GREEN RETURNS WITHOUT HIGSON AND TOM--JACK GOES IN SEARCH OF THEM--
COLONEL PASKIEWICH'S HOUSE--HIGSON AND TOM CAPTURED BY COSSACKS--TOM'S
ESCAPE--MISS FEODOROWNA'S JOY--THE FORT BLOWN UP--THE MOSQUITO FLEET--
GALLANT EXPLOIT OF CAPTAIN LYONS--JACK HEADS EXPEDITION INLAND--ESCAPE.
Murray and Rogers had been employed during the day in removing the guns
from the fort, while Adair and his party watched over the prisoners. It
was their intention to blow it up, but they were unwilling to do this
until the return of the boats. Evening was approaching, and as they had
not yet made their appearance, Jack became somewhat anxious as to what
might have happened to them. The smoke rising from the conflagration of
the stores and vessels could be discerned in the far distance, so that
it was evident that they had accomplished their work; but it was
possible that some disaster might afterwards have happened to them.
Jack accordingly went on board the _Giaour_ to consult with Murray, who
agreed to send up a couple of his boats at daybreak the next morning to
search for those under Higson, and to negotiate for his and his party's
release, should they have been taken prisoners. Jack begged that he
might lead the expedition himself, to which Murray willingly agreed.
Darkness had for some time set in, and still the missing boats had not
appeared; as Jack, whose anxiety had increased, was walking the deck
with Mildmay, the splash of oars was heard. The sentry hailed, and
Green's voice replied; the boats were soon alongside, both of them half
full of water.
"Where are the first lieutenant and Mr Rogers?" asked Jack.
"I am afraid, sir, that they are in the hands of the Russians;" and
Green gave an account of what had happened, adding, "Had it not been for
an old friend of mine, who warned us of the approach of the troops, we
should ourselves have been over powered, or at all events have had a
pretty hard tussle for it."
Green took care not to throw any blame upon Higson, who might have been
accused of acting imprudently, if not of neglecting his duty, by
remaining longer than was necessary at the house which he had visited to
obtain provisions. Having heard Green's report, Jack again went on
board the _Giaour_, and as some time would be required to repair his own
boats, Murray arranged, as he had before promised, to send two of his
half an hour before daylight, so that they might enter the river as soon
as they could see their way.
Just as the ruddy streaks of dawn appeared in the sky, Jack shoved off
from the _Tornado's_ side. He took Green with him to pilot the boats,
and also to communicate with the old German tutor, through whom he might
be able to learn what had become of the prisoners. He carried also a
flag of truce, in the hopes of gaining his object by pacific measures.
As the boats passed under the walls of the fort, they were hailed by the
sentry on the ramparts, by whose side Gerald Desmond directly afterwards
made his appearance. Jack told him to inform Commander Adair where they
were going, and that he hoped to be back again in the course of a few
hours.
"The Russian commandant, sir, wishes to send a letter to his family to
inform them of his safety, and he will be obliged to you if you will
convey it."
"That is more than I can undertake to do," answered Jack; "but inform
the commandant that if he will let me know where his family reside, I
shall be happy to give them any message he may send."
Gerald disappeared, and quickly afterwards returned with the commandant
and Adair. The commandant, in surprisingly good English, described his
residence to Jack, and requested that he would tell his wife and
daughters that he was well, and, as he was to be liberated on his
parole, that he hoped to remain with them till the end of the war.
"This information will be more satisfactory to them, probably, than had
I gained a great victory," he added; "so that they will be ready to
receive you as friends rather than as enemies."
"I shall be happy to deliver your message, colonel," answered Jack; "and
regret that I am unable to carry a written communication."
A few further compliments having been exchanged, Jack ordered his men to
give way, and the boats proceeded up the river.
"Why, sir, that house must be the very one which Mr Higson and your
brother visited," said Green; "unless the Cossacks have carried them off
to a distance, they may, I hope, be easily recovered."
"That is satisfactory," said Jack; "whether we recover them or not, we
must be away from this early to-day, as there is work to be done in
other places."
The boats pulled on some way, when they caught sight of a vessel
stealing along on the opposite shore towards the mouth of the river.
Jack immediately steered for her, ordering Archie to pull ahead, so as
to cut her off should she attempt to slip by them. On seeing them
approach, however, the Russian skipper immediately hauled down his
colours.
Jack found, on stepping on board, that the Russian skipper was not aware
that the English vessels were still off the mouth of the river, and had
expected to get clear; he said that his was the only vessel that had not
been burnt.
