"Eh? Yes, sir. All right, sir? I'm awake. Didn't know it was my turn
to-night."
"It is morning, Gedge," said Bracy as he bent over his companion, whose
face was just visible in the faint grey light which seemed to be
creeping in beneath the fir-boughs.
"My word, sir, so it is! I thought I was being called for sentry-go.
Nights seems precious short up here in the hills." Bracy laughed.
"Oh no," he said; "we've had a good long rest. Now, then. We must have
our wash at the first stream we come to. Let's get on at once."
"Ready in a jiffy, sir. Seems a pity, though, not to have our
breakfast, first."
"Why?" said Bracy sharply as he slung on his haversack.
"Such a nice lot o' dry wood to make a fire, sir."
"To make tea or coffee, or to boil eggs, my lad?" said Bracy.
"Think o' that, now! I forgot, sir. Seemed to come nat'ral for me to
get your breakfast ready, sir. Think o' that."
In two minutes Gedge was as ready as his officer, and he finished off by
shaking and beating the fir-needles off his _poshtin_, and stroking his
very short hair down first with one hand and then with the other, so as
to look as respectable and smart as he could when going on what he
called parade.
"Forward!" said Bracy suddenly. "We'll halt at the edge of the forest,
and have a good reconnoitre, though it is not light enough for us to see
far."
Bracy was quite right; for as they cautiously advanced to the open they
could see very little but the tall pyramidal peaks here and there, one
of which stood out more clearly than the others, and served as a
familiar landmark by which to steer for that day's journey, another
which Bracy had noted on the previous evening being set down as to be
somewhere about the end of their second day's march; but it was not
visible yet, a pile of clouds in its direction being all that could be
seen.
"Right. Forward!" said Bracy as he finished his careful look round.
"Two hours' good walk in this cool air, and then breakfast. To-morrow
we must begin to look out for anything that will serve for our future
meals, and use our rifles."
"Not try at any of the villages?"
"Villages!" said Bracy, smiling. "By that time we shall be far above
any villages, and up amongst the snow."
"Right, sir; all the same to me. I love a bit o' sport, though I never
got no farther at home than rats."
"Talk lower," said Bracy. "Sound travels far when everything is so
still."
Striking to the right now, and keeping near the deep gully along which
the river ran, Bracy sought for a spot where they could cross to the far
side, and before long they came upon a rock-strewn part opposite to
where another of the several streams joined it from the east. Here,
with a little careful balancing and stepping from stone to stone, they
had not much difficulty in crossing to the other side; where, the minor
affluent being also crossed, their course was directed up its right bank
to the north and east. The side of the little ravine being surmounted,
a far wider scope of view was obtained, the mountain before hidden in
clouds now showing its crest in the coming sun; and, satisfied as to the
course he was to take, and marking it down by the little pocket-compass
he carried, Bracy pointed to a sheltered spot amongst some scrub pine,
and a halt was made for a short time for the promised breakfast.
Nothing could have been more simple, nothing more delicious. For the
glorious mountain air gave a wonderful zest to everything; and in about
a quarter of an hour they were ready to resume their journey, refreshed,
in high spirits, and with their task in the bright morning sunshine,
which glorified the wondrous panorama of snow-peaks, seeming to assume
the aspect of a holiday trip.
"I'll take one look round first," said Bracy, "in case our friends of
yesterday are anywhere upon our track;" and, before exposing himself, he
drew out the little glass he had brought, and swept the sides of the
valley they had ascended, then slowly turned his glass upon the ridge
they had gained, following it to where it joined the main valley, and
afterwards turned from the varied panorama of grassy upland forest and
rock, over the boundary-line to where to his right all was snow--pure
white snow, which looked deliciously soft, and sparked with a million
rays.
"All seems clear, Gedge," he said at last. "So let us start. That is
to be our resting-place to-night, or as near to it as we can get."
"That mountain with a big point and a little un, sir?"
"Yes."
"Don't seem half a day's journey, sir. Everything's so clear that
things look close to yer. But I know better now. Ready, sir?"
