CHAPTER XIV
THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE CRUIVES
The military historian must often make shift to write of battles withslender data, but he can pad out his deficiencies by learned parallels.If his were the talented pen describing this, the latest action foughton British soil against a foreign foe, he would no doubt be crippled bythe absence of written orders and war diaries. But how eloquently hewould discant on the resemblance between Dougal and Gouraud--how theplan of leaving the enemy to waste his strength upon a deserted positionwas that which on the 15th of July, 1918, the French general had usedwith decisive effect in Champagne! But Dougal had never heard ofGouraud, and I cannot claim that, like the Happy Warrior, he
"through the heat of conflict kept the law In calmness made, and saw what he foresaw."
I have had the benefit of discussing the affair with him and hiscolleagues, but I should offend against historic truth if I representedthe main action as anything but a scrimmage--a "soldiers' battle," thehistorian would say, a Malplaquet, an Albuera.
Just after half-past three that afternoon the Commander-in-Chief wasrevealed in a very bad temper. He had intercepted Sir Archie's car,and, since Leon was known to be fully occupied, had brought it in by theWest Lodge, and hidden it behind a clump of laurels. There he had held ahoarse council of war. He had cast an appraising eye over Sime thebutler, Carfrae the chauffeur, and McGuffog the gamekeeper, and hisbrows had lightened when he beheld Sir Archie with an armful of guns andtwo big cartridge-magazines. But they had darkened again at the firstwords of the leader of the reinforcements.
"Now for the Tower," Sir Archie had observed cheerfully. "We should be amatch for the three watchers, my lad, and it's time that poor devilWhat's-his-name was relieved."
"A bonny-like plan that would be," said Dougal. "Man, ye would bewalkin' into the very trap they want. In an hour, or maybe two, the restwill turn up from the sea and they'd have ye tight by the neck. Na, na!It's time we're wantin', and the longer they think we're a' in the auldTower the better for us. What news o' the polis?"
He listened to Sir Archie's report with a gloomy face.
"Not afore the darkenin'? They'll be ower late--the polis are aye owerlate. It looks as if we had the job to do oursels. What's _your_notion?"
"God knows," said the baronet whose eyes were on Saskia. "What's yours?"
The deference conciliated Dougal. "There's just the one plan that'sworth a docken. There's five o' us here, and there's plenty weapons.Besides there's five Die-Hards somewhere about, and though they'venever tried it afore they can be trusted to loose off a gun. My adviceis to hide at the Garplefoot and stop the boats landin'. We'd have thetinklers on our flank, no doubt, but I'm not muckle feared o' them. Itwouldn't be easy for the boats to get in wi' this tearin' wind and usfirin' volleys from the shore."
Sir Archie stared at him with admiration. "You're a hearty youngfire-eater. But Great Scott! we can't go pottin' at strangers before wefind out their business. This is a law-abidin' country, and we're notentitled to start shootin' except in self-defence. You can wash thatplan out, for it ain't feasible."
Dougal spat cynically. "For all that it's the right strawtegy. Man, wemight sink the lot, and then turn and settle wi' Dobson, and all aforethe first polisman showed his neb. It would be a grand performance. ButI was feared ye wouldn't be for it.... Well, there's just the one otherthing to do. We must get inside the Hoose and put it in a state ofdefence. Heritage has McCunn's pistol, and he'll keep them busy for abit. When they've finished wi' him and find the place is empty, they'lltry the Hoose and we'll give them a warm reception. That should keep usgoin' till the polis arrive, unless they're comin' wi' the blindcarrier."
Sir Archie nodded. "But why put ourselves in their power at all? They'reat present barking up the wrong tree. Let them bark up another wrong'un. Why shouldn't the House remain empty? I take it we're here toprotect the Princess. Well, we'll have done that if they go offempty-handed."
Dougal looked up to the heavens. "I wish McCunn was here," he sighed."Ay, we've got to protect the Princess, and there's just the one way todo it, and that's to put an end to this crowd o' blagyirds. If they gangempty-handed, they'll come again another day, either here or somewhereelse, and it won't be long afore they get the lassie. But if we finishwith them now she can sit down wi' an easy mind. That's why we've got tohang on to them till the polis comes. There's no way out o' thisbusiness but a battle."
He found an ally. "Dougal is right," said Saskia. "If I am to havepeace, by some way or other the fangs of my enemies must be drawn forever."
