Chapter 24. Peril In A Poshtin

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_ CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. PERIL IN A POSHTIN

Another fortnight passed, during which the officers had a day's shooting as often as they could be spared; and, though the Colonel's face grew more and more serious he made no further objection to these excursions so long as they were sensibly carried out, for he had realised how thoroughly the enemy avoided the higher portions of the mountains, the snow-line being rarely crossed; and when they did break through their rule, it was only in crossing from one valley to another, and it was necessitated by the pass which linked the two being more than usually high.

It was a bright, sunny morning, and glasses had been busy in the fort, for certain well-known signs suggested that the day would not pass without their hearing from the enemy, of whom glances were obtained, first in one well-known locality, then in another, which they seemed to affect as a matter of course, showing very little disposition to break out of their regular routine, while one tribe followed in the steps of another so closely that it was generally possible to prognosticate where the attack would be made, and make arrangements to foil it.

The officers were chatting together; and in the group where Drummond stood with his friends he started a good grumbling discourse, something after this fashion:

"It's always the case. So sure as I overlook my tackle, and have a good clean up of the rifles ready for a long day amongst the muttons, some of these beggars come and plant themselves just in the way we mean to go."

"Mr Bracy," said an orderly, coming up and saluting, "the Colonel wishes to see you."

"Ha, ha!" laughed Drummond; "it's to tell you that we are not to attempt a shoot to-day. Tell him, Bracy, that we had given it up."

Bracy nodded, and went straight to the Colonel's room, to find him busily writing.

He just glanced up and nodded.

"Sit down, Bracy," he said, and he went on writing, his table being a couple of bullock-trunks, with a scarlet blanket by way of cover.

"Enemy are out pretty strong this morning."

"Yes, sir."

"Ha! yes."

There was a pause, filled up by a good deal of scratching of the pen, before the stern-looking officer began again.

"You are quite strong now, Bracy?" he said at last, without looking up.

"Never felt better in my life, sir."

"I said strong, Bracy."

"Nor stronger, sir."

"That's right," said the Colonel, reading over his despatch and crossing i's and dotting i's here and there.

"Wound trouble you much still?"

"Gives me a sharp sting, sir, at times, back and front; but I always find that it is when we are going to have a change of weather."

The Colonel paid no heed, and Bracy added:

"I dare say it will soon pass off, though."

"It will not," said the Colonel quietly, and to the young man's dismay. "You will feel it more or less all your life. Yes," he added, looking up and smiling, "a twinge to remind you that you were once a brave officer of the Queen."

Bracy coughed, for he felt a little husky, and as if he were standing near a fire.

"Now, Bracy, business. I cannot go on sending despatch after despatch, none of which reach their destination. Either going or coming, my messengers have come to a bad end or been unfaithful."

Bracy made no reply, for none was expected; and the Colonel now looked up, and, with his hands resting upon the table, gazed full in the young man's eyes.

"I want a messenger whom I can trust," he said, "a man who will undertake the task of delivering my despatch as a duty to his country. There are plenty of good, trusty lads in the regiment. Whom would you select--the best you know?"

Bracy was silent for a few moments before speaking.

"I should be sorry to see him go upon so dangerous a mission, sir; but if I had to select a lad in whom I should have perfect confidence, I should choose Private Gedge."

"A very good selection, Bracy; but I want an officer."

The young man stalled, and drew his breath hard.

"There is Andrews, or Elder, or Morrison," continued the Colonel, "or Drummond, of Wrayford's; but he is too volatile. Roberts would be a splendid fellow for the task, for, like Drummond, he is strong amongst ice and snow, and my messenger will have to take to the snow nearly all the way to save being stopped."

"A wise plan, sir," said Bracy eagerly; "one that should succeed."

"I think it will; but my messenger will be face to face with death from the hour he starts, doubly facing it--from nature as well as man. But I cannot spare Roberts. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir; you wish me to volunteer."

"Yes, Bracy," said the Colonel, holding out his hand, which Bracy caught in both his. "God bless and protect you, my dear boy! I do."

"Yes, sir," said the young man firmly. "I'll go."

"Not alone. Take that man Gedge with you; he has had little to do amongst the snow, but--"

"Yes, sir; he'll learn anything. When am I to start?"

"As soon as you can be ready. Then, I will clear the way for you by making a feint, so that you can make at once for the upper ground."

"Not by the mountains above the Gor Pass, sir?"

