CHAPTER X
A Mahratta Stronghold
Owen stood to his full height on the summit of the wall, just over thegateway, and a gallant figure he looked too; for the uniform he wore setoff his straight limbs, his broad shoulders and slim waist, while hisfair hair, his flashing eyes, and his bronzed face enhanced the whole.He was a young officer who attracted attention, and there was littlewonder that the natives obeyed him without demur. Encouraged by Mulhathey had already taken their stations along the wall, some armed withold matchlocks which looked as though they might be of greater danger tothemselves and their comrades than to the enemy, and others with hugestones.
"Hold your fire!" Owen shouted again. "There are at least a hundred ofthose fellows, and they think they are going to burst in. We'll givethem a lesson."
By now the advancing horsemen were within a few yards of the castle, andemerging upon an open space, where no doubt the cattle and horses of theowner were congregated in times of peace, they broadened their front,reined back into line, showing a wonderful mastery over their horses,and then galloped forward, setting up a deafening shout as they came. Upwent their tulwars again, the blades scintillating in the brilliant sunover their heads. Altogether they were a formidable party, and Owenmight have been excused had he experienced a feeling of indecision andfear at their appearance. But he was not the one to flinch. This was hisfirst independent command, and he was determined to make the most of it.He leaned over the wall till the Mahratta horse who were charging downupon the gate saw him, and set up a defiant shout, while their leader, ayoung man of fine appearance, waved his tulwar and called out to him.Then he lifted his hand.
"Fire!" he shouted. "Now, load again."
Setting the peons an example he aimed with his pistol and pulled thetrigger, his bullet striking one of the horses, and causing it to rearand paw the air. Then followed a scattered discharge, while a dozenmissiles were cast at the horsemen. Evidently such a volley wasunexpected, and when it was seen that five of the horsemen had fallenfrom their saddles, the remainder suddenly halted, and turning theirhorses with the rapidity of lightning rode off at a furious gallop.
"They will not rest till we are all taken and cut to pieces, sahib,"said Mulha, as he came to Owen's side, a strange gleam in his eyes. "Wewere fortunate in that we were so close when the alarm was given, but Ifear that it will help us little. There are more than a hundred of theenemy."
"And about thirty here, Mulha. It's a nasty business, I admit, but wemust make the most of it. Bring the old fellow to me, so that I maylearn what has happened."
A minute later the aged native stood in front of Owen, salaaming withthe utmost deference.
"The sahib is great," he said. "But for him these robbers would havebattered the gate in and cut us to pieces."
"When did they come?" asked our hero. "Tell me all about them, and howit is that you and your men live in comparative comfort while all roundhere the villages have been burned."
"It is soon told, sahib. Years ago I built this place, for the land herefavours me, and farming brings plenty of gain. But there were alwaysrobbers eager to despoil me, and having suffered once I madepreparations to beat off other attacks. I gathered arms, the same thatyou see here, and erected this fort. Then I stationed a look-out onyonder tower, and a man has kept watch there ever since. At night thebeasts are driven into the square and the gates shut. We have never beensurprised, and those who have come in the night have been beaten off.These men, however, came in the early hours, when we were busy with thebeasts, driving them out, and they nearly rushed the place. Allah bepraised, they failed by a little!"
"And will try again," said Owen calmly. "There are quite a hundred ofthe fellows, and we are thirty. How much ammunition have you?"
"Plenty, sahib. I have always kept a good store."
"And food and water?"
"Enough for a week. Had the beasts been here there would have been evenmore food. As to water, there is a well in yonder corner."
"Then things are not so bad," smiled Owen. "We have the advantage ofwalls round us, and no need to worry about provisions. That leaves usevery chance of arranging the defence. What of the troops, Mulha?"
"They are seven miles away, sahib, and yonder ridge lies between us andthem. They are not likely to hear the heaviest firing, and cannotpossibly see us from their line of march."
"Then we will put them aside as unlikely to be of use to us," said Owenpromptly. "But bear in mind the fact that a man might manage to get awayas the evening comes, and with a good horse underneath him could reachour friends."
It was a point not to be neglected, but for the moment there was littleuse in considering the matter, for the Mahratta horse were in strengthbefore the small castle, and their movements showed that they werefirmly determined to capture the place without delay. Owen stared out attheir retreating figures, and then ran lightly down the steps which ledto the courtyard. Mulha followed him, and together they inspected thegates.
