to headquarters, and the commander-in-chief wired back that we must hold
on at all costs for a week. He made no bones about it: simply said it
must be done."
"Well, we'll do it!" cried Bob with flashing eyes. "We'll not cave in
after a direct order from the commander-in-chief. It's the best thing
that could have happened. Some of the men are getting rather shaky, but
I'll tell them the Sirkar depends on them--talk about their known
valour, and all that: and it'll buck them up no end."
"Wouldn't the promise of a reward from Government be more effective?"
"I dare say; but it's only a jolly ass who'd give a pledge of that sort
for Government. I dare say they mean well, but--no, my boy, it's not
safe. We'll rely on moral stimulants. Now look here: this is what I've
done----"
"I see you've thrown up a breastwork on the other side, but so have the
enemy, and cut a path too."
"Yes, that's one to them, confound them! I had twenty men behind my
breastwork, but when the enemy came round the bend this morning they
bolted back in a panic. They'd have done better to stick to it, for two
of them were shot in the back and killed outright. I'd left the bridge
down under a guard, so that the others got back safely, but their
retreat had a bad effect on the rest. They need a tonic."
"The major gave me a dozen rifles and a lot of ammunition: that'll
help."
"It will indeed: I've had to be sparing."
"Why didn't the enemy occupy your breastwork?"
"No doubt they would have only I built it at such an angle that it can
be enfiladed from our wall. It's a great nuisance that they've managed
to get so far as they have. I hoped to be able to check them at the
bend much longer--at any rate until they'd brought up the two field guns
you told me about. When they arrive we shan't be able to hold the wall.
We shall have to take refuge in the galleries."
"That means suffocation."
"Well, we won't think of it. We'll hold on as long as we can. You
didn't notice perhaps that I've had a shield of boiler plates set up on
top of the parapet. I found we couldn't loophole the embankment, and
the men couldn't fire without protection of some kind. This metal
shield is better than nothing. It's loopholed. I only allow a few men
to fire at the enemy, when there's a chance of their doing some good.
But to keep up their spirits I let them all have a turn. They come up in
squads, so that every man will have a chance of a shot during the day."
"You haven't used the machine gun? Couldn't you batter their breastwork
with it?"
"It would be very much like pelting toy bricks with a pea-shooter. Gur
Buksh has orders only to fire if there's a rush. What I fancy will
happen is this. At night they'll try to rush our breastwork. If they
get it they'll push a trench southward along the track until they're
opposite us. What they'll do then about crossing the river I don't know.
We've got to delay them as long as possible. I've made a ramshackle
sort of searchlight out of Uncle's old camera: it may help us a little
in the dark. But I must go out and talk to the men. I wish I were a
dab at the lingo. Will you do the spouting?"
"You're in command. Get the Babu to interpret for you: what you say
won't lose anything in his mouth."
"It may do him good too. He's getting positively thin with funk. Come
along!"
While this conversation was in progress in the house, there had fallen a
lull in the firing outside. It was clear that the enemy were not
prepared for a rush, and had realized the uselessness of continually
sniping at a garrison whom they rarely saw. There could be little doubt
that they were waiting either for darkness to cover a dash up the track,
or for the arrival of their field guns. Whatever the reason, the
respite was welcome. Taking advantage of it, Bob left a small guard at
the wall, and assembled the rest in the compound.
Lawrence was struck by the altered appearance of Ditta Lal when he came
forward at Bob's summons. His fat cheeks had fallen in; his features
spoke eloquently of despair; and his clothes hung loosely where formerly
they had closely encased his rotundities.
"I should never have believed that a man could lose so much flesh in so
little time," said Lawrence in a low tone.
"Do him good," returned Bob unfeelingly. "Ditta Lal, I'm going to speak
to the men, and I want you to translate faithfully what I say--no
additions or subtractions."
"I will do my best, sir," said the Babu with unwonted simplicity. "My
voice is not strong; I am fading away like a flower."
"For goodness' sake say something to buck him up," whispered Lawrence,
"or he'll damp their courage with his lugubrious manner."
"Look here, Babu," said Bob, "Major Endicott is telegraphing for
reinforcements. They should be here in a week."
"Can I believe my ears?"