He swung round and addressed her formally. "Mem, I'm askin' ye for thelast time. Will ye keep out of this business? Will ye gang back and sitdoun aside Mrs. Morran's fire and have your tea and wait till we comefor ye? Ye can do no good, and ye're puttin' yourself terrible in theenemy's power. If we're beat and ye're no' there, they get very littlesatisfaction, but if they get _you_ they get what they've come seekin'.I tell ye straight--ye're an encumbrance."
She laughed mischievously. "I can shoot better than you," she said.
He ignored the taunt. "Will ye listen to sense and fall to the rear?"
"I will not," she said.
"Then gang your own gait. I'm ower wise to argy-bargy wi' women. TheHoose be it!"
It was a journey which sorely tried Dougal's temper. The only way in wasby the verandah, but the door at the west end had been locked, and theladder had disappeared. Now of his party three were lame, one lacked anarm, and one was a girl; besides, there were the guns and cartridges totransport. Moreover, at more than one point before the verandah wasreached the route was commanded by a point on the ridge near the oldTower, and that had been Spidel's position when Dougal made his lastreconnaissance. It behoved to pass these points swiftly andunobtrusively, and his company was neither swift nor unobtrusive.McGuffog had a genius for tripping over obstacles, and Sir Archie wasfor ever proffering his aid to Saskia, who was in a position to giverather than to receive, being far the most active of the party. OnceDougal had to take the gamekeeper's head and force it down, aperformance which would have led to an immediate assault but for SirArchie's presence. Nor did the latter escape. "Will ye stop heedin' thelassie, and attend to your own job," the Chieftain growled. "Ye'remakin' as much noise as a road-roller."
Arrived at the foot of the verandah wall there remained the problem ofthe escalade. Dougal clambered up like a squirrel by the help of cracksin the stones, and he could be heard trying the handle of the door intothe House. He was absent for about five minutes and then his head peepedover the edge accompanied by the hooks of an iron ladder. "From theboiler-house," he informed them as they stood clear for the thing todrop. It proved to be little more than half the height of the wall.
Saskia ascended first, and had no difficulty in pulling herself over theparapet. Then came the guns and ammunition, and then the one-armed Sime,who turned out to be an athlete. But it was no easy matter getting upthe last three. Sir Archie anathematised his frailties. "Nice old crockto go tiger-shootin' with," he told the Princess. "But set me tosomething where my confounded leg don't get in the way, and I'm stillpretty useful!" Dougal, mopping his brow with the rag he called hishandkerchief, observed sourly that he objected to going scouting with aherd of elephants.
Once indoors his spirits rose. The party from the Mains had broughtseveral electric torches and the one lamp was presently found and lit."We can't count on the polis," Dougal announced, "and when theforeigners is finished wi' the Tower they'll come on here. If no', wemust make them. What is it the sodgers call it? Forcin' a battle? Nowsee here! There's the two roads into this place, the back door and theverandy, leavin' out the front door which is chained and lockit. They'lltry those two roads first and we must get them well barricaded in time.But mind, if there's a good few o' them, it'll be an easy job to batterin the front door or the windies, so we maun be ready for that."
He told off a fatigue party--the Princess, Sir Archie and McGuffog--toh
elp in moving furniture to the several doors. Sime and Carfraeattended to the kitchen entrance, while he himself made a tour of theground-floor windows. For half an hour the empty house was loud withstrange sounds. McGuffog, who was a giant in strength, filled thepassage at the verandah end with an assortment of furniture ranging froma grand piano to a vast mahogany sofa, while Saskia and Sir Archiepillaged the bedrooms and packed up the interstices with mattresses inlieu of sandbags. Dougal on his return saw fit to approve their work.
"That'll fickle the blagyirds. Down at the kitchen door we've got amangle, five wash-tubs and the best part of a ton o' coal. It's thewindies I'm anxious about, for they're ower big to fill up. But I'vegotten tubs o' water below them and a lot o' wire-nettin' I fund in thecellar."
Sir Archie morosely wiped his brow. "I can't say I ever hated a jobmore," he told Saskia. "It seems pretty cool to march into somebodyelse's house and make free with his furniture. I hope to goodness ourfriends from the sea do turn up, or we'll look pretty foolish. Loudonwill have a score against me he won't forget."
"Ye're no' weakenin'?" asked Dougal fiercely.
"Not a bit. Only hopin' somebody hasn't made a mighty big mistake."
"Ye needn't be feared for that. Now you listen to your instructions.We're terrible few for such a big place, but we maun make up forshortness o' numbers by extra mobility. The gemkeeper will keep thewindy that looks on the verandy, and fell any man that gets through.You'll hold the verandy door, and the ither lame man--is't Carfrae yecall him?--will keep the back door. I've telled the one-armed man, whohas some kind of a head on him, that he maun keep on the move, watchin'to see if they try the front door or any o' the other windies. If theydo, he takes his station there. D'ye follow?"
