AGAINST HEAVY ODDS
Worn out by a long day's march in the sun, Jim had wrapped himself in
his blanket at an early hour, and had fallen into a heavy sleep. It was
with a start, therefore, and with an involuntary clutch at the rifle
which lay beside him, that he suddenly raised himself into a sitting
position, to find Ali Kumar beside him.
"Treachery!" he whispered, as if dazed. "What news have you to give to
me?"
The leader of the native followers repeated his words in low tones, and
again warned him to keep silent.
"I have watched the man of whom I speak for these two days past," he
said. "And I have learnt that he is a traitor. Three times I have seen
him conversing with natives when supposed to be watching the camels
which were out grazing. Creeping towards him like a snake, I hid in a
thorn-bush, and listened with all my ears, but they whispered to one
another, so that I could not make out their words. This evening, after
our zareba was formed, I followed him again, and saw him meet two men,
who, by their dress, were the chiefs of a neighbouring tribe. He pointed
to the camels, and counted their number upon his fingers. Then I saw
them turn towards the entrance of this pass through which we are to go
on the morrow."
"'We will meet you there,' cried one of the chiefs, 'and perhaps even
attack before you enter. But my men do not like the darkness to fight
in, and besides, in the confusion and alarm, the beasts might be slain
or scattered. But we shall see; Allah will help us in this enterprise,
for are not the followers in the zareba servants of the infidel?'
"That, master, is what I overheard," continued Ali, "and returning to
the camp, I made plans to give you the warning; but there were many eyes
watching me, and so I waited until now."
"You did wisely," said Jim quietly, now sitting bolt upright, and fully
awake. "We'll get my comrade to join us, and then will decide what is to
be done, for this is a serious matter, and, unless we take instant steps
to protect ourselves, may lead to disaster."
Accordingly, he stretched out his hand and shook Tom gently, explaining
to him as soon as he was awake the reason for his doing so.
"And now we have to decide what is to be done," he said. "If we sit
here, and take no measures to protect ourselves, it is probable that
this scoundrel who has betrayed us will induce the tribesmen to attack
to-night. The moon is full, so that they would have every advantage, for
our zareba lies bathed in the light, while they would be hidden in the
crevices of the rocks."
"I don't see that we can do much else than awake our followers and warn
the sentries to be alert," Tom whispered in reply. "If these fellows do
attack us, we must lie down and answer their fire; but I fear that our
camels will suffer heavily."
"Where are these men likely to come from?" asked Jim, suddenly, turning
to Ali Kumar. "If they live in the highlands, and march upon us by way
of the pass, I think we ought to arrange a trap for them. If it were
carefully laid and proved successful, the lesson might be a warning to
them, and teach them to leave us alone."
"They will descend from the hills, master, of that I am sure; for the
chiefs whom I observed in conversation with our follower were men from
the highlands, without doubt."
"Then I propose that we divide our forces," said Jim, after a thoughtful
pause. "Will you, Tom, stay here, and defend the zareba with one half,
while I take the other? Then, with Ali Kumar to help me, I shall creep
up the pass, and select a spot where the road is narrow and difficult.
There we shall lie down and wait for the tribesmen. If they come down in
force, and do not turn back when we call to them, we will empty our
rifles into their midst; and I think that if we are careful in choosing
the site, we ought to be able to do a large amount of execution. That, I
take it, is the only way to persuade those people to leave us alone."
"I'll willingly do as you say, Jim, old boy," Tom answered readily,
wondering as he did so at the coolness and foresight shown by his young
companion. "Your plan sounds an excellent one, and the only suggestion I
have to make is that you should shout loudly as you return, or you may
be drawing our fire upon you. You see, these native followers of ours
are excitable fellows, and hearing the sound of people approaching, and
being in fear of an attack, they would blaze recklessly into the
darkness."
"Then I'll be careful to call out your name, Tom, and you will be able
to explain to the men that all is well. Now I'll be off, as these
tribesmen may appear at any moment, though I fancy it is too early for
them yet. They will probably wait till the early morning, when we ought
to be in our deepest sleep, and should therefore fall easy victims. But,
thanks to Ali Kumar, we have been warned, and if we do not take
advantage of that fact, we shall have only ourselves to blame. Good-bye,
and don't get fidgety if I do not return for some hours, for, as I have
just said, we shall probably have to wait a considerable time before
they put in an appearance."