"Sorry to have to condemn yours to the fate you have escaped," said
Jack.
"It is the fortune of war," answered the skipper, shrugging his
shoulders; "I only wish the war had come to an end."
The operation did not take long; the unfortunate skipper and his crew
were landed, to make their way home as best they could; when the vessel,
being set on fire, drifted on to the bank, where she quickly burnt to
the water's edge. Jack then pulled on, and in a short time the boats
reached the landing-place near the colonel's house, which Green pointed
out. Having, as far as they could from the water, examined the ground
before them, they came to the conclusion that no enemy was in the
neighbourhood. Green, who felt that some blame might have been attached
to him for deserting his commanding officer, volunteered to proceed by
himself to the house to ascertain how matters stood. He assured Jack
that he could trust Herr Groben, who would give him warning should the
enemy be near. Jack agreed to this, and Green set off.
In a short time he was seen returning to the boat, accompanied by the
old German tutor, who, as he approached, appeared to be much agitated.
"Bad news, sir," said Green, as he came up to Jack; "the Cossacks have
got hold of Higson and your brother."
"It was dere fault, it was dere fault," broke in the old tutor; "dey
would go out walking vid de young ladies when I warned dem not to go,
and a troop of Cossacks came galloping up to dem, and carry dem both
off. It almost break de young ladies' heart, and dey have not done
crying yet."
"Then they must be still in the neighbourhood!" exclaimed Jack, "and we
may be in time to overtake them."
"Oh no, captain," answered Herr Groben; "I fear not, for dey mount upon
two horses and gallop away."
"At all events, if you can supply us with a guide to show us the way
they have taken, we will pursue them," said Jack.
"Perhaps one of my pupil vill go, for dere moder, Matame Paskievich, is
very unhappy at the thoughts the officers were made prisoner, as she
consider that they were under her protection; and as dey come as
friends, dey should be allowed to go away as friends."
As there was no time to be lost, Jack, ordering Green to remain, with a
couple of men in each boat, set off, accompanied by Archie and Herr
Groben, who promised to find him a trustworthy guide, though he showed
no inclination to go himself. The name of Paskiewich had struck Jack,
and, on making inquiries from the old tutor, he found that the owner of
the house was the commandant of the fort.
"I think, sir," observed Archie, who was walking by his side, "if that
is the case, we shall be able to exchange the colonel for Mr Higson and
Tom."
"I would rather get them back without having to do that," said Jack;
"the colonel is to be liberated on his parole; but, should we find it
necessary, we shall be able, as a last resource, to recover them as you
propose."
On arriving at the house they were met by Madame Paskiewich and her two
daughters. Jack, fortunately recollecting the colonel's message,
delivered it to his wife, who expressed herself very grateful for the
kind treatment he had received, and assured them how grieved she was
that, notwithstanding all her precautions, the Cossacks had captured the
two officers. Jack, in reply, expressed his conviction that it was from
no fault of theirs, and comforted them greatly by telling them that
probably in the course of the day the colonel would be enabled to return
to them.
On hearing of their want of a guide, Madame Paskiewich at once consented
to allow her eldest boy to show them the way the Cossacks had gone,
though she believed that by this time they were far beyond pursuit Herr
Groben's pupils soon made their appearance, and the eldest, Ivan, who
spoke English very well, without hesitation undertook to guide them, and
to make inquiries on the way as to where any troops were stationed, so
as to prevent them from being surprised. Jack, though perfectly
sensible of the risk he ran, resolved to persevere; and, accompanied by
young Ivan, at once set off at the head of his party, who, as they were
well armed, had no fear of the result should they meet three times their
number.
They had gone some distance, when Jack learned, from Ivan's inquiries,
that the Cossacks were already a long way ahead; he at length began to
despair of recovering his first lieutenant or Tom; he felt, too, the
imprudence of advancing farther into the enemy's country, when, before
he could secure his retreat, the foe might gather between him and the
boats. He was at last obliged unwillingly to confess that he must give
up the pursuit.
"I am very sorry for it, sir," said their guide; "the English midshipman
and I had become great friends; and though I don't think he will be
treated ill, yet he will not like to be kept away from his ship.
However, when my father returns, I promise to do my best to get him set
at liberty."
"Thank you," answered Jack warmly; "I will trust you."
He now gave the order to his men to face about, and they began to
retrace their steps. They had gone but a short distance, when the loud
clattering of hoofs struck on their ears, and, looking round, they
caught sight of a horseman galloping towards them at headlong speed.
