A Mahratta Stronghold
Owen stood to his full height on the summit of the wall, just over the
gateway, and a gallant figure he looked too; for the uniform he wore set
off his straight limbs, his broad shoulders and slim waist, while his
fair hair, his flashing eyes, and his bronzed face enhanced the whole.
He was a young officer who attracted attention, and there was little
wonder that the natives obeyed him without demur. Encouraged by Mulha
they had already taken their stations along the wall, some armed with
old matchlocks which looked as though they might be of greater danger to
themselves and their comrades than to the enemy, and others with huge
stones.
"Hold your fire!" Owen shouted again. "There are at least a hundred of
those fellows, and they think they are going to burst in. We'll give
them a lesson."
By now the advancing horsemen were within a few yards of the castle, and
emerging upon an open space, where no doubt the cattle and horses of the
owner were congregated in times of peace, they broadened their front,
reined back into line, showing a wonderful mastery over their horses,
and then galloped forward, setting up a deafening shout as they came. Up
went their tulwars again, the blades scintillating in the brilliant sun
over their heads. Altogether they were a formidable party, and Owen
might have been excused had he experienced a feeling of indecision and
fear at their appearance. But he was not the one to flinch. This was his
first independent command, and he was determined to make the most of it.
He leaned over the wall till the Mahratta horse who were charging down
upon the gate saw him, and set up a defiant shout, while their leader, a
young man of fine appearance, waved his tulwar and called out to him.
Then he lifted his hand.
"Fire!" he shouted. "Now, load again."
Setting the peons an example he aimed with his pistol and pulled the
trigger, his bullet striking one of the horses, and causing it to rear
and paw the air. Then followed a scattered discharge, while a dozen
missiles were cast at the horsemen. Evidently such a volley was
unexpected, and when it was seen that five of the horsemen had fallen
from their saddles, the remainder suddenly halted, and turning their
horses with the rapidity of lightning rode off at a furious gallop.
"They will not rest till we are all taken and cut to pieces, sahib,"
said Mulha, as he came to Owen's side, a strange gleam in his eyes. "We
were fortunate in that we were so close when the alarm was given, but I
fear that it will help us little. There are more than a hundred of the
enemy."
"And about thirty here, Mulha. It's a nasty business, I admit, but we
must make the most of it. Bring the old fellow to me, so that I may
learn what has happened."
A minute later the aged native stood in front of Owen, salaaming with
the utmost deference.
"The sahib is great," he said. "But for him these robbers would have
battered the gate in and cut us to pieces."
"When did they come?" asked our hero. "Tell me all about them, and how
it is that you and your men live in comparative comfort while all round
here the villages have been burned."
"It is soon told, sahib. Years ago I built this place, for the land here
favours me, and farming brings plenty of gain. But there were always
robbers eager to despoil me, and having suffered once I made
preparations to beat off other attacks. I gathered arms, the same that
you see here, and erected this fort. Then I stationed a look-out on
yonder tower, and a man has kept watch there ever since. At night the
beasts are driven into the square and the gates shut. We have never been
surprised, and those who have come in the night have been beaten off.
These men, however, came in the early hours, when we were busy with the
beasts, driving them out, and they nearly rushed the place. Allah be
praised, they failed by a little!"
"And will try again," said Owen calmly. "There are quite a hundred of
the fellows, and we are thirty. How much ammunition have you?"
"Plenty, sahib. I have always kept a good store."
"And food and water?"
"Enough for a week. Had the beasts been here there would have been even
more food. As to water, there is a well in yonder corner."
"Then things are not so bad," smiled Owen. "We have the advantage of
walls round us, and no need to worry about provisions. That leaves us
every chance of arranging the defence. What of the troops, Mulha?"
"They are seven miles away, sahib, and yonder ridge lies between us and
them. They are not likely to hear the heaviest firing, and cannot
possibly see us from their line of march."
"Then we will put them aside as unlikely to be of use to us," said Owen
promptly. "But bear in mind the fact that a man might manage to get away
as the evening comes, and with a good horse underneath him could reach
our friends."
It was a point not to be neglected, but for the moment there was little
use in considering the matter, for the Mahratta horse were in strength
before the small castle, and their movements showed that they were
firmly determined to capture the place without delay. Owen stared out at
their retreating figures, and then ran lightly down the steps which led
to the courtyard. Mulha followed him, and together they inspected the
gates.
