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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:24:35 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20641-h.zip b/20641-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b2522c --- /dev/null +++ b/20641-h.zip diff --git a/20641-h/20641-h.htm b/20641-h/20641-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ddcc65e --- /dev/null +++ b/20641-h/20641-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11803 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>Through Three Campaigns</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + caption { font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial"; + text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; } + div { text-align: center} + em {font-weight: bold} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + hr {height: 5px} + p {text-indent: 4% } + pre {margin-left: 10%; font-size: 10pt;} + table {text-align: center} + td { font-family: "Arial"; text-align: left} + td.ltoc { letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; + text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; vertical-align: top } + td.rtoc { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left} + thead { font-weight: bold;} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Three Campaigns, by G. A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Through Three Campaigns + A Story of Chitral, Tirah and Ashanti + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Illustrator: Wal Paget + +Release Date: February 21, 2007 [EBook #20641] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH THREE CAMPAIGNS *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>Through Three Campaigns:</h1> +<h2>A Story of Chitral, Tirah and Ashanti<br /> +by G. A. Henty.<br /> +Illustrated by Wal Paget.</h2> +<hr /> +<center> +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Contents</caption> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"></td> +<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface</a>.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch1">Chapter 1</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">An Expedition.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch2">Chapter 2</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Start.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch3">Chapter 3</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The First Fight.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch4">Chapter 4</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">In The Passes</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch5">Chapter 5</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Promoted.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch6">Chapter 6</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Unfair Play.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch7">Chapter 7</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Tales Of War.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch8">Chapter 8</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Dargai Pass.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch9">Chapter 9</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Captured.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch10">Chapter 10</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Through The Mohmund Country.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch11">Chapter 11</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">An Arduous March.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch12">Chapter 12</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Tribal Fight.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch13">Chapter 13</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The V.C.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch14">Chapter 14</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Forest Fighting.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch15">Chapter 15</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Narrow Escape.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch16">Chapter 16</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Relief Of Coomassie.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch17">Chapter 17</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Stockades And War Camps.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch18">Chapter 18</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Night Surprise.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch19">Chapter 19</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Lost In The Forest.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch20">Chapter 20</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">At Home.</td> +</tr> +</table> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<table summary="Illustrations"> +<caption>Illustrations<br /></caption> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map1">Map illustrating the Chitral Campaign.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicA">Lisle gives the alarm.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicB">He carefully aimed and fired.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicC">They charged the attacking force from end to +end.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map2">Map illustrating the Tirah Campaign.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicD">A party of Afridis rushed down upon +him.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicE">It was the dead body of an Afridi.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicF">"My horse must carry two, sir," Lisle +replied.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map3">Map illustrating the Ashanti Campaign.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicG">Two of them fell before Lisle's +revolver.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicH">They saw a strong party of the enemy crossing +the road.</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</center> +<h2><a name="Preface" id="Preface">Preface</a>.</h2> +<p>Our little wars attract far less attention among the people of +this country than they deserve. They are frequently carried out in +circumstances of the most adverse kind. Our enemies, although +ignorant of military discipline are, as a rule, extremely brave; +and are thoroughly capable of using the natural advantages of their +country. Our men are called upon to bear enormous fatigue, and +endure extremes in climate. The fighting is incessant, the peril +constant. Nevertheless, they show a magnificent contempt for danger +and difficulty; and fight with a valour and determination worthy of +the highest praise.</p> +<p>I have chosen, as an illustration of this, three campaigns; +namely, the relief of Chitral, the Tirah campaign, and the relief +of Coomassie. The first two were conducted in a mountainous +country, affording every advantage to the enemy; where passes had +to be scaled, torrents to be forded, and deep snow to be crossed. +In the other, the country was a combination of morass and thick +forest, frequently intersected by wide and deep rivers. The work, +moreover, had to be done in a tropical climate, during the rainy +season. The conditions, therefore, were much more trying than in +the case of former expeditions which had crossed the same ground +and, in addition, the enemy were vastly more numerous and more +determined; and had, in recent years, mastered the art of building +extremely formidable stockades.</p> +<p>The country has a right to be proud, indeed, of the prowess both +of our own troops and of our native regiments. Boys who wish to +obtain fuller details of these campaigns I would refer to Sir +George Robertson's Chitral; H. C. Thomson's Chitral Campaign; +Lieutenant Beynon's With Kelly to Chitral; Colonel Hutchison's +Campaign in Tirah; Viscount Fincastle and P. C. Eliott Lockhart's A +Frontier Campaign; and Captain Harold C. J. Biss's The Relief of +Kumasi, from which I have principally drawn the historical portion +of my story.</p> +<p>G. A. Henty.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch1" id="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: An Expedition.</h2> +<p>"Well, Lisle, my boy, the time is drawing very near when you +will have to go home. My brother John will look after you, and +choose some good crammer to push you on. You are nearly sixteen, +now, and it is high time you buckled to."</p> +<p>"But you have always taught me, father!"</p> +<p>"Yes, that is all very well, but I could not devote three hours +a day to you. I think I may say that you are thoroughly well +grounded--I hope as well as most public-school boys of your own +age--but I can go no further with you. You have no idea what +cramming is necessary, now, for a young fellow to pass into the +army. Still I think that, by hard work with some man who prepares +students for the army, you may be able to rub through. I have +always saved up money for this, for my brother is by no means a +rich man, and crammers are very expensive; so the next time I see a +chance of sending you down to Calcutta, down you go. My agents +there will see you on board a ship, and do everything that is +necessary."</p> +<p>"Of course, father, if I must go, I must; but it will be +beastly, after the jolly time I have spent in the regiment, to set +to and do nothing but grind, for the next three years."</p> +<p>"We all have to do a good many unpleasant things, Lisle; and as +we have decided that you shall enter the army, you must make up +your mind to do the necessary work, even though it be +disagreeable."</p> +<p>"All right, father! I know what depends upon it, and I will set +to."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt you will, Lisle, for you have plenty of common +sense, though you are a little inclined to mischief--not that you +are altogether to blame for that, for the officers encourage you in +it."</p> +<p>This conversation took place between Captain Bullen, of the 32nd +Pioneers, and his son. The regiment was in cantonments near the +northern frontier of India. The captain had lost his wife some +years before and, as their two youngest children had also died, he +had not been able to bring himself to send the remaining boy home. +The climate was excellent, and the boy enjoyed as good health as if +he had been in England. Captain Bullen had taken a great deal of +pains with his son's education but, as he said, he had now taught +the boy all that he knew; and felt that he ought to go to England, +and be regularly coached for the army.</p> +<p>Next day the captain entered his quarters, hurriedly.</p> +<p>"I am off," he said. "Those rascally Afridis have come down and +looted several villages; and I am to go up, in command of a couple +of companies, to give them a lesson."</p> +<p>"They are not very strong, are they, father?"</p> +<p>"No, I don't suppose they can put a couple of hundred men in the +field. We shall take the two mountain guns with us, and batter +holes in their fortresses, and then attack and carry them easily. +There is no sign of movement among the other tribes, so we need not +expect any serious opposition."</p> +<p>A week later, the little detachment entered the valley in which +the Afridi villages lay. The work had been fatiguing, for the +country was very rough; and the mules that carried the guns met +with such difficulties that the infantry had to turn to, and +improve the paths--if paths they could be called, for they were +often little better than undefined tracks. As the expedition moved +up the valley, the tribesmen opened on them a distant fire; but +scattered after a few shells from the mountain guns were thrown +among them. The fortified houses, however, were stubbornly held; +and indeed, were only carried after the guns had broken in the +doors, or made a breach in the walls.</p> +<p>During the attack on the last house, a shot struck Captain +Bullen in the chest, and he instantly fell. When they saw this, the +Pioneers dashed forward with a howl of rage, carried the fort, and +bayoneted its defenders. The doctor of the party at once examined +the wound, and saw that it would probably be fatal.</p> +<p>"Patch me up, Lloyd, so that I may get back to camp and see my +boy again," the wounded man whispered.</p> +<p>"I will do my best," the doctor said, "but I doubt whether you +will be able to stand the journey."</p> +<p>The Pioneers, after setting fire to all the houses in the +valley, started at once for home. Captain Bullen was placed on a +stretcher, and four men at a time carried him down, taking the +utmost pains not to jolt or shake him. His face was covered with +light boughs, to keep off the flies; and everything that was +possible was done to conduce to his comfort.</p> +<p>The doctor watched him anxiously. His condition became more +serious, every day. As they neared the camp, a messenger was sent +down with a report from the native officer of what had happened; +and the Pioneers all came out to see their favourite officer +brought in; and stood, mournful and silent, as he was carried to +his bungalow.</p> +<p>"Don't come in yet, lad," the surgeon said, to Lisle. "Your +father, at present, is incapable of speaking; and he must have a +little rest before you see him, for the slightest excitement would +probably cause a gush of blood to the wound, which would be +fatal."</p> +<p>Lisle's grief was unbounded. He could not listen to the kind +words with which the officers tried to soothe him, but wandered +away out of camp and, throwing himself down, wept unrestrainedly +for an hour. Then he roused himself, and walked slowly back. By a +mighty effort he had composed himself, for he knew that he must be +calm when he saw his father.</p> +<p>Half an hour later, the doctor beckoned him in.</p> +<p>"He is conscious now," he said, "and has whispered that he +wishes to see you. He has been very calm, all the way down, and has +spoken of you often."</p> +<p>"I will do my best," Lisle muttered, keeping down his tears with +a tremendous effort; and then went into his father's room.</p> +<p>He could not trust himself to speak a word but, walking up, took +his father's hand and, kneeling down, pressed it to his lips, his +whole form shaking with agitation.</p> +<p>"I am glad I have held out until I got back," his father said, +in a low voice. "It is all up with me, my boy, and I have only a +few hours to live, at most. I am sorry, now, that you did not start +for England before this happened; but I have no doubt that it is +all for the best. I shall die, as I should wish to die, doing my +duty and, except for leaving you, I shall feel small regret."</p> +<p>"Must you leave me, father?" Lisle sobbed.</p> +<p>"Yes, my boy, I have known it from the first. It is only my +intense desire to see you again that has kept me up. The doctor +said he did not expect that I should last more than two or three +days, at most.</p> +<p>"You will bear in mind what I said to you, the day before we +started. I have no fear about you, Lisle; I am sure you will make +an honest gentleman and a brave soldier, and will do credit to our +name. I should stay here a few weeks longer, if I were you, until +some others are going down. The officers are all fond of you, and +it would be better for you to have company, than to make the long +journey to the coast alone.</p> +<p>"My voice is failing me, lad, and I can say no more, now; but +you can sit here with me, till the end comes. It will not be long. +When you have completed your training, the fact that I have died in +this way will give you a good claim to a commission."</p> +<p>Lisle sat with his father for some hours. Occasionally the dying +man moved and, leaning over him, he could catch the words "God +bless you!" Before midnight the brave spirit had passed away, and +Lisle went out and cried like a child, till morning.</p> +<p>The funeral took place next day. After it was over, the colonel +sent for Lisle; who had now, after a hard struggle, recovered his +composure.</p> +<p>"Did your father give you any instructions, Lisle? You may be +sure that whatever he said we will carry out."</p> +<p>"He said that he thought it would be best for me to stay here +for a few weeks as, among so many kind friends, I should be able to +bear it better than if I went down at once."</p> +<p>"Quite right, lad! We shall all be very glad to have you with +us. You can remain in the bungalow as long as you like. It is not +likely to be wanted, for some months. Your father's butler and one +or two servants will be enough to look after you; and you will, of +course, remain a member of the mess. In this way, I hope you will +have recovered some of your cheerfulness before you start."</p> +<p>It was a hard time for Lisle for the next week or two, for +everything reminded him of his father. The risaldar major and the +other native officers, with all of whom he was familiar, grasped +him by the hand when they met, in token of their sympathy; and the +sepoys stood at attention, with mournful faces, when he passed +them. He spent the heat of the day with his books, and only stirred +out in the early morning and evening, meals being considerately +sent down to him from the mess. At the end of a fortnight he made a +great effort and joined the mess, and the kindness with which the +officers spoke to him gradually cheered him.</p> +<p>Then there came an excitement which cheered him further. There +were rumours of disaffection among the hill tribes, and the chances +of a campaign were discussed with animation, both among officers +and soldiers. The regiment was a very fine one, composed of sturdy +Punjabis; and all agreed that, if there were an expedition, they +would probably form part of it. Lisle entered fully into the +general feeling, and his eyes glistened as he listened to the +sepoys talking of the expeditions in which they had taken part.</p> +<p>"It would be splendid to go," he said to himself, "but I don't +see how the colonel could take me. I shall certainly ask him, when +the time comes; but I feel sure that he will refuse. Of course, I +ought to be starting before long for Calcutta; but the expedition +will probably not last many weeks and, if I were to go with it, the +excitement would keep me from thinking, and do me a lot of good. +Besides, a few weeks could make no difference in my working up for +the examination."</p> +<p>The more he thought of it, the more he felt determined to go +with the column. He felt sure that he could disguise himself so +that no one would suspect who he was. He had been so long +associated with the regiment that he talked Punjabi as well as +English.</p> +<p>His father had now been dead two months and, as the rumours from +across the frontier grew more and more serious, he was filled with +fear lest an opportunity should occur to send him down country +before the regiment marched; in which case all his plans would be +upset. Day after day passed, however, without his hearing anything +about it, till one day the colonel sent for him.</p> +<p>"The time has come, lad, when we must part. We shall all be very +sorry to lose you, but it cannot be helped. I have received orders, +this morning, to go up to Chitral; and am sending down some sick, +at once. You must start with them. When you reach the railway, you +will be able to get a through ticket to Calcutta.</p> +<p>"As long as it was likely that we should be going down +ourselves, I was glad to keep you here; but now that we have got +orders to go off and have a talk with these tribes in the north, it +is clearly impossible for us to keep you any longer. I am very +sorry, my boy, for you know we all like you, for your own sake and +for your good father's."</p> +<p>"I am awfully obliged to you all, colonel. You have been very +good to me, since my father was killed. I feel that I have had no +right to stop here so long; but I quite understand that, now you +are moving up into the hills, you cannot keep me.</p> +<p>"I suppose I could not go as a volunteer, colonel?" he asked, +wistfully.</p> +<p>"Quite impossible," the colonel said, decidedly. "Even if you +had been older, I could not have taken you. Every mouth will have +to be fed, and the difficulties of transport will be great. There +is no possibility, whatever, of our smuggling a lad of your age up +with us.</p> +<p>"Besides, you know that you ought to go to England, without +further delay. You want to gain a commission, and to do that you +must pass a very stiff examination, indeed. So for your own sake, +it is advisable that you should get to work without any unnecessary +delay.</p> +<p>"A party of invalids will be going down tomorrow, and you can go +with them as far as Peshawar. There, of course, you will take train +either to Calcutta or Bombay. I know that you have plenty of funds +for your journey to England. I think you said that it was an uncle +to whom you were going. Mind you impress upon him the fact that it +is absolutely necessary that you should go to a first-rate school +or, better still, to a private crammer, if you are to have a chance +of getting into the service by a competitive examination."</p> +<p>"Very well, colonel. I am sure that I am very grateful to you, +and all the officers of the regiment, for the kindness you have +shown me, especially since my father's death. I shall always +remember it."</p> +<p>"That is all right, Lisle. It has been a pleasure to have you +with us. I am sure we shall all be sorry to lose you, but I hope +that some day we shall meet again, when you are an officer in one +of our regiments."</p> +<p>Lisle returned to the bungalow and called the butler, the only +servant he had retained.</p> +<p>"Look here, Robah, the colonel says that I must go down with a +sick party, tomorrow. As I have told you, I am determined to go up +country with the troops. Of course, I must be in disguise. How do +you think that I had better go?"</p> +<p>The man shook his head.</p> +<p>"The young sahib had better join his friends in England."</p> +<p>"It is useless to talk about that," Lisle said. "I have told you +I mean to go up, and go up I will. There ought to be no difficulty +about it. I speak three or four of these frontier languages, as +well as I speak English. I have at least learnt that. I have picked +them up by talking to the natives, and partly from the moonshee I +have had, for four years. My dear father always impressed upon me +the utility of these to an officer; and said that, if I could take +up native languages in my examinations, it would go a long way +towards making up for other deficiencies. So I am all right, so far +as language is concerned.</p> +<p>"It seems to me that my best plan will be to go up as a mule +driver."</p> +<p>"It is as the sahib wills," the old man said. "His servant will +do all he can to help him."</p> +<p>"Well, Robah, I want you in the first place to get me a +disguise. You may as well get two suits. I am sure to get wet, +sometimes, and shall require a change. I shall take a couple of my +own vests and drawers, to wear under them; for we shall probably +experience very cold weather in the mountains."</p> +<p>"They are serving out clothes to the carriers, sahib."</p> +<p>"Yes, I forgot that. Well, I want you to go into their camp, and +arrange with one of the headmen to let me take the place of one of +the drivers. Some of the men will be willing enough to get off the +job, and a tip of forty rupees would completely settle the matter +with him. Of course, I shall start with the sick escort but, as +there will be several waggons going down with them, they will not +travel far; and at the first halting place I can slip away, and +come back here. You will be waiting for me on the road outside the +camp, early in the morning, and take me to the headman.</p> +<p>"By the way, I shall want you to make up a bottle of stain for +my hands and feet; for of course I shall go in the native +sandals."</p> +<p>"I will do these things, sahib. How about your luggage?"</p> +<p>"Before I leave the camp tonight I shall put fresh labels on +them, directing them to be taken to the store of Messieurs Parfit, +who were my father's agents; and to be left there until I send for +them. I shall give the sergeant, who goes down with the sick, money +to pay for their carriage to Calcutta.</p> +<p>"And about yourself, Robah?"</p> +<p>"I shall stay here at the bungalow till another regiment comes +up to take your place. Perhaps you will give me a chit, saying that +I have been in your father's service fourteen years, and that you +have found me faithful and useful. If I cannot find employment, I +shall go home. I have saved enough money."</p> +<p>An hour later, Robah again entered the room.</p> +<p>"I have been thinking, sahib, of a better plan. You wish to see +fighting, do you not?"</p> +<p>"Certainly I do."</p> +<p>"Well, sahib, if you go in the baggage train you might be miles +away, and see nothing of it. Now, it seems to me that it would be +almost as easy for you to go as a soldier in the regiment, as in +the transport train."</p> +<p>"Do you think so, Robah?" Lisle exclaimed excitedly.</p> +<p>"I think so, sahib. You see, you know all the native officers, +and your father was a great favourite among them. If you were +dressed in uniform, and took your place in the ranks, it is very +unlikely that any of the English officers would notice you. These +matters are left in the hands of the native officers.</p> +<p>"Yesterday a young private died, who had but just passed the +recruit stage, and had been only once or twice on parade. You might +take his name. It is most unlikely that any of the white officers +will notice that your face is a fresh one and, if they did ask the +question, the native officer would give that name. The English +officer would not be at all likely to notice that this was the name +of a man who had died. Deaths are not uncommon and, as the regiment +is just moving, the matter would receive no attention. The book of +this man would be handed to you, and it would all seem +regular."</p> +<p>"That is a splendid idea, Robah. Which officer do you think I +had better speak to?"</p> +<p>"I should speak to Risaldar Gholam Singh. He was the chief +native officer in your father's wing of the regiment. If he +consents, he would order all the native officers under him to hold +their tongues and, as you are a favourite with them all, your +secret would be kept."</p> +<p>"It is a grand idea, and I certainly don't see why it should not +work out properly."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt that the risaldar major will do all he can for +you."</p> +<p>"Do you think so, Robah?"</p> +<p>"I am sure he will. He was very much attached to your father, +and felt his loss as much as anyone. Indeed, I think that every one +of the native officers will do all he can for you."</p> +<p>"That would make it very easy for me," Lisle said. "Till you +suggested it, the idea of going as a soldier never occurred to me +but, with their assistance, it will not be difficult."</p> +<p>"Shall I go and fetch the risaldar here, sahib?"</p> +<p>"Do so. I shall be on thorns until I see him."</p> +<p>In a few minutes the officer, a tall and stately Punjabi, +entered.</p> +<p>"Risaldar," Lisle said, "I know you were very much attached to +my father."</p> +<p>"I was, sahib."</p> +<p>"Well, I want you to do something for me."</p> +<p>"It would be a pleasure for me to do so, and you have only to +ask for me to grant it, if it is in my power."</p> +<p>"I think it is in your power," Lisle said. "I will tell you what +I want. I have made up my mind to go with this expedition. I +thought of disguising myself, and going as a baggage coolie; but in +that case I should be always in the rear and see none of the +fighting, and I have made up my mind to go as a private in the +ranks."</p> +<p>"As a private, sahib?" the officer exclaimed, in astonishment. +"Surely that would be impossible. You would be detected at the +first halt. Besides, how could the son of our dear captain go as a +private?"</p> +<p>"I do not object to go as a private, risaldar. Of course I +should stain myself and, in uniform, it is not likely that any of +the white officers would notice a strange face."</p> +<p>"But you would have to eat with the others, to mix with them as +one of themselves, to suffer all sorts of hardships."</p> +<p>"All that is nothing," Lisle said. "I have been with the +regiment so long that I know all the ways of the men, and I don't +think that I should be likely to make any mistake that would +attract their attention. As to the language, I know it +perfectly."</p> +<p>"I hardly dare do such a thing, sahib. If you were discovered on +the march, the colonel and officers would be very angry with +me."</p> +<p>"Even if I were discovered, it need not be known that you had +assisted me, risaldar. You may be sure that I should never tell. If +you were questioned, you could declare that you had taken me for an +ordinary recruit. If I deceived everyone else, I might very well +deceive you."</p> +<p>The risaldar stood thoughtful for some time.</p> +<p>"It might possibly be managed," he said at last. "I would do +much for Captain Bullen's son, even risk the anger of the +colonel."</p> +<p>"I understand that a sepoy died yesterday. He was quite a young +recruit, and the white officers had not come to know his face. I +might say that I am a relation of his, and am very anxious to take +his place."</p> +<p>"You could take his place in the ranks under his name."</p> +<p>"That would certainly be a good plan, if it could be carried +out. I should only be asked a few questions by the sepoys of my +company. It would seem to them natural that I should take my +cousin's place; and that, as the regiment was moving, and there was +no time to teach me drill, I should be expected to pick up what I +could on the way. But indeed, I have watched the regiment so often +that I think I know all the commands and movements, and could go +through them without hesitation. Besides, there won't be much +drilling on the march. There will probably be a good deal of +skirmishing, and perhaps some rough fighting."</p> +<p>"But if you were to be killed, sahib, what then?"</p> +<p>"I don't mean to be killed if I can help it," Lisle said; "but +if I am, I shall be buried as one of the sepoys. The officers will +all believe that I have gone home and, though they may wonder a +little that I never write to them, they will think it is because I +am too busy. It will be a long time, indeed, before any of my +friends write to ask about me; and then it will be supposed that I +have been accidentally killed or drowned.</p> +<p>"At any rate, I should have the satisfaction of being killed in +the Queen's service. All the men are delighted at going, and they +will run the same risk as I do."</p> +<p>"Well, sahib," the risaldar said, "I will do it. I would very +much prefer that you had never asked me, but I cannot say 'no' to +you. I will think it over; and tell you, tomorrow morning, what +seems to me the best plan. I don't see, at present, how you are to +disappear and join the regiment."</p> +<p>"That is easy enough," Lisle said. "I am going to start tomorrow +with the sick convoy; but shall slip away from them, after I have +gone a short distance. Robah will meet me with my uniform and +rifle; and I shall come into the camp again, in uniform, after it +is dark."</p> +<p>"You appear to have thought it all out," the officer said, "and +if your scheme can be carried out, there should be no difficulty, +after the first day or two. You are more likely to pass unnoticed, +on a march, than you would be if you were staying here. The men +will have other things to think about, and you will only have three +men marching with you in the column to ask questions. Indeed, there +is very little talking on the line of march.</p> +<p>"Well, I will think it over, and see you in the morning."</p> +<p>This was as good as consent, and Lisle was highly delighted. In +the morning, the risaldar called again.</p> +<p>"I have spoken," the risaldar said, "to the three officers of +the company to which the soldier Mutteh Ghar belonged; and they all +agreed, willingly, to help you to carry out your scheme, and think +that there is very little probability of the fact that you are a +new recruit being noticed. The general discipline of the regiment +is in our hands. The British officers direct, but we carry out +their orders. As the man was only on parade twice and, on neither +of these occasions, came under general inspection of the white +officers, it is probable that they do not know his face. It is +certainly best that you should take Mutteh Ghar's name, as the +soldiers will see nothing strange in our placing a young recruit in +the ranks, after his cousin had died in the regiment. We are all of +opinion, therefore, that you can take your place without +difficulty; and that the chance of the change being detected by the +British officers is extremely slight. We think, however, that it +will be next to impossible for you always to keep up your +character, and believe that you will find it so hard to live under +the same conditions as the others that you yourself will tire of +it."</p> +<p>"I can assure you that there is no fear of that," Lisle said +earnestly. "I want to take part in the expedition, and am quite +prepared to share in the habits and hardships of the men, whatever +they may be. You know, if I were discovered I should be sent off at +once, even if a fight were imminent. I think I can say that, when I +undertake a thing, I will carry it through.</p> +<p>"I cannot tell you how grateful I feel to you all, for aiding me +to carry out my wish. Will you kindly convey my thanks to the +officers of the company, and particularly urge upon them that they +must show me no favour, and pay no more attention to me than to the +other men? Anything of that sort would certainly give rise to +comment and suspicion."</p> +<p>"I have already told them that," the officer said, "and I think +they thoroughly understand how they must act.</p> +<p>"The sick party are to start tomorrow morning. How do you wish +the uniform of your supposed cousin to be sent to you?"</p> +<p>"If you hand it over to Robah, he will bring it out to me. The +rifle, of course, should be handed quietly to me when I return to +camp. I cannot march in with it. I shall not come in till after +dark. Then the havildar must take me to one of the sepoy tents, and +mention to the men there that I am Mutteh Ghar's cousin; and that, +as a great favour, I am to be allowed to accompany the +regiment."</p> +<p>"Of course, you will take with you the usual underclothes to put +on, when you lay aside your uniform; and especially the loincloth, +and light linen jacket, which the men use in undress."</p> +<p>"I will see to all that, risaldar. I can assure you that, so far +from finding it a trouble to act as a native, I shall really enjoy +it; and shall make very light of any hardships that I may have to +undergo. When it comes to fighting I am, as you know, a very good +shot; and should certainly be able to do my part, with credit."</p> +<p>"I will tell the havildar to be on the lookout for you, when you +come into camp, and to bring you straight to me. I will then see +that your uniforms and belts are properly put on, before I send you +off under his charge. I hope the matter may turn out well. If it +does not, you must remember that I have done my part because you +urged it upon me, and prayed me to assist you for your father's +sake."</p> +<p>"I shall never forget that, Gholam Singh, and shall always feel +deeply indebted to you."</p> +<p>When the risaldar had left, Lisle called Robah in.</p> +<p>"All is arranged, Robah; and now it remains only to carry out +the details. In the first place, you must get me the stain; in the +second, you must go into the bazaar and buy me a loincloth and +light jacket, such as the soldiers wear when they lay aside their +uniforms. As to the uniform, that is already arranged for; and I +shall, of course, have one of the sheepskin greatcoats that have +just been served out, and which I expect I shall find +indispensable. Put in my kit bag one pair of my thickest woollen +vests and drawers. I cannot carry more, for I mean to take one suit +of my own clothes to put on in case, by any accident, I should be +discovered and sent back. I can get that carried on the baggage +waggon.</p> +<p>"Tomorrow we shall start at five o'clock in the morning and, at +the first halt, I shall leave the party quietly. I have no doubt +that Gholam Singh will give orders, to the native officer in +charge, that I am to be permitted to do so without remark. As soon +as I leave the convoy you must join me with my uniform and, above +all, with the stain. You can bring out a bag with some provisions +for the day, for I shall not return to camp until after dark."</p> +<p>When Robah went away to make the necessary purchases, Lisle +packed up his baggage and labelled it. His father's effects had all +been sold, a few days after his death; as it would not have paid to +send them home. They had fetched good prices, and had been gladly +bought up by the other officers; some as mementoes of their late +comrade, and some because they were useful.</p> +<p>Several of the officers came in and chatted with him while he +was packing, all expressing regret that he was leaving. At mess +that evening they drank his health, and a pleasant journey; and he +gravely returned thanks. When the mess broke up he returned to the +bungalow, and packed a small canvas bag with the suit he was going +to take with him.</p> +<p>Then he examined and tried on the uniform of the dead sepoy; +which Robah had, that evening, received from the risaldar. It +fitted him fairly well. In addition to the regular uniform there +was a posteen, or sheepskin coat; loose boots made of soft skin, so +that the feet could be wrapped up in cloth before they were put on; +and putties, or leggings, consisting of a very long strip of cloth +terminating with a shorter strip of leather. These things had been +served out that day to the troops, and were to be put on over the +usual leg wrappings when they came to snow-covered country. They +were to be carried with the men's kits till required. For ordinary +wear there were the regular boots, which were strapped on like +sandals.</p> +<p>"Well, I think I ought to be able to stand anything in the way +of cold, with this sheepskin coat and the leggings, together with +my own warm underclothing."</p> +<p>"You are sure," Robah said, "that you understand the proper +folding of your turban?"</p> +<p>"I think so, Robah. I have seen them done up hundreds of times +but, nevertheless, you shall give me a lesson when you join me +tomorrow. We shall have plenty of time for it.</p> +<p>"Now, can you think of anything else that would be useful? If +so, you can buy it tomorrow before you come out to meet me."</p> +<p>"No, sahib. There are the warm mittens that have been served out +for mountain work; and you might take a pair of your own gloves to +wear under them for, from all I hear, you will want them when you +are standing out all night on picket work, among the hills."</p> +<p>"No, I won't take the gloves, Robah. With two pairs on, my +fingers would be so muffled that I should not be able to do good +shooting."</p> +<p>"Well, it will be cold work, for it is very late in the season +and, you know, goggles have been served out to all the men to save +them from snow blindness, from which they would otherwise suffer +severely. I have been on expeditions in which a third of the men +were quite blind, when they returned to camp."</p> +<p>"It must look very rum to see a whole regiment marching in +goggles," Lisle laughed; "still, anything is better than being +blinded."</p> +<p>"I shall see you sometimes, sahib; for the major engaged me, +this morning, to go with him as his personal servant, as his own +man is in feeble health and, though I am now getting on in years, I +am still strong enough to travel with the regiment."</p> +<p>"I am delighted, indeed, to hear that, Robah. I shall be very +glad to steal away sometimes, and have a chat with you. It will be +a great pleasure to have someone I can talk to, who knows me. Of +course, the native officer in command of my company will not be +able to show me any favour, nor should I wish him to do so. It +seems like keeping one friend, while I am cut off from all others; +though I dare say I shall make some new ones among the sepoys. I +have no doubt you will be very comfortable with the major."</p> +<p>"Yes, sahib, I am sure that he is a kind master. I shall be +able, I hope, sometimes to give you a small quantity of whisky, to +mix with the water in your bottle."</p> +<p>"No, no, Robah, when the baggage is cut down there will be very +little of that taken and, however much there might be, I could not +accept any that you had taken from the major's store. I must fare +just the same as the others."</p> +<p>"Well, sahib, I hope that, at any rate, you will carry a small +flask of it under your uniform. You may not want it but, if you +were wounded and lying in the snow, it would be very valuable to +you for, mixed with the water in your bottle, and taken from time +to time, it would sustain you until you could be carried down to +camp."</p> +<p>"That is a very good idea, Robah, and I will certainly adopt it. +I will carry half a pint about with me, for emergencies such as you +describe. If I do not want it, myself, it may turn out useful to +keep up some wounded comrade. It will not add much to the load that +I shall have to carry, and which I expect I shall feel, when we +first march. As I am now, I think I could keep up with the best +marcher in the regiment but, with the weight of the clothes and +pouches, a hundred and twenty rounds of ammunition, and my rifle, +it will be a very different thing; and I shall be desperately +tired, by the time we get to the end of the day's march.</p> +<p>"Now it is twelve o'clock, and time to turn in, for we march at +five."</p> +<p>The next morning, when the sick convoy started, the white +officers came up to say goodbye to Lisle; and all expressed their +regret that he could not accompany the regiment. The butler had +gone on ahead and, as soon as Lisle slipped away, he came up to him +and assisted him to make his toilet. He stained him from head to +foot, dyed his hair, and fastened in it some long bunches of black +horse hair, which he would wear in the Punjabi fashion on the top +of his head. With the same dye he darkened his eyelashes and, when +he had put on his uniform, he said:</p> +<p>"As far as looks go, sahib, it is certain that no one would +suspect that you were not a native. There is a large bottle of +stain. You will only have to do yourself over, afresh, about once +in ten days. A little of this mixed with three times the amount of +water will be sufficient for, if you were to put it on by itself, +it would make you a great deal too dark."</p> +<p>They spent the day in a grove and, when evening approached, +returned to camp.</p> +<p>"And now, goodbye, sahib! The regiment will march tomorrow +morning, at daybreak. I may not have an opportunity of seeing you +again, before we start. I hope I have done right, in aiding you in +your desire to accompany the expedition; but I have done it for the +best, and you must not blame me if harm comes of it."</p> +<p>"That you may be sure I will not, and I am greatly obliged to +you. Now, for the present, goodbye!"</p> +<h2><a name="Ch2" id="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: The Start.</h2> +<p>The havildar was on the lookout for Lisle when he entered the +camp; but he did not know him, in his changed attire and stained +face, until the lad spoke to him.</p> +<p>"You are well disguised, indeed, sahib," he said. "I had no idea +that it was you. Now, my instructions are to take you to Gholam +Singh's tent."</p> +<p>Here Lisle found the risaldar and the other two native officers. +He saluted as he entered. The risaldar examined him carefully, +before speaking.</p> +<p>"Good!" he said; "I did not think that a white sahib could ever +disguise himself to pass as a native, though I know that it has +been done before now. Certainly I have no fear of any of the white +officers finding that you are not what you seem to be. I am more +afraid, however, of the men. Still, even if they guessed who you +are, they would not, I am sure, betray you.</p> +<p>"Here are your rifle and bayonet. These complete your outfit. I +see that you have brought your kit with you. It is rather more +bulky than usual, but will pass with the rest.</p> +<p>"The subadar will take you down to the men's lines. I have +arranged that you shall be on the baggage guard, at first, so that +you will gradually begin to know a few men of your company. They +will report to the rest the story you tell them, and you will soon +be received as one of themselves.</p> +<p>"I will see that that sack of yours goes with the rest of the +kits in the baggage waggon. These officers of your company all +understand that you are to be treated like the rest of the men, and +not to be shown any favour. At the same time, when in camp, if +there is anything that you desire, or any complaint you have to +make, you can talk quietly to one of them; and he will report it to +me, in which case you may be sure that I shall set the matter +right, if possible."</p> +<p>"I don't think there is any fear of that, risaldar. I am pretty +well able to take care of myself. My father gave me many lessons in +boxing; and I fancy that, although most of the men are a great deal +bigger and stronger than I am, I shall be able to hold my own."</p> +<p>"I hope so, Bullen," the havildar said gravely, "but I trust +that there will be no occasion to show your skill. We Punjabis are +a quiet race of men; and though, of course, quarrels occasionally +occur among us, they generally end in abuse, and very seldom come +to blows. The greater portion of the regiment has been with us for +some years. They know each other well, and are not given to +quarrelling. They will scarcely even permit their juniors to go to +extremes, and I need not say that the officers of the company would +interfere, at once, if they saw any signs of a disturbance.</p> +<p>"I have had a meal cooked, which I hope you will eat with us. It +is the last you are likely to be able to enjoy, for some time. We +shall feel honoured if you will sit down with us."</p> +<p>An excellent repast was served, and Lisle did it full justice. +Then the officers all shook him by the hand, and he started with +the subadar for the men's lines, with hearty thanks to the others. +When they arrived at the huts, the subadar led the way in.</p> +<p>"Here is a new comrade," he said, as some of the men roused +themselves from the ground on his entrance. "He is a cousin of +Mutteh Ghar, and bears the same name. It seems that he has served +in another regiment, for a short time; but was discharged, owing to +sickness. He has now perfectly recovered health, and has come to +join his cousin; who, on his arrival, he finds to be dead. He is +very anxious to accompany the regiment and, as he understands his +work, the risaldar has consented to let him go, instead of +remaining behind at the depot.</p> +<p>"He is, of course, much affected by the loss of his cousin; and +hopes that he will not be worried by questions. He will be on +baggage guard tomorrow, and so will be left alone, until he +recovers somewhat from his disappointment and grief."</p> +<p>"I will see to it, subadar," one of the sergeants said. "Mutteh +Ghar was a nice young fellow, and we shall all welcome his cousin +among us, if he is at all like him."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sergeant! I am sure you will all like him, when you +come to know him; for he is a well-spoken young fellow, and I hope +that he will make as good a soldier. Good night!"</p> +<p>So saying, he turned and left the tent.</p> +<p>Half an hour later, Lisle was on parade. There were but eight +British officers; including the colonel, major, and adjutant, and +one company officer to each two companies. The inspection was a +brief one. The company officer walked along the line, paying but +little attention to the men; but carefully scrutinizing their arms, +to see that they were in perfect order. The regiment was put +through a few simple manoeuvres; and then dismissed, as work in +earnest would begin on the following morning.</p> +<p>Four men in each company were then told off to pack the baggage +in the carts. Lisle was one of those furnished by his company. +There was little talk while they were at work. In two hours the +carts were packed. Then, as they returned to the lines, his three +comrades entered into conversation with him.</p> +<p>"You are lucky to be taken," one said, "being only a recruit. I +suppose it was done so that you might fill the place of your +cousin?"</p> +<p>"Yes, that was it. They said that I had a claim; so that, if I +chose, I could send money home to his family."</p> +<p>"They are good men, the white officers," another said. "They are +like fathers to us, and we will follow them anywhere. We lately +lost one of them, and miss him sorely. However, they are all +good.</p> +<p>"We are all glad to be going on service. It is dull work in +cantonments."</p> +<p>On arriving at the lines of the company, one of them said:</p> +<p>"The risaldar said that you will take your cousin's place. He +slept in the same hut as I. You will soon find yourself at home +with us."</p> +<p>He introduced Lisle to the other occupants of the hut, eighteen +in number. Lisle then proceeded to follow the example of the +others, by taking off his uniform and stripping to the loincloth, +and a little calico jacket. He felt very strange at first, +accustomed though he was to see the soldiers return to their native +costume.</p> +<p>"Your rations are there, and those of our new comrade," one of +the party said.</p> +<p>Several fires were burning, and Lisle followed the example of +his comrade, and took the lota which formed part of his equipment, +filled it with water, and put it in the ashes; adding, as soon as +it boiled, the handful of rice, some ghee, and a tiny portion of +meat. In an hour the meal was cooked and, taking it from the fire, +he sat down in a place apart; as is usual among the native troops, +who generally have an objection to eat before others.</p> +<p>"Those who have money," his comrade said, "can buy herbs and +condiments of the little traders, and greatly improve their +mess."</p> +<p>This Lisle knew well.</p> +<p>"I have a few pice," he said, "but must be careful till I get my +pay."</p> +<p>As soon as night fell all turned in, as they were to start at +daylight.</p> +<p>"Here is room for you at my side, comrade," the sergeant said. +"You had better get to sleep, as soon as you can. Of course, you +have your blanket with you?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sergeant."</p> +<p>Lisle rolled himself in his blanket and lay down, covering his +face, as is the habit of all natives of India. It was some time +before he went to sleep. The events of the day had been exciting, +and he was overjoyed at finding that his plan had so far succeeded. +He was now one of the regiment and, unless something altogether +unexpected happened, he was certain to take part in a stirring +campaign.</p> +<p>While it was still dark, he was aroused by the sound of a +bugle.</p> +<p>"The men told off to the baggage guard will at once proceed to +pack the waggons," the sergeant said.</p> +<p>Lisle at once got up and put on his uniform, as did three other +men in the tent. The kits and baggage had already been packed, the +night before; and the men of the guard, consisting of a half +company, proceeded to the waggons. Half an hour afterwards, another +bugle roused the remainder of the regiment, and they soon fell +in.</p> +<p>It was broad daylight when they started, the baggage followed a +little later. The havildar who was in charge of them was, +fortunately, one of those of Lisle's company. There was but little +talk at the hurried start. Two men accompanied each of the twelve +company waggons. Half the remainder marched in front, and the +others behind. Lisle had been told off to the first waggon.</p> +<p>It was a long march, two ordinary stages being done in one. As +the animals were fresh, the transport arrived at the camping ground +within an hour of the main column. Accustomed though he was to +exercise, Lisle found the weight of his rifle, pouches, and +ammunition tell terribly upon him. He was not used to the boots +and, before half the journey was completed, began to limp. The +havildar, noticing this, ordered him to take his place on the top +of the baggage on his waggon.</p> +<p>"It is natural that you should feel it, at first, Mutteh Ghar," +he said. "You will find it easy enough to keep up with them, after +a few days' rest."</p> +<p>Lisle was thankful, indeed, for he had begun to feel that he +should never be able to hold on to the end of the march. He +remained on the baggage for a couple of hours, and then again took +his place by the side of the waggon; receiving an approving nod +from the havildar, as he did so.</p> +<p>When the halt was called, the men at once crowded round the +waggons. The kits were distributed and, in a few minutes, the +regiment had the appearance of a concourse of peaceable peasants. +No tents had been taken with them. Waterproof sheets had been +provided and, with these, little shelters had been erected, each +accommodating three men. The sergeant told Lisle off to share one +of these shelters with two other men. A party meanwhile had gone to +collect firewood and, in half an hour, the men were cooking their +rice.</p> +<p>"Well, how did you like the march?" one of them said to +Lisle.</p> +<p>"I found it very hard work," Lisle said, "but the havildar let +me ride on the top of one of the waggons for a couple of hours and, +after that, I was able to march in with the rest."</p> +<p>"It was a rough march for a recruit," the other said, "but you +will soon get used to that. Grease your feet well before you put on +your bandages. You will find that that will ease them very much, +and that you will not get sore feet, as you would if you marched +without preparation."</p> +<p>Lisle took the advice, and devoted a portion of his rations for +the purpose, the last thing at night; and found that it abated the +heat in his feet, and he was able to get about in comfort.</p> +<p>Each soldier carried a little cooking pot. Although the regiment +was composed principally of Punjabis, many of the men were of +different nationalities and, although the Punjabis are much less +particular about caste than the people of Southern India, every man +prepared his meal separately. The rations consisted of rice, ghee, +a little curry powder, and a portion of mutton. From these Lisle +managed to concoct a savoury mess, as he had often watched the men +cooking their meals.</p> +<p>The sergeant had evidently chosen two good men to share the tent +with Lisle. They were both old soldiers, not given to much talking; +and were kind to their young comrade, giving him hints about +cooking and making himself comfortable, and abstaining from asking +many questions. They were easily satisfied with his answers and, +after the meal was eaten, sat down with him and talked of the +coming campaign. Neither of them had ever been to Chitral, but they +knew by hearsay the nature of the road, and discussed the +probability of the point at which serious opposition would begin; +both agreeing that the difficulties of crossing the passes, now +that these would be covered with snow, would be far greater than +any stand the tribesmen might make.</p> +<p>"They are tough fighters, no doubt," one of them said; "and we +shall have more difficulty, with them, than we have ever had +before; for they say that a great many of them are armed with good +rifles, and will therefore be able to annoy us at a distance, when +their old matchlocks would have been useless."</p> +<p>"And they are good shots, too."</p> +<p>"There is no doubt about that; quite as good as we are, I should +say. There will be a tremendous lot of flanking work to keep them +at a distance but, when it comes to anything like regular fighting, +we shall sweep them before us.</p> +<p>"From what I hear, however, we shall only have three or four +guns with us. That is a pity for, though the tribesmen can stand +against a heavy rifle fire, they have a profound respect for guns. +I expect, therefore, that we shall have some stiff fighting.</p> +<p>"How do you like the prospect, Mutteh Ghar?"</p> +<p>"I don't suppose I shall mind it when I get accustomed to it," +Lisle said. "It was because I heard that the regiment was about to +advance that I hurried up to join. I don't think I should have +enlisted, had it been going to stay in the cantonment."</p> +<p>"That is the right spirit," the other said approvingly. "It is +the same with all of us. There is no difficulty in getting +recruits, when there is fighting to be done. It is the dull life in +camp that prevents men from joining. We have enlisted twice as many +men, in the past three months, as in three years before."</p> +<p>So they talked till night fell and then turned in; putting Lisle +between them, that being the warmest position.</p> +<p>In the morning the march was resumed in the same order, Lisle +again taking his place with the baggage guard. The march this time +was only a single one; but it was long, nevertheless. Lisle was +able to keep his place till the end, feeling great benefit from the +ghee which he had rubbed on his feet. The havildar, at starting, +said a few cheering words to him; and told him that, when he felt +tired, he could put his rifle and pouch in the waggon, as there was +no possibility of their being wanted.</p> +<p>His two comrades, when they heard that he had accomplished the +march without falling out, praised him highly.</p> +<p>"You have showed good courage in holding on," one of them said. +"The march was nothing to us seasoned men, but it must have been +trying to you, especially as your feet cannot have recovered from +yesterday. I see that you will make a good soldier, and one who +will not shirk his work. Another week, and you will march as well +as the best of us."</p> +<p>"I hope so," Lisle said. "I have always been considered a good +walker. As soon as I get accustomed to the weight of the rifle and +pouch, I have no doubt that I shall get on well enough."</p> +<p>"I am sure you will," the other said cordially, "and I think we +are as good marchers as any in India. We certainly have that +reputation and, no doubt, it was for that reason we were chosen for +the expedition, although there are several other regiments nearer +to the spot.</p> +<p>"From what I hear, Colonel Kelly will be the commanding officer +of the column, and we could not wish for a better. I hear that +there is another column, and a much stronger one, going from +Peshawar. That will put us all on our mettle, and I will warrant +that we shall be the first to arrive there; not only because we are +good marchers, but because the larger the column, the more trouble +it has with its baggage.</p> +<p>"Baggage is the curse of these expeditions. What has to be +considered is not how far the troops can go, but how far the +baggage animals can keep up with them. Some of the animals are no +doubt good, but many of them are altogether unfitted for the work. +When these break down they block a whole line; and often, even if +the march is a short one, it is very late at night before the last +of the baggage comes in; which means that we get neither kit, +blankets, nor food, and think ourselves lucky if we get them the +next morning.</p> +<p>"The government is, we all think, much to blame in these +matters. Instead of procuring strong animals, and paying a fair +price for them; they buy animals that are not fit to do one good +day's march. Of course, in the end this stinginess costs them more +in money, and lives, than if they had provided suitable animals at +the outset."</p> +<p>Lisle had had a great deal of practice with the rifle, and had +carried away several prizes shot for by the officers; but he was +unaccustomed to carry one for so many hours, and he felt grateful, +indeed, when a halt was sounded. Fires were lighted, and food +cooked; and then all lay down, or sat in groups in the shade of a +grove. The sense of the strangeness of his condition had begun to +wear off, and he laughed and talked with the others, without +restraint.</p> +<p>Up to the time when he joined the regiment, Lisle had heard a +good deal of the state of affairs at Chitral; and his impression of +the natives was that they were as savage and treacherous a race as +was to be found in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Beyond that, he had not +interested himself in the matter; but now, from the talk of his +companions, he gained a pretty clear idea of the situation.</p> +<a id="Map1" name="Map1"></a> +<center><img src="images/1.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: Map illustrating the Chitral Campaign." /></center> +<p>Old Aman-ul-mulk had died in August, 1892. He had reigned long; +and had, by various conquests and judicious marriages, raised +Chitral to a position of importance. The Chitralis are an Aryan +race, and not Pathans; and have a deep-rooted hatred of the +Afghans.</p> +<p>In 1878 Aman placed Chitral under the nominal suzerainty of the +Maharajah of Kashmir and, Kashmir being one of the tributary states +of the Indian Empire, this brought them into direct communication +with the government of India; and Aman received with great +cordiality two missions sent to him. When he died, his eldest son +Nizam was away from Chitral; and the government was seized by his +second son, Afzul; who, however, was murdered by his uncle, Sher +Afzul. Nizam at once hurried to Chitral; and Sher Afzul fled to +Cabul, Nizam becoming the head of the state or, as it was called, +Mehtar. Being weak, he asked for a political officer to reside in +his territory; and Captain Younghusband, with an escort of Sikhs, +was accordingly sent to Mastuj, a fort in Upper Chitral.</p> +<p>However, in November Nizam was also murdered, by a younger +brother, Amir. Amir hurried to Chitral, and demanded recognition +from Lieutenant Gurdon; who was, at the time, acting as assistant +British agent. He replied that he had no power to grant +recognition, until he was instructed by the government in India. +Amir thereupon stopped his letters, and for a long time he was in +imminent danger, as he had only an escort of eight Sikhs.</p> +<p>On the 8th of January, fifty men of the 14th Sikhs marched down +from Mastuj and, on the 1st of February, Mr. Robertson, the British +agent, arrived from Gilgit. He had with him an escort of two +hundred and eighty men of the 4th Kashmir Rifles, and thirty-three +Sikhs; and was accompanied by three European officers. When he +arrived he heard that Umra Khan had, at the invitation of Amir, +marched into Chitral; but that his progress had been barred by the +strong fort of Drosh. As the Chitralis hate the Pathans, they were +not inclined to yield to the orders of Amir to surrender the fort, +and were consequently attacked. The place, however, was surrendered +by the treachery of the governor. Amir then advanced, and was +joined by Sher Afzul.</p> +<p>Mr. Robertson wrote to Amir Khan, saying that he must leave the +Chitral territory. Amir paid no attention to the order, and Mr. +Robertson reported this to the government of India. They issued, in +March, 1895, a proclamation warning the Chitralis to abstain from +giving assistance to Amir Khan, and intimating that a force +sufficient to overcome all resistance was being assembled; but that +as soon as it had attained its object, it would be withdrawn.</p> +<p>The Chitralis, who now preferred Sher Afzul to Amir, made common +cause with the former. Mr. Robertson learned that men were already +at work, breaking up the road between Chitral and Mastuj; and +accordingly moved from the house he had occupied to the fort, which +was large enough to receive the force with him.</p> +<p>On the 1st of March, all communications between Mr. Robertson +and Mastuj had ceased; and troops were at once ordered to assemble, +to march to his relief. It was clearly impossible for our agent to +retire as, in order to do so, he would have to negotiate several +terrible passes, where a mere handful of men could destroy a +regiment. Thus it was that the Pioneers had been ordered to break +up their cantonment, and advance with all speed to Gilgit.</p> +<p>Hostilities had already begun. A native officer had started, +with forty men and sixty boxes of ammunition, for Chitral; and had +reached Buni, when he received information that his advance was +likely to be opposed. He accordingly halted and wrote to Lieutenant +Moberley, special duty officer with the Kashmir troops in Mastuj. +The local men reported to Moberley that no hostile attack upon the +troops was at all likely but, as there was a spirit of unrest in +the air, he wrote to Captain Ross, who was with Lieutenant Jones, +and requested him to make a double march into Mastuj. This Captain +Ross did and, on the evening of the 4th of March, started to +reinforce the little body of men that was blocked at Buni.</p> +<p>On the same day a party of sappers and miners, under Lieutenants +Fowler and Edwards, also marched forward to Mastuj. When Captain +Ross arrived at Buni he found that all was quiet, and he therefore +returned to Mastuj, with news to that effect. The party of sappers +were to march, the next morning, with the ammunition escort.</p> +<p>On the evening of that day a note was received from Lieutenant +Edwards, dated from a small village two miles beyond Buni, saying +that he heard that he was to be attacked in a defile, a short +distance away. He started with a force of ninety-six men, in all. +They carried with them nine days' rations, and one hundred and +forty rounds of ammunition.</p> +<p>Captain Ross at once marched for Buni, and arrived there the +same evening. Here he left a young native officer and thirty-three +rank and file while, with Lieutenant Jones and the rest of his +little force, he marched for Reshun, where Lieutenant Edwards' +party were detained. They halted in the middle of the day; and +arrived, at one o'clock, at a hamlet halfway to Reshun.</p> +<p>Shortly after starting, they were attacked. Lieutenant Jones, +one of the few survivors of the party, handed in the following +report of this bad business.</p> +<p>"Half a mile after leaving Koragh the road enters a narrow +defile. The hills on the left bank consist of a succession of large +stone shoots, with precipitous spurs in between. The road at the +entrance to the defile, for about one hundred yards, runs quite +close to the river; after that it lies along a narrow maidan, some +thirty or forty yards in width, and is on the top of the river +bank, which is here a cliff. This continues for about half a mile, +then it ascends a steep spur.</p> +<p>"When the advanced party reached about halfway up this spur, it +was fired on from a sangar which had been built across the road +and, at the same time, men appeared on all the mountain tops and +ridges, and stones were rolled down all the shoots. Captain Ross, +who was with the advanced guard, fell back on the main body. All +the coolies dropped their loads and bolted, as soon as the first +shot was fired. Captain Ross, after looking at the enemy's +position, decided to fall back upon Koragh; as it would have been +useless to go on to Reshun, leaving an enemy in such a position +behind us."</p> +<p>Captain Ross ordered Lieutenant Jones to fall back with ten men, +seize the lower end of the defile, and cover the retreat. No fewer +than eight of his men were wounded, as he fell back. Captain Ross, +on hearing this, ordered him to return, and the whole party took +refuge in two caves, it being the intention of their commander to +wait there until the moon rose, and then try to force his way +out.</p> +<p>But when they started, they were assailed from above with such a +torrent of rocks that they again retired to the caves. They then +made an attempt to get to the top of the mountain, but their way +was barred by a precipice; and they once more went back to the +cave, where they remained all the next day.</p> +<p>It was then decided to make an attempt to cut their way out. +They started at two in the morning. The enemy at once opened fire, +and many were killed, among them Captain Ross himself. Lieutenant +Jones with seventeen men reached the little maidan, and there +remained for some minutes, keeping up a heavy fire on the enemy on +both banks of the river, in order to help more men to get +through.</p> +<p>Twice the enemy attempted to charge, but each time retired with +heavy loss. Lieutenant Jones then again fell back, two of his party +having been killed and one mortally wounded, and the lieutenant and +nine sepoys wounded. When they reached Buni they prepared a house +for defence, and remained there for seven days until reinforcements +came up.</p> +<p>In the meantime the 20th Bengal Sappers and Miners, and the 42nd +Kashmir Infantry had gone on, beyond the point where Captain Ross's +detachment had been all but annihilated, and reached Reshun; and +Lieutenants Edwards and Fowler, with the Bengal Sappers and ten +Kashmir Infantry, went on to repair a break in the road, a few +miles beyond that place. They took every precaution to guard +against surprise. Lieutenant Fowler was sent to scale the heights +on the left bank, so as to be able to look down into some sangars +on the opposite side. With some difficulty, he found a way up the +hillside. When he was examining the opposite cliff a shot was +fired, and about two hundred men rushed out from the village and +entered the sangars.</p> +<p>As Fowler was well above them, he kept up a heavy fire, and did +great execution. The enemy, however, began to ascend the hills, and +some appeared above him and began rolling down stones and firing +into his party. Fowler himself was wounded in the back, a corporal +was killed, and two other men wounded. He managed, however, to +effect his retreat, and joined the main body.</p> +<p>As the enemy were now swarming on the hills, the party began to +fall back to Reshun, which was two miles distant. They had an open +plain to cross and a spur, a thousand feet high, to climb. During +this part of the retreat an officer and several men were wounded +but, on reaching the crest, the party halted and opened a steady +fire upon the enemy; whom they thus managed to keep at a distance +till they reached Reshun, which they did without further loss.</p> +<p>The force here were occupying a sangar they had formed, but so +heavy a fire was opened, from the surrounding hills, that it was +found impossible to hold the position. They therefore retired to +some houses, where firewood and other supplies were found. The only +drawback to this place was that it was more than a hundred yards +from the river, and there was consequently great danger of their +being cut off from the water.</p> +<p>As soon as they reached the houses they began to fortify them. +The roofs were flat and, by piling stones along the edges, they +converted them into sangars. The walls were loopholed, the +entrances blocked up, and passages of communication opened between +the houses. A party of Kashmir volunteers then went down to the +other sangar and brought the wounded in, under a heavy fire.</p> +<p>At sunset the enemy's fire ceased, as it was the month of +Ramzam, during which Mahomedans have to fast all day between +sunrise and sunset. As night came on the little party took their +places on the roofs, and remained there till daylight. By this time +all were greatly exhausted for, during their terrible experiences +of the previous day, they had had no food and little water.</p> +<p>When day dawned half the men were withdrawn from their posts, +and a meal was cooked from the flour that had been found in the +houses. A small ration of meat was also served out. During the day +the enemy kept up a continuous fire but, as they showed no +intention of attacking, the men were allowed to sleep by turns.</p> +<p>After dark Lieutenant Fowler and some volunteers started for the +river, to bring in water. They made two trips, and filled up all +the storage vessels at the disposal of the garrison. The night +passed quietly but, just before dawn, the enemy charged down +through the surrounding houses. Lieutenant Edwards and his party at +once opened fire, at about twenty yards' range. Tom-toms were +beaten furiously, to encourage the assailants; but the tribesmen +could not pluck up courage to make a charge and, at nine o'clock, +they all retired. During the attack four of the sepoys were killed, +and six wounded.</p> +<p>Next night another effort was made to obtain water. Two sangars +were stormed, and most of their occupants killed. The way to the +water was now opened but, at this moment, heavy firing broke out at +the fort; and Lieutenant Fowler, who was in command, recalled his +men and returned to assist the garrison.</p> +<p>On the following day a white flag was hoisted, and an emissary +from Sher Afzul said that all fighting had ceased. An armistice was +accordingly arranged. All this, however, was but a snare for, a few +days later, when the two British officers went out to witness a +polo match, they were seized, bound with ropes, and carried off. At +the same moment a fierce attack was made on a party of sepoys who +had also come out. These fought stoutly, but were overpowered, most +of them being killed.</p> +<p>The garrison of the post, however, under the command of +Lieutenant Gurdon, continued to hold the little fort; and refused +all invitation to come out to parley, after the treachery that had +been shown to their comrades. The two officers were taken to +Chitral, where they were received with kindness by Amir Khan.</p> +<p>The news of this disaster was carried to Peshawar by a native +Mussulman officer, who had been liberated, where it created great +excitement. As all communication with Chitral had ceased, the +assistant British agent at Gilgit called up the Pioneers; who +marched into Gilgit, four hundred strong, on the 20th of March. On +the 21st news was received of the cutting up of Ross's party, and +it was naturally supposed that that of Edwards was also +destroyed.</p> +<p>Colonel Kelly of the Pioneers now commanded the troops, and all +civil powers; and Major Borradale commanded the Pioneers. The +available force consisted of the four hundred Pioneers, and the +Guides. Lieutenant Stewart joined them with two guns of the Kashmir +battery.</p> +<p>Two hundred Pioneers and the Guides started on the 23rd. The +gazetteer states that it never rains in Gilgit, but it rained when +the detachment started, and continued to pour for two days. The men +had marched without tents. Colonel Kelly, the doctor, Leward, and a +staff officer followed in the afternoon, and overtook the main body +that evening.</p> +<p>The troops had made up little tents with their waterproof +sheets. Colonel Kelly had a small tent, and the other officers +turned in to a cow shed. The force was so small that the Pioneers +asked the others to mess with them, each man providing himself with +his own knife, fork, and spoon, and the pots being all collected +for the cooking.</p> +<p>The next march was long and, in some places, severe. They were +well received by the natives, whose chiefs always came out to greet +them and, on the third day, reached Gupis, where a fort had been +built by the Kashmir troops. At this point the horses and mules +were all left behind, as the passes were said to be impassable for +animals; and native coolies were hired to carry the baggage.</p> +<p>Lisle had enjoyed the march, and the strange life that he was +leading. He was now quite at home with his company and, by the time +they reached Gupis, had become a general favourite. At the end of +the day, when a meal had been cooked and eaten, he would join in +their songs round the fire and, as he had picked up several he had +heard them sing, and had a fair voice, he was often called upon for +a contribution. His vivacity and good spirits surprised the sepoys +who, as a whole, were grave men, though they bore their hardships +uncomplainingly. He had soon got over the feeling of discomfort of +going about with naked legs, and was as glad as the soldiers, +themselves, to lay aside his uniform and get into native +attire.</p> +<p>The sepoys had now regular rations of meat. It was always +mutton, as beef was unobtainable; but it was much relished by the +men, who cut it up into slices and broiled it over a fire.</p> +<p>Not for one moment did Lisle regret the step he had taken. Young +and active, he thoroughly enjoyed the life; and looked forward +eagerly to the time when they should meet the enemy, for no doubt +whatever was now felt that they would meet with a desperate +resistance on their march to Chitral. Fears were entertained, +however, that when they got there, they would find that the +garrison had been overpowered; for it was certain that against this +force the chief attack of the enemy would be directed. The +overthrow of Ross and his party showed that the enemy were sturdy +fighters; and they were known to be armed with breech-loading +rifles, of as good a quality as those carried by the troops.</p> +<p>In the open field all felt that, however numerous the tribesmen +might be, they would stand no chance whatever; but the passes +afforded them immense advantage, and rendered drill and discipline +of little avail.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch3" id="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: The First Fight.</h2> +<p>And yet, though he kept up a cheerful appearance, Lisle's heart +was often very heavy. The sight of the British officers continually +recalled his father to his memory. But a short time back he had +been with him, and now he was gone for ever. At times it seemed +almost impossible that it could be so. He had been his constant +companion when off duty; had devoted much time to helping him +forward in his studies; had never, so far as he could remember, +spoken a harsh word to him.</p> +<p>It seemed like a dream, those last hours he had passed by his +father's bedside. Many times he lay awake in the night, his face +wet with tears. But with reveille he would be up, laughing and +joking with the soldiers, and raising a smile even on the face of +the gravest.</p> +<p>It had taken him but a very short time to make himself at home +in the regiment. The men sometimes looked at him with surprise, he +was so different from themselves. They bore their hardships well, +but it was with stern faces and grim determination; while this +young soldier made a joke of them.</p> +<p>Sometimes he was questioned closely, but he always turned the +questions off with a laugh. He had learned the place where his +supposed cousin came from and, while sticking to this, he said that +a good fairy must have presided over his birth; information that +was much more gravely received than given, for the natives have +their superstitions, and believe, as firmly as the inhabitants of +these British islands did, two or three hundred years ago, in the +existence of supernatural beings, good and bad.</p> +<p>"If you have been blessed by a fairy," one of the elder men +suggested, "doubtless you will go through this campaign without +harm. They are very powerful, some of these good people, and can +bestow long life as well as other gifts."</p> +<p>"I don't know whether she will do that. She certainly gave me +high spirits. I used to believe that what my mother said happened +to her, the night after I was born, was not true, but only a dream. +She solemnly declared that it was not, but I have always been +famous for good spirits; and she may have been right, after +all."</p> +<p>There was nothing Lisle liked better than being on night picket +duty. Other men shirked it, but to him there was something +delightful to stand there almost alone, rifle in hand, watching the +expanse of snow for a moving figure. There was a charm in the dead +silence. He liked to think quietly of the past and, somehow, he +could do so far better, while engaged on this duty, than when lying +awake in his little tent. The expanse and stillness calmed him, and +agreed far more with his mood than the camp.</p> +<p>His sight was keen, even when his thoughts were farthest away +and, three times, he sent a bullet through a lurking Pathan who was +crawling up towards him, astonishing his comrades by the accuracy +of his aim.</p> +<p>"I suppose," he said, when congratulated upon the third occasion +on which he had laid one of the enemy low, "that the good fairy +must have given me a quick eye, as well as good spirits."</p> +<p>"It is indeed extraordinary that you, a young recruit, should +not only make out a man whom none of us saw; but that you should, +each time, fetch him down at a distance of three or four hundred +yards."</p> +<p>"I used to practice with my father's rifle," he said. "He was +very fond of shikari, and I often went out with him. It needs a +keener sight to put a bullet between the eyes of a tiger, than to +hit a lurking Pathan."</p> +<p>So noted did he become for the accuracy of his aim that one of +the native officers asked him, privately, if he would like to be +always put on night duty.</p> +<p>"I should like it every other night," he said. "By resting every +alternate night, and by snatching a couple of hours' sleep before +going on duty, when we arrive at the end of a day's march in good +time, I can manage very well."</p> +<p>"I will arrange that for you," the officer said. "Certainly, no +one would grudge you the duty."</p> +<p>One night, when there had been but little opposition during the +day, Lisle was posted on a hill where the picket consisted of ten +men; five of whom were on the crest, while the other five lay down +in the snow. The day had been a hard one, and Lisle was less +watchful than usual. It seemed to him that he had not closed his +eyes for a minute, as he leant on his rifle; but it must have been +much longer, for he suddenly started with a feeling that something +was wrong, and saw a number of dark figures advancing along the +crest towards him. He at once fired a shot, and fell back upon the +next sentry. Dropping behind rocks, they answered the fire which +the enemy had already opened upon them.</p> +<p>The whole picket quickly gathered and, for a time, checked the +advance of the enemy; but these were too numerous to be kept at a +distance, and parties of them pressed forward on each flank.</p> +<p>"We must retire till we can find better shelter," the +sub-officer in command said. "We shall soon have reinforcements up +from the camp, when it is seen that we are seriously engaged. Fall +back, men, steadily. Take advantage of every bit of cover, but keep +as well together as possible, without risk."</p> +<p>Firing steadily, they made their way down the hill, and finally +took up a position among a clump of rocks. Two had been shot dead, +and two others were wounded; and it was because these could not be +left behind that the stand was made. The two wounded men, though +partially disabled and unable to crawl, could still use their +rifles; and the little party kept up so hot a fire that, though the +enemy were massed from twenty to thirty yards away, they could not +be brought to unite in a general attack; not even by the shouts and +yells of their comrades behind, and a furious beating of +tom-toms.</p> +<a id="PicA" name="PicA"></a> +<center><img src="images/a.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: Lisle gives the alarm." /></center> +<p>The defenders were all lying down, each of them having chosen a +position where he could see through a crevice between the rocks. +Lisle was lying next to the sergeant. Presently the latter gave an +exclamation, fired his rifle, and shifted his position behind the +rock.</p> +<p>"Mutteh Ghar," he said, "I have seen you bring down three of the +skulking ruffians. Do you see those two there close together, about +forty yards away? There is a man behind them who has just carried +off two of my fingers.</p> +<p>"Keep your eye on those rocks. Just above where they touch each +other there is an opening, through which you can see the snow +behind. That is where he fired from. Oblige me by putting a ball in +his head, when he raises it."</p> +<p>A couple of minutes passed. Lisle was lying with his rifle on +the spot. Presently the opening was obscured, and he fired at +once.</p> +<p>"Thank you!" the sergeant said. "You got him, sure enough. The +head did not disappear to one side or to the other, but went +straight back. I fancy that you must have hit him between the +eyes."</p> +<p>Presently the enemy's fire became still more furious and, +several times, some of them rose and ran two paces forward, but +only to fall prone under the defenders' fire.</p> +<p>"I expect they see help coming up," Lisle said, "and are making +a last effort to wipe us out before they arrive.</p> +<p>"I think they will try a rush," he continued, in a louder voice; +"see that your magazines are filled up, lads, and don't waste a +shot if they come at us."</p> +<p>A minute later there was a shrill and prolonged cry and, at +once, twenty dark figures burst from their shelter and rushed +forward. The defenders also sprang to their feet, and their rifles +flashed out with a stream of fire. But the vacancies thus caused in +the enemy's ranks were immediately filled.</p> +<p>"Now with your bayonets," the sergeant shouted. "Keep in a close +body, and do you two wounded men cover us with a constant +fire."</p> +<p>Then, with a cheer, the six men and the sergeant rushed forward. +Much as the Afridis feared the bayonet, confident in their strength +they withstood the charge. They had, fortunately, emptied their +rifles before rushing forward but, drawing their knives, they +fought fiercely. These, however, were no match for the bayonets +and, consequently, they suffered heavily.</p> +<p>Three of the Pioneers received severe gashes. The group were +brought to a standstill, and they stood in a little circle while +the attack continued. One sepoy was stabbed to the heart by a +fanatic, who rushed at his bayonet and, pushing himself along, fell +dead as he struck his fatal blow.</p> +<p>Things were looking very bad. Scarce one had escaped without a +wound, and the sergeant had dropped, bleeding profusely; when, to +their delight, a volley burst from within fifty yards of them and, +in an instant, their assailants turned and bolted.</p> +<p>After the sergeant had dropped, Lisle had somehow taken his +place, cheering the men on and lending his aid to those most +severely pressed. Once or twice he managed, after despatching an +assailant, to slip a couple of cartridges into his rifle, and so +added to the execution. Indeed, it was in no small account due to +his exertions, after the sergeant fell, that the resistance was +maintained.</p> +<p>A minute later, the active little Ghoorkhas rushed forward; and +those who first arrived passed the little knot of defenders with a +cheer, and set off in pursuit of the enemy. Presently, however, one +of their officers came up.</p> +<p>"You have had a stiff fight, lads," he said, "and by the look of +the ground round about, you must have defended yourselves +gallantly; for there are a dozen dead bodies lying near you, and I +can see many more, a little way up the hill. What have been your +losses?"</p> +<p>The sergeant raised himself on his elbow.</p> +<p>"We had two killed, as we came down," he said, "and two others +wounded. I believe one has fallen here, and I think most of us are +wounded with knife thrusts."</p> +<p>"Well, you have done splendidly, sergeant. I will detach men to +help to carry you and the wounded men down to the camp. The others +can accompany them. We shall take up the work, now; but I am afraid +we sha'n't have any fighting, though we may shoot down a few as +they make off. I fancy, however, that the lesson you have given the +beggars has taken all fight out of them."</p> +<p>When half down the hill, they met a party of the Pioneers coming +out. The Ghoorkhas at once handed the wounded over to them, and +started up the hill again. The sergeant had fainted from loss of +blood, and no questions were asked till the injured men were all +placed in little hospital tents, and their wounds attended to. Two +of them had bullet wounds, and three had received knife wounds on +the shoulder or arm. Only Lisle and one other escaped unhurt. As +soon as the wounds had been attended to all, except the sergeant, +and two more seriously wounded than the others, were sent off to +their tents.</p> +<p>One of these was Lisle's tent fellow. He said:</p> +<p>"Mutteh Ghar, I don't know what to say to you. You seem but a +lad, and a light-hearted one; but you have proved yourself the best +of us all. I was lying next to you, and I will swear that you +brought down eight of them with your rifle, before they charged. +Even while I was fighting I always heard your voice, like a +trumpet; and after the sergeant had fallen you seemed to take +command, as if it was your right. You saved my life when you +bayoneted two of the three who were grappling with me, and you +seemed to be everywhere."</p> +<p>"I did what little I could," Lisle said. "I certainly did not +intend to take the command, when the sergeant fell; but somehow I +could not help shouting and, as our circle had closed in so, I +slipped out of my place and fought wherever the pressure was +greatest."</p> +<p>"There is no doubt," the soldier said seriously, "that your +mother's statement was a true one, and that a fairy did promise her +to look after you. Out of the eleven of us, only one besides +yourself has escaped without a wound; and yet none of us exposed +himself more than you did. I shall not forget that I owe my life to +you. We must find some other name for you. You can't be called 'the +boy' any longer."</p> +<p>In the morning, one of the colonel's orderlies was told to fetch +Lisle.</p> +<p>"The colonel wishes to see you, Mutteh Ghar."</p> +<p>Lisle put on his uniform with some uneasiness. He was conscious +that, in the excitement of the fight of the night before, he had +frequently shouted in English; and he feared that the sergeant had +reported this. However, he marched to the spot where the colonel +and a group of officers were standing, and then stood at +attention.</p> +<p>"Mutteh Ghar," the colonel said, "the sergeant this morning made +his report; and he states that, though all his men behaved +admirably, you distinguished yourself in a singular manner. He says +that before the final attack began you had killed eight or ten of +the Pathans, that you were fighting beside him when he was wounded, +and that you then seemed to take the command. Although lying on the +ground, he was able to see what was going on; and he says that but +for your cheers, and for the manner in which you went to the +assistance of men hard pressed, he is convinced that the whole +detachment would have been killed before the Ghoorkhas +arrived."</p> +<p>"I had no idea of assuming the command, sir; but my tongue +always runs fast, and I dare say I did shout, almost unconsciously. +I think the sergeant has made more of my doings than I +deserved."</p> +<p>"I don't think it likely. It is no small thing for so young a +soldier to so distinguish himself. The sergeant will not be able to +resume his duties for some time, and I therefore appoint you a +corporal; and shall put your name in orders, today, for very +distinguished service. How long is it since you joined the +regiment?"</p> +<p>"A short time before we marched."</p> +<p>"Well, you have done honour to the corps and, in the name of +myself and my officers, I thank you."</p> +<p>Lisle saluted, and returned to the lines.</p> +<p>"The colonel has made me a corporal," he answered, as the others +gathered round and questioned him.</p> +<p>A cheer burst from them, for his tent companion, and the other +men who had returned, had all spoken in the highest terms of his +conduct. Lisle was quite confused by the heartiness of their +reception.</p> +<p>"He is a wonderfully young fellow," the colonel said, as he left +them. "The sergeant said that he was young, but really he looks +little more than a boy. Curiously, his face reminds me of someone, +though I cannot say whom; and yet, if he only joined a short time +before we marched, it is not likely that I should have noticed him +before."</p> +<p>"It was the same thing with me, colonel," the major said. "I +have noticed him several times on the march and, while the rest of +the regiment were plodding on in silence, he always seemed the +centre of a merry group. I have often said, to myself, I wished we +had a few more men in the regiment who could take the hardships +they had to undergo as lightly and as merrily as he does. His face +has also struck me as being somehow familiar.</p> +<p>"I was speaking to the sergeant about him, and he said that he +was the most popular man in his company, and a general favourite. +His temperament is altogether different from that of the majority +of our soldiers, which is earnest and quiet."</p> +<p>Two or three of the other officers also spoke of noticing the +cheerful influence he seemed to have on the men.</p> +<p>"I must have a talk with him," the colonel said, "after the +campaign is over, and find out something about it. It is quite +evident that his pluck is as great as his cheerfulness, and it is +certainly very extraordinary that a young and recently-joined +soldier should have such an influence with men many years older +than himself. If I am not mistaken, we shall find him in the ranks +of the native officers, before long. Considering his age, and what +he has already done, he may well hope some day, if he escapes being +killed, to be risaldar major of the regiment.</p> +<p>"I should almost fancy that he must be the son of some native of +good family, but without influence to secure him a post as officer; +and that he has run away to endeavour to fight his way up to a +commission."</p> +<p>Henceforth Lisle stood in high regard among his comrades, and +was known as the 'fighting boy' in the regiment. He himself was +always ready to answer to any name by which he was addressed. He +had no desire to push himself forward to any prominence among them, +or of thinking himself any way above his comrades; but naturally he +was pleased at finding himself generally liked. He had come to see +the fighting, and take part in it, and had no thought of +distinguishing himself especially; as he intended to leave the +regiment as soon as the campaign was over, and carry out the plan +which his father had formed for him. He feared to excite the +jealousy of his comrades and, though there were no signs of this, +he felt that his promotion caused some difference in the manner of +other men towards him.</p> +<p>This was so marked, indeed, that he could not help thinking that +the men by whose side he had fought had reported to their comrades +that, in the heat of the fight, he had several times shouted in +English; and that there were general suspicions as to his identity. +As long as this was not communicated to the officers it did not +matter; and indeed this was not likely for, if the feeling was +noticed by the native officers, it would soon come to the ears of +Gholam Singh, who would at once order the men to keep silence +concerning it.</p> +<p>Gradually his nickname changed, and he became known among the +sepoys of the regiment as the "young sahib." He protested against +it, but in vain. It was not, however, without its advantages. At +the end of a long march, the men who had brought in firewood always +handed him some. Men would offer to clean his rifle, cook his +dinner, and do other little offices for him. He would, however, +never accept these kind offers.</p> +<p>"Why do they call you sahib?" one of the English officers asked +him, when he heard him so addressed.</p> +<p>"I do not know," he answered. "It is a silly joke of the men. I +have protested against it, without success. If they chose to call +me 'colonel,' I could not help it. I suppose it is because they see +that I am, like the white officers, always cheerful and good +tempered. There is certainly no other reason that I know of."</p> +<p>"The regiment have taken to call Mutteh Ghar 'the young sahib,'" +the officer reported, at mess that day. "I asked him about it, and +he says no doubt it is because he is, like us, always good tempered +and cheerful."</p> +<p>"He is certainly very unlike the others," the major said. "I +have no doubt the men consider it a great compliment, to him, to +call him so."</p> +<p>"Do you know, colonel," one of the subalterns said, "the idea +has struck me that he may be young Bullen, who may have joined the +regiment surreptitiously, instead of going down to Calcutta."</p> +<p>There was silence among the others.</p> +<p>"It can hardly be that, Macdonald," the colonel said, "though it +is certainly curious that we seemed to feel that we knew his face, +when he came up before us. The young scamp could never have played +such an audacious trick upon us."</p> +<p>"I don't know, colonel," the major said, "he is just the sort of +lad that would try such a scheme. I know I have twice seen him +talking with my butler; who was, as you know, Captain Bullen's +servant."</p> +<p>"Well, it may possibly be so," the colonel said, "but at any +rate it is only suspicion, and we had better leave the matter as it +stands. If it is young Bullen, I don't know that he has done a bad +thing for himself. If he goes on as he has begun, his experience +will go a long way towards getting him a commission; and he will be +a great deal better off than if he were grinding up for two years +in England. Such a strong recommendation as I could give him would +be of great value to him and, moreover, he has a claim on the +ground that his father was killed on service.</p> +<p>"At any rate, we must take no action, whatever, at present. It +is no slight thing he has done; that is, if it be he. Few of us +would care to go through this campaign as sepoys--their work is +terribly hard, poor fellows--to say nothing of the unpleasantness +of having to live among the natives. I certainly shall consider +that he has well earned a commission, if he comes through the +campaign."</p> +<p>"But he is too young for one," the major said.</p> +<p>"I should not think it necessary to mention his age, in +recommending him," the colonel said. "We know that he is doing a +man's work, manfully. He has earned, as you say, the general liking +of the men; and is a deal better fitted for a commission than half +the fellows they send out to us.</p> +<p>"Well, we may all be mistaken, and he may only be a brave young +fellow of good ancestry; so we will think no more of it, at +present, and we will wait to see how things turn out, before +showing any signs of our suspicions."</p> +<p>Now, however, that the idea had been mooted, the officers, as +they went up and down the line, looked closer at Lisle than they +had hitherto done; and all agreed that, in spite of his uniform and +his colour, he was Captain Bullen's son. Ignorant of their +suspicions, Lisle carried out his work, as usual, as a sub-officer. +He shared the shelter tents of the men, and performed his duties +regularly. He still carried a rifle; and indeed, if this had not +been the rule he would not have accepted his promotion, as he +preferred fighting with a weapon to which he was accustomed.</p> +<p>His work during the day was but little changed. When the +regiment was marching in a column, four abreast, he had his +appointed place by the side of it and, when they arrived in camp, +it was part of his duty to see that the little tents were all +pitched, rations distributed, kits handed over, and the men made as +comfortable as possible. No sub-officer was obeyed with greater +alacrity and, when he returned from his picket in the early +morning, he always found his ration ready cooked for him.</p> +<p>It was impossible for him to help feeling pleased at these signs +of the liking of the men, and he redoubled his efforts to cheer +them on the line of march; and to aid any men who seemed unable to +climb up through the snow, by carrying their rifles and ammunition +pouches for them. He had long since grown accustomed to carrying +weights, and was able to keep up with the most seasoned +marchers.</p> +<p>On two or three occasions Gholam Singh was able to report +favourably of his conduct, in thus relieving men of their arms. The +colonel always took these communications in the ordinary way.</p> +<p>"There is no doubt," he said, when the conversation turned on +the subject, "that Gholam Singh must have been an accessory to +young Bullen's plot. I have been looking up the list of the +deceased sepoys, and I find that a recruit of the same name died, +two days before we marched. In some way young Bullen, if it is +really the boy, contrived to take the dead man's place and name. +This could have been very well done, without any of us knowing. +None of us were familiar with the dead man's appearance, and Gholam +Singh, and some of the other native officers, must have arranged +that he should take his place. If this has been the case I shall, +of course, be obliged to speak sharply to the risaldar major; but +in reality I shall not be very angry with him, for he will +certainly have done young Bullen a good turn."</p> +<p>"I am sure it is Bullen," one of the officers said, "for when I +came up suddenly behind him, today, I heard him whistling an +English tune. Of course, it may have been played by the band when +we were in camp, but whistling is not a common Punjabi +accomplishment, and I don't know that I ever heard native boys +whistle before. He stopped directly I came up, but I could make no +mistake about the tune; for I hung behind a little, and was amused +at seeing the men marching by him trying to keep step, while they +were over their knees in snow. I caught a grin on their faces at +their failure, though they looked as grave as usual when they saw +me."</p> +<p>"Well, we must let things go on as they are," the colonel said, +"until we get to Chitral. Then we will have him up, and get to the +bottom of the affair. If it turns out to be Bullen, he must at once +leave the ranks and join us again. I shall then have to ask for a +commission for him, and give him temporary rank as junior +lieutenant, until an answer to my recommendation arrives. Even if +it is not Bullen, it may be--unlikely as it seems--some other +Englishman; but in any case, we could not allow an Englishman to be +in the ranks."</p> +<p>"I don't think there is any doubt about it, colonel," the major +said. "I have had a good look at him, several times, and could +almost swear to his identity, well as he is got up."</p> +<p>Lisle pursued the regular course of his work, in happy +unconsciousness that any suspicion as to his identity entered the +minds of his officers. His spirits were now not forced; the +fatiguing marches, the night pickets, and the pressure of his duty +so occupied his thoughts that he had little time to dwell upon his +loss. It was now three months since his father had died, and yet it +seemed to him in the far distance, so much had happened since. +Occasionally he thought with disgust that, when this was all over, +he must return to England to the uncle he had never seen, and +become a schoolboy, spending his days in study; and perhaps, in the +end, fail to pass his examination. He would be a stranger amongst +strangers. He could not expect that his uncle should feel any +particular interest in a lad he had never before seen, and he drew +pictures to himself of the long, friendless interval before, even +at the best, he could again don a uniform.</p> +<p>But upon such thoughts he did not allow himself to dwell. It had +to be done, and he would, he supposed, get through it all right. He +might find friends among the fellows at the same crammer's. At any +rate, three years would soon pass, and he must make the best of +it.</p> +<p>"I suppose the crammer will be in London," he said. "Everything +there will be new to me and, no doubt, I shall find it very +interesting. They say that it is an immense place, to which even +the biggest Indian city is but a mere trifle. It will be curious to +see everyone in dark clothes, with none of the gay colouring of +India.</p> +<p>"Father often said that the pleasantest time of his life was the +years he spent in England, while he was cramming for his exam. +There were theatres, and all sorts of other places of amusement. He +had the best of companions and, after they had finished their work, +they were at liberty to do pretty nearly whatever they liked.</p> +<p>"I think I shall get my uncle to send me to the same crammer as +father went to, if he is still alive. I put down his address once, +in my pocketbook, and shall be able to find it again when I get +down to Calcutta, and recover my traps.</p> +<p>"Well, I need not worry myself by thinking of it, now. It will +all come some day, and I dare say I shall find it pleasant enough, +when I once get accustomed to it."</p> +<p>Such thoughts often passed through his mind at night for, during +the day, he had not a minute to himself. He was almost sure, now, +that the men had discovered his identity, by the many little marks +of kindness they had shown him, and by the manner in which his +fellow sub-officers always spoke to him with a certain air of +respect. This, however, did not worry him. He felt certain that +they would keep the secret; and at the end of the campaign he must, +of course, disclose himself and obtain his discharge. Until then, +no one would have time to think much of the matter, still less find +any opportunity of reporting it to Colonel Kelly.</p> +<p>He wondered how the colonel would take it, when he went up to +say who he was. He did not think he would be very seriously angry, +though probably he would wig him sharply. At any rate he had not +done badly, and had brought no discredit to the regiment.</p> +<p>He had unconsciously adopted the regimental belief that he was a +lucky man, and should get through the campaign unhurt. He was +particularly anxious that he should do so as, were he confined in +hospital for a few days, he would have no opportunity of renewing +his stain; in which case he would undoubtedly be detected. They had +advanced so far now, however, that even if he were discovered, they +could hardly send him back before he got to Chitral. He might, of +course, be detained at Reshun, which would be a horrible +nuisance.</p> +<p>One night his camp mate said to him:</p> +<p>"You ought to be with the officers, Bullen sahib. It is not +right for you to be working as we do."</p> +<p>"Why do you call me Bullen Sahib, Pertusal?"</p> +<p>"Everyone knows it, sahib. Little by little we nave found you +out. We had some suspicions from the first, but now we are sure of +it. Only your father's son would have fought as you did on the hill +and, when we came to look very closely at you, we all recognized +you, in spite of your dye."</p> +<p>"Then I wish I hadn't fought quite so hard, Pertusal, for I had +hoped that I had altogether escaped recognition. I thought that I +could have gone through the campaign without anyone suspecting who +I was."</p> +<p>"We did not suspect at first, sahib. We quite took you for one +of ourselves. No, the cheerfulness with which you bore your +hardships, and your readiness to assist anyone, surprised us. You +were so different from us all that we could not help wondering who +you were; but I don't think any of us really suspected that you +were Captain Bullen's son, till that fight. I know that when I was +busy fighting, sorely pushed as we were, I wondered when I heard +you shout in English; and I had heard you call out so often, when +you were playing cricket with the officers, that I recognized your +voice at once.</p> +<p>"Then the wonder that we felt about you ceased. It seemed for a +moment impossible, for I had seen you go off with the sick convoy. +Then it seemed to me that it was just the thing that Captain +Bullen's son might be expected to do. You would naturally want to +see fighting, but I did wonder how you managed to come back and get +enlisted into the regiment. I remember, now, that I wondered a +little the first night you joined. You were in uniform and, as a +rule, recruits don't go into uniform for some time after they have +joined. It was therefore remarkable that you should turn up in +uniform, rifle and all."</p> +<p>"It was the uniform of the original Mutteh Ghar," Lisle said. +"My servant had managed to get it; and the story that I was the +man's cousin, and was therefore permitted to take his place, was +natural enough to pass."</p> +<p>"But some of our officers must have helped you, sahib?"</p> +<p>"Well, I won't say anything about that. I did manage to join in +the way I wanted, and you and your comrade were both very kind to +me."</p> +<p>"That was natural enough, sahib. You were a young recruit, and +we understood that you were put with us two old soldiers in order +that we might teach you your duty. It was not long, however, before +we found that there was very little teaching necessary for, at the +end of a week, you knew your work as well as any man in the +regiment. We thought you a wonder, but we kept our thoughts to +ourselves.</p> +<p>"Now that we know who you are, all the regiment is proud that +your father's son has come among us, and shared our lot down to the +smallest detail. I noticed that you were rather clumsy with your +cooking, but even in that respect you soon learned how things +should be done.</p> +<p>"I suppose, sahib, we shall lose you at the end of the +campaign?"</p> +<p>"Yes; I shall have to start for England, at once; for in order +to gain a commission, I must study hard for two or three years. Of +course, I shall then have to declare myself to the officers, in +order to get my discharge. I am afraid that the colonel will be +very angry, but I cannot help that. I am quite sure, however, that +he will let me go, as soon as he knows who I am. It will be rather +fun to see the surprise of the officers."</p> +<p>"I don't think the colonel will be angry, sahib. He might have +been, if you had not done so well; but as it is, he cannot but be +pleased that Captain Bullen's son should have so distinguished +himself, even in the 32nd Pioneers, who have the reputation of +being one of the best fighting regiments in all India."</p> +<p>"Well, I hope so, Pertusal. At any rate, I am extremely glad I +came. I have seen what fighting is, and that under the most severe +conditions. I have proved to myself that I can bear hardships +without flinching; and I shall certainly be proud, all my life, +that I have been one in the column for the relief of Chitral--that +is to say, if we are the first."</p> +<p>"We shall be the first," the soldier said, positively. "It is +hard work enough getting our baggage over the passes; but it will +be harder still for the Peshawar force, encumbered with such a +train as they will have to take with them.</p> +<p>"Ah! Sahib, if only our food were so condensed that we could +carry a supply for twelve days about us, what would we not be able +to do? We could rout the fiercest tribe on the frontier, without +difficulty. We could march about fifteen or twenty miles a day, and +more than that, if necessary. We could do wonders, indeed."</p> +<p>"I am afraid we shall never discover that," Lisle said. "The +German soldiers do indeed carry condensed meat in sausages, and can +take three or four days' supplies with them; but we have not yet +discovered anything like food of which men could carry twelve days' +supply. We may some day be able to do it but, even if it weighed +but a pound a day, it would add heavily to the load to be +carried."</p> +<p>"No one would mind that," Pertusal said. "Think what a comfort +it would be, if we could make our breakfast before starting, eat a +little in the middle of the day, and be sure of supper directly we +got into camp; instead of having to wait hours and hours, and +perhaps till the next morning, before the baggage train arrived. I +would willingly carry double my present load, if I felt sure that I +would gain that advantage. I know that the officers have tins of +condensed milk, one of which can make more than a gallon; and that +they carry cocoa, and other things, of which a little goes a long +way. Now, if they could condense rice and ghee like that, we should +be able to carry all that is necessary with us for twelve days. +Mutton we could always get on a campaign, for the enemy's flocks +are at our disposal; and it must be a bare place, indeed, where we +could not find enough meat to keep us going. It is against our +religion to eat beef, but few of us would hesitate to do so, on a +campaign; and oxen are even more common than sheep.</p> +<p>"It is very little baggage we should have to take with us, then. +Twenty ponies would carry sufficient for the regiment; and if +government did but buy us good mules, we could always rely upon +getting them into camp before dark. See what an advantage that +would be! Ten men would do for the escort; whereas, at present, a +hundred is not sufficient."</p> +<p>"Well, I wish it could be so," Lisle said. "But although some +articles of food might be compressed, I don't think we should ever +be able to compress rice or ghee. A handful of rice, when it is +boiled, makes enough for a meal; and I don't imagine that it could +possibly be condensed more than that."</p> +<p>"Well, it is getting late, and we march at daylight. Fortunately +we have not to undress, but have only to turn in as we are."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch4" id="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: In The Passes</h2> +<p>The march after leaving Dahimol was a short one. Here they were +met by the governor of the upper parts of the valley, and he gave +them very useful details of the state of parties in Chitral, and of +the roads they would have to follow. He accompanied the force on +the next day's march, and billeted all the troops in the villages; +for which they were thankful enough, for they were now getting +pretty high up in the hills, and the nights were decidedly +cold.</p> +<p>They were now crossing a serious pass, and had reached the snow +line; and the troops put on the goggles they had brought with them +to protect their eyes from the dazzling glare of the snow. At two +o'clock they reached the post at Ghizr, which was held by a body of +Kashmir sappers and miners. The place had been fortified, and +surrounded by a strong zereba. The troops were billeted in the +neighbouring houses, and they halted for a day, in order to allow +the second detachment of the Pioneers and the guns to come up. +Here, also, they were joined by a hundred men of the native +levies.</p> +<p>When they prepared for the start, the next morning, they found +that a hundred of the coolies had bolted during the night. Two +officers were despatched to find and fetch them back. Fifty were +fortunately discovered, in a village not far off, and with these +and some country ponies the force started. They passed up the +valley and came upon a narrow plain. Here the snow was waist deep, +and the men were forced to move in single file, the leaders +changing places every hundred yards or so.</p> +<p>At last they came to a stop. The gun mules sank to their girths +in the snow and, even then, were unable to obtain a footing. Men +were sent out to try the depth of the snow on both sides of the +valley, but they found no improvement. Obviously it was absolutely +impossible for the mules and ponies to get farther over the snow, +in its present state. It was already three o'clock in the +afternoon, and only eight miles had been covered. The force +therefore retired to the last village in the valley. Two hundred +Pioneers under Borradaile, the sappers, and the Hunza levies were +left here, with all the coolie transport.</p> +<p>Borradaile's orders were to force his way across the pass, next +day; and entrench himself at Laspur, the first village on the other +side. He was then to send back the coolies, in order that the +remainder of the force might follow. With immense trouble and +difficulty, the kits of the party that were to proceed were sorted +out from the rest, the ammunition was divided and, at seven +o'clock, the troops who were to return to Ghizr started on their +cold march. They reached their destination after having been on +foot some fifteen hours.</p> +<p>Lisle was with the advance party. They were all told off to +houses in the little village. Fires were lighted and the weary men +cooked their food and, huddling close together, and keeping the +fires alight, slept in some sort of comfort. Next morning at +daybreak they turned out and found, to their disgust, that the snow +was coming down heavily, and that the difficulties would be even +greater than on the previous day. Borradaile therefore sent back +one of the levies, with a letter saying that it was impossible to +advance; but that if the sky cleared, he would start on the +following morning.</p> +<p>The Kashmir troops at Ghizr volunteered to go forward, and make +a rush through the snow; and Stewart and his lieutenant, Gough, set +out with fifty of them, taking with them half a dozen sledges that +had been made out of boxes. On arriving at Tern, Stewart found +fodder enough for the mules, and begged that the guns might be sent +up. Borradaile had started early; and Stewart with the fifty +Kashmir troops followed, staggering along dragging the guns and +ammunition. The snow had ceased, but there was a bitter wind, and +the glare from the newly-fallen snow was terrible.</p> +<p>The guns, wheels, and ammunition had been told off to different +squads, who were relieved every fifty yards. In spite of the cold, +the men were pouring with perspiration. At one point in the march a +stream had to be crossed. This was done only with great difficulty, +and the rear guard did not reach the camping ground, at the mouth +of the Shandur Pass, until eleven at night; and even then the guns +had to be left a mile behind. Then the weary men had to cut fuel to +light fires. Many of them were too exhausted to attempt to cook +food, and at once went to sleep round the fires.</p> +<p>Early the next morning, the Pioneers and levies started to cross +the pass. The Kashmir men brought up the guns into camp but, though +the distance was short, the work took them the best part of the +day. The march was not more than ten miles; but Borradaile's party, +though they left Langar at daylight, did not reach Laspur till +seven o'clock at night. The slope over the pass was a gradual one, +and it was the depth of the snow, alone, that caused so much delay. +The men suffered greatly from thirst, but refused to eat the snow, +having a fixed belief that, if they did so, it would bring on +violent illness.</p> +<p>On arriving at the top of the pass, the Hunza levies skirmished +ahead. So unexpected was their arrival that the inhabitants of the +village were all caught and, naturally, they expressed their +extreme delight at this visit, and said that they would be glad to +help us in any way. They were taken at their word, and sent back to +bring up the guns. Their surprise was not feigned, for the +Chitralis were convinced that it would be impossible to cross the +pass, and letters were found stating that the British force was +lying at Ghizr.</p> +<p>The feat, indeed, was a splendid one. Some two hundred and fifty +men, Hindoos and Mussulmans had, at the worst time of the year, +brought two mountain guns, with their carriages and ammunition, +across a pass which was blocked for some twenty miles by deep, soft +snow; at the same time carrying their own rifles, eighty rounds of +ammunition, and heavy sheepskin coats. They had slept for two +nights on the snow and, from dawn till dark, had been at work to +the waist at every step, suffering acutely from the blinding glare +and the bitter wind. Stewart and Gough had both taken their turns +in carrying the guns, and both gave their snow glasses to sepoys +who were without them.</p> +<p>Borradaile's first step was to put the place in a state of +defence, and collect supplies and coolies. In the evening the guns +were brought in by the Kashmir troops, who were loudly cheered by +the Pioneers.</p> +<p>Lisle had borne his share in the hardships and had done so +bravely, making light of the difficulties and cheering his comrades +by his jokes. He had escaped the thirst which had been felt by so +many, and was one of those who volunteered to assist in erecting +defences, on the evening of their arrival at Laspur.</p> +<p>At two o'clock the next day, the rest of the force came into +camp. A reconnoitring party went out and, three miles ahead, came +upon the campfires of the enemy. They were seen, three miles +farther down the valley, engaged in building sangars; but as the +force consisted of only one hundred and fifty men, it was not +thought advisable to attack, and the troops consequently returned +to camp.</p> +<p>The next day was spent in making all the arrangements for the +advance. Messengers were sent out to all the villages, calling on +the men to come in and make their submission. This they did, at the +same time bringing in supplies and, by night, a sufficient number +of native coolies had been secured to carry all the baggage, +including ammunition and guns.</p> +<p>A native chief came in with a levy of ninety native coolies. +These were found most valuable, both in the work and in obtaining +information. From their knowledge of the habits of the people, they +were able to discover where the natives had hidden their supplies; +which was generally in the most unlikely places.</p> +<p>The reconnoitring party had found that, some six miles on, the +snow ceased; and all looked forward with delight to the change. A +small garrison of about a hundred, principally levies, were left at +Laspur; with instructions to come on when the second party arrived. +The main force started at nine o'clock.</p> +<p>At Rahman the snow was left behind. Here they learned that the +enemy would certainly fight, between the next village and Mastuj. +Lieutenant Beynon went on with a party of levies and gained a hill, +from which he could view the whole of the enemy's position. Here he +could, with the aid of his glasses, count the men in each sangar, +and make out the paths leading up the cliffs from the river. When +he had concluded his observations, he returned and reported to +Colonel Kelly; and orders were issued for the attack, the next +day.</p> +<p>The levies were expected to join the next morning. They were to +advance with a guide, and turn out the enemy from the top of a +dangerous shoot; from which they would be enabled to hurl down +rocks upon the main body, as it advanced. Beynon was to start, at +six, to work through the hills to the right rear of the enemy's +position. The main body were to move forward at nine o'clock.</p> +<p>Beynon encountered enormous difficulties and, in many places, he +and his men had to go on all fours to get along. He succeeded, +however, in driving off the enemy; who occupied a number of sangars +on the hills, and who could have greatly harassed the main body by +rolling down rocks upon them.</p> +<p>The enemy's principal position consisted of sangars blocking the +roads to the river, up to a fan-shaped alluvial piece of ground. +The road led across this ground to the foot of a steep shoot, +within five hundred yards of sangars on the opposite side of the +river and, as it was totally devoid of any sort of shelter, it +could be swept by avalanches of stones, by a few men placed on the +heights for the purpose.</p> +<p>When the troops arrived within eight hundred yards, volley +firing was opened; and the guns threw shells on the sangar on the +extreme right of the enemy's position. The enemy were soon seen +leaving it, and the fire was then directed on the next place, with +the same result. Meanwhile Beynon had driven down those of the +enemy who were posted on the hill; and general panic set in, the +guns pouring shrapnel into them until they were beyond range.</p> +<p>The action was over in an hour after the firing of the first +shot. The losses on our side were only one man severely, and three +slightly wounded. After a short rest, the force again proceeded, +and halted at a small village a mile and a half in advance. A ford +was found, and the column again started. Presently they met a +portion of the garrison who, finding the besieging force moving +away, came out to see the reason.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the baggage column was being fiercely attacked; +and an officer rode up, with the order that the 4th company were to +go back to their assistance. The company was standing in reserve, +eager to go forward to join in the fight and, without delay, they +now went off at the double.</p> +<p>They were badly wanted. The baggage was struggling up the last +kotal that the troops had passed, and the rear guard were engaged +in a fierce fight with a great number of the enemy; some of whom +were posted on a rise, while others came down so boldly that the +struggle was sometimes hand to hand. When the 4th company reached +the scene, they were at once scattered along the line of +baggage.</p> +<p>For a time the enemy fell back but, seeing that the +reinforcement was not a strong one, they were emboldened to attack +again. Their assaults were repulsed with loss, but the column +suffered severely from the fire on the heights.</p> +<p>"We must stop here," the officer in command said, "or we shall +not get the baggage through before nightfall; and then they would +have us pretty well at their mercy. The Punjabis must go up and +clear the enemy off the hill, till the baggage has got +through."</p> +<p>The Punjabis were soon gathered and, led by an English officer, +they advanced up the hill at a running pace, until they came to a +point so precipitous that they were sheltered from the enemy's +fire. Here they were halted for a couple of minutes to gain breath, +and then the order was given to climb the precipitous hill, which +was some seventy feet high.</p> +<p>It was desperate work, for there were points so steep that the +men were obliged to help each other up. Happily they were in +shelter until they got to within twenty feet of its summit, the +intervening distance being a steep slope. At this point they waited +until the whole party had come up; and then, with a cheer, dashed +up the slope.</p> +<p>The effect was instantaneous. The enemy, though outnumbering +them by five to one, could not for a moment withstand the line of +glittering bayonets; and fled precipitately, receiving volley after +volley from the Pioneers. As the situation was commanded by still +higher slopes, the men were at once ordered to form a breastwork, +from the stones that were lying about thickly. After a quarter of +an hour's severe work, this was raised to a height of three feet, +which was sufficient to enable the men to lie down in safety.</p> +<p>By the time the work was done, the enemy were again firing +heavily, at a distance of four hundred yards, their bullets +pattering against the stones. The Punjabis, however, did not return +the fire but, turning round, directed their attention to the enemy +on the other side of the valley, who were also in considerable force.</p> +<a id="PicB" name="PicB"></a> +<center><img src="images/b.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: He carefully aimed and fired." /></center> +<p>"Here!" the officer said to Lisle, "do you think you can pick +off that fellow in the white burnoose? He is evidently an important +leader, and it is through his efforts that the enemy continues to +make such fierce attacks."</p> +<p>"I will try, sir," Lisle replied in Punjabi; "but I take it that +the range must be from nine hundred to a thousand yards, which is a +long distance for a shot at a single man."</p> +<p>Lying down at full length, he carefully aimed and fired. The +officer was watching through his field glass.</p> +<p>"That was a good shot," he said. "You missed the man, but you +killed a fellow closely following him. Lower your back sight a +trifle, and try again."</p> +<p>The next shot also missed, but the third was correctly aimed, +and the Pathan dropped to the ground. Some of his men at once +carried off his body. His fall created much dismay; and as, at that +moment, the whole of the Punjabis began to pepper his followers +with volley firing, they lost heart and quickly retired up the +hill.</p> +<p>"Put up your sights to twelve hundred yards," the officer said. +"You must drive them higher up, if you can; for they do us as much +harm, firing from there, as they would lower down. Fire +independently. Don't hurry, but take good aim.</p> +<p>"That was a fine shot of yours, Mutteh Ghar," he said to Lisle, +by whose side he was still standing; for they had gone so far down +the slope that they were sheltered from the fire behind. "But for +his fall, the baggage guard would have had to fight hard, for he +was evidently inciting his men to make a combined rush. His fall, +however, took the steam out of them altogether. How came you to be +such a good shot?"</p> +<p>"My father was fond of shooting," Lisle said, "and I used often +to go out with him."</p> +<p>"Well, you benefited by his teaching, anyhow," the officer said. +"I doubt if there is any man in the regiment who could have picked +off that fellow, at such a distance, in three shots. That has +really been the turning point of the day.</p> +<p>"See, the baggage is moving on again. In another hour they will +be all through.</p> +<p>"Now, lads, turn your attention to those fellows on the hill +behind. As we have not been firing at them for some time, they will +probably think we are short of ammunition. Let us show them that +our pouches are still pretty full! We must drive them farther away +for, if we do not, we shall get it hot when we go down to join the +rear guard. Begin with a volley, and then continue with independent +firing, at four hundred yards."</p> +<p>The tribesmen were standing up against the skyline.</p> +<p>"Now, be careful. At this distance, everyone ought to bring down +his man."</p> +<p>Although that was not accomplished, a number of men were seen to +fall, and the rest retired out of sight. Presently heads appeared, +as the more resolute crawled back to the edge of the crest; and a +regular duel now ensued. Four hundred yards is a short range with a +Martini rifle, and it was not long before the Punjabis proved that +they were at least as good shots as the tribesmen. They had the +advantage, too, of the breastwork behind which to load, and had +only to lift their heads to fire; whereas the Pathans were obliged +to load as they lay.</p> +<p>Presently the firing ceased, but the many black heads dotting +the edge of the crest testified to the accurate aim of the troops. +The tribesmen, seeing that their friends on the other side of the +valley had withdrawn, and finding that their own fire did not avail +to drive their assailants back, had at last moved off.</p> +<p>For half an hour the Pioneers lay, watching the progress of the +baggage and, when the last animal was seen to pass, they retired, +taking up their position behind the rear guard. The column arrived +in camp just as night fell.</p> +<p>"That young Bullen can shoot," the officer who commanded the +company said, that evening, as the officers gathered round their +fire. "When, as I told you, we had driven off the fellows on the +right of the valley, things were looking bad on the left, where a +chief in a white burnoose was working up a strong force to make a +rush. I put young Bullen on to pick him off. The range was about +nine hundred and fifty yards. His first shot went behind the chief. +I did not see where the next shot struck, but I have no doubt it +was close to him. Anyhow, the third rolled him over. I call that +splendid shooting, especially as it was from a height, which makes +it much more difficult to judge distance.</p> +<p>"The chief's fall took all the pluck out of the tribesmen and, +as we opened upon them in volleys, they soon went to the right +about. We peppered them all the way up the hill and, as I could see +from my glasses, killed a good many of them. However, it took all +the fight out of them, and they made no fresh attempt to harass the +column."</p> +<p>"The young fellow was a first-rate shot," the colonel said. "If +you remember he carried off several prizes, and certainly shot +better than most of us; though there were one or two of the men who +were his match. You did not speak to him in English, I hope, +Villiers?"</p> +<p>"No, no, colonel. You said that he was to go on as if we did not +know him, till we reached Chitral; and of course spoke to him in +Punjabi.</p> +<p>"One thing is certain: if he had not brought down that chief, +the enemy would have been among the baggage in a minute or two; so +his shot was really the turning point of the fight."</p> +<p>"I will make him a present of twenty rupees, in the morning," +the colonel said. "That is what I should have given to any sepoy +who made so useful a shot, and it will be rather fun to see how he +takes it."</p> +<p>"You will see he will take it without winking," the major said. +"He will know very well that any hesitation would be noticed, and +he will take it as calmly as if he were a native."</p> +<p>Accordingly the next morning, as the regiment fell in, the +colonel called Lisle out from the ranks.</p> +<p>"Mutteh Ghar," he said, "Lieutenant Villiers reports that you +did great service, yesterday, in picking off the leader of the +Pathans who were attacking the column from the left. Here are +twenty rupees, as a token of my satisfaction."</p> +<p>Lisle did not hesitate for a moment, but took off his turban, +and held it out for the colonel to drop the money into it; +murmuring his thanks as he did so. Then he put on his turban again, +saluted, and retired.</p> +<p>"I told you he would not hesitate, colonel," the major laughed. +"The young beggar was as cool as a cucumber, and I doubt if we +should catch him napping, however much we tried."</p> +<p>"He is a fine young fellow, major, and will make a splendid +officer. I shall be disappointed, indeed, if I fail to get him a +commission."</p> +<p>"I don't think you are likely to fail, colonel. The young fellow +has really distinguished himself greatly. Even without that, the +fact that he enlisted to go through the campaign, and took his +share with the troops both in their fighting and their hardships, +would show that he really deserved a commission; even putting aside +the fact of his father's death. It would be a thousand pities if +such a promising young fellow should have to waste the next three +years of his life, cramming up classics and mathematics. It would +be like putting a young thoroughbred into a cart."</p> +<p>"That is so," the colonel said; "but there is no answering for +the War Office, or saying what view they may take of any given +subject. However, if we get first to Chitral, as I feel sure we +shall do, I suppose I shall be in high favour; and they won't like +to refuse so small a request, backed as it is by the facts of the +case."</p> +<p>At half-past five the force marched into Mastuj, and found the +garrison comfortably settled there, and well fed. The fort was a +square building, with a tower at each corner and at the gateway. +Late in the evening the baggage came in. The enemy had made no +serious attack upon the place; and Moberley, who was in command, +had even been able to send a force to Buni, whence they brought off +Jones and the survivors of Ross's force.</p> +<p>The next day a fatigue party were sent out to destroy the +enemy's sangars and, on the same day, the remaining half of the +Pioneers came up. The day was spent by those in the fort in +examining the state of supplies; and despatching messengers to all +the villages round ordering them to send in supplies, and coolies +to carry the baggage.</p> +<p>On the morning of the 1st of April, Beynon was sent on to +reconnoitre the enemy's position; and returned with the report that +it was a strong one. They had got very close to it, and had a fair +view of the position. Next morning the force started, the levies +being ahead. It was a fine, bright morning. They crossed the river +on a bridge built by the sappers.</p> +<p>When they reached the maidan, they found that it was a gentle, +grassy slope. The levies were in advance, with two companies in the +firing line, two in support, and the Kashmir company in reserve. In +this order they pushed on, until they came under the fire of the +sangars. Stewart brought his guns into action. After a time, the +fire of the levies drove the enemy from the nearest sangar; while +three of the Pioneer companies paid attention to another +sangar.</p> +<p>Beynon was sent on, to find some way down into the valley. He +found no path leading to the nullah. The drop from the edge was +sheer, for some seventy feet; then came a ledge from which he +thought they could scramble down to the edge of the stream, and +thence to the opposite side, where he noticed a track. With this +information, he went back to report to Colonel Kelly.</p> +<p>The sappers were brought up and, also, a reserve company of +Kashmir troops. When Beynon got back to the nullah, he found the +Pioneers extended along the edge, and Oldham's sappers already at +work. These, aided by ropes and scaling ladders, got down to the +ledge; and from this point they and Oldham slung themselves down to +the bed of the stream, by the same means. A few sappers had +followed, when a box of dynamite exploded with a violent +detonation, and the rest of the company were called back.</p> +<p>Lisle happened to be stationed at the point where the descent +was made, and when the explosion took place he seized the rope and, +sliding down, joined the two officers and the eleven sappers who +had passed. They scrambled to the opposite side, and saw that the +Pioneers were moving down the nullah towards the river, while the +levies were nearing the sangars. The enemy were seen bolting, and +the little party opened fire upon them. The sappers were armed only +with carbines, which were uncertain at so long a range; but Lisle, +with his rifle, brought down an enemy at every shot.</p> +<p>"That is a good one," he muttered, as a mounted officer at whom +he had aimed fell from his horse.</p> +<p>He was startled when the man behind him said:</p> +<p>"Hillo, young fellow, who on earth are you?</p> +<p>"I will tell you after it is done, sir," Lisle said. "But I hope +you will keep my secret."</p> +<p>Some of the levies and a few Pioneers now came up, and they +learned what had been the cause of the explosion. The Kashmir +company had not followed and, as the sappers were at work, they had +laid down cakes of dynamite at the head of the pass. One of the +enemy's bullets striking these had ignited them, and the troops +there were called upon to retire. The enemy, seeing our men falling +back, rushed out of their sangars and opened fire; but were +speedily driven in again by volleys from the Pioneers. Just then +the levies showed on the ridge, and the Pioneers moved down the +nullah, by a goat track they had found.</p> +<p>The battle was now over, and a company of Pioneers were sent +ahead to the next village, while the rest of the force encamped. +When all were settled down, Lisle saw Lieutenant Moberley walking +along the lines of the regiment, and evidently looking for someone. +Lisle hesitated a minute. If he remained quiet he might not be +recognized by the officer, but in that case the latter might report +what he had heard, and an investigation might be made. He therefore +went forward to the officer.</p> +<p>"Ah!" the latter said, "you are the man I heard speak in +English."</p> +<p>"It was very foolish, sir, but I had no idea that I should be +overheard."</p> +<p>"Well, who are you, and how in the world is it that you are a +private in the Pioneers?"</p> +<p>"My father was Captain Bullen, who was killed in a native raid. +I remained with the regiment for a time, because there was no +opportunity of my being sent home. I wanted to see the campaign, so +I took the place of a sepoy who had died and, as I speak the +language perfectly, it has never been suspected that I was anything +but what I seem."</p> +<p>"Well, lad, I will keep your secret for a time, but when we get +to Chitral I think it will be my duty to tell the colonel; +especially as I shall report that you were with me, and behaved +with the greatest coolness, accounting for at least eight of the +enemy. The campaign will be over, then, for we know that the +Peshawar column are also near Chitral, so that there will be no +chance of further fighting.</p> +<p>"I don't suppose you will be sent home. You have shown yourself +a man, and I have no doubt that Colonel Kelly will make some +mention in his report of your conduct, and strongly recommend you +for a commission. In the circumstances, I should think it would be +granted."</p> +<p>"Thank you indeed, sir! I am very comfortable as I am."</p> +<p>"How old are you?</p> +<p>"I am nearly sixteen, sir."</p> +<p>"Well, it won't be necessary to report that, for the people at +home would consider you too young. I am sure you deserve a +commission for the pluck you showed, in taking your place as a +private among the natives. Your knowledge of the language, too, +will be an argument in your favour.</p> +<p>"How was it that you joined our little party?"</p> +<p>"I acted on the impulse of the moment. I happened to be at the +spot when your party were going down, and I saw that you would soon +be in the thick of it, while we were only firing. I was just +thinking about it, when there was a great burst of flame behind me. +I did not know what it was, but that decided me. I caught hold of +the rope and slipped down.