Sir Archie nodded gloomily. "What is my post?" Saskia asked.
"I've appointed ye my Chief of Staff," was the answer. "Ye see we've noreserves. If this door's the dangerous bit, it maun be reinforced fromelsewhere; and that'll want savage thinkin'. Ye'll have to be ay on themove, Mem, and keep me informed. If they break in at two bits, we'rebeat, and there'll be nothin' for it but to retire to our last position.Ye ken the room ayont the hall where they keep the coats. That's ourlast trench, and at the worst we fall back there and stick it out. Ithas a strong door and a wee windy, so they'll no' be able to get in onour rear. We should be able to put up a good defence there, unless theyfire the place over our heads.... Now, we'd better give out the guns."
"We don't want any shootin' if we can avoid it," said Sir Archie, whofound his distaste for Dougal growing, though he was under the spell ofthe one being there who knew precisely his own mind.
"Just what I was goin' to say. My instructions is, reserve your fire,and don't loose off till you have a man up against the end o' yourbarrel."
"Good Lord, we'll get into a horrible row. The whole thing may be amistake, and we'll be had up for wholesale homicide. No man shall fireunless I give the word."
The Commander-in-Chief looked at him darkly. Some bitter retort was onhis tongue, but he restrained himself.
"It appears," he said, "that ye think I'm doin' all this for fun. I'llno 'argy wi' ye. There can be just the one general in a battle, but I'llgive ye permission to say the word when to fire.... Macgreegor!" hemuttered, a strange expletive only used in moments of deep emotion."I'll wager ye'll be for sayin' the word afore I'd say it mysel'."
He turned to the Princess. "I hand over to you, till I am back, for Imaun be off and see to the Die-Hards. I wish I could bring them in here,but I daren't lose my communications. I'll likely get in by theboiler-house skylight when I come back, but it might be as well to keepa road open here unless ye're actually attacked."
Dougal clambered over the mattresses and the grand piano; a flicker ofwaning daylight appeared for a second as he squeezed through the door,and Sir Archie was left staring at the wrathful countenance of McGuffog.He laughed ruefully.
"I've been in about forty battles, and here's that little devil ratherworried about my pluck, and talkin' to me like a corps commander to anewly joined second-lieutenant. All the same he's a remarkable child,and we'd better behave as if we were in for a real shindy. What do youthink, Princess?"
"I think we are in for what you call a shindy. I am in command,remember. I order you to serve out the guns."
This was done, a shot-gun and a hundred cartridges to each, whileMcGuffog, who was a marksman, was also given a sporting Mannlicher, andtwo other rifles, a .303 and a small-bore Holland, were kept in reservein the hall. Sir Archie, free from Dougal's compelling presence, gavethe gamekeeper peremptory orders not to shoot till he was bidden, andCarfrae at the kitchen door was warned to the same effect. The shutteredhouse, where the only light apart from the garden-room was the feeblespark of the electric torches, had the most disastrous effect upon hisspirits. The gale which roared in the chimney and eddied among therafters of the hall seemed an infernal commotion in a tomb.
"Let's go upstairs," he told Saskia; "there must be a view from theupper windows."
"You can see the top of the old Tower, and part of the sea," she said."I know it well, for it was my only amusement to look at it. On cleardays, too, one could see high mountains far in the west." His depressionseemed to have affected her, for she spoke listlessly, unlike the vividcreature who had led the way in.
In a gaunt west-looking bedroom, the one in which Heritage and Dicksonhad camped the night before, they opened a fold of the shutters andlooked out into a world of grey wrack and driving rain. The Tower roofshowed mistily beyond the ridge of down, but its environs were not intheir prospect. The lower regions of the House had been gloomy enough,but this bleak place with its drab outlook struck a chill to SirArchie's soul. He dolefully lit a cigarette.
"This is a pretty rotten show for you," he told her. "It strikes me as arather unpleasant brand of nightmare."
"I have been living with nightmares for three years," she said wearily.
He cast his eyes round the room. "I think the Kennedys were mad to buildthis confounded barrack. I've always disliked it, and old Quentin hadn'tany use for it either. Cold, cheerless, raw monstrosity! It hasn't beena very giddy place for you, Princess."
"It has been my prison, when I hoped it would be a sanctuary. But it mayyet be my salvation."
"I'm sure I hope so. I say, you must be jolly hungry. I don't supposethere's any chance of tea for you."
She shook her head. She was looking fixedly at the Tower, as if sheexpected something to appear there, and he followed her eyes.
