CHAPTER IX.
_THE RETREAT._
In spite of the cold I fell asleep at last, and did not waken until themorning.
The Austrians were already stirring--indeed, they had been under armssince the dawn; and I saw by the aid of my glass that three batterieshad been pushed forward nearer the town.
I snatched a hasty breakfast, consisting of a piece of black bread, aslice of bacon, and a draught of silovitz, afterwards taking command ofmy shattered company.
The daylight, alas, showed only too plainly the havoc caused by therecent conflict. Many familiar faces were absent from the ranks, and alarge number of those who answered to their names were wounded.
Still, the satisfaction of knowing we had stood our ground cheered us,and we looked forward to the coming attack without much fear for theresult.
"Feel equal to another bout?" asked the colonel, coming up to me.
He had not slept since the fight began on the previous morning, but hiseyes were as bright and his carriage as jaunty as ever.
"Daresay I shall get through somehow," I answered. "But what are theothers waiting for? Have they had enough? The attack seems to hangfire a bit."
"Windischgratz won't strike till he can make pretty sure of hitting themark. Probably he expects Schlick to join him."
"According to the scouts, Schlick can't arrive till it's all over."
"Don't make too sure. Schlick's a perfect demon when the guns begin tospeak. His corps would have to march all night if there was a chance ofgetting up in time. Anyway, had I been Dembinski, I should have forcedthe fighting directly day broke; but no doubt the old man knows hisbusiness."
Rakoczy walked on, passing along the lines smiling good-humouredly,joking with the men, praising them for their behaviour of yesterday, andputting them in famous spirits. Certainly one had not far to seek thereason of his popularity.
Meanwhile the morning advanced, and about seven o'clock the enemy'sheavy guns opened fire at Kapolna.
Evidently the attack was to be conducted on a different plan, and verysoon the cause of the alteration became plain.
Our position not being threatened, we were able to look about, and fromthe height obtained a good view of the field.
It was just eight o'clock when Rakoczy, passing his glass to an officer,exclaimed, "That's what I feared. See the column of smoke there on ourright?"
"The enemy are spreading themselves out too far. Dembinski could easilycut off their left. The Pole is getting too old for active service.Why doesn't he push forward a couple of battalions quickly?"
Rakoczy smiled. "You don't know what that column of smoke means," hesaid. "It's a sign that Schlick has arrived with a fresh army corps."
"Impossible!" cried one of the officers. "His men would all havedropped on the march."
In spite of our astonishment, however, the Austrian general was on thefield, and pounding away at our right wing with terrific effect.
His arrival put fresh heart into our opponents, and they moved forwardin the centre, redoubling their fire on the wretched town. The tide ofbattle set steadily towards our centre and right, leaving us simplespectators.
I suppose it was important to keep possession of the heights, yet itseemed a pity to stand thus idly while our comrades were fighting sodesperately.
Of the combat on our right we saw little, but in the centre we coulddistinctly see the rush of the two Austrian battalions as their officersled them against the town.
A fierce musketry fire checked them for a second, and I thought theywould fall to pieces; but no--the two-headed eagle showed the way, andthe brave infantry followed the national symbol.
On they went, and with an exulting cry swept into the town, from whichthere immediately arose tongues of fire.
The combat was now hidden from us, and we watched in the greatestexcitement for what would happen.
The fight inside the town was of the most bitter nature, but, little bylittle, our comrades were forced back, rushing out at last in adisorderly crowd.
A couple of hundred yards away they stopped their flight, re-formed,and, led as far as we could tell by Dembinski in person, made a gallantbut unsuccessful attempt to regain the town.
Three times they returned to the attack; but the Austrians, nowreinforced, proved too strong, and at length, sallying out, drove theMagyars back to a farm-house, round which a fierce conflict wasmaintained.
It was at this time that Stephen rode up with an order for our colonel,and instantly the regiment was on the move.
My brother's face brightened when he saw me, and he stopped to say aword or two.
I asked him how the battle was going, and he replied in a whisper,"Altogether against us; and only Goergei's bravery has kept the right.Good-bye! In an hour there will be an avalanche."
Stephen might well have made the time shorter: in half an hour we wereface to face with the signs of the coming rout. At first only a few menhere and there scudded away as fast as their legs would carry them, buttheir fright was contagious. It spread from regiment to regiment, fromman to man.