"Strong enough for ordinary purposes, but would not stand a long
battering," observed Owen. "We must arrange for something to block up
the opening should they beat the gates down. Call the farmer again."
The old man came running to them, and having heard their request, nodded
his head eagerly.
"There are barrels beneath the house, and abundant supplies of stones,"
he said. "I will give orders at once."
"And have the things piled in a circle just inside the gates. Now we
will divide the men up for the defence of the castle, and those who are
building the barrels and stones into position can act as a reserve. That
will leave them free to complete the task."
Some few minutes later they had ascertained the fact that the garrison
of the little fort amounted to thirty-four, including themselves and the
aged farmer, while within the house were four of his family, all women.
The men were at once divided into two parties; the first consisting of
twenty men, all of whom were armed with matchlocks, were told off to man
the wall on that face of the fort where the gate was situated. The
remainder, now occupied in building up the barrels, were to act as a
reserve, and were to be prepared to take post wherever the castle was in
danger. They were armed with rusty old tulwars, for the arsenal of the
farmer was somewhat limited and very much dilapidated.
"They will have, in particular, to be ready in case the gates are beaten
in," said Owen, "and perhaps it would be as well if you took post with
them, Mulha. The old man and I will be above, and will come down if
need be. Now, can you suggest anything more? We have a store of stones
above, and our marksmen have been cautioned to fire carefully. What else
is there to do?"
Mulha shook his head and stared round at the top of the wall. "Nothing
that I can think of, sahib," he said. "Should a thought come to me I
will let you know. Had we not better take some notice of the enemy?"
In their eagerness to have all in readiness they had almost forgotten
the existence of the Mahratta horse, but now Owen hurried to the top of
the wall. He found the peons stationed there eagerly staring out at the
tope of trees.
"They are preparing to move, sahib," one of them said, as he salaamed.
"I have seen horsemen canter out into the open and then ride back. It
will not be long before they come."
This indeed proved to be true, for when half an hour had passed some
thirty of the wild horsemen rode forth, while behind them followed the
remainder, for the most part on foot. It was obvious at once that this
force was an irregular one, a point which none had noted before in the
excitement of the attack. The men wore no regular uniform, but were
dressed in any sort of costume. Some were decked in the gaudiest
apparel, and the fineness of their saddlery and fittings showed that
they had found plunder somewhere. Others looked as if fortune had hardly
been so kind to them. But all possessed the very best of horses, and had
strung to the saddle a number of bags, in which their loot and
valuables were doubtless contained. Mulha, who had now rejoined Owen,
pointed to the horses.
"It would be well if my master had one or more of those beasts," he
said. "They are bred in this country, and trained here, and when you
have ridden them as I have, the beasts which brought us here do not
compare with them. The sahib spoke of sending for help. Were one of us
to attempt to gallop away it would but be throwing a life to these
brigands, for their horses are fleeter than ours. Also, they are so well
trained that they will turn at a touch, even when galloping fast. The
animals we ride find it difficult to pull up even when at a canter, and
before they could turn these Mahratta horse would be round and away.
Watch how the men manage them."
It was very fine indeed to see such horsemanship, and many a time did
Owen long for one of the beasts ridden by the enemy. Later he was able
to note too the appearance of these Mahratta freebooters. They were all
tall, clean-limbed men, fierce and independent of mien. The majority
carried tulwars, while all seemed to have pistols in their belts. A few
had matchlocks, and these were dismounted on this occasion. Following
the horsemen they ran forward till within some two hundred yards of the
castle, when they each sought for cover, and Owen could see them
crawling closer and closer, hardly exposing their bodies as they came.
"We can do nothing to them," he said to himself. "Our fellows are so
poorly armed, and are evidently so ill accustomed to the use of weapons,
that it would only be a chance shot which would hit. We will let them
get to closer quarters. What can the horsemen be doing?"
Had there been a company of British soldiers there, armed with
respectable weapons, Owen would have been able very speedily to cause
the enemy to move. But as it was, the matchlocks with which his men were
supplied were so very old and inferior in range that it was useless to
attempt to open fire till the enemy were close. And the latter seemed to
be fully alive to this fact, for they came on with the greatest
unconcern, till they were within a hundred and fifty yards. Then there
was a shout, and their leader detached himself from their number. Riding
forward, while his companions halted, he cantered to within fifty yards
of the fort, and then held his hand above his head.