</p> +<p>"Thank you very much for your promise, sir," and, saluting, +Lisle drew back to his comrades.</p> +<p>"What was he saying to you?" one asked.</p> +<p>"He was asking how it was that I came to be among his party; and +when I explained how it was that I left my place, he seemed +perfectly satisfied; so I don't expect I shall hear anything more +about it."</p> +<p>On the first day's march they came upon a deserted fort, where +enough grain was discovered to last the force for months. Enough +flour was also found to give a shovelful to each of the coolies; +who were highly gratified, for most of them were altogether without +food. The remainder of the flour was distributed among the sepoys, +and as much grain was taken as carriage could be found for.</p> +<p>The next day's march was through a cultivated country. Six more +marches took them to Chitral. They met with no opposition whatever, +and their greatest trouble was in crossing rivers, the bridges +having been destroyed.</p> +<p>When within a day's march from Chitral, they met a man bearing +letters from the town. It was from Mr. Robertson, saying that Sher +Afzul had fled on the night of the 18th of April; and that on that +night the siege was raised. It also contained a list of the +casualties, to be forwarded to England; the number being a hundred +and four killed and wounded, out of one thousand and seventy +combatants.</p> +<p>The force marched in at noon, the next day; and were received +with great joy by the garrison. They bivouacked round the castle +and, on the following day, the Kashmir garrison came out and camped +with them; rejoicing much at the change from the poisoned +atmosphere of the fort. They were mere walking skeletons.</p> +<p>Some days later the 3rd Brigade under General Gatacre arrived, +followed by General Low and the headquarter staff.</p> +<p>The day after their arrival at Chitral, one of Kelly's orderlies +came into the line and enquired for Mutteh Ghar. A short time +before, Lisle had noticed Gholam Singh leave the colonel's tent; +and guessed that he had been sharply questioned, by the colonel, as +to the name he had gone under in the regiment. He at once followed +the orderly to the tent.</p> +<p>"This is a nice trick you have played us, Lisle," the colonel +said, as he entered. "To think that while we all thought you on +your way down to Calcutta, you were acting as a private in the +regiment! It was very wrong of Gholam Singh to consent to your +doing so; but I was so pleased to know that you were here that I +could not bring it in my heart to blow him up as he deserved. +Unquestionably, he acted from the respect and affection that he +felt for your father.</p> +<p>"What put the idea into your head?"</p> +<p>"I had quite made up my mind to go with the regiment, sir; and +should have come as a mule driver or a coolie, if I had not got +into the ranks."</p> +<p>"Well, it is done and cannot be undone. Lieutenant Moberley has +reported most favourably of your conduct in the last fight, and +Gholam Singh says that your conduct as a private has been +excellent. You have become a great favourite with the men, by the +cheerfulness with which you bore the hardships of the march; and +kept up the spirits of the men by your jokes and example.</p> +<p>"But of course, this cannot go on. You must again become one of +us and, on the march down, do officer's duty. I shall not fail to +report the matter, and shall recommend you for a commission. I feel +sure that, as the son of Captain Bullen, and for the services you +have rendered during the campaign, together with your knowledge of +the language, my recommendation will be effective.</p> +<p>"But I don't know what we can do about clothes. We are all +practically in rags, and have only the things that we stand +in."</p> +<p>"I have brought a suit with me in my kit, sir; and as we have +had no inspection of kits, since we marched, they have not been +noticed."</p> +<p>"Very well, lad. Put them on, and come back again in an hour. I +will have the other officers of the regiment here. They will, I am +sure, all be heartily glad to see you again.</p> +<p>"I suppose that stain won't get off you, for some time?"</p> +<p>"I don't think it will last over a week, sir; for I have had no +chance of renewing it since our last fight. It is not so dark as it +was, by a good bit; and I had intended to steal away, today, and +renew it."</p> +<p>"We are all so sun burnt, or rather so snow burnt, that you are +not much darker than the rest of us. Well, then, I shall expect you +in an hour. You will, of course, hand over your uniform, rifle, and +accoutrements to the quartermaster sergeant."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>Lisle went back to the lines and, taking his kit, went some +little distance out of camp. Here he took off his uniform and put +on the clothes he had worn before starting. He folded the uniform +up and placed it, with his rifle and accoutrements, in a little +heap.</p> +<p>Then he went to the tent where Robah's master lived. He had +often spoken to Robah during the march and, waiting till he could +catch his eye, he beckoned to him to come to him. Robah was +immensely surprised at seeing him in his civilian dress, and +hurried up to him.</p> +<p>"I have been found out, Robah, and am to join the officers on +the march down. I am at present a young gentleman at large. You see +that tree up there? At the foot you will find my uniform, rifle, +and accoutrements. I want you to carry them to the quartermaster +sergeant, and tell him to put them in store, as Mutteh Ghar has +left the regiment. Of course, the story will soon be known, but I +don't wish it to get about till I have seen the colonel again. I am +glad to say that he is not angry with me; and has not reprimanded +Gholam Singh, very severely, for aiding me in the matter."</p> +<p>Robah at once started on his mission, and Lisle then went into +the camp, and strolled about until it was time to repair to the +colonel's tent. He found the eight officers of the regiment +gathered there.</p> +<p>"We were not mistaken, gentlemen," the colonel said. "This young +scamp, instead of going down to Calcutta, left the convoy after it +had marched a mile or two. Gholam Singh was in the secret, and had +furnished him with the uniform and rifle of a man who had died, the +day before. He put this on and marched boldly in. The other native +officers of the company were in the secret, and gave out to the men +that this was a new recruit, a cousin of the man we had just +lost.</p> +<p>"Under that title he has passed through the campaign; living +with the soldiers, sharing all their hardships; and being, for a +time at least, altogether unsuspected of being aught but what he +appeared. Gholam Singh said that his conduct was excellent; that he +was a great favourite, with the men, for the good humour with which +he bore the hardships. He was with Beynon and Moberley, and showed +great pluck and steadiness in picking off several of the enemy, as +they fled.</p> +<p>"Fortunately, Moberley overheard him mutter to himself in +English, and so the matter came out. Moberley promised to keep +silence till we got here and, this morning, he told the whole +story. Of course, we could not have poor Bullen's son remaining a +private in the Pioneers, and he has joined us under the old +conditions. I have given him the rank of lieutenant, and shall +recommend him for a commission; which I have no doubt he will get, +not only as the son of an officer who had done excellent service, +but for the pluck and enterprise he has shown. His perfect +knowledge of Punjabi will also, of course, count in his +favour."</p> +<p>The officers all shook hands cordially with him, and +congratulated him on the manner in which he had carried out his +disguise; and he was at once made a member of the mess. Afterwards, +two or three of them walked with him down to the lines of his +company. The men regarded them with interest, and then burst into a +loud cheer.</p> +<p>"That is good," the officer said. "It shows that you like him. +Henceforth he will rank as one of the officers; and I hope you will +all like him, in that capacity, as well as you did when he was one +of yourselves."</p> +<p>They then walked off, leaving the company in a state of +excitement.</p> +<p>In the afternoon, at mess, Lisle learned the whole details of +the siege, which had been gathered from the officers of the +garrison. On March 2nd, Mr. Robertson received information that +Sher Afzul had arrived in the valley and, the next day, news came +that he was, with a large following, at a small house in a ravine, +about a mile and a quarter from the fort. Captain Campbell, with +two hundred of the Kashmir Rifles, was sent out to make a +reconnaissance. He was accompanied by Captains Townshend and Baird, +and by Surgeon Captain Whitchurch and Lieutenant Gurdon. The rest +were left in the bazaar, to hold the road.</p> +<p>The enemy, one hundred and fifty strong, were seen on the bare +spur which forms the right bank of the ravine. To test whether or +not they were hostile, a single shot was fired over them. They at +once opened a heavy fire on the party and, at the same time, +Captain Townshend became engaged with some of the enemy who were in +hiding among rocks--evidently in considerable strength. It was +subsequently discovered that, very shortly after Captain Campbell's +party left the fort, and before hostilities began, the enemy had +opened fire on the fort, and had crossed the river.</p> +<p>Captain Baird now advanced across the mouth of the ravine, and +charged up the spur; the enemy retreating before them, firing as +they went. Captain Baird fell, mortally wounded; and Lieutenant +Gurdon, who had carried a message to him, was left in command. The +enemy descended into the ravine and, crossing to the left bank, +took Gurdon in rear.</p> +<p>In the meantime, affairs had not been going well with Captain +Townshend's party. He had advanced within two hundred yards of the +hamlet, keeping his men as well as he could under shelter, and +firing in volleys. The enemy, however, kept on advancing, and +overlapping his force on both flanks. They were well armed and +skilful marksmen, and took shelter in such a marvellous way that +there was nothing for our men to fire at, except a few puffs of +smoke.</p> +<p>Captain Campbell then ordered a charge with the bayonet, to +clear the hamlet. It was gallantly led, by Captain Townshend and +two native officers. The ground being perfectly open, and the fire +of the enemy being steady and continuous, the two native officers +and four sepoys were killed at once.</p> +<p>When they got within forty yards of the village, which was +concealed in a grove of trees, they found that it was a large +place; with a wall, three hundred feet in length, behind which the +enemy were posted in perfect cover. There was nothing for it but to +retreat. Captain Campbell was, at this moment, shot in the knee; +and Captain Townshend assumed the command. Captain Campbell was +carried to the rear, and the force retired in alternate +parties.</p> +<p>The retreat, however, was conducted slowly and deliberately; +though the enemy, who came running out, soon overlapped the little +column--some even getting behind it, while groups of fanatic +swordsmen, from time to time, charged furiously down upon it. From +all the hamlets they passed through, a fire was opened upon them by +the Chitralis, those who were supposed to be friendly having gone +over to the other side. So heavy was the fire that, at last, +Townshend ordered his men to double. This they did with great +steadiness; and he was able to rally them, without difficulty, at a +small hamlet, where he found Mr. Robertson encouraging the men he +had brought out. A message was sent to the fort for reinforcements, +and Lieutenant Harley led out fifty of the Sikhs, and covered the +retreat to the fort.</p> +<p>In the meantime Gurdon, with his detachment and Captain Baird, +were still far away on the steep side of the ravine. Dr. +Whitchurch, who had dressed Baird's wound, was sent to take him to +the rear; and it was then that Townshend's party began to retreat +and, after fierce fighting, arrived at the fort, where they found +that Whitchurch had not arrived.</p> +<p>The doctor had with him a handful of sepoys and Kashmir Rifles, +and some stretcher bearers, under the command of a native officer. +Matters had developed so rapidly that, in a very short time, they +were behind Townshend's retreating parties, round which the enemy +were swarming; and when the retirement became a rapid retreat, they +dropped farther behind. Small detached parties soon became aware of +their position, and attacked them. Three men, who were carrying the +stretcher, were killed by successive shots and, when the fourth was +hit, the stretcher could be no longer carried; so Captain Baird was +partly carried, and partly dragged along the ground.</p> +<p>The enemy's fire became so hot that the party were compelled to +make for the river bank. They had to charge, and carry, two or +three stone walls. Once they were completely surrounded, but the +gallant Kashmirs charged the enemy so furiously with rifle and +bayonet that, at last, they made a way through them and reached the +fort, where they had been given up for lost. Thirteen men, in all, +came in; but only seven of these had fought their way through with +Whitchurch; the other six being fugitives, who had joined him just +before he had reached the fort. Half of Whitchurch's little party +were killed, and Baird had been, again, twice wounded. Whitchurch, +himself, marvellously escaped without a wound. No finer action was +ever performed than that by this little body.</p> +<p>The total casualties of the day were very heavy. Of the hundred +and fifty men actually engaged, twenty non-commissioned officers +and men were killed, and twenty-eight wounded. Of the officers, +Captain Campbell was badly wounded, and Captain Baird died on the +following morning. The two native officers were killed.</p> +<p>The enemy's strength was computed to be from a thousand to +twelve hundred men. Of these, five hundred were Umra Khan's men, +who were armed with Martinis. Many of the others carried +Sniders.</p> +<p>The whole of the Chitralis had now joined Sher Afzul, most of +them doubtless being forced to do so, by fear of the consequences +that would ensue should they refuse. The little fort thus stood +isolated, in the midst of a powerful enemy and a hostile +population. The villages stood on higher ground than the fort and, +from all of them, a constant fusillade was kept up on the garrison, +while they were engaged in the difficult work of putting the fort +into a better condition of defence.</p> +<p>The first thing to be done was, of course, to take stock of the +stores; and the next to estimate how many days it would last. +Everyone was put upon half rations, and it was calculated that they +could hold out two and a half months. It was found that they had +two hundred and eighty rounds per man, besides Snider ammunition +for the Kashmir Rifles, and three hundred rounds of Martini +ammunition for the Sikhs.</p> +<p>When the fort was first occupied, it was found that there was an +exposed approach to the river from the water tower, about thirty +yards in width; and a covered way was at once built, going right +down into the water. All through the siege this covered way was the +main object of the enemy's attack; for they knew that, if they +could cut off the water, they could easily reduce the garrison.</p> +<p>An abutment in the south wall of the fort, overlooking the +garden, had been converted into a little bastion. The worst feature +of the fort, however, was the large number of little buildings +immediately outside the walls. These and the walls of the garden +were demolished by moonlight. The stables, which were on the river +face near the water tower, were loopholed; and efforts were made to +loophole the basement walls of the tower, but these had to be +abandoned, as there was a danger of disturbing the foundations.</p> +<p>Among the various ingenious plans hit upon by the besieged, one +proved particularly useful. Loopholes were made in the gun tower; a +wall was built up in the face of the water gate; and fireplaces +were constructed by which the wood, being laid on a slab of stone, +was pushed out some feet from the wall, and could be drawn into the +fort when it was necessary to replenish the fire, without those +attending it being exposed. These fires proved invaluable, when +attacks were made upon dark nights. Projecting, as they did, seven +feet from the wall, they threw it into shadow, so that the enemy +could not see what to fire at; and, at the same time, they lit up +the ground in front brilliantly, so that the defenders could make +out their assailants, and fire with accuracy.</p> +<p>The fort was eighty yards in length. The walls were twenty-five +feet in height, and the five towers fifty feet. It lay in a hollow +in the lowest part of the valley, and was commanded on all sides by +hills, on which the enemy erected numerous sangars. As, from these, +the men moving about inside the fort were clearly visible to the +enemy, barricades of stones had to be erected, along the sides of +the yards, to afford cover to the men as they went to and from +their posts.</p> +<p>On March 5th a letter was received from Umra Khan, stating that +the British troops must leave Chitral at once, and that he would +guarantee them a safe conduct. The offer was, naturally, refused. +Next night the enemy, about two hundred strong, made a determined +effort to fire the water tower. They brought faggots with them and, +in spite of the heavy volleys poured upon them managed, under cover +of the darkness, to creep into the tunnel leading to the water, and +to light a large fire underneath the tower. They were, however, +driven out; and three water carriers went into the tunnel, and put +out the fire. They were just in time, for the flames had taken a +firm hold of the wooden beams.</p> +<p>After this, twenty-five men were always stationed in the tower +and, at night, another picket of twenty-five men were placed in the +covered way leading to the water. The entrance to this, at the +water side, was exposed to the enemy's fire; but a barricade of +stones, with interstices to allow the water to go through, was +built into the river, and formed an efficient screen to the water +bearers.</p> +<p>On the night of the 14th, the enemy again made an attack on the +water bearers, but were repulsed with loss. The water way was, +indeed, a source of constant anxiety. Between it, and the trees at +the northwest corner of the fort, there was a stretch of seventy +yards of sandy beach; lying underneath an overhanging bank, which +entirely covered it from the fire of the fort, so that the enemy +were able to get right up to the water tunnel without exposing +themselves.</p> +<p>On the 15th, Sher Afzul sent in a messenger, to say that a party +of sepoys had been defeated at Reshun, and that an officer was +captive in his camp. The next day a letter was received from +Lieutenant Edwardes. A truce was made for three days and, +afterwards, extended to six; but this came to an end on the 23rd of +March, and hostilities again began.</p> +<p>The prospect was gloomy. The men were beginning to suffer in +health from their long confinement, the paucity of their rations, +and the terribly insanitary condition of the fort; and they had not +heard of the approach of either Colonel Kelly's force or that under +Sir Robert Low.</p> +<p>During the truce, a union jack had been made, and this was now +hoisted on the flag tower, as a symbol of defiance. This cheered +the spirits of the men and depressed those of the enemy, who began +to see that the task before them was far more serious than they had +hitherto supposed.</p> +<p>Gradually the attacks of the enemy became more feeble and, +although the firing was almost continuous, it seemed as if the +assailants trusted rather to famine, to reduce the fort, than to +any exertion on their part. On April 6th they were very active, +making two large sangars close to the main gate. Near these, and +only fifty yards away from the gun tower, they were also hard at +work, all day, in the summer house to the east of the fort.</p> +<p>The garrison, however, now received the news that a relief force +had already arrived at Mastuj; in consequence of which they were +saved from a further diminution of their scanty rations, which was +already under discussion. The officers were comparatively well off, +as they had plenty of horse flesh; but this the sepoys would not +eat. The supply of ghee, which forms so prominent a part in the +diet of the natives, had already given out; and the sepoys had +nothing but a scanty allowance of flour to maintain life.</p> +<p>The news that the relief party had arrived at Mastuj greatly +cheered the garrison. That relief would come, sooner or later, they +had no doubt; but they had not even hoped that it could be so near. +While, however, the news thus raised the spirits of the defenders, +it at the same time showed their assailants that, unless they +obtained a speedy success, the game would be altogether up.</p> +<p>Before daybreak on the morning of the 7th, a terrific fire was +opened upon the walls. The enemy were evidently in great strength. +In an instant everyone was at his post, and steady volleys were +poured into the darkness, on the garden side of the fort, whence +the chief attack seemed to be coming. Suddenly a strong light was +seen near the gun tower, and it was found that the enemy had heaped +faggots against the walls. These, being constructed partly of wood, +gradually caught fire.</p> +<p>Mr. Robertson, with some of the levies, horse keepers, and +servants, at once set to work to extinguish the flames; but the +conflagration was too much for them. The troops in reserve were +then sent to aid them. The work was dangerous and difficult, the +flames raged fiercely, and the enemy kept up a tremendous fire from +behind the walls of the summer house. Nevertheless the men worked +their hardest, throwing down earth and water on the fire.</p> +<p>Many were wounded at the work. The fire was so fierce that large +holes had to be knocked through the lower stories of the tower, +through which to attack the flames; and it was not until ten +o'clock that the efforts of the besieged were crowned with success, +and all was again quiet. Nothing could have exceeded the bravery +and devotion shown by the native levies, the non-combatants, +officers' servants, water carriers, syces, and even the +Chitralis.</p> +<p>Great precautions were taken to prevent similar attempts to fire +any of the towers. Earth was brought up, and water stored. The +water carriers slept with the great leathern bags which they +carried, full; and a special fire picket was organized. When, on +the evening of the 15th, the enemy again tried to fire the gun +tower, they were repulsed without difficulty. On the following +night a determined attack in force was made, on all sides of the +fort; but was defeated with much loss.</p> +<p>The enemy now began to make a great noise, with drums and pipes, +in the summer house. This lasted continuously for several days, and +one of the natives, who was aware that the enemy had started +tunnelling, guessed that this stir might possibly be made to drown +the noise of the mining. Men were put on to listen and, at +midnight, the sentry in the gun tower reported that he heard the +noise and, next morning, the sound was distinctly audible within a +few feet of the tower.</p> +<p>It was evident that there was no time to be lost and, at four +o'clock in the afternoon, Lieutenant Harley and a hundred men +issued from the fort, at the garden gate, and rushed at the summer +house. It was held by forty of the enemy, who fired a volley, and +fled after some sharp hand-to-hand fighting. The head of the mine +was found to be in the summer house, and the tunnel was full of +Chitralis.</p> +<p>Harley stationed his men in the summer house to repel any attack +and, with five sepoys, jumped down into the mine. The Chitralis, +about thirty in number, came swarming out but, after a fierce +fight, they were bayoneted. The mine was then cleared, and +gunpowder placed in position.</p> +<p>Two Chitralis, who had lain quiet at the other end of the +tunnel, tried to make their escape in the turmoil. One of the +sepoys fired, and must have hit a bag of gunpowder; for immediately +there was a violent explosion, and the mine was blown up, from end +to end. Harley was knocked over, and the Sikhs who were with him +had their hair and clothes singed; but none of the party were +otherwise hurt.</p> +<p>All this time, the sepoys in the summer house had been subject +to a heavy fusillade from a breastwork, close by, and from the +loopholed walls in the garden; while from all the distant sangars +and hills a continuous fire was opened, the natives evidently +believing that the garrison were making a last and desperate +sortie.</p> +<p>The work done, Harley and his men hurried back to the fort, +having been out of it an hour and ten minutes. Of the hundred that +went out twenty-two were hit, nine mortally. In and around the +summer house, thirty-five of the enemy were bayoneted, and a dozen +more shot. That evening the garrison began to drive a couple of +counter mines, to intercept any other mines that the enemy might +attempt to make.</p> +<p>On the 18th the enemy were very quiet and, in the middle of the +night, a man approached the fort and called out that Sher Afzul had +fled, and that the relieving force was near at hand. Lieutenant +Gurdon was sent out to reconnoitre, and he found that the whole +place was deserted. The next afternoon, Colonel Kelly's force +arrived.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch5" id="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: Promoted.</h2> +<p>As he was not now in uniform, Lisle kept carefully out of sight +when General Gatacre's force marched in, which it did very shortly +after Colonel Kelly's arrival. This was probably unnecessary +caution for, in addition to Mr. Robertson, there were two or three +other civilians in the garrison; but he was desirous of escaping +observation until General Low, who would arrive next day, should +have heard of his escapade.</p> +<p>At mess, however, several officers of General Gatacre's force +dined with the regiment; who had exerted themselves to the utmost +to provide a banquet for their guests. Most of these had, at one +time or other, been cantoned with the Pioneers. Two or three of the +junior officers were introduced to the newcomers, among them +Lisle.</p> +<p>"This gentleman," the colonel said, "is Mr. Lisle Bullen, son of +the late Captain Bullen; who you have doubtless heard was killed, +some little time ago, while storming a hill fort. He is at present +acting as temporary lieutenant of my regiment."</p> +<p>The officers looked with some surprise at Lisle's still darkened +face.</p> +<p>"I see you are surprised, gentlemen," the colonel said, "but +there is a tale that hangs to that colour. I will relate it to you +after dinner; but I may say that Bullen is not a half caste, as you +might think, but of pure English blood."</p> +<p>At this moment dinner was announced. A temporary mess tent had +been erected. It was open at the sides, and composed of +many-coloured cloths. The party sat down under this. There was no +cloth, and the dinner was served on a miscellaneous variety of +dishes, for the most part of tin. Each guest brought his own knife, +fork, and stool. It was a merry party and, after the table had been +cleared, the colonel said:</p> +<p>"In the first place, Maneisty, you must give us the story of +your doings; of which we have, at the present, heard only the +barest outline."</p> +<p>"It is rather a long story, colonel."</p> +<p>"We have nothing else to talk about, here. We have seen no +newspapers for a long time, and know nothing of what is going on +outside; and therefore can't argue about it, or express opinions as +to whether or not the government have, as usual, blundered. +Therefore, the more detail you tell us, the better pleased we shall +be."</p> +<p>"As you know, the first army corps, fourteen thousand strong, +were ordered early in March to concentrate; so that when the news +came that the garrison of Chitral were in serious danger, the +manoeuvres were being carried out, but it was not until late in the +day that the troops were able to move forward. The brigade marched +to Jellala without tents, taking with them supplies sufficient for +twenty days. The next morning the 2nd and 3rd Brigade went on to +Dargai. The weather was cold and wet, and the roads soft.</p> +<p>"It had been given out that the 1st Brigade were to go by the +Shakot Pass. This was only a ruse to deceive the enemy, and keep +them from concentrating on the Malakand. Subsequently an officer +rode up the Shakot Pass, and found it to be much more difficult +than the Malakand, and more strongly fortified. Orders were sent, +in the middle of the night, for the 1st Brigade to proceed at once +to Dargai. Early in the morning a reconnaissance was made by +General Blood, and a large body of the enemy were seen. It was +evident that the passage of the pass was to be disputed.</p> +<p>"Starting from Dargai, the pass went through a gradually +narrowing valley for about two miles; then bending to the northeast +for a mile and a half, the hills on the west rising precipitously +to a great height. On reaching the bend, the pass was strongly held +on the west side.</p> +<p>"The 4th Sikhs went out on the flank. The Guides Infantry were +directed to ascend the highest point of the western hill and, from +this, to enfilade the enemy. It was a most arduous task, as they +had to ascend the highest peak of the range, some fifteen hundred +feet. Here several sangars had been erected by the enemy, who +hurled down rocks and stones.</p> +<p>"In the meantime the main force advanced, and could make out the +general position of the enemy. They occupied the whole of the crest +of the western hill, having constructed numerous sangars down its +side, each commanding the one below it. The greater part of their +force was more than halfway down the hill, at the point where it +descended precipitously into the valley. It was only at this point +that the western side of the pass was held.</p> +<p>"Three batteries were sent up on this side. These attacked +position after position on the eastern slope, and their fire was so +accurate that it effectually prevented the enemy on the eastern +side from concentrating.</p> +<p>"When the advance began, it was evident that little could be +done until the Guides had secured the position they had been +ordered to take. It was soon seen that they were very seriously +outnumbered. The Gordon Highlanders had moved up the crest of the +western hill, at the point where it touched the valley. The +Scottish Borderers had hastened up the centre spur; the 60th Rifles +were ordered up the slope, farther back in the line; while the +Bedfordshire and 37th Dogras rounded the point on which the Gordon +Highlanders began the ascent and, turning to the left, climbed the +hill from the northern side. The 15th Sikhs were held in +reserve.</p> +<p>"The brunt of the fighting fell upon the Gordon Highlanders and +the Borderers. Making as they did a direct attack, they met with a +sturdy resistance. Several of the sangars were carried by +hand-to-hand fighting; indeed, had the advance not been so well +covered by the fire of our guns, it is doubtful whether the +position could have been captured.</p> +<p>"It was one of the finest scenes I ever saw. The hillside was +literally covered with fire. We could see the two Scotch regiments +pushing on, and attacking the sangars by rushes; while above them +the shells from the guns and fire from the Maxims prevented the +holders of the upper sangars from coming down to the assistance of +those below. The moment the attacking troops reached the top, the +enemy fled down the western slopes. The action began at 8:30 A.M., +and concluded at 2 P.M. The enemy's loss was admitted, by +themselves, to be about five hundred; ours was only eleven killed, +and eight officers and thirty-nine men wounded.</p> +<p>"The 1st Brigade remained at the top of the pass, while its +baggage mules moved up. The path was so bad that only a few mules +reached the top that night. It was afterwards found that, if we had +taken the path, we should have suffered most severely; as it was +discovered that the walls of the sangars had been perforated with +lateral slits, commanding every turn.</p> +<p>"On the following day the 1st Brigade descended into the Swat +Valley. Its place on the pass was taken by the 2nd. As soon as the +1st Brigade got free of the pass, they were fired upon by the +enemy, who had taken up a position on the Amandarra.</p> +<p>"The mountain battery was at once brought into action, and began +shelling the sangars. Under its cover the Bedfordshires moved +forward, and drove the enemy from their position. Here they fought +with extreme obstinacy. The 37th Dogras carried a spur to the left, +and sent back news that a great body of the enemy were advancing. A +squadron of the Guides cavalry charged them, killing about thirty, +and putting the rest to flight.</p> +<p>"The transport was now being gradually pushed up, and the +brigade encamped at Khar, at half-past seven. As the enemy were in +great force on the surrounding hills, a night attack was expected, +and the troops lay down with fixed bayonets.</p> +<p>"The capture of these passes spread great consternation through +the Swat valleys, as the tribes had always believed that they were +impregnable, and boasted that an enemy had never entered their +territory. They had fought with desperate bravery to defeat us; +although we had no quarrel with them, and merely wished to get +through their country to reach Chitral. Curiously enough, they had +a strong belief in our magnanimity, and several of their wounded +actually came into camp to be attended to by our surgeons.</p> +<p>"On the 5th of April the 1st Brigade remained all day in camp, +the 2nd Brigade going on seven or eight miles farther. Early on the +morning of the 7th, a party went down the river to make a bridge. A +heavy fire was opened upon them, and the whole of the 2nd Brigade +and the 15th Sikhs from the 1st Brigade went out in support.</p> +<p>"While the 11th Bengal Lancers were searching for a ford, they +came under a heavy fire from a village at the foot of a knoll, 600 +yards from the river. A mountain battery quickly silenced this +fire, and two squadrons of Bengal Lancers and one of the Guides, +crossing the ford, pursued the enemy five or six miles, and cut off +about a hundred of them. Opposite the village they discovered +another ford, where two could pass at once and, the next day, the +rest of the brigade followed them. The people of the Swat Valley +speedily accommodated themselves to the situation, and brought in +sheep, fowls, and other things for sale.</p> +<p>"On the 9th, headquarters joined the 2nd Brigade at Chakdara, +and the 3rd Brigade encamped on the south side of the river. On the +11th the headquarters and the 2nd Brigade arrived at the Panjkora +River. A bridge had to be built across this but, on the 13th, just +as it was finished, a flood came down and washed it away.</p> +<p>"A party were sent across at daybreak to burn the villages; +which had, during the night, been firing on the advance guard of +the 2nd Brigade. They accomplished their work but, while engaged +upon it, were attacked by a very large force. The carrying away of +the bridge rendered the position extremely dangerous, and the force +was ordered, by signal, to fall back upon the river; while the +Brigade covered their retreat from the opposite bank. The +retreating column was sorely pressed, although the Maxim guns and +the mountain battery opened fire upon the enemy. Colonel Battye was +mortally wounded, and so hotly did the Afridis follow up their +attack that a company of the Guides fixed bayonets, and charged +them.</p> +<p>"As, however, the enemy still persisted in their attack, the +force set to work to entrench themselves. This they managed to do, +with the aid of a Maxim gun of the 11th; which had crossed one of +the branches of the river, and got into a position flanking the +entrenchments. All night the enemy kept up a heavy fire. In the +morning the force were still unable to pass. However, during the +day the 4th Sikhs came across on rafts, and passed the night with +them. The force was much exhausted, for they had been more than +forty-eight hours without a meal.</p> +<p>"Working day and night, in forty-eight hours another bridge was +constructed, on the suspension system, with telegraph wires. Until +it was finished, communication was maintained with the other bank +by means of a skin raft, handled by two active boatmen.</p> +<p>"We had only one more fight, and that was a slight one. Then the +news reached us that the position of Chitral was serious, and +General Gatacre was hurried forward with our force."</p> +<p>"You had some tough fighting," the colonel said, "but the number +of your casualties would seem to show that ours was the stiffer +task. At the same time we must admit that, if you hadn't been +detained for six or seven days at that river, you would have beaten +us in the race."</p> +<p>"Yes, we were all mad, as you may well imagine, at being +detained so long there. Our only hope was that your small force +would not be able to fight its way through, until our advance took +the spirit out of the natives. Certainly they fought very pluckily, +in their attacks upon the force that had crossed; and that action +came very close to being a serious disaster.</p> +<p>"The flood that washed away our bridge upset all our +calculations. I almost wonder that the natives, when they found +that we could not cross the river, did not hurry up to the +assistance of the force that was opposing you. If they had done so, +it would have been very awkward."</p> +<p>"It would have gone very hard with us, for they are splendid +skirmishers and, if we had not had guns with us to effectually +prevent them from concentrating anywhere, and had had to depend +upon rifle fire alone, I have some doubts whether our little force +would have been able to make its way through the defiles."</p> +<p>"Well, it has been a good undertaking, altogether; and I hope +that the punishment that has been inflicted will keep the tribes +quiet for some years."</p> +<p>"They will probably be quiet," the officer said, "till trouble +breaks out in some other quarter, and then they will be swarming +out like bees."</p> +<p>"It is their nature to be troublesome," the colonel said. "They +are born fighters, and there is no doubt that the fact that most of +them have got rifles has puffed them up with the idea that, while +they could before hold their passes against all intruders, it would +be now quite impossible for us to force our way in, when they could +pick us off at twelve hundred paces.</p> +<p>"I wish we could get hold of some of the rascally traders who +supply them with rifles of this kind. I would hang them without +mercy. Of course, a few of the rifles have been stolen; but that +would not account in any way for the numbers they have in their +hands. A law ought to be passed, making it punishable by death for +any trader to sell a musket to a native; not only on the frontier, +but throughout India. The custom-house officers should be forced to +search for them in every ship that arrives; the arms and ammunition +should be confiscated; and the people to whom they are consigned +should be fined ten pounds on every rifle, unless it could be +proved that the consignment was made to some of the native princes, +who had desired them for the troops raised as subsidiary forces to +our own."</p> +<p>The colonel then related Lisle's story in the campaign, which +created unbounded surprise among the guests.</p> +<p>"It was a marvellous undertaking for a young fellow to plan and +carry out," one of them said. "There are few men who could have +kept up the character; fewer still who would have attempted it, +even to take part in a campaign. I am sure, colonel, that we all +hope your application for a commission for him will be granted; for +he certainly deserves it, if ever a fellow did."</p> +<p>There was a general murmur of assent and, shortly afterwards, +the meeting broke up; for it was already a very late hour.</p> +<p>The rest of the campaign was uneventful. Lisle speedily fell +back into the life he had led before the campaign began, except +that he now acted as an officer. He already knew so much of the +work that he had no difficulty, whatever, in picking up the rest of +his duties. He was greatly pleased that the colonel said nothing +more to Gholam Singh, and the native officers of his company and, +by the time the regiment marched back to Peshawar, he was as +efficient as other officers of his rank.</p> +<p>He had, after his father's death, written down to his agents at +Calcutta; and had received a thousand rupees of the sum standing to +his account, in their hands. He was therefore able to pay his share +of the mess expenses; which were indeed very small for, with the +exception of fowls and milk, it was impossible to buy anything to +add to the rations given to them.</p> +<p>The march down was a pleasant one. There was no longer any +occasion for speed. The snow had melted in the passes, the men were +in high spirits at the success that had attended their advance, and +the fact that they had been the first to arrive to the rescue of +the garrison of Chitral.</p> +<p>A month after they reached Peshawar, Lisle was sent for by +Colonel Kelly.</p> +<p>"I am pleased, indeed, to be able to inform you that my urgent +recommendation of you has received attention, and that you have +been gazetted as lieutenant, dating from the day of our arrival at +Chitral. I congratulate you most heartily."</p> +<p>"I am indeed most delighted, sir. I certainly owe my promotion +entirely to your kindness."</p> +<p>"Certainly not, Lisle; you well deserve it. I am sorry to say +that you will have to leave us; for you are gazetted to the 103rd +Punjabi Regiment, who are stationed at Rawalpindi."</p> +<p>"I am sorry indeed to hear that, sir; though of course, I could +hardly have expected to remain with you. I shall be awfully sorry +to leave. You have all been so kind to me, and I have known you all +so long. Still, it is splendid that I have got my commission. I +might have waited three or four years, in England; and then been +spun at the examination."</p> +<p>Lisle marched down with the regiment to Peshawar. Here he had +his uniforms made, laid in a stock of requisites, and then, after a +hearty farewell from his friends, proceeded to join his regiment, +which was lying at Rawalpindi. He took with him Robah, whom the +major relinquished in his favour.</p> +<p>On his arrival at the station, he at once reported himself to +the colonel.</p> +<p>"Ah! I saw your name in the gazette, a short time since. You +must have lost no time in coming out from England."</p> +<p>"I was in India when I was gazetted, sir."</p> +<p>"Well, I am glad that you have joined so speedily; for I am +short of officers, at present. There is a spare tent, which my +orderly will show you. We shall have tiffin in half an hour, when I +can introduce you to the other officers."</p> +<p>When Lisle entered the mess tent, he was introduced to the other +officers, one of whom asked him when he had arrived from +England.</p> +<p>"I have never been to England. I was born out here. My father +was a captain in the 32nd Punjabis, and was killed in an attack on +a hill fort. That was some months ago, and I remained with the +regiment, whose quarters had always been my home, until there +should be an opportunity for my being sent down to Calcutta."</p> +<p>"Well, it is very decent of the War Office to give you a +commission; though, of course, it is the right thing to do--but it +is not often that they do the right thing. Your regiment did some +sharp fighting on their way up to Chitral, but of course you saw +nothing of that."</p> +<p>"Yes; I accompanied the regiment."</p> +<p>"The deuce you did!" the colonel said. "I wonder you managed to +get up with it, or that Colonel Kelly gave you leave. I certainly +should not, myself, have dreamed of taking a civilian with me on +such an expedition."</p> +<p>Lisle nodded.</p> +<p>"The colonel did not give me leave, sir. With the aid of one of +the native officers, with whom my father was a favourite, I +obtained a native uniform; and went through the campaign as a +private."</p> +<p>The officers all looked upon him with astonishment.</p> +<p>"Do you mean to say that you cooked with them, fought with them, +and lived with them, as one of themselves?"</p> +<p>"That was so, sir; and it was only at the last fight that the +truth came out, for then one of the officers heard me make a remark +to myself, in English. Fortunately, the native officers gave a very +good account of my conduct. I was one of a small party that +descended a cliff with ropes, and did a good deal towards driving +the Chitralis out of their position."</p> +<p>"But how was it that you were not recognized by the +soldiers?"</p> +<p>"I speak the language as well as I speak my own," Lisle said +quietly. "Having lived with the regiment all my life, I learned to +speak it like a native."</p> +<p>"Well," the colonel said, "it was a plucky thing for you to do. +The idea of disguising yourself in that way was a very happy one; +but not many officers would like to go through such a campaign as a +private in the Pioneers, or any other Indian regiment.</p> +<p>"Well, I congratulate myself in having acquired an officer who +must, at any rate, understand a great deal of his work, and who can +talk to the men in their own language; instead of, as I expected, a +raw lad.</p> +<p>"How old are you, Mr. Bullen? You look very young."</p> +<p>"I am only a little past sixteen," Lisle said, with a laugh; +"but I don't suppose the War Office knew that. Colonel Kelly was +kind enough to send in a strong recommendation on my behalf; +stating, I believe, the fact, that I had disguised myself as a +private in order to go to Chitral with the regiment, and that, as +he was pleased to say, I distinguished myself. He at once appointed +me, temporarily, as an officer; and as such I remained with the +corps, until their return to Peshawar. He also, of course, +mentioned the fact that I am the son of Captain Bullen, who lost +his life in bravely attacking a hill fort. I don't think he thought +it necessary to mention my age."</p> +<p>"Well, you have certainly managed very cleverly, Mr. Bullen. I +am sure you will be an acquisition to the regiment. I think we can +say safely that you are the youngest officer in the service.</p> +<p>"Gentlemen, will you drink to the health of our new comrade, who +has already shown that he is of the right sort, and of whom we may +be proud?"</p> +<p>The next day the colonel received a letter from Colonel Kelly. +It ought to have arrived before Lisle himself, but had been delayed +by the post. It spoke in very high terms of his conduct, and then +said that he was a general favourite in the regiment, and that he +was sure that he would do credit to the corps he had joined.</p> +<p>The next year and a half passed quietly. Lisle was soon as much +liked, in his new regiment, as he had been by the Pioneers. The men +would have done anything for him, for he was always ready to chat +with them, to enter into their little grievances, and to do many a +kind action.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch6" id="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: Unfair Play.</h2> +<p>Five or six of the officers were married men, and had their +wives with them. These, when they learned that the young subaltern +had disguised himself, and enlisted in the Pioneers in order to go +up with them to the front, took a lively interest in him, and made +quite a pet of him. Two other regiments were at the station at the +time and, consequently, there was a good deal of gaiety in the way +of lawn tennis and croquet parties, small dinners and dances and, +after mess, billiards and whist. Lisle soon became an expert in the +former games, but he never touched either a billiard cue or a card, +though he was an interested spectator when others were playing.</p> +<p>Baccarat was very popular with the faster set. At this game play +sometimes ran high, and there was a captain in one of the other +regiments who scarcely ever sat down without winning. At the +beginning of the evening, when play was low, he generally lost; but +was certain to get back his losings, and sometimes a considerable +sum over, as the stakes rose higher. One of the lieutenants who was +a chum of Lisle's was particularly unlucky. He was of an excitable +disposition, and played high as the evening went on. Lisle noticed +that he often paid in chits, instead of money. This was not an +unusual custom, as officers are often short of cash, and settle up +when they receive their month's pay. Lisle frequently remonstrated +with his friend on the folly of his proceedings, and the young +fellow declared that he would retire from the table, if luck went +against him. But the mania was too strong for him.</p> +<p>"It is extraordinary what bad luck I have," he said, one day. "I +almost always win at the beginning of the evening; and then, when I +get thoroughly set, my winnings are swept away."</p> +<p>"Why don't you get up when you are a winner?"</p> +<p>"That would be very bad form, Bullen; a fellow who did that +would be considered a cad."</p> +<p>"I should strongly advise you to give it up, altogether."</p> +<p>Lisle observed with regret that his friend's spirits fell, and +that he became moody and irritable. One day, when he went into his +quarters, he found him sitting with a look of misery upon his +face.</p> +<p>"What is it, Gordon?" he asked. "I hope I am not in the +way?"</p> +<p>"Well, it has come to this," the young officer said. "I am at +the end of my tether. I shall have to leave the regiment."</p> +<p>"Nonsense!" Lisle replied.</p> +<p>"It is true. I owe a lot of money to that fellow Sanders. He has +bought up all my chits, and this is a note from him, saying that he +has waited two or three months, but must now request me to pay up +without further delay. Besides my pay, I have only eighteen hundred +pounds, that was left me by an old aunt; but that will barely cover +what I owe. Of course I can hold on on my pay; but the loss of so +much money will make a lot of difference, and I fear I shall have +to transfer. It is hard lines, because I am now pretty high on the +list of lieutenants; and shall, of course, have to go to the bottom +of the list.</p> +<p>"The only alternative would be to enlist in some white regiment +that has lately come out. There are plenty of gentlemen in the +ranks. I certainly see no other way."</p> +<p>"I had no idea it was so bad as that, Gordon. Surely there must +be some other way out of the difficulty. I could lend you a couple +of hundred pounds."</p> +<p>"Thank you, old fellow! But I am so deeply in debt that that +would make no difference."</p> +<p>"I am not sure that there is not something else to be done," +said Lisle. "While I sit watching the play, I can see more than the +players can; and since I have noticed that Sanders persistently +wins, directly the stakes get high, I have watched him very +closely, and am convinced that he does not play fair. It has struck +me that he withdraws the money on his cards when he sees that the +dealer has a strong hand, and adds to his stake when he considers +that the dealer is weak.</p> +<p>"Now my testimony as a youngster would go a very little way, if +unsupported against his; but if you will give me a solemn promise +that you will never play baccarat again, I will get two or three +fellows to watch him. Then, if we can prove that he plays unfairly, +of course you will be able to repudiate payment of the money he has +won of you."</p> +<p>"Good heaven! It would be the saving of me, and I will willingly +give you the promise you want. But you must surely be mistaken! +Sanders certainly has had wonderful luck, but I have never heard a +suggestion that he does not play fair. I only know that there is a +good deal of shyness about playing with him. You see, it is a +frightful thing to accuse a man of cheating."</p> +<p>"I admit that it is not pleasant; but if a man cheats, and is +found out, it is the duty of every honest man to denounce him, if +they detect him.</p> +<p>"Well, if you don't mind, I will take Lindsay, Holmes, and +Tritton into my confidence. They all play occasionally, and you +must let me mention that you are altogether in his power; and that, +unless he is detected, you will have to leave the regiment. Mind, +don't you watch him yourself. Play even more recklessly than usual; +that will make him a bit careless."</p> +<p>"Well, there is a possibility that you are right, Bullen, and if +you can but detect him, you will save me from frightful +disgrace."</p> +<p>"I will try, anyhow."</p> +<p>Bullen sent a note to the officers he had mentioned, asking them +to come to his quarters, as he particularly wished to speak to +them. In a quarter of an hour they joined him.</p> +<p>"Well, what is up, Bullen?" Tritton said. "What do you want with +us?"</p> +<p>"It is a serious business, Tritton. That fellow Sanders owns +chits of Gordon's to the amount of fifteen hundred pounds."</p> +<p>An exclamation of dismay broke from his hearers.</p> +<p>"Good heavens!" Tritton exclaimed, "how could he possibly have +lost so much as that? I know that the play has been high; but +still, even with the worst luck, a man could hardly lose so much as +that."</p> +<p>"I fancy that, after the party in the mess room has broken up, +several of them used to adjourn to Sanders' quarters; and it was +there that the great bulk of the money was lost."</p> +<p>"What a fool Gordon has been!" Lindsay said. "What a madman! +Such a good fellow, too!</p> +<p>"Well, of course, nothing can be done. If it were only a hundred +or two, the money would be subscribed at once; but fifteen hundred +is utterly beyond us. What is he thinking of doing?"</p> +<p>"Well, he has eighteen hundred pounds, and he talked of drawing +out the amount and paying up, and then exchanging into some other +regiment. The question, however, is, whether he ought to pay."</p> +<p>The others looked up at him in surprise.</p> +<p>"Why, of course he must pay," Tritton said; "at least he must +pay, or quit the service, a disgraced man."</p> +<p>"I think there is an alternative," Lisle said, "and that is why +I have sent for you."</p> +<p>"What alternative can there be?"</p> +<p>"Well, you know I don't play; but I like sitting watching the +game, and I am quite convinced that Sanders doesn't play fair."</p> +<p>"You don't say so!" Tritton said. "That is a very serious +accusation to make, you know, Bullen!"</p> +<p>"I am perfectly aware of that, and I feel that it would be mad +for me to make an unsupported accusation against Sanders. But I +want you three fellows to join me in watching Sanders play. My +word, unsupported, would be of no avail; but if four of us swore +that we saw him cheating, there could be no doubt about the +result.</p> +<p>"For one thing, Sanders would have to leave the army. That would +be no loss to the service, for he is an overbearing brute; to say +nothing of the fact that several young officers have had to leave +the service, owing to their losses at play with him."</p> +<p>"I know of two cases," Lindsay said. "There was a very strong +feeling against him, but no one suspected him of unfair play. It +was he who introduced baccarat here, when his regiment first came +up. It had never been played here before, and you may notice that +very few of his fellow officers ever take a hand.</p> +<p>"Well, there will be no harm in our watching. It is a thing that +one doesn't like doing but, when it comes to a fellow officer being +swindled, it is clearly our duty to expose the man who is doing +it."</p> +<p>"Very well, then, this evening two of us will take our stand +behind Gordon, and the other two behind Sanders."</p> +<p>"But how did he cheat? It seems a fair game enough."</p> +<p>"He does it in this way. He puts five sovereigns under his hand. +That is the limit, you know. Then he looks at his card, and pushes +it out. With his hand still touching it, he watches the dealer and, +if he can see by his face that his card is a good one--and you can +generally tell that--he withdraws his hand with four of the +sovereigns, leaving only one on the card. If, on the other hand, he +thinks it is a bad one, he leaves the whole five there. He does the +trick cleverly enough; but I am certain that I have, four or five +times, seen him do it.</p> +<p>"Keep your eyes on his hand. You will see that he takes up five +sovereigns from the heap before him, and that he has them in his +hand when he pushes the card out. You will notice how he fixes his +eye upon the dealer, and that he leaves either one or five, as I +have said. He does it, at times, all through the evening, +especially when Gordon is dealing; for I can tell, myself, by +Gordon's face whether he has a good or a bad card. Of course, he +can see it, too.</p> +<p>"I want you all to nod to me, when you see it done. We shall let +him do it two or three times, so that we can all swear to it."</p> +<p>All agreed to do so, and Lisle then went to Gordon's +quarter's.</p> +<p>"Tritton, Lindsay, and Holmes are going to watch with me +tonight. I think the best thing will be for you to answer Sanders' +note, and tell him that you will require time to draw your money +from England to pay him; but that you will play again tonight, to +see if luck turns."</p> +<p>That evening the four young officers took their places, as +arranged. Now that their attention had been directed to it, they +saw that several times Sanders, although he took up five pounds, +only left one on the card; and that he kept his hand upon it, up to +the last moment. Each in turn nodded to Lisle.</p> +<p>All noticed how intently Sanders watched the dealer. Generally +he left two sovereigns on the card, apparently when the dealer had +a moderate card; but when he had a very low or a very high one, the +trick was played. After fully satisfying himself that he had good +proofs, just as Sanders was again withdrawing his hand with four +sovereigns in it, Lisle threw himself forward, jerked the hand +upwards, and showed the four sovereigns lying under it.</p> +<p>"I accuse Captain Sanders of cheating. I have seen him do this +trick half a dozen times."</p> +<p>Sanders shook himself free, and aimed a heavy blow at Lisle; +who, however, stepped aside and, before he could repeat it, he was +seized by the officers standing round. A tremendous hubbub arose, +in the midst of which the colonel entered the room.</p> +<p>"What is all this about?" he enquired.</p> +<p>The din subsided at once, and two or three officers said:</p> +<p>"Bullen accused Captain Sanders of cheating."</p> +<p>"This is a very serious accusation, Bullen," the colonel said +sternly, "and unless you can substantiate it, may be of very +serious consequences to yourself. Will you tell me what you +saw?"</p> +<p>Lisle related the circumstances, and how the fraud was +accomplished.</p> +<p>"You mean to say that, by watching the dealer's eye, Captain +Sanders leaves one pound or five on his card?"</p> +<p>"That is what I said, sir. I have seen him do it on several +nights. Tonight I determined to expose him, and Tritton, Lindsay, +and Holmes have been watching him with me. I was induced to do so +by the fact that the man has rooked Lieutenant Gordon of something +like fifteen hundred pounds, for which he holds his chits."</p> +<p>"Mr. Tritton, you hear what Mr. Bullen says. Have you also +observed the act of cheating of which he accuses Captain +Sanders?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir; I have seen him do it several times this evening. I +believe he has done it more, but I am prepared to swear to seven +times."</p> +<p>The colonel looked at Lindsay, who said:</p> +<p>"I have seen suspicious movements eleven times, but I should not +like to swear to more than four."</p> +<p>"And you, Mr. Holmes?"</p> +<p>"I can swear to five times, but I believe he did it much oftener +than that."</p> +<p>"What have you to say, Captain Sanders?"</p> +<p>"I say it is a conspiracy on the part of these four young +officers to ruin me. It is a lie from beginning to end."</p> +<p>"I am afraid, Captain Sanders, that you will find it very +difficult to persuade anyone that four officers, who as far as I +know have no ill feeling against you, should conspire to bring such +a charge. However, I shall report the matter to your colonel, +tomorrow, with a written statement from these four officers of what +they saw. He will, of course, take such steps in the matter as he +thinks fit."</p> +<p>Without a word, Sanders turned on his heel and left the room, +followed by the angry glances of all who were present.</p> +<p>"Mr. Bullen, you have behaved with great discretion," the +colonel said, "in not making a charge on your first impression, but +getting three other officers to watch that man's behaviour. +Tomorrow I shall hold a court of enquiry, at which the major, the +adjutant, and two other officers will sit with me. You will all, of +course, be called, and will have to repeat your story in full.</p> +<p>"Lieutenant Gordon, I am shocked to hear that an officer of my +regiment should gamble to such an extent as you have done. You +will, of course, be called tomorrow. I think that, at the best, you +will be advised to change into another regiment. I need not say +that, after this exposure, the chits that you have given to Captain +Sanders become null and void.</p> +<p>"This room will be closed for the rest of the evening."</p> +<p>The officers, however, gathered in the room below, and talked +the matter over. There was not a whisper of regret at the disgrace +that had fallen upon Sanders. His reputation was a bad one. Since +his regiment had been in India one young officer had shot himself, +and three had been obliged to leave the army, and in all cases it +was known that these had lost large sums to him; but the matter had +been hushed up, as such scandals generally are in the army. Still, +the truth had been whispered about, and it was because none of the +officers in his regiment would play with him that he had come +habitually to the mess of the Pioneers; by which, his own regiment +having been quartered in southern India until six months +previously, nothing was known of his antecedents.</p> +<p>"We shall all have to be very careful, when you are looking on +at our play, Bullen," one said, laughing. "I hadn't given you +credit for having such sharp eyes; and certainly Sanders did not, +either, or he would never have tried his games on, while you were +standing watching him."</p> +<p>"I was not playing, you see," Lisle said, "and the players do +not trouble about onlookers, but keep their attention directed to +the dealer. Standing there evening after evening, it was really +easy to see what he was doing; for he, too, kept his attention +fixed on the dealer, and paid no heed to us who were looking on. He +occasionally did look up at us, but evidently he concluded that we +were only innocent spectators. When my suspicions were aroused, +there was really no difficulty in detecting him."</p> +<p>"How was it that you did not interfere before?"</p> +<p>"Because it was only my word against that of Sanders, and it was +only after Gordon told me how much he was in debt to the man; and +that the latter had, that morning, written to him calling upon him +to pay up, that I saw that something must be done. So I asked +Tritton, Lindsay, and Holmes to watch him closely this evening, +along with me."</p> +<p>"Well, I hope Gordon won't have to go," the other said. "He is +an awfully good fellow, though he has made an abject ass of +himself."</p> +<p>"Don't you think, Prosser, that if we were all to sign a +petition to the colonel, to ask him to overlook the matter, as +Gordon has received a lesson that will certainly last his lifetime, +he might do so."</p> +<p>"It depends upon how much the matter becomes public. Of course, +there must be a court of enquiry in the other regiment; and if, as +is certain, a report is sent to the commander-in-chief, Sanders +will be cashiered; and I should fancy that Gordon would be called +upon to resign. Of course, you four and Gordon will have to give +evidence before the commission. It depends, of course, how his +colonel takes it; but it is certain that Sanders will have to go, +and I fear Gordon will, too. I expect our colonel will get a +wigging for allowing high play; though, as you say, the greater +part of the money was lost in private play, in Sanders' room.</p> +<p>"Anyhow, it will be a somewhat ugly thing for the regiment in +general, and we shall get the nickname of 'the gamblers' throughout +the army."</p> +<p>The next morning, at eight o'clock, the little committee met. +The four young officers gave their evidence, which was put on paper +in duplicate and signed by them, a copy being sent to the colonel +of Sanders' regiment. In a short time that officer was seen to go +into the colonel's tent and, half an hour later, he came out again +and went away. A few minutes after he had left, the four officers +were summoned.</p> +<p>"I hope," the colonel said, "that we have heard the last of this +most unpleasant business. His colonel tells me that this morning, +as soon as he turned out, Sanders called upon him and said that he +had to go to England, on urgent family business; and that, on his +arrival there, he should send in his papers and retire. He gave him +leave to go at once, and Sanders disposed of his horse and traps, +and started by the eight o'clock train for Calcutta. In these +circumstances we have decided, for the credit of both regiments, +that the matter shall be held over. If, as is morally certain, he +leaves the army, nothing more need be said about it. Of course, if +he should return, it will be brought up.</p> +<p>"I should say, however, that there is no chance whatever of +that. I beg of you to impress upon the officers of the regiment; +which, indeed, I shall myself do at mess, to make no allusion +whatever, outside the regiment, to what has occurred. The less said +about it, the better. If it were at all known, and got to the ears +of the commander-in-chief--and you know how gossip of this kind +spreads--both his colonel and myself would get a severe wigging, +for not sending in a report of it. In that case a committee would +be appointed to go into the whole matter and, as a result, the +regiment would probably be sent to the worst possible cantonment +they could find for us, and Gordon would be called upon to retire. +I will therefore ask you to give me your word that the matter shall +not be alluded to, outside the regiment. There is no fear of any of +Sanders' regiment hearing anything about it, as none of them were +present last night.</p> +<p>"Upon further consideration, I think that it would be better to +summon all the officers of the regiment, at once, and to impress +upon them the necessity for keeping silence on the matter."</p> +<p>Five minutes later the officers' call sounded and, when all were +assembled in the anteroom, the colonel repeated to them what he had +said to Lisle and his companions; and obtained an undertaking from +them, individually, that they would maintain an absolute silence on +the matter.</p> +<p>The affair greatly added to the estimation in which Lisle was +held in the regiment. His quickness in detecting the swindle, and +the steps he had taken to obtain proof of his suspicions, showed +that he possessed other qualities besides pluck and +determination.</p> +<p>It is to be feared that some, at least, of the married officers +either did not regard the promise of silence as affecting their +wives, or had told them what had taken place before they were +requested to abstain from alluding to it; for three or four of the +ladies made sly allusions, when talking to Lisle, which showed that +they were cognizant of what had taken place.</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Bullen," one of them said, "I have up till now +regarded you as little more than a boy, in spite of your pluck in +going up as a native soldier to Chitral. Now I shall hold you in +much higher respect, and shall regard you as a young man with an +exceptionally sharp eye, and exceptionally keen discernment."</p> +<p>"I don't think I quite understand you, Mrs. Merritt," Lisle said +innocently.</p> +<p>"It is all very well for you to put on that air of ignorance. +You don't suppose that married men can keep matters like this from +their wives? I can tell you we all admire, very much, the manner in +which you saved Lieutenant Gordon from having to leave the service. +He is a favourite with us all and, though he seems to have made a +great fool of himself, we should all be sorry if he had had to +leave us."</p> +<p>"Well, you see, Mrs. Merritt, I am not a married man--"</p> +<p>"I should think not," the lady laughed.</p> +<p>"And do not know how much married men feel themselves bound to +keep secrets from their wives; and I can therefore neither confess +nor deny that I took any part in the incident to which you are +referring."</p> +<p>"You silly boy! Don't you see that I know all about it, and that +it is ridiculous for you to pretend to misunderstand me?"</p> +<p>"I do not pretend, Mrs. Merritt. I only know that I have given +my promise that I will keep absolute silence on the matter, and +that no exception was made as to the ladies of the regiment. That, +of course, lies between them and their husbands."</p> +<p>"Well, whether that is so or not, Mr. Bullen, I can tell you +that the affair has very greatly raised you in our esteem. We all +liked you before; but we really did regard you only as a young +officer who had proved that he possessed an uncommon amount of +pluck and determination. In future, we shall regard you as a +gentleman who was ready to take no inconsiderable risk on behalf of +a fellow officer."</p> +<p>"Thank you, Mrs. Merritt! I can assure you that I do not feel a +bit more of a man than I did before; but I feel happy in having +gained the good opinion of the ladies of the regiment."</p> +<p>After this, Lisle came to be regarded as the special pet of the +ladies of the regiment. Among the officers he became a very general +favourite, and his popularity was increased by the fact that he was +not only one of the best shots, but one of their best cricketers; +and several times did efficient service, by his bowling, in the +matches between the regiment and the others cantoned with them.</p> +<p>Then came the news that the tribes had risen, that the Malakand +had been attacked, that Chakdara, the fortified post on the Swat +river, was invested, and that the tribes on this side of the +Panjkora were in revolt. This, however, was soon followed by a +report that the post had been relieved, that heavy losses had been +inflicted upon the tribesmen, and that the trouble was over.</p> +<p>For some time the frontier had been in a state of tension. The +Mullahs, or priests, had been inciting the tribesmen to +insurrection; and one especially, who was called the Mad Mullah, +had gone about from tribe to tribe, stirring the people up. He +professed to be a successor of the great Akhund of Swat, and to +have inherited his powers. He claimed to be able to work miracles. +The Heavenly host were, he said, on his side.</p> +<p>His excited appeals, to the fanaticism which exists in every +Pathan, were responded to in a marvellous manner. The villagers +flew to arms. Still, it was thought and hoped that, when the first +excitement caused by his appeals had died away, matters would calm +down again. The hope, however, was short lived for, before long, +the startling news came that the Mohmunds, a tribe whose territory +lay near Peshawar, were in revolt; and that Shabkadr, a village +within our frontier, had been raided and destroyed.</p> +<p>Within the next few days the Samana was invested, and the Khyber +Pass was in the hands of the Afridis. The Peshawar movable column, +of four guns, two squadrons of native horse, and the 20th Punjabi +regiment, with a few companies of the Somersets, were sent out to +Shabkadr. On arriving there they found that the bazaar had been +burnt, and that the enemy had taken up a position facing the fort, +about a mile and a half distant.</p> +<p>The cavalry skirted the cultivated ground between the force and +the plateau, and pushed the enemy backward, with severe loss, into +the low hills that skirt the border. Next morning the enemy were +seen in possession of the lower hill, and the force moved out to +attack them. They were found to be in great strength, numbering +nearly seven thousand. Leaving a strong force to face the column, +flanking parties came down concealed by the low hills.</p> +<a id="PicC" name="PicC"></a> +<center><img src="images/c.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: They charged the attacking force from end to end." /> +</center> +<p>The infantry retired in two sections, but the artillery came +into action. The cavalry made their way up one of the ravines and, +when they got within charging distance, they went at the enemy at a +gallop. Taking the entire length of the plateau, about a mile and a +half, they charged the attacking force from end to end; and drove +them, demoralized, into the hills. The severity of the morning's +fighting may be judged from the fact that sixty percent of the +force engaged suffered casualties.</p> +<p>From that time, until it was determined to send an expedition +into the Mohmund country, the force remained as a corps of +observation. A force drawn chiefly from the Peshawar garrison was +speedily got together and, on 11th September, had concentrated at +or about Shabkadr fort; a general advance having been arranged for, +on the 15th of the month.</p> +<p>In the meantime, more serious troubles had arisen with the +Zakka-Khels. This tribe was the most powerful of the Pathans. They +were at all times troublesome, and frequently made raids across the +frontier, carrying off large quantities of cattle; and living, +indeed, entirely upon plunder. The Zakhels and the Kukukbels had +joined them, as well as several other smaller tribes. They believed +that they could do this with impunity, for no Englishman had ever +visited their wild country, with its tremendous gorges and passes. +A large proportion of them were furnished with Martini and +Lee-Metford rifles, and many of the others carried Sniders.</p> +<p>To operate against such formidable enemies, possessing almost +impregnable positions, a large force was needed; and time was +required to collect the troops. Still more, an enormous train of +baggage animals would be required, and a vast amount of stores of +all kinds.</p> +<p>It was clear that the time that would be occupied in the +preparations of the campaign would be very considerable; but, while +these were being made, it was determined that the expedition from +Peshawar should move, at once, into the Mohmund country, and finish +with that tribe before the main operation began; and that the +Malakand division, and the Mohmund field force should carry out the +work of punishment, in the stretch of country lying between Lalpura +and the Swat River.</p> +<p>It was known that Chakdara was holding out, but that it was +hardly pressed, and the first step was to relieve the garrison. +Colonel Meiklejohn pushed forward, with a comparatively small +force, and arrived at the Malakand on the 1st of August. The +reinforcement that had reached that garrison had enabled them to +take the offensive, and orders were issued for a strong cavalry +reconnaissance to the Amandara valley, five miles away. They found +the enemy in such force that the cavalry were obliged to retire, +and they effected their retreat with great difficulty, under a very +heavy fire. As the path was narrow, cavalry could only proceed in +single file, exposed the while to the fire of the enemy.</p> +<p>Sir Bindon Blood arrived, that evening, to take the command. The +main body were to move down the road; while a force under Colonel +Goldney advanced up the hill to the right, and turned the enemy's +flank. Colonel Goldney's attack was perfectly successful. The enemy +were taken completely unawares, and entirely routed. The march of +the main column, therefore, met with no opposition for some +distance; then the enemy opened fire, from among the rocks on the +hills.</p> +<p>A party of the Guides and the 45th Sikhs were ordered to take +the position, at the point of the bayonet. The enemy, however, +stuck to their position until they were bayoneted, or driven over +the rocks. The 34th and 55th Sikhs stormed some sangars on the left +and, pushing their way pluckily up the steep slopes, slowly gained +the heights, step by step and, in spite of the hot fire and the +showers of rocks and stones, drove the enemy out of their +strongholds. On this the tribesmen lost heart and fled, hotly +pursued by the cavalry, who cut them up in great numbers.</p> +<p>During the fighting at the Malakand, previous to the arrival of +the relief, our casualties were one hundred and seventy-three +killed and wounded, including thirteen British officers and seven +natives. The siege of the small fort of Chakdara had been a severe +one. The garrison consisted of two companies of the 45th Sikhs, +with cavalry. On the evening of the 26th they were attacked, but +repulsed their assailants with loss. Next morning Captain Wright, +with a company of forty troopers, arrived from the Malakand, having +run the gauntlet of large parties of the enemy. The whole of the +day was spent in repelling rushes of the enemy and, for the next +few days, Wright's garrison were unable to leave their posts.</p> +<p>On the 29th the enemy attacked the tower and endeavoured to burn +it down; but were again repulsed, with heavy loss.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch7" id="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: Tales Of War.</h2> +<p>As soon as it became evident that the Afridis were up, and that +there would be stern fighting, the conversation in the mess room +naturally turned on past expeditions against the wild tribesmen. +Two or three of the officers had exchanged into the regiment, when +their own went home. Having been two or three years on the +frontier, they had many tales of hill fighting to tell; and these +were eagerly listened to by all the younger officers, as they felt +certain that they too would, ere long, be taking part in such +struggles.</p> +<p>"A fine instance of defence," one of the junior captains said, +"was that of Thobal in 1891. As you all know, I am a ranker, and I +received my commission for that business. I was with a mere handful +of men, thirty Ghoorkhas and fifty rifles of the 12th Burmah +Infantry. We were commanded by Lieutenant Grant. I was with him as +quartermaster sergeant, and general assistant. The Ghoorkhas had +sixty rounds per man for their Martini rifles, the Burmah men one +hundred and sixty rounds per man for their Sniders. They were a +pretty rough lot, only twenty of them being old soldiers, the rest +recruits.</p> +<p>"One morning we received news that Mr. Quintin with four civil +officers, and an escort of seven British officers and four hundred +and fifty-four Ghoorkhas, who had gone up to Manipur, had been +massacred. Happily the news was exaggerated, but a treacherous +attack was made upon the party, and Mr. Quintin and many others +killed. Grant thought that this was probably the case, and +determined to push on with his little force, in the hope of +rescuing some survivors.</p> +<p>"The distance from Tamu to Manipur is about fifty-five miles. We +started at half-past five, on the morning of the 28th. The +difficulties were so great that we only moved at the rate of a mile +an hour. At two in the morning we started again, and marched about +ten miles; in the course of which we were occasionally fired at by +the enemy. The moon rose at eleven, and the advance was +continued.</p> +<p>"The resistance now became severe. The telegraph wires had been +cut, taken down from the poles, and twisted about the road; and +trees had also been felled across it. While we were endeavouring to +clear away the obstacles, a heavy fire was poured into us. Small +parties were therefore sent out to disperse the enemy, and this +they did most successfully, capturing three guns and a good deal of +ammunition.</p> +<p>"Pushing on, we issued, at six in the morning, on the hills. +Before us was the village of Palel, which was garrisoned by two +hundred Manipur soldiers. You must remember that Manipur had been a +sort of subsidiary state, and had a regular army, drilled by +Europeans. However, Grant attacked them at once, and drove them out +with loss.</p> +<p>"After halting at Palel for some hours a start was made, at +eleven o'clock at night; and at daybreak we came upon some +villages, each house in which was standing alone in a large +enclosure, surrounded by a wall, ditch, and hedge. We went at them +and carried them, one by one, without any great loss to ourselves. +Issuing on the other side, we came upon a plain about a thousand +yards across. Beyond this was a bridge, on fire. The enemy were +strongly posted in trenches and behind hedges.</p> +<p>"Grant decided to attack, and to try and save the bridge. He +advanced across the plain with two sections of ten men each, +supported by another section of the same strength. The rest of his +force, consisting of forty men, he kept in reserve.</p> +<p>"I own that it seemed to me a desperately risky thing; for, from +what we could see, we judged that the enemy were about a thousand +strong. Grant himself led the party, and he put me in charge of the +reserve. A very heavy fire was opened by the enemy; but Grant and +his men steadily advanced, and succeeded in getting within a +hundred yards of the enemy. Here I came up with him; and we dashed +into the river, carried the enemy's trenches at the point of the +bayonet, and hunted them out, from enclosure to enclosure, till +they all drew off.</p> +<p>"By the side of the bridge was the village of Thobal; and as, +with so small a force, it was impossible to advance against the +overwhelming numbers that would meet us before we got to Manipur, +fifteen miles away, Grant determined to hold Thobal; where he +could, he thought, defend himself, and afford refuge to any who had +escaped the massacre. As soon as the enemy had retired, we all set +to work to prepare a defensive position; by setting fire to the +crops, so as to prevent the enemy from creeping up unseen, and by +making an abattis.</p> +<p>"The night passed off quietly. At six in the morning the enemy +were seen advancing in force, but Lieutenant Grant sent out thirty +men to the farthest wall of the village, some four hundred yards in +advance of the enclosure; and their fire checked the enemy, and +forced them to retire. At three in the afternoon the enemy advanced +in great force, their line being over a mile long. Grant again +occupied the front wall, and held his fire till the enemy reached a +point which had been carefully marked as being six hundred yards +away. Fire was then opened, the muskets being sighted for this +known range. The tribesmen fell in great numbers, and drew back +under the protection of their artillery, who now opened fire at a +range of about a thousand yards. In half an hour they were +completely silenced.</p> +<p>"They then withdrew to another hill, five hundred yards farther +off but, even at this range, we got at them with our Martinis, and +they soon began firing wildly. The infantry advanced several times, +but were always driven back as soon as they reached the +six-hundred-yards limit.</p> +<p>"It was now becoming dark, and the enemy were working round on +our flank. We therefore fell back on the entrenched position and, +though the enemy kept up a heavy fire till two in the morning, +ammunition was too scanty to allow us to waste a cartridge, and no +reply was made. At three we set to work to strengthen the defences, +using baskets filled with earth and sacks filled with sand, as well +as adding to the abattis.</p> +<p>"In the course of the day the enemy sent in a flag of truce, +offering to allow us to retreat. This Grant refused to do, till all +prisoners still in the hands of the Manipuris were delivered over +to him. In order to deceive the enemy as to his strength, Grant put +on a colonel's badge and uniform and, in his communications with +the enemy, spoke and behaved as if he had the whole regiment under +his command in the village. The enemy were undoubtedly misled, and +wasted three days in negotiations.</p> +<p>"Then fighting recommenced and, at daybreak, the enemy made a +determined attack upon the advance, with artillery. By eight +o'clock they had pushed the attack home, and passed the line of +walls and hedges a hundred yards from our position. The situation +was growing serious when, leaving me in command, Grant went out +with ten Ghoorkhas, crept along unobserved to the end of one of the +walls and, turning this, made a sudden attack upon the enemy from +behind. Taken wholly by surprise they fled, leaving six or seven +dead behind them.</p> +<p>"At eleven o'clock they were again pressing hotly and, +encouraged by the success of his first sortie, Grant determined to +make another. This time he took me with him. With six Ghoorkhas he +had driven the enemy from one hedge, when he discovered a party of +about sixty men behind a wall, twenty yards distant.</p> +<p>"'Now, my lads,' he said, 'we have got to run the gauntlet, but +you need not be afraid of their fire. Seeing us so close to them, +it is sure to be wild.'</p> +<p>"Then, with a cheer, we dashed across the open. The enemy blazed +at us, but their fire was wild and confused; and we were among them +before they could reload, killing a dozen, and sending the rest to +the right about, many of them wounded.</p> +<p>"On returning to the camp, we found that there were only fifty +rounds left for the Snider rifles, and thirty rounds each for the +Martinis. Strict orders were therefore given that no one was to +fire till the enemy were within close range. However, there was no +doubt that the fight was all taken out of them, by the spirit with +which those two little sorties had been made. They kept up a steady +fire till nightfall, but took good care not to show themselves; and +they retired, as soon as they could do so, in the darkness.</p> +<p>"That was really the end of the fighting. Three days passed, and +then a letter arrived from the officer in command of the +expedition, ordering him to fall back to Tamu, whence a detachment +had been despatched to meet him. This order had fallen into the +hands of the enemy. They no doubt informed themselves of its +contents, and were so utterly glad to get rid of us, without +further loss, that they gladly sent it in to us. That night there +was a heavy thunderstorm, with a tremendous downpour of rain, and +under cover of it we withdrew quietly, and before long were met by +the relieving force."</p> +<p>"That was a splendid resistance."</p> +<p>"Magnificent! You certainly earned your commission well, +Towers.</p> +<p>"Now, Major, let us hear the story of the battle of Ahmed Kheyl, +where you met the fanatics in force. I doubt whether the Afridis +will fight in the same way; but they may and, at any rate, the +story will be instructive."</p> +<p>"Well, it is seventeen years ago, now," the major said, "and I +was a junior lieutenant. I was, as you all know, marching from +Kandahar to Kabul under Sir Donald Stewart; and at Ahmed Kheyl, +twenty-three miles south of Ghuzni, we met the Afghans in force, +estimated at fifteen thousand foot and a thousand horse. For +several days we had known that they were in the neighbourhood. +Their cavalry scouts could be seen marching parallel to us, about +eight miles away, on the right flank.</p> +<p>"On the 19th of April we marched at daybreak. The advance guard +consisted of seven hundred rifles, seven hundred and fifty cavalry, +and six guns; the main body of somewhat over a thousand rifles, +three hundred and forty-nine sabres, and ten guns; then came the +trains and hospitals, guarded by strong detachments on each flank; +while the rear guard was fourteen hundred infantry, three hundred +and sixteen cavalry, and six mountain guns. The length of the +column was about six miles.</p> +<p>"Its head had marched about seven miles, when the cavalry in +advance caught sight of the enemy, in position, three miles ahead. +Preparations were made for receiving an attack and, at eight +o'clock, the march was resumed. Half a squadron of Bengal Lancers +were sent to cover the left front of the infantry brigade, which +was now close to a range of low hills that ran parallel to the line +of march for some distance, then made a bend to the east. The enemy +were seen in position, covering the point of passage through the +hills, and also upon the hills flanking the road by which the +division would advance.</p> +<p>"When within a mile and a half of the enemy, two batteries moved +out and took up positions to shell them in front; while the +infantry deployed, the line on the left facing the enemy on the +hills. The 2nd Punjab Cavalry were on the right of the guns, whose +escort consisted of a squadron of 19th Bengal Lancers, and a +company of Punjab Infantry.</p> +<p>"It was the general's intention to advance to the attack but, at +nine o'clock, before his dispositions were completed, the whole +crest of the hills held by the enemy seemed to be swarming with +men. Scarcely had the guns opened fire, when the enemy swept down +from the hills, in successive lines of swordsmen, stretching out +far beyond either flank of our force. At the same time a large body +of horse rode along the hills, threatening the left flank.</p> +<p>"As the swordsmen swept down on the infantry and guns, the +Afghan horse came out of two ravines, and charged the Bengal +Lancers before they could acquire sufficient speed to meet them +fairly. The Lancers were forced back, disorganizing the 3rd +Ghoorkhas, who composed the left battalion of the line. The colonel +of the Ghoorkhas threw his men into company squares, and they stood +their ground; but the Lancers could not be rallied until they had +swept along almost the whole rear of the infantry.</p> +<p>"In the meantime the swordsmen on foot swept down with fanatical +fury, and it became necessary to bring up the whole reserve into +the fighting line. The two batteries of artillery on the right were +now firing grape shot, at close range, into the mass of Afghans; +but neither this, nor the fire of the infantry supporting them, +could check the advance of the enemy. The batteries, having used up +all their case shot, were compelled to retire two hundred yards; +and the right of the infantry line was also forced back.</p> +<p>"The situation at this moment was horribly critical: both our +flanks were turned, and the troops were a good deal shaken by the +suddenness and fierceness of the attack. The enemy's horsemen, +however, pushing round to the left flank, were checked by the +firmness of the 3rd Ghoorkhas--who stood their ground bravely--and +by the fire of the batteries on that flank. On the right the 2nd +Punjab Cavalry charged and drove back the enemy, thus giving time +for the two batteries to take up their fresh position, and again +come into action.</p> +<p>"The infantry on the right also recovered from the confusion +into which they had been temporarily thrown, and poured a withering +fire into the Afghans. In the centre the 2nd Sikhs maintained, +through out the fight, a steady and unyielding front. The steady +and well-directed fire of the whole line, aided by the batteries, +was creating terrible havoc among the enemy and, after an hour's +gallant and strenuous exertion on both our flanks, their efforts +began to slacken and, before long, the whole of them were in +flight, leaving a thousand dead and wounded on the ground.</p> +<p>"It was calculated that they had at least two thousand +casualties, while our own loss amounted to only one hundred and +forty-one. They were not pursued, as the cavalry were required to +guard the baggage."</p> +<p>"It was a grand fight, Major," the colonel said; "but you were +at Maiwand also, were you not?"</p> +<p>"Yes; and it would be hard to find a greater contrast to the +fight I have just described. The two British forces were attacked +under almost precisely similar circumstances. One was splendidly +commanded; and the other, it must be confessed, was badly led.</p> +<p>"There was a good deal against us. The day was in July, and +terribly hot and, at every step the troops took, they found the +power of the sun increasing, until the heat became intense. A +solitary traveller, in such circumstances, would make but poor +travelling; and of course it was vastly worse for troops, advancing +heavily laden and formed in column. The 66th Foot had had tea, and +a light breakfast before starting; but the native troops had had +nothing to eat since the night before. One regiment, indeed, had no +water; but the others had managed to fill their canteens during the +halt at half-past nine.</p> +<p>"The brigade, at the end of the march, were again ordered to +change front. The Grenadiers, which was a pivot regiment, did not +slacken their pace and, consequently, the centre were greatly +exhausted in trying to keep up with it, and were certainly in no +condition to take part in the battle at midday.</p> +<p>"The whole thing was a hideous mistake. General Burrows had +brought his line into such a position that behind him lay a great +nullah and, during the course of the battle, the enemy were enabled +to bring guns up to within five hundred yards on front and flank. +It was a ghastly day. Both flanks were driven back, and the line +became bent into the form of a horseshoe. The two cavalry +regiments, whose support should have been invaluable, behaved badly +and, early in the fight, left the field.</p> +<p>"After the first line gave way, everything went badly. Some of +the troops stood and died on the ground they held, others soon +became a mob of fugitives. The loss, as long as they held their +positions, was comparatively slight; but the grand total mounted +up, during the retreat.</p> +<p>"It was a hideous business, and one that I do not like to +recall. Men staggered along, overpowered by heat and thirst; +falling, in many cases without resistance, under the sabre of the +pursuing enemy. Had these fought properly, it is probable that not +a single man, except the cowardly cavalry, would have reached +Kandahar to tell the tale."</p> +<p>"Thank you, Major. You were also, I believe, in two or three +dashing affairs before Maiwand?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Colonel. Certainly one of the most successful was that +which Cavagnari, who was afterwards murdered at Kabul, made. It was +not much of an affair, but it shows what can be done with dash.</p> +<p>"In 1877 we were making a canal, to tap the Swat river at a +point where it enters British territory. Naturally, the Swat +villagers on the other side of the frontier considered that the +operation was a deep-laid plot for injuring them; and it was at the +village of Sappri that the chief went down, with a number of +desperate men, and murdered all the coolies engaged in the work. +Cavagnari issued orders that the chief must pay a heavy fine, in +money and cattle; and that the actual murderers must be tried for +their crime. The Khan, however, took no notice of the demand.</p> +<p>"Forty miles southeast of Sappri was the British cantonment of +Murdan, where the corps of Guides is permanently quartered. The +greater portion of these were, however, absent on another +expedition; and there remained available a few squadrons of +cavalry, and eleven companies of infantry.</p> +<p>"Cavagnari kept his plans a profound secret. He did not even +give the slightest hint of his intentions to their commanding +officer, Captain Wigram Battye. So well, indeed, was the secret +kept, that the officers were playing a game at racket when they +were called upon to start. The first intimation that the men had of +the movement was the serving out of ball cartridge, when the gates +of the fort were closed in the evening. The old soldiers were well +aware that this meant that fighting was at hand; and they gave a +great shout, which was the first intimation to the officers that +something was on foot. We were as glad as the men.</p> +<p>"Mules had been got in readiness, and the small detachment set +off on its long night march. The mules were picked animals and in +good condition, and were able to keep up with the men. After +covering thirty-two miles in seven hours, we halted at the frontier +fort of Abazai, seven miles south of Sappri.</p> +<p>"Beyond this point the country was impracticable for cavalry; +and the force, now consisting of two hundred and twelve men, +dismounted and marched forward on foot. After seven miles of severe +toil, they arrived in the vicinity of the hostile village; and +Captain Battye placed his men on the surrounding high ground, so as +to completely command the place, and cut off all retreat. His +disposition had been completed without arousing the enemy and, in a +short time, day broke.</p> +<p>"Cavagnari immediately sent in a demand, to the Khan, to +surrender the outlaws and pay the fine. The Khan refused to comply +with the terms. There was a short but desperate fight, in which the +Guides were victorious, the Khan and many of his leading men were +killed, and the village captured. The fine was then exacted, and +the troops marched back to Fort Abazai.</p> +<p>"This was a fine example of a punitive expedition thoroughly +well managed. The movements were made with secrecy and rapidity. +Horses, men, and mules were all in readiness. The cavalry were, on +an emergency, prepared to perform the role of infantry; while the +little party of infantry were ready to ride thirty miles, on mules, +with the cavalry. In this raid the Guides covered forty-eight +miles, without a halt; but the perfect success that attended the +expedition is not often attained, especially when, as in this case, +the force is unprovided with guns. Two or three little mountain +guns make all the difference in expeditions of this kind for, +though the Afridis will stand musketry fire pluckily enough, they +begin to flinch as soon as guns, however small, open upon them.</p> +<p>"There is no more awkward business than an attack upon hill +forts that are well held, for some of them are really formidable. I +was present at the storming of Nilt fort, and the fight near +Chillas--both of them awkward affairs--and in the fight at +Malandrai. There had, for some time, been a state of hostilities +between Malandrai, two miles across the border, and Rustam on our +side of it. Information was received that several of the most +important of the enemy's raiders, and a considerable number of +cattle would, on a certain night, be at Malandrai; and it was +arranged that two companies of Guides should start in the afternoon +for Rustam, twenty-five miles distant, which they would reach after +dark. At this place they were to take a short rest, and were then +to follow the difficult tracks through the hills, and appear on a +commanding spur in the rear of the village, at dawn. The frontal +attack was to be made by six companies, who were to arrive before +the bridge in the small hours of the morning. A squadron of Bengal +cavalry were to move independently, and to cut off any of the enemy +who might escape from the frontal attack.</p> +<p>"The turning party arrived after a march of eighteen hours, +through a terribly rough country. The main body, unfortunately, +miscalculated their distance and, instead of halting in the gorge +leading to the village, in which it was known that pickets had been +placed, they came suddenly upon the enemy's outposts. These fired a +volley, killing the colonel and some of the men. The surprise, +therefore, as a surprise failed; but an attack was made in the +morning, the village taken, and the turning party extricated from +its dangerous position. That is a good example of the difficulty of +attacking a hill fort.</p> +<p>"Another instance is the attack upon Nilt fort. The place was +one of great natural strength; the fort, which was a large one, +faced the junction of three precipitous cliffs, several hundred +feet high, where a great ravine runs into the Hunza river. Owing to +the nature of the ground, the fort could not be seen till the force +was within three hundred yards of it; and fire could not be +properly opened upon it until within two hundred and fifty +yards.</p> +<p>"The walls of the fort were of solid stone, cemented by mud, and +strengthened by strong timbers. They were fourteen feet in height, +and eight feet in thickness; and were surmounted by flanking towers +and battlements, which afforded the defenders a perfect cover. In +front of the main gate was a loopholed wall, completely hiding the +gateway; and in front of this again was a very deep ditch, filled +with abattis; while a broad band of abattis filled the space +between the ditch, and a precipitous spur from the adjacent +mountain. This spur was, unfortunately, inaccessible for guns and, +though our infantry mounted it, their fire had no effect upon the +enemy, sheltered as they were behind their battlements.</p> +<p>"It was therefore necessary to make a direct attack, and storm +the fort on a front of only sixty yards. After a vain attempt to +make some impression on the forts with mountain guns, the order was +given to advance; and the Ghoorkhas, two hundred strong, and a +company of sappers dashed forward into the ravine facing the west +wall. A few of them managed to force their way into a weak point of +the abattis, under a heavy fire from the fort; and worked round to +a gateway. This was soon hacked down, and then they burst into the +courtyard.</p> +<p>"Captain Aylmer, R.E., set to work to place a charge of gun +cotton against the main entrenchment of the fort. After repeated +failures, the fuse was lighted and the gate blown in. Captain +Aylmer was severely wounded, in three places; and several of the +men killed.</p> +<p>"So far the attack had been so astonishingly bold and quick that +the main body were unaware of the success; and Colonel Duran, +thinking the explosion was caused by the bursting of one of the +enemy's guns, continued steadily firing at the fort. The position +of the twenty men and three officers was precarious, indeed, as +they were thus exposed to a heavy fire from behind, as well as in +front. With splendid heroism, however, they held on to the +advantage they had gained till some reinforcements came up; and +then, pressing on through the shattered gate, they captured the +fort.</p> +<p>"For a fortnight after this the force remained inactive, for no +way of ascending the great ravine was known. At last, however, an +enterprising sepoy discovered a way, and on the 19th of December a +hundred men, under two lieutenants, were ordered to leave Nilt fort +under cover of darkness, drop silently down into the bed of the +ravine, and there await daylight.</p> +<p>"The portion of the enemy's position that had been selected for +attack was on the extreme left, on the crest of a cliff which rose, +without a break, fifteen hundred feet from the bed of the ravine. +Another force, a hundred and thirty-five men and six British +officers, with two guns, was to cover the advance of the storming +party. At eight o'clock in the morning, fire was opened upon the +enemy, as it was anticipated that the storming party were well up +the cliff by this time; but unfortunately, after ascending the +precipice halfway, they reached a point where the cliff was +absolutely impracticable, and were obliged to descend again into +the ravine.</p> +<p>"At two o'clock, having discovered a more practicable way, they +ascended again, foot by foot; their commander working his way up +with admirable judgment, moving from point to point, as opportunity +offered, between the showers of stones. The enemy were now fully +aware that the precipice was being scaled, and it was only the +well-directed fire of the covering party that prevented them from +issuing from their defences, and annihilating the party with rocks +and boulders.</p> +<p>"The summit was reached at half-past eleven, and the first of +the enemy's works captured. They rushed sangar after sangar, taking +them in rear and driving out the enemy pell mell, killing many and +capturing a large number of prisoners. At last the passage of the +great ravine was gained, and the British force enabled to move +forward again.</p> +<p>"The greatest credit was due to Lieutenant Manners-Smith; whose +conduct, in storming the height in broad daylight, was simply +magnificent; and the result showed the manner in which even young +officers can distinguish themselves, and how the native troops will +follow them, unhesitatingly, through dangers which would well appal +even the bravest.</p> +<p>"It is possible, however, to demand too much from our troops; as +was shown in the defence of Chillas. The post was held, in '93, by +three hundred men of the Kashmir Maharajah's bodyguard, under the +command of two British officers, Major Daniels and Lieutenant +Moberley. For some time, Daniels had been warned that he might be +attacked on the night of a Mohammedan feast. It was understood that +this was on the 3rd of March and, when the night passed quietly, it +was considered that the alarm had been a false one. During the next +night, however, a determined attack was made, by about a thousand +men; but was repulsed by steady volleys.</p> +<p>"Major Daniels then determined to take the offensive and attack +the enemy, who were swarming in great numbers into a neighbouring +village. At half-past three Moberley, with thirty-five men, went +out to attack the village. After severe fighting, and some loss, he +effected a lodgment in an outer line of houses; but being himself +badly wounded, and finding the village too strongly held for a +small party to make any further progress, he retired with his +detachment to the fort.</p> +<p>"The enemy continued a heavy fire until half-past eight, when +Major Daniels determined to attack them again; although their +numbers were now swollen to between four thousand and five thousand +men. He had with him only a hundred and forty available men, a +number being required to garrison the fort. Dividing his little +force, however, he attacked the village on two sides. The fight +went on for two hours, during which one of the two attacking +parties gained a partial footing in the village; but wounded men +began to struggle back to the fort, and reported that Major Daniels +and many men had been killed; and the remnants of the attacking +party were brought back, by a native officer, at half-past eleven. +The casualties in killed and wounded were very heavy, including the +two British officers, four native officers, and forty-six rank and +file. Fortunately the natives; believing, no doubt, that +reinforcements would arrive, scattered to their homes without +further action.</p> +<p>"Here was a case in which the native troops were ordered to +perform what verged on the impossible. The houses in these native +villages are almost always fortified; and to take a hundred and +fifty men, to attack a place held by five thousand, was asking more +than the best British soldiers could be expected to achieve.</p> +<p>"At any rate, the stories I have told you will give you some +idea of the work we have before us. We may quite assume that such a +force as is now being collected can be trusted to defeat the +Afridis, if they venture to meet us in open fight; but if they +resort solely to harassing tactics, we shall have our work cut out +for us. It must be remembered, too, that the Afridis are far better +fighters, more warlike, and of far better physique than the men +engaged in the fights that I have been speaking of. They are +splendid shots, and are almost all armed with breech-loading +rifles, Sniders and Martinis. Their country is tremendously hilly +and, although it is wholly unknown to us, we do know that there are +ravines to be passed where a handful of men could keep an army at +bay."</p> +<p>"I was with the Sikhim expedition, in '88," one of the captains +said. "At that time I was in the Derbyshires. In this case it was +the wildness of the country, rather than the stoutness of the +defence of the Thibetans, that caused our difficulty. The force +consisted of a mountain battery of four guns, two hundred men of +our regiment, four hundred of the Bengal Infantry, and seven +hundred men of the 32nd Pioneers. The men were all picked and of +good physique, as it was known that the campaign would be a most +arduous one. In addition to the usual entrenching tools, a hundred +and twenty short swords were issued to each regiment, and fifty per +cent of the followers were also supplied. These swords were to be +used for clearing away jungle. The country was very rugged, and the +work had to be done at the altitude of twelve thousand feet, where +the mountains are mostly covered with forest trees and +undergrowth.</p> +<p>"The base from which we started was thirty miles northeast of +Darjeeling, and the first objective of the expedition was the fort +of Lingtu, forty miles distant. The advance was made in two +columns; the first consisting of two mountain guns, a hundred men +of the Derbyshires, and three hundred of the 32nd Pioneers, which +were to make for Lingtu; while the rest were to operate towards +Intchi, where the Rajah of Sikhim resided, and thus prevent +reinforcements from being sent to Lingtu.</p> +<p>"The latter column met with no opposition and, after +accomplishing their work, retired. The first column came across the +enemy at Jeluk, five miles short of Lingtu. Here the Thibetans had +erected a strong stockade, at the top of a very steep ascent; and +had barricaded the road with stone breastworks.</p> +<p>"The position was attacked, at seven in the morning, by a +hundred men of the 32nd Pioneers; supported by seventy-eight men of +my regiment. The guns had had to be left behind. The advance was +slow and, owing to the dense bamboo jungle through which we had to +pass, and the steepness of the road, great caution was +necessary.</p> +<p>"When we had reached a spot within a few hundred yards of the +stockade, fire was suddenly opened on the Pioneers. These, however, +moved on steadily, without replying till, having worked their way +close up to the stockade, they fired a volley; and then, with a +loud cheer, charged with bayonets fixed. The Derbyshire detachment +moved up into support, and the position was captured after a sharp +struggle.</p> +<p>"A small turning party, under Captain Lumsden, had been detached +to the left but, after proceeding a short distance, they found that +the road had been cleared to where it passed round a precipice; and +that it was defended by a party of the enemy, behind a stone +breastwork, at ten yards' range. Captain Lumsden and several of his +men were knocked over, and the party were brought to a complete +stand. So thick was the jungle that they did not know what was +going on, on either side; and the first intimation they received, +of the capture of the fort, was the descent of a party of +Derbyshires in the rear of the breastworks.</p> +<p>"The stockade, when it was examined, turned out to be a most +formidable one; about two hundred yards long, both flanks resting +on impassable precipices. It was constructed of logs laid +horizontally, with a thick abattis of twelve trees.</p> +<p>"Next morning the advance on Lingtu was continued, in a dense +mist. Information was obtained, from a prisoner, that they would +have to cross a spot where there was a stone shoot, down which an +avalanche of rocks could be hurled by the defenders. They therefore +advanced with great caution, while a party of the Pioneers crept +along the crest of the ridge, and attacked from the rear the party +gathered at the head of the stone shoot. The road was steep and +broken, and the partially-melted snow lay two feet deep on it. The +Pioneers captured the stone shoot without loss, and then pushed on +over the hills and, without firing a shot, charged straight at the +fort; and burst their way through the main gate, before the +astonished Thibetans had realized what was happening.</p> +<p>"Of course, as it was against an enemy of such poor fighting +quality as the Thibetans, this little affair affords no idea of the +resistance that we can expect in the Tirah; but it does show what +can be accomplished by our men, in the face of immense natural +difficulties."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch8" id="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: The Dargai Pass.</h2> +<p>There was the greatest joy among the Pioneers, when they +received instructions to prepare for an advance to Khusalghar. +Officers and men alike were in the highest spirits, and not the +least pleased was Lisle, who had begun to tire of the monotony of +camp life. The mention of the place at which they were to assemble +put an end to the discussion, that had long taken place, as to +route to be followed. Six days' easy march along a good road would +take them to Shinawari and, in three or four days more, they would +get into the heart of the Tirah.</p> +<a id="Map2" name="Map2"></a> +<center><img src="images/2.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: Map illustrating the Tirah Campaign." /></center> +<p>Much would depend on the conduct of the Orakzais, a powerful +tribe whose country lay between Kenmora and that of the +Zakka-Khels. The latter had indeed declared against us, but they +were known to be very half hearted; for they felt that, lying as +they did close to the British frontier, they would be sure to +suffer most if we obtained the upper hand. It was hoped therefore +that, after making a show of resistance, they would try to come to +terms with us.</p> +<p>The regiment was told that it would have to provide its own +carriage, and two or three days were spent in buying up all the +ponies and mules in the neighbourhood. All the heavy baggage was +packed up and left in store, and the regiment marched from the town +in light order, with their drums and fifes playing a merry march, +and the men in high spirits.</p> +<p>"It is worth two years in a dull cantonment, Bullen," one of the +lieutenants remarked to Lisle.</p> +<p>"It is glorious," Lisle said, "though I expect we shall have +some hard fighting; for they say that the Zakka-Khels and their +allies can place fifty thousand in the fighting line and, as our +column is reported to be twenty thousand strong, we shall all have +our work to do. In the open they would, of course, have no chance +with us but, as the fighting will be done in guerrilla fashion, +from hills and precipices, our task will be no easy one. The +guarding of the tremendous convoy we must take with us will, in +itself, be extremely difficult."</p> +<p>"Yes, I expect we shall get it hot. The loss is almost sure to +be heavy, but that will not prevent us from turning them out of +their fastnesses."</p> +<p>"I wish they would let us all carry rifles, instead of swords," +Lisle said. "It will be beastly having nothing to do but wave one's +sword, while they are potting at us. I don't think I should mind +the heaviest fire, if I could reply to it; but to be compelled to +stand by idly, while the men are blazing away, would be enough to +drive me mad."</p> +<p>"I dare say when the fighting begins, Bullen, you will soon find +that there are plenty of rifles disengaged; and I don't see any +reason why an officer should not pick up one of them, and take his +share in firing, till he has to lead the men on to an attack."</p> +<p>Lisle was now nearly eighteen, of medium height, with light +active figure, and likely to be able to undergo any hardships.</p> +<p>On their arrival at Khusalghar, they found that several +regiments were already there, with an enormous amount of stores and +baggage. The officers lost no time in examining the fort, that had +been so nobly held by a party of Sikhs who, having for a long time +held the enemy in check, had fought to the last when they burst in. +One by one the noble fellows fell. One wounded man, lying on a +pallet, shot three of the enemy before he was killed; and the last +survivor of the little force shut himself up in a little chamber, +and killed twenty of his assailants before he was overcome. Not a +single man escaped, and their defence of the little fort is a +splendid example of the fidelity and bravery of our Sikh +soldiers.</p> +<p>After a few days' stay at this place, the regiment marched on to +Shinawari; and here remained for some little time, until the column +was made up. It was known that the Zakka-Khels and their allies had +marched down and taken up their position near the Dargai hill; and +that the Orakzais had, in spite of the pressure brought to bear +upon them by the other tribes, determined to remain neutral. This +Dargai hill must not be confused with the hill, of the same name, +at which fierce fighting took place in the expedition to Chitral, +two years before.</p> +<p>At last the welcome news came that the advance was about to take +place. General Lockhart, with another column, was at Fort Lockhart, +some thirty miles away; but the intermediate ground was so broken, +and the force of the enemy watching him so strong, that no +assistance could be obtained from him. The force assembled at +Shinawari was a strong one. The King's Own Scottish Borderers, a +battery of Royal Artillery, the 1st Battalion of Gordons, 1st +Dorsets with a mountain battery, the Yorkshire Regiment, the Royal +West Surrey, and a company of the 4th Ghoorkhas were all there. The +3rd Sikhs, with two guns, moved to the left in the Khuram +Valley.</p> +<p>Altogether, something like fifty thousand transport animals +accompanied them, with sixty thousand camp followers. The transport +presented an extraordinary appearance. It included every class of +bullock vehicle, lines of ill-fed camels, mules, ponies, and even +tiny donkeys.</p> +<p>On October 17th orders were received, from General Lockhart, +that the division at Shinawari was to make a reconnaissance in +force towards the Khanki Valley, as the enemy had been seen moving +about on the hills. A force consisting of the 3rd and 4th Brigades +moved forward. The object of the reconnaissance was the summit of +the hill, directly overlooking Shinawari, and over two thousand +feet high. From the plain the ascent appeared to be simple but, +when they started to climb, they found that it was rugged and +almost impassable. There was no semblance of road, and the men had +to toil up the goat paths and sheep tracks.</p> +<p>The Dargai ridge was from a thousand to fifteen hundred feet +above the spot from which they started. On the near side it was +almost a sheer precipice, and the only means of access to the top +was up three steep waterways, which converged to the left of the +position. It was only two hundred and fifty yards' range from the +summit but, as soon as it was crossed, the steepness of the cliff +afforded the assailants shelter from the enemy's fire. From this +point the path zigzags up, until men in single file can reach the +summit. The ridge then dips into the hollow plateau where the +village lies, and then runs up two hundred feet to the cliff, +making a descent of the better part of a mile. On the far side the +hill slopes away to the Khanki Valley.</p> +<p>"We are going to begin with a sharpish climb," Lisle said to +another officer. "If those fellows on the top of the cliff stick to +their work, we shall have a very hot time of it."</p> +<p>"I expect the guns will clear them off," the other said.</p> +<p>"They may do that for a moment but, as we get up to the top, +they will rush forward again; if they have the same pluck as the +fellows I fought against, before."</p> +<p>As soon as the advance began, the enemy came into action; but +the two batteries opened upon them, and their fire slackened +somewhat. The climb was a severe one, indeed; the road became worse +and worse as they advanced and, at one place, a ridge between two +spurs had to be crossed with barely a foot of purchase way, and a +sheer drop on both sides. When they were within two hundred yards +from the summit, they had to cross an open space. The Borderers and +Ghoorkhas were in front; and the latter were ordered to carry the +position, while the Borderers covered their advance.</p> +<p>The Ghoorkhas advanced in a couple of rushes and, as they neared +the summit, the enemy bolted. The Goorkhas pursued; but they did +not go far, as the general, who had been with the advance guard +throughout, recalled them. It was found that a village lay in the +hollow of the plateau, and that sangars had been built all along +the summit, and high up on the hill which covered the crest.</p> +<p>General Westmacott waited for two hours on the summit and, +supposing that General Kempster could not make his way up, was +about to withdraw his men; as large bodies of the enemy were seen, +moving in a direction which threatened the left rear. As they did +so, General Kempster arrived. He had experienced considerable +resistance, and had lost two officers.</p> +<p>"That has been hard work, Lisle," his companion said, as they +returned to camp.</p> +<p>"Yes, but the hardness consisted more in the climbing than in +the fighting. I wonder we are brought back again. We shall probably +have a great deal harder work, next time; for all the enemy in the +Khanki Valley will no doubt be up there, waiting for us."</p> +<p>That evening, there was much discussion at the mess upon the +expediency of evacuating the pass, when it had once been occupied. +The general opinion, however, was that it was necessary.</p> +<p>General Lockhart was at the fort bearing his name, with a +regiment of the 4th Brigade. The 2nd Battalion had remained in camp +at Shinawari, and the 1st Division was still on the march to that +place. It was General Lockhart's intention to divide the great +force known to be in the Khanki Valley. The reconnaissance had been +ordered to ascertain if a road really existed, and if it was +passable for baggage. The reasons for the retirement were that a +complete brigade would have been required to take the place, that +the picketing of the road would have taken half a brigade, and that +no commissariat arrangements had been made for the supply of a +force on the plateau. Further, not a drop of water was available; +and lastly, if Dargai had been held, the enemy would have massed +their whole force against it; whereas, when the force withdrew, the +tribesmen would be compelled to divide their force in order to +watch the other road.</p> +<p>The conclusion arrived at, by the members of the mess, was that +the retirement was probably necessary; but that the next advance +would assuredly meet with much greater opposition than the +first.</p> +<p>Three days passed; and then, at half-past four in the morning, +the advance guard of General Yeatman-Biggs' column left the camp, +under General Kempster, and proceeded up the Chagru Pass. It was a +long, weary pull up the hill. The sappers had been working hard on +the road, for the past ten days; but it was still very narrow for a +whole division, and three mountain batteries. At half-past eight +the force reached the summit, and the advance guard sent back news +that the crest of the Dargai was held, by the enemy, in force. The +enemy could be plainly made out. They had with them a black banner, +which showed that they were Kambar Khels. On the far side of the +opposite range could be seen great masses of tribesmen, with a +dozen standards.</p> +<p>The 1st and 2nd Ghoorkhas, the Dorsets, and the Derbys were sent +on; while the Gordons took up a position to cover the advance, with +long-range volleys. As the regiments climbed up, three mountain +guns massed on the Chagru Kotal; and another one, which had come in +with the Northampton from Fort Lockhart, opened fire. The enemy +replied, at long range, upon the advance guard of the Ghoorkhas, as +they went up the centre nullah. The little Ghoorkhas came steadily +on and, at six hundred yards, opened fire in volleys. This and the +fire of the guns was too much for the tribesmen, who ceased to show +themselves. The Dorsets had now joined the Ghoorkhas and, after a +halt, again made a rush across the open to reach the cover, the +Derbys firing heavily to assist them.</p> +<p>Until our men showed in the open, they had no knowledge in what +force the position was held. Three companies of Ghoorkhas managed +to reach cover beneath the cliff, but the path was strewn with the +dead and dying. Captain Robinson, after getting across with his +men, tried to rejoin the main body, but fell. Then the Dorsets +endeavoured to join the three gallant companies of Ghoorkhas. Rush +after rush was made, but the head of each melted away, as soon as +the fatal spot was reached. At last, after three fruitless +attempts, the helio flashed back to the general that the position +was impregnable, and that further attempts would be but a useless +waste of life.</p> +<p>Matters were looking serious. It was twelve o'clock, and the +enemy still held their position. General Yeatman-Biggs realized +that a check would seriously alter the course of the campaign, and +he told General Kempster that the summit must be taken, at any +cost. The latter started at once, taking with him the Gordons and +3rd Sikhs. It took the fresh troops the best part of an hour to +climb up; and when the five regiments of infantry, the Highlanders, +English, Sikhs, and Ghoorkhas, stood massed in the nullah, General +Kempster helioed to the guns, asking three minutes' concentrated +fire on the summit.</p> +<p>There were two ways to reach the cover where the company of +Ghoorkhas had been lying, for three hours. The top ridge had been +proved to be absolutely a death passage, but there was another +path, by which General Westmacott had forced his way up, three days +before, and which was shorter across the open zone of fire. A fresh +regiment was to take the lead.</p> +<p>The colonel collected his men at the edge of the nullah, and +said:</p> +<p>"Gordons, the general says that the position must be taken, at +all costs. The Gordons are to do it!"</p> +<p>The signal was given, the batteries at once opened fire, and the +cliff was crowned with a circle of bursting shrapnel. Then the +officers of the Gordons dashed over the nullah, the pipes rolled +out the charge and, with clenched teeth, the Highlanders burst into +the open. The length of the exposed zone was swept with the leaden +stream. The head of the upper column melted away; but a few +struggled on, and others took the places of the fallen. The Sikhs, +Derbys, and Ghoorkhas followed in rushes, as the firing slackened, +and the cover halfway was won. A moment was allowed for breath, and +then the men were up again; another terrible rush, another terrible +slaughter, and the three companies of Ghoorkhas were reached.</p> +<p>When the enemy saw that the space was crossed, they left their +sangars and streamed down the reverse slope of the hill. They could +not face the men who had passed that terrible passage. Forming at +the bend of the perpendicular rock, they waited till they had +recovered their breath, and then proceeded up the zigzag path +leading to the summit of the hill.</p> +<p>The fighting was over, but the loss had been great. Four +officers had been killed and ten wounded, one of them mortally. The +total casualties were a hundred and ninety-four killed and wounded. +Of these thirty were Gordons, and the majority of the remainder +were Dorsets and Ghoorkhas. Few of those who fell wounded escaped +with their lives. Their comrades made desperate efforts to carry +them off; but the storm of bullets, fired at so short a range, +rendered it impossible; while the wounded who attempted to rise and +return were riddled with bullets, as soon as they moved. When the +fight was over, the whole force encamped on the Chagru Kotal.</p> +<p>The assailants were unable to make out why the enemy did not +defend the zigzag path. Only two men could climb it abreast, and +the advancing files could have been destroyed by a dozen marksmen +with breech loaders. The only reasonable supposition was that, +having been engaged for five hours, their ammunition was +practically exhausted.</p> +<p>Several acts of heroism were performed in the battle. One of the +pipers, Lance Corporal Milne, was shot through both legs; but still +continued to play his pipes, in a sitting position. Four other +pipers played right across the fatal passage, three of them being +wounded. Lieutenant Tillard was the first man across. He was a fast +runner, but he stopped to encourage his men, midway.</p> +<p>By the 25th, the whole of the two divisions were encamped on the +two low hills at the mouth of the Kapagh Pass; while the stream of +transport came gradually up. By that day six thousand four hundred +British troops, eleven thousand two hundred and eighty native +troops, seventeen thousand followers, and two thousand four hundred +camels were gathered there.</p> +<p>In the morning a foraging party went out and, when they were +returning to camp with supplies, and also with a hundred head of +cattle, the enemy lined the neighbouring heights. The mountain +battery came into action, and the rearmost regiment covered the +retreat by volleys; but the tribesmen had all the advantage of +position and, with the utmost determination, they followed. They +even opened fire on the camp, causing several casualties, the total +losses being over thirty.</p> +<p>By this time the troops were all convinced that the campaign +would be a most serious one. Before them lay a country of which +they were absolutely ignorant, into which no Englishman had ever +penetrated; and defended by an enemy who were, for the most part, +armed with first-class rifles, and were marvellous skirmishers. If +the tribesmen kept to guerrilla warfare, there was no saying how +long the campaign would last.</p> +<p>Lisle had passed through the fight unhurt. He had been almost +bewildered as he crossed the fatal path, running at top speed, with +men falling thickly around him. Halfway across Lieutenant Blunt, +who was one of his great chums, and had joined just before him, +fell. Lisle sheathed his sword and threw himself down beside him, +pressing him to the ground to prevent him from moving; while he +himself remained perfectly still. When the next rush of men came +along, he lifted his wounded friend with great effort on to his +back, and then ran on. Blunt was again twice hit; but Lisle +escaped, almost by a miracle, and arrived at the foot of the +precipice a minute after the last man got in. He was loudly +cheered, by the men, as he did so.</p> +<p>He had the satisfaction of knowing that Blunt's wounds, although +serious, were not considered mortal. When the regiment halted on +the plateau, Lisle was warmly congratulated by the colonel and +officers on the feat he had performed; but he disclaimed any +particular merit.</p> +<p>"When Blunt fell," he said, "it was the most natural thing in +the world that I should go and pick him up; and I did so almost +mechanically. Luckily he was a light man but, even if he had been a +heavy one, I don't think I should have felt his weight. I was +scarcely conscious of the bullets whistling round me. When he fell, +I knew that the tribesmen would shoot any wounded man who tried to +rise, and that the only chance was to lie perfectly still, until +another batch of men came along."</p> +<p>"You showed no end of coolness," the colonel said, "and the idea +of pressing him down, and yourself lying quietly beside him showed +that, in spite of confusion, your brain was clear, and that you had +all your senses about you. It was a gallant action, which I shall +not forget to mention when I send in my report. You deserve the +V.C., but I don't suppose you will get it; so many gallant deeds +were done that only a few can get the cross."</p> +<p>The two divisions marched on the morning of the 28th. The +Northamptons and 36th Sikhs had been detached to an extremely high +hill, to cover the advance. It had already been found that, +although the Afridis could fight well, so long as they had the +advantage of position, they were nevertheless extremely careful of +their skins. After the heavy firing into camp, on the night of the +return of the reconnaissance, the place had been greatly +strengthened; and the positions were changed every night, a fact +which so entirely surprised the enemy that, for a time, night +attacks ceased altogether.</p> +<p>General Westmacott's brigade advanced up the Khanki nullah to +the foot of the Sampagha Pass. General Gazelee's division moved +along the hills, and halted at the village of Ghandaki. In the +afternoon a reconnaissance pushed forward, and returned with the +news that the pass appeared to be simple, and the road a good one. +Tribesmen were seen upon nearly every crest. They were apparently +building sangars upon the roadway.</p> +<p>General Gazelee was to make his attack next morning. General +Westmacott, General Kempster, and General Hart, with the batteries +of both divisions, were to occupy a knoll at the foot of the pass, +to support the advance. The troops moved forward in the following +order: the Queens, the 2nd and 4th Ghoorkhas, Yorks, and 3rd Sikhs +were first; and they were followed by the 30th Sikhs, the Scottish +Borderers, and the Northamptons.</p> +<p>In the dim light of the early morning, the distant crests were +marked by the fires of the enemy. Some delay was caused by the +batteries missing the tracks, but by daybreak they advanced. At +half-past six the enemy fired the first shot, and then fell rapidly +back. The regiments in the first line moved steadily on and, at +half-past seven, the guns opened. A few shells were sufficient for +the enemy's advance party, and they scuttled back. When the +Ghoorkhas and Queens reached the first ridge in the pass, the enemy +opened fire; but they could not stand the accurate fire of the six +batteries.</p> +<p>A mountain battery pushed up the pass, and came into action on +the enemy's first position. The pass widened out from this point, +and the two leading regiments moved forward to the sloping crest of +the third position. The Queens had advanced on the right, with the +Ghoorkhas on their flank. The pathway was covered by the fire of +the enemy, hidden behind rocks; and this was so accurate that men +could hardly show themselves on the path, without being immediately +shot down. The Sikhs and Borderers, however, pushed up the hill and +drove the enemy out.</p> +<p>The defence of the pass was not so determined as had been +expected, after the stand shown at Dargai. The reason, no doubt, +was that though they were good skirmishers, the enemy did not care +to expose themselves, either to artillery fire or close-quarter +fighting. When the last crest had been gained, the force proceeded +down into the Mastura Valley. The tribesmen had deserted, and set +fire to, their homesteads. The villages were only a few hundred +yards apart, and were well built. The valley contained many +beautiful groves. There was little food in the camp, and the +Ghoorkhas set to work to make chupatties, with coarse flour found +in the villages.</p> +<p>There had been very few casualties during the day, and the men +began to hope that, after the lesson taught the enemy at Dargai, no +other resolute stand would be made. After a day of rest in the +valley, orders were issued for the 3rd and 4th Brigades to move, at +daybreak. The 2nd Brigade was to follow, the 1st being left to +garrison the camp. The path was across a low ridge connecting +higher ones, and offered no great facilities for resistance, and +was overcome with the exchange of a few shots, only.</p> +<p>From the top of the Karanghur Pass was seen the valley of +Maidan, the spot which the Afridis were wont to boast no infidel +had ever gazed upon. The view was magnificent. From the foot of the +slope stretched a valley, broken here and there by ravines and +nullahs. Every inch of it seemed to be cultivated; and it was one +wide expanse of terraced fields, sprinkled with groves and dotted +with countless habitations. There was scarce an acre which had not +a fortified block house, as each family built a homestead for +itself, and fortified itself against all comers.</p> +<p>As the column entered the valley, they found that their arrival +had not been expected. The livestock had been removed, but every +house in the valley was stocked with supplies. Indian corn, wheat, +barley, and other grain were found in abundance; and there was an +ample stock of honey, potatoes, walnuts, and onions.</p> +<p>Bagh was the tribal centre, the Afridi parliament ground. Its +mosque was situated about four miles farther up the valley. It was +at this spot that orders were issued to make war upon the British. +It was an insignificant building, with a mud roof supported by +twenty-one pillars. The mosque was not interfered with.</p> +<p>It was thought that, as such little opposition was offered in +the last pass, the enemy had lost all heart; but a foraging party, +the next day, found the tribesmen in great force at the other end +of the valley, and were compelled to retire. Another party of the +enemy attempted to rush a picket of the 36th Sikhs; and a strong +force pounced upon the baggage train, and killed several of the +drivers; then, retiring till the main guard had passed, dashed out +again and killed three of the guards, and wounded several +others.</p> +<p>For the present, no damage was done to the homesteads; as it was +hoped that the Afridis would come in and surrender. Next day a +foraging party was hotly attacked and, at night, there was severe +fighting round the camp. A party of elders came in, to ask what +terms would be given; and were told that the tribesmen would have +to deliver up their rifles, and pay a heavy fine. It was evident, +from their manner, that although they would be ready to pay a fine, +they would certainly not deliver up their rifles.</p> +<p>The troops had now settled down comfortably. They had ten days' +rations in camp, and the camel convoys were coming in daily. The +weather was delightful, and the nightly firing into the camp, +alone, disturbed them.</p> +<p>A small party of foragers was, a few days later, fiercely +attacked. Captain Rowcroft, who was in command, had with him only a +subadar and half a dozen sepoys, when a heavy fire was opened upon +him. The party could have retired, but one of the men was shot +through the thigh, and it took three others to carry him. He was +presently left behind, and Rowcroft went back to the body, to +assure himself that the man was dead. This pause gave the enemy +time to close up, and the subadar was shot, as well as the man +tending him.</p> +<p>A mule was luckily found, and the subadar was sent to the rear. +After this two men were hit, one for the second time and, as it was +impossible for the four sound men to carry off their wounded, and +face the enemy as well, Rowcroft chose the best spot, and +determined to halt and wait for help. The Afridis could not bring +themselves to rush the little party, but confined themselves to +keeping up a heavy fire. Another Sikh was wounded; and the dust +caused by the bullets almost blinded the others, who could scarcely +see to reply. At last, just in the nick of time, a relieving party +arrived and carried them off.</p> +<p>On the 8th General Westmacott started, with his brigade, to +punish the Zakka-Khels for the continued night firing which, our +commander had learned from prisoners, was kept up by that tribe. +The brigade did its work thoroughly and, by evening, the whole of +the eastern valley was in flames. That same evening, however, +Captain Watson, a commissariat officer, was shot dead, as he stood +at his own door. A curious fatality seemed to accompany this night +firing. Out of the many thousands in camp, four officers only had +been hit. Captain Sullivan, of the 36th Sikhs, was shot ten minutes +after he had arrived in camp, having travelled post haste from +England.</p> +<p>On the 9th a reconnaissance was ordered to Saransur, a lofty +peak to the east of the Maidan valley. Across this is a pass, on +one of the roads to Peshawar. General Westmacott, who was in +command, took with him four regiments--two British and two +Sikhs--two batteries, and a company of Madras Sappers. The foot of +the hill to be scaled was less than three miles from camp, but the +intervening ground was extraordinarily broken. It was, in fact, a +series of hummocks from seventy to a hundred feet high; which were +covered with boulders, and intersected by a river. This main nullah +was also broken, on both sides, by smaller nullahs almost every +hundred yards. Beyond this rugged ground there was a severe ascent. +The hill had two spurs; one wooded, especially towards the summit, +the other bare. The path wound up the latter, then crossed a ridge +beyond, and yet another ridge behind that, with a sheer summit very +like the Dargai cliff.</p> +<p>The force left camp at half-past seven. When they had gone about +a mile, desultory shots were fired at them, from a series of +well-built sangars facing the termination of the nullah. On +reaching the foot of the hillside, General Westmacott was much +concerned about the Dorsets on the left; who were engaged in +desultory firing, and were making little progress up the nullah. +Staff officer after staff officer was despatched, to direct the +Dorsets to the intended line.