The next day there was a repetition of the evolutions, the enemy having
drawn off, but only to make another attack during the afternoon and
receive further punishment from Wyatt's troop, which was forced, by the
desperate efforts to destroy it, into a series of retreating tactics
which took them miles away over the open ground, upon which they could
turn and fire over and over again.
The punishment inflicted by the well-served guns was terrible, and the
enemy's cavalry was never allowed to get within touch, the horse
artillery galloping away to take up position as often as could be on
high ground, till well on in the day, when, enough having been done
without loss, it was Wyatt's intention to make for the city gates and
take refuge there.
But the enemy's swordsmen were not beaten. They kept on following up
with desperate pertinacity, their leaders seeing that until the Rajah's
new allies were destroyed there was no chance of winning the day. Hence
it was that, towards sunset, Wyatt found himself quite unsupported
half-a-dozen miles from the city, and with a strong body of cavalry
between him and safety.
"There are two ways open, Dick," said Wyatt as they waited, breathing
their horses at the top of a slope, the enemy a thousand yards away
awaiting their coming, and so posted that, if the troop advanced upon
the main body, a wing thrown out on either side would close in and take
them as in a trap.
Wyatt stood with his arm through his bridle, talking with Dick as he
watched the enemy's movements through his glass.
"Well," said Dick, after waiting some moments for his companion to
speak, "what do you say?"
"Charge through them or retreat."
"Go right away?"
"Yes; we have our rations, and can make them last."
"Camp out, and risk attacks during the night?" said Dick.
"Yes; that's the worst of it. Then you advocate charging right
through?"
"I didn't say so," said Dick; "but that seems the thing to do."
"Yes," said Wyatt, closing his glass and letting it fall to the extent
of the slings. "We might gallop to that hillock and give them a salvo
first."
"Suppose they charged; they'd be upon us before we could limber up, and,
even if we got away in time, we should only have tired the horses more
and done no particular good. They only come together again like sand."
"Words of wisdom, General Dick," said Wyatt. "I tell you what--we'll
spoil that trap they have been setting for us by a feint. We'll rest
the horses as long as they will let us, and then move off to the left as
if we meant to get round the other side of that palm-tree tope. They
will send off half their men to intercept us, and as soon as they have
got out of sight we'll turn, right incline, and charge straight through
the rest. They'll never expect such an attack as that."
Dick nodded his satisfaction as he grasped his companion's plan.
"Yes," he said, "it will be a grand surprise, for they'll think we're
retreating."
A few minutes were devoted to examining girths and the harness of the
teams. Then, with the trumpeter close up to Wyatt, the preparatory note
was blown, the order to mount was given, and as their movements were
carefully watched by the enemy, who were seen to close up a little, the
troop advanced, changed front, and went off at a steady trot away to the
left, as if to put the patch of forest between them and the trap laid,
and escape by getting back to the city after taking a long sweep round.
Matters fell just as Wyatt had anticipated. As soon as the manoeuvre
was grasped, there was a quick movement among the great body of
irregular cavalry, and about half went off at a gallop to intercept them
on the far side of the tope, while the rest sat firm.
The troop kept on at their steady trot, and as the head of the troop
nearly reached the far side of the patch of woodland, the trumpet rang
out "Gallop!" and away they went as if racing to pass round their side
first.
The effect on the enemy was electrical. They tore on like a whirlwind,
and as they passed out of sight the trumpet sounded again, the head of
the troop swung round with Wyatt in front, and dashed straight at the
centre of the remaining half of their foes, which was just being put in
motion as if to pursue them.
The term "taken aback" thoroughly exemplifies the effect of the
manoeuvre, for as the enemy saw the troop bearing down upon them at full
gallop--absolutely tearing over the ground _ventre a terre_--a shiver
seemed to run through the dense body of horsemen. There was a movement
to advance, another to retire, and again a confused attempt to open out
to right and left, and then the whole body was seething, as it were, in
a state of confusion; while all the time, with a strange, rumbling,
rattling sound, the little column, with swords flashing out now in the
evening sunshine, tore along, getting nearer and nearer, till, with a
loud hurrah, the head of the troop was upon them.
But not upon a dense mass of cavalry waiting to receive their charge;
for, with one impulse, the enemy broke and melted away in a wild
radiation from the spot where they had stood, scattering in all
directions, and galloping for their lives; while, without the loss of a
man, Wyatt and his followers tore right through, making for a knoll half
a mile ahead, where a halt was called, to breathe the horses and once
more unlimber the guns.
There was method in all this, for that which Wyatt had also anticipated
was once more about to happen.
There was nothing to fear from the half that had been dispersed. They
were still in full flight, utterly broken, without cohesion, and not
likely to form up into a whole again for hours. But the half that had
charged round the tope of palm-trees was still in hand, and fierce for
fight on finding how they had been outmanoeuvred; and as soon as they
had realised what had happened, their leaders halted them, gathered
them--as much as such an irregular body could be gathered--in hand, and
came in pursuit.
"A couple of rounds from each gun, Darrell, lad," said Wyatt. "We shall
just have time, and then off and away for home. It will sicken some of
them."
The guns were loaded, and, linstock in hand, the men waited till the
order was given, Wyatt pausing too long to give them time to get a
second round from each gun, as Dick thought, knowing well what the
consequences would be if the fierce horsemen could get among them with
their keen tulwars before the troop could limber up.
But Wyatt knew exactly from long experience what his men could do, and
had calculated correctly.
Number one belched forth its little storm of grape; number two followed;
and before number six had been fired, number one was ready again.
As the first charge of grape made a gap in the advancing body of horse,
there was a yell of rage, and they tore on faster. The second had a
similar effect, the men rushing on heedless of the killed and wounded
they left behind, strewing the field; but, as the other guns spoke out,
confusion began to set in, and by the time number one discharged its
second cartridge, men were opening out, others were drawing rein. But
still a brave half of them came thundering on, and they were within a
couple of hundred yards as the rest of the second round was poured into
them, with such dire effect that the scared horses stopped, kicking and
plunging, and the gallant charge came to an end, the leaders of the
crowd hesitating, and then wheeling to right and left, and tearing off
in full retreat, till the great plain was dotted with fallen and
galloping horsemen, all cohesion gone, and every man fleeing for his
life.
The next minute the order was given to limber up: but Wyatt made no
effort to leave the ground for a time, waiting to rest the horses and
scan the field, ready to send a round-shot bowling at the first knot of
gathering horsemen that collected as a nucleus for another charge.
But not one centre appeared--it was a case of every man for himself--
and, closing his glass with a snap, Wyatt rode close to Dick's side and
reached over to shake hands as he said:
"Well done, us, Dick! I think we may call this the Battle of Palm Tope,
and say we've won."
"It's horrible," said Dick hoarsely, as his hot hand clung to his
friend's; "but how gallant, and how grand!"
"The light of discipline and skill against brute force, old fellow."
said Wyatt, nodding quietly; "and I feel as if I should like to pitch my
helmet in the air and cry `Hooray!' But officers mustn't do that. Come
along with me."
He led the way and rode along the line, looking anxiously in the men's
faces.
"Who is hurt?" he said. "Any man want to fall out?"
There was a pause, during which no one answered. "Well done!" cried
Wyatt excitedly. "Splendid work, my lads."
There was a loud cheer at this, and directly after the order to advance
was given, and the troop rode steadily back, mostly at a walk, to the
city, reaching the gates quite unmolested, and entering just before
dark.