"He wishes to speak," said Mulha. "It will lead to nothing, but perhaps
the sahib had better sign to him."
"Then order our men to hold their fire and on no account to show
themselves," answered Owen.
He stood on the top of the wall and waved to the horseman, who at once
cantered forward with an air of jauntiness and unconcern which matched
well with his fine handsome features and the gaudy clothing in which he
was dressed. He drew rein within ten yards of the gate and looked up at
the figure above. Saluting Owen with his tulwar, he let the weapon
dangle from his wrist by a silken cord, and grasping the reins with both
hands stood up in his stirrups.
"Where is the old fox who owns and commands the place?" he demanded.
"Let him stand above so that I may speak with him."
"He is below," Owen answered promptly, in Mahratti, much to the
astonishment of the native. "He was in command. I have taken his place.
What do you want?"
"This morning, as we rode hither, our object was to raid the fort and
capture the wealth which this old fox is said to possess. But our aims
are altered, Englishman. We will spare the fort and the money if you are
handed over to us. Let all hear that. There is life and freedom to all
if the Englishman be given up. Refuse, and we will sack the place and
tear you to pieces."
He shouted the words so that all could hear, and smiled grimly as he
gave vent to his threat. And there was little doubt that his statement
had an instant and wonderful effect. The humble peons who stood on the
wall had little love for these freebooters, and desired only to be
allowed to live and work in peace. Life was dear to them, and here it
was offered on one small condition. If they handed over the Englishman
they were free. And what claims had he on their generosity?
Owen looked round at them, and could almost read their thoughts, while
Mulha hastily rejoined his master.
"Shall I shoot the dog below who dares to attempt to suborn our men?" he
asked, as he drew his pistol. "They will give us up. We are at war with
their people, and they have no reason to be kind to us. You can hear
them murmuring."
There was little doubt that more than one of the peons was in favour of
accepting the terms offered. A group of them gathered in the yard below
and discussed the question volubly, while those on the wall above looked
at one another, not daring to speak as Owen and his servant were so
near. It was a critical moment, and if more time were given for
discussion there was little doubt that the decision of the peons would
go against the young leader who had so suddenly appeared amongst them.
Life was dear to all, and at the prospect held out to them they forgot
in an instant the service which he had done them. But Owen was not the
lad to give in without a struggle. He saw at a glance that immediate
action was necessary, and his decision was taken in a moment. He stood
to his full height on the wall, and drawing a pistol presented it at the
horseman below.
"I will give you five seconds to move away," he said curtly. "If you are
not gone then I will shoot you like a dog. I have commenced to count."
Utter amazement was written on the face of the Mahratta. He knew his
countrymen well, and he had taken it for granted that his terms would be
accepted, and that the Englishman would be handed over without a
struggle. And here, almost before the words had left his lips, his
promise was rejected, and he was ordered away. He sat down on his saddle
and stared up at Owen. Then with a touch of knee and rein he swung his
horse round and rode away, jaunty as ever, but in his heart of hearts
somewhat disconcerted by the rapid action taken by the white commander
of the garrison.
"By my tulwar," he growled, "but these sons of sheitan have a way with
them that convinces! The words had scarce left my lips when he had the
pistol at my head, and who could stand and face that? The dog! I will
snatch him out of the fort, and then he shall be done to as has happened
to some of the refractory villagers. As to the peons and the old
fox--well, it will be the same. Had they handed this white dog over they
would have lived but a few minutes; for a commander can promise, but who
can control Mahratta horse?"
Well might he ask that question, for the men under his rule were as ugly
a set of rogues as could well be met with. There was not the slightest
doubt that they belonged to those irregular bands who, while fighting
for some chief, preyed upon any one who possessed goods, and who was
sufficiently helpless. And was it likely, considering their numbers, and
the helplessness of the peons who manned the fort, that they would be
content with the life of the Englishman?
Owen swung round upon the natives, and singling out a group where the
men were engaged in discussing the question, casting their eyes up at
the white youth and at Mulha every second, he slowly descended and
approached them. Mulha followed closely at his heels, marvelling at the
coolness of his leader and wondering what he would do.
"Those two are the ringleaders," exclaimed Owen suddenly, selecting two
of the peons who obviously sought to persuade their comrades, and who at
his approach had scowled at him, murmuring under their breath. "Bring
them out, Mulha, and place them against that wall. They will be shot at
once. You have a pistol. Execute them for me, but wait while I look for
others."