</p> +<p>A little before ten the Northamptons, and Sikhs covering them in +the rear, began the ascent. It was a stiff climb of a thousand +feet. When the first brow was reached General Westmacott called a +halt, in order that the men might get their breath and fix +bayonets. Then they climbed to the next top cover, and rushed +forward. The enemy evidently knew its range, and advance companies +found themselves under magazine fire. Nevertheless they pushed on. +An open kotal had to be passed. The men crossed it at the double +and, although a heavy fire was kept up again, there was no +casualty.</p> +<p>The advance guard was now at the foot of the sheer cliff. No +news had been received of the Dorsets, who were in a very rough +country, wooded almost to the summit; and the general could only +hope that they were working up through this. The force pushed on +and, a few minutes past eleven, the whole summit was in our +possession, and the last of the visible enemy put to flight.</p> +<p>The intelligence officers busied themselves sketching the +country. It was evident that the Saransur was the retreat of the +Maidan Zakka-Khels, for all round were evidences of encampments: +fire-stained walls, caves, and bags of grain. It was deserted by +the tribesmen, who had been taken by surprise, and had left +hurriedly. General Westmacott was anxious to be off, as it was +probable that the fighting men of the enemy had merely hurried off +to place their families under cover, and would return as soon as +they had done so.</p> +<p>At two o'clock the return march began. A company of the +Northamptons were placed within range of the wooded slope, which +should have been covered by the Dorsets, had they come up. They +were suddenly fired upon, and the men fell fast. Another company +came up to help them. The enemy could not be seen, but volleys were +fired into the wood. The 36th Sikhs went back to reinforce them, +and the whole force were withdrawn without further casualty.</p> +<p>As the Northamptons were retiring across the wooded zone, the +first four companies were allowed to pass unmolested; but when the +fifth reached the clear ground, they were greeted with a blaze of +fire. The carriage of the wounded delayed the retirement, and it +was not until dusk that the foot of the hill was reached.</p> +<p>The enemy had taken every advantage that their knowledge of the +country gave them. They had now begun to creep up the ravines, and +their number increased every minute. Men were falling fast. Each +man carrying a wounded comrade became a target. The Dorsets also +were severely engaged. The Northamptons stuck to their work, and +slowly withdrew their wounded; but the number of casualties +increased alarmingly.</p> +<p>Then an unfortunate occurrence took place. A party of +Northamptons, under Lieutenant Macintyre and Lieutenant Sergeant +Luckin, turning a corner, were cut off. It appeared that they +sacrificed themselves to their wounded comrades. One of the party +was despatched for help, and evidently came across a small group of +Dorsets. The story was, that the party were surrounded at short +range when he left; for, had they left their wounded and followed +him, they might have saved themselves. Next morning their bodies +were found. In every case they had been wounded by bullets, before +the Pathans came up and gashed them; which showed that they had +fought till the last man dropped.</p> +<p>Lisle was not one of those who returned to camp and, in the +confusion that occurred as the result of the late arrival of the +troops, his absence was not discovered until the next morning. On +enquiries being made, it was found that he was last seen high up in +the mountains. He had been sent down, with eight men, to request +the guns to direct their fire against the enemy, who were pressing +the regiment during the retreat; but as he had not arrived at the +guns, a strong party was at once sent out, to search for his body +and those of the men with him.</p> +<p>Lisle had, in fact, pushed down halfway to the spot where the +guns were placed, and had dismounted at the top of a nullah; when a +large party of the enemy opened fire upon him. One of the sepoys at +once fell dead, and another was wounded. It was impossible for him +to fight his way through this force. Twilight was already falling +and, owing to the rugged nature of the ground, he was by no means +sure of his position.</p> +<p>While the men returned the enemy's fire, he looked round for +some vantage ground. Fifty yards away there was a small blockhouse +and, when he saw this, he at once determined to shelter in it. He +and one of the men therefore lifted their wounded comrade, and +Lisle shouted to the others:</p> +<p>"Use your magazines, and then make a rush for the hut, keeping +well together."</p> +<p>The little party charged, meanwhile keeping up so heavy a fire, +with their magazines, that the Afridis who stood between them and +the house cleared off, leaving a dozen of their dead on the ground. +Before they reached the block house, two more of the men were +wounded but, fortunately, not severely enough to prevent them from +keeping up with the others. The place was untenanted, and they +rushed in and at once began to pile its contents against the +door.</p> +<p>Lisle ordered the unwounded men to take their places at the +loopholes, which served for windows in the Afridi buildings, while +he himself attended to the wounds of the others. He warned the men +who were firing to withdraw quickly after every shot, for the +Afridis were such admirable marksmen that their bullets frequently +entered the loopholes.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch9" id="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: Captured.</h2> +<p>When he had completed the dressing of the wounds, Lisle mounted +to the upper story, which was a feature of every house in the +valley. While the lower part was of stone; the upper one was built +of wicker work, thickly plastered with mud, and quite useless as a +protection against rifle bullets. He set to work to cut a dozen +small loopholes, a few inches above the floor. From these he +commanded a view all round. Then he called up the two wounded men, +who were still able to use their rifles, and ordered them to lie +down, one at each of the side walls; while he himself took his +place over the doorway, with the rifle of the disabled man.</p> +<p>From here he picked off several of the enemy. His fire was +returned but, as he took care to lie well back, the bullets all +went over his head.</p> +<p>When darkness fell, he went down and directed the sepoys to man +only the loopholes in the front wall. This released three men, whom +he brought upstairs and posted above the door.</p> +<p>The Afridis continued to riddle the upper wall and the door with +bullets. Several times they attempted a rush, but were unable to +withstand the heavy magazine fire which met them, when within +twenty yards of the house. Twice they attempted to pile faggots at +the side of the door, but the defence was so strong that many of +the bearers were killed, and the survivors fled.</p> +<p>Knowing that the Afridis were in the habit of hiding their store +of grain, Lisle prodded the floor in all directions with his +bayonet and, at last, found a good supply in one corner of the +room. Unfortunately, however, there was only one vessel, half full +of water. It would not have done to light a fire to cook the grain, +as any illumination within the house would have shown the exact +place of the loopholes to the enemy. Lisle therefore served out +some grain to each of the soldiers, to eat raw. He gave some of the +water to the three wounded men, and served out a mouthful to each +of the others; telling them that they might not be relieved for +some time, and that the little supply must be made to last as long +as possible.</p> +<p>The enemy still kept up a heavy fire but, after the lessons they +had received, there was but small chance that they would attempt +another hand-to-hand attack. Lisle therefore told all the men to +lie down and sleep, while he himself took up his place at the +loophole nearest the door, and kept watch.</p> +<p>No attempt was made until daybreak was approaching; when, with +wild yells, the Afridis again rushed forward. The men were +instantly on their feet, and eight rifles flashed out.</p> +<p>"Magazine firing!" Lisle shouted, "but don't fire unless you see +a man, and make sure of bringing him down. We must husband our +ammunition."</p> +<p>Quietly and steadily, the men kept up their fire. This time the +enemy reached the door, and Lisle was compelled to call down the +two men from above. The Afridis gathered thickly round the door, +tried to push it in with their heavy knives, and battered it with +the butt ends of their rifles. Gradually, in spite of the fire of +the defenders, they splintered it; but the barricade behind still +held and, from this, the besieged poured through the broken door so +galling a fire--one half emptying their magazines, and then falling +back to reload while the others took their places--till at last, +after suffering a loss of some thirty men, the enemy retired again, +and were soon hidden in the darkness. As soon as they had gone, the +garrison brought down all available material from the upper floor +to strengthen the barricade.</p> +<p>"I don't think they will try again, lads," Lisle said.</p> +<p>The numbers of the besieged were, unfortunately, dwindling. One +had been shot through the head, two others had been wounded, and +Lisle himself had received a bullet in his shoulder. There were now +but two unwounded men; but the other four were all capable of using +their rifles, at a pinch. It was a relief, indeed, when day fairly +broke; for then they could see their foes at a distance and, by a +steady fire, force them to take to shelter. When they got into +cover, the tribesmen continued to fire upon the block house; but +the besieged did not reply, for they had only twenty rounds per man +left.</p> +<p>Another mouthful of water was now served to all and, the two +unwounded men having been placed in the upper story to keep watch, +the others sat down under the loopholes, in readiness to leap to +their feet and fire, if an alarm was given.</p> +<p>At length, about eleven o'clock, the fire of the enemy suddenly +ceased and, a few minutes later, a relief party marched up. The men +cheered lustily as the barricade was removed, and Lisle and the six +men came out. The officers ran forward and warmly greeted Lisle, +shaking hands with him and the men of his little party.</p> +<p>"Thank God we have found you alive, Bullen! We hadn't even a +hope that you had survived; for we found poor Macintyre and his +party, all killed and cut up. We started this morning, as soon as +your absence was discovered, and have been searching ever since; +but I doubt if we should ever have found you, had we not heard +firing going on up here. I don't think men were ever so pleased as +ours, when we heard it; for it showed that you, or some of your +party, were still holding out.</p> +<p>"You must have had desperate fighting, for there are some forty +bodies lying near the door; and we know that the enemy always carry +off their dead, when they can. You must have accounted for a good +many more, who have been taken away in the darkness."</p> +<p>"We have done our best, you may be sure," Lisle said. "We have +lost two men killed, and four out of the others are wounded. I +myself have got a rifle ball in my shoulder; at least, it is not +there now, for it went right through. Fortunately it missed the +bone, so I shall be all right again, in a day or two."</p> +<p>"How many were you attacked by?"</p> +<p>"I should say there must have been two hundred. That was about +the number, when they first attacked."</p> +<p>"You must have been exposed to a tremendous fire. The walls are +everywhere pitted with bullet marks, and the upper story seems +perfectly riddled with balls; but of course none of you were up +there."</p> +<p>"Yes, we used it as a lookout. As you see, I made four loopholes +in each side and, as we lay well back, their bullets passed over +our heads.</p> +<p>"What we want now is water. We drank the last drop, when we saw +you coming. We had scarcely a mouthful each, and we have not had +much more during the siege."</p> +<p>Flasks were instantly produced, and each man drank his fill.</p> +<p>"And now we had better be off," the officer in command of the +relief party said. "Likely enough the Afridis will be down upon us, +as soon as we move."</p> +<p>They were, indeed, several times fired at, as they made their +way down to the camp, and at one time the resistance was +formidable; but they were presently joined by another party from +the camp, and the Afridis therefore drew off.</p> +<p>Lisle received many hearty congratulations on his return, and +many officers of other regiments came in to shake his hand.</p> +<p>"I shall send in your name again, Mr. Bullen," his colonel said, +after Lisle had made his report. "It was a most gallant action, to +defend yourself so long, with only seven men, against a couple of +hundred of the enemy; and the loss you inflicted upon them has been +very severe, for forty fell close to the house, so that their +bodies could not be carried off. I certainly should reckon that you +must have killed or wounded a good many more."</p> +<p>"I don't think so, Colonel. No doubt we killed some more but, as +it was dark for the greater part of the time, we could only fire at +the flashes of their rifles. Certainly I saw twelve or fourteen +fall, before it became quite dark and, as they several times tried +to rush us, others might have fallen far enough from the house to +be carried off by their friends."</p> +<p>That day General Lockhart placed, in the order of the day, the +names of Lisle and his little party as having shown conspicuous +gallantry, in defending themselves against a vastly superior +force.</p> +<p>Two days later General Lockhart, himself, went out with a strong +force to the top of Saransur; but met with little resistance, and +the force returned at a much earlier hour than on the previous +occasion, and reached camp before nightfall.</p> +<p>In warfare of this kind, it is the wounded who are the cause of +disaster. A wounded man means six men out of the fighting +line--four to carry him, and one to take charge of their rifles. A +few casualties greatly reduce the fighting strength of the party. +In European warfare this would not take place, as the wounded would +be left behind, and would be cared for by the enemy.</p> +<p>The next day representatives of all the Orakzai tribes came in, +and asked for terms. They were told that they must restore all +stolen property, give up five hundred rifles, and pay a fine of +thirty thousand rupees, and the cost of rebuilding the post they +had destroyed. Representatives of three other tribes also came in, +and similar terms were imposed upon them. Two of these, the +Kambar-Khels and the Malikdins, were in the habit of migrating to +British territory in cold weather; but the Kuki-Khels sent their +families and goods, in winter quarters, to the Bara valley. The +other Maidan tribes would probably have come in at the same time, +but for their fear of the Zakka-Khels.</p> +<p>There was trouble the next day in the Mastura valley, where two +officers and four men were wounded. The following night the camp +was fired into, by an enemy who had crept within a hundred and +fifty yards of it. News came that General Kempster, with his +detached brigade, had met with little opposition; and his search +over the hills showed that the Zakka-Khels, in that direction, were +severely punished.</p> +<p>On the 13th, the 3rd Brigade left the camp to cross the Kotal +towards Saransur. Except for a few long-range shots, there was no +opposition. Next day a Mullah's house was destroyed, documents +found there showing that he had taken a vigorous part in the +rising.</p> +<p>Two days later the brigade started on their return march. The +1st and 3rd Ghoorkhas were to cover the retirement, and the 15th +Sikhs to hold the Kotal. The baggage train reached the Kotal by +twelve o'clock, and the camp at three. The Ghoorkhas, however, had +to fight hard; and were so done up that, instead of continuing to +cover the retirement they passed on, leaving the Sikhs to +cover.</p> +<p>The enemy, thinking that only a small rear guard had been left, +came down in great force; but the fire was so heavy that they fell +back, leaving the ground strewn with their dead. The action, +however, now became general, all along the hill. Ammunition was +running short, and Captain Abbott felt that, in the face of so +large a force, and with fifteen or sixteen wounded, he could not +retire down the ravine or valley without support. He therefore +signalled for assistance; and the 46th, and two companies of the +Dorsets, were detached for that purpose.</p> +<p>Colonel Houghton of the 36th, who was now in command, retiring +steadily, found himself hampered with wounded in the rough country; +while the enemy were surrounding him in increasing numbers. He was +suffering heavily from the fire of the enemy posted in a small +village; and he determined to seize it, and hold it for the night. +Three companies of the 15th and two of the 36th therefore rushed up +the hill, and were into the buildings before the Pathans were aware +that they were moving against them. Those that delayed were +bayoneted, the rest fled precipitately into the darkness. Their +fire, however, had cost us an officer and five men killed.</p> +<p>Major Des Voeux on the right, having rushed a clump of buildings +opposite to him, made for a second one on the far side of the +nullah, in which was a small square building. The roof of the house +had been burnt, and the charred beams were lying on the ground. The +men rolled these, and what litter they could find into the gaps of +the building; but the breastwork was barely two feet high. When the +enemy returned to the attack they rushed right up to the house but, +luckily, they fired high in their excitement, and the Sikhs swept +them back again. The breastwork was then completed, a sentry was +placed at each side of the house, and the rest lay down.</p> +<p>Colonel Houghton's post, which was a strong one, was not much +troubled. A disaster, however, occurred to a half company, under +two officers, who tried to push their way back to camp. Their +bodies were found in a nullah, in the morning.</p> +<p>The next morning the parties were relieved by a force from +camp.</p> +<p>On the same day General Westmacott, with the 4th Brigade, +marched out. For the past three days the Malikdins and Kambar-Khels +had shown a disposition to be friendly, and had made some attempt +to open a grain traffic. Major Sullivan, with three other officers, +pushed forward to prospect a site for a camp. Some apparently +friendly and unarmed tribesmen approached them; but Major +Sullivan's suspicions were excited when he saw that, instead of +coming down direct, they were making a sweep that would cut off his +little party. He therefore whistled for the others to join him.</p> +<p>When the tribesmen saw that the game was up, they poured in two +volleys. Luckily the shots went high, and the four officers gained +the cover of a house, and were soon joined by a Ghoorkha company. +There was no doubt that the enemy had played the game of friendlies +for the purpose of obtaining four officers, alive, to use as +hostages.</p> +<p>The force then retired, bringing in the baggage animals, loaded +with forage. The return was now decided upon. It was considered by +the authorities that it would be less expensive to organize another +expedition in the spring, when the sowing had begun; than to +maintain a large force in the Tirah during the winter. The Afridis +would not come down, and orders were therefore issued for +destroying all the villages. These were burned, and the axe laid to +the roots of the beautiful groves.</p> +<p>The tribal representatives of the Kambar-Khels, Alla-Khels, +Malikdin-Khels, and Kuki-Khels came in. They were ordered to send +in eight hundred serviceable rifles, fifty thousand rupees in cash, +and all property that had been stolen.</p> +<p>When the force arrived at Bagh there was a sharp action, and the +casualties amounted to twenty-two wounded and seven killed. The +Ghoorkhas reported that they had found the enemy in great force, in +the valley.</p> +<p>On the 22nd of November, Sir William Lockhart made a +reconnaissance to Dwatoi and the Bara valley. He took with him a +strong brigade, under General Westmacott. Every precaution was +taken in entering this unknown country, as the road led down a +defile commanded by high peaks. The Yorkshire Regiment was told off +to hold the right of the advance, the 1st and 2nd Ghoorkhas were to +do the same work on the left. The column was headed by the 3rd +Ghoorkhas; followed by the 28th Bombay Volunteers, two companies of +the Sappers and Miners, the Borderers, and the baggage; the rear +guard being furnished by the 36th Sikhs.</p> +<p>Within a mile of camp, the Ghoorkhas were engaged with stray +riflemen. A mile farther they were met by the main body, and were +unable to proceed farther without support. The flanking regiments, +however, presently came up, and the advance continued. The road lay +in the river bed, and the men were plodding, waist deep, in water. +The passage became narrower and narrower, and so rapid was the +decline that the river bed became impassable, and the men made +their way along by its side. The road was almost dark, so high were +the cliffs and so narrow the passage between them.</p> +<p>Here the resistance became very formidable. The Ghoorkhas were +all engaged in clearing the ridges, and the Bombay Pioneers pushed +forward an advance guard, the Borderers moving up to their support. +The deepest gorge was enfiladed by a party of tribesmen, with +Martinis. One man fell with a broken leg. The man helping him was +shot a moment later and, when a stretcher was brought back, two +more of the Borderers were hit. A section of the 3rd Sikhs was +detached to turn the enemy out, and then the ravine was rushed by +all the rest. There was another gorge to be passed, and the enemy +were pressing on both sides; but a battery was now brought into +action, and soon drove them off.</p> +<p>Thus Dwatoi was reached, where the force encamped. It was but a +small open plain, some five hundred yards across. Three miles away +a gorge opened into the Rajgul valley, and it appeared that, beyond +this, lay Wira valley.</p> +<p>All the summits were strongly picketed. Night fell, and there +was no sign of the baggage. The troops were wet to the waist, there +were seventeen degrees of frost, and the men had neither blankets +nor food.</p> +<p>When morning broke there were still no signs of baggage, but at +eleven it began to appear. At noon fighting began again, and the +rest of the train did not arrive till about five o'clock. Fighting +had been incessant the whole day. It was so severe that Sir William +Lockhart determined to return to Bagh, the following day.</p> +<p>The arrangements were admirable. The baggage was loaded up +before daybreak. The Ghoorkhas were to ascend the hills flanking +the village, three companies of the Borderers were to form the +advance guard, the wounded on stretchers were to follow, and the +mountain battery was to take up a position to cover the retirement. +By eight o'clock the last of the baggage was near the nullah. The +helio then flashed to the pickets. They came in and joined the rear +guard of the Sikhs, and were well in the nullah before a shot was +fired.</p> +<p>When the Afridis fairly took the offensive they attacked with +fury, and the Sikhs were obliged to signal for help. They were +joined by a company of the Borderers. A party of Pathans dashed +forward to seize the baggage; they had not, however, seen the few +files that formed the rearmost guard, and were therefore caught +between two bodies of troops, and almost annihilated. This sudden +reversal of the situation seemed to paralyse the tribesmen, and the +rest of the gorge was safely passed. Though the natives followed up +the rear guard to within two miles of the camp, they never made +another determined attack. The force lost, in all, five officers +wounded, and a hundred men killed and wounded, from the 36th.</p> +<p>During the course of the reconnaissance Lisle had been with the +rear guard, and had fallen in the torrent with a rifle ball through +his leg. As every man was engaged in fighting, the fall was +unnoticed and, as he could not recover his footing, he was washed +helplessly down to the mouth of the defile. As he managed to reach +the shore, a party of Afridis rushed down upon him with drawn +tulwars; but a man who was evidently their leader stopped them, as +they were about to fall upon him.</p> +<a id="PicD" name="PicD"></a> +<center><img src="images/d.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: A party of Afridis rushed down upon him." /></center> +<p>"He is an officer," he said. "We must keep him for a hostage. It +will be better, so, than killing him."</p> +<p>Accordingly he was carried back to a village which the troops +had left that evening. Here some women were told to attend to his +wound, and the party who captured him went off to join in the +attack on the British rear guard.</p> +<p>In the evening, the man who had saved his life returned. He was, +it seemed, the headman of the village; and had been with his force +in the Bara valley, where the natives of the village had retired on +the approach of the British force. There Lisle lay for ten days, by +which time the inflammation from the wound had begun to subside. +The bullet had luckily grazed, and not broken the bone. At the end +of that time, some of the principal men came to him and, by signs, +directed him to write a letter to the British commander, saying +that he was a prisoner, that he was held as a hostage against any +further attempt to penetrate into the valley; and that, in the +event of another British force approaching, he would be at once put +to death.</p> +<p>Four of the Afridis always sat at the entrance to the house, +which was one of the largest in the valley. He was served regularly +with food; of which, as the valley had not been entered, there was, +of course, abundance. The women in the house seldom came in to see +him, except when they brought him his meals; and then it was +evident, from their surly manner, that they strongly objected to +his presence.</p> +<p>As he lay on his rough pallet, he resolved to maintain the +appearance of being unable to walk, as long as possible. He knew +very well that, if General Lockhart had to make another movement +against the Bara valley, he could not be averted from his purpose +by the fact that the Afridis held one officer prisoner, though he +would assuredly revenge his murder, by destroying every house in +the valley; and that he must accordingly trust only to himself to +make his escape. To do this, it would be absolutely necessary to +procure a disguise; and this, at present, he did not see his way to +accomplish.</p> +<p>The guards below were relieved every few hours, and kept up +their watch every day. Still, as they watched only the door, it +might be possible for him to let himself down from the window at +the back of the house.</p> +<p>On the tenth day he found himself really able to walk, without +very great difficulty. Looking out of the window, one morning, he +saw that the women of the house were all gathered round the guards, +and talking excitedly. Evidently some messenger had come in with +news from the Tirah valley. He knew, by this time, how many there +were in the house, and was satisfied that they were all there.</p> +<p>He at once made his way down to the floor below; feeling +confident that, for the moment, he would not be disturbed. Hanging +against the wall were several men's dresses and clothes. He hastily +took down sufficient for a disguise. They were summer clothes--for +the Afridis, when leaving to act against our troops in the +mountains, wear sheepskin garments. At any rate, there was little +fear that their loss would be discovered until the men returned +from the front.</p> +<p>He took the clothes up to his room, and hid them under the +pallet. Then, having ascertained that the women were still engaged +in talking, he took off his boots and made his way down to the +lowest story, which was principally used as a storehouse. Here, +among bags of corn and other stores, he saw a coil of rope. This he +carried upstairs and, having hidden it, lay down again.</p> +<p>The rest of the day passed quietly. It was apparent that the +clothes had not been missed and, with a strong feeling of +hopefulness, he awaited the night. When the house was quiet he +looked out. Four men were sitting, as usual, at the front of the +door. Then he took off his uniform and put on his disguise, +fastened one end of the rope securely, and slid down noiselessly to +the ground.</p> +<p>Keeping the house between him and the guard, he started. Making +a detour, he got free of the village, and then turned to the upper +end of the valley. Half an hour's walking took him to where the +force had encamped, and he soon reached the mouth of the gorge.</p> +<p>Here he plunged into the river. His leg hurt him a good deal, +but he waded on and, after great exertions, reached the head of the +gorge. His leg was now hurting him so much that he could proceed no +farther so, turning off, he mounted the hills and lay down among +the rocks, where there was little chance of his being +discovered.</p> +<p>Here he dozed till morning. When he took the rope, he had thrust +several handfuls of grain into his pocket; and this he had tied up +in the skirt of his garment, when he started. He now munched some +of it, and lay, watching the mouth of the gorge below.</p> +<p>Two hours after daybreak, he saw a small party of tribesmen come +hurrying up through the gorge. They did not stop, but kept on their +course, evidently supposing that he had pushed on to join the +British camp. All day he lay hidden and, before dark, he saw the +men come back again. They had evidently given up the chase and, as +he had seen no searchers upon the hills, the idea that he was +hiding had evidently not occurred to them.</p> +<p>He felt, however, that he must give his leg another day's rest +before proceeding. On the following day he suffered a good deal +from thirst, and dared not venture down to the river. When it was +dark, however, he continued his way.</p> +<a id="PicE" name="PicE"></a> +<center><img src="images/e.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: It was the dead body of an Afridi." /></center> +<p>Presently he saw something white, huddled up behind a rock and, +climbing up, he found that it was the dead body of an Afridi, who +had fallen in the fight. Beside him lay his Lee-Metford rifle. This +was indeed a find. In the scanty garments that he had alone dared +to take, he would be known at once by anyone who happened to pass +near him. He now set to work, and dressed himself in the dead +warrior's garments; and took up his rifle and pouch of +ammunition.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "I only want something to stain my face and +hands, and I shall be able to pass anywhere, if it does not come to +talking."</p> +<p>He kept his eyes about him, and presently saw the plant which he +knew Robah had used in preparing the dye for him. Pulling all the +leaves off, he pounded them with the stock of his rifle, and rubbed +his face with juice from the leaves. There was sufficient to stain +both his face and hands.</p> +<p>By nightfall he entered the Maidan. Here he saw many natives +gathered round the ruined houses. As he approached it, he saw that +heavy firing was going on round the camp. It was greatly reduced in +extent, and he guessed that a considerable proportion of the force +had moved off on some punitive expedition. Between him and it, he +could see many of the Afridis crouched among the rocks, ready to +attack any small parties that might issue out.</p> +<p>He saw at once that it would be impossible to reach the camp +without being questioned, and he therefore determined to fall in +with the column that had gone out. For this purpose, he made a wide +detour until he came upon a track where there were innumerable +signs that a column had recently passed. Crushed shrubs would, in +themselves, have been a sufficient guide; but there were many other +tokens of the path of the army: grain dropped from a hole in a +sack, scratches on the rock by the shod feet of the transport +animals, an empty cartridge case, and a broken earthenware pot.</p> +<p>He pushed on rapidly, keeping a sharp lookout for the enemy. +Some of them, passing along the hill, shouted to him to join them; +but with a wave of his rifle and a gesture, showing that he +intended to keep to the track, he went on.</p> +<p>Late in the afternoon, on mounting a high pass, he could +distinctly hear firing in the distance; and his heart beat at the +thought that he was near his friends. Still, between him and them +the Afridis might be swarming. The risk, however, must be run.</p> +<p>Ascending the slope of the hill, he obtained a view of the +conflict. A body of British troops was firing steadily, and another +regiment was coming up to their assistance. The Afridis were +swarming round in great numbers, and keeping up a continuous fire. +Waiting until he saw where the Afridis were thickest, he made his +way down to the firing line, and took up his position behind a +rock; there being none of the natives within fifty yards of him. He +now began to fire, taking pains to see that his bullets went far +over the heads of the British. This he continued until nightfall, +by which time the conflict had come to an end, and the British +regiments, with the convoy which they were protecting, had reached +camp.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch10" id="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: Through The Mohmund +Country.</h2> +<p>For a time the firing ceased entirely but, soon after nightfall, +a scattered fire opened round the camp. Lisle now made his way down +fearlessly, until within four hundred yards of the camp. He was +able to make out the white dresses of the Afridis, lying crouched +behind rocks. No one paid any attention to him and, as soon as he +had passed them, he dropped on his hands and knees and began +crawling forward; keeping himself carefully behind cover for, at +any moment, the pickets might open fire. When he approached the +British lines, he stopped behind a rock and shouted:</p> +<p>"Don't fire! I am a friend."</p> +<p>"Come on, friend, and let us have a look at you," the officer in +charge of the picket answered.</p> +<p>Rising, he ran forward.</p> +<p>"Who on earth are you?" the officer asked when he came up. "You +look like one of the Afridis, but your tongue is English."</p> +<p>"I am Lieutenant Bullen," he said; and a burst of cheering rose +from the men, who belonged to his own regiment.</p> +<p>"Why, we all thought you were killed, in that fight in the +torrent!"</p> +<p>"No; I was hit, and my leg so disabled that I was washed down by +the torrent; and the men were, I suppose, too much occupied in +keeping the Afridis at bay to notice me. On getting to the other +side of the pass I crawled ashore, and was made prisoner. No doubt +the Afridis thought that, as I was an officer, they would hold me +as a hostage, and so make better terms.</p> +<p>"I was put into the upper story of one of their houses but, +after ten days, my wounds healed sufficiently to allow me to walk; +and I have got here without any serious adventure."</p> +<p>"Well, I must congratulate you heartily. I will send two of the +men into camp with you, for otherwise you would have a good chance +of being shot down."</p> +<p>On arriving at the spot where the officers of the regiment were +sitting round a campfire, his escort left him. As he came into the +light of the fire, several of the officers jumped up, with their +hands on their revolvers.</p> +<p>"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" Lisle exclaimed, with a laugh. "I +can assure you that I am perfectly harmless."</p> +<p>"It is Bullen's voice," one of them exclaimed, and all crowded +round him, and wrung his hands and patted him on the back.</p> +<p>"This is the second time, Bullen, that you have come back to us +from the dead; and this time, like Hamlet's father, you have come +back with very questionable disguise. Now, sit down and take a cup +of tea, which is all we have to offer you."</p> +<p>"I will," Lisle said, "and I shall be glad of some cold meat; +for I have been living, for the past three days, on uncooked +grain."</p> +<p>The meat was brought, and Lisle ate it ravenously, declining to +answer any questions until he had finished.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "I will tell you a plain, unvarnished tale;" and +he gave them, in full detail, the adventure he had gone +through.</p> +<p>"Upon my word, Lisle, you are as full of resources as an egg is +full of meat. Your pluck, in going down to the lower story of that +house while the women were chatting outside, was wonderful. It was, +of course, sheer luck that you found that dead Pathan, and so got +suitable clothes; but how you dyed your face that colour, I cannot +understand."</p> +<p>Lisle explained how he had found a plant which was, as he knew, +used for that purpose; and how he had extracted the colouring +matter from it.</p> +<p>"You had wonderful luck in making your way through the Pathans, +without being questioned; but, as we know, fortune favours the +brave. Well, I shall have another yarn to tell General Lockhart, in +the morning; but how we are to rig you out, I don't know."</p> +<p>Several of the officers, however, had managed to carry one or +two spare garments in their kits. These were produced; and Lisle, +with great satisfaction, threw off the dirt-stained Pathan +garments, and arrayed himself in uniform.</p> +<p>Pleased as all the others were at his return, no one was so +delighted as Robah, who fairly cried over his master, whom he had +believed to be lost for ever.</p> +<p>"We shall not be uneasy about you again, Bullen," the colonel +said, as they lay down for the night. "Whenever we miss you we +shall know that, sooner or later, you will turn up, like a bad +penny. If you hadn't got that wound in the leg--which, by the way, +the surgeon had better dress and examine in the morning--I should +have said that you were invulnerable to Afridi bullets. The next +time there is some desperate service to be done, I shall certainly +appoint you to undertake it; feeling convinced that, whatever it +might be, and however great the risk, you will return unscathed. +You don't carry a charm about with you, do you?"</p> +<p>"No," Lisle laughed, "I wish I did; but anything I carry would +not be respected by a Pathan bullet."</p> +<p>Next morning the colonel reported Lisle's return, and Sir +William Lockhart sent for him and obtained, from his lips, the +story of the adventure.</p> +<p>"You managed excellently, sir," the general said, when he had +finished. "Of course, I cannot report your adventure in full, but +can merely say that Lieutenant Bullen, whom I had reported killed, +was wounded and taken prisoner by the Pathans; and has managed, +with great resource, to make his escape and rejoin the force. Your +last adventure, sir, showed remarkable courage; and this time you +have proved that you possess an equal amount of calmness and +judgment. If you go on as you have begun, sir, you will make a very +distinguished officer."</p> +<p>During the day Lisle had to repeat his story, again and again, +to the officers of other regiments; who came in to congratulate him +on making his escape, and to learn the particulars.</p> +<p>"I shall have," he said, laughing, "to get the printing officer +to strike off a number of copies of my statement, and to issue one +to each regiment. There, I think I would rather go through the +adventure again, than have to keep on repeating it."</p> +<p>He had received a hearty cheer, from the regiment, when he +appeared upon parade that morning; a reception that showed that he +was a general favourite, and that sincere pleasure was felt at his +return.</p> +<p>Lisle had been known among the men as 'the boy' when he first +joined, but he was a boy no longer. He was now eighteen; and had, +from the experiences he had gone through, a much older appearance. +He learned, on the evening of his return, that he was now a full +lieutenant; for there had been several changes in the regiment. +When in cantonments other officers had joined, junior to himself; +and four or five had been killed during the fighting.</p> +<p>"If this goes on much longer, Mr. Bullen, you will be a captain +before we get back to India," one of the officers said.</p> +<p>"I am sure I hope not," he replied. "I don't wish to gain steps +by the death of my friends. However, I hope that there is no chance +of it coming to that."</p> +<p>After the visit of the commander to the Mohmund hill force, the +troops under General Lockhart learned the history of the operations +of that force, of which they had hitherto been in complete +ignorance. On the 28th of August the force was concentrated. It +consisted of the troops which, under Sir Bindon Blood, had just +pacified the Upper Swat Valley; with a brigade, under Brigadier +General Jeffreys and General Wodehouse, mobilized near Malakand. On +the 6th of September orders were issued to march to Banjour, +through the Mohmund country to Shabkadr, near Peshawar, and operate +with a force under Major General Ellis. A force had already been +despatched, under General Wodehouse, to seize the bridge over the +Panjkora. This was successfully accomplished, the force arriving +just in time, as a large body of the enemy came up only a few hours +later.</p> +<p>General Meiklejohn was in command of the line of communication, +and the 2nd and 3rd Brigades crossed the Panjkora without +opposition. On the 13th of September the Rambuck Pass was +reconnoitred, and the two brigades arrived at Nawagai. General +Jeffreys encamped near the foot of the Ramjak Pass; and part of his +force was detached, to prepare the road for the passage of the +expedition, and to bivouac there for the night. The road was +partially made, and the brigade would have passed over but, about +eight o'clock in the evening, the camp at the foot of the pass was +suddenly attacked. All lights were at once extinguished, and the +men fell in rapidly; the trenches opening fire on the unseen enemy, +who moved gradually round to the other side of the camp. It was +pitch dark, for the moon had not yet risen; and the enemy poured in +a murderous fire, but did not attempt to rush the camp. The troops +were firing almost at random for, in spite of star shells being +fired, very few of the enemy could be made out.</p> +<p>The fire was hottest from the side occupied by the 38th Dogras, +who determined to make a sortie, for the purpose of clearing the +enemy away from that flank. In spite of the fact that the ground +was swept by bullets, several volunteered for the sortie. The fire, +however, was too hot. Captain Tomkins and Lieutenant Bailey fell, +almost the instant they rose to their feet. Lieutenant Harrington +received a mortal wound, and several men were also killed and +wounded, and the sortie was given up.</p> +<p>All night a heavy fire was kept up by the enemy, but they moved +off in the morning. The camp presented a sad sight, when day broke; +dead horses and mules were lying about among the tents and +shelters, which had been hurriedly thrown down at the first attack. +When it was learned that the assailants belonged to the Banjour +tribes, living in the Mohmund Valley, a squadron of Bengal Lancers +were sent off in pursuit and, overtaking them in a village at the +entrance of their valley, killed many, pursuing them for four or +five miles. When they returned to the village, they were joined by +the Guides Infantry and a mountain battery. This was too small a +force to follow the enemy into their hills, but they destroyed the +fortifications of several small villages and, before night, General +Jeffreys, with the rest of the brigade, arrived.</p> +<p>Night passed without interruption and, in the morning, the force +marched in three columns; the centre keeping straight up the +valley, while the other two were to destroy the villages on each +side. When the centre column had advanced six miles up the valley, +they saw the enemy in a village on the hill; and a detachment of +the Buffs went out to dislodge them. The remainder of the column +pushed on.</p> +<p>Two companies of the 35th Sikhs, who were in advance, went too +far; and were suddenly attacked by a great number of the enemy. +Fighting sturdily they fell back but, being hampered by their +wounded, many of the men were unable to return the fire of the +tribesmen; who formed round them, keeping up a heavy fire at close +quarters. The Ghazis, seeing their opportunity, came closer and +closer; their swordsmen charging in and cutting down the Sikhs in +the ranks. Seventeen were thus killed or wounded. Presently, +however, the Buffs arrived in support, and a squadron of the 11th +Bengal Lancers charged the Ghazis, and speared many of them before +they could reach the shelter of the hills; and the Buffs soon drove +them away, with heavy loss.</p> +<p>While this was going on the third detachment, which had +destroyed many of the numerous villages, was called in to join the +main body. The guns had been doing good work among the flying +tribesmen. A company and a half of the 35th Sikhs were told to take +post, on a high hill, to cover the guns. This force, when the +troops returned, diverged somewhat from the line of march which the +main body were following. It was hard pressed by the tribesmen, +hampered by the wounded, and was running short of ammunition; and +was obliged to send for help. The general ordered the Guides to go +to their assistance but, fortunately, a half company of that +regiment with some ammunition had already reached them, and the +party could be seen fighting their way up a steep rocky spur.</p> +<p>The tribesmen, confident that they could cut off the small band +from the main force, rushed at them with their swords. Both the +officers were severely wounded. When, however, the rest of the +Guides arrived on the hill, they poured several volleys into the +enemy, and so checked their advance. A Havildar then volunteered to +mount the hill with ammunition. He reached the party with seventy +cartridges, and carried back a wounded native officer. Other Guides +followed his example, and all reached the valley as evening was +closing in.</p> +<p>The Ghazis crept up the ravine, and maintained a hot fire upon +them. It soon became pitch dark, and the difficulty of the march +was increased by a heavy storm. The force lost the line of retreat +and, but for the vivid lightning, would have found it impossible to +make their way across the deep ravine. At ten o'clock they reached +the camp.</p> +<p>Here they found that General Jeffreys, with part of his brigade, +had not yet returned. At dawn, however, the general appeared, with +his mountain battery and a small escort. They had become separated +from the remainder of the brigade, and the general decided to +bivouac in a village. Defences were at once formed. The trenching +tools were with the main body, but the sappers used their bayonets +to make a hasty shelter.</p> +<p>The enemy took possession of the unoccupied part of the village, +and opened fire on the trenches. This grew so hot that it became +absolutely necessary to clear the village. Three attempts were +made, but failed; the handful of available men being altogether +insufficient for the purpose.</p> +<p>The enemy now tried to rush the troops, and a continuous fire +was poured into a small enclosure, packed with men and mules. The +casualties were frequent, but the men now threw up a fresh +defensive work, with mule saddles and ammunition boxes. The fury of +the storm, which came on at nine o'clock, somewhat checked the +ardour of the assailants; and the water was invaluable to the +wounded.</p> +<p>At midnight four companies, who had gone out in search of the +general, arrived and cleared the enemy out of the village. The +casualties had been heavy, two officers and thirty-six men having +been killed, and five officers and a hundred and two men +wounded.</p> +<p>Next day the force started on their way up the valley. Their +object was to attack a strongly-fortified village on the eastern +side of the valley, about six miles distant from the camp. When +they were within two thousand yards of the enemy's position, the +tribesmen could be seen, making their disposition for the +attack.</p> +<p>The Sikhs, Dogras, and Buffs stormed the heights on either side; +but the enemy made no attempt to stand. The Guides advanced +straight on the village, which was destroyed without loss. The +grain found there was carried into camp. Several other villages +were captured and, though the enemy were several times gathered in +force, the appearance of a squadron of Bengal Lancers, in every +case, put them to flight.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the 3rd Brigade were encamped at Nawagai. The +news of the attack on General Jeffreys' column had upset the +arrangements. It was of the utmost importance to hold Nawagai, +which separated the country of the Hadda Mullah and the Mamunds. As +the whole country was hostile, and would rise at the first +opportunity, the force was not strong enough to march against the +Hadda Mullah, and leave a sufficient body to guard the camp. It was +therefore decided to wait, until they were joined by General Ellis' +force.</p> +<p>Skirmishing went on daily. On the 17th, heliographic +communication was opened with General Ellis. On the following day +an order was flashed to them, to join General Jeffreys in the +Mamund valley. This was impracticable, however, until General Ellis +should arrive.</p> +<p>Next night a couple of hundred swordsmen crept up to a ravine, +within fifty yards of the camp, and suddenly fell upon the West +Surrey regiment. They were met by such a hail of bullets that most +of them dropped, and of the remainder not a man reached Hallal.</p> +<p>On the following day a messenger arrived, from General Ellis, +asking Sir Bindon Blood to meet him ten miles away. That afternoon +a reconnaissance was made, as news had been received that large +reinforcements had been received by Hadda Mullah. The enemy showed +themselves in great force, but kept out of range of the guns +though, during the return march, they followed the troops and, when +darkness set in, were but two miles from camp.</p> +<p>At nine in the evening the enemy, who had crept silently up, +attempted to rush the camp on three sides. The troops were well +prepared, and maintained a steady fire; although the enemy's +swordsmen hurled themselves against our entrenchments in great +numbers. The star shells were fired by the mountain battery, and +their reflection enabled the infantry to pour deadly volleys into +the midst of the enemy, who were but a few yards distant. The +tribesmen, however, completely surrounded the camp, their riflemen +keeping up a heavy fire, and their swordsmen making repeated +rushes.</p> +<p>The tents had all been struck, and the troops lay flat on the +ground while the enemy's bullets swept the camp. This was kept up +till two o'clock in the morning, the fire never slackening for a +minute; and the monotony of the struggle was only broken by an +occasional mad, fanatical rush of the Ghazis. The entrenchments +were so well made that only thirty-two casualties occurred, but a +hundred and fifteen horses and transport animals were killed.</p> +<p>The effect of this decisive repulse, of an attack which the +enemy thought would certainly be successful, was shown by the +complete dispersal of the enemy. Their losses had been terrible. It +was ascertained that, in the surrounding villages alone, three +hundred and thirty had been killed; while a great number of dead +and wounded had been carried away over the passes.</p> +<p>On the following day General Ellis arrived. It was arranged that +the 3rd Brigade should join his command. Thus reinforced, he could +deal with the Hadda Mullah, and General Blood would be at liberty +to join the 2nd Brigade in the Mamund Valley.</p> +<p>General Ellis took up a position, with the two brigades at his +disposal, at the mouth of the Bedmanai Pass; and sniping went on +all night. Next morning the troops moved forward to the attack. +Covered by the rest of the force, the 20th Punjabis, with the 3rd +Ghoorkhas in support, were ordered to make the assault, and to +secure the hills commanding the pass. The enemy fought stubbornly, +but were gradually driven back; their numbers being greatly reduced +by deserters, after the attack on the camp. The Hadda Mullah had +fled, directly the fight began; but the Suffi Mullah was seen +constantly rallying his followers.</p> +<p>On the following morning, General Westmacott's brigade marched +to a village situated at the mouth of the Jarobi gorge--a terrible +defile, with precipitous cliffs on either side, the crests of which +were well wooded. The resistance, however, was slight, and the +force pushed through and burned the houses, towers, and forts of +the Hadda Mullah. They were harassed, however, on their return to +camp.</p> +<p>In the meantime, Sir Bindon Blood had joined General Jeffreys' +brigade, which was still engaged in operations against the Mamunds. +Several villages were burned, and large supplies of game and fodder +carried off. The Mamunds at last sent in a party to negotiate; but +it soon appeared that they had no intention of surrendering, for +they had been joined by a considerable number of Afghans, and were +ready for a fresh campaign. The Afghan borderers were in a good +position, and were able to bring their forces to the assistance of +the Mamunds with the assurance that, if they were repulsed, they +could return to their homes.</p> +<p>General Jeffreys therefore recommenced operations, by an attack +upon two fortified villages. These were situated on the lower slope +of a steep and ragged hill, near enough to give support to each +other, and protected by rocky spurs. The inhabitants sallied out to +attack, but were checked by the appearance of our cavalry. The +force then pressed forward to the high jungle.</p> +<p>It was evident that the spurs on either side must be captured, +before the village could be stormed. The Guides were ordered to +clear the spur to the left, the 31st Punjab Infantry and the Dogras +the centre ridge between the two hills, while the West Kents +advanced straight up the hill.</p> +<p>The Guides dashed up the hill with a wild yell. This so +intimidated the tribesmen that, after firing a volley so wild that +not a single man was wounded in the attacking column, they fled in +a panic.</p> +<p>The Punjabis, on the other hill, were stubbornly fighting their +way. The ground consisted, for the most part, of terraced fields, +commanded by strongly-built sangars. Colonel O'Brien was killed, +while gallantly leading his men on to the assault; but the Punjabis +persisted, under the covering fire of the mountain battery, and +dropped shell after shell into the Mamunds; who, however, although +losing heavily, stuck manfully to their rocks and boulders, and +finally were only driven out at the point of the bayonet.</p> +<p>The 31st were now joined by the West Kent, who came down from a +spur on the west, and were able to drive the enemy out of several +strong positions above the other village. On their way a half +company, on reaching a sangar, were suddenly charged by a body of +Ghazis. From the melee which ensued, many of the West Kents were +killed and wounded, among them the officer in command.</p> +<p>As it was now late, it was decided to return to camp for the +night. This was done steadily and deliberately, although the enemy +kept up a heavy fire. The casualties of the day were sixty-one, no +fewer than eight British officers being killed or wounded.</p> +<p>Two days' rest was given the troops, and then they marched +against Badelai. The attack was almost unopposed. The tribesmen +imagined that we were again going to attack their former position, +and they were unable to return in time to defend the village. Their +loss, however, was severe, as they came down to the open ground, +and were swept by the guns of the mountain battery.</p> +<p>A few days afterwards the campaign was brought to an end, the +enemy coming in and offering a general surrender. The expedition +had been very successful, twenty-six villages having been +destroyed, and all the hoards of grain having been carried off.</p> +<p>On the 13th of October the Mamund valley was evacuated, and the +force moved into Matassa. The inhabitants here were perfectly +peaceable and, beyond the blowing up of the fort of a chief, who +had continued hostile, there was no fighting. The force then +returned to Malakand, where it remained for two months.</p> +<p>Two tribes yet remained to be dealt with, namely the Bulas and +Chamlas. Both refused to comply with the reasonable terms imposed +upon them, by the government, for their complicity in the +rebellion.</p> +<p>The force selected for their punishment consisted of two +brigades, under General Meiklejohn and General Jeffreys. These +advanced to the assault on the Tangi Pass. The Guides, 31st +Punjabis, three squadrons of the Bengal Lancers, and two squadrons +of the Guide cavalry were sent to Rustam, a place which threatened +three passes leading into Buner. The enemy, being thus compelled to +watch all three routes, were prevented from assembling in any +force.</p> +<p>Sir Bindon Blood encamped the two brigades on Thursday, the 6th +of January, at the mouth of the Tangi Pass. The detached column was +to protect an entrance over the Pirsai Pass. The assault was made +by the column under General Meiklejohn, and so well was the force +distributed--the hills on either side being captured, while three +batteries opened fire on the hill with shrapnel--that the tribesmen +were unable to maintain their position. The pass was captured with +only one casualty, and the troops marched triumphantly down into +Buner, the first British troops who had ever entered the +country.</p> +<p>They halted at the first village. As this place was plentifully +stocked with goats and chickens, they found abundance of food.</p> +<p>The detached column were equally successful in their attack on +the Pirsai Pass, for they met with scarcely any resistance. Our +success, in capturing the two passes hitherto deemed impregnable, +brought about a complete collapse of the enemy. Deputations came in +from all the surrounding villages, and the tribesmen complied with +the terms imposed upon them.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch11" id="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: An Arduous March.</h2> +<p>Lisle had heard of the operations that had been carried on by +the brigade under General Gazelee, under the general supervision of +Sir William Lockhart. The object was to cross by the Zolaznu Pass, +to punish two of the hostile tribes on the other side; to effect a +meeting with the Khuram column; and to concentrate and operate +against the Chamkannis, a tribe of inveterate robbers. On the 26th +General Gazelee started, and the newly-arrived wing of the Scottish +Fusiliers, and two companies of the Yorkshires was to follow, on +the 28th.</p> +<p>The approach to the pass, which was four miles to the left, was +across a very rough country; and as, after advancing four and a +half miles, a severe opposition was met with, most of the day was +spent in dislodging the tribesmen from the villages, and turning +them out of the spurs which covered the approach to the pass. +Finding it impossible to make the summit that night, they encamped +and, although they were fired into heavily, but little damage was +done.</p> +<p>At dawn the expedition started again but, by accident, they +ascended another pass parallel with the Lozacca. At nine o'clock +the Ghoorkhas and Sikhs arrived at the top of the pass. It was very +difficult and, as the baggage animals gave great trouble on the +ascent, and were unable to go farther, the party camped on the top +of the pass.</p> +<p>General Lockhart left the camp early that morning, but was also +opposed so vigorously that he was obliged to encamp, three miles +from the top of the pass, after having burnt all the villages from +which he had been fired upon. In the morning he joined the advance +party, and went ten miles down the pass. On arriving there, he +found that the Queen's and the 3rd Sikhs had pushed on farther to +Dargai. This was not the place previously visited of this name, +which appears to be a common one in the Tirah. Plenty of hay and +straw stores were found, and the troops were vastly more +comfortable than on the previous night.</p> +<p>It was here that Lisle had overtaken the column.</p> +<p>Next day the whole force was encamped at Dargai, where they were +received in a friendly manner by the villagers; who expressed +themselves willing to pay their share of the fines imposed, and +also to picket the hills. The rear guard, of two companies of +Ghoorkhas and two companies of Scottish Fusiliers, arrived late in +the day. They had met with great opposition. The tribesmen would, +indeed, have succeeded in carrying off the guns, had not a company +of the Ghoorkhas come up and, fighting stubbornly, driven them +off.</p> +<p>Next morning the headmen of the village were summoned, to +explain why they had failed to pay the number of rifles they had +promised; and fire was applied to one of their houses. This had an +instantaneous effect and, in a quarter of an hour, the rifles were +forthcoming and the fine paid.</p> +<p>The force then moved on to Esor, where helio communication with +the Khuram column had been effected and, that day, Sir William +Lockhart and Colonel Hill--who commanded it--met. The country +traversed was a beautiful one. It was admirably cultivated, and the +houses were substantially built.</p> +<p>That day two columns went out: one under General Gazelee, to +collect the fines from one of the tribes; the other commanded by +Colonel Hill, to punish the Chamkannis. This was a small, but +extremely warlike and hardy tribe. A short time before, they had +raided a thousand head of cattle from across our border, and got +clear away with them.</p> +<p>A portion of the force was told off, to work its way into the +valley by the river gorge, while the main body ascended the path +over the Kotal. They reached this at a quarter-past ten and, while +they were waiting for the head of the column that had gone up the +gorge to appear, fire was opened upon them. This, however, was kept +down by the guns. It was an hour before the column appeared, but +the whole force was not through the defile until it was too late to +carry out the destruction of the villages. The column therefore +retired, severely harassed, the while, by the enemy.</p> +<p>Next day Colonel Hill was again sent forward, with the Border +Scouts, the 4th and 5th Ghoorkhas, part of the Queen's, and the +Khoat Battery. They were over the Kotal at nine o'clock, and the +5th Ghoorkhas and the scouts were sent to hold the hills on the +left. The Chamkannis had anticipated a sudden visit, and were in +force on the left, where they had erected several sangars.</p> +<p>The little body of scouts, eighty men strong, fought their way +up the hill; and waited there for the leading company of the 5th. +Lieutenant Lucas, who commanded them, told off half his company to +sweep the sangar, and then the remainder dashed at it.</p> +<p>The Chamkannis stood more firmly than any of the tribesmen had +hitherto done. They met the charge with a volley, and then drew +their knives to receive it. The fire of the covering party +destroyed their composure and, when the scouts were within thirty +yards, they bolted for the next sangar.</p> +<p>Lucas carried three of these defences, one after another, and +drove the enemy off the hill. The Ghoorkhas scouts, who had been +engaged thirty-six times during the campaign, had killed more than +their own strength of the enemy, and had lost but one man killed +and two wounded; and this without taking count of the many nights +they had spent in driving off prowlers round the camp.</p> +<p>The work of destruction now began. Over sixty villages were +destroyed in the valley and, on the following day, the expedition +started to withdraw. The lesson had been so severe that no attempt +was made, by the tribesmen, to harass the movement.</p> +<p>The column marched down to the camp in the Maidan--the Adam +Khels, through whose country they passed, paying the fine, and so +picketing many of the adjacent heights as to guard the camp from +the attacks of hostile tribesmen. When they reached Bara they +decided to rejoin the Peshawar column, without delay, as the +outlook was not promising. The evacuation began on the 7th of +December, but the rear guard did not leave till the 9th. It was +divided into two divisions in order, as much as possible, to avoid +the delay caused by the large baggage column. The 1st Division was +to march down on the Mastura Valley, while General Lockhart's 2nd +Division would again face the Dwatoi defile. Both the forces were +due to join the Peshawar column, on or about the 14th.</p> +<p>General Symonds, with the 1st Division, was unmolested by the +way. It was very different, however, with Lockhart.</p> +<p>The movement was not made a day too soon. Clouds were gathering, +the wind was blowing from the north, and there was every prospect +of a fall of snow, which would have rendered the passage of the +Bara Pass impossible. The 3rd Ghoorkhas led the way, followed by +the Borderers, with the half battalion of the Scottish Regiment and +the Dorsets. Behind them came the baggage of the brigade and +headquarters, the rear of the leading column being brought up by +the 36th Sikhs. General Kempster's Brigade followed, in as close +order as possible; having detached portions of the 1st and 2nd +Ghoorkhas, and the 2nd Punjab Infantry, to flank the whole +force.</p> +<p>The Malikdin Khels were staunch to their word, and not a single +shot was fired till the force had passed through the defile. The +difficulties, however, were great, for the troops, baggage, and +followers had to wade through the torrent, two-thirds of the way. +The flanking had used up all the Ghoorkhas, and the Borderers now +became the advance guard.</p> +<p>Everything seemed peaceful, and the regiment was halfway across +the small valley, when a heavy fire was opened on the opposite +hill. General Westmacott was in command of the brigade. The +Borderers were to take and hold the opposite hill, supported by a +company of Dorsets and of Scottish Fusiliers. The battery opened +fire, while a party turned the nearest sangars on the right flank. +By three o'clock the whole of the crests were held, and the baggage +streamed into camp. Fighting continued, however, on the peaks, far +into the night.</p> +<p>No explanations were forthcoming why the enemy should have +allowed the force to pass through the defile, without obstruction, +when a determined body of riflemen could have kept the whole of +them at bay; for the artillery could not have been brought into +position, as the defile was the most difficult, of its kind, that a +British division had ever crossed.</p> +<p>The day following the withdrawal of the rear guard, it rained in +the Bara Valley, which meant snow in the Maidan. The pickets on the +heights had a bad time of it that night, as some of them were +constantly attacked; and it was not till three in the morning that +the baggage came in, the rear guard arriving in camp about ten.</p> +<p>The camp presented a wonderful sight that day, crowded as it was +with men and animals. The weather was bitterly cold, and the men +were busy gathering wood to make fires. On the hills all round, the +Sikhs could be seen engaged with the enemy, the guns aiding them +with their work. The 36th Sikhs, as soon as they arrived, were sent +off to occupy a peak, two miles distant, which covered the advance +into the Rajgul defile. The enemy mustered strong, but were turned +out of the position.</p> +<p>The next morning the villages were white with snow. A party was +sent on into the Rajgul valley, where they destroyed a big +village.</p> +<p>Immediately after leaving Dwatoi, the valley broadened out till +it was nearly a mile wide. On the right it was commanded by steep +hills; on the left it was, to some extent, cultivated. The 4th +Brigade this time led the way, the 3rd bringing up the rear.</p> +<p>From the moment when the troops fell in on the 10th, till they +reached Barkai on the 14th, there was a general action from front +to rear. The advance guard marched at half-past seven. At eight +o'clock flanking parties were engaged with the enemy in the hills +and spurs. Serious opposition, however, did not take place until +five and a half miles of the valley had been passed.</p> +<p>Here the river turned to the right, and the front of the advance +was exposed to the fire of a strongly-fortified village, nestling +on the lower slope of a hill, on a terrace plateau. The village was +furnished with no fewer than ten towers, and from these a very +heavy fire was kept up.</p> +<p>The battery shelled the spur; while the Sikhs, in open order, +skirmished up the terraces to the plateau and, after a brisk +fusillade, took the village and burnt it.</p> +<p>A mile farther, the head of the column reached the camping +place, which was a strong village built into the river cleft. On +the left the 36th Sikhs and part of the Ghoorkhas cleared the way; +while the Bombay Pioneers, and the rest of the Ghoorkhas, became +heavily engaged with the enemy in some villages on the right. All +along the line a brisk engagement went on. The camp pickets took up +their positions early in the afternoon, and a foraging party went +out and brought in supplies, after some fighting.</p> +<p>Kempster's Brigade had not been able to reach the camp, and +settled itself for the night three miles farther up the valley. It, +too, had its share of fighting.</p> +<p>All night it rained heavily, and the morning of the 11th broke +cold and miserable. It was freezing hard; the hilltops, a hundred +feet above the camp, were wrapped in snow; and the river had +swollen greatly. The advance guard waded out into the river bed, +and the whole of the brigade followed, the Ghoorkhas clearing the +sides of the valley. In a short time they passed into the +Zakka-Khel section of the Bara Valley.</p> +<p>Curiously enough, the opposition ceased here. It may be that the +enemy feared to show themselves on the snow on the hilltops; or +that, being short of ammunition, they decided to reserve themselves +for an attack upon the other brigade. Scarcely a shot was fired +until the valley broadened out into the Akerkhel, where some small +opposition was offered by villagers on either bank. This, however, +was easily brushed aside.</p> +<p>The advance guard of the 3rd Brigade almost caught up the rear +guard of the 4th and, by four in the afternoon, its baggage was +coming along nicely, so that all would be in before nightfall. The +rear guard of the brigade, consisting of the Gordons, Ghoorkhas, +and 2nd Punjab Infantry, had been harassed as soon as they started +and, as the day wore on, the enemy increased greatly in numbers. As +the flanking parties fell back to join the rear guard, they were so +pressed that it was as much as they could do to keep them at +bay.</p> +<p>When about three miles from camp, the baggage took a wrong road. +In trying a piece of level ground, they became helplessly mixed up +in swampy rice fields. The enemy, seeing the opportunity they had +waited for, outflanked the rear guard, and began pouring a heavy +fire into the baggage. The flanking parties were weak, for the +strain had been so severe that many men from the hospital escort +and baggage guard had been withdrawn, to dislodge the enemy from +the surrounding spurs.</p> +<p>The Pathans were almost among the baggage, when a panic seized +the followers. As night began to fall, the officer commanding the +Gordons, with two weak companies of his regiment, two companies of +the Ghoorkhas, and a company of the 2nd Punjab Infantry and some +Ghoorkhas, found himself in a most serious position. The guns had +limbered up and pushed on, and the rear guard remained, surrounded +by the enemy, hampered with its wounded, and stranded with doolies. +As the native bearers had fled these doolies were, in many cases, +being carried by the native officers.</p> +<p>The enemy grew more and more daring, and a few yards, only, +divided the combatants. Captain Uniacke, retiring with a few of the +Gordons, saw that there was only one course left: they must +entrench for the night. He was in advance of the actual rear guard, +attempting to hold a house against the fire of quite a hundred +tribesmen.</p> +<p>Collecting four men of his regiment, and shouting wildly, he +rushed at the doorway. In the dusk the enemy were uncertain of the +number of their assailants and, in their horror of the bayonet, +they fired one wild volley and fled. To continue the ruse, Captain +Uniacke climbed to the roof, shouting words of command, as if he +had a company behind him. Then he blew his whistle, to attract the +rear guard as it passed, in the dark.</p> +<p>The whistle was heard and, in little groups, they fell back with +the wounded to the house. It was a poor place, but capable of +defence; and the Pathans drew off, knowing that there was loot in +abundance to be gained down by the river.</p> +<p>As night wore on the greatest anxiety prevailed, when transport +officers and small parties straggled in, and reported that +tribesmen were looting and cutting up followers, within a mile of +camp; and that they had no news to give of the men who composed the +rear guard. So anxious were the headquarter staff that a company of +the Borderers were sent out, to do what they could.</p> +<p>Lieutenant Macalister took them out and, going a mile up the +river, was able to collect many followers and baggage animals, but +could find no signs of the rear guard. Early in the morning a +company of the 2nd Punjab Infantry went out, as a search party, and +got into communication with the rear guard. They were safe in the +house; but could not move, as they were hampered with the wounded, +and were surrounded by the enemy. Two regiments and a mountain +battery therefore went out and rescued them from their awkward +predicament, bringing them into camp, with as much baggage as could +be found.</p> +<p>The casualties of the day amounted to a hundred and fifty +animals, and a hundred followers killed. Of the combatants two +officers were wounded, and fourteen Gordons were wounded, and four +killed.</p> +<p>Owing to the necessity of sending out part of the 4th Brigade, +to support the cut-off rear of the 3rd Brigade, it was impossible +to continue the march that day. Next morning, the order of the +brigade was changed. The 23rd was to lead, handing over a battery +of artillery to the 4th, for service in the rear guard. It was also +ordered that flanking parties were to remain in position, until the +baggage had passed. The advance guard consisted of the 2nd Punjab +Infantry, and the 1st and 2nd Ghoorkhas. The others were told off +to burn and destroy all villages on either side of the nullah. The +baggage of the whole division followed the main guard.</p> +<p>Directly the camp was left, the sides of the nullah enlarged +and, for half a mile, the road lay through a narrow ravine. The +drop was rapid; for the river, swollen by the fallen snow, had +become literally a torrent; and the scene with the baggage was one +of extreme confusion. The recent disaster had given a frenzied +impulse to the generally calm followers, and all felt anxiety to +press forward, with an impetus almost impossible to control. The +mass of baggage became mixed in the ravine, but at last was cleared +off and, when the valley opened, they moved forward at their +greatest speed, but now under perfect control.</p> +<p>After this the opposition became less, and the village of +Gulikhel was reached by the 3rd Brigade. The village stands on the +left bank of the Bara. Immediately below it a nullah becomes a +narrow gorge, almost impassable in the present state of the river. +It is several miles long. There was, however, a road over a +neighbouring saddle. The path up from the river was narrow, but +sufficient to allow two loaded mules to pass abreast. It wound for +some seven miles, over a low hill, until the river bed was again +reached.</p> +<p>The next ford was Barkhe. The advance guard was well up in the +hills by midday, when it met the Oxfordshire Regiment, which had +come out seven miles to meet the force; but the baggage of a +division, filing out of the river bed in pairs, is a serious +matter, and there was necessarily a block in the rear.</p> +<p>General Westmacott moved as soon as the baggage was off but, +long before it was through the first defile, his pickets were +engaged, and a general action followed. The enemy, fighting with +extraordinary boldness, kept within a few yards of the pickets. +Followers with baggage animals were constantly hit, as they came up +but, at half-past ten, the rear guard regiments marched out of +camp, under cover of artillery fire.</p> +<p>The fighting was so severe that, within an hour, the ammunition +of the 3rd Ghoorkhas was expended and, shortly afterwards, the two +regiments of the rear guard were forced to call up their first +reserve ammunition mules. The march was continued at a rapid pace, +until they reached the block caused by the narrowness of the path. +Here the whole river reach became choked with animals and doolies. +The wounded were coming in fast, when the Pathans, taking advantage +of the block, attacked in great force, hoping to compel the +retreating force to make their way down the long river defile.</p> +<p>General Westmacott, however, defended his right with energy; the +rear-guard regiments supporting each other, while the batteries +were in continual action. The Borderers, Sikhs, and Ghoorkhas stood +well to their task, till the last of the baggage animals were got +out of the river bed.</p> +<p>The country now had become a rolling plateau, intersected by +ravines and thickly covered with low jungle, in which the enemy +could creep up to within three or four yards of the fighting line. +Progress was, consequently, very slow. To be benighted in such a +country would have meant disaster, so General Westmacott selected a +ridge, which he determined to hold for the night. The wearied men +were just filing up, when a tremendous rush was made by the +Afridis. For a moment, it seemed as if they would all be enveloped +and swept away; but the officers threw themselves into the ranks, +magazines were worked freely, and the very bushes seemed to melt +away before the hail of shot. The tribesmen were swept back in the +darkness, and they never tried a second rush. Their firing also +slackened very much, and this permitted the men to form a camp, and +see to the wounded.</p> +<p>That day the rear guard lost one officer killed and three +wounded, eighteen men killed, eighty-three wounded, and six +missing. The night in camp was a terrible experience. The troops +had been fighting since early morning, the frost was bitter, and +they had neither water, food, nor blankets. General Westmacott +passed the night with the sentry line.</p> +<p>Early in the morning the action recommenced and, stubbornly +contesting each foot, at times almost in hand-to-hand conflict with +tribesmen in the bushes, the rear guard fell back. The summit of +the Kotal was passed; but the enemy continued to harass their +retirement down to the river, where the picket post of the 9th +Ghoorkhas was reached. The retirement from the Tirah had cost a +hundred and sixty-four killed and wounded. As a military +achievement, this march of Lockhart's 2nd Division should have a +prominent place in the history of the British army.</p> +<p>After a quiet day, the force marched into Swaikot. Next morning +the troops in camp there gathered on each side of the road, +cheering their battle-grimed comrades, and bringing down hot cakes +to them. It was a depressing sight. The men were all pinched and +dishevelled, and bore on their faces marks of the terrible ordeal +through which they had just passed.</p> +<p>The advance guard were followed by the wounded. The 4th Brigade +followed. They were even more marked by hardship and strife than +those who had preceded them. Then the rear guard marched in, and +the first phase of the Tirah expedition was at an end.</p> +<p>The expedition had carried out its object successfully. The +Afridis had been severely punished, and had been taught what they +had hitherto believed impossible, that their defiles were not +impregnable, and that the long arm of the British Government could +reach them in their recesses. The lesson had been a very severe +one, but it had been attained at a terrible cost. It is to be hoped +that it will never have to be repeated.</p> +<p>But while the regiment were resting quietly in their cantonment, +there had been serious fighting on the road to Chitral. After some +hesitation, the government had decided that this post should remain +in our hands, and a strong force was therefore stationed at the +Malakand. This, after clearing the country, remained quietly at the +station; until news was received of the attack on our fort at +Shabkadr, near Peshawar, by the Mohmunds and, two days later, news +came that a large council had been held by the fanatics of various +tribes, at which they decided to join the tribes in the Upper +Valley of Swat.</p> +<p>On the 14th of August the force set out from Thana, under Sir +Bindon Blood, on their march for the Upper Swat. The 11th Bengal +Lancers were sent forward in order to reconnoitre the country. The +enemy were found in force near Jelala, at the entrance to the Upper +Swat river, their advance post being established in some Buddhist +ruins on a ridge. The Royal West Kent, however, advanced and drove +them off.</p> +<p>Then news came that several thousand of the enemy occupied a +front, of some two miles, along the height; their right flank +resting on the steep cliffs, and their left reaching to the top of +the higher hills. The battery opened fire upon them; and the +infantry, coming into action at nine o'clock in the morning, did +much execution among the crowded Ghazis.</p> +<p>The 31st and 24th Punjab Infantry, under General Meiklejohn, had +a long and arduous march on the enemy's left. The movement was +successfully carried out; and the enemy, knowing that their line of +retreat towards the Morah Pass was threatened, broke up, a large +portion streaming away to their left. The remainder soon lost heart +and, although a desperate charge by a handful of Ghazis took place, +these only sacrificed their lives, without altering the course of +events.</p> +<p>The enemy gathered on a ridge in the rear but, by eleven, the +heights commanding the road were in the hands of our troops, and +the Guides cavalry began to file past. When they got into the pass +behind the ridge, the enemy were more than a mile away; and could +be seen in great numbers, separated by several ravines.</p> +<p>Captain Palmer, who had pushed forward in pursuit, soon found +himself ahead of his men. Near him were Lieutenant Greaves and, +thirty yards behind, Colonel Adams and Lieutenant Norman. Seeing +that the enemy were in considerable force, Colonel Adams directed +the troop of cavalry who were coming up to hold a graveyard, +through which they had passed, until the infantry could arrive. +Owing, however, to the noise of the firing, Palmer and Greaves did +not hear him; and charged up to the foot of the hill, hoping to cut +off the tribesmen who were hurrying towards them. Palmer's horse +was at once killed, and Greaves fell among the Pathans.</p> +<p>Adams and Fincastle, and two soldiers, galloped forward to their +assistance, and were able to help Palmer back to the shelter of the +graveyard. Meanwhile Fincastle, who had had his horse killed, tried +to help Greaves on to Adams' horse. While doing so, Greaves was +again shot through the body, and Adams' horse wounded. The two +troopers came to their assistance; and Maclean, having first +dismounted his squadron in the graveyard, pluckily rode out with +four of his men. In this way the wounded were successfully brought +in; but Maclean was shot through both thighs, and died almost +instantly. The loss of the two officers, who were both extremely +popular, was greatly felt by the force.</p> +<p>The infantry and guns now having arrived, the enemy retired to a +village, two miles in the rear. Here they were attacked by a +squadron of the Guides, who dispersed them and drove them up into +the hills. In the meantime our camp had been attacked, but the +guard repulsed the assailants, with some loss.</p> +<p>The enemy had lost so heavily that they scattered to the +villages, and sent in to make their submission. This fight +effectually cooled the courage of the natives, and the column +marched through their country unopposed, and the tribesmen remained +comparatively quiet during the after events.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch12" id="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: A Tribal Fight.</h2> +<p>Two days after Lisle's return he was sent for by General +Lockhart, who requested him to give him a full account of his +capture and escape.</p> +<p>"This is the second time, Mr. Bullen, that your conduct has been +brought before me. Your defence of that hut, when you were unable +to make your retirement to the camp, with a handful of men, was a +singularly gallant affair. I lost one of my aides-de-camp in the +last fight, and I am pleased to offer you the vacancy. You may take +possession of his horse until we return; when it will, of course, +be sold. I shall be glad to have a young officer of so much courage +and resource on my staff."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir! I am extremely obliged to you for the offer, +which I gladly accept; and feel it a very high honour, indeed, to +be attached to your staff."</p> +<p>"Very well, Mr. Bullen, I will put you in orders, tomorrow +morning."</p> +<p>On his return to the regiment, Lisle was warmly congratulated +when they heard the honour that had been bestowed on him; but there +were many expressions of regret at his leaving them.</p> +<p>"It will not be for long," he said, "for I suppose that, in +another fortnight, we shall be across the frontier. If it had been +at the beginning of the campaign, I should certainly have refused +to accept the general's offer; for I should much rather have +remained with the regiment. As it was, however, I could hardly +refuse."</p> +<p>"Certainly not," said one. "It is always a pull having been on +the staff, even for a short time. The staff always get their names +in orders, and that gives a fellow much better chances in the +future. Besides, in a campaign like this, where the division gets +often broken up, there is plenty of work to do.</p> +<p>"Well, I hope you will soon be back with us again."</p> +<p>Next morning Lisle took up his new duties, and was soon fully +occupied in carrying messages from and to headquarters. One day he +received orders to accompany one of the senior members of the +staff, to reconnoitre a pass two miles from camp. It was a level +ride to the mouth of the gorge. They had scarcely entered it when, +from behind a rock a hundred yards away, a heavy volley was fired. +The colonel's horse was shot dead and he, himself, was shot through +the leg. Lisle was unwounded, and leapt from his horse.</p> +<p>"Ride for your life, Bullen!" the colonel said. "I am shot +through the leg."</p> +<a id="PicF" name="PicF"></a> +<center><img src="images/f.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: 'My horse must carry two, sir,' Lisle replied." /></center> +<p>"My horse must carry two, sir," Lisle replied, lifting the +officer, who was not wholly disabled, and placing him in the +saddle.</p> +<p>"Jump up!" the officer said.</p> +<p>But the tribesmen were now within twenty yards, and Lisle drew +his sword and gave the animal a sharp prick. It was already +frightened with the shouting of the tribesmen, and went off like an +arrow. Lisle, seeing that resistance was absolutely useless, threw +down his sword; and stood with his arms folded, facing the natives. +An order was shouted by a man who was evidently their leader and, +pausing, those who were armed with breech loaders fired after the +flying horseman; totally disregarding Lisle, who had the +satisfaction of finding that his sacrifice had been effectual, for +the horse pursued its way without faltering.</p> +<p>When it was out of range, the chief turned to Lisle. The Afridis +value courage above all things, and were filled with admiration at +the manner in which this young officer sacrificed himself for his +superior. He signalled to Lisle to accompany him and, surrounded by +the tribesmen, he was taken back to the rock from which they had +first fired. Then, guarded by four armed men, he was conducted to a +little village standing high among the hills.</p> +<p>"This is just my luck," he said to himself, when he was taken to +a room in the principal house. "Here I am a prisoner again, just as +the troops are going to march away. It is awfully bad luck. Still, +if I ever do get back, I suppose the fact that I have saved Colonel +Houghton's life will count for something in my favour. It was +unlucky that there was not time for me to jump up behind him, but +my horse was in bad condition, and we should have been a good deal +longer under fire.</p> +<p>"However, I ought not to grumble at my luck. I believe I am the +only officer who has been taken prisoner and, as it looks as if I +am to be kept as a hostage, my life would seem to be safe. I +certainly expected nothing but instant death when they rushed down +upon me. I have no doubt that, by this time, a messenger has +reached camp saying that they have got me; and that, if there is +any farther advance, they will put me to death. As I know that the +general did not intend to go any farther, and that every day is of +importance in getting the troops down before winter sets in in +earnest, I have no doubt that he will send back a message saying +that, if any harm comes to me, they will, in the spring, return and +destroy every house belonging to the tribe.</p> +<p>"I think I may consider myself safe, and shall find plenty of +employment in learning their language, which may be useful to me at +some time or other. I expect that, as soon as we leave, the people +here will go down into one of their valleys. The cold up here must +be getting frightful and, as there is not a tree anywhere near, +they would not be able even to keep up fires.</p> +<p>"As to escape, I fear that will be impossible. The passes will +all be closed by snow, and I have no doubt that, until they are +sure of that, they will keep a sharp lookout after me."</p> +<p>Later in the day the tribesmen returned. The chief came into the +room and, by means of signs and the few words that Lisle had picked +up, when he was before a prisoner, he signified to him that if he +attempted to make his escape he would at once be killed; but +otherwise he would be well treated. For four or five days a +vigilant watch was kept over him. Then it was relaxed, and he felt +sure that the army had marched away.</p> +<p>Then preparations for a move began. Lisle volunteered to assist, +and aided to pack up the scanty belongings, and filled bags with +corn. The chief was evidently pleased with his willingness and, +several times, gave him a friendly nod. At last all was in +readiness; and the occupants of the village, together with their +animals--all heavily laden, even the women carrying heavy +burdens--started on their way. It was five days' journey, and they +halted at last at a small village--which was evidently private +property--down in the plains at the foot of the mountains and, as +Lisle judged, at no very great distance from the frontier line.</p> +<p>Lisle now mixed a good deal with the natives, and thus he began +to pick up a good many words of their language. Now that they were +down on the plains, two men with rifles were always on guard over +him, but he was allowed to move freely about, as he liked.</p> +<p>A fortnight after they were established in their new quarters +another party of natives arrived, and there was a long and angry +talk. As far as Lisle could understand, these were the permanent +occupants of that portion of the plain, and had been accustomed to +receive a small tribute from the hill people who came down to them. +It seemed that, on the present occasion, they demanded a largely +increased sum in cattle and sheep; on the ground that so many of +the hill tribesmen had come down that their land was eaten up by +them. The amount now demanded was larger than the hill people could +pay. They, therefore, flatly rejected the terms offered them; and +the newcomers retired, with threats of exterminating them.</p> +<p>For the next few days, the tribesmen were busy in putting the +village in a state of defence. A deep ditch was dug round it, and +this was surmounted by an abattis of bushes. Fresh loopholes were +pierced in the tower, and stones were gathered in the upper story, +in readiness to throw down on any assailants.</p> +<p>As soon as the work was begun, Lisle signified to the chief that +he was ready to take part in it, and to aid in the defence. The +chief was pleased with his offer, and gladly accepted it. Lisle +worked hard among them. He needed to give them no advice. +Accustomed to tribal war, the men were perfectly competent to carry +out the work. There were but three towers capable of defence, and +in these the whole of the villagers were now gathered. Men and +women alike worked at the defences. Their sheep and cattle were +driven into the exterior line, and were only allowed to go out to +graze under a strong guard.</p> +<p>A fortnight passed before there were any signs of the enemy, and +then a dark mass was seen approaching. The cattle were hastily +driven in, and the men gathered behind the hedge. Lisle asked the +chief for a rifle, but the latter shook his head.</p> +<p>"We have not enough for ourselves," he said. "Here is a pistol +we took from you, and a sword. You must do the best you can with +them. It is probable that, before the fight goes on long, there +will be rifles without masters, and you will be able to find one. +Are you a good shot?"</p> +<p>"Yes, a very good one."</p> +<p>"Very well, the first that becomes free you shall have."</p> +<p>The assailants halted five hundred yards from the village. Then +one rode forward. When he came within a hundred yards he halted, +and shouted:</p> +<p>"Are you ready to pay the tribute fixed upon?"</p> +<p>"We are not," the chief said. "If you took all we have it would +not be sufficient and, without our animals, we should starve when +we got back to the hills; but I will pay twice the amount +previously demanded."</p> +<p>"Then we will come and take them all," the messenger said.</p> +<p>"Come and take them," the chief shouted, and the messenger +retired to the main body; who at once broke up, when they learned +the answer, and proceeded to surround the village.</p> +<p>"Do you think," the chief said to Lisle, "that you could hit +that man who is directing them?"</p> +<p>"I don't know the exact distance," Lisle said, "but I think +that, if I had two or three shots, I could certainly knock him +over."</p> +<p>"Give me your rifle," the chief said, to one of the tribesmen +standing near him.</p> +<p>"Now, sahib, let us see what you can do."</p> +<p>Lisle took the rifle, and examined it to see that it was all +right; and then, leaning down on a small rise of ground that +permitted him to see over the hedge, he took steady aim and fired. +The man he aimed at fell, at once.</p> +<p>"Well done, indeed!" the chief exclaimed, "you are a good shot. +I will lend you my rifle. It is one of the best; but I only got it +a short time since, and am not accustomed to it."</p> +<p>"Thank you, chief! I will do my best." Then, waving his arm +round, he said, "You will do more good by looking after your +men."</p> +<p>The chief went up to his house, and returned with an old +smooth-bore gun and a bag of slugs.</p> +<p>"I shall do better with this," he said, "when they get +close."</p> +<p>A heavy fire was opened on both sides; but the defenders, lying +behind the hedge, had a considerable advantage; which almost +neutralized the great superiority in numbers of the assailants, who +were in the open. Lisle, lying down behind the bank from which he +had fired, and only lifting his head above the crest to take aim, +occupied himself exclusively with the men who appeared to be the +leaders of the attack, and brought down several of them. The +assailants presently drew off, and gathered together.</p> +<p>It was evident to Lisle, from his lookout, that there was a +considerable difference of opinion among them; but at last they +scattered again round the village and, lying down and taking +advantage of every tuft of grass, they began to crawl forward on +their stomachs. Although, as the line closed in, several were +killed, it was evident that they would soon get near enough to make +a rush.</p> +<p>The chief was evidently of the same opinion, for he shouted an +order, and the defenders all leapt to their feet and ran to the +three fortified houses. There were only three-and-twenty of them, +in all. Lisle saw with satisfaction that they had evidently +received orders, beforehand, from the chief; for seven were running +to the chief's house, making up its garrison, altogether, to nine +men; and seven were running to each of the others.</p> +<p>As the enemy burst through the bushes, which were but some +twenty-five yards from the houses, the defenders opened fire from +every loophole. At so short a distance every shot told; and the +assailants recoiled, leaving more than a dozen dead behind them, +while several of the others were wounded.</p> +<p>They now took up their places in the ditch, and fired through +the hedge. Lisle at once signed to the chief to order his men to +cease firing, and to withdraw from the loopholes.</p> +<p>"It is no good to fire now," he said. "Let them waste their +ammunition."</p> +<p>The chief at once shouted orders to his men to cease firing, and +to take their place on the lower story; the walls of which, being +strongly built of stone, were impenetrable by bullets; while these +passed freely through the lightly-built story above. The enemy +continued to fire rapidly for some time; and then, finding that no +reply was made, gradually stopped. There was a long pause.</p> +<p>"I think they are waiting till it is dark," Lisle said. "Tell +the men to make torches, and thrust them out through the loopholes +when the enemy come."</p> +<p>The chief nodded, after Lisle had repeated the sentence in a +dozen different ways. He at once ordered the men to bring up ropes, +and to soak them with oil; and then in a low voice, so that the +assailants should not hear, repeated the order to the men in the +other houses.</p> +<p>The ropes were cut up into lengths of three feet, and then there +was nothing to do but to wait. The attack had begun at three in the +afternoon, and by six it was quite dark. A loud yell gave the +signal, and the enemy rushed through the hedge and surrounded the +three houses. All had walls round them and, while the assailants +battered at the doors, which had been backed up with earth and +stones, the defenders lighted their torches and thrust them out, +through loopholes in the upper stories, and then retired again to +the ground floor.</p> +<p>The doors soon gave way to the attacks upon them, and the +assailants rushed in, in a crowd. As they did so, the defenders +poured in a terrible fire from their magazine rifles. The heads of +the columns melted away, and the assailants fell back, hastily.</p> +<p>"I do not think they will try again," Lisle said. "If they have +lost as heavily, in the other two houses, as they have here, their +loss must have been heavy, indeed."</p> +<p>The torches were kept burning all night, but there was no +repetition of the attack and, in the morning, the assailants were +seen gathered half a mile away. Presently a man was observed +approaching, waving a green bough. He was met at the hedge by the +chief. He brought an offer that, if the Afridis were allowed to +carry off their dead and wounded, they would be content that the +same tribute as of old should be paid; and to take oath that it +should not, in the future, be increased. The chief agreed to the +terms, on condition that only twenty men should be allowed to pass +the hedge, and that they should there hand over the dead to their +companions.</p> +<p>On returning to his house, he made Lisle understand that, after +the heavy loss they had inflicted on their assailants, there would +forever be a blood feud between them; and that, in future, they +would have to retire for the winter to some valley far away, and +keep a constant watch until spring came again. When Lisle had, with +great difficulty, understood what the chief said, he nodded.</p> +<p>"I can understand that, chief," he said, "and I think you should +keep a very strong guard, every night, till we move away."</p> +<p>"Good man," the chief said, "you have fought by our side, and +are no longer a prisoner but a friend. When spring comes, you shall +go back to your own people."</p> +<p>It took some hours to remove the dead, of whom there were +forty-three; and the badly wounded, who numbered twenty-two--but +there was no doubt that many more had managed to crawl away.</p> +<p>Lisle now set to work to learn the language, in earnest. A boy +was told off by the chief to be his companion and, at the end of +two months, Lisle was able to converse without difficulty. The +chief had already told him that he could leave when he liked, but +that it would be very dangerous for him to endeavour to make his +way to the frontier, especially as the tribe they had fought +against occupied the intervening country.</p> +<p>"When we get among the hills, I will give you four men to act as +your escort down the passes; but you will have to go in disguise +for, after the fighting that has taken place, and the destruction +of the villages, even if peace is made it would not be safe for a +white man to travel among the mountains. He would certainly be +killed."</p> +<p>Every precaution was taken against attack, and six men were +stationed at the hedge, all night. Two or three times noises were +heard, which seemed to proceed from a considerable body of men. The +guard fired, but nothing more was heard. Evidently a surprise had +been intended but, directly it was found that the garrison were on +watch, and prepared, the idea was abandoned; for the lesson had +been so severe that even the hope of revenge was not sufficient to +induce them to run the risk of its repetition.</p> +<p>Lisle did not fret at his enforced stay. He was very popular in +the little village, and was quite at home with the chief's family. +The choicest bits of meat were always sent to him; and he was +treated as an honoured guest, in every way.</p> +<p>"When you return to your people," the chief said, one day, +"please tell them that, henceforth, we shall regard them as +friends; and that, if they choose to march through our country, we +will do all we can to aid them, by every means in our power."</p> +<p>"I will certainly tell them so," Lisle replied, "and the +kindness you have shown me will assuredly be rewarded."</p> +<p>"I regret that we fought against you," the chief said, "but we +were misled. They will not take away our rifles from us, I hope; +for without them we should be at the mercy of the other tribes. +These may give up many rifles, but they are sure to retain some +and, though there are other villages of our clan, we should be an +easy prey, if it were known that we were unarmed."</p> +<p>"I think I can promise that, after your friendly conduct to me, +you will not be required to make any payment, whatever; and indeed, +for so small a matter as twenty rifles, your assurances, that these +would never again be used against us, would be taken into +consideration."</p> +<p>When Lisle had been in the village about three months, one of +the men came up to him and spoke in Punjabi.</p> +<p>"Why, how did you learn Punjabi?" he said, in surprise; "and why +did you not speak to me in it, before? It would have saved me an +immense deal of trouble, when I first came."</p> +<p>"I am sorry," the man said, "but the thought that you could +speak Punjabi did not enter my mind. I thought that you were a +young white officer who had just come out from England. I learnt it +because I served, for fifteen years, in the 32nd Punjabis."</p> +<p>"You did?" Lisle said; "why, the 32nd Punjabis was my father's +regiment! How long have you left it?"</p> +<p>"Six years ago, sahib."</p> +<p>"Then you must remember my father, Captain Bullen."</p> +<p>"Truly I remember him," the man said. "He was one of our best +and kindest officers. And he was your father?"</p> +<p>"Yes. You might remember me too, I must have been eleven or +twelve years old."</p> +<p>The man looked hard at him.</p> +<p>"I think, sir, that I remember your face; but of course you have +changed a good deal, since then. I remember you well, for you often +came down our lines; and you could speak the language fluently, and +were fond of talking to us.</p> +<p>"And your father, is he well?"</p> +<p>"He was killed, three years ago," Lisle said, "in an attack on a +hill fort."</p> +<p>"I am sorry, very sorry. He was a good man. And so you are an +officer in his regiment?"</p> +<p>"No," Lisle said, "I left the regiment in the march to the +relief of Chitral. They wanted to send me home, so I darkened my +skin and enlisted in the regiment, by the aid of Gholam Singh; and +went through the campaign without even being suspected, till just +at the end."</p> +<p>"You went as a soldier?" the man said, in surprise; "never +before have I heard of a white sahib passing as a native, and +enlisting in the ranks. You lived and fought with the men, without +being discovered! Truly, it is wonderful."</p> +<p>"I did not manage quite so well as I ought to have done; for I +found, afterwards, that I had been suspected before we got to +Chitral. Then Colonel Kelly took me out of the ranks and made me a +temporary officer, and afterwards got a commission for me."</p> +<p>"It is truly wonderful," the man repeated.</p> +<p>From that time the native took every pains to show him respect +and liking for the son of his old officer; and the account he gave, +to the others, of the affection with which the young sahib's father +was regarded by the regiment, much increased the cordiality with +which he was generally treated. Spring came at last, and the snow +line gradually rose among the distant hills and, at last, the chief +announced that they could now start for their summer home.</p> +<p>The news was received with general satisfaction, for the night +watches and the constant expectation of attack weighed heavily upon +them all. The decision was announced at dawn and, three hours +afterwards, the animals were packed and they set out on the march. +They had started a fortnight earlier than usual for, if they had +waited till the usual time, their old enemies would probably have +placed an ambush.</p> +<p>They travelled without a halt, until they were well among the +hills. Then the wearied beasts were unladen, fires were lighted, +and a meal cooked. But even yet they were not altogether safe from +attack; and sentries were posted, some distance down the hill, to +give notice of the approach of an enemy. The night, however, passed +quietly; and the next evening they were high among the hills, and +camped, for the first time for three months, with a sense of +security.</p> +<p>It was determined to rest here for a few days, for they had +almost reached the snow line. This was receding fast, under the hot +rays of the sun, but it was certain that the gorges would be full +of fierce torrents; and that, until these abated somewhat, they +would be absolutely impassable. A week was extended into a +fortnight. As the snow melted the grass grew, as if by magic; and +the animals rapidly regained condition and strength. Then they +started again and, after encountering no little difficulty and +hardship, arrived at their mountain home.</p> +<p>"Now, sahib," the chief said the next morning, "I will keep my +promise to you, and will send four of my men with you to Peshawar. +The sun and the glare from the snow have browned you almost to our +colour, so there will be no occasion for you to stain your face +and, in Afghan costume, you could pass anywhere. Besides, you speak +our language so well that, even if you were questioned, no one +would suspect that you are not one of ourselves."</p> +<p>"How many days will it take, chief?"</p> +<p>"In five days you will be at Peshawar. I know not whether you +will find an army assembled there, to march again into our country; +but I hope that peace has been settled. It will take the tribes all +the year to rebuild their houses. It will be years before their +flocks and herds increase to what they were before and, now they +have found that British troops can force their way through their +strongest passes, that they can no longer defy white men to enter +their lands, they will be very careful not to draw down the anger +of the white man upon themselves. They will have a hard year of it +to repair, in any way, the damages they have incurred; to say +nothing of the loss of life that they have suffered. They have also +had to give up great numbers of their rifles; and this, alone, will +render them careful, at any rate until they replace them; so I do +not think that there will be any chance of fighting this year, or +for some years to come. I am sure I hope not."</p> +<p>"I hope not, also," Lisle said. "We too have lost heavily, and +the expense has been immense. We shall be as glad as your people to +live at peace. I think I may safely say that, if the country is +quiet, a messenger will be sent up from Peshawar with the general's +thanks for the way in which I have been treated; and with +assurances that, whatever may happen, your village will be +respected by any force that may march into the country. Probably +such an assurance will be sent by the men who go with me."</p> +<p>Another fortnight was spent in the village, for the rivers were +still filled to the brim; but as soon as the chief thought that the +passes were practicable, Lisle, in Afridi costume, started with +four of the men. All the village turned out to bid him goodbye; +several of the women, and many of the children, crying at his +departure.</p> +<p>The journey down was accomplished without adventure; the men +giving out, at the villages at which they stopped, that they were +on their way to Peshawar, to give assurances to the British there +that they were ready to submit to terms. On nearing Peshawar, Lisle +abandoned his Afridi costume and resumed his khaki uniform.</p> +<p>When he arrived at the town, he went at once to headquarters. +The sentry at the door belonged to his own regiment; and he +started, and his rifle almost fell from his hand, as his eye fell +upon Lisle.</p> +<p>"I am not a ghost," Lisle laughed, "but am very much alive.</p> +<p>"I am glad to see you again, Wilkins," and he passed in at the +door.</p> +<p>"Is the general engaged?" he asked the orderly who, like the +soldier at the door, stood gazing at him stupidly.</p> +<p>"No, sir," the man gasped.</p> +<p>"Then I will go in unannounced."</p> +<p>General Lockhart looked up from the papers he was reading, and +gave a sudden start.</p> +<p>"I have come to report myself ready for duty, sir," Lisle said, +with a smile.</p> +<p>"Good heavens! Mr. Bullen, you have given me quite a turn! We +had all regarded your death as certain; and your name appeared in +the list of casualties, five months ago.</p> +<p>"I am truly glad to see you again," and he heartily shook +Lisle's hand. "There is another in here who will be glad to see +you."</p> +<p>He opened the door, and said:</p> +<p>"Colonel Houghton, will you step in here, for a moment?"</p> +<p>As the colonel entered the room, and his eye fell upon Lisle, he +stood as if suddenly paralysed. The blood rushed from his +cheeks.</p> +<p>"I am glad to see that you have recovered from your wound, sir," +Lisle said.</p> +<p>The blood surged back into the colonel's face. He strode forward +and, grasping both Lisle's hands in his own, said in broken +accents:</p> +<p>"So it is really you, alive and well! This is indeed a load off +my mind. I have always blamed myself for saving my life at the +expense of your own. It would have embittered my life to the end of +my days.</p> +<p>"And you are really alive! I thank God for it. I tried in vain +to check my horse, but it got the bit between its teeth and, with +my wounded leg, I had no power to turn him. As I rode, I pictured +to myself your last defence; how you died fighting.</p> +<p>"How has this all come about?" and he looked at the general, as +if expecting an answer.</p> +<p>"I know no more than yourself, Houghton. He had but just entered +when I called you in."</p> +<p>"Now, Mr. Bullen, let us hear how it happened."</p> +<p>"It was very simple, sir. The Afridis were but twenty paces +away, when I started the colonel's horse. I saw that fighting would +be hopeless, so threw down my sword and pistol. I should have been +cut up at once, had not their chief shouted to them to leave me +alone, and to fire after Colonel Houghton. This they did and, I was +happy to see, without success."</p> +<p>"Then the chief sent me off, under the guard of four men, to his +village; with the intention, as I afterwards heard, of holding me +as a hostage. A week later we moved down to the plain. When we had +been settled in our winter quarters for about two months, we were +attacked by a neighbouring tribe.</p> +<p>"By this time I had begun to pick up enough of the language to +make myself understood. I volunteered to aid in the defence. The +chief gave me his rifle, and I picked off a few of the leading +assailants, and aided in the defence of the village. The enemy were +beaten off with very heavy loss, and the chief was pleased to +attribute their defeat to my advice.</p> +<p>"He at once declared that I was to regard myself no longer as a +prisoner, but as a guest. I spent the next three months in getting +up their language, which I can now speak fluently enough for all +purposes.</p> +<p>"All this time, a vigilant watch had been kept against another +attack and, as soon as the snow began to melt, we returned to the +mountains. There we remained until the passes were open; and then +the chief sent me down, with an escort of four, and I arrived here +a quarter of an hour before I reported myself.</p> +<p>"I believe that I owe my life, in the first place, to the +Afridi's surprise at my sending off Colonel Houghton on my +horse."</p> +<p>"No wonder he was surprised, Mr. Bullen. It was a splendid +action; and in reporting your death, I spoke of it in the warmest +terms; and said that, had you returned alive, I should have +recommended you for the V.C.</p> +<p>"I shall, of course renew the recommendation, now that you have +returned."</p> +<p>Turning to Colonel Houghton, he said:</p> +<p>"You no doubt wish to have a further chat with Lieutenant Bullen +and, as there is no special work here today, pray consider yourself +at liberty to take him down to your quarters."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir! I shall certainly be glad to learn further +about the affair."</p> +<p>"If you please, General," Lisle said, "I have a message to give +you, from the chief. He says that, henceforth, he will be friends +with the British; and that if you ever enter his country again, he +will do all in his power to aid you. He hopes that you will allow +them to retain their rifles and, as they only amount to some three +or four and twenty fighting men, I was tempted to promise him that +you would."</p> +<p>"You were quite right, Mr. Bullen. I suppose the men who +accompanied you are still here?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Tell them not to go away. I will myself send a message to their +chief."</p> +<p>"We will write him a letter, Colonel Houghton, thanking him for +his kindness to his prisoner; sending him a permit to retain his +arms, and a present which will enable his tribe to increase their +flocks and herds."</p> +<p>"Thank you very much, sir! I shall myself, of course, send a +present of some sort, in return for his kindness."</p> +<p>"You talk the Pathan language with facility?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. I was five months with them, and devoted the chief +part of my time to picking it up."</p> +<p>"You shall be examined at the first opportunity, Mr. Bullen; and +the acquisition of their language, as well as your proficiency in +Punjabi will, of course, greatly add to your claim to be placed on +staff appointments; and will add somewhat to your income.</p> +<p>"I hope you will dine with me, this evening; when you can give +me a full account of your life in the village, and of that fight +you spoke of. It will be highly interesting to learn the details of +one of these tribal fights."</p> +<p>Lisle accompanied Colonel Houghton to his quarters with a little +reluctance, for he was anxious to rejoin his comrades in the +regiment.</p> +<p>"Now, Bullen, tell me all about it," the colonel said. "I know +that you lifted me on to your horse. I called to you to jump up +behind, as the Afridis were close upon us; and I have never been +able to make out why the horse should have gone off at a mad +gallop, with me; but no doubt it was scared by the yells of the +Afridis."</p> +<p>"When I lifted you up, sir, I certainly intended to get up +behind you; but the Afridis were so close that I felt that it was +impossible to do so, and that we should both be shot down before we +got out of range; so I gave the horse a prod with my sword and, as +I saw him go off at a gallop, I threw down my arms, as I told +you."</p> +<p>"As it has turned out," the colonel said, "there is no doubt +that the tribesmen, valiant fighters themselves, admire courage. If +you had resisted, no doubt you would have been cut down; but your +action must have appeared so extraordinary, to them, that they +spared you.</p> +<p>"I have often bitterly reproached myself that I was unable to +share your fate. You are still young, and I am old enough to be +your father. I am unmarried, with no particular ties in the world. +You have given me new interest in life. It will be a great pleasure +for me to watch your career.</p> +<p>"If you have no objection I shall formally adopt you; and shall, +tomorrow, draw out a will appointing you heir to all I +possess--which I may tell you is something like fifteen thousand +pounds--and shall make it my business to push you forward."</p> +<p>"It is too much altogether, Colonel."</p> +<p>"Not at all, Bullen; you saved my life, when certain death +seemed to be staring you in the face; and it is a small thing, when +I have no longer need of it, that you should inherit what I leave +behind.</p> +<p>"In the meantime, I shall make you an allowance of a couple of +hundred a year, as my adopted son. Say no more about it; you are +not stepping into anyone else's shoes, for I have no near relation, +no one who has a right to expect a penny at my death; and I have +hitherto not even taken the trouble to make a will. You will, I +hope, consider me, in the future, as standing in the place of the +brave father you lost, some years ago."</p> +<p>Lisle remained chatting with the officer for an hour, and then +the latter said:</p> +<p>"I won't keep you any longer, now. I am sure you must be wanting +to see your friends in the camp."</p> +<p>As soon as Lisle neared the lines of the regiment, he saw the +soldiers waiting about in groups. These closed up as he approached. +The sentry to whom he had spoken had been relieved, and had told +the news of his return to his comrades and, as he came along, the +whole regiment gathered round Lisle, and cheer after cheer went up. +He had gone but a few paces when he was seized and placed upon the +shoulders of two of the men; and carried in triumph, surrounded by +the other men, still cheering, to the front of the mess room. He +was so affected, by the warmth of the greeting, that the tears were +running down his cheeks when he was allowed to alight.</p> +<p>The officers, who had, of course, received the news, gathered at +the mess room when he was seen approaching. Before going up to them +Lisle turned and, raising his hand for silence, said:</p> +<p>"I thank you with all my heart, men, for the welcome you have +given me; and the proof that you have afforded me of your liking +for me. I thank you again and again, and shall never forget this +reception."</p> +<p>There was a fresh outburst of cheering, and Lisle then turned, +and ascended the four steps leading up to the mess room.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch13" id="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: The V.C.</h2> +<p>The colonel was standing, surrounded by his officers.</p> +<p>"I welcome you back, Mr. Bullen," he said, as he shook the lad's +hand heartily, "in the name of the officers of the regiment, and my +own. We are proud of you, sir. How you escaped death, we know not; +it is enough for us that you are back, and are safe and sound.</p> +<p>"Your deed, in saving Colonel Houghton's life at what seemed the +sacrifice of your own, had been a sore trial and a grief to all of +us. No doubt existed in our minds that you had been cut to pieces, +and you seem to have almost come back from the dead."</p> +<p>The other officers then crowded round him, shaking his hand and +congratulating him on his escape.</p> +<p>"Now, come in and tell us how this miracle has come about. We +can understand that you have been held as a hostage, but how is it +that you are here?</p> +<p>"Now, do you get up on a chair, and give us a true and faithful +account of all that happened to you, and how it is that you +effected your escape."</p> +<p>"I did not effect my escape at all," Lisle said, as he mounted +the chair; "I was released without any terms being made and, for +the past three months, have been treated as an honoured guest by +the Afridi chief into whose hands I fell."</p> +<p>"Well, tell the story from the beginning," the colonel said; +"what you have said only adds to our wonder."</p> +<p>Lisle modestly told the story, amid frequent cross +questioning.</p> +<p>"Well, there is no doubt that you were lucky, Lisle," the +colonel said, when he had brought his story to a conclusion. "The +pluck of your action, in getting Colonel Houghton off and staying +yourself, appealed strongly to the Afridis; and caused their chief +to decide to retain you as a hostage, instead of killing you at +once. I do not suppose that he really thought that he would gain +much, by saving you; for he must have known that we are in a hurry +to get down through the passes, and must consider it very doubtful +whether we should ever return. Still, no doubt he would have +detained you and, in the spring, sent down to say that you were in +his hands; and in that way would have endeavoured to make terms for +your release. But your assistance when he was attacked, and your +readiness to take part with his people, entirely changed his +attitude towards you.</p> +<p>"However, I don't suppose he will lose by it. The general is +sure to send back a handsome present to him, for his conduct +towards you.</p> +<p>"Have you seen Houghton yet?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir; I have been with him for the past hour. He has been +more than kind to me and, as he has no near relations, has been +good enough to say that he will adopt me as his heir. So I have +indeed been amply rewarded for the service I did him."</p> +<p>"I congratulate you most heartily," the colonel said; "you have +well earned it, and I am sure that there is not a man in the army +who will envy your good fortune. There is only one thing wanting to +complete it, and that is the V.C.; which I have not the least doubt +in the world will be awarded to you, and all my fellow officers +will agree with me that never was it more nobly earned. You courted +what seemed certain death.</p> +<p>"The greater portion of the crosses have been earned by men for +carrying in wounded comrades, under a heavy fire; but that is +nothing to your case. Those actions were done on the spur of the +moment, and there was every probability that the men would get back +unhurt. Yours was the facing of a certain death. I can assure you +that it will be the occasion of rejoicings, on the part of the +whole regiment, when you appear for the first time with a cross on +your breast."</p> +<p>He rang the bell and, when one of the mess waiters appeared, +told him to bring half a dozen bottles of champagne. Lisle's health +was then drunk, with three hearty cheers. Lunch was on the table, +and Lisle was heartily glad when the subject of his own deeds was +dropped, and they started to discuss the meal.</p> +<p>"Now, Mr. Bullen," the colonel said, when the meal was finished, +"I must carry you off to the ladies. They have all rejoined, and +will be as anxious as we were to hear of your return."</p> +<p>"Must I go, Colonel?" Lisle asked shyly.</p> +<p>"Of course you must, Bullen. When a man performs brave deeds, he +must be expected to be patted on the back--metaphorically, at any +rate--by the ladies. So you have got to go through it all and, as I +have sent word round that I shall bring you to my bungalow, you +will be able to get it all over at once."</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I suppose I must do it, though I would much rather +not. Still, as you say, it were best to get it all over at +once."</p> +<p>Six ladies were gathered at the bungalow, as Lisle entered with +the colonel. All rose as they entered, and pressed round him, +shaking his hand.</p> +<p>"I have come to tell you how pleased we all were," the colonel's +wife said, "to hear that you had returned, and how eager we have +all been to learn how it has come about. We think it very unkind of +you to stay so long in the mess room, when you must have known that +we are all on thorns to hear about it. I can assure you that we +have missed you terribly, since the regiment returned, and we are +awfully glad to have you back again.</p> +<p>"Now, please tell us all about it. We know, of course, how you +got Colonel Houghton off, and remained to die; and how proud all +the regiment has been of your exploit; so you can start and tell us +how it was that you escaped from being cut to mince-meat."</p> +<p>Lisle again went through the story.</p> +<p>"Why did you not return at once, when the chief who captured you +said that you were his guest? Was there not some fair young Afridi, +who held you in her chains?"</p> +<p>Lisle laughed.</p> +<p>"I can assure you that it was no feminine attractions that kept +me. There were some fifteen or twenty girls and, like everyone +else, they were very kind to me but, so far as I was able to judge, +not one of them was prettier, or I should rather say less ugly, +than the rest; although several of them had very good features, and +were doubtless considered lovely by the men. Certainly there was +none whom an Englishman would look at twice.</p> +<p>"Poor things, most of the work of the village is left to them. +They went out to cut grass, fed the cattle, gathered firewood, and +ground the corn; and I have no doubt that they are now all occupied +with the work of tilling the little patches of fertile ground +beyond the village.</p> +<p>"Besides, ladies, you must remember that I have a vivid +recollection of you all; which would, alone, have guarded me +against falling in love with any dusky maiden."</p> +<p>"I rather doubt your word, Mr. Bullen," the colonel's wife said; +"you were always very ready to make yourself pleasant, and do our +errands, and to make yourself generally useful and agreeable; but I +do not remember that you ever ventured upon making a compliment +before. You must have learnt the art somehow."</p> +<p>The lady laughed.</p> +<p>"I could hardly help comparing you with the women round me, but +I really had a vivid remembrance of your kindness to me."</p> +<p>"In future, Mr. Bullen, we shall consider you as discharged from +all duty. We have heard of other gallant deeds that you have done; +and henceforth shall regard you, with a real respect, as an officer +who has brought great credit upon the regiment. I am sure that, +henceforth, you will lose your old nickname of 'the boy,' and be +regarded as a hero."</p> +<p>"I hope not," Lisle said; "it has been very pleasant to be +regarded as a boy, and therefore to act as a sort of general fag to +you. I hope you will continue to regard me as so. I have always +considered it a privilege to be able to make myself useful to you, +and I should be very sorry to lose it.</p> +<p>"I can assure you that I still feel as a boy. I know nothing of +the world; have passed my whole time, as far back as I can +remember, in camp; and have thoroughly enjoyed my life. I suppose +some day I shall lose the feeling that I am still a boy, but I +shall certainly hold to it as long as I can."</p> +<p>"I suppose you had some difficulty in speaking with the +natives?" the doctor's wife said.</p> +<p>"At first I had but, from continually talking with them, I got +to know their language--I won't say as well as Punjabi, but +certainly very well--and I shall pass in it at the next +examination."</p> +<p>"I wish all subalterns were like you," the colonel's wife said. +"Most of those who come out from England are puffed up with a sense +of their own importance, and I often wish that I could take them by +the shoulders, and shake them well. And what are you going to do +now?"</p> +<p>"I am going off to find the four men who came down with me, see +if they are comfortable, and tell them that the general will give +them the message to their chief, tomorrow."</p> +<p>"What will be the next thing, Mr. Bullen?"</p> +<p>"The next thing will be to go to the bazaar, and choose some +presents for the chief and his family."</p> +<p>"What do you mean to get?"</p> +<p>"I think a brace of revolvers, and a good store of ammunition +for the chief. As to the women I must, I suppose, get something in +the way of dress. For the other men I shall get commoner things. +Everyone has been most kind to me, and I should certainly like them +to have some remembrance of my stay.</p> +<p>"I suppose that there is five months' pay waiting for me in the +paymaster's chest."</p> +<p>"I should doubt it extremely," the colonel said. "You will get +it in time, but you will have to wait. You have been struck off the +regimental pay list, ever since you were put down as dead; and I +expect the paymaster will have to get a special authorization, +before you can draw your back pay."</p> +<p>"I was only joking, Colonel. My agent at Calcutta has my money +in his hands, and I have only to draw on him."</p> +<p>"So much the better, Bullen. It is always a nuisance getting +into debt, even when you are certain that funds will be forthcoming +which will enable you to repay what you owe. But have you enough to +carry you on till you hear from your agent?"</p> +<p>"Plenty, sir; I left all the money I did not care to carry about +with me in the regimental till."</p> +<p>"Then I expect you will find it there still. I know that nothing +has been done with it. A short time since, the paymaster was +speaking to me about it, and asking me if I knew the address of any +of your relations, or who was your agent at Calcutta. He said to +me:</p> +<p>"'I shall wait a bit longer. Mr. Bullen turned up quite +unexpectedly, once before and, though I fear there is not a shadow +of chance that he will do so again, I will hold the money for a +time. It is just possible that he is held as a hostage, in which +case we shall probably hear of him, when the passes are open.'"</p> +<p>Lisle went to the paymaster's at once and, finding that he had +not parted with the money, drew fifty pounds. He had no difficulty +in buying the revolvers and cartridges; but was so completely at a +loss as to the female garments, and the price he ought to pay, that +he went back to the cantonment and asked two of the ladies to +accompany him shopping. This they at once consented to do and, with +their aid, he laid in a stock of female garments: silk for the +chief's wife; and simpler, but good and useful materials--for the +most part of bright colour--for the other women. These were all +parcelled up in various bundles, and a looking glass inserted in +each parcel. For the men he bought bright waistbands and long +knives; and gave, in addition, a present in money to the men who +had come down with him.</p> +<p>It was evening before the work was finished, and he then +returned to mess with the regiment.</p> +<p>"I suppose you don't know yet whether you are coming back to us, +Bullen?" the major said.</p> +<p>"No, sir, the general did not say; but for myself, I would very +much rather join the regiment. Staff appointment sounds tempting, +but I must say that I should greatly prefer regimental work; +especially as I should be very much junior to the other officers of +the staff, and should feel myself out of place among them."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt that you are right, in that respect; but staff +appointments lead to promotion."</p> +<p>"I have no ambition for promotion, for the present, Major. I am +already five or six up among the senior lieutenants, which is quite +high enough for one of my age."</p> +<p>"Well, perhaps you are right. It is not a good thing for a young +officer to be pushed on too fast, and another two or three years of +regimental work will certainly do you no harm."</p> +<p>"I have not yet asked, Major, whether we are going up into the +Tirah again, this spring?"</p> +<p>"I fancy not. Already several deputations have come in from the +tribesmen, some of them bringing in the fines imposed upon them; +and all seem to say that there is a general desire among the +Afridis for peace, and that deputations from other tribes will +shortly follow them."</p> +<p>"I am glad to hear it, sir," Lisle said. "I think I have had +quite enough of hill fighting."</p> +<p>"I think we are all of the same opinion, Bullen. It is no joke +fighting an enemy hidden behind rocks, armed with Lee-Metford +rifles, and trained to shoot as well as a British marksman.</p> +<p>"The marching was even worse than the fighting. Passing a night +on the snow, any number of thousand feet above the sea, is worse +than either of them. No, I would rather go through a campaign +against the Russians, than have anything more to do with the Tirah; +though I must admit that, if we were to begin at once, we should +not have snow to contend with.</p> +<p>"I have been through several campaigns, but the last was +infinitely the hardest, and I have not the least desire to repeat +it. Whether all the tribes choose to send in and accept our terms, +or not, makes no very great difference; they have had such a sharp +lesson that it will certainly be some time before they rise again +in revolt. There may be an occasional cattle-lifting raid across +the frontier, but one can put up with that; and it would be +infinitely cheaper for Government to compensate the victims, than +for us to get an army in motion again, to punish the thieves.</p> +<p>"Moreover, having once taught them that we are stronger than +they, it would be a pity to weaken them still further for, if a +Russian army were to try and force its way into India, these +fellows would make it very hot for them. They are full of fight +and, although they are independent of Afghanistan, and have no +particular patriotic feeling, the thirst for plunder would bring +them like bees round an invading army.</p> +<p>"No, the thing has been well done, but the expense has been +enormous and the losses serious; and I trust that, at any rate as +long as we are stationed in Northern India, things will be +quiet."</p> +<p>Next morning Lisle went, early, to headquarters. He had to wait +a little time before he could see the general. When he went in, +General Lockhart said:</p> +<p>"Now about yourself, Mr. Bullen. Your place has, of course, been +filled up; but I shall be glad to appoint you as extra +aide-de-camp, if you wish. Would you rather be on staff duty, or +rejoin your regiment?"</p> +<p>"If you give me the choice, sir, I would rather rejoin the +regiment. Staff duty in war time is extremely interesting; but in +peace time, I would rather be at work with the regiment.</p> +<p>"You see, sir, I am very young, and much younger than any of the +staff; and I am sure that I should feel very much out of +place."</p> +<p>"I agree with you," the general said, with a smile. "I think +that you are wise to prefer regimental duty. I have written home, +giving my account of your gallant action; telling how you were not, +as reported, killed; and recommending you, in the strongest +possible terms, for the V.C."</p> +<p>"I am greatly indebted to you, sir. I do not feel that I have +done anything at all out of the way, and acted only on the impulse +of the moment."</p> +<p>"You could not have done better, had you thought of it for an +hour," the general said; "but as I also reported your defence of +that hut, I have little doubt that you will get the well-earned +V.C."</p> +<p>There was great satisfaction among the officers and the +regiment, when Lisle told them of his interview with the +general.</p> +<p>It was soon evident, from the sale of the transport animals, +that the war was over; and the regiment shortly afterwards returned +to their old quarters, at Rawal Pindi, and fell into the old +routine of drill.</p> +<p>In the middle of the following summer Lisle, while fielding at +cricket in a match with another regiment, suddenly staggered and +fell. The surgeon, running up from the pavilion, pronounced it as a +case of sunstroke. It was some time before he was conscious +again.</p> +<p>"What has happened?" he asked.</p> +<p>"You have had a bad sunstroke," the surgeon said, "and I am +going to send you home, as soon as you are able to travel. I shall +apply for at least a year's leave for you, and I hope that, by the +end of that time, you will be perfectly fit for work again; but +certainly a period of rest, and the return to a temperate climate, +is absolutely necessary for you."</p> +<p>Long before this, a despatch had been received from England +bestowing the Victoria Cross upon Lisle. General Lockhart himself +came down from Peshawar and fixed it to his breast, in presence of +the whole regiment, drawn up in parade order. The outburst of +cheering from the men told unmistakably how popular he was with +them, and how they approved of the honour bestowed upon him.</p> +<p>The general dined at mess, and was pleased to see how popular +the young officer was with his men. He himself proposed Lisle's +health, and the latter was obliged to return thanks.</p> +<p>When he sat down, the general said:</p> +<p>"It is clear, Mr. Bullen, that you have more presence of mind, +when engaged with the enemy, than you have when surrounded with +friends. It can hardly be said that eloquence is your forte."</p> +<p>"No, sir," Lisle said, wiping the perspiration from his face, "I +would rather go through eleven battles, than have to make another +speech."</p> +<p>The application for sick leave was granted at once and, a +fortnight later, Lisle took his place in the train for Calcutta. +All the officers and their wives assembled to see him off.</p> +<p>"I hope," said the colonel, "you will come back in the course of +a year, thoroughly restored to health. It is all in your favour +that you have not been a drinking man; and the surgeon told me that +he is convinced that the brain has suffered no serious injury, and +that you will be on your feet again, and fit for any work, after +the twelve months' leave. But, moderate as you always are, I should +advise you to eschew altogether alcoholic liquids. Men who have +never had a touch of sunstroke can drink them with impunity but, to +a man who has had sunstroke, they are worse than poison."</p> +<p>"All right, Colonel! Nothing stronger than lemonade shall pass +my lips."</p> +<p>And so, with the good wishes of his friends, Lisle started for +Calcutta. Here he drew from his agents a sum which, he calculated, +would last him for a year at home. To his great pleasure, on +entering the train he met his friend Colonel Houghton.</p> +<p>"I have been thinking for some time, lad," he said, "of applying +for a year's leave; which I have earned by twelve years' service +out here. I was with the general when your application for leave +arrived, and made up my mind to go home with you. I therefore +telegraphed to Simla, and got leave at once; so I shall be able to +look after you, on the voyage."</p> +<p>"It is very kind of you," Lisle said. "It will be a comfort, +indeed, having a friend on board. My brain seems to be all right +now, but my memory is very shaky. However, I hope that will be all +right, too, by the time we arrive in England."</p> +<p>The presence of the colonel was indeed a great comfort to Lisle. +The latter looked after him as a father might have done, placed his +chair in the coolest spot to be found and, by relating to the other +passengers the service by which Lisle had won the V.C., ensured +their sympathy and kindness.