STORY ONE, CHAPTER FOUR.
Who could have thought just then that all that nonsense of Harry Lant'swith the elephant was shaping itself for our good, but so it was, as youshall by-and-by hear. The march continued, matters seeming to go onvery smoothly--but only seeming, mind you, for let alone that we wereall walking upon a volcano, there was a good deal of unpleasantrybrewing. Let alone my feeling that, somehow or another, Harry Lant wasnot so true a mate to me as he used to be, there was a good deal wrongbetween Captain Dyer and Lieutenant Leigh, and it soon seemed plain thatthere was much more peace and comfort in our camp a week earlier thanthere was at the time of which I am now writing.
I used to have my turns as sentry here and there; and it was whenstanding stock-still with my piece, that I used to see and hear somuch--for in a camp it seems to be a custom for people to look upon asentry as a something that can neither see nor hear anything but whatmight come in the shape of an enemy. They know he must not move fromhis post, which is to say that he's tied hand and foot, and perhaps fromthat they think that he's tied as to his senses. At all events, I gotto see that when Miss Ross was seated in the colonel's tent, and CaptainDyer was near her, she seemed to grow gentle and quiet, and her eyeswould light up, and her rich red lips part, as she listened to what hewas saying; while, when it came to Lieutenant Leigh's turn, and he wasbeside her talking, she would be merry and chatty, and would laugh andtalk as lively as could be. Harry Lant said it was because they weremaking up matters, and that some day she would be Mrs Leigh; but Ididn't look at it in that light, thought said nothing.
I used to like to be sentry at the colonel's tent, on our halting forthe night, when the canvas would be looped up, to let in the air, andthey'd got their great globe-lamps lit, with the tops to them, to keepout the flies, and the draughts made by the punkahs swinging backwardsand forwards. I used to think it quite a pretty sight, with the ladiesand the three or four officers, perhaps chatting, perhaps having alittle music, for Miss Ross could sing like--like a nightingale, I wasgoing to say; but no nightingale that I ever heard could seem to layhold of your heart and almost bring tears into your eyes, as she did.Then she used to sing duets with Captain Dyer, because the colonelwished it, though it was plain to see Mrs Maine didn't like it, anymore than did Lieutenant Leigh, who, more than once, as I've seen,walked out, looking fierce and angry, to strike off right away from thecamp, perhaps not to come back for a couple of hours.
It was one night when we'd been about a fortnight on the way, for duringthe past week the colonel had been letting us go on very easily, I wassentry at the tent. There had been some singing, and Lieutenant Leighhad gone off in the middle of a duet. Then the doctor, the colonel, anda couple of subs were busy over a game at whist, and the black nurse hadbeckoned Mrs Maine out, I suppose to see something about the twochildren; when Captain Dyer and Miss Ross walked together just outsidethe tent, she holding by one of the cords, and he standing close besideher.
They did not say much, but stood looking up at the bright silver moonand the glittering stars; while he said a word now and then about thebeauty of the scene, the white tents, the twinkling lights here andthere, and the soft peaceful aspect of all around; and then his voiceseemed to grow lower and deeper as he spoke from time to time, though Icould hardly hear a word, as I stood there like a statue watching herbeautiful face, with the great clusters of hair knotted back from herbroad white forehead, the moon shining full on it, and seeming to makeher eyes flash as they were turned to him.
They must have stood there full half an hour, when she turned as if togo back, but he laid his hand upon hers as it held the tent cord, andsaid something very earnestly, when she turned to him again to look himfull in the face, and I saw that her hand was not moved.
Then they were silent for a few seconds before he spoke again, loudenough for me to hear.
"I must ask you," he said huskily; "my peace depends upon it. I knowthat it has always been understood that you were to be introduced toLieutenant Leigh. I can see now plainly enough what are your sister'swishes; but hearts are ungovernable, Miss Ross, and I tell youearnestly, as a simple, truth-speaking man, that you have rousedfeelings that until now slept quietly in my breast. If I ampresumptuous, forgive me--love is bold as well as timid--but at leastset me at rest: tell me, is there any engagement between you andLieutenant Leigh?"
She did not speak for a few moments, but met his gaze--so it seemed tome--without shrinking, before saying one word, so softly, that it waslike one of the whispers of the breeze crossing the plain--and that wordwas "No!"
"God bless you for that answer, Miss Ross--Elsie," he said deeply; andthen his head was bent down for an instant over the hand that rested onthe cord, before Miss Ross glided away from him into the tent, and wentand stood resting with her hand upon the colonel's shoulder, when he,evidently in high glee, began to shew her his cards, laughing andpointing to first one, and then another, for he seemed to be having luckon his side.
But I had no more eyes then for the inside of the tent, for Captain Dyerjust seemed to awaken to the fact that I was standing close by him assentry, and he gave quite a start as he looked at me for a few momentswithout speaking. Then he took a step forward.
"Who is this? Oh, thank goodness!" (he said those few words in anundertone, but I happened to hear them). "Smith," he said, "I forgotthere was a sentry there. You saw me talking to that lady?"
"Yes, sir," I said.
"You saw everything?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you heard all?"
"No, sir, not all; only what you said last."
Then he was silent again for a few moments, but only to lay his handdirectly after on my chest.
"Smith," he said, "I would rather you had not seen this; and if it hadbeen any other man in my company, I should perhaps have offered himmoney, to insure that there was no idle chattering at the mess-tables;but you I ask, as a man I can trust, to give me your word of honour as asoldier to let what you have seen and heard be sacred."
"Thank you, captain," I said, speaking thick, for somehow his wordsseemed to touch me. "You shan't repent trusting me."
"I have no fear, Smith," he said, speaking lightly, and as if he feltjoyful, and proud, and happy.--"What a glorious night for a cigar;" andhe took one out of his case, when we both started, for, as if he hadthat moment risen out of the ground, Lieutenant Leigh stood there closeto us; and even to this day I can't make out how he managed it, but allthe same he must have seen and heard as much as I had.
"And pray, is my word of honour as a soldier to be taken, Captain Dyer?or is my silence to be bought with money?--Confound you I come this way,will you!" he hissed; for Captain Dyer had half turned, as if to avoidhim, but he stepped back directly, and I saw them walk off togetheramongst the trees, till they were quite out of sight; and if ever I feltwhat it was to be tied down to one spot, I felt it then, as I walkedsentry up and down by that tent watching for those two to return.