"We'll keep a little to the left, so as to get nearer to the snow, and
where it seems easy walking we'll take to it; but for the most part I
shall keep to the division-line between the snow and the scrubby growth.
It will be rough travelling; but we shall not have to cut our way
through briars. I'll lead now. Forward!"
They started at once, and soon found the journeying far more rough than
either could have imagined, for what had looked in the distance a pebbly
track was a slope burdened with blocks of shaley rock, which yielded to
their tread, and slipped and rattled to such an extent that Bracy was
glad to strike off higher still, towards the snow, which ran up in a
beautiful curve towards one of the nearest mountains, round whose
shoulder they could make a cut which would bring them out miles nearer
their goal.
At the end of a couple of miles the bottom of the snow-slope was
reached, and the line of demarcation was boldly marked, the flattened,
broken stones ending at once, so that the leader stepped directly upon
the dazzling crystals, which filled in all the little rifts and hollows,
and treacherously promised smooth, easy going for miles. But Bracy was
undeceived at the first step, for he plunged his leg to the knee in
granular snow, as yielding and incoherent as so much sand. Withdrawing
it, he walked on a few steps and tried again, to find the frozen
particles just as yielding; while Gedge had the same experience.
"Not much chance o' sliding and skating over this stuff, sir," he cried.
"No. It is impossible. We should be done up at the end of a mile. We
must keep to the rocks and stones."
Bracy was looking wistfully at the soft, tempting-looking expanse, when
a quick movement on Gedge's part took his attention.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Didn't you say we must soon be thinking of shooting something for
rations?"
"Yes. But it is too soon yet. We don't want anything more to carry.
But what can you see?"
"Looks like a drove o' somethings, sir--goats, I think--right across the
snow yonder, where there's a dark mark like rocks. I can't quite make
'em out; for I dessay it's a couple o' miles away; but it's moving."
"Wait a moment," said Bracy; and he got out his glass, set the butt of
his rifle on a stone, and rested the glass on the muzzle, so as to get a
steady look.
"I see nothing," he said--"nothing but field after field of snow, with a
few rocky ridges; and beyond them, rocks again, a long slope, and--Yes,
I see now. Why, Gedge, man, there must be a couple of hundred."
"Well, sir, we don't want 'em," said Gedge, on the fox and grapes
principle; "and goat's meat's awful strong, no matter how you cook it."
"Goats? Nonsense! Armed men, Gedge, for I could see the flashing of
the sunshine off their weapons."
"Phee-ew!" whistled Gedge. "See us, sir?"
"I hope not. But they are going in a direction which will take them
right across our road just at the same time as we reach the spot."
"That's awk'ard, sir. But I thought we'd been getting high up here
because there'd be no people to hinder us."
"So I thought, my lad; but this is an exception. These people are
crossing the mountain-passes, possibly to join the tribes besieging the
fort."
"And what about them yonder?" said Gedge, nodding to the right.
"What! You don't mean to say that you can see more in that direction?"
As Bracy spoke he snatched out the glass he was replacing, and held it
half-way to his eyes, for he did not need it. The object seen was too
plain against the sky-line, where a few tiny figures could be seen, and
trailing down a slope from them towards the east was a long, white,
irregular line, which the glass directly after proved to be a strong
body of followers.
"Same sort, sir?" said Gedge coolly.
"Yes; going as if to cut us off. Gedge, we must start back into the
little valley, and follow it up, so as to get into another. It means
miles more to tramp; but we can do nothing in this direction."
"Right, sir. When you're ready."
"But we can't walk right away, for these last would see us. We must
crawl for a few yards to those rocks below there."
The next minute they were on all-fours, crawling from stone to stone--a
laborious task, laden as they were; but, short as the distance was, they
had not half-covered it before Bracy whispered sharply:
"Flat down. Perhaps they have not seen us."
"Not they, sir. They were too far off."
"Hush! Don't you see--right in front, four or five hundred yards away--
those four men stalking us? Why, Gedge, they see our coats as we crawl,
and are taking us for sheep."
