The sun was rapidly going down towards the western peaks, which stood
out dark and clear against the golden orange sky, when Gedge opened his
eyes and began to stare in a vacant way at a little peculiarly shaded
brown leather case which rose and fell in regular motion a few inches
from his nose. He watched it for some minutes, feeling very comfortable
the while, for his pillow was warm; though it seemed strange to him that
it should move gently up and down. But he grew more wakeful a minute
later, and told himself that he knew why it was. He and two London
companions had made up their minds to tramp down into Kent for a
holiday, and to go hop-picking, and they slept under haystacks, in
barns, or in the shade of trees; and at such times as the nights were
cool and they had no covering they huddled together to get warm, taking
in turns that one of the party should lie crosswise and play pillow for
the benefit of his two companions.
It was one of his comrades that time, and the sun was rising, so they
ought to be stirring to see about, something for breakfast. But in his
drowsy state he could not make out that this was six years ago, nor yet
what this brown leather thing was which kept going up and down.
Then all at once he could. It was not six years ago, neither was it
early morning, but close upon sunset; that movement was caused by
Bracy's respirations, and the brown leather case contained the little
field-glass; while the well-drilled soldier, and one of the smartest
lads in Captain Roberts's company, had shamefully disgraced himself by
going to sleep at his post.
Before he had half-thought this he was upon his feet, to stoop again and
pick up his rifle, and then begin stamping up and down with rage.
"Oh!" he groaned; "I ought to be shot--I ought to be shot! Why, the
niggers might ha' come and knifed Mr Bracy as he lay there helpless as
a kid, and all through me. Slep'? Why, I must ha' slep' hours upon
hours. What's the good o' saying you couldn't help it, sir? You ought
to have helped it. Call yourself a soldier, and go to sleep at your
post in the face of the enemy! That's what the Colonel will say. I
can't never face no one agen. I shall desert; that's what I shall do--
cut right away and jyne the rebels if they'll have me. Better go and
jump down into that hole and bury myself in the snow; but I can't.
"How am I to go and leave the gov'nor when he wants me as he does? Oh
dear, oh dear! This is the worst of all. And I was hoping that I
should have my stripes when I got back to the fort. Yes, that's it--
stripes. I shall get 'em, o' course, but on my back instead of my
sleeve. There, I'm a marked man now, and it's about all over."
Gedge grew calmer as he went, on pacing up and down, for he stopped
twice over by Bracy, to find that he was sleeping as quietly as a child,
and he evidently had not stirred. The young soldier's next act was to
get possession of the little field-glass again, and, to his dismay, he
made out no less than three bodies of men in the valley far below, one
of which was streaming along as if marching quickly, while the other two
were stationary, close up to a little clump of pines or cedars, he could
not make out which.
"T'others are going to ketch up to 'em and camp for the night, I bet.
Yes, that they are," he added as a tiny cloud of grey smoke began to
rise. "They're going to cook, so they must have something to roast, and
I'm--oh, how hungry I do feel! Better not hold up this rifle, or they
may see it in the sunshine, and come and cook us."
He had a good long look, swept the valley as far as he could see, and
then laid down his rifle, to go down on one knee by Bracy and begin
replacing the glass in its leather case.
"It's all right, sir; on'y me," cried Gedge, for, awakened by the light
touch, Bracy seized one hand and made an effort to pull out his
revolver.
"Ha!" he cried. "You startled me, Gedge. Want the glass?"
"Had it, sir, thank ye."
"See anything?"
"Yes, sir. There's three lots o' them Dwats down low there--six or
seven hundred of 'em, I should say."
"Ah!" cried Bracy, rising quickly into a sitting position, but yielding
to an agonising pain and letting himself sink back with a groan.
"Hurt yer, sir?" said Gedge commiseratingly.
"Horribly. But tell me; have I been asleep?"
"Hours and hours, sir. It's just sundown. I was in hopes you'd be
better, sir."
"I am, Gedge. I was in a horrible state before. My brain seemed
numbed."
"No wonder, sir, lying in the snow all night; but you talk quite
straight now."
"Did I seem incoherent before?" said Bracy excitedly.
"Well, sir, I don't say you was ink-o--what you call it: but you was a
bit touched in the upper story; and that was only nat'ral, sir."
"Tell me about the enemy down below. Have they made us out?"
"I think not, sir; but I must out with it, sir."
"Ah! there is danger?"
"Oh no, sir, I don't think so; but I can't give much of a report, for I
had to do sentry-go while you slep', sir."
"Did you? Well, you're a good fellow, Gedge."
"Not a bit of it, sir. There, it must come to the top. I'd rather tell
you than you should find it out, sir. I held up as long as I could, and
kep' going to sleep walking or standing still; and at last, after
getting out your glass, I knelt down to put it back, and down I went
right off to sleep, just as if some one had hit me on the head with the
butt of his piece."