Nodding coolly to his companion, Jim rose to his feet, and silently
crossed the zareba to the spot where the followers lay sleeping. One by
one, those who were armed with rifles, and could be trusted to stand by
their master in a position of danger, were aroused and cautioned to keep
silent. At length fifteen were collected, and with these and a
sufficient quantity of ammunition Jim stole out from the zareba, and
took the narrow and rough road which led to the pass. He left Tom busily
engaged in instructing the remainder. These were also armed with rifles
now, though they were less expert than their comrades. Still, at close
range they could be trusted to give a good account of themselves, and to
aid in keeping the enemy at a distance. Then the sentries were brought
in closer to the wall of thorns, and ordered to lie down, so that they
should be invisible to the enemy, for while they were standing the rays
of the moon falling upon their tall figures threw long shadows, which
would soon have drawn the fire of the tribesmen.
Thanks to the brightness of the night, Jim and his little party had no
difficulty in picking their way, for every boulder, and each nullah, or
ravine, stood clearly outlined. They were soon at the bottom of a gentle
ascent, which marked the beginning of the pass. But here the road was
broad, and would have been difficult to defend.
"They would manage to slip round us," said Jim in Ali Kumar's ear,
taking note of the surroundings. "I want to get to a part where the pass
narrows to a few yards only. If we can find such a position, we shall
pile boulders across the road, and post our men behind them. Then every
shot we fire will tell, for these Somalis who are about to attack us
will certainly come in force, and as they will not be expecting danger
until they reach the bottom of the gorge, they are likely to be marching
in close order. That will be our chance, and if it occurs, we will make
the most of it."
"I know of a position which will suit your wishes, master," answered
Ali. "Often have I made my way by this road, so often indeed that I
could find the path during a darker night than this is. We must keep on
for another quarter of a mile, as you English people speak of distance,
and then we shall find that the hill to the right and left of us closes
in suddenly, as if about to obstruct our further progress. I think that,
at some time, years ago perhaps, a river must have forced its way from
the highlands through these hills on its way to the plains below and to
the sea. Whatever the cause, the crags are cleft in twain a little way
above us, so that a road is possible. Half a mile farther on the land
recedes as suddenly as it runs together here, and by marching for an
hour one finds one's self again in the midst of a sweeping plain, but
this time far higher than before."
"It sounds as if it would prove a likely place," said Jim, eagerly, "so
let us push on, I am in a fever to get our men into their positions, for
if these tribesmen happened to advance now instead of later on, our
plans would be ruined, and we ourselves should be in a very dangerous
fix."
Striding ahead through the darkness, Jim encouraged his followers to
greater exertions by the example which he set them. So rapidly did they
walk, that barely ten minutes had elapsed before he became aware that
the gorge in which they were was narrowing. Soon he could see black
walls of rock on either hand, and a moment or two later it seemed as
though the road itself had suddenly come to an end. Nothing but pitch
black darkness could be seen before them, while the path at their feet
was buried in obscurity, the rays of the moon having been cut off by the
steep cliffs. But a careful search revealed the interesting fact that
there was a broad cleft in the wall in front of them, through which the
road passed on its way to the highlands.
"The very place for us," whispered Jim, almost giving vent to a cry of
exultation, so great was his delight. "This gorge cannot be more than
five yards in width, and will suit capitally. You say that it continues
for another half-mile at the same width?"
"No, master, I said not at the same," answered Ali Kumar hastily. "From
this spot for twenty paces perhaps, it is as narrow, while the road is
littered with big rocks and boulders, which are difficult to cross.
Farther on, however, it widens gradually, and then, at the distance you
mentioned, suddenly, till one finds one's self in the open again."
"If that is the case, these men who are coming to steal our beasts will
crowd together without meaning to do so," said Jim thoughtfully.
"That will be the case, master. They will descend the pass without great
caution, for the traitor who was of our number will have told them that
our sentries are never posted more than a few yards from the zareba.
Therefore they will have no need to observe much stealth till they
emerge lower down. They will walk together or separately, knowing that
the difficulty of the path at this end of the gorge will impede the
progress of those who are in front, and allow all the stragglers to come
up with them. After that, no doubt, they will send scouts ahead, and
follow like ghosts, hoping to take us unawares."