"Ah-h!" ejaculated Gedge, as for the first time he realised the fresh
danger threatening them, in the shape of a little party, evidently
coming from the direction of their last night's resting-place. As he
saw that one of them had thrown himself down, and, dragging his gun
after him, was making for a heap of stones, from whence he evidently
intended to fire, Gedge prepared to meet the shot in military fashion.
"Trying to stalk us, sir. You're right; that's it. Give me the word,
and I'll open fire. He'll think he never stalked such a sheep as me
before."
"It was my fancy, Gedge," said Bracy. "They belong to the party whom we
scattered yesterday, and they've been following on our track. Quick! we
must have first fire."
The last words had not quitted his lips when Gedge's rifle cracked, and
the danger was averted, for the man's long gun dropped from his hands as
he sprang up, crawling though he was, into a curious position on
all-fours, rolled over on to his side, and them back again, to spring to
his feet, and run as hard as he could after his companions, who had
already taken to their heels.
"That's a bad shot, and no mistake, sir," said Gedge.
"The best you ever made, Gedge," cried Bracy; "for it has done all we
required."
"Took him in the arm, sir, and spoiled his shooting for a month, I know.
As good as killing him, I s'pose."
"Better," said Bracy. "We don't want the poor wretch's life; only to
save our own. Now, what next? We'd better lie still for a bit to see
if they rally and come on again."
"Yes, sir," said Gedge, watching the retreating party, and fiddling with
the sighting of his rifle--"five hundred yards--six--eight,"--and last
of all "thousand. I think I could send a bullet among their legs, sir.
Shall I? Let 'em see that they'd better keep their distance."
"Try and scatter the stones close to them," replied Bracy. And as he
lay upon his chest, with his feet raised and legs crossed, Gedge took a
long and careful aim, pressed the trigger gently, and the next moment
the retreating party bounded apart, scattering, and running swiftly on.
"Another good shot," said Bracy; "though I could not see where it
struck; it is evident that it did strike close to their feet."
The glass was in the young officer's hand, and he followed the enemy's
movements with it, seeing the little party close up again, and then make
for a ridge in the distance--one which threatened to conceal them as
soon as it was passed; but there was something else to see, for all at
once the solitude of the elevation was broken by a figure springing into
sight, to be followed by a large group, who began to descend slowly to
meet the retreating four; and of their movements Bracy kept his
companion aware with a word or two at intervals, without changing his
position or removing his glass from his eye.
"They're close together now--the last man has joined them--they're
looking in this direction--they've turned round, and are going up the
slope again. Ha! the last man has passed over--gone."
"Would you mind having a look at the other two lots now, sir, to see
what they're doing?" said Gedge quietly.
The little glass was slowed round on the instant, and Bracy examined the
party to the right, and then, turning to the left, made a long
examination of the danger there, before closing the glass again.
"They are keeping steadily on along those slopes, Gedge, as if to
converge some miles farther on."
"Hadn't we better play the same game, sir?" said Gedge quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"Do a bit o' converging, sir, whatever it is."
"I don't set; how we can at present," replied Bracy, laughing sadly.
"No. It seems as if the only thing left for us to do is to lie still
here till the coast is clear--I mean, the enemy out of sight; then keep
on cautiously, and trust to getting beyond them in the darkness. It is
terribly unfortunate, Gedge."
"'Tis, sir, and wastes so much time. Think they have seen us?"
"No."
"Nor those chaps as was stalking us?"
"The distance is too great unless they have powerful glasses."
"That's good, sir. Then all we've got to mind is those chaps we've been
skirmishing with. They'll be like the rest of 'em, I expect--hanging
after us till they can get a shot."
"Yes; and I'm afraid that they will descend into yon little side valley
to try and get ahead of us, so as to lie in wait, farther on."
"Like as not, sir. Just the sort of mean thing they would do, never
stopping to think as we could easily have shot their chief in the back
when we were in ambush, just as I could have dropped that chap in his
tracks just now. I don't want to brag, sir; but I could."
