CHAPTER TEN.
A NICE WALK.
"Halt!" cried Roberts in a low tone of voice; for, as he gave the orderto advance for the attempt to ford the river, a fresh burst of firingarose from what seemed to be nearer, and he hesitated to lead hiscompanions out into the rushing flood and beyond the shelter of theoverhanging trees.
"It is like exposing ourselves to being shot down while perfectlyhelpless, old fellow," he said, with his lips close to Bracy's ear.
"But we can't stay here: they'll track us to where you fell, and see thebroken branches overhead. What then?" said Bracy.
"Right; we shall be easy marks for the brutes. Now, then, forward!"
Without hesitation this time, and with his following linked inaccordance with his orders, Roberts began to wade, facing the rushingwater and leaning towards it as it pressed against his breast, to divideit, forming a little wave which rushed by to right and left. Stepfollowed step taken sidewise, and at the third he and the privatefollowing him stood out clear of the overhanging growth, so that hecould see plainly the task that was before him.
It was enough to startle the strongest man, for there were about fiftyyards of a rushing torrent to stem, as it swept icily cold along theriver's rocky bed, and already the pressure seemed greater than he couldbear, while he felt that if the water rose higher he would be perfectlyhelpless to sustain its force. But a sharp glance upward and downwardshowed him spots where the water foamed and leaped, and there he knewthat the stream must be shallower; in fact, in two places he kept oncatching sight of patches of black rock which were bared again andagain. Setting his teeth hard, and making the first of these his goal,he stepped on cautiously, this choice of direction, being diagonallyup-stream, necessarily increasing the distance to be traversed, butlessening the pressure upon the little linked-together line of men.
"We shall never do it," thought Bracy as, in his turn, he waded out intothe open stream, his arms well extended and his companions on eitherside gazing up-stream with a peculiar strained look about their eyes.But there was no sign of flinching, no hesitation; every man was full ofdetermination, the three privates feeling strengthened by being linkedwith and thus sharing the danger with their officers; while Roberts, asleader, felt, however oppressed by the sense of all that depended uponhim, invigorated by the knowledge that he must reach that shallow place.Once he had his men there, they could pause for a few minutes' restbefore making the next step.
On he pressed, left shoulder forward, against the rushing waters;feeling moment by moment that the slightest drag from the next man mustmake him lose his footing, to be swept downward, with the result that ifthe links of the chain were not broken asunder there would be pluck,pluck, pluck, one after the other, and they would be all swept down thetorrent.
Had he allowed his imagination free way, he would have let it picturethe result--so many ghastly figures, battered out of recognition, foundsomewhere, miles away perhaps, among the blocks of stone in the shallowsof the defile. But the stern man within him kept the mastery; and hewent on a few inches at a time, edging his way along, with the waterdeepening, so that he was ready to pause. But he felt that hesitationwould be fatal; and, pressing on, his left foot went down lower thanever, making him withdraw it and try to take a longer stride.
"It's all over," he thought, in his desperation; but even as the thoughtflashed through his brain he found that he reached bottom again, havingpassed a narrow gully, and his next and next, strides were intoshallower water; while, toiling hard, he was in a minute onlywaist-deep, dragging his companions after him, and aiding them, so thatthey all stood together a third of the way across, with the rushingstream only knee-deep.
"Five minutes for faking breath," he cried, "and then on again for thatwhite patch where the water is foaming."
No one else spoke, but all stood panting and not gazing up-stream or atthe farther shore, with its rocks, trees, and ample cover, but throwingthe pressure of every nerve, as it were, into their hearing, andlistening for sounds of the enemy only to be heard above the roar of thewater. For the firing had ceased, and one and all felt that this meantan advance on the part of the hill-men, who would be sweeping the woodedvalley right to the river-bank, ready at any moment to open fire again;while now it would be upon the unprotected group part of the way towardsmid-stream.
"Forward!" cried Roberts; and, with their grip tightening, the littleparty followed their Captain as he once more edged off to the left,performing his former evolution, and, to his delight, finding that thestone-bestrewn polished bottom never once deepened after the first fewsteps, which took him waist-deep, and kept about the same level, theresult being that the next halt was made where the river was roughest,tossing in waves churned up as it was by the masses of rock in its way,a group lying just below the surface, with the water deepening behindthem, so that the party had once more to stand breast-high, but in aneddy, the rocks above taking off the pressure which in the shallows hadthreatened to sweep them away.