"Hurrah! that's Tom himself!" cried Archie; and Tom appeared from amid a
cloud of dust, riding as he had done many a day after the hounds in --
shire. He was within hailing distance, when a couple of hundred yards
or so behind him were seen a number of Cossacks in hot pursuit. Jack
ordered his men to fix bayonets, to be prepared to receive cavalry. As
Tom came galloping along, they opened to let him pass, when, not without
some difficulty, he pulled up at their rear.
"I've done them!" he exclaimed; "I was sure you would come to look for
me, though I little expected to find you so near at hand."
The Cossacks, of whom there were scarcely more than a dozen, and who had
by this time got within a hundred yards of them, on seeing the resolute
bearing of the British sailors, pulled up, and, after a moment's
hesitation, wheeling round their horses, galloped off, followed by a
shower of bullets.
"The only thing you have done wrong was to fire without my orders!"
exclaimed Jack; "reload, and now right-about face and march--double
quick time." The party, without a moment's delay, hurried back on the
road they had come.
"I'm afraid Mr Higson's in for it," said Tom. "The Cossacks had halted
for breakfast, when the thought came into my head that we might make our
escape while the men were all dismounted, and eating some horrid mess or
other, their horses being picketed some distance from them. I did my
best to persuade him to come too, but he never was much of a horseman,
and declared that he could not do it; though he told me to take my
chance, and that he would try and prevent anyone from following me. I
had already fixed my eyes on a horse. While the men were all engaged, I
sauntered up to where their steeds were tethered, and, before anyone had
observed me, I set a dozen or more of them at liberty, when, finding
that the men suspected what I was about, I leaped on the back of the one
I had fixed on, and, giving a loud shout, galloped off as fast as the
wind, with a troop of riderless horses scampering at my heels. I had
got a fine start, and intended to keep it, and it was not till just
before I caught sight of you that I knew I was pursued; still even then
I did not give up all hopes of escaping, though I little knew how near
help was at hand; I only wish Mr Higson had followed my advice."
As Jack had no wish to encounter the Cossacks, who were certainly not
likely to bring Higson with them, he hurried on his men, and at length
reached Colonel Paskiewich's house. The fair Feodorowna, in an artless
manner, showed her pleasure at seeing Tom in safety; while Ivanowna
could not restrain her tears on hearing that the lieutenant was still a
prisoner.
As Jack considered it his duty not to delay a moment longer than was
necessary, he was compelled to decline Madame Paskiewich's invitation to
remain for breakfast, and, accompanied by Herr Groben, who wished to bid
farewell to Green, he hurried to the boats. In a few minutes they were
again pulling down towards the mouth of the river.
On arriving at the fort, Jack found that all the necessary preparations
had been made for its evacuation. Colonel Paskiewich and his officers
were liberated on their parole not to serve again during the war, while
the men were transferred to the _Flash_, to be conveyed on board some of
the larger ships of the fleet.
"I'll do my best to obtain the liberation of your first lieutenant,"
said the colonel to Jack, as he bade him farewell.
"We might arrange for exchanging you with him," observed Jack.
"Thank you, but I would rather not," answered the colonel significantly;
"I should then be compelled again to fight in this detestable war,
whereas at present I may remain as a non-combatant with my family; which
I confess--though mention it not, my friend--much better suits my
principles and taste."
"You are a brave man, and defended your fort gallantly," observed Jack.
"That was my duty," answered the colonel; "a man, I hold, may be
physically brave, and yet abhor fighting. As long as it was my duty to
fight, I fought; I can now with honour sheathe my sword, in the earnest
hope that I may never again have to draw it, especially against
Englishmen. There are many of my countrymen, who, I doubt not, feel as
I do. Good-bye, my friend; may we meet again in happier times!"
Jack accompanied the colonel out of the fort, and, as soon as the last
Russian had taken his departure, Jack fired the trains which had been
laid to the mines in different parts of the fort, and, leaping into his
boat, pulled away towards the _Tornado_. Before the boat had got
half-way, the first explosion was heard, the stout walls trembling and
shaking, while clouds of dust and smoke, and fragments of stone and
timber rose in the air; and in a few seconds the spot where the fort had
stood presented a mass of shapeless ruins.
"We've done for the fort, at all events," observed Tom; "I hope that
before long our army will treat Sebastopol in the same way."
"I wish they were likely to do it at so slight a cost," said Jack, as he
thought of Sidney, from whom he had not heard for some time; for he knew
what sorrow his loss would cause to his family at Halliburton.