"It is not boasting, my lad," said Bracy. "You have your marks for good
shooting. But we must countermarch those fellows. We have nearly a
mile the start of them, and I don't suppose those two bodies of men are
likely to take any notice of such a pair of rough-looking objects as we
are; so come along."
"Which way, sir?"
"Straight for our mountain yonder. What we want is a deep gully into
which we could plunge, and then we could walk fast or run part of the
way."
"And hide again, sir? Well, it'll be strange if in all this great
mountainy place we can't puzzle those fellows behind."
"We can, Gedge," said Bracy, "if once we get out of their sight."
"So we are now, sir."
"We don't know that. Several pairs of keen eyes may be watching our
movements, for I dare say as soon as we stand up our figures will show
plainly against the snow. But we must risk all that. There, we must
chance it now, so let's get on our way."
Bracy took another good look round with his glass from where he lay upon
his chest among the stones; and though the enemy looked distant, the
mountain he had marked down seemed to have doubled its remoteness, and
the snowy passes and peaks which moved slowly across the field of his
glass raised themselves up like so many terrible impediments to the
mission he had set himself to carry through. Only a brief inspection,
but there was time enough for a rush of thoughts to sweep to his brain,
all of which looked dim and confused in the cloud of doubt which arose
as to the possibility of reaching the Ghil Valley.
It was horrible, for he could see in imagination the scene at the fort,
where all were gathered to see him off, and every eye was brightened
with the hope its owner felt; each countenance looked full of trust in
one who, they felt sure, would bring back success, and save the fort in
its terrible time of need. While now a cold chill seemed to be stealing
through him, and failure was staring him in the face.
A quick mental and bodily effort, a blush of shame suffusing his face,
and he was himself again--the young soldier ready for any emergency; and
the next minute he was biting his lip with vexation at his momentary
weakness. For there was Gedge watching him patiently, his follower who
looked up to him for help and guidance--his man ready to obey him to the
death, but, on the other hand, who looked for the payment of being cared
for and protected, and not having his services misused by the cowardly
action of a superior.
"It is just as I felt that day when I was swimming a mile from shore,"
he said to himself. "I felt that same chill, and thought that there was
nothing for me to do but give up and drown. Then the same feeling of
shame at my cowardice attacked me, and I struck out quietly, and went on
and on to land. The fort is my land this time, and I'm going to reach
it again by being cool. Oh, what a brain and power of self-control a
General must possess to master all his awful responsibilities! but he
does, and leads his men to victory against tremendous odds; while here I
have but my one man to lead, and am staggered at a difficulty that may
dissolve like a mist. Gedge!"
"Sir?"
"Forward for that patch of rocks a quarter of a mile away in front,
without hesitation or turning to look back."
"Yes, sir."
"Once there, I'll bring the glass to bear again on our rear. Make a
bee-line for it, as if you were going to take up new ground for your
company. Once there, we can make for another and another, and if we are
pursued each clump of rocks will make us breastworks or rifle-pits. Up!
Forward!"
Gedge started on the instant, talking to himself, as he felt that he
ought still to maintain a soldierly silence.
"Quarter of a mile--eh? That's a good half, or I've failed in judging
distance, after all, and turned out a reg'lar duller. Cheeky, though,
to think I know better than my orficer. Dunno, though; I've done twice
as much of it as he have.--Wonder whether them beggars have begun
stalking us again. Dessay they have. Sure to. My! how I should like
to look back! That's the worst o' being a swaddy on dooty. Your soul
even don't seem to be your own. Never mind; orders is orders, and I'm
straight for them rocks; but natur's natur', even if it's in a savage
nigger with a firework-spark gun and a long knife. If those chaps don't
come sneaking after us for a shot as soon as they've seen us on the
move, I'm a Dutchman."
Bill Gedge was not a Dutchman, but East London to the backbone, and
quite right; for, before he and the officer were a hundred yards on
their way to take up new ground, first one and then another
white-clothed figure came cautiously into the wide field of view, quite
a mile away, but plainly seen in that wonderfully clear air, and came on
in a half-stooping way, suggesting hungry wolves slinking steadily and
surely along after their prey.