"Rum old shell, that. Quentin used to keep all kinds of live stockthere, and when we were boys it was our castle where we played at bein'robber chiefs. It'll be dashed queer if the real thing should turn upthis time. I suppose McCunn's Poet is roostin' there all by his lone.Can't say I envy him his job."
Suddenly she caught his arm. "I see a man," she whispered. "There! He isbehind those far bushes. There is his head again!"
It was clearly a man, but he presently disappeared, for he had comeround by the south end of the House, past the stables, and had now goneover the ridge.
"The cut of his jib is uncommonly like Loudon, the factor. I thoughtMcCunn had stretched him on a bed of pain. Lord, if this thing shouldturn out a farce, I simply can't face Loudon.... I say, Princess, youdon't suppose by any chance that McCunn's a little bit wrong in thehead?"
She turned her candid eyes on him. "You are in a very doubting mood."
"My feet are cold and I don't mind admittin' it. Hanged if I know whatit is, but I don't feel this show a bit real. If it isn't, we're in afair way to make howlin' idiots of ourselves, and get pretty wellembroiled with the law. It's all right for the red-haired boy, for hecan take everything seriously, even play. I could do the same thingmyself when I was a kid. I don't mind runnin' some kinds of risk--I'vehad a few in my time--but this is so infernally outlandish and I--Idon't quite believe in it. That is to say, I believe in it right enoughwhen I look at you or listen to McCunn, but as soon as my eyes are offyou I begin to
doubt again. I'm gettin' old and I've a stake in thecountry, and I daresay I'm gettin' a bit of a prig--anyway I don't wantto make a jackass of myself. Besides, there's this foul weather andthis beastly house to ice my feet."
He broke off with an exclamation, for on the grey cloud-bounded stage inwhich the roof of the Tower was the central feature, actors hadappeared. Dim hurrying shapes showed through the mist, dipping over theridge, as if coming from the Garplefoot.
She seized his arm and he saw that her listlessness was gone. Her eyeswere shining.
"It is they," she cried. "The nightmare is real at last. Do you doubtnow?"
He could only stare, for these shapes arriving and vanishing like wispsof fog still seemed to him phantasmal. The girl held his arm tightlyclutched, and craned towards the window space. He tried to open theframe, and succeeded in smashing the glass. A swirl of wind droveinwards and blew a loose lock of Saskia's hair across his brow.
"I wish Dougal were back," he muttered, and then came the crack of ashot.
The pressure on his arm slackened, and a pale face was turned to him."He is alone--Mr. Heritage. He has no chance. They will kill him like adog."
"They'll never get in," he assured her. "Dougal said the place couldhold out for hours."
Another shot followed and presently a third. She twined her hands andher eyes were wild.
"We can't leave him to be killed," she gasped.
"It's the only game. We're playin' for time, remember. Besides he won'tbe killed. Great Scott!"
As he spoke, a sudden explosion cleft the drone of the wind and a patchof gloom flashed into yellow light.
"Bomb!" he cried. "Lord, I might have thought of that."
The girl had sprung back from the window. "I cannot bear it. I will notsee him murdered in sight of his friends. I am going to show myself, andwhen they see me they will leave him.... No, you must stay here.Presently they will be round this house. Don't be afraid for me--I amvery quick of foot."
"For God's sake, don't! Here, Princess, stop," and he clutched at herskirt. "Look here, I'll go."
"You can't. You have been wounded. I am in command, you know. Keep thedoor open till I come back."
He hobbled after her, but she easily eluded him. She was smiling now,and blew a kiss to him. "La, la, la," she trilled, as she ran down thestairs. He heard her voice below, admonishing McGuffog. Then he pulledhimself together and went back to the window. He had brought the littleHolland with him, and he poked its barrel through the hole in the glass.
"Curse my game leg," he said, almost cheerfully, for the situation wasnow becoming one with which he could cope. "I ought to be able to holdup the pursuit a bit. My aunt! What a girl!"
With the rifle cuddled to his shoulder he watched a slim figure comeinto sight on the lawn, running towards the ridge. He reflected that shemust have dropped from the high verandah wall. That reminded him thatsomething must be done to make the wall climbable for her return, so hewent down to McGuffog, and the two squeezed through the barricaded doorto the verandah. The boiler-house ladder was still in position, but itdid not reach half the height, so McGuffog was adjured to stand by tohelp, and in the meantime to wait on duty by the wall. Then he hurriedupstairs to his watch-tower.