The three commanders, having delivered over their prizes to the admiral,
proceeded to carry out their instructions, in conjunction with the
Mosquito fleet, engaged in the destruction of the vast magazines of corn
and other provisions accumulated at numerous places on the shores of the
Sea of Azov, as well as the fleets of vessels loaded with supplies for
the Russian army in the Crimea.
"It seems to me a wanton destruction of property," observed Jack when he
first received his orders.
Murray, to whom he spoke, smiled. "Sagacious commanders have to take
into consideration the appetites of their men, as well as those of the
enemy, quite as much as their battlefields and the weapons they use," he
observed; "if we can cut off the supplies of the garrison of Sebastopol,
we shall render as effectual service as the guns of the besiegers, and
quickly bring the war to a conclusion."
"Then I'll set about it with all my heart!" exclaimed Jack; "though I
wish, instead of burning the wheat, we could ship it off to our people
at home."
"That would prove a somewhat too long operation," observed Murray; "and
if we remember that every stack we burn will perhaps shorten the war by
as many hours, any scruples we may feel on the subject will soon
vanish."
Jack and his brother commanders, remembering this, set energetically to
work to perform what would have been otherwise a very disagreeable duty.
The gallant Lyons, who in the _Miranda_ had been some days in the Sea
of Azov, had already inflicted immense damage on the enemy; on his
arrival off Genitchesk at the entrance of the Putrid Sea, he found a
large fleet of merchantmen at anchor, protected by a strong force of
infantry and a battery of field-pieces on the mainland. On sending in
to summon the flotilla to surrender, his demand being refused, he
despatched his boats under the command of his first lieutenant,
Mackenzie, through the strait, covering their advance with a heavy fire
of shell on the town and troops. In spite of all opposition, thus
protected, the brave lieutenant set fire to seventy-three vessels and
several corn-magazines. On returning to their ship, the party
discovered that some of the vessels had escaped the conflagration; on
this, Captain Lyons despatched a second expedition with three other
officers, Lieutenants Buckley and Burgoyne, and Mr Roberts, a gunner of
the _Ardent_. On approaching the shore, and discovering that the enemy
were prepared to give them a warm reception, the three latter officers
determined to land by themselves, so that their men might escape the
risk of being cut off; while Mackenzie undertook the destruction of the
shipping. The vessels were quickly set on fire, and the magazines had
shared the same fate, when a troop of Cossacks bore down on the three
officers who had landed. They, accordingly, had to take to their heels;
and, keeping well ahead of their pursuers, were received in safety by
Mackenzie on board the boats, which pulled back to the ships without the
loss of a single man, one only having been slightly wounded.
Thus he went on from place to place, destroying stores and vessels in
the same daring manner, his two lieutenants frequently landing in a
four-oared gig, and setting fire with their own hands to different
Government buildings. Taganrog, a place of great strength, was
attacked, and though the town was protected by some heavy batteries, and
above three thousand troops, who kept up a hot fire on the ships and
boats, every Government building and magazine was destroyed. In this
way Captain Lyons sank or burnt upwards of two hundred and fifty vessels
laden with supplies and provisions and stores, to the value of many
thousands of pounds, and at the present juncture of immense importance
to the Russian army and the beleaguered city. His brave career was,
however, drawing to a close; rejoining the squadron off Sebastopol, at
the end of a fortnight, he was shortly afterwards struck by a shell,
while running into harbour at night to annoy the enemy, and in a few
days breathed his last at the hospital at Therapia, to which he had been
removed.
He was succeeded in the command of the squadron by Captain Sherard
Osborne, an officer of equal determination, courage, and sagacity, who
was not likely to leave any of the work he had undertaken undone, or
half-done. Our three commanders proceeded in the same spirit to the
execution of their duty. On revisiting several places where a few weeks
before they had destroyed all the then existing supplies, they found
that the Russians, supposing they would not return, had rebuilt their
storehouses, and completely replenished them, giving a proof of the
productive power of the neighbouring districts. All the work before
them was not, however, accomplished with the same ease; hitherto they
had had only to dash boldly on shore, protected by the guns of the
ships, set fire to the stores, and to be off again as fast as they
could. Spies were not wanting, who brought them information of the
position of stores; from one of these men, Jack, who was stationed off
the spit which separates the Putrid Sea from the Sea of Azov, gained
intelligence that some large stores, situated on the Crimean shore, had
lately been replenished, and that the grain was only waiting the means
of transport to be removed to Sebastopol.