The water was numbing, and the leader felt that their pause beforerecommencing their efforts must be very short; but he was face to facewith the most difficult part of their transit, for it was only too plainthat this last portion ran swift and deep, the bold, steady rushsuggesting a power which he knew instinctively that he would not be ableto stem, and he looked downward now to see what was below in the onlytoo probable event of their being swept away.
As he turned to gaze upward again he caught Bracy's eyes fixed upon himinquiringly; but he paid no heed, though he did not for the moment readthem aright, the idea being that his brother officer was mutely askinghim if he thought he could do it.
He grasped Bracy's meaning the next minute, for he heard that which hadreached Bracy's ears. It was a shout from the woody bank they had left,as if one of the enemy had made a discovery, followed by answeringcries, and all knew now that their foes were close upon their track, andthat at any moment they might be discovered and fire be opened uponthem.
"Forward!" cried Roberts, and once more he set off, to be againagreeably surprised, for the water did not deepen in the least as hemoved from out of the eddy, being still about breast-deep, with verylittle variation, the bottom being swept clear of stones and literallyground smooth by the constant passage over it of the fragments bornedown from the glaciers in the north. But before many steps had beentaken, and the little chain was extended to its extreme limit, Robertsknew that disaster was imminent. For it was impossible to stand againstthe dense, heavy rush of water, bear against it as he would.
He shouted back to his companions to bear against the pressure, andstrove his best, but all in vain. At one and the same moment the doublecalamity came: there was a shot from out of the patch of forest they hadleft, and the leader was lifted from his feet. Then pluck, pluck,pluck, as if mighty hands had seized them, the men in turn were snatchedfrom their positions, and with a scattered fire opened upon them fromamong the trees, they were being swept rapidly down-stream.
Roberts shouted an order or two, and discipline prevailed for a space,the links of the chain remaining unbroken; but even the greatesttraining could not hold it together for long at such a time, and thenon-swimmers were the first to go under and quit their hold, rollingover with the tremendous rush of the stream, and rising again, to snatchwildly at the nearest object, and in two cases to hamper the unfortunatewho was within reach.
"_Sauve qui peut_," muttered Bracy a's he glided along, with his swordhanging from his wrist by the knot; but his actions contradicted histhoughts, for instead of trying to save himself he turned to the help ofDrummond, to whom one of the men was clinging desperately, and the verynext minute he felt a hand clutch at his collar and grip him fast.
The rattle of firing was in his ears, and then the thundering of thewater, as he was forced below the surface into the darkness; but he didnot lose his presence of mind. He let himself go under, and then, witha few vigorous strokes, rose to the surface, with the man clinging tohim behind, and wrenched hims
elf round in his effort to get free. Hewas only partially successful, though; and, panting heavily, he swamwith his burden, just catching sight of Drummond in a similar positionto himself, many yards lower down the stream.
"Let go," he shouted to the man. "Let go, and I'll save you."
But the man's nerve was gone, and he only clung the tighter and made adrowning-man's effort to throw his legs about his officer's.
"Help! help!" he gasped, and a desperate struggle ensued, during whichboth went beneath the surface again, only to rise with Bracy completelycrippled, for the poor drowning wretch had been completely mastered byhis intense desire for life, and arms and legs were now round hisofficer in the death-grip.
Bracy cast a wild, despairing look round as he was borne rapidly along,and all seemed over, when a head suddenly came into sight from behindthem, an arm rose above the surface, and the swimmer to whom it belongeddrove his fist with a dull smack right on the drowning-man's ear, andwith strange effect.
It was as if the whole muscular power had been instantaneouslydischarged like so much electricity at the touch of a rod, the horribleclinging grasp ceased, and with a feeble effort Bracy shook himself freeand began to swim.
"A jolly idgit!" panted a voice; "a-holding on to yer orficer like that!Want to drown him? Can you keep up, sir?"
"Yes, I think so," said Bracy weakly.
"That's right, sir. You'll do it. I'll give yer a 'and if yer can't.It's easy enough if yer swim with the stream."
"Can you keep him up?" said Bracy more vigorously.