The girl was in sight, almost on the crest of the high ground. There shestood for a moment, one hand clutching at her errant hair, the othershielding her eyes from the sting of the rain. He heard her cry, asHeritage had heard her, but since the wind was blowing towards him thesound came louder and fuller. Again she cried, and then stood motionlesswith her hands above her head. It was only for an instant, for the nexthe saw she had turned and was racing down the slope, jumping the littlescrogs of hazel like a deer. On the ridge appeared faces, and then overit swept a mob of men.
She had a start of some fifty yards, and laboured to increase it, havingdoubtless the verandah wall in mind. Sir Archie, sick with anxiety,nevertheless spared time to admire her prowess. "Gad! she's a miler," heejaculated. "She'll do it. I'm hanged if she don't do it."
Against men in seaman's boots and heavy clothing she had a clearadvantage. But two shook themselves loose from the pack and began togain on her. At the main shrubbery they were not thirty yards behind,and in her passage through it her skirts must have delayed her, for whenshe emerged the pursuit had halved the distance. He got the sights ofthe rifle on the first man, but the lawns sloped up towards the house,and to his consternation he found that the girl was in the line of fire.Madly he ran to the other window of the room, tore back the shutters,shivered the glass, and flung his rifle to his shoulder. The fellow waswithin three yards of her, but thank God! he had now a clear field. Hefired low and just ahead of him, and had the satisfaction to see himdrop like a rabbit, shot in the leg. His companion stumbled over him,and for a moment the girl was safe.
But her speed was failing. She passed out of sight on the verandah sideof the house, and the rest of the pack had gained ominously over theeasier ground of the lawn. He thought for a moment of trying to stopthem by his fire, but realised that if every shot told there would stillbe enough of them left to make sure of her capture. The only chance wasat the verandah, and he went downstairs at a pace undreamed of since thedays when he had two whole legs.
McGuffog, Mannlicher in hand, was poking his neck over the wall. Thepursuit had turned the corner and were about twenty yards off; the girlwas at the foot of the ladder, breathless, drooping with fatigue. Shetried to climb, limply and feebly, and very slowly, as if she were toogiddy to see clear. Above were two cripples, and at her back the van ofthe now triumphant pack.
Sir Archie, game leg or no, was on the parapet preparing to drop downand hold off the pursuit were it only for seconds. But at that moment hewas aware that the situation had changed.
At the foot of the ladder a tall man seemed to have sprung out of theground. He caught the girl in his arms, climbed the ladder, andMcGuffog's great hands reached down and seized her and swung her intosafety. Up the wall, by means of cracks and tufts, was shinning a smallboy.
The stranger coolly faced the pursuers and at the sight of him theychecked, those behind stumbling against those in front. He was speakingto them in a foreign tongue, and to Sir Archie's ear the words were likethe crack of a lash. The hesitation was only for a moment, for a voiceamong them cried out, and the whole pack gave tongue shrilly and surgedon again. But that instant of check had given the stranger his chance.He was up the ladder, and, gripping the parapet, found rest for his feetin a fissure. Then he bent down, drew up the ladder, handed it toMcGuffog and with a mighty heave pulled himself over the top.
He seemed to hope to defend the verandah, but the door at the west endwas being assailed by a contingent of the enemy, and he saw that itsthin woodwork was yielding.
"Into the House," he cried, as he picked up the ladder and tossed itover the wall on the pack surging below. He was only just in time, forthe west door yielded. In two steps he had followed McGuffog through thechink into the passage, and the concussion of the grand piano pushedhard against the verandah door from within coincided with the firstbattering on the said door from without.
In the garden-room the feeble lamp showed a strange grouping. Saskia hadsunk into a chair to get her breath, and seemed too dazed to be aware ofher surroundings. Dougal was manfully striving to appear at his ease,but his lip was quivering.
"A near thing that time," he observed. "It was the blame of that man'sauld motor-bicycle."
The stranger cast sharp eyes around the place and company.
"An awkward corner, gentlemen," he said. "How many are there of you?Four men and a boy? And you have placed guards at all the entrances?"
"They have bombs," Sir Archie reminded him.
"No doubt. But I do not think they will use them here--or their guns,unless there is no other way. Their purpose is kidnapping, and they hopeto do it secretly and slip off without leaving a trace. If theyslaughter us, as they easily can, the cry will be out against them, andtheir vessel will be unpleasantl
y hunted. Half their purpose is alreadyspoiled, for it is no longer secret.... They may break us by sheerweight, and I fancy the first shooting will be done by us. It's thewindows I'm afraid of."
Some tone in his quiet voice reached the girl in the wicker chair. Shelooked up wildly, saw him and with a cry of "Alesha" ran to his arms.There she hung, while his hand fondled her hair, like a mother with ascared child. Sir Archie, watching the whole thing in some stupefaction,thought he had never in his days seen more nobly matched humancreatures.