Jack asked the spy whether he would lead a party to the spot; this,
however, he declined, but gave so exact a description of the country,
that Jack felt convinced that he could find it out without the man's
aid. Plenty of volunteers were ready to go; but having, as he said, got
every inch of the way into his head, he determined to lead the
expedition. He did not, however, hide from himself the dangers to be
encountered. "If I destroy these stores, the siege may be shortened by
one or two days, or it may be more, and the lives of several of my
fellow-creatures saved; then it is my duty to go."
Had Higson been on board, he might have entrusted the expedition to him;
Green would be very likely to carry it out; but he feared that Mildmay
would fail. He had perfect confidence that Tom would obey his orders;
he accordingly fixed on him, with Dick Needham and Jerry Bird, in
addition to his gig's usual crew. Standing in at nightfall as close to
the spit as the water would allow, he pulled on shore. The boat had now
to be dragged across the sands, and launched on the opposite side. He
and all hands uniting their strength, accomplished it, however, and away
they pulled with muffled oars across the Putrid Sea. A mist lay on the
placid water, which would have shrouded them from the view of any boats
which might have been passing, even at a hundred yards' distance. Not a
word was spoken above a whisper; it was impossible to see the shore, and
difficult to know when they might come upon it; indeed, had not the boat
been provided with a compass, the commander would have been unable to
steer a direct course.
The men gave way with a will, as the success of the expedition depended
on the rapidity with which it was carried out. On a sudden, as Jack
fancied they were still a considerable way from the shore, he felt the
boat's keel passing over a soft bottom; directly afterwards she remained
fixed. In vain the men pulled away with might and main, endeavouring to
force her over; the water appeared shallower ahead even than astern, and
at length all hands had to jump overboard, including the commander and
Tom, when they sank almost up to their knees in mud.
"Pretty condition we shall be in if daylight finds us here!" said Tom.
"No fear of that," answered Jack; "off the boat must come."
Needham, with boat-hook in hand, went ahead to ascertain the depth of
water, and on his return reported that after some yards it deepened
considerably, whilst, as he could see nothing of the land, he concluded
that they were on a mudbank.
"No doubt about it," said Jack; and all hands together lifting the boat,
they bore her along for fifty yards or so, when, washing the mud off
their legs, they tumbled on board, and again gave way.
"Pretty mess we're in," observed Tom.
His brother laughed. "We shall be in a worse mess before long, as we
have a couple of rivers and a marsh or two to wade through before we
reach our destination. Needham, you are in good wind, I hope?"
"Ay, ay, sir," answered Dick; "I doubt whether any Russian would
overtake me if we have to run for it."
"I wish that I was to go with you," said Tom.
"No, you must remain by the boat, and keep a bright lookout that you are
not surprised," answered Jack; "have your muskets ready for instant use;
and should we at the last be pursued, be ready to cover our retreat; you
don't know at what time we may come. We may be turned back before we
reach our destination, or we may succeed, and still be hard pressed to
escape capture; the last is most likely to occur: at all events, be on
the watch."
Jack had previously made all his arrangements; the gunner and Jerry Bird
each carried match-boxes in waterproof cases, and small torches which
they could easily ignite, so that the moment they stepped on shore they
could proceed on their expedition. A sense of the importance of the
work to be accomplished made Jack enjoy it, otherwise an act of
incendiarism would not have been to his taste. The gunner and Jerry
Bird, it must be confessed, did not trouble their heads much about the
matter.
At length a group of trees, seemingly of unusual magnitude, standing
apparently on the top of a hill, appeared ahead, but almost an instant
afterwards the bows of the boat touched a bank with a few willows or
alders growing on it. As far as Jack could judge, it was the very spot
he would have chosen for landing, as the bushes would afford sufficient
concealment to the boat during his absence.
"Remember my orders," said Jack, as he sprang on to the bank, followed
by Dick and Jerry. They had not gone many yards when they found
themselves floundering in the mud, at which the two latter began to
grumble, as seamen will grumble, not at the work before them, but at the
mud, which prevented them from advancing as rapidly as they desired.
"Never mind," said Jack, as he led the way, "we shall get on the firm
ground presently; those in the boat are much less likely to be taken by
surprise than they might have been by the side of a hard bank."
The marsh, however, was broader than Jack expected, but, as they ran
lightly over it, their feet did not sink down very deep. They at length
reached firm ground. According to the commander's calculation, they had
about two miles to go before they could get to their destination. A
pocket compass, and a small lantern which threw its light on it, enabled
him to steer a direct course. The country was unpopulated and open, the
chief impediments in the way of the party being the streams and marshes
and rivers. They got on rapidly over the hard ground, but found it
heavy work wading amid the expanse of rushes which bordered the streams.