"No; the other direction entirely. You are to make for the Ghil Valley, and bring back the Ghoorkas, Bracy. It is time that we took the offensive; the enemy must be driven back before the autumn closes in. No; you are going upon an extremely dangerous mission, Bracy; I tell you so frankly. I will be quite open with you. I am sending you upon this horribly risky journey; but it is as a soldier to risk your life to save ours."

"To save yours, sir?" said Bracy wonderingly.

"Surely the fort is quite safe if you act on the defensive."

"It would be, my dear boy, if we had an ample supply of ammunition."

Bracy started, and gazed wide-eyed at his Colonel, who had leaned across the table and said these last words almost in a whisper.

"I am speaking quite openly to you, Bracy--telling you what must be a secret between us two; and I tell you because it is just to one sent upon such a perilous enterprise that he should feel satisfied as to the urgency of the need."

Bracy made a gesture, but the Colonel checked him.

"Yes; I know what you would say," he continued: "that dangerous or no, you would do your duty. I know you would. I have perfect faith in my officers; but this is a matter of conscience on my side. Bracy, I find that our ammunition will not last a month. Once that is gone, we are no longer the superiors of the enemy. The bayonet is a splendid weapon; but these hill-tribes are magnificent swordsmen, and when, many times outnumbering us as they do, they come on to a hand-to-hand fight, adding their reckless religious fervour to their natural bravery, they must master us in the end; and that means taking the fort, and--you know what would follow."

Bracy bowed his head; he could not speak.

"An indiscriminate massacres a horrible death to every man and woman in the place."

"Horrible, sir," cried Bracy excitedly. "Oh, Colonel Graves, surely things are not so bad as you think!"

The Colonel smiled.

"You ought to know me by this time, Bracy," he said quietly. "I don't think I am a man likely to raise bugbears."

"No, no, sir! I beg your pardon."

"That will do," said the Colonel quietly. "When you leave me, be prepared to start. You must not confide in your nearest friend; go about your work cheerfully, and as if only to bear a despatch, but conscious the while that our lives here depend upon your success. You understand?"

"Yes," said Bracy gravely, "I understand; and if I do not bring the help, sir, it is because--"

"You have died trying to do your duty to your friends. I know. There, we need no more words, Bracy. Look here."

He took the despatch from the table and tore it up into bits.

"Your appearance before the Ghoorka Colonel will be sufficient, and you will have no alarming announcement upon you if you are taken prisoner. Certainly it would be by people similar to those who are besieging us; but one never knows what soldiers of fortune may be among them, ready to be summoned by a chief to interpret the message."

"I understand, sir."

"Once you are well on the road you must make your companion fully understand the importance of the mission, so that if you go down there may still be the chance left to us of this man carrying on the news of our urgent need."

Bracy nodded shortly and drew a deep breath, waiting for the Colonel to speak again.

"As to preparations," said Colonel Graves at last, "go as you are; but you will each need a _poshtin_ [long sheepskin coat] to cover your Kharkee uniforms, for concealment and warmth. You will be a great deal among the snow and rocks, and nothing can be less likely to attract attention. You will take sword, revolver, rifle, and bayonet. See that Gedge carries the same weapons. In addition, take as much simple provisions and ammunition as you can carry."

"And rob you all at such a time of need, sir?"

"The amount you two can carry away in cartridges will not be missed if it comes to the worst, Bracy," said the Colonel, smiling. "Once more, are you quite satisfied that you have selected the right lad?"

"A man who will carry his wounded officer, with the enemy firing down at him from both sides of a rocky defile, cannot be bettered, sir," said the young officer quietly.

"Right, Bracy," cried the Colonel. "He is the man. Ha! here comes Roberts to announce the advance of the enemy. I could hear the war-cries.--Yes, Roberts--the rascals worrying us again?"

"Yes, sir; coming down the right gully in strong numbers. Will you come and look?"

The Colonel picked up his glass and held out his hand.

"I shall lead the men to-day, Bracy," he said, "for a change. Major Graham will be in command here. I shall tell him of your mission. Within an hour I shall depend upon you making your start."

"Within an hour, sir," said Bracy, as Roberts looked on in wonder.

"I have been thinking that a mule would help your journey at the first. What do you think?"

"I think not, sir," said Bracy quietly. "We should be better free to climb anywhere. A baggage animal would tie us down to tracks."

"Quite right. Go as we arranged.--Roberts," he continued, turning to the Captain, "Bracy is going to take a despatch for me. He starts directly."

"Directly, sir?" said Roberts, looking aghast.