He turned his eyes from the group, and without concerning himself with
them further looked round the fort. A few of the men who had been
engaged with the barrels at the gate had their heads together, but as he
gave his orders to Mulha in loud tones they separated a little, and
stood there undecided. But they did not deceive Owen.
"In a few seconds they would have had the gate open, and would have
shouted to the enemy to come in," he said to himself. Then, speaking in
loud tones so that all could hear, he cried, "Let all within the fort
watch the punishment I am about to give to these two men, and remember
that I will shoot others, too, at the first sign of mutiny. You invited
me here, and I have helped you so far. You must stand by me to the end."
Meanwhile the faithful Mulha had carried his master's orders out to the
very letter. Careless of the scowls and oaths of the men gathered in the
yard he drew his pistol and advanced towards them, and as one of the
party, taking courage at the smallness of the numbers opposed to them,
and at the words of his comrades, attempted to arrest his progress, he
struck him over the head with the butt of his pistol, causing him to
fall insensible. Then he ordered the two who had been acting as
ringleaders to emerge from the group.
"Disobey me and I will blow your brains out now and here," he said
sternly, raising the weapon to the face of the nearest.
The threat instantly brought the peons to their senses. The group melted
as if by magic, and the two who had been selected for execution were
forced to turn and walk to the opposite wall, where they stood looking
piteously at Owen, their limbs shaking, and all thought of opposition or
mutiny now gone from their minds. These men were accustomed to obey, and
the resolute attitude of the newcomers, the rapidity with which they had
acted, and the firmness of their decision, had nipped the mutiny in the
bud. All round the fort, as Owen sought each one of the defenders, he
saw stupefaction and fear. The men looked shamefaced and beaten, and
they turned their eyes away as he glanced at them, ashamed of their
unworthy thoughts, and trembling lest they too should be selected for
punishment. On Owen's open features there was a grim and determined
expression. He pushed his pistol back into his belt and beckoned to the
old man who was in command.
"You may go to them," he said, pointing to the two natives trembling
beside the wall. "Perhaps they will have some messages to give you for
their friends and relatives. They will be shot in five minutes."
An ominous hush came over the fort as Mulha saw to the priming of his
pistol, and came across to borrow his master's, while the two unhappy
wretches, who undoubtedly deserved their fate, for they would have
sacrificed our hero willingly, fell on their knees and then grovelled
at full length on the ground. As for the old man, he was too
thunderstruck to speak at first. However, with an effort, he managed to
address his men.
"The white sahib does justice, pure justice," he said solemnly, as he
caressed his grizzled beard. "You have brought this upon yourselves, and
but for his action you would have brought worse. Fools, all of you!"--he
swung round, and shouted his words of scorn so that all could
hear--"Fools! to imagine that the tigers outside who have set the
country aflame, who have fired villages by the score, so that the sky
was lit up at night, and who have slain men, women, and children on
every side, would spare you when there was loot to be had! Are you mad
that you believe in such empty promises? These robbers would but save
the English sahib for the torture, and having taken his guiding hand
from you would have battered in the gate and cut the throats of every
one. Fools and dogs! You deserve to die, every one of you, and his
highness, the sahib, is merciful when he selects but two. Give me the
pistols, and I will carry out this execution, that all may see and
believe that I too have no pity for such as these."
He staggered up to Mulha and reached out his hand for the weapon, and
there was little doubt that he would have shot his two servants without
hesitation. However, the lesson had gone home, and Owen felt that he
could now with safety to himself show a little clemency. The men were
cowed, and of all the garrison the two poor wretches grovelling on the
ground were the least likely to prove mutinous in the future.
"They have had their lesson, and I think we might spare them," he said
to Mulha in English. "Besides, we want every man for the defence. I will
speak to them."
Walking slowly across the square, with Mulha and the old native at his
heels, he halted a few feet from the unhappy couple and ordered them to
rise.
"An Englishman does not love useless bloodshed," he said sternly, "and
though your lives are forfeit, and I should be justified in shooting
you, I will show you that men of my race are merciful. I suspend the
sentence till this action is over, and it will depend on yourselves as
to whether I spare you then. Fight well and you shall live. Show sign of
wavering and I will execute you without mercy. As to you others," he
turned and addressed the men on the walls and in the yard, "you have had
your warning, and your chief has shown you the folly of listening to
robbers who have no conscience, and to whom a vow is nothing. Go to your
posts, and remember that death awaits us all if the horsemen break in."