</p> +<p>By the time the voyage was over, Lisle felt himself again. His +brain had gradually cleared, and he could again remember the events +of his life. He stayed three or four days at the hotel in London +where the colonel put up; and then went down into the country, in +response to an invitation from his aunt, which had been sent off as +soon as she received a letter from him, announcing his arrival in +England. His uncle's place was a quiet parsonage in Somersetshire, +and the rest and quiet did him an immense deal of good.</p> +<p>At the end of three months' stay there, he left to see something +of London and England, and travelled about for some months.</p> +<p>When the year was nearly up, and he was making his preparations +to return to India, he received a summons to attend at the War +Office. Wondering greatly what its purport could be, he called upon +the adjutant general.</p> +<p>"How are you feeling, Mr. Bullen?" the latter asked.</p> +<p>"Perfectly well, sir, as well as I ever felt in my life."</p> +<p>"We are sending a few officers to aid Colonel Willcocks in +effecting the relief of the party now besieged in Coomassie. Your +record is an excellent one and, if you are willing and able to go, +we shall be glad to include you in the number."</p> +<p>"I should like it very much. There is no chance, whatever, of +active service in India; and I should be glad, indeed, to be at the +front again, in different circumstances."</p> +<p>"Very well, Mr. Bullen, then you will sail on Tuesday next, in +the steamer that leaves Liverpool on that day. You will have the +local rank of captain, and will be in command of a company of +Hausas."</p> +<p>Lisle had but a few preparations to make. He ordered, at once, a +khaki uniform and pith helmet, and a supply of light shirts and +underclothing. Then he ran down to Somersetshire to say goodbye to +his uncle and aunt, and arrived in Liverpool on the Monday evening. +Sleeping at the hotel at the station, he went on board the next +morning.</p> +<p>Here he found half a dozen other officers, also bound for the +west coast of Africa, and soon got on friendly terms with them. He +was, of course, obliged to tell how he had won the Victoria Cross; +a recital which greatly raised him in their estimation.</p> +<p>They had fine weather throughout the voyage; and were glad, +indeed, when the steamer anchored off Cape Coast. Although looking +forward to their arrival at Cape Coast, the officers were not in +their highest spirits. All of them had applied for service in South +Africa, where the war was now raging but, to their disappointment, +had been sent on this minor expedition. At any other time, they +would have been delighted at the opportunity of taking part in it; +but now, with a great war going on, it seemed to them a very petty +affair, indeed.</p> +<p>They cheered themselves, however, by the assumption that there +was sure to be hard fighting; and opportunities for distinguishing +themselves at least as great as they would meet with at the Cape, +where so vast a number of men were engaged that it would be +difficult for one officer to distinguish himself beyond others.</p> +<p>Until he started, Lisle had scarcely more than heard the name of +Ashanti; though he knew, of course, that two expeditions, those +under Sir Garnet Wolseley and Sir Francis Scott, had reached the +capital, the latter dethroning the king and carrying him away into +captivity. Now, however, he gathered full details of the situation, +from two officers belonging to the native troops, who had been +hurriedly ordered to cut short their leave, and go back to take +their places with the corps to which they were attached.</p> +<p>There was no doubt that the Ashantis were one of the most +formidable tribes in Africa. Their territory extended from the +river Prah to sixty miles north of Cape Coast. They were feared by +all their neighbours, with whom they were frequently at war--not so +much for the sake of extending their territory, as for the purpose +of obtaining great numbers of men and women for their hideous +sacrifices, at Coomassie. They were in close alliance with the +tribes at Elmina, which place we had taken over from the +Portuguese, some years before Sir Garnet Wolseley's expedition. +This occupation was bitterly opposed by the Ashantis, who felt that +it cut them off from free trade with the coast. In return, they +intercepted all trade with the coast from the tribes behind them; +and finally seized some white missionaries at their capital, and +sent a defiant message down to Cape Coast.</p> +<p>The result was that Sir Garnet Wolseley was sent out to take +command of an expedition and, with three white regiments, a small +Naval Brigade, and the West African Regiment, completely defeated +the Ashantis in two pitched battles, reached the capital, and burnt +it. Unfortunately, owing to the want of carriers, and the small +amount of supplies that were sent up, he was obliged to fall back +again to the coast, after occupying the capital for only three +days.</p> +<p>Had it been possible to leave a sufficient force there, the +spirit of the Ashantis would have been broken. This, however, could +not be done; and they gradually regained their arrogant spirit, +carried out none of their obligations and, twenty-two years later, +having quite forgotten their reverses, they resumed their raids +across the Prah.</p> +<p>Sir Francis Scott's expedition was therefore organized, and +marched to the capital. This time the former mistake was not +committed. A small garrison was left to overawe its inhabitants, +and the king was carried away a prisoner. The expedition had +encountered no opposition. The reason for this was never +satisfactorily ascertained, but it is probable that the Ashantis +were taken by surprise, and thought it better to wait until they +had obtained better arms. In this they were successful, for there +are always rascally traders, ready to supply the enemies of their +country with arms, on terms of immense profit.</p> +<p>The Ashantis were evidently kept well informed, by some of their +tribesmen settled in the coast towns, of the state of affairs in +Europe and, in the belief that England was fully occupied at the +Cape, and that no white soldiers would be sent, they again rose in +rebellion. They were ready to admit that the white soldiers were +superior to themselves, but they entertained a profound contempt +for our black troops, whom they were convinced they could defeat +without difficulty.</p> +<p>Certainly, the force available at Cape Coast was altogether +insufficient for the purpose; for it consisted only of a battalion +of Hausa Constabulary, and two seven-pounder guns. Sierra Leone had +a permanent garrison of one battalion of the West Indian Regiment, +and a West African Regiment recruited on the spot; but few of these +could be spared, for Sierra Leone had its own native troubles. The +garrison of Lagos was similar to that of Cape Coast; but here, +also, troubles were dreaded with their neighbours at Abeokuta. +Southern Nigeria had their own regiment; while Northern Nigeria had +the constabulary of the Royal Niger Company, and they had, at the +time, just raised two battalions and three batteries. Fortunately, +the recent dispute between the people and ourselves as to their +respective boundaries had been temporarily arranged, and a portion +of these troops could be utilized.</p> +<p>The two regiments were both numerically strong, each company +amounting to a hundred and fifty men. They were armed with +Martini-Metford carbines, and each company had a Vickers-Maxim gun. +The batteries were provided with powerful guns, capable of throwing +twelve-pound shells. The men were all Hausas and Yorubas, with the +exception of one company of Neupas. This contingent were supplied +with khaki, before starting; and the rest were in blue uniform, +similar to that worn by the West Indian Regiments. There was, in +addition, a small battalion of the Central African Regiment; with a +detachment of Sikhs, who also supplied non-commissioned +officers.</p> +<p>That the men would fight well, all believed; but the forces had +been but recently organized, and it was questionable how they would +behave without a backbone of white troops. The experiment was quite +a novel one, as never before had a war been carried on, by us, with +purely native troops.</p> +<p>The collection of the troops was a difficult matter, and cost no +small time; especially from Northern Nigeria, which was to supply a +much larger contingent than the others. These troops were scattered +in small bodies over a large extent of country, for the most part +hundreds of miles from the coast. There was a great paucity of +officers, too; and of these, many were about to take their year's +leave home, worn out and weakened by the unhealthy climate. By +prodigious exertions, however, all were at last collected, and in +readiness to proceed to the scene of operations.</p> +<p>Picking up troops at several points, the steamer at last arrived +off Cape Coast; but not yet were they to land. A strong wind was +blowing, and the surf beat with such violence, on the shore, that +it was impossible even for the surf boat to come out. The officers +had nothing to do but to watch the shore. Even this was only done +under difficult circumstances, for the steamer was rolling rail +under.</p> +<p>The prospect, however, was not unpleasing. From a projecting +point stood the old Dutch castle, a massive-looking building. On +its left was the town, on rising ground, with whitewashed +buildings; and behind all, and in the town itself, rose palm trees, +which made a dark fringe along the coast on either hand.</p> +<p>"It doesn't look such a bad sort of place," one of the officers +said, "and certainly it ought to be healthy, if it were properly +drained down to the sea. Yet it is a home of fever; one night +ashore, in the bad season, is almost certain death for a white man. +I believe that not half a dozen of the white inhabitants are +hardened by repeated attacks of fever, to which at least three out +of four newcomers succumb before they have been here many months. +If this is the case, here, what must it be in the forest and swamps +behind?"</p> +<p>All were greatly relieved when the wind abated, on the third +day, and the surf boats were seen making their way out. The landing +was exciting work. The surf was still very heavy, and it seemed +well-nigh impossible that any boat could live through it. The +native paddlers, however, were thoroughly used to the work. They +ceased paddling when they reached the edge of the breakers, until a +wave larger than usual came up behind them. Then, with a yell, they +struck their paddles into the water, and worked for dear life. +Higher and higher rose the wave behind them, till it seemed that +they must be submerged by it. For a moment the boat stood almost +upright. Then, when it rose to the crest of the wave, the boatmen +paddled harder than ever, and they were swept forward with the +swiftness of an arrow. Another wave overtook them and, carrying +them on, dashed them high up on the beach.</p> +<p>The paddlers at once sprang out, and prevented the boat from +being carried out by the receding wave. Then the officers, mounting +the men's backs, were carried out; for the most part high and dry, +although in some cases they were wet to the skin.</p> +<p>A few yards away was the entrance to the castle. Here everything +was bustle. Troops were filing out, laden with casks and cases. +Others were squatting in the paved court, ready to receive their +burdens. All were laughing and chatting merrily. There were even +troops of young girls, of from ten to fifteen years old, who were +to carry parcels of less weight than their brothers.</p> +<p>Two officers were moving about, seeing that all went on +regularly; and a number of men were bringing the burdens out from +the storehouse, and ranging them in lines, ready for the women to +take up.</p> +<p>The district commissioner, who was in charge of the old castle, +received Lisle and his companions cordially; and invited them, when +the day's work was over, to dine with him. Rooms were placed at +their disposal.</p> +<p>As soon as this was done they went down to the beach, and +superintended the landing of the men and stores, which was carried +on until nightfall. Then, when the last boat load was landed, they +came up to dinner.</p> +<p>After a hearty meal, one of them said:</p> +<p>"We shall be glad, sir, if you will tell us what has been +happening here. All we know is that the fort of Coomassie is +surrounded, and that we have come up to relieve it."</p> +<p>"It is difficult to give you anything like an accurate account," +the officer said, "for so many lying rumours have come down, that +one hardly knows what to believe. One day we hear that the place +has been carried by storm, and that the garrison have been +massacred. Then we are told that Sir Frederick Hodgson, with the +survivors of the garrison, has burst his way through.</p> +<p>"It is certain that most of our forces are unable to push their +way up, and that their posts are practically surrounded. Further, +on the 18th of April the first news that the fort was being +besieged reached Cambarga, three hundred and forty miles from +Coomassie. Three days later three British officers, and a hundred +and seventy men, with a Maxim and seven-pounder, marched under the +command of Major Morris to the station of Kintanpo. After thirteen +days' marching the force was increased to seven British officers, +three hundred and thirty soldiers, and eighty-three native +levies.</p> +<p>"Near N'Quanta they met with opposition and, two hours later, +had a successful engagement, with only three casualties. On the +14th they fell into an ambush, and incurred twelve casualties. For +two days after this they had more or less continuous fighting and, +in charging a stockade, Major Morris was severely wounded. Captain +Maguire then headed the charge, and succeeded in capturing the +stockade.</p> +<p>"No further resistance was met with, though two more stockades +were passed. This want of enterprise, on the part of the enemy, was +due to a short armistice that had been arranged with the +beleaguered garrison.</p> +<p>"Major Morris's force was the third reinforcement which had +reached the garrison. The first to come up was a party of Gold +Coasters from the south. This was the only contingent permitted by +the Ashantis to enter Coomassie unopposed. The next was a +detachment from Lagos, composed of two hundred and fifty men of +that colony's Hausa force, with four British officers and a doctor, +under the command of Captain Alpin. The Adansis, who occupy the +country between the Prah and the recognized Ashanti boundary, had +revolted; so that for part of the way they were unopposed but, as +soon as they reached the first village in the Ashanti country, they +were heavily attacked. After a couple of hours' fighting, however, +the advance guard took the village, at the point of the +bayonet.</p> +<p>"Next day they reached the Ordah River. Here the enemy made a +determined stand, entrenched behind a stockade. The fight lasted +for four hours, and then the situation became critical. The Maxim +had jammed, the ammunition of the seven-pounder was exhausted, and +a great proportion of the small-arm ammunition had been expended. +Captain Cox and thirty men went into the bush, to turn the enemy's +position. When they reached a point where they took the enemy in +rear, they charged the stockade. The enemy fled, and were kept at a +run until Coomassie was reached, before dark.</p> +<p>"The list of casualties showed how hard had been the fighting. +All the white officers had been wounded, and there were a hundred +and thirty casualties among the two hundred and fifty British +soldiers. The garrison now consisted of seven hundred rank and +file, and about a dozen British officers; two hundred and fifty +native levies, and nearly four thousand Fanti and Hausa +refugees.</p> +<p>"The next force to move forward was the first contingent from +Northern Nigeria, consisting of two companies under the command of +Captain Hall, with one gun. In traversing the Adansi country +Captain Hall drew up a treaty, and got the Adansi king to sign it. +Then he marched on to Bekwai, the chief town of a friendly tribe; +and took up his quarters at Esumeja, a day's march from Coomassie. +The border of Bekwai lay a short distance on one side, that of +Kokofu was half a mile to the east.</p> +<p>"These were an Ashanti tribe, very fierce and warlike; and the +occupation of Esumeja both kept them in check, and inspired the +loyal Bekwais with confidence. Here Captain Hall was joined by a +second contingent from Lagos, a hundred strong; and fifty men of +the Sierra Leone frontier police. The force has got no farther, but +its position on the main line of march is of vital service; as it +overawes the Kokofu, and facilitates the advance of further +relief.</p> +<p>"That, gentlemen, is the situation, at present. So far as I +know, the garrison of Coomassie is amply sufficient to defend the +fort; but we know that they are short of ammunition, and also of +supplies to maintain the large number of people shut up there.</p> +<p>"I am expecting the vessel with the main Nigerian contingent +tomorrow, or next day; and I hope that this reinforcement will +enable an advance to be made."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir! It is evident that we are in for some tough +fighting, and shall have all our work cut out for us."</p> +<p>"There can be no doubt of that," the commissioner said, gravely. +"The difficulties have been greatly increased by the erection of +these stockades, a new feature in these Ashanti wars. When the +Bekwais put themselves under our protection, instructions were +given them in stockading, so that they might resist any force that +the Ashantis might send against them and, doubtless, the latter +inspected these defences and adopted the idea. The worst of it is +that they are generally so covered, by the bush, that they are not +seen by our troops till they arrive in front of them."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch14" id="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: Forest Fighting.</h2> +<p>Early the next morning the transport with the Nigerian troops +anchored off the town. The work of disembarkation began at once. +Five of the newly-arrived officers were appointed to the +commissariat transport service. The three others--of whom Lisle, to +his great satisfaction, was one--were appointed to the command of +companies in the Nigerian force. This distinction, the commissioner +frankly informed him, was due to his being the possessor of the +V.C.</p> +<p>Having nothing to do that day, Lisle strolled about the town. +There were a few European houses, the property of the natives who +formed the elite of the place; men for the most part possessing +white blood in their veins, being the descendants of British +merchants who, knowing that white women could not live in the +place, had taken Negro wives. These men were distinguished by their +hair, rather than by their more European features. Their colour was +as dark as that of other natives. Lisle learned that such +light-coloured children as were born of these mixed marriages +uniformly died, but that the dark offspring generally lived.</p> +<p>All the small shops in the town were kept by this class. With +the exception of the buildings belonging to them, the houses of the +town were merely mud erections, with a door and a window or two. +The roofs were flat, and composed of bamboos and other branches; +overlaid by a thick mud which, Lisle learned, not unfrequently +collapsed in the rainy season. Nothing could be done at that time +to repair them, and their inhabitants took refuge in the houses of +their friends, until the dry season permitted them to renew their +own roofs.</p> +<p>The women were of very superior physique to the men. The latter +considered that their only duty was to stroll about with a gun or a +spear; and the whole work of cultivating the ground, and of +carrying burdens, fell to the lot of the women. Many of these had +splendid figures, which might have been the envy of an English +belle. Their great defect is that their heels, instead of going +straight to the leg, project an inch or more behind it. From their +custom of always carrying their burdens on their heads, their +carriage is as upright as a dart. Whether the load was a heavy +barrel, or two or three bananas, Lisle noticed that they placed it +on the head; and even tiny girls carried any small article of which +they might become possessed in this manner.</p> +<p>Curiously enough, the men had no excuse for posing as warriors; +for the Fantis were the only cowardly race on the coast, and had +several times shown themselves worthless as fighters, when the +Ashantis made their expeditions against them.</p> +<p>A narrow valley ran up from the sea, in one part of the town, +and terminated in a swamp behind it. Here the refuse of the place +was thrown, and the stench in itself was sufficient to account for +the prevalence of fever. Here were the accumulations of centuries; +for the Dutch governors, who were frequently relieved, had made no +effort whatever towards draining the marsh, nor improving the +sanitary condition of the place; nor had the British governors who +followed them shown any more energy in that direction. Doubtless +the means were wanting, for the revenue of the place was +insufficient to pay for the expenses of the garrison; and so the +town which, at a very moderate expenditure, might have been +rendered comparatively healthy, remained a death trap.</p> +<p>As soon as the Nigerian troops had landed, Lisle reported +himself to their commander. He was at once put in charge of a +company, and began his duties. When, two days later, they marched +up the country, he felt well pleased with his command; for the men +were for the most part lithe, active fellows; very obedient to +orders and ready for any work, and evidently very proud of their +position as British soldiers. They had for the most part had very +little practice in shooting; but this was of comparatively little +consequence, as what fighting they would have to do would be in the +forests, against a hidden enemy, where individual shooting would be +next to impossible.</p> +<p>The Adansi had risen, three days after signing the treaty. Two +Englishmen, going from Bekwai to Kwisa, on their way were fired +upon, and the terror-stricken carriers fled. Their loads were lost, +and they themselves just succeeded in escaping to Kwisa.</p> +<p>Captain Slater, who was in command there, was much surprised to +hear of such hostility, so soon after the signing of the treaty; +and he started with twenty-six men to investigate the cause. He was +attacked at the same place--one soldier being killed and ten +wounded, while two were missing--and he was obliged to retire to +Kwisa. Sixty Englishmen of the Obuasi gold mines, on the western +frontier of the Adansi, sent down for arms, and were supplied +without any mishap.</p> +<a id="Map3" name="Map3"></a> +<center><img src="images/3.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: Map illustrating the Ashanti Campaign." /></center> +<p>Colonel Wilkinson telegraphed orders to a force, which had +started two days before, to halt at Fumsu until he joined them with +the newly-arrived contingents. Colonel Willcocks now had four +hundred and fifty men, under Captain Hall, at Kwisa and Bekwai; +Captain Slater a handful of men at Kwisa; Colonel Wilkinson a +company at Fumsu; Colonel Carter the two hundred soldiers just +landed on the line of march, and three hundred men from Northern +Nigeria. Nine hundred reinforcements were known to be on their way. +The force was scattered over a hundred and forty miles, and +numerically only equal to the garrison they were going to relieve. +The carriers were utterly insufficient for the transport.</p> +<p>The newly-arrived troops, with Colonel Willcocks and his staff +in front, rode out of the town on the morning of the 5th of June. A +drizzling rain was falling, but this soon ceased and the sun broke +out. The road lay over low scrub-covered sand hills. It was a fair +one, with the exception of bad bits, at intervals. The first day's +march was a short one, as much time had been lost in getting the +carriers together, and loading them up.</p> +<p>They halted that evening at Akroful. The place afforded but +little accommodation. Five white officers slept together in one +small room. There was a storm during the night, but the sky had +cleared by the time the troops started in the morning.</p> +<p>They now entered a very different country. It was the belt of +forest, three hundred miles wide, which ran across the whole +country. Great as had been the heat, the day before, the gloom of +the forest was more trying to the nerves. Except where the road had +been cleared, the advance was impeded by the thick undergrowth of +bush and small trees, through which it was impossible to pass +without cutting a path with a sword. Above the bush towered the +giants of the forest--great cotton trees, thirty or forty feet in +circumference, and rising to the height of from two to three +hundred feet. Round the tops of these many birds were flitting, but +in the underbrush there was no sign or sound of life. Thorny +creepers bound the trees together.</p> +<p>In the small clearings, where deserted and ruined villages +stood, a few flowers were to be found. Here, also, great +butterflies flew about.</p> +<p>The moist air, tainted with decaying vegetation; the entire +absence of wind, or of movement among the leaves; the profound +silence, broken only by the occasional dropping of water, weighed +heavily on the spirits of the troops. Under foot the soil was +converted into mire by the recent rains; and glad, indeed, were +all, when they reached Mansu.</p> +<p>From this village, as had been the case at the previous halt, +numbers of the carriers deserted. In order to get on, therefore, it +was necessary to send out to the surrounding villages, to gather in +men to take their places; and at the same time a telegram was sent +down to Cape Coast, requesting the commandant there to arrest all +the men who came in, and try to punish them as deserters. It was +some satisfaction to know that they would be flogged, though this +did not obviate the inconvenience caused by their desertion.</p> +<p>Mansu was a pleasanter halting place than the two preceding +ones. It was surrounded by a clearing of considerable size; and +contained two bungalows, which served as quarters for the officers. +The soldiers got abundance of firewood from the forest, and the +place presented a picturesque appearance, after nightfall, with its +blazing fires and their reflection on the deep circle of +foliage.</p> +<p>The march had been a depressing one, to the officers; but the +native troops did not seem to find it so, and chattered, sang, and +danced by their fires. Three of the officers found it difficult to +swallow their food; but Lisle and another young officer, named +Hallett, with whom he had been a special chum on board ship, made a +hearty meal and, after it was finished, set out together for a tour +round the camp, to assure themselves that everything was going on +satisfactorily.</p> +<p>"This must be very different from your experience in the Tirah," +Hallett said.</p> +<p>"Yes; to begin with, it was generally so cold at night, even in +the valley, that we were glad of both our blankets and cloaks; +while among the passes it was bitter, indeed. Then, too, the +greater portion of the troops were white and, though they were +cheerful enough, their spirits were nothing to the merriment of +these natives. Then the camps were crowded with animals, while here +there are only these wretched carriers; and almost every night we +were saluted with bullets from the heights, and lay down in +readiness to oppose any sudden attack.</p> +<p>"I suppose we shall have to do the same, when we get into the +enemy's country, here. That is really the only similarity between +the two expeditions. The country, too, was mountainous and, except +in the valleys, there were few trees; while here we tramp along in +single file, through what is little better than a swamp, and only +get an occasional glimpse of the sky through the overhanging +foliage. Of course it is hot in Northern India, very hot sometimes; +but it is generally dry heat, quite different from the close, muggy +heat of the forest. However, they say that when we have once +ascended the Adansi hills, matters will be better."</p> +<p>"I hope so, Bullen. I found it so close today that I would +gladly have got rid of all my clothes, which were so drenched with +perspiration that I could have wrung them. We shall have other +things to think about, however, when we get across the river; for +you don't think of minor inconveniences when, at any moment, a +volley may be poured into you from the bushes."</p> +<p>"Yes, the idea is rather creepy; but they say that the Ashantis +always shoot high--the effect of the enormous charges they put into +their muskets--so that the harm done bears no proportion, whatever, +to the noise. I expect our Maxims will come in very useful for +clearing out the bush; and I doubt if the Ashantis will be able to +stand for a moment, against our bayonets, as they have no weapons +of the sort."</p> +<p>"No, but a good many of them are armed with spears, which are a +deal longer than our muskets and bayonets. They are not accustomed, +however, to work together. Each man fights for himself, and I feel +convinced that they would not stand a determined charge," Hallett +said.</p> +<p>"It is all very well to talk about a charge; but how are you +going to charge through the bush, where every step has to be cut? +However, I suppose our fellows can get through as well as they +can."</p> +<p>"It would be horrid work, Bullen, for some of these creepers are +a mass of spikes, which would pretty nearly tear a man to pieces, +as he was forcing his way past them in a hurry."</p> +<p>"Yes, that is not a pleasant idea; but I own that, if what they +say about the stockades they have formed is true, they will be even +more formidable than the bush; for our little guns will make no +impression upon them. They say that these are constructed with two +rows of timber, eight feet apart; the intervening space being +filled up with earth and stones so that, if they are well defended, +they ought to cost us a lot of men before we carry them."</p> +<p>"Well, tomorrow we shall be at Prahsu. They say it is a fine +open camp, as it was completely cleared by Wolseley's expedition. +Of course, bushes will have sprung up again but, fast as things +grow in this climate, they can hardly have attained any great +height; and we shall have no difficulty in clearing the place +again. There is a good rest house at the place, I hear, and we +sha'n't be pigged in, as we were at Akroful."</p> +<p>"Why should they build a better house there than at the other +stations?"</p> +<p>"Because, when the river is full, there is no way of getting +across; and one may have to wait there for a fortnight, before it +falls."</p> +<p>On the afternoon of the next day Prahsu was reached, after a +march of twenty miles. The greater part of the house was found to +be occupied by offices and stores. Fortunately, however, two or +three tents had been brought along. The troops soon ran up huts of +bamboos and palm leaves and, as there was a small native village +close by, all were soon able to sleep in shelter.</p> +<p>The Prah was found to be full of water. It was here about a +hundred and fifty yards wide, and circled round three sides of the +position. There was no bridge, but two old wooden pontoons were +found, relics of the last expedition; and these, with the aid of +two old native canoes, were the only means of crossing.</p> +<p>On the morning after their arrival a despatch, dated May 24, was +received from Captain Hall. It gave the details of his attack on +Kokofu. Some thousands of the enemy were round that place and, in +his opinion, no advance could be made to Coomassie till this force +was destroyed.</p> +<p>An hour or two later another runner came in, this time from +Kwisa. The despatch he brought gave details of the fighting the +force at this place had had, in trying to effect a junction with +Captain Hall.</p> +<p>The column advanced rapidly. In any place where the bush was +particularly thick, volleys were fired into the undergrowth by a +few men of the advance guard; for it had been found by experience +in Nigeria that, if fired upon, natives generally disclosed their +presence by replying.</p> +<p>They went on, unmolested, until they neared the village of +Dompoasi. The natives of this town had sworn a solemn oath, to +prevent any reinforcements from going up to Coomassie; and they had +erected a stockade, six feet high. This was built in zigzag shape, +so that a flanking fire could be kept up from it. It was about four +hundred yards long, with both ends doubled backwards, to prevent an +enemy from turning the position. In the rear was a trench, in which +they could load in perfect shelter. Seats had been prepared on the +neighbouring trees, for riflemen; and the undergrowth was left +untouched, so that there should be nothing to excite suspicion.</p> +<p>The stockade did not run across the road, but parallel to it, +the distance varying from twenty to thirty yards. Thus, anybody +coming along the path would notice nothing unusual, though he +himself would be easily seen by the defenders. A road had been cut, +at the back of the entrenchments, so as to give a line of retreat +to the defenders. On the northern side of the village, a similar +stockade had been constructed.</p> +<p>Captain Roupell--who commanded the advance--became aware, from +the numerous tracks and footprints, that the enemy must be in force +in the neighbourhood, and advanced cautiously. He did not observe +the stockade, however, so well was it hidden among the bushes. Just +as they reached the farther end of it, a tremendous fire was +opened. Captain Roupell was wounded, and many of the men also +killed or wounded.</p> +<p>For a moment the troops were paralysed by the hail of lead. Then +they replied with their rifles, and two Maxims and an eleven +pounder were got to work. Captain Roupell, in spite of his wound, +worked one of the Maxims, Lieutenant O'Malley the other, and +Lieutenant Edwardes the gun. Captain Roupell was again dangerously +wounded, and Lieutenant O'Malley so severely wounded that he was +forced to discontinue fire.</p> +<p>Lieutenant Edwardes, although he was hit early in the action, +stuck to his gun. The gun team were all lying round, either killed +or wounded, and he ran home the shells with a stick. He was, +shortly afterwards, shot in the left arm. This incapacitated him +from serving his gun; but he went and worked a Maxim, with his +right arm, till a shot in the face compelled him to have his wounds +dressed.</p> +<p>Colonel Carter was wounded in the head, and handed over the +command to Colonel Wilkinson, who was himself slightly wounded at +the back of the head. The men fell fast. The seven pounder and the +other Maxim were completely isolated, some distance up the path. +The existence of the stockade was only discovered as the +undergrowth was cut away by the rain of bullets.</p> +<p>The officer commanding D company--which had been the rear guard +all this time and, consequently, had not suffered--was in hammock +with fever, and Colour Sergeant Mackenzie was in command. At this +moment Mackenzie came up, and asked leave to charge the enemy. His +proposal was at once sanctioned, and when half of his company had +arrived they charged the stockade, other soldiers and officers near +joining them. The enemy could not stand this determined attack, +evacuated their position, and took to flight.</p> +<p>The force now prepared to retire, and this operation they +performed in an orderly manner. Seven European officers had been +wounded, and there were ninety casualties. Indeed, if the enemy had +not fired too high, the column might have been annihilated.</p> +<p>Orders were sent, to Colonel Carter, telling him to remain where +he was till reinforcements should arrive. A telegram was also sent +to Captain Hall, instructing him to despatch a company to increase +the garrison at Kwisa. In the meantime two companies of the troops +on the Prah were ordered to proceed, instantly, to the relief of +Kwisa, under the command of Captain Melliss and, to Lisle's +satisfaction, some of his company were to form part of the +force.</p> +<p>They started at two in the afternoon, but it was four before +they got across the Prah; and they could only march ten miles that +evening, which they did through a pouring rain. An early start was +made, next morning. By eight o'clock they reached Fumsu, which was +held by a company of soldiers under Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas; +who informed them that all the troops ahead were perilously +situated, short of food and ammunition, and crippled with +casualties. He tried to dissuade them from going farther, +saying:</p> +<p>"You are simply walking into a death trap. It is not fighting, +it is murder. I am sure you will never get there, with only a +hundred men and all these carriers."</p> +<p>However, orders had to be obeyed. The carriers were so limited +in number that only a few days' food could be taken to the Kwisa +garrison, if all the cartridges were to go on. A hundred extra +rounds were served out to each man, in addition to the hundred he +already had; so that there was no risk of running short, and the +carriers would be relieved of much of the weight of the reserve, +and could therefore carry up a larger amount of provisions. A hasty +meal was eaten, and then they stepped forward for the twenty miles' +march before them.</p> +<p>During the halt, they found out how the natives signalled. A gun +was fired from the forest, the signal was repeated farther on, and +continued to the next war camp. An estimate was given of the number +and composition of an enemy by the number of guns fired. The force +learned, afterwards, that their departure from Prahsu had been +signalled in this way to the Adansis; and only the darkness and +pouring rain, which delayed the enemy's movements, had saved the +column from attack.</p> +<p>When the march was continued, therefore, the greatest +precautions were taken against an ambush. A small party of twelve +men marched ahead of the advance guard, and fired occasional +volleys. Where the undergrowth was unusually thick, scouts moved +abreast of them, cutting a way with their sword bayonets. The +difficulties were so great that the column moved only +three-quarters of a mile an hour. The carriers struggled on, +carrying their burdens with surprising cheerfulness, staggering +over the slippery mud, and frequently falling. The gun carriers had +the worst time of all, for the parts into which these weapons +divide are too heavy for single loads; and have to be carried, +swung on bamboo poles, by four men--but often, at the acute bends +in the path, the whole burden had to be supported by two.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, the column managed to advance. The river Fum was +rising, but was still fordable, and they crossed it, with +difficulty. It was now necessary to give up scouting, and depend +entirely on the volleys of the men in front to discover ambuscades. +One or two deserted or thinly populated villages were passed. Then, +after two hours of this trying tramp, the advance guard came upon +the Fum again; but at this point its volume and width were more +than doubled. The river was rising rapidly, and there were no trees +that could be cut down, with the sword bayonets, long enough to +throw across.</p> +<p>At last, by good luck, at some distance farther down a native +canoe was found, caught in the branches of a fallen tree. It was a +clumsy craft, but it was better than nothing. Two native hammock +boys and two soldiers took their places in it, and set out for the +other side. When it reached the centre of the stream, however, an +eddy caught it and, in an instant, it capsized.</p> +<p>Captain Melliss at once plunged into the river. He was a strong +swimmer, and had gained the Royal Humane Society's medal for saving +life at sea. His strength, however, had been taxed by the climate, +and he had to call for aid. Luckily, no one was drowned. The +intense chill, caused by the sudden immersion in almost ice-cold +water; and the bites of the ants that swarmed over them, as they +made their way back through the undergrowth from the spot where the +canoe had been washed ashore, threatened an attack of fever; but +this was averted by a change of clothing, a glass of neat spirits, +and a dose of quinine.</p> +<p>It was now agreed that nothing could be done, and the force +marched back to Fumsu. They recrossed the river, by means of a rope +stretched from bank to bank, and arrived long after dark.</p> +<p>Next day it was determined to make another trial but, for a long +time, no one was able to suggest where a crossing of the swollen +river might be effected. It was clearly impossible to build a +bridge but, after much discussion, it was agreed to make a raft. It +consisted of a platform of planks, built across empty barrels; and +was lashed together by the only rope at the station. A couple of +natives took their places upon it, with long poles; but their +efforts to push against the strong currents were quite unavailing. +Then something went wrong with the rope and the raft gradually +sank, the men swimming ashore.</p> +<p>On examination it was found that, not only were the leaking +casks gone, but the rope that tied them together. The situation now +appeared more hopeless than before.</p> +<p>It was Lisle who suggested a possible way out of the difficulty. +He was wandering about the deserted native huts, when it struck him +to see what the mud walls were composed of, and how the roofs were +supported. Drawing his sword, he cut a large hole in one of the +walls and, to his surprise, discovered that they were strengthened +by lines of bamboos, which were afterwards plastered over. It +seemed to him that these bamboos, which were extremely light as +well as strong, would be very useful material for a raft, and he +communicated the idea to Captain Melliss.</p> +<p>"You have solved the difficulty, Captain Bullen; there is no +doubt that these will do admirably."</p> +<p>In a few minutes the whole of the little force, and carriers, +were occupied in pulling down the huts. The question arose, how +were the stakes to be tied together? While this matter was being +discussed, Lisle said:</p> +<p>"Surely we can use some of the creepers. The natives tie up +bundles with them."</p> +<p>The suggestion was at once adopted. Creepers were cut in the +forest, and four bundles of bamboos were tied up, with cross pieces +of the same material; so that they could be carried by four men, +like a hammock. Four of the loads were similarly tied up. The +telegraph wire was torn down from the trees, on the bank on which +they were arrested; and the nearest insulator on the opposite side +was broken by a shot, so that the wire hung down to the water in a +gentle curve, the next insulator being fastened to a tree at a +considerable distance. One end of the raft was then attached to +this wire, by a noose that worked along it; and this contrivance +enabled the swiftest streams to be triumphantly crossed, the loads +of rice, meanwhile, being kept dry. The success of the experiment +created a general feeling of relief.</p> +<p>On that day, an escort of fifty soldiers and some more +ammunition came in, to reinforce the little garrison at Fumsu. The +full number asked for could not be spared, as a rumour had arrived +that the enemy would endeavour to cut off the carriers, who were +making their way up from the coast.</p> +<p>Next morning a start was made at an early hour. Four rivers had +been crossed, and five miles of the advance had been accomplished, +without an enemy being seen; and the troops began to hope that they +would reach Kwisa without further molestation. However, in mounting +a steep rise, after crossing a river, a heavy fire was suddenly +opened on them; and they had their first experience of the nature +of the ground chosen by the enemy for an ambuscade.</p> +<p>The path zigzagged up the hill and, while the movements of the +troops could be seen by the natives on its crest, dense foliage +prevented the men toiling up it from obtaining even a glimpse of +the enemy. Volleys were fired both to right and left. The enemy +replied by firing volley after volley, and the shower of leaves +showed that the bullets were flying high. It was difficult for the +officers to control the extended line, and the scattered soldiers +marching among the carriers were altogether out of hand, and fired +recklessly.</p> +<p>At last, however, this was checked. The advance guard had +suffered, but their fire had quelled that of the enemy. A rush was +therefore made, the ambuscade carried, and the enemy put to +flight.</p> +<p>Captain Wilson was, unfortunately, killed in the engagement. His +body was put into a hammock and taken to Fumsu, a march of +thirty-three miles. The force then returned to the Prah with the +wounded, leaving only a small garrison of fifty men, under a +British corporal.</p> +<p>It was a terrible march. The river had swollen, and the crossing +took hours, many of the troops and carriers not arriving until the +following day.</p> +<p>"Well, Bullen, how does this campaign compare with that in the +Tirah?"</p> +<p>"It is infinitely worse," Lisle said. "We were only once or +twice bothered by rivers, the country was open and, when the enemy +crowning the hills were turned out, we were able to go through the +passes without much opposition. We certainly often went to bed +supperless, but on the whole we did not fare badly. At least we +were generally dry and, though the cold was severe, it was not +unbearable. At any rate, it was better than marching through these +forests, in single file, with the mud often up to one's knees. +Above all, the air was fresh and dry, and we had not this close +atmosphere and this wet to struggle against.</p> +<p>"These fellows fight as well as the Afridis do, but are nothing +like such good shots. If they had been, we should have been +annihilated. I would rather go half a dozen times, through the +Tirah, than once through this country.</p> +<p>"I think it is the darkness in the woods that is most trying. We +are all bleached almost white; my uniform hangs about me loosely. I +must have lost any amount of weight."</p> +<p>Both of the young officers had received wounds, but these were +of so slight a nature that they had been able to keep their +places.</p> +<p>"I wonder what the next move will be. At any rate, we shall be +in clover at Prahsu, and be able to get into condition again by the +time we make another move. Plenty of stores are sure to be lying +there, while I expect that Hall and Wilkinson will be on pretty +short commons."</p> +<p>"Well, I suppose it is all for the best."</p> +<p>One day they came upon a swollen river, which was so deep as to +be unfordable, and the column were brought to a halt. The Pioneers, +on being questioned, were of accord that it would take at least two +days to build a bridge. There was a long consultation, and it was +agreed that, unless something could be done, the column must retire +for, by the time the bridge was built, the supply of food would be +exhausted.</p> +<p>"If we could get a wire across," the engineer officer said, "we +certainly could build the bridge in less time than I stated."</p> +<p>"I will try to carry it across, sir," Lisle said. "I am a strong +swimmer, and I think I could do it."</p> +<p>"Yes, but the Ashantis are all on the opposite bank. You would +be picked off before you got halfway across."</p> +<p>"I would try after dark. Once I got the wire across and fixed, +enough men could cross, with its assistance, to clear the other +bank of the enemy."</p> +<p>"You would find it very hard work tugging the wire across, +Bullen. The stream would catch it and, as it is as much as you can +do to swim the current without any drawback, it would certainly +carry you down."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir; but if I asked for a volunteer, I should find one +without difficulty."</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Bullen, if you volunteer to try, I shall, of course, +be very glad to accept the offer; especially as, if you keep tight +hold of the wire, the stream will only send you back to this +bank."</p> +<p>As soon as it was known that Lisle was about to attempt to swim +the river, several volunteers came forward; and from these he +selected one of the Sikh soldiers, not only because he was a tall +and powerful man, but because he could give him orders in Punjabi. +As soon as night came on, the preparations were completed. A length +of wire, that would be sufficient to cross the river, was laid out +on the bank from the spot that seemed to offer most advantages for +a bridge. In this way, as they swam out the line would go with +them, and they would be swept across the river by its pull, until +they touched the bank opposite to where the other end of the line +was secured.</p> +<p>Lisle took off his tunic, putties, and boots; and the Sikh also +stripped himself to his loincloth, in which he placed his bayonet. +Lisle unloaded his revolver and put it into his waistband, at the +same time placing in his pocket a packet of twenty cartridges, in a +waterproof box.</p> +<p>"You would swim better without those things, Bullen."</p> +<p>"No doubt, sir; but I want to have some means of defence, when I +get across the stream. Some of the enemy may be lurking there, +now."</p> +<p>"Before you start I will get the Maxim to work, and sweep the +opposite bank. When you get ashore fasten the end of the wire to a +tree, and then give a shout; we will stretch it tight on this side, +and I will send a half company over, without delay. That ought to +be enough to enable you to retain your footing, until we join +you."</p> +<p>When all was ready, Lisle fastened the end of the wire round his +body. The Sikh was to take hold a yard or two below him, and aid +him as he swam. Then they stepped into the water, and struck +out.</p> +<p>They had swum only twenty yards, when the Sikh cried out, "I +have cramp, sahib! I can swim no longer!" and he let go his hold of +the wire.</p> +<p>Rapidly, Lisle thought over the position. It was very important +to get the wire across. Now that the Sikh had gone, he felt that it +would pull him under; on the other hand, the brave fellow had +volunteered to go with him, and he could not see him drown before +his eyes. He accordingly slipped the loop of the wire over his +head, and struck out with the stream.</p> +<p>So rapid had been the course of his thoughts that the man was +still within some fifteen yards of him. He could see him faintly +struggling and, swimming with long, steady strokes, soon overtook +him.</p> +<p>"Put your arm on my shoulder," he said; "I will soon get you +ashore."</p> +<p>The Sikh did as he was told, and Lisle turned to make for the +shore they had left. To his dismay, however, he found that the +centre current was carrying him to the opposite side. As soon as he +found this to be the case, he ceased his efforts and allowed +himself to float down. Doubtless the Ashantis would be on the +watch, and any movement in the water would catch their eyes.</p> +<p>He could hear their voices on the bank and, occasionally, a shot +was fired over his head. He felt sure, however, that he was still +unseen; and determined to float quietly, till the course of the +current changed, and brought him back to the side from which he +started. He felt the Sikh's grasp relaxing, and threw his arms +round the man's neck.</p> +<p>A quarter of an hour passed and then, to his dismay, he saw that +he was close to the bush, on the wrong side of the river. He +himself was getting rapidly weaker, and he felt that he could not +support the weight of the soldier much farther. Accordingly he +grasped a branch that overhung the river, pulled himself in to the +shore, and there lay at the edge of the mud.</p> +<p>When he recovered his breath, he began to calculate his chances. +The bush overhead seemed very thick, and he resolved to shelter +there for a time. Occasionally he could hear the sound of voices +close by, and was sure that the Ashantis were in force there.</p> +<p>His companions would, he was sure, regard him as dead when, on +pulling on the wire, they found that it was loose; and after the +failure of this attempt to establish a bridge, would probably start +on their return march, without delay. He had, therefore, only +himself to rely upon, beyond what assistance he could get from the +Sikh, when the latter regained consciousness.</p> +<p>He poured a little spirits into the man's mouth, and presently +had the satisfaction of seeing him move. Waiting until the movement +became more decided, he said:</p> +<p>"You must lie still; we are across on the Ashanti side. They +don't know we are here and, when you are able to move, we will +crawl down some little distance and hide in the bushes. We must +hide in the morning, for I am sure that I could not swim back to +the other side, and certainly you could not do so. We are in a +tight place, but I trust that we shall be able to get out of +it."</p> +<p>"Do not encumber yourself with me," the Sikh said. "I know you +have risked your life to save me, but you must not do so again. +What is the life of a soldier to that of an officer?"</p> +<p>"I could not get across, even if I were alone. At any rate, I am +not going to desert you, now. Let us keep quiet for an hour, then +we shall be able to move on."</p> +<p>An hour passed silently, and then Lisle asked:</p> +<p>"How are you feeling, now?"</p> +<p>"I feel strong again, sahib."</p> +<p>"Very well then, let us crawl on."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch15" id="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: A Narrow Escape.</h2> +<p>Keeping in the mud close to the bank, and feeling their way in +the dense growth produced by the overhanging bushes, they crawled +forward. Sometimes the water came up to the bank, and they had to +swim; but as a rule they were able to keep on the mud, which was so +deep that they sank far into it, their heads alone showing above +it. In two hours they had gone a mile, and both were thoroughly +exhausted.</p> +<p>"We will lie here till day breaks," Lisle said; "as soon as it +is dawn, we will choose some spot where the bushes are thickest, +and shelter there. I am in hopes, now, that we are beyond the +Ashantis. I dare say that we shall be able to get a peep through +the bushes and, if we find the coast clear, we will make our way +into the forest. There we may be able to gather something to eat, +which we shall want, tomorrow; and it will certainly be more +comfortable than this bed of mud. We must get rid of some of that +before we leave."</p> +<p>"It would be better to allow it to dry on you, sahib. Our white +undergarments would betray us at once, if any Ashantis came upon +us. For my part, my colour is not so very different from +theirs."</p> +<p>"Yes, perhaps that would be better. I must rub some over my +face, as well."</p> +<p>"I do not care, for myself, sahib; we Sikhs are not afraid to +die; but after your goodness to me, I would do anything to save +you."</p> +<p>"What is your name?"</p> +<p>"Pertab, sahib."</p> +<p>"Well, Pertab, I think that as we have proceeded so far, we +shall pull through, somehow. You have your bayonet, and I have my +revolver, which I will wash and load before we get out of this. We +shall be a match, then, for any three or four men we may come +across. At any rate, I shall shoot myself if I see that there is no +other way of escape. It would be a thousand times better to die, +than be taken captive and tortured to death."</p> +<p>"Good, sahib! I will use my bayonet, myself; but I don't think +there will be any occasion for that."</p> +<p>"I shall certainly die fighting. I would rather not be taken +alive, Pertab; and shall certainly fight till I am killed, or can +take my own life."</p> +<p>"Do you think that the troops will be marched away, sahib?"</p> +<p>"I feel sure that they will. They have only got provisions +enough to take them back to camp; and as, when they pull the wire +in, they will find that we have gone, they will feel quite sure +that we have been drowned.</p> +<p>"No; we must quite make up our minds that we have got to look +after ourselves. Fortunately, the Ashantis will not be able to +cross the river to harass them in their retreat; unless, indeed, +they know of some ford by which they can get over."</p> +<p>As soon as daylight began, the Sikh went down into the water and +washed the mud from himself, and Lisle cleaned and loaded his +pistol. Then they waited until it was broad daylight and, as they +heard no sounds to indicate that any Ashantis were near, Lisle +climbed up as noiselessly as he could to the bushes, and looked +cautiously round. There were none of the enemy in sight. He +therefore called to the Sikh to join him and, together, they made +their way into the forest behind.</p> +<p>"The first thing to ascertain," Lisle said, "is whether the +enemy are still here, and to find out for certain whether our +friends have left. If they stay where they were, we can swim the +river and join them; if they have retreated, and the Ashantis are +still here, we shall know that there is no ford. If, however, we +find that the Ashantis have gone, we shall be sure that they +crossed at some ford, and will be swarming round our men; in which +case it will be impossible for us to join them, and we must make +our way as best we can."</p> +<p>They kept close to the edge of the forest, the soldier +occasionally using his bayonet to cut away the thorny creepers that +blocked their course. After an hour's walking, Lisle said:</p> +<p>"That is the spot where the troops were, last night. I can see +no signs of them now.</p> +<p>"Now for the Ashantis."</p> +<p>They took the greatest pains to avoid making a noise, until they +stepped out opposite the point from which they had started, the +evening before. They saw no signs of the enemy.</p> +<p>"This is bad," Lisle said. "I can have no doubt that they have +crossed the river, somewhere, and are swarming in the forest +opposite. However, now that we know that they have gone, we can +look out for something to eat."</p> +<p>For three hours they wandered about, and were fortunate enough +to find a deserted village, where they gathered some bananas and +pineapples. Of these they made a hearty meal; and then, each +carrying a few bananas, they returned to the river and swam across, +finding no difficulty in doing so now that they were unencumbered +by the wire. They had not been long across before they heard the +sound of heavy firing, some two or three miles away.</p> +<p>"It is as I thought," Lisle said. "The Ashantis have crossed the +river, somewhere, and are now attacking the convoy. They will not, +of course, overpower it; but they will continue to follow it up +till they get near camp, and there is little chance of our being +able to rejoin them before that."</p> +<p>Travelling on, they more than once heard the sound of parties of +the enemy, running forward at the top of their speed. Evidently +news had been sent round, and the inhabitants of many villages now +poured in, to share in the attack upon the white men.</p> +<p>"It is useless for us to think of going farther, at present," +Lisle said. "They will be mustering thickly all round our force, +and I expect we shall have some stiff fighting to do, before we get +back to camp--I mean the column, of course; as for ourselves, the +matter is quite uncertain. We may be sure, however, that they won't +be making any search in the bush and, as even in the Ashanti +country you cannot go through the bush, unless you cut a path, it +will be sheer accident if they come across us. At any rate, we may +as well move slowly on, doing a little cutting only when the path +seems deserted. If we keep some forty or fifty yards from it, so as +to be able to hear any parties going along, and to make sure that +they are moving in our direction, that is all we can do.</p> +<p>"Of course, everything will depend upon the result of the fight +with the column. There is no doubt that they are going to be +attacked in great force; which, as far as it goes, is all the +better for us. If it were only a question of sniping by a small +body of men, the colonel would no doubt push steadily on, +contenting himself with firing occasional volleys into the bush; +but if he is attacked by so strong a body as there appears to be +round him, he will halt and give them battle. If so, we may be +pretty sure that he will send them flying into the bush; and they +won't stop running till they get back to the river. In that case, +when we have allowed them all to pass we can go boldly on, and +overtake the column at their halting place, this evening.</p> +<p>"If, on the other hand, our fellows make a running fight of it, +the enemy will follow them till they get near Coomassie, and we +shall have to make a big detour to get in. That we shall be able to +do so I have no doubt, but the serious part of the business is the +question of food. However, we know that the natives can find food, +and it is hard if we do not manage to get some.</p> +<p>"Making the necessary detour, and cutting our way a good deal +through the bush, we can calculate upon getting there in less than +four days' march. We have food enough for today, and a very little +will enable us to hold on for the next four days."</p> +<p>They moved slowly on. The firing increased in violence, and it +was evident that a very heavy engagement was going on. Two hours +later they heard a sound of hurrying feet in the path and, peering +through the bush, saw a crowd of the Ashantis running along, in +single file, at the top of their speed.</p> +<p>"Hooray! It is evident that they have got a thorough licking," +Lisle said. "They will soon be all past. Our greatest fear will +then be that a few of the most plucky of them will rally in the +bush, when they see that none of our troops come along. Our troops +are not likely to follow them up, as they will be well content with +the victory they have evidently gained, and resume their +march."</p> +<p>They waited for an hour and, when they were on the point of +getting up and making for the path, the Sikh said:</p> +<p>"Someone is coming in the bush."</p> +<p>In another minute, four natives came suddenly upon them; whether +they came from the force that had been routed, or were newly +arriving from some village behind, the two fugitives knew not; nor, +indeed, had they any time to consider. They threw themselves, at +once, into one of the divisions at the base of a giant cotton +tree.</p> +<p>These divisions, of which there may be five or six round the +tree, form solid buttresses four or five inches thick, projecting +twenty or thirty feet from the front, and rising as many feet high; +thus affording the tree an immense support, when assailed by +tropical storms.</p> +<a id="PicG" name="PicG"></a> +<center><img src="images/g.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: Two of them fell before Lisle's revolver." /></center> +<p>The natives, seeing that the two men were apparently unarmed, +rushed forward, firing their guns as they did so. Two of them fell +before Lisle's revolver. One of the natives rushed with clubbed +musket at him but, as he delivered the blow, the butt end of the +musket struck a bough overhead and flew out of the man's hand; and +Lisle, putting his revolver to his head, shot him. The other man +ran off.</p> +<p>Lisle had now time to look round and, to his dismay, the Sikh +was leaning against the branch of a tree.</p> +<p>"Are you hit?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Yes, sahib, a ball has broken my right leg."</p> +<p>"That is a bad business, indeed," Lisle said, kneeling beside +him.</p> +<p>"It cannot be helped, sahib. Our fate is meted out to us all, +and it has come to me now. You could not drag me from here, or +carry me; it would be impossible, for I weigh far more than you +do."</p> +<p>Lisle was silent for a moment.</p> +<p>"I see," he said, "that the only thing I can do is to push on to +camp, and bring out assistance. I will leave you my pistol, when I +have recharged it; so that if the native who has run away should +bring others down, you will be able to defend yourself. As, +however, you remained on your feet, he will not know that you were +wounded; and will probably suppose that we would at once push on to +join our companions. Still, it will be well for you to have the +weapon.</p> +<p>"Now, let me lower you down to the ground, and seat you as +comfortably as I can. I will leave these bananas by you, and my +flask of water. It is lucky, now, that I did not drink it all when +I started to cross the river.</p> +<p>"I suppose they will have halted at the same camp as before. It +was a long march, and we must still be ten or twelve miles away +from it, so I fear it will be dark long before I get there."</p> +<p>"You are very good, sahib, but I think it will be of no +use."</p> +<p>"Oh, I hope it will! So now, give me your turban. I will wrap it +tightly round your leg, for the bleeding must be stopped. I see you +have lost a great deal of blood, already."</p> +<p>He bandaged the wound as well as he could, and then he said:</p> +<p>"I will take your sword bayonet with me. It can be of no use to +you and, if I do happen to meet a native upon the road, it may come +in very handy."</p> +<p>"The blessing of the Great One be upon you, sahib, and take you +safely to camp. As for myself, I think that my race is run."</p> +<p>"You must not think that," Lisle said, cheerily; "you must lie +very quiet, and make up your mind that, as soon as it is possible, +we shall be back here for you;" and then, without any more talk, he +made his way to the edge of the path.</p> +<p>There he made a long gash on the bark of a tree and, fifty yards +farther, he made two similar gashes. Then, certain that he could +find the place on his return, he went off at a trot along the +path.</p> +<p>It was eight o'clock in the evening before he reached camp. On +the way, he had met with nothing that betokened danger; there had +been no voices in the woods. When about halfway to camp, he came +across a number of dead bodies on the path and, looking into the +bush, found many more scattered about. It was evident that the +little British force had turned upon their assailants, and had +effected a crushing defeat upon them.</p> +<p>He was hailed by a sentry as he approached the camp but, upon +his reply, was allowed to pass. As he came to the light of a fire, +round which the white officers were sitting, there was a general +shout of surprise and pleasure.</p> +<p>"Is it you or your ghost, Bullen?" the commanding officer +exclaimed, as all leapt to their feet.</p> +<p>"I am a very solid person, Colonel; as you will see, if you +offer me anything to eat or drink. I am pretty well exhausted now +and, as I have got another twenty-mile tramp before I sleep, you +may guess that I shall be glad of solid and liquid +refreshment."</p> +<p>"You shall have both, my dear boy. We had all given you up for +dead. When we saw you washed down, we were afraid that you were +lost. The only hope was that the current might bring you over to +our side again, and we went two or three miles down the stream to +look for you. We hunted again still more carefully the next +morning, and it was not until the afternoon that we moved.</p> +<p>"We encamped only three miles from the river, hoping still that +you might come up before the morning. We started at daybreak this +morning. We were harassed from the first, but the affair became so +serious that we halted and faced about, left a handful of men to +protect the coolies and carriers; and then sent two companies out +into the bush on each side, and went at them. Fortunately they +fought pluckily, and when at last they gave way they left, I should +say, at least a third of their number behind them.</p> +<p>"We did not stop to count. I sent a small party at full speed +along the path, so as to keep them on the run, and then marched on +here without further molestation.</p> +<p>"And now, about yourself; how on earth have you managed to get +in?"</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I can tell it in a few words. The current took us to +the opposite shore. We lay concealed under the bushes overhanging +the bank, and could hear the enemy talking behind the screen. On +the following day the voices ceased, and we made our way up to the +camp; and found, as we expected, that you had gone and, as we +guessed, the Ashantis had set off in pursuit. We went on through +the forest and, of course, heard the firing in the distance; and +saw the enemy coming along the path, terror stricken. We were +waiting for a bit, and felt sure that they had all passed; when a +party of four men came from behind upon us. I don't think they +belonged to the force you defeated. They were within twenty yards +when they saw us.</p> +<p>"We jumped into one of the hollows at the foot of a cotton tree. +The whole four fired at us and then, as they supposed that we were +unarmed, made a rush. I shot two of them as they came on. One of +the others aimed a blow at me, with the butt end of his gun. +Fortunately the weapon caught one of the creepers, and flew out of +his hand. My revolver had in some way stuck, but it all came right +just at the moment, and I shot him. The fourth man bolted.</p> +<p>"When I looked round to see what the Sikh was doing, he was +leaning against the tree, with the blood streaming from his leg; +the bone having been broken by one of their balls. Well, sir, I +bandaged it up as well as I could, and left him my revolver; so +that he might shoot himself, if there was a likelihood of his being +captured. I then set off, as hard as I could go, to fetch +assistance for him."</p> +<p>"The troops have had a very heavy day, Bullen," the colonel +said, gravely. "How far away is it that you left the man?"</p> +<p>"About ten miles, I should say."</p> +<p>"Well, they are all willing fellows, but it is a serious thing +to ask them to start on another twenty miles' journey, within an +hour or two of getting into camp."</p> +<p>"I think, sir, if you will allow me to go down to where the +Sikhs are bivouacked, and I ask for volunteers to bring in their +comrade, they will stand up, to a man."</p> +<p>Lisle's confidence in the Sikhs was not misplaced. As soon as +they heard that a comrade, who they believed had been drowned while +trying to get the wire across the river, was lying alone and +wounded in the forest, all declared their willingness to start, at +once.</p> +<p>"I will take twenty," Lisle said; "that will be ample. I have +just come down the path myself, and I saw no signs, whatever, of +the enemy; still, some of them may be making their way down, to +carry off their dead. If they are, however, their astonishment at +seeing us will be so great that they will bolt at the first +volley."</p> +<p>"Are you going back with us, sahib?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I must do so, or you would never find the place where he +is lying."</p> +<p>"We will take two stretchers," the sergeant--a splendid man; +standing, like most of his companions, well over six feet--said, +"and you shall walk as far as you are able, and then we will carry +you. When will you march, sahib?"</p> +<p>"I am going to get something to eat and drink first and, if you +will fall in, in half an hour I will be with you again."</p> +<p>"Where is Pertab wounded, sahib?"</p> +<p>"He is shot through the leg, three or four inches above the +knee, and the bone is broken."</p> +<p>"Did the man get off, sahib?"</p> +<p>"I can't say for certain," Lisle said, with a smile. "Four men +attacked us. They all four fired. I shot three of them with my +revolver, and the fourth bolted. Whether he was the man who really +shot your comrade, or not, I cannot say; but you see, the chances +are that he was not."</p> +<p>The grim faces of the Sikhs lit up with a smile.</p> +<p>"You paid them out, anyhow," the sergeant said. "I don't think +we are very deeply in their debt."</p> +<p>Lisle went back to the campfire. The best that could be found in +camp was given to him, and the colonel handed him his own whisky +flask. While he ate, he related the story in full.</p> +<p>"Well, it is a fine thing for you to have done," said the +colonel; "a most creditable affair. I know that you are a pretty +good marcher; but I hardly think that, after a long day's work, you +can set out for a march of nearly double the length."</p> +<p>"I have no fear of the march, Colonel. The Sikhs have +volunteered to carry a stretcher for me. I shall, of course, not +get into it, unless I feel that I cannot go another foot farther; +but the mere fact that it is there, and in readiness for me, will +help me to keep on. The Sikhs have done just as long a march as I +have, and I hope that I shall be able to hold on as long as they +can. I should hate to be beaten by a native."</p> +<p>"Ah! But these Sikhs are wonderful fellows; they seem to be made +of iron, and march along as erect and freely as they start, when +even the Hausas and Yorubas are showing signs that they are almost +at the end of their powers. I must say that I consider the Sikhs to +be, all round, the best soldiers in the world. They cannot beat +Tommy Atkins, when it comes to a charge; but in the matter of +marching, and endurance, Tommy has to take a back seat. He will +hold on till he fairly breaks down, rather than give in; but he +himself, if he has ever campaigned with the Sikhs, would be the +first to allow that they can march him off his feet.</p> +<p>"Have you got a spare pair of shoes in your kit, Bullen?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Then I should advise you to take those you have on, off; and +put on a fresh pair."</p> +<p>"I will take your advice, sir; but I really think that it would +be best to follow the custom of the native troops, and march +barefooted."</p> +<p>"It would not do," the colonel said, decidedly. "The soles of +their feet are like leather. You would get half a dozen thorns in +your foot, before you had gone half a mile; and would stub your +toes against every root that projected across the path. No, no; +stick to your shoes."</p> +<p>Lisle changed his boots, and then went across to the Sikhs; who +fell in as they saw him coming.</p> +<p>"You have got everything, sergeant?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Yes; a hundred and thirty rounds of ball cartridge, the two +stretchers, and some food and drink for our comrade."</p> +<p>"You have got a good supply of torches, I hope. There may be +some small risk in carrying them, but I am convinced that the +Ashantis will not venture to return, tonight, whatever they may do +tomorrow. With three torches--one at the head, one in the middle of +the line, and one in the rear--we should be able to travel through +the paths better than if we had to grope our way in the dark."</p> +<p>The little party at once moved off, many of the officers and men +gathering round, to wish them good luck and a safe return. Four +hours took them to the spot where Lisle had turned into the path. +For the last mile he had had three torches burning in front, so +that he should not overlook the signs he had made on the trees.</p> +<p>"There it is, sergeant," he said, at last, "two slashes; the +other one is on the left, fifty yards on."</p> +<p>They turned off when they came to this.</p> +<p>"Here we are, all right, Pertab!" Lisle said, as they came to +the tree.</p> +<p>"Allah be praised!" the man said, faintly. "I seem to have been +hearing noises in the wood, for a long time; and when I heard you +coming, I was by no means sure that it was not an illusion, like +the others."</p> +<p>"Here are twenty of your comrades with me, Pertab, and we shall +soon get you into camp."</p> +<p>"I didn't expect you till morning," the wounded man said. "I +thought that you would be far too tired to come out and, without +you, they could not have found me."</p> +<p>"They would have carried me, had it been necessary; but I +managed to hold on pretty well.</p> +<p>"Now, my men, get him upon the stretcher, and let us be off. +Pour the contents of that bottle down his throat; that will keep +him up, till we get back."</p> +<p>For another four or five miles, Lisle kept along but, to his +mortification, he was obliged at last to take to the stretcher. The +four Sikhs who carried it made light of his weight. Once or twice, +on the way, some dropping shots were fired at the party; but these +were speedily silenced by a volley or two from the rifles.</p> +<p>It was four o'clock in the morning when they re-entered camp. +The fires were already lighted and, as the party entered, the +troops received them with loud cheering; which called all the white +officers out from their shelters.</p> +<p>"You have done well, my fine fellows," the colonel said to the +Sikhs. "Now, get some food at once, and then lie down for three or +four hours' sleep. I shall leave two companies with you; I don't +think that, after the thrashing we gave them yesterday, the enemy +are likely to trouble us--at any rate, not before the afternoon, +and by that time you will have rejoined us."</p> +<p>"We can march on now, sahib."</p> +<p>"No, no," the colonel said; "a thirty-six-mile march, through +this bush, is a great deal more than a fair day's march for anyone; +and I am not going to see such good men knocked up, by asking too +much of them. So just go, and do as I order you. You may be sure +that I shall put the deed you have accomplished in my orders of +today.</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Bullen," he said, as he came to the spot where Lisle +was sitting, with his shoes and stockings off, rubbing his aching +feet, "so you could not outmarch the Sikhs?"</p> +<p>"No, sir, and I did not expect to do so. I went at their head +all the way there, and four or five miles back; but should have had +to give up, even if I had been told that a big fortune awaited me, +if I got in on foot. I should have had to say:</p> +<p>"'Well, then, somebody else may have it; I can go no +farther.'"</p> +<p>"Well, you have done uncommonly well, anyhow; uncommonly well. I +don't suppose there are five white men in camp who could have done +so much. After this you may be sure that, if you have need of an +expedition, the Sikhs would follow you through fire and water, if +they were allowed to volunteer for the service.</p> +<p>"I should have been glad to recommend you for the Victoria +Cross, for your conduct right through the affair; but you have got +it. But I fear that, although you would get every credit for your +doings, the authorities would consider that it did not come under +the head of deeds for which the Victoria Cross is given."</p> +<p>"I am sure I have no desire for another V.C., even if two could +be given."</p> +<p>No attack was made on the following day, and it was evident that +the Ashantis had taken to heart the lesson that had been given +them. Two days later the column marched into the fort, and Colonel +Willcocks went out to meet it.</p> +<p>The colonel's reports had been sent in by a runner. As the Sikhs +came along, the colonel ordered them to halt and, as Lisle marched +up at the head of his company, he made a sign to him to come +up.</p> +<p>"Captain Bullen," he said, "I have much pleasure in +congratulating you on the manner in which you saved the life of the +Sikh soldier, who volunteered to swim that river in flood in order +to carry a wire across; and still more for the manner in which you +made what I should say was a record march, in this country, to +bring in a man who had been wounded, in a fight with a small party +of the enemy."</p> +<p>Then he turned to the Sikhs.</p> +<p>"Soldiers," he said, "I cannot praise you too heartily for +having volunteered, at the end of a long and exhausting march, to +undertake another still longer and more fatiguing, in order to +bring in a wounded comrade. It is an act of which you may be proud; +but not altogether a surprising one, for we know well that we can +depend upon the Sikhs, on all and every occasion."</p> +<p>Lisle had been carried into the fort. His feet were so tender +and swollen that he could not possibly walk farther, and he was +consequently taken down by the carriers, during the last two days' +march. Hallett sauntered up, as soon as he was put into a hospital +hut.</p> +<p>"Hillo, Bullen, so you have broken down! A nice example to set +to your Hausas, isn't it?"</p> +<p>"I suppose it is," Lisle laughed; "but the Hausas did not march +as far as I did."</p> +<p>"No? What were you doing? Scouting half a mile ahead of them, on +your own account?"</p> +<p>"Not exactly; I only went the width of a river, and yet, the +result of that was that I had to do an extra march of some twenty +miles."</p> +<p>"Now you are speaking in riddles, Lisle; and if there is one +thing I hate, it is riddles. When a fellow begins to talk in that +way, I always change the subject. Why a man should try to puzzle +his brain, with such rigmarole things, is more than I can +imagine."</p> +<p>"Well, Hallett, I really feel too tired to tell you about the +matter. I can assure you that it is no joke, being carried down +fifteen miles on a stretcher; so please go and ask somebody else, +that's a good fellow."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour Hallett returned again, put his eyeglass +in his eye, and stood for a couple of minutes without speaking, +regarding Lisle furtively.</p> +<p>"Oh, don't be a duffer," the latter said, "and drop that +eyeglass. You know perfectly well that you see better, without it, +than with it."</p> +<p>"Well, you are a rum chap, Bullen. You are always doing +something unexpected. I have been hearing how you and a Sikh +started to swim the Ordah, when it was in flood, with a wire; how +you were washed away; how you were given up for lost; how, two days +later, you returned to camp and went straight out again, with a +party of twenty Sikhs, took a little stroll for ten miles into the +bush--and of course, as much back--to carry in the Sikh soldier you +had had with you, but who had been wounded, and was unable to come +with you. I don't know why such luck as this is always falling to +your lot, while not a bit of it comes to me."</p> +<p>"It is pure accident, Hallett. You will get a chance, some day. +I don't know that you would be good for a thirty-mile tramp, but it +must be a consolation to you that, for the last five miles, I had +to be carried."</p> +<p>"It is a mercy it is so," Hallett said, in an expression of deep +thankfulness, "for there would have been no holding you, if you had +come in on your feet."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch16" id="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: The Relief Of +Coomassie.</h2> +<p>"I certainly should not have volunteered for this work, Bullen, +if I had known what it was like. I was mad at not being able to go +out to the Cape, and as my regiment was, like yours, stationed in +India, there was no chance of getting away from there, if I had +once returned. Of course, I knew all about the expeditions of +Wolseley and Scott; but I forgot that these were carried on in the +dry season, and that we should have to campaign in the wet season, +which makes all the difference in the world. We are wet through, +from morning till night--and all night, too--and at our camping +places there is no shelter. The low-lying land is turned into deep +swamps, the little streams become great unfordable torrents, and +the ground under our feet turns into liquid mud. It is really +horrible work, especially as we get very little food and less +drink. It is not work for dogs."</p> +<p>"It is all very well for you to grumble, Hallett, but you know +just as well as I do that, if the offer were made to you to go +home, at once, you would treat it with scorn."</p> +<p>"Oh, of course I should! Still, one may be allowed to have one's +grumble and, after all, I think we are pretty sure of some stiff +fighting, which makes up for everything. I am not afraid of the +enemy a bit, but I do funk fever."</p> +<p>"I don't think we are likely to get fever, so long as we are on +the move; though I dare say a good many of us will go down with it, +after the work is done. We have only to think of the starving +soldiers and people, in Coomassie, to make us feel that, whatever +the difficulties and dangers may be, we must get there in time. The +great nuisance is, that we can get no news of what is doing there. +We constantly hear that the governor, with a portion if not all of +the force, has broken out, some days since; and we begin to look +out for them; and then, after a time, comes the news that there has +been no sortie whatever. It is really most annoying, and I am often +kept awake at night, even after a day's fight, thinking of the +position of the garrison."</p> +<p>"I don't think, if there were a hundred garrisons in danger," +Hallett laughed, "it would affect my sleep in the slightest. I lie +down as soon as I have eaten what there is to eat, which certainly +is not likely to affect my digestion; and however rough the ground, +I am dead asleep as soon as my head touches it, and I do not open +an eye until the bugle sounds in the morning. Even then I have not +had enough sleep, and I always indulge in bad language as I put on +my belts, at the unearthly hour at which we are always called. I +don't begin to feel half awake till we have gone some miles."</p> +<p>"You would wake up sharp enough, Hallett, at the sound of the +first gun."</p> +<p>"Yes, that is all right enough; but unless that comes, there is +nothing to wake one. The close air of the forest takes out what +little starch you have in you, and I verily believe that I am very +often asleep, as we march."</p> +<p>"It is monotonous, Hallett, but there is always something to see +to; to keep the men from straggling, to give a little help, +sometimes, to the wretched carriers."</p> +<p>"You are such a desperate enthusiast, Bullen. I cannot make out +how you keep it up so well. I really envy you your good +spirits."</p> +<p>"They are indeed a great blessing; I had plenty of occasion to +make the most of them, when I was marching in the ranks of the 32nd +Pioneers, on the way up to Chitral. Still, they came naturally +enough, there; and I am bound to acknowledge that it is hard work, +sometimes, to keep them up here."</p> +<p>"I think that it would really be a mercy, Bullen, if you were to +pour a bucket of water over my head, when the bugle sounds. I have +no doubt I should be furious with you, and should use the strongest +of strong language; but still, that would not hurt you."</p> +<p>"Except when the carriers bring up our bundles of dry clothes, +we lie down so soaked that you would scarcely feel the water poured +over you. At any rate, if you really think that it would do you +good, you had better order your servant to do it; that is to say, +if you don't think you would slay him, the first morning."</p> +<p>"No, I suppose I must put up with it, as best I can; but really, +sometimes I do envy the colonel's little terrier, which frisks +along all day, making excursions occasionally into the bush, to +look for rats or mongooses. He seems to be absolutely tireless, and +always ready for anything.</p> +<p>"Well, I shall turn in, now, and try to dream that I am on a +feather bed, and have had supper of all sorts of dainties."</p> +<p>"I would not do that, if I were you. It would be such a +disappointment, when you woke up."</p> +<p>"Well, perhaps it might be," Hallett said, despondently. "I will +try to dream that I am with you on that Chitral expedition, and am +nearly frozen to death; then possibly, on waking, I might feel +grateful that things are not so bad as I thought they were."</p> +<p>They spent a few pleasant days at Prahsu and, while there, +received the news that a column had started, from Tientsin, for the +relief of the Europeans collected in the various legations at +Pekin, news which created general satisfaction.</p> +<p>"I have no doubt they will have some stiff fighting," Hallett +said, as he and Lisle sat down to breakfast, after hearing the +news. "One thing, however, is in their favour. As they will keep by +the river all the way, they will never be short of water. The last +news was that they were collecting a large flotilla of junks, for +carrying up their provisions. Lucky beggars! Wouldn't I like to +change places with one of them! I hope all the different troops +will pull well together for, with a force of half a dozen +nationalities, it is almost certain that there will be some +squabbling."</p> +<p>"I should hardly think that there would be any trouble, Hallett. +Of course, it was reported in the last mail that the Russians, +French, and Germans were all behaving somewhat nastily; but as the +Japs have the strongest force of all, and the Americans stick to +us, I should think that things will go on well. It would be a +disgraceful thing, indeed, if troops marching to the relief of +their countrymen could not keep the peace among themselves. Of +course, there may be fighting; but it is morally certain that the +Chinese cannot stand against us, and I imagine that, in proportion +to the numbers, their casualties will enormously exceed ours.</p> +<p>"Britain has her hands pretty full, at present, what with the +big war in the Transvaal, and the little one here, and another in +China. It is a good thing we thrashed the Afridis, two years ago. +If we had not, you may be sure that there would be an even more +formidable rising on our northern frontier than that we quelled. +News travels marvellously fast, in India; the Afridis always seem +to know what is going on elsewhere, and I am pretty sure that they +would be up, all over the country, if they had not had to give up +the greater portion of their rifles, and had not more than enough +to do to rebuild their houses. So we have something to be thankful +for."</p> +<p>"I am glad that Marchand business did not come off just at the +present time," Hallett said. "You may be sure that we should have +had a war with France; it was a mighty near thing, as it was."</p> +<p>"Yes; I think they would not have backed down, if we had been +busy with Boers, Chinese, and black men. They were at fever heat as +it was; and we could have done nothing, if we had had two hundred +and fifty thousand men engaged at the Cape."</p> +<p>"It would have made no difference," Lisle said, scornfully, "we +have plenty of soldiers at home. Every barrack was crowded with +men, as we came away; and there were a great number of the militia +and volunteers, to back them up. Above all there was our fleet +which, however much the Frenchmen value their warships, would have +knocked them into a cocked hat in no time.</p> +<p>"Well, I suppose it is time to go out and inspect our men."</p> +<p>"I suppose it is, Bullen," Hallett said despondently, as he +stretched himself. "If there were no inspections and no parade, an +officer's life would be really a pleasant one."</p> +<p>Lisle laughed.</p> +<p>"And if there were no inspections and parades there would be no +soldiers, and if there were no soldiers there would be no need for +officers."</p> +<p>"Well, I suppose that is so," Hallett said, as he buckled on his +sword. "Now, just look at me; do I look like an officer and a +gentleman? Nobody could tell what was the original colour of my +khaki; it is simply one mass of mud stains."</p> +<p>"Well, I do think you hardly look like an officer and a +gentleman--that is to say, you would hardly be taken for one at +Aldershot. Fortunately, however, there are no English ladies here +to look at you and, as the blacks don't know what an officer and a +gentleman should be, it doesn't matter in the slightest."</p> +<p>While at Prahsu, there was nothing to do but to speculate as to +what would be the next move. Colonel Willcocks kept his plan to +himself, for information as to our movements reached the enemy in a +most extraordinary manner.</p> +<p>It was a busy camp. Bamboo grass-covered sheds, for stores, were +in course of construction. The engineers were employed in making a +road, to take the stores and troops across the Prah.</p> +<p>Three of the wounded officers--Captain Roupell, Lieutenants +Edwardes and O'Malley--were invalided, and left for home in a +convoy with over a hundred wounded. This was necessary, owing to +the fact that there was no Roentgen apparatus in the colony, and it +was found impossible to discover and extract the slugs with which +the great proportion were wounded.</p> +<p>It was unknown that four hundred men of the West African +Regiment, with nearly twenty officers, and a company from Jebba +were on their way to reinforce them. Three officers were away to +raise native levies in Denkera and Akim, and there were rumours +about more troops from other parts of the world. But the one thing +certain was that some more troops were coming down from Northern +Nigeria.</p> +<p>Colonel Burroughs arrived with a strong party, and Lisle and +Hallett prepared to go up again. No resistance was met with, as far +as Fumsu; but it was found that a foot bridge that had been thrown +across the river was washed away, and communication with the other +bank was thus cut off. To the disgust of the officers and men, they +were called out to a false alarm and, when dismissed, went back to +bed grumbling. When they rose again, the men cleaned their arms and +received their pay and rations. The latter amounted to but a pound +of rice a day, but this was subsequently increased. The officers +were little better off, for there was, of course, nothing to +buy.</p> +<p>Two companies had gone on in advance to open the main road, find +out the ambushes and stockades, and to join Colonel Wilkinson at +Bekwai. Those who remained in camp had little to do, and were +therefore glad to spend their time on fatigue duty; the officers +building shelters for themselves, while the men erected conical +huts, until the station was covered with them.</p> +<p>A day or two after their arrival a letter, written in French on +a scrap of paper, was brought down. It stated that the garrison +could hold out until the 20th, a date that was already past. +Supplies were urgently wanted. It also warned the relief column +that there was a big stockade within an hour of the fort. Colonel +Willcocks sent out a messenger at once, asking that every available +man should join him; but the man never reached the coast, and no +help came from there.</p> +<p>Sir Frederick Hodgson had then been out of Coomassie four days, +and was making his way down to the coast through a friendly +country; with an escort of six hundred soldiers, and all his +officers but one, who had remained in the fort with a hundred +men.</p> +<p>On the morning of the 27th Colonel Burroughs, with five hundred +men, started on his journey north. Scouts flanked the advance +guard, thereby preventing the chance of an ambuscade; but greatly +delaying the column, as they had to cut their way through the +bushes. They halted that night at Sheramasi. A detachment was left +at a village at the foot of the hills. Just as the head of the +troops arrived at the top, they were fired into from behind a +fallen tree. A sharp fight took place for nearly an hour, until the +enemy were turned out of their position, and pursued through the +bush, by a company which had moved round their flank. Kwisa was +reached after dark, when it was found that the place had been +entirely destroyed by the enemy.</p> +<p>Next morning they moved forward with the greatest caution, fully +expecting that there would be another terrific fight at Dompoasi. +This place, though only four miles from Kwisa, was not reached till +nightfall. Darkness set in with heavy rain, and the officers +commanding the two leading companies held a council of war, and +decided to call in the scouts--who were useless in the dusk--to +make a dash for the village, and try to rush it before preparations +could be made for its defence.</p> +<p>The terrible downpour of rain was all in their favour. The +enemy's scouts, who had reported the advance upon Kwisa, had given +up the idea of watching, that night; and they and the whole war +camp were at their evening meal. The noise of the rain drowned the +sounds of feet, and the troops were in the village before the enemy +entertained a suspicion of their approach.</p> +<p>A scene of wild confusion then ensued. The enemy rushed wildly +to and fro, while our men poured volley after volley into them. +Savages have no idea of rallying, when thus taken by surprise. Many +fell; some fled into the forest; others ran down the prepared +pathway and manned the big stockade, but the troops rushed forward, +and soon compelled them to quit it.</p> +<p>Half a company were sent into the bush, to follow up the flying +foe. They remained out all night, and did much execution among the +Adansis. This was the first real success gained over them.</p> +<p>Pickets and sentries were thrown out in a circle round the +village. At midnight, the troops got a scratch meal under the +protection of the huts. Many guns were captured, some Sniders, many +cakes of powder, and much food which was cooking over the fires +when the troops entered the village. Some of the rifles that had +belonged to the men who had fallen in the unsuccessful attack were +found, together with three thousand rounds of ammunition to fit +them. All this was accomplished without any casualties to our +troops.</p> +<p>The next day was spent in destroying the two great stockades, +cutting down the bush round them, and blowing up the fetish tree; +as well as burying the enemy's dead, thirty in number. On the +evening of the next day, Bekwai was gained.</p> +<p>Colonel Burroughs determined, after this success, to get rid of +the next danger by making another attack on the entrenchments and +war camp at Kokofu and, with five hundred men and four Maxims, he +started out for that place. But the task was too heavy for him, and +the enemy were quite ready to receive our troops. They were in +great force, and fought bravely for some hours. The turning +movement which was attempted failed; and the colonel decided, at +last, to retire to Bekwai. This the troops accomplished safely, +although the enemy followed them till they reached the town. +Lieutenant Brumlie was killed, six other officers were hit +slightly; and one British non-commissioned officer and three +soldiers were killed, and seventy-two men wounded.</p> +<p>After this, no fighting took place until Colonel Willcocks +arrived to carry out the main object of the expedition. Convoys of +stores, however, kept pouring in incessantly and, to Lisle's +delight, a large box of provisions, which he had bought before +starting from Cape Coast, arrived.</p> +<p>Then Colonel Neal arrived, with the Sappers. He and his men +built a bridge across the Fum. It was twelve feet above the water, +but within thirty-six hours it was swept away.</p> +<p>While the troops were waiting, a runner came in and reported +that heavy firing had been heard round Coomassie. On the evening of +the 30th of June, news came that Colonel Willcocks would start the +next morning. He would have but a small escort of fighting men, but +a very large number of carriers, to bring in the stores intended +for Coomassie.</p> +<p>Colonel Willcocks reached Fum on the night after leaving the +Prah. As the supplies were failing at Kwisa, and another post, +Captain Melliss took down a convoy to them, with twenty days' +rations, and succeeded in doing so without opposition.</p> +<p>Colonel Willcocks pressed on, leaving all baggage behind. The +defeat of the Dompoasis had its effect, and the little column +joined Colonel Burroughs's men unopposed. The combined force then +pushed on, until they arrived at a town under the sway of the King +of Bekwai.</p> +<p>Next morning they marched to Bekwai. Here it was decided to +evacuate Kwisa, for a time, and bring up the garrison that had been +left there.</p> +<p>The next march was laborious, and wet, as usual. The troops +marched into the little village of Amoaful, where Sir Garnet +Wolseley had fought the decisive battle of his campaign, and saw +many relics of the fight. Signal guns were heard, at various times, +acquainting the enemy of our advance. The column stayed here for +three days, which both soldiers and carriers enjoyed greatly, for +the fatigues of the march had fairly worn out even the sturdy and +long-enduring British troops.</p> +<p>Colonel Willcocks went forward with his staff to Esumeja, where +the three companies, of which the garrison was composed, had +already suffered sixty casualties. The Pioneers, some carriers with +hatchets, and some of the Esumeja were sent out, a hundred yards +down the road to Kokofu, to cut the bush on each side and build two +stockades. This was done to deceive the garrison, there, into the +belief that we were about to advance on the place by that road.</p> +<p>The ruse succeeded admirably. The general there sent information +to the commander-in-chief of the Ashanti army, and the latter at +once despatched a considerable number of men to reinforce the +garrison. Thus the resistance along the main road was greatly +reduced; and the Kokofu, standing on the defensive, did not harass +the force upon its march.</p> +<p>On the evening of the 11th, a starving soldier made his way down +from the fort with this message:</p> +<p>"Governor broke out, seventeen days ago. Garrison rapidly +diminishing by disease, can only last a few more days, on very +reduced rations."</p> +<p>Six star shells were fired, that night, to let the garrison know +that help was coming, but they never saw them.</p> +<p>At midnight, the last contingent from Northern Nigeria, the +Kwisa garrison, and an escort of two companies of the West African +contingent arrived. This brought the force up to the regulation +strength of one battalion, on its war footing. At sunset the +officers were called, and orders were given for the next day's +work.</p> +<p>The direction of the march was, even at that moment, a profound +secret. The column was to be kept as short as possible, and only +two carriers allowed to each officer. Only half rations were to be +issued.</p> +<p>At daybreak the advance sounded, and the force moved out. It +consisted of a thousand rank and file, sixty white men, seventeen +hundred carriers, six guns, and six Maxims. The rain fell in +ceaseless torrents. The road was practically an unbroken swamp, and +the fatigue and discomfort of the journey were consequently +terrible. The Ordah river was in flood, and had to be crossed on a +felled tree.</p> +<p>The distance to Pekki, the last Bekwai village, was fifteen +miles. It did not lie upon the main road, but that route had been +chosen because a shorter extent of hostile country would have to be +traversed, and the march thence to Coomassie would be only eleven +miles; but it took the relief force nineteen and a half hours to +get in, and the rear guard some two hours longer. Darkness fell +some hours before they reached their destination and, thence +forward, the force struggled on, each holding a man in front of +him.</p> +<p>Nothing broke the silence save the trickling of water from the +trees overhead, and the squelch of the mud churned up by marching +columns. At times they had to wade waist deep in water. The +exhausted carriers fell out by dozens, but their loads were picked +up and shouldered by soldiers, and not a single one was lost.</p> +<p>The men got what shelter they could in the huts of the village +and, in spite of wet and sleeplessness, all turned out cheerfully +in the morning. The start was made at eight o'clock, in order that +the men might recover a little from the previous day's fatigue.</p> +<p>The enemy's scouts were encountered almost on the outskirts of +the village and, in a short time, the advance guard neared the +village of Treda. It was a large place, with a very holy fetish +tree. It stood on the top of a slope and, long before the rear +guard had fallen out at Pekki, it was carried by a brilliant +bayonet charge, by the Yorubas and the Sierra Leone frontier +police. The enemy fought stubbornly, in the village; but were +driven out with only some half-dozen casualties on our part.</p> +<p>Thirty sheep were found in the village, and they were a Godsend, +indeed, to the troops. As in every other place, too, numbers of +Lee-Metfords, Martinis, and Sniders were found.</p> +<p>Treda was burnt by the rear guard. The Ju-ju house, which was +the scene of the native incantations, was pulled down, and the +sacred trees felled. The enemy, however, were not discouraged; but +hung upon the rear, keeping up a constant fire. Some of them +proceeded to attack the Pekki people.</p> +<p>Fighting went on at intervals throughout the day, and it was +decided to spend the night in a village that had been taken, after +some resistance. This place was less than halfway on the road from +Pekki to Coomassie. During the night a tropical deluge fell, and +the troops and carriers were, all the time, without shelter.</p> +<p>Late that evening Colonel Willcocks called the white officers +together and, for the first time, told them of the plan formed for +the advance. He said that, after marching for an hour and a half, +they would reach a strong fetish stronghold, where a fierce +resistance might be looked for; but the final battle would be +fought at the stockades, two hundred yards from the fort. He +intended to attack these without encumbrance. A halt would +therefore be called, at a spot some distance from the stockades; +which would be hastily fortified, with a zereba and a portion of +the troops. Here all the carriers and stores would be placed. Then +the fighting force would take the stockades, return for the +transport, and enter Coomassie. By this means there would be no +risk of losing the precious stores and ammunition.</p> +<p>So determined was Colonel Willcocks to reach the forts, at all +costs, that he gave orders that, if necessary, all soldiers killed +should be left where they fell.</p> +<p>At four o'clock next morning the bugle sounded and, at the first +streak of dawn, the column moved off. The march was maintained +under a heavy skirmishing fire but, to the general surprise, the +fetish town of which Colonel Willcocks had spoken was found +deserted. Night was approaching, so that the plan proposed +overnight could not be carried out. The troops, therefore, went +forward hampered by the whole of the carriers and baggage of the +column.</p> +<p>At four o'clock action began, at the point where the Cape Coast +and Pekki roads converged towards Coomassie. The Ashantis had taken +up a position on slightly rising ground--a position which was +favourable to the assailants, as it tended to increase the enemy's +inclination to fire high. Each of the roads was barred with massive +entrenchments, which stretched across them into the bush, and +flanked with breastworks of timber. These obstacles had been +originally intended to envelop the garrison. Consequently, the war +camps were on the British side of the stockades.</p> +<p>The battle began by a heavy fire, from the bush, upon both +flanks of the rear guard. The attack on the left was soon +successfully repulsed. On the other side, however, the roar of +musketry never ceased, the enemy moving along abreast of the +column, protected by a stockade expressly prepared; until they +approached the main stockade, where they joined their companions. +About fifty yards from the stockades, which were still invisible, a +fresh path diverged towards the left; and the officers commanding +the scouts were discussing what had best be done, when the enemy +poured in a terrific volley from their fortified position in front, +slightly wounding one officer and four soldiers. The rest +immediately took shelter behind a fallen tree, which was lying +across the path.</p> +<p>Colonel Wilkinson, commanding the advance guard, ordered up the +guns. These were massed in a semicircle behind the fallen trees, +and opened fire on the unseen foe; while the Maxims poured their +bullets into the adjacent bush. The reply of the enemy was +unceasing and, for an hour and a half, the battle raged, the +distance between the combatants being only forty yards. Then +Colonel Willcocks gave the order to cease firing and, in a minute, +a strange silence succeeded the terrible din. The Ashantis, too, +stopped firing, in sheer surprise at the cessation of attack; but +soon redoubled their fusillade.</p> +<p>The leading companies moved up and formed in line, to the front +and rear flank. Then came the inspiring notes of the charge and, +with a cheer, the whole of the advance guard sprang forward into +the bush. The dense undergrowth checked the impetus, as the +soldiers had to cut their way with their knives but, as they did +so, they maintained their deep-toned war song. As they got more +into the open, they rushed round and clambered over the stockade; +and the enemy, unable to stand the fury of their charge, fled in +panic.</p> +<p>As a prolonged pursuit was impossible in the bush, and as +daylight was fading, the troops were recalled at once. The first +thing to be done was to pull down the stockade along the fetish +road, to enable the transport to pass. When this was done, Colonel +Willcocks collected the troops nearest to him and moved forward, at +their head, along the broad road.</p> +<p>Their delight, when they emerged into the open and saw Coomassie +ahead of them, was unbounded. Keeping regular step, though each man +was yearning to press forward, they advanced steadily. The silence +weighed upon them; and a dread, lest they had arrived too late, +chilled the sense of triumph with which they had marched off. At +last, the faint notes of a distant bugle sounded the general +salute, and a wild burst of cheering greeted the sound. The bugles +returned the call with joyous notes. Then the gate opened, and +Captain Bishop, Mr. Ralph, and Dr. Hay came out, followed by such +few of the brave little garrison as still had strength to walk.</p> +<p>Just at this moment, a great glow was seen in the distance. The +flying enemy had fired the Basel Mission. A company therefore +started at once, at the double, to drive them off.</p> +<p>The relieving force had, indeed, arrived only just in time. The +means of resistance had all been exhausted, and another day would +have seen the end. The garrison had held out desperately, in the +hope that Colonel Willcocks would be able to fulfil the promise he +had sent in, that he would arrive to relieve them on the 15th of +July; and he had nobly kept his word to an hour, at the cost of an +amount of hard work, privation, hardship, and suffering such as has +fallen to the lot of but few expeditions of the kind.</p> +<p>The Ashanti rising was the result of long premeditation and +preparation. On the 13th of March, the governor of the Gold Coast, +accompanied by Lady Hodgson, left Accra to make a tour of +inspection. On his way up country he was received with great +friendliness at all the villages and, when he arrived at Coomassie +on the 25th, he found a large number of Ashanti kings, who turned +out in state to meet him. A triumphal arch had been erected, and a +gorgeous procession of kings and chiefs marched past. There was no +sign of a cloud in the horizon.</p> +<p>Several days passed quietly, and Sir Frederick Hodgson had +several meetings with the chiefs about state matters. Gradually the +eyes of the governor's followers, accustomed as they were to savage +ways, saw that all was not right; and a wire was despatched, asking +for reinforcements of two hundred men. These arrived on the 18th of +April.</p> +<p>Captains Armitage and Leggatt, with a small party of soldiers, +went out to the neighbouring village to bring in the golden stool. +This was regarded by the natives with considerable veneration, and +was always used as the throne of the king, as the sign of supreme +authority. When they reached the village the party were fired upon, +the two officers being wounded; and had to retire without having +accomplished their purpose.</p> +<p>It was clear now that rebellion was intended. The native kings +were all sounded, and several of them decided to side with us, +among them five important leaders. On the 25th the Basel Mission +servants were set upon, and several of them killed. The Ashantis +then attacked and captured the villages in which the friendly +natives and traders lived, and set fire to these and to the +cantonment. The refugees, to the number of three thousand five +hundred, with two hundred children, crowded round the fort, +imploring the mission to allow them to enter.</p> +<p>It was wholly beyond the capacity of the fort to accommodate a +tenth of their number. Troops were therefore ordered down from the +barracks, and formed a cordon round the fugitives. The fort gate +was closed, and a rope ladder led down one of the bastions. In this +way, only one individual could enter at a time, and the danger of a +rush was obviated.</p> +<p>Close round the walls, huts were erected to shelter the +fugitives, who were exposed to all the inclemency of the weather. +Thus passed some wretched days and worse nights, sleep being +constantly interrupted by alarms, due to the fact that the rebels +were in possession of all the buildings in the place, except the +fort, many of which they loopholed.</p> +<p>On the 29th a determined attack was made, the enemy advancing +boldly across the open, and fighting long and obstinately. Captain +Marshall, however, with his two hundred and fifty native troops and +friendly levies, taught them such a lesson that they never again +tried fighting in the open. A hundred and thirty corpses were found +and buried, and many more were carried off, while the fighting was +going on.</p> +<p>That evening Captain Apling came in with his little column, but +without food and with little ammunition. Aided by these troops, the +outlying official buildings were occupied; and the friendly natives +lodged in huts a little farther from the fort.</p> +<p>Things remained quiet until the 15th of May, when Major Morris +arrived with his force. He too was short of food and ammunition, +and famine already began to stare the beleaguered garrison in the +face. Meanwhile the enemy had been busy erecting stockades, to bar +every outlet from Coomassie. Many attempts were made to take these +entrenchments; but they always failed, as they could not be pushed +home, owing to want of ammunition; and the troops became, to some +extent, demoralized by want of success.</p> +<p>Although the food had been carefully husbanded, it was running +perilously low. Rations consisted of one and a half biscuits, and +five ounces of preserved meat, per day. Five ponies, brought up by +Major Morris, and a few cows kept at the Residency were killed and +eaten. A few luxuries could still be bought from the native +traders, but at prodigious prices. A spoonful of whisky cost 2 +shillings, a seven-pound tin of flour 6 shillings, a box of matches +2 shillings, and a small tin of beef 2 pounds, 16 shillings.</p> +<p>The refugees fared much worse. They had no reserve of food, and +foraging was next to impossible. As a result, they died at the rate +of thirty and forty a day.</p> +<p>When only three and a half days' rations were left, it was +decided that something must be done, and a council of war was +called. It was then agreed that those who could walk should make a +dash for it; and that a garrison of three Europeans, and a hundred +rank and file, should be left behind. For these twenty-three days' +rations could be left.</p> +<p>Major Morris, as senior officer, was to command the sortie. The +direct road down to the Cape was barred by a great force of the +rebels, and he therefore chose the road that would lead to the +Denkera country. If that could be reached, they would be in a +friendly country. The line to be taken was kept a profound secret, +and was not revealed until ten o'clock on the evening before +starting. The force consisted of six hundred soldiers, with a +hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition a man, seven hundred +carriers, and about a thousand refugees.</p> +<p>There was a mist in the morning, and the garrison who were to +remain made a feint, to direct the enemy's attention to the main +road. The column was not engaged until it reached a strong +breastwork, at Potasi. This was taken after a severe fight; and +Captain Leggatt, who commanded the vanguard, was mortally wounded. +Four men were also killed, and there were nine other +casualties.</p> +<p>A part of the stockade was pulled away, and the force moved +forward. It was constantly attacked on the way and, on one +occasion, Captain Marshall was seriously wounded in the head. +Numbers of soldiers, refugees, and carriers fell out from +exhaustion, and had to be left behind. Nearly all the carriers +threw away their loads, and the men who carried the hammocks of the +two ladies found themselves unable to support the weight.</p> +<p>The night was spent at Terrabum, eighteen miles from Coomassie; +some two thousand human beings being crowded into the village, in a +deluge. The soldiers were posted round the camp, in the form of a +square.</p> +<p>The second day was a repetition of the first--heavy rain, muddy +roads; dying soldiers, carriers, and refugees; attacks by the +enemy. Twelve miles farther were made that day.</p> +<p>Thus seven days were passed. Captains Marshall and Leggatt both +died. The ladies bore their trials wonderfully, as they had to +tramp with the rest, along the miry track. At last Ekwanter, in the +friendly Denkera country, was reached, and the force rested for two +days. They then set out again and, after a terrible march, in the +course of which they had to cross many swollen rivers, they +arrived, two weeks after they had left Coomassie, half starved and +worn out, on the coast.</p> +<p>In the meantime the three white officers, Captain Bishop of the +Gold Coast Constabulary, Assistant Inspector Ralph, Lagos +Constabulary, and Doctor Hay, medical officer, remained behind, +with a hundred and fifteen Hausas, few of whom were fit for the +task of holding the fort. After the departure of the column, the +Ashantis swarmed down on the fort, thinking that it was entirely +evacuated. They were met, however, with a heavy fire from the +Maxims, and soon withdrew.</p> +<p>The first duty of Captain Bishop was to tell off the men to +their posts. The soldiers who were to man the guns were ordered to +sleep beside them. The ammunition was examined, and found to amount +to a hundred and seventy rounds a man. The rations were calculated, +and divided up for the twenty-three days that they were intended to +last.</p> +<p>Attempts were then made to burn the native shanties, for +sanitary reasons. They were so soaked, however, with water, that +all attempts to burn them failed; till June 27th, when a short +break in the rain enabled them to be fired. When they were all +burned down, the Residency windows on the windward side were +opened, for the first time.</p> +<p>Sickness, unfortunately, broke out very soon; and three of the +little band died on the first day. This rate mounted higher and +higher, and at last smallpox broke out. So dismal was the prospect +that the men sank into a dull despair.</p> +<p>A few women traders hawked their wares outside the fort. A +little cocoa, worth a farthing, cost 15 shillings; plantains were 1 +pound, 6 shillings each; and a small pineapple fetched 15 +shillings. The men received 3 shillings daily, in place of half a +biscuit, when biscuits ran short; and this ready cash was willingly +bartered for anything eatable.</p> +<p>Three heart-breaking weeks passed thus. Two-thirds of the troops +had been buried outside the fort, the remainder were almost too +weak to stand. When the food was all gone, it was arranged that +they should go out to forage in the darkness, each man for himself. +The three white men, each with a dose of poison, always stuck +together and, come what might, agreed not to fall alive into the +hands of the enemy.</p> +<p>However, on 14th July reports were brought in that firing had +been heard. The news seemed too good to be true, but an old native +officer declared that he had heard distant volleys. It was not +until four o'clock on the next day, however, that a continuous and +tremendous roar of guns convinced them that a relief column was at +hand. The three imprisoned officers opened their last comfort, a +half bottle of champagne, and drank success to their comrades. +Several of the troops died while the fighting was going on, the +excitement being too much for their weakened frames.</p> +<p>At last the Ashantis were seen flying in terror. Then the two +buglers blew out the general salute, time after time till, at six +o'clock, the head of the relief column came in view. The gate was +thrown open, and those of the little garrison who were able to +stand went out, to welcome their rescuers.</p> +<p>Five star shells were fired, to tell those left behind at +Ekwanter that the relief was accomplished. Then the outlying +quarters were occupied, and all slept with the satisfaction that +their struggles and efforts had not been in vain, and that they had +succeeded in relieving Coomassie.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch17" id="Ch17">Chapter 17</a>: Stockades And War +Camps.</h2> +<p>"Well, Hallett, here we are," Lisle said the next morning, "and +thank God neither of us is touched, except perhaps by a few slugs. +Of these, however, I dare say the surgeon will rid us this morning. +It has been a big affair and, if we live to a hundred years, we are +not likely to go through such another."</p> +<p>"I wish you would not be so confoundedly cheerful," Hallett +said, gloomily; "we have got to go down again, and the Kokofu are +to be dealt with. We shall probably have half a dozen more battles. +The rain, too, shows no signs of giving up, and we shall have to +tramp through swamps innumerable, ford countless rivers and, I dare +say, be short of food again before we have done. As to going +through such work again, my papers will be sent in at the first +hint that I am likely to have to take part in it."</p> +<p>"All of which means, Hallett, that just at the present moment a +reaction has set in; and I will guarantee that, if you had a +thoroughly good breakfast, and finished it off with a pint of +champagne, you would see matters in a different light, +altogether."</p> +<p>"Don't talk of such things," Hallett said, feebly; "it is a +dream, a mere fantasy. It doesn't seem to me, at present, a +possibility that such a meal could fall to my lot.</p> +<p>"Look at me, look at my wasted figure! I weighed nearly fourteen +stone, when we started; I doubt whether I weigh ten, now."</p> +<p>"All the better, Hallett. When I first saw you, on shore at +Liverpool, I said to myself that you were as fat as a pig.</p> +<p>"'He would be a fine-looking young fellow,' I said, 'if he could +get some of it off. I suppose it is good living and idleness that +has done it.'"</p> +<p>Hallett laughed.</p> +<p>"Well, perhaps I need not grumble at that; but the worst of it +is that I have always heard that, when a fellow loses on active +service, he is sure to make it up again, and perhaps a stone more, +after it is over."</p> +<p>"Yes, it is clear that you will have to diet, when you get home. +No more savoury dishes, no more champagne suppers; just a cut of a +joint, a few vegetables, and a ten-mile walk after."</p> +<p>"Don't talk of such things," Hallett said, impatiently; "rather +than live as you say, I would put up with carrying sixteen stone +about with me. What is the use of living, if you are to have no +satisfaction out of life?"</p> +<p>"Well, Hallett, my advice to you in that case is, make love to +some young lady, directly you reach England; and marry her in a +month, before you have begun to assume elephantine proportions. +Once hooked, you know, she cannot sue for divorce, on the ground +that you have taken her in; and she will have to put up with you, +whatever size you may attain."</p> +<p>"Look here, Bullen," Hallett said seriously, "I know you mean +well, but the subject is a very sore one with me. However, +seriously, I will try to keep my fat down. If I fail I fail, and +shall of course send in my papers; for I don't care to be made a +butt of, by young subalterns like yourself. The subaltern has no +sense of what is decent and what is not, and he spares no one with +his attempts at wit."</p> +<p>"Why, you are a subaltern yourself, Hallett!"</p> +<p>"I am within two of the top of the list, please to remember, and +you have still four above you, and I am therefore your superior +officer. I have put aside youthful folly, and have prepared myself +for the position of captain of a company. I make great allowances +for you. You will please to remember that you are five years my +junior, and owe me a certain share of respect."</p> +<p>"Which I am afraid you will never get," Lisle said, laughingly. +"I should as soon think of acting respectfully towards a Buddhist +image, simply because it is two thousand years old. However, since +the subject is so painful to you, I will try not to allude to it +again.</p> +<p>"Is there anything you would wish me to do, sir? I have no doubt +I shall have plenty of work to do, but I dare say I shall be able +to find time to do anything my senior officer may require."</p> +<p>"Get out, you young scamp," Hallett growled, "or I shall +throw--" and he looked round "--I don't see what there is to +throw."</p> +<p>"Hallett, I am afraid that this rest is going to do you harm. I +have found you a very companionable fellow, up to now; but it is +clear that a night's rest and high living have done you more harm +than good."</p> +<p>So saying, with a laugh, Lisle put on his helmet and went +out.</p> +<p>There was, as he said, much to do. Everywhere there were proofs +of the rigidness of the siege. Even in the houses in which they +were quartered, which had been occupied by the enemy, the walls +were pitted with bullets.</p> +<p>At eight o'clock a party of men went out, to destroy the +stockades and burn the enemy's camps. In the one in which the +Ashanti commander in chief had his headquarters were found over a +thousand huts and bamboo camp beds.</p> +<p>The troops now saw the method of investment for the first time. +It consisted in making large entrenchments, to barricade all the +roads and tracks. In the bush between these were similar stockades, +to complete the circle of fortifications and afford flank defences. +All these were joined by a wide path; so that, as soon as one +position was attacked, it was reinforced by those to right and +left.</p> +<p>The remainder of the troops and carriers were engaged in trying +to remedy the shockingly insanitary condition of the place. The +staff were employed in examining the matter of stores and +provisions, ammunition, and medical comforts; which were to be left +behind for the relieving garrison. The labourers worked in relays, +as did the rest of the soldiers.</p> +<p>High grass had grown almost up to the fort walls, and had to be +cut down. While this was being done, skeletons and corpses in all +states of decomposition were met with. Almost all had died of +starvation. At first the bodies of those who died had been buried, +but latterly their friends had become too weak to perform this +office; and the poor wretches had crawled a few yards into the +jungle, to die quietly. Such numbers of bodies were found that they +had, at last, to be burned in heaps. Few, indeed, of the four +thousand fugitives who had gathered round the fort, reached the +coast with the force that had fought their way out.</p> +<p>The doctors were busy all day with the refugees, the old +garrison, the thirty casualties from the fight of the day before, +and several white men down with fever.</p> +<p>The Ashantis had burnt all the cantonments of friendly natives, +but had left the old palace of Prempeh uninjured. This structure +was burnt during the day.</p> +<p>The order for officers to assemble was sounded in the evening, +and it was arranged that the return march was to start at four on +the following morning. The coveted post of leading the column was +given to a company of the West African Frontier Force.</p> +<p>They were a little sorry that they were so soon to leave the +place. The fort itself was a handsome, square stone building, with +towers at the four corners. The resident's quarters had a balcony, +and excellent rooms. There was also, of course, barrack +accommodation, store rooms, and a well. Quick-firing guns were +mounted on the circular bastions. The surrounding buildings were +bungalows, with broad verandahs; and the force would have been well +pleased to remain for a few days, and enjoy the comforts provided +for them.</p> +<p>The force to be left was under the command of Major Eden; and +consisted of three officers, one doctor, three British +non-commissioned officers, a hundred and fifty men of the West +African Frontier Force, and a few Gold Coast Constabulary gunners; +with fifty-four days' rations, and a plentiful supply of +ammunition.</p> +<p>The column was a terribly long one, owing to the enormous number +of invalids, wounded, women, and children. They halted for the +night at the village halfway to Pekki. The villages on the road +were all burnt down, to prevent opposition next time we passed; and +all crops were destroyed. This work the soldiers quite enjoyed. +Continued explosions occurred during the burning of the huts, +showing how large an amount of ammunition the natives +possessed.</p> +<p>Next night they arrived at Pekki. The king had prepared a +market, so that the starving force got a more substantial supper +than usual. Here the column was to divide. Colonel Willcocks was to +go straight through to Bekwai; while the second portion, with the +wounded and cripples, was to take two days.</p> +<p>They halted at Bekwai for two or three days, to give rest to the +soldiers; a large proportion of whom were suffering from coughs, +sore throats, and fever, the result of their hardships. Two +thousand carriers were sent to fetch up more stores.</p> +<p>Preparations were then made for an attack on Kokofu, which was a +serious menace to the troops going up or down. The column for this +purpose, which was under General Moreland, consisted of six +companies, which were to be brought up to eight. With three of the +larger guns and two seven-pounders, they started for Esumeja on the +22nd. The force was a compact one, the only carriers allowed being +one to each white man, to take up some food and a blanket. Major +Melliss commanded the advance.</p> +<p>They marched rapidly, as it was all important to take the enemy +by surprise. Some distance short of Kokofu, they stopped for +breakfast. Then the officers were assembled and, when the plan of +attack had been formed, the column moved cautiously on.</p> +<p>The place was only a mile away, so that an attack was +momentarily expected. The troops entered a deserted village, and +there halted. A few sentries were thrown out, and the colonel held +a short council of war with Major Melliss and two of his other +officers. After some discussion, it was decided that a Hausa +company should go on, and rush the stockade with the bayonet, +without firing. If they carried it, they were to proceed along the +river bank beyond, and so place themselves as to cover the advance +of the guns.</p> +<p>The scouts were called in; and the Hausa company set off, in +fours, along the path. When they had marched a hundred yards, the +little band that formed the advance signalled that they made out +something ahead and, when they rounded the next sharp turn of the +road they saw, not thirty yards away, a great six-foot stockade, +extending far into the bush on either side. It lay halfway down a +gentle slope, a situation which favoured the assailants for, +naturally, the hill would increase the impetus of the charge.</p> +<p>The order was sent down in a whisper, "Stockade ahead, prepare +to charge."</p> +<p>The men kept together as closely as possible. The buglers rang +out the charge and, with a shout, the Hausas rushed at the +stockade. In an instant the white leaders scaled the timbers, and +the men followed at their heels.</p> +<p>To their astonishment, the place was empty. The surprise was +complete. It was clear that the enemy had no information, whatever, +of their approach; and the guard from the stockade had gone to +feed, with their companions, in the war camp.</p> +<p>The bugle had told them what was coming and, with a roar, +thousands of black figures dashed up towards the stockade. There +was nothing for it but to charge and, with fixed bayonets, the +Hausas dashed forward, regardless of the heavy fire with which they +were met.</p> +<p>Enormously as they outnumbered their assailants, the sight of +the glittering bayonets and the cheers of the Hausas were too much +for the enemy. Those in front, after a few more shots, turned and +fled; the Hausas following in hot pursuit. The river turned out to +be of no depth; and it had not, as reported, a parapet for +defending the passage. Hard as the Hausas tried to overtake the +enemy, the Ashantis, being fleeter of foot, kept ahead but, though +the shouting and running were beginning to tell on the pursuers, +still they held on.</p> +<p>The path gradually became firmer; and suddenly, when they turned +a corner, there was Kokofu in front of them. From almost every +house, running for their lives, were naked Ashantis. The sight +restored the men's strength; and they redoubled their efforts, with +the result that they killed some thirty of the enemy.</p> +<p>The pursuit was maintained until they reached the other end of +the town. Then the company was halted. The officers had difficulty +in restraining their men, who implored them to press on in pursuit; +but a general permission to do so could not be given. No one knew +whether the main column had followed them; and it was possible, +too, that the Ashantis might rally and return. Half the company, +however, were permitted to continue the pursuit, and to keep the +Ashantis on the run.</p> +<p>With shouts of delight, the men darted off in the darkness. In a +short time they were recalled, and the company then marched back to +the centre of the town. Here they found that the main body had come +in. Two companies had been sent out, right and left into the bush, +to keep down sniping fire, and hurry the enemy's retreat. Pickets +and sentries had been thrown out round the town. Soldiers were +eating the food that the enemy had cooked. Piles of loot were being +dragged out of the houses; among which were quantities of loaded +guns, rifles, and powder barrels. The native soldiers were almost +mad with delight; and were dancing, singing, and carrying each +other shoulder high, shouting songs of triumph.</p> +<p>But short time could be allowed for rejoicing. The various +company calls were sounded and, when the men were gathered, the +town was methodically razed, and a collection of over two hundred +guns were burnt.</p> +<p>The troops, however, had reason for their joy. The Kokofu army +of some six thousand men, who had repulsed two previous attacks, +were a mass of fugitives. In the course of one week, the Ashantis +had suffered two crushing defeats in their strongest positions.</p> +<p>As soon as the work was done, the force set out on their return +march. Their appearance differed widely from that of the men who +had silently, and in good order, advanced. Scarcely a man, white or +black, was not loaded with some token of the victory. All were +laughing, or talking, or singing victorious songs.</p> +<p>A halt was made, to destroy the stockade and the war camp. The +former was found to be extremely strong and, had it been manned by +the enemy, the work of capturing it would have been very serious, +indeed.</p> +<p>When they arrived at Esumeja, the garrison there could scarcely +believe that the success had been so complete, and so sudden. +Bekwai was reached as twilight was beginning, and here the whole of +the garrison, with Colonel Willcocks at its head, was drawn up to +receive them. The men were heartily cheered; and the Hausa company, +which had done such splendid service, were halted and congratulated +by Colonel Willcocks. Then after three cheers the force, which had +been on foot for sixteen hours, was dismissed, and returned to its +quarters.</p> +<p>"Well, Hallett, how do you feel?"</p> +<p>"Better," Hallett said. "I felt tired enough, after the march +there but, somehow, I forgot all about it directly the fight began. +Everyone was so delighted and cheery that, really, I came in quite +fresh."</p> +<p>"I knew it would be so," Lisle said. "It has been a glorious day +and, if you had come in moping, I should have given you up as +hopeless."</p> +<p>"And I give you up as hopeless, the other way," Hallett replied. +"You always seem brimming over with fun; even when, as far as I can +see, there is nothing to be funny about."</p> +<p>"Well, it really has been a glorious victory; and I only wish we +had both been with the Hausa company who first attacked. They +really won the game off their own bat, for we had nothing to do but +to pick up the spoil.</p> +<p>"There was not much worth carrying away, but I am glad of some +little memento of the fight. I got the chief's stool. I don't quite +know what I am going to do with it, yet; but I shall try to get my +servant to carry it along; and it will come in handy, to sit down +upon, when we encamp in a swamp.</p> +<p>"What did you manage to get?"</p> +<p>"I picked up a small rifle, a very pretty weapon. Do you know, I +quite approve of the regulation, in South Africa, that officers +should carry rifles instead of swords. I have never been able to +understand why we should drag about swords, which are of no use +whatever while, with rifles, we could at least pot some of the +enemy; instead of standing, looking like fools, while the men are +doing all the work."</p> +<p>"I agree with you, there. In the Tirah campaign I, several +times, got hold of the rifles of fallen men, and did a little +shooting on my own account. Officers would all make themselves good +shots, if they knew that shooting would be of some value; and even +three officers, with a weak company, could do really valuable +service. I certainly found it so, when I was with the Punjabis. Of +course, I was not an officer; but I was a really good shot with a +rifle, and succeeded in potting several Pathan chiefs."</p> +<p>"I suppose," Hallett said, mournfully, "that about the time when +I leave the army as a general, common sense will prevail; and the +sword will be done away with, except on state occasions."</p> +<p>"It is very good of you to look so far ahead, Hallett. It shows +that you have abandoned the idea of leaving the army, even if you +again put on flesh.</p> +<p>"I rather wonder that you should modestly confine yourself to +retiring as a general. Why not strive for the position of a field +marshal, who has the possibility of becoming commander in chief? It +may be, old fellow that, if you shake yourself together, you may +yet attain these dignities. You were always very jovial, on board +ship; and I trust that, when we get out of this horrible country, +you will regain your normal spirits."</p> +<p>"I am not so sure that I shall get out of the country; for I +often feel disposed to brain you, when you won't let me alone; and +I fear that, one of these days, I may give way to the impulse."</p> +<p>"You would have to catch me, first," Lisle laughed; "and as I +believe that I could run three feet to your one, your chance of +carrying out so diabolical an impulse would be very small.</p> +<p>"But here is the boy with our supper, which we have fairly +earned, and to which I shall certainly do justice.</p> +<p>"What have you got, boy?"</p> +<p>"Half a tin of preserved meat, sah, done up with curry."</p> +<p>"Let us eat, with thankfulness.</p> +<p>"How much more curry have we got, boy?"</p> +<p>"Three bottles, sah."</p> +<p>"Thank goodness!" said Hallett, "that will last for some time; +for really, tinned beef by itself, when a man is exhausted, is +difficult to get down. I really think that we should address a +round robin to the P.M.O., begging him to order additional medical +comforts, every night."</p> +<p>"You are belying yourself, Hallett. You have taken things very +well as they came, whatever they might be; save for a little +grumbling, which does no harm to anyone and, I acknowledge, amuses +me very much."</p> +<p>"I have no expectation or design," Hallett grumbled, "but it +seems to amuse you. However, I suppose I must put up with it, till +the end."</p> +<p>"I am afraid you will have to do so, Hallett. It is good for +you, and stirs you up; and I shall risk that onslaught you spoke +of, as we go down to the coast again."</p> +<p>"When will that be, Lisle?"</p> +<p>"I have not the smallest idea. I should imagine that we shall +stay, and give these fellows thrashing after thrashing, until we +have completely knocked the fight out of them. That won't be done +in a day or two. Probably those we have defeated will gather again, +in the course of a day or two; and we shall have to give them +several lickings, before we dispose of them altogether."</p> +<p>The news of the victory at Kokofu spread fast, and the Denkeras +poured in to join the native levies. There was now a pause, while +preparations were made for a systematic punitive campaign. Captain +Wright was sent down to Euarsi, where three thousand Denkera levies +had been collected; and superintended the cutting down of the crops +in the Adansi country, to the south and west. The Akim levies were +to act similarly, in flank, under the command of Captains Willcocks +and Benson; while a third body of levies, under Major Cramer, +guarded the upper district. A company was sent to Kwisa to guard +the main road, which was now reopened for traffic.