"Well, it need not interfere; we should be obliged to move off, but must
alter our plans a little."
He spoke to Haynes, who gave the orders for four men to fall out. The
litter was seized, Sergeant Craig carefully lifted upon it, the doctor
looking on wonderingly; and then, as the men raised the handles, Brace
spoke again.
"Dobbs," he said sharply, "fall out and take charge of the horses."
The lad stepped back, and as he did so a gleam of sunshine through the
trees made his trumpet flash for a moment. The next he was standing by
the beautiful animals which were impatiently champing their bits and
pawing the ground.
Then Brace made Haynes a sign, and the men turned right face, and with
Haynes at their head, filed off, the bearers falling in with their load,
and the doctor looking undecided.
"Follow the wounded man, sir," said Brace, and the doctor immediately
took his place at the end of the little column, while we stood watching
them till they had disappeared among the trees.
"We may succeed even now, Gil," said my companion; "but once more, while
there is time, speak out frankly to me as if I were your brother; the
trumpeter cannot hear. Do you feel--well, to be plain--frightened?"
"I suppose so," I said. "It's a curious nervous sensation."
"Then give up, and follow the men, and I'll go alone."
"You said I was to speak to you as if you were my brother," I said.
"Yes."
"Then I will speak," I said through my teeth. "It is to my brother, and
not to my commanding-officer. I won't. I'll go with you now if I die
for it."
And all the time the feeling of dread I felt was horrible, and worse
than all was that the feeling grew.
Brace caught my hand and wrung it.
"Well done!" he said in a low voice. "I can see. I know the sensation;
but that's the way. Fight it down."
"I'm trying," I said, huskily; "but I wish I was not such a coward."
"I don't, Gil," he said, smiling, "There, now we have a horrible task
before us to wait nearly an hour. Dobbs, follow us with the horses, and
keep about twenty yards behind."
He advanced to the three noble beasts, and began to examine their
bridles, and then tightened their girths himself, before saying shortly,
"Now forward," and, carrying the scabbard of his sword, he led the way
once more to the edge of the wood, where, after taking care that we were
carefully screened, he swept the plain with his eyes, and then took out
his glass.
"Yes, that will do," he said to the trumpeter, who had stopped with the
bridles of the horses in his hands and a look of eager excitement in his
eyes, as he evidently anticipated riding that day instead of a long
weary tramp.
Brace used his glass and watched the town, making comments to me from
time to time.
"All very quiet," he said. "Our lads must have an hour, for they may
find the tangle very hard to get through."
There was a long pause, during which he was almost constantly watching
the place with his glass. And how that scene is imprinted in my mind;
the beautiful fringe of green trees, where we stood in the shade, and
before us the broad plain bright in the fresh morning sunshine, and
wreaths of mist still floating over it, but being rapidly dispelled by
the sun, though the distance still looked hazy and of a delicious blue.
There on the right was the village or town, dotted with the figures of
the white-robed Hindus, whose arms flashed now and then, as they moved
here and there.
"If they will only give us a full hour, Gil," said Brace. "How long
have our men been gone?"
"Not a quarter yet," I said.
He uttered an ejaculation full of impatience, and began watching again.
"I'm between two fires," he said at last. "I am eager for them to come
out before those scoundrelly sepoys give the rajah warning; and I am
longing for them to stay for a full three-quarters of an hour yet. What
a dilemma. It is terrible."
Just then there was the sound of a horse plunging and squealing, and we
turned to where the trumpeter held the three.
"That would ruin us if they were passing," muttered Brace. Then aloud,
"Keep them quiet, my lad. What are you doing?"
"Beg pardon, sir; did not move. Mr Vincent's horse, sir, a bit
playful. They're all so fresh."
We patted and quieted the beautiful animals, and left them again to
resume our old place, to find that all remained still. There was no
excitement, and we could see nothing to suggest that there had been an
alarm, and men were coming out to attack us or a retreat had been
ordered. But as we watched, we suddenly saw a man in white riding the
beautiful gaily caparisoned Arab, which even at that distance I
recognised as the rajah's charger. He was passing along in front of
some buildings, and my heart beat faster as I felt that at last the time
was rapidly approaching for action.
"How long do you think it is now since they started?" said Brace, in a
hoarse voice.
"Half an hour," I replied; and I did not recognise my own voice, it
sounded so husky.
"Hah!" sighed Brace, still using his glass.