"We shall have something to say to that, I think," Jim answered,
indulging in a chuckle at the thought. "I've been busily making plans,
Ali, and I have decided to act in this way. We have fifteen men with us,
and our two selves. If more than a third of that number attempted to
hold the bottom of the pass, it would lead to certain confusion, for the
space is very small. Now, it has occurred to me that the surprise would
be far greater if we were to separate a little. For instance, we will
give five of the natives orders to remain here, and let them set to work
at once to pile a ridge of rocks across the path. Then we will climb the
cliff on either side, and if we can find ledges big enough for the
purpose, we will send the remainder to them."
"It is a great plan, master," said Ali, salaaming to Jim in his
enthusiasm. "A truly clever one with which to entrap these people, and
it shows that our leader is not only brave--as we clearly saw when he
first mounted his horse--but wise and far-seeing also. We are fortunate
indeed, for it sometimes happens that the lives of all in such an
expedition as this are sacrificed because of the want of discretion in
the one who commands it. Yes, it is a good plan, and it should prove
successful. There are surely ledges above us to which active men such as
we have could climb, and from which they could pour a scathing fire into
the enemy. Perhaps, even, they might be posted farther up the gorge,
with a pile of boulders at their feet. There is nothing that strikes
fear into the hearts of those who are unaware of danger as the sudden
descent of rocks upon their heads. They fly in terror to right and left,
but cannot escape, and if they turn with the hope of retreat, it
sometimes happens that the road is blocked by their comrades. Then,
indeed, is the time when men become wild with fright, and suffer defeat
at the hands of a few."
"Perhaps it may turn out in that way to-night," Jim said thoughtfully.
"I do not wish to harm a single one of these tribesmen, but if they
really mean to attack us for the sake of the loot which they would get,
then they must take the consequences. Of course, we might retreat, but
if we shirk this danger and difficulty now, we shall never succeed in
reaching the Mullah's country. We should be laughed at by everyone, and
should have cause to be ashamed of ourselves. No, I have decided to go
on with my undertaking, whatever happens, and if these fellows interfere
with us, they must look to themselves. I shall get you to warn them, and
if after that they still come on, hoping to overpower us by numbers,
then I shall blaze into the middle of them, and the severer the lesson
they are taught, the better it will be for us in the future, for the
other tribes will hear of the conflict, and will take the warning to
heart. And now let us place the men."
Anxious as he was to get all in readiness for the expected attack, Jim
would not allow his fears to hurry him unduly, for it was important to
obtain the most advantageous position. To allot five of the followers to
the mouth of the ravine was an easy task, and very soon those who had
been selected were busily engaged in preparing a low breastwork which
would give them shelter should the tribesmen possess firearms, as was
very likely, and discharge them in that direction. Jim waited patiently
beside them, directing their operations, and was not satisfied till a
wall some four feet high was erected, with niches cunningly left near
the base through which the muzzles of the rifles could be thrust. Then,
accompanied by Ali Kumar alone, he scaled the steep cliff on the right,
and set to work to look for a ledge which would do for his purpose.
"Here is one," he exclaimed at last, when after a very difficult piece
of climbing they had ascended some twenty yards or more. "This piece of
rock juts out from the face of the ravine, and will allow the men to
fire down into it, while the edge will protect them."
"It is well chosen," agreed the native headman, creeping to the edge and
looking over. "Standing here, we are in deep shadow, but in an hour,
when the moon has risen higher into the sky, the light will fall full
into the gorge, and every object will be visible. Yes, master, it is
wisely chosen, for how can the enemy return our fire when it comes from
the darkness of the rocks?"
Bidding Ali call gently to five more of the men, Jim waited to see them
take up their appointed posts, and left them there with strict orders
that they were not to make a sound, and were not to attempt to open fire
until the word was given. Then he and his companion descended, and made
their way up the face of the opposite cliff. It was even a harder climb
than the other had been, but after winning their way up for a distance
of a few yards only, they had the good fortune to strike upon a narrow
ledge which seemed to wind up the face of the rock. At the best of times
it offered but a precarious footing, but now, when it was attempted in
darkness, it was a hazardous undertaking. But Jim made light of the
danger. Indeed, he gave no thought to it, for all his attention was
occupied in the search for a favourable and commanding site. Thanks to
the soft sandals which he wore, he was able to obtain a firmer footing
than would have been possible had he been shod with boots, and taking
advantage of the feeling of security which this gave him, he clambered
steadily upwards, Ali following closely behind him, and giving notice of
his presence by his hard breathing. Suddenly the tiny ledge broadened
out, and on halting for a few seconds to rest, Jim became aware of the
fact that the cliff had receded, leaving a small shelf, capable of
accommodating thirty or more men.
