CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
FIRST CHECK.
It was a glorious change from the terrible inactivity of waiting toenergetic action, and the feeling was shared by all.
Lupe leaped out of the chariot, the driver involuntarily shook the reinsto urge the ponies forward forgetful of the fact that they were held oneither side, and the beautiful little animals tried to plunge onward,but feeling the check upon their bits, snorted and began to rear whileboth Marcus and Serge had to make a struggle to control the desirewithin their breasts which urged them to break forward into a run.
But the knowledge of the need of caution prevailed, and glancing toright and left in search of watching enemies, they had the satisfactionof seeing the chaos of rocks rising above their heads and quiteconcealing them, though on the other hand their progress became morepainful, their way more burdened with stones.
But it was glorious work to Marcus. These masses of rock were onlydifficulties in the way waiting to be mastered. It was quite refreshingto leave the leading of the horses to the driver and add their strengthin pulling, pushing, and now and then seizing the spokes to hoist awheel over some stony bar.
Their progress was slow towards the far end of the amphitheatre, butevery score of yards was something gained, and all worked eagerly tillat last the lower end of the amphitheatre was reached, where the rocksclosed in again and a small ravine was before them, whose bottom was thebed of a mountain torrent along which a shallow stream hurried, hardlyabove the soles of the adventurers' sandals, though the smooth rocks ofthe bed and sides showed plainly enough that there were times when afurious flood dashed along, laden with smaller stones and gravel, whoseeffects were to polish the bigger rocks in their way.
"Better not talk," growled Serge, as they began to make quickerprogress. "I don't suppose anyone is here; they'll all have gone to thefront; but you never know, and every bad word is picked up by the rocksand sent flying far away till it drops plump into somebody's ear.Steady's the word, boy. Keep your little chap still. I don't supposethis bit of a streamlet keeps like this. I expect the narrow bed opensout soon, for the hills seem to grow smaller and smaller here, and I amhoping that we shall come upon level ground so that we may get a gallopto stretch the ponies' legs."
"Ah, I hope so," cried Marcus, eagerly. "Now you are beginning to talk,Serge, like a man."
"And that means, boy, that I was talking a bit ago like some old woman,I suppose. Well, part of a soldier's duty is to take care. Steady you,sir, and don't splash the water up like that," the old soldier continuedsoftly to the pony whose head he held. "It's all very nice for you, andI dare say the water feels nice and pleasant to your hoofs; but keepquiet. You don't have to polish the rust off your armour--I do. I wishto goodness we could get on good dry ground."
Like the rest of mountain torrents, the one whose bed they werefollowing zig-zagged in all directions, so that even from their oldpoint of vantage they had been able to see but a very little way along,and were quite content with the knowledge that the rocks rose up somefifteen or twenty feet above their heads, amply sufficient to shelterthem from the sight of the enemy who lay away on either side, while nowas they journeyed along the rocky bed, with the rattle of the wheelsmultiplied by the echoes, nothing was visible a hundred yards ahead, andas fast as one angle was turned there lay another a short distance infront.
But they were descending towards the plains; the plashing stream as ithurried along taught them that, and at the end of about a quarter of amile of little interrupted progress they were cheered on by the factthat the rocks on either side grew lower, rapidly ceasing to afford themprotection, and before long hardly rising to their shoulders.
There was another turn, and then another, and then Marcus cried eagerly:
"The hills are seeming to get farther away, Serge, and we must soon beout in the plain. I wonder what's beyond that turning."
"Open ground, I should say, my lad," said the old soldier, gravely; "butwe must take care. We want the open ground for the horses, but not forourselves."
"I don't understand you," cried Marcus, sharply.
"I spoke plainly enough, boy. I meant this: no shelter for us, don'tyou see, and if the enemy look back some of them may turn and come inpursuit."
"Ah, of course," cried Marcus. "Well, if they do, and catch us, youwill have to fight, Serge, and drive them back."
"That's right, my boy, and I'll do my best: but if I do, and get theworst of it, you never mind but go right on."
"Yes," said Marcus, drily, "when you are ready to come too."
Serge grunted with satisfaction, and then, possibly from the solemnityof the desolate place along which they travelled, they tramped silentlyalong over the rocky bed, their footsteps and those of the horses beingthe only sounds as they neared the sharp angle where the stream bedseemed to open out.
Marcus said afterwards that Serge should have been more cautious, andSerge retorted that Marcus was captain and ought to have sent on a scoutin front. But as it was, the scout who acted, sent on himself, and thatscout was Lupe, who, attracted by the openness of the rocks in front,suddenly bounded forward with a cheery bark, sending the water flying,and exciting the ponies into starting forward at a canter.
Almost involuntarily the holders of their reins let go and, acting as ifon one impulse, caught at the sides of the chariot and sprang in,steadying themselves in their position as the heavy vehicle dashed onalong the shallow bed, which was now wonderfully free of stones, whilethe driver participating in the dog's excitement, uttered a low cry andshook his reins, so that a minute later the chariot swung round theangle into where the ravine suddenly came to an end and a low levelvalley opened out. Right at the edge of the stream, and not far infront, a cluster of rough camp shelters seemed to spring up before them,and from out of the huts where they had been sheltering from the sun, abody of about two score spear-armed men suddenly appeared.