There was a loud murmur of applause on all sides, while the peons
salaamed abjectly to him. Then they took up their weapons and went back
to their places, a different light shining in their eyes.
"They will fight to the bitter end now, sahib," said the old man. "They
are but humble creatures, apt to be easily led astray. But they are
grateful for your mercy, and they respect men such as you, who can face
odds so calmly. Give your orders, sahib. There will no longer be any
thought of mutiny."
Five minutes later there was a shout from one of the men above, and Owen
at once ran up to the top of the wall. He was greeted with a shower of
bullets, while the crackle of musketry broke out all along that face of
the fort. Standing on the parapet he looked down at the enemy, to find
that those who had advanced on foot had crept to within less than a
hundred yards, where they had placed themselves under cover, some paces
separating each of the men. And from this position they were able to
command the gateway and the top of the wall. Indeed, hardly had he
appeared when the shots rang out more frequently, and some dozen bullets
crashed against the dried mud wall at his feet, or hurtled past him with
the loud hum made by a missile of large calibre. One went a little aside
of its mark, and striking a peon who had ventured to look over the wall,
killed him instantly. Owen at once leaped on to the pathway below, and
bent low to obtain shelter.
"They have placed themselves cleverly," he said to Mulha, "and will
shoot our men if they venture to return the fire. We must have cover.
Send the peons from below up here with as many large stones as they can
carry, and let every man erect a little wall before him."
The eagerness of the garrison now was wonderful, and those below at once
commenced to carry out the order. In a few minutes, indeed, each one of
the marksmen had cover behind which he could fire, while an aperture had
been left between the boulders for the musket.
"Pick off those you can see easily," shouted Owen, taking his station
behind one of the covers. "Don't fire unless you are certain, and if
there is a rush, let some of you cast stones down upon them. There are
the horsemen. They are going to make a rush."
It was difficult to understand how the Mahrattas hoped to succeed, or
how they expected to beat in the doorway, for they advanced at a gallop,
as if they expected to dash against the obstacle and thrust it aside in
that manner. In a little while, however, Owen and Mulha saw their
design, and stretching over the parapet emptied their pistols repeatedly
amongst the horsemen. For the Mahratta chief who led these freebooters
had a head upon his shoulders, and, from his method of procedure, had
attacked similar posts before. Cleverly placing his marksmen close to
the fort where their fire could keep down that of the peons, he led some
forty of his horsemen forward at a rush which startled the defenders,
and caused many to emerge from their shelters so as to obtain a clear
shot, thus exposing themselves to the men below. When within twenty
yards of the gates he raised his tulwar in the air, and at the signal
six men detached themselves from the party and raced on, while the
remainder wheeled and galloped along the face of the fort. Those who had
advanced drew rein at the very foot of the walls, and secure now from
the shots of the defenders--for to fire down upon them a man must lean
right over the parapet and fall an almost certain victim to the marksmen
under cover below--two dismounted and busied themselves with something
which one of them carried lashed to his saddle. There were a couple of
loud thuds, as if a nail had been driven into the woodwork. Something
was lifted up and attached to the gate, and then the men were in their
saddles again and, accompanied by their fellows, were racing along
beneath the walls of the fort.
Careless of the consequences Owen hung over the parapet and watched the
men, though he was helpless to interfere. Then he drew back, just in
time to avoid a storm of bullets aimed at him.
"The gate will go," he said in tones of apprehension. "They have driven
a wooden peg into the keyhole, and have slung a big bag of powder to it.
It will be off in an instant. Call the men away, and let all up here run
below for their lives."
Shouts resounded through the air till the walls of the fort rang again,
while the men rushed for the courtyard, tumbling over one another as
they fought for places on the flight of steps. Owen followed more
leisurely, and had just reached the ground below when there was a
deafening explosion, and flame and smoke leaped into the air and through
the gateway, while planks, portions of woodwork, strips of iron, and a
hundred odds and ends were hurled into the yard. A hoarse shout was
heard from outside, and when a puff of wind had blown the smoke aside
those who held the place looked upon a scene which would have awed the
boldest. The gates were gone. A huge rent had been torn in that wall of
the courtyard, and but for a heap of debris and portions of splintered
barrels, nothing stood between them and the enemy.