"Strong enough for ordinary purposes, but would not stand a longbattering," observed Owen. "We must arrange for something to block upthe opening should they beat the gates down. Call the farmer again."
The old man came running to them, and having heard their request, noddedhis head eagerly.
"There are barrels beneath the house, and abundant supplies of stones,"he said. "I will give orders at once."
"And have the things piled in a circle just inside the gates. Now wewill divide the men up for the defence of the castle, and those who arebuilding the barrels and stones into position can act as a reserve. Thatwill leave them free to complete the task."
Some few minutes later they had ascertained the fact that the garrisonof the little fort amounted to thirty-four, including themselves and theaged farmer, while within the house were four of his family, all women.The men were at once divided into two parties; the first consisting oftwenty men, all of whom were armed with matchlocks, were told off to manthe wall on that face of the fort where the gate was situated. Theremainder, now occupied in building up the barrels, were to act as areserve, and were to be prepared to take post wherever the castle was indanger. They were armed with rusty old tulwars, for the arsenal of thefarmer was somewhat limited and very much dilapidated.
"They will have, in particular, to be ready in case the gates are beatenin," said Owen, "and perhaps it would be as well if you took post withthem, Mulha. The old man and I will be above, and will come down ifneed be. Now, can you suggest anything more? We have a store of stonesabove, and our marksmen have been cautioned to fire carefully. What elseis there to do?"
Mulha shook his head and stared round at the top of the wall. "Nothingthat I can think of, sahib," he said. "Should a thought come to me Iwill let you know. Had we not better take some notice of the enemy?"
In their eagerness to have all in readiness they had almost forgottenthe existence of the Mahratta horse, but now Owen hurried to the top ofthe wall. He found the peons stationed there eagerly staring out at thetope of trees.
"They are preparing to move, sahib," one of them said, as he salaamed."I have seen horsemen canter out into the open and then ride back. Itwill not be long before they come."
This indeed proved to be true, for when half an hour had passed somethirty of the wild horsemen rode forth, while behind them followed theremainder, for the most part on foot. It was obvious at once that thisforce was an irregular one, a point which none had noted before in theexcitement of the attack. The men wore no regular uniform, but weredressed in any sort of costume. Some were decked in the gaudiestapparel, and the fineness of their saddlery and fittings showed thatthey had found plunder somewhere. Others looked as if fortune had hardlybeen so kind to them. But all possessed the very best of horses, and hadstrung to the saddle a number of bags, in which their loot andvaluables were doubtless contained. Mulha, who had now rejoined Owen,pointed to the horses.
"It would be well if my master had one or more of those beasts," hesaid. "They are bred in this cou
ntry, and trained here, and when youhave ridden them as I have, the beasts which brought us here do notcompare with them. The sahib spoke of sending for help. Were one of usto attempt to gallop away it would but be throwing a life to thesebrigands, for their horses are fleeter than ours. Also, they are so welltrained that they will turn at a touch, even when galloping fast. Theanimals we ride find it difficult to pull up even when at a canter, andbefore they could turn these Mahratta horse would be round and away.Watch how the men manage them."
It was very fine indeed to see such horsemanship, and many a time didOwen long for one of the beasts ridden by the enemy. Later he was ableto note too the appearance of these Mahratta freebooters. They were alltall, clean-limbed men, fierce and independent of mien. The majoritycarried tulwars, while all seemed to have pistols in their belts. A fewhad matchlocks, and these were dismounted on this occasion. Followingthe horsemen they ran forward till within some two hundred yards of thecastle, when they each sought for cover, and Owen could see themcrawling closer and closer, hardly exposing their bodies as they came.
"We can do nothing to them," he said to himself. "Our fellows are sopoorly armed, and are evidently so ill accustomed to the use of weapons,that it would only be a chance shot which would hit. We will let themget to closer quarters. What can the horsemen be doing?"
Had there been a company of British soldiers there, armed withrespectable weapons, Owen would have been able very speedily to causethe enemy to move. But as it was, the matchlocks with which his men weresupplied were so very old and inferior in range that it was useless toattempt to open fire till the enemy were close. And the latter seemed tobe fully alive to this fact, for they came on with the greatestunconcern, till they were within a hundred and fifty yards. Then therewas a shout, and their leader detached himself from their number. Ridingforward, while his companions halted, he cantered to within fifty yardsof the fort, and then held his hand above his head.