"It is my friend," she cried triumphantly, "the friend whom I appointedto meet me here. Oh, I did well to trust him. Now we need not fearanything."
As if in ironical answer came a great crashing at the verandah door, andthe twanging of chords cruelly mishandled. The grand piano was sufferinginternally from the assaults of the boiler-house ladder.
"Wull I gie them a shot?" was McGuffog's hoarse inquiry.
"Action stations," Alexis ordered, for the command seemed to haveshifted to him from Dougal. "The windows are the danger. The boy willpatrol the ground floor, and give us warning, and I and this man,"pointing to Sime, "will be ready at the threatened point. And for God'ssake no shooting, unless I give the word. If we take them on at thatgame we haven't a chance."
He said something to Saskia in Russian and she smiled assent and went toSir Archie's side. "You and I must keep this door," she said.
Sir Archie was never very clear afterwards about the events of the nexthour. The Princess was in the maddest spirits, as if the burden of threeyears had slipped from her and she was back in her first girlhood. Shesang as she carried more lumber to the pile--perhaps the song which hadonce entranced Heritage, but Sir Archie had no ear for music. Shemocked at the furious blows which rained at the other end, for the doorhad gone now, and in the windy gap could be seen a blur of dark faces.Oddly enough, he found his own spirits mounting to meet hers. It wasreal business at last, the qualms of the civilian had been forgotten,and there was rising in him that joy in a scrap which had once made himone of the most daring airmen on the Western Front. The only thing thatworried him now was the coyness about shooting. What on earth were hisrifles and shot-guns for unless to be used? He had seen the enemy fromthe verandah wall, and a more ruffianly crew he had never dreamed of.They meant the uttermost business, and against such it was surely theduty of good citizens to wage whole-hearted war.
The Princess was humming to herself a nursery rhyme. "The King ofSpain's daughter," she crooned, "came to visit me, and all for thesake----Oh, that poor piano!" In her clear voice she cried something inRussian, and the wind carried a laugh from the verandah. At the sound ofit she stopped. "I had forgotten," she said. "Paul is there. I hadforgotten." After that she was very quiet, but she redoubled her laboursat the barricade.
To the man it seemed that the pressure from without was slackening. Hecalled to McGuffog to ask about the garden-room window, and the replywas reassuring. The gamekeeper was gloomily contemplating Dougal's tubsof water and wire-netting, as he might have contemplated a vermin trap.
Sir Archie was growing acutely anxious--the anxiety of the defender of astraggling fortress which is vulnerable at a dozen points. It seemed tohim that strange noises were coming from the rooms beyond the hall. Didthe back door lie that way? And was not there a smell of smoke in theair? If they tried fire in such a gale the place would burn likematchwood.
He left his post and in the hall found Dougal.
"All quiet," the Chieftain reported. "Far ower quiet. I don't like it.The enemy's no' puttin' out his strength yet. The Russian says a' thewest windies are terrible dangerous. Him and the chauffeur's doin' theirbest, but ye can't block thae muckle glass panes."
He returned to the Princess, and found that the attack had indeedlanguished on that particular barricade. The withers of the grand pianowere left unwrung, and only a faint scuffling informed him that theverandah was not empty. "They're gathering for an attack elsewhere," hetold himself. But what if that attack were a feint? He and McGuffog muststick to their post, for in his belief the verandah door and thegarden-room window were the easiest places where an entry in mass couldbe forced.
Suddenly Dougal's whistle blew, and with it came a most almighty crashsomewhere towards the west side. With a shout of "Hold tight,McGuffog," Sir Archie bolted into the hall, and, led by the sound,reached what had once been the ladies' bedroom. A strange sight met hiseyes, for the whole framework of one window seemed to have been thrustinward, and in the gap Alexis was swinging a fender. Three of the enemywere in the room--one senseless on the floor, one in the grip of Sime,whose single hand was tightly clenched on his throat, and one engagedwith Dougal in a corner. The Die-Hard leader was sore pressed, and tohis help Sir Archie went. The fresh assault made the seaman duck hishead, and Dougal seized the occasion to smite him hard with somethingwhich caused him to roll over. It was Spidel's life-preserver which hehad annexed that afternoon.
Alexis at the window seemed to have for a moment daunted the attack."Bring that table," he cried, and the thing was jammed into the gap."Now you"--this to Sime--"get the man from the back door to hold thisplace with his gun. There's no attack there. It's about time forshooting now, or we'll have them in our rear. What in heaven is that?"
