"Not dead this time, are you, Dick, old lad?" came out of the darkness
just as it was beginning to get light to the sufferer, and the young
officer started up, but fell back sick and giddy.
"Here," he gasped, "where's my horse--what's matter? Is--Oh, I remember
now."
"Drink a drop of this water, old fellow. Robson says you're only
stunned."
Dick drank with avidity, and then pushed away the metal cup.
"Where's my helmet?" he panted.
"There; but you can't get it on till it has been hammered."
"Where's Burnouse?"
"Ram Dad's got him here, eating grass."
"Then where's the enemy?"
"Where's last night's dew?" replied Wyatt. "They've scattered and got
into the mountains after all. We couldn't stop them though."
"Oh," groaned Dick, who was holding his hand to his head. "But tell me
who's hurt."
"The enemy--awfully."
"I mean, of our men."
"Poor Rob Hanson. The Wazir cut him down."
"Oh!" cried Dick, rising up again into a sitting position. "Poor Rob
Hanson! But not dangerously?"
"Robson is afraid so."
"Where is he?"
"With half-a-dozen of the lads. Robson has them in one of the wagons,
out of the sunshine."
"I must go to him."
"You can't now. If you can move you must help with the men."
"I will directly; but you said the Wazir cut Hanson down?"
"Yes--the last man he'll hurt. He had just struck you off your horse
when Hanson, who was serving a gun, went at him and got the cut meant to
finish you; but he ran the Wazir through first, and saved your life."
Dick got quite up on his feet now, and stood holding on by his friend,
both mentally and bodily stunned.
But by degrees he came round, and, when a few minutes later Hulton rode
up, he was ready to mount once more, Wyatt having managed to drive out a
great dint from his friend's helmet by thrusting with his knee and
delivering a few blows with the pommel of his sword.
"A good headpiece, Dick," he said. "It has saved your life twice over."
"Well, Darrell," said Hulton, who looked very white and faint, "we've
scattered them, you see, and killed the arch-enemy, who made his final
bite."
"Yes," said Dick faintly, "we've won."
"How is it with you, my lad? Where's it to be--one of the wagons with
the wounded, or can you mount?"
"Mount," said Dick shortly. "I'm getting clearer now."
"Well, Wyatt, what now? The enemy are between us and cantonments.
What's to be done? It seems to me that the fighting has only just
begun."
"Yes; and it seems madness to take the poor boys through those passes.
I could see that they had foot there. You look. Try this `glass'."
Hulton stood grazing through the glass for some minutes.
"Yes," he said, "hundreds; but they are retreating."
"To where they can throw down stones upon the lads' heads. What's to be
done?"
"Beg pardon, gentlemen," said Sergeant Stubbs, who had been threading
his way through the resting horses and men.
"What is it, Sergeant?" asked Hulton.
"Well, sir, it's a queer thing to say, but I've got a man starving to
death in my head."
The three officers stared at the powder-blackened sergeant, who stood
looking strangely from one to the other, with a big pocket-handkerchief
in his hand.
"Here, come along with me, Stubbs," said Wyatt quickly; "the doctor will
give you something."
"I ain't going mad, sir. I haven't got a touch of the sun, sir,"
protested the sergeant. "I know what I say. Look here, gentlemen; I
tied the bag up in this to bring it to you, but in the hurry and rush it
got stuffed among my traps, and I've just got it out of the wagon and
brought it. I was afraid it would be found, and I should be charged
with looting."
"What is it?" said Dick excitedly.
"It's a silk bag of dymonds and pearls and all sorts, sir, as I got hold
of."
"The missing jewels--the Ranee's gems!" cried Dick. "How did you get
those?"
"Well, it was like this, sir," said the sergeant: "I was in the temple
yonder, down by that doorway place I showed you, sir, when I hears a
scuffling sort of noise, and I dropped back among the images, and out
comes one of the big priests in an awful hurry with that bag in his
hand. As soon as he was out of the dark hole he opens it, puts in his
hand, and takes out something to look at, puts it back again, and then
gives a peep round to see if any one was about, and then makes for the
staircase. Then all in a minute it come to me. This bag was all
precious stones, worth a lac of rupees, perhaps. `Part of the Rajah's
treasure,' I said to myself, `that we're put here to guard.'"
"Oh!" gasped Dick.