"You can believe me. The Government knows all about us. The
commander-in-chief himself has asked us to hold the place for a week,
and we're going to do it."
"That's jolly bucking, sir," said the Babu in his usual manner. "The
hour brings forth the man. The King-Emperor will dub you knight, or at
least baronet, for thus stepping into deadly breach, and----"
"We're wasting time," Bob interrupted. "Just tell the men what I say."
"Right-o, sir. My voice is recovering wonted rotundity. Fire away!"
Lawrence's eyes twinkled more than once during the Babu's address to the
garrison. Bob's words were simple and direct, with no surplusage of
rhetoric: Ditta Lal transformed them into an oration.
"Sikhs and Pathans, Rajputs, Gurkhas and Chitralis," he said,
"misfortune makes brothers of us all. In a thunderstorm the lion and
the ass are friends. The thunderstorm is about to burst upon us. We
have heard the first rumblings; we have seen the lightning flash in the
lurid sky; and the huzur having been taken from us by the hand of the
Kalmucks, we have lost our chief defence and stay.
"Yet in the blackest night we behold a star of hope. My brother the
chota sahib" (the Babu spoke as though translating) "has even now
returned from a frontier house where the Sirdar who for one brief day
shed the light of his countenance upon us, spoke to the Sirkar along the
quivering wire, that carries men's thoughts swifter than speech. The
Sirkar far away knows us what we are, and how we, a handful of men, are
beset in this narrow valley by a host of evil-doers, in number like the
stars of heaven. The Sirkar knows that though we be few, yet are we
stout of heart and strong of hand. The lurid storm-cloud does not
oppress us, nor does the lightning fire appal our souls. We are not the
men to quail before a host of flat-nosed dogs. The order is given that
we sharpen our swords and resist to the uttermost, and within a
week--such is the word--the Sirkar will send a great army to strengthen
our hands and smite the enemy until not one of them is left. I have
said that we will do even as the Sirkar has commanded. Will you put me
to shame? Will you not rather brace yourselves to the conflict, and
oppose yourselves like a wall of adamant to these off-scourings of the
plains?"
This was the spirit if not the letter of Bob's appeal, and the whole
assembly responded with cheers and passionate ejaculations of loyalty.
The Sikhs, some of whom understood English and knew that the Babu had
interpolated a good deal, had listened gravely, their inveterate
contempt of the unwarlike Bengali yielding to their appreciation of the
effect he aimed at. Later on, Ganda Singh spat, and said to Gur Buksh
that any one would know the Bengali for a coward, because his words were
so big. The more simple miners were as impressible to high-sounding
eloquence as any ignorant mob all the world over; and when the Babu, at
a word from Lawrence, wound up his speech with the announcement that
Major Endicott had sent some service rifles and a large stock of
ammunition for their use, they cheered again and again. Those timid
ones who had fled from the breastwork earlier in the day shouted the
loudest, to ease themselves of their shame.
The Appletons never knew that after the assembly had been dismissed
Ditta Lal, in a private audience of some of the Pathans, indulged his
fancy in announcements that were quite unauthorised.
"Tidings of our prowess and valour," he said, "will be spoken in the ear
of the King-Emperor over the black water, and the august majesty of our
great prince will deal bountifully with us and shower his graciousness
upon us. He will take the sahibs our masters by the hand and lift them
up the steps of his throne, speak them words of comfort and set them on
his right hand among his lords; and furthermore, the humblest of us
shall be exalted and be bounteously rewarded. A lakh of rupees will be
distributed among those who quit themselves well, and we shall be
satisfied with a feast of fat things."
As the brothers returned to the house, Bob said:
"I'm very much inclined to make another attempt to hold our breastwork.
It's bad tactics to let the enemy have free course between the bend and
the bridge. Probably if I lead a detachment myself the men will follow
readily enough."
"I daresay you're right on the point of tactics, but you ought to have a
good sleep before you try it. You look very fagged; I suppose you've
been up all night."
"Pretty nearly."
"Well, go and lie down. I'll take charge. I had a good night's rest at
the frontier house. It's clear the enemy are waiting for their guns, and
you ought to be able to get at least six hours' sleep before there's any
danger. Of course I'll wake you if they make a move."