"Oh yus, sir; I can manage to keep him on his back and his nose out o'the water. Knocked him silly."
"Where are the others?"
"There they are, sir, ever so far along. The Captain's got old Parry,and Mr Drummond's swimming to his side to help him. You'll _do_ itnow, sir. Slow strokes wins. Feel better?"
"Yes. I was half-strangled."
"Then it's all right, sir."
"But the enemy?" panted Bracy, trying to look round.
"Never you mind them, sir. They're far enough off now, and can only geta shot now and then. River windles so. We're going ever so much fasterthan they can get through the woods. Ain't this jolly, sir? Done myankle a sight o' good. I allus did like the water, on'y sojers' togsain't made to swim in."
"I can't see any one in pursuit," said Bracy at the end of a minute.
"Don't you keep trying to look, sir. You've got enough to do to swim."
"I'm getting right again now, Gedge, and I think I can help you."
"What! to keep him up, sir? I don't want no help while he's like this;but if he comes to again and begins his games you might ketch him one inthe ear. Chaps as thinks they're drowning is the silliest old idgitsthere is. 'Stead o' keeping still and their pads under water, theyshoves them right up to try and ketch hold o' the wind or anything elseas is near. 'Spose they can't help it, though. Hullo! look yonder,sir. Rocks and shaller water. Think we could get right across now?"
For a shout now reached them from fifty yards or so lower down, wheretheir three companions in misfortune were standing knee-deep inmid-stream, and a rugged mass of rocks rose to divide the river andtowered up twenty or thirty feet, forming a little rugged island abouttwice as long. Bracy's spirits, which were very low, rose now at thesight of Roberts and Drummond helping the other private up into safety,and turning directly to offer them the same aid if they could manage toget within reach.
"Keep it up, sir," cried Gedge, who was swimming hard, "or we shall beswep' one way or t'other. It'll be nigh as a touch, for the watershoots off jolly swift."
Bracy had needed no telling, and he exerted all his strength to keep sothat they might strike the shallows where the island was worn by thefierce torrent to a sharp edge, for to swim a foot or two to the leftmeant being carried towards the side of the enemy, while to the rightwas into swifter water rushing by the island with increased force.
"Stick to it, sir," cried Gedge. "Side-stroke, sir. No fear o' notkeeping afloat. That's your sort. We shall do it. Ah!"
Gedge's last cry was one of rage and disappointment, for, in spite oftheir efforts, just as they seemed to be within a few feet of the pointat which they aimed, they found themselves snatched as it were by theunder-current, and, still holding to their half-drowned companion, theywould have been carried past but for a brave effort made by Roberts, whowas prepared for the emergency. By stepping out as far as he dared,holding by Drummond's long arm, and reaching low, he caught Gedge'sextended hand.
The shock was sharp, and he went down upon his face in the water; butDrummond held on, the little knot of struggling men swung round to theside, and in another minute they were among the rocks, where theyregained their feet, and drew the insensible private up on to dry land.
"That was near," said Roberts, who was breathless from exertion. "Hurt,Drummond?"
"Oh no, not at, all," was the laughing reply. "I never did lie on therack, having my arms torn out of the sockets; but it must have beensomething like this."
"I'm very sorry," cried Roberts.
"Oh, I'm not, old man. How are you, Bracy--not hit?"
"No, no; I shall be all right directly. Thank you, old chaps, forsaving us. Never mind me; try and see to this poor fellow. I'm afraidhe's drowned."
"No, sir; he ain't, sir," cried Gedge; "he's coming round all right.It's more that crack in the ear I give him than the water. I hit him ashard as I could. There! look, gents; his eyes is winking."
It was as the lad said; the unfortunate non-swimmer's eyelids werequivering slightly, and at the end of a minute he opened them widely andstared vacantly at the sunny sky. The officers were bending over him,when they received a broad hint that their position was known, a coupleof shots being fired from the farther bank, higher up-stream, one ofwhich struck the rock above them and splintered off a few scraps, whichfell pattering down.
"Quick!" cried Roberts. "We must get those two along here for a bit.The high part will shelter us then; but as soon as possible we must haveanother try for the shore."