"I followed him, of course, sir, for it was plain enough he was
stealing, and I had to go gently, too, so as not to be heard. Where do
you think he was going, sir?"
"How can I tell?" cried Dick, pressing a hand to his aching head.
"Up to the back of the big image, sir, where the hiding-places like
cells are."
"Yes; and then?" said Dick.
"Well, sir, I arrested him for looting, took away the bag, and shut him
up in the big idol, a prisoner, spite of all he could say. And there he
is now, and he may shout for help till all's blue; no one could hear him
call. Now do you see what I mean?"
"Yes; it's horrible," cried Dick. "The man will starve to death."
"He will, sir, as sure as I'm here. And you know it was the moment I
got down to the temple floor again that one of the guard came with the
order for us to evacuate the place; and from that minute, what with the
hurry and confusion and one thing and another, I never remembered a word
about it till just now, when the fighting and smoke seemed to clear my
head."
"Then we must go back at once," cried Dick.
"Go back!" said Hulton.
"Yes; we cannot let that poor wretch die so horrible a death. And
besides, we can restore the jewels to the Ranee and show her that I am
innocent."
"It would be enough to show the Rajah," said Hulton dryly.
"Well, why not?" cried Wyatt. "The jewels are here, the enemy there
where it would be madness to go; the Wazir is dead, and you have the
priest a prisoner ready to prove the conspiracy to his highness. Last
of all, you have defeated his enemies and ours."
"Yes," cried Dick, "we must go back."
"Right," cried Hulton, catching the suggestion from the others. "We can
ride back in triumph and completely change the state of affairs. Sound,
Wyatt! and let's ride back at once."
It was quite time to sound the trumpet for mounting once again, for the
flashing of steel in the distance told of a fresh body of horse
approaching from the direction of Soojeepur.
The battle seemed about to be renewed.
"Yes," said Wyatt sternly, "with fresh men; and if the Wazir's folk can
see them where they are now, we shall be attacked again from front and
rear."
This appearance of a fresh body of the enemy seemed to completely
overset the plans just made, for the prospect of reaching the city now
that the way was blocked seemed small indeed.
"I don't like it--I don't like it, Dick," growled Wyatt as he rode
alongside of his brother-officer at a gentle pace, in full marching
order now with all their wagons, of which, however, they were prepared
to disembarrass themselves in time of need.
"Neither do I," said Dick, "for my head is dreadful."
"Poor old lad! I am sorry; but you must grin and bear it. I say,
though, what about the Wazir's sword? We ought to have brought that."
"I told one of the men to take it, sheath, belt, and all, and put it in
the wagon with Bob Hanson. He ought to have it."
"Humph!" growled Wyatt, and he was silent for a few moments as he rode
on, watching the approaching enemy.
"How many are there of them?" said Dick.
"Seven or eight hundred, my lad. Plenty of work cut out. I say, I told
you I was spoiling for a fight."
"You did."
"Well, I've had all I wanted for one day, and I'm getting stiff, but we
shall have to go through the rest of it. We've only one chance."
"What's that?"
"To go at them and let them see the stuff we're made of. We shall be
all right again as soon as we get warm."
They rode steadily on a little farther, with the long column of horsemen
coming on in excellent order, very different from those who had followed
the Wazir and his chiefs, and Wyatt's face grew darker.
"I say, little one," he said suddenly, "if you don't feel equal to this
next scrimmage, you had better stop in the rear with the wagons when we
go into action."
"Thank you," said Dick quietly. "Will you stop and keep me company?"
Wyatt laughed softly, and leaned over to grip his companion's arm.
"Feel giddy now?"
"No; getting clearer."
"Well, sit fast, lad, and take care of yourself. I'll tell old Stubbs
to keep an eye on you. I can't stop near."
"You let Stubbs see to his men. He has enough to do. Burnouse will
take care of me. I wish I knew how Bob Hanson was getting on."
"No time now. Hah! at last."
For the trumpet called a halt, the wagons were cast off again, and, with
every man he could muster, Hulton gave the word and the troop went off
at a canter, to reach a knoll a few hundred yards away, where the guns
were unlimbered, loaded, and the horses rested while the enemy was
awaited, the intention being to give them two or three rounds to throw
them into confusion as they formed up, and then gallop away.