"We are in luck!" he cried joyfully. "This part of the cliff overhangs
the gorge below, and is some yards from the entrance. I can feel
boulders everywhere, so that our fellows will not have to search far for
missiles. Then, too, there is no danger of their dropping them on their
comrades, for they will be well out of range. Yes, it will suit very
well; let us call up the men."
Once more the process of giving directions to the natives was gone
through, this time orders being issued that they were to rely upon rocks
instead of upon rifles. Then, satisfied that everything was in
readiness, Jim sat down upon a boulder at the entrance of the gorge, and
waited there with what patience he could command. It was exciting work
sitting there in the darkness surrounded by precipitous walls, and
without a sound to break the silence save the occasional jar of a rifle
as it was struck against a piece of stone. All sorts of thoughts and
fancies passed through his mind during the hours of waiting. He wondered
whether his school-friends were thinking of him, what time it was in old
England at that moment, and whether the boys were even then engaged in
battling with the same tasks which he had so lately forsaken. Yes, it
was strange to reflect that barely a month ago he was a mere boy, acting
a boy's part, and with scarcely a thought for the future. And now he was
the recognized leader of a real expedition, about to invade the country
of the Mullah, as fierce a fanatic as had ever sprung to power to be a
scourge to his neighbours. It was strange indeed. It was almost beyond
belief that it was he, Jim Hubbard, sitting there upon that rock,
listening to the beating of his own heart, and straining his ears for
the sounds which seemed as though they would never come. Supposing this
tribe did not attack after all. Supposing Ali had made a huge blunder,
and was the victim of too vivid imagination. Supposing----Hark! What was
that? A stone falling from the cliff away above his head, or a footfall
upon the road which led through the gorge?
At this sound, faint though it was, each man who lay there in ambush
became alert, while Jim sprang to his feet and peered into the
blackness.
"The enemy!" whispered a voice in his ear. "Did I not tell you rightly,
master? After all, the sheiks have decided to attack during the hours of
darkness."
It was Ali Kumar who had slipped up to Jim's side without making so much
as a sound. Then, together, they stood listening, bending their heads
towards the gorge, as though that would help them.
Ah! There it was again. Was it a man walking, or was it the sound of a
voice?
For some minutes there was silence, and then the mystery was cleared up
to everyone's satisfaction, for down the rocky sides of the ravine came
the noise of men talking. Almost at the same moment a thin streak of the
moon climbed up above the highest edge of the cliff, and shot rays of
brilliant whiteness down upon the road.
One, two--why, the gorge was packed with figures clad in white and
bearing every sort of arm. They might have been bound upon a friendly
visit so far as precautions went, for they talked without restraint,
but in low tones; while their leader, happening to strike his foot
against a boulder of unusual size, gave vent to a loud cry of pain, and
stood there, with one hand upon the mass of rock, and the other chafing
his injured limb.
But however friendly their appearance, the object of their midnight
wandering was quickly apparent, for, as he rubbed his damaged foot, the
sheik called to his followers to gather about him, and proceeded to
harangue them, Ali Kumar interpreting his words to Jim as he did so.
"Stand as near to me as the gorge will allow," said the leader of the
tribesmen, "and I will tell you what course to take when we have
descended to the plain. There, as you well know, lies the zareba of
these unbelieving dogs, and with them are many camels, and loot
sufficient for us all. I command you to keep together until you are
almost upon them. Then you will divide, and while one half march so as
to gain the farther side, the other will rest where they are, taking
pains to preserve the greatest silence. When all are ready, I will fire
my gun, and then let every man fall upon the dogs. Allah will strengthen
our arms, and will give us the victory."
"Allah is great, and we are his chosen," murmured his audience. "Lead
us, and we will slay these unbelievers."
"Let them come a few paces nearer, and then shout to them to return
home," said Jim sternly, whispering the words in his companion's ear.