</p> +<p>Convoys went up and down along the entire route, bringing up +supplies of all sorts; but those going north of Fumsu still +required strong escorts. Large parties went out foraging, almost +daily, to villages and farms for miles round. These bodies were +compact fighting forces, and took out considerable numbers of +unladen carriers.</p> +<p>When a village was found the troops surrounded it, while the +carriers searched it for hidden stores. Then they would march away +to other villages, until every carrier had a load; when the force +would return, and store the results of the raid.</p> +<p>The remnants of the reconcentrating Ashanti army were reported +to be somewhere in the bush, east of Dompoasi. It was necessary to +clear them out before the Adansi country could be subdued, and the +line of communication be at all safe. Consequently a flying +column--of four hundred of the West African Field Force, one large +and one small gun of the West Indian Rifles, to be joined by the +Kwisa company--was despatched, under the command of Major Beddoes, +against the enemy. They had to strike out into the bush by almost +unknown roads, and great difficulties were encountered. +Fortunately, however, they captured a prisoner, who consented to +lead them to the enemy's camp, on condition that his life would be +spared.</p> +<p>Three days later, an advance was made on the camp. The column +had hardly started when they were attacked. The enemy held a strong +series of fortified positions; but these were captured, one after +another.</p> +<p>A couple of miles farther, they again met with opposition. The +enemy, this time, occupied the bank of a stream. The Maxims at once +opened fire on them, and did such great execution that the Ashantis +rapidly became demoralized, and fled. Close to the rear of this +spot was found a newly-constructed stockade, some three hundred +yards in length; but the fugitives continued their flight without +stopping to man it.</p> +<p>When they advanced a little farther, the force was severely +attacked on all sides. The enemy pushed up to within a few yards of +our men. Once they even attempted to rush the seven pounder; but +were repulsed by the heavy volleys of the West Indian Rifles, who +were serving it. Lieutenant Phillips and Lieutenant Swabey were +severely wounded, and two other officers slightly so. The Adansis +made another desperate attempt to cover their camp, and they were +not finally driven back until nearly dusk.</p> +<p>It was found that the rebels had discovered the advance of Major +Cramer's levies while they were still a day's journey away. They +were, therefore, not only anxious to repulse our force, so that +they could fall upon the other one; but were fighting a splendid +rear action, so as to cover the retreat of their women, children, +and property, which had been gathered there under the belief that +the existence of the camp was unknown to us.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, at Bekwai, the list of sick and invalids steadily +increased; and every convoy that went down to the coast was +accompanied by a number of white and black victims to the climate. +The kits of the men who died realized enormous prices. A box that +contained three cakes of soap fetched 27 shillings, and a box of +twenty-five cheroots 2 pounds, 2 shillings.</p> +<p>On the 31st of July a runner arrived, from Pekki, stating that +the town was going to be attacked in force, the next evening, as a +punishment for the assistance it had rendered the white men. Major +Melliss was accordingly ordered to proceed thither the following +morning with two guns, a Hausa company with a Maxim, and a column +of carriers. They were to remain there a day, and put the place in +a state of defence; and then they would be joined by a force under +Colonel Burroughs, which was to complete the relief of Coomassie, +by doubling its garrison and supply of stores.</p> +<p>The little party started, and tramped along the intervening +fifteen miles much more comfortably than usual; as the rains had +temporarily ceased, and the track had been greatly improved by the +kings of Bekwai and Pekki. There was great difficulty in crossing +the bridge over the Ordah river, but the guns were at last taken +over safely, and they arrived at Pekki at half-past four in the +afternoon.</p> +<p>They were received with delight by the villagers, who had been +in a state of terrible fear. The war chief put his house at the +disposal of the officers. Fortunately, no attack was made by the +Ashantis. Hasty fortifications were erected, and a rough bamboo +barracks built for the force. Here, for the first time since the +beginning of the campaign, the Hausas received a small issue of +meat, and their delight was unbounded.</p> +<p>Some scouts, who had been sent out in the neighbourhood of the +town, brought in a wounded Hausa who had been left behind in the +governor's retreat and, for six weeks, had managed to hide himself +in the bush, and live upon roots that he found at night.</p> +<p>On the afternoon of the 4th of August, Colonel Burroughs and his +force arrived; bringing with him a fresh half battalion of the +Central African Regiment, with two large guns and two +seven-pounders. This raised the total strength to seven hundred and +fifty. It was decided that it would be necessary to proceed without +delay to Coomassie; for no signals had been received from the fort, +for two successive Sundays, and there was a rumour that the +Ashantis had again attacked it. The column therefore moved forward, +next day.</p> +<p>The garrison, when they arrived, was to be brought up to three +hundred soldiers and ten white men; the stockades round Coomassie +were to be destroyed; and then the relief column were to fight +their way down the main road, which had been hitherto closed for +all traffic.</p> +<p>At first the column met with no opposition but, when they +reached Treda, the people of that place fired heavily upon them. +After driving these off the force proceeded, but were soon met by +an Ashanti force. They attacked only the transport and hospital, +and their tactics were clever. They had formed a series of +ambushes, connected by a broad path. The head of the column was +allowed to pass, unattacked; then the carriers were fired into +heavily and, when the tail of the column passed, they ran along the +path to the next ambush and renewed their tactics.</p> +<p>Their plan, however, was soon discovered and, in order to +checkmate it, a gun was placed in the path, crammed with case shot, +the infantry were got ready to fire in volleys, and a Maxim ranged +for rapid fire. Presently the enemy were seen, hurrying along to +occupy the next ambush; and the big gun poured its contents into +their midst, while the troops fired well-directed volleys at them +and, when they fled in confusion down the path, the Maxim swept +numbers of them away. The attacks immediately ceased, and the +column proceeded on its way; rejoicing that, for once, they had +beaten the Ashantis at their own game.</p> +<p>They arrived at the fort at six o'clock in the evening; and +found that, although the garrison had been harassed by sniping, no +serious attack had been made upon them. It was known that there +were still four stockades occupied by the Ashantis; and it was +decided that two columns, each three hundred strong, should sally +out the next morning, and each carry two of the fortifications. The +companies under Lisle and Hallett formed part of the force under +Major Melliss, which was to destroy the stockade on the Bantama +road; while the other, under Major Cobbe, was to attack that near +the Kimtampo road. After this had been done, arrangements were to +be made for the attack on the other two stockades.</p> +<p>The start was made at ten o'clock. At first everything went +well. The Basel Mission House was passed and, as they marched on +without seeing any signs of life, it was believed that no +opposition would be met with. They advanced, however, with great +caution. Suddenly, news was sent back from the advance guard that +the village of Bantama had been sighted, just ahead; and that the +enemy were running out from it. The force advanced, and found the +fires in the village still burning. At the other end the track +through it divided; but the defiance signal, a large vulture lying +spread-eagle fashion, showed the line the fugitives had pursued. +This was followed and, in a short time, a stockade was seen at the +foot of a slope, some eighty yards away.</p> +<p>How far it extended into the bush on either side, there was no +means of knowing; nor could it be ascertained whether it was +defended, for no signs of life were visible. The carriers were +ordered to bring up the Maxim but, before they could get the parts +of the gun off their heads, a deafening volley flashed out from the +stockade. Several of the carriers fell, wounded by the slugs, and +the rest fled.</p> +<p>The little weapon, however, was soon put together, and opened +fire. But rifle bullets were useless against a six-foot tree trunk. +The enemy, moreover, were firing on our flank, and it was thought +that they might be working round to attack the rear. An effort was +therefore made to cut a path through the bush, under the impression +that it was not so thick inside. The jungle grass, however, +prevented this from being carried out, and the heavy gun was +therefore ordered up.</p> +<p>When it began to play upon the fort, as far as could be +determined, the enemy's fire grew momentarily heavier. Then it was +seen that a number of men were firing from a high tree, in the rear +of the stockade. Colour Sergeant Foster turned a Maxim upon it. He +was severely wounded on the left shoulder, but he said nothing +about it, and poured such a shower of lead into the tree that it +was, at once, deserted by the enemy.</p> +<p>The din was deafening. Every white man belonging to the leading +company had been hit, and the ground near the gun and Maxim was +strewn with the dead and dying.</p> +<p>Major Melliss gave the word:</p> +<p>"Mass the buglers, form up left company, and both charge!"</p> +<p>The buglers stood up, waiting for the word to blow. One of them +was instantly wounded but, though the blood was streaming down his +face, he stuck to his work. The word "Sound the way!" was given, +and the Hausas sprang wildly forward and dashed down the slope, +Major Melliss at their head.</p> +<p>Contrary to custom, the Ashantis were not terrified at the sight +of the bayonets and, through their loopholes, kept up a heavy fire. +The assailants, however, soon reached the stockade. Two white men +scrambled up the timbers, which were slippery with blood; and +jumped down, eight feet, on the other side, where they were soon +joined by numbers of their men. The enemy, however, stood their +ground bravely, and there was a fierce hand-to-hand fight. But the +bayonet did its work; and the enemy, who were getting more and more +outnumbered, at last turned and fled, hotly pursued by the +victors.</p> +<p>A turn in the path revealed the war camp. It was an enormous +one, but already the last of its garrison were disappearing in the +forest, taking any path that afforded a chance of safety. The +assembly sounded, and the pursuit was abandoned; as another company +came forward, at a steady double, with orders to proceed up the +road to the next village. This they were to burn, and then return +to the war camp.</p> +<p>The work of destroying the war camp at once began. The troops +lined its outskirts, while the carriers cut down and burnt the +huts. Then a party set to work to pull down the stockades, which +turned out to be nearly three hundred yards long, and crescent +shaped--a fact that explained why we had suffered so severely from +crossfire.</p> +<p>At last, sheets of flame showed that the work was accomplished, +and the company that had gone on in advance returned, and reported +the destruction of the village behind. The little force then +gathered, and proceeded to Bantama, a sacred village at which human +sacrifices had been perpetrated, for centuries. This place was +razed to the ground.</p> +<p>On the left, the sound of continuous firing told that Major +Cobbe was still heavily engaged. There was, however, no means of +moving through the bush to his assistance. The force therefore +returned to the fort.</p> +<p>It was late before the firing ceased, and Major Cobbe's column +came in, with the wounded on hammocks and stretchers. The first two +signal shots had slightly wounded Major Cobbe and a white colour +sergeant. After a prolonged fight, the former had finally turned +the right of the enemy's position, with two companies of the +Central African Regiment; but lost heavily, owing to the thick +grass and slow progress.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the West African company had engaged a stockade +similar to the one we had rushed, but horseshoe in form. Thus our +men had been almost completely surrounded by a circle of fire. +When, however, the flanking movement had at last been completed, +the enemy were charged simultaneously from the front and flank, +whereupon they broke and fled. The large war camp behind had been +looted and burnt, and the stockade pulled down. The guns had failed +to penetrate this, and the defenders were only driven out at the +point of the bayonet, after a fight of two hours' duration.</p> +<p>The loss had been heavy. Half a dozen white officers were +wounded, and seventeen Sikhs had been killed or wounded, out of a +total of fifty who had gone into action. The total casualties +mounted up to seventy.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch18" id="Ch18">Chapter 18</a>: A Night Surprise.</h2> +<p>With the exception of replenishing the supplies of ammunition, +cleaning rifles, and burying the dead, nothing further was done +that afternoon. In the evening a consultation was held, in the +fort, among the principal officers. The situation was a difficult +one. An immense amount of ammunition had been expended, and it was +decided that it was out of the question to draw upon the supplies +that had been sent up for the garrison. There were still two +strongly-entrenched positions, and strong opposition was +anticipated to the clearing of the main road. Every round would, +therefore, be required for this work. This seemed to preclude the +idea of taking the other two stockades.</p> +<p>The choice therefore remained of making the assault upon these, +and then returning through Pekki; or of leaving them and going back +by the main road, the route laid down in their instructions. +Neither of these plans was satisfactory, for each left half the +programme undone.</p> +<p>It was suggested that a night attack might be attempted. In that +case, not a shot must be fired, and the attack must be made by the +bayonet alone. The moon rose early, and it was almost high at eight +o'clock.</p> +<p>Of course, it was extremely risky to venture upon such a plan, +with superstitious black troops. The object of assault, however, +could be located the next day, and the danger of losing their way +would thereby be reduced to a minimum. Further, it was decided that +no dependence, whatever, be placed on any native guide. Finally, it +would be eminently undesirable to leave Coomassie again in a state +of siege.</p> +<p>It was clear that only one of the stockades could be carried in +this manner, as the other would be placed on its guard. It was +therefore decided that the one on the Accra-Coomassie road was the +most suitable; first because it joined the main road to Cape Coast, +and secondly because the capture of the stockade would isolate the +remaining one on the Ejesu road, which the Ashantis would probably +abandon, as both the adjacent camps had fallen into our hands.</p> +<p>As the result of this decision Captain Loch was sent out, at +twelve o'clock on the following day, to reconnoitre the position. +His men, by creeping through the tall grass and clambering among +the tall trees, succeeded in reaching a large cotton tree within +seventy yards of the enemy's entrenchment. Climbing this, they +obtained a good view of the enemy's stockade and camp behind +it.</p> +<p>At that moment a roar of voices was heard, and hostile scouts +poured out from the camp. The object of the expedition, however, +had been attained; and the soldiers retired rapidly, without +casualties.</p> +<p>At five in the afternoon the officers assembled at Colonel +Burroughs's quarters. Here the details of the work were explained +to them. They were to fall in at eight o'clock, and deliver the +attack between nine and ten. The Maxims were to follow in rear of +the infantry, and no other guns were to be taken.</p> +<p>Only five hundred men were selected to go. Captain Loch's +company were to take the lead, as a reward for the scouting they +had done in the morning. Major Melliss' company was to follow. The +companies in the rear were to move to the flanks, when the stockade +had been taken, so as to guard against an attack from the other war +camp.</p> +<p>An early meal was taken, and then the officers sallied out for a +last inspection of the company; which was, by this time, assembling +outside the fort gate. Silently the troops fell into their allotted +position. Then the word was passed down the line that all was +ready. The officers gave their final orders to the men--no smoking, +no talking, no noise, no firing, bayonet only. As if nothing +unusual was occurring, the bugle from the fort sounded the last +post.</p> +<p>At the start the pace was for some time good but, after passing +Prempeh's palace, the road became a tortuous track and, at every +yard, the tall grass became thicker and, here and there, a fallen +tree lay across the path. The dead silence that prevailed rendered +every one nervous. At last they came in sight of the great cotton +tree. Here all halted, and crouched down.</p> +<p>Two leading companies formed up and were awaiting orders when, +suddenly, two signal guns were fired and, instantly, the line of +timbers was lit up by a glare of fire, and a crashing volley of +slugs was poured in. Lieutenant Greer, who was in front of the +column, fell, seriously wounded. Then, with a shout of rage that +almost drowned the order, "Charge!" they leapt to their feet and +dashed forward.</p> +<p>Nothing could stop the impetuous charge and, when they reached +the stockade, they scaled it and poured headlong over it. In front +of them was the war camp, through which ran a road, now crowded +with the panic-stricken defenders. As the enemy ran from their +huts, they were cut down in numbers with swords and bayonets. The +din was tremendous; yells, shouts, and groans rent the air. The +path was strewn with corpses.</p> +<p>The headlong race continued. Three villages had been passed, but +there was a fort behind. This also was carried. Then there was a +halt, on account of the exhaustion caused by the speed with which +all had run. There was no fear that the panic-stricken foe would +rally; but there was the possibility of a counter attack, by the +Ashantis from the war camp to the left; for it was not known that +the panic had spread to these, also, and that they too had fled in +disorder, never to return.</p> +<p>The four camps were burnt, one after another; the stockades +pulled down; and the force, still half mad with the excitement of +the fight, marched back to the fort. The number of casualties was +very small. Hardly one, indeed, had taken place, except those +caused by the first volley of the enemy.</p> +<p>In one of the houses they entered, a child was found asleep. It +had been left behind, and had not been aroused by the noise. +Terrified as it awoke, it clung to a white man for protection, and +was taken by him to a place of safety.</p> +<p>The force reached camp at eleven o'clock, having accomplished +their work with a success altogether beyond expectation. At eight +o'clock next morning, the column paraded for its march down. All +the wounded who were unfit for duty were left in the fort.</p> +<p>Not long after the start, the scouts sighted another stockade. +The troops formed up for the attack; but they found, to their +surprise, that it was deserted. Both the stockade and the war camp +behind were destroyed, without opposition.</p> +<p>Pressing forward they passed entrenchment after entrenchment, +but all were deserted. River after river was forded, breast high, +but no enemy was met with; although some of the entrenchments were +exceedingly formidable, and could not have been carried without +very heavy loss.</p> +<p>The scouts captured a young girl, from whom valuable information +was obtained. She had been sent out, like many of the other women, +to get supplies for the army at Ejesu, where the queen mother was. +It appeared that the queen had been greatly upset by the night +attack, and the capture of all the entrenchments; and had collected +all her chiefs to decide what had best be done, now that the siege +of Coomassie had been raised. Then it was understood why the +advance had not been opposed. But for this council, we should have +found every stockade occupied in force.</p> +<p>The expedition pushed on, and arrived at Bekwai without having +to fire a shot. The garrison there was formed up to receive and +cheer them and, what was still more appreciated, a ration of fresh +meat and another round of medical comforts were served out.</p> +<p>"Well, Bullen," Hallett said, the next morning, "here we are +again. I wonder how long we shall get to rest our wearied +bodies."</p> +<p>"For my part," said Lisle, "I sha'n't be sorry when we are afoot +again. It has been hard work, and there has been some tough +fighting; but anything is better than being stuck in one of these +dreary towns. Fortunately we have both escaped bullets, and have +merely had a slight peppering of slugs and, as we have both been +put down in the reports as slightly wounded, on three occasions, we +may feel grateful, as it always does a fellow good to be mentioned +in the casualty list; and it should help you to attain that +position we spoke of, the other day, of commander-in-chief."</p> +<p>"I renounce that dream utterly, and aspire to nothing higher +than colonel. It must really be an awful bore to be +commander-in-chief. Fancy having to go down to your office every +morning, and go into all sorts of questions, and settle all sorts +of business. No, I think that, when I get to be a colonel, my +aspirations will be satisfied."</p> +<p>"I don't know that I should care even about being a colonel, +Hallett. Long before I get to that rank, I am sure that I should +have had quite enough of fighting to last for a lifetime, and would +be quite content to settle down in some little place at home."</p> +<p>"And marry, of course. A fellow like you would be sure to be +able to pick up a wife with money. My thoughts don't incline that +way. I look forward to the Rag as the conclusion of my career. +There you meet fellows you know, lie against each other about past +campaigns, eat capital dinners, and have your rub of whist, +regularly, of an evening."</p> +<p>"But, my dear Hallett, think how you would fatten out under such +a regime!"</p> +<p>"Oh, hang the fat, Bullen; it would not matter one way or +another, when you haven't got to do yourself up in uniform, and +make tremendous marches, and so on. I should not want to walk, at +all; I should have chambers somewhere close to the club, and could +always charter a hansom, when I wanted to go anywhere. Besides, fat +is eminently respectable, in an elderly man."</p> +<p>Lisle laughed merrily.</p> +<p>"My dear Hallett, it is useless to look forward so far into the +future. Let us content ourselves with the evils of today. In spite +of your grumbling, you know that you like the life and, if the +bullets do but spare you, I have no doubt that you will be just as +energetic a soldier as you have shown yourself in this campaign; +although I must admit that you have sometimes taken it out in +grumbling."</p> +<p>"Well, it is very difficult to be energetic in this country. I +think I could be enthusiastic, in anything like a decent climate, +but this takes all the spirit out of one.</p> +<p>"I think I could have struggled over the snow in the Tirah, as +you did. I can conceive myself wearing the D.S.O. in European war. +But how can a man keep his pecker up when he is wet through all +day, continually fording rivers, and exposed all the time to a +pelting rain and, worse than all, seeing his friends going down one +after another with this beastly fever, and feeling sure that his +own turn will come next?</p> +<p>"I should not mind so much if we always had a dry hut to sleep +in, but as often as not we have to sleep on the drenched ground in +the open and, consequently, get up in the morning more tired than +when we lie down. I have no doubt that, after all this is over, I +shall become a cripple from rheumatism, or be laid up with some +other disorder."</p> +<p>"I don't suppose you will do anything of the sort, Hallett. Of +course this fever is very trying but, although men are being +constantly sent down to the coast, the number who die from it is +not great. Only some six or seven have succumbed. I expect myself +that we shall both return to our regiments in the pink of +condition, with our medals on our breasts, and proud of the fact +that we have gone through one of the most perilous expeditions ever +achieved by British troops; and the more wonderful that, except for +a handful of English officers and non-commissioned officers, it has +been carried through successfully by a purely native army.</p> +<p>"I don't think we quite recognize, at present, what a big affair +it has been. We have marched through almost impenetrable bush; we +have suppressed a rebellion over a great extent of country, +admirably adapted for the mode of warfare of our enemies; and we +have smashed up an army of well-armed natives, in numbers ranging +from six, to ten to one against us."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, I know all that; and I don't say that it has not been +a well-managed business; and I dare say I shall look back on it +with pleasure, some day, when I have forgotten all the miseries we +have suffered. Besides, though I do grumble, I hope we are not +going to stick here long. I could do with a week of eating and +drinking--that would be the outside. It is wretched enough tramping +through swamps, but I think I should prefer that to a prolonged +stay in this hole."</p> +<p>"For once I agree with you thoroughly, Hallett. It is bad enough +to march in West Africa, but it is worse to sit still. It is only +when you try to do that, that you find how much you are pulled +down; and the longer you sit still, the less disposed you are to +get up; whereas, on the march, you are so full of the idea that you +may be ambushed, at any moment, that you have no time to think of +your fatigues."</p> +<p>"Yes, there is no doubt of that, Bullen; so I mean to spend all +the time I have to spare here on my back; and sleep, if I can, +continuously."</p> +<p>"Don't flatter yourself that you will be allowed to do that. You +may be sure that they will find ample work for lazy hands to do. +Now it is time to buckle on our swords, and go out and inspect our +fellows. I can see that they are mustering already."</p> +<p>"I wish those white non-commissioned officers would not be so +disgustingly punctual," Hallett grumbled. "They are splendid when +it comes to fighting, but they never seem to know that there is a +time for work and a time for play--or, at any rate, they never let +others play."</p> +<p>"They are splendid fellows," Lisle said. "I really do not know +what we should have done without them. There would be no talking of +lying down and going to sleep, if they were not there to look after +the men."</p> +<p>"I don't think it would make any difference to you," Hallett +said, "for it seems to me that you are always looking after your +men."</p> +<p>"So are you, Hallett. You are just as keen about getting your +company into order as I am, only you always try to look bored over +it. It is a stupid plan, old man, for I don't think that you get +the kudos that you deserve."</p> +<p>"My dear Bullen, you may argue forever, but if you think that +you can transform me into a bustling, hustling fellow like +yourself, I can tell you that you are mistaken. I know that I do +what I have to do, and perhaps may not do it badly, but I don't go +beyond that.</p> +<p>"When they say 'Do this,' I do it; when they don't say so, I +don't do it; and I fancy it comes to about the same thing, in the +end."</p> +<p>"I suppose it does," Lisle laughed, as they issued from their +hut.</p> +<p>"These poor fellows look as if they wanted a rest more than we +do, don't they?"</p> +<p>"They look horribly thin," Hallett said.</p> +<p>"Yes, it is well that the blacks have such good spirits, and are +always ready to chatter and laugh when the day's work is over--that +is, if it has not been an exceptionally hard one.</p> +<p>"Well, though I don't care about staying long here, myself, I do +hope they will give the poor fellows time to get into condition +again, before starting. I fear, however, that there is very little +chance of that."</p> +<p>This, indeed, turned out to be the case. Two days later, +reinforcements arrived from the coast, to increase the total +strength available for punitive expeditions. Two strong parties +then started, under Colonel Haverstock and Colonel Wilkinson. They +were to travel by different routes, and to join hands in the +neighbourhood of the sacred fetish lake, where large numbers of +Ashantis and Kokofu were reported to have assembled. The Hausa +companies did not accompany them, the columns being largely +composed of the newly-arrived troops--who were, of course, eager to +take their share of the fighting.</p> +<p>Lisle and Hallett did a little grumbling, but they really felt +that they required a longer period of rest, and they could not help +congratulating themselves when the columns returned, ten days +after, without having exchanged more than a shot or two with the +enemy.</p> +<p>They found that the country round the lake was thickly +inhabited. Many of the villages had been burnt and, in all cases, +the sacred trees had been cut down. It was quite clear that the +spirit of the enemy was greatly broken, and that the end was +approaching.</p> +<p>"We must certainly congratulate ourselves upon having a +comfortable time of it, here," Lisle said, "instead of a ten days' +tramp, without any great result. We can manage to keep ourselves +dry in this hut, now that our men have covered it thickly with palm +leaves; whereas they have had to sleep in the open, pretty nearly +every night."</p> +<p>"It was good for them," Hallett said; "the fellows looked +altogether too spick and span, when they marched in. It is just as +well that they should get a little experience of the work we have +been doing, for months. I saw them, as they marched in, look with +astonishment at the state of our men's garments--or rather, I may +say, their rags. They would have grown haughty, if they had not had +a sample of the work; and their uniforms looked very different, +when they came back, from what they were when they marched away. +There is nothing like a fortnight's roughing it in the bush to take +a man, whether white or black, a peg or two down in his own +estimation.</p> +<p>"I was amused, the first day they arrived, when I saw their +faces at the sight of their rations. It was quite a picture. Thank +goodness we have had nothing to grumble about, in that way, since +we got our box from the coast. Chocolate for breakfast, brandy and +water at dinner, preserved meat, are quite a different thing from +the stuff they manage to give us--two or three ounces of meat, +about once a week. Those boxes of biscuits, too, have been +invaluable. The ration biscuits were for the most part wet through, +and there wasn't a wholesome crunch in a dozen of them. We have +certainly improved a lot in appearance, during the last fortnight; +and I believe that it is due to the feeding, more than the +rest."</p> +<p>"It is due, no doubt, to both," Lisle said; "but certainly the +feeding has had a good deal to do with it."</p> +<p>"Those tins of soup," said Hallett, "have been really splendid. +I believe I have gained seven or eight pounds in weight, in spite +of this sweltering heat."</p> +<p>"You have certainly filled out a bit. I was rather thinking of +asking you to hand over all the soups to me, so that you should not +gain weight so fast."</p> +<p>"That would have been a modest request, indeed, Bullen!"</p> +<p>"It was a case of true friendship," Lisle laughed. "I know how +you have appreciated your loss of flesh."</p> +<p>"You be blowed!" Hallett said. "If they would run to half a +dozen tins a day, I can tell you I would take them, whatever the +consequences."</p> +<p>"Well, really, I do think, Hallett, those few cases have saved +us from fever. I felt so utterly washed out, when we arrived here, +that I began to think I was in for a bad attack."</p> +<p>"Same here, Bullen. I fought against the feeling because I +dreaded that hospital tent and, still more, being carried down +country."</p> +<p>"Yes; we certainly did a clever thing, when we bought up +everything we could, that day we were in Cape Coast. Our servants, +too, have turned out most satisfactory. Poor beggars! though the +weather has been so bad, there has scarcely been a night when they +have not managed to make a little fire, and boil water either to +mix with our tot of rum, or to make a cup of tea."</p> +<p>"Yes, they have turned out uncommonly well. We must certainly +make them a handsome present, when this is all over. It was awfully +lucky we brought up a good supply of tea with us, and condensed +milk. I am certain that the hot drink, at night, did wonders in the +way of keeping off fevers."</p> +<p>"That is so, Lisle; there is nothing that will keep the wet out, +or at least prevent it from doing harm, like a cup of hot tea with +the allowance of rum in it. I am sure I don't know what we should +have done, without it. That tea and milk were all that we could +bring, especially as our carriers were cut down to one man, +each."</p> +<p>"That was your idea, Lisle, and I agree that it has been the +saving of us. I was rather in favour of bringing spirits, myself; +but I quite admit, now, that it would have been a great mistake. +Besides, half a dozen pounds of tea does not weigh more than a +couple of bottles of spirits; which would have been gone in four or +five days, while the tea has held out for months. I never was much +of a tea drinker before. It is all very well to take a cup at an +afternoon tea fight, but that was about the extent of my indulgence +in the beverage. In future I shall become what is called a votary, +and shall cut down my spirits to the narrowest limit."</p> +<p>"That would be running to the opposite extreme, Hallett. Too +much tea is just as bad as too much spirits."</p> +<p>"Ah! Well, I can breakfast with coffee or cocoa. The next time I +go on the march, I shall take two or three pounds of cocoa in my +box. Many a time I have longed for a cup, when we have started at +three o'clock in the morning, and have felt that it would be well +worth a guinea a cup. Now I shall have the satisfaction of always +starting with a good warm drink, which is as good for hunger as +thirst. I have often wondered how I could have been fool enough not +to bring a supply with me."</p> +<p>"Yes, it would have been very comforting," Lisle agreed; "we +shall know better, another time."</p> +<p>"I trust that there will never be another time like this for me. +I shall be ready to volunteer for service in any part of the world, +bar Western Africa. They say that the troops at the Cape are going +through a hard time, but I am convinced that it is child's play in +comparison with our work here. Why, they have hours, and indeed +days, sometimes, without rain. Just think of that, my dear fellow! +Just think of it! And when the rain does fall, it soon sinks into +the sandy soil and, if they lie down at night, they only get wet on +one side, and have waterproof sheets to lie on. Just think of that! +And yet, they actually consider that they are going through +hardships!</p> +<p>"They say, too, that the commissariat arrangements are splendid. +They get meat rations every day--every day, mind you--and I hear +they even get jam. It is enough to fill one with envy. I remember I +was always fond of jam, as a boy. I can tell you that, when I get +back to civilization, one of my first cries will be for jam. Fancy +jam spread thickly on new bread!</p> +<p>"And men who have all these luxuries think that they are +roughing it! Certainly human ingratitude is appalling!"</p> +<p>Lisle laughed.</p> +<p>"But you must remember that there are compensations. We get a +fight every two or three days, while they have often to tramp two +or three hundred miles, without catching sight of an enemy at +all."</p> +<p>"There is certainly something in that," Hallett said. "I must +admit that that is a great consolation; and it is satisfactory, +too, that when we do fight we are fired at principally with slugs; +which we both know from experience are not pleasant customers, but +at any rate are a great improvement upon rifle bullets, pom poms, +and shells of all sizes.</p> +<p>"Yes, I don't even grudge them the jam, when I think how awful +it must be to be kept, for months, at some miserable little station +on the railway, guarding the roads. We get restless here at the end +of three or four days, but fancy spending months at it!"</p> +<p>"Besides, Hallett, in such places they get their rations +regularly, and have nothing to do but to eat and get fat. If you +were living under such conditions, you would be something awful at +the end of six months of it."</p> +<p>"There is a great deal in that," Hallett said, thoughtfully. +"Yes; I don't know that, after all, the gains and advantages are +not with us; and indeed, if we had our time to go over again, we +could make ourselves fairly comfortable.</p> +<p>"In the first place, I should purchase a large ground sheet, +which I might use as a tent. I would have a smaller one to lie +upon, and the biggest mackintosh that money could buy. Then, as you +say, with a good supply of tea and chocolate, I could make myself +extremely happy.</p> +<p>"I cannot think why the authorities did not point out the +necessity for these things, before we started. They must have known +it was going to rain like old boots, all the time. I don't mean, of +course, the authorities at Cape Coast, because I don't suppose any +of these things could have been picked up there; but we should have +been told, when we got our orders, that such things were essential. +Really, the stupidity and thoughtlessness of the War Office are +beyond belief."</p> +<p>"I should advise you to draw up a memorial to them, pointing out +their want of thought and care; and suggesting that, in every room, +there should be a printed reminder that mackintoshes and ground +sheets are essential, in a campaign in Western Africa in the wet +season."</p> +<p>"Yes, and cocoa and tea," Hallett said, with a laugh. "I should +like to hear the remarks of the War Office, when my communication +was read. It would flutter the dove cot, and the very next steamer +would bring out an intimation that Lieutenant John Hallett's +services were no longer required."</p> +<p>"No doubt that would be the case, Hallett; but think what an +inestimable service you would have done, in campaigning out +here!"</p> +<p>"That is all very well, Bullen, but I should recommend you to +try your eloquence upon someone else. Perhaps you might find +someone of a more self-sacrificing nature who would take the matter +in hand."</p> +<p>"Perhaps I might, but I rather fancy that I should not. The only +man who could do it is Willcocks. After the victories he has won, +even the War Office could hardly have the face to retire him from +the service for making such a suggestion. Besides, the public would +never stand it; and he is just the sort of fellow to carry out the +idea, if he took to it."</p> +<p>"I agree with you, Bullen, as in the end I almost always do, and +should suggest most strongly that you lay the matter before him. No +doubt, if he applied, the War Office would send out a hundred +waterproofs and two hundred ground sheets, for the use of the +officers, by the next ship sailing from England."</p> +<p>"I might do it," Lisle laughed, "if it were not that the rainy +season will be at an end before the things arrive here."</p> +<p>"That is a very good excuse, Bullen; but I hope that, at any +rate, you will carry out your idea before the next wet season +begins--that is, if we are kept on here, as a punishment for our +sins."</p> +<p>At this moment one of the non-commissioned officers came in with +a letter, and Hallett opened it.</p> +<p>"Oh dear," he said, in a tone of deepest disgust, "we are off +again!"</p> +<p>"Thank goodness!" Lisle said. "You know we were just agreeing +that we have had enough of this place."</p> +<p>"I often say foolish things," Hallett said, "and must not be +taken too literally. Here is an end to our meat rations, and to all +our other little luxuries. Besides, I have been getting my tunic +washed, and it will certainly take three or four days to dry in +this steaming atmosphere."</p> +<p>"Well, my dear fellow, you can put it on wet, for it is certain +to be wet before we have gone a quarter of an hour. My tunic has +gone, too, but at any rate they will both look more respectable for +the washing.</p> +<p>"Well, I suppose we had better go across to headquarters and +find out what the route is, and who are going."</p> +<p>As they went out, they saw the return of the Central African +Regiment. They had been more fortunate than the other regiments, +having captured and razed Djarchi. They had taken the enemy by +surprise, and run them right through the town, with only a single +casualty. They had ascertained that the enemy had been commanded by +the brother of the Ashanti commander-in-chief, and that he had been +killed in the fight.</p> +<p>A very large amount of spoil had been captured, the first haul +of any importance that had been made during the campaign. Among the +loot were the king of the Kokofu's iron boxes, containing much +official correspondence; union jacks, elephant tails, and other +symbols of royalty, together with gold ornaments, gold dust, and +two hundred pounds of English money; numbers of brass-nailed, +vellum-backed chairs, part of the Ashanti chief's regalia; robes, +guns, ammunition, drums, and horns, and also sheep and poultry.</p> +<p>A company was at once despatched to the Sacred Lake, to join +Major Cramer's levies, which had been told off to act as locusts +and eat up the country. Colonel Wilson was ordered to go to Accra, +to reorganize and recruit the remnant of the Gold Coast Force; so +that, when the campaign was over, they could again take over the +military control of the colony. It was also decided that Bekwai +could no longer be occupied, and that all the stores there should +be removed to Esumeja, as the whole main road up to Coomassie would +shortly be open.</p> +<p>At last all was in readiness for the general and final advance. +All the Adansi country to the south, and Kokofu to the east had +been conquered, and the roads cleared. The next step was to clear +Northern Ashanti; neglecting altogether, for the present, the +parties of the enemy between the southern boundaries of Ashanti +territory and their capital.</p> +<p>It was therefore decided to move the whole of the headquarters +staff and the advance base to Coomassie, Esumeja being selected as +the point, between it and Kwisa, to be held in force. The general +plan was to send up all the stores, carriers, and troops via Pekki, +as had been done on both previous occasions. This would reduce the +chance of attack and loss to a minimum while, simultaneously, a +fighting column with the smallest possible transport would follow +the road through Kokofu and take Ejesu, which was the residence of +the queen mother, and the headquarters of the remnant of the +Ashanti army.</p> +<p>The general opinion was that it would be the last fight of the +year. Colonel Brake, who was the last arrival, having had no chance +of a fight hitherto, was selected for the command. The whole force +was to advance, and five thousand carriers were required to effect +the movement.</p> +<p>There was general joy when it was known that Bekwai was to be +evacuated. It was a dull, dirty place, surrounded by dense, dark +forests, and was in a terribly insanitary state. Europeans were +rapidly losing their strength, and an epidemic of smallpox was +raging among the natives, of whom a dozen or more died daily.</p> +<p>On the 28th of August Colonel Burroughs left Bekwai, with seven +hundred and fifty men, and three thousand carriers taking +ammunition and baggage. The column was fully two miles long. They +had an extremely heavy march, and did not arrive at their +destination till night. The carriers returned to Bekwai the next +day, so as to be ready to march out at daylight, on the 30th, with +the second column.</p> +<p>The troops at Pekki being in enforced idleness, half of them +marched out to attack the enemy's war camp, which had for so long +threatened Pekki. The place was found to be evacuated, and it and +the bush camps on the way were all burnt.</p> +<p>The second column had now well started. The downfall of rain +continued without intermission, and the roads became worse than +ever. The day after the first column left Pekki, Colonel Brake +started with eight hundred men and two guns.</p> +<p>The news came in that the king of Akim had been asked, by a +number of the Kokofu, to intercede on their behalf for peace; and a +messenger with a flag of truce came in from the Djarchi district. +The appearance of the messenger was singular. He was completely +clad in white, even his skin being painted that colour, and he +carried an enormous white flag. He was well received, but was sent +back with a message that the chiefs must come in themselves.</p> +<p>On the 30th Colonel Willcocks arrived and, the next day, the +whole force started in fighting formation for Coomassie, where they +arrived after twelve hours' march. The distance was only twelve +miles, so the condition of the roads may be well imagined by the +time the column took to traverse them.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch19" id="Ch19">Chapter 19</a>: Lost In The +Forest.</h2> +<p>On the way up, Lisle met with a very unpleasant adventure. He +and Hallett had been sent out, with a small party of men, to enter +the bush and drive out any of the enemy who might be lurking, for +the purpose of attacking the carriers and rear guard. They went +some distance into the bush but, though they came upon tracks that +had recently been cut, they saw none of the enemy. Some men were +planted on each of these paths; and the two officers, who had +followed one a little distance farther into the bush, were on the +point of turning, when they heard men cutting their way through the +undergrowth behind them.</p> +<p>"Hide, Hallett!" Lisle exclaimed, "they must be enemies."</p> +<a id="PicH" name="PicH"></a> +<center><img src="images/h.jpg" alt= +"Illustration: They saw a strong party of the enemy crossing the road." /> +</center> +<p>As noiselessly as they could they took refuge in the thick bush +and, a minute later, saw a strong party of the enemy crossing the +road that they had just passed along. There were several hundred of +them. Some thirty or forty halted on the path. The others continued +to cut a track through and, in five minutes, a scattered fire was +opened, showing that they had come in contact with the troops. The +fire was kept up for some time, and then died away; whether because +the troops had retired, or because the natives had turned off and +taken some other line, they could not be sure. Later they heard +very heavy firing abreast of them, and guessed that the Ashantis +had followed some other path, and come down on the convoy.</p> +<p>Peering through the bushes, from time to time, they found that +those who had halted on the path were still there, probably in +waiting for some chief or other who was to take command of +them.</p> +<p>"We are in a nice mess, Bullen," said Hallett. "By the sound the +convoy is still moving on, so how we are to rejoin them, I don't +know."</p> +<p>"Yes, we are certainly in a hole and, if these fellows stop here +till night, I see no chance of our being able to move. The +slightest rustle in the bushes would bring them down upon us, in no +time. The firing is getting more and more distant every moment and, +no doubt, a big body of the enemy have engaged our fellows.</p> +<p>"I have been in a good many tight places, but I think this is +the worst of them. Our only course, so far as I can see, is to wait +till nightfall; and then, if these fellows still stick here, get +into the path again, and follow it up till we come to some path +going the other way. Then it will be a pure question of luck +whether we hit upon the enemy, or not. If we do, of course we must +fight till the last, keeping the last shot in our revolvers for +ourselves. I have no intention of falling into their hands alive, +and going through terrible tortures before I am put to death."</p> +<p>"That really seems to be the only thing to be done, Bullen. +However, we must hope for the best."</p> +<p>When night fell, a fire was lit by the party on the path.</p> +<p>"The beggars evidently mean to stay here," Lisle said, "and even +if they moved away we should be no better off for, as the column +will be ten miles away by now, we should really have no chance of +regaining it."</p> +<p>When night fell they crept out of the bush, taking the greatest +care not to make any noise, for the natives were but thirty yards +away. They crawled along for forty or fifty yards and then, a turn +in the path hiding them from sight, they rose to their feet and +pushed on.</p> +<p>They found, however, that it was no easy matter to make headway. +It was pitch dark, owing to the canopy of leaves, and they had to +feel their way at every step. The path, moreover, was constantly +turning and twisting. After travelling for upwards of two hours, +they came to a point where two paths met and, without knowing, they +took the one that led off to the left. This they followed for some +hours, and then lay down to rest. They awoke at daybreak.</p> +<p>"I wonder where we have got to," Hallett said.</p> +<p>"I am afraid somehow we have gone wrong," Lisle exclaimed, after +looking round, "and the light seems to be coming from the wrong +quarter, altogether. We must have turned off from the main path +without knowing it, and tramped a long distance in the wrong +direction."</p> +<p>"I believe you are right, Bullen. What on earth are we to do +now? Retrace our steps, or push on and chance it?"</p> +<p>"We have the choice of two evils, Hallett, but I think it would +be better to go on than to turn back. In the first place, however, +we must search for something to eat. We crossed several little +streams on our way, so I don't think we are likely to be hard up +for water; but food we must have. The natives are always able to +find food in the forest and, if we cannot do that, we may come upon +some deserted village, and get some bananas. We might even steal +some, at night, from a village that is not deserted. At any rate, +it is useless to stay here."</p> +<p>They set out at once, moving cautiously, and stopping frequently +to listen for the soft trail of naked feet. They came at last to +the spot where they had left the other track. Here they held +another council, and decided that there was too much risk in +turning on to the main path again; as that was sure to be occupied +by the enemy, who would be burying their dead, or examining any +loot that they had captured from the carriers. After proceeding two +or three miles, they came upon another path on the right.</p> +<p>"This path," said Lisle, "will take us in the proper +direction."</p> +<p>"I doubt if we shall ever get there," Hallett said. "I am +feeling as hungry as a rat, already; and we have seen nothing to +put between our lips since we started out, yesterday morning."</p> +<p>"It is a little rough," Lisle said cheerfully, "but we must hit +upon a village, presently."</p> +<p>"I should not mind, if the path went on straight," Hallett said, +"but it zigzags so much that we can never feel certain that we are +going in the right direction."</p> +<p>"Well, you see," said Lisle, "we have passed two tracks to the +left, since we struck into this road. I cannot help thinking that +these must lead to villages, and that the one we are following is a +sort of connecting link between them. I vote that we stop at the +next one we come to."</p> +<p>"All right, old man! It seems to me that it will make no great +difference which way we go. Indeed, so far as I can make out, by +the glimpses we get of the sun, the path has turned a great deal, +and is now going right back to that from which it started."</p> +<p>"I am afraid you are right, Hallett. However, there is one thing +certain. The Ashantis don't cut paths through their forests without +some reason, and I should not be surprised if we come to some large +village, not far ahead."</p> +<p>After walking for another half hour, they found the bush getting +thinner, and they could soon see light ahead. They went very +cautiously now and, at last, stood at the end of a large clearing, +in which stood an Ashanti village.</p> +<p>"Thank God there is something to eat ahead!" said Hallett. +"There are lots of bananas growing round the village and, when it +gets dark, we will get two big bunches. That should last us some +time."</p> +<p>Utterly exhausted, they both lay down just inside the bush. Many +villagers were moving about and, twice, native runners came in. The +afternoon passed very slowly; but at length the sun set, and +darkness fell quickly. They waited a couple of hours, to allow the +village to get comparatively quiet; then they crept forward, and +cut two great bunches of bananas from the first tree they came to +and, returning to the forest, sat down and ate a hearty meal.</p> +<p>"I feel very much better," Hallett said, when he had finished. +"Now, let us talk over what we had better do next."</p> +<p>"I should say we had better keep along by the edge of the bush, +and see if we can strike some other path. It would be useless to go +back by this one, as it would simply take us to the place we +started from."</p> +<p>Hallett readily agreed to this suggestion, and the two officers +started and gradually worked round the village. Presently they +struck another path. Turning up this they again pushed forward, +each carrying his bunch of bananas. After walking two hours, they +lay down. The darkness was so dense that their rate of progress was +extremely slow.</p> +<p>In the morning they went on again but, after walking for some +hours, they came suddenly upon four of the enemy. As soon as these +saw them, they rushed on them with a yell, firing their guns as +they did so. Both were struck with slugs; and Lisle was knocked +down, but quickly jumped to his feet again, revolver in hand. The +Ashantis charged with their spears, but the revolver bullets were +too much for them and, one by one, they dropped, the last man being +shot just as he reached them. Two were only wounded, but Lisle shot +them both.</p> +<p>"It would never do," he said, "for any of them to get to a +village, and bring all its occupants upon us. We are neither of us +fit to do much running, and the beggars would be sure to overtake +us."</p> +<p>"It is horrid," Hallett said, "though I admit that it is +necessary."</p> +<p>For four days they wandered on. The path never seemed to run +straight. Though they found a plentiful supply of bananas, their +strength was gradually failing.</p> +<p>On the fourth day they came upon a sheet, doubtless a portion of +some officer's baggage that had been looted. Hallett, who was +walking fast, passed it contemptuously. Lisle, however, picked it +up and wound it round his body.</p> +<p>"We can lay it over us, Hallett, at night. It will at least help +to keep the damp off us."</p> +<p>"We sha'n't want it long," Hallett said; "I think the game is +almost up."</p> +<p>"Not a bit of it," Lisle said, cheerfully. "In spite of the +turns and twistings we have made, I think we cannot be far from +Coomassie, now. I thought I heard the sound of guns this morning, +and it could have been from nowhere else."</p> +<p>Late that afternoon they came suddenly upon a great war camp +and, at once, sat down in the bushes.</p> +<p>"What is to be done now?" Hallett said. "We cannot go back +again. We are neither of us fit to walk a couple of miles."</p> +<p>Lisle sat for some minutes without answering him, and then said +suddenly:</p> +<p>"I have an idea. I will cut down a sapling, seven or eight feet +long; and fasten the sheet to it, so as to make a flag of truce. +Then we will walk boldly into the village, and summon it to +surrender. It is a bold stroke, but it may succeed. We know that +most of them are getting tired of the war. We can give out that we +have lost our way in the bush and, if the fellows take it kindly, +well and good; but if not, we shall have our revolvers, and shall, +of course, use them on ourselves."</p> +<p>"I am game to carry it out, Bullen. Your idea is a splendid one. +Anyhow, it is our last chance. I really don't think I could go a +mile farther. We know enough of their language to make ourselves +understood."</p> +<p>"Yes. What with our servants, the Hausas, and the carriers, we +have both picked up a good deal of the language."</p> +<p>With renewed spirits they cut down a sapling, stripped it of all +its leaves and branches and, fastening the sheet to it, walked +straight down towards the camp. There was an immediate stir in the +camp. Many of the Ashantis ran for their arms but, when they saw +that the two officers were alone, they calmed down. Presently two +chiefs advanced, followed by some twenty warriors.</p> +<p>"Now, Bullen, muster up your knowledge of the language, and +address them. Lay it on pretty thick."</p> +<p>"Chiefs," Lisle said, "we are come to you from the governor of +Coomassie. He says that it must be clear to you, now, that you +cannot stand against the white man; and that you will only bring +ruin upon yourselves, and your country, by further resistance. They +have therefore sent us to say that, if you will surrender, a small +fine only shall be imposed upon you; and that your soldiers may +retire to their villages, after having laid down their arms. While +you are talking about this, we shall be glad if you will give us +some provisions; for we have lost our way in the bush, coming here, +and need food."</p> +<p>"If you follow me into the village," one of the chiefs said, +"provisions shall be served to you, while we talk over what you +say. We shall be glad of peace; for we see that, however strongly +we make our stockades, your soldiers always take them. Our men are +beginning to long to return to their people, for they have fought +many times, and already have begun to complain. Do you guarantee +our safety, if we return with you to your fort?"</p> +<p>"I can promise that," Lisle said. "We respect brave men, and are +anxious that there should be an end to this fighting. When it is +over, you will again live under the protection of our government, +and the past will be forgotten. You attacked us without reason, and +have suffered heavily for it. This is the third time that we have +had to come up, and we hope that it will never be necessary to do +so, again. We recognize each other's valour; we have each made +sacrifices; and we hope that, when this war is over, we shall live +together in peace. Had we only been armed as you are, the fortunes +of war might have gone differently; but we have rifles and guns, +and these must always give us victory, in the long run."</p> +<p>"We will talk it over," the chief said. "While we do so, you +shall have food."</p> +<p>So saying, he turned and led the way to a house in the village, +where food and native spirit were set before them.</p> +<p>"Your dodge has succeeded admirably," Hallett said, as they were +waiting for the meal. "I think they will surrender."</p> +<p>"I hope they will," Lisle said; "but at any rate, I think they +will treat us as coming in under a flag of truce; and will perhaps +send an escort with us back to the camp. However, they are +preparing a meal for us and, if the worst comes to the worst, it is +much better to die full than fasting."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour two women entered; one carrying a bowl +with four chickens, and a quantity of rice; the other a large jug +of water, and a smaller one of native spirit. Not a word was +spoken, while the meal was being eaten. At the end, nothing but +bones remained of the four chickens.</p> +<p>"Thank God for a good dinner!" Hallett said, after the meal was +over. "I feel, at present, at peace with all men; and I can safely +recommend the chiefs, when they arrive at Coomassie, as being +first-rate fellows; while I am sure that the chief will be greatly +pleased that we have secured the submission of their tribe. It will +be a big feather in our caps. When I came in here, I thought I +could not go another mile to save my life; now I feel perfectly +game for a seven or eight mile march to Coomassie."</p> +<p>At this moment, they noticed that there was a great hubbub in +the camp. Half an hour later, the chiefs entered.</p> +<p>"We accept the terms you bring," one of them said, "and will go +with you on condition that, if the terms are not as you say, we +shall be allowed to return here, unmolested."</p> +<p>"That I can promise you," Lisle said. "We have not come here +without reason, and the terms we offer are those that you can +accept without dishonour. I can assure you of as good treatment as +you have given us; and permission to leave the fort, and return to +your people, if you are dissatisfied with the terms."</p> +<p>A quarter of an hour later the party--consisting of the two +chiefs, ten armed followers, and the two officers--set out. The +camp was, they learned, about six miles from Coomassie. After a +march of three hours, they emerged from the forest into the cleared +space round the fort. When they reached the outlying sentries they +were challenged, but a word from Lisle sufficed to pass them +on.</p> +<p>As they approached the fort a number of soldiers gathered round +them and, when they neared the entrance, Colonel Willcocks himself +came out.</p> +<p>"You remain here with the chiefs, Bullen. I will go on, and +explain matters to the chief."</p> +<p>Lisle nodded, and Hallett hurried forward, while the others +halted.</p> +<p>"Why, Mr. Hallett," Colonel Willcocks said, "we had given you up +for dead; you and Mr. Bullen, whom I see over there. Whatever have +you been doing now?"</p> +<p>Hallett gave a brief account of their adventure.</p> +<p>"You will probably be annoyed at us for acting as your +messengers but, as we have induced the two leaders of the large war +camp to come in, I trust that we shall be forgiven. We have +promised them permission for their force to return, unmolested, to +their villages; and I may say, from the formidable stockades they +have made there, this result could not have been achieved, +otherwise, without very heavy loss.</p> +<p>"I wish to say that the idea was entirely Bullen's. It seemed to +be the only chance of getting through; for we were both utterly +exhausted, when we reached the village."</p> +<p>"I think you have done extremely well, Hallett. I was about to +send a force to capture that camp; and I am glad, indeed, of being +relieved of the necessity of doing so. It means, perhaps, the +saving of a couple of hundred lives. Besides, we should probably +not have caught quarter of them; and the rest would have taken to +the bush, and continued to give us trouble.</p> +<p>"Tell me exactly what the terms are, upon which they are willing +to surrender."</p> +<p>"Simply the lives and freedom of the chiefs; and permission to +their men to retire, unmolested, to their villages."</p> +<p>"Those are exactly the terms I have offered to some of their +chiefs, who had sent in to ask for terms. Now, I will speak to them +myself."</p> +<p>He accordingly walked forward, with Hallett, to where the chiefs +were standing.</p> +<p>"I am glad, indeed, chiefs," he said, "that you have decided to +take no further part in the war. You will stay here with us, until +I hear that your camp is broken up; and you will then be at liberty +to return to your own grounds. I thank you for receiving my +messengers so kindly; as a reward for which I shall, when you +leave, present you each with five hundred dollars. Henceforth, I +trust that you will always remain on good terms with us, do all you +can to aid us by sending in carriers, and will accept our rule +frankly and truly.</p> +<p>"Now, I will ask you to come into the fort; where you will be +treated as guests, until I hear of the dispersal of your +camps."</p> +<p>The chiefs were much gratified by their reception; and sent off +the escort, at once, to order the camp to be abandoned and burnt, +and the stockades to be pulled down. Then they followed Colonel +Willcocks into the fort, where a room was assigned to them, and +everything done for their comfort.</p> +<p>As soon as the governor had retired with them, the other +officers flocked down round Hallett and Lisle, to learn their +adventures. Both were warmly congratulated upon their safe return; +and Lisle came in for a large share of their congratulations when, +in spite of his protestations, Hallett insisted on giving him the +largest share of credit for the manner in which he had suggested +the scheme, and had unquestionably been the means of saving their +lives.</p> +<p>"Hallett had everything to do with it, except that," he said; +"and that was only an accidental idea. We mutually helped each +other, during those long days of tramping; and it was most +fortunate for me that he was with me for, had I been alone, I don't +think I should have had the strength of mind or body to hold on, +when the prospect seemed altogether hopeless."</p> +<p>As they went down to the lines of their company, they were +surrounded by the delighted blacks; who continued to cheer so +heartily that it was some time before they could get an opportunity +to tell what had taken place. Cheers again broke out, when the +stories were finished. The men insisted on shaking their hands, and +then started a war dance to show their satisfaction.</p> +<p>Then both retired to a shelter erected for them and, lying down, +slept for some hours. When they awoke they ate a hearty meal; after +which they agreed that, in a day or two, they would be fit for duty +again.</p> +<p>"I shall mention your conduct in my despatches," the colonel +said, next day. "You have not only saved your own lives; but have +rendered very important service, in inducing those two chiefs and +their followers to submit. From the information that we have been +able to get, their camp was very strongly fortified, and could only +have been taken after hard fighting; and even then, as has happened +on all previous occasions, the main body would have escaped, +rallied again a short distance away, and given us all the trouble +of dispersing them, once more. As it is, I have no doubt that the +influence of their chiefs will keep them quiet and, indeed, +scattered as they will be among their villages, it will be +difficult to persuade them to take up arms again.</p> +<p>"On second thoughts, I allowed them to leave this morning, with +a column that was starting to collect the arms of the garrison. +They seemed quite in earnest; and will, I have no doubt, succeed in +inducing their men to part with their arms, without a +squabble."</p> +<p>The detachment, indeed, returned in the evening. The success of +their mission had been complete; and the natives had handed over +their arms, and started off with their chiefs into the forests, +after burning the camp and razing the stockades. They all seemed +highly pleased that they should not be called upon for more +fighting, and had individually taken an oath that they would never +again fight the white men.</p> +<p>Several other flags of truce came in, and many chiefs +surrendered. The Queen Mother, the most important of the leaders, +tendered her submission. Colonel Willcocks gave her four days in +which to prove the truth of her submission by coming in, in person. +Shortly, however, before the truce expired, she sent in an impudent +message that she would fight till the end.</p> +<p>Some of the chiefs who had been foremost in their opposition, +and who had personally taken part in the torture and death of those +who fell into their hands, were tried by court martial; and either +shot or hanged, it being necessary to prove to the natives that +even their greatest chiefs were not spared, and that certain +punishment would be dealt out to those who had taken part in the +murder of soldiers, or carriers, who had fallen into their +hands.</p> +<p>The greatest tragedy of this campaign became known, on the 8th +of September, through a letter from a native clerk who was with the +Akim levies, which were commanded by Captains Willcox and Benson. +These levies had worked up on our right flank, as we advanced from +the south, in the same way as the Denkeras had done on the west. +They were as cowardly, and as terrified of the Ashantis, as all the +other neighbouring races. In fact, the only work they were fit for +was living in deserted villages, or cutting crops and eating up the +produce.</p> +<p>Three thousand of these levies were ordered to cooperate with +Colonel Brake's column. They were met by the Ashantis, and bolted +as soon as the latter opened fire; and Captain Benson, deserted by +his cowardly followers, fell. In a letter he had sent home, a few +days before his death, he expressed in the strongest terms his +opinion of the men under his command, saying:</p> +<p>"If it comes to a real show, after all, Heaven help us! +Three-quarters of my protective army are arrant cowards, all +undisciplined, and quite impossible to hold."</p> +<p>The native levies cannot be compared with the disciplined +troops. They were simply a motley mob, armed with stray guns, arms, +and powder, and their pay is what they can loot; whereas the +African private's drill and duties are identical with those of the +British private. His orders are given to him in English, and his +knowledge of our language is probably superior to that of most +Indian or Egyptian soldiers; while the British soldiers in West +Africa are rarely able to understand the language of their men.</p> +<p>A column had started, at once, to Captain Willcox's assistance. +They returned, however, in ten days, having been unable to come up +to him, as he had retired fifty miles farther to the east. They had +no fighting, the enemy having gone north; but they ascertained that +all the country immediately to the south was free from rebels and +desirous of peace. The spot where Captain Benson's action had been +fought was strewn with dead bodies, baggage, and rifles; evidence +of the disordered flight. It seemed that the levies bolted, as soon +as they were fired on. Then, with a few trained volunteers, the +white men hastily entrenched themselves; and held out till late in +the afternoon when, their ammunition having run short, they were +compelled to retire, which they did fighting. It was during the +retreat that Captain Benson was shot.</p> +<p>Another column came in on the following day, after five days' +reconnaissance. It had gone by the same road by which the governor +had broken out, on the 23rd of June. The road was entirely +deserted, the villages destroyed, and the crops burnt. They made no +attempt to search the bush but, on the path, they found +ninety-eight headless skeletons; a painful testimony of the number +of soldiers and carriers who had died of privation, and hardship, +during the retreat.</p> +<p>Information now came in that, to the north, the most reckless of +the Ashantis had again concentrated, and were determined to make +another stand. On the 16th there was a big review of the seventeen +hundred troops and the nine guns of the garrison. The heavy guns +were exercised on a stockade, similar to those of the enemy. +Hitherto they had not been altogether successful; as it was found +that, owing to the large bursting charge, the range had to be +estimated at double its real distance. Six shots smashed a +barricade which was six feet high by six feet thick.</p> +<p>Friendly chiefs, who were invited to witness the experiment, +were profoundly impressed; and there can be no doubt that the feat +was reported to the enemy in the field, for they raised no stockade +in the future, and reverted to their old plan of bush fighting.</p> +<p>The heavy and continuous rains were now rapidly bringing on +sickness, and the officers were attacked in forms that were quite +novel to them.</p> +<p>"I don't know what is the matter with me," Lisle said, one +morning, "but I am swollen all round the neck. I once had mumps, +when I was a little boy and, if it were not so ridiculous, I should +declare that I had got them again."</p> +<p>Hallett burst into a fit of laughter.</p> +<p>"I expect you are going to have all your old illnesses +again--scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, and the rest. We +must see that the hut is fitted up for you, with something as much +like a bed as possible, and a fire for making a posset, or whatever +they give you."</p> +<p>"It is all very well for you to laugh, Hallett, but look at my +neck."</p> +<p>"Well, it is swollen," Hallett agreed; "and I expect that you +have caught a cold, when we were wandering about in the bush. +Seriously, I should advise you to put a piece of warm flannel round +your neck, or else go across and consult the doctor."</p> +<p>"I think I will do so, Hallett. It hurts a good deal, I can tell +you and, as you see, I can hardly drink my tea."</p> +<p>After breakfast was over, he went to the tent of the principal +doctor.</p> +<p>"I have come, sir," he said, "to ask you about my neck."</p> +<p>"You don't say so, Bullen! Why, yours is the third case I have +seen this morning! Let me look at it.</p> +<p>"Yes, the symptoms are just the same as in the others. If this +were England, I should say that an epidemic of mumps has broken +out; but of course it cannot be that.</p> +<p>"Well, I have sent the other two into hospital, and you had +better go there, too. Is it painful?"</p> +<p>"It is rather painful, and I can hardly swallow at all."</p> +<p>"Well, when I come across to the hospital, I will put you in +with the others. I certainly cannot make out what it is, nor why it +came on so suddenly. The only thing I can put it down to is the +constant rains that we have been having, though I really don't see +why wet weather should have that effect. I should advise you to +keep on hot poultices."</p> +<p>In the evening another patient came in, and Lisle burst out +laughing, when he saw that it was Hallett.</p> +<p>"Oh, you have come to the nursery, have you? I hope you have +made up your mind to go through scarlet fever, or measles, +Hallett?"</p> +<p>"Don't chaff. It is no laughing matter."</p> +<p>"No? I thought you took it quite in that light, this morning. +Well, you see we have all got poultices on; and the orderly will +make one for you, at once. My face is bigger than it was this +morning, and what it is going to come to, I cannot imagine. +Although the doctor said, frankly, that he did not understand it; +he seemed to think that there was nothing very serious about +it."</p> +<p>The next day the swelling had abated and, two days later, both +of them were discharged from the hospital; to their great delight, +for they heard that a column was just going to start, and that +their companies were included in it.</p> +<p>On the following day the column started. It was nearly a +thousand strong, with guns, and rations for twenty-eight days. This +force was to penetrate into the northwestern country. The enemy +here had sent an impudent message that they would not surrender; +and that, if they were attacked, they intended to revert to their +former tactics, and direct all their efforts to shooting down the +officers and, when these were disposed of, they would have little +difficulty in dealing with the native troops.</p> +<p>On the second day, when twenty-five miles from Coomassie, the +enemy were met with in force; and it was found that the message +they had sent was true, for there was no stockade, and the enemy +resorted entirely to sniping. They were commanded by Kofia, one of +the most turbulent and determined of their chiefs. The attack did +not come as a surprise for, the day before, a number of Ashantis +had been found in a village which was rushed. The active allies now +searched the woods thoroughly, and succeeded in ascertaining the +spot where the enemy had their war camp. They had been careful that +the Ashantis had no notion of our approach, and a number of them +were shot down by the Maxims and rifles.</p> +<p>The enemy, who held a strong position on the hilltop, rushed +down and attacked our front and flank. Their number was estimated +at four thousand. Three companies on each side entered the bush, +and soon succeeded in pressing the enemy into a path; where they +were fiercely charged by the West African Field Force, under Major +Melliss. That officer was wounded; and Captain Stevenson, who was +close to him, was shot in the chest.</p> +<p>For a moment the soldiers wavered but, almost immediately, +dashed on again to avenge the loss of their officers. The charge +was very effective. Those of the enemy who gradually assembled were +bayoneted, and the rest fled.</p> +<p>Captain Stevenson's death was greatly regretted. He and Captain +Wright, of another company, had asked for leave to accompany the +force. As the one had no better claim than the other, Colonel +Willcocks suggested that they should toss for it. They did so, and +Captain Stevenson won; but what he deemed his good fortune cost him +his life.</p> +<p>After the fight was over, there was a short pause to reorganize +the force; and an advance was made to a village, three miles ahead, +the intention being to attack the next morning. That evening, +however, a flag came in, with an offer to surrender. Word was sent +back that the offer would be accepted, if made unconditionally; and +at seven o'clock in the evening a chief, a large number of men, +four hundred guns, and some sheep arrived. They said that Kofia was +holding a village, farther on; and would again give fight there. +The force returned with them to Coomassie.</p> +<p>The next day, some scouts brought in the news that the enemy had +again concentrated, and their numbers had been raised to four +thousand by their junction with another fighting tribe. Kofia was +in command, and a big war camp had been established some twelve +miles away on the Berekum road. Berekum itself, which was a hundred +and forty miles to the north, was reported to be invested, and had +asked for help but, as so large an Ashanti force was near at hand, +no men could be spared for the purpose.</p> +<p>A column twelve hundred strong, with five guns, and every +available man in the garrison who could carry a gun, moved out +early on the 29th, to give battle. It was followed by a supply +column, and the bulk of the carriers.</p> +<p>Nine miles were accomplished without any opposition. Then a +small Adansi outpost retired on their approach. The commandant +decided to halt, for the night, at a deserted village. It was a +miserable place. The huts had all been burnt by the rebels; so that +the troops had to sleep in the open, in a steady downpour of rain. +The Europeans tried to get rest in some hastily-constructed +shelters, but a perfect tornado of wind was blowing, and swept the +ground on which they were built.</p> +<p>Next day the troops marched, in their drenched clothes, through +a heavy rain. Between seven and eight, however, this ceased and, +almost at the same moment, a tremendous fire burst out upon them. +The advance guard and support at once became engaged, but the enemy +clung with such determination to their position, and contested +every foot of the ground so stoutly, that two companies of +reinforcements had to be called up.</p> +<p>Two companies were sent out into the bush, and eventually +succeeded in getting partly behind the enemy, and forcing them to +retreat. More troops were sent out on the left; and a company was +instructed to move through the bush, on an extended line. In this +way the enemy were driven out of the jungle, and forced to retire +slowly up the hill.</p> +<p>Then the main column started, led by Major Melliss and headed by +the Sikhs. The enemy, however, did not fly; and Major Melliss +dashed into the thick of them, with the few men he could collect. +An Ashanti fired at him, at close quarters; but a native soldier +ran the man through. As they struggled on the ground, another +Ashanti fired at Major Melliss, hitting him in the foot. He was +practically unarmed, as he could use neither his sword nor his +revolver; and would have been killed, had not another officer come +up and shot the wounded Ashanti.</p> +<p>As the head of the column reached the spot, a heavy fire was +directed upon the enemy, who were soon in headlong flight. The +village in the rear of the position was taken, at the point of the +bayonet. One hundred and fifty of their dead were found, lying on +the battlefield; and it was learned, from prisoners, that over five +hundred had been wounded.</p> +<p>The defeat was a crushing one. Several of their most determined +chiefs were found among the dead. So hopelessly demoralized were +the enemy that they never rallied again.</p> +<p>The victory had been achieved with very small loss, owing to the +excellence of Colonel Willcocks' force. The casualties consisted +only of two officers severely, and two slightly wounded; and +twenty-six rank and file killed and wounded.</p> +<p>When the wounded had been dressed, and the scattered units +collected, an advance was made to the next village; where the +wearied troops slept, as it was still doubtful whether the rebels +might not rally. Major Cobbe was sent on, next morning, with eight +hundred men. He was to go as far as he could, but to return the +next evening.</p> +<p>The march was a very trying one, the weather terrible. After +going four miles they reached the bank of an unfordable river, some +forty yards wide. The Pioneers, although they had no technical +equipment, succeeded in making a rough bridge by the afternoon; and +Major Cobbe decided to push on to Kofia. At ten o'clock they +reached this place and, to the general relief, it was found to be +deserted. The troops, therefore, marched in and turned into the +huts, amid a howling tornado.</p> +<p>The return journey, next day, was even worse. The tracks, in +many parts, were now covered with between two and three feet of +water. The bridge, though submerged, had fortunately not been +carried away; and the troops were able to cross, and march into +camp the same evening, having carried out their orders without +encountering the smallest opposition.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch20" id="Ch20">Chapter 20</a>: At Home.</h2> +<p>It was now found necessary to give the worn-out troops a long +rest. They had been on constant service, for months; the stream of +invalids that had been sent down to the coast daily increased, and +the sick list had already reached an appalling length. The want of +fresh rations was very much felt, and any large combination of +troops not only caused great discomfort, but engendered various +diseases, smallpox among them. In addition to this, as the black +soldiers always go barefooted, their feet had got into a deplorable +state.</p> +<p>The halt, however, had a good effect; and there was general +satisfaction that it was unlikely that they would be called upon to +make further efforts, as no news came of fresh gatherings of the +enemy.</p> +<p>Colonel Willcocks now saw that the time was come to issue a +proclamation promising, henceforward, to spare the lives of all +rebels that surrendered. This was done, with the result that large +numbers of the enemy came in. Almost all of them declared that they +would have surrendered, long ago, had they not feared to do so.</p> +<p>On October 6th, the Commandant and British Resident held a state +levee. It was attended by all the friendly and submitted kings. +These vied with each other in their pomp; they were dressed in +gorgeous robes and carried their state umbrellas, while their +attendants danced round them, beating drums and blowing horns. +After the palaver was over, target practice took place, with the +guns. Canvas dummies were riddled with bullets by the Maxims; and +stockades, specially constructed for the purpose, were demolished +by the big guns. The natives retired, greatly impressed.</p> +<p>Two days later, Colonel Willcocks got up a rifle meeting for a +cup; and he himself took his place among the competitors.</p> +<p>Five days later, news came that a fresh force of the enemy had +gathered. Two columns were sent out--one of seven hundred and the +other of five hundred men--but, though they traversed a wide +stretch of country, they had no fighting. They received, however, +the submission of a number of chiefs and villages.</p> +<p>The new commander of the Ashanti force was captured, tried, and +hanged. The queen also was caught and, on the 24th of April, a +telegram was sent home with the words:</p> +<p>"The campaign is at an end."</p> +<p>There can be no doubt that this expedition will lead to great +results. The natives of Ashanti and the surrounding tribes have +received a lesson that will not be forgotten for a great number of +years and, long before that time, it may be hoped that civilization +will have made such strides there that there will be no more chance +of trouble. They have been taught that they are absolutely unable +to stand against the white man; that neither distance, the +thickness of their forests, stockades, nor weather can check the +progress of British troops; and that resistance can only draw down +upon them terrible loss, and the destruction of their villages and +crops.</p> +<p>They had received no such lessons in the previous expeditions. +That of Governor Sir Charles M'Carthy had been entirely defeated, +and the governor himself killed. Another expedition, in 1867, met +with a total failure. Sir Garnet Wolseley, in 1873, marched to +Coomassie but, though he burnt the place, he had at once to fall +back to the coast. In 1895 Sir Francis Scott led an expedition +which, for some reason or other, met with no resistance.</p> +<p>Now Ashanti had been swept from end to end, and fire and sword +had destroyed the major part of the villages. Garrisons were to be +left, at Coomassie, strong enough to put down any local risings; +and the natives had been taught that, small as our army might be in +their country, it could at any time be largely augmented, at very +short notice. Most of all, they had learned that, even without the +assistance of white soldiers, the native troops--whom they had +hitherto despised--were their superiors in every respect.</p> +<p>The completion of the railway to Coomassie has enabled troops to +be sent up from the coast, in a few hours, to the heart of the +country; and the numerous companies formed to work the gold mines +will, in themselves, prove a great check to trouble as, no doubt, +the miners will, in future, be well armed.</p> +<p>Colonel Willcocks left the headquarters staff a few days after +the despatch of his telegram. He rode through a two-mile avenue of +troops and friendly natives and, on arriving at Cape Coast, had a +magnificent reception. Major C. Burroughs remained in command of +Coomassie, with a strong garrison.</p> +<p>A few days later, the rest of the force moved down to the coast. +Lisle and Hallett were carried down in hammocks, for both were +completely worn out by the hardships of the campaign and, as there +was no limit to the numbers of carriers that could be obtained, +they gladly acquiesced in the decision of the medical officer that +they ought to be carried. Both, indeed, had the seeds of fever in +their system and, when they arrived at Cape Coast, were laid up +with a sharp attack. As a result they were, like the great portion +of the officers who had gone through the campaign, invalided +home.</p> +<p>A day after his arrival in London, Lisle was visited by his +friend Colonel Houghton, at whose house he had spent most of his +leave when he was last in England.</p> +<p>"I saw your name in the paper, yesterday, as among the returned +invalids; and thought that I should find you in the hotel where you +stayed before."</p> +<p>"I wrote yesterday afternoon to you, sir."</p> +<p>"Ah! Of course, I have not got that letter. And now, how are +you?"</p> +<p>"I am a little shaky, sir, but the voyage has done wonders for +me. I have no doubt that I shall soon be myself, again."</p> +<p>"You have not seen the last gazette, I suppose?"</p> +<p>"No, sir."</p> +<p>"Well, there was a list of promotions, and I am happy to say +that you have got the D.S.O. for your services. I dare say you know +that you succeeded to your company, just six months ago?"</p> +<p>"No, I did not know that. I knew that I stood high among the +lieutenants, and expected to get it before long; but I am proud, +indeed, of the D.S.O."</p> +<p>"To have won the V.C. and the D.S.O. is to attain the two +greatest distinctions a soldier can wear.</p> +<p>"Now, you had better come down with me to my place in the +country; the air of London is not the best, for a man who has been +suffering from African fever."</p> +<p>"I certainly want bracing air, and I shall be only too glad to +go home with you; for I feel it is more my home than any other in +England."</p> +<p>As soon as Lisle began to recover a little, Colonel Houghton +introduced him to his neighbours, who made a good deal of the young +soldier. Five years had elapsed, since he had started with the +Pioneers for Chitral, and he was twenty-one.</p> +<p>Soon after he went to the colonel's, he was speaking to him of +his friend and constant companion in the late campaign; and the +colonel at once invited Hallett down. Hallett accepted the +invitation, and soon joined them. He had pretty well recovered, and +the campaign had knocked all his little laziness and selfishness +out of him. He also had received the D.S.O.</p> +<p>"I am sure, Colonel Houghton," he said one day, "that I owe a +tremendous lot to Lisle. He was always cheerful, and his unmerciful +chaffing kept me alive. I am quite sure I should never have got +through that time, when we were lost in the forest, if it hadn't +been for him. I was a confirmed grumbler, too; but he never let me +indulge my discontent. Altogether you have no idea, Colonel +Houghton, how much he did for me."</p> +<p>"Well, you know, Captain Hallett, how much he did for me."</p> +<p>"No, sir," Hallett said, in surprise; "he has often spoken to me +of you, and of your kindness to him; but he did not tell me about +anything he had done for you."</p> +<p>"Well, he saved my life at the risk of his own. If he has not +told you the story, I will."</p> +<p>And he related the manner in which Lisle had won his V.C.</p> +<p>"Why did you not tell me about it, Bullen? It was a splendid +thing to do. You did tell me, I remember, how you got the V.C. by +helping to get an officer out of the grasp of the Afridis, but you +gave no details."</p> +<p>"There was nothing to tell about it, Hallett. I only did what I +am sure you would have done, in my case."</p> +<p>"I am by no means sure of that," Hallett said. "I am always slow +in making up my mind about anything; and should never have thought +of putting a wounded officer on my horse, and sending him off, +while I remained to be cut to pieces. I hope I should have stood by +him, and been cut down with him; but I am certain that I should not +have thought of the other thing, with the Afridis rushing down upon +me, only thirty yards away.</p> +<p>"You ought to have let me know about it. You did bully me a +great deal, you know; and though it was all for my good, still I +think I should have put up with it better, if I had known that you +had done such a thing as that."</p> +<p>"I think you put up with it very well, Hallett. Chaffing you, +and getting you sometimes into a rage--which was pretended, rather +than real--did me a lot of good. I am sure I should have given in, +several times, had you not acted as a sort of tonic; and had I not +been sure that it did you as much good as it did me."</p> +<p>A month after Hallett's arrival, the colonel said, one +morning:</p> +<p>"Good morning, Lisle! I am going out with the hounds, tomorrow. +They meet near here. As you are not great riders, I won't press you +to go with me but, at least, you will ride with me to the meet. It +is sure to be a good gathering, and you will probably meet some +nice girls; who will, no doubt, have much greater attractions, for +young fellows like you, than a gallop round the country."</p> +<p>"They have no particular attraction for me, sir," Lisle laughed. +"It will be time enough for that, in another eight or ten years. It +is more in Hallett's line."</p> +<p>"But we shall be chaffed, if we don't ride after the hounds, +Colonel," Hallett said.</p> +<p>"Not at all," the colonel replied, "you have a first-rate +excuse. You are only just recovering from fever. That would get you +no end of commiseration and pity."</p> +<p>"In that case," Lisle said, "I think I should prefer staying at +home. I don't feel that I need the least pity, and don't want to +get it on false pretences."</p> +<p>"It won't be false pretences," the colonel said. "I have taken +care that all the ladies I shall introduce you to should know what +you did for me, and how you did it."</p> +<p>"I am sorry to hear it, Colonel. It is really hateful, being +regarded as a man who has done something, especially at my age. +However, I shall leave Hallett to bear the brunt of it. I know that +he is on the lookout for a wife."</p> +<p>"I don't think you know anything of the sort, Lisle. It will be +time for that when I get my majority."</p> +<p>"Ah! That is all very well, Hallett; I know you took a good +half-hour dressing your hair, previous to that dinner party last +week."</p> +<p>"It has to be brushed. It was nearly all cut off, when we were +in Cape Coast, and one doesn't want to go out looking like a +fretful porcupine."</p> +<p>So, laughing and joking, they started the next morning. There +was, as the colonel had predicted, a large meet. Many ladies came +on horseback, and others in carriages. The two young officers were +soon engaged, chatting and laughing, with the latter.</p> +<p>"Do you mean to say that you are not going to ride, Captain +Bullen?" one of the ladies on horseback said.</p> +<p>"In the first place, Miss Merton, I am an infantry officer and, +except for a few weeks when I was on the staff of Colonel Lockhart, +I have never done any riding. In the second place, I am forbidden +to take horse exercise, at present. Moreover, although no doubt you +will despise me for the confession, I dislike altogether the idea +of a hundred men on horseback, and forty or fifty dogs, all chasing +one unfortunate animal."</p> +<p>"But the unfortunate animal is a poacher of the worst kind."</p> +<p>"Very well, then, I should shoot him, as a poacher. Why should a +hundred horsemen engage in hunting the poor brute down? Bad +horseman as I am, I should not mind taking part in a cavalry +charge; but hunting is not at all to my taste."</p> +<p>"You like shooting, Captain Bullen?"</p> +<p>"I like shooting, when there is something to be shot; in the +first place, a dangerous animal, and in the second, an animal that +is able to show fight. I have several times taken part in tiger +hunts, and felt myself justified in doing so, because the animals +had made themselves a scourge to unarmed villagers."</p> +<p>"I am afraid that you are a sort of Don Quixote," the girl +laughed.</p> +<p>"Not quite that, Miss Merton; though I own I admire the good +knight, greatly. We are going to move off, now, to the covert that +has to be drawn; and I know I shall shock you, when I say that I +sincerely hope that nothing will be found there."</p> +<p>The whole party then moved off, and the hounds were put into a +covert. Five minutes later, a whimper was heard. It soon spread +into a chorus, and then a fox dashed out from the opposite side; +followed, in a couple of minutes, by the whole pack.</p> +<p>"Well, that is fun, is it not, Captain Bullen?" said a girl, to +whom he was talking, in one of the carriages.</p> +<p>"It is a pretty sight," he said, "and if the fox always got +away, I should like it. As it is, I say honestly that I don't."</p> +<p>The meet now broke up, and the carriages dispersed. Hallett and +Lisle accepted an invitation to lunch with the ladies to whom they +were talking. Two hours later, Lisle was on the point of leaving, +when a groom rode up at full speed.</p> +<p>"Is Captain Bullen here?" he asked.</p> +<p>With a presentiment of evil, Lisle went out.</p> +<p>"The colonel has had a bad accident, sir. He was brought in, +half an hour ago, by the servants. I understand that he asked for +you; and three of us at once rode off, in different directions, to +find you."</p> +<p>Lisle called Hallett and, in five minutes, they were mounted and +dashed off. As they entered the house, they were met by the +surgeon.</p> +<p>"Is he badly hurt'?" Lisle asked, anxiously.</p> +<p>"I fear that he is hurt to death, Captain Bullen. His horse +slipped as it was taking a fence, and fell on the top of him. He +has suffered severe internal injuries, and I greatly fear that +there is not the least hope for him."</p> +<p>"Is he conscious?" Lisle asked, with deep emotion.</p> +<p>"Yes, he is conscious, and I believe he understands that his +case is hopeless. He has asked for you, several times, since he was +brought in; so you had better go to him, at once."</p> +<p>With a sinking heart, Lisle went upstairs. The colonel was lying +on his bed.</p> +<p>"I am glad you have come in time, my dear boy," he said faintly, +as Lisle entered. "I am afraid that I am done for, and it is a +consolation for me to know that I have no near relatives who will +regret my loss. I have had a good time of it, altogether; and would +rather that, as I was not to die on the battlefield, death should +come as it has. It is far better than if it came gradually.</p> +<p>"Sit by me, lad, till the end comes. I am sure it will not be +long. I am suffering terribly, and the sooner it comes, the +better."</p> +<p>The ashy gray of the colonel's face sufficed to tell Lisle that +the end was, indeed, near at hand. The colonel only spoke two or +three times and, at ten o'clock at night, passed away +painlessly.</p> +<p>Upon Lisle devolved the sad work of arranging his funeral. He +wrote to the colonel's lawyer, asking him to come down. Hallett had +left the house at once, though Lisle earnestly begged him to stay +till the funeral was over. The lawyer arrived on the morning of the +funeral.</p> +<p>"I have taken upon myself, sir," Lisle said, "to make all the +arrangements for the funeral, seeing that there was no one else to +do it."</p> +<p>"You were the most proper person to do so," the lawyer said, +gravely, "as you will see when the will is read, on our return from +the grave."</p> +<p>When all was over, Lisle asked two or three of the colonel's +most intimate friends to be present at the reading of the will. It +was a very short one. The colonel made bequests to several military +charities; and then appointed his adopted son, Lisle Bullen, +Lieutenant in His Majesty's Rutlandshire regiment, the sole heir to +all his property.</p> +<p>This came almost as a surprise to Lisle. The colonel had indeed +told him that he had adopted him, and he was prepared to learn that +he had left him a legacy; but he had no idea that he would be left +sole heir.</p> +<p>"I congratulate you, sir," the lawyer said, when he folded up +the paper. "Colonel Houghton stated to me, fully, his reasons for +making such a disposition of his property and, as he had no near +relations, I was able to approve of it heartily. I may say that he +has left nearly sixteen thousand pounds. The other small legacies +will take about a thousand, and you will therefore have some +fifteen thousand pounds, which is all invested in first-rate +securities."</p> +<p>"I feel my good fortune, sir," Lisle said quietly, "but I would +that it had not come to me for many years, and not in such a +manner."</p> +<p>The meeting soon after broke up, and Lisle went up to town and +joined Hallett at the hotel they both used.</p> +<p>"Well, I congratulate you heartily," Hallett said, when he heard +the contents of the will. "It is a good windfall, but not a bit +more than you deserve."</p> +<p>"I would rather not have had it," Lisle said, sorrowfully. "I +owe much to the colonel, who has for the past three years given me +an allowance of two hundred pounds a year; and I would far rather +have gone on with that, than come into a fortune in this +manner."</p> +<p>"I can understand that," Hallett said; "the colonel was a +first-rate old fellow, and his death will be an immense loss to +you. Still, but for you it would have come three years ago and, +after all, it is better to be killed hunting than to be shot to +pieces by savages.</p> +<p>"Well, it will bring you in six or seven hundred pounds a year, +a sum not to be despised. It will enable you to leave the army, if +you like; though I should advise you to stick to it. Here are you a +captain at twenty-one, a V. C. and D. S. O. man, with a big career +before you and, no doubt, you will get a brevet majority before +long."</p> +<p>"I have certainly not the least idea of leaving the army. I was +born in it, and hope to remain in it as long as I can do good +work."</p> +<p>"What are you going to do now?"</p> +<p>"I shall go down there again, in a fortnight or so."</p> +<p>"Would you be disposed to take me with you?"</p> +<p>"Certainly I shall, if you will go. I had not thought of asking +you, because everything must go on quietly there, for a time; but +really I should prize your company very much."</p> +<p>"Well, the fact is," Hallett said, rather shamefacedly, "I am +rather smitten with Miss Merton, and I have some hopes that she is +a little taken with me. I heard that she has money but, although +that is satisfactory, I would take her, if she would have me, +without a penny. You know I have three hundred pounds a year of my +own; which is quite enough, with my pay, to enable us to get on +comfortably. Still, I won't say that, if she has as much more, we +could not do things better."</p> +<p>Lisle laughed.</p> +<p>"I thought you were not a marrying man, Hallett! In fact, you +have more than once told me so."</p> +<p>"Well, I didn't think I was," Hallett admitted, "but you see, +circumstances alter cases."</p> +<p>"They do, Hallett, and your case seems to be a bad one. However, +old man, I wish you luck. She is an exceedingly nice girl and, if I +were ten years older, I might have been smitten myself; and then, +you know, your chance would have been nowhere."</p> +<p>"I quite feel that," Hallett said; "a V.C. is a thing no girl +can stand against.</p> +<p>"If you will take me, I will go down with you and stay a little +time, and then try my luck."</p> +<p>"That you certainly shall do. I can hardly do anything in the +way of festivities, at present; but there is no reason why you +should not enter into anything that is going on."</p> +<p>So they went down together. Ten days later, all the families +round came to pay visits of condolence; and to each Lisle said +that, although he himself could not think of going out, at present, +his friend Hallett, who had come to stay with him for a month, +would be glad to join in any quiet festivity. So Hallett was +frequently invited out, Lisle accompanying him only to the very +quietest of dinners.</p> +<p>One evening Hallett returned in the highest glee.</p> +<p>"Congratulate me, my dear fellow," he said. "Miss Merton has +accepted me and, after she had done so, I had the inevitable talk +with her father. He told me, frankly, that he had hoped that his +daughter would make a better match. I of course agreed with him, +heartily; but he went on to say that, after all, our happiness was +the first consideration, and that he felt sure that it would be +secured by her marriage with me. He said that he should allow her +four hundred pounds a year, during his and her mother's lifetime. +At their death there would be a small addition to her allowance, +but naturally the bulk of his property would go to her brother. Of +course, I expressed myself as infinitely grateful. I said that he +had not enquired about my income, but that I had three hundred +pounds a year, in addition to my pay; and should probably, some +day, come into more. He expressed himself as content and, as I had +expected, asked me whether I intended to leave the army. I said +that that was a matter for his daughter to decide; but that, for my +part, I should certainly prefer to remain in the service, for I +really did not see what I should do with myself, if I left it. I +said that I had been very fortunate in having, to some small +extent, distinguished myself; but that if, after some experience of +India, she did not care for the life, I would promise to +retire."</p> +<p>"'I think you are right,' he said. 'It is a bad thing for a +young man of seven or eight and twenty to be without employment. +Your income would be insufficient to enable you to live, with +comfort, as a country gentleman; and you would naturally find time +lie heavy upon your hands, if you had nothing to do.'</p> +<p>"He was good enough to say that he thought his daughter's +happiness would be safe in my hands and, as she would be able to +have every luxury in India, he thought that the arrangement would +be a very satisfactory one. It is awfully good of him, of course, +for she could have made an infinitely better match."</p> +<p>"You have, of course, not settled anything about the date, +Hallett?"</p> +<p>"No; I expect we shall settle about that when I see her, +tomorrow. Of course, it must be pretty early, as we had letters, +yesterday, to go up to town to be examined by the board; and we +have both picked up so much that, I fancy, we shall be ordered back +to our regiments pretty sharply. You see, every man is wanted at +present and, as we both had a year's leave before we went out to +West Africa, it is not unnatural that they should send us off +again, as soon as they can. I dare say, however, they will give us +a couple of months; and I suppose we shall want a month for our +honeymoon, in which case we ought to be spliced in a month's time; +if she can get ready in that time, which of course she can do, if +she hurries up the milliners and other people."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt she could, in the circumstances," Lisle +laughed. "Well, old man, I do congratulate you most heartily. She +certainly is a very charming young woman. I expect I shall not get +leave again, till the regiment comes back; which will be another +five years yet, and perhaps two or three years longer, if there is +any action going on anywhere. I can tell you I am not so hot about +fighting as I used to be. The Tirah was sharp, but it was nothing +to West Africa, which was enough to cure one of any desire to take +part in fighting.</p> +<p>"If we are going to have a fight with Russia, I certainly should +like to take part in that. That would be a tremendous affair, and I +fancy that our Indian soldiers will give a good account of +themselves. If it is to be, I do hope it will come before I leave +the army. I am certainly in no hurry to do so."</p> +<p>"You would be a fool, if you were," Hallett said. "Thanks to +your luck in getting a commission at sixteen, and to the loss of so +many officers in the Tirah, you are now a captain at twenty-one, +certainly the youngest captain in the service. Of course, if there +is no war, you can't expect to continue going up at that pace; but +you certainly ought to be a major at thirty, if not before. You may +command a regiment within five or six years later, and be a +brigadier soon after that, for you will have that by seniority. Of +course, if you marry you will have to consider your wife's wishes; +but she is not likely to object to your staying on, if you get to +be a major, for a major's wife is by no means an unimportant item +in a regiment."</p> +<p>"Ah! Well, we needn't think about that," Lisle laughed, +"especially as, if there is war with Russia before we come home, a +good many of us will certainly stay out permanently. Well, old man, +I do congratulate you, most heartily."</p> +<p>Miss Merton, after some demur, agreed that it would be just +possible for her to be ready at the end of a month. Three days +later the two friends went up to town and, after undergoing a +medical examination, were told that they must rejoin their +regiments in a couple of months. As both regiments were in India, +they decided to return in the same ship.</p> +<p>"I am not sorry that we are off," Lisle said, when they met on +the deck of the P. and O. steamer. "I was getting desperately tired +of doing nothing and, after you had gone off with your wife, on the +afternoon of the marriage, I began to feel desperately lonely. Of +course, I have always been accustomed to have a lot of friends +round me; and I began to feel a longing to be with the regiment +again and, if we had not agreed to go out together, I think I +should have taken the next steamer."</p> +<p>Six weeks later Lisle rejoined his regiment, where he was +heartily welcomed.</p> +<p>"Now you are a brevet major, Mr. Bullen, I am afraid that you +will cease to be useful to us all; for of course we cannot be +sending an officer of that exalted rank about to do our messages. +However, several nice boys have joined, while you have been +away."</p> +<p>"I shall always be happy to be employed," Lisle laughed, "and I +dare say I am no older than many of the subalterns."</p> +<p>"I suppose you have had hard times?"</p> +<p>"Very hard. I thought that the Tirah business was about as hard +as one would have to go through, in the course of one's soldiering; +but I was greatly deceived. When I say that for six months I hardly +ever had dry clothes on, and that I waded something like a hundred +rivers, you may guess what it was like.</p> +<p>"And we had our full share of fighting, too. I was very +fortunate in only getting hit three or four times, with slugs; but +as we were for the most part fighting against men hidden in the +bush, it was unsatisfactory work, though we always did lick them in +the end. I can assure you that I do not wish for any more service +of that kind.</p> +<p>"Have the tribes been quiet since I went away?"</p> +<p>"Quiet, as far as we were concerned. Of course, there have been +a few trifling risings along the frontier but, as a whole, even the +Zakka-Khels have been quiet. I don't think there will be any +trouble, on a large scale, for some time to come."</p> +<p>"Then there is a prospect of a quiet time; that is to say, if +the Russians will keep quiet."</p> +<p>"That is a very strong 'if,' Major Bullen; but I think that, if +there is trouble, it will be in China."</p> +<p>"In that case, no doubt a good many regiments will be sent from +here. I hope that it will be our good fortune to be among +them."</p> +<p>"Well, in that case," the colonel said, with a laugh, "you will +have to restrain your ardour, and give a chance to other men. You +have got the V.C. and the D.S.O., which ought to satisfy you; to +say nothing of having got your company, and brevet majority, at the +age of twenty-one. You must be content with that, otherwise the +regiment will rise against you."</p> +<p>"That would be very unpleasant," Lisle said, with a laugh. "I +will try to suppress my zeal. I can assure you that I am perfectly +conscious of the incongruity of being in such a position, at my +age."</p> +<p>At present Lisle is with his regiment, and the prospect of a war +with Russia is no nearer than it was.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Three Campaigns, by G. A. Henty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH THREE CAMPAIGNS *** + +***** This file should be named 20641-h.htm or 20641-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/6/4/20641/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Through Three Campaigns + A Story of Chitral, Tirah and Ashanti + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Illustrator: Wal Paget + +Release Date: February 21, 2007 [EBook #20641] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH THREE CAMPAIGNS *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + +Through Three Campaigns: +A Story of Chitral, Tirah and Ashanti +by G. A. Henty. +Illustrated by Wal Paget. + +Contents + +Preface. +Chapter 1: An Expedition. +Chapter 2: The Start. +Chapter 3: The First Fight. +Chapter 4: In The Passes +Chapter 5: Promoted. +Chapter 6: Unfair Play. +Chapter 7: Tales Of War. +Chapter 8: The Dargai Pass. +Chapter 9: Captured. +Chapter 10: Through The Mohmund Country. +Chapter 11: An Arduous March. +Chapter 12: A Tribal Fight. +Chapter 13: The V.C. +Chapter 14: Forest Fighting. +Chapter 15: A Narrow Escape. +Chapter 16: The Relief Of Coomassie. +Chapter 17: Stockades And War Camps. +Chapter 18: A Night Surprise. +Chapter 19: Lost In The Forest. +Chapter 20: At Home. + +Illustrations + +Map illustrating the Chitral Campaign. +Lisle gives the alarm. +He carefully aimed and fired. +They charged the attacking force from end to end. +Map illustrating the Tirah Campaign. +A party of Afridis rushed down upon him. +It was the dead body of an Afridi. +"My horse must carry two, sir," Lisle replied. +Map illustrating the Ashanti Campaign. +Two of them fell before Lisle's revolver. +They saw a strong party of the enemy crossing the road. + + + +Preface. + + +Our little wars attract far less attention among the people of this +country than they deserve. They are frequently carried out in +circumstances of the most adverse kind. Our enemies, although +ignorant of military discipline are, as a rule, extremely brave; +and are thoroughly capable of using the natural advantages of their +country. Our men are called upon to bear enormous fatigue, and +endure extremes in climate. The fighting is incessant, the peril +constant. Nevertheless, they show a magnificent contempt for danger +and difficulty; and fight with a valour and determination worthy of +the highest praise. + +I have chosen, as an illustration of this, three campaigns; namely, +the relief of Chitral, the Tirah campaign, and the relief of +Coomassie. The first two were conducted in a mountainous country, +affording every advantage to the enemy; where passes had to be +scaled, torrents to be forded, and deep snow to be crossed. In the +other, the country was a combination of morass and thick forest, +frequently intersected by wide and deep rivers. The work, moreover, +had to be done in a tropical climate, during the rainy season. The +conditions, therefore, were much more trying than in the case of +former expeditions which had crossed the same ground and, in +addition, the enemy were vastly more numerous and more determined; +and had, in recent years, mastered the art of building extremely +formidable stockades. + +The country has a right to be proud, indeed, of the prowess both of +our own troops and of our native regiments. Boys who wish to obtain +fuller details of these campaigns I would refer to Sir George +Robertson's Chitral; H. C. Thomson's Chitral Campaign; Lieutenant +Beynon's With Kelly to Chitral; Colonel Hutchison's Campaign in +Tirah; Viscount Fincastle and P. C. Eliott Lockhart's A Frontier +Campaign; and Captain Harold C. J. Biss's The Relief of Kumasi, +from which I have principally drawn the historical portion of my +story. + +G. A. Henty. + + + +Chapter 1: An Expedition. + + +"Well, Lisle, my boy, the time is drawing very near when you will +have to go home. My brother John will look after you, and choose +some good crammer to push you on. You are nearly sixteen, now, and +it is high time you buckled to." + +"But you have always taught me, father!" + +"Yes, that is all very well, but I could not devote three hours a +day to you. I think I may say that you are thoroughly well +grounded--I hope as well as most public-school boys of your own +age--but I can go no further with you. You have no idea what +cramming is necessary, now, for a young fellow to pass into the +army. Still I think that, by hard work with some man who prepares +students for the army, you may be able to rub through. I have +always saved up money for this, for my brother is by no means a +rich man, and crammers are very expensive; so the next time I see a +chance of sending you down to Calcutta, down you go. My agents +there will see you on board a ship, and do everything that is +necessary." + +"Of course, father, if I must go, I must; but it will be beastly, +after the jolly time I have spent in the regiment, to set to and do +nothing but grind, for the next three years." + +"We all have to do a good many unpleasant things, Lisle; and as we +have decided that you shall enter the army, you must make up your +mind to do the necessary work, even though it be disagreeable." + +"All right, father! I know what depends upon it, and I will set +to." + +"I have no doubt you will, Lisle, for you have plenty of common +sense, though you are a little inclined to mischief--not that you +are altogether to blame for that, for the officers encourage you in +it." + +This conversation took place between Captain Bullen, of the 32nd +Pioneers, and his son. The regiment was in cantonments near the +northern frontier of India. The captain had lost his wife some +years before and, as their two youngest children had also died, he +had not been able to bring himself to send the remaining boy home. +The climate was excellent, and the boy enjoyed as good health as if +he had been in England. Captain Bullen had taken a great deal of +pains with his son's education but, as he said, he had now taught +the boy all that he knew; and felt that he ought to go to England, +and be regularly coached for the army. + +Next day the captain entered his quarters, hurriedly. + +"I am off," he said. "Those rascally Afridis have come down and +looted several villages; and I am to go up, in command of a couple +of companies, to give them a lesson." + +"They are not very strong, are they, father?" + +"No, I don't suppose they can put a couple of hundred men in the +field. We shall take the two mountain guns with us, and batter +holes in their fortresses, and then attack and carry them easily. +There is no sign of movement among the other tribes, so we need not +expect any serious opposition." + +A week later, the little detachment entered the valley in which the +Afridi villages lay. The work had been fatiguing, for the country +was very rough; and the mules that carried the guns met with such +difficulties that the infantry had to turn to, and improve the +paths--if paths they could be called, for they were often little +better than undefined tracks. As the expedition moved up the +valley, the tribesmen opened on them a distant fire; but scattered +after a few shells from the mountain guns were thrown among them. +The fortified houses, however, were stubbornly held; and indeed, +were only carried after the guns had broken in the doors, or made a +breach in the walls. + +During the attack on the last house, a shot struck Captain Bullen +in the chest, and he instantly fell. When they saw this, the +Pioneers dashed forward with a howl of rage, carried the fort, and +bayoneted its defenders. The doctor of the party at once examined +the wound, and saw that it would probably be fatal. + +"Patch me up, Lloyd, so that I may get back to camp and see my boy +again," the wounded man whispered. + +"I will do my best," the doctor said, "but I doubt whether you will +be able to stand the journey." + +The Pioneers, after setting fire to all the houses in the valley, +started at once for home. Captain Bullen was placed on a stretcher, +and four men at a time carried him down, taking the utmost pains +not to jolt or shake him. His face was covered with light boughs, +to keep off the flies; and everything that was possible was done to +conduce to his comfort. + +The doctor watched him anxiously. His condition became more +serious, every day. As they neared the camp, a messenger was sent +down with a report from the native officer of what had happened; +and the Pioneers all came out to see their favourite officer +brought in; and stood, mournful and silent, as he was carried to +his bungalow. + +"Don't come in yet, lad," the surgeon said, to Lisle. "Your father, +at present, is incapable of speaking; and he must have a little +rest before you see him, for the slightest excitement would +probably cause a gush of blood to the wound, which would be fatal." + +Lisle's grief was unbounded. He could not listen to the kind words +with which the officers tried to soothe him, but wandered away out +of camp and, throwing himself down, wept unrestrainedly for an +hour. Then he roused himself, and walked slowly back. By a mighty +effort he had composed himself, for he knew that he must be calm +when he saw his father. + +Half an hour later, the doctor beckoned him in. + +"He is conscious now," he said, "and has whispered that he wishes +to see you. He has been very calm, all the way down, and has spoken +of you often." + +"I will do my best," Lisle muttered, keeping down his tears with a +tremendous effort; and then went into his father's room. + +He could not trust himself to speak a word but, walking up, took +his father's hand and, kneeling down, pressed it to his lips, his +whole form shaking with agitation. + +"I am glad I have held out until I got back," his father said, in a +low voice. "It is all up with me, my boy, and I have only a few +hours to live, at most. I am sorry, now, that you did not start for +England before this happened; but I have no doubt that it is all +for the best. I shall die, as I should wish to die, doing my duty +and, except for leaving you, I shall feel small regret." + +"Must you leave me, father?" Lisle sobbed. + +"Yes, my boy, I have known it from the first. It is only my intense +desire to see you again that has kept me up. The doctor said he did +not expect that I should last more than two or three days, at most. + +"You will bear in mind what I said to you, the day before we +started. I have no fear about you, Lisle; I am sure you will make +an honest gentleman and a brave soldier, and will do credit to our +name. I should stay here a few weeks longer, if I were you, until +some others are going down. The officers are all fond of you, and +it would be better for you to have company, than to make the long +journey to the coast alone. + +"My voice is failing me, lad, and I can say no more, now; but you +can sit here with me, till the end comes. It will not be long. When +you have completed your training, the fact that I have died in this +way will give you a good claim to a commission." + +Lisle sat with his father for some hours. Occasionally the dying +man moved and, leaning over him, he could catch the words "God +bless you!" Before midnight the brave spirit had passed away, and +Lisle went out and cried like a child, till morning. + +The funeral took place next day. After it was over, the colonel +sent for Lisle; who had now, after a hard struggle, recovered his +composure. + +"Did your father give you any instructions, Lisle? You may be sure +that whatever he said we will carry out." + +"He said that he thought it would be best for me to stay here for a +few weeks as, among so many kind friends, I should be able to bear +it better than if I went down at once." + +"Quite right, lad! We shall all be very glad to have you with us. +You can remain in the bungalow as long as you like. It is not +likely to be wanted, for some months. Your father's butler and one +or two servants will be enough to look after you; and you will, of +course, remain a member of the mess. In this way, I hope you will +have recovered some of your cheerfulness before you start." + +It was a hard time for Lisle for the next week or two, for +everything reminded him of his father. The risaldar major and the +other native officers, with all of whom he was familiar, grasped +him by the hand when they met, in token of their sympathy; and the +sepoys stood at attention, with mournful faces, when he passed +them. He spent the heat of the day with his books, and only stirred +out in the early morning and evening, meals being considerately +sent down to him from the mess. At the end of a fortnight he made a +great effort and joined the mess, and the kindness with which the +officers spoke to him gradually cheered him. + +Then there came an excitement which cheered him further. There were +rumours of disaffection among the hill tribes, and the chances of a +campaign were discussed with animation, both among officers and +soldiers. The regiment was a very fine one, composed of sturdy +Punjabis; and all agreed that, if there were an expedition, they +would probably form part of it. Lisle entered fully into the +general feeling, and his eyes glistened as he listened to the +sepoys talking of the expeditions in which they had taken part. + +"It would be splendid to go," he said to himself, "but I don't see +how the colonel could take me. I shall certainly ask him, when the +time comes; but I feel sure that he will refuse. Of course, I ought +to be starting before long for Calcutta; but the expedition will +probably not last many weeks and, if I were to go with it, the +excitement would keep me from thinking, and do me a lot of good. +Besides, a few weeks could make no difference in my working up for +the examination." + +The more he thought of it, the more he felt determined to go with +the column. He felt sure that he could disguise himself so that no +one would suspect who he was. He had been so long associated with +the regiment that he talked Punjabi as well as English. + +His father had now been dead two months and, as the rumours from +across the frontier grew more and more serious, he was filled with +fear lest an opportunity should occur to send him down country +before the regiment marched; in which case all his plans would be +upset. Day after day passed, however, without his hearing anything +about it, till one day the colonel sent for him. + +"The time has come, lad, when we must part. We shall all be very +sorry to lose you, but it cannot be helped. I have received orders, +this morning, to go up to Chitral; and am sending down some sick, +at once. You must start with them. When you reach the railway, you +will be able to get a through ticket to Calcutta. + +"As long as it was likely that we should be going down ourselves, I +was glad to keep you here; but now that we have got orders to go +off and have a talk with these tribes in the north, it is clearly +impossible for us to keep you any longer. I am very sorry, my boy, +for you know we all like you, for your own sake and for your good +father's." + +"I am awfully obliged to you all, colonel. You have been very good +to me, since my father was killed. I feel that I have had no right +to stop here so long; but I quite understand that, now you are +moving up into the hills, you cannot keep me. + +"I suppose I could not go as a volunteer, colonel?" he asked, +wistfully. + +"Quite impossible," the colonel said, decidedly. "Even if you had +been older, I could not have taken you. Every mouth will have to be +fed, and the difficulties of transport will be great. There is no +possibility, whatever, of our smuggling a lad of your age up with +us. + +"Besides, you know that you ought to go to England, without further +delay. You want to gain a commission, and to do that you must pass +a very stiff examination, indeed. So for your own sake, it is +advisable that you should get to work without any unnecessary +delay. + +"A party of invalids will be going down tomorrow, and you can go +with them as far as Peshawar. There, of course, you will take train +either to Calcutta or Bombay. I know that you have plenty of funds +for your journey to England. I think you said that it was an uncle +to whom you were going. Mind you impress upon him the fact that it +is absolutely necessary that you should go to a first-rate school +or, better still, to a private crammer, if you are to have a chance +of getting into the service by a competitive examination." + +"Very well, colonel. I am sure that I am very grateful to you, and +all the officers of the regiment, for the kindness you have shown +me, especially since my father's death. I shall always remember +it." + +"That is all right, Lisle. It has been a pleasure to have you with +us. I am sure we shall all be sorry to lose you, but I hope that +some day we shall meet again, when you are an officer in one of our +regiments." + +Lisle returned to the bungalow and called the butler, the only +servant he had retained. + +"Look here, Robah, the colonel says that I must go down with a sick +party, tomorrow. As I have told you, I am determined to go up +country with the troops. Of course, I must be in disguise. How do +you think that I had better go?" + +The man shook his head. + +"The young sahib had better join his friends in England." + +"It is useless to talk about that," Lisle said. "I have told you I +mean to go up, and go up I will. There ought to be no difficulty +about it. I speak three or four of these frontier languages, as +well as I speak English. I have at least learnt that. I have picked +them up by talking to the natives, and partly from the moonshee I +have had, for four years. My dear father always impressed upon me +the utility of these to an officer; and said that, if I could take +up native languages in my examinations, it would go a long way +towards making up for other deficiencies. So I am all right, so far +as language is concerned. + +"It seems to me that my best plan will be to go up as a mule +driver." + +"It is as the sahib wills," the old man said. "His servant will do +all he can to help him." + +"Well, Robah, I want you in the first place to get me a disguise. +You may as well get two suits. I am sure to get wet, sometimes, and +shall require a change. I shall take a couple of my own vests and +drawers, to wear under them; for we shall probably experience very +cold weather in the mountains." + +"They are serving out clothes to the carriers, sahib." + +"Yes, I forgot that. Well, I want you to go into their camp, and +arrange with one of the headmen to let me take the place of one of +the drivers. Some of the men will be willing enough to get off the +job, and a tip of forty rupees would completely settle the matter +with him. Of course, I shall start with the sick escort but, as +there will be several waggons going down with them, they will not +travel far; and at the first halting place I can slip away, and +come back here. You will be waiting for me on the road outside the +camp, early in the morning, and take me to the headman. + +"By the way, I shall want you to make up a bottle of stain for my +hands and feet; for of course I shall go in the native sandals." + +"I will do these things, sahib. How about your luggage?" + +"Before I leave the camp tonight I shall put fresh labels on them, +directing them to be taken to the store of Messieurs Parfit, who +were my father's agents; and to be left there until I send for +them. I shall give the sergeant, who goes down with the sick, money +to pay for their carriage to Calcutta. + +"And about yourself, Robah?" + +"I shall stay here at the bungalow till another regiment comes up +to take your place. Perhaps you will give me a chit, saying that I +have been in your father's service fourteen years, and that you +have found me faithful and useful. If I cannot find employment, I +shall go home. I have saved enough money." + +An hour later, Robah again entered the room. + +"I have been thinking, sahib, of a better plan. You wish to see +fighting, do you not?" + +"Certainly I do." + +"Well, sahib, if you go in the baggage train you might be miles +away, and see nothing of it. Now, it seems to me that it would be +almost as easy for you to go as a soldier in the regiment, as in +the transport train." + +"Do you think so, Robah?" Lisle exclaimed excitedly. + +"I think so, sahib. You see, you know all the native officers, and +your father was a great favourite among them. If you were dressed +in uniform, and took your place in the ranks, it is very unlikely +that any of the English officers would notice you. These matters +are left in the hands of the native officers. + +"Yesterday a young private died, who had but just passed the +recruit stage, and had been only once or twice on parade. You might +take his name. It is most unlikely that any of the white officers +will notice that your face is a fresh one and, if they did ask the +question, the native officer would give that name. The English +officer would not be at all likely to notice that this was the name +of a man who had died. Deaths are not uncommon and, as the regiment +is just moving, the matter would receive no attention. The book of +this man would be handed to you, and it would all seem regular." + +"That is a splendid idea, Robah. Which officer do you think I had +better speak to?" + +"I should speak to Risaldar Gholam Singh. He was the chief native +officer in your father's wing of the regiment. If he consents, he +would order all the native officers under him to hold their tongues +and, as you are a favourite with them all, your secret would be +kept." + +"It is a grand idea, and I certainly don't see why it should not +work out properly." + +"I have no doubt that the risaldar major will do all he can for +you." + +"Do you think so, Robah?" + +"I am sure he will. He was very much attached to your father, and +felt his loss as much as anyone. Indeed, I think that every one of +the native officers will do all he can for you." + +"That would make it very easy for me," Lisle said. "Till you +suggested it, the idea of going as a soldier never occurred to me +but, with their assistance, it will not be difficult." + +"Shall I go and fetch the risaldar here, sahib?" + +"Do so. I shall be on thorns until I see him." + +In a few minutes the officer, a tall and stately Punjabi, entered. + +"Risaldar," Lisle said, "I know you were very much attached to my +father." + +"I was, sahib." + +"Well, I want you to do something for me." + +"It would be a pleasure for me to do so, and you have only to ask +for me to grant it, if it is in my power." + +"I think it is in your power," Lisle said. "I will tell you what I +want. I have made up my mind to go with this expedition. I thought +of disguising myself, and going as a baggage coolie; but in that +case I should be always in the rear and see none of the fighting, +and I have made up my mind to go as a private in the ranks." + +"As a private, sahib?" the officer exclaimed, in astonishment. +"Surely that would be impossible. You would be detected at the +first halt. Besides, how could the son of our dear captain go as a +private?" + +"I do not object to go as a private, risaldar. Of course I should +stain myself and, in uniform, it is not likely that any of the +white officers would notice a strange face." + +"But you would have to eat with the others, to mix with them as one +of themselves, to suffer all sorts of hardships." + +"All that is nothing," Lisle said. "I have been with the regiment +so long that I know all the ways of the men, and I don't think that +I should be likely to make any mistake that would attract their +attention. As to the language, I know it perfectly." + +"I hardly dare do such a thing, sahib. If you were discovered on +the march, the colonel and officers would be very angry with me." + +"Even if I were discovered, it need not be known that you had +assisted me, risaldar. You may be sure that I should never tell. If +you were questioned, you could declare that you had taken me for an +ordinary recruit. If I deceived everyone else, I might very well +deceive you." + +The risaldar stood thoughtful for some time. + +"It might possibly be managed," he said at last. "I would do much +for Captain Bullen's son, even risk the anger of the colonel." + +"I understand that a sepoy died yesterday. He was quite a young +recruit, and the white officers had not come to know his face. I +might say that I am a relation of his, and am very anxious to take +his place." + +"You could take his place in the ranks under his name." + +"That would certainly be a good plan, if it could be carried out. I +should only be asked a few questions by the sepoys of my company. +It would seem to them natural that I should take my cousin's place; +and that, as the regiment was moving, and there was no time to +teach me drill, I should be expected to pick up what I could on the +way. But indeed, I have watched the regiment so often that I think +I know all the commands and movements, and could go through them +without hesitation. Besides, there won't be much drilling on the +march. There will probably be a good deal of skirmishing, and +perhaps some rough fighting." + +"But if you were to be killed, sahib, what then?" + +"I don't mean to be killed if I can help it," Lisle said; "but if I +am, I shall be buried as one of the sepoys. The officers will all +believe that I have gone home and, though they may wonder a little +that I never write to them, they will think it is because I am too +busy. It will be a long time, indeed, before any of my friends +write to ask about me; and then it will be supposed that I have +been accidentally killed or drowned. + +"At any rate, I should have the satisfaction of being killed in the +Queen's service. All the men are delighted at going, and they will +run the same risk as I do." + +"Well, sahib," the risaldar said, "I will do it. I would very much +prefer that you had never asked me, but I cannot say 'no' to you. I +will think it over; and tell you, tomorrow morning, what seems to +me the best plan. I don't see, at present, how you are to disappear +and join the regiment." + +"That is easy enough," Lisle said. "I am going to start tomorrow +with the sick convoy; but shall slip away from them, after I have +gone a short distance. Robah will meet me with my uniform and +rifle; and I shall come into the camp again, in uniform, after it +is dark." + +"You appear to have thought it all out," the officer said, "and if +your scheme can be carried out, there should be no difficulty, +after the first day or two. You are more likely to pass unnoticed, +on a march, than you would be if you were staying here. The men +will have other things to think about, and you will only have three +men marching with you in the column to ask questions. Indeed, there +is very little talking on the line of march. + +"Well, I will think it over, and see you in the morning." + +This was as good as consent, and Lisle was highly delighted. In the +morning, the risaldar called again. + +"I have spoken," the risaldar said, "to the three officers of the +company to which the soldier Mutteh Ghar belonged; and they all +agreed, willingly, to help you to carry out your scheme, and think +that there is very little probability of the fact that you are a +new recruit being noticed. The general discipline of the regiment +is in our hands. The British officers direct, but we carry out +their orders. As the man was only on parade twice and, on neither +of these occasions, came under general inspection of the white +officers, it is probable that they do not know his face. It is +certainly best that you should take Mutteh Ghar's name, as the +soldiers will see nothing strange in our placing a young recruit in +the ranks, after his cousin had died in the regiment. We are all of +opinion, therefore, that you can take your place without +difficulty; and that the chance of the change being detected by the +British officers is extremely slight. We think, however, that it +will be next to impossible for you always to keep up your +character, and believe that you will find it so hard to live under +the same conditions as the others that you yourself will tire of +it." + +"I can assure you that there is no fear of that," Lisle said +earnestly. "I want to take part in the expedition, and am quite +prepared to share in the habits and hardships of the men, whatever +they may be. You know, if I were discovered I should be sent off at +once, even if a fight were imminent. I think I can say that, when I +undertake a thing, I will carry it through. + +"I cannot tell you how grateful I feel to you all, for aiding me to +carry out my wish. Will you kindly convey my thanks to the officers +of the company, and particularly urge upon them that they must show +me no favour, and pay no more attention to me than to the other +men? Anything of that sort would certainly give rise to comment and +suspicion." + +"I have already told them that," the officer said, "and I think +they thoroughly understand how they must act. + +"The sick party are to start tomorrow morning. How do you wish the +uniform of your supposed cousin to be sent to you?" + +"If you hand it over to Robah, he will bring it out to me. The +rifle, of course, should be handed quietly to me when I return to +camp. I cannot march in with it. I shall not come in till after +dark. Then the havildar must take me to one of the sepoy tents, and +mention to the men there that I am Mutteh Ghar's cousin; and that, +as a great favour, I am to be allowed to accompany the regiment." + +"Of course, you will take with you the usual underclothes to put +on, when you lay aside your uniform; and especially the loincloth, +and light linen jacket, which the men use in undress." + +"I will see to all that, risaldar. I can assure you that, so far +from finding it a trouble to act as a native, I shall really enjoy +it; and shall make very light of any hardships that I may have to +undergo. When it comes to fighting I am, as you know, a very good +shot; and should certainly be able to do my part, with credit." + +"I will tell the havildar to be on the lookout for you, when you +come into camp, and to bring you straight to me. I will then see +that your uniforms and belts are properly put on, before I send you +off under his charge. I hope the matter may turn out well. If it +does not, you must remember that I have done my part because you +urged it upon me, and prayed me to assist you for your father's +sake." + +"I shall never forget that, Gholam Singh, and shall always feel +deeply indebted to you." + +When the risaldar had left, Lisle called Robah in. + +"All is arranged, Robah; and now it remains only to carry out the +details. In the first place, you must get me the stain; in the +second, you must go into the bazaar and buy me a loincloth and +light jacket, such as the soldiers wear when they lay aside their +uniforms. As to the uniform, that is already arranged for; and I +shall, of course, have one of the sheepskin greatcoats that have +just been served out, and which I expect I shall find indispensable. +Put in my kit bag one pair of my thickest woollen vests and drawers. +I cannot carry more, for I mean to take one suit of my own clothes +to put on in case, by any accident, I should be discovered and sent +back. I can get that carried on the baggage waggon. + +"Tomorrow we shall start at five o'clock in the morning and, at the +first halt, I shall leave the party quietly. I have no doubt that +Gholam Singh will give orders, to the native officer in charge, +that I am to be permitted to do so without remark. As soon as I +leave the convoy you must join me with my uniform and, above all, +with the stain. You can bring out a bag with some provisions for +the day, for I shall not return to camp until after dark." + +When Robah went away to make the necessary purchases, Lisle packed +up his baggage and labelled it. His father's effects had all been +sold, a few days after his death; as it would not have paid to send +them home. They had fetched good prices, and had been gladly bought +up by the other officers; some as mementoes of their late comrade, +and some because they were useful. + +Several of the officers came in and chatted with him while he was +packing, all expressing regret that he was leaving. At mess that +evening they drank his health, and a pleasant journey; and he +gravely returned thanks. When the mess broke up he returned to the +bungalow, and packed a small canvas bag with the suit he was going +to take with him. + +Then he examined and tried on the uniform of the dead sepoy; which +Robah had, that evening, received from the risaldar. It fitted him +fairly well. In addition to the regular uniform there was a +posteen, or sheepskin coat; loose boots made of soft skin, so that +the feet could be wrapped up in cloth before they were put on; and +putties, or leggings, consisting of a very long strip of cloth +terminating with a shorter strip of leather. These things had been +served out that day to the troops, and were to be put on over the +usual leg wrappings when they came to snow-covered country. They +were to be carried with the men's kits till required. For ordinary +wear there were the regular boots, which were strapped on like +sandals. + +"Well, I think I ought to be able to stand anything in the way of +cold, with this sheepskin coat and the leggings, together with my +own warm underclothing." + +"You are sure," Robah said, "that you understand the proper folding +of your turban?" + +"I think so, Robah. I have seen them done up hundreds of times but, +nevertheless, you shall give me a lesson when you join me tomorrow. +We shall have plenty of time for it. + +"Now, can you think of anything else that would be useful? If so, +you can buy it tomorrow before you come out to meet me." + +"No, sahib. There are the warm mittens that have been served out +for mountain work; and you might take a pair of your own gloves to +wear under them for, from all I hear, you will want them when you +are standing out all night on picket work, among the hills." + +"No, I won't take the gloves, Robah. With two pairs on, my fingers +would be so muffled that I should not be able to do good shooting." + +"Well, it will be cold work, for it is very late in the season and, +you know, goggles have been served out to all the men to save them +from snow blindness, from which they would otherwise suffer +severely. I have been on expeditions in which a third of the men +were quite blind, when they returned to camp." + +"It must look very rum to see a whole regiment marching in +goggles," Lisle laughed; "still, anything is better than being +blinded." + +"I shall see you sometimes, sahib; for the major engaged me, this +morning, to go with him as his personal servant, as his own man is +in feeble health and, though I am now getting on in years, I am +still strong enough to travel with the regiment." + +"I am delighted, indeed, to hear that, Robah. I shall be very glad +to steal away sometimes, and have a chat with you. It will be a +great pleasure to have someone I can talk to, who knows me. Of +course, the native officer in command of my company will not be +able to show me any favour, nor should I wish him to do so. It +seems like keeping one friend, while I am cut off from all others; +though I dare say I shall make some new ones among the sepoys. I +have no doubt you will be very comfortable with the major." + +"Yes, sahib, I am sure that he is a kind master. I shall be able, I +hope, sometimes to give you a small quantity of whisky, to mix with +the water in your bottle." + +"No, no, Robah, when the baggage is cut down there will be very +little of that taken and, however much there might be, I could not +accept any that you had taken from the major's store. I must fare +just the same as the others." + +"Well, sahib, I hope that, at any rate, you will carry a small +flask of it under your uniform. You may not want it but, if you +were wounded and lying in the snow, it would be very valuable to +you for, mixed with the water in your bottle, and taken from time +to time, it would sustain you until you could be carried down to +camp." + +"That is a very good idea, Robah, and I will certainly adopt it. I +will carry half a pint about with me, for emergencies such as you +describe. If I do not want it, myself, it may turn out useful to +keep up some wounded comrade. It will not add much to the load that +I shall have to carry, and which I expect I shall feel, when we +first march. As I am now, I think I could keep up with the best +marcher in the regiment but, with the weight of the clothes and +pouches, a hundred and twenty rounds of ammunition, and my rifle, +it will be a very different thing; and I shall be desperately +tired, by the time we get to the end of the day's march. + +"Now it is twelve o'clock, and time to turn in, for we march at +five." + +The next morning, when the sick convoy started, the white officers +came up to say goodbye to Lisle; and all expressed their regret +that he could not accompany the regiment. The butler had gone on +ahead and, as soon as Lisle slipped away, he came up to him and +assisted him to make his toilet. He stained him from head to foot, +dyed his hair, and fastened in it some long bunches of black horse +hair, which he would wear in the Punjabi fashion on the top of his +head. With the same dye he darkened his eyelashes and, when he had +put on his uniform, he said: + +"As far as looks go, sahib, it is certain that no one would suspect +that you were not a native. There is a large bottle of stain. You +will only have to do yourself over, afresh, about once in ten days. +A little of this mixed with three times the amount of water will be +sufficient for, if you were to put it on by itself, it would make +you a great deal too dark." + +They spent the day in a grove and, when evening approached, +returned to camp. + +"And now, goodbye, sahib! The regiment will march tomorrow morning, +at daybreak. I may not have an opportunity of seeing you again, +before we start. I hope I have done right, in aiding you in your +desire to accompany the expedition; but I have done it for the +best, and you must not blame me if harm comes of it." + +"That you may be sure I will not, and I am greatly obliged to you. +Now, for the present, goodbye!" + + + +Chapter 2: The Start. + + +The havildar was on the lookout for Lisle when he entered the camp; +but he did not know him, in his changed attire and stained face, +until the lad spoke to him. + +"You are well disguised, indeed, sahib," he said. "I had no idea +that it was you. Now, my instructions are to take you to Gholam +Singh's tent." + +Here Lisle found the risaldar and the other two native officers. He +saluted as he entered. The risaldar examined him carefully, before +speaking. + +"Good!" he said; "I did not think that a white sahib could ever +disguise himself to pass as a native, though I know that it has +been done before now. Certainly I have no fear of any of the white +officers finding that you are not what you seem to be. I am more +afraid, however, of the men. Still, even if they guessed who you +are, they would not, I am sure, betray you. + +"Here are your rifle and bayonet. These complete your outfit. I see +that you have brought your kit with you. It is rather more bulky +than usual, but will pass with the rest. + +"The subadar will take you down to the men's lines. I have arranged +that you shall be on the baggage guard, at first, so that you will +gradually begin to know a few men of your company. They will report +to the rest the story you tell them, and you will soon be received +as one of themselves. + +"I will see that that sack of yours goes with the rest of the kits +in the baggage waggon. These officers of your company all +understand that you are to be treated like the rest of the men, and +not to be shown any favour. At the same time, when in camp, if +there is anything that you desire, or any complaint you have to +make, you can talk quietly to one of them; and he will report it to +me, in which case you may be sure that I shall set the matter +right, if possible." + +"I don't think there is any fear of that, risaldar. I am pretty +well able to take care of myself. My father gave me many lessons in +boxing; and I fancy that, although most of the men are a great deal +bigger and stronger than I am, I shall be able to hold my own." + +"I hope so, Bullen," the havildar said gravely, "but I trust that +there will be no occasion to show your skill. We Punjabis are a +quiet race of men; and though, of course, quarrels occasionally +occur among us, they generally end in abuse, and very seldom come +to blows. The greater portion of the regiment has been with us for +some years. They know each other well, and are not given to +quarrelling. They will scarcely even permit their juniors to go to +extremes, and I need not say that the officers of the company would +interfere, at once, if they saw any signs of a disturbance. + +"I have had a meal cooked, which I hope you will eat with us. It is +the last you are likely to be able to enjoy, for some time. We +shall feel honoured if you will sit down with us." + +An excellent repast was served, and Lisle did it full justice. Then +the officers all shook him by the hand, and he started with the +subadar for the men's lines, with hearty thanks to the others. When +they arrived at the huts, the subadar led the way in. + +"Here is a new comrade," he said, as some of the men roused +themselves from the ground on his entrance. "He is a cousin of +Mutteh Ghar, and bears the same name. It seems that he has served +in another regiment, for a short time; but was discharged, owing to +sickness. He has now perfectly recovered health, and has come to +join his cousin; who, on his arrival, he finds to be dead. He is +very anxious to accompany the regiment and, as he understands his +work, the risaldar has consented to let him go, instead of +remaining behind at the depot. + +"He is, of course, much affected by the loss of his cousin; and +hopes that he will not be worried by questions. He will be on +baggage guard tomorrow, and so will be left alone, until he +recovers somewhat from his disappointment and grief." + +"I will see to it, subadar," one of the sergeants said. "Mutteh +Ghar was a nice young fellow, and we shall all welcome his cousin +among us, if he is at all like him." + +"Thank you, sergeant! I am sure you will all like him, when you +come to know him; for he is a well-spoken young fellow, and I hope +that he will make as good a soldier. Good night!" + +So saying, he turned and left the tent. + +Half an hour later, Lisle was on parade. There were but eight +British officers; including the colonel, major, and adjutant, and +one company officer to each two companies. The inspection was a +brief one. The company officer walked along the line, paying but +little attention to the men; but carefully scrutinizing their arms, +to see that they were in perfect order. The regiment was put +through a few simple manoeuvres; and then dismissed, as work in +earnest would begin on the following morning. + +Four men in each company were then told off to pack the baggage in +the carts. Lisle was one of those furnished by his company. There +was little talk while they were at work. In two hours the carts +were packed. Then, as they returned to the lines, his three +comrades entered into conversation with him. + +"You are lucky to be taken," one said, "being only a recruit. I +suppose it was done so that you might fill the place of your +cousin?" + +"Yes, that was it. They said that I had a claim; so that, if I +chose, I could send money home to his family." + +"They are good men, the white officers," another said. "They are +like fathers to us, and we will follow them anywhere. We lately +lost one of them, and miss him sorely. However, they are all good. + +"We are all glad to be going on service. It is dull work in +cantonments." + +On arriving at the lines of the company, one of them said: + +"The risaldar said that you will take your cousin's place. He slept +in the same hut as I. You will soon find yourself at home with us." + +He introduced Lisle to the other occupants of the hut, eighteen in +number. Lisle then proceeded to follow the example of the others, +by taking off his uniform and stripping to the loincloth, and a +little calico jacket. He felt very strange at first, accustomed +though he was to see the soldiers return to their native costume. + +"Your rations are there, and those of our new comrade," one of the +party said. + +Several fires were burning, and Lisle followed the example of his +comrade, and took the lota which formed part of his equipment, +filled it with water, and put it in the ashes; adding, as soon as +it boiled, the handful of rice, some ghee, and a tiny portion of +meat. In an hour the meal was cooked and, taking it from the fire, +he sat down in a place apart; as is usual among the native troops, +who generally have an objection to eat before others. + +"Those who have money," his comrade said, "can buy herbs and +condiments of the little traders, and greatly improve their mess." + +This Lisle knew well. + +"I have a few pice," he said, "but must be careful till I get my +pay." + +As soon as night fell all turned in, as they were to start at +daylight. + +"Here is room for you at my side, comrade," the sergeant said. "You +had better get to sleep, as soon as you can. Of course, you have +your blanket with you?" + +"Yes, sergeant." + +Lisle rolled himself in his blanket and lay down, covering his +face, as is the habit of all natives of India. It was some time +before he went to sleep. The events of the day had been exciting, +and he was overjoyed at finding that his plan had so far succeeded. +He was now one of the regiment and, unless something altogether +unexpected happened, he was certain to take part in a stirring +campaign. + +While it was still dark, he was aroused by the sound of a bugle. + +"The men told off to the baggage guard will at once proceed to pack +the waggons," the sergeant said. + +Lisle at once got up and put on his uniform, as did three other men +in the tent. The kits and baggage had already been packed, the +night before; and the men of the guard, consisting of a half +company, proceeded to the waggons. Half an hour afterwards, another +bugle roused the remainder of the regiment, and they soon fell in. + +It was broad daylight when they started, the baggage followed a +little later. The havildar who was in charge of them was, +fortunately, one of those of Lisle's company. There was but little +talk at the hurried start. Two men accompanied each of the twelve +company waggons. Half the remainder marched in front, and the +others behind. Lisle had been told off to the first waggon. + +It was a long march, two ordinary stages being done in one. As the +animals were fresh, the transport arrived at the camping ground +within an hour of the main column. Accustomed though he was to +exercise, Lisle found the weight of his rifle, pouches, and +ammunition tell terribly upon him. He was not used to the boots +and, before half the journey was completed, began to limp. The +havildar, noticing this, ordered him to take his place on the top +of the baggage on his waggon. + +"It is natural that you should feel it, at first, Mutteh Ghar," he +said. "You will find it easy enough to keep up with them, after a +few days' rest." + +Lisle was thankful, indeed, for he had begun to feel that he should +never be able to hold on to the end of the march. He remained on +the baggage for a couple of hours, and then again took his place by +the side of the waggon; receiving an approving nod from the +havildar, as he did so. + +When the halt was called, the men at once crowded round the +waggons. The kits were distributed and, in a few minutes, the +regiment had the appearance of a concourse of peaceable peasants. +No tents had been taken with them. Waterproof sheets had been +provided and, with these, little shelters had been erected, each +accommodating three men. The sergeant told Lisle off to share one +of these shelters with two other men. A party meanwhile had gone to +collect firewood and, in half an hour, the men were cooking their +rice. + +"Well, how did you like the march?" one of them said to Lisle. + +"I found it very hard work," Lisle said, "but the havildar let me +ride on the top of one of the waggons for a couple of hours and, +after that, I was able to march in with the rest." + +"It was a rough march for a recruit," the other said, "but you will +soon get used to that. Grease your feet well before you put on your +bandages. You will find that that will ease them very much, and +that you will not get sore feet, as you would if you marched +without preparation." + +Lisle took the advice, and devoted a portion of his rations for the +purpose, the last thing at night; and found that it abated the heat +in his feet, and he was able to get about in comfort. + +Each soldier carried a little cooking pot. Although the regiment +was composed principally of Punjabis, many of the men were of +different nationalities and, although the Punjabis are much less +particular about caste than the people of Southern India, every man +prepared his meal separately. The rations consisted of rice, ghee, +a little curry powder, and a portion of mutton. From these Lisle +managed to concoct a savoury mess, as he had often watched the men +cooking their meals. + +The sergeant had evidently chosen two good men to share the tent +with Lisle. They were both old soldiers, not given to much talking; +and were kind to their young comrade, giving him hints about +cooking and making himself comfortable, and abstaining from asking +many questions. They were easily satisfied with his answers and, +after the meal was eaten, sat down with him and talked of the +coming campaign. Neither of them had ever been to Chitral, but they +knew by hearsay the nature of the road, and discussed the +probability of the point at which serious opposition would begin; +both agreeing that the difficulties of crossing the passes, now +that these would be covered with snow, would be far greater than +any stand the tribesmen might make. + +"They are tough fighters, no doubt," one of them said; "and we +shall have more difficulty, with them, than we have ever had +before; for they say that a great many of them are armed with good +rifles, and will therefore be able to annoy us at a distance, when +their old matchlocks would have been useless." + +"And they are good shots, too." + +"There is no doubt about that; quite as good as we are, I should +say. There will be a tremendous lot of flanking work to keep them +at a distance but, when it comes to anything like regular fighting, +we shall sweep them before us. + +"From what I hear, however, we shall only have three or four guns +with us. That is a pity for, though the tribesmen can stand against +a heavy rifle fire, they have a profound respect for guns. I +expect, therefore, that we shall have some stiff fighting. + +"How do you like the prospect, Mutteh Ghar?" + +"I don't suppose I shall mind it when I get accustomed to it," +Lisle said. "It was because I heard that the regiment was about to +advance that I hurried up to join. I don't think I should have +enlisted, had it been going to stay in the cantonment." + +"That is the right spirit," the other said approvingly. "It is the +same with all of us. There is no difficulty in getting recruits, +when there is fighting to be done. It is the dull life in camp that +prevents men from joining. We have enlisted twice as many men, in +the past three months, as in three years before." + +So they talked till night fell and then turned in; putting Lisle +between them, that being the warmest position. + +In the morning the march was resumed in the same order, Lisle again +taking his place with the baggage guard. The march this time was +only a single one; but it was long, nevertheless. Lisle was able to +keep his place till the end, feeling great benefit from the ghee +which he had rubbed on his feet. The havildar, at starting, said a +few cheering words to him; and told him that, when he felt tired, +he could put his rifle and pouch in the waggon, as there was no +possibility of their being wanted. + +His two comrades, when they heard that he had accomplished the +march without falling out, praised him highly. + +"You have showed good courage in holding on," one of them said. +"The march was nothing to us seasoned men, but it must have been +trying to you, especially as your feet cannot have recovered from +yesterday. I see that you will make a good soldier, and one who +will not shirk his work. Another week, and you will march as well +as the best of us." + +"I hope so," Lisle said. "I have always been considered a good +walker. As soon as I get accustomed to the weight of the rifle and +pouch, I have no doubt that I shall get on well enough." + +"I am sure you will," the other said cordially, "and I think we are +as good marchers as any in India. We certainly have that reputation +and, no doubt, it was for that reason we were chosen for the +expedition, although there are several other regiments nearer to +the spot. + +"From what I hear, Colonel Kelly will be the commanding officer of +the column, and we could not wish for a better. I hear that there +is another column, and a much stronger one, going from Peshawar. +That will put us all on our mettle, and I will warrant that we +shall be the first to arrive there; not only because we are good +marchers, but because the larger the column, the more trouble it +has with its baggage. + +"Baggage is the curse of these expeditions. What has to be +considered is not how far the troops can go, but how far the +baggage animals can keep up with them. Some of the animals are no +doubt good, but many of them are altogether unfitted for the work. +When these break down they block a whole line; and often, even if +the march is a short one, it is very late at night before the last +of the baggage comes in; which means that we get neither kit, +blankets, nor food, and think ourselves lucky if we get them the +next morning. + +"The government is, we all think, much to blame in these matters. +Instead of procuring strong animals, and paying a fair price for +them; they buy animals that are not fit to do one good day's march. +Of course, in the end this stinginess costs them more in money, and +lives, than if they had provided suitable animals at the outset." + +Lisle had had a great deal of practice with the rifle, and had +carried away several prizes shot for by the officers; but he was +unaccustomed to carry one for so many hours, and he felt grateful, +indeed, when a halt was sounded. Fires were lighted, and food +cooked; and then all lay down, or sat in groups in the shade of a +grove. The sense of the strangeness of his condition had begun to +wear off, and he laughed and talked with the others, without +restraint. + +Up to the time when he joined the regiment, Lisle had heard a good +deal of the state of affairs at Chitral; and his impression of the +natives was that they were as savage and treacherous a race as was +to be found in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Beyond that, he had not +interested himself in the matter; but now, from the talk of his +companions, he gained a pretty clear idea of the situation. + +Illustration: Map illustrating the Chitral Campaign. + +Old Aman-ul-mulk had died in August, 1892. He had reigned long; and +had, by various conquests and judicious marriages, raised Chitral +to a position of importance. The Chitralis are an Aryan race, and +not Pathans; and have a deep-rooted hatred of the Afghans. + +In 1878 Aman placed Chitral under the nominal suzerainty of the +Maharajah of Kashmir and, Kashmir being one of the tributary states +of the Indian Empire, this brought them into direct communication +with the government of India; and Aman received with great +cordiality two missions sent to him. When he died, his eldest son +Nizam was away from Chitral; and the government was seized by his +second son, Afzul; who, however, was murdered by his uncle, Sher +Afzul. Nizam at once hurried to Chitral; and Sher Afzul fled to +Cabul, Nizam becoming the head of the state or, as it was called, +Mehtar. Being weak, he asked for a political officer to reside in +his territory; and Captain Younghusband, with an escort of Sikhs, +was accordingly sent to Mastuj, a fort in Upper Chitral. + +However, in November Nizam was also murdered, by a younger brother, +Amir. Amir hurried to Chitral, and demanded recognition from +Lieutenant Gurdon; who was, at the time, acting as assistant +British agent. He replied that he had no power to grant +recognition, until he was instructed by the government in India. +Amir thereupon stopped his letters, and for a long time he was in +imminent danger, as he had only an escort of eight Sikhs. + +On the 8th of January, fifty men of the 14th Sikhs marched down +from Mastuj and, on the 1st of February, Mr. Robertson, the British +agent, arrived from Gilgit. He had with him an escort of two +hundred and eighty men of the 4th Kashmir Rifles, and thirty-three +Sikhs; and was accompanied by three European officers. When he +arrived he heard that Umra Khan had, at the invitation of Amir, +marched into Chitral; but that his progress had been barred by the +strong fort of Drosh. As the Chitralis hate the Pathans, they were +not inclined to yield to the orders of Amir to surrender the fort, +and were consequently attacked. The place, however, was surrendered +by the treachery of the governor. Amir then advanced, and was +joined by Sher Afzul. + +Mr. Robertson wrote to Amir Khan, saying that he must leave the +Chitral territory. Amir paid no attention to the order, and Mr. +Robertson reported this to the government of India. They issued, in +March, 1895, a proclamation warning the Chitralis to abstain from +giving assistance to Amir Khan, and intimating that a force +sufficient to overcome all resistance was being assembled; but that +as soon as it had attained its object, it would be withdrawn. + +The Chitralis, who now preferred Sher Afzul to Amir, made common +cause with the former. Mr. Robertson learned that men were already +at work, breaking up the road between Chitral and Mastuj; and +accordingly moved from the house he had occupied to the fort, which +was large enough to receive the force with him. + +On the 1st of March, all communications between Mr. Robertson and +Mastuj had ceased; and troops were at once ordered to assemble, to +march to his relief. It was clearly impossible for our agent to +retire as, in order to do so, he would have to negotiate several +terrible passes, where a mere handful of men could destroy a +regiment. Thus it was that the Pioneers had been ordered to break +up their cantonment, and advance with all speed to Gilgit. + +Hostilities had already begun. A native officer had started, with +forty men and sixty boxes of ammunition, for Chitral; and had +reached Buni, when he received information that his advance was +likely to be opposed. He accordingly halted and wrote to Lieutenant +Moberley, special duty officer with the Kashmir troops in Mastuj. +The local men reported to Moberley that no hostile attack upon the +troops was at all likely but, as there was a spirit of unrest in +the air, he wrote to Captain Ross, who was with Lieutenant Jones, +and requested him to make a double march into Mastuj. This Captain +Ross did and, on the evening of the 4th of March, started to +reinforce the little body of men that was blocked at Buni. + +On the same day a party of sappers and miners, under Lieutenants +Fowler and Edwards, also marched forward to Mastuj. When Captain +Ross arrived at Buni he found that all was quiet, and he therefore +returned to Mastuj, with news to that effect. The party of sappers +were to march, the next morning, with the ammunition escort. + +On the evening of that day a note was received from Lieutenant +Edwards, dated from a small village two miles beyond Buni, saying +that he heard that he was to be attacked in a defile, a short +distance away. He started with a force of ninety-six men, in all. +They carried with them nine days' rations, and one hundred and +forty rounds of ammunition. + +Captain Ross at once marched for Buni, and arrived there the same +evening. Here he left a young native officer and thirty-three rank +and file while, with Lieutenant Jones and the rest of his little +force, he marched for Reshun, where Lieutenant Edwards' party were +detained. They halted in the middle of the day; and arrived, at one +o'clock, at a hamlet halfway to Reshun. + +Shortly after starting, they were attacked. Lieutenant Jones, one +of the few survivors of the party, handed in the following report +of this bad business. + +"Half a mile after leaving Koragh the road enters a narrow defile. +The hills on the left bank consist of a succession of large stone +shoots, with precipitous spurs in between. The road at the entrance +to the defile, for about one hundred yards, runs quite close to the +river; after that it lies along a narrow maidan, some thirty or +forty yards in width, and is on the top of the river bank, which is +here a cliff. This continues for about half a mile, then it ascends +a steep spur. + +"When the advanced party reached about halfway up this spur, it was +fired on from a sangar which had been built across the road and, at +the same time, men appeared on all the mountain tops and ridges, +and stones were rolled down all the shoots. Captain Ross, who was +with the advanced guard, fell back on the main body. All the +coolies dropped their loads and bolted, as soon as the first shot +was fired. Captain Ross, after looking at the enemy's position, +decided to fall back upon Koragh; as it would have been useless to +go on to Reshun, leaving an enemy in such a position behind us." + +Captain Ross ordered Lieutenant Jones to fall back with ten men, +seize the lower end of the defile, and cover the retreat. No fewer +than eight of his men were wounded, as he fell back. Captain Ross, +on hearing this, ordered him to return, and the whole party took +refuge in two caves, it being the intention of their commander to +wait there until the moon rose, and then try to force his way out. + +But when they started, they were assailed from above with such a +torrent of rocks that they again retired to the caves. They then +made an attempt to get to the top of the mountain, but their way +was barred by a precipice; and they once more went back to the +cave, where they remained all the next day. + +It was then decided to make an attempt to cut their way out. They +started at two in the morning. The enemy at once opened fire, and +many were killed, among them Captain Ross himself. Lieutenant Jones +with seventeen men reached the little maidan, and there remained +for some minutes, keeping up a heavy fire on the enemy on both +banks of the river, in order to help more men to get through. + +Twice the enemy attempted to charge, but each time retired with +heavy loss. Lieutenant Jones then again fell back, two of his party +having been killed and one mortally wounded, and the lieutenant and +nine sepoys wounded. When they reached Buni they prepared a house +for defence, and remained there for seven days until reinforcements +came up. + +In the meantime the 20th Bengal Sappers and Miners, and the 42nd +Kashmir Infantry had gone on, beyond the point where Captain Ross's +detachment had been all but annihilated, and reached Reshun; and +Lieutenants Edwards and Fowler, with the Bengal Sappers and ten +Kashmir Infantry, went on to repair a break in the road, a few +miles beyond that place. They took every precaution to guard +against surprise. Lieutenant Fowler was sent to scale the heights +on the left bank, so as to be able to look down into some sangars +on the opposite side. With some difficulty, he found a way up the +hillside. When he was examining the opposite cliff a shot was +fired, and about two hundred men rushed out from the village and +entered the sangars. + +As Fowler was well above them, he kept up a heavy fire, and did +great execution. The enemy, however, began to ascend the hills, and +some appeared above him and began rolling down stones and firing +into his party. Fowler himself was wounded in the back, a corporal +was killed, and two other men wounded. He managed, however, to +effect his retreat, and joined the main body. + +As the enemy were now swarming on the hills, the party began to +fall back to Reshun, which was two miles distant. They had an open +plain to cross and a spur, a thousand feet high, to climb. During +this part of the retreat an officer and several men were wounded +but, on reaching the crest, the party halted and opened a steady +fire upon the enemy; whom they thus managed to keep at a distance +till they reached Reshun, which they did without further loss. + +The force here were occupying a sangar they had formed, but so +heavy a fire was opened, from the surrounding hills, that it was +found impossible to hold the position. They therefore retired to +some houses, where firewood and other supplies were found. The only +drawback to this place was that it was more than a hundred yards +from the river, and there was consequently great danger of their +being cut off from the water. + +As soon as they reached the houses they began to fortify them. The +roofs were flat and, by piling stones along the edges, they +converted them into sangars. The walls were loopholed, the +entrances blocked up, and passages of communication opened between +the houses. A party of Kashmir volunteers then went down to the +other sangar and brought the wounded in, under a heavy fire. + +At sunset the enemy's fire ceased, as it was the month of Ramzam, +during which Mahomedans have to fast all day between sunrise and +sunset. As night came on the little party took their places on the +roofs, and remained there till daylight. By this time all were +greatly exhausted for, during their terrible experiences of the +previous day, they had had no food and little water. + +When day dawned half the men were withdrawn from their posts, and a +meal was cooked from the flour that had been found in the houses. A +small ration of meat was also served out. During the day the enemy +kept up a continuous fire but, as they showed no intention of +attacking, the men were allowed to sleep by turns. + +After dark Lieutenant Fowler and some volunteers started for the +river, to bring in water. They made two trips, and filled up all +the storage vessels at the disposal of the garrison. The night +passed quietly but, just before dawn, the enemy charged down +through the surrounding houses. Lieutenant Edwards and his party at +once opened fire, at about twenty yards' range. Tom-toms were +beaten furiously, to encourage the assailants; but the tribesmen +could not pluck up courage to make a charge and, at nine o'clock, +they all retired. During the attack four of the sepoys were killed, +and six wounded. + +Next night another effort was made to obtain water. Two sangars +were stormed, and most of their occupants killed. The way to the +water was now opened but, at this moment, heavy firing broke out at +the fort; and Lieutenant Fowler, who was in command, recalled his +men and returned to assist the garrison. + +On the following day a white flag was hoisted, and an emissary from +Sher Afzul said that all fighting had ceased. An armistice was +accordingly arranged. All this, however, was but a snare for, a few +days later, when the two British officers went out to witness a +polo match, they were seized, bound with ropes, and carried off. At +the same moment a fierce attack was made on a party of sepoys who +had also come out. These fought stoutly, but were overpowered, most +of them being killed. + +The garrison of the post, however, under the command of Lieutenant +Gurdon, continued to hold the little fort; and refused all +invitation to come out to parley, after the treachery that had been +shown to their comrades. The two officers were taken to Chitral, +where they were received with kindness by Amir Khan. + +The news of this disaster was carried to Peshawar by a native +Mussulman officer, who had been liberated, where it created great +excitement. As all communication with Chitral had ceased, the +assistant British agent at Gilgit called up the Pioneers; who +marched into Gilgit, four hundred strong, on the 20th of March. On +the 21st news was received of the cutting up of Ross's party, and +it was naturally supposed that that of Edwards was also destroyed. + +Colonel Kelly of the Pioneers now commanded the troops, and all +civil powers; and Major Borradale commanded the Pioneers. The +available force consisted of the four hundred Pioneers, and the +Guides. Lieutenant Stewart joined them with two guns of the Kashmir +battery. + +Two hundred Pioneers and the Guides started on the 23rd. The +gazetteer states that it never rains in Gilgit, but it rained when +the detachment started, and continued to pour for two days. The men +had marched without tents. Colonel Kelly, the doctor, Leward, and a +staff officer followed in the afternoon, and overtook the main body +that evening. + +The troops had made up little tents with their waterproof sheets. +Colonel Kelly had a small tent, and the other officers turned in to +a cow shed. The force was so small that the Pioneers asked the +others to mess with them, each man providing himself with his own +knife, fork, and spoon, and the pots being all collected for the +cooking. + +The next march was long and, in some places, severe. They were well +received by the natives, whose chiefs always came out to greet them +and, on the third day, reached Gupis, where a fort had been built +by the Kashmir troops. At this point the horses and mules were all +left behind, as the passes were said to be impassable for animals; +and native coolies were hired to carry the baggage. + +Lisle had enjoyed the march, and the strange life that he was +leading. He was now quite at home with his company and, by the time +they reached Gupis, had become a general favourite. At the end of +the day, when a meal had been cooked and eaten, he would join in +their songs round the fire and, as he had picked up several he had +heard them sing, and had a fair voice, he was often called upon for +a contribution. His vivacity and good spirits surprised the sepoys +who, as a whole, were grave men, though they bore their hardships +uncomplainingly. He had soon got over the feeling of discomfort of +going about with naked legs, and was as glad as the soldiers, +themselves, to lay aside his uniform and get into native attire. + +The sepoys had now regular rations of meat. It was always mutton, +as beef was unobtainable; but it was much relished by the men, who +cut it up into slices and broiled it over a fire. + +Not for one moment did Lisle regret the step he had taken. Young +and active, he thoroughly enjoyed the life; and looked forward +eagerly to the time when they should meet the enemy, for no doubt +whatever was now felt that they would meet with a desperate +resistance on their march to Chitral. Fears were entertained, +however, that when they got there, they would find that the +garrison had been overpowered; for it was certain that against this +force the chief attack of the enemy would be directed. The +overthrow of Ross and his party showed that the enemy were sturdy +fighters; and they were known to be armed with breech-loading +rifles, of as good a quality as those carried by the troops. + +In the open field all felt that, however numerous the tribesmen +might be, they would stand no chance whatever; but the passes +afforded them immense advantage, and rendered drill and discipline +of little avail. + + + +Chapter 3: The First Fight. + + +And yet, though he kept up a cheerful appearance, Lisle's heart was +often very heavy. The sight of the British officers continually +recalled his father to his memory. But a short time back he had +been with him, and now he was gone for ever. At times it seemed +almost impossible that it could be so. He had been his constant +companion when off duty; had devoted much time to helping him +forward in his studies; had never, so far as he could remember, +spoken a harsh word to him. + +It seemed like a dream, those last hours he had passed by his +father's bedside. Many times he lay awake in the night, his face +wet with tears. But with reveille he would be up, laughing and +joking with the soldiers, and raising a smile even on the face of +the gravest. + +It had taken him but a very short time to make himself at home in +the regiment. The men sometimes looked at him with surprise, he was +so different from themselves. They bore their hardships well, but +it was with stern faces and grim determination; while this young +soldier made a joke of them. + +Sometimes he was questioned closely, but he always turned the +questions off with a laugh. He had learned the place where his +supposed cousin came from and, while sticking to this, he said that +a good fairy must have presided over his birth; information that +was much more gravely received than given, for the natives have +their superstitions, and believe, as firmly as the inhabitants of +these British islands did, two or three hundred years ago, in the +existence of supernatural beings, good and bad. + +"If you have been blessed by a fairy," one of the elder men +suggested, "doubtless you will go through this campaign without +harm. They are very powerful, some of these good people, and can +bestow long life as well as other gifts." + +"I don't know whether she will do that. She certainly gave me high +spirits. I used to believe that what my mother said happened to +her, the night after I was born, was not true, but only a dream. +She solemnly declared that it was not, but I have always been +famous for good spirits; and she may have been right, after all." + +There was nothing Lisle liked better than being on night picket +duty. Other men shirked it, but to him there was something +delightful to stand there almost alone, rifle in hand, watching the +expanse of snow for a moving figure. There was a charm in the dead +silence. He liked to think quietly of the past and, somehow, he +could do so far better, while engaged on this duty, than when lying +awake in his little tent. The expanse and stillness calmed him, and +agreed far more with his mood than the camp. + +His sight was keen, even when his thoughts were farthest away and, +three times, he sent a bullet through a lurking Pathan who was +crawling up towards him, astonishing his comrades by the accuracy +of his aim. + +"I suppose," he said, when congratulated upon the third occasion on +which he had laid one of the enemy low, "that the good fairy must +have given me a quick eye, as well as good spirits." + +"It is indeed extraordinary that you, a young recruit, should not +only make out a man whom none of us saw; but that you should, each +time, fetch him down at a distance of three or four hundred yards." + +"I used to practice with my father's rifle," he said. "He was very +fond of shikari, and I often went out with him. It needs a keener +sight to put a bullet between the eyes of a tiger, than to hit a +lurking Pathan." + +So noted did he become for the accuracy of his aim that one of the +native officers asked him, privately, if he would like to be always +put on night duty. + +"I should like it every other night," he said. "By resting every +alternate night, and by snatching a couple of hours' sleep before +going on duty, when we arrive at the end of a day's march in good +time, I can manage very well." + +"I will arrange that for you," the officer said. "Certainly, no one +would grudge you the duty." + +One night, when there had been but little opposition during the +day, Lisle was posted on a hill where the picket consisted of ten +men; five of whom were on the crest, while the other five lay down +in the snow. The day had been a hard one, and Lisle was less +watchful than usual. It seemed to him that he had not closed his +eyes for a minute, as he leant on his rifle; but it must have been +much longer, for he suddenly started with a feeling that something +was wrong, and saw a number of dark figures advancing along the +crest towards him. He at once fired a shot, and fell back upon the +next sentry. Dropping behind rocks, they answered the fire which +the enemy had already opened upon them. + +The whole picket quickly gathered and, for a time, checked the +advance of the enemy; but these were too numerous to be kept at a +distance, and parties of them pressed forward on each flank. + +"We must retire till we can find better shelter," the sub-officer +in command said. "We shall soon have reinforcements up from the +camp, when it is seen that we are seriously engaged. Fall back, +men, steadily. Take advantage of every bit of cover, but keep as +well together as possible, without risk." + +Firing steadily, they made their way down the hill, and finally +took up a position among a clump of rocks. Two had been shot dead, +and two others were wounded; and it was because these could not be +left behind that the stand was made. The two wounded men, though +partially disabled and unable to crawl, could still use their +rifles; and the little party kept up so hot a fire that, though the +enemy were massed from twenty to thirty yards away, they could not +be brought to unite in a general attack; not even by the shouts and +yells of their comrades behind, and a furious beating of tom-toms. + +Illustration: Lisle gives the alarm. + +The defenders were all lying down, each of them having chosen a +position where he could see through a crevice between the rocks. +Lisle was lying next to the sergeant. Presently the latter gave an +exclamation, fired his rifle, and shifted his position behind the +rock. + +"Mutteh Ghar," he said, "I have seen you bring down three of the +skulking ruffians. Do you see those two there close together, about +forty yards away? There is a man behind them who has just carried +off two of my fingers. + +"Keep your eye on those rocks. Just above where they touch each +other there is an opening, through which you can see the snow +behind. That is where he fired from. Oblige me by putting a ball in +his head, when he raises it." + +A couple of minutes passed. Lisle was lying with his rifle on the +spot. Presently the opening was obscured, and he fired at once. + +"Thank you!" the sergeant said. "You got him, sure enough. The head +did not disappear to one side or to the other, but went straight +back. I fancy that you must have hit him between the eyes." + +Presently the enemy's fire became still more furious and, several +times, some of them rose and ran two paces forward, but only to +fall prone under the defenders' fire. + +"I expect they see help coming up," Lisle said, "and are making a +last effort to wipe us out before they arrive. + +"I think they will try a rush," he continued, in a louder voice; +"see that your magazines are filled up, lads, and don't waste a +shot if they come at us." + +A minute later there was a shrill and prolonged cry and, at once, +twenty dark figures burst from their shelter and rushed forward. +The defenders also sprang to their feet, and their rifles flashed +out with a stream of fire. But the vacancies thus caused in the +enemy's ranks were immediately filled. + +"Now with your bayonets," the sergeant shouted. "Keep in a close +body, and do you two wounded men cover us with a constant fire." + +Then, with a cheer, the six men and the sergeant rushed forward. +Much as the Afridis feared the bayonet, confident in their strength +they withstood the charge. They had, fortunately, emptied their +rifles before rushing forward but, drawing their knives, they +fought fiercely. These, however, were no match for the bayonets +and, consequently, they suffered heavily. + +Three of the Pioneers received severe gashes. The group were +brought to a standstill, and they stood in a little circle while +the attack continued. One sepoy was stabbed to the heart by a +fanatic, who rushed at his bayonet and, pushing himself along, fell +dead as he struck his fatal blow. + +Things were looking very bad. Scarce one had escaped without a +wound, and the sergeant had dropped, bleeding profusely; when, to +their delight, a volley burst from within fifty yards of them and, +in an instant, their assailants turned and bolted. + +After the sergeant had dropped, Lisle had somehow taken his place, +cheering the men on and lending his aid to those most severely +pressed. Once or twice he managed, after despatching an assailant, +to slip a couple of cartridges into his rifle, and so added to the +execution. Indeed, it was in no small account due to his exertions, +after the sergeant fell, that the resistance was maintained. + +A minute later, the active little Ghoorkhas rushed forward; and +those who first arrived passed the little knot of defenders with a +cheer, and set off in pursuit of the enemy. Presently, however, one +of their officers came up. + +"You have had a stiff fight, lads," he said, "and by the look of +the ground round about, you must have defended yourselves +gallantly; for there are a dozen dead bodies lying near you, and I +can see many more, a little way up the hill. What have been your +losses?" + +The sergeant raised himself on his elbow. + +"We had two killed, as we came down," he said, "and two others +wounded. I believe one has fallen here, and I think most of us are +wounded with knife thrusts." + +"Well, you have done splendidly, sergeant. I will detach men to +help to carry you and the wounded men down to the camp. The others +can accompany them. We shall take up the work, now; but I am afraid +we sha'n't have any fighting, though we may shoot down a few as +they make off. I fancy, however, that the lesson you have given the +beggars has taken all fight out of them." + +When half down the hill, they met a party of the Pioneers coming +out. The Ghoorkhas at once handed the wounded over to them, and +started up the hill again. The sergeant had fainted from loss of +blood, and no questions were asked till the injured men were all +placed in little hospital tents, and their wounds attended to. Two +of them had bullet wounds, and three had received knife wounds on +the shoulder or arm. Only Lisle and one other escaped unhurt. As +soon as the wounds had been attended to all, except the sergeant, +and two more seriously wounded than the others, were sent off to +their tents. + +One of these was Lisle's tent fellow. He said: + +"Mutteh Ghar, I don't know what to say to you. You seem but a lad, +and a light-hearted one; but you have proved yourself the best of +us all. I was lying next to you, and I will swear that you brought +down eight of them with your rifle, before they charged. Even while +I was fighting I always heard your voice, like a trumpet; and after +the sergeant had fallen you seemed to take command, as if it was +your right. You saved my life when you bayoneted two of the three +who were grappling with me, and you seemed to be everywhere." + +"I did what little I could," Lisle said. "I certainly did not +intend to take the command, when the sergeant fell; but somehow I +could not help shouting and, as our circle had closed in so, I +slipped out of my place and fought wherever the pressure was +greatest." + +"There is no doubt," the soldier said seriously, "that your +mother's statement was a true one, and that a fairy did promise her +to look after you. Out of the eleven of us, only one besides +yourself has escaped without a wound; and yet none of us exposed +himself more than you did. I shall not forget that I owe my life to +you. We must find some other name for you. You can't be called 'the +boy' any longer." + +In the morning, one of the colonel's orderlies was told to fetch +Lisle. + +"The colonel wishes to see you, Mutteh Ghar." + +Lisle put on his uniform with some uneasiness. He was conscious +that, in the excitement of the fight of the night before, he had +frequently shouted in English; and he feared that the sergeant had +reported this. However, he marched to the spot where the colonel +and a group of officers were standing, and then stood at attention. + +"Mutteh Ghar," the colonel said, "the sergeant this morning made +his report; and he states that, though all his men behaved +admirably, you distinguished yourself in a singular manner. He says +that before the final attack began you had killed eight or ten of +the Pathans, that you were fighting beside him when he was wounded, +and that you then seemed to take the command. Although lying on the +ground, he was able to see what was going on; and he says that but +for your cheers, and for the manner in which you went to the +assistance of men hard pressed, he is convinced that the whole +detachment would have been killed before the Ghoorkhas arrived." + +"I had no idea of assuming the command, sir; but my tongue always +runs fast, and I dare say I did shout, almost unconsciously. I +think the sergeant has made more of my doings than I deserved." + +"I don't think it likely. It is no small thing for so young a +soldier to so distinguish himself. The sergeant will not be able to +resume his duties for some time, and I therefore appoint you a +corporal; and shall put your name in orders, today, for very +distinguished service. How long is it since you joined the +regiment?" + +"A short time before we marched." + +"Well, you have done honour to the corps and, in the name of myself +and my officers, I thank you." + +Lisle saluted, and returned to the lines. + +"The colonel has made me a corporal," he answered, as the others +gathered round and questioned him. + +A cheer burst from them, for his tent companion, and the other men +who had returned, had all spoken in the highest terms of his +conduct. Lisle was quite confused by the heartiness of their +reception. + +"He is a wonderfully young fellow," the colonel said, as he left +them. "The sergeant said that he was young, but really he looks +little more than a boy. Curiously, his face reminds me of someone, +though I cannot say whom; and yet, if he only joined a short time +before we marched, it is not likely that I should have noticed him +before." + +"It was the same thing with me, colonel," the major said. "I have +noticed him several times on the march and, while the rest of the +regiment were plodding on in silence, he always seemed the centre +of a merry group. I have often said, to myself, I wished we had a +few more men in the regiment who could take the hardships they had +to undergo as lightly and as merrily as he does. His face has also +struck me as being somehow familiar. + +"I was speaking to the sergeant about him, and he said that he was +the most popular man in his company, and a general favourite. His +temperament is altogether different from that of the majority of +our soldiers, which is earnest and quiet." + +Two or three of the other officers also spoke of noticing the +cheerful influence he seemed to have on the men. + +"I must have a talk with him," the colonel said, "after the +campaign is over, and find out something about it. It is quite +evident that his pluck is as great as his cheerfulness, and it is +certainly very extraordinary that a young and recently-joined +soldier should have such an influence with men many years older +than himself. If I am not mistaken, we shall find him in the ranks +of the native officers, before long. Considering his age, and what +he has already done, he may well hope some day, if he escapes being +killed, to be risaldar major of the regiment. + +"I should almost fancy that he must be the son of some native of +good family, but without influence to secure him a post as officer; +and that he has run away to endeavour to fight his way up to a +commission." + +Henceforth Lisle stood in high regard among his comrades, and was +known as the 'fighting boy' in the regiment. He himself was always +ready to answer to any name by which he was addressed. He had no +desire to push himself forward to any prominence among them, or of +thinking himself any way above his comrades; but naturally he was +pleased at finding himself generally liked. He had come to see the +fighting, and take part in it, and had no thought of distinguishing +himself especially; as he intended to leave the regiment as soon as +the campaign was over, and carry out the plan which his father had +formed for him. He feared to excite the jealousy of his comrades +and, though there were no signs of this, he felt that his promotion +caused some difference in the manner of other men towards him. + +This was so marked, indeed, that he could not help thinking that +the men by whose side he had fought had reported to their comrades +that, in the heat of the fight, he had several times shouted in +English; and that there were general suspicions as to his identity. +As long as this was not communicated to the officers it did not +matter; and indeed this was not likely for, if the feeling was +noticed by the native officers, it would soon come to the ears of +Gholam Singh, who would at once order the men to keep silence +concerning it. + +Gradually his nickname changed, and he became known among the +sepoys of the regiment as the "young sahib." He protested against +it, but in vain. It was not, however, without its advantages. At +the end of a long march, the men who had brought in firewood always +handed him some. Men would offer to clean his rifle, cook his +dinner, and do other little offices for him. He would, however, +never accept these kind offers. + +"Why do they call you sahib?" one of the English officers asked +him, when he heard him so addressed. + +"I do not know," he answered. "It is a silly joke of the men. I +have protested against it, without success. If they chose to call +me 'colonel,' I could not help it. I suppose it is because they see +that I am, like the white officers, always cheerful and good +tempered. There is certainly no other reason that I know of." + +"The regiment have taken to call Mutteh Ghar 'the young sahib,'" +the officer reported, at mess that day. "I asked him about it, and +he says no doubt it is because he is, like us, always good tempered +and cheerful." + +"He is certainly very unlike the others," the major said. "I have +no doubt the men consider it a great compliment, to him, to call +him so." + +"Do you know, colonel," one of the subalterns said, "the idea has +struck me that he may be young Bullen, who may have joined the +regiment surreptitiously, instead of going down to Calcutta." + +There was silence among the others. + +"It can hardly be that, Macdonald," the colonel said, "though it is +certainly curious that we seemed to feel that we knew his face, +when he came up before us. The young scamp could never have played +such an audacious trick upon us." + +"I don't know, colonel," the major said, "he is just the sort of +lad that would try such a scheme. I know I have twice seen him +talking with my butler; who was, as you know, Captain Bullen's +servant." + +"Well, it may possibly be so," the colonel said, "but at any rate +it is only suspicion, and we had better leave the matter as it +stands. If it is young Bullen, I don't know that he has done a bad +thing for himself. If he goes on as he has begun, his experience +will go a long way towards getting him a commission; and he will be +a great deal better off than if he were grinding up for two years +in England. Such a strong recommendation as I could give him would +be of great value to him and, moreover, he has a claim on the +ground that his father was killed on service. + +"At any rate, we must take no action, whatever, at present. It is +no slight thing he has done; that is, if it be he. Few of us would +care to go through this campaign as sepoys--their work is terribly +hard, poor fellows--to say nothing of the unpleasantness of having +to live among the natives. I certainly shall consider that he has +well earned a commission, if he comes through the campaign." + +"But he is too young for one," the major said. + +"I should not think it necessary to mention his age, in +recommending him," the colonel said. "We know that he is doing a +man's work, manfully. He has earned, as you say, the general liking +of the men; and is a deal better fitted for a commission than half +the fellows they send out to us. + +"Well, we may all be mistaken, and he may only be a brave young +fellow of good ancestry; so we will think no more of it, at +present, and we will wait to see how things turn out, before +showing any signs of our suspicions." + +Now, however, that the idea had been mooted, the officers, as they +went up and down the line, looked closer at Lisle than they had +hitherto done; and all agreed that, in spite of his uniform and his +colour, he was Captain Bullen's son. Ignorant of their suspicions, +Lisle carried out his work, as usual, as a sub-officer. He shared +the shelter tents of the men, and performed his duties regularly. +He still carried a rifle; and indeed, if this had not been the rule +he would not have accepted his promotion, as he preferred fighting +with a weapon to which he was accustomed. + +His work during the day was but little changed. When the regiment +was marching in a column, four abreast, he had his appointed place +by the side of it and, when they arrived in camp, it was part of +his duty to see that the little tents were all pitched, rations +distributed, kits handed over, and the men made as comfortable as +possible. No sub-officer was obeyed with greater alacrity and, when +he returned from his picket in the early morning, he always found +his ration ready cooked for him. + +It was impossible for him to help feeling pleased at these signs of +the liking of the men, and he redoubled his efforts to cheer them +on the line of march; and to aid any men who seemed unable to climb +up through the snow, by carrying their rifles and ammunition +pouches for them. He had long since grown accustomed to carrying +weights, and was able to keep up with the most seasoned marchers. + +On two or three occasions Gholam Singh was able to report +favourably of his conduct, in thus relieving men of their arms. The +colonel always took these communications in the ordinary way. + +"There is no doubt," he said, when the conversation turned on the +subject, "that Gholam Singh must have been an accessory to young +Bullen's plot. I have been looking up the list of the deceased +sepoys, and I find that a recruit of the same name died, two days +before we marched. In some way young Bullen, if it is really the +boy, contrived to take the dead man's place and name. This could +have been very well done, without any of us knowing. None of us +were familiar with the dead man's appearance, and Gholam Singh, and +some of the other native officers, must have arranged that he +should take his place. If this has been the case I shall, of +course, be obliged to speak sharply to the risaldar major; but in +reality I shall not be very angry with him, for he will certainly +have done young Bullen a good turn." + +"I am sure it is Bullen," one of the officers said, "for when I came +up suddenly behind him, today, I heard him whistling an English tune. +Of course, it may have been played by the band when we were in camp, +but whistling is not a common Punjabi accomplishment, and I don't +know that I ever heard native boys whistle before. He stopped directly +I came up, but I could make no mistake about the tune; for I hung +behind a little, and was amused at seeing the men marching by him +trying to keep step, while they were over their knees in snow. I +caught a grin on their faces at their failure, though they looked as +grave as usual when they saw me." + +"Well, we must let things go on as they are," the colonel said, +"until we get to Chitral. Then we will have him up, and get to the +bottom of the affair. If it turns out to be Bullen, he must at once +leave the ranks and join us again. I shall then have to ask for a +commission for him, and give him temporary rank as junior +lieutenant, until an answer to my recommendation arrives. Even if +it is not Bullen, it may be--unlikely as it seems--some other +Englishman; but in any case, we could not allow an Englishman to be +in the ranks." + +"I don't think there is any doubt about it, colonel," the major +said. "I have had a good look at him, several times, and could +almost swear to his identity, well as he is got up." + +Lisle pursued the regular course of his work, in happy +unconsciousness that any suspicion as to his identity entered the +minds of his officers. His spirits were now not forced; the +fatiguing marches, the night pickets, and the pressure of his duty +so occupied his thoughts that he had little time to dwell upon his +loss. It was now three months since his father had died, and yet it +seemed to him in the far distance, so much had happened since. +Occasionally he thought with disgust that, when this was all over, +he must return to England to the uncle he had never seen, and +become a schoolboy, spending his days in study; and perhaps, in the +end, fail to pass his examination. He would be a stranger amongst +strangers. He could not expect that his uncle should feel any +particular interest in a lad he had never before seen, and he drew +pictures to himself of the long, friendless interval before, even +at the best, he could again don a uniform. + +But upon such thoughts he did not allow himself to dwell. It had to +be done, and he would, he supposed, get through it all right. He +might find friends among the fellows at the same crammer's. At any +rate, three years would soon pass, and he must make the best of it. + +"I suppose the crammer will be in London," he said. "Everything +there will be new to me and, no doubt, I shall find it very +interesting. They say that it is an immense place, to which even +the biggest Indian city is but a mere trifle. It will be curious to +see everyone in dark clothes, with none of the gay colouring of +India. + +"Father often said that the pleasantest time of his life was the +years he spent in England, while he was cramming for his exam. +There were theatres, and all sorts of other places of amusement. He +had the best of companions and, after they had finished their work, +they were at liberty to do pretty nearly whatever they liked. + +"I think I shall get my uncle to send me to the same crammer as +father went to, if he is still alive. I put down his address once, +in my pocketbook, and shall be able to find it again when I get +down to Calcutta, and recover my traps. + +"Well, I need not worry myself by thinking of it, now. It will all +come some day, and I dare say I shall find it pleasant enough, when +I once get accustomed to it." + +Such thoughts often passed through his mind at night for, during +the day, he had not a minute to himself. He was almost sure, now, +that the men had discovered his identity, by the many little marks +of kindness they had shown him, and by the manner in which his +fellow sub-officers always spoke to him with a certain air of +respect. This, however, did not worry him. He felt certain that +they would keep the secret; and at the end of the campaign he must, +of course, disclose himself and obtain his discharge. Until then, +no one would have time to think much of the matter, still less find +any opportunity of reporting it to Colonel Kelly. + +He wondered how the colonel would take it, when he went up to say +who he was. He did not think he would be very seriously angry, +though probably he would wig him sharply. At any rate he had not +done badly, and had brought no discredit to the regiment. + +He had unconsciously adopted the regimental belief that he was a +lucky man, and should get through the campaign unhurt. He was +particularly anxious that he should do so as, were he confined in +hospital for a few days, he would have no opportunity of renewing +his stain; in which case he would undoubtedly be detected. They had +advanced so far now, however, that even if he were discovered, they +could hardly send him back before he got to Chitral. He might, of +course, be detained at Reshun, which would be a horrible nuisance. + +One night his camp mate said to him: + +"You ought to be with the officers, Bullen sahib. It is not right +for you to be working as we do." + +"Why do you call me Bullen Sahib, Pertusal?" + +"Everyone knows it, sahib. Little by little we nave found you out. +We had some suspicions from the first, but now we are sure of it. +Only your father's son would have fought as you did on the hill +and, when we came to look very closely at you, we all recognized +you, in spite of your dye." + +"Then I wish I hadn't fought quite so hard, Pertusal, for I had +hoped that I had altogether escaped recognition. I thought that I +could have gone through the campaign without anyone suspecting who +I was." + +"We did not suspect at first, sahib. We quite took you for one of +ourselves. No, the cheerfulness with which you bore your hardships, +and your readiness to assist anyone, surprised us. You were so +different from us all that we could not help wondering who you +were; but I don't think any of us really suspected that you were +Captain Bullen's son, till that fight. I know that when I was busy +fighting, sorely pushed as we were, I wondered when I heard you +shout in English; and I had heard you call out so often, when you +were playing cricket with the officers, that I recognized your +voice at once. + +"Then the wonder that we felt about you ceased. It seemed for a +moment impossible, for I had seen you go off with the sick convoy. +Then it seemed to me that it was just the thing that Captain +Bullen's son might be expected to do. You would naturally want to +see fighting, but I did wonder how you managed to come back and get +enlisted into the regiment. I remember, now, that I wondered a +little the first night you joined. You were in uniform and, as a +rule, recruits don't go into uniform for some time after they have +joined. It was therefore remarkable that you should turn up in +uniform, rifle and all." + +"It was the uniform of the original Mutteh Ghar," Lisle said. "My +servant had managed to get it; and the story that I was the man's +cousin, and was therefore permitted to take his place, was natural +enough to pass." + +"But some of our officers must have helped you, sahib?" + +"Well, I won't say anything about that. I did manage to join in the +way I wanted, and you and your comrade were both very kind to me." + +"That was natural enough, sahib. You were a young recruit, and we +understood that you were put with us two old soldiers in order that +we might teach you your duty. It was not long, however, before we +found that there was very little teaching necessary for, at the end +of a week, you knew your work as well as any man in the regiment. +We thought you a wonder, but we kept our thoughts to ourselves. + +"Now that we know who you are, all the regiment is proud that your +father's son has come among us, and shared our lot down to the +smallest detail. I noticed that you were rather clumsy with your +cooking, but even in that respect you soon learned how things +should be done. + +"I suppose, sahib, we shall lose you at the end of the campaign?" + +"Yes; I shall have to start for England, at once; for in order to +gain a commission, I must study hard for two or three years. Of +course, I shall then have to declare myself to the officers, in +order to get my discharge. I am afraid that the colonel will be +very angry, but I cannot help that. I am quite sure, however, that +he will let me go, as soon as he knows who I am. It will be rather +fun to see the surprise of the officers." + +"I don't think the colonel will be angry, sahib. He might have +been, if you had not done so well; but as it is, he cannot but be +pleased that Captain Bullen's son should have so distinguished +himself, even in the 32nd Pioneers, who have the reputation of +being one of the best fighting regiments in all India." + +"Well, I hope so, Pertusal. At any rate, I am extremely glad I +came. I have seen what fighting is, and that under the most severe +conditions. I have proved to myself that I can bear hardships +without flinching; and I shall certainly be proud, all my life, +that I have been one in the column for the relief of Chitral--that +is to say, if we are the first." + +"We shall be the first," the soldier said, positively. "It is hard +work enough getting our baggage over the passes; but it will be +harder still for the Peshawar force, encumbered with such a train +as they will have to take with them. + +"Ah! Sahib, if only our food were so condensed that we could carry +a supply for twelve days about us, what would we not be able to do? +We could rout the fiercest tribe on the frontier, without +difficulty. We could march about fifteen or twenty miles a day, and +more than that, if necessary. We could do wonders, indeed." + +"I am afraid we shall never discover that," Lisle said. "The German +soldiers do indeed carry condensed meat in sausages, and can take +three or four days' supplies with them; but we have not yet +discovered anything like food of which men could carry twelve days' +supply. We may some day be able to do it but, even if it weighed +but a pound a day, it would add heavily to the load to be carried." + +"No one would mind that," Pertusal said. "Think what a comfort it +would be, if we could make our breakfast before starting, eat a +little in the middle of the day, and be sure of supper directly we +got into camp; instead of having to wait hours and hours, and +perhaps till the next morning, before the baggage train arrived. I +would willingly carry double my present load, if I felt sure that I +would gain that advantage. I know that the officers have tins of +condensed milk, one of which can make more than a gallon; and that +they carry cocoa, and other things, of which a little goes a long +way. Now, if they could condense rice and ghee like that, we should +be able to carry all that is necessary with us for twelve days. +Mutton we could always get on a campaign, for the enemy's flocks +are at our disposal; and it must be a bare place, indeed, where we +could not find enough meat to keep us going. It is against our +religion to eat beef, but few of us would hesitate to do so, on a +campaign; and oxen are even more common than sheep. + +"It is very little baggage we should have to take with us, then. +Twenty ponies would carry sufficient for the regiment; and if +government did but buy us good mules, we could always rely upon +getting them into camp before dark. See what an advantage that +would be! Ten men would do for the escort; whereas, at present, a +hundred is not sufficient." + +"Well, I wish it could be so," Lisle said. "But although some +articles of food might be compressed, I don't think we should ever +be able to compress rice or ghee. A handful of rice, when it is +boiled, makes enough for a meal; and I don't imagine that it could +possibly be condensed more than that." + +"Well, it is getting late, and we march at daylight. Fortunately we +have not to undress, but have only to turn in as we are." + + + +Chapter 4: In The Passes + + +The march after leaving Dahimol was a short one. Here they were met +by the governor of the upper parts of the valley, and he gave them +very useful details of the state of parties in Chitral, and of the +roads they would have to follow. He accompanied the force on the +next day's march, and billeted all the troops in the villages; for +which they were thankful enough, for they were now getting pretty +high up in the hills, and the nights were decidedly cold. + +They were now crossing a serious pass, and had reached the snow +line; and the troops put on the goggles they had brought with them +to protect their eyes from the dazzling glare of the snow. At two +o'clock they reached the post at Ghizr, which was held by a body of +Kashmir sappers and miners. The place had been fortified, and +surrounded by a strong zereba. The troops were billeted in the +neighbouring houses, and they halted for a day, in order to allow +the second detachment of the Pioneers and the guns to come up. +Here, also, they were joined by a hundred men of the native levies. + +When they prepared for the start, the next morning, they found that +a hundred of the coolies had bolted during the night. Two officers +were despatched to find and fetch them back. Fifty were fortunately +discovered, in a village not far off, and with these and some +country ponies the force started. They passed up the valley and +came upon a narrow plain. Here the snow was waist deep, and the men +were forced to move in single file, the leaders changing places +every hundred yards or so. + +At last they came to a stop. The gun mules sank to their girths in +the snow and, even then, were unable to obtain a footing. Men were +sent out to try the depth of the snow on both sides of the valley, +but they found no improvement. Obviously it was absolutely +impossible for the mules and ponies to get farther over the snow, +in its present state. It was already three o'clock in the +afternoon, and only eight miles had been covered. The force +therefore retired to the last village in the valley. Two hundred +Pioneers under Borradaile, the sappers, and the Hunza levies were +left here, with all the coolie transport. + +Borradaile's orders were to force his way across the pass, next +day; and entrench himself at Laspur, the first village on the other +side. He was then to send back the coolies, in order that the +remainder of the force might follow. With immense trouble and +difficulty, the kits of the party that were to proceed were sorted +out from the rest, the ammunition was divided and, at seven +o'clock, the troops who were to return to Ghizr started on their +cold march. They reached their destination after having been on +foot some fifteen hours. + +Lisle was with the advance party. They were all told off to houses +in the little village. Fires were lighted and the weary men cooked +their food and, huddling close together, and keeping the fires +alight, slept in some sort of comfort. Next morning at daybreak +they turned out and found, to their disgust, that the snow was +coming down heavily, and that the difficulties would be even +greater than on the previous day. Borradaile therefore sent back +one of the levies, with a letter saying that it was impossible to +advance; but that if the sky cleared, he would start on the +following morning. + +The Kashmir troops at Ghizr volunteered to go forward, and make a +rush through the snow; and Stewart and his lieutenant, Gough, set +out with fifty of them, taking with them half a dozen sledges that +had been made out of boxes. On arriving at Tern, Stewart found +fodder enough for the mules, and begged that the guns might be sent +up. Borradaile had started early; and Stewart with the fifty +Kashmir troops followed, staggering along dragging the guns and +ammunition. The snow had ceased, but there was a bitter wind, and +the glare from the newly-fallen snow was terrible. + +The guns, wheels, and ammunition had been told off to different +squads, who were relieved every fifty yards. In spite of the cold, +the men were pouring with perspiration. At one point in the march a +stream had to be crossed. This was done only with great difficulty, +and the rear guard did not reach the camping ground, at the mouth +of the Shandur Pass, until eleven at night; and even then the guns +had to be left a mile behind. Then the weary men had to cut fuel to +light fires. Many of them were too exhausted to attempt to cook +food, and at once went to sleep round the fires. + +Early the next morning, the Pioneers and levies started to cross +the pass. The Kashmir men brought up the guns into camp but, though +the distance was short, the work took them the best part of the +day. The march was not more than ten miles; but Borradaile's party, +though they left Langar at daylight, did not reach Laspur till +seven o'clock at night. The slope over the pass was a gradual one, +and it was the depth of the snow, alone, that caused so much delay. +The men suffered greatly from thirst, but refused to eat the snow, +having a fixed belief that, if they did so, it would bring on +violent illness. + +On arriving at the top of the pass, the Hunza levies skirmished +ahead. So unexpected was their arrival that the inhabitants of the +village were all caught and, naturally, they expressed their +extreme delight at this visit, and said that they would be glad to +help us in any way. They were taken at their word, and sent back to +bring up the guns. Their surprise was not feigned, for the +Chitralis were convinced that it would be impossible to cross the +pass, and letters were found stating that the British force was +lying at Ghizr. + +The feat, indeed, was a splendid one. Some two hundred and fifty +men, Hindoos and Mussulmans had, at the worst time of the year, +brought two mountain guns, with their carriages and ammunition, +across a pass which was blocked for some twenty miles by deep, soft +snow; at the same time carrying their own rifles, eighty rounds of +ammunition, and heavy sheepskin coats. They had slept for two +nights on the snow and, from dawn till dark, had been at work to +the waist at every step, suffering acutely from the blinding glare +and the bitter wind. Stewart and Gough had both taken their turns +in carrying the guns, and both gave their snow glasses to sepoys +who were without them. + +Borradaile's first step was to put the place in a state of defence, +and collect supplies and coolies. In the evening the guns were +brought in by the Kashmir troops, who were loudly cheered by the +Pioneers. + +Lisle had borne his share in the hardships and had done so bravely, +making light of the difficulties and cheering his comrades by his +jokes. He had escaped the thirst which had been felt by so many, +and was one of those who volunteered to assist in erecting +defences, on the evening of their arrival at Laspur. + +At two o'clock the next day, the rest of the force came into camp. +A reconnoitring party went out and, three miles ahead, came upon +the campfires of the enemy. They were seen, three miles farther +down the valley, engaged in building sangars; but as the force +consisted of only one hundred and fifty men, it was not thought +advisable to attack, and the troops consequently returned to camp. + +The next day was spent in making all the arrangements for the +advance. Messengers were sent out to all the villages, calling on +the men to come in and make their submission. This they did, at the +same time bringing in supplies and, by night, a sufficient number +of native coolies had been secured to carry all the baggage, +including ammunition and guns. + +A native chief came in with a levy of ninety native coolies. These +were found most valuable, both in the work and in obtaining +information. From their knowledge of the habits of the people, they +were able to discover where the natives had hidden their supplies; +which was generally in the most unlikely places. + +The reconnoitring party had found that, some six miles on, the snow +ceased; and all looked forward with delight to the change. A small +garrison of about a hundred, principally levies, were left at +Laspur; with instructions to come on when the second party arrived. +The main force started at nine o'clock. + +At Rahman the snow was left behind. Here they learned that the +enemy would certainly fight, between the next village and Mastuj. +Lieutenant Beynon went on with a party of levies and gained a hill, +from which he could view the whole of the enemy's position. Here he +could, with the aid of his glasses, count the men in each sangar, +and make out the paths leading up the cliffs from the river. When +he had concluded his observations, he returned and reported to +Colonel Kelly; and orders were issued for the attack, the next day. + +The levies were expected to join the next morning. They were to +advance with a guide, and turn out the enemy from the top of a +dangerous shoot; from which they would be enabled to hurl down +rocks upon the main body, as it advanced. Beynon was to start, at +six, to work through the hills to the right rear of the enemy's +position. The main body were to move forward at nine o'clock. + +Beynon encountered enormous difficulties and, in many places, he +and his men had to go on all fours to get along. He succeeded, +however, in driving off the enemy; who occupied a number of sangars +on the hills, and who could have greatly harassed the main body by +rolling down rocks upon them. + +The enemy's principal position consisted of sangars blocking the +roads to the river, up to a fan-shaped alluvial piece of ground. +The road led across this ground to the foot of a steep shoot, +within five hundred yards of sangars on the opposite side of the +river and, as it was totally devoid of any sort of shelter, it +could be swept by avalanches of stones, by a few men placed on the +heights for the purpose. + +When the troops arrived within eight hundred yards, volley firing +was opened; and the guns threw shells on the sangar on the extreme +right of the enemy's position. The enemy were soon seen leaving it, +and the fire was then directed on the next place, with the same +result. Meanwhile Beynon had driven down those of the enemy who +were posted on the hill; and general panic set in, the guns pouring +shrapnel into them until they were beyond range. + +The action was over in an hour after the firing of the first shot. +The losses on our side were only one man severely, and three +slightly wounded. After a short rest, the force again proceeded, +and halted at a small village a mile and a half in advance. A ford +was found, and the column again started. Presently they met a +portion of the garrison who, finding the besieging force moving +away, came out to see the reason. + +In the meantime, the baggage column was being fiercely attacked; +and an officer rode up, with the order that the 4th company were to +go back to their assistance. The company was standing in reserve, +eager to go forward to join in the fight and, without delay, they +now went off at the double. + +They were badly wanted. The baggage was struggling up the last +kotal that the troops had passed, and the rear guard were engaged +in a fierce fight with a great number of the enemy; some of whom +were posted on a rise, while others came down so boldly that the +struggle was sometimes hand to hand. When the 4th company reached +the scene, they were at once scattered along the line of baggage. + +For a time the enemy fell back but, seeing that the reinforcement +was not a strong one, they were emboldened to attack again. Their +assaults were repulsed with loss, but the column suffered severely +from the fire on the heights. + +"We must stop here," the officer in command said, "or we shall not +get the baggage through before nightfall; and then they would have +us pretty well at their mercy. The Punjabis must go up and clear +the enemy off the hill, till the baggage has got through." + +The Punjabis were soon gathered and, led by an English officer, +they advanced up the hill at a running pace, until they came to a +point so precipitous that they were sheltered from the enemy's +fire. Here they were halted for a couple of minutes to gain breath, +and then the order was given to climb the precipitous hill, which +was some seventy feet high. + +It was desperate work, for there were points so steep that the men +were obliged to help each other up. Happily they were in shelter +until they got to within twenty feet of its summit, the intervening +distance being a steep slope. At this point they waited until the +whole party had come up; and then, with a cheer, dashed up the +slope. + +The effect was instantaneous. The enemy, though outnumbering them +by five to one, could not for a moment withstand the line of +glittering bayonets; and fled precipitately, receiving volley after +volley from the Pioneers. As the situation was commanded by still +higher slopes, the men were at once ordered to form a breastwork, +from the stones that were lying about thickly. After a quarter of +an hour's severe work, this was raised to a height of three feet, +which was sufficient to enable the men to lie down in safety. + +By the time the work was done, the enemy were again firing heavily, +at a distance of four hundred yards, their bullets pattering +against the stones. The Punjabis, however, did not return the fire +but, turning round, directed their attention to the enemy on the +other side of the valley, who were also in considerable force. + +Illustration: He carefully aimed and fired. + +"Here!" the officer said to Lisle, "do you think you can pick off +that fellow in the white burnoose? He is evidently an important +leader, and it is through his efforts that the enemy continues to +make such fierce attacks." + +"I will try, sir," Lisle replied in Punjabi; "but I take it that +the range must be from nine hundred to a thousand yards, which is a +long distance for a shot at a single man." + +Lying down at full length, he carefully aimed and fired. The +officer was watching through his field glass. + +"That was a good shot," he said. "You missed the man, but you +killed a fellow closely following him. Lower your back sight a +trifle, and try again." + +The next shot also missed, but the third was correctly aimed, and +the Pathan dropped to the ground. Some of his men at once carried +off his body. His fall created much dismay; and as, at that moment, +the whole of the Punjabis began to pepper his followers with volley +firing, they lost heart and quickly retired up the hill. + +"Put up your sights to twelve hundred yards," the officer said. +"You must drive them higher up, if you can; for they do us as much +harm, firing from there, as they would lower down. Fire +independently. Don't hurry, but take good aim. + +"That was a fine shot of yours, Mutteh Ghar," he said to Lisle, by +whose side he was still standing; for they had gone so far down the +slope that they were sheltered from the fire behind. "But for his +fall, the baggage guard would have had to fight hard, for he was +evidently inciting his men to make a combined rush. His fall, +however, took the steam out of them altogether. How came you to be +such a good shot?" + +"My father was fond of shooting," Lisle said, "and I used often to +go out with him." + +"Well, you benefited by his teaching, anyhow," the officer said. "I +doubt if there is any man in the regiment who could have picked off +that fellow, at such a distance, in three shots. That has really +been the turning point of the day. + +"See, the baggage is moving on again. In another hour they will be +all through. + +"Now, lads, turn your attention to those fellows on the hill +behind. As we have not been firing at them for some time, they will +probably think we are short of ammunition. Let us show them that +our pouches are still pretty full! We must drive them farther away +for, if we do not, we shall get it hot when we go down to join the +rear guard. Begin with a volley, and then continue with independent +firing, at four hundred yards." + +The tribesmen were standing up against the skyline. + +"Now, be careful. At this distance, everyone ought to bring down +his man." + +Although that was not accomplished, a number of men were seen to +fall, and the rest retired out of sight. Presently heads appeared, +as the more resolute crawled back to the edge of the crest; and a +regular duel now ensued. Four hundred yards is a short range with a +Martini rifle, and it was not long before the Punjabis proved that +they were at least as good shots as the tribesmen. They had the +advantage, too, of the breastwork behind which to load, and had +only to lift their heads to fire; whereas the Pathans were obliged +to load as they lay. + +Presently the firing ceased, but the many black heads dotting the +edge of the crest testified to the accurate aim of the troops. The +tribesmen, seeing that their friends on the other side of the +valley had withdrawn, and finding that their own fire did not avail +to drive their assailants back, had at last moved off. + +For half an hour the Pioneers lay, watching the progress of the +baggage and, when the last animal was seen to pass, they retired, +taking up their position behind the rear guard. The column arrived +in camp just as night fell. + +"That young Bullen can shoot," the officer who commanded the +company said, that evening, as the officers gathered round their +fire. "When, as I told you, we had driven off the fellows on the +right of the valley, things were looking bad on the left, where a +chief in a white burnoose was working up a strong force to make a +rush. I put young Bullen on to pick him off. The range was about +nine hundred and fifty yards. His first shot went behind the chief. +I did not see where the next shot struck, but I have no doubt it +was close to him. Anyhow, the third rolled him over. I call that +splendid shooting, especially as it was from a height, which makes +it much more difficult to judge distance. + +"The chief's fall took all the pluck out of the tribesmen and, as +we opened upon them in volleys, they soon went to the right about. +We peppered them all the way up the hill and, as I could see from +my glasses, killed a good many of them. However, it took all the +fight out of them, and they made no fresh attempt to harass the +column." + +"The young fellow was a first-rate shot," the colonel said. "If you +remember he carried off several prizes, and certainly shot better +than most of us; though there were one or two of the men who were +his match. You did not speak to him in English, I hope, Villiers?" + +"No, no, colonel. You said that he was to go on as if we did not +know him, till we reached Chitral; and of course spoke to him in +Punjabi. + +"One thing is certain: if he had not brought down that chief, the +enemy would have been among the baggage in a minute or two; so his +shot was really the turning point of the fight." + +"I will make him a present of twenty rupees, in the morning," the +colonel said. "That is what I should have given to any sepoy who +made so useful a shot, and it will be rather fun to see how he +takes it." + +"You will see he will take it without winking," the major said. "He +will know very well that any hesitation would be noticed, and he +will take it as calmly as if he were a native." + +Accordingly the next morning, as the regiment fell in, the colonel +called Lisle out from the ranks. + +"Mutteh Ghar," he said, "Lieutenant Villiers reports that you did +great service, yesterday, in picking off the leader of the Pathans +who were attacking the column from the left. Here are twenty +rupees, as a token of my satisfaction." + +Lisle did not hesitate for a moment, but took off his turban, and +held it out for the colonel to drop the money into it; murmuring +his thanks as he did so. Then he put on his turban again, saluted, +and retired. + +"I told you he would not hesitate, colonel," the major laughed. +"The young beggar was as cool as a cucumber, and I doubt if we +should catch him napping, however much we tried." + +"He is a fine young fellow, major, and will make a splendid +officer. I shall be disappointed, indeed, if I fail to get him a +commission." + +"I don't think you are likely to fail, colonel. The young fellow +has really distinguished himself greatly. Even without that, the +fact that he enlisted to go through the campaign, and took his +share with the troops both in their fighting and their hardships, +would show that he really deserved a commission; even putting aside +the fact of his father's death. It would be a thousand pities if +such a promising young fellow should have to waste the next three +years of his life, cramming up classics and mathematics. It would +be like putting a young thoroughbred into a cart." + +"That is so," the colonel said; "but there is no answering for the +War Office, or saying what view they may take of any given subject. +However, if we get first to Chitral, as I feel sure we shall do, I +suppose I shall be in high favour; and they won't like to refuse so +small a request, backed as it is by the facts of the case." + +At half-past five the force marched into Mastuj, and found the +garrison comfortably settled there, and well fed. The fort was a +square building, with a tower at each corner and at the gateway. +Late in the evening the baggage came in. The enemy had made no +serious attack upon the place; and Moberley, who was in command, +had even been able to send a force to Buni, whence they brought off +Jones and the survivors of Ross's force. + +The next day a fatigue party were sent out to destroy the enemy's +sangars and, on the same day, the remaining half of the Pioneers +came up. The day was spent by those in the fort in examining the +state of supplies; and despatching messengers to all the villages +round ordering them to send in supplies, and coolies to carry the +baggage. + +On the morning of the 1st of April, Beynon was sent on to +reconnoitre the enemy's position; and returned with the report that +it was a strong one. They had got very close to it, and had a fair +view of the position. Next morning the force started, the levies +being ahead. It was a fine, bright morning. They crossed the river +on a bridge built by the sappers. + +When they reached the maidan, they found that it was a gentle, +grassy slope. The levies were in advance, with two companies in the +firing line, two in support, and the Kashmir company in reserve, In +this order they pushed on, until they came under the fire of the +sangars. Stewart brought his guns into action. After a time, the +fire of the levies drove the enemy from the nearest sangar; while +three of the Pioneer companies paid attention to another sangar. + +Beynon was sent on, to find some way down into the valley. He found +no path leading to the nullah. The drop from the edge was sheer, +for some seventy feet; then came a ledge from which he thought they +could scramble down to the edge of the stream, and thence to the +opposite side, where he noticed a track. With this information, he +went back to report to Colonel Kelly. + +The sappers were brought up and, also, a reserve company of Kashmir +troops. When Beynon got back to the nullah, he found the Pioneers +extended along the edge, and Oldham's sappers already at work. +These, aided by ropes and scaling ladders, got down to the ledge; +and from this point they and Oldham slung themselves down to the +bed of the stream, by the same means. A few sappers had followed, +when a box of dynamite exploded with a violent detonation, and the +rest of the company were called back. + +Lisle happened to be stationed at the point where the descent was +made, and when the explosion took place he seized the rope and, +sliding down, joined the two officers and the eleven sappers who +had passed. They scrambled to the opposite side, and saw that the +Pioneers were moving down the nullah towards the river, while the +levies were nearing the sangars. The enemy were seen bolting, and +the little party opened fire upon them. The sappers were armed only +with carbines, which were uncertain at so long a range; but Lisle, +with his rifle, brought down an enemy at every shot. + +"That is a good one," he muttered, as a mounted officer at whom he +had aimed fell from his horse. + +He was startled when the man behind him said: + +"Hillo, young fellow, who on earth are you? + +"I will tell you after it is done, sir," Lisle said. "But I hope +you will keep my secret." + +Some of the levies and a few Pioneers now came up, and they learned +what had been the cause of the explosion. The Kashmir company had +not followed and, as the sappers were at work, they had laid down +cakes of dynamite at the head of the pass. One of the enemy's +bullets striking these had ignited them, and the troops there were +called upon to retire. The enemy, seeing our men falling back, +rushed out of their sangars and opened fire; but were speedily +driven in again by volleys from the Pioneers. Just then the levies +showed on the ridge, and the Pioneers moved down the nullah, by a +goat track they had found. + +The battle was now over, and a company of Pioneers were sent ahead +to the next village, while the rest of the force encamped. When all +were settled down, Lisle saw Lieutenant Moberley walking along the +lines of the regiment, and evidently looking for someone. Lisle +hesitated a minute. If he remained quiet he might not be recognized +by the officer, but in that case the latter might report what he +had heard, and an investigation might be made. He therefore went +forward to the officer. + +"Ah!" the latter said, "you are the man I heard speak in English." + +"It was very foolish, sir, but I had no idea that I should be +overheard." + +"Well, who are you, and how in the world is it that you are a +private in the Pioneers?" + +"My father was Captain Bullen, who was killed in a native raid. I +remained with the regiment for a time, because there was no +opportunity of my being sent home. I wanted to see the campaign, so +I took the place of a sepoy who had died and, as I speak the +language perfectly, it has never been suspected that I was anything +but what I seem." + +"Well, lad, I will keep your secret for a time, but when we get to +Chitral I think it will be my duty to tell the colonel; especially +as I shall report that you were with me, and behaved with the +greatest coolness, accounting for at least eight of the enemy. The +campaign will be over, then, for we know that the Peshawar column +are also near Chitral, so that there will be no chance of further +fighting. + +"I don't suppose you will be sent home. You have shown yourself a +man, and I have no doubt that Colonel Kelly will make some mention +in his report of your conduct, and strongly recommend you for a +commission. In the circumstances, I should think it would be +granted." + +"Thank you indeed, sir! I am very comfortable as I am." + +"How old are you? + +"I am nearly sixteen, sir." + +"Well, it won't be necessary to report that, for the people at home +would consider you too young. I am sure you deserve a commission +for the pluck you showed, in taking your place as a private among +the natives. Your knowledge of the language, too, will be an +argument in your favour. + +"How was it that you joined our little party?" + +"I acted on the impulse of the moment. I happened to be at the spot +when your party were going down, and I saw that you would soon be +in the thick of it, while we were only firing. I was just thinking +about it, when there was a great burst of flame behind me. I did +not know what it was, but that decided me. I caught hold of the +rope and slipped down. + +"Thank you very much for your promise, sir," and, saluting, Lisle +drew back to his comrades. + +"What was he saying to you?" one asked. + +"He was asking how it was that I came to be among his party; and +when I explained how it was that I left my place, he seemed +perfectly satisfied; so I don't expect I shall hear anything more +about it." + +On the first day's march they came upon a deserted fort, where +enough grain was discovered to last the force for months. Enough +flour was also found to give a shovelful to each of the coolies; +who were highly gratified, for most of them were altogether without +food. The remainder of the flour was distributed among the sepoys, +and as much grain was taken as carriage could be found for. + +The next day's march was through a cultivated country. Six more +marches took them to Chitral. They met with no opposition whatever, +and their greatest trouble was in crossing rivers, the bridges +having been destroyed. + +When within a day's march from Chitral, they met a man bearing +letters from the town. It was from Mr. Robertson, saying that Sher +Afzul had fled on the night of the 18th of April; and that on that +night the siege was raised. It also contained a list of the +casualties, to be forwarded to England; the number being a hundred +and four killed and wounded, out of one thousand and seventy +combatants. + +The force marched in at noon, the next day; and were received with +great joy by the garrison. They bivouacked round the castle and, on +the following day, the Kashmir garrison came out and camped with +them; rejoicing much at the change from the poisoned atmosphere of +the fort. They were mere walking skeletons. + +Some days later the 3rd Brigade under General Gatacre arrived, +followed by General Low and the headquarter staff. + +The day after their arrival at Chitral, one of Kelly's orderlies +came into the line and enquired for Mutteh Ghar. A short time +before, Lisle had noticed Gholam Singh leave the colonel's tent; +and guessed that he had been sharply questioned, by the colonel, as +to the name he had gone under in the regiment. He at once followed +the orderly to the tent. + +"This is a nice trick you have played us, Lisle," the colonel said, +as he entered. "To think that while we all thought you on your way +down to Calcutta, you were acting as a private in the regiment! It +was very wrong of Gholam Singh to consent to your doing so; but I +was so pleased to know that you were here that I could not bring it +in my heart to blow him up as he deserved. Unquestionably, he acted +from the respect and affection that he felt for your father. + +"What put the idea into your head?" + +"I had quite made up my mind to go with the regiment, sir; and +should have come as a mule driver or a coolie, if I had not got +into the ranks." + +"Well, it is done and cannot be undone. Lieutenant Moberley has +reported most favourably of your conduct in the last fight, and +Gholam Singh says that your conduct as a private has been +excellent. You have become a great favourite with the men, by the +cheerfulness with which you bore the hardships of the march; and +kept up the spirits of the men by your jokes and example. + +"But of course, this cannot go on. You must again become one of us +and, on the march down, do officer's duty. I shall not fail to +report the matter, and shall recommend you for a commission. I feel +sure that, as the son of Captain Bullen, and for the services you +have rendered during the campaign, together with your knowledge of +the language, my recommendation will be effective. + +"But I don't know what we can do about clothes. We are all +practically in rags, and have only the things that we stand in." + +"I have brought a suit with me in my kit, sir; and as we have had +no inspection of kits, since we marched, they have not been +noticed." + +"Very well, lad. Put them on, and come back again in an hour. I +will have the other officers of the regiment here. They will, I am +sure, all be heartily glad to see you again. + +"I suppose that stain won't get off you, for some time?" + +"I don't think it will last over a week, sir; for I have had no +chance of renewing it since our last fight. It is not so dark as it +was, by a good bit; and I had intended to steal away, today, and +renew it." + +"We are all so sun burnt, or rather so snow burnt, that you are not +much darker than the rest of us. Well, then, I shall expect you in +an hour. You will, of course, hand over your uniform, rifle, and +accoutrements to the quartermaster sergeant." + +"Yes, sir." + +Lisle went back to the lines and, taking his kit, went some little +distance out of camp. Here he took off his uniform and put on the +clothes he had worn before starting. He folded the uniform up and +placed it, with his rifle and accoutrements, in a little heap. + +Then he went to the tent where Robah's master lived. He had often +spoken to Robah during the march and, waiting till he could catch +his eye, he beckoned to him to come to him. Robah was immensely +surprised at seeing him in his civilian dress, and hurried up to +him. + +"I have been found out, Robah, and am to join the officers on the +march down. I am at present a young gentleman at large. You see +that tree up there? At the foot you will find my uniform, rifle, +and accoutrements. I want you to carry them to the quartermaster +sergeant, and tell him to put them in store, as Mutteh Ghar has +left the regiment. Of course, the story will soon be known, but I +don't wish it to get about till I have seen the colonel again. I am +glad to say that he is not angry with me; and has not reprimanded +Gholam Singh, very severely, for aiding me in the matter." + +Robah at once started on his mission, and Lisle then went into the +camp, and strolled about until it was time to repair to the +colonel's tent. He found the eight officers of the regiment +gathered there. + +"We were not mistaken, gentlemen," the colonel said. "This young +scamp, instead of going down to Calcutta, left the convoy after it +had marched a mile or two. Gholam Singh was in the secret, and had +furnished him with the uniform and rifle of a man who had died, the +day before. He put this on and marched boldly in. The other native +officers of the company were in the secret, and gave out to the men +that this was a new recruit, a cousin of the man we had just lost. + +"Under that title he has passed through the campaign; living with +the soldiers, sharing all their hardships; and being, for a time at +least, altogether unsuspected of being aught but what he appeared. +Gholam Singh said that his conduct was excellent; that he was a +great favourite, with the men, for the good humour with which he +bore the hardships. He was with Beynon and Moberley, and showed +great pluck and steadiness in picking off several of the enemy, as +they fled. + +"Fortunately, Moberley overheard him mutter to himself in English, +and so the matter came out. Moberley promised to keep silence till +we got here and, this morning, he told the whole story. Of course, +we could not have poor Bullen's son remaining a private in the +Pioneers, and he has joined us under the old conditions. I have +given him the rank of lieutenant, and shall recommend him for a +commission; which I have no doubt he will get, not only as the son +of an officer who had done excellent service, but for the pluck and +enterprise he has shown. His perfect knowledge of Punjabi will +also, of course, count in his favour." + +The officers all shook hands cordially with him, and congratulated +him on the manner in which he had carried out his disguise; and he +was at once made a member of the mess. Afterwards, two or three of +them walked with him down to the lines of his company. The men +regarded them with interest, and then burst into a loud cheer. + +"That is good," the officer said. "It shows that you like him. +Henceforth he will rank as one of the officers; and I hope you will +all like him, in that capacity, as well as you did when he was one +of yourselves." + +They then walked off, leaving the company in a state of excitement. + +In the afternoon, at mess, Lisle learned the whole details of the +siege, which had been gathered from the officers of the garrison. +On March 2nd, Mr. Robertson received information that Sher Afzul +had arrived in the valley and, the next day, news came that he was, +with a large following, at a small house in a ravine, about a mile +and a quarter from the fort. Captain Campbell, with two hundred of +the Kashmir Rifles, was sent out to make a reconnaissance. He was +accompanied by Captains Townshend and Baird, and by Surgeon Captain +Whitchurch and Lieutenant Gurdon. The rest were left in the bazaar, +to hold the road. + +The enemy, one hundred and fifty strong, were seen on the bare spur +which forms the right bank of the ravine. To test whether or not +they were hostile, a single shot was fired over them. They at once +opened a heavy fire on the party and, at the same time, Captain +Townshend became engaged with some of the enemy who were in hiding +among rocks--evidently in considerable strength. It was +subsequently discovered that, very shortly after Captain Campbell's +party left the fort, and before hostilities began, the enemy had +opened fire on the fort, and had crossed the river. + +Captain Baird now advanced across the mouth of the ravine, and +charged up the spur; the enemy retreating before them, firing as +they went. Captain Baird fell, mortally wounded; and Lieutenant +Gurdon, who had carried a message to him, was left in command. The +enemy descended into the ravine and, crossing to the left bank, +took Gurdon in rear. + +In the meantime, affairs had not been going well with Captain +Townshend's party. He had advanced within two hundred yards of the +hamlet, keeping his men as well as he could under shelter, and +firing in volleys. The enemy, however, kept on advancing, and +overlapping his force on both flanks. They were well armed and +skilful marksmen, and took shelter in such a marvellous way that +there was nothing for our men to fire at, except a few puffs of +smoke. + +Captain Campbell then ordered a charge with the bayonet, to clear +the hamlet. It was gallantly led, by Captain Townshend and two +native officers. The ground being perfectly open, and the fire of +the enemy being steady and continuous, the two native officers and +four sepoys were killed at once. + +When they got within forty yards of the village, which was +concealed in a grove of trees, they found that it was a large +place; with a wall, three hundred feet in length, behind which the +enemy were posted in perfect cover. There was nothing for it but to +retreat. Captain Campbell was, at this moment, shot in the knee; +and Captain Townshend assumed the command. Captain Campbell was +carried to the rear, and the force retired in alternate parties. + +The retreat, however, was conducted slowly and deliberately; though +the enemy, who came running out, soon overlapped the little +column--some even getting behind it, while groups of fanatic +swordsmen, from time to time, charged furiously down upon it. From +all the hamlets they passed through, a fire was opened upon them by +the Chitralis, those who were supposed to be friendly having gone +over to the other side. So heavy was the fire that, at last, +Townshend ordered his men to double. This they did with great +steadiness; and he was able to rally them, without difficulty, at a +small hamlet, where he found Mr. Robertson encouraging the men he +had brought out. A message was sent to the fort for reinforcements, +and Lieutenant Harley led out fifty of the Sikhs, and covered the +retreat to the fort. + +In the meantime Gurdon, with his detachment and Captain Baird, were +still far away on the steep side of the ravine. Dr. Whitchurch, who +had dressed Baird's wound, was sent to take him to the rear; and it +was then that Townshend's party began to retreat and, after fierce +fighting, arrived at the fort, where they found that Whitchurch had +not arrived. + +The doctor had with him a handful of sepoys and Kashmir Rifles, and +some stretcher bearers, under the command of a native officer. +Matters had developed so rapidly that, in a very short time, they +were behind Townshend's retreating parties, round which the enemy +were swarming; and when the retirement became a rapid retreat, they +dropped farther behind. Small detached parties soon became aware of +their position, and attacked them. Three men, who were carrying the +stretcher, were killed by successive shots and, when the fourth was +hit, the stretcher could be no longer carried; so Captain Baird was +partly carried, and partly dragged along the ground. + +The enemy's fire became so hot that the party were compelled to +make for the river bank. They had to charge, and carry, two or +three stone walls. Once they were completely surrounded, but the +gallant Kashmirs charged the enemy so furiously with rifle and +bayonet that, at last, they made a way through them and reached the +fort, where they had been given up for lost. Thirteen men, in all, +came in; but only seven of these had fought their way through with +Whitchurch; the other six being fugitives, who had joined him just +before he had reached the fort. Half of Whitchurch's little party +were killed, and Baird had been, again, twice wounded. Whitchurch, +himself, marvellously escaped without a wound. No finer action was +ever performed than that by this little body. + +The total casualties of the day were very heavy. Of the hundred and +fifty men actually engaged, twenty non-commissioned officers and +men were killed, and twenty-eight wounded. Of the officers, Captain +Campbell was badly wounded, and Captain Baird died on the following +morning. The two native officers were killed. + +The enemy's strength was computed to be from a thousand to twelve +hundred men. Of these, five hundred were Umra Khan's men, who were +armed with Martinis. Many of the others carried Sniders. + +The whole of the Chitralis had now joined Sher Afzul, most of them +doubtless being forced to do so, by fear of the consequences that +would ensue should they refuse. The little fort thus stood +isolated, in the midst of a powerful enemy and a hostile +population. The villages stood on higher ground than the fort and, +from all of them, a constant fusillade was kept up on the garrison, +while they were engaged in the difficult work of putting the fort +into a better condition of defence. + +The first thing to be done was, of course, to take stock of the +stores; and the next to estimate how many days it would last. +Everyone was put upon half rations, and it was calculated that they +could hold out two and a half months. It was found that they had +two hundred and eighty rounds per man, besides Snider ammunition +for the Kashmir Rifles, and three hundred rounds of Martini +ammunition for the Sikhs. + +When the fort was first occupied, it was found that there was an +exposed approach to the river from the water tower, about thirty +yards in width; and a covered way was at once built, going right +down into the water. All through the siege this covered way was the +main object of the enemy's attack; for they knew that, if they +could cut off the water, they could easily reduce the garrison. + +An abutment in the south wall of the fort, overlooking the garden, +had been converted into a little bastion. The worst feature of the +fort, however, was the large number of little buildings immediately +outside the walls. These and the walls of the garden were +demolished by moonlight. The stables, which were on the river face +near the water tower, were loopholed; and efforts were made to +loophole the basement walls of the tower, but these had to be +abandoned, as there was a danger of disturbing the foundations. + +Among the various ingenious plans hit upon by the besieged, one +proved particularly useful. Loopholes were made in the gun tower; a +wall was built up in the face of the water gate; and fireplaces +were constructed by which the wood, being laid on a slab of stone, +was pushed out some feet from the wall, and could be drawn into the +fort when it was necessary to replenish the fire, without those +attending it being exposed. These fires proved invaluable, when +attacks were made upon dark nights. Projecting, as they did, seven +feet from the wall, they threw it into shadow, so that the enemy +could not see what to fire at; and, at the same time, they lit up +the ground in front brilliantly, so that the defenders could make +out their assailants, and fire with accuracy. + +The fort was eighty yards in length. The walls were twenty-five +feet in height, and the five towers fifty feet. It lay in a hollow +in the lowest part of the valley, and was commanded on all sides by +hills, on which the enemy erected numerous sangars. As, from these, +the men moving about inside the fort were clearly visible to the +enemy, barricades of stones had to be erected, along the sides of +the yards, to afford cover to the men as they went to and from +their posts. + +On March 5th a letter was received from Umra Khan, stating that the +British troops must leave Chitral at once, and that he would +guarantee them a safe conduct. The offer was, naturally, refused. +Next night the enemy, about two hundred strong, made a determined +effort to fire the water tower. They brought faggots with them and, +in spite of the heavy volleys poured upon them managed, under cover +of the darkness, to creep into the tunnel leading to the water, and +to light a large fire underneath the tower. They were, however, +driven out; and three water carriers went into the tunnel, and put +out the fire. They were just in time, for the flames had taken a +firm hold of the wooden beams. + +After this, twenty-five men were always stationed in the tower and, +at night, another picket of twenty-five men were placed in the +covered way leading to the water. The entrance to this, at the +water side, was exposed to the enemy's fire; but a barricade of +stones, with interstices to allow the water to go through, was +built into the river, and formed an efficient screen to the water +bearers. + +On the night of the 14th, the enemy again made an attack on the +water bearers, but were repulsed with loss. The water way was, +indeed, a source of constant anxiety. Between it, and the trees at +the northwest corner of the fort, there was a stretch of seventy +yards of sandy beach; lying underneath an overhanging bank, which +entirely covered it from the fire of the fort, so that the enemy +were able to get right up to the water tunnel without exposing +themselves. + +On the 15th, Sher Afzul sent in a messenger, to say that a party of +sepoys had been defeated at Reshun, and that an officer was captive +in his camp. The next day a letter was received from Lieutenant +Edwardes. A truce was made for three days and, afterwards, extended +to six; but this came to an end on the 23rd of March, and +hostilities again began. + +The prospect was gloomy. The men were beginning to suffer in health +from their long confinement, the paucity of their rations, and the +terribly insanitary condition of the fort; and they had not heard +of the approach of either Colonel Kelly's force or that under Sir +Robert Low. + +During the truce, a union jack had been made, and this was now +hoisted on the flag tower, as a symbol of defiance. This cheered +the spirits of the men and depressed those of the enemy, who began +to see that the task before them was far more serious than they had +hitherto supposed. + +Gradually the attacks of the enemy became more feeble and, although +the firing was almost continuous, it seemed as if the assailants +trusted rather to famine, to reduce the fort, than to any exertion +on their part. On April 6th they were very active, making two large +sangars close to the main gate. Near these, and only fifty yards +away from the gun tower, they were also hard at work, all day, in +the summer house to the east of the fort. + +The garrison, however, now received the news that a relief force +had already arrived at Mastuj; in consequence of which they were +saved from a further diminution of their scanty rations, which was +already under discussion. The officers were comparatively well off, +as they had plenty of horse flesh; but this the sepoys would not +eat. The supply of ghee, which forms so prominent a part in the +diet of the natives, had already given out; and the sepoys had +nothing but a scanty allowance of flour to maintain life. + +The news that the relief party had arrived at Mastuj greatly +cheered the garrison. That relief would come, sooner or later, they +had no doubt; but they had not even hoped that it could be so near. +While, however, the news thus raised the spirits of the defenders, +it at the same time showed their assailants that, unless they +obtained a speedy success, the game would be altogether up. + +Before daybreak on the morning of the 7th, a terrific fire was +opened upon the walls. The enemy were evidently in great strength. +In an instant everyone was at his post, and steady volleys were +poured into the darkness, on the garden side of the fort, whence +the chief attack seemed to be coming. Suddenly a strong light was +seen near the gun tower, and it was found that the enemy had heaped +faggots against the walls. These, being constructed partly of wood, +gradually caught fire. + +Mr. Robertson, with some of the levies, horse keepers, and +servants, at once set to work to extinguish the flames; but the +conflagration was too much for them. The troops in reserve were +then sent to aid them. The work was dangerous and difficult, the +flames raged fiercely, and the enemy kept up a tremendous fire from +behind the walls of the summer house. Nevertheless the men worked +their hardest, throwing down earth and water on the fire. + +Many were wounded at the work. The fire was so fierce that large +holes had to be knocked through the lower stories of the tower, +through which to attack the flames; and it was not until ten +o'clock that the efforts of the besieged were crowned with success, +and all was again quiet. Nothing could have exceeded the bravery +and devotion shown by the native levies, the non-combatants, +officers' servants, water carriers, syces, and even the Chitralis. + +Great precautions were taken to prevent similar attempts to fire +any of the towers. Earth was brought up, and water stored. The +water carriers slept with the great leathern bags which they +carried, full; and a special fire picket was organized. When, on +the evening of the 15th, the enemy again tried to fire the gun +tower, they were repulsed without difficulty. On the following +night a determined attack in force was made, on all sides of the +fort; but was defeated with much loss. + +The enemy now began to make a great noise, with drums and pipes, in +the summer house. This lasted continuously for several days, and +one of the natives, who was aware that the enemy had started +tunnelling, guessed that this stir might possibly be made to drown +the noise of the mining. Men were put on to listen and, at +midnight, the sentry in the gun tower reported that he heard the +noise and, next morning, the sound was distinctly audible within a +few feet of the tower. + +It was evident that there was no time to be lost and, at four +o'clock in the afternoon, Lieutenant Harley and a hundred men +issued from the fort, at the garden gate, and rushed at the summer +house. It was held by forty of the enemy, who fired a volley, and +fled after some sharp hand-to-hand fighting. The head of the mine +was found to be in the summer house, and the tunnel was full of +Chitralis. + +Harley stationed his men in the summer house to repel any attack +and, with five sepoys, jumped down into the mine. The Chitralis, +about thirty in number, came swarming out but, after a fierce +fight, they were bayoneted. The mine was then cleared, and +gunpowder placed in position. + +Two Chitralis, who had lain quiet at the other end of the tunnel, +tried to make their escape in the turmoil. One of the sepoys fired, +and must have hit a bag of gunpowder; for immediately there was a +violent explosion, and the mine was blown up, from end to end. +Harley was knocked over, and the Sikhs who were with him had their +hair and clothes singed; but none of the party were otherwise hurt. + +All this time, the sepoys in the summer house had been subject to a +heavy fusillade from a breastwork, close by, and from the loopholed +walls in the garden; while from all the distant sangars and hills a +continuous fire was opened, the natives evidently believing that +the garrison were making a last and desperate sortie. + +The work done, Harley and his men hurried back to the fort, having +been out of it an hour and ten minutes. Of the hundred that went +out twenty-two were hit, nine mortally. In and around the summer +house, thirty-five of the enemy were bayoneted, and a dozen more +shot. That evening the garrison began to drive a couple of counter +mines, to intercept any other mines that the enemy might attempt to +make. + +On the 18th the enemy were very quiet and, in the middle of the +night, a man approached the fort and called out that Sher Afzul had +fled, and that the relieving force was near at hand. Lieutenant +Gurdon was sent out to reconnoitre, and he found that the whole +place was deserted. The next afternoon, Colonel Kelly's force +arrived. + + + +Chapter 5: Promoted. + + +As he was not now in uniform, Lisle kept carefully out of sight +when General Gatacre's force marched in, which it did very shortly +after Colonel Kelly's arrival. This was probably unnecessary +caution for, in addition to Mr. Robertson, there were two or three +other civilians in the garrison; but he was desirous of escaping +observation until General Low, who would arrive next day, should +have heard of his escapade. + +At mess, however, several officers of General Gatacre's force dined +with the regiment; who had exerted themselves to the utmost to +provide a banquet for their guests. Most of these had, at one time +or other, been cantoned with the Pioneers. Two or three of the +junior officers were introduced to the newcomers, among them Lisle. + +"This gentleman," the colonel said, "is Mr. Lisle Bullen, son of +the late Captain Bullen; who you have doubtless heard was killed, +some little time ago, while storming a hill fort. He is at present +acting as temporary lieutenant of my regiment." + +The officers looked with some surprise at Lisle's still darkened +face. + +"I see you are surprised, gentlemen," the colonel said, "but there +is a tale that hangs to that colour. I will relate it to you after +dinner; but I may say that Bullen is not a half caste, as you might +think, but of pure English blood." + +At this moment dinner was announced. A temporary mess tent had been +erected. It was open at the sides, and composed of many-coloured +cloths. The party sat down under this. There was no cloth, and the +dinner was served on a miscellaneous variety of dishes, for the +most part of tin. Each guest brought his own knife, fork, and +stool. It was a merry party and, after the table had been cleared, +the colonel said: + +"In the first place, Maneisty, you must give us the story of your +doings; of which we have, at the present, heard only the barest +outline." + +"It is rather a long story, colonel." + +"We have nothing else to talk about, here. We have seen no +newspapers for a long time, and know nothing of what is going on +outside; and therefore can't argue about it, or express opinions as +to whether or not the government have, as usual, blundered. +Therefore, the more detail you tell us, the better pleased we shall +be." + +"As you know, the first army corps, fourteen thousand strong, were +ordered early in March to concentrate; so that when the news came +that the garrison of Chitral were in serious danger, the manoeuvres +were being carried out, but it was not until late in the day that +the troops were able to move forward. The brigade marched to +Jellala without tents, taking with them supplies sufficient for +twenty days. The next morning the 2nd and 3rd Brigade went on to +Dargai. The weather was cold and wet, and the roads soft. + +"It had been given out that the 1st Brigade were to go by the +Shakot Pass. This was only a ruse to deceive the enemy, and keep +them from concentrating on the Malakand. Subsequently an officer +rode up the Shakot Pass, and found it to be much more difficult +than the Malakand, and more strongly fortified. Orders were sent, +in the middle of the night, for the 1st Brigade to proceed at once +to Dargai. Early in the morning a reconnaissance was made by +General Blood, and a large body of the enemy were seen. It was +evident that the passage of the pass was to be disputed. + +"Starting from Dargai, the pass went through a gradually narrowing +valley for about two miles; then bending to the northeast for a +mile and a half, the hills on the west rising precipitously to a +great height. On reaching the bend, the pass was strongly held on +the west side. + +"The 4th Sikhs went out on the flank. The Guides Infantry were +directed to ascend the highest point of the western hill and, from +this, to enfilade the enemy. It was a most arduous task, as they +had to ascend the highest peak of the range, some fifteen hundred +feet. Here several sangars had been erected by the enemy, who +hurled down rocks and stones. + +"In the meantime the main force advanced, and could make out the +general position of the enemy. They occupied the whole of the crest +of the western hill, having constructed numerous sangars down its +side, each commanding the one below it. The greater part of their +force was more than halfway down the hill, at the point where it +descended precipitously into the valley. It was only at this point +that the western side of the pass was held. + +"Three batteries were sent up on this side. These attacked position +after position on the eastern slope, and their fire was so accurate +that it effectually prevented the enemy on the eastern side from +concentrating. + +"When the advance began, it was evident that little could be done +until the Guides had secured the position they had been ordered to +take. It was soon seen that they were very seriously outnumbered. +The Gordon Highlanders had moved up the crest of the western hill, +at the point where it touched the valley. The Scottish Borderers +had hastened up the centre spur; the 60th Rifles were ordered up +the slope, farther back in the line; while the Bedfordshire and +37th Dogras rounded the point on which the Gordon Highlanders began +the ascent and, turning to the left, climbed the hill from the +northern side. The 15th Sikhs were held in reserve. + +"The brunt of the fighting fell upon the Gordon Highlanders and the +Borderers. Making as they did a direct attack, they met with a +sturdy resistance. Several of the sangars were carried by +hand-to-hand fighting; indeed, had the advance not been so well +covered by the fire of our guns, it is doubtful whether the +position could have been captured. + +"It was one of the finest scenes I ever saw. The hillside was +literally covered with fire. We could see the two Scotch regiments +pushing on, and attacking the sangars by rushes; while above them +the shells from the guns and fire from the Maxims prevented the +holders of the upper sangars from coming down to the assistance of +those below. The moment the attacking troops reached the top, the +enemy fled down the western slopes. The action began at 8:30 A.M., +and concluded at 2 P.M. The enemy's loss was admitted, by +themselves, to be about five hundred; ours was only eleven killed, +and eight officers and thirty-nine men wounded. + +"The 1st Brigade remained at the top of the pass, while its baggage +mules moved up. The path was so bad that only a few mules reached +the top that night. It was afterwards found that, if we had taken +the path, we should have suffered most severely; as it was +discovered that the walls of the sangars had been perforated with +lateral slits, commanding every turn. + +"On the following day the 1st Brigade descended into the Swat +Valley. Its place on the pass was taken by the 2nd. As soon as the +1st Brigade got free of the pass, they were fired upon by the +enemy, who had taken up a position on the Amandarra. + +"The mountain battery was at once brought into action, and began +shelling the sangars. Under its cover the Bedfordshires moved +forward, and drove the enemy from their position. Here they fought +with extreme obstinacy. The 37th Dogras carried a spur to the left, +and sent back news that a great body of the enemy were advancing. A +squadron of the Guides cavalry charged them, killing about thirty, +and putting the rest to flight. + +"The transport was now being gradually pushed up, and the brigade +encamped at Khar, at half-past seven. As the enemy were in great +force on the surrounding hills, a night attack was expected, and +the troops lay down with fixed bayonets. + +"The capture of these passes spread great consternation through the +Swat valleys, as the tribes had always believed that they were +impregnable, and boasted that an enemy had never entered their +territory. They had fought with desperate bravery to defeat us; +although we had no quarrel with them, and merely wished to get +through their country to reach Chitral. Curiously enough, they had +a strong belief in our magnanimity, and several of their wounded +actually came into camp to be attended to by our surgeons. + +"On the 5th of April the 1st Brigade remained all day in camp, the +2nd Brigade going on seven or eight miles farther. Early on the +morning of the 7th, a party went down the river to make a bridge. A +heavy fire was opened upon them, and the whole of the 2nd Brigade +and the 15th Sikhs from the 1st Brigade went out in support. + +"While the 11th Bengal Lancers were searching for a ford, they came +under a heavy fire from a village at the foot of a knoll, 600 yards +from the river. A mountain battery quickly silenced this fire, and +two squadrons of Bengal Lancers and one of the Guides, crossing the +ford, pursued the enemy five or six miles, and cut off about a +hundred of them. Opposite the village they discovered another ford, +where two could pass at once and, the next day, the rest of the +brigade followed them. The people of the Swat Valley speedily +accommodated themselves to the situation, and brought in sheep, +fowls, and other things for sale. + +"On the 9th, headquarters joined the 2nd Brigade at Chakdara, and +the 3rd Brigade encamped on the south side of the river. On the +11th the headquarters and the 2nd Brigade arrived at the Panjkora +River. A bridge had to be built across this but, on the 13th, just +as it was finished, a flood came down and washed it away. + +"A party were sent across at daybreak to burn the villages; which +had, during the night, been firing on the advance guard of the 2nd +Brigade. They accomplished their work but, while engaged upon it, +were attacked by a very large force. The carrying away of the +bridge rendered the position extremely dangerous, and the force was +ordered, by signal, to fall back upon the river; while the Brigade +covered their retreat from the opposite bank. The retreating column +was sorely pressed, although the Maxim guns and the mountain +battery opened fire upon the enemy. Colonel Battye was mortally +wounded, and so hotly did the Afridis follow up their attack that a +company of the Guides fixed bayonets, and charged them. + +"As, however, the enemy still persisted in their attack, the force +set to work to entrench themselves. This they managed to do, with +the aid of a Maxim gun of the 11th; which had crossed one of the +branches of the river, and got into a position flanking the +entrenchments. All night the enemy kept up a heavy fire. In the +morning the force were still unable to pass. However, during the +day the 4th Sikhs came across on rafts, and passed the night with +them. The force was much exhausted, for they had been more than +forty-eight hours without a meal. + +"Working day and night, in forty-eight hours another bridge was +constructed, on the suspension system, with telegraph wires. Until +it was finished, communication was maintained with the other bank +by means of a skin raft, handled by two active boatmen. + +"We had only one more fight, and that was a slight one. Then the +news reached us that the position of Chitral was serious, and +General Gatacre was hurried forward with our force." + +"You had some tough fighting," the colonel said, "but the number of +your casualties would seem to show that ours was the stiffer task. +At the same time we must admit that, if you hadn't