that I will teach these mountain robbers a lesson. Whether I can recover
what they have carried off is another matter." He struck the bell and a
servant entered.
"Let this man's horse be put in the stable and well fed. See that he
himself has food, and tell the hakim to see to his wound. Send an
orderly to Nand Chund, Sohan Verdi, and Lal Boghra, and beg them to come
here immediately."
"Who are these Turgars, uncle?"
"They are a tribe of hill robbers on the other side of the river. The
country nominally belongs to Cashmere, but the government at Sirinagur
has no more authority over these hill tribes than it has over the
Highlanders of Scotland. Jaegwar lies forty miles to the north, and it
will be a troublesome business to punish these beggars, who differ in no
respect from the Pathan hill tribes along the whole range of mountains
on the northern side of the Indus. It is some years since I had trouble
with any of them, for on the last occasion I punished them so heavily
they have been quiet ever since. No doubt some reports have reached
them of the state of confusion in the Punjaub, and they think to take
advantage of it. However, they will find out their mistake. I am just
as much bound to protect my district as if I were still a dutiful
servant of Lahore; as indeed I am, save in the matter of resigning my
governorship, for only ten days since I sent off the annual amount at
which the district was taxed when I took charge of it.
"The sum is not a large one; for at that time it was, I should say, the
poorest district in the Punjaub, though now, thanks to the fact that
life and property are both secure here, the population has increased
fourfold, and the revenue tenfold. Still I have no doubt the amount I
send is very useful at Lahore, where the treasury is said to be empty;
and it enables my agent there to urge that I am faithful to the
government, though I refuse to resign my post, where I was placed by
Runjeet Singh, or to hand over the people he intrusted to my care to men
who seek only to extort their last penny from them and to grind them
into the dust."
The servant now announced that the three officers were in attendance.
They were at once shown in, and the colonel informed them of the news he
had received. "These robbers must be punished, and punished heavily,"
he went on, "for if they were permitted to plunder my people without
retaliation we should have half a dozen of these hill clans following
their example. The question is, what force can we send without unduly
weakening the garrison here? Cavalry would be of little use, but I will
take fifty troopers. We may find level bits of country where they can
be made useful. Of course I will take the four mountain guns and the
ten camel guns, and the 1st Company of Artillery, to whom they belong.
But our chief dependence must be on infantry. I should say we could
spare four hundred very well; that will leave an ample force against any
sudden attack on the place; as to a serious expedition, I should
certainly have warning from Lahore in time to return before it could
arrive here. I shall myself accompany the expedition, and, Sohan Verdi,
you will take the command of the fort in my absence. I know that I need
not tell you to be vigilant. Nand Chund will go with me in command of
the troop of cavalry, and you, Lal Boghra, of the infantry. Take No. 1
and 2 Companies of each of the regiments. As Rundoop Koor commands the
Camel Battery, he will of course be in charge of the guns. Let the
troops cook a meal at once and parade in an hour."
The officers saluted, and were about to retire when he added, "We will
take no tents with us, or baggage of any kind, but I will see that there
is an ample supply of grain and flour. Anything else that we may require
we must take from the enemy."
"You will let me go with you, I hope, uncle?" Percy exclaimed as soon as
the officers had left the room.
"Certainly, Percy, it will be a good introduction for you to mountain
warfare."
"Thank you, uncle; it will be a splendid change, and I shall enjoy it
immensely. Can these Turgar fellows fight?"
"They can fight in their way well enough, but they are no good against
disciplined troops."
"What is their way, uncle?"
"Their villages are all fortified, for when they are not engaged in
plundering the villages of the plains they are constantly having petty
wars with each other. Otherwise their only idea of fighting is to make
sudden rushes down upon a column or a convoy struggling along some
defile or up some breakneck path. These rushes are formidable enough
against unsteady troops, but disciplined men who keep their heads and
show a bold front can beat them off again easily enough. I need not say
that one has to be careful on these expeditions, for a man who straggled
away from the main body, under the belief that there was no enemy near,
would be cut off to a certainty; so you will be pleased to remember that
whatever happens you are to keep near me. Now I will go and give orders
about the bullock carts and the provisions; there is no time to be lost.