It was McGuffog whose great bellow resounded down the corridor. SirArchie turned and shuffled back, to be met by a distressing spectacle.The lamp, burning as peacefully as it might have burned on an old lady'stea-table, revealed the window of the garden-room driven bodily inward,shutters and all, and now forming an inclined bridge over Dougal'sineffectual tubs. In front of it stood McGuffog, swinging his gun by thebarrel and yelling curses, which, being mainly couched in thevernacular, were happily meaningless to Saskia. She herself stood at thehall door, plucking at something hidden in her breast. He saw that itwas a little ivory-handled pistol.
The enemy's feint had succeeded, for even as Sir Archie looked three menleaped into the room. On the neck of one the butt of McGuffog's guncrashed, but two scrambled to their feet and made for the girl. SirArchie met the first with his fist, a clean drive on the jaw, followedby a damaging hook with his left that put him out of action. The otherhesitated for an instant and was lost, for McGuffog caught him by thewaist from behind and sent him through the broken frame to join hiscomrades without.
"Up the stairs," Dougal was shouting, for the little room beyond thehall was clearly impossible. "Our flank's turned. They're pourin'through the other windy." Out of a corner of his eye Sir Archie caughtsight of Alexis, with Sime and Carfrae in support, being slowly forcedtowards them along the corridor. "Upstairs," he shouted. "Come on,McGuffog. Lead on, Princess." He dashed out the lamp, and the place wasin darkness.
With this retreat from the forward trench line ended the opening phaseof the battle. It was achieved in good order, and position was taken upon the first-floor landing, dominating the main staircase and thepassage that led to the back stairs. At their back was a short corridorending in a window which gave on the north side of the House above theverandah, and from which an active man might descend to the verandahroof. It had been carefully reconnoitred beforehand by Dougal, and hiswere the dispositions.
The odd thing was that the retreating force were in good heart. Thethree men from the Mains were warming to their work, and McGuffog worean air of genial ferocity. "Dashed fine position I call this," said SirArchie. Only Alexis was silent and preoccupied. "We are still at theirmercy," he said. "Pray God your police come soon." He forbade shootingyet awhile. "The lady is our strong card," he said. "They won't usetheir guns while she is with us, but if it ever comes to shooting theycan wipe us out in a couple of minutes. One of you watch that window,for Paul Abreskov is no fool."
Their exhilaration was short-lived. Below in the hall it was blackdarkness save for a greyness at the entrance of the verandah passage;but the defence was soon aware that the place was thick with men.Presently there came a scuffling from Carfrae's post towards the backstairs, and a cry as of some one choking. And a
t the same moment a flarewas lit below which brought the whole hall from floor to rafters intoblinding light.
It revealed a crowd of figures, some still in the hall and some half-wayup the stairs, and it revealed, too, more figures at the end of theupper landing where Carfrae had been stationed. The shapes weremotionless like mannequins in a shop window.
"They've got us treed all right," Sir Archie groaned. "What the devilare they waiting for?"
"They wait for their leader," said Alexis.
No one of the party will ever forget the ensuing minutes. After thehubbub of the barricades the ominous silence was like icy water,chilling and petrifying with an indefinable fear. There was no sound butthe wind, but presently mingled with it came odd wild voices.
"Hear to the whaups," McGuffog whispered.
Sir Archie, who found the tension unbearable, sought relief incontradiction. "You're an unscientific brute, McGuffog," he told hishenchman. "It's a disgrace that a gamekeeper should be such a rottennaturalist. What would whaups be doin' here at this time of year?"
"A' the same, I could swear it's whaups, Sir Erchibald."
Then Dougal broke in and his voice was excited. "It's no whaups. That'sour patrol signal. Man, there's hope for us yet. I believe it's thepolis."
His words were unheeded, for the figures below drew apart and a youngman came through them. His beautifully-shaped dark head was bare, and ashe moved he unbuttoned his oilskins and showed the trim dark-blue garbof the yachtsman. He walked confidently up the stairs, an odd elegantfigure among his heavy companions.
"Good afternoon, Alexis," he said in English. "I think we may now regardthis interesting episode as closed. I take it that you surrender.Saskia, dear, you are coming with me on a little journey. Will you tellmy men where to find your baggage?"
The reply was in Russian. Alexis' voice was as cool as the other's, andit seemed to wake him to anger. He replied in a rapid torrent of words,and appealed to the men below, who shouted back. The flare was dyingdown, and shadows again hid most of the hall.
Dougal crept up behind Sir Archie. "Here, I think it's the polis.They're whistlin' outbye, and I hear folk cryin' to each other--no' theforeigners."