been detained +for six or seven days at that river, you would have beaten us in +the race." + +"Yes, we were all mad, as you may well imagine, at being detained +so long there. Our only hope was that your small force would not be +able to fight its way through, until our advance took the spirit +out of the natives. Certainly they fought very pluckily, in their +attacks upon the force that had crossed; and that action came very +close to being a serious disaster. + +"The flood that washed away our bridge upset all our calculations. +I almost wonder that the natives, when they found that we could not +cross the river, did not hurry up to the assistance of the force +that was opposing you. If they had done so, it would have been very +awkward." + +"It would have gone very hard with us, for they are splendid +skirmishers and, if we had not had guns with us to effectually +prevent them from concentrating anywhere, and had had to depend +upon rifle fire alone, I have some doubts whether our little force +would have been able to make its way through the defiles." + +"Well, it has been a good undertaking, altogether; and I hope that +the punishment that has been inflicted will keep the tribes quiet +for some years." + +"They will probably be quiet," the officer said, "till trouble +breaks out in some other quarter, and then they will be swarming +out like bees." + +"It is their nature to be troublesome," the colonel said. "They are +born fighters, and there is no doubt that the fact that most of +them have got rifles has puffed them up with the idea that, while +they could before hold their passes against all intruders, it would +be now quite impossible for us to force our way in, when they could +pick us off at twelve hundred paces. + +"I wish we could get hold of some of the rascally traders who +supply them with rifles of this kind. I would hang them without +mercy. Of course, a few of the rifles have been stolen; but that +would not account in any way for the numbers they have in their +hands. A law ought to be passed, making it punishable by death for +any trader to sell a musket to a native; not only on the frontier, +but throughout India. The custom-house officers should be forced to +search for them in every ship that arrives; the arms and ammunition +should be confiscated; and the people to whom they are consigned +should be fined ten pounds on every rifle, unless it could be +proved that the consignment was made to some of the native princes, +who had desired them for the troops raised as subsidiary forces to +our own." + +The colonel then related Lisle's story in the campaign, which +created unbounded surprise among the guests. + +"It was a marvellous undertaking for a young fellow to plan and +carry out," one of them said. "There are few men who could have +kept up the character; fewer still who would have attempted it, +even to take part in a campaign. I am sure, colonel, that we all +hope your application for a commission for him will be granted; for +he certainly deserves it, if ever a fellow did." + +There was a general murmur of assent and, shortly afterwards, the +meeting broke up; for it was already a very late hour. + +The rest of the campaign was uneventful. Lisle speedily fell back +into the life he had led before the campaign began, except that he +now acted as an officer. He already knew so much of the work that +he had no difficulty, whatever, in picking up the rest of his +duties. He was greatly pleased that the colonel said nothing more +to Gholam Singh, and the native officers of his company and, by the +time the regiment marched back to Peshawar, he was as efficient as +other officers of his rank. + +He had, after his father's death, written down to his agents at +Calcutta; and had received a thousand rupees of the sum standing to +his account, in their hands. He was therefore able to pay his share +of the mess expenses; which were indeed very small for, with the +exception of fowls and milk, it was impossible to buy anything to +add to the rations given to them. + +The march down was a pleasant one. There was no longer any occasion +for speed. The snow had melted in the passes, the men were in high +spirits at the success that had attended their advance, and the +fact that they had been the first to arrive to the rescue of the +garrison of Chitral. + +A month after they reached Peshawar, Lisle was sent for by Colonel +Kelly. + +"I am pleased, indeed, to be able to inform you that my urgent +recommendation of you has received attention, and that you have +been gazetted as lieutenant, dating from the day of our arrival at +Chitral. I congratulate you most heartily." + +"I am indeed most delighted, sir. I certainly owe my promotion +entirely to your kindness." + +"Certainly not, Lisle; you well deserve it. I am sorry to say that +you will have to leave us; for you are gazetted to the 103rd +Punjabi Regiment, who are stationed at Rawalpindi." + +"I am sorry indeed to hear that, sir; though of course, I could +hardly have expected to remain with you. I shall be awfully sorry +to leave. You have all been so kind to me, and I have known you all +so long. Still, it is splendid that I have got my commission. I +might have waited three or four years, in England; and then been +spun at the examination." + +Lisle marched down with the regiment to Peshawar. Here he had his +uniforms made, laid in a stock of requisites, and then, after a +hearty farewell from his friends, proceeded to join his regiment, +which was lying at Rawalpindi. He took with him Robah, whom the +major relinquished in his favour. + +On his arrival at the station, he at once reported himself to the +colonel. + +"Ah! I saw your name in the gazette, a short time since. You must +have lost no time in coming out from England." + +"I was in India when I was gazetted, sir." + +"Well, I am glad that you have joined so speedily; for I am short +of officers, at present. There is a spare tent, which my orderly +will show you. We shall have tiffin in half an hour, when I can +introduce you to the other officers." + +When Lisle entered the mess tent, he was introduced to the other +officers, one of whom asked him when he had arrived from England. + +"I have never been to England. I was born out here. My father was a +captain in the 32nd Punjabis, and was killed in an attack on a hill +fort. That was some months ago, and I remained with the regiment, +whose quarters had always been my home, until there should be an +opportunity for my being sent down to Calcutta." + +"Well, it is very decent of the War Office to give you a +commission; though, of course, it is the right thing to do--but it +is not often that they do the right thing. Your regiment did some +sharp fighting on their way up to Chitral, but of course you saw +nothing of that." + +"Yes; I accompanied the regiment." + +"The deuce you did!" the colonel said. "I wonder you managed to get +up with it, or that Colonel Kelly gave you leave. I certainly +should not, myself, have dreamed of taking a civilian with me on +such an expedition." + +Lisle nodded. + +"The colonel did not give me leave, sir. With the aid of one of the +native officers, with whom my father was a favourite, I obtained a +native uniform; and went through the campaign as a private." + +The officers all looked upon him with astonishment. + +"Do you mean to say that you cooked with them, fought with them, +and lived with them, as one of themselves?" + +"That was so, sir; and it was only at the last fight that the truth +came out, for then one of the officers heard me make a remark to +myself, in English. Fortunately, the native officers gave a very +good account of my conduct. I was one of a small party that +descended a cliff with ropes, and did a good deal towards driving +the Chitralis out of their position." + +"But how was it that you were not recognized by the soldiers?" + +"I speak the language as well as I speak my own," Lisle said +quietly. "Having lived with the regiment all my life, I learned to +speak it like a native." + +"Well," the colonel said, "it was a plucky thing for you to do. The +idea of disguising yourself in that way was a very happy one; but +not many officers would like to go through such a campaign as a +private in the Pioneers, or any other Indian regiment. + +"Well, I congratulate myself in having acquired an officer who +must, at any rate, understand a great deal of his work, and who can +talk to the men in their own language; instead of, as I expected, a +raw lad. + +"How old are you, Mr. Bullen? You look very young." + +"I am only a little past sixteen," Lisle said, with a laugh; "but I +don't suppose the War Office knew that. Colonel Kelly was kind +enough to send in a strong recommendation on my behalf; stating, I +believe, the fact, that I had disguised myself as a private in +order to go to Chitral with the regiment, and that, as he was +pleased to say, I distinguished myself. He at once appointed me, +temporarily, as an officer; and as such I remained with the corps, +until their return to Peshawar. He also, of course, mentioned the +fact that I am the son of Captain Bullen, who lost his life in +bravely attacking a hill fort. I don't think he thought it +necessary to mention my age." + +"Well, you have certainly managed very cleverly, Mr. Bullen. I am +sure you will be an acquisition to the regiment. I think we can say +safely that you are the youngest officer in the service. + +"Gentlemen, will you drink to the health of our new comrade, who +has already shown that he is of the right sort, and of whom we may +be proud?" + +The next day the colonel received a letter from Colonel Kelly. It +ought to have arrived before Lisle himself, but had been delayed by +the post. It spoke in very high terms of his conduct, and then said +that he was a general favourite in the regiment, and that he was +sure that he would do credit to the corps he had joined. + +The next year and a half passed quietly. Lisle was soon as much +liked, in his new regiment, as he had been by the Pioneers. The men +would have done anything for him, for he was always ready to chat +with them, to enter into their little grievances, and to do many a +kind action. + + + +Chapter 6: Unfair Play. + + +Five or six of the officers were married men, and had their wives +with them. These, when they learned that the young subaltern had +disguised himself, and enlisted in the Pioneers in order to go up +with them to the front, took a lively interest in him, and made +quite a pet of him. Two other regiments were at the station at the +time and, consequently, there was a good deal of gaiety in the way +of lawn tennis and croquet parties, small dinners and dances and, +after mess, billiards and whist. Lisle soon became an expert in the +former games, but he never touched either a billiard cue or a card, +though he was an interested spectator when others were playing. + +Baccarat was very popular with the faster set. At this game play +sometimes ran high, and there was a captain in one of the other +regiments who scarcely ever sat down without winning. At the +beginning of the evening, when play was low, he generally lost; but +was certain to get back his losings, and sometimes a considerable +sum over, as the stakes rose higher. One of the lieutenants who was +a chum of Lisle's was particularly unlucky. He was of an excitable +disposition, and played high as the evening went on. Lisle noticed +that he often paid in chits, instead of money. This was not an +unusual custom, as officers are often short of cash, and settle up +when they receive their month's pay. Lisle frequently remonstrated +with his friend on the folly of his proceedings, and the young +fellow declared that he would retire from the table, if luck went +against him. But the mania was too strong for him. + +"It is extraordinary what bad luck I have," he said, one day. "I +almost always win at the beginning of the evening; and then, when I +get thoroughly set, my winnings are swept away." + +"Why don't you get up when you are a winner?" + +"That would be very bad form, Bullen; a fellow who did that would +be considered a cad." + +"I should strongly advise you to give it up, altogether." + +Lisle observed with regret that his friend's spirits fell, and that +he became moody and irritable. One day, when he went into his +quarters, he found him sitting with a look of misery upon his face. + +"What is it, Gordon?" he asked. "I hope I am not in the way?" + +"Well, it has come to this," the young officer said. "I am at the +end of my tether. I shall have to leave the regiment." + +"Nonsense!" Lisle replied. + +"It is true. I owe a lot of money to that fellow Sanders. He has +bought up all my chits, and this is a note from him, saying that he +has waited two or three months, but must now request me to pay up +without further delay. Besides my pay, I have only eighteen hundred +pounds, that was left me by an old aunt; but that will barely cover +what I owe. Of course I can hold on on my pay; but the loss of so +much money will make a lot of difference, and I fear I shall have +to transfer. It is hard lines, because I am now pretty high on the +list of lieutenants; and shall, of course, have to go to the bottom +of the list. + +"The only alternative would be to enlist in some white regiment +that has lately come out. There are plenty of gentlemen in the +ranks. I certainly see no other way." + +"I had no idea it was so bad as that, Gordon. Surely there must be +some other way out of the difficulty. I could lend you a couple of +hundred pounds." + +"Thank you, old fellow! But I am so deeply in debt that that would +make no difference." + +"I am not sure that there is not something else to be done," said +Lisle. "While I sit watching the play, I can see more than the +players can; and since I have noticed that Sanders persistently +wins, directly the stakes get high, I have watched him very +closely, and am convinced that he does not play fair. It has struck +me that he withdraws the money on his cards when he sees that the +dealer has a strong hand, and adds to his stake when he considers +that the dealer is weak. + +"Now my testimony as a youngster would go a very little way, if +unsupported against his; but if you will give me a solemn promise +that you will never play baccarat again, I will get two or three +fellows to watch him. Then, if we can prove that he plays unfairly, +of course you will be able to repudiate payment of the money he has +won of you." + +"Good heaven! It would be the saving of me, and I will willingly +give you the promise you want. But you must surely be mistaken! +Sanders certainly has had wonderful luck, but I have never heard a +suggestion that he does not play fair. I only know that there is a +good deal of shyness about playing with him. You see, it is a +frightful thing to accuse a man of cheating." + +"I admit that it is not pleasant; but if a man cheats, and is found +out, it is the duty of every honest man to denounce him, if they +detect him. + +"Well, if you don't mind, I will take Lindsay, Holmes, and Tritton +into my confidence. They all play occasionally, and you must let me +mention that you are altogether in his power; and that, unless he +is detected, you will have to leave the regiment. Mind, don't you +watch him yourself. Play even more recklessly than usual; that will +make him a bit careless." + +"Well, there is a possibility that you are right, Bullen, and if +you can but detect him, you will save me from frightful disgrace." + +"I will try, anyhow." + +Bullen sent a note to the officers he had mentioned, asking them to +come to his quarters, as he particularly wished to speak to them. +In a quarter of an hour they joined him. + +"Well, what is up, Bullen?" Tritton said. "What do you want with +us?" + +"It is a serious business, Tritton. That fellow Sanders owns chits +of Gordon's to the amount of fifteen hundred pounds." + +An exclamation of dismay broke from his hearers. + +"Good heavens!" Tritton exclaimed, "how could he possibly have lost +so much as that? I know that the play has been high; but still, +even with the worst luck, a man could hardly lose so much as that." + +"I fancy that, after the party in the mess room has broken up, +several of them used to adjourn to Sanders' quarters; and it was +there that the great bulk of the money was lost." + +"What a fool Gordon has been!" Lindsay said. "What a madman! Such a +good fellow, too! + +"Well, of course, nothing can be done. If it were only a hundred or +two, the money would be subscribed at once; but fifteen hundred is +utterly beyond us. What is he thinking of doing?" + +"Well, he has eighteen hundred pounds, and he talked of drawing out +the amount and paying up, and then exchanging into some other +regiment. The question, however, is, whether he ought to pay." + +The others looked up at him in surprise. + +"Why, of course he must pay," Tritton said; "at least he must pay, +or quit the service, a disgraced man." + +"I think there is an alternative," Lisle said, "and that is why I +have sent for you." + +"What alternative can there be?" + +"Well, you know I don't play; but I like sitting watching the game, +and I am quite convinced that Sanders doesn't play fair." + +"You don't say so!" Tritton said. "That is a very serious +accusation to make, you know, Bullen!" + +"I am perfectly aware of that, and I feel that it would be mad for +me to make an unsupported accusation against Sanders. But I want +you three fellows to join me in watching Sanders play. My word, +unsupported, would be of no avail; but if four of us swore that we +saw him cheating, there could be no doubt about the result. + +"For one thing, Sanders would have to leave the army. That would be +no loss to the service, for he is an overbearing brute; to say +nothing of the fact that several young officers have had to leave +the service, owing to their losses at play with him." + +"I know of two cases," Lindsay said. "There was a very strong +feeling against him, but no one suspected him of unfair play. It +was he who introduced baccarat here, when his regiment first came +up. It had never been played here before, and you may notice that +very few of his fellow officers ever take a hand. + +"Well, there will be no harm in our watching. It is a thing that +one doesn't like doing but, when it comes to a fellow officer being +swindled, it is clearly our duty to expose the man who is doing +it." + +"Very well, then, this evening two of us will take our stand behind +Gordon, and the other two behind Sanders." + +"But how did he cheat? It seems a fair game enough." + +"He does it in this way. He puts five sovereigns under his hand. +That is the limit, you know. Then he looks at his card, and pushes +it out. With his hand still touching it, he watches the dealer and, +if he can see by his face that his card is a good one--and you can +generally tell that--he withdraws his hand with four of the +sovereigns, leaving only one on the card. If, on the other hand, he +thinks it is a bad one, he leaves the whole five there. He does the +trick cleverly enough; but I am certain that I have, four or five +times, seen him do it. + +"Keep your eyes on his hand. You will see that he takes up five +sovereigns from the heap before him, and that he has them in his +hand when he pushes the card out. You will notice how he fixes his +eye upon the dealer, and that he leaves either one or five, as I +have said. He does it, at times, all through the evening, +especially when Gordon is dealing; for I can tell, myself, by +Gordon's face whether he has a good or a bad card. Of course, he +can see it, too. + +"I want you all to nod to me, when you see it done. We shall let +him do it two or three times, so that we can all swear to it." + +All agreed to do so, and Lisle then went to Gordon's quarter's. + +"Tritton, Lindsay, and Holmes are going to watch with me tonight. I +think the best thing will be for you to answer Sanders' note, and +tell him that you will require time to draw your money from England +to pay him; but that you will play again tonight, to see if luck +turns." + +That evening the four young officers took their places, as +arranged. Now that their attention had been directed to it, they +saw that several times Sanders, although he took up five pounds, +only left one on the card; and that he kept his hand upon it, up to +the last moment. Each in turn nodded to Lisle. + +All noticed how intently Sanders watched the dealer. Generally he +left two sovereigns on the card, apparently when the dealer had a +moderate card; but when he had a very low or a very high one, the +trick was played. After fully satisfying himself that he had good +proofs, just as Sanders was again withdrawing his hand with four +sovereigns in it, Lisle threw himself forward, jerked the hand +upwards, and showed the four sovereigns lying under it. + +"I accuse Captain Sanders of cheating. I have seen him do this +trick half a dozen times." + +Sanders shook himself free, and aimed a heavy blow at Lisle; who, +however, stepped aside and, before he could repeat it, he was +seized by the officers standing round. A tremendous hubbub arose, +in the midst of which the colonel entered the room. + +"What is all this about?" he enquired. + +The din subsided at once, and two or three officers said: + +"Bullen accused Captain Sanders of cheating." + +"This is a very serious accusation, Bullen," the colonel said +sternly, "and unless you can substantiate it, may be of very +serious consequences to yourself. Will you tell me what you saw?" + +Lisle related the circumstances, and how the fraud was +accomplished. + +"You mean to say that, by watching the dealer's eye, Captain +Sanders leaves one pound or five on his card?" + +"That is what I said, sir. I have seen him do it on several nights. +Tonight I determined to expose him, and Tritton, Lindsay, and +Holmes have been watching him with me. I was induced to do so by +the fact that the man has rooked Lieutenant Gordon of something +like fifteen hundred pounds, for which he holds his chits." + +"Mr. Tritton, you hear what Mr. Bullen says. Have you also observed +the act of cheating of which he accuses Captain Sanders?" + +"Yes, sir; I have seen him do it several times this evening. I +believe he has done it more, but I am prepared to swear to seven +times." + +The colonel looked at Lindsay, who said: + +"I have seen suspicious movements eleven times, but I should not +like to swear to more than four." + +"And you, Mr. Holmes?" + +"I can swear to five times, but I believe he did it much oftener +than that." + +"What have you to say, Captain Sanders?" + +"I say it is a conspiracy on the part of these four young officers +to ruin me. It is a lie from beginning to end." + +"I am afraid, Captain Sanders, that you will find it very difficult +to persuade anyone that four officers, who as far as I know have no +ill feeling against you, should conspire to bring such a charge. +However, I shall report the matter to your colonel, tomorrow, with +a written statement from these four officers of what they saw. He +will, of course, take such steps in the matter as he thinks fit." + +Without a word, Sanders turned on his heel and left the room, +followed by the angry glances of all who were present. + +"Mr. Bullen, you have behaved with great discretion," the colonel +said, "in not making a charge on your first impression, but getting +three other officers to watch that man's behaviour. Tomorrow I +shall hold a court of enquiry, at which the major, the adjutant, +and two other officers will sit with me. You will all, of course, +be called, and will have to repeat your story in full. + +"Lieutenant Gordon, I am shocked to hear that an officer of my +regiment should gamble to such an extent as you have done. You +will, of course, be called tomorrow. I think that, at the best, you +will be advised to change into another regiment. I need not say +that, after this exposure, the chits that you have given to Captain +Sanders become null and void. + +"This room will be closed for the rest of the evening." + +The officers, however, gathered in the room below, and talked the +matter over. There was not a whisper of regret at the disgrace that +had fallen upon Sanders. His reputation was a bad one. Since his +regiment had been in India one young officer had shot himself, and +three had been obliged to leave the army, and in all cases it was +known that these had lost large sums to him; but the matter had +been hushed up, as such scandals generally are in the army. Still, +the truth had been whispered about, and it was because none of the +officers in his regiment would play with him that he had come +habitually to the mess of the Pioneers; by which, his own regiment +having been quartered in southern India until six months +previously, nothing was known of his antecedents. + +"We shall all have to be very careful, when you are looking on at +our play, Bullen," one said, laughing. "I hadn't given you credit +for having such sharp eyes; and certainly Sanders did not, either, +or he would never have tried his games on, while you were standing +watching him." + +"I was not playing, you see," Lisle said, "and the players do not +trouble about onlookers, but keep their attention directed to the +dealer. Standing there evening after evening, it was really easy to +see what he was doing; for he, too, kept his attention fixed on the +dealer, and paid no heed to us who were looking on. He occasionally +did look up at us, but evidently he concluded that we were only +innocent spectators. When my suspicions were aroused, there was +really no difficulty in detecting him." + +"How was it that you did not interfere before?" + +"Because it was only my word against that of Sanders, and it was +only after Gordon told me how much he was in debt to the man; and +that the latter had, that morning, written to him calling upon him +to pay up, that I saw that something must be done. So I asked +Tritton, Lindsay, and Holmes to watch him closely this evening, +along with me." + +"Well, I hope Gordon won't have to go," the other said. "He is an +awfully good fellow, though he has made an abject ass of himself." + +"Don't you think, Prosser, that if we were all to sign a petition +to the colonel, to ask him to overlook the matter, as Gordon has +received a lesson that will certainly last his lifetime, he might +do so." + +"It depends upon how much the matter becomes public. Of course, +there must be a court of enquiry in the other regiment; and if, as +is certain, a report is sent to the commander-in-chief, Sanders +will be cashiered; and I should fancy that Gordon would be called +upon to resign. Of course, you four and Gordon will have to give +evidence before the commission. It depends, of course, how his +colonel takes it; but it is certain that Sanders will have to go, +and I fear Gordon will, too. I expect our colonel will get a +wigging for allowing high play; though, as you say, the greater +part of the money was lost in private play, in Sanders' room. + +"Anyhow, it will be a somewhat ugly thing for the regiment in +general, and we shall get the nickname of 'the gamblers' throughout +the army." + +The next morning, at eight o'clock, the little committee met. The +four young officers gave their evidence, which was put on paper in +duplicate and signed by them, a copy being sent to the colonel of +Sanders' regiment. In a short time that officer was seen to go into +the colonel's tent and, half an hour later, he came out again and +went away. A few minutes after he had left, the four officers were +summoned. + +"I hope," the colonel said, "that we have heard the last of this +most unpleasant business. His colonel tells me that this morning, +as soon as he turned out, Sanders called upon him and said that he +had to go to England, on urgent family business; and that, on his +arrival there, he should send in his papers and retire. He gave him +leave to go at once, and Sanders disposed of his horse and traps, +and started by the eight o'clock train for Calcutta. In these +circumstances we have decided, for the credit of both regiments, +that the matter shall be held over. If, as is morally certain, he +leaves the army, nothing more need be said about it. Of course, if +he should return, it will be brought up. + +"I should say, however, that there is no chance whatever of that. I +beg of you to impress upon the officers of the regiment; which, +indeed, I shall myself do at mess, to make no allusion whatever, +outside the regiment, to what has occurred. The less said about it, +the better. If it were at all known, and got to the ears of the +commander-in-chief--and you know how gossip of this kind +spreads--both his colonel and myself would get a severe wigging, +for not sending in a report of it. In that case a committee would +be appointed to go into the whole matter and, as a result, the +regiment would probably be sent to the worst possible cantonment +they could find for us, and Gordon would be called upon to retire. +I will therefore ask you to give me your word that the matter shall +not be alluded to, outside the regiment. There is no fear of any of +Sanders' regiment hearing anything about it, as none of them were +present last night. + +"Upon further consideration, I think that it would be better to +summon all the officers of the regiment, at once, and to impress +upon them the necessity for keeping silence on the matter." + +Five minutes later the officers' call sounded and, when all were +assembled in the anteroom, the colonel repeated to them what he had +said to Lisle and his companions; and obtained an undertaking from +them, individually, that they would maintain an absolute silence on +the matter. + +The affair greatly added to the estimation in which Lisle was held +in the regiment. His quickness in detecting the swindle, and the +steps he had taken to obtain proof of his suspicions, showed that +he possessed other qualities besides pluck and determination. + +It is to be feared that some, at least, of the married officers +either did not regard the promise of silence as affecting their +wives, or had told them what had taken place before they were +requested to abstain from alluding to it; for three or four of the +ladies made sly allusions, when talking to Lisle, which showed that +they were cognizant of what had taken place. + +"Well, Mr. Bullen," one of them said, "I have up till now regarded +you as little more than a boy, in spite of your pluck in going up +as a native soldier to Chitral. Now I shall hold you in much higher +respect, and shall regard you as a young man with an exceptionally +sharp eye, and exceptionally keen discernment." + +"I don't think I quite understand you, Mrs. Merritt," Lisle said +innocently. + +"It is all very well for you to put on that air of ignorance. You +don't suppose that married men can keep matters like this from +their wives? I can tell you we all admire, very much, the manner in +which you saved Lieutenant Gordon from having to leave the service. +He is a favourite with us all and, though he seems to have made a +great fool of himself, we should all be sorry if he had had to +leave us." + +"Well, you see, Mrs. Merritt, I am not a married man--" + +"I should think not," the lady laughed. + +"And do not know how much married men feel themselves bound to keep +secrets from their wives; and I can therefore neither confess nor +deny that I took any part in the incident to which you are +referring." + +"You silly boy! Don't you see that I know all about it, and that it +is ridiculous for you to pretend to misunderstand me?" + +"I do not pretend, Mrs. Merritt. I only know that I have given my +promise that I will keep absolute silence on the matter, and that +no exception was made as to the ladies of the regiment. That, of +course, lies between them and their husbands." + +"Well, whether that is so or not, Mr. Bullen, I can tell you that +the affair has very greatly raised you in our esteem. We all liked +you before; but we really did regard you only as a young officer +who had proved that he possessed an uncommon amount of pluck and +determination. In future, we shall regard you as a gentleman who +was ready to take no inconsiderable risk on behalf of a fellow +officer." + +"Thank you, Mrs. Merritt! I can assure you that I do not feel a bit +more of a man than I did before; but I feel happy in having gained +the good opinion of the ladies of the regiment." + +After this, Lisle came to be regarded as the special pet of the +ladies of the regiment. Among the officers he became a very general +favourite, and his popularity was increased by the fact that he was +not only one of the best shots, but one of their best cricketers; +and several times did efficient service, by his bowling, in the +matches between the regiment and the others cantoned with them. + +Then came the news that the tribes had risen, that the Malakand had +been attacked, that Chakdara, the fortified post on the Swat river, +was invested, and that the tribes on this side of the Panjkora were +in revolt. This, however, was soon followed by a report that the +post had been relieved, that heavy losses had been inflicted upon +the tribesmen, and that the trouble was over. + +For some time the frontier had been in a state of tension. The +Mullahs, or priests, had been inciting the tribesmen to +insurrection; and one especially, who was called the Mad Mullah, +had gone about from tribe to tribe, stirring the people up. He +professed to be a successor of the great Akhund of Swat, and to +have inherited his powers. He claimed to be able to work miracles. +The Heavenly host were, he said, on his side. + +His excited appeals, to the fanaticism which exists in every +Pathan, were responded to in a marvellous manner. The villagers +flew to arms. Still, it was thought and hoped that, when the first +excitement caused by his appeals had died away, matters would calm +down again. The hope, however, was short lived for, before long, +the startling news came that the Mohmunds, a tribe whose territory +lay near Peshawar, were in revolt; and that Shabkadr, a village +within our frontier, had been raided and destroyed. + +Within the next few days the Samana was invested, and the Khyber +Pass was in the hands of the Afridis. The Peshawar movable column, +of four guns, two squadrons of native horse, and the 20th Punjabi +regiment, with a few companies of the Somersets, were sent out to +Shabkadr. On arriving there they found that the bazaar had been +burnt, and that the enemy had taken up a position facing the fort, +about a mile and a half distant. + +The cavalry skirted the cultivated ground between the force and the +plateau, and pushed the enemy backward, with severe loss, into the +low hills that skirt the border. Next morning the enemy were seen +in possession of the lower hill, and the force moved out to attack +them. They were found to be in great strength, numbering nearly +seven thousand. Leaving a strong force to face the column, flanking +parties came down concealed by the low hills. + +Illustration: They charged the attacking force from end to end. + +The infantry retired in two sections, but the artillery came into +action. The cavalry made their way up one of the ravines and, when +they got within charging distance, they went at the enemy at a +gallop. Taking the entire length of the plateau, about a mile and a +half, they charged the attacking force from end to end; and drove +them, demoralized, into the hills. The severity of the morning's +fighting may be judged from the fact that sixty percent of the +force engaged suffered casualties. + +From that time, until it was determined to send an expedition into +the Mohmund country, the force remained as a corps of observation. +A force drawn chiefly from the Peshawar garrison was speedily got +together and, on 11th September, had concentrated at or about +Shabkadr fort; a general advance having been arranged for, on the +15th of the month. + +In the meantime, more serious troubles had arisen with the +Zakka-Khels. This tribe was the most powerful of the Pathans. They +were at all times troublesome, and frequently made raids across the +frontier, carrying off large quantities of cattle; and living, +indeed, entirely upon plunder. The Zakhels and the Kukukbels had +joined them, as well as several other smaller tribes. They believed +that they could do this with impunity, for no Englishman had ever +visited their wild country, with its tremendous gorges and passes. +A large proportion of them were furnished with Martini and +Lee-Metford rifles, and many of the others carried Sniders. + +To operate against such formidable enemies, possessing almost +impregnable positions, a large force was needed; and time was +required to collect the troops. Still more, an enormous train of +baggage animals would be required, and a vast amount of stores of +all kinds. + +It was clear that the time that would be occupied in the +preparations of the campaign would be very considerable; but, while +these were being made, it was determined that the expedition from +Peshawar should move, at once, into the Mohmund country, and finish +with that tribe before the main operation began; and that the +Malakand division, and the Mohmund field force should carry out the +work of punishment, in the stretch of country lying between Lalpura +and the Swat River. + +It was known that Chakdara was holding out, but that it was hardly +pressed, and the first step was to relieve the garrison. Colonel +Meiklejohn pushed forward, with a comparatively small force, and +arrived at the Malakand on the 1st of August. The reinforcement that +had reached that garrison had enabled them to take the offensive, +and orders were issued for a strong cavalry reconnaissance to the +Amandara valley, five miles away. They found the enemy in such force +that the cavalry were obliged to retire, and they effected their +retreat with great difficulty, under a very heavy fire. As the path +was narrow, cavalry could only proceed in single file, exposed the +while to the fire of the enemy. + +Sir Bindon Blood arrived, that evening, to take the command. The +main body were to move down the road; while a force under Colonel +Goldney advanced up the hill to the right, and turned the enemy's +flank. Colonel Goldney's attack was perfectly successful. The enemy +were taken completely unawares, and entirely routed. The march of +the main column, therefore, met with no opposition for some +distance; then the enemy opened fire, from among the rocks on the +hills. + +A party of the Guides and the 45th Sikhs were ordered to take the +position, at the point of the bayonet. The enemy, however, stuck to +their position until they were bayoneted, or driven over the rocks. +The 34th and 55th Sikhs stormed some sangars on the left and, +pushing their way pluckily up the steep slopes, slowly gained the +heights, step by step and, in spite of the hot fire and the showers +of rocks and stones, drove the enemy out of their strongholds. On +this the tribesmen lost heart and fled, hotly pursued by the +cavalry, who cut them up in great numbers. + +During the fighting at the Malakand, previous to the arrival of the +relief, our casualties were one hundred and seventy-three killed +and wounded, including thirteen British officers and seven natives. +The siege of the small fort of Chakdara had been a severe one. The +garrison consisted of two companies of the 45th Sikhs, with +cavalry. On the evening of the 26th they were attacked, but +repulsed their assailants with loss. Next morning Captain Wright, +with a company of forty troopers, arrived from the Malakand, having +run the gauntlet of large parties of the enemy. The whole of the +day was spent in repelling rushes of the enemy and, for the next +few days, Wright's garrison were unable to leave their posts. + +On the 29th the enemy attacked the tower and endeavoured to burn it +down; but were again repulsed, with heavy loss. + + + +Chapter 7: Tales Of War. + + +As soon as it became evident that the Afridis were up, and that +there would be stern fighting, the conversation in the mess room +naturally turned on past expeditions against the wild tribesmen. +Two or three of the officers had exchanged into the regiment, when +their own went home. Having been two or three years on the +frontier, they had many tales of hill fighting to tell; and these +were eagerly listened to by all the younger officers, as they felt +certain that they too would, ere long, be taking part in such +struggles. + +"A fine instance of defence," one of the junior captains said, "was +that of Thobal in 1891. As you all know, I am a ranker, and I +received my commission for that business. I was with a mere handful +of men, thirty Ghoorkhas and fifty rifles of the 12th Burmah +Infantry. We were commanded by Lieutenant Grant. I was with him as +quartermaster sergeant, and general assistant. The Ghoorkhas had +sixty rounds per man for their Martini rifles, the Burmah men one +hundred and sixty rounds per man for their Sniders. They were a +pretty rough lot, only twenty of them being old soldiers, the rest +recruits. + +"One morning we received news that Mr. Quintin with four civil +officers, and an escort of seven British officers and four hundred +and fifty-four Ghoorkhas, who had gone up to Manipur, had been +massacred. Happily the news was exaggerated, but a treacherous +attack was made upon the party, and Mr. Quintin and many others +killed. Grant thought that this was probably the case, and +determined to push on with his little force, in the hope of +rescuing some survivors. + +"The distance from Tamu to Manipur is about fifty-five miles. We +started at half-past five, on the morning of the 28th. The +difficulties were so great that we only moved at the rate of a mile +an hour. At two in the morning we started again, and marched about +ten miles; in the course of which we were occasionally fired at by +the enemy. The moon rose at eleven, and the advance was continued. + +"The resistance now became severe. The telegraph wires had been +cut, taken down from the poles, and twisted about the road; and +trees had also been felled across it. While we were endeavouring to +clear away the obstacles, a heavy fire was poured into us. Small +parties were therefore sent out to disperse the enemy, and this +they did most successfully, capturing three guns and a good deal of +ammunition. + +"Pushing on, we issued, at six in the morning, on the hills. Before +us was the village of Palel, which was garrisoned by two hundred +Manipur soldiers. You must remember that Manipur had been a sort of +subsidiary state, and had a regular army, drilled by Europeans. +However, Grant attacked them at once, and drove them out with loss. + +"After halting at Palel for some hours a start was made, at eleven +o'clock at night; and at daybreak we came upon some villages, each +house in which was standing alone in a large enclosure, surrounded +by a wall, ditch, and hedge. We went at them and carried them, one +by one, without any great loss to ourselves. Issuing on the other +side, we came upon a plain about a thousand yards across. Beyond +this was a bridge, on fire. The enemy were strongly posted in +trenches and behind hedges. + +"Grant decided to attack, and to try and save the bridge. He +advanced across the plain with two sections of ten men each, +supported by another section of the same strength. The rest of his +force, consisting of forty men, he kept in reserve. + +"I own that it seemed to me a desperately risky thing; for, from +what we could see, we judged that the enemy were about a thousand +strong. Grant himself led the party, and he put me in charge of the +reserve. A very heavy fire was opened by the enemy; but Grant and +his men steadily advanced, and succeeded in getting within a +hundred yards of the enemy. Here I came up with him; and we dashed +into the river, carried the enemy's trenches at the point of the +bayonet, and hunted them out, from enclosure to enclosure, till +they all drew off. + +"By the side of the bridge was the village of Thobal; and as, with +so small a force, it was impossible to advance against the +overwhelming numbers that would meet us before we got to Manipur, +fifteen miles away, Grant determined to hold Thobal; where he +could, he thought, defend himself, and afford refuge to any who had +escaped the massacre. As soon as the enemy had retired, we all set +to work to prepare a defensive position; by setting fire to the +crops, so as to prevent the enemy from creeping up unseen, and by +making an abattis. + +"The night passed off quietly. At six in the morning the enemy were +seen advancing in force, but Lieutenant Grant sent out thirty men +to the farthest wall of the village, some four hundred yards in +advance of the enclosure; and their fire checked the enemy, and +forced them to retire. At three in the afternoon the enemy advanced +in great force, their line being over a mile long. Grant again +occupied the front wall, and held his fire till the enemy reached a +point which had been carefully marked as being six hundred yards +away. Fire was then opened, the muskets being sighted for this +known range. The tribesmen fell in great numbers, and drew back +under the protection of their artillery, who now opened fire at a +range of about a thousand yards. In half an hour they were +completely silenced. + +"They then withdrew to another hill, five hundred yards farther off but, +even at this range, we got at them with our Martinis, and they soon +began firing wildly. The infantry advanced several times, but were +always driven back as soon as they reached the six-hundred-yards limit. + +"It was now becoming dark, and the enemy were working round on our +flank. We therefore fell back on the entrenched position and, +though the enemy kept up a heavy fire till two in the morning, +ammunition was too scanty to allow us to waste a cartridge, and no +reply was made. At three we set to work to strengthen the defences, +using baskets filled with earth and sacks filled with sand, as well +as adding to the abattis. + +"In the course of the day the enemy sent in a flag of truce, +offering to allow us to retreat. This Grant refused to do, till all +prisoners still in the hands of the Manipuris were delivered over +to him. In order to deceive the enemy as to his strength, Grant put +on a colonel's badge and uniform and, in his communications with +the enemy, spoke and behaved as if he had the whole regiment under +his command in the village. The enemy were undoubtedly misled, and +wasted three days in negotiations. + +"Then fighting recommenced and, at daybreak, the enemy made a +determined attack upon the advance, with artillery. By eight +o'clock they had pushed the attack home, and passed the line of +walls and hedges a hundred yards from our position. The situation +was growing serious when, leaving me in command, Grant went out +with ten Ghoorkhas, crept along unobserved to the end of one of the +walls and, turning this, made a sudden attack upon the enemy from +behind. Taken wholly by surprise they fled, leaving six or seven +dead behind them. + +"At eleven o'clock they were again pressing hotly and, encouraged +by the success of his first sortie, Grant determined to make +another. This time he took me with him. With six Ghoorkhas he had +driven the enemy from one hedge, when he discovered a party of +about sixty men behind a wall, twenty yards distant. + +"'Now, my lads,' he said, 'we have got to run the gauntlet, but you +need not be afraid of their fire. Seeing us so close to them, it is +sure to be wild.' + +"Then, with a cheer, we dashed across the open. The enemy blazed at +us, but their fire was wild and confused; and we were among them +before they could reload, killing a dozen, and sending the rest to +the right about, many of them wounded. + +"On returning to the camp, we found that there were only fifty +rounds left for the Snider rifles, and thirty rounds each for the +Martinis. Strict orders were therefore given that no one was to +fire till the enemy were within close range. However, there was no +doubt that the fight was all taken out of them, by the spirit with +which those two little sorties had been made. They kept up a steady +fire till nightfall, but took good care not to show themselves; and +they retired, as soon as they could do so, in the darkness. + +"That was really the end of the fighting. Three days passed, and +then a letter arrived from the officer in command of the +expedition, ordering him to fall back to Tamu, whence a detachment +had been despatched to meet him. This order had fallen into the +hands of the enemy. They no doubt informed themselves of its +contents, and were so utterly glad to get rid of us, without +further loss, that they gladly sent it in to us. That night there +was a heavy thunderstorm, with a tremendous downpour of rain, and +under cover of it we withdrew quietly, and before long were met by +the relieving force." + +"That was a splendid resistance." + +"Magnificent! You certainly earned your commission well, Towers. + +"Now, Major, let us hear the story of the battle of Ahmed Kheyl, +where you met the fanatics in force. I doubt whether the Afridis +will fight in the same way; but they may and, at any rate, the +story will be instructive." + +"Well, it is seventeen years ago, now," the major said, "and I was +a junior lieutenant. I was, as you all know, marching from Kandahar +to Kabul under Sir Donald Stewart; and at Ahmed Kheyl, twenty-three +miles south of Ghuzni, we met the Afghans in force, estimated at +fifteen thousand foot and a thousand horse. For several days we had +known that they were in the neighbourhood. Their cavalry scouts +could be seen marching parallel to us, about eight miles away, on +the right flank. + +"On the 19th of April we marched at daybreak. The advance guard +consisted of seven hundred rifles, seven hundred and fifty cavalry, +and six guns; the main body of somewhat over a thousand rifles, +three hundred and forty-nine sabres, and ten guns; then came the +trains and hospitals, guarded by strong detachments on each flank; +while the rear guard was fourteen hundred infantry, three hundred +and sixteen cavalry, and six mountain guns. The length of the +column was about six miles. + +"Its head had marched about seven miles, when the cavalry in +advance caught sight of the enemy, in position, three miles ahead. +Preparations were made for receiving an attack and, at eight +o'clock, the march was resumed. Half a squadron of Bengal Lancers +were sent to cover the left front of the infantry brigade, which +was now close to a range of low hills that ran parallel to the line +of march for some distance, then made a bend to the east. The enemy +were seen in position, covering the point of passage through the +hills, and also upon the hills flanking the road by which the +division would advance. + +"When within a mile and a half of the enemy, two batteries moved +out and took up positions to shell them in front; while the +infantry deployed, the line on the left facing the enemy on the +hills. The 2nd Punjab Cavalry were on the right of the guns, whose +escort consisted of a squadron of 19th Bengal Lancers, and a +company of Punjab Infantry. + +"It was the general's intention to advance to the attack but, at +nine o'clock, before his dispositions were completed, the whole +crest of the hills held by the enemy seemed to be swarming with +men. Scarcely had the guns opened fire, when the enemy swept down +from the hills, in successive lines of swordsmen, stretching out +far beyond either flank of our force. At the same time a large body +of horse rode along the hills, threatening the left flank. + +"As the swordsmen swept down on the infantry and guns, the Afghan +horse came out of two ravines, and charged the Bengal Lancers +before they could acquire sufficient speed to meet them fairly. The +Lancers were forced back, disorganizing the 3rd Ghoorkhas, who +composed the left battalion of the line. The colonel of the +Ghoorkhas threw his men into company squares, and they stood their +ground; but the Lancers could not be rallied until they had swept +along almost the whole rear of the infantry. + +"In the meantime the swordsmen on foot swept down with fanatical +fury, and it became necessary to bring up the whole reserve into +the fighting line. The two batteries of artillery on the right were +now firing grape shot, at close range, into the mass of Afghans; +but neither this, nor the fire of the infantry supporting them, +could check the advance of the enemy. The batteries, having used up +all their case shot, were compelled to retire two hundred yards; +and the right of the infantry line was also forced back. + +"The situation at this moment was horribly critical: both our +flanks were turned, and the troops were a good deal shaken by the +suddenness and fierceness of the attack. The enemy's horsemen, +however, pushing round to the left flank, were checked by the +firmness of the 3rd Ghoorkhas--who stood their ground bravely--and +by the fire of the batteries on that flank. On the right the 2nd +Punjab Cavalry charged and drove back the enemy, thus giving time +for the two batteries to take up their fresh position, and again +come into action. + +"The infantry on the right also recovered from the confusion into +which they had been temporarily thrown, and poured a withering fire +into the Afghans. In the centre the 2nd Sikhs maintained, through +out the fight, a steady and unyielding front. The steady and +well-directed fire of the whole line, aided by the batteries, was +creating terrible havoc among the enemy and, after an hour's +gallant and strenuous exertion on both our flanks, their efforts +began to slacken and, before long, the whole of them were in +flight, leaving a thousand dead and wounded on the ground. + +"It was calculated that they had at least two thousand casualties, +while our own loss amounted to only one hundred and forty-one. They +were not pursued, as the cavalry were required to guard the +baggage." + +"It was a grand fight, Major," the colonel said; "but you were at +Maiwand also, were you not?" + +"Yes; and it would be hard to find a greater contrast to the fight +I have just described. The two British forces were attacked under +almost precisely similar circumstances. One was splendidly +commanded; and the other, it must be confessed, was badly led. + +"There was a good deal against us. The day was in July, and +terribly hot and, at every step the troops took, they found the +power of the sun increasing, until the heat became intense. A +solitary traveller, in such circumstances, would make but poor +travelling; and of course it was vastly worse for troops, advancing +heavily laden and formed in column. The 66th Foot had had tea, and +a light breakfast before starting; but the native troops had had +nothing to eat since the night before. One regiment, indeed, had no +water; but the others had managed to fill their canteens during the +halt at half-past nine. + +"The brigade, at the end of the march, were again ordered to change +front. The Grenadiers, which was a pivot regiment, did not slacken +their pace and, consequently, the centre were greatly exhausted in +trying to keep up with it, and were certainly in no condition to +take part in the battle at midday. + +"The whole thing was a hideous mistake. General Burrows had brought +his line into such a position that behind him lay a great nullah +and, during the course of the battle, the enemy were enabled to +bring guns up to within five hundred yards on front and flank. It +was a ghastly day. Both flanks were driven back, and the line +became bent into the form of a horseshoe. The two cavalry +regiments, whose support should have been invaluable, behaved badly +and, early in the fight, left the field. + +"After the first line gave way, everything went badly. Some of the +troops stood and died on the ground they held, others soon became a +mob of fugitives. The loss, as long as they held their positions, +was comparatively slight; but the grand total mounted up, during +the retreat. + +"It was a hideous business, and one that I do not like to recall. +Men staggered along, overpowered by heat and thirst; falling, in +many cases without resistance, under the sabre of the pursuing +enemy. Had these fought properly, it is probable that not a single +man, except the cowardly cavalry, would have reached Kandahar to +tell the tale." + +"Thank you, Major. You were also, I believe, in two or three +dashing affairs before Maiwand?" + +"Yes, Colonel. Certainly one of the most successful was that which +Cavagnari, who was afterwards murdered at Kabul, made. It was not +much of an affair, but it shows what can be done with dash. + +"In 1877 we were making a canal, to tap the Swat river at a point +where it enters British territory. Naturally, the Swat villagers on +the other side of the frontier considered that the operation was a +deep-laid plot for injuring them; and it was at the village of +Sappri that the chief went down, with a number of desperate men, +and murdered all the coolies engaged in the work. Cavagnari issued +orders that the chief must pay a heavy fine, in money and cattle; +and that the actual murderers must be tried for their crime. The +Khan, however, took no notice of the demand. + +"Forty miles southeast of Sappri was the British cantonment of +Murdan, where the corps of Guides is permanently quartered. The +greater portion of these were, however, absent on another +expedition; and there remained available a few squadrons of +cavalry, and eleven companies of infantry. + +"Cavagnari kept his plans a profound secret. He did not even give +the slightest hint of his intentions to their commanding officer, +Captain Wigram Battye. So well, indeed, was the secret kept, that +the officers were playing a game at racket when they were called +upon to start. The first intimation that the men had of the +movement was the serving out of ball cartridge, when the gates of +the fort were closed in the evening. The old soldiers were well +aware that this meant that fighting was at hand; and they gave a +great shout, which was the first intimation to the officers that +something was on foot. We were as glad as the men. + +"Mules had been got in readiness, and the small detachment set off +on its long night march. The mules were picked animals and in good +condition, and were able to keep up with the men. After covering +thirty-two miles in seven hours, we halted at the frontier fort of +Abazai, seven miles south of Sappri. + +"Beyond this point the country was impracticable for cavalry; and +the force, now consisting of two hundred and twelve men, dismounted +and marched forward on foot. After seven miles of severe toil, they +arrived in the vicinity of the hostile village; and Captain Battye +placed his men on the surrounding high ground, so as to completely +command the place, and cut off all retreat. His disposition had +been completed without arousing the enemy and, in a short time, day +broke. + +"Cavagnari immediately sent in a demand, to the Khan, to surrender +the outlaws and pay the fine. The Khan refused to comply with the +terms. There was a short but desperate fight, in which the Guides +were victorious, the Khan and many of his leading men were killed, +and the village captured. The fine was then exacted, and the troops +marched back to Fort Abazai. + +"This was a fine example of a punitive expedition thoroughly well +managed. The movements were made with secrecy and rapidity. Horses, +men, and mules were all in readiness. The cavalry were, on an +emergency, prepared to perform the role of infantry; while the +little party of infantry were ready to ride thirty miles, on mules, +with the cavalry. In this raid the Guides covered forty-eight +miles, without a halt; but the perfect success that attended the +expedition is not often attained, especially when, as in this case, +the force is unprovided with guns. Two or three little mountain +guns make all the difference in expeditions of this kind for, +though the Afridis will stand musketry fire pluckily enough, they +begin to flinch as soon as guns, however small, open upon them. + +"There is no more awkward business than an attack upon hill forts +that are well held, for some of them are really formidable. I was +present at the storming of Nilt fort, and the fight near +Chillas--both of them awkward affairs--and in the fight at +Malandrai. There had, for some time, been a state of hostilities +between Malandrai, two miles across the border, and Rustam on our +side of it. Information was received that several of the most +important of the enemy's raiders, and a considerable number of +cattle would, on a certain night, be at Malandrai; and it was +arranged that two companies of Guides should start in the afternoon +for Rustam, twenty-five miles distant, which they would reach after +dark. At this place they were to take a short rest, and were then +to follow the difficult tracks through the hills, and appear on a +commanding spur in the rear of the village, at dawn. The frontal +attack was to be made by six companies, who were to arrive before +the bridge in the small hours of the morning. A squadron of Bengal +cavalry were to move independently, and to cut off any of the enemy +who might escape from the frontal attack. + +"The turning party arrived after a march of eighteen hours, through +a terribly rough country. The main body, unfortunately, +miscalculated their distance and, instead of halting in the gorge +leading to the village, in which it was known that pickets had been +placed, they came suddenly upon the enemy's outposts. These fired a +volley, killing the colonel and some of the men. The surprise, +therefore, as a surprise failed; but an attack was made in the +morning, the village taken, and the turning party extricated from +its dangerous position. That is a good example of the difficulty of +attacking a hill fort. + +"Another instance is the attack upon Nilt fort. The place was one +of great natural strength; the fort, which was a large one, faced +the junction of three precipitous cliffs, several hundred feet +high, where a great ravine runs into the Hunza river. Owing to the +nature of the ground, the fort could not be seen till the force was +within three hundred yards of it; and fire could not be properly +opened upon it until within two hundred and fifty yards. + +"The walls of the fort were of solid stone, cemented by mud, and +strengthened by strong timbers. They were fourteen feet in height, +and eight feet in thickness; and were surmounted by flanking towers +and battlements, which afforded the defenders a perfect cover. In +front of the main gate was a loopholed wall, completely hiding the +gateway; and in front of this again was a very deep ditch, filled +with abattis; while a broad band of abattis filled the space +between the ditch, and a precipitous spur from the adjacent +mountain. This spur was, unfortunately, inaccessible for guns and, +though our infantry mounted it, their fire had no effect upon the +enemy, sheltered as they were behind their battlements. + +"It was therefore necessary to make a direct attack, and storm the +fort on a front of only sixty yards. After a vain attempt to make +some impression on the forts with mountain guns, the order was +given to advance; and the Ghoorkhas, two hundred strong, and a +company of sappers dashed forward into the ravine facing the west +wall. A few of them managed to force their way into a weak point of +the abattis, under a heavy fire from the fort; and worked round to +a gateway. This was soon hacked down, and then they burst into the +courtyard. + +"Captain Aylmer, R.E., set to work to place a charge of gun cotton +against the main entrenchment of the fort. After repeated failures, +the fuse was lighted and the gate blown in. Captain Aylmer was +severely wounded, in three places; and several of the men killed. + +"So far the attack had been so astonishingly bold and quick that +the main body were unaware of the success; and Colonel Duran, +thinking the explosion was caused by the bursting of one of the +enemy's guns, continued steadily firing at the fort. The position +of the twenty men and three officers was precarious, indeed, as +they were thus exposed to a heavy fire from behind, as well as in +front. With splendid heroism, however, they held on to the +advantage they had gained till some reinforcements came up; and +then, pressing on through the shattered gate, they captured the +fort. + +"For a fortnight after this the force remained inactive, for no way +of ascending the great ravine was known. At last, however, an +enterprising sepoy discovered a way, and on the 19th of December a +hundred men, under two lieutenants, were ordered to leave Nilt fort +under cover of darkness, drop silently down into the bed of the +ravine, and there await daylight. + +"The portion of the enemy's position that had been selected for +attack was on the extreme left, on the crest of a cliff which rose, +without a break, fifteen hundred feet from the bed of the ravine. +Another force, a hundred and thirty-five men and six British +officers, with two guns, was to cover the advance of the storming +party. At eight o'clock in the morning, fire was opened upon the +enemy, as it was anticipated that the storming party were well up +the cliff by this time; but unfortunately, after ascending the +precipice halfway, they reached a point where the cliff was +absolutely impracticable, and were obliged to descend again into +the ravine. + +"At two o'clock, having discovered a more practicable way, they +ascended again, foot by foot; their commander working his way up +with admirable judgment, moving from point to point, as opportunity +offered, between the showers of stones. The enemy were now fully +aware that the precipice was being scaled, and it was only the +well-directed fire of the covering party that prevented them from +issuing from their defences, and annihilating the party with rocks +and boulders. + +"The summit was reached at half-past eleven, and the first of the +enemy's works captured. They rushed sangar after sangar, taking +them in rear and driving out the enemy pell mell, killing many and +capturing a large number of prisoners. At last the passage of the +great ravine was gained, and the British force enabled to move +forward again. + +"The greatest credit was due to Lieutenant Manners-Smith; whose +conduct, in storming the height in broad daylight, was simply +magnificent; and the result showed the manner in which even young +officers can distinguish themselves, and how the native troops will +follow them, unhesitatingly, through dangers which would well appal +even the bravest. + +"It is possible, however, to demand too much from our troops; as +was shown in the defence of Chillas. The post was held, in '93, by +three hundred men of the Kashmir Maharajah's bodyguard, under the +command of two British officers, Major Daniels and Lieutenant +Moberley. For some time, Daniels had been warned that he might be +attacked on the night of a Mohammedan feast. It was understood that +this was on the 3rd of March and, when the night passed quietly, it +was considered that the alarm had been a false one. During the next +night, however, a determined attack was made, by about a thousand +men; but was repulsed by steady volleys. + +"Major Daniels then determined to take the offensive and attack the +enemy, who were swarming in great numbers into a neighbouring +village. At half-past three Moberley, with thirty-five men, went +out to attack the village. After severe fighting, and some loss, he +effected a lodgment in an outer line of houses; but being himself +badly wounded, and finding the village too strongly held for a +small party to make any further progress, he retired with his +detachment to the fort. + +"The enemy continued a heavy fire until half-past eight, when Major +Daniels determined to attack them again; although their numbers +were now swollen to between four thousand and five thousand men. He +had with him only a hundred and forty available men, a number being +required to garrison the fort. Dividing his little force, however, +he attacked the village on two sides. The fight went on for two +hours, during which one of the two attacking parties gained a +partial footing in the village; but wounded men began to struggle +back to the fort, and reported that Major Daniels and many men had +been killed; and the remnants of the attacking party were brought +back, by a native officer, at half-past eleven. The casualties in +killed and wounded were very heavy, including the two British +officers, four native officers, and forty-six rank and file. +Fortunately the natives; believing, no doubt, that reinforcements +would arrive, scattered to their homes without further action. + +"Here was a case in which the native troops were ordered to perform +what verged on the impossible. The houses in these native villages +are almost always fortified; and to take a hundred and fifty men, +to attack a place held by five thousand, was asking more than the +best British soldiers could be expected to achieve. + +"At any rate, the stories I have told you will give you some idea +of the work we have before us. We may quite assume that such a +force as is now being collected can be trusted to defeat the +Afridis, if they venture to meet us in open fight; but if they +resort solely to harassing tactics, we shall have our work cut out +for us. It must be remembered, too, that the Afridis are far better +fighters, more warlike, and of far better physique than the men +engaged in the fights that I have been speaking of. They are +splendid shots, and are almost all armed with breech-loading +rifles, Sniders and Martinis. Their country is tremendously hilly +and, although it is wholly unknown to us, we do know that there are +ravines to be passed where a handful of men could keep an army at +bay." + +"I was with the Sikhim expedition, in '88," one of the captains +said. "At that time I was in the Derbyshires. In this case it was +the wildness of the country, rather than the stoutness of the +defence of the Thibetans, that caused our difficulty. The force +consisted of a mountain battery of four guns, two hundred men of +our regiment, four hundred of the Bengal Infantry, and seven +hundred men of the 32nd Pioneers. The men were all picked and of +good physique, as it was known that the campaign would be a most +arduous one. In addition to the usual entrenching tools, a hundred +and twenty short swords were issued to each regiment, and fifty per +cent of the followers were also supplied. These swords were to be +used for clearing away jungle. The country was very rugged, and the +work had to be done at the altitude of twelve thousand feet, where +the mountains are mostly covered with forest trees and undergrowth. + +"The base from which we started was thirty miles northeast of +Darjeeling, and the first objective of the expedition was the fort +of Lingtu, forty miles distant. The advance was made in two +columns; the first consisting of two mountain guns, a hundred men +of the Derbyshires, and three hundred of the 32nd Pioneers, which +were to make for Lingtu; while the rest were to operate towards +Intchi, where the Rajah of Sikhim resided, and thus prevent +reinforcements from being sent to Lingtu. + +"The latter column met with no opposition and, after accomplishing +their work, retired. The first column came across the enemy at +Jeluk, five miles short of Lingtu. Here the Thibetans had erected a +strong stockade, at the top of a very steep ascent; and had +barricaded the road with stone breastworks. + +"The position was attacked, at seven in the morning, by a hundred +men of the 32nd Pioneers; supported by seventy-eight men of my +regiment. The guns had had to be left behind. The advance was slow +and, owing to the dense bamboo jungle through which we had to pass, +and the steepness of the road, great caution was necessary. + +"When we had reached a spot within a few hundred yards of the +stockade, fire was suddenly opened on the Pioneers. These, however, +moved on steadily, without replying till, having worked their way +close up to the stockade, they fired a volley; and then, with a +loud cheer, charged with bayonets fixed. The Derbyshire detachment +moved up into support, and the position was captured after a sharp +struggle. + +"A small turning party, under Captain Lumsden, had been detached to +the left but, after proceeding a short distance, they found that +the road had been cleared to where it passed round a precipice; and +that it was defended by a party of the enemy, behind a stone +breastwork, at ten yards' range. Captain Lumsden and several of his +men were knocked over, and the party were brought to a complete +stand. So thick was the jungle that they did not know what was +going on, on either side; and the first intimation they received, +of the capture of the fort, was the descent of a party of +Derbyshires in the rear of the breastworks. + +"The stockade, when it was examined, turned out to be a most +formidable one; about two hundred yards long, both flanks resting +on impassable precipices. It was constructed of logs laid +horizontally, with a thick abattis of twelve trees. + +"Next morning the advance on Lingtu was continued, in a dense mist. +Information was obtained, from a prisoner, that they would have to +cross a spot where there was a stone shoot, down which an avalanche +of rocks could be hurled by the defenders. They therefore advanced +with great caution, while a party of the Pioneers crept along the +crest of the ridge, and attacked from the rear the party gathered +at the head of the stone shoot. The road was steep and broken, and +the partially-melted snow lay two feet deep on it. The Pioneers +captured the stone shoot without loss, and then pushed on over the +hills and, without firing a shot, charged straight at the fort; and +burst their way through the main gate, before the astonished +Thibetans had realized what was happening. + +"Of course, as it was against an enemy of such poor fighting +quality as the Thibetans, this little affair affords no idea of the +resistance that we can expect in the Tirah; but it does show what +can be accomplished by our men, in the face of immense natural +difficulties." + + + +Chapter 8: The Dargai Pass. + + +There was the greatest joy among the Pioneers, when they received +instructions to prepare for an advance to Khusalghar. Officers and +men alike were in the highest spirits, and not the least pleased +was Lisle, who had begun to tire of the monotony of camp life. The +mention of the place at which they were to assemble put an end to +the discussion, that had long taken place, as to route to be +followed. Six days' easy march along a good road would take them to +Shinawari and, in three or four days more, they would get into the +heart of the Tirah. + +Illustration: Map illustrating the Tirah Campaign. + +Much would depend on the conduct of the Orakzais, a powerful tribe +whose country lay between Kenmora and that of the Zakka-Khels. The +latter had indeed declared against us, but they were known to be +very half hearted; for they felt that, lying as they did close to +the British frontier, they would be sure to suffer most if we +obtained the upper hand. It was hoped therefore that, after making +a show of resistance, they would try to come to terms with us. + +The regiment was told that it would have to provide its own +carriage, and two or three days were spent in buying up all the +ponies and mules in the neighbourhood. All the heavy baggage was +packed up and left in store, and the regiment marched from the town +in light order, with their drums and fifes playing a merry march, +and the men in high spirits. + +"It is worth two years in a dull cantonment, Bullen," one of the +lieutenants remarked to Lisle. + +"It is glorious," Lisle said, "though I expect we shall have some +hard fighting; for they say that the Zakka-Khels and their allies +can place fifty thousand in the fighting line and, as our column is +reported to be twenty thousand strong, we shall all have our work +to do. In the open they would, of course, have no chance with us +but, as the fighting will be done in guerrilla fashion, from hills +and precipices, our task will be no easy one. The guarding of the +tremendous convoy we must take with us will, in itself, be +extremely difficult." + +"Yes, I expect we shall get it hot. The loss is almost sure to be +heavy, but that will not prevent us from turning them out of their +fastnesses." + +"I wish they would let us all carry rifles, instead of swords," +Lisle said. "It will be beastly having nothing to do but wave one's +sword, while they are potting at us. I don't think I should mind +the heaviest fire, if I could reply to it; but to be compelled to +stand by idly, while the men are blazing away, would be enough to +drive me mad." + +"I dare say when the fighting begins, Bullen, you will soon find +that there are plenty of rifles disengaged; and I don't see any +reason why an officer should not pick up one of them, and take his +share in firing, till he has to lead the men on to an attack." + +Lisle was now nearly eighteen, of medium height, with light active +figure, and likely to be able to undergo any hardships. + +On their arrival at Khusalghar, they found that several regiments +were already there, with an enormous amount of stores and baggage. +The officers lost no time in examining the fort, that had been so +nobly held by a party of Sikhs who, having for a long time held the +enemy in check, had fought to the last when they burst in. One by +one the noble fellows fell. One wounded man, lying on a pallet, +shot three of the enemy before he was killed; and the last survivor +of the little force shut himself up in a little chamber, and killed +twenty of his assailants before he was overcome. Not a single man +escaped, and their defence of the little fort is a splendid example +of the fidelity and bravery of our Sikh soldiers. + +After a few days' stay at this place, the regiment marched on to +Shinawari; and here remained for some little time, until the column +was made up. It was known that the Zakka-Khels and their allies had +marched down and taken up their position near the Dargai hill; and +that the Orakzais had, in spite of the pressure brought to bear +upon them by the other tribes, determined to remain neutral. This +Dargai hill must not be confused with the hill, of the same name, +at which fierce fighting took place in the expedition to Chitral, +two years before. + +At last the welcome news came that the advance was about to take +place. General Lockhart, with another column, was at Fort Lockhart, +some thirty miles away; but the intermediate ground was so broken, +and the force of the enemy watching him so strong, that no +assistance could be obtained from him. The force assembled at +Shinawari was a strong one. The King's Own Scottish Borderers, a +battery of Royal Artillery, the 1st Battalion of Gordons, 1st +Dorsets with a mountain battery, the Yorkshire Regiment, the Royal +West Surrey, and a company of the 4th Ghoorkhas were all there. The +3rd Sikhs, with two guns, moved to the left in the Khuram Valley. + +Altogether, something like fifty thousand transport animals +accompanied them, with sixty thousand camp followers. The transport +presented an extraordinary appearance. It included every class of +bullock vehicle, lines of ill-fed camels, mules, ponies, and even +tiny donkeys. + +On October 17th orders were received, from General Lockhart, that +the division at Shinawari was to make a reconnaissance in force +towards the Khanki Valley, as the enemy had been seen moving about +on the hills. A force consisting of the 3rd and 4th Brigades moved +forward. The object of the reconnaissance was the summit of the +hill, directly overlooking Shinawari, and over two thousand feet +high. From the plain the ascent appeared to be simple but, when +they started to climb, they found that it was rugged and almost +impassable. There was no semblance of road, and the men had to toil +up the goat paths and sheep tracks. + +The Dargai ridge was from a thousand to fifteen hundred feet above +the spot from which they started. On the near side it was almost a +sheer precipice, and the only means of access to the top was up +three steep waterways, which converged to the left of the position. +It was only two hundred and fifty yards' range from the summit but, +as soon as it was crossed, the steepness of the cliff afforded the +assailants shelter from the enemy's fire. From this point the path +zigzags up, until men in single file can reach the summit. The +ridge then dips into the hollow plateau where the village lies, and +then runs up two hundred feet to the cliff, making a descent of the +better part of a mile. On the far side the hill slopes away to the +Khanki Valley. + +"We are going to begin with a sharpish climb," Lisle said to +another officer. "If those fellows on the top of the cliff stick to +their work, we shall have a very hot time of it." + +"I expect the guns will clear them off," the other said. + +"They may do that for a moment but, as we get up to the top, they +will rush forward again; if they have the same pluck as the fellows +I fought against, before." + +As soon as the advance began, the enemy came into action; but the +two batteries opened upon them, and their fire slackened somewhat. +The climb was a severe one, indeed; the road became worse and worse +as they advanced and, at one place, a ridge between two spurs had +to be crossed with barely a foot of purchase way, and a sheer drop +on both sides. When they were within two hundred yards from the +summit, they had to cross an open space. The Borderers and +Ghoorkhas were in front; and the latter were ordered to carry the +position, while the Borderers covered their advance. + +The Ghoorkhas advanced in a couple of rushes and, as they neared +the summit, the enemy bolted. The Goorkhas pursued; but they did +not go far, as the general, who had been with the advance guard +throughout, recalled them. It was found that a village lay in the +hollow of the plateau, and that sangars had been built all along +the summit, and high up on the hill which covered the crest. + +General Westmacott waited for two hours on the summit and, +supposing that General Kempster could not make his way up, was +about to withdraw his men; as large bodies of the enemy were seen, +moving in a direction which threatened the left rear. As they did +so, General Kempster arrived. He had experienced considerable +resistance, and had lost two officers. + +"That has been hard work, Lisle," his companion said, as they +returned to camp. + +"Yes, but the hardness consisted more in the climbing than in the +fighting. I wonder we are brought back again. We shall probably +have a great deal harder work, next time; for all the enemy in the +Khanki Valley will no doubt be up there, waiting for us." + +That evening, there was much discussion at the mess upon the +expediency of evacuating the pass, when it had once been occupied. +The general opinion, however, was that it was necessary. + +General Lockhart was at the fort bearing his name, with a regiment +of the 4th Brigade. The 2nd Battalion had remained in camp at +Shinawari, and the 1st Division was still on the march to that +place. It was General Lockhart's intention to divide the great +force known to be in the Khanki Valley. The reconnaissance had been +ordered to ascertain if a road really existed, and if it was +passable for baggage. The reasons for the retirement were that a +complete brigade would have been required to take the place, that +the picketing of the road would have taken half a brigade, and that +no commissariat arrangements had been made for the supply of a +force on the plateau. Further, not a drop of water was available; +and lastly, if Dargai had been held, the enemy would have massed +their whole force against it; whereas, when the force withdrew, the +tribesmen would be compelled to divide their force in order to +watch the other road. + +The conclusion arrived at, by the members of the mess, was that the +retirement was probably necessary; but that the next advance would +assuredly meet with much greater opposition than the first. + +Three days passed; and then, at half-past four in the morning, the +advance guard of General Yeatman-Biggs' column left the camp, under +General Kempster, and proceeded up the Chagru Pass. It was a long, +weary pull up the hill. The sappers had been working hard on the +road, for the past ten days; but it was still very narrow for a +whole division, and three mountain batteries. At half-past eight +the force reached the summit, and the advance guard sent back news +that the crest of the Dargai was held, by the enemy, in force. The +enemy could be plainly made out. They had with them a black banner, +which showed that they were Kambar Khels. On the far side of the +opposite range could be seen great masses of tribesmen, with a +dozen standards. + +The 1st and 2nd Ghoorkhas, the Dorsets, and the Derbys were sent +on; while the Gordons took up a position to cover the advance, with +long-range volleys. As the regiments climbed up, three mountain +guns massed on the Chagru Kotal; and another one, which had come in +with the Northampton from Fort Lockhart, opened fire. The enemy +replied, at long range, upon the advance guard of the Ghoorkhas, as +they went up the centre nullah. The little Ghoorkhas came steadily +on and, at six hundred yards, opened fire in volleys. This and the +fire of the guns was too much for the tribesmen, who ceased to show +themselves. The Dorsets had now joined the Ghoorkhas and, after a +halt, again made a rush across the open to reach the cover, the +Derbys firing heavily to assist them. + +Until our men showed in the open, they had no knowledge in what +force the position was held. Three companies of Ghoorkhas managed +to reach cover beneath the cliff, but the path was strewn with the +dead and dying. Captain Robinson, after getting across with his +men, tried to rejoin the main body, but fell. Then the Dorsets +endeavoured to join the three gallant companies of Ghoorkhas. Rush +after rush was made, but the head of each melted away, as soon as +the fatal spot was reached. At last, after three fruitless +attempts, the helio flashed back to the general that the position +was impregnable, and that further attempts would be but a useless +waste of life. + +Matters were looking serious. It was twelve o'clock, and the enemy +still held their position. General Yeatman-Biggs realized that a +check would seriously alter the course of the campaign, and he told +General Kempster that the summit must be taken, at any cost. The +latter started at once, taking with him the Gordons and 3rd Sikhs. +It took the fresh troops the best part of an hour to climb up; and +when the five regiments of infantry, the Highlanders, English, +Sikhs, and Ghoorkhas, stood massed in the nullah, General Kempster +helioed to the guns, asking three minutes' concentrated fire on the +summit. + +There were two ways to reach the cover where the company of +Ghoorkhas had been lying, for three hours. The top ridge had been +proved to be absolutely a death passage, but there was another +path, by which General Westmacott had forced his way up, three days +before, and which was shorter across the open zone of fire. A fresh +regiment was to take the lead. + +The colonel collected his men at the edge of the nullah, and said: + +"Gordons, the general says that the position must be taken, at all +costs. The Gordons are to do it!" + +The signal was given, the batteries at once opened fire, and the +cliff was crowned with a circle of bursting shrapnel. Then the +officers of the Gordons dashed over the nullah, the pipes rolled +out the charge and, with clenched teeth, the Highlanders burst into +the open. The length of the exposed zone was swept with the leaden +stream. The head of the upper column melted away; but a few +struggled on, and others took the places of the fallen. The Sikhs, +Derbys, and Ghoorkhas followed in rushes, as the firing slackened, +and the cover halfway was won. A moment was allowed for breath, and +then the men were up again; another terrible rush, another terrible +slaughter, and the three companies of Ghoorkhas were reached. + +When the enemy saw that the space was crossed, they left their +sangars and streamed down the reverse slope of the hill. They could +not face the men who had passed that terrible passage. Forming at +the bend of the perpendicular rock, they waited till they had +recovered their breath, and then proceeded up the zigzag path +leading to the summit of the hill. + +The fighting was over, but the loss had been great. Four officers +had been killed and ten wounded, one of them mortally. The total +casualties were a hundred and ninety-four killed and wounded. Of +these thirty were Gordons, and the majority of the remainder were +Dorsets and Ghoorkhas. Few of those who fell wounded escaped with +their lives. Their comrades made desperate efforts to carry them +off; but the storm of bullets, fired at so short a range, rendered +it impossible; while the wounded who attempted to rise and return +were riddled with bullets, as soon as they moved. When the fight +was over, the whole force encamped on the Chagru Kotal. + +The assailants were unable to make out why the enemy did not defend +the zigzag path. Only two men could climb it abreast, and the +advancing files could have been destroyed by a dozen marksmen with +breech loaders. The only reasonable supposition was that, having +been engaged for five hours, their ammunition was practically +exhausted. + +Several acts of heroism were performed in the battle. One of the +pipers, Lance Corporal Milne, was shot through both legs; but still +continued to play his pipes, in a sitting position. Four other +pipers played right across the fatal passage, three of them being +wounded. Lieutenant Tillard was the first man across. He was a fast +runner, but he stopped to encourage his men, midway. + +By the 25th, the whole of the two divisions were encamped on the +two low hills at the mouth of the Kapagh Pass; while the stream of +transport came gradually up. By that day six thousand four hundred +British troops, eleven thousand two hundred and eighty native +troops, seventeen thousand followers, and two thousand four hundred +camels were gathered there. + +In the morning a foraging party went out and, when they were +returning to camp with supplies, and also with a hundred head of +cattle, the enemy lined the neighbouring heights. The mountain +battery came into action, and the rearmost regiment covered the +retreat by volleys; but the tribesmen had all the advantage of +position and, with the utmost determination, they followed. They +even opened fire on the camp, causing several casualties, the total +losses being over thirty. + +By this time the troops were all convinced that the campaign would +be a most serious one. Before them lay a country of which they were +absolutely ignorant, into which no Englishman had ever penetrated; +and defended by an enemy who were, for the most part, armed with +first-class rifles, and were marvellous skirmishers. If the +tribesmen kept to guerrilla warfare, there was no saying how long +the campaign would last. + +Lisle had passed through the fight unhurt. He had been almost +bewildered as he crossed the fatal path, running at top speed, with +men falling thickly around him. Halfway across Lieutenant Blunt, +who was one of his great chums, and had joined just before him, +fell. Lisle sheathed his sword and threw himself down beside him, +pressing him to the ground to prevent him from moving; while he +himself remained perfectly still. When the next rush of men came +along, he lifted his wounded friend with great effort on to his +back, and then ran on. Blunt was again twice hit; but Lisle +escaped, almost by a miracle, and arrived at the foot of the +precipice a minute after the last man got in. He was loudly +cheered, by the men, as he did so. + +He had the satisfaction of knowing that Blunt's wounds, although +serious, were not considered mortal. When the regiment halted on +the plateau, Lisle was warmly congratulated by the colonel and +officers on the feat he had performed; but he disclaimed any +particular merit. + +"When Blunt fell," he said, "it was the most natural thing in the +world that I should go and pick him up; and I did so almost +mechanically. Luckily he was a light man but, even if he had been a +heavy one, I don't think I should have felt his weight. I was +scarcely conscious of the bullets whistling round me. When he fell, +I knew that the tribesmen would shoot any wounded man who tried to +rise, and that the only chance was to lie perfectly still, until +another batch of men came along." + +"You showed no end of coolness," the colonel said, "and the idea of +pressing him down, and yourself lying quietly beside him showed +that, in spite of confusion, your brain was clear, and that you had +all your senses about you. It was a gallant action, which I shall +not forget to mention when I send in my report. You deserve the +V.C., but I don't suppose you will get it; so many gallant deeds +were done that only a few can get the cross." + +The two divisions marched on the morning of the 28th. The +Northamptons and 36th Sikhs had been detached to an extremely high +hill, to cover the advance. It had already been found that, +although the Afridis could fight well, so long as they had the +advantage of position, they were nevertheless extremely careful of +their skins. After the heavy firing into camp, on the night of the +return of the reconnaissance, the place had been greatly +strengthened; and the positions were changed every night, a fact +which so entirely surprised the enemy that, for a time, night +attacks ceased altogether. + +General Westmacott's brigade advanced up the Khanki nullah to the +foot of the Sampagha Pass. General Gazelee's division moved along +the hills, and halted at the village of Ghandaki. In the afternoon +a reconnaissance pushed forward, and returned with the news that +the pass appeared to be simple, and the road a good one. Tribesmen +were seen upon nearly every crest. They were apparently building +sangars upon the roadway. + +General Gazelee was to make his attack next morning. General +Westmacott, General Kempster, and General Hart, with the batteries +of both divisions, were to occupy a knoll at the foot of the pass, +to support the advance. The troops moved forward in the following +order: the Queens, the 2nd and 4th Ghoorkhas, Yorks, and 3rd Sikhs +were first; and they were followed by the 30th Sikhs, the Scottish +Borderers, and the Northamptons. + +In the dim light of the early morning, the distant crests were +marked by the fires of the enemy. Some delay was caused by the +batteries missing the tracks, but by daybreak they advanced. At +half-past six the enemy fired the first shot, and then fell rapidly +back. The regiments in the first line moved steadily on and, at +half-past seven, the guns opened. A few shells were sufficient for +the enemy's advance party, and they scuttled back. When the +Ghoorkhas and Queens reached the first ridge in the pass, the enemy +opened fire; but they could not stand the accurate fire of the six +batteries. + +A mountain battery pushed up the pass, and came into action on the +enemy's first position. The pass widened out from this point, and +the two leading regiments moved forward to the sloping crest of the +third position. The Queens had advanced on the right, with the +Ghoorkhas on their flank. The pathway was covered by the fire of +the enemy, hidden behind rocks; and this was so accurate that men +could hardly show themselves on the path, without being immediately +shot down. The Sikhs and Borderers, however, pushed up the hill and +drove the enemy out. + +The defence of the pass was not so determined as had been expected, +after the stand shown at Dargai. The reason, no doubt, was that +though they were good skirmishers, the enemy did not care to expose +themselves, either to artillery fire or close-quarter fighting. +When the last crest had been gained, the force proceeded down into +the Mastura Valley. The tribesmen had deserted, and set fire to, +their homesteads. The villages were only a few hundred yards apart, +and were well built. The valley contained many beautiful groves. +There was little food in the camp, and the Ghoorkhas set to work to +make chupatties, with coarse flour found in the villages. + +There had been very few casualties during the day, and the men +began to hope that, after the lesson taught the enemy at Dargai, no +other resolute stand would be made. After a day of rest in the +valley, orders were issued for the 3rd and 4th Brigades to move, at +daybreak. The 2nd Brigade was to follow, the 1st being left to +garrison the camp. The path was across a low ridge connecting +higher ones, and offered no great facilities for resistance, and +was overcome with the exchange of a few shots, only. + +From the top of the Karanghur Pass was seen the valley of Maidan, +the spot which the Afridis were wont to boast no infidel had ever +gazed upon. The view was magnificent. From the foot of the slope +stretched a valley, broken here and there by ravines and nullahs. +Every inch of it seemed to be cultivated; and it was one wide +expanse of terraced fields, sprinkled with groves and dotted with +countless habitations. There was scarce an acre which had not a +fortified block house, as each family built a homestead for itself, +and fortified itself against all comers. + +As the column entered the valley, they found that their arrival had +not been expected. The livestock had been removed, but every house +in the valley was stocked with supplies. Indian corn, wheat, +barley, and other grain were found in abundance; and there was an +ample stock of honey, potatoes, walnuts, and onions. + +Bagh was the tribal centre, the Afridi parliament ground. Its +mosque was situated about four miles farther up the valley. It was +at this spot that orders were issued to make war upon the British. +It was an insignificant building, with a mud roof supported by +twenty-one pillars. The mosque was not interfered with. + +It was thought that, as such little opposition was offered in the +last pass, the enemy had lost all heart; but a foraging party, the +next day, found the tribesmen in great force at the other end of +the valley, and were compelled to retire. Another party of the +enemy attempted to rush a picket of the 36th Sikhs; and a strong +force pounced upon the baggage train, and killed several of the +drivers; then, retiring till the main guard had passed, dashed out +again and killed three of the guards, and wounded several others. + +For the present, no damage was done to the homesteads; as it was +hoped that the Afridis would come in and surrender. Next day a +foraging party was hotly attacked and, at night, there was severe +fighting round the camp. A party of elders came in, to ask what +terms would be given; and were told that the tribesmen would have +to deliver up their rifles, and pay a heavy fine. It was evident, +from their manner, that although they would be ready to pay a fine, +they would certainly not deliver up their rifles. + +The troops had now settled down comfortably. They had ten days' +rations in camp, and the camel convoys were coming in daily. The +weather was delightful, and the nightly firing into the camp, +alone, disturbed them. + +A small party of foragers was, a few days later, fiercely attacked. +Captain Rowcroft, who was in command, had with him only a subadar +and half a dozen sepoys, when a heavy fire was opened upon him. The +party could have retired, but one of the men was shot through the +thigh, and it took three others to carry him. He was presently left +behind, and Rowcroft went back to the body, to assure himself that +the man was dead. This pause gave the enemy time to close up, and +the subadar was shot, as well as the man tending him. + +A mule was luckily found, and the subadar was sent to the rear. +After this two men were hit, one for the second time and, as it was +impossible for the four sound men to carry off their wounded, and +face the enemy as well, Rowcroft chose the best spot, and +determined to halt and wait for help. The Afridis could not bring +themselves to rush the little party, but confined themselves to +keeping up a heavy fire. Another Sikh was wounded; and the dust +caused by the bullets almost blinded the others, who could scarcely +see to reply. At last, just in the nick of time, a relieving party +arrived and carried them off. + +On the 8th General Westmacott started, with his brigade, to punish +the Zakka-Khels for the continued night firing which, our commander +had learned from prisoners, was kept up by that tribe. The brigade +did its work thoroughly and, by evening, the whole of the eastern +valley was in flames. That same evening, however, Captain Watson, a +commissariat officer, was shot dead, as he stood at his own door. A +curious fatality seemed to accompany this night firing. Out of the +many thousands in camp, four officers only had been hit. Captain +Sullivan, of the 36th Sikhs, was shot ten minutes after he had +arrived in camp, having travelled post haste from England. + +On the 9th a reconnaissance was ordered to Saransur, a lofty peak +to the east of the Maidan valley. Across this is a pass, on one of +the roads to Peshawar. General Westmacott, who was in command, took +with him four regiments--two British and two Sikhs--two batteries, +and a company of Madras Sappers. The foot of the hill to be scaled +was less than three miles from camp, but the intervening ground was +extraordinarily broken. It was, in fact, a series of hummocks from +seventy to a hundred feet high; which were covered with boulders, +and intersected by a river. This main nullah was also broken, on +both sides, by smaller nullahs almost every hundred yards. Beyond +this rugged ground there was a severe ascent. The hill had two +spurs; one wooded, especially towards the summit, the other bare. +The path wound up the latter, then crossed a ridge beyond, and yet +another ridge behind that, with a sheer summit very like the Dargai +cliff. + +The force left camp at half-past seven. When they had gone about a +mile, desultory shots were fired at them, from a series of +well-built sangars facing the termination of the nullah. On +reaching the foot of the hillside, General Westmacott was much +concerned about the Dorsets on the left; who were engaged in +desultory firing, and were making little progress up the nullah. +Staff officer after staff officer was despatched, to direct the +Dorsets to the intended line. + +A little before ten the Northamptons, and Sikhs covering them in +the rear, began the ascent. It was a stiff climb of a thousand +feet. When the first brow was reached General Westmacott called a +halt, in order that the men might get their breath and fix +bayonets. Then they climbed to the next top cover, and rushed +forward. The enemy evidently knew its range, and advance companies +found themselves under magazine fire. Nevertheless they pushed on. +An open kotal had to be passed. The men crossed it at the double +and, although a heavy fire was kept up again, there was no +casualty. + +The advance guard was now at the foot of the sheer cliff. No news +had been received of the Dorsets, who were in a very rough country, +wooded almost to the summit; and the general could only hope that +they were working up through this. The force pushed on and, a few +minutes past eleven, the whole summit was in our possession, and +the last of the visible enemy put to flight. + +The intelligence officers busied themselves sketching the country. +It was evident that the Saransur was the retreat of the Maidan +Zakka-Khels, for all round were evidences of encampments: +fire-stained walls, caves, and bags of grain. It was deserted by +the tribesmen, who had been taken by surprise, and had left +hurriedly. General Westmacott was anxious to be off, as it was +probable that the fighting men of the enemy had merely hurried off +to place their families under cover, and would return as soon as +they had done so. + +At two o'clock the return march began. A company of the +Northamptons were placed within range of the wooded slope, which +should have been covered by the Dorsets, had they come up. They +were suddenly fired upon, and the men fell fast. Another company +came up to help them. The enemy could not be seen, but volleys were +fired into the wood. The 36th Sikhs went back to reinforce them, +and the whole force were withdrawn without further casualty. + +As the Northamptons were retiring across the wooded zone, the first +four companies were allowed to pass unmolested; but when the fifth +reached the clear ground, they were greeted with a blaze of fire. +The carriage of the wounded delayed the retirement, and it was not +until dusk that the foot of the hill was reached. + +The enemy had taken every advantage that their knowledge of the +country gave them. They had now begun to creep up the ravines, and +their number increased every minute. Men were falling fast. Each +man carrying a wounded comrade became a target. The Dorsets also +were severely engaged. The Northamptons stuck to their work, and +slowly withdrew their wounded; but the number of casualties +increased alarmingly. + +Then an unfortunate occurrence took place. A party of Northamptons, +under Lieutenant Macintyre and Lieutenant Sergeant Luckin, turning +a corner, were cut off. It appeared that they sacrificed themselves +to their wounded comrades. One of the party was despatched for +help, and evidently came across a small group of Dorsets. The story +was, that the party were surrounded at short range when he left; +for, had they left their wounded and followed him, they might have +saved themselves. Next morning their bodies were found. In every +case they had been wounded by bullets, before the Pathans came up +and gashed them; which showed that they had fought till the last +man dropped. + +Lisle was not one of those who returned to camp and, in the +confusion that occurred as the result of the late arrival of the +troops, his absence was not discovered until the next morning. On +enquiries being made, it was found that he was last seen high up in +the mountains. He had been sent down, with eight men, to request +the guns to direct their fire against the enemy, who were pressing +the regiment during the retreat; but as he had not arrived at the +guns, a strong party was at once sent out, to search for his body +and those of the men with him. + +Lisle had, in fact, pushed down halfway to the spot where the guns +were placed, and had dismounted at the top of a nullah; when a +large party of the enemy opened fire upon him. One of the sepoys at +once fell dead, and another was wounded. It was impossible for him +to fight his way through this force. Twilight was already falling +and, owing to the rugged nature of the ground, he was by no means +sure of his position. + +While the men returned the enemy's fire, he looked round for some +vantage ground. Fifty yards away there was a small blockhouse and, +when he saw this, he at once determined to shelter in it. He and +one of the men therefore lifted their wounded comrade, and Lisle +shouted to the others: + +"Use your magazines, and then make a rush for the hut, keeping well +together." + +The little party charged, meanwhile keeping up so heavy a fire, +with their magazines, that the Afridis who stood between them and +the house cleared off, leaving a dozen of their dead on the ground. +Before they reached the block house, two more of the men were +wounded but, fortunately, not severely enough to prevent them from +keeping up with the others. The place was untenanted, and they +rushed in and at once began to pile its contents against the door. + +Lisle ordered the unwounded men to take their places at the +loopholes, which served for windows in the Afridi buildings, while +he himself attended to the wounds of the others. He warned the men +who were firing to withdraw quickly after every shot, for the +Afridis were such admirable marksmen that their bullets frequently +entered the loopholes. + + + +Chapter 9: Captured. + + +When he had completed the dressing of the wounds, Lisle mounted to +the upper story, which was a feature of every house in the valley. +While the lower part was of stone; the upper one was built of +wicker work, thickly plastered with mud, and quite useless as a +protection against rifle bullets. He set to work to cut a dozen +small loopholes, a few inches above the floor. From these he +commanded a view all round. Then he called up the two wounded men, +who were still able to use their rifles, and ordered them to lie +down, one at each of the side walls; while he himself took his +place over the doorway, with the rifle of the disabled man. + +From here he picked off several of the enemy. His fire was returned +but, as he took care to lie well back, the bullets all went over +his head. + +When darkness fell, he went down and directed the sepoys to man +only the loopholes in the front wall. This released three men, whom +he brought upstairs and posted above the door. + +The Afridis continued to riddle the upper wall and the door with +bullets. Several times they attempted a rush, but were unable to +withstand the heavy magazine fire which met them, when within +twenty yards of the house. Twice they attempted to pile faggots at +the side of the door, but the defence was so strong that many of +the bearers were killed, and the survivors fled. + +Knowing that the Afridis were in the habit of hiding their store of +grain, Lisle prodded the floor in all directions with his bayonet +and, at last, found a good supply in one corner of the room. +Unfortunately, however, there was only one vessel, half full of +water. It would not have done to light a fire to cook the grain, as +any illumination within the house would have shown the exact place +of the loopholes to the enemy. Lisle therefore served out some +grain to each of the soldiers, to eat raw. He gave some of the +water to the three wounded men, and served out a mouthful to each +of the others; telling them that they might not be relieved for +some time, and that the little supply must be made to last as long +as possible. + +The enemy still kept up a heavy fire but, after the lessons they +had received, there was but small chance that they would attempt +another hand-to-hand attack. Lisle therefore told all the men to +lie down and sleep, while he himself took up his place at the +loophole nearest the door, and kept watch. + +No attempt was made until daybreak was approaching; when, with wild +yells, the Afridis again rushed forward. The men were instantly on +their feet, and eight rifles flashed out. + +"Magazine firing!" Lisle shouted, "but don't fire unless you see a +man, and make sure of bringing him down. We must husband our +ammunition." + +Quietly and steadily, the men kept up their fire. This time the +enemy reached the door, and Lisle was compelled to call down the +two men from above. The Afridis gathered thickly round the door, +tried to push it in with their heavy knives, and battered it with +the butt ends of their rifles. Gradually, in spite of the fire of +the defenders, they splintered it; but the barricade behind still +held and, from this, the besieged poured through the broken door so +galling a fire--one half emptying their magazines, and then falling +back to reload while the others took their places--till at last, +after suffering a loss of some thirty men, the enemy retired again, +and were soon hidden in the darkness. As soon as they had gone, the +garrison brought down all available material from the upper floor +to strengthen the barricade. + +"I don't think they will try again, lads," Lisle said. + +The numbers of the besieged were, unfortunately, dwindling. One had +been shot through the head, two others had been wounded, and Lisle +himself had received a bullet in his shoulder. There were now but +two unwounded men; but the other four were all capable of using +their rifles, at a pinch. It was a relief, indeed, when day fairly +broke; for then they could see their foes at a distance and, by a +steady fire, force them to take to shelter. When they got into +cover, the tribesmen continued to fire upon the block house; but +the besieged did not reply, for they had only twenty rounds per man +left. + +Another mouthful of water was now served to all and, the two +unwounded men having been placed in the upper story to keep watch, +the others sat down under the loopholes, in readiness to leap to +their feet and fire, if an alarm was given. + +At length, about eleven o'clock, the fire of the enemy suddenly +ceased and, a few minutes later, a relief party marched up. The men +cheered lustily as the barricade was removed, and Lisle and the six +men came out. The officers ran forward and warmly greeted Lisle, +shaking hands with him and the men of his little party. + +"Thank God we have found you alive, Bullen! We hadn't even a hope +that you had survived; for we found poor Macintyre and his party, +all killed and cut up. We started this morning, as soon as your +absence was discovered, and have been searching ever since; but I +doubt if we should ever have found you, had we not heard firing +going on up here. I don't think men were ever so pleased as ours, +when we heard it; for it showed that you, or some of your party, +were still holding out. + +"You must have had desperate fighting, for there are some forty +bodies lying near the door; and we know that the enemy always carry +off their dead, when they can. You must have accounted for a good +many more, who have been taken away in the darkness." + +"We have done our best, you may be sure," Lisle said. "We have lost +two men killed, and four out of the others are wounded. I myself +have got a rifle ball in my shoulder; at least, it is not there +now, for it went right through. Fortunately it missed the bone, so +I shall be all right again, in a day or two." + +"How many were you attacked by?" + +"I should say there must have been two hundred. That was about the +number, when they first attacked." + +"You must have been exposed to a tremendous fire. The walls are +everywhere pitted with bullet marks, and the upper story seems +perfectly riddled with balls; but of course none of you were up +there." + +"Yes, we used it as a lookout. As you see, I made four loopholes in +each side and, as we lay well back, their bullets passed over our +heads. + +"What we want now is water. We drank the last drop, when we saw you +coming. We had scarcely a mouthful each, and we have not had much +more during the siege." + +Flasks were instantly produced, and each man drank his fill. + +"And now we had better be off," the officer in command of the +relief party said. "Likely enough the Afridis will be down upon us, +as soon as we move." + +They were, indeed, several times fired at, as they made their way +down to the camp, and at one time the resistance was formidable; +but they were presently joined by another party from the camp, and +the Afridis therefore drew off. + +Lisle received many hearty congratulations on his return, and many +officers of other regiments came in to shake his hand. + +"I shall send in your name again, Mr. Bullen," his colonel said, +after Lisle had made his report. "It was a most gallant action, to +defend yourself so long, with only seven men, against a couple of +hundred of the enemy; and the loss you inflicted upon them has been +very severe, for forty fell close to the house, so that their +bodies could not be carried off. I certainly should reckon that you +must have killed or wounded a good many more." + +"I don't think so, Colonel. No doubt we killed some more but, as it +was dark for the greater part of the time, we could only fire at +the flashes of their rifles. Certainly I saw twelve or fourteen +fall, before it became quite dark and, as they several times tried +to rush us, others might have fallen far enough from the house to +be carried off by their friends." + +That day General Lockhart placed, in the order of the day, the +names of Lisle and his little party as having shown conspicuous +gallantry, in defending themselves against a vastly superior force. + +Two days later General Lockhart, himself, went out with a strong +force to the top of Saransur; but met with little resistance, and +the force returned at a much earlier hour than on the previous +occasion, and reached camp before nightfall. + +In warfare of this kind, it is the wounded who are the cause of +disaster. A wounded man means six men out of the fighting +line--four to carry him, and one to take charge of their rifles. A +few casualties greatly reduce the fighting strength of the party. +In European warfare this would not take place, as the wounded would +be left behind, and would be cared for by the enemy. + +The next day representatives of all the Orakzai tribes came in, and +asked for terms. They were told that they must restore all stolen +property, give up five hundred rifles, and pay a fine of thirty +thousand rupees, and the cost of rebuilding the post they had +destroyed. Representatives of three other tribes also came in, and +similar terms were imposed upon them. Two of these, the +Kambar-Khels and the Malikdins, were in the habit of migrating to +British territory in cold weather; but the Kuki-Khels sent their +families and goods, in winter quarters, to the Bara valley. The +other Maidan tribes would probably have come in at the same time, +but for their fear of the Zakka-Khels. + +There was trouble the next day in the Mastura valley, where two +officers and four men were wounded. The following night the camp +was fired into, by an enemy who had crept within a hundred and +fifty yards of it. News came that General Kempster, with his +detached brigade, had met with little opposition; and his search +over the hills showed that the Zakka-Khels, in that direction, were +severely punished. + +On the 13th, the 3rd Brigade left the camp to cross the Kotal +towards Saransur. Except for a few long-range shots, there was no +opposition. Next day a Mullah's house was destroyed, documents +found there showing that he had taken a vigorous part in the +rising. + +Two days later the brigade started on their return march. The 1st +and 3rd Ghoorkhas were to cover the retirement, and the 15th Sikhs +to hold the Kotal. The baggage train reached the Kotal by twelve +o'clock, and the camp at three. The Ghoorkhas, however, had to +fight hard; and were so done up that, instead of continuing to +cover the retirement they passed on, leaving the Sikhs to cover. + +The enemy, thinking that only a small rear guard had been left, +came down in great force; but the fire was so heavy that they fell +back, leaving the ground strewn with their dead. The action, +however, now became general, all along the hill. Ammunition was +running short, and Captain Abbott felt that, in the face of so +large a force, and with fifteen or sixteen wounded, he could not +retire down the ravine or valley without support. He therefore +signalled for assistance; and the 46th, and two companies of the +Dorsets, were detached for that purpose. + +Colonel Houghton of the 36th, who was now in command, retiring +steadily, found himself hampered with wounded in the rough country; +while the enemy were surrounding him in increasing numbers. He was +suffering heavily from the fire of the enemy posted in a small +village; and he determined to seize it, and hold it for the night. +Three companies of the 15th and two of the 36th therefore rushed up +the hill, and were into the buildings before the Pathans were aware +that they were moving against them. Those that delayed were +bayoneted, the rest fled precipitately into the darkness. Their +fire, however, had cost us an officer and five men killed. + +Major Des Voeux on the right, having rushed a clump of buildings +opposite to him, made for a second one on the far side of the +nullah, in which was a small square building. The roof of the house +had been burnt, and the charred beams were lying on the ground. The +men rolled these, and what litter they could find into the gaps of +the building; but the breastwork was barely two feet high. When the +enemy returned to the attack they rushed right up to the house but, +luckily, they fired high in their excitement, and the Sikhs swept +them back again. The breastwork was then completed, a sentry was +placed at each side of the house, and the rest lay down. + +Colonel Houghton's post, which was a strong one, was not much +troubled. A disaster, however, occurred to a half company, under +two officers, who tried to push their way back to camp. Their +bodies were found in a nullah, in the morning. + +The next morning the parties were relieved by a force from camp. + +On the same day General Westmacott, with the 4th Brigade, marched +out. For the past three days the Malikdins and Kambar-Khels had +shown a disposition to be friendly, and had made some attempt to +open a grain traffic. Major Sullivan, with three other officers, +pushed forward to prospect a site for a camp. Some apparently +friendly and unarmed tribesmen approached them; but Major +Sullivan's suspicions were excited when he saw that, instead of +coming down direct, they were making a sweep that would cut off his +little party. He therefore whistled for the others to join him. + +When the tribesmen saw that the game was up, they poured in two +volleys. Luckily the shots went high, and the four officers gained +the cover of a house, and were soon joined by a Ghoorkha company. +There was no doubt that the enemy had played the game of friendlies +for the purpose of obtaining four officers, alive, to use as +hostages. + +The force then retired, bringing in the baggage animals, loaded +with forage. The return was now decided upon. It was considered by +the authorities that it would be less expensive to organize another +expedition in the spring, when the sowing had begun; than to +maintain a large force in the Tirah during the winter. The Afridis +would not come down, and orders were therefore issued for +destroying all the villages. These were burned, and the axe laid to +the roots of the beautiful groves. + +The tribal representatives of the Kambar-Khels, Alla-Khels, +Malikdin-Khels, and Kuki-Khels came in. They were ordered to send +in eight hundred serviceable rifles, fifty thousand rupees in cash, +and all property that had been stolen. + +When the force arrived at Bagh there was a sharp action, and the +casualties amounted to twenty-two wounded and seven killed. The +Ghoorkhas reported that they had found the enemy in great force, in +the valley. + +On the 22nd of November, Sir William Lockhart made a reconnaissance +to Dwatoi and the Bara valley. He took with him a strong brigade, +under General Westmacott. Every precaution was taken in entering +this unknown country, as the road led down a defile commanded by +high peaks. The Yorkshire Regiment was told off to hold the right +of the advance, the 1st and 2nd Ghoorkhas were to do the same work +on the left. The column was headed by the 3rd Ghoorkhas; followed +by the 28th Bombay Volunteers, two companies of the Sappers and +Miners, the Borderers, and the baggage; the rear guard being +furnished by the 36th Sikhs. + +Within a mile of camp, the Ghoorkhas were engaged with stray +riflemen. A mile farther they were met by the main body, and were +unable to proceed farther without support. The flanking regiments, +however, presently came up, and the advance continued. The road lay +in the river bed, and the men were plodding, waist deep, in water. +The passage became narrower and narrower, and so rapid was the +decline that the river bed became impassable, and the men made +their way along by its side. The road was almost dark, so high were +the cliffs and so narrow the passage between them. + +Here the resistance became very formidable. The Ghoorkhas were all +engaged in clearing the ridges, and the Bombay Pioneers pushed +forward an advance guard, the Borderers moving up to their support. +The deepest gorge was enfiladed by a party of tribesmen, with +Martinis. One man fell with a broken leg. The man helping him was +shot a moment later and, when a stretcher was brought back, two +more of the Borderers were hit. A section of the 3rd Sikhs was +detached to turn the enemy out, and then the ravine was rushed by +all the rest. There was another gorge to be passed, and the enemy +were pressing on both sides; but a battery was now brought into +action, and soon drove them off. + +Thus Dwatoi was reached, where the force encamped. It was but a +small open plain, some five hundred yards across. Three miles away +a gorge opened into the Rajgul valley, and it appeared that, beyond +this, lay Wira valley. + +All the summits were strongly picketed. Night fell, and there was +no sign of the baggage. The troops were wet to the waist, there +were seventeen degrees of frost, and the men had neither blankets +nor food. + +When morning broke there were still no signs of baggage, but at +eleven it began to appear. At noon fighting began again, and the +rest of the train did not arrive till about five o'clock. Fighting +had been incessant the whole day. It was so severe that Sir William +Lockhart determined to return to Bagh, the following day. + +The arrangements were admirable. The baggage was loaded up before +daybreak. The Ghoorkhas were to ascend the hills flanking the +village, three companies of the Borderers were to form the advance +guard, the wounded on stretchers were to follow, and the mountain +battery was to take up a position to cover the retirement. By eight +o'clock the last of the baggage was near the nullah. The helio then +flashed to the pickets. They came in and joined the rear guard of +the Sikhs, and were well in the nullah before a shot was fired. + +When the Afridis fairly took the offensive they attacked with fury, +and the Sikhs were obliged to signal for help. They were joined by +a company of the Borderers. A party of Pathans dashed forward to +seize the baggage; they had not, however, seen the few files that +formed the rearmost guard, and were therefore caught between two +bodies of troops, and almost annihilated. This sudden reversal of +the situation seemed to paralyse the tribesmen, and the rest of the +gorge was safely passed. Though the natives followed up the rear +guard to within two miles of the camp, they never made another +determined attack. The force lost, in all, five officers wounded, +and a hundred men killed and wounded, from the 36th. + +During the course of the reconnaissance Lisle had been with the +rear guard, and had fallen in the torrent with a rifle ball through +his leg. As every man was engaged in fighting, the fall was +unnoticed and, as he could not recover his footing, he was washed +helplessly down to the mouth of the defile. As he managed to reach +the shore, a party of Afridis rushed down upon him with drawn +tulwars; but a man who was evidently their leader stopped them, as +they were about to fall upon him. + +Illustration: A party of Afridis rushed down upon him. + +"He is an officer," he said. "We must keep him for a hostage. It +will be better, so, than killing him." + +Accordingly he was carried back to a village which the troops had +left that evening. Here some women were told to attend to his +wound, and the party who captured him went off to join in the +attack on the British rear guard. + +In the evening, the man who had saved his life returned. He was, it +seemed, the headman of the village; and had been with his force in +the Bara valley, where the natives of the village had retired on +the approach of the British force. There Lisle lay for ten days, by +which time the inflammation from the wound had begun to subside. +The bullet had luckily grazed, and not broken the bone. At the end +of that time, some of the principal men came to him and, by signs, +directed him to write a letter to the British commander, saying +that he was a prisoner, that he was held as a hostage against any +further attempt to penetrate into the valley; and that, in the +event of another British force approaching, he would be at once put +to death. + +Four of the Afridis always sat at the entrance to the house, which +was one of the largest in the valley. He was served regularly with +food; of which, as the valley had not been entered, there was, of +course, abundance. The women in the house seldom came in to see +him, except when they brought him his meals; and then it was +evident, from their surly manner, that they strongly objected to +his presence. + +As he lay on his rough pallet, he resolved to maintain the +appearance of being unable to walk, as long as possible. He knew +very well that, if General Lockhart had to make another movement +against the Bara valley, he could not be averted from his purpose +by the fact that the Afridis held one officer prisoner, though he +would assuredly revenge his murder, by destroying every house in +the valley; and that he must accordingly trust only to himself to +make his escape. To do this, it would be absolutely necessary to +procure a disguise; and this, at present, he did not see his way to +accomplish. + +The guards below were relieved every few hours, and kept up their +watch every day. Still, as they watched only the door, it might be +possible for him to let himself down from the window at the back of +the house. + +On the tenth day he found himself really able to walk, without very +great difficulty. Looking out of the window, one morning, he saw +that the women of the house were all gathered round the guards, and +talking excitedly. Evidently some messenger had come in with news +from the Tirah valley. He knew, by this time, how many there were +in the house, and was satisfied that they were all there. + +He at once made his way down to the floor below; feeling confident +that, for the moment, he would not be disturbed. Hanging against +the wall were several men's dresses and clothes. He hastily took +down sufficient for a disguise. They were summer clothes--for the +Afridis, when leaving to act against our troops in the mountains, +wear sheepskin garments. At any rate, there was little fear that +their loss would be discovered until the men returned from the +front. + +He took the clothes up to his room, and hid them under the pallet. +Then, having ascertained that the women were still engaged in +talking, he took off his boots and made his way down to the lowest +story, which was principally used as a storehouse. Here, among bags +of corn and other stores, he saw a coil of rope. This he carried +upstairs and, having hidden it, lay down again. + +The rest of the day passed quietly. It was apparent that the +clothes had not been missed and, with a strong feeling of +hopefulness, he awaited the night. When the house was quiet he +looked out. Four men were sitting, as usual, at the front of the +door. Then he took off his uniform and put on his disguise, +fastened one end of the rope securely, and slid down noiselessly to +the ground. + +Keeping the house between him and the guard, he started. Making a +detour, he got free of the village, and then turned to the upper +end of the valley. Half an hour's walking took him to where the +force had encamped, and he soon reached the mouth of the gorge. + +Here he plunged into the river. His leg hurt him a good deal, but +he waded on and, after great exertions, reached the head of the +gorge. His leg was now hurting him so much that he could proceed no +farther so, turning off, he mounted the hills and lay down among +the rocks, where there was little chance of his being discovered. + +Here he dozed till morning. When he took the rope, he had thrust +several handfuls of grain into his pocket; and this he had tied up +in the skirt of his garment, when he started. He now munched some +of it, and lay, watching the mouth of the gorge below. + +Two hours after daybreak, he saw a small party of tribesmen come +hurrying up through the gorge. They did not stop, but kept on their +course, evidently supposing that he had pushed on to join the +British camp. All day he lay hidden and, before dark, he saw the +men come back again. They had evidently given up the chase and, as +he had seen no searchers upon the hills, the idea that he was +hiding had evidently not occurred to them. + +He felt, however, that he must give his leg another day's rest +before proceeding. On the following day he suffered a good deal +from thirst, and dared not venture down to the river. When it was +dark, however, he continued his way. + +Illustration: It was the dead body of an Afridi. + +Presently he saw something white, huddled up behind a rock and, +climbing up, he found that it was the dead body of an Afridi, who +had fallen in the fight. Beside him lay his Lee-Metford rifle. This +was indeed a find. In the scanty garments that he had alone dared +to take, he would be known at once by anyone who happened to pass +near him. He now set to work, and dressed himself in the dead +warrior's garments; and took up his rifle and pouch of ammunition. + +"Now," he said, "I only want something to stain my face and hands, +and I shall be able to pass anywhere, if it does not come to +talking." + +He kept his eyes about him, and presently saw the plant which he +knew Robah had used in preparing the dye for him. Pulling all the +leaves off, he pounded them with the stock of his rifle, and rubbed +his face with juice from the leaves. There was sufficient to stain +both his face and hands. + +By nightfall he entered the Maidan. Here he saw many natives +gathered round the ruined houses. As he approached it, he saw that +heavy firing was going on round the camp. It was greatly reduced in +extent, and he guessed that a considerable proportion of the force +had moved off on some punitive expedition. Between him and it, he +could see many of the Afridis crouched among the rocks, ready to +attack any small parties that might issue out. + +He saw at once that it would be impossible to reach the camp +without being questioned, and he therefore determined to fall in +with the column that had gone out. For this purpose, he made a wide +detour until he came upon a track where there were innumerable +signs that a column had recently passed. Crushed shrubs would, in +themselves, have been a sufficient guide; but there were many other +tokens of the path of the army: grain dropped from a hole in a +sack, scratches on the rock by the shod feet of the transport +animals, an empty cartridge case, and a broken earthenware pot. + +He pushed on rapidly, keeping a sharp lookout for the enemy. Some +of them, passing along the hill, shouted to him to join them; but +with a wave of his rifle and a gesture, showing that he intended to +keep to the track, he went on. + +Late in the afternoon, on mounting a high pass, he could distinctly +hear firing in the distance; and his heart beat at the thought that +he was near his friends. Still, between him and them the Afridis +might be swarming. The risk, however, must be run. + +Ascending the slope of the hill, he obtained a view of the +conflict. A body of British troops was firing steadily, and another +regiment was coming up to their assistance. The Afridis were +swarming round in great numbers, and keeping up a continuous fire. +Waiting until he saw where the Afridis were thickest, he made his +way down to the firing line, and took up his position behind a +rock; there being none of the natives within fifty yards of him. He +now began to fire, taking pains to see that his bullets went far +over the heads of the British. This he continued until nightfall, +by which time the conflict had come to an end, and the British +regiments, with the convoy which they were protecting, had reached +camp. + + + +Chapter 10: Through The Mohmund Country. + + +For a time the firing ceased entirely but, soon after nightfall, a +scattered fire opened round the camp. Lisle now made his way down +fearlessly, until within four hundred yards of the camp. He was +able to make out the white dresses of the Afridis, lying crouched +behind rocks. No one paid any attention to him and, as soon as he +had passed them, he dropped on his hands and knees and began +crawling forward; keeping himself carefully behind cover for, at +any moment, the pickets might open fire. When he approached the +British lines, he stopped behind a rock and shouted: + +"Don't fire! I am a friend." + +"Come on, friend, and let us have a look at you," the officer in +charge of the picket answered. + +Rising, he ran forward. + +"Who on earth are you?" the officer asked when he came up. "You +look like one of the Afridis, but your tongue is English." + +"I am Lieutenant Bullen," he said; and a burst of cheering rose +from the men, who belonged to his own regiment. + +"Why, we all thought you were killed, in that fight in the +torrent!" + +"No; I was hit, and my leg so disabled that I was washed down by +the torrent; and the men were, I suppose, too much occupied in +keeping the Afridis at bay to notice me. On getting to the other +side of the pass I crawled ashore, and was made prisoner. No doubt +the Afridis thought that, as I was an officer, they would hold me +as a hostage, and so make better terms. + +"I was put into the upper story of one of their houses but, after +ten days, my wounds healed sufficiently to allow me to walk; and I +have got here without any serious adventure." + +"Well, I must congratulate you heartily. I will send two of the men +into camp with you, for otherwise you would have a good chance of +being shot down." + +On arriving at the spot where the officers of the regiment were +sitting round a campfire, his escort left him. As he came into the +light of the fire, several of the officers jumped up, with their +hands on their revolvers. + +"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" Lisle exclaimed, with a laugh. "I can +assure you that I am perfectly harmless." + +"It is Bullen's voice," one of them exclaimed, and all crowded +round him, and wrung his hands and patted him on the back. + +"This is the second time, Bullen, that you have come back to us +from the dead; and this time, like Hamlet's father, you have come +back with very questionable disguise. Now, sit down and take a cup +of tea, which is all we have to offer you." + +"I will," Lisle said, "and I shall be glad of some cold meat; for I +have been living, for the past three days, on uncooked grain." + +The meat was brought, and Lisle ate it ravenously, declining to +answer any questions until he had finished. + +"Now," he said, "I will tell you a plain, unvarnished tale;" and he +gave them, in full detail, the adventure he had gone through. + +"Upon my word, Lisle, you are as full of resources as an egg is +full of meat. Your pluck, in going down to the lower story of that +house while the women were chatting outside, was wonderful. It was, +of course, sheer luck that you found that dead Pathan, and so got +suitable clothes; but how you dyed your face that colour, I cannot +understand." + +Lisle explained how he had found a plant which was, as he knew, +used for that purpose; and how he had extracted the colouring +matter from it. + +"You had wonderful luck in making your way through the Pathans, +without being questioned; but, as we know, fortune favours the +brave. Well, I shall have another yarn to tell General Lockhart, in +the morning; but how we are to rig you out, I don't know." + +Several of the officers, however, had managed to carry one or two +spare garments in their kits. These were produced; and Lisle, with +great satisfaction, threw off the dirt-stained Pathan garments, and +arrayed himself in uniform. + +Pleased as all the others were at his return, no one was so +delighted as Robah, who fairly cried over his master, whom he had +believed to be lost for ever. + +"We shall not be uneasy about you again, Bullen," the colonel said, +as they lay down for the night. "Whenever we miss you we shall know +that, sooner or later, you will turn up, like a bad penny. If you +hadn't got that wound in the leg--which, by the way, the surgeon +had better dress and examine in the morning--I should have said +that you were invulnerable to Afridi bullets. The next time there +is some desperate service to be done, I shall certainly appoint you +to undertake it; feeling convinced that, whatever it might be, and +however great the risk, you will return unscathed. You don't carry +a charm about with you, do you?" + +"No," Lisle laughed, "I wish I did; but anything I carry would not +be respected by a Pathan bullet." + +Next morning the colonel reported Lisle's return, and Sir William +Lockhart sent for him and obtained, from his lips, the story of the +adventure. + +"You managed excellently, sir," the general said, when he had +finished. "Of course, I cannot report your adventure in full, but +can merely say that Lieutenant Bullen, whom I had reported killed, +was wounded and taken prisoner by the Pathans; and has managed, +with great resource, to make his escape and rejoin the force. Your +last adventure, sir, showed remarkable courage; and this time you +have proved that you possess an equal amount of calmness and +judgment. If you go on as you have begun, sir, you will make a very +distinguished officer." + +During the day Lisle had to repeat his story, again and again, to +the officers of other regiments; who came in to congratulate him on +making his escape, and to learn the particulars. + +"I shall have," he said, laughing, "to get the printing officer to +strike off a number of copies of my statement, and to issue one to +each regiment. There, I think I would rather go through the +adventure again, than have to keep on repeating it." + +He had received a hearty cheer, from the regiment, when he appeared +upon parade that morning; a reception that showed that he was a +general favourite, and that sincere pleasure was felt at his +return. + +Lisle had been known among the men as 'the boy' when he first +joined, but he was a boy no longer. He was now eighteen; and had, +from the experiences he had