"He wishes to speak," said Mulha. "It will lead to nothing, but perhapsthe sahib had better sign to him."
"Then order our men to hold their fire and on no account to showthemselves," answered Owen.
He stood on the top of the wall and waved to the horseman, who at oncecantered forward with an air of jauntiness and unconcern which matchedwell with his fine handsome features and the gaudy clothing in which hewas dressed. He drew rein within ten yards of the gate and looked up atthe figure above. Saluting Owen with his tulwar, he let the weapondangle from his wrist by a silken cord, and grasping the reins with bothhands stood up in his stirrups.
"Where is the old fox who owns and commands the place?" he demanded."Let him stand above so that I may speak with him."
"He is below," Owen answered promptly, in Mahratti, much to theastonishment of the native. "He was in command. I have taken his place.What do you want?"
"This morning, as we rode hither, our object was to raid the fort andcapture the wealth which this old fox is said to possess. But our aimsare altered, Englishman. We will spare the fort and the money if you arehanded over to us. Let all hear that. There is life and freedom to allif the Englishman be given up. Refuse, and we will sack the place andtear you to pieces."
He shouted the words so that all could hear, and smiled grimly as hegave vent to his threat. And there was little doubt that his statementhad an instant and wonderful effect. The humble peons who stood on thewall had little love for these freebooters, and desired only to beallowed to live and work in peace. Life was dear to them, and here itwas offered on one small condition. If they handed over the Englishmanthey were free. And what claims had he on their generosity?
Owen looked round at them, and could almost read their thoughts, whileMulha hastily rejoined his master.
"Shall I shoot the dog below who dares to attempt to suborn our men?" heasked, as he drew his pistol. "They will give us up. We are at war withtheir people, and they have no reason to be kind to us. You can hearthem murmuring."
There was little doubt that more than one of the peons was in favour ofaccepting the terms offered. A group of them gathered in the yard belowand discussed the question volubly, while those on the wall above lookedat one another, not daring to speak as Owen and his servant were sonear. It was a critical moment, and if more time were given fordiscussion there was little doubt that the decision of the peons wouldgo against the young leader who had so suddenly appeared amongst them.Life was dear to all, and at the prospect held out to them they forgotin an instant the service which he had done them. But Owen was not thelad to give in without a struggle. He saw at a glance that immediateaction was necessary, and his decision was taken in a moment. He stoodto his full height on the wall, and drawing a pistol presented it at thehorseman below.
"I will give you five seconds to move away," he said curtly. "If you arenot gone then I will shoot you like a dog. I have commenced to count."
Utter amazement was written on the face of the Mahratta. He knew hiscountrymen well, and he had taken it for granted that his terms would beaccepted, and that the Englishman would be handed over without astruggle. And here, almost before the words had left his lips, hispromise was rejected, and he was ordered away. He sat down on his saddleand stared up at Owen. Then with a touch of knee and rein he swung hishorse round and rode away, jaunty as ever, but in his heart of heartssomewhat disconcerted by the rapid action taken by the white commanderof the garrison.
"By my tulwar," he growled, "but these sons of sheitan have a way withthem that convinces! The words had scarce left my lips when he had thepistol at my head, and who could stand and face that? The dog! I willsnatch him out of the fort, and then he shall be done to as has happenedto some of the refractory villagers. As to the peons and the oldfox--well, it will be the same. Had they handed this white dog over theywould have lived but a few minutes; for a commander can promise, but whocan control Mahratta horse?"
Well might he ask that question, for the men under his rule were as uglya set of rogues as could well be met with. There was not the slightestdoubt that they belonged to those irregular bands who, while fightingfor some chief, preyed upon any one who possessed goods, and who wassufficiently helpless. And was it likely, considering their numbers, andthe helplessness of the peons who manned the fort, that they would becontent with the life of the Englishman?
Owen swung round upon the natives, and singling out a group where themen were engaged in discussing the question, casting their eyes up atthe white youth and at Mulha every second, he slowly descended andapproached them. Mulha followed closely at his heels, marvelling at thecoolness of his leader and wondering what he would do.
"Those two are the ringleaders," exclaimed Owen suddenly, selecting twoof the peons who obviously sought to persuade their comrades, and who athis approach had scowled at him, murmuring under their breath. "Bringthem out, Mulha, and place them against that wall. They will be shot atonce. You have a pistol. Execute them for me, but wait while I look forothers."