"No crocodiles or alligators about here, I hope, sir?" whispered Jerry
to the gunner.
"If there are, it's our business not to mind them," answered Dick, with
a low growl, intended as a rebuke to Jerry; "if there was a shoal of
sharks, either, we should have no business to cry out till we were
caught."
They dropped a few feet behind while thus speaking, but quickly again
overtook the commander, who was wading across the stream, the water
gradually getting deeper and deeper, till it rose up to his waist.
"Maybe we shall have to swim for it," whispered Dick; "but where's the
odds, provided we get across at last?"
Jack led on, not listening to the low, whispered remarks of his
companions. One river was thus crossed; still there was another, on the
farther bank of which were situated the stacks of wheat destined to
destruction. The ford was some way above the stacks, so that they would
have to cross the river by it, and then descend the bank, taking the
same route on their return. Jack had been unable to ascertain what
sentries were likely to be posted in the neighbourhood, or what guards
protected the stacks. An extent of open ground had now to be passed
over, and there was then a tolerably extensive wood, with more open
ground between it and the river. Jack was able to recognise each
feature of the country from the description given to him by the spy; he
thus felt sure that he was on the right road. He went on and on till
the bank of the river was reached, and he could see a town or village on
the opposite side. He now led the way up the stream till he discovered
the ford, which he and his companions crossed without difficulty, though
he had some fears that he might find a guard-house on the opposite side.
No one, however, appeared; the Russians undoubtedly supposing, from the
numerous impediments in the way, that no enemies would venture to attack
the place. They had now to make their way along the bank of the river
for some distance before they could reach the stacks destined to
destruction. It was necessary to proceed with the greatest caution, for
the slightest noise might betray them to the enemy, and ensure their
capture. They had gone part of the distance when they heard a dog bark,
and they could make out, a few yards from the river, the roof of a
cottage, from the neighbourhood of which apparently the sound came.
They could only hope that the dog was chained, for, should he be loose,
he might rush out upon them, and though they might kill him with their
cutlasses, the noise they might make would, in all probability, bring
his owners on their track.
The mist had cleared away and the stars were shining brightly overhead,
so that they had to keep under cover as much as possible. Jack hoped,
however, that all the inhabitants of the place would be in bed. Again
the dog barked. Jack, in a whisper, ordered the gunner and Jerry to
crouch down and remain perfectly quiet for a few minutes, when
immediately the dog became silent. After waiting a minute or two, he
again led the way forward till he could see the tops of the lofty stacks
rising high above the houses against the sky. They had made some way,
when again the dog barked fiercely, and they could hear the animal
leaping and rolling about, as if trying to break his chain.
"Here comes the brute!" cried the gunner, stepping forward; and they
caught sight of the animal, a huge mastiff, bounding towards them. Dick
held his drawn cutlass ready in his hand, and as the creature sprang up
to seize him by the throat, with one sweep of his weapon he laid it dead
at his feet, with its head almost severed from the body.
"Well done, Needham!" exclaimed Jack.
"It was necessary, sir, but I was sorry to kill the poor brute!"
answered Dick.
"We have no time to think about that," said Jack, "for we must set the
stacks on fire at once;" and they again crept forward. Brave as he was,
and fully convinced of the importance of the act he was about to do, he
could not help reflecting that it was not the sort of work in which he,
as an English officer, would wish to be discovered. However, it was to
be done, and the sooner it was done the better. As he got close to the
stacks, he looked to either side, to ascertain whether any sentry was
posted in the neighbourhood, but discovering no one, he placed his two
companions, one at one end, and the other at the centre of the stacks,
with directions to strike their lights immediately they saw him ignite
his, so that they might fire them at the same moment. He then crept
forward to his post, and waited a few seconds to listen; not a sound was
heard from the neighbouring village, and, quickly obtaining a light, he
set fire to a bundle of stalks which he pulled out of the stack,
strewing it along the side. His companions imitating him, in one
instant the whole of the immense pile was in a blaze, the flames
ascending with unexpected rapidity.
"We must put our best foot foremost," said Jack, suiting the action to
the word; and off they set running as hard as they could. Fortunately
there was a tolerably well-beaten path along the bank of the river, by
which they had come, but concealment was hopeless, and Jack observed the
glare of the fire falling on the backs of his two companions as he
followed at their heels, feeling it his duty, as he had led the advance,
to bring up the rear.