The shelter was soon reached, and all crouched together in the sunshine,with the water streaming from them, the officers busily scanning thebank of the rushing river opposite, and calculating the possibility ofreaching it. There was plenty of cover, and very little likelihood ofthe enemy crossing the river in its swollen state; but there was thatmad nice some twenty yards wide to get over with two helpless men; andat last Roberts spoke in a low tone to his companions.
"I can't see how it's to be done, boys. I dare say we four could reachthe bank somewhere; but we're heavily handicapped by those two who can'tswim."
"And there isn't time to teach them now," said Drummond sardonically.
"And we can't leave them," said Bracy. "What's to be done?"
Gedge was eager to offer a suggestion upon the slightest encouragement,and this he obtained from Roberts, who turned to him.
"How's the sprain, my lad?"
"Bit stiff, sir; that's all," was the reply. "Water done it a lot o'good."
"Think you could drop down with the stream and land somewhere near thefort to tell them how we're pressed?"
"Dessay I could, sir; but don't send me, please."
"Why?" asked Roberts and Bracy in a breath.
Gedge gave them a comical look, and waved his hand in the direction ofhis comrades.
"We all come out together to have what we called a nice little walk,sir, and a look at that there waterfall, as turned out to be farther offthan we reckoned on. I shouldn't like to cut off and leave 'em in thelurch, sir."
"Lurch? Nonsense, my lad," said Bracy. "You would be going on a veryrisky errand to try and save us all."
"Yes, sir; o' course, sir; but I could get one of 'em over that littlebit if you three gents could manage t'other. They'll be all right in afew minutes."
"I don't like sending him," said Roberts. "It is very dangerous, and wemust, try it together."
His companions
gave; a short, sharp nod, and acquiesced.
"If we only knew what is below us!" said Bracy as he gazed down-stream.
"Niggers," said Drummond shortly. "There'll be a dozen or two beyondthese rocks waiting to pot us as soon as we are carried into sight bythe stream."
"Well, there'll only be our heads to aim at," said Bracy; "and we mustnot go down in a cluster this time."
"No," said Roberts. "As soon as you feel ready, Bracy, we must start.It is madness to stay here. You and Gedge take that fellow between you;and Drummond and I will go as before."
"Hear that?" whispered Gedge to his comrade, who gave him a sulky nod."That's right; and mind, I'm ready for yer this time. I shan't hit yer;but if yer moves hand or foot when I've turned yer over on yer back tofloat, we lets yer go, and yer can get across the blessed river byyerself."
"All right," said the man; "but I don't believe yer, Billy Gedge. Inever learnt to swim, but if I could I shouldn't talk about leaving apardner to shift for hisself."
"Er-r-er!" growled Gedge, whom these words seemed to mollify. "Well,keep them 'ands o' yours in the water, for as long as you holds 'em downyou helps me to keep yer afloat, and as soon as yer begins to makewindmills of 'em and waves 'em, or chucks 'em about as if you was tryingto ketch flies, down you goes."
"All right," said the man, as they heard more bullets spattering on therocks above them; "but, oh, how my hands does itch for a rifle and achance to be taking shots at some of these beauties!"
"Yes," said Gedge; "and I hope it won't be long first. I hadn't anyspite partickler agen 'em before, but I have now. Ha' they got anyorspitals or doctors?"
"I dunno," said the other; "but if we gets outer this and in the ranksagain, there's going to be some of the beds filled, and a bit o' workfor their doctors to do."
"Well, my lads," said Roberts, stepping to where the three men crouchedgazing at the deep, rushing water; "feel strong enough to start?"
"Yes, sir," came in chorus.
"And we shan't get in a tangle this time, sir, I hope," said Gedge.
"I hope not, my lad. Up with you, then."
There were no preparations to make; nothing to do but for the twoofficers to get their man face upward between them, and stand readywhile Bracy and Gedge followed suit with theirs.
"Ready?" said Roberts. "Count ten after we've started, and thenfollow."
As soon as he had spoken he gave Drummond a nod, and they stepped amongthe rocks to the swift water, bent down, and, as they lowered themselvesin, the strong current seized them, as it were, their helpless companionwas drawn out, and away they went as fast as a horse could have trotted,down what was a veritable water-slide.
"Now, my lad," cried Bracy as Gedge, at a signal, went on counting theten slowly. "Keep a good heart. We won't leave you."
"All right, sir;" said the man, drawing a deep breath.