"Tell them that we had news of their intended attack, and that we will
fire upon them if they come any nearer."
Striding to the barrier of stones, Ali called loudly to the sheik, who
was in the act of moving forward again.
"Halt where you are!" he cried. "My master bids me tell you that he
is aware of your treacherous plans, and that he is prepared to punish
you for them. But he does not desire to shed blood, and therefore gives
you the choice of returning in peace to your homes. If you refuse, he
will open fire."
At the words the sheik and his following came to an abrupt stop, and
stood there silently, dumfounded by the news. It seemed impossible that
their intention should have been discovered by the leader of the
expedition, and still more unlikely that he had the power to do them any
but the smallest harm.
"Why, they are but thirty all told," cried the sheik, with a scoffing
laugh. "And yet they come here to meet us and to threaten us with death
should we persist in our plan. It is ridiculous! It is a child's plot,
made to frighten us. Do not listen, but press on, my men."
With a shout the tribesmen at once started forward, and, drawing their
weapons, rushed at the entrance of the gorge. But they had not counted
on the fact that it was plunged in darkness, and obstructed with
numerous boulders. Running forward upon a pathway which was, just there,
lit by the rays of the moon, they stumbled blindly against the rocks,
and, one of them happening to fall, a dozen or more of his comrades had
tripped over him, and were grovelling on their faces before a minute had
passed. But the remainder pushed on without a pause, and, closely packed
together, and shrieking threats at the top of their voices, endeavoured
to reach the spot where their unseen opponents were.
"Fire!" shouted Jim, seeing that the moment for action had at length
arrived. "Empty your rifles into them."
[Illustration: "FIRE!" SHOUTED JIM. "EMPTY YOUR RIFLES INTO THEM."]
Leaning upon the breastwork of stones, he took steady aim with his own
weapon, directing it at the sheik, who was to be seen wedged in the
middle of his men, and frantically struggling to push them back so as to
allow him to bring to his shoulder the gun which he bore in his hand.
Bang! The report set the rocks ringing on either hand, and was at once
followed by a volley from the breastwork and from the ledge to the
right. Shooting out the empty cartridge, Jim looked eagerly to see what
success he had had, and was astonished to find that the sheik still
occupied the same position. But he was hit, and mortally, too, for a
moment later he suddenly threw his hands into the air and fell
backwards. Another moment, and he was beneath the feet of the tribesmen,
who trampled upon him without hesitation.
But now another feature was added to the scene. Struck by the volley
aimed at them, the attackers had drawn back in consternation, but,
quickly recovering, they answered the shout of another leader, who at
once came forward to replace the sheik, and again dashed headlong for
the entrance of the gorge. As they did so, a series of loud and
sickening thuds told that the men who had been posted above were
carrying out their orders. Indeed, a glance at the cliff overhead showed
clearly what was happening; for the rays of the moon had now penetrated
to the shelf, and each follower, as he rose to lift a boulder and cast
it over the ravine, stood clearly outlined against the dark rock behind.
Shouts and screams soon told that their efforts were not in vain, and
just as Jim was about to order another volley to be poured into the
gorge, the enemy turned, and now fighting fiercely with one another to
get away, fled from the scene as rapidly as the circumstances and their
crowded condition would admit.
"Let us hope that that will be enough for them," said Jim, leaning over
the barrier and staring along the ravine. "I can count twelve bodies
lying amongst the boulders, and there are others beneath the rocks
farther on. I am glad now, Ali Kumar, that you advised that these
boulders should be thrown down upon their heads, for it was that that
caused them to fly. What do you think will happen now?"
"They will retire into the plain beyond, and perhaps even farther,
before they recover their courage," answered Ali thoughtfully. "Then
they will look amongst themselves to discover who is dead. When they
find that we have killed their sheik, and that they have suffered heavy
losses, they will be mad with anger, for all will know of their
disgrace. Before setting out this night, you may be sure that they held
a feast, and called all their women folk to it, boasting that to capture
the camp was but a simple matter, for it contained few men, and would
certainly be taken by surprise; and now they will reflect that they have
been beaten by a mere handful, and that their prey is about to escape
them, and even to laugh at them. I know these people well, master, for I
am one of them by birth; and I am sure that the succeeding sheik will
harangue his followers, speaking as I have just told you. Little by
little he will rouse their anger, and when he reminds them of the booty
to be obtained, I feel sure that they will again advance to the attack."