The officers in vain attempted to stay the retreat. The infantry brokeup in disorder, each man trying to save himself; the artillery, infectedby the sudden panic, wheeled their guns round and galloped off as fastas the horses could travel. The famous hussars, almost alone, retiredslowly and in beautiful order.
Our own regiment, influenced by the sight of the fugitives, showed signsof unsteadiness; but Rakoczy, in his usual cheerful manner, threatenedto shoot the first who ran, and thus averted the danger.
Very fortunate indeed it proved that the men kept their ranks, as wewere suddenly assailed by a body of hussars, who did their best to rideus down.
"Steady, my lads!" cried the colonel. "Keep shoulder to shoulder. Ifyou give way, we're lost."
The leader of the hussars was a handsome young fellow with fair hair andblue eyes, and even in the stress of the fight I recognized Captain vonTheyer, one of the leaders of the Viennese insurgents.
He caught my astonished look, and dashed at me sword in hand; but abullet struck his horse in the chest, and the animal reeled overheavily.
A trooper sprang to the ground, and, dragging his leader free, helpedhim to mount his own horse, and carried him out of the fray.
"A gallant fellow and a gallant deed," I said, thinking of the trooper,as the hussars galloped off.
"Well done, lads!" cried Rakoczy. "They will learn to respect the 9thHonveds."
We had, however, not yet finished with the hussars, who, led by VonTheyer, returned again and again to the charge, striving desperately tobreak our ranks.
Met each time by a rain of bullets, they wheeled and galloped away,though twice Von Theyer brought them within touch of the bayonets.
It seemed odd that a prominent revolutionist should thus be leading acharge of Austrian cavalry; but whatever his politics might be, therewas no questioning his bravery.
Three times we sent them back with many empty saddles, but theirfair-haired young leader was not to be denied.
"Steady!" exclaimed the colonel. "Keep your fire! Here they come!"
They made a brilliant show with their shining breastplates and helmetsand nodding plumes as, holding their sabres ready, they thundered downon us.
"Fire!"
Steady as rocks, the Honveds kept their ground; the rifles blazed out;the hussars were checked.
No! Here they were amongst us, cutting and slashing; and foremost ofthem all rode Von Theyer.
A superb rider and a fine swordsman, he was the _beau ideal_ of acavalry leader, and handled his men splendidly.
As if I were the special object of attack, he rode straight at me, andcrying, "Remember Vienna!" struck furiously with his sword.
With difficulty I parried that blow and several others; but Von Theyerstuck to his work, and the glittering steel flashed incessantly about myhead.
I was kept far too
busy to see how the fight went elsewhere, but everynow and then I heard Rakoczy's cheery voice, and guessed that all waswell.
Suddenly there rose a cry in German of "Back! back!" and Von Theyer,roused to a sense of his men's danger, reluctantly drew off.
It was high time. Bearing down from the left, came two squadrons of ourown hussars, mounted on magnificent horses, which carried them straightthrough the disordered ranks of the Austrians.
Then my young opponent showed his value as a leader. With skill equal tohis bravery he got his men together, and with little extra loss, as faras could be judged, retired in good order.
"That fellow meant business," said the colonel, as we continued theretreat. "See what comes from interfering in the concerns of otherpeople."
"What do you mean? I haven't done anything to make him angry."
"Ha, ha!" laughed Rakoczy. "What about saving the fraeulein's life? Doyou think this young gallant likes you any the better for getting intothe lady's good graces? I'm glad to see you blush; it shows there issome blood left in your body, which I began to doubt."
Later on I thought a good deal of this little speech, for I had neverforgotten the fair young girl in Vienna; but just then there were manythings to distract my attention.
Except for our own regiment and the regular cavalry, the Hungarian armyhad become a helpless, drifting mob.
Heavy guns, baggage-wagons, creaking carts filled with the wounded,infantry without arms, dismounted horsemen, knots of soldiers separatedfrom their officers, some running, others moving with a doggedsullenness, were all jumbled together in extraordinary confusion.
Had the Austrians followed up their victory, they could have swept usall, bag and baggage, into the Theiss.
Fortunately the pursuit was confined to a single brigade, and even thatwe had the utmost difficulty in beating off.
About two miles eastward of Kapolna, Goergei rode up, attended by hisstaff, and a ringing cheer greeted his arrival.
