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Mass' George: A Boy's Adventures in the Old Savannah, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 48 |
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_ CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. I passed the early part of that night now seated in the darkness by my father, now stealing away when I believed him to be asleep, and joining Morgan, who was acting as one of the sentries, and had kept Pomp by his side so as to make use of his keen young eyes, which seemed to see farther through the darkness of the night than those of any one else in the camp. And as I stood at Morgan's side I could not help thinking of the great change that had taken place. Only a few hours before the fort was crackling and blazing, huge logs splitting with a loud report, and wreaths of fire and smoke circling up into the lurid sky, while all within the enclosure was lit up, and glistened and glowed in the intense light. Now all was gloom, depression, and darkness--a darkness so thick that it seemed to me as if the Indians had only to come gently up and select the place to climb over and then carry all before them. I was tired and despondent, and that made me take, I suppose, so dreary a view of my position, as I waited for the enemy's advance. And yet I think my despondency was warranted, for I felt that if the Indians attacked they would carry everything before them; and if they did I could not doubt the determination of Morgan and his companions. And there I found myself standing beside the man who was ready to put a light to the powder and send everything into chaos--for that he would do it in the emergency I felt sure. I had been backwards and forwards several times, and was standing at last gazing over the fence in silence, trying to convince myself that some objects I saw in the distance were bushes and not Indians, when Pomp suddenly yawned very loudly. "Hush!" whispered Morgan, sternly. "Pomp can't help um. So dreffle tire." "Then keep a sharp look-out, and try if you can't see the Indians." "Pomp did, but eye got blunt now. Why not go look for Injum?" "I wish the General would let the boy go," whispered Morgan. "He might be able to get in some news." "Pomp nebber see noting here. May Pomp go, Mass' George?" "Of course you can't, boy," said Morgan, shortly. "Go and ask the commanding officer, and see what he'd say to you." Pomp yawned, put his arms over the edge of the fence, after getting his feet into a couple of notches, and drawing himself up and resting his chin upon his fists, he stared out into the darkness. "Here de Injum," he said; and a thrill ran through me as I followed the boy's pointing finger, but could see nothing. "Can you, Morgan?" "See? No!" he said, pettishly; "but you'd better go and give warning, sir." I hurried off, and found Colonel Preston with the General, who received my news, and word was passed round to the various sentries, while the colonel made for the reserves in the centre of the enclosure, where in utter silence every man seized his piece, and stood ready to march to the point threatened, while I guided the General to where Morgan was stationed. "No, sir. Not seen anything, nor heard a sound," said the latter, on being questioned. "It was this boy who saw them." "Yes, ober dah," said Pomp, pointing. "Can you see them now?" "No, sah. All gone." This was unsatisfactory, but the General seemed to have perfect faith in the boy's declaration, and a long exciting watch followed. The Indians' habits had grown so familiar that every eye and ear was on the strain, and finger upon trigger, as tree, shrub, and grassy clump was expected momentarily to develop into a foe. The secretive nature of these people made our position at times more painful and exciting, as we knew that at any moment they might come close to us in the darkness, and almost before the alarm could be given, dash up to the palisade and begin climbing over. But the weary hours crept on without any fresh sign, and the opinion began to spread that it was a false alarm, while Pomp was so pressed with questions that he slunk away into the darkness. I followed him though, just making him out by his light, white cotton clothes, and saw him at last throw himself down on his face; but he started up into a crouching position, ready to bound away as I came up to him. "No good, Mass' George," he said, angrily. "I 'tupid lil nigger, and done know nuff talk. Nebber see no Injum; nebber see nobody. Keep ask say--'Are you suah?' 'Are you suah?' Pomp going run away and lib in de tree. Nobody b'leeve Pomp." "Yes, some one does," I said, as I sat down beside him in the darkness; and for the first time I noticed that we were close to the tarpaulin and canvas spread over the powder-kegs. "No. Nobody b'leeve Pomp. Um wish Injum come and kill um." "No, you don't," I said; "because you know I believe you, and have often seen that you have wonderful eyes." "Eh? Mass' George tink Pomp got wunful eye?" "Yes; you can see twice as well in the dark as I can." "No; Mass' George tink Pomp 'tupid lil nigger; no good 'tall. Pomp go run away." "I shall call you a stupid little nigger if you talk like that," I said. "Don't be foolish. I hope the Indians will not come any more, and that we shall soon go back home." "Injum coming; Pomp see um. Dey hide; lie flat down on um 'tummuck so; and creep and crawl um." He illustrated his meaning, but crouched down by me again directly. "Dat on'y Pomp fun," he whispered. "Pomp nebber run away from Mass' George, and ah!--look dah!" He pointed away into the darkness so earnestly that I stared in that direction, but for some little time I could see nothing. Then, all at once, I made out a figure which came cautiously toward where we sat, but turned off and went round to the opposite side of the heap out of our sight, and it was evident that we were not seen. I was going to speak, but just as the words were on my lips I recognised Morgan, who must have just been relieved; and as I fully grasped now where we were, I turned cold as ice, and a peculiar feeling of moisture came in the palms of my hands. I wanted to speak, but I could not; I wanted to cry to him hoarsely, but no words would come; and if ever poor fellow suffered from nightmare when he was quite awake, it was I in those terrible moments, during which there was a peculiar rustling, then a loud cracking sound, as if something was being wrenched open and broken, and the tarpaulin was agitated and shaken. My ears were strained to listen to what came next, and that would be, I felt sure, the clicking of a flint and steel; but the sounds did not come, and just as I was at last feeling as if I could bear all this no longer, there was a sound of the tarpaulin falling on the earth, and Morgan came softly round and close by again without seeing us, while I crouched there ready