You had better go in and see Mahtab, and tell her what has happened.
Ask her to get us something to eat before we start, and to see that
provisions for our private consumption are put into the carts."
Percy was rather nervous at the mission, as he was afraid that his aunt
would be alarmed at the thought of the colonel going into danger. She,
however, took the news very coolly.
"We had many such expeditions when we first came here," she said. "Of
course there is danger, but it is very slight; and the colonel has so
often been in great danger and has come out unharmed, that I have ceased
to worry about small things. The cannon generally do the work, and the
tribesmen run before the infantry can attack them. The real danger is
from surprises, and your uncle has had far too much experience to be
caught unawares. But you must be careful, Percy, not to wander away, or
to get excited and dash on ahead; you must keep near to him."
"So he has ordered me, aunt, and I shall be very careful."
"I hope you will," she said seriously. "There is no glory to be gained
in these hill fights, but foolhardiness may very well cost anyone his
life. These tribesmen have plenty of courage, and are quite reckless of
their lives if they can but cut down an enemy; they are as patient and
watchful as wild beasts in pursuit of prey."
The preparations were soon made; the troops who were to take part in the
expedition fell in at the appointed time, and the colonel, after making
a careful inspection of them, placed himself at their head and led the
way through the gate. Percy rode beside him, and immediately behind
came the troop of cavalry; the artillery followed. The little guns were
carried on the backs of the camels, the four mountain guns each drawn by
as many animals. The infantry followed the battery, twelve bullock
carts bringing up the rear.
"I am going to send the horse straight on, Percy. It is pretty certain
the hillmen will have recrossed the river and be up in their villages
before this; their tactics are always to strike a blow, collect their
plunder, and be off again to the hills long before a force can be
collected to oppose them. Still the cavalry will give the peasants
confidence, and they will return to their homes when they hear that a
force, however small, has arrived for their protection. They will be
there by midnight, and will be able to gather news from the peasantry as
to the villages these robbers came from, and inquire about roads and
guides, so that when we get there to-morrow night no time need be lost
about those matters. It is an important thing with these hill tribesmen
to strike back as quickly as possible. I found when I first came here
that nothing impressed them so much as the promptitude with which they
were chased and punished. It was so different to the dawdling way in
which native operations are conducted, that it took them completely by
surprise. You know the old saying--he who gives quickly gives twice,
and it is just as true of a blow as it is of money."
Half the journey was accomplished that day. The night was cold enough
to render blazing fires most enjoyable, and Percy when he lay down felt
the comfort of the long Sikh coat made of sheep-skin with the wool
inside, and the outside decorated with patterns worked in coloured
threads. The following evening they reached Jaegwar, and the colonel
took up his quarters in the principal house in the village, to which
some of the inhabitants were now returning. Nand Chund made his report
as they were eating their supper.
"There were about five hundred of them came down, colonel, in seven
different parties. As far as I can make out about three hundred of them
were Turgars, and the others were Nagas and Kotahs. They killed about
eighty men and carried off seventy or eighty women, and four or five
hundred head of cattle. They burned four villages, and set on fire two
or three houses here. Fortunately there was no wind, and the flames did
not spread."
"Now as to the road, Nand Chund."
"The track, for they say it is nothing more up to the Turgar villages,
crosses the river about two miles north of this place. There are five
villages, all lying within a circle of about three miles. The nearest
of them is six miles beyond the river. The fighting force is put as
from twelve to fifteen hundred, but of course if the two other tribes
aid them it would more than double that. There are some steep places on
the road, and one very deep and narrow valley, quite a ravine I should
say, to be passed through. If they get to know of our coming that is no
doubt the place where they will fight. If we get through there before
they can gather to oppose us they will, of course, make their stand at
their villages, which are all high up on the hills."
