It was on the third morning after Bracy and Gedge had been with the
Ghoorkhas, who were in camp in a natural stronghold of the upper valley,
resting before making their final advance to the fort. Gedge, with his
arm in a sling, and a frost-bitten foot, which made him limp about the
little tent they shared by the doctor's orders, was looking anxiously
down at his officer, who lay perfectly helpless, appearing terribly thin
and worn, but with a bright look in his eyes, which augured well for his
recovery.
"Yes, sir; you look a deal better," said Gedge in answer to a question:
"and, of course, the doctor ought to know; but I don't think you ought
to be so weak."
"Wasn't it enough to make me weak, my lad?" said Bracy in a faint voice.
"Why, I have hardly a drop of blood left in my body."
"Course not, sir; and you do eat and sleep well."
"Yes, my lad; and if we can only cut our way through these swarming
wretches, and relieve the fort before it is too late, I shall soon begin
to mend. It is horrible, this delay, and no news."
"No news, sir?" said Gedge, staring. "Didn't the doctor tell you?"
"The doctor? I have not seen him this morning."
"But he's been here, sir. He said you were in such a beautiful sleep
that you warn't to be woke up, for it was doing you no end of good."
"But he said something?" said Bracy anxiously. "Have we had news?"
"Tip-top, sir. One of the little Ghoorkha chaps got back soon after
daylight--one of the three that was sent different ways."
"But the news?"
"He got into the fort, sir, and brought a despatch from the Colonel."
"Yes, yes," said Bracy breathlessly.
"They was all well, but hard up for everything, 'speshly ammynition; but
they could hold out for three days; and as soon as we come up he's going
to make a sally and attack the Dwats in the rear.--Oh, sir, it is hard,
and no mistake!"
"Thank Heaven!" cried Bracy softly. "There, my lad, I can lie and rest
now."
"Yes, sir, that's the worst of it."
"It is hard--the worst of it?" said Bracy wonderingly. "What do you
mean?"
"You and me, sir, having to lie up and be out of all the fun."
"Oh, I see," said Bracy, smiling, and with the careworn look seeming to
die out of his thin face. "Well, I think we have done our share."
"Did you hear the firing last night?"
"I? No. Was there an attack?"
"A big un, sir; but the enemy was driven back everywhere, and left a lot
of dead behind. I never see such fellows as these little Ghoorkha chaps
is to fight."
"If they can only cut their way through to the fort, Gedge, there will
be nothing then to fear, for Colonel Graves will hold the place, against
any number that can be brought against it."
"And they will, sir," cried Gedge proudly; "nothing can stop 'em.
They've got so much dash and go in 'em. There's going to be a big fight
to-day, for the hills seem dotted with white-coats as far as you can
see; and in an hour's time I hear we're to advance, so as to get the job
done before it's dark."
Gedge's news was correct: and in an hour the column was in motion, the
order coming to advance in skirmishing order, with ample supports, and
no following up of the enemy was to be attempted, the sole object, being
to reach the fort before night, and trust to the future for giving
adequate punishment for all that had been done.
The orders of the officers were splendidly carried out, and the gallant
regiment advanced along the right bank of the river as fast as the front
was cleared, but at a severe cost, for the hills and patches of forest
and rock swarmed with the enemy, and but for the abundance of cover the
attempt must have failed. But by a series of rushes and their deadly
fire the brave little fellows won their way on till well into the
afternoon, when farther progress seemed impossible, the enemy's leader
holding a patch of cedar forest most determinedly with a dense body of
men. All this Bracy knew, for Gedge, in spite of his wound, was active
enough, and kept his officer well furnished with accounts of their
progress; but his face looked grave as, in obedience to Bracy's
question, he told him all.
"Yes, sir," he said, "we're in a very tight place; and the Colonel here
is looking a bit down in the mouth. The little chaps are raging about
being kept back, and if he'd let 'em go they'd kill till they couldn't
lift those head-choppers of theirs; but as soon as one's shot or cut
down a dozen seems to spring up, and the place swarms with white-gownds,
as if they'd quite made up their minds to kill us to a man before we can
get to the fort. There, sir--hear that?"