to faint, and fully expecting every moment to be swept away by a terrific explosion. "What Mass' Morgan want?" said Pomp at last, as a sudden thought struck me, and mastering the feeling of paralysis which had held me there, I made a dash round to the other side to tear away the slow match which the man must have started, and which would, I supposed, burn for a few moments and then start a train. To my surprise I could see no sparkling fuse nor smell smoke, but concluding that it must be under the tarpaulin, I raised the edge with trembling hands, when Pomp said quietly-- "Dat powder, Mass' George; Pomp know. Mass' Morgan come fess lot more; and oh! What lot tumble all about." His quick eyes had made out that which was invisible to mine; and, after stooping, he held a handful before me. I drew a breath full of relief. I knew now. He had not come to fire the fuse, but to tear open one of the kegs and let a portion of the powder lie loose, so that whoever came to do the terrible deed would only have to discharge his firelock down amongst it, when a spark would explode the whole. "Only to be quite ready," I thought, as the desire for life thrilled through my veins. "Pomp 'crape it up and put in Mass' George pocket," said Pomp; and then we both stood away, for there was a flash and the sharp report of a gun. "Pomp did see Injum, Mass' George," said the boy; "and here dey come." Another shot, and another, and my heart seemed to leap as I felt that Morgan's plan might not be long before execution after all, if the Indians made a desperate assault. One minute before, the great enclosure was perfectly still, now it was all excitement; orders rang out; there was the tramp of armed men, as they hurried toward the spot from whence the firing had come. Then came a shot from quite the opposite side, fresh orders were shouted, and there was a tramp of feet in that direction, the enemy evidently attacking in two places at once so as to divide our little force. Flash after flash now cut the darkness to right and left, and we both stood listening to the quick orders and the curious ringing sound made by the ramrods as the men reloaded. The firing was not rapid, our men seeming to have had instructions to be very careful and only fire when they saw a good chance; but it was kept up steadily, and it was evident that the Indians had not succeeded in gaining a footing as yet. "Let's run and tell my father what's going on," I said. "He'll be so anxious." I made for the tent, with Pomp following, and found my father standing at the entrance, supporting himself on Hannibal's arm. "Ah, George, my boy," he said, excitedly. "It's hard not to be able to help. Who is at the front?" "At the front?" I said, wonderingly. "Yes. Is any one protecting the palisade between the two points attacked? Go and see how many are there; and if few, tell Colonel Preston to draw the General's attention to the fact. If there are people there, ask his forgiveness for my interference. It is solely from anxiety for our safety." I ran off, followed by Pomp, and soon found Colonel Preston and gave him my father's message, as he was leading some more men to where the firing was fiercest. "Yes, yes, of course," he said, angrily. "It is not likely it has been forgotten." I drew back at his words, and felt that I should like the General to have heard my father's message; and just then I came upon Morgan running, loaded with ammunition, to the other side. "Where is the General?" I asked. "Over here, lad, where I'm going. Don't stop me." But I did stop him to tell him my father's words. "Of course it is!" replied Morgan, as sharply as the Colonel had spoken. And I have often thought about it since--that such a slip should have been made by two gentlemen, both of whom had had great experience in military matters. But, of course, in the excitement of the double advance, and with so few men at their call, it was easy to think of nothing but repelling that attack, the more especially as there were men posted all round. My answers were so unsatisfactory for taking back to where my father was, that I determined to go over to the part in question, and see how it was for myself. As I hurried on, my course lay round the heap of ashes and burnt wood which had formed the block-house; and curiously weird it all seemed to be, with the flashes and heavy reports of the pieces to right, and left, mingled with the savage yells of the attacking Indians, who, as far as I could tell, seemed to be striving to beat back our men from the fence. It was darker than ever as I got round the remains of the fort, and knowing that the ground there was free from impediment, I was in the act of breaking into a trot, when there was a curious stifled sound in front--a noise as of an axe falling on wood; and my companion sprang at me and dragged me back. "Mass' George," he whispered, "Injum dah. Come ober big fence." I was too late, and yet not too late to give warning. "Run and tell Colonel Preston," I said in a whisper. "Quick." Pomp was too well accustomed to obey to hesitate, and he ran off in one direction round the ruins to where the colonel was defending the palisade, while I darted off in the other, rushed right up to where the General was standing calmly enough giving directions. As I reached him I heard him utter the word, "Forward!" and about twenty men moving round, and were evidently going up to the part from which I had come. My news resulted in their recall, and that of the men defending the palisade, orders being given to fall back toward the rough defence made in the centre of the enclosure, which we reached in safety, just as we found that Colonel Preston's men were falling back towards us, firing as they came, but toward the direction from which the new danger threatened. The way in which the defence had been planned stood us in good stead now, for as our party was halted, waiting for the colonel's men, a loud yelling came from behind the block-house ruins, and the rapid beat of feet told plainly enough that a large body of the enemy had clambered in and were coming on. Any want of promptitude would have resulted in the Indians getting between our two little forces; but a sharp order was given, and a volley rattled out--the flashing of the pieces showing in a dimly-seen line the fierce faces of our enemies, who appeared to be thrown into confusion, but who still came on, when a second volley was poured into them, and that was followed by one from the Colonel's men, the last checking them so effectually that we had time to get well behind the breastwork and reload. I say we, though I was unarmed, but still I had played my part; and as soon as I could get through the men crowded behind our last defence, I hurried to where my father was anxiously awaiting my return, and the report which I had to make. _ |
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