west seemed to be blazing and as if the glow were being
dragged backward, to aid the weary messengers till they could reach the
fir-tree forest that was to form their camp.
"Think there's a tremenjus fire somewhere, sir?" said Gedge at last.
"No; it is only what people call the Alpenglow," said Bracy softly, for
the wondrous beauty of the scene impressed him. "It will soon die out
again, but it will help us on our way: for you were right, Gedge; that
patch of trees was fully two miles from where we stood, and we have all
our work cut out to reach it before dark. If we cannot we must shelter
beneath the first wind-screen of rock we can find. What about your
sheepskin coat? Is it too hot?"
"Not a bit, sir; I'm cooling down fast; and, I say, there goes the last
of the light. Shall we get to the wood?"
"I'm afraid not," said Bracy. "Look to the left, and I'll look to the
right. We'll stop at the most likely spot we see."
"Don't, sir. I can keep my eye on that tall tree that goes up like a
spike, and hit it if it gets twice as dark. Wind feels cool now;
by-and-by it'll be like ice up here. Hadn't we better get right, into
shelter?"
"Go on, then, my lad. I was thinking of you."
"Then don't, please, sir; I can keep on as long as you."
The next minute--it seemed so close--the stars were shining brightly out
of the deep purple sky, and it was as if their coming brought on a
cooler breath of wind, which Gedge suggested had a sniff of frost in it.
But they had no time for conversation; and, making a final effort to
overcome their weariness, they pressed on till it had grown so dark that
they felt that it would be hopeless to persevere, for the forest could
not be readied. The next minute the darkness was profound; they were no
longer stumbling along a stony way, but passing silently over a thick
carpet of fir-needles; the sky was blotted out as if by a dense black
cloud; and there was a strange humming overhead as of the sea upon the
shore. For they had unwittingly reached and plunged into the forest
when giving it up in despair.
"Mind the trees, sir," said Gedge warningly. "I've just ketched myself
an awful rap."
"Feel your way with your rifle," said Bracy hoarsely. "We need only go
a little farther, so as to be well in shelter."
So, after cautiously advancing about a hundred yards, feeling their way
from trunk to trunk, they stopped short beneath one of the largest
trees, and sank down amongst the fir-needles.
"Shall I make a fire, sir?" said Gedge; "here's heaps of wood as 'll
burn like hoorrah."
"Fire! Are you mad?" cried Bracy.
"No, sir; but I was feared you'd be cold."
"No fire, and no watch, my lad," said Bracy. "It would be impossible
for any one to find us here. Make the best meal you can in the dark;
then take out your revolver, and lie down with it in your hand, as I
shall. You must sleep as hard as you like till daybreak. Think you
can?"
Gedge said something indistinctly, for he had begun eating, but ten
minutes later his voice sounded clear again.
"Likely to be any bears, sir?" he said.
"Very likely," replied Bracy. "If one comes supper-hunting he'll wake
us by pawing us about and sniffing. Use your revolver then, only make
sure of his head. Good-night, my lad."
"Good-night, sir," said Gedge, snuggling himself as close as he could,
and nestling among the fir-needles. "Here," he muttered; "and I was
grumbling because I had to carry this here coat. Why, it's a patent
feather-bed, wool mattress, and blankets, all in one. Scrumptious!--How
my trotters aches!--And if one comes supper-hunting he'll wake us by
pawing us about and sniffing. `Use your revolver then, only make sure
of his head,' he says. Just as if I was going to fire at his tail! I
say, though, have bears got tails? I never see one at the 'Logical
Gardens as had--and it don't matter now. Well, this here is a change,
and--and--"
The next muttered word somehow stretched itself out thin, and into a
long deep-sighing breath, which seemed to be the echo of another close
at hand, and to have nothing to do with the cool breeze which rushed
through the pines, making that soft peculiar sound as of the sea
breaking upon a sandy shore; for the two adventurers, relieved of their
loads, and tightly buttoned up in their _poshtins_, were sleeping the
sleep of the weary through that long night, undisturbed by enemy, wild
beast, or dream.