"The men have made two marches of twenty miles each," the colonel said;
"it would be as well that they should have a day's rest before we
advance, for it will be a heavy day's work. Besides, I would rather
that the Turgars should hold the ravine or any other strong points they
may have. Were we to march through these before they were ready to
oppose us, they would say afterwards that we could never have got
through had they known we were coming, but if we show them that they can
no longer rely upon being able to arrest the advance of a column, it may
be a long time before they venture upon another raid like this. However
strong the place is, you may be sure we shall be able to turn them out
of it. That rocket tube will astonish them. Besides, however strong
the valley is we ought to be able to outflank it. Another advantage of
a fight there is, that if we turn them out with a good deal of loss we
shall carry the villages more easily, for it will shake their courage if
they find they are unable to hold the place they had relied on as the
main defence of their villages."
Accordingly the force rested the next day, and on the morning following
started before it was light, and reached the ford across the river just
as day was breaking.
"I have no doubt they are prepared for us," the colonel said, as he
watched the troops and guns making their passage. "They would hardly
have expected that a force would make its appearance here so soon, but
they are sure to have placed scouts on the hills to give them warning."
"It is a wild-looking country," Percy said, as the increasing light
enabled them to see hill rising behind hill.
"Yes. A battery or two of horse artillery, knowing the country well and
taking post on the hills, would make it very hot for us. Fortunately
there is no fear of anything of that sort. The wall pieces are all they
have, besides muskets and matchlocks. The road seems to go straight up
the hill and over the crest," he went on, after examining the ground
with his field-glasses.
"Ah! I can make out a group of three or four men, just to the left of
that bush there. Do you see the smoke?--they have just lighted a fire.
That is a signal, I have no doubt; as you see, the smoke is getting
thicker and thicker."
Three or four minutes later two other columns of smoke were seen rising,
one two or three miles to the right, the other as much to the left.
"Take a dozen of your troopers, Nand Chund, and skirmish up the hill; a
company of infantry shall follow you. If you find only a handful of men
there, drive them off; if they are in force, get near enough to draw
their fire and find out their strength, and then fall back again upon
the supporting company. We shall not be far behind. But it is hardly
likely that you will be pressed, they will not be able to gather to
offer any serious opposition until we get some miles further."
The little party of cavalry rode on, a company of infantry following
close behind them. Colonel Groves waited until he saw the rest of the
force cross the ford, and then set forward again. He had handed his
glasses to Percy, who sat watching the advanced party as it ascended the
hill. The horsemen had scattered along the hillside, and were several
hundred yards ahead of the infantry.
"They are firing, uncle," he exclaimed presently. "I don't see the
smoke, but I heard the sound of shots. There! I saw a puff of smoke
just now."
"How many guns did you hear, Percy?"
"Five or six; I should say that is about all there are. I saw three
standing up, and there may have been two or three more engaged in making
the fire."
"It is hardly likely that they would have more than five or six men on
watch. Even if they knew yesterday that we had come to the village,
they would hardly keep more than a lookout here."
This was evidently the case, as the horsemen were seen to pass over the
crest, and one of them soon reappeared and galloped down the hill.
"Nand Chund reports, Colonel," he said when he arrived at the head of
the column, "there were but four men, they fired a few shots at us.
When we reached the top of the hill they were half-way down the other
side. There is a good deal of bush and some wood down there. Nand
Chund says that he will not advance further till the company in support
joins him, as there might be a force hidden there."
"Quite right. Tell him that at any rate he is not to mount the next
hill until we come up."
When the force arrived at the crest they saw Nand Chund and the footmen
drawn up beyond the bush in the hollow.
"It is a good deal steeper beyond, uncle."
"Yes, a great deal steeper. There will be some little difficulty in
getting our guns up; and if I mistake not, there is a body of men on the
opposite crest."
A trooper was sent on to Nand Chund telling him to advance no farther
until the whole force came up. When the force was united the colonel
said: "This hill is too steep for you to act with effect, Nand Chund.
Ride along the valley with the troop for a mile or so, climb the
hillside, and then come back along the crest till within a quarter of a
mile of them, and as soon as you see them begin to fall back before our
advance, charge and take them in flank if they are not too strong, and
chase them down the other side, but do not pursue too far."
The cavalry at once rode off. Two companies of infantry were then
thrown forward in skirmishing order, the rest of the force followed two
or three hundred yards behind them. When the skirmishers were half-way
up the hill the enemy opened fire. Orders had been given to them to pay
no attention to this, but to keep their muskets slung behind them, and
to press forward. When they arrived within a hundred yards of the enemy
they were to lie down and return their fire until the column came up.
The order was carried out; but just as the colonel reached their line he
saw Nand Chund's horsemen coming along the top at full speed. "Forward,
men, at the double!" he shouted; and the troops, leaping to their feet,
climbed rapidly up the hill. But it was over before they reached the
top. The hillmen had not awaited the arrival of the cavalry, but had
fled down the hill behind, the sowars pursuing them and cutting down
several before they reached some very broken ground at its foot; from
this they opened a sharp fire, and the cavalry at once retired up the
hill again. The track now, instead of ascending the next rise, followed
the valley down.
"You see," the colonel said when he reached the crest, "the valley makes
a sharp bend half a mile down. No doubt that defile lies up there. You
can see that the next hill is very much more lofty and rugged-looking.
Well, Nand Chund, what force was there?"
"Somewhere about a hundred, Colonel. I should not have charged them,
but I saw they were beginning to make off."
"They are gathering like a snowball," the colonel remarked. "I expect
that when we reach the defile we shall find their whole force there."
For another two miles they followed the valley, which grew narrower as
they advanced, the sides being more and more precipitous. Parties of
men had been seen moving about higher up, and presently a scattering
fire was opened. The colonel ordered two parties, each a hundred
strong, to make their way up the hill on either side and then to advance
along it, keeping abreast of the column.
"If the opposition is serious," he said, "I will aid you with the guns."
In a short time the hillsides were dotted with puffs of smoke. Little
could be seen of the enemy, who lay behind rocks, occasionally running
back and then dropping again behind fresh shelter as the troops
advanced. The fire on both sides momentarily became hotter. The four
mountain guns now opened fire, throwing shell high up on the hillside.
The natives could be seen bolting from their shelters, and the two
flanking companies, which had been almost brought to a standstill,
resumed their advance.
The valley narrowed more and more until it was but some ten or twelve
yards wide at the bottom. The sides were covered with great boulders
and jagged rocks, with bush growing up between them; from these a fierce
fire was opened. The four mountain guns had been left behind at the
spot where they could still assist the flanking companies; but the camel
guns, guarded by the cavalry, advanced along the bottom, keeping up a
rapid fire against the invisible foe. The infantry were directed to
clear the rocks on either side. The fire was very brisk, and the
reports being echoed and re-echoed from the hills, the sound seemed
continuous.
It was evident that the enemy were far superior in number, and progress
was very slow until the two flanking companies appeared high up on the
hills, and advancing along them opened fire on the enemy below, who,
although hidden from those in front of them, could be seen from above.
The effect was immediate. The fire slackened, and the force pushed
forward as rapidly as the nature of the ground would permit, and in a
quarter of an hour issued out at the other end of the ravine. Numbers of
men could be seen ascending a hill in front of them, and on this, as the
colonel had learnt before starting, the first of their villages was
situated. There was a halt until the troops were again assembled and
the mountain guns came up. The advance was then renewed.
*CHAPTER V.*
*RETRIBUTION.*
Upon resuming his march the colonel divided the infantry into three
bodies of equal strength. The first, which was accompanied by the guns,
was to move by the path straight up the hill; the others, between whom
the cavalry force was divided, were to ascend it a few hundred yards to
the right and left of the central column, so as to flank the village on
either side. For a time the enemy kept up a fire from the brow of the
hill, but this died away as the troops, pressing rapidly forward, neared
them, and in a short time the top of the hill was gained. The village
stood a quarter of a mile away. It was surrounded by a high wall, above
which could be seen the tower of the chief's fortalice.
"These little four-pounders will not be of much good in breaching that
wall," the colonel said. "We must attack by the gate and batter that
down. Percy, do you ride round to the column on the left, and see if
there is any gate on that side. Do you, Nand Chund, do the same on the
right. If there are gates there I will send some of the camel guns to
try and beat them down. If they can't do it the gates must be blown in,
there are men with powder-bags in each column. Let the cavalry work
round behind the village, and see what the ground is like there. It
looked to me as if it broke away on that side. If there are no gates in
the side walls, let the right column move round to assist the cavalry to
cut off the enemy's retreat. Let the infantry of the left column join
us here for the attack on this gate. The fellows are evidently in
strong force."
Indeed the wall was fringed with smoke, and the bullets were pattering
round thick and fast. The men, however, had at once been placed in
shelter behind a stone wall, and remained inactive for half an hour.
When Percy and Nand Chund rode back within a minute or two of each
other, their reports were similar. There were no gates in the side
walls, while behind the wall on the other side there was a deep
precipitous ravine, with but a few feet between its upper edge and the
wall. The colonel gave the order that fifty of the infantry should
remain on either side to fire down into the ravine as the enemy retired
across it, and the rest should join him. The cavalry were to take post
just out of fire on both flanks, to cut off any fugitives who might drop
from the walls, and endeavour to escape from the top of the hill.
The time had not been lost, for the four mountain guns had kept up a
steady fire at the gates in front, which were, when the two bodies of
infantry came up, already torn and splintered, one of them being
evidently thrown off its hinges. Then two of the companies advanced
through the inclosures in skirmishing order, and when within fifty yards
of the wall opened fire at its defenders, aided by the whole of the
guns. After waiting for five minutes to allow the fire to have its
effect, the colonel gave the word and the column ran forward towards the
gate. A heavy fire was opened through the broken planks.
"Don't wait to return it," the colonel, who was riding at the head of
column, shouted. "Throw yourselves against the gate, your weight will
burst it down."
With a cheer the men rushed on, and as they reached the gate there was a
crash. The shattered gate fell, and they poured into the village.
The resistance was slight, for as soon as the column began to advance
the fire from the wall had suddenly ceased. Ten or twelve men were shot
or bayoneted at the gates, but as the troops spread through the village
they met with no more antagonists. The doors of the houses stood open,
but the hearths were cold, and the women and children had evidently been
sent away early in the morning. As soon as he entered the gate and saw
that resistance was over, the colonel shouted to the men behind to
follow him, and rode straight through the village for the gate behind.
He was, however, only in time to see the last of a crowd of men hurrying
out through it; but an outbreak of firing both to the right and left
showed that the parties posted there were harassing the fugitives in
their retreat.
As soon as the men behind him came up he led them through the gate, bade
them spread along the edge of the ravine and to open fire on the
tribesmen, parties of whom were already beginning to mount the opposite
side of the ravine. The fire was maintained with considerable effect
until all were out of range, then the various detachments were called in
by the sound of the bugle, and the troops ordered to cook a meal. While
this was being done a thorough search was made through the village. In
the chief's tower a considerable quantity of gunpowder was found stored,
and as soon as the troops had finished their dinner fire was applied to
every house in the village, and a length of fuse thrust into the powder.
As they marched out through the gates by which the enemy had retreated,
there was a heavy explosion, and the tower fell in ruins. They then
moved towards the next village, in which direction the enemy had
retreated. They crossed the ravine, and then kept along a valley to the
foot of the hill on which the village stood. The ground was covered
with scrub and bush, and they were half-way up when there was a
tremendous yell, and on either side a great number of half-naked figures
sprang up, poured in a volley of matchlock balls, arrows, and spears,
and then flung themselves upon the column.