Again Alexis spoke, and then Saskia joined in. What she said rang sharpwith contempt, and her fingers played with her little pistol.
Suddenly before the young man could answer Dobson bustled towards him.The innkeeper was labouring under some strong emotion, for he seemed tobe pleading and pointing urgently towards the door.
"I tell ye it's the polis," whispered Dougal. "They're nickit."
There was a swaying in the crowd and anxious faces. Men surged in,whispered and went out, and a clamour arose which the leader stilledwith a fierce gesture.
"You there," he cried, looking up, "you English. We mean you no ill, butI require you to hand over to me the lady and the Russian who is withher. I give you a minute by my watch to decide. If you refuse my men arebehind you and around you, and you go with me to be punished at myleisure."
"I warn you," cried Sir Archie. "We are armed, and will shoot down anyone who dares to lay a hand on us."
"You fool," came the answer. "I can send you all to eternity before youtouch a trigger."
Leon was by his side now--Leon and Spidel, imploring him to do somethingwhich he angrily refused. Outside there was a new clamour, faces showingat the door and then vanishing, and an anxious hum filled the hall....Dobson appeared again and this time he was a figure of fury.
"Are ye daft, man?" he cried. "I tell ye the polis are closin' round us,and there's no' a moment to lose if we would get back to the boats. Ifye'll no' think o' your own neck, I'm thinkin' o' mine. The wholething's a bloody misfire. Come on, lads, if ye're no' besotted ondestruction."
Leon laid a hand on the leader's arm and was roughly shaken off. Spidelfared no better, and the little group on the upper landing saw the twoshrug their shoulders and make for the door. The hall was emptying fast,and the watchers had gone from the back stairs. The young man's voicerose to a scream; he commanded, threatened, cursed; but panic was in theair and he had lost his mastery.
"Quick," croaked Dougal, "now's the time for the counter-attack."
But the figure on the stairs held them motionless. They could not seehis face, but by instinct they knew that it was distraught with fury anddefeat. The flare blazed up again as the flame caught a knot of freshpowder, and once more the place was bright with the uncanny light....The hall was empty save for the pale man who was in the act of turning.
He looked back. "If I go now, I will return. The world is not wideenough to hide you from me, Saskia."
"You will never get her," said Alexis.
A sudden devil flamed into his eyes, the devil of some ancestralsavagery, which would destroy what is desired but unattainable. He swunground, his hand went to his pocket, something clicked, and his arm shotout like a baseball pitcher's.
So intent was the gaze of the others on him, that they did not see asecond figure ascending the stairs. Just as Alexis flung himself beforethe Princess, the new-comer caught the young man's outstretched arm andwrenched something from his hand. The next second he had hurled it intoa far corner where stood the great fireplace. There was a blinding sheetof flame, a dull roar, and then billow upon billow of acrid smoke. As itcleared they saw that the fine Italian chimneypiece, the pride of thebuilder of the House, was a mass of splinters, and that a great hole hadbeen blown through the wall into what had been the dining-room.... Afigure was sitting on the bottom step feeling its bruises. The lastenemy had gone.
When Mr. John Heritage raised his eyes he saw the Princess with a verypale face in the arms of a tall man whom he had never seen before. If hewas surprised at the sight, he did not show it. "Nasty little bombthat. Time fuse. I remember we struck the brand first in July '18."
"Are they rounded up?" Sir Archie asked.
"They've bolted. Whether they'll get away is another matter. I left halfthe mounted police a minute ago at the top of the West Lodge avenue. Theother lot went to the Garplefoot to cut off the boats."
"Good Lord, man," Sir Archie cried, "the police have been here for thelast ten minutes."
"You're wrong. They came with me."
"Then what on earth----?" began the astonished baronet. He stoppedshort, for he suddenly got his answer. Into the hall from the verandahlimped a boy. Never was there seen so ruinous a child. He was drippingwet, his shirt was all but torn off his back, his bleeding nose waspoorly staunched by a wisp of handkerchief, his breeches were inribbons, and his poor bare legs looked as if they had beencomprehensively kicked and scratched. Limpingly he entered, yet with akind of pride, like some small cock-sparrow who has lost most of hisplumage but has vanquished his adversary.
With a yell Dougal went down the stairs. The boy saluted him, and theygravely shook hands. It was the meeting of Wellington and Bluecher.
The Chieftain's voice shrilled in triumph, but there was a break in it.The glory was almost too great to be borne.
"I kenned it," he cried. "It was the Gorbals Die-Hards. There stands theman that done it.... Ye'll no' fickle Thomas Yownie."