"I'm glad of it, Gedge," said Bracy, smiling.
"Glad of it, sir?" said the lad, staring.
"Heartily. It was the only thing you could do after what you had gone
through."
"Beg pardon, sir, but as a soldier--" began Gedge.
"Soldiers cannot do impossibilities, my lad. I have all the will and
spirit to get on to the Ghil Valley, and yet here I am with my urgent
message undelivered, and lying sleeping the greater part of a day."
"Oh, that's different, sir. You're sorter like being in hospital and
wounded."
"If not wounded, Gedge," said Bracy sadly, "I am crippled."
"Don't say that, sir," cried the lad excitedly. "I thought you said
there was nothing broke."
"I did not think so then, my lad, but there is something wrong with my
right leg."
"Amb'lance dooty--first help," said Gedge quickly. "Let's look, sir."
Bracy bowed his head, and the young soldier ran his hand down the puttee
bandage about his officer's leg, and drew in his breath sharply.
"Well," said Bracy faintly, "what do you make out?"
"Leg's not broke, sir, but there's something awfully wrong with the
ankle. It's all puffed up as big as my 'elmet."
"I was afraid so. Here, help me to stand up."
"Better not, sir," protested Gedge.
"Obey orders, my lad," said Bracy softly, and with a smile at his
attendant. "You're not the Doctor."
"No, sir, but--"
"Your hands."
Gedge extended his hands, and by their help Bracy rose, to stand on one
leg, the other hanging perfectly helpless, with the toes touching the
rock.
"Help--me--" said Bracy faintly, and he made a snatch at Gedge, who was
on the alert and caught him round the waist, just in time to save him
from a fall.
The next moment he had fainted dead away, to come-to in a few minutes
and find his companion laying snow upon his temples.
"Ah!" he sighed; "that's refreshing, Gedge."
"Have a bit to suck, sir?"
"Yes."
Bracy lay for a few minutes letting the snow melt in his mouth; then
calmly enough he went on:
"I've got a bad wrench, my lad. My ankle must have doubled under me
when I fell. There's no help for it; we have had nothing but
misfortunes from the start, but this is the culmination--the worst of
all."
"Is it, sir? I'm glad o' that."
"Glad?"
"Yes, sir; 'cause, you see, when things comes to the worst they begins
to mend. So will your leg if you let me get the puttee and boot off.
If you don't I shall be 'bliged to cut it off before long."
"Go on; you're quite right, my lad," said Bracy calmly; and as the young
soldier eagerly busied himself over the frightfully swollen place,
unwinding the bandages, which cut down into the flesh, and unlacing the
boot, he went on talking calmly:
"About this boot, sir; I've unlaced it as far as I can, and it's quite
fast on. Shall I cut it or will you try and bear a wrench?"
"Don't cut it, my lad. Give a quiet, firm drag. I'll bear the pain as
well as I can."
The next moment the boot was off, and Bracy lay with his eyes closed.
"Like some more ice, sir?" said Gedge eagerly.
"No, my lad; I'm not going to faint this time. Got some snow, and take
my handkerchief to bind some round the ankle. But look first whether
you can make out any movement amongst the enemy."
"It's getting dark down there, sir, though it's so bright up here, and
the great long shadders of the mountain seems to have swallered 'em up.
But they've got a whacking great fire, sir, so they must be going to
camp there for the night."
"I don't think they could have made us out, Gedge.--Ha! that feels
comforting. But now listen to me."
"Yus, sir. I may go on doing up your leg, though?"
"Oh yes; only attend."
"Of course, sir."
"You can tell the Ghoorkha Colonel--"
"Yes, sir?" said Gedge, for Bracy stopped short.--"He's going off his
head again."
"And Colonel Graves, if you get back--"
"Yus, sir."
"That I did everything that man could do to reach the Ghil Valley."
"That I'll swear, sir."
"And that he must lose no time in hurrying to the fort. If he likes to
detach half a company to try and pick me up, he will do so; but the fort
is to be the first consideration. Do you hear?"
"Yus, sir.--Oh yus, I hears," said Gedge through his teeth as, with the
help of Mrs Gee's pocket-book packet, he put some oil-silk over the
snow, and then applied the broadest bandage he could find cleverly
enough.
"That's right. I'm a bit of a coward, Gedge," continued the poor
fellow, with a smile.
"Yes, sir, you are, sir," said Gedge; "an out-and-outer."
"And I want to have as little pain to bear as I can while you're gone."
"Course you do, sir. That's why I'm doing this."
"Make haste, while the light lasts. I want you then to take the rest of
the food and put it in your own haversack."