"Nine--ten!" counted Gedge.
"Off!" cried Bracy, but checked himself for a moment, startled by thenoise of the ragged volley which was fired from the enemy's bank as soonas they caught sight of the three heads gliding down the stream.
"If they are hit!" mentally exclaimed Bracy; and then, making a sign toGedge, they followed out the precedent shown them, and the water seizedand bore them along, with the private floating between them, theirsteady subsidence into the water and slow strokes keeping them well uponthe surface.
So swiftly did they pass along that only a few moments had passed beforethe crackling of the firing from the far bank came plainly, and bulletsricochetted from the water to strike the other bank, but without effect,the rate at which they were descending making the aim taken with thelong, clumsy matchlocks of no effect. Not a word was littered; and withtheir friends far ahead, their heads just seen, the fugitives glidedalong the straight course below them, free as it was from rocks. Butthey were evidently in full view of fresh parties of the enemy, and shotafter shot splashed the water.
"Now for the bank, Gedge," cried Bracy suddenly.
"Yes, sir; all right, sir; but it's of no use."
"It is," cried Bracy angrily. "They are making for it now."
"Yes, sir: and they're swept by it. Can't you see it's like a smoothwall, with the water running by it like a railway train?"
Gedge was right; and there was nothing for it but to go with the streamtowards the rocks which now rose right in their way, the long raceending in a wide chaos of foaming water, which leaped and sparkled inthe afternoon sun.
"We shall be torn to pieces there," thought Bracy; and he strained hiseyes to try and make out an opening; but his attention was taken up thenext moment by the cracking of matchlocks and the puffs of smoke risingto his left, as fire was opened upon their leaders, who were running thegauntlet that it would be their fate to share in another minute, whenGedge suddenly uttered a hoarse cheer, and nearly lost his grip of hiscompanion; for, quick, sharp, and loud, a genuine British volley rattledout, almost like a report from a piece of artillery, the bullets sendingthe leaves on the enemy's bank pattering down. Then another, and atregular intervals others; while the eyes of the swimmers were gladdenedby the sight of friends making their way down among the rocks, towardswhich they were being rushed. Another volley rang out; there was acheer, in which the two helpless privates joined; and directly after thefugitives were saved from being battered among the rocks by ready hands,whose efforts were covered by the rapid firing from the bank above.
Five minutes after, the dripping party were retiring with a company oftheir regiment, whose captain contented himself with giving the enemy avolley from time to time, as they doubled to reach their quarters, nownot a quarter of a mile away, the young officers learning that the enemywas out once more and converging upon the fort, this unexpected news ofthe termination of the temporary peace having been brought in by scouts,and none too soon.
"Graves said that you must be brought in somehow," said the officer incharge of the company; "but I was not to cross the river where you did,but to come up this side, for you would turn back after crossing higherup."
"Yes; I remember telling the Colonel so," said Bracy eagerly.
"Well, it has turned out all right; but he needn't have told me, for wecould not have crossed, as far as I can see."
"We did," said Drummond, laughing; "and brought in these three fellows,too."
"Yes; but I wouldn't holloa too soon," said the officer addressed."We're not safe yet. Look yonder; they're swarming down that gorge, andwe must race for it, or they'll cut us off. Forward, my lads."
Ten minutes later there was a halt and a clinking rattle, as the orderwas given to fix bayonets ready for a strong body of the hill-men, whohad crossed the shallows lower down and were coming on to dispute theirway.
"Why doesn't Graves send out another company to cover us?" pantedRoberts. "We shall be cut off after all."
The words had hardly passed his lips when--crash!--there was atremendous volley from their right front, which checked the enemy'sadvance, the white-coated hill-men hesitating. The officer in commandseized the opportunity, and a volley was fired by the rescue company,the men cheering as they dashed on with bristling bayonets. That wasenough: the enemy turned and fled, their speed increased by anothervolley from the covering company; and ten minutes later the fugitiveswere marching along coolly, protected by the fire from the walls of thefort, where they were directly after being heartily shaken by the hand,the sally-port clanging to in their rear.
"Quite enough for one day," said Drummond.
"Yes," said Bracy grimly; "that's having what Gedge called a nice longwalk."
"Yes," said Roberts; "with a swim thrown in."