"Then I'll take your advice. The trouble will begin at night, and
there'll be no chance of sleep then."
Left to himself, Lawrence went round the defences, noting the admirable
arrangements Bob had made during his absence. As he looked southward up
the river, the sight of the pathway along the face of the cliff
suggested the necessity of doing something to protect any one who should
pass over the portion exposed to the enemy. If they should succeed in
pushing their entrenchments southward beyond the bend, they would be
able to pick off any man who passed between the mine and the aeroplane
platform, and it was essential that access to the latter should be
maintained.
After consultation with Gur Buksh, he hit on a means of giving the
pathway the security required. Two rows of planks laid on edge along
its outer border would completely screen a man crawling along by the
rock wall, even from the sight of an enemy on the bank immediately
opposite. He collected a number of men who were expert in handling
tools, and sent them to construct this parapet. A few shots were fired
at them when they began their work, but they were screened by the
planks, and the enemy, having nothing to aim at, soon desisted. To hold
the parapet firmly in position, uprights were nailed to the planks at
intervals, and screwed down on to the timbers of the pathway.
When the work was done Lawrence felt far more at ease regarding the
safety of the aeroplane. The guards on the platform could now be
relieved more frequently. They could be reinforced from the mine within
a few minutes, or withdrawn without risk.
The enemy's continued inactivity confirmed Lawrence in his belief that
they were waiting for the field guns. When he saw those being dragged
laboriously up the track, he had suggested to Major Endicott to shatter
them with a charge of dynamite dropped from the aeroplane. But the
Major pointed out that others would immediately be brought up from the
main army. Such an attack would be more effective later, when they were
nearer to the mine. Their replacement then would be a matter of much
longer time.
It occurred to Lawrence now that it would be well to reconnoitre the
enemy's position before Bob attempted to reoccupy his entrenchment, or
at any rate to cover his movement by a diversion on the part of the
aeroplane. Bob could not leave the mine in daylight without exposing
himself to the enemy's fire. If he waited for darkness, he might find
himself anticipated by them; and even with the searchlight against them
they would have far less to fear from the garrison by night than by day.
It would be almost impossible to prevent a sudden determined rush. The
enemy would lose a number of men; but they could afford to sacrifice
some lives in a successful effort to improve their position. Nothing,
however, could be done without consultation with Bob, so Lawrence waited
patiently until about four o'clock in the afternoon, the time which he
had fixed on for awakening his brother.
Remembering the mishap with Major Endicott up the river, he got Fazl to
protect the engine and the petrol cans by slinging a number of iron
plates under the chassis of the aeroplane. By means of these he hoped
to reduce risk from the enemy's rifles when he should start on his
reconnaissance. The Kalmucks northward had had no experience of the
dynamite bombs, unless indeed some of those whom Bob had chased down the
track were among them. But even without any definite fear of the
aeroplane they would recognise it as a means of intelligence to the
garrison of the mine, and would certainly be eager to put it out of
action.
Bob on being awakened at once agreed to Lawrence's suggestion of a
reconnaissance.
"I'd like to go myself," he said, "but we can't both go, and I'd better
stick to my job. Take Fazl with you. You may have to bombard them if
you find the guns close at hand."
"If I do, that will be your best chance of occupying your breastwork
again."
"Undoubtedly. I'll lower the drawbridge and have my party ready; and if
I hear any explosions I'll make a rush for it. But let us have a clear
understanding. You won't drop any bombs unless you find the guns close
at hand, or unless the enemy are up to something that looks threatening.
There's very little dynamite left. Besides, at this stage it's no good
merely to frighten the enemy. It's war now. I shall take it that your
explosions mean serious business."
"All right. In any case I shall be back in an hour."
CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD
CAPTURING A GUN
The aeroplane with Lawrence and the Gurkha on board was soon flying down
the river, at a much greater height than usual--a wise precaution on
Lawrence's part, as was proved in a few moments. Even before it came
above the bend it was assailed with a volley, and as it passed Bob was
alarmed at the continuous crackle of rifles. It lasted only half a
minute, but it was so loud as to smother altogether the hum of the
propeller, and he almost repented of having allowed his brother to go
when he realised the danger to which he was exposed. He had lost sight
of the aeroplane; the fusillade had ceased; and the only indication, and
that a negative one, that the machine and its occupants had not been
brought to the ground was the absence of clamour beyond the bend. If
the enemy had been successful, he thought, surely they would have hailed
their triumph with shouts of delight.