Anxious glances were directed back at the rugged elevations they had now
left far behind, but not one of the Wazir's men could be seen.
"Not one, Dick," said Wyatt, closing his glass. "So I don't mind so
much. We shall have time to devote ourselves to our fresh visitors," he
said grimly.
"They're startled already," replied Dick. "They're halting."
"Smell powder, like the black crows they are," growled Wyatt. "Don't
care for the look of the guns. Why, Dick, look at them! They're the
two regiments that we have drilled. See how they are forming into
squadrons. Bah! it is horrible. They'll beat us by manoeuvring."
"The two regiments and the Rajah's bodyguard," cried Dick. "I know them
by their white puggrees. Look, look! A white flag."
"Same as white feather," said Wyatt as three horsemen, magnificently
mounted, came sweeping across the plain, leaving the squadrons drawn up
in position. One of them bore a small white flag at the end of a lance,
and as the pair sat watching Hulton joined them.
"What does this mean?" he said.
"Treachery, as likely as not," replied Wyatt. "But we shall soon see."
"It's the captain of the guard leading," cried Dick excitedly; and a few
minutes after their old acquaintance dashed right up to where they sat.
"I heard the guns," he cried excitedly. "What has happened?"
"If you ride on a mile, sir, you will see," said Hulton coldly.
"Where are the Wazir's men?"
"Part dead, part scattered among the mountains," replied Hulton. "Why
are you here, sir? What do you propose?"
"Then I have come too late," said the officer, with a disappointed look.
"If you meant to join the Wazir--yes," said Wyatt sharply; "but we are
ready for an engagement with you at once."
"Engagement? With me?" said the officer, staring. "I came to help you.
As soon as the Rajah heard that the Wazir had left with a strong body
to cut you off, he was in a rage. He said it was treachery to him as
well as to you, when he had given orders that you should depart
unmolested: and he bade me get together all the men I could trust, and
fly to your help."
"And you have brought the two regiments we helped to raise."
"And my own guards, sir. They can be trusted to a man. Then we must
pursue the Wazir and bring him back."
The English officers looked searchingly at the speaker.
"The Wazir is dead," said Hulton slowly.
"Dead?" cried the captain excitedly. "Then there will be peace in
Soojeepur at last. His head? Where is his head?"
Wyatt smiled grimly.
"We do not take our enemies' heads, Captain," he said.
"No--no, I forgot," cried the officer; "but it must be taken back to the
city that the people may see. It means peace to our troubled country,
and the end of his party now. Hah!" he cried, with a smile, "it was my
own head that was not safe. I feel as if I live again, and now my
master may, for if the Wazir had won this fight there would have been an
end of the Rajah's rule. Gentlemen, you must come back with me; the
Rajah is at heart your friend. Let me escort you in triumph now."
"We were on our way back," said Hulton, smiling, for there was not a
doubt of the officer's honesty of purpose; and once more the teams
cantered off to bring up the wagons, while Dick sent the sergeant to
fetch the sword that had been taken to the hospital-wagon.
Stubbs returned with the sheathed weapon, just as the captain of the
guard had despatched his two followers back to where the three bodies of
horse were drawn up, and he turned in wonder as Dick held out the
beautifully jewelled tulwar.
"The dead Wazir's sword," said Dick.
"Yes," said the captain; "the Rajah's present. I know it well. But for
this stroke of fate it would have been reddened with his master's
blood."
"Take it," said Dick.
"No, no," replied the officer. "You won it on the field of battle, and
it is yours."
He drew back with a smile, and once more the weapon was conveyed to the
wagon.
In a very short time the captain's messengers came galloping back at the
head of fifty horsemen, who charged down nearly to the guns, and were
halted almost as well as a troop of ordinary cavalry, and then sat up in
line, smiling and proud of the hearty cheer with which they were
received.
It was directly after that their captain asked for a couple of
artillery-men to guide his people to where the Wazir fell.
"Yes," said Hulton after a few words with his brother-officers; "but I
have a word to say, sir. Your men have been drilled by English
officers, and they must behave in war like Englishmen. We cannot stand
by and see such a barbarous deed done as you propose. The Wazir was an
enemy, but he was a great man and a brave soldier after all. I will
send a gun-carriage and its team. Let the Wazir's body be brought back
into the town with all respect."
The captain bowed and rode off without a word.