gone through, a much older appearance. +He learned, on the evening of his return, that he was now a full +lieutenant; for there had been several changes in the regiment. +When in cantonments other officers had joined, junior to himself; +and four or five had been killed during the fighting. + +"If this goes on much longer, Mr. Bullen, you will be a captain +before we get back to India," one of the officers said. + +"I am sure I hope not," he replied. "I don't wish to gain steps by +the death of my friends. However, I hope that there is no chance of +it coming to that." + +After the visit of the commander to the Mohmund hill force, the +troops under General Lockhart learned the history of the operations +of that force, of which they had hitherto been in complete +ignorance. On the 28th of August the force was concentrated. It +consisted of the troops which, under Sir Bindon Blood, had just +pacified the Upper Swat Valley; with a brigade, under Brigadier +General Jeffreys and General Wodehouse, mobilized near Malakand. On +the 6th of September orders were issued to march to Banjour, +through the Mohmund country to Shabkadr, near Peshawar, and operate +with a force under Major General Ellis. A force had already been +despatched, under General Wodehouse, to seize the bridge over the +Panjkora. This was successfully accomplished, the force arriving +just in time, as a large body of the enemy came up only a few hours +later. + +General Meiklejohn was in command of the line of communication, and +the 2nd and 3rd Brigades crossed the Panjkora without opposition. +On the 13th of September the Rambuck Pass was reconnoitred, and the +two brigades arrived at Nawagai. General Jeffreys encamped near the +foot of the Ramjak Pass; and part of his force was detached, to +prepare the road for the passage of the expedition, and to bivouac +there for the night. The road was partially made, and the brigade +would have passed over but, about eight o'clock in the evening, the +camp at the foot of the pass was suddenly attacked. All lights were +at once extinguished, and the men fell in rapidly; the trenches +opening fire on the unseen enemy, who moved gradually round to the +other side of the camp. It was pitch dark, for the moon had not yet +risen; and the enemy poured in a murderous fire, but did not +attempt to rush the camp. The troops were firing almost at random +for, in spite of star shells being fired, very few of the enemy +could be made out. + +The fire was hottest from the side occupied by the 38th Dogras, who +determined to make a sortie, for the purpose of clearing the enemy +away from that flank. In spite of the fact that the ground was +swept by bullets, several volunteered for the sortie. The fire, +however, was too hot. Captain Tomkins and Lieutenant Bailey fell, +almost the instant they rose to their feet. Lieutenant Harrington +received a mortal wound, and several men were also killed and +wounded, and the sortie was given up. + +All night a heavy fire was kept up by the enemy, but they moved off +in the morning. The camp presented a sad sight, when day broke; +dead horses and mules were lying about among the tents and +shelters, which had been hurriedly thrown down at the first attack. +When it was learned that the assailants belonged to the Banjour +tribes, living in the Mohmund Valley, a squadron of Bengal Lancers +were sent off in pursuit and, overtaking them in a village at the +entrance of their valley, killed many, pursuing them for four or +five miles. When they returned to the village, they were joined by +the Guides Infantry and a mountain battery. This was too small a +force to follow the enemy into their hills, but they destroyed the +fortifications of several small villages and, before night, General +Jeffreys, with the rest of the brigade, arrived. + +Night passed without interruption and, in the morning, the force +marched in three columns; the centre keeping straight up the +valley, while the other two were to destroy the villages on each +side. When the centre column had advanced six miles up the valley, +they saw the enemy in a village on the hill; and a detachment of +the Buffs went out to dislodge them. The remainder of the column +pushed on. + +Two companies of the 35th Sikhs, who were in advance, went too far; +and were suddenly attacked by a great number of the enemy. Fighting +sturdily they fell back but, being hampered by their wounded, many +of the men were unable to return the fire of the tribesmen; who +formed round them, keeping up a heavy fire at close quarters. The +Ghazis, seeing their opportunity, came closer and closer; their +swordsmen charging in and cutting down the Sikhs in the ranks. +Seventeen were thus killed or wounded. Presently, however, the +Buffs arrived in support, and a squadron of the 11th Bengal Lancers +charged the Ghazis, and speared many of them before they could +reach the shelter of the hills; and the Buffs soon drove them away, +with heavy loss. + +While this was going on the third detachment, which had destroyed +many of the numerous villages, was called in to join the main body. +The guns had been doing good work among the flying tribesmen. A +company and a half of the 35th Sikhs were told to take post, on a +high hill, to cover the guns. This force, when the troops returned, +diverged somewhat from the line of march which the main body were +following. It was hard pressed by the tribesmen, hampered by the +wounded, and was running short of ammunition; and was obliged to +send for help. The general ordered the Guides to go to their +assistance but, fortunately, a half company of that regiment with +some ammunition had already reached them, and the party could be +seen fighting their way up a steep rocky spur. + +The tribesmen, confident that they could cut off the small band +from the main force, rushed at them with their swords. Both the +officers were severely wounded. When, however, the rest of the +Guides arrived on the hill, they poured several volleys into the +enemy, and so checked their advance. A Havildar then volunteered to +mount the hill with ammunition. He reached the party with seventy +cartridges, and carried back a wounded native officer. Other Guides +followed his example, and all reached the valley as evening was +closing in. + +The Ghazis crept up the ravine, and maintained a hot fire upon +them. It soon became pitch dark, and the difficulty of the march +was increased by a heavy storm. The force lost the line of retreat +and, but for the vivid lightning, would have found it impossible to +make their way across the deep ravine. At ten o'clock they reached +the camp. + +Here they found that General Jeffreys, with part of his brigade, +had not yet returned. At dawn, however, the general appeared, with +his mountain battery and a small escort. They had become separated +from the remainder of the brigade, and the general decided to +bivouac in a village. Defences were at once formed. The trenching +tools were with the main body, but the sappers used their bayonets +to make a hasty shelter. + +The enemy took possession of the unoccupied part of the village, +and opened fire on the trenches. This grew so hot that it became +absolutely necessary to clear the village. Three attempts were +made, but failed; the handful of available men being altogether +insufficient for the purpose. + +The enemy now tried to rush the troops, and a continuous fire was +poured into a small enclosure, packed with men and mules. The +casualties were frequent, but the men now threw up a fresh +defensive work, with mule saddles and ammunition boxes. The fury of +the storm, which came on at nine o'clock, somewhat checked the +ardour of the assailants; and the water was invaluable to the +wounded. + +At midnight four companies, who had gone out in search of the +general, arrived and cleared the enemy out of the village. The +casualties had been heavy, two officers and thirty-six men having +been killed, and five officers and a hundred and two men wounded. + +Next day the force started on their way up the valley. Their object +was to attack a strongly-fortified village on the eastern side of +the valley, about six miles distant from the camp. When they were +within two thousand yards of the enemy's position, the tribesmen +could be seen, making their disposition for the attack. + +The Sikhs, Dogras, and Buffs stormed the heights on either side; +but the enemy made no attempt to stand. The Guides advanced +straight on the village, which was destroyed without loss. The +grain found there was carried into camp. Several other villages +were captured and, though the enemy were several times gathered in +force, the appearance of a squadron of Bengal Lancers, in every +case, put them to flight. + +In the meantime, the 3rd Brigade were encamped at Nawagai. The news +of the attack on General Jeffreys' column had upset the +arrangements. It was of the utmost importance to hold Nawagai, +which separated the country of the Hadda Mullah and the Mamunds. As +the whole country was hostile, and would rise at the first +opportunity, the force was not strong enough to march against the +Hadda Mullah, and leave a sufficient body to guard the camp. It was +therefore decided to wait, until they were joined by General Ellis' +force. + +Skirmishing went on daily. On the 17th, heliographic communication +was opened with General Ellis. On the following day an order was +flashed to them, to join General Jeffreys in the Mamund valley. +This was impracticable, however, until General Ellis should arrive. + +Next night a couple of hundred swordsmen crept up to a ravine, +within fifty yards of the camp, and suddenly fell upon the West +Surrey regiment. They were met by such a hail of bullets that most +of them dropped, and of the remainder not a man reached Hallal. + +On the following day a messenger arrived, from General Ellis, +asking Sir Bindon Blood to meet him ten miles away. That afternoon +a reconnaissance was made, as news had been received that large +reinforcements had been received by Hadda Mullah. The enemy showed +themselves in great force, but kept out of range of the guns +though, during the return march, they followed the troops and, when +darkness set in, were but two miles from camp. + +At nine in the evening the enemy, who had crept silently up, +attempted to rush the camp on three sides. The troops were well +prepared, and maintained a steady fire; although the enemy's +swordsmen hurled themselves against our entrenchments in great +numbers. The star shells were fired by the mountain battery, and +their reflection enabled the infantry to pour deadly volleys into +the midst of the enemy, who were but a few yards distant. The +tribesmen, however, completely surrounded the camp, their riflemen +keeping up a heavy fire, and their swordsmen making repeated +rushes. + +The tents had all been struck, and the troops lay flat on the +ground while the enemy's bullets swept the camp. This was kept up +till two o'clock in the morning, the fire never slackening for a +minute; and the monotony of the struggle was only broken by an +occasional mad, fanatical rush of the Ghazis. The entrenchments +were so well made that only thirty-two casualties occurred, but a +hundred and fifteen horses and transport animals were killed. + +The effect of this decisive repulse, of an attack which the enemy +thought would certainly be successful, was shown by the complete +dispersal of the enemy. Their losses had been terrible. It was +ascertained that, in the surrounding villages alone, three hundred +and thirty had been killed; while a great number of dead and +wounded had been carried away over the passes. + +On the following day General Ellis arrived. It was arranged that +the 3rd Brigade should join his command. Thus reinforced, he could +deal with the Hadda Mullah, and General Blood would be at liberty +to join the 2nd Brigade in the Mamund Valley. + +General Ellis took up a position, with the two brigades at his +disposal, at the mouth of the Bedmanai Pass; and sniping went on +all night. Next morning the troops moved forward to the attack. +Covered by the rest of the force, the 20th Punjabis, with the 3rd +Ghoorkhas in support, were ordered to make the assault, and to +secure the hills commanding the pass. The enemy fought stubbornly, +but were gradually driven back; their numbers being greatly reduced +by deserters, after the attack on the camp. The Hadda Mullah had +fled, directly the fight began; but the Suffi Mullah was seen +constantly rallying his followers. + +On the following morning, General Westmacott's brigade marched to a +village situated at the mouth of the Jarobi gorge--a terrible +defile, with precipitous cliffs on either side, the crests of which +were well wooded. The resistance, however, was slight, and the +force pushed through and burned the houses, towers, and forts of +the Hadda Mullah. They were harassed, however, on their return to +camp. + +In the meantime, Sir Bindon Blood had joined General Jeffreys' +brigade, which was still engaged in operations against the Mamunds. +Several villages were burned, and large supplies of game and fodder +carried off. The Mamunds at last sent in a party to negotiate; but +it soon appeared that they had no intention of surrendering, for +they had been joined by a considerable number of Afghans, and were +ready for a fresh campaign. The Afghan borderers were in a good +position, and were able to bring their forces to the assistance of +the Mamunds with the assurance that, if they were repulsed, they +could return to their homes. + +General Jeffreys therefore recommenced operations, by an attack +upon two fortified villages. These were situated on the lower slope +of a steep and ragged hill, near enough to give support to each +other, and protected by rocky spurs. The inhabitants sallied out to +attack, but were checked by the appearance of our cavalry. The +force then pressed forward to the high jungle. + +It was evident that the spurs on either side must be captured, +before the village could be stormed. The Guides were ordered to +clear the spur to the left, the 31st Punjab Infantry and the Dogras +the centre ridge between the two hills, while the West Kents +advanced straight up the hill. + +The Guides dashed up the hill with a wild yell. This so intimidated +the tribesmen that, after firing a volley so wild that not a single +man was wounded in the attacking column, they fled in a panic. + +The Punjabis, on the other hill, were stubbornly fighting their +way. The ground consisted, for the most part, of terraced fields, +commanded by strongly-built sangars. Colonel O'Brien was killed, +while gallantly leading his men on to the assault; but the Punjabis +persisted, under the covering fire of the mountain battery, and +dropped shell after shell into the Mamunds; who, however, although +losing heavily, stuck manfully to their rocks and boulders, and +finally were only driven out at the point of the bayonet. + +The 31st were now joined by the West Kent, who came down from a +spur on the west, and were able to drive the enemy out of several +strong positions above the other village. On their way a half +company, on reaching a sangar, were suddenly charged by a body of +Ghazis. From the melee which ensued, many of the West Kents were +killed and wounded, among them the officer in command. + +As it was now late, it was decided to return to camp for the night. +This was done steadily and deliberately, although the enemy kept up +a heavy fire. The casualties of the day were sixty-one, no fewer +than eight British officers being killed or wounded. + +Two days' rest was given the troops, and then they marched against +Badelai. The attack was almost unopposed. The tribesmen imagined +that we were again going to attack their former position, and they +were unable to return in time to defend the village. Their loss, +however, was severe, as they came down to the open ground, and were +swept by the guns of the mountain battery. + +A few days afterwards the campaign was brought to an end, the enemy +coming in and offering a general surrender. The expedition had been +very successful, twenty-six villages having been destroyed, and all +the hoards of grain having been carried off. + +On the 13th of October the Mamund valley was evacuated, and the +force moved into Matassa. The inhabitants here were perfectly +peaceable and, beyond the blowing up of the fort of a chief, who +had continued hostile, there was no fighting. The force then +returned to Malakand, where it remained for two months. + +Two tribes yet remained to be dealt with, namely the Bulas and +Chamlas. Both refused to comply with the reasonable terms imposed +upon them, by the government, for their complicity in the +rebellion. + +The force selected for their punishment consisted of two brigades, +under General Meiklejohn and General Jeffreys. These advanced to +the assault on the Tangi Pass. The Guides, 31st Punjabis, three +squadrons of the Bengal Lancers, and two squadrons of the Guide +cavalry were sent to Rustam, a place which threatened three passes +leading into Buner. The enemy, being thus compelled to watch all +three routes, were prevented from assembling in any force. + +Sir Bindon Blood encamped the two brigades on Thursday, the 6th of +January, at the mouth of the Tangi Pass. The detached column was to +protect an entrance over the Pirsai Pass. The assault was made by +the column under General Meiklejohn, and so well was the force +distributed--the hills on either side being captured, while three +batteries opened fire on the hill with shrapnel--that the tribesmen +were unable to maintain their position. The pass was captured with +only one casualty, and the troops marched triumphantly down into +Buner, the first British troops who had ever entered the country. + +They halted at the first village. As this place was plentifully +stocked with goats and chickens, they found abundance of food. + +The detached column were equally successful in their attack on the +Pirsai Pass, for they met with scarcely any resistance. Our +success, in capturing the two passes hitherto deemed impregnable, +brought about a complete collapse of the enemy. Deputations came in +from all the surrounding villages, and the tribesmen complied with +the terms imposed upon them. + + + +Chapter 11: An Arduous March. + + +Lisle had heard of the operations that had been carried on by the +brigade under General Gazelee, under the general supervision of Sir +William Lockhart. The object was to cross by the Zolaznu Pass, to +punish two of the hostile tribes on the other side; to effect a +meeting with the Khuram column; and to concentrate and operate +against the Chamkannis, a tribe of inveterate robbers. On the 26th +General Gazelee started, and the newly-arrived wing of the Scottish +Fusiliers, and two companies of the Yorkshires was to follow, on +the 28th. + +The approach to the pass, which was four miles to the left, was +across a very rough country; and as, after advancing four and a +half miles, a severe opposition was met with, most of the day was +spent in dislodging the tribesmen from the villages, and turning +them out of the spurs which covered the approach to the pass. +Finding it impossible to make the summit that night, they encamped +and, although they were fired into heavily, but little damage was +done. + +At dawn the expedition started again but, by accident, they +ascended another pass parallel with the Lozacca. At nine o'clock +the Ghoorkhas and Sikhs arrived at the top of the pass. It was very +difficult and, as the baggage animals gave great trouble on the +ascent, and were unable to go farther, the party camped on the top +of the pass. + +General Lockhart left the camp early that morning, but was also +opposed so vigorously that he was obliged to encamp, three miles +from the top of the pass, after having burnt all the villages from +which he had been fired upon. In the morning he joined the advance +party, and went ten miles down the pass. On arriving there, he +found that the Queen's and the 3rd Sikhs had pushed on farther to +Dargai. This was not the place previously visited of this name, +which appears to be a common one in the Tirah. Plenty of hay and +straw stores were found, and the troops were vastly more +comfortable than on the previous night. + +It was here that Lisle had overtaken the column. + +Next day the whole force was encamped at Dargai, where they were +received in a friendly manner by the villagers; who expressed +themselves willing to pay their share of the fines imposed, and +also to picket the hills. The rear guard, of two companies of +Ghoorkhas and two companies of Scottish Fusiliers, arrived late in +the day. They had met with great opposition. The tribesmen would, +indeed, have succeeded in carrying off the guns, had not a company +of the Ghoorkhas come up and, fighting stubbornly, driven them off. + +Next morning the headmen of the village were summoned, to explain +why they had failed to pay the number of rifles they had promised; +and fire was applied to one of their houses. This had an +instantaneous effect and, in a quarter of an hour, the rifles were +forthcoming and the fine paid. + +The force then moved on to Esor, where helio communication with the +Khuram column had been effected and, that day, Sir William Lockhart +and Colonel Hill--who commanded it--met. The country traversed was +a beautiful one. It was admirably cultivated, and the houses were +substantially built. + +That day two columns went out: one under General Gazelee, to +collect the fines from one of the tribes; the other commanded by +Colonel Hill, to punish the Chamkannis. This was a small, but +extremely warlike and hardy tribe. A short time before, they had +raided a thousand head of cattle from across our border, and got +clear away with them. + +A portion of the force was told off, to work its way into the +valley by the river gorge, while the main body ascended the path +over the Kotal. They reached this at a quarter-past ten and, while +they were waiting for the head of the column that had gone up the +gorge to appear, fire was opened upon them. This, however, was kept +down by the guns. It was an hour before the column appeared, but +the whole force was not through the defile until it was too late to +carry out the destruction of the villages. The column therefore +retired, severely harassed, the while, by the enemy. + +Next day Colonel Hill was again sent forward, with the Border +Scouts, the 4th and 5th Ghoorkhas, part of the Queen's, and the +Khoat Battery. They were over the Kotal at nine o'clock, and the +5th Ghoorkhas and the scouts were sent to hold the hills on the +left. The Chamkannis had anticipated a sudden visit, and were in +force on the left, where they had erected several sangars. + +The little body of scouts, eighty men strong, fought their way up +the hill; and waited there for the leading company of the 5th. +Lieutenant Lucas, who commanded them, told off half his company to +sweep the sangar, and then the remainder dashed at it. + +The Chamkannis stood more firmly than any of the tribesmen had +hitherto done. They met the charge with a volley, and then drew +their knives to receive it. The fire of the covering party +destroyed their composure and, when the scouts were within thirty +yards, they bolted for the next sangar. + +Lucas carried three of these defences, one after another, and drove +the enemy off the hill. The Ghoorkhas scouts, who had been engaged +thirty-six times during the campaign, had killed more than their +own strength of the enemy, and had lost but one man killed and two +wounded; and this without taking count of the many nights they had +spent in driving off prowlers round the camp. + +The work of destruction now began. Over sixty villages were +destroyed in the valley and, on the following day, the expedition +started to withdraw. The lesson had been so severe that no attempt +was made, by the tribesmen, to harass the movement. + +The column marched down to the camp in the Maidan--the Adam Khels, +through whose country they passed, paying the fine, and so +picketing many of the adjacent heights as to guard the camp from +the attacks of hostile tribesmen. When they reached Bara they +decided to rejoin the Peshawar column, without delay, as the +outlook was not promising. The evacuation began on the 7th of +December, but the rear guard did not leave till the 9th. It was +divided into two divisions in order, as much as possible, to avoid +the delay caused by the large baggage column. The 1st Division was +to march down on the Mastura Valley, while General Lockhart's 2nd +Division would again face the Dwatoi defile. Both the forces were +due to join the Peshawar column, on or about the 14th. + +General Symonds, with the 1st Division, was unmolested by the way. +It was very different, however, with Lockhart. + +The movement was not made a day too soon. Clouds were gathering, +the wind was blowing from the north, and there was every prospect +of a fall of snow, which would have rendered the passage of the +Bara Pass impossible. The 3rd Ghoorkhas led the way, followed by +the Borderers, with the half battalion of the Scottish Regiment and +the Dorsets. Behind them came the baggage of the brigade and +headquarters, the rear of the leading column being brought up by +the 36th Sikhs. General Kempster's Brigade followed, in as close +order as possible; having detached portions of the 1st and 2nd +Ghoorkhas, and the 2nd Punjab Infantry, to flank the whole force. + +The Malikdin Khels were staunch to their word, and not a single +shot was fired till the force had passed through the defile. The +difficulties, however, were great, for the troops, baggage, and +followers had to wade through the torrent, two-thirds of the way. +The flanking had used up all the Ghoorkhas, and the Borderers now +became the advance guard. + +Everything seemed peaceful, and the regiment was halfway across the +small valley, when a heavy fire was opened on the opposite hill. +General Westmacott was in command of the brigade. The Borderers +were to take and hold the opposite hill, supported by a company of +Dorsets and of Scottish Fusiliers. The battery opened fire, while a +party turned the nearest sangars on the right flank. By three +o'clock the whole of the crests were held, and the baggage streamed +into camp. Fighting continued, however, on the peaks, far into the +night. + +No explanations were forthcoming why the enemy should have allowed +the force to pass through the defile, without obstruction, when a +determined body of riflemen could have kept the whole of them at +bay; for the artillery could not have been brought into position, +as the defile was the most difficult, of its kind, that a British +division had ever crossed. + +The day following the withdrawal of the rear guard, it rained in +the Bara Valley, which meant snow in the Maidan. The pickets on the +heights had a bad time of it that night, as some of them were +constantly attacked; and it was not till three in the morning that +the baggage came in, the rear guard arriving in camp about ten. + +The camp presented a wonderful sight that day, crowded as it was +with men and animals. The weather was bitterly cold, and the men +were busy gathering wood to make fires. On the hills all round, the +Sikhs could be seen engaged with the enemy, the guns aiding them +with their work. The 36th Sikhs, as soon as they arrived, were sent +off to occupy a peak, two miles distant, which covered the advance +into the Rajgul defile. The enemy mustered strong, but were turned +out of the position. + +The next morning the villages were white with snow. A party was +sent on into the Rajgul valley, where they destroyed a big village. + +Immediately after leaving Dwatoi, the valley broadened out till it +was nearly a mile wide. On the right it was commanded by steep +hills; on the left it was, to some extent, cultivated. The 4th +Brigade this time led the way, the 3rd bringing up the rear. + +From the moment when the troops fell in on the 10th, till they +reached Barkai on the 14th, there was a general action from front +to rear. The advance guard marched at half-past seven. At eight +o'clock flanking parties were engaged with the enemy in the hills +and spurs. Serious opposition, however, did not take place until +five and a half miles of the valley had been passed. + +Here the river turned to the right, and the front of the advance +was exposed to the fire of a strongly-fortified village, nestling +on the lower slope of a hill, on a terrace plateau. The village was +furnished with no fewer than ten towers, and from these a very +heavy fire was kept up. + +The battery shelled the spur; while the Sikhs, in open order, +skirmished up the terraces to the plateau and, after a brisk +fusillade, took the village and burnt it. + +A mile farther, the head of the column reached the camping place, +which was a strong village built into the river cleft. On the left +the 36th Sikhs and part of the Ghoorkhas cleared the way; while the +Bombay Pioneers, and the rest of the Ghoorkhas, became heavily +engaged with the enemy in some villages on the right. All along the +line a brisk engagement went on. The camp pickets took up their +positions early in the afternoon, and a foraging party went out and +brought in supplies, after some fighting. + +Kempster's Brigade had not been able to reach the camp, and settled +itself for the night three miles farther up the valley. It, too, +had its share of fighting. + +All night it rained heavily, and the morning of the 11th broke cold +and miserable. It was freezing hard; the hilltops, a hundred feet +above the camp, were wrapped in snow; and the river had swollen +greatly. The advance guard waded out into the river bed, and the +whole of the brigade followed, the Ghoorkhas clearing the sides of +the valley. In a short time they passed into the Zakka-Khel section +of the Bara Valley. + +Curiously enough, the opposition ceased here. It may be that the +enemy feared to show themselves on the snow on the hilltops; or +that, being short of ammunition, they decided to reserve themselves +for an attack upon the other brigade. Scarcely a shot was fired +until the valley broadened out into the Akerkhel, where some small +opposition was offered by villagers on either bank. This, however, +was easily brushed aside. + +The advance guard of the 3rd Brigade almost caught up the rear +guard of the 4th and, by four in the afternoon, its baggage was +coming along nicely, so that all would be in before nightfall. The +rear guard of the brigade, consisting of the Gordons, Ghoorkhas, +and 2nd Punjab Infantry, had been harassed as soon as they started +and, as the day wore on, the enemy increased greatly in numbers. As +the flanking parties fell back to join the rear guard, they were so +pressed that it was as much as they could do to keep them at bay. + +When about three miles from camp, the baggage took a wrong road. In +trying a piece of level ground, they became helplessly mixed up in +swampy rice fields. The enemy, seeing the opportunity they had +waited for, outflanked the rear guard, and began pouring a heavy +fire into the baggage. The flanking parties were weak, for the +strain had been so severe that many men from the hospital escort +and baggage guard had been withdrawn, to dislodge the enemy from +the surrounding spurs. + +The Pathans were almost among the baggage, when a panic seized the +followers. As night began to fall, the officer commanding the +Gordons, with two weak companies of his regiment, two companies of +the Ghoorkhas, and a company of the 2nd Punjab Infantry and some +Ghoorkhas, found himself in a most serious position. The guns had +limbered up and pushed on, and the rear guard remained, surrounded +by the enemy, hampered with its wounded, and stranded with doolies. +As the native bearers had fled these doolies were, in many cases, +being carried by the native officers. + +The enemy grew more and more daring, and a few yards, only, divided +the combatants. Captain Uniacke, retiring with a few of the +Gordons, saw that there was only one course left: they must +entrench for the night. He was in advance of the actual rear guard, +attempting to hold a house against the fire of quite a hundred +tribesmen. + +Collecting four men of his regiment, and shouting wildly, he rushed +at the doorway. In the dusk the enemy were uncertain of the number +of their assailants and, in their horror of the bayonet, they fired +one wild volley and fled. To continue the ruse, Captain Uniacke +climbed to the roof, shouting words of command, as if he had a +company behind him. Then he blew his whistle, to attract the rear +guard as it passed, in the dark. + +The whistle was heard and, in little groups, they fell back with +the wounded to the house. It was a poor place, but capable of +defence; and the Pathans drew off, knowing that there was loot in +abundance to be gained down by the river. + +As night wore on the greatest anxiety prevailed, when transport +officers and small parties straggled in, and reported that +tribesmen were looting and cutting up followers, within a mile of +camp; and that they had no news to give of the men who composed the +rear guard. So anxious were the headquarter staff that a company of +the Borderers were sent out, to do what they could. + +Lieutenant Macalister took them out and, going a mile up the river, +was able to collect many followers and baggage animals, but could +find no signs of the rear guard. Early in the morning a company of +the 2nd Punjab Infantry went out, as a search party, and got into +communication with the rear guard. They were safe in the house; but +could not move, as they were hampered with the wounded, and were +surrounded by the enemy. Two regiments and a mountain battery +therefore went out and rescued them from their awkward predicament, +bringing them into camp, with as much baggage as could be found. + +The casualties of the day amounted to a hundred and fifty animals, +and a hundred followers killed. Of the combatants two officers were +wounded, and fourteen Gordons were wounded, and four killed. + +Owing to the necessity of sending out part of the 4th Brigade, to +support the cut-off rear of the 3rd Brigade, it was impossible to +continue the march that day. Next morning, the order of the brigade +was changed. The 23rd was to lead, handing over a battery of +artillery to the 4th, for service in the rear guard. It was also +ordered that flanking parties were to remain in position, until the +baggage had passed. The advance guard consisted of the 2nd Punjab +Infantry, and the 1st and 2nd Ghoorkhas. The others were told off +to burn and destroy all villages on either side of the nullah. The +baggage of the whole division followed the main guard. + +Directly the camp was left, the sides of the nullah enlarged and, +for half a mile, the road lay through a narrow ravine. The drop was +rapid; for the river, swollen by the fallen snow, had become +literally a torrent; and the scene with the baggage was one of +extreme confusion. The recent disaster had given a frenzied impulse +to the generally calm followers, and all felt anxiety to press +forward, with an impetus almost impossible to control. The mass of +baggage became mixed in the ravine, but at last was cleared off +and, when the valley opened, they moved forward at their greatest +speed, but now under perfect control. + +After this the opposition became less, and the village of Gulikhel +was reached by the 3rd Brigade. The village stands on the left bank +of the Bara. Immediately below it a nullah becomes a narrow gorge, +almost impassable in the present state of the river. It is several +miles long. There was, however, a road over a neighbouring saddle. +The path up from the river was narrow, but sufficient to allow two +loaded mules to pass abreast. It wound for some seven miles, over a +low hill, until the river bed was again reached. + +The next ford was Barkhe. The advance guard was well up in the +hills by midday, when it met the Oxfordshire Regiment, which had +come out seven miles to meet the force; but the baggage of a +division, filing out of the river bed in pairs, is a serious +matter, and there was necessarily a block in the rear. + +General Westmacott moved as soon as the baggage was off but, long +before it was through the first defile, his pickets were engaged, +and a general action followed. The enemy, fighting with +extraordinary boldness, kept within a few yards of the pickets. +Followers with baggage animals were constantly hit, as they came up +but, at half-past ten, the rear guard regiments marched out of +camp, under cover of artillery fire. + +The fighting was so severe that, within an hour, the ammunition of +the 3rd Ghoorkhas was expended and, shortly afterwards, the two +regiments of the rear guard were forced to call up their first +reserve ammunition mules. The march was continued at a rapid pace, +until they reached the block caused by the narrowness of the path. +Here the whole river reach became choked with animals and doolies. +The wounded were coming in fast, when the Pathans, taking advantage +of the block, attacked in great force, hoping to compel the +retreating force to make their way down the long river defile. + +General Westmacott, however, defended his right with energy; the +rear-guard regiments supporting each other, while the batteries +were in continual action. The Borderers, Sikhs, and Ghoorkhas stood +well to their task, till the last of the baggage animals were got +out of the river bed. + +The country now had become a rolling plateau, intersected by +ravines and thickly covered with low jungle, in which the enemy +could creep up to within three or four yards of the fighting line. +Progress was, consequently, very slow. To be benighted in such a +country would have meant disaster, so General Westmacott selected a +ridge, which he determined to hold for the night. The wearied men +were just filing up, when a tremendous rush was made by the +Afridis. For a moment, it seemed as if they would all be enveloped +and swept away; but the officers threw themselves into the ranks, +magazines were worked freely, and the very bushes seemed to melt +away before the hail of shot. The tribesmen were swept back in the +darkness, and they never tried a second rush. Their firing also +slackened very much, and this permitted the men to form a camp, and +see to the wounded. + +That day the rear guard lost one officer killed and three wounded, +eighteen men killed, eighty-three wounded, and six missing. The +night in camp was a terrible experience. The troops had been +fighting since early morning, the frost was bitter, and they had +neither water, food, nor blankets. General Westmacott passed the +night with the sentry line. + +Early in the morning the action recommenced and, stubbornly +contesting each foot, at times almost in hand-to-hand conflict with +tribesmen in the bushes, the rear guard fell back. The summit of +the Kotal was passed; but the enemy continued to harass their +retirement down to the river, where the picket post of the 9th +Ghoorkhas was reached. The retirement from the Tirah had cost a +hundred and sixty-four killed and wounded. As a military +achievement, this march of Lockhart's 2nd Division should have a +prominent place in the history of the British army. + +After a quiet day, the force marched into Swaikot. Next morning the +troops in camp there gathered on each side of the road, cheering +their battle-grimed comrades, and bringing down hot cakes to them. +It was a depressing sight. The men were all pinched and +dishevelled, and bore on their faces marks of the terrible ordeal +through which they had just passed. + +The advance guard were followed by the wounded. The 4th Brigade +followed. They were even more marked by hardship and strife than +those who had preceded them. Then the rear guard marched in, and +the first phase of the Tirah expedition was at an end. + +The expedition had carried out its object successfully. The Afridis +had been severely punished, and had been taught what they had +hitherto believed impossible, that their defiles were not +impregnable, and that the long arm of the British Government could +reach them in their recesses. The lesson had been a very severe +one, but it had been attained at a terrible cost. It is to be hoped +that it will never have to be repeated. + +But while the regiment were resting quietly in their cantonment, +there had been serious fighting on the road to Chitral. After some +hesitation, the government had decided that this post should remain +in our hands, and a strong force was therefore stationed at the +Malakand. This, after clearing the country, remained quietly at the +station; until news was received of the attack on our fort at +Shabkadr, near Peshawar, by the Mohmunds and, two days later, news +came that a large council had been held by the fanatics of various +tribes, at which they decided to join the tribes in the Upper +Valley of Swat. + +On the 14th of August the force set out from Thana, under Sir +Bindon Blood, on their march for the Upper Swat. The 11th Bengal +Lancers were sent forward in order to reconnoitre the country. The +enemy were found in force near Jelala, at the entrance to the Upper +Swat river, their advance post being established in some Buddhist +ruins on a ridge. The Royal West Kent, however, advanced and drove +them off. + +Then news came that several thousand of the enemy occupied a front, +of some two miles, along the height; their right flank resting on +the steep cliffs, and their left reaching to the top of the higher +hills. The battery opened fire upon them; and the infantry, coming +into action at nine o'clock in the morning, did much execution +among the crowded Ghazis. + +The 31st and 24th Punjab Infantry, under General Meiklejohn, had a +long and arduous march on the enemy's left. The movement was +successfully carried out; and the enemy, knowing that their line of +retreat towards the Morah Pass was threatened, broke up, a large +portion streaming away to their left. The remainder soon lost heart +and, although a desperate charge by a handful of Ghazis took place, +these only sacrificed their lives, without altering the course of +events. + +The enemy gathered on a ridge in the rear but, by eleven, the +heights commanding the road were in the hands of our troops, and +the Guides cavalry began to file past. When they got into the pass +behind the ridge, the enemy were more than a mile away; and could +be seen in great numbers, separated by several ravines. + +Captain Palmer, who had pushed forward in pursuit, soon found +himself ahead of his men. Near him were Lieutenant Greaves and, +thirty yards behind, Colonel Adams and Lieutenant Norman. Seeing +that the enemy were in considerable force, Colonel Adams directed +the troop of cavalry who were coming up to hold a graveyard, +through which they had passed, until the infantry could arrive. +Owing, however, to the noise of the firing, Palmer and Greaves did +not hear him; and charged up to the foot of the hill, hoping to cut +off the tribesmen who were hurrying towards them. Palmer's horse +was at once killed, and Greaves fell among the Pathans. + +Adams and Fincastle, and two soldiers, galloped forward to their +assistance, and were able to help Palmer back to the shelter of the +graveyard. Meanwhile Fincastle, who had had his horse killed, tried +to help Greaves on to Adams' horse. While doing so, Greaves was +again shot through the body, and Adams' horse wounded. The two +troopers came to their assistance; and Maclean, having first +dismounted his squadron in the graveyard, pluckily rode out with +four of his men. In this way the wounded were successfully brought +in; but Maclean was shot through both thighs, and died almost +instantly. The loss of the two officers, who were both extremely +popular, was greatly felt by the force. + +The infantry and guns now having arrived, the enemy retired to a +village, two miles in the rear. Here they were attacked by a +squadron of the Guides, who dispersed them and drove them up into +the hills. In the meantime our camp had been attacked, but the +guard repulsed the assailants, with some loss. + +The enemy had lost so heavily that they scattered to the villages, +and sent in to make their submission. This fight effectually cooled +the courage of the natives, and the column marched through their +country unopposed, and the tribesmen remained comparatively quiet +during the after events. + + + +Chapter 12: A Tribal Fight. + + +Two days after Lisle's return he was sent for by General Lockhart, +who requested him to give him a full account of his capture and +escape. + +"This is the second time, Mr. Bullen, that your conduct has been +brought before me. Your defence of that hut, when you were unable +to make your retirement to the camp, with a handful of men, was a +singularly gallant affair. I lost one of my aides-de-camp in the +last fight, and I am pleased to offer you the vacancy. You may take +possession of his horse until we return; when it will, of course, +be sold. I shall be glad to have a young officer of so much courage +and resource on my staff." + +"Thank you, sir! I am extremely obliged to you for the offer, which +I gladly accept; and feel it a very high honour, indeed, to be +attached to your staff." + +"Very well, Mr. Bullen, I will put you in orders, tomorrow +morning." + +On his return to the regiment, Lisle was warmly congratulated when +they heard the honour that had been bestowed on him; but there were +many expressions of regret at his leaving them. + +"It will not be for long," he said, "for I suppose that, in another +fortnight, we shall be across the frontier. If it had been at the +beginning of the campaign, I should certainly have refused to +accept the general's offer; for I should much rather have remained +with the regiment. As it was, however, I could hardly refuse." + +"Certainly not," said one. "It is always a pull having been on the +staff, even for a short time. The staff always get their names in +orders, and that gives a fellow much better chances in the future. +Besides, in a campaign like this, where the division gets often +broken up, there is plenty of work to do. + +"Well, I hope you will soon be back with us again." + +Next morning Lisle took up his new duties, and was soon fully +occupied in carrying messages from and to headquarters. One day he +received orders to accompany one of the senior members of the +staff, to reconnoitre a pass two miles from camp. It was a level +ride to the mouth of the gorge. They had scarcely entered it when, +from behind a rock a hundred yards away, a heavy volley was fired. +The colonel's horse was shot dead and he, himself, was shot through +the leg. Lisle was unwounded, and leapt from his horse. + +"Ride for your life, Bullen!" the colonel said. "I am shot through +the leg." + +Illustration: 'My horse must carry two, sir,' Lisle replied. + +"My horse must carry two, sir," Lisle replied, lifting the officer, +who was not wholly disabled, and placing him in the saddle. + +"Jump up!" the officer said. + +But the tribesmen were now within twenty yards, and Lisle drew his +sword and gave the animal a sharp prick. It was already frightened +with the shouting of the tribesmen, and went off like an arrow. +Lisle, seeing that resistance was absolutely useless, threw down +his sword; and stood with his arms folded, facing the natives. An +order was shouted by a man who was evidently their leader and, +pausing, those who were armed with breech loaders fired after the +flying horseman; totally disregarding Lisle, who had the +satisfaction of finding that his sacrifice had been effectual, for +the horse pursued its way without faltering. + +When it was out of range, the chief turned to Lisle. The Afridis +value courage above all things, and were filled with admiration at +the manner in which this young officer sacrificed himself for his +superior. He signalled to Lisle to accompany him and, surrounded by +the tribesmen, he was taken back to the rock from which they had +first fired. Then, guarded by four armed men, he was conducted to a +little village standing high among the hills. + +"This is just my luck," he said to himself, when he was taken to a +room in the principal house. "Here I am a prisoner again, just as +the troops are going to march away. It is awfully bad luck. Still, +if I ever do get back, I suppose the fact that I have saved Colonel +Houghton's life will count for something in my favour. It was +unlucky that there was not time for me to jump up behind him, but +my horse was in bad condition, and we should have been a good deal +longer under fire. + +"However, I ought not to grumble at my luck. I believe I am the +only officer who has been taken prisoner and, as it looks as if I +am to be kept as a hostage, my life would seem to be safe. I +certainly expected nothing but instant death when they rushed down +upon me. I have no doubt that, by this time, a messenger has +reached camp saying that they have got me; and that, if there is +any farther advance, they will put me to death. As I know that the +general did not intend to go any farther, and that every day is of +importance in getting the troops down before winter sets in in +earnest, I have no doubt that he will send back a message saying +that, if any harm comes to me, they will, in the spring, return and +destroy every house belonging to the tribe. + +"I think I may consider myself safe, and shall find plenty of +employment in learning their language, which may be useful to me at +some time or other. I expect that, as soon as we leave, the people +here will go down into one of their valleys. The cold up here must +be getting frightful and, as there is not a tree anywhere near, +they would not be able even to keep up fires. + +"As to escape, I fear that will be impossible. The passes will all +be closed by snow, and I have no doubt that, until they are sure of +that, they will keep a sharp lookout after me." + +Later in the day the tribesmen returned. The chief came into the +room and, by means of signs and the few words that Lisle had picked +up, when he was before a prisoner, he signified to him that if he +attempted to make his escape he would at once be killed; but +otherwise he would be well treated. For four or five days a +vigilant watch was kept over him. Then it was relaxed, and he felt +sure that the army had marched away. + +Then preparations for a move began. Lisle volunteered to assist, +and aided to pack up the scanty belongings, and filled bags with +corn. The chief was evidently pleased with his willingness and, +several times, gave him a friendly nod. At last all was in +readiness; and the occupants of the village, together with their +animals--all heavily laden, even the women carrying heavy +burdens--started on their way. It was five days' journey, and they +halted at last at a small village--which was evidently private +property--down in the plains at the foot of the mountains and, as +Lisle judged, at no very great distance from the frontier line. + +Lisle now mixed a good deal with the natives, and thus he began to +pick up a good many words of their language. Now that they were +down on the plains, two men with rifles were always on guard over +him, but he was allowed to move freely about, as he liked. + +A fortnight after they were established in their new quarters +another party of natives arrived, and there was a long and angry +talk. As far as Lisle could understand, these were the permanent +occupants of that portion of the plain, and had been accustomed to +receive a small tribute from the hill people who came down to them. +It seemed that, on the present occasion, they demanded a largely +increased sum in cattle and sheep; on the ground that so many of +the hill tribesmen had come down that their land was eaten up by +them. The amount now demanded was larger than the hill people could +pay. They, therefore, flatly rejected the terms offered them; and +the newcomers retired, with threats of exterminating them. + +For the next few days, the tribesmen were busy in putting the +village in a state of defence. A deep ditch was dug round it, and +this was surmounted by an abattis of bushes. Fresh loopholes were +pierced in the tower, and stones were gathered in the upper story, +in readiness to throw down on any assailants. + +As soon as the work was begun, Lisle signified to the chief that he +was ready to take part in it, and to aid in the defence. The chief +was pleased with his offer, and gladly accepted it. Lisle worked +hard among them. He needed to give them no advice. Accustomed to +tribal war, the men were perfectly competent to carry out the work. +There were but three towers capable of defence, and in these the +whole of the villagers were now gathered. Men and women alike +worked at the defences. Their sheep and cattle were driven into the +exterior line, and were only allowed to go out to graze under a +strong guard. + +A fortnight passed before there were any signs of the enemy, and +then a dark mass was seen approaching. The cattle were hastily +driven in, and the men gathered behind the hedge. Lisle asked the +chief for a rifle, but the latter shook his head. + +"We have not enough for ourselves," he said. "Here is a pistol we +took from you, and a sword. You must do the best you can with them. +It is probable that, before the fight goes on long, there will be +rifles without masters, and you will be able to find one. Are you a +good shot?" + +"Yes, a very good one." + +"Very well, the first that becomes free you shall have." + +The assailants halted five hundred yards from the village. Then one +rode forward. When he came within a hundred yards he halted, and +shouted: + +"Are you ready to pay the tribute fixed upon?" + +"We are not," the chief said. "If you took all we have it would not +be sufficient and, without our animals, we should starve when we +got back to the hills; but I will pay twice the amount previously +demanded." + +"Then we will come and take them all," the messenger said. + +"Come and take them," the chief shouted, and the messenger retired +to the main body; who at once broke up, when they learned the +answer, and proceeded to surround the village. + +"Do you think," the chief said to Lisle, "that you could hit that +man who is directing them?" + +"I don't know the exact distance," Lisle said, "but I think that, +if I had two or three shots, I could certainly knock him over." + +"Give me your rifle," the chief said, to one of the tribesmen +standing near him. + +"Now, sahib, let us see what you can do." + +Lisle took the rifle, and examined it to see that it was all right; +and then, leaning down on a small rise of ground that permitted him +to see over the hedge, he took steady aim and fired. The man he +aimed at fell, at once. + +"Well done, indeed!" the chief exclaimed, "you are a good shot. I +will lend you my rifle. It is one of the best; but I only got it a +short time since, and am not accustomed to it." + +"Thank you, chief! I will do my best." Then, waving his arm round, +he said, "You will do more good by looking after your men." + +The chief went up to his house, and returned with an old +smooth-bore gun and a bag of slugs. + +"I shall do better with this," he said, "when they get close." + +A heavy fire was opened on both sides; but the defenders, lying +behind the hedge, had a considerable advantage; which almost +neutralized the great superiority in numbers of the assailants, who +were in the open. Lisle, lying down behind the bank from which he +had fired, and only lifting his head above the crest to take aim, +occupied himself exclusively with the men who appeared to be the +leaders of the attack, and brought down several of them. The +assailants presently drew off, and gathered together. + +It was evident to Lisle, from his lookout, that there was a +considerable difference of opinion among them; but at last they +scattered again round the village and, lying down and taking +advantage of every tuft of grass, they began to crawl forward on +their stomachs. Although, as the line closed in, several were +killed, it was evident that they would soon get near enough to make +a rush. + +The chief was evidently of the same opinion, for he shouted an +order, and the defenders all leapt to their feet and ran to the +three fortified houses. There were only three-and-twenty of them, +in all. Lisle saw with satisfaction that they had evidently +received orders, beforehand, from the chief; for seven were running +to the chief's house, making up its garrison, altogether, to nine +men; and seven were running to each of the others. + +As the enemy burst through the bushes, which were but some +twenty-five yards from the houses, the defenders opened fire from +every loophole. At so short a distance every shot told; and the +assailants recoiled, leaving more than a dozen dead behind them, +while several of the others were wounded. + +They now took up their places in the ditch, and fired through the +hedge. Lisle at once signed to the chief to order his men to cease +firing, and to withdraw from the loopholes. + +"It is no good to fire now," he said. "Let them waste their +ammunition." + +The chief at once shouted orders to his men to cease firing, and to +take their place on the lower story; the walls of which, being +strongly built of stone, were impenetrable by bullets; while these +passed freely through the lightly-built story above. The enemy +continued to fire rapidly for some time; and then, finding that no +reply was made, gradually stopped. There was a long pause. + +"I think they are waiting till it is dark," Lisle said. "Tell the +men to make torches, and thrust them out through the loopholes when +the enemy come." + +The chief nodded, after Lisle had repeated the sentence in a dozen +different ways. He at once ordered the men to bring up ropes, and +to soak them with oil; and then in a low voice, so that the +assailants should not hear, repeated the order to the men in the +other houses. + +The ropes were cut up into lengths of three feet, and then there +was nothing to do but to wait. The attack had begun at three in the +afternoon, and by six it was quite dark. A loud yell gave the +signal, and the enemy rushed through the hedge and surrounded the +three houses. All had walls round them and, while the assailants +battered at the doors, which had been backed up with earth and +stones, the defenders lighted their torches and thrust them out, +through loopholes in the upper stories, and then retired again to +the ground floor. + +The doors soon gave way to the attacks upon them, and the +assailants rushed in, in a crowd. As they did so, the defenders +poured in a terrible fire from their magazine rifles. The heads of +the columns melted away, and the assailants fell back, hastily. + +"I do not think they will try again," Lisle said. "If they have +lost as heavily, in the other two houses, as they have here, their +loss must have been heavy, indeed." + +The torches were kept burning all night, but there was no +repetition of the attack and, in the morning, the assailants were +seen gathered half a mile away. Presently a man was observed +approaching, waving a green bough. He was met at the hedge by the +chief. He brought an offer that, if the Afridis were allowed to +carry off their dead and wounded, they would be content that the +same tribute as of old should be paid; and to take oath that it +should not, in the future, be increased. The chief agreed to the +terms, on condition that only twenty men should be allowed to pass +the hedge, and that they should there hand over the dead to their +companions. + +On returning to his house, he made Lisle understand that, after the +heavy loss they had inflicted on their assailants, there would +forever be a blood feud between them; and that, in future, they +would have to retire for the winter to some valley far away, and +keep a constant watch until spring came again. When Lisle had, with +great difficulty, understood what the chief said, he nodded. + +"I can understand that, chief," he said, "and I think you should +keep a very strong guard, every night, till we move away." + +"Good man," the chief said, "you have fought by our side, and are +no longer a prisoner but a friend. When spring comes, you shall go +back to your own people." + +It took some hours to remove the dead, of whom there were +forty-three; and the badly wounded, who numbered twenty-two--but +there was no doubt that many more had managed to crawl away. + +Lisle now set to work to learn the language, in earnest. A boy was +told off by the chief to be his companion and, at the end of two +months, Lisle was able to converse without difficulty. The chief +had already told him that he could leave when he liked, but that it +would be very dangerous for him to endeavour to make his way to the +frontier, especially as the tribe they had fought against occupied +the intervening country. + +"When we get among the hills, I will give you four men to act as +your escort down the passes; but you will have to go in disguise +for, after the fighting that has taken place, and the destruction +of the villages, even if peace is made it would not be safe for a +white man to travel among the mountains. He would certainly be +killed." + +Every precaution was taken against attack, and six men were +stationed at the hedge, all night. Two or three times noises were +heard, which seemed to proceed from a considerable body of men. The +guard fired, but nothing more was heard. Evidently a surprise had +been intended but, directly it was found that the garrison were on +watch, and prepared, the idea was abandoned; for the lesson had +been so severe that even the hope of revenge was not sufficient to +induce them to run the risk of its repetition. + +Lisle did not fret at his enforced stay. He was very popular in the +little village, and was quite at home with the chief's family. The +choicest bits of meat were always sent to him; and he was treated +as an honoured guest, in every way. + +"When you return to your people," the chief said, one day, "please +tell them that, henceforth, we shall regard them as friends; and +that, if they choose to march through our country, we will do all +we can to aid them, by every means in our power." + +"I will certainly tell them so," Lisle replied, "and the kindness +you have shown me will assuredly be rewarded." + +"I regret that we fought against you," the chief said, "but we were +misled. They will not take away our rifles from us, I hope; for +without them we should be at the mercy of the other tribes. These +may give up many rifles, but they are sure to retain some and, +though there are other villages of our clan, we should be an easy +prey, if it were known that we were unarmed." + +"I think I can promise that, after your friendly conduct to me, you +will not be required to make any payment, whatever; and indeed, for +so small a matter as twenty rifles, your assurances, that these +would never again be used against us, would be taken into +consideration." + +When Lisle had been in the village about three months, one of the +men came up to him and spoke in Punjabi. + +"Why, how did you learn Punjabi?" he said, in surprise; "and why +did you not speak to me in it, before? It would have saved me an +immense deal of trouble, when I first came." + +"I am sorry," the man said, "but the thought that you could speak +Punjabi did not enter my mind. I thought that you were a young +white officer who had just come out from England. I learnt it +because I served, for fifteen years, in the 32nd Punjabis." + +"You did?" Lisle said; "why, the 32nd Punjabis was my father's +regiment! How long have you left it?" + +"Six years ago, sahib." + +"Then you must remember my father, Captain Bullen." + +"Truly I remember him," the man said. "He was one of our best and +kindest officers. And he was your father?" + +"Yes. You might remember me too, I must have been eleven or twelve +years old." + +The man looked hard at him. + +"I think, sir, that I remember your face; but of course you have +changed a good deal, since then. I remember you well, for you often +came down our lines; and you could speak the language fluently, and +were fond of talking to us. + +"And your father, is he well?" + +"He was killed, three years ago," Lisle said, "in an attack on a +hill fort." + +"I am sorry, very sorry. He was a good man. And so you are an +officer in his regiment?" + +"No," Lisle said, "I left the regiment in the march to the relief +of Chitral. They wanted to send me home, so I darkened my skin and +enlisted in the regiment, by the aid of Gholam Singh; and went +through the campaign without even being suspected, till just at the +end." + +"You went as a soldier?" the man said, in surprise; "never before +have I heard of a white sahib passing as a native, and enlisting in +the ranks. You lived and fought with the men, without being +discovered! Truly, it is wonderful." + +"I did not manage quite so well as I ought to have done; for I +found, afterwards, that I had been suspected before we got to +Chitral. Then Colonel Kelly took me out of the ranks and made me a +temporary officer, and afterwards got a commission for me." + +"It is truly wonderful," the man repeated. + +From that time the native took every pains to show him respect and +liking for the son of his old officer; and the account he gave, to +the others, of the affection with which the young sahib's father +was regarded by the regiment, much increased the cordiality with +which he was generally treated. Spring came at last, and the snow +line gradually rose among the distant hills and, at last, the chief +announced that they could now start for their summer home. + +The news was received with general satisfaction, for the night +watches and the constant expectation of attack weighed heavily upon +them all. The decision was announced at dawn and, three hours +afterwards, the animals were packed and they set out on the march. +They had started a fortnight earlier than usual for, if they had +waited till the usual time, their old enemies would probably have +placed an ambush. + +They travelled without a halt, until they were well among the +hills. Then the wearied beasts were unladen, fires were lighted, +and a meal cooked. But even yet they were not altogether safe from +attack; and sentries were posted, some distance down the hill, to +give notice of the approach of an enemy. The night, however, passed +quietly; and the next evening they were high among the hills, and +camped, for the first time for three months, with a sense of +security. + +It was determined to rest here for a few days, for they had almost +reached the snow line. This was receding fast, under the hot rays +of the sun, but it was certain that the gorges would be full of +fierce torrents; and that, until these abated somewhat, they would +be absolutely impassable. A week was extended into a fortnight. As +the snow melted the grass grew, as if by magic; and the animals +rapidly regained condition and strength. Then they started again +and, after encountering no little difficulty and hardship, arrived +at their mountain home. + +"Now, sahib," the chief said the next morning, "I will keep my +promise to you, and will send four of my men with you to Peshawar. +The sun and the glare from the snow have browned you almost to our +colour, so there will be no occasion for you to stain your face +and, in Afghan costume, you could pass anywhere. Besides, you speak +our language so well that, even if you were questioned, no one +would suspect that you are not one of ourselves." + +"How many days will it take, chief?" + +"In five days you will be at Peshawar. I know not whether you will +find an army assembled there, to march again into our country; but +I hope that peace has been settled. It will take the tribes all the +year to rebuild their houses. It will be years before their flocks +and herds increase to what they were before and, now they have +found that British troops can force their way through their +strongest passes, that they can no longer defy white men to enter +their lands, they will be very careful not to draw down the anger +of the white man upon themselves. They will have a hard year of it +to repair, in any way, the damages they have incurred; to say +nothing of the loss of life that they have suffered. They have also +had to give up great numbers of their rifles; and this, alone, will +render them careful, at any rate until they replace them; so I do +not think that there will be any chance of fighting this year, or +for some years to come. I am sure I hope not." + +"I hope not, also," Lisle said. "We too have lost heavily, and the +expense has been immense. We shall be as glad as your people to +live at peace. I think I may safely say that, if the country is +quiet, a messenger will be sent up from Peshawar with the general's +thanks for the way in which I have been treated; and with +assurances that, whatever may happen, your village will be +respected by any force that may march into the country. Probably +such an assurance will be sent by the men who go with me." + +Another fortnight was spent in the village, for the rivers were +still filled to the brim; but as soon as the chief thought that the +passes were practicable, Lisle, in Afridi costume, started with +four of the men. All the village turned out to bid him goodbye; +several of the women, and many of the children, crying at his +departure. + +The journey down was accomplished without adventure; the men giving +out, at the villages at which they stopped, that they were on their +way to Peshawar, to give assurances to the British there that they +were ready to submit to terms. On nearing Peshawar, Lisle abandoned +his Afridi costume and resumed his khaki uniform. + +When he arrived at the town, he went at once to headquarters. The +sentry at the door belonged to his own regiment; and he started, +and his rifle almost fell from his hand, as his eye fell upon +Lisle. + +"I am not a ghost," Lisle laughed, "but am very much alive. + +"I am glad to see you again, Wilkins," and he passed in at the +door. + +"Is the general engaged?" he asked the orderly who, like the +soldier at the door, stood gazing at him stupidly. + +"No, sir," the man gasped. + +"Then I will go in unannounced." + +General Lockhart looked up from the papers he was reading, and gave +a sudden start. + +"I have come to report myself ready for duty, sir," Lisle said, +with a smile. + +"Good heavens! Mr. Bullen, you have given me quite a turn! We had +all regarded your death as certain; and your name appeared in the +list of casualties, five months ago. + +"I am truly glad to see you again," and he heartily shook Lisle's +hand. "There is another in here who will be glad to see you." + +He opened the door, and said: + +"Colonel Houghton, will you step in here, for a moment?" + +As the colonel entered the room, and his eye fell upon Lisle, he +stood as if suddenly paralysed. The blood rushed from his cheeks. + +"I am glad to see that you have recovered from your wound, sir," +Lisle said. + +The blood surged back into the colonel's face. He strode forward +and, grasping both Lisle's hands in his own, said in broken +accents: + +"So it is really you, alive and well! This is indeed a load off my +mind. I have always blamed myself for saving my life at the expense +of your own. It would have embittered my life to the end of my +days. + +"And you are really alive! I thank God for it. I tried in vain to +check my horse, but it got the bit between its teeth and, with my +wounded leg, I had no power to turn him. As I rode, I pictured to +myself your last defence; how you died fighting. + +"How has this all come about?" and he looked at the general, as if +expecting an answer. + +"I know no more than yourself, Houghton. He had but just entered +when I called you in." + +"Now, Mr. Bullen, let us hear how it happened." + +"It was very simple, sir. The Afridis were but twenty paces away, +when I started the colonel's horse. I saw that fighting would be +hopeless, so threw down my sword and pistol. I should have been cut +up at once, had not their chief shouted to them to leave me alone, +and to fire after Colonel Houghton. This they did and, I was happy +to see, without success." + +"Then the chief sent me off, under the guard of four men, to his +village; with the intention, as I afterwards heard, of holding me +as a hostage. A week later we moved down to the plain. When we had +been settled in our winter quarters for about two months, we were +attacked by a neighbouring tribe. + +"By this time I had begun to pick up enough of the language to make +myself understood. I volunteered to aid in the defence. The chief +gave me his rifle, and I picked off a few of the leading +assailants, and aided in the defence of the village. The enemy were +beaten off with very heavy loss, and the chief was pleased to +attribute their defeat to my advice. + +"He at once declared that I was to regard myself no longer as a +prisoner, but as a guest. I spent the next three months in getting +up their language, which I can now speak fluently enough for all +purposes. + +"All this time, a vigilant watch had been kept against another +attack and, as soon as the snow began to melt, we returned to the +mountains. There we remained until the passes were open; and then +the chief sent me down, with an escort of four, and I arrived here +a quarter of an hour before I reported myself. + +"I believe that I owe my life, in the first place, to the Afridi's +surprise at my sending off Colonel Houghton on my horse." + +"No wonder he was surprised, Mr. Bullen. It was a splendid action; +and in reporting your death, I spoke of it in the warmest terms; +and said that, had you returned alive, I should have recommended +you for the V.C. + +"I shall, of course renew the recommendation, now that you have +returned." + +Turning to Colonel Houghton, he said: + +"You no doubt wish to have a further chat with Lieutenant Bullen +and, as there is no special work here today, pray consider yourself +at liberty to take him down to your quarters." + +"Thank you, sir! I shall certainly be glad to learn further about +the affair." + +"If you please, General," Lisle said, "I have a message to give +you, from the chief. He says that, henceforth, he will be friends +with the British; and that if you ever enter his country again, he +will do all in his power to aid you. He hopes that you will allow +them to retain their rifles and, as they only amount to some three +or four and twenty fighting men, I was tempted to promise him that +you would." + +"You were quite right, Mr. Bullen. I suppose the men who +accompanied you are still here?" + +"Yes." + +"Tell them not to go away. I will myself send a message to their +chief." + +"We will write him a letter, Colonel Houghton, thanking him for his +kindness to his prisoner; sending him a permit to retain his arms, +and a present which will enable his tribe to increase their flocks +and herds." + +"Thank you very much, sir! I shall myself, of course, send a +present of some sort, in return for his kindness." + +"You talk the Pathan language with facility?" + +"Yes, sir. I was five months with them, and devoted the chief part +of my time to picking it up." + +"You shall be examined at the first opportunity, Mr. Bullen; and +the acquisition of their language, as well as your proficiency in +Punjabi will, of course, greatly add to your claim to be placed on +staff appointments; and will add somewhat to your income. + +"I hope you will dine with me, this evening; when you can give me a +full account of your life in the village, and of that fight you +spoke of. It will be highly interesting to learn the details of one +of these tribal fights." + +Lisle accompanied Colonel Houghton to his quarters with a little +reluctance, for he was anxious to rejoin his comrades in the +regiment. + +"Now, Bullen, tell me all about it," the colonel said. "I know that +you lifted me on to your horse. I called to you to jump up behind, +as the Afridis were close upon us; and I have never been able to +make out why the horse should have gone off at a mad gallop, with +me; but no doubt it was scared by the yells of the Afridis." + +"When I lifted you up, sir, I certainly intended to get up behind +you; but the Afridis were so close that I felt that it was +impossible to do so, and that we should both be shot down before we +got out of range; so I gave the horse a prod with my sword and, as +I saw him go off at a gallop, I threw down my arms, as I told you." + +"As it has turned out," the colonel said, "there is no doubt that +the tribesmen, valiant fighters themselves, admire courage. If you +had resisted, no doubt you would have been cut down; but your +action must have appeared so extraordinary, to them, that they +spared you. + +"I have often bitterly reproached myself that I was unable to share +your fate. You are still young, and I am old enough to be your +father. I am unmarried, with no particular ties in the world. You +have given me new interest in life. It will be a great pleasure for +me to watch your career. + +"If you have no objection I shall formally adopt you; and shall, +tomorrow, draw out a will appointing you heir to all I possess--which +I may tell you is something like fifteen thousand pounds--and shall +make it my business to push you forward." + +"It is too much altogether, Colonel." + +"Not at all, Bullen; you saved my life, when certain death seemed +to be staring you in the face; and it is a small thing, when I have +no longer need of it, that you should inherit what I leave behind. + +"In the meantime, I shall make you an allowance of a couple of +hundred a year, as my adopted son. Say no more about it; you are +not stepping into anyone else's shoes, for I have no near relation, +no one who has a right to expect a penny at my death; and I have +hitherto not even taken the trouble to make a will. You will, I +hope, consider me, in the future, as standing in the place of the +brave father you lost, some years ago." + +Lisle remained chatting with the officer for an hour, and then the +latter said: + +"I won't keep you any longer, now. I am sure you must be wanting to +see your friends in the camp." + +As soon as Lisle neared the lines of the regiment, he saw the +soldiers waiting about in groups. These closed up as he approached. +The sentry to whom he had spoken had been relieved, and had told +the news of his return to his comrades and, as he came along, the +whole regiment gathered round Lisle, and cheer after cheer went up. +He had gone but a few paces when he was seized and placed upon the +shoulders of two of the men; and carried in triumph, surrounded by +the other men, still cheering, to the front of the mess room. He +was so affected, by the warmth of the greeting, that the tears were +running down his cheeks when he was allowed to alight. + +The officers, who had, of course, received the news, gathered at +the mess room when he was seen approaching. Before going up to them +Lisle turned and, raising his hand for silence, said: + +"I thank you with all my heart, men, for the welcome you have given +me; and the proof that you have afforded me of your liking for me. +I thank you again and again, and shall never forget this +reception." + +There was a fresh outburst of cheering, and Lisle then turned, and +ascended the four steps leading up to the mess room. + + + +Chapter 13: The V.C. + + +The colonel was standing, surrounded by his officers. + +"I welcome you back, Mr. Bullen," he said, as he shook the lad's +hand heartily, "in the name of the officers of the regiment, and my +own. We are proud of you, sir. How you escaped death, we know not; +it is enough for us that you are back, and are safe and sound. + +"Your deed, in saving Colonel Houghton's life at what seemed the +sacrifice of your own, had been a sore trial and a grief to all of +us. No doubt existed in our minds that you had been cut to pieces, +and you seem to have almost come back from the dead." + +The other officers then crowded round him, shaking his hand and +congratulating him on his escape. + +"Now, come in and tell us how this miracle has come about. We can +understand that you have been held as a hostage, but how is it that +you are here? + +"Now, do you get up on a chair, and give us a true and faithful +account of all that happened to you, and how it is that you +effected your escape." + +"I did not effect my escape at all," Lisle said, as he mounted the +chair; "I was released without any terms being made and, for the +past three months, have been treated as an honoured guest by the +Afridi chief into whose hands I fell." + +"Well, tell the story from the beginning," the colonel said; "what +you have said only adds to our wonder." + +Lisle modestly told the story, amid frequent cross questioning. + +"Well, there is no doubt that you were lucky, Lisle," the colonel +said, when he had brought his story to a conclusion. "The pluck of +your action, in getting Colonel Houghton off and staying yourself, +appealed strongly to the Afridis; and caused their chief to decide +to retain you as a hostage, instead of killing you at once. I do +not suppose that he really thought that he would gain much, by +saving you; for he must have known that we are in a hurry to get +down through the passes, and must consider it very doubtful whether +we should ever return. Still, no doubt he would have detained you +and, in the spring, sent down to say that you were in his hands; +and in that way would have endeavoured to make terms for your +release. But your assistance when he was attacked, and your +readiness to take part with his people, entirely changed his +attitude towards you. + +"However, I don't suppose he will lose by it. The general is sure +to send back a handsome present to him, for his conduct towards +you. + +"Have you seen Houghton yet?" + +"Yes, sir; I have been with him for the past hour. He has been more +than kind to me and, as he has no near relations, has been good +enough to say that he will adopt me as his heir. So I have indeed +been amply rewarded for the service I did him." + +"I congratulate you most heartily," the colonel said; "you have +well earned it, and I am sure that there is not a man in the army +who will envy your good fortune. There is only one thing wanting to +complete it, and that is the V.C.; which I have not the least doubt +in the world will be awarded to you, and all my fellow officers +will agree with me that never was it more nobly earned. You courted +what seemed certain death. + +"The greater portion of the crosses have been earned by men for +carrying in wounded comrades, under a heavy fire; but that is +nothing to your case. Those actions were done on the spur of the +moment, and there was every probability that the men would get back +unhurt. Yours was the facing of a certain death. I can assure you +that it will be the occasion of rejoicings, on the part of the +whole regiment, when you appear for the first time with a cross on +your breast." + +He rang the bell and, when one of the mess waiters appeared, told +him to bring half a dozen bottles of champagne. Lisle's health was +then drunk, with three hearty cheers. Lunch was on the table, and +Lisle was heartily glad when the subject of his own deeds was +dropped, and they started to discuss the meal. + +"Now, Mr. Bullen," the colonel said, when the meal was finished, "I +must carry you off to the ladies. They have all rejoined, and will +be as anxious as we were to hear of your return." + +"Must I go, Colonel?" Lisle asked shyly. + +"Of course you must, Bullen. When a man performs brave deeds, he +must be expected to be patted on the back--metaphorically, at any +rate--by the ladies. So you have got to go through it all and, as I +have sent word round that I shall bring you to my bungalow, you +will be able to get it all over at once." + +"Well, sir, I suppose I must do it, though I would much rather not. +Still, as you say, it were best to get it all over at once." + +Six ladies were gathered at the bungalow, as Lisle entered with the +colonel. All rose as they entered, and pressed round him, shaking +his hand. + +"I have come to tell you how pleased we all were," the colonel's +wife said, "to hear that you had returned, and how eager we have +all been to learn how it has come about. We think it very unkind of +you to stay so long in the mess room, when you must have known that +we are all on thorns to hear about it. I can assure you that we +have missed you terribly, since the regiment returned, and we are +awfully glad to have you back again. + +"Now, please tell us all about it. We know, of course, how you got +Colonel Houghton off, and remained to die; and how proud all the +regiment has been of your exploit; so you can start and tell us how +it was that you escaped from being cut to mince-meat." + +Lisle again went through the story. + +"Why did you not return at once, when the chief who captured you +said that you were his guest? Was there not some fair young Afridi, +who held you in her chains?" + +Lisle laughed. + +"I can assure you that it was no feminine attractions that kept me. +There were some fifteen or twenty girls and, like everyone else, +they were very kind to me but, so far as I was able to judge, not +one of them was prettier, or I should rather say less ugly, than +the rest; although several of them had very good features, and were +doubtless considered lovely by the men. Certainly there was none +whom an Englishman would look at twice. + +"Poor things, most of the work of the village is left to them. They +went out to cut grass, fed the cattle, gathered firewood, and +ground the corn; and I have no doubt that they are now all occupied +with the work of tilling the little patches of fertile ground +beyond the village. + +"Besides, ladies, you must remember that I have a vivid +recollection of you all; which would, alone, have guarded me +against falling in love with any dusky maiden." + +"I rather doubt your word, Mr. Bullen," the colonel's wife said; +"you were always very ready to make yourself pleasant, and do our +errands, and to make yourself generally useful and agreeable; but I +do not remember that you ever ventured upon making a compliment +before. You must have learnt the art somehow." + +The lady laughed. + +"I could hardly help comparing you with the women round me, but I +really had a vivid remembrance of your kindness to me." + +"In future, Mr. Bullen, we shall consider you as discharged from +all duty. We have heard of other gallant deeds that you have done; +and henceforth shall regard you, with a real respect, as an officer +who has brought great credit upon the regiment. I am sure that, +henceforth, you will lose your old nickname of 'the boy,' and be +regarded as a hero." + +"I hope not," Lisle said; "it has been very pleasant to be regarded +as a boy, and therefore to act as a sort of general fag to you. I +hope you will continue to regard me as so. I have always considered +it a privilege to be able to make myself useful to you, and I +should be very sorry to lose it. + +"I can assure you that I still feel as a boy. I know nothing of the +world; have passed my whole time, as far back as I can remember, in +camp; and have thoroughly enjoyed my life. I suppose some day I +shall lose the feeling that I am still a boy, but I shall certainly +hold to it as long as I can." + +"I suppose you had some difficulty in speaking with the natives?" +the doctor's wife said. + +"At first I had but, from continually talking with them, I got to +know their language--I won't say as well as Punjabi, but certainly +very well--and I shall pass in it at the next examination." + +"I wish all subalterns were like you," the colonel's wife said. +"Most of those who come out from England are puffed up with a sense +of their own importance, and I often wish that I could take them by +the shoulders, and shake them well. And what are you going to do +now?" + +"I am going off to find the four men who came down with me, see if +they are comfortable, and tell them that the general will give them +the message to their chief, tomorrow." + +"What will be the next thing, Mr. Bullen?" + +"The next thing will be to go to the bazaar, and choose some +presents for the chief and his family." + +"What do you mean to get?" + +"I think a brace of revolvers, and a good store of ammunition for +the chief. As to the women I must, I suppose, get something in the +way of dress. For the other men I shall get commoner things. +Everyone has been most kind to me, and I should certainly like them +to have some remembrance of my stay. + +"I suppose that there is five months' pay waiting for me in the +paymaster's chest." + +"I should doubt it extremely," the colonel said. "You will get it +in time, but you will have to wait. You have been struck off the +regimental pay list, ever since you were put down as dead; and I +expect the paymaster will have to get a special authorization, +before you can draw your back pay." + +"I was only joking, Colonel. My agent at Calcutta has my money in +his hands, and I have only to draw on him." + +"So much the better, Bullen. It is always a nuisance getting into +debt, even when you are certain that funds will be forthcoming +which will enable you to repay what you owe. But have you enough to +carry you on till you hear from your agent?" + +"Plenty, sir; I left all the money I did not care to carry about +with me in the regimental till." + +"Then I expect you will find it there still. I know that nothing +has been done with it. A short time since, the paymaster was +speaking to me about it, and asking me if I knew the address of any +of your relations, or who was your agent at Calcutta. He said to +me: + +"'I shall wait a bit longer. Mr. Bullen turned up quite +unexpectedly, once before and, though I fear there is not a shadow +of chance that he will do so again, I will hold the money for a +time. It is just possible that he is held as a hostage, in which +case we shall probably hear of him, when the passes are open.'" + +Lisle went to the paymaster's at once and, finding that he had not +parted with the money, drew fifty pounds. He had no difficulty in +buying the revolvers and cartridges; but was so completely at a +loss as to the female garments, and the price he ought to pay, that +he went back to the cantonment and asked two of the ladies to +accompany him shopping. This they at once consented to do and, with +their aid, he laid in a stock of female garments: silk for the +chief's wife; and simpler, but good and useful materials--for the +most part of bright colour--for the other women. These were all +parcelled up in various bundles, and a looking glass inserted in +each parcel. For the men he bought bright waistbands and long +knives; and gave, in addition, a present in money to the men who +had come down with him. + +It was evening before the work was finished, and he then returned +to mess with the regiment. + +"I suppose you don't know yet whether you are coming back to us, +Bullen?" the major said. + +"No, sir, the general did not say; but for myself, I would very +much rather join the regiment. Staff appointment sounds tempting, +but I must say that I should greatly prefer regimental work; +especially as I should be very much junior to the other officers of +the staff, and should feel myself out of place among them." + +"I have no doubt that you are right, in that respect; but staff +appointments lead to promotion." + +"I have no ambition for promotion, for the present, Major. I am +already five or six up among the senior lieutenants, which is quite +high enough for one of my age." + +"Well, perhaps you are right. It is not a good thing for a young +officer to be pushed on too fast, and another two or three years of +regimental work will certainly do you no harm." + +"I have not yet asked, Major, whether we are going up into the +Tirah again, this spring?" + +"I fancy not. Already several deputations have come in from the +tribesmen, some of them bringing in the fines imposed upon them; +and all seem to say that there is a general desire among the +Afridis for peace, and that deputations from other tribes will +shortly follow them." + +"I am glad to hear it, sir," Lisle said. "I think I have had quite +enough of hill fighting." + +"I think we are all of the same opinion, Bullen. It is no joke +fighting an enemy hidden behind rocks, armed with Lee-Metford +rifles, and trained to shoot as well as a British marksman. + +"The marching was even worse than the fighting. Passing a night on +the snow, any number of thousand feet above the sea, is worse than +either of them. No, I would rather go through a campaign against +the Russians, than have anything more to do with the Tirah; though +I must admit that, if we were to begin at once, we should not have +snow to contend with. + +"I have been through several campaigns, but the last was infinitely +the hardest, and I have not the least desire to repeat it. Whether +all the tribes choose to send in and accept our terms, or not, +makes no very great difference; they have had such a sharp lesson +that it will certainly be some time before they rise again in +revolt. There may be an occasional cattle-lifting raid across the +frontier, but one can put up with that; and it would be infinitely +cheaper for Government to compensate the victims, than for us to +get an army in motion again, to punish the thieves. + +"Moreover, having once taught them that we are stronger than they, +it would be a pity to weaken them still further for, if a Russian +army were to try and force its way into India, these fellows would +make it very hot for them. They are full of fight and, although +they are independent of Afghanistan, and have no particular +patriotic feeling, the thirst for plunder would bring them like +bees round an invading army. + +"No, the thing has been well done, but the expense has been +enormous and the losses serious; and I trust that, at any rate as +long as we are stationed in Northern India, things will be quiet." + +Next morning Lisle went, early, to headquarters. He had to wait a +little time before he could see the general. When he went in, +General Lockhart said: + +"Now about yourself, Mr. Bullen. Your place has, of course, been filled +up; but I shall be glad to appoint you as extra aide-de-camp, if you +wish. Would you rather be on staff duty, or rejoin your regiment?" + +"If you give me the choice, sir, I would rather rejoin the +regiment. Staff duty in war time is extremely interesting; but in +peace time, I would rather be at work with the regiment. + +"You see, sir, I am very young, and much younger than any of the +staff; and I am sure that I should feel very much out of place." + +"I agree with you," the general said, with a smile. "I think that +you are wise to prefer regimental duty. I have written home, giving +my account of your gallant action; telling how you were not, as +reported, killed; and recommending you, in the strongest possible +terms, for the V.C." + +"I am greatly indebted to you, sir. I do not feel that I have done +anything at all out of the way, and acted only on the impulse of +the moment." + +"You could not have done better, had you thought of it for an +hour," the general said; "but as I also reported your defence of +that hut, I have little doubt that you will get the well-earned +V.C." + +There was great satisfaction among the officers and the regiment, +when Lisle told them of his interview with the general. + +It was soon evident, from the sale of the transport animals, that +the war was over; and the regiment shortly afterwards returned to +their old quarters, at Rawal Pindi, and fell into the old routine +of drill. + +In the middle of the following summer Lisle, while fielding at +cricket in a match with another regiment, suddenly staggered and +fell. The surgeon, running up from the pavilion, pronounced it as a +case of sunstroke. It was some time before he was conscious again. + +"What has happened?" he asked. + +"You have had a bad sunstroke," the surgeon said, "and I am going +to send you home, as soon as you are able to travel. I shall apply +for at least a year's leave for you, and I hope that, by the end of +that time, you will be perfectly fit for work again; but certainly +a period of rest, and the return to a temperate climate, is +absolutely necessary for you." + +Long before this, a despatch had been received from England +bestowing the Victoria Cross upon Lisle. General Lockhart himself +came down from Peshawar and fixed it to his breast, in presence of +the whole regiment, drawn up in parade order. The outburst of +cheering from the men told unmistakably how popular he was with +them, and how they approved of the honour bestowed upon him. + +The general dined at mess, and was pleased to see how popular the +young officer was with his men. He himself proposed Lisle's health, +and the latter was obliged to return thanks. + +When he sat down, the general said: + +"It is clear, Mr. Bullen, that you have more presence of mind, when +engaged with the enemy, than you have when surrounded with friends. +It can hardly be said that eloquence is your forte." + +"No, sir," Lisle said, wiping the perspiration from his face, "I +would rather go through eleven battles, than have to make another +speech." + +The application for sick leave was granted at once and, a fortnight +later, Lisle took his place in the train for Calcutta. All the +officers and their wives assembled to see him off. + +"I hope," said the colonel, "you will come back in the course of a +year, thoroughly restored to health. It is all in your favour that +you have not been a drinking man; and the surgeon told me that he +is convinced that the brain has suffered no serious injury, and +that you will be on your feet again, and fit for any work, after +the twelve months' leave. But, moderate as you always are, I should +advise you to eschew altogether alcoholic liquids. Men who have +never had a touch of sunstroke can drink them with impunity but, to +a man who has had sunstroke, they are worse than poison." + +"All right, Colonel! Nothing stronger than lemonade shall pass my +lips." + +And so, with the good wishes of his friends, Lisle started for +Calcutta. Here he drew from his agents a sum which, he calculated, +would last him for a year at home. To his great pleasure, on +entering the train he met his friend Colonel Houghton. + +"I have been thinking for some time, lad," he said, "of applying +for a year's leave; which I have earned by twelve years' service +out here. I was with the general when your application for leave +arrived, and made up my mind to go home with you. I therefore +telegraphed to Simla, and got leave at once; so I shall be able to +look after you, on the voyage." + +"It is very kind of you," Lisle said. "It will be a comfort, +indeed, having a friend on board. My brain seems to be all right +now, but my memory is very shaky. However, I hope that will be all +right, too, by the time we arrive in England." + +The presence of the colonel was indeed a great comfort to Lisle. +The latter looked after him as a father might have done, placed his +chair in the coolest spot to be found and, by relating to the other +passengers the service by which Lisle had won the V.C., ensured +their sympathy and kindness. + +By the time the voyage was over, Lisle felt himself again. His +brain had gradually cleared, and he could again remember the events +of his life. He stayed three or four days at the hotel in London +where the colonel put up; and then went down into the country, in +response to an invitation from his aunt, which had been sent off as +soon as she received a letter from him, announcing his arrival in +England. His uncle's place was a quiet parsonage in Somersetshire, +and the rest and quiet did him an immense deal of good. + +At the end of three months' stay there, he left to see something of +London and England, and travelled about for some months. + +When the year was nearly up, and he was making his preparations to +return to India, he received a summons to attend at the War Office. +Wondering greatly what its purport could be, he called upon the +adjutant general. + +"How are you feeling, Mr. Bullen?" the latter asked. + +"Perfectly well, sir, as well as I ever felt in my life." + +"We are sending a few officers to aid Colonel Willcocks in +effecting the relief of the party now besieged in Coomassie. Your +record is an excellent one and, if you are willing and able to go, +we shall be glad to include you in the number." + +"I should like it very much. There is no chance, whatever, of +active service in India; and I should be glad, indeed, to be at the +front again, in different circumstances." + +"Very well, Mr. Bullen, then you will sail on Tuesday next, in the +steamer that leaves Liverpool on that day. You will have the local +rank of captain, and will be in command of a company of Hausas." + +Lisle had but a few preparations to make. He ordered, at once, a +khaki uniform and pith helmet, and a supply of light shirts and +underclothing. Then he ran down to Somersetshire to say goodbye to +his uncle and aunt, and arrived in Liverpool on the Monday evening. +Sleeping at the hotel at the station, he went on board the next +morning. + +Here he found half a dozen other officers, also bound for the west +coast of Africa, and soon got on friendly terms with them. He was, +of course, obliged to tell how he had won the Victoria Cross; a +recital which greatly raised him in their estimation. + +They had fine weather throughout the voyage; and were glad, indeed, +when the steamer anchored off Cape Coast. Although looking forward +to their arrival at Cape Coast, the officers were not in their +highest spirits. All of them had applied for service in South +Africa, where the war was now raging but, to their disappointment, +had been sent on this minor expedition. At any other time, they +would have been delighted at the opportunity of taking part in it; +but now, with a great war going on, it seemed to them a very petty +affair, indeed. + +They cheered themselves, however, by the assumption that there was +sure to be hard fighting; and opportunities for distinguishing +themselves at least as great as they would meet with at the Cape, +where so vast a number of men were engaged that it would be +difficult for one officer to distinguish himself beyond others. + +Until he started, Lisle had scarcely more than heard the name of +Ashanti; though he knew, of course, that two expeditions, those +under Sir Garnet Wolseley and Sir Francis Scott, had reached the +capital, the latter dethroning the king and carrying him away into +captivity. Now, however, he gathered full details of the situation, +from two officers belonging to the native troops, who had been +hurriedly ordered to cut short their leave, and go back to take +their places with the corps to which they were attached. + +There was no doubt that the Ashantis were one of the most +formidable tribes in Africa. Their territory extended from the +river Prah to sixty miles north of Cape Coast. They were feared by +all their neighbours, with whom they were frequently at war--not so +much for the sake of extending their territory, as for the purpose +of obtaining great numbers of men and women for their hideous +sacrifices, at Coomassie. They were in close alliance with the +tribes at Elmina, which place we had taken over from the +Portuguese, some years before Sir Garnet Wolseley's expedition. +This occupation was bitterly opposed by the Ashantis, who felt that +it cut them off from free trade with the coast. In return, they +intercepted all trade with the coast from the tribes behind them; +and finally seized some white missionaries at their capital, and +sent a defiant message down to Cape Coast. + +The result was that Sir Garnet Wolseley was sent out to take +command of an expedition and, with three white regiments, a small +Naval Brigade, and the West African Regiment, completely defeated +the Ashantis in two pitched battles, reached the capital, and burnt +it. Unfortunately, owing to the want of carriers, and the small +amount of supplies that were sent up, he was obliged to fall back +again to the coast, after occupying the capital for only three +days. + +Had it been possible to leave a sufficient force there, the spirit +of the Ashantis would have been broken. This, however, could not be +done; and they gradually regained their arrogant spirit, carried +out none of their obligations and, twenty-two years later, having +quite forgotten their reverses, they resumed their raids across the +Prah. + +Sir Francis Scott's expedition was therefore organized, and marched +to the capital. This time the former mistake was not committed. A +small garrison was left to overawe its inhabitants, and the king +was carried away a prisoner. The expedition had encountered no +opposition. The reason for this was never satisfactorily +ascertained, but it is probable that the Ashantis were taken by +surprise, and thought it better to wait until they had obtained +better arms. In this they were successful, for there are always +rascally traders, ready to supply the enemies of their country with +arms, on terms of immense profit. + +The Ashantis were evidently kept well informed, by some of their +tribesmen settled in the coast towns, of the state of affairs in +Europe and, in the belief that England was fully occupied at the +Cape, and that no white soldiers would be sent, they again rose in +rebellion. They were ready to admit that the white soldiers were +superior to themselves, but they entertained a profound contempt +for our black troops, whom they were convinced they could defeat +without difficulty. + +Certainly, the force available at Cape Coast was altogether +insufficient for the purpose; for it consisted only of a battalion +of Hausa Constabulary, and two seven-pounder guns. Sierra Leone had +a permanent garrison of one battalion of the West Indian Regiment, +and a West African Regiment recruited on the spot; but few of these +could be spared, for Sierra Leone had its own native troubles. The +garrison of Lagos was similar to that of Cape Coast; but here, +also, troubles were dreaded with their neighbours at Abeokuta. +Southern Nigeria had their own regiment; while Northern Nigeria had +the constabulary of the Royal Niger Company, and they had, at the +time, just raised two battalions and three batteries. Fortunately, +the recent dispute between the people and ourselves as to their +respective boundaries had been temporarily arranged, and a portion +of these troops could be utilized. + +The two regiments were both numerically strong, each company +amounting to a hundred and fifty men. They were armed with +Martini-Metford carbines, and each company had a Vickers-Maxim gun. +The batteries were provided with powerful guns, capable of throwing +twelve-pound shells. The men were all Hausas and Yorubas, with the +exception of one company of Neupas. This contingent were supplied +with khaki, before starting; and the rest were in blue uniform, +similar to that worn by the West Indian Regiments. There was, in +addition, a small battalion of the Central African Regiment; with a +detachment of Sikhs, who also supplied non-commissioned officers. + +That the men would fight well, all believed; but the forces had +been but recently organized, and it was questionable how they would +behave without a backbone of white troops. The experiment was quite +a novel one, as never before had a war been carried on, by us, with +purely native troops. + +The collection of the troops was a difficult matter, and cost no +small time; especially from Northern Nigeria, which was to supply a +much larger contingent than the others. These troops were scattered +in small bodies over a large extent of country, for the most part +hundreds of miles from the coast. There was a great paucity of +officers, too; and of these, many were about to take their year's +leave home, worn out and weakened by the unhealthy climate. By +prodigious exertions, however, all were at last collected, and in +readiness to proceed to the scene of operations. + +Picking up troops at several points, the steamer at last arrived +off Cape Coast; but not yet were they to land. A strong wind was +blowing, and the surf beat with such violence, on the shore, that +it was impossible even for the surf boat to come out. The officers +had nothing to do but to watch the shore. Even this was only done +under difficult circumstances, for the steamer was rolling rail +under. + +The prospect, however, was not unpleasing. From a projecting point +stood the old Dutch castle, a massive-looking building. On its left +was the town, on rising ground, with whitewashed buildings; and +behind all, and in the town itself, rose palm trees, which made a +dark fringe along the coast on either hand. + +"It doesn't look such a bad sort of place," one of the officers +said, "and certainly it ought to be healthy, if it were properly +drained down to the sea. Yet it is a home of fever; one night +ashore, in the bad season, is almost certain death for a white man. +I believe that not half a dozen of the white inhabitants are +hardened by repeated attacks of fever, to which at least three out +of four newcomers succumb before they have been here many months. +If this is the case, here, what must it be in the forest and swamps +behind?" + +All were greatly relieved when the wind abated, on the third day, +and the surf boats were seen making their way out. The landing was +exciting work. The surf was still very heavy, and it seemed +well-nigh impossible that any boat could live through it. The +native paddlers, however, were thoroughly used to the work. They +ceased paddling when they reached the edge of the breakers, until a +wave larger than usual came up behind them. Then, with a yell, they +struck their paddles into the water, and worked for dear life. +Higher and higher rose the wave behind them, till it seemed that +they must be submerged by it. For a moment the boat stood almost +upright. Then, when it rose to the crest of the wave, the boatmen +paddled harder than ever, and they were swept forward with the +swiftness of an arrow. Another wave overtook them and, carrying +them on, dashed them high up on the beach. + +The paddlers at once sprang out, and prevented the boat from being +carried out by the receding wave. Then the officers, mounting the +men's backs, were carried out; for the most part high and dry, +although in some cases they were wet to the skin. + +A few yards away was the entrance to the castle. Here everything +was bustle. Troops were filing out, laden with casks and cases. +Others were squatting in the paved court, ready to receive their +burdens. All were laughing and chatting merrily. There were even +troops of young girls, of from ten to fifteen years old, who were +to carry parcels of less weight than their brothers. + +Two officers were moving about, seeing that all went on regularly; +and a number of men were bringing the burdens out from the +storehouse, and ranging them in lines, ready for the women to take +up. + +The district commissioner, who was in charge of the old castle, +received Lisle and his companions cordially; and invited them, when +the day's work was over, to dine with him. Rooms were placed at +their disposal. + +As soon as this was done they went down to the beach, and +superintended the landing of the men and stores, which was carried +on until nightfall. Then, when the last boat load was landed, they +came up to dinner. + +After a hearty meal, one of them said: + +"We shall be glad, sir, if you will tell us what has been happening +here. All we know is that the fort of Coomassie is surrounded, and +that we have come up to relieve it." + +"It is difficult to give you anything like an accurate account," +the officer said, "for so many lying rumours have come down, that +one hardly knows what to believe. One day we hear that the place +has been carried by storm, and that the garrison have been +massacred. Then we are told that Sir Frederick Hodgson, with the +survivors of the garrison, has burst his way through. + +"It is certain that most of our forces are unable to push their way +up, and that their posts are practically surrounded. Further, on +the 18th of April the first news that the fort was being besieged +reached Cambarga, three hundred and forty miles from Coomassie. +Three days later three British officers, and a hundred and seventy +men, with a Maxim and seven-pounder, marched under the command of +Major Morris to the station of Kintanpo. After thirteen days' +marching the force was increased to seven British officers, three +hundred and thirty soldiers, and eighty-three native levies. + +"Near N'Quanta they met with opposition and, two hours later, had a +successful engagement, with only three casualties. On the 14th they +fell into an ambush, and incurred twelve casualties. For two days +after this they had more or less continuous fighting and, in +charging a stockade, Major Morris was severely wounded. Captain +Maguire then headed the charge, and succeeded in capturing the +stockade. + +"No further resistance was met with, though two more stockades were +passed. This want of enterprise, on the part of the enemy, was due +to a short armistice that had been arranged with the beleaguered +garrison. + +"Major Morris's force was the third reinforcement which had reached +the garrison. The first to come up was a party of Gold Coasters +from the south. This was the only contingent permitted by the +Ashantis to enter Coomassie unopposed. The next was a detachment +from Lagos, composed of two hundred and fifty men of that colony's +Hausa force, with four British officers and a doctor, under the +command of Captain Alpin. The Adansis, who occupy the country +between the Prah and the recognized Ashanti boundary, had revolted; +so that for part of the way they were unopposed but, as soon as +they reached the first village in the Ashanti country, they were +heavily attacked. After a couple of hours' fighting, however, the +advance guard took the village, at the point of the bayonet. + +"Next day they reached the Ordah River. Here the enemy made a +determined stand, entrenched behind a stockade. The fight lasted +for four hours, and then the situation became critical. The Maxim +had jammed, the ammunition of the seven-pounder was exhausted, and +a great proportion of the small-arm ammunition had been expended. +Captain Cox and thirty men went into the bush, to turn the enemy's +position. When they reached a point where they took the enemy in +rear, they charged the stockade. The enemy fled, and were kept at a +run until Coomassie was reached, before dark. + +"The list of casualties showed how hard had been the fighting. All +the white officers had been wounded, and there were a hundred and +thirty casualties among the two hundred and fifty British soldiers. +The garrison now consisted of seven hundred rank and file, and +about a dozen British officers; two hundred and fifty native +levies, and nearly four thousand Fanti and Hausa refugees. + +"The next force to move forward was the first contingent from +Northern Nigeria, consisting of two companies under the command of +Captain Hall, with one gun. In traversing the Adansi country +Captain Hall drew up a treaty, and got the Adansi king to sign it. +Then he marched on to Bekwai, the chief town of a friendly tribe; +and took up his quarters at Esumeja, a day's march from Coomassie. +The border of Bekwai lay a short distance on one side, that of +Kokofu was half a mile to the east. + +"These were an Ashanti tribe, very fierce and warlike; and the +occupation of Esumeja both kept them in check, and inspired the +loyal Bekwais with confidence. Here Captain Hall was joined by a +second contingent from Lagos, a hundred strong; and fifty men of +the Sierra Leone frontier police. The force has got no farther, but +its position on the main line of march is of vital service; as it +overawes the Kokofu, and facilitates the advance of further relief. + +"That, gentlemen, is the situation, at present. So far as I know, +the garrison of Coomassie is amply sufficient to defend the fort; +but we know that they are short of ammunition, and also of supplies +to maintain the large number of people shut up there. + +"I am expecting the vessel with the main Nigerian contingent +tomorrow, or next day; and I hope that this reinforcement will +enable an advance to be made." + +"Thank you, sir! It is evident that we are in for some tough +fighting, and shall have all our work cut out for us." + +"There can be no doubt of that," the commissioner said, gravely. +"The difficulties have been greatly increased by the erection of +these stockades, a new feature in these Ashanti wars. When the +Bekwais put themselves under our protection, instructions were +given them in stockading, so that they might resist any force that +the Ashantis might send against them and, doubtless, the latter +inspected these defences and adopted the idea. The worst of it is +that they are generally so covered, by the bush, that they are not +seen by our troops till they arrive in front of them." + + + +Chapter 14: Forest Fighting. + + +Early the next morning the transport with the Nigerian troops +anchored off the town. The work of disembarkation began at once. +Five of the newly-arrived officers were appointed to the +commissariat transport service. The three others--of whom Lisle, to +his great satisfaction, was one--were appointed to the command of +companies in the Nigerian force. This distinction, the commissioner +frankly informed him, was due to his being the possessor of the +V.C. + +Having nothing to do that day, Lisle strolled about the town. There +were a few European houses, the property of the natives who formed +the elite of the place; men for the most part possessing white +blood in their veins, being the descendants of British merchants +who, knowing that white women could not live in the place, had taken +Negro wives. These men were distinguished by their hair, rather than +by their more European features. Their colour was as dark as that of +other natives. Lisle learned that such light-coloured children as +were born of these mixed marriages uniformly died, but that the dark +offspring generally lived. + +All the small shops in the town were kept by this class. With the +exception of the buildings belonging to them, the houses of the +town were merely mud erections, with a door and a window or two. +The roofs were flat, and composed of bamboos and other branches; +overlaid by a thick mud which, Lisle learned, not unfrequently +collapsed in the rainy season. Nothing could be done at that time +to repair them, and their inhabitants took refuge in the houses of +their friends, until the dry season permitted them to renew their +own roofs. + +The women were of very superior physique to the men. The latter +considered that their only duty was to stroll about with a gun or a +spear; and the whole work of cultivating the ground, and of +carrying burdens, fell to the lot of the women. Many of these had +splendid figures, which might have been the envy of an English +belle. Their great defect is that their heels, instead of going +straight to the leg, project an inch or more behind it. From their +custom of always carrying their burdens on their heads, their +carriage is as upright as a dart. Whether the load was a heavy +barrel, or two or three bananas, Lisle noticed that they placed it +on the head; and even tiny girls carried any small article of which +they might become possessed in this manner. + +Curiously enough, the men had no excuse for posing as warriors; for +the Fantis were the only cowardly race on the coast, and had +several times shown themselves worthless as fighters, when the +Ashantis made their expeditions against them. + +A narrow valley ran up from the sea, in one part of the town, and +terminated in a swamp behind it. Here the refuse of the place was +thrown, and the stench in itself was sufficient to account for the +prevalence of fever. Here were the accumulations of centuries; for +the Dutch governors, who were frequently relieved, had made no +effort whatever towards draining the marsh, nor improving the +sanitary condition of the place; nor had the British governors who +followed them shown any more energy in that direction. Doubtless +the means were wanting, for the revenue of the place was +insufficient to pay for the expenses of the garrison; and so the +town which, at a very moderate expenditure, might have been +rendered comparatively healthy, remained a death trap. + +As soon as the Nigerian troops had landed, Lisle reported himself +to their commander. He was at once put in charge of a company, and +began his duties. When, two days later, they marched up the +country, he felt well pleased with his command; for the men were +for the most part lithe, active fellows; very obedient to orders +and ready for any work, and evidently very proud of their position +as British soldiers. They had for the most part had very little +practice in shooting; but this was of comparatively little +consequence, as what fighting they would have to do would be in the +forests, against a hidden enemy, where individual shooting would be +next to impossible. + +The Adansi had risen, three days after signing the treaty. Two +Englishmen, going from Bekwai to Kwisa, on their way were fired +upon, and the terror-stricken carriers fled. Their loads were lost, +and they themselves just succeeded in escaping to Kwisa. + +Captain Slater, who was in command there, was much surprised to +hear of such hostility, so soon after the signing of the treaty; +and he started with twenty-six men to investigate the cause. He was +attacked at the same place--one soldier being killed and ten +wounded, while two were missing--and he was obliged to retire to +Kwisa. Sixty Englishmen of the Obuasi gold mines, on the western +frontier of the Adansi, sent down for arms, and were supplied +without any mishap. + +Illustration: Map illustrating the Ashanti Campaign. + +Colonel Wilkinson telegraphed orders to a force, which had started +two days before, to halt at Fumsu until he joined them with the +newly-arrived contingents. Colonel Willcocks now had four hundred +and fifty men, under Captain Hall, at Kwisa and Bekwai; Captain +Slater a handful of men at Kwisa; Colonel Wilkinson a company at +Fumsu; Colonel Carter the two hundred soldiers just landed on the +line of march, and three hundred men from Northern Nigeria. Nine +hundred reinforcements were known to be on their way. The force was +scattered over a hundred and forty miles, and numerically only +equal to the garrison they were going to relieve. The carriers were +utterly insufficient for the transport. + +The newly-arrived troops, with Colonel Willcocks and his staff in +front, rode out of the town on the morning of the 5th of June. A +drizzling rain was falling, but this soon ceased and the sun broke +out. The road lay over low scrub-covered sand hills. It was a fair +one, with the exception of bad bits, at intervals. The first day's +march was a short one, as much time had been lost in getting the +carriers together, and loading them up. + +They halted that evening at Akroful. The place afforded but little +accommodation. Five white officers slept together in one small +room. There was a storm during the night, but the sky had cleared +by the time the troops started in the morning. + +They now entered a very different country. It was the belt of +forest, three hundred miles wide, which ran across the whole +country. Great as had been the heat, the day before, the gloom of +the forest was more trying to the nerves. Except where the road had +been cleared, the advance was impeded by the thick undergrowth of +bush and small trees, through which it was impossible to pass +without cutting a path with a sword. Above the bush towered the +giants of the forest--great cotton trees, thirty or forty feet in +circumference, and rising to the height of from two to three +hundred feet. Round the tops of these many birds were flitting, but +in the underbrush there was no sign or sound of life. Thorny +creepers bound the trees together. + +In the small clearings, where deserted and ruined villages stood, a +few flowers were to be found. Here, also, great butterflies flew +about. + +The moist air, tainted with decaying vegetation; the entire absence +of wind, or of movement among the leaves; the profound silence, +broken only by the occasional dropping of water, weighed heavily on +the spirits of the troops. Under foot the soil was converted into +mire by the recent rains; and glad, indeed, were all, when they +reached Mansu. + +From this village, as had been the case at the previous halt, +numbers of the carriers deserted. In order to get on, therefore, it +was necessary to send out to the surrounding villages, to gather in +men to take their places; and at the same time a telegram was sent +down to Cape Coast, requesting the commandant there to arrest all +the men who came in, and try to punish them as deserters. It was +some satisfaction to know that they would be flogged, though this +did not obviate the inconvenience caused by their desertion. + +Mansu was a pleasanter halting place than the two preceding ones. +It was surrounded by a clearing of considerable size; and contained +two bungalows, which served as quarters for the officers. The +soldiers got abundance of firewood from the forest, and the place +presented a picturesque appearance, after nightfall, with its +blazing fires and their reflection on the deep circle of foliage. + +The march had been a depressing one, to the officers; but the +native troops did not seem to find it so, and chattered, sang, and +danced by their fires. Three of the officers found it difficult to +swallow their food; but Lisle and another young officer, named +Hallett, with whom he had been a special chum on board ship, made a +hearty meal and, after it was finished, set out together for a tour +round the camp, to assure themselves that everything was going on +satisfactorily. + +"This must be very different from your experience in the Tirah," +Hallett said. + +"Yes; to begin with, it was generally so cold at night, even in the +valley, that we were glad of both our blankets and cloaks; while +among the passes it was bitter, indeed. Then, too, the greater +portion of the troops were white and, though they were cheerful +enough, their spirits were nothing to the merriment of these +natives. Then the camps were crowded with animals, while here there +are only these wretched carriers; and almost every night we were +saluted with bullets from the heights, and lay down in readiness to +oppose any sudden attack. + +"I suppose we shall have to do the same, when we get into the +enemy's country, here. That is really the only similarity between +the two expeditions. The country, too, was mountainous and, except +in the valleys, there were few trees; while here we tramp along in +single file, through what is little better than a swamp, and only +get an occasional glimpse of the sky through the overhanging +foliage. Of course it is hot in Northern India, very hot sometimes; +but it is generally dry heat, quite different from the close, muggy +heat of the forest. However, they say that when we have once +ascended the Adansi hills, matters will be better." + +"I hope so, Bullen. I found it so close today that I would gladly +have got rid of all my clothes, which were so drenched with +perspiration that I could have wrung them. We shall have other +things to think about, however, when we get across the river; for +you don't think of minor inconveniences when, at any moment, a +volley may be poured into you from the bushes." + +"Yes, the idea is rather creepy; but they say that the Ashantis +always shoot high--the effect of the enormous charges they put into +their muskets--so that the harm done bears no proportion, whatever, +to the noise. I expect our Maxims will come in very useful for +clearing out the bush; and I doubt if the Ashantis will be able to +stand for a moment, against our bayonets, as they have no weapons +of the sort." + +"No, but a good many of them are armed with spears, which are a +deal longer than our muskets and bayonets. They are not accustomed, +however, to work together. Each man fights for himself, and I feel +convinced that they would not stand a determined charge," Hallett +said. + +"It is all very well to talk about a charge; but how are you going +to charge through the bush, where every step has to be cut? +However, I suppose our fellows can get through as well as they +can." + +"It would be horrid work, Bullen, for some of these creepers are a +mass of spikes, which would pretty nearly tear a man to pieces, as +he was forcing his way past them in a hurry." + +"Yes, that is not a pleasant idea; but I own that, if what they say +about the stockades they have formed is true, they will be even +more formidable than the bush; for our little guns will make no +impression upon them. They say that these are constructed with two +rows of timber, eight feet apart; the intervening space being +filled up with earth and stones so that, if they are well defended, +they ought to cost us a lot of men before we carry them." + +"Well, tomorrow we shall be at Prahsu. They say it is a fine open +camp, as it was completely cleared by Wolseley's expedition. Of +course, bushes will have sprung up again but, fast as things grow +in this climate, they can hardly have attained any great height; +and we shall have no difficulty in clearing the place again. There +is a good rest house at the place, I hear, and we sha'n't be pigged +in, as we were at Akroful." + +"Why should they build a better house there than at the other +stations?" + +"Because, when the river is full, there is no way of getting +across; and one may have to wait there for a fortnight, before it +falls." + +On the afternoon of the next day Prahsu was reached, after a march +of twenty miles. The greater part of the house was found to be +occupied by offices and stores. Fortunately, however, two or three +tents had been brought along. The troops soon ran up huts of +bamboos and palm leaves and, as there was a small native village +close by, all were soon able to sleep in shelter. + +The Prah was found to be full of water. It was here about a hundred +and fifty yards wide, and circled round three sides of the +position. There was no bridge, but two old wooden pontoons were +found, relics of the last expedition; and these, with the aid of +two old native canoes, were the only means of crossing. + +On the morning after their arrival a despatch, dated May 24, was +received from Captain Hall. It gave the details of his attack on +Kokofu. Some thousands of the enemy were round that place and, in +his opinion, no advance could be made to Coomassie till this force +was destroyed. + +An hour or two later another runner came in, this time from Kwisa. +The despatch he brought gave details of the fighting the force at +this place had had, in trying to effect a junction with Captain +Hall. + +The column advanced rapidly. In any place where the bush was +particularly thick, volleys were fired into the undergrowth by a +few men of the advance guard; for it had been found by experience +in Nigeria that, if fired upon, natives generally disclosed their +presence by replying. + +They went on, unmolested, until they neared the village of +Dompoasi. The natives of this town had sworn a solemn oath, to +prevent any reinforcements from going up to Coomassie; and they had +erected a stockade, six feet high. This was built in zigzag shape, +so that a flanking fire could be kept up from it. It was about four +hundred yards long, with both ends doubled backwards, to prevent an +enemy from turning the position. In the rear was a trench, in which +they could load in perfect shelter. Seats had been prepared on the +neighbouring trees, for riflemen; and the undergrowth was left +untouched, so that there should be nothing to excite suspicion. + +The stockade did not run across the road, but parallel to it, the +distance varying from twenty to thirty yards. Thus, anybody coming +along the path would notice nothing unusual, though he himself +would be easily seen by the defenders. A road had been cut, at the +back of the entrenchments, so as to give a line of retreat to the +defenders. On the northern side of the village, a similar stockade +had been constructed. + +Captain Roupell--who commanded the advance--became aware, from the +numerous tracks and footprints, that the enemy must be in force in +the neighbourhood, and advanced cautiously. He did not observe the +stockade, however, so well was it hidden among the bushes. Just as +they reached the farther end of it, a tremendous fire was opened. +Captain Roupell was wounded, and many of the men also killed or +wounded. + +For a moment the troops were paralysed by the hail of lead. Then +they replied with their rifles, and two Maxims and an eleven +pounder were got to work. Captain Roupell, in spite of his wound, +worked one of the Maxims, Lieutenant O'Malley the other, and +Lieutenant Edwardes the gun. Captain Roupell was again dangerously +wounded, and Lieutenant O'Malley so severely wounded that he was +forced to discontinue fire. + +Lieutenant Edwardes, although he was hit early in the action, stuck +to his gun. The gun team were all lying round, either killed or +wounded, and he ran home the shells with a stick. He was, shortly +afterwards, shot in the left arm. This incapacitated him from +serving his gun; but he went and worked a Maxim, with his right +arm, till a shot in the face compelled him to have his wounds +dressed. + +Colonel Carter was wounded in the head, and handed over the command +to Colonel Wilkinson, who was himself slightly wounded at the back +of the head. The men fell fast. The seven pounder and the other +Maxim were completely isolated, some distance up the path. The +existence of the stockade was only discovered as the undergrowth +was cut away by the rain of bullets. + +The officer commanding D company--which had been the rear guard all +this time and, consequently, had not suffered--was in hammock with +fever, and Colour Sergeant Mackenzie was in command. At this moment +Mackenzie came up, and asked leave to charge the enemy. His +proposal was at once sanctioned, and when half of his company had +arrived they charged the stockade, other soldiers and officers near +joining them. The enemy could not stand this determined attack, +evacuated their position, and took to flight. + +The force now prepared to retire, and this operation they performed +in an orderly manner. Seven European officers had been wounded, and +there were ninety casualties. Indeed, if the enemy had not fired +too high, the column might have been annihilated. + +Orders were sent, to Colonel Carter, telling him to remain where he +was till reinforcements should arrive. A telegram was also sent to +Captain Hall, instructing him to despatch a company to increase the +garrison at Kwisa. In the meantime two companies of the troops on +the Prah were ordered to proceed, instantly, to the relief of +Kwisa, under the command of Captain Melliss and, to Lisle's +satisfaction, some of his company were to form part of the force. + +They started at two in the afternoon, but it was four before they +got across the Prah; and they could only march ten miles that +evening, which they did through a pouring rain. An early start was +made, next morning. By eight o'clock they reached Fumsu, which was +held by a company of soldiers under Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas; +who informed them that all the troops ahead were perilously +situated, short of food and ammunition, and crippled with +casualties. He tried to dissuade them from going farther, saying: + +"You are simply walking into a death trap. It is not fighting, it +is murder. I am sure you will never get there, with only a hundred +men and all these carriers." + +However, orders had to be obeyed. The carriers were so limited in +number that only a few days' food could be taken to the Kwisa +garrison, if all the cartridges were to go on. A hundred extra +rounds were served out to each man, in addition to the hundred he +already had; so that there was no risk of running short, and the +carriers would be relieved of much of the weight of the reserve, +and could therefore carry up a larger amount of provisions. A hasty +meal was eaten, and then they stepped forward for the twenty miles' +march before them. + +During the halt, they found out how the natives signalled. A gun +was fired from the forest, the signal was repeated farther on, and +continued to the next war camp. An estimate was given of the number +and composition of an enemy by the number of guns fired. The force +learned, afterwards, that their departure from Prahsu had been +signalled in this way to the Adansis; and only the darkness and +pouring rain, which delayed the enemy's movements, had saved the +column from attack. + +When the march was continued, therefore, the greatest precautions +were taken against an ambush. A small party of twelve men marched +ahead of the advance guard, and fired occasional volleys. Where the +undergrowth was unusually thick, scouts moved abreast of them, +cutting a way with their sword bayonets. The difficulties were so +great that the column moved only three-quarters of a mile an hour. +The carriers struggled on, carrying their burdens with surprising +cheerfulness, staggering over the slippery mud, and frequently +falling. The gun carriers had the worst time of all, for the parts +into which these weapons divide are too heavy for single loads; and +have to be carried, swung on bamboo poles, by four men--but often, +at the acute bends in the path, the whole burden had to be +supported by two. + +Nevertheless, the column managed to advance. The river Fum was +rising, but was still fordable, and they crossed it, with +difficulty. It was now necessary to give up scouting, and depend +entirely on the volleys of the men in front to discover ambuscades. +One or two deserted or thinly populated villages were passed. Then, +after two hours of this trying tramp, the advance guard came upon +the Fum again; but at this point its volume and width were more +than doubled. The river was rising rapidly, and there were no trees +that could be cut down, with the sword bayonets, long enough to +throw across. + +At last, by good luck, at some distance farther down a native canoe +was found, caught in the branches of a fallen tree. It was a clumsy +craft, but it was better than nothing. Two native hammock boys and +two soldiers took their places in it, and set out for the other +side. When it reached the centre of the stream, however, an eddy +caught it and, in an instant, it capsized. + +Captain Melliss at once plunged into the river. He was a strong +swimmer, and had gained the Royal Humane Society's medal for saving +life at sea. His strength, however, had been taxed by the climate, +and he had to call for aid. Luckily, no one was drowned. The +intense chill, caused by the sudden immersion in almost ice-cold +water; and the bites of the ants that swarmed over them, as they +made their way back through the undergrowth from the spot where the +canoe had been washed ashore, threatened an attack of fever; but +this was averted by a change of clothing, a glass of neat spirits, +and a dose of quinine. + +It was now agreed that nothing could be done, and the force marched +back to Fumsu. They recrossed the river, by means of a rope +stretched from bank to bank, and arrived long after dark. + +Next day it was determined to make another trial but, for a long +time, no one was able to suggest where a crossing of the swollen +river might be effected. It was clearly impossible to build a +bridge but, after much discussion, it was agreed to make a raft. It +consisted of a platform of planks, built across empty barrels; and +was lashed together by the only rope at the station. A couple of +natives took their places upon it, with long poles; but their +efforts to push against the strong currents were quite unavailing. +Then something went wrong with the rope and the raft gradually +sank, the men swimming ashore. + +On examination it was found that, not only were the leaking casks +gone, but the rope that tied them together. The situation now +appeared more hopeless than before. + +It was Lisle who suggested a possible way out of the difficulty. He +was wandering about the deserted native huts, when it struck him to +see what the mud walls were composed of, and how the roofs were +supported. Drawing his sword, he cut a large hole in one of the +walls and, to his surprise, discovered that they were strengthened +by lines of bamboos, which were afterwards plastered over. It +seemed to him that these bamboos, which were extremely light as +well as strong, would be very useful material for a raft, and he +communicated the idea to Captain Melliss. + +"You have solved the difficulty, Captain Bullen; there is no doubt +that these will do admirably." + +In a few minutes the whole of the little force, and carriers, were +occupied in pulling down the huts. The question arose, how were the +stakes to be tied together? While this matter was being discussed, +Lisle said: + +"Surely we can use some of the creepers. The natives tie up bundles +with them." + +The suggestion was at once adopted. Creepers were cut in the +forest, and four bundles of bamboos were tied up, with cross pieces +of the same material; so that they could be carried by four men, +like a hammock. Four of the loads were similarly tied up. The +telegraph wire was torn down from the trees, on the bank on which +they were arrested; and the nearest insulator on the opposite side +was broken by a shot, so that the wire hung down to the water in a +gentle curve, the next insulator being fastened to a tree at a +considerable distance. One end of the raft was then attached to +this wire, by a noose that worked along it; and this contrivance +enabled the swiftest streams to be triumphantly crossed, the loads +of rice, meanwhile, being kept dry. The success of the experiment +created a general feeling of relief. + +On that day, an escort of fifