Hulton was sleeping and the men were lying fairly restful, but the
doctor was awake and eager to know of everything that had been done.
Dick told him as much as he could, the doctor nodding his satisfaction.
"Good," he said at last. "Your father must be a clever man, Darrell.
Now, do your duty by me."
"How?" said Dick, smiling.
"Tell me to leave off talking and go to sleep, so as to lessen the fever
that is sure to supervene."
"I'll ensure that by going away, and leaving this man to keep watch,"
said Dick: and the next minute he followed Wyatt out into the yard,
where the men of the troop were seeing to the cleaning up and oiling of
the guns and carriages, while the syces were busy over the horses, which
were dry now, and none the worse for the galloping they had gone
through, save two which had bullets in their haunches. Fortunately the
bullets were small, and had penetrated but a little way, and the farrier
of the troop had decided that the poor animals would be fit for work in
a day or two.
While the officers were inspecting the horses, the fire that had been
going on by the bridge gate slackened, and then died out, but scattered
shots which had been heard at intervals on the other side of the city
increased now to a roar, broken by the rattle of musketry.
News soon came in that the enemy had been making a fierce attack upon
the other gate, and had been repulsed, while now the firing died out,
and it was evident that the fighting was over for the day.
Soon after the Rajah, followed by a retinue of his officers, made his
appearance at the great gates, and was challenged by the sentry. The
guard turned out, and a message was sent to Wyatt, while the Rajah sat
frowning in his howdah, and the officers who accompanied him scowled and
looked furious, each man seeking the Rajah's eye, as if asking leave to
cut down the insolent Englishmen who blocked the way into the Rajah's
own palace, the place where his father had held his court.
But they were not kept waiting long; Wyatt and Dick came quickly out to
the gate. The Rajah and his retinue were ushered in, and taken about
the old place, where everything had been so rapidly transformed.
It was evident that the Rajah and his followers were duly impressed by
the orderly and businesslike appearance of men, horses, and weapons;
and, after the way all had behaved that day, some of the scowling
officers' faces showed that, if they were not friendly towards the
new-comers, they were at least disposed to treat them with respect.
It was not deemed advisable for Hulton to be disturbed, and the Rajah
was content to dismount and enter the mess-room, where he warmly thanked
both officers for the help they had rendered that day.
Wyatt did not mince matters; he questioned the Rajah at once as to the
possibility of a fresh attack that day or night, but he was told that
such a thing was highly improbable.
"But," said the Rajah, "we shall most likely have a renewal of the
fighting to-morrow. I may count upon you?"
"Of course, sir," said Wyatt quietly; "that is why we are here. But I
cannot help thinking that it would be better if you refrained from
leaving the city. You have guns and ammunition. Why not content
yourself with waiting behind the walls?"
The Rajah looked at him in astonishment.
"Would you do so?" he said.
"I belong to the Flying Artillery," said Wyatt quietly; "my work is on
the open plains."
"So is mine, at the head of my horsemen," said the Rajah, with a look of
pride. "If I were to do as you propose, Rajah Singh would think that I
was afraid: and, what is worse, my people would think so too, and refuse
to obey a king who was a coward."
Wyatt bowed.
"If he comes to-morrow, he will find me with my horsemen drawn up,
waiting. You will come?"
"Of course," said Wyatt quietly; "but I should advise that your general
should hold a body of your cavalry ready to attack each time our fire
has thrown the enemy into disorder."
"Yes," said the Rajah, "that shall be done. It would be wise."
At this he rose to go, and walked slowly to where his elephant was
waiting, with his mounted guard in attendance, all scowling and looking
exceedingly fierce, as if, in fact, they fully believed that their chief
was in danger, and it was their duty to attack the sentries stationed
here and there in his defence.
Wyatt and Dick stood watching the party file through the gate, and then
the former turned to Dick.
"What are you thinking?" he said.
"That we don't seem to have many friends here," replied Dick. "Hallo!
what does this mean? One of the enemy?"
For a richly-dressed officer rode back to the gateway, and after a
moment's parley with the sentries was allowed to pass.
His face as he rode up to the two officers plainly showed that he was
upon no inimical mission, but the bearer of a message from the Rajah,
requesting that the officers would come and dine with him that evening.
"I can't go," said Dick sharply; "I have my wounded. Besides, I was
there last night."
"It is impossible for me to go," said Wyatt.
"You must go," whispered Dick. "Go for as short a time as you can. It
would give offence to refuse."
"Tell the Rajah I will do myself the honour of coming," said Wyatt
shortly, and the messenger rode away.
"It would have been bad policy to refuse," continued Wyatt; "and I must
get the Rajah to follow out my plans if we are to help him. Look here,
Dick, I'm in command of a troop sooner than I expected--worse luck!--so
I must make a couple of temporary promotions. You will act as my
lieutenant, and Stubbs must take your place."
"Why not yours?" said Dick hurriedly.
"Because I want you," was the reply.
Wyatt deferred his departure to the last minute, and before leaving upon
the elephant and with the guard the Rajah had sent, he summoned Sergeant
Stubbs and announced to him that he was to act for the time being as a
commissioned officer.
"You will help Mr Darrell in every way you can?" said Wyatt.
"Of course, sir."
"And, Mr Darrell, you will have an orderly on duty ready to send me a
despatch if any emergency occurs. That is all, I think;" and he mounted
and rode off.
A peculiar feeling of awe came over Dick as the last echo of the horses'
trampling feet died out. It was almost indescribable, for he was
conscious of being horribly alone and left to his own resources in a
place where he was surrounded by enemies. He felt horribly young and
helpless, and as if the great responsibility was crushing him down to
such an extent that he must run away from it all before matters drove
him wild.
The sensation was horrible while it lasted, and in a despairing way he
felt that he was hopelessly overburdened, far more so than he could
bear, and that everything now was sure to go wrong.
"Suppose," he argued, "the wounded get worse, and Hulton was to die.
"Suppose the men object to having nobody in command but me.
"Suppose the people in opposition to the Rajah should seize this time
for attacking us, what could I do--how could I defend the place? I must
have been half-mad to let Wyatt go and leave me.
"Suppose--suppose--suppose--"
There was no end to the suppositions, for the lad's brain had suddenly
become terribly active, and was suggesting a whole series of phantasmic
dangers, every one of which seemed bad enough to drive him to despair.
In fact, Dick was getting fast into the state ordinarily called "losing
his nerve," and he started as if he had been guilty of some crime when,
after watching him for some time unseen, Acting-lieutenant Stubbs
suddenly uttered a short, gruff cough.
Dick looked at him wildly.
"Did you speak?" he said, making an effort to be firm, and succeeding,
for the fancies which had troubled him grew faint.
"No, sir; only waiting to see if you had any orders for me."
"No," replied Dick, giving a cough to clear his throat; "I don't think
there is anything more to be done until Mr Wyatt returns."
"Beg pardon, sir, but Captain Hulton is down, and Mr Wyatt naturally
takes command of the battery. It is only a question of a natural
promotion being confirmed. Wouldn't it be better to speak of the
commanding officer as Captain Wyatt now?"
"Would it?" said Dick.
"I think so, sir; it would be better before the men."
"But it seems like taking Captain Hulton's rank from him now he is in
trouble and giving it to another."
"Oh, no, sir--not at all. Here's Captain Hulton shot down after
bringing his troop safe through a retreat after a gallant fight. He
won't want his captain's title any more. You may take it for certain
that he'll be Major Hulton now."
"I see," said Dick quietly. "Very well, then, I do not see that there
is anything more to be done till Captain Wyatt returns."