"Yes, sir; not inside?"
"To use as sparingly as you can, so as to make it last till you reach
the Ghil Valley. I have broken down, Gedge, but you must get there. Do
you hear?--must."
"Yes, sir, I hear--must."
"It means salvation for the poor creatures yonder, holding out their
hands to us for help."
"Yes, sir.--But a deal you can see that," muttered Gedge.
"And it means a sergeant's stripes for the brave lad who took the
message in the terrible emergency."
"Sergeant, sir? As big a man as old Gee?"
"Yes; and as good a non-commissioned officer, and I hope a more popular
man."
"Rigid, sir. That sounds good," cried Gedge cheerily. "But about you,
sir? If you get the ridgement o' little chaps and saves the fort, it
means your company, don't it--Captain?"
Bracy groaned.
"I was not striving for promotion, Gedge, but to save our
fellow-countrymen and women yonder. But listen: in case I faint again--
give me a scrap or two more snow, my lad."
He took and sucked the icy particles handed to him, and felt refreshed.
"Now, then," he said; "listen once more, and be quick. Just tie that
bandage, and then put the food together. I am not going to load you
with instructions which you may not be able to carry out, but look
yonder--there is the top of the mountain you have to skirt, shining
bright and hopefully in the distance."
"I can see it, sir."
"That is your guide. Once you compass that the way will be easier."
"Yes, sir. When ought I to start?"
"To-night, man, as soon as the sun is down; therefore, mark well where
the bright peak lies, so as to take your bearings. The enemy's fire
will enable you to avoid that danger. Quick; there is no time to spare;
and remember--you must get there."
"Yes, sir; I won't forget."
"Leave me some cartridges to defend myself, if I can. It would be more
like a soldier to die like that."
"Yes, sir, o' course; more English and plucky," said Gedge, giving the
last bandage its final knot, and then opening his haversack to take out
what it contained and divide it.
"What are you doing?" said Bracy sharply.
"Getting your supper ready, sir, and mine," said the lad coldly.
Bracy tried to raise himself up in the fit of anger which attacked him,
but fell back with a groan. Fighting back the sensation of weakness,
though, he spoke as firmly as he could.
"I want no food," he said quietly, "and you are wasting time. A good
twenty-four hours have been lost. Go at once."
"But you must eat something, sir," said Gedge stubbornly. "There's the
cold coming on awful now the sun's down, and it will keep it out."
"Those poor creatures at the fort are waiting and praying for help to
come, while the hungry wolves of Dwats are crowding closer and closer in
ready for the massacre."
"Yes, sir--the beasts!--it's precious hard, but let's hope--"
"There is no hope, Gedge. It was the last card the Colonel had to play
in sending us, and we must not fail. You must go at once."
"But I aren't had nothing to-day, sir," pleaded Gedge, "and my inside's
going mad. Wolves? Why, I feel just as if one was tearing me."
"Take all the provisions left, and eat as you go."
"And what about you, sir?"
"Never mind me. Go at once."
"But it'll be dark as pitch in 'alf-a-hour, sir. How am I to see my
way?"
"I told you. The descent will be easy. You can almost slide down all
the way, for the snow is getting glassy again, and you must guide
yourself by leaving the enemy's fire on the right. Look! it is glowing
brightly now."
"That's right, sir, till I get to the bottom. But what then?"
"Gedge, are you going to fail me in this terrible emergency?"
"Not me, sir," cried the lad excitedly. "I'll stick to you till we both
goes under fighting to the last, for they don't want to make prisoners
of us; their knives are too sharp."
"Then go."
"But I'm sure I couldn't find the way, sir. I should be taking the
first turning to the left, or else to the right, or tumbling into
another hole like this, or doing some stoopid thing. I'm no use, sir,
without my orficer to tell me what to do."
Bracy drew a deep breath and pressed his lips together, as he fought
hard to keep down his anger against his follower.
"I have told you what to do," he said at last quite calmly. "You must
use your brains."
"Never had much, sir," replied Gedge bitterly; "and now they're about
froze up with cold and hungriness and trouble. I ain't fit to send on
such a job as this, sir. I'm sure to muff it."
"Do you want to find out some day, my lad, that those poor comrades of
ours have been massacred to a man through your hanging back from doing
what might have saved them?"
"I wish I may die if I do, sir!" cried Gedge passionately.
"Then go."
"But I'm cold and hungry, sir, and it's getting dark, and I don't know
my way."
"Crush those feelings down like a hero, and go."
"Hero, sir? Me a hero!" cried Gedge bitterly. "Oh? there's none of
that stuff in me."