"Yes; he has his instructions. You can have half-an-hour with him before he starts; but you will ask no questions, only help him in any way you can to start without delay, while I am keeping the enemy well employed at this end of the valley."

"Yes, sir."

"After Bracy has started you can bring your company along the upper track to act as a reserve, and cover us if it is necessary when we retire. That will do."

The two officers left the Colonel's quarters and hurried out.

"My dear boy," cried Roberts excitedly, "this is horribly sudden. Had you any idea of it before this morning?"

"Not the slightest," said Bracy gravely.

"Glad of it, for I should have been hurt if you had not told me."

"But you will not be hurt now? You heard what Graves said."

"I was not to question you? Yes. Still, you have some confidences to make?"

"Not one, old fellow."

"But surely--it is such a risky thing. Oh! it is preposterous; he ought not to have sent you. It is like sending a good man and true to his death."

"The Colonel thinks it best, and I agree with him. As to the risk--is it not risk enough to stay?"

"But Bracy, old fellow, if--"

"If," said the young man calmly. "Soldiers should not talk to one another about the 'if.' Let that be."

"Tell me this, though: are you satisfied to go?"

"Quite. Help me to get off--"

"I will; but--"

"By being silent, and then putting everything in one good grip of the hand."

"I see," he said, accompanying Bracy to his quarters. "Now, what can I do?"

"Send for Gedge."

"What for? Surely you have not chosen him for your companion?"

"I have. The Colonel said he could not spare you."

"Ha! That's better, old fellow. I was beginning to feel horribly set aside."

"I was to have one of the men for my companion. Can you suggest a better?"

"No," said Roberts, and he hurried out to seek the lad, who was standing in line with his fellows of the company, looking gloomy and discontented, for the sally-party to follow the Colonel, who was to lead them himself, did not include "Roberts's lot," as they were termed.

"Fall out, Private Gedge," said Roberts sharply.

"Didn't hear what I said, did he?" muttered the lad, with an anxious look, for he had been growling at what he called the favouritism served out to some of the companies in choosing them to go out and have the first chance of being shot; and this, he told himself, was mutinous.

But he pulled himself together and stood as erect as a ramrod, waiting for the next order, which came directly:

"Right face; march!"

And he marched after his Captain, with heart beating heavily, and then sinking deeper and deeper, as he found himself led to the officers' quarters.

"It's court-martial for a threep'ny-bit," he muttered. "Next thing 'll be 'Disarm!' and all because I wanted to go and fight. Oh! they are jolly 'ard on us chaps in the ranks."

"Come in, my lad," said Roberts, stooping to enter the low door, and Gedge's heart went down to its lowest point as he found himself face to face with Bracy.

"Them two to drop on me!" he thought. "Wouldn't ha' keared if it had been the Major."

The next moment poor Gedge's heavily plumping heart jumped, as he afterwards expressed it from his boots right up to his throat.

"Gedge," said Bracy coldly and quietly, "I am going on a very dangerous mission."

"Oh, sir, please don't go without me!"

"I have sent for you to say that I have selected you for my companion."

"Hoo--beg pardon, sir," cried the lad, turning scarlet.

"No cheering, no nonsense, no boy's tricks, my lad. This is desperate men's work. I have chosen you to go with me on a journey of many days, during which we shall suffer terrible hardships."

"That's right, sir; used to it ever since I was--"

"Silence, man!" said Bracy sternly. "We shall go with our lives in our hands, and probably never get to our journey's end; but we shall have to try. Now then, if you feel the slightest qualm, speak out honestly, and I will choose some one else."

"Don't do that, sir, please; but I will speak out honest. I must, when you axes me to."

"Ah!" cried Bracy.

"I'm strong as a horse again, sir; but sometimes I do get a sorter dig in the back, just as if a red-hot iron rod were touching up my wound when the bit o' iron--"

"No, no, man," cried Bracy, laughing. "I mean qualm of dread, or shrinking about running the risk."

"Oh, that, sir? Not me. Ain't I just as likely to be shot if I stop quiet here? They're allus trying to do it. I gets more sniping than any chap in the company."

"Then you will go with me?"

"I just will, sir. Anywheres."

"Thank you, Gedge. I'll say no more, for I know that you will stick to me like a man."

"Ha!" ejaculated Gedge, exhaling an enormous amount of pent-up emotion, and drawing his arm across his thickly perspiring brow, while a pleasant, contented smile lit up his plain features, as he drew himself up more stiffly to attention, waiting for orders.

"Well done, Gedge!" said Roberts softly.--"You've picked the right lad, Bracy."

