My toilsome marches through a country that was generally deserted, we
came to village after village in following the track of those guns; and
generally it seemed as if the force of mutineers frightened the simpler
ryots away from their tiny farms and rice-grounds; for the villages were
generally empty. When they were not, our appearance was sufficient to
send man, woman, and child flying; for already the land was being
delivered up to the horrors of war. Ny Deen's men plundered as they
went, and helped themselves to all they required; while we, in turn,
were forced to follow their example; and where food was not given, we
were obliged to take it.
Our marches ought to have been made by night, so as to avoid the heat of
the sun; but this was impossible, for the track of the guns would have
been lost, and hence we had to journey on by daylight, rarely finding
any difficulty, for the wheels made distinctive marks in the dusty
roads; while in the open country, where Ny Deen made short cuts, the
deep ruts were so plain that, had we been mounted, we could have
galloped after them.
It was very rarely that we could get any information from a native; but
when we did, it was invariably to learn that the enemy was a full day
ahead; and, in spite of our efforts, he always keep that distance.
I remember that terrible broiling march with a shudder, for our men
suffered horribly from heat and thirst, often from want of food, while
our constant dread was lest any of the poor fellows should go down with
sunstroke.
But we were spared that, though every night, when we halted, the doctor
confided to me his opinion that it was miraculous.
Craig was very weak and ill, and more than once he asked Brace to have
him laid down under a shady tree to die, so that better use might be
made of the bearers.
"Impossible, my good fellow," Brace used to say. "I can't spare you--
the smartest sergeant in the troop."
"Smartest, sir?" repeated Craig, with a piteous smile. "A helpless
invalid, too weak to lift a sword, let alone use it, or sit a horse."
"Wait, Craig, and you will sit a horse yet, and help me to redeem this
terrible reverse."
The days wore slowly on, and we seemed no nearer; and, but for the
energy and knowledge of Dost, we should have starved; but his knowledge
of the natives of the country people enabled him somehow or another to
provide for our commissariat, and we marched on with the sepoys always
bearing poor Craig's dhooly, and making no attempt to escape.