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Gil the Gunner; or, The Youngest Officer in the East, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 19 |
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_ CHAPTER NINETEEN. I sat talking to Craig that evening as the poor fellow was indulged by the doctor with his pipe. "Are you in much pain?" I said. "Yes, sir; horrible--in my head." "I'll soak my handkerchief, and lay it across your forehead," I said, rising. "No, no, sir; that will do no good," he replied, laughing. "It's mental pain, because I'm so helpless. I want to be on my legs again, and then on a horse. It's horrible being carried about as I am, and in every one's way." "Be patient," I said. "You're a hale, hearty man, and will soon recover." "I should, sir, if I could be of any use," he said sadly. To divert his attention, poor fellow, I told him of the scene we had witnessed, and he listened to it all eagerly, sometimes giving vent to an angry ejaculation, sometimes laughing, and then looking at me apologetically. "I beg your pardon, sit," he said; "but I couldn't help laughing to hear of their blundering about like that." "But it's no joke, Craig." "No, sir; but it all goes to show that this business has been a long time hatching, and it means more trouble than you gentlemen think for, sir." "You think so--that the mutiny is widespread?" "I think, sir, and I've often thought so before, that if the native princes ever had a chance, they would make a fight for the country. I may be wrong, but I believe that they've been plotting all this for years, and now the fire has begun, it's running all through the country, and unless the English look sharp, the land of India is gone for ever." "And we are so helpless here," I said; "unable to do anything." "Don't you talk like that, sir; you and Mr Brace are doing your best. The captain is following the enemy up to get back the guns and horses, of course?" I nodded. "And the job is how to get them," he continued, thoughtfully. I nodded again. "I've got nothing to do but lie here and think. I'll see if I can't scheme a way. It can only be done by a trick." "I'm afraid not," I said. "Only to think of Ny Deen turning out to be a big rajah, sir. Well, he always seemed a curious sort of fellow to me. He's a clever one, that's certain and the captain has his work cut out to deal with a fox of that kind. He will not fight, and he will be off if you show yourselves. He'll wait till he has drilled his fellows into being smart with the guns and till then you'll get no fight out of him. Why, Mr Vincent, that man will do no end of mischief by-and-by with the guns. How would it be to--" "Eh? Come, come, my man, this will not do," said the doctor, walking up. "You're getting hot and feverish. There, put away that pipe, and have a good long sleep." "Let me say one word, sir, please," pleaded Craig. "Quick, then. What is it?" and as I leaned eagerly forward to hear what plan he had to propose, Craig said quietly-- "I'm a bit in doubt about my bearers, sir. There's a good deal of whispering going on. They know that we are near their friends, and if they communicate it may mean mischief, or else another long weary tramp, for the enemy will retreat." "Yes, I'll tell Captain Brace," I said; and I went away meaning to ask Craig his plan the next day. As I went across to where our quarters were, under a tree, I came upon young Dick Dobbs, our trumpeter, busy with a bit of rag and some powder, polishing away at his bugle, and I nodded to the happy-looking bright-faced lad. "That's right," I said; "keep it bright." "I will, sir," he said, raising the instrument to his lips. "Oh, I should like to have a good blow." "And blow all poor Brace's schemes to the winds," I said to myself. "I wonder what Craig's plan is." The next minute I was telling Brace of Craig's suspicions. "Hum, yes," he cried. "That's a good man, Craig. I'd give something for him to be well and strong again. I'll go and speak to the bearers, and double their guard. It would be ruin if they communicated with the enemy now." He went and gave the necessary orders, returned, and after making arrangements for our bivouac that night, Dost was summoned to a consultation, the result being that the Hindu stole off as soon as it was dark, and did not return for some hours. Haynes was sleeping, and after lying down for a time enjoying the comparative coolness of the air, and listening to the peculiar noises in the forest, wondering the while whether any stray tiger might be on the prowl, I rose and went to where Brace was sitting. "You!" he said. "Why are you not asleep?" "I can't go off," I replied. "I'm uneasy about Dost." "So am I," replied Brace. "He does not come back. I hope he is faithful." "I feel sure he is," I cried. "Not so loud, my lad," he whispered. "We are deep in the forest, but sound passes far on a night like this. Yes, I think he is faithful; but he belongs to another people, and if he thinks that his people are about to get the upper hand, it is too much to expect him to stand fast by an alien race." Just then one of our men uttered a deep sigh, and as I looked in the direction from which the sound had come, I could not help thinking how dependent we were upon our posts at a time like that, with our poor weary fellows lying about fast asleep, and the thought had hardly occurred to me, when I sprang up, for there was a challenge from our sentry out in the direction of the rajah's town. Brace was on the _qui vive_ at once, and we stood there listening and trying to pierce the gloom when a dimly seen white figure stole up; and I was thinking how easily a daring party of natives might rush in amongst us, and, in a few minutes of surprise, cut us up, when the figure spoke, and I recognised Dost's voice. "What news?" cried Brace, eagerly. "I got right in among the people," said Dost, quietly. "They hardly noticed that I was a stranger, most of them taking me for one of the rajah's followers." "And what have you learned?" said Brace, eagerly--"that they march to-morrow!" "No, sahib, they stay here to drill till the maharajah is satisfied, and then they go to join the other chief." "Yes, yes," said Brace. "But you are sure they stand fast here for the present?" "As sure as man can be, sahib," replied Dost. "The rajah says that he will stay; but if he learns that you are here he will either attack you, or go at once." Brace remained very thoughtful as soon as Dost was dismissed, and quite a little council of war was held, to which Haynes was summoned, and after much talking, we could only come to the conclusion that an attack would be full of the risk of failure. Such an attempt would be unsatisfactory, Brace said, unless we could thoroughly scotch the rajah's power by carrying off all the horses and guns, and to do this seemed impossible in the face of such strong odds and the careful watch kept by the enemy. "Can any one suggest a ruse by which we could capture them?" "What about a night attack with lights and plenty of shouting?" said the doctor. "We have no lights," replied Brace; "and if we had, we should scare the horses as well as the enemy, and send them galloping over the plains." "Better keep to my own profession," said the doctor grimly. "Haynes, can you suggest anything?" said Brace. "No; I leave that to you. But what you ask me to do I'll do with all my might." "I know that, old fellow; but I want some suggestion. You, Vincent, can you propose anything?" "Only for us to steal up to their quarters, cast loose the horses, and then carry them off some night--to-night, if you like. The guns would be of no use to them without horses, and, once mounted, we could cut them up." "Good!" said Brace, patting me on the shoulder. "But how are we to get at the horses without being discovered?" "By the help of Dost and his spying." "Yes, it must be somehow in that way; but I cannot see the scheme yet in a successful form. Well, we shall do nothing to-night. Let's rest, those of us who can. But about rations; how long can we hold out?" "Till to-morrow night," said Haynes. "By that time, sahib, I shall be able to get a donkey load or two of food. I know this country, and to-morrow I can go to the villages away to the east, and buy rice and cakes." "About water?" "There is a good spring a hundred yards away," said the doctor quickly; and at rest on this point, careful watch was set, silence enjoined, and soon after the little camp was asleep. I was so utterly wearied out, that I believe I was one of the first to drop off, and the next thing I remember is lying on my back gazing up at the bright golden shafts of sunlight which penetrated the dense leafage overhead. It was morning once more, and I immediately began to think about our guns. _ |
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