Gedge did not move a muscle, but stood as upright as the rifle at his side, and looking as inanimate, but quite as dangerous, while his two officers said a few words in a low tone. The next moment Roberts went out of the room, and Bracy turned to the lad.

"We have to carry everything ourselves, and we must take all we can without overloading, my lad, for we shall have to climb a great deal amongst the snow. Now, mind this: we have just three-quarters of an hour for preparation. Then we must pass out of the gate."

Gedge did not move, but stood as if carved out of a block of hardened putty by the hand of an artistic drill-sergeant; listening, though, with his ears, which looked preternaturally large from the closeness of the regimental barber's efforts, and seeming to gape. Then he left his rifle in a corner, and was off.

The result was that, with five minutes to spare, officer and man, strangely transformed by their thick, woolly overcoats, stood ready in that room. Haversacks of provisions hung from their broad leather bands; revolvers balanced dagger-bay'nets from their belts; as much ammunition as they could carry was in their pockets, and necessary odds and ends were bestowed in satchels.

"All ready?" said Roberts at last.

"All ready. Nothing forgotten that I can think of."

"Then you will start at once. I have warned the men that you are to be allowed to slip out quietly, or they would have cheered you."

"Thanks," said Bracy.--"You hear that, Gedge?"

"Yes, sir."

"You will follow me without a word."

Gedge's face now looked as if if had been carved in oil-stone, it was so hard, and he made no reply. But mentally he was discoursing vigorously in his wild state of excitement, for he could judge of his own appearance by that of his officer.

"Just like a couple o' second-hand Robinson Crusoes out of a pantymime, and bound for the North Pole. Talk about a lark. Oh, don't I wish my poor old mother could see her bee-u-tiful boy!--Poor old chaps! Poor old pardners! Won't they be waxy when they knows I'm gone! Here, blessed if I can get, at my clean pocket-'ankychy, and I wants to shed a purlin' tear for poor old Sergeant Gee."

"Ready!" came to check the flow of Gedge's thoughts, and, picking up his rifle, the fellow to that placed ready for Bracy, he stepped out into the court, to find all the men left in the fort gathered to see them start, for the news was every one's property now; and as they marched towards the gates there was a low murmur, but no man stirred.

It was different, though, with the women; though here, too, all was done in silence. Officers' wives stepped forward to press Bracy's hands, with the tears standing in their eyes, and many a "God-speed!" was murmured in the ears of both.

"But no one shakes a hand with me," said Gedge sadly to himself; and then, "Well, I'm blessed!"

For Sergeant Gee was on one side of him to lay a hand upon his shoulder.

"Good-bye, Gedge," he said in his harsh, uncompromising way; "you'll stick to your officer like a brave lad, I know."

"Thank ye, Sergeant; and same to you," growled Gedge; and then the tears stood in his eyes, for Mrs Gee had hold of his unoccupied hand, to press it hard, with a grip, in fact, like a man's.

"Here," she said, taking a small, flat, black packet from her breast, and Gedge saw that it was envelope-shaped, but home-made in oil-skin, and instead of being adhesive; there was a neat button and buttonhole. "Put that in your breast-pocket, my boy," she said, "and never part with it. Bandages, oiled silk, needles and thread, and a pair o' scissors. And mind this: plug a bullet-hole directly; and whatever you do, clean water, and lots of it, for all wounds."

"Thank ye, missus."

"For you and Mr Bracy too. There, Bill Gedge, you're a brave lad, and I'll kiss you for your mother's sake, in case you don't come back; and if ever I return to England I'll write and tell the Queen how her brave boys are always ready to do or die, though I know she won't get my letter if I do."

The men nearly disobeyed orders when Mrs Gee took hold of Gedge by his woolly _poshtin_ and gave him a sounding kiss first on one cheek and then on the other, but they forbore; and the brave lad's eyes very nearly brimmed over the next moment, for, leaving Bracy, now on his way to the gate, the officers' ladies crowded round Gedge and shook hands, two dying to thrust upon him packages of what would have been luxuries to them in nights to come; but he was obliged to shake his head, for he was already laden to the fullest extent.

"Now, Gedge!" came from the gate, and the next minute it had been opened and closed after two bulky, stooping figures, who, with rifles at the trail, started off in Indian file along the track by the river-side, making for the upper portion of the valley, but without uttering a word.

Their ears were listening, though, to the sounds of firing in the distance, the reports of many pieces coming reverberating out of the chasm-like rift leading south. Their eyes, too, were as much upon the alert as those of some timid animal whose life depends upon its watchfulness from day to day, existing, as it does, in the midst of numberless enemies, who look upon it as their natural prey.