There was just enough light reflected from the upper peaks to enable the
couple to see each other's faces--the one frowning and angry, and
belying the calm, stern fixedness into which it had been forced; the
other wild, anxious, and with the nerves twitching sharply at the
corners of the eyes and mouth, as if its owner were grimacing in mockery
of the young officer's helplessness and suffering.
"Gedge," said Bracy suddenly, after making an effort as if to swallow
down the rage and despair from which he suffered.
"Yes, sir, I know what you're going to say; but you're awful bad. Now,
you have a bit to eat, and then go to sleep, and when you wake up let's
see if I can't manage to get you on one of those flat bits o' slaty
stone, and then I'll get a strap to it, and pull you down the slope--
you'll quite slide like--and when we're off the snow I'll pig-a-back you
to the first wood, and we'll hide there, and I'll keep helping you on a
bit till we get to this here Jack-and-Jill Valley. You see, the job
can't be done without you."
"This is all shuffling and scheming, Gedge, to escape doing your duty,"
said Bracy sternly.
"Is it, sir?" said the lad, with an assumption of innocence.
"You know it is, sir. You don't want to go?"
"Well, sir, I suppose that is about the size of it."
"Do you want me to look upon you as a contemptible cur?" said Bracy,
flashing out into anger now.
"No, sir; o' course not."
"I see how it is. I've been believing you to be all that is manly and
true, while all the time I've been labouring under a gross mistake, for
now you are put to the test you are only base metal. Go; leave me.
Gedge, you are a miserable, contemptible coward after all."
"Yes, sir; that's it, sir," said the lad bitterly; "bit o' common brass
as got into the service, and you orficers and old Gee and the rest of
you drilled up and polished and dressed up and put some gilt on; but
when yer comes to rub it off, I'm on'y a bit o' brass after all."
"Yes, you know exactly--coward!--dog!"
"Don't, sir!" cried the poor fellow in a choking voice; "don't! It's
like laying it on to a chap with a wire whip."
"Then do your duty. Go."
"I can't, sir; I can't," cried the lad, literally writhing, as if the
blows were falling upon his back and sides. "I dessay I am a coward,
but I'd follow you anywheres, sir, if the bullets was whistling round
us, and them devils were waiting for us with their knives; but I can't
go and leave you now, sir. You ain't fit to leave. It'd be like
killing you--murdering of you, sir, with the cold and starvation."
"It is your duty to go."
"But you don't know how bad you are, sir," pleaded the lad, with the
great sobs struggling to escape from his breast. "You don't know, sir;
but I do, sir. You'd be frozen stiff before it was light again."
"Perhaps; but I should die knowing that an effort was being made to save
those we have left behind."
"You've done all you can do, sir," pleaded Gedge passionately. "We
can't do no more."
"I can't, but you can. I call upon you once more to go and do this
thing. If you have any manhood in you, go."
"I can't, sir," groaned Gedge.
"You coward!--it's your duty to go."
"It ain't, sir; it can't be, to leave my orficer to die like this. I
know it can't. Why, if I did, and got the help, and took the men back,
and the Colonel got to know how, he'd think it warn't worth getting it
at such a price. He'd call me a cowardly dog and a hound, and the lads
would groan and spit at me. Why, they'd cob me when they got me alone,
and I couldn't say a word, because I should feel, as I always should to
the last day I lived, that I'd been a miserable sneak."
"I tell you it is your duty, my man," cried Bracy again.
"Don't send me, sir! I ain't afraid," pleaded Gedge once more. "It's
leaving you to die in the cold and dark. I can't go!--I can't go!"
Bracy struggled up at this, supporting himself with his left hand, moved
now as he was by his companion's devotion; but he choked down all he
longed to say in the one supreme effort he was making to fulfil the
mission he had failed in by another hand.
"I am your officer, sir. You are a soldier, sworn to serve your country
and your Queen."
Gedge looked down at the speaker through the gloom, and saw him fumbling
beneath his sheepskin coat with his right hand. The next minute he had
drawn his revolver, and Gedge heard it click.
"You hear me, sir?" cried Bracy sternly.
"Yes, sir, I hear."
"Then obey your officer's orders."
"You ain't an officer now, sir; you're a patient waiting to be carried
to the rear, after going down in front."
"How dare you!" cried Bracy fiercely. "Obey my orders."
"They ain't your orders, and it ain't my dooty to obey a poor fellow as
has gone stick stark raving mad."
"Obey my orders, dog, or--"
"I won't!" cried Gedge passionately. "I'll be drummed out if I do."
"You dog!" roared Bracy, and the pistol clicked.
"Shoot me, then, for a dog," cried Gedge passionately, "and if I can
I'll try to lick yer hand, but I won't leave you now."
The pistol fell with a dull sound as Bracy sank back, and in that
terrible darkness and silence, amid the icy snow, a hoarse groan seemed
to tear its way from the young officer's breast.