His cap was gone, his clothes bore the marks of close hand-to-handfighting, there was blood on his cheeks, yet he did not lookdowncast--only savagely determined.
"Colonel," he said, "do you see that wood? Your regiment must hold itfor the next two hours--three, if possible, but two for certain."
"We'll hold it, general, living or dead," replied Rakoczy.
"Good! If I can stop any of those wretched runaways, they shall supportyou."
"We'll do it by ourselves, general," cried an old sergeant; and the men,repeating his words, cheered loudly.
The general's face lit up with a proud smile.
"I'll trust you, my fine fellows!" he said, and off he dashed at fullgallop, the officers of the staff trying in vain to keep pace with him.
We reached the wood and took up a position, just in time to receive theattack of a lancer regiment, which came on with gaily flutteringpennons.
Down toppled the first rank, horse and rider, as the rifle fire blazedout. The others, wheeling to right and left, galloped off in two longlines.
Again they came, but it was cruel work for them. Hardly an enemy couldthey see, yet the bullets sped fast and true, and hardly a lance-pointreached the line of rifles.
Then, to complete the misfortune of these gallant fellows, the hussars,making a brave show in their gaudy trappings, again came to ourassistance, riding up from the left, and, before the lancers had time tore-form, scattered them in all directions.
"A cheer for the hussars, my lads!" cried Rakoczy, and we sent up ashout that might have been heard a mile off.
The brave fellows waved their sabres in response as they galloped pastto their former position on the left of the wood, out of sight, butready to lend us a helping hand.
The time dragged on very slowly. The lancers had disappeared, but aregiment of Croats took their place, and peppered us from a distancewith their long guns.
Then we heard on our left the rattle of sabres, the clash of steelagainst breastplate and helmet, "Forward! forward!" in German, and knewthat our friendly hussars were engaged in fierce conflict.
At the same time the Croats, like savage dogs unleashed, bounded acrossthe open ground.
The Honveds stood firm, and fired as fast as they could load; but in theexcitement the bullets flew wide, and though many of the southernwarriors fell, we could not stay the onslaught.
They had left their stanitzas behind, and with wild yells came on, theirfamous red mantles fluttering in the wind, their terrible handjarsgripped tightly.
Our men continued firing till the very last instant, then a hand-to-handstruggle began.
The active Croats jumped like wild cats at our throats, and it was acase of life or death with every man thus attacked. None asked forquarter, none thought of giving it; it was a terrible life-and-deathstruggle between Croat and Magyar.
Had half a battalion been sent to the help of our assailants, we musthave been driven out, so evenly were the scales balanced; fortunatelythey were left to do the work by themselves, and just failed.
Every minute after the first rude shock helped us, for the hot fit ofthe Croats cooled, while the Magyars fought with increased stubbornness.
Finally, we pushed them out of the wood, and the ping of the bullets washeard again as the Magyars, reloading their rifles, poured a volley intothe midst of the fugitives.
I watched them go, and then, faint from loss of blood, leaned against atree.
Another victory such as that, I well knew, would clean out the 9thHonveds, and so did Rakoczy; but he didn't say so.
On the contrary, I heard him praising the men for their bravery, andtelling them that with another good regiment they could drive theAustrians back to Vienna.
When he caught sight of me he said softly,--
"Hurt, George?"
"Another scratch," I replied faintly; "but, I say, colonel, what hasbecome of the hussars?"
"Vanished. Beaten off by numbers, I expect. We shall have thoselancers gliding amongst us soon; but come and lie down behind a tree fora while. The two hours are nearly up, and we shall be moving."
"No, I shall be all right; but isn't that a cloud of fog?"
"It is, my boy--the jolliest fog you've ever seen, and just in the nickof time. That will stop the Austrians better than a thousand bayonets.Well, if you won't lie down, you won't.--My lads, I don't think CaptainBotskay's company need hang their heads when the battle of Kapolna ismentioned;" and he went on his way, carrying encouragement to every partof the line.
Rakoczy had blessed the fog; and, indeed, it proved of the utmostservice to us.
Without our knowing it, the situation had become critical. The friendlyhussars had been compelled to retreat; the Austrian lancers were workinground our left; the Croats, mad for vengeance, were clamouring to be ledto the attack; and two light batteries had been pushed up to shell usfrom the wood.
At the very first discharge of the cannons, Rakoczy retired the greaterpart of the regiment, confident that the enemy would not attack for sometime.