But though their rolling eyes scanned every spot familiar, from long experience, as the lurking-place; of an enemy, there was not a glimpse of a white coat nor the gleam of a polished weapon to be seen. At the same time, careful watch was kept upon the track they traversed every time it opened out sufficiently for a forward glance of any extent, and the heavy, matter-of-fact, hill-country-looking pair had nearly reached a spot from whence a good view of the fort could be obtained before a word was spoken.

Then the silence was broken by Bracy, who said abruptly:

"Don't look back, my lad."

"No, sir," came promptly from the front.

"Our lookout is forward from this hour till the time we bring back help to those we leave behind."

Gedge was silent, and kept on the watch, as, with rounded shoulders and camelled back, he planted his puttee-bandaged legs in the safest parts of the rugged track.

"Well, don't you want to know where we're going?"

"Yus, sir; 'orrid."

"Over the mountains to bring back a Ghoorka regiment, my lad."

"Right, sir."

"And by the hardest way we can find."

"Something like them ways over the snow, like you goes for the bears and sheep, sir?"

"Yes: and harder ways still, Gedge: for to meet any of the people may mean--"

Bracy paused, and Gedge waited for him to end his sentence. But he waited in vain, till he was tired, and then finished it to himself, and in the way he liked best.

"May mean," he said, and then paused--"having to put bullets through some o' these savage savages, for I'm blest if I'm going to let 'em have the first shot at us. Yes," he added, "savages; that's what's about their size. I never see such beasts. Yes, that's what they are--wild beasts. I don't call such things men. The best of it is, they thinks they're so precious religious, and sticks theirselves up to pray every morning and every night, I'm blest!--praying!--and often as not with their knives and swords! Ugh! and phew! My word! it's warm walking in these here coats. Wish I hadn't got mine."

Is thought electric, or magnetic, or telepathic, or scientific, some way or another, that so often it is communicated from one person to another free of cost, and without a form, or boy to leave it, and wait for an answer? Certainly it was in that, clear mountain air, which blew softly among the cedars in the valley, coming off the clear ice and dazzling snow from one side, getting warmed in hot sunshine, and then rising up the mighty slopes on the other side, to grow from pure transparency, in its vast distance and extent, to be of a wonderfully delicious amethystine blue.

Anyhow, Gedge had no sooner given himself his opinions about the heat engendered by walking in a thick, sheepskin coat than Bracy said:

"Find the _poshtin_ hot, Gedge?"

"'Ot ain't the word for it, sir," was the reply. "I ain't quite sure whether it's me, or whether they didn't scrape the fat off proper when they tanned the skin, sir; but something's running."

"Steady down, then. It is very warm here among the cedars; but they hide us from the enemy, my lad. As soon as we begin to climb we shall be getting out of summer into winter; and by the time it's dark, and we lie down to sleep, we shall think it would be pleasanter if we had two apiece."

"Shall us, sir? Well, you know, sir; but all this caps me. Here we are, as you say, in summer, and we've on'y got to climb up one o' them mountains and there we are in winter. They say it freezes there every night."

"Quite right, Gedge."

"But all the snow melts away some time in the year?"

"Never, my lad. Up there before you, where the sun shines on those glorious peaks, it is eternal winter, only that there is so much melting in the hottest parts of the day."

"To make the rivers, sir?"

"Of course!"

"And the rain helps when they're all in the clouds up there, I suppose, sir?"

"Rain!" said Bracy, laughing; "there is no rain there, my lad; when the clouds discharge their burden it is in the form of snow. But now, silence once more. The less we talk the better till we are among the snow, for at any moment we may be walking into a trap."

"Like we did, sir, when you three gentlemen come and whistled us from the side o' them falls?"

"Yes."

"Well, we don't want none o' that sort o' thing, sir, or we shall never be bringing that ridgement back."

"Right. Now you see the necessity for taking to the snow where the hill-men rarely climb."

"Yus, sir, going; but what about coming back?"

"The same, or a nearer way."

"But with a ridgement, sir?"

"Oh yes; the Ghoorkhas will go anywhere if they are told."

"So'll us," said Gedge to himself; and then, with a word or two at times from behind, he trudged on and on towards the mighty snowfields, but ever with his eyes on the lookout for the danger--keen knife, tulwar, matchlock, ball, or spear--invisible so far, but which at any moment might be so near. _

Read next: Chapter 25. First Checks

Read previous: Chapter 23. After A Rest

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