"Yes, I hear," said Bracy, breathing hard. "It means an attack on the
rear."
"That's it, sir. We're surrounded; and if it weren't for that rushing
river being so full they'd come swarming over, and we should be done."
Further conversation was put an end to by the order to advance, after a
brief halt to rest and refresh the men, the Ghoorkha Colonel seeing that
the enemy must be dislodged from the forest in front at any cost. It
was a desperate business, and could only be achieved at a terrible loss,
for the river and precipitous rocks on either side put a stop to all
idea of turning the enemy's flank. A bold dash was the only chance, and
this was about to be attempted, while the rear of the regiment was being
terribly harassed by the enemy closing in.
The last arrangements had been made, and the swarthy little fellows, so
long held in by the tight rein, were trembling with excitement as they
stood together in shelter, with fixed bayonets and kukris, waiting to
make the rush. The bugle was being raised to the holder's lips to sound
the advance, when a thrill of joy surged through the British leaders'
breasts, for the help they needed came in the nick of time.
A sharp volley was fired from behind the dense patch the enemy was
holding, and the Ghoorkhas cheered wildly as the bugle rang out; and
then as volley after volley followed from beyond the trees they
literally flew over the broken ground, not a man stopping to fire, but
raced into the wood, hewing with their terrible knives, and driving the
enemy out like a flock of sheep right on to the fire, and soon after
upon the bayonets of Colonel Graves's men. It was only a matter of ten
minutes, and then, fleeing to right and left, the enemy was springing up
among the rocks or plunging into the river to escape the tierce little
regiment they had sought to destroy.
Ill news flies swiftly, and the sight of their fellows streaming
scattered up among the hills disheartened those who were making a savage
attack upon the rear. A couple of volleys from the two companies who
formed the rear-guard turned their hesitation into flight, and amidst
tremendous cheering the advance was continued, with Colonel Graves's men
clearing the way; and, merely harassed by a few distant shots, the
column readied the fort whose walls were lined by non-combatants, women,
and the weak garrison left behind. The men marched in cheering and
counter-cheering, intoxicated as they were with success, while even the
wounded carried on litters and mules, and the brave fellows who
persisted in tramping on in spite of injuries terrible to bear, added
their feeble cries to swell the jubilation of the scene.
But the wildest, most exciting moments were when, in the bright evening
glow, the rear-guard of the little Ghoorkhas marched in, proud of two
burdens they carried shoulder-high in litters, singing and cheering and
waving their caps, as if they bore the greatest triumph of the relief.
One of those they carried lay prone and helpless, his sallow face
quivering slightly from time to time with the emotion which attacked him
as he was borne into the court--most painfully perhaps when his face was
recognised by those at the windows of the buildings and on the walls.
It was then that his name was shouted, first by shrill women's voices,
and then thundered out and half-drowned by the cheers.
The other burden carried by the brave little Ghoorkhas would not lie,
but insisted upon sitting; and somehow, in the midst of the wild
excitement of their reception as the heroes who had brought back the
help, Gedge seemed to go quite mad with boy-like joy. For as soon as he
appeared, bandaged and damaged as he was, Mrs Gee called out his name.
A burst of fresh cheering arose then from the men of his company who
were near, and as their shouts arose and were echoed by those around,
"Bill Gedge! Bill Gedge!" the poor fellow sat up as high as he could
upon the little Ghoorkas' shoulders, threw himself into one of his
favourite nigger minstrel attitudes, with left arm outstretched and
right hand seeming to thump with all his poor strength upon the
imaginary banjo held against his breast.
"Welcome, welcome back!" cried Colonel Graves a few minutes later, as he
forced himself through the crowd to where Doctor Morton was excitedly
superintending the carrying in of his two old patients to the officers'
ward.
"Thanks, thanks, Colonel," said Bracy in a feeble voice. "I did my
best, sir, but I only failed."
"Failed!" cried the Colonel proudly. "Why, the fort is saved."