Shouts and cries were presently heard; every moment he expected to see a
body of the enemy in hot pursuit. At first he thought of plunging into
the stream and swimming across; but, fully clothed as they were, it
would have been a difficult undertaking, and they might get over by the
ford quite as quickly. They accordingly kept on till it was reached,
and then, wading across, they returned down the opposite bank, Jack
considering it important to keep in the road they had come. By the time
they had got opposite the stacks, the whole were blazing fiercely up,
throwing a ruddy glare on all the objects around to a considerable
distance. They thus stood revealed to the inhabitants on the opposite
side, who appeared not to be aware till then who were the perpetrators
of the deed.
Just then they saw a large body of Cossacks galloping up towards the
fire, some of whom by their gestures had, it seemed, at that moment
caught sight of them.
"We must put on all our steam, or these fellows will be at our heels,"
said Jack; and again they set forward. One glance he cast over his
shoulder showed him the Cossacks making for the ford; he could not help
feeling very doubtful whether he and his party could keep ahead of them.
The bank of the first river they had crossed was again reached, and
plunging in, partly by swimming, and partly by wading, they boldly
pushed across, thus avoiding the loss of time by going round by the
ford.
Scarcely, however, had they got over, when through the gloom of night
they distinguished the Cossacks galloping towards them. They did not
stop long to shake themselves, but dashed on, still hoping to keep
ahead, as the Cossacks would have to go some distance up the stream to
cross the ford.
"I only wish the fellows would try to swim," said Dick; "their horses
would stick in the mud and rushes we've had a hard job to get through.
Keep up, Jerry, keep up," he continued, observing that his companion was
flagging; "we've a clear road before us, and we mustn't let our legs
play us false."
Thus encouraged, Jerry made fresh efforts to keep alongside his
companions. Jack felt his own legs moving somewhat heavily, and could
not help acknowledging to himself that there was every probability of
their being overtaken; once across the stream, the Cossacks on their
fleet steeds would soon be up to them. The thought of being speared in
the back by a savage horseman, and left to die like dogs, was too
terrible.
"No; if we are overtaken, we must fight for it, and die like men, with
our faces to the foe," said Jack aloud.
"Ay, ay, sir, that we will!" exclaimed Dick; "maybe, however, they'll
miss us; and if we can get anywhere near the boat, Mr Rogers and our
fellows will help us by peppering them."
At length Jack was compelled to stop for a moment to draw breath; he
took the opportunity of casting a look behind him, to ascertain in what
direction the Cossacks were coming, but he could nowhere see them.
"I hope that you are right, Needham," he whispered; "and now, on we go,
and we may get up to the boat before we are discovered."
Scarcely had he spoken, than a shout was heard, and the figures of the
horsemen, with their long lances, were perceived against the sky.
"On! on!" cried Jack; "they see us; no matter, we are still well ahead
of them."
Dick, seizing Jerry's arm, again sprang forward; on came the Cossacks
clattering in their rear; the boat was still at too great a distance to
enable them to make themselves heard by Tom. The ground was hard and
level, and, straining every nerve, they ran faster than they had ever
before done in their lives. No mercy could be expected from the
Cossacks, should they be overtaken.
Again Jerry began to slacken his pace. "Cheer up, mate, cheer up!"
cried Dick; "the Cossacks' lances are not within a good many inches of
us yet, and it will be time enough to cry out when they get inside our
waistcoats."
Jack, though he might have gone faster than either of his men, would not
leave them behind; if he sprang ahead, it was merely to have time to
look round and ascertain how far off were their pursuers. He calculated
that they were approaching the boat, and that if they shouted loudly Tom
would bear them; once more he looked round; the horsemen were within a
hundred yards of them; they might have stopped them with their carbines;
possibly, however, they were unloaded, when they hurriedly threw
themselves on horseback. Jack, as he sprang forward, felt the ground
very soft beneath his feet, and recollected that they must have reached
the marsh they had crossed on leaving the boat. To run across it seemed
scarcely possible, as their feet had before sunk in every few yards they
trod; there appeared to be no hope of escape.
Just at this moment down came poor Jerry--who had for some few seconds
been floundering along, though doing his best to keep up--with his face
in the mud.
"Go ahead, sir, go ahead!" cried Dick; "don't stop for us; I'll do my
best to set Jerry on his legs."