My company was left to further the deception, and between the dischargesof the big guns the men kept up a vigorous musketry fire, which, thoughit did little or no damage, warned the enemy we were still in ourplaces.
It was gloomy work standing there in the thick fog, while the shot andshell screaming over our heads lopped the branches from the trees ortore great holes in the ground. Occasionally a man would sink with adeep groan, but for the most part we were untouched; and when at lengththe colonel sent us word to withdraw, we were able to carry off all ourwounded.
The fog by now had become so thick that we could not see the trees,though we felt them frequently; but out of the wood the marching waseasier.
We tramped on in the midst of the darkness like a regiment of lostsouls.
The earth was blotted out completely. It was worse even than what wehad encountered in the mountains. We could see nothing, and hear nothingbeyond the muffled sound of our own footsteps.
As far as I could tel
l, we might be marching right into the midst of theAustrian troops.
The fog filled our nostrils and throats, almost choking us.
The intense silence was appalling. For my part, I should gladly havewelcomed the roar of hostile cannon, just to be sure we were still inthe land of the living.
The wound in my shoulder, which Mecsey Sandor had bandaged, bled afresh;my head grew heavy; my eyes ached with pain; I felt hardly able to keepupright. Once my foot slipped, and the man against whom I stumbled,taking my arm, supported me.
I was ashamed of my weakness, yet it was good to lean upon a strong arm,and for a time I walked quite steadily.
An extraordinary accident put an end to my powers of endurance, and leftme with no more strength than that of a baby.
We were walking step for step, my companion and I, when suddenly Ibrought my foot, not to the ground, but into the air, and pitchingforward, fell into icy-cold water.
My companion came too. Others followed us, some dropping clear into thewater, some breaking holes in the coating of ice that before our arrivalhad covered its surface.
In the thick fog we had walked into a stream. Fortunately it was of nogreat depth, the water being only up to our waists; but the shock, thebitter cold, and the struggle for breath took away all my remainingstrength.
The soldier, however, kept firm hold, and pulling me on my feet, pushedand dragged me till we reached the opposite side, when another manpulled me out.
Concerning the rest of the inarch I remember very little. Two menseemed to be carrying me cradle-fashion, and occasionally a tall,dimly-seen figure put some food into my mouth.
Sometimes they placed me on the ground, where I stayed for hours; thenraising me again they carried me as before.
The fog went with us all the time, so I could not divide night from day,and no sound ever broke the weird silence.
At last there came a time--how long or short soever from the beginningof the journey I did not know--when I saw the burning of many lights, asof huge watch-fires, and heard the shouting of men.
My bearers joined in the noise, and then, putting me down, fell towaving their arms violently, and the black shadows going to and froacross the lights looked like windmills.
After that they took me to some covered place, where, being warm andcomfortable, I straightway fell asleep.
From then my impressions grew more distinct. I remember seeingRakoczy's face, which looked less cheerful than usual, and thespectacled countenance of Goergei.
I thought Stephen also looked sorrowfully at me, but that was a dream,as I afterwards discovered.
It would have suited me to lie thus snug and cosy for ever; but themarch was not ended, and one day I was carried into the open and placedin the bottom of a cart.
Several other men were already there, and one in particular groaned mostmiserably at every jolt of the clumsy vehicle.
Of course, I saw little of what went on, but the fog had departed, andthe blessed light of day itself cheered me, while it was good again tohear the different sounds--the rumbling of wheels, the neigh of horses,the shouts of the drivers, the steady tramp, tramp as of the marching ofthousands of men.
That ghostly regiment, gliding through the blackness, unseen, unheard,had in my weakened state preyed on my nerves.
Now I was really in the land of living beings again, and I smiled tomyself at hearing the crack of the carter's whip, and the familiar wordsaddressed to the horses.
Somewhere on the journey we halted a long, long time, and at lengthproceeded very slowly and cautiously.
We were crossing the Theiss on a narrow and temporary bridge, though theinfantry had gone over on the ice.
Soon after this the wounded man at my side ceased his groaning, whichenabled me to go to sleep; but I did not guess that the poor fellowwould never disturb any of us again.
The next time the wagon halted, a man, clambering into it, brought aflask, from which several of us drank.
The stuff, whatever its name, had a strange flavour, something like newmilk; but it warmed me all over, and even before the cart again startedI was sound asleep.