I think by this time you pretty well understand the situation of our
palace, and how our stronghold was on the north side, close to which was
the gate, so hardly fought for: if you don't, I'm afraid it is my fault,
and not yours.
At all events, being at liberty, I went over it here and there, and from
floor to roof, as I tried to make out which would be the best way for
trying to escape; but somehow I couldn't see it perfect. To go out from
the gate was impossible; and the same related to the broken-out window,
as both places were thoroughly watched.
As for the other windows about the place, they were such slips, that
without they were widened, any escaping by them was impossible. To have
let ourselves down, one by one, from the flat roof by a rope, might have
done, but it was a clumsy unsuitable way, with all those children and
women, so I gave that up, and then sat down as I was by a little window
looking out on to the north alley.
Wearied out at last, I suppose that a sort of stupor came over me, from
which I did not wake till morning, to find myself suffering a dull numb
pain; but when I opened my eyes I forgot that, because of her who was
kneeling beside me, driving away the flies that were buzzing about, as
if they knew that I was soon to be for them to rest on, without a hand
to sweep them away.
At last, though, as I lay there wondering what could be done to save us,
the thought came all at once, and struggling to my feet, I held Lizzy to
my heart a minute, and then went off to find Captain Dyer.
It quite took me aback to see his poor haggard face, and the way in
which he took the trouble, for it was plain enough to see how he was cut
to the heart by Miss Ross's treatment of him. But for all that, he was
the officer and the gentleman; he had his duty to do, and he was doing
it; so that, if even now, after losing so many men, and with so many
more half disabled, the enemy had made a bold assault, they would have
won the place dearly, though win it they must.
That did not seem their way, though they wanted the place for the sake
of the great store of arms and ammunition it contained. They wanted to
buy it cheap.
I found Captain Dyer ready enough to listen to my plan, though he shook
his head, and said it was desperate. But after a little thought, he
said:
"There are some hours now between this and night--help may come before
then; if not, Smith, we must try it. My hands are full, so I leave the
preparations with you: let every one carry food and a bottle of water--
nothing more--all we want now is to save life."
I promised I'd see to it; and I went and spoke cheerfully to the women,
but Mrs Maine seemed quite hysterical. Miss Ross listened to what I
had to say in a hard strange way; and really, if it had not been for
Mrs Bantem putting a shoulder first to one wheel and then the other,
nothing would have been done.
The next person I went to was Measles, who, during a cessation of the
firing, was sitting, black and blood-smeared, with his head tied up,
wiping out his gun with pieces he tore spitefully off the sleeves of his
shirt.
"Well, Ikey, mate," he says, "not dead yet, you see. If we get out of
this, I mean to have my promotion; but I don't see how we're going to
manage it. What bothers me most is, letting these black devils get all
this powder and stuff we have here. Blow my rags if we shall ever use
it all! I've been firing away till my old Bess has been so hot that
I've been afraid to charge her; and I'll swear I've used twice as many
cartridges as any other man. But I say, Ikey, old man, do you think
it's wrong to pot these niggers?"
"No," I said; "not in a case like this."
"Glad of it," he says earnestly; "because, do you know, old man, I've
polished off such a thundering lot, that I've got to be quite nervous
about getting killed myself. Only think, having forty or fifty
black-looking beggars rising up against you in kingdom come, and
pointing at you and saying: `That's the chap as shot me!'"
"I don't think any soldier, acting under orders, who does his duty in
defence of women and children, need fear to lie down and die," I said.
I never saw Measles look soft but that once, as, laying down his ramrod,
he took my hand in his, and looked in my face for a bit; then he shook
my hand softly, and nodded his head several times.
"How's Harry Lant?" he says at last.
"Very bad," I said.
"Poor old chap. But tell him I've paid some of the beggars out for it.
Mind you tell him; it'll make him feel comfortable like, and ease his
mind."