He turned his eyes from the group, and without concerning himself withthem further looked round the fort. A few of the men who had beenengaged with the barrels at the gate had their heads together, but as hegave his orders to Mulha in loud tones they separated a little, andstood there undecided. But they did not deceive Owen.
"In a few seconds they would have had the gate open, and would haveshouted to the enemy to come in," he said to himself. Then, speaking inloud tones so that all could hear, he cried, "Let all within the fortwatch the punishment I am about to give to these two men, and rememberthat I will shoot others, too, at the first sign of mutiny. You invitedme here, and I have helped you so far. You must stand by me to the end."
Meanwhile the faithful Mulha had carried his master's orders out to thevery letter. Careless of the scowls and oaths of the men gathered in theyard he drew his pistol and advanced towards them, and as one of theparty, taking courage at the smallness of the numbers opposed to them,and at the words of his comrades, attempted to arrest his progress, hestruck him over the head with the b
utt of his pistol, causing him tofall insensible. Then he ordered the two who had been acting asringleaders to emerge from the group.
"Disobey me and I will blow your brains out now and here," he saidsternly, raising the weapon to the face of the nearest.
The threat instantly brought the peons to their senses. The group meltedas if by magic, and the two who had been selected for execution wereforced to turn and walk to the opposite wall, where they stood lookingpiteously at Owen, their limbs shaking, and all thought of opposition ormutiny now gone from their minds. These men were accustomed to obey, andthe resolute attitude of the newcomers, the rapidity with which they hadacted, and the firmness of their decision, had nipped the mutiny in thebud. All round the fort, as Owen sought each one of the defenders, hesaw stupefaction and fear. The men looked shamefaced and beaten, andthey turned their eyes away as he glanced at them, ashamed of theirunworthy thoughts, and trembling lest they too should be selected forpunishment. On Owen's open features there was a grim and determinedexpression. He pushed his pistol back into his belt and beckoned to theold man who was in command.
"You may go to them," he said, pointing to the two natives tremblingbeside the wall. "Perhaps they will have some messages to give you fortheir friends and relatives. They will be shot in five minutes."
An ominous hush came over the fort as Mulha saw to the priming of hispistol, and came across to borrow his master's, while the two unhappywretches, who undoubtedly deserved their fate, for they would havesacrificed our hero willingly, fell on their knees and then grovelledat full length on the ground. As for the old man, he was toothunderstruck to speak at first. However, with an effort, he managed toaddress his men.
"The white sahib does justice, pure justice," he said solemnly, as hecaressed his grizzled beard. "You have brought this upon yourselves, andbut for his action you would have brought worse. Fools, all of you!"--heswung round, and shouted his words of scorn so that all couldhear--"Fools! to imagine that the tigers outside who have set thecountry aflame, who have fired villages by the score, so that the skywas lit up at night, and who have slain men, women, and children onevery side, would spare you when there was loot to be had! Are you madthat you believe in such empty promises? These robbers would but savethe English sahib for the torture, and having taken his guiding handfrom you would have battered in the gate and cut the throats of everyone. Fools and dogs! You deserve to die, every one of you, and hishighness, the sahib, is merciful when he selects but two. Give me thepistols, and I will carry out this execution, that all may see andbelieve that I too have no pity for such as these."
He staggered up to Mulha and reached out his hand for the weapon, andthere was little doubt that he would have shot his two servants withouthesitation. However, the lesson had gone home, and Owen felt that hecould now with safety to himself show a little clemency. The men werecowed, and of all the garrison the two poor wretches grovelling on theground were the least likely to prove mutinous in the future.
"They have had their lesson, and I think we might spare them," he saidto Mulha in English. "Besides, we want every man for the defence. I willspeak to them."
Walking slowly across the square, with Mulha and the old native at hisheels, he halted a few feet from the unhappy couple and ordered them torise.
"An Englishman does not love useless bloodshed," he said sternly, "andthough your lives are forfeit, and I should be justified in shootingyou, I will show you that men of my race are merciful. I suspend thesentence till this action is over, and it will depend on yourselves asto whether I spare you then. Fight well and you shall live. Show sign ofwavering and I will execute you without mercy. As to you others," heturned and addressed the men on the walls and in the yard, "you have hadyour warning, and your chief has shown you the folly of listening torobbers who have no conscience, and to whom a vow is nothing. Go to yourposts, and remember that death awaits us all if the horsemen break in."