Reassured by the comparative silence, he remained behind the parapet,
and informed Gur Buksh of his intention to reoccupy the breastwork on
the farther bank.
"It is well, sahib," said the veteran quietly.
"Will the men follow me?" asked Bob anxiously.
"To the jaws of the pit, sahib. Where the sahib leads they will follow:
even the men who ran away are now eager to wipe out their disgrace."
"Then I will go and form my party. We shall not move until the chota
sahib gives a signal."
He found that the havildar had spoken truly. There was no lack of
volunteers. He soon arranged his little party of twenty, and posted
them in the shelter of the wall until the time should come for letting
down the bridge and leading them across it.
The minutes passed very slowly. Lawrence would not think it necessary
to push his reconnaissance as far as the enemy's encampment. He might
perhaps fly thirty miles, and then return. This would take something
less than an hour. If he should discover the field guns within a short
distance of the mine, the explosion of his bombs might be expected much
earlier.
Half an hour passed. There had been no sound from up stream; no sign of
activity among the enemy. Bob began to feel more hopeful. They had
apparently met with great obstacles to the passage of the guns. He was
momentarily expecting to hear the hum of the returning aeroplane when,
with a suddenness that took him all aback, there was a tremendous roar,
followed in a second or two by a terrific crash just beyond the Pathan
compound. Turning in consternation to discover the cause of it, he saw
a great mass of the cliff falling amid a cloud of dust and smoke upon
the wooden pathway, and plunging into the river beneath. Such
destruction could only be the effect of a shell. Beyond doubt one at
least of the field guns had been brought into position behind the
enemy's breastwork at the bend.
This fact filled him with as much dismay as amazement. It was not
surprising that the enemy had placed their gun without his knowledge.
They would, of course, have been careful to mask it until they were
ready to open fire. But why had Lawrence or the Gurkha not seen it?
Could it be that the aeroplane had been damaged and brought down after
all?
While he was in a painful state of anxiety, there was another roar, and
a second shell burst on the cliff, just beyond the Pathan gallery. He
ran to the northern wall and peered through one of the loopholes. Smoke
hung above the enemy's breastwork, but there was not a man to be seen,
so that rifle fire was useless. He ordered Gur Buksh to fire the
machine gun. The havildar's aim was good; chips of rock flew from the
breastwork; and Bob thought he saw the muzzle of a gun disappear. His
attention was immediately drawn from it by the sight of the aeroplane
flying round the bend, and with the thrill of relief at his brother's
safety came the expectation of hearing an explosion and seeing signs of
havoc about the breastwork. But the aeroplane flew high over the scene,
passed it, and disappeared up the river. There had been no explosion.
Why had not Lawrence dropped a bomb?
Hardly had he asked himself this question when a third shell burst from
the breastwork. It was better aimed than the other two. Instead of
striking the cliff, it hit the northern wall of the compound, carrying
away several yards of the metal parapet, scattering jagged fragments of
iron and stone in every direction, then flew over the heads of the
garrison and plunged into the earthwork at the southern boundary of the
compound, within a few yards of the spot where the sortie party were
gathered. Bob was almost at his wits' end. No defences could withstand
a bombardment at such close quarters. None of the garrison had as yet
been wounded, but he could see by their cowering attitude and the terror
written upon their faces that their courage had been shocked out of
them. Only Gur Buksh and the other Sikhs stood immovable at their
posts.
A few minutes after the report of the gun, the aeroplane again came
flying down stream. Lawrence, then, had not landed. Bob was in a maze
of bewilderment. But he was suddenly aroused from his stupor by a sharp
detonation. It was not the report of a gun. Then there were loud cries
and yells from the direction of the enemy, and looking through the
loophole he saw a smother of dust above the breastwork. Lawrence had
dropped a bomb at last, and again was out of sight.