"Then we had better prepare for them," said Jim sharply, "We have given
them one surprise, and I propose that we arrange another, for that is
the only way in which we can attempt to make up for the great difference
in numbers."
"But what can you do, master? You have made all the plans and selected
every position that it is possible to think of, and now all that you can
do is to remain as you are."
"I fancy that we can manage more if we try," answered Jim with
decision. "You see, if the fellows attack again, they will know exactly
where our men are posted, and will certainly open a hot fire upon them,
telling off so many of the tribesmen to keep it up and make it
impossible for them to show themselves, or hurl rocks down into the
ravine. At least, that is what I should do if I were their leader. In
that case, the remainder would have an excellent chance of getting to
close quarters, which is what we want specially to avoid, for if that
were to happen, numbers would certainly tell upon us."
"But you cannot think of retiring, master!" exclaimed Ali hastily. "To
do so would be to sacrifice all your following. Stay here, then, for to
reach the zareba the tribesmen must pass through this gorge, there being
no other way round."
The native headman grasped Jim by the arm in his anxiety, and looked
into his face, fearful lest he should decide to take a step which would
end in their ruin.
"You may banish that from your mind," said Jim sharply. "I am not going
to retire for any man, but what I propose to do is to push on till near
the other end of the ravine. There, we will make the same plans as we
carried out here, and when the enemy advances, will have another
surprise in store for them. But, tell me, supposing we creep along, and
build a barrier farther on, can the tribesmen climb the cliffs and treat
us in turn to a shower of rocks?"
"You are safe from that, master. It is true that there are ledges at the
farther end, but they are narrow and short, and do not come far this
way. Were it otherwise, the sheik would already have sent his followers
to occupy them, and by now we should have a storm of slugs and bullets
pattering upon us. No, we have nothing in that way to fear, while as
for your ruse, it seems to your servant that it is as wise as that which
you planned before. To find us at the other end, and come upon us long
before they expected to do so, will, indeed, be a surprise, and, as you
say, that is the only way in which we can make up for our small
numbers."
"Then we'll move ahead at once," exclaimed Jim. "Call to the men to come
down, and warn them that they are to keep perfectly silent. Tell them
what we propose to do, and say that after the enemy have attacked us,
they are to remain in their new positions till I shout. Then they are to
retire to this post again at their fastest pace, and lie down as before.
In that way we shall have an excellent chance of withdrawing, should the
contest prove too uneven for us."
Acting upon his orders, Ali soon had all the native followers gathered
at the bottom of the ravine, and a glance at their faces as they were
outlined in the rays of the moon was sufficient to show that they were
to be relied upon, and that the success which had already attended them
had filled them with elation and determination to fight to the end.
"Good!" exclaimed Jim, surveying them critically; "they will do. Now let
us get ahead, and, Ali, come with me in advance. It will be as well to
make sure that none are watching us."
Creeping along the rugged road which threaded the gorge, Jim and his men
soon reached the opposite end. Not a soul was met, and though they lay
down for some minutes, not a sound could be heard. Then a scout was sent
away into the plain, and while he was gone, the remainder took up their
positions much as before, for numerous rocky ledges were to be found.
Half an hour later a barrier was erected across the ravine, and behind
it lay Jim and five of his men.
"Hush!" exclaimed Jim suddenly. "I hear someone coming. Perhaps it is
our scout."
A second later the bleat of a sheep was heard, and before long a dusky
figure rose up before the barrier.
"They are coming," said the man. "I went far out into the plain, and
came upon them talking and shouting. They were drinking the wine of the
country, which is made by melting the fat which comes from the tails of
young sheep, and were crying upon their sheik to lead them forward. As I
left them they were setting their faces this way, with the determination
to slay us all, for they are angry, and their bitterness is great at
their defeat."
"Then let them come," said Jim doggedly, when the words had been
interpreted to him. "They have had their warning, and this time I will
not spare them as I did before."
Standing behind the wall of loose stones, he waited in silence for the
enemy, and within a few minutes saw a large force of men streaming
across the moonlit plain on their way to the ravine. Very soon they were
close at hand, and, gathering together, came walking forward without a
thought of guarding against surprise.