There was a loud murmur of applause on all sides, while the peonssalaamed abjectly to him. Then they took up their weapons and went backto their places, a different light shining in their eyes.
"They will fight to the bitter end now, sahib," said the old man. "Theyare but humble creatures, apt to be easily led astray. But they aregrateful for your mercy, and they respect men such as you, who can faceodds so calmly. Give your orders, sahib. There will no longer be anythought of mutiny."
Five minutes later there was a shout from one of the men above, and Owenat once ran up to the top of the wall. He was greeted with a shower ofbullets, while the crackle of musketry broke out all along that face ofthe fort. Standing on the parapet he looked down at the enemy, to findthat those who had advanced on foot had crept to within less than ahundred yards, where they had placed themselves under cover, some pacesseparating each of the men. And from this position they were able tocommand the gateway and the top of the wall. Indeed, hardly had heappeared when the shots rang out more frequently, and some dozen bulletscrashed against the dried mud wall at his feet, or hurtled past him withthe loud hum made by a missile of large calibre. One went a little asideof its mark, and striking a peon who had ventured to look over the wall,killed him instantly. Owen at once leaped on to the pathway below, andbent low to obtain shelter.
"They have placed themselves cleverly," he said to Mulha, "and willshoot our men if they venture to return the fire. We must have cover.Send the peons from below up here with as many large stones as they cancarry, and let every man erect a little wall before him."
The eagerness of the garrison now was wonderful, and those below at oncecommenced to carry out the order. In a few minutes, indeed, each one ofthe marksmen had cover behind which he could fire, while an aperture hadbeen left between the boulders for the musket.
"Pick off those you can see easily," shouted Owen, taking his stationbehind one of the covers. "Don't fire unless you are certain, and ifthere is a rush, let some of you cast stones down upon them. There arethe horsemen. They are going to make a rush."
It was difficult to understand how the Mahrattas hoped to succeed, orhow they expected to beat in the doorway, for they advanced at a gallop,as if they expected to dash against the obstacle and thrust it aside inthat manner. In a little while, however, Owen and Mulha saw theirdesign, and stretching over the parapet emptied their pistols repeatedlyamongst the horsemen. For the Mahratta chief who led these freebootershad a head upon his shoulders, and, from his method of procedure, hadattacked similar posts before. Cleverly placing his marksmen close tothe fort where their fire could keep down that of the peons, he led someforty of his horsemen forward at a rush which startled the defenders,and caused many to emerge from their shelters so as to obtain a clearshot, thus exposing themselves to the men below. When within twentyyards of the gates he raised his tulwar in the air, and at the signalsix men detached themselves from the party and raced on, while theremainder wheeled and galloped along the face of the fort. Those who hadadvanced drew rein at the very foot of the walls, and secure now fromthe shots of the defenders--for to fire down upon them a man must leanright over the parapet and fall an almost certain victim to the marksmenunder cover below--two dismounted and busied themselves with somethingwhich one of them carried lashed to his saddle. There were a couple ofloud thuds, as if a nail had been driven into the woodwork. Somethingwas lifted up and attached to the gate, and then the men were in theirsaddles again and, accompanied by their fellows, were racing alongbeneath the walls of the fort.
Careless of the consequences Owen hung over the parapet and watched themen, though he was helpless to interfere. Then he drew back, just intime to avoid a storm of bullets aimed at him.
"The gate will go," he said in tones of apprehension. "They have drivena wooden peg into the keyhole, and have slung a big bag of powder to it.It will be off in an instant. Call the men away, and let all up here runbelow for their lives."
Shouts resounded through the air till the walls of the fort rang again,while the men rushed for the courtyard, tumbling over one another ast
hey fought for places on the flight of steps. Owen followed moreleisurely, and had just reached the ground below when there was adeafening explosion, and flame and smoke leaped into the air and throughthe gateway, while planks, portions of woodwork, strips of iron, and ahundred odds and ends were hurled into the yard. A hoarse shout washeard from outside, and when a puff of wind had blown the smoke asidethose who held the place looked upon a scene which would have awed theboldest. The gates were gone. A huge rent had been torn in that wall ofthe courtyard, and but for a heap of debris and portions of splinteredbarrels, nothing stood between them and the enemy.