This was to have been the signal for the sortie; but after what had
happened Bob felt that it would be sheer madness to lead his men along a
stretch of the track commanded by the field guns. He doubted, indeed,
whether their courage would face the task. It was only common prudence
to wait for a second signal. He could not see what damage the bomb had
done; whether it had only temporarily frightened the enemy. But
Lawrence would not hesitate to hurl another bomb among them; and
believing that, guns or no guns, they must be demoralized if attacked a
second time from the air, Bob hastened across the compound, ordered the
bridge to be lowered, and went to the twenty men huddling under cover of
the wall.
[Illustration: LAWRENCE DROPS A BOMB]
He allowed no trace of mental perturbation to show itself in his
bearing.
"The time has come!" he said quietly to the men. "Lawrence Sahib is
driving the enemy away. There are no more shots from their gun, you
see. We shall soon hear another explosion; then you will follow me, and
in five minutes we shall be masters of our breastwork."
Ganda Singh, who was among the party, translated his words to the men.
The cessation of gun fire and Bob's confident manner somewhat restored
their courage. They formed up, grasping their weapons nervously, and
waited in panting eagerness, mingled with trepidation, for the expected
signal.
It seemed a long time in coming. Bob knew that Lawrence had had to fly
several miles down stream before he could turn. It came at last. Again
sounded the sharp crash; again the air was filled with cries, in which
there was no note of triumph: and Bob, with a cheery "Now, my men!"
dashed across the bridge with the swarthy mountaineers at his heels.
Reaching the other side, they turned to the left and raced across the
open space formerly occupied by the miners' huts. Bob was only half
conscious that the aeroplane was flying in the opposite direction high
above his head. They were met neither by shells nor by bullets, and
only when they sank breathless behind the shelter of the breastwork did
a few rifle shots patter around them. Then all was quiet again.
Whatever the cause of the astonishing delay on Lawrence's part, his
intervention now had been effectual, at any rate for a time. How far
effectual? Bob wondered. He got up and looked over the parapet towards
the enemy's breastwork a hundred yards away. They had apparently
deserted it. Some, no doubt, had been slain by the explosions. Had the
survivors fled in panic far away, or were they merely lying low beyond
the bend? Then his eye caught what had escaped his observation from the
greater distance of the compound wall. There were two embrasures a foot
or two below the top of the breastwork, contrived by removing some of
the loose rocks. But he saw no sign of guns. Perhaps the enemy in their
retirement had dragged with them the one which had fired.
He heard the hum of the aeroplane again. Lawrence had still not landed,
but was returning, perhaps to observe the extent of his work, perhaps to
complete it. He was flying much lower than before. A sudden idea
flashed into Bob's mind. The enemy's breastwork was only a hundred
yards distant. Why not attempt to rush it under cover of the aeroplane;
and if in the hurry of their flight they had left their gun, capture it
and bring it to the mine?
His thought had hardly crystallized into a resolution when he heard two
explosions in rapid succession, followed by yells and one or two rifle
shots. The sound seemed to come from some distance beyond the bend.
His mind was made up. He told Ganda Singh his intention, and could
scarcely wait while the havildar translated his orders. The men
responded with a "Hai! hai!" of delight. Like Bob himself they were
worked up to a high pitch of excitement. Their rush had been
successful. The risks were forgotten, or remembered only to be scorned.
They were twenty against an unknown number, but none counted the odds.
"Hai! hai!" they shouted, as their leader leapt round the angle of the
entrenchment. They followed close upon him as he dashed over the
intervening hundred yards of broken ground. No one faltered. In less
than half a minute they were in possession of the enemy's breastwork,
and at that instant there was another explosion far down the track.
Bob's glance fell first upon a score of prostrate forms scattered on the
ground in the neighbourhood. Then with a thrill of delight he saw two
field guns. One had been struck from its carriage, and lay near the
brink of the stream. The other had apparently been withdrawn from its
embrasure, but abandoned under the demoralizing shock of an explosion.
Bob ran to the first. A moment's inspection showed him that it was
irretrievably ruined. Calling two of the men, with their aid he toppled
it into the river. The other was still workable. Looking around, he
spied near the breastwork a number of shells which had escaped
destruction by the bombs.
"Can you fire a gun?" he asked Ganda Singh eagerly.
"I am a gunner, sahib."
"Then slew it round. We'll turn it on the enemy."