"I will not desert him," answered Jack, stooping to lift up the fallen
seaman, while Dick lifted him up with the other arm, and quickly again
set him on his feet.
"Heave out that quid of mud from your mouth, and give your eyes a rub
over, and you will be all to rights," said Dick; "don't say die yet; now
on we go;" and suiting the action to the word, dragging Jerry along with
him, they began moving forward in a "hop-skip-and-a-jump" fashion, which
enabled them to get over the soft ground with tolerable rapidity. They
were scarcely more than a quarter of the way across, when the Cossacks
reached the edge of the marsh, of the existence of which they were
apparently not aware, for, without pulling rein, they plunged in; the
consequence being that, with the impetus they had attained, and the
weight of their horses, they sank deep down in the soft mud.
Jack, with infinite satisfaction, saw that they were floundering about,
but he did not allow his companions to slacken their speed, for the
horses would still, probably, be able to make their way across it. He,
therefore, assisting to support Jerry, moved on as fast as his weight
and the nature of the ground would allow. Jerry's fall, however, had
given an advantage to their pursuers, who were now making their way
across the morass, sometimes stopped by a soft portion, and again moving
faster where the ground was comparatively firmer. Still the Cossacks
had somewhat gained upon them, and were scarcely fifty yards off, when
Tom's welcome shout reached their ears.
"We see you, we see you; and we see your pursuers too!" he cried; "we've
got our muskets ready to cover you."
"Then fire!" cried Jack; "and reload quickly."
A volley from the boat somewhat staggered the Cossacks, for though none
of them were seen to fall, yet the bullets whistled pretty close to
their ears. It might have made them less eager in spurring on their
steeds; still, on they came. The sound seemed to revive Jerry, who,
though nearly done up, again made an effort to push on. A few shots
were fired at them by their disappointed pursuers, who might have
guessed that they would soon be beyond their power.
Tom had kept the boat ready to shove off at a moment's notice; the
latter part of the ground was somewhat higher and harder; across it they
rushed as hard as they could pelt, for the Cossacks had already passed
the softer portions, and, once upon it, they would be up to them. The
points of their long lances were couched not many yards behind, and Jack
again shouted to Tom to fire, while he, with the gunner and Jerry,
almost the next instant sprang into the boat.
"Shove off!" cried Jack, seizing an oar; Dick and Jerry imitated him,
while the rest were reloading their firearms. The boat was but a few
yards from the bank when the Cossacks reached it, and had to pull up
sharp to avoid plunging into the water.
"Good-bye, old fellows!" shouted Dick; "you've had a hard scamper, and
now you may go back and look after your corn-stacks."
That these had not been put out was evident by the ruddy glare which
suffused the sky in the distance. On receiving another volley from the
boat, the Cossacks wheeled about and made their way over the marsh,
where, had Jack thought fit, they might all have been picked off in
detail; but he had from the first seen the wickedness of killing a
single human being unnecessarily, and now that they could no longer
impede their flight, he was glad to let them escape. Lest, however,
they might give notice to any armed Russian boats to proceed in chase of
the daring Englishmen, Jack ordered his crew to pull away as hard as
they could, so that they might possibly regain the ship before daylight.
They were not, however, free from danger, as the burning stacks would
put the people on the shores for miles round on the alert, and they
could scarcely expect to escape pursuit. Jack, by steering rather more
to the northward, escaped the bank on which they had before run, and he
hoped now to make a straight course across the water. The sandpit had
then to be passed before the boat could be launched into the more open
sea. Poor Jerry was so exhausted that it was some time before he could
handle an oar, so he employed the interval in trying to wash the mud out
of his eyes and nose.
The mist had again come down, and but a few yards could be seen ahead;
thus the crew were pulling on as hard as ever, when, before jack was
aware that they were near, the boat's bows grated against the sand,
which fortunately yielded easily or they would have been stove in.
"All hands leap out!" cried Jack; and the men, seizing the boat, began
hauling away, without stopping an instant, across the sand.
They had got very nearly to the water's edge on the other side, when Tom
shouted out, "See, sir, here come some Cossacks!"
It was fortunate that Tom had observed them; in another minute they
would have been up to the boat, but the men, giving her a shove which
sent her skimming away over the calm surface, leaped on board, and,
getting out their oars, pulled away at a rapid rate, leaving the
Cossacks to shake their lances at them in vain.
After pulling some way, they caught sight of the _Tornado's_ light, when
the commander and his party were welcomed with a hearty cheer on board,
the crew having felt very anxious when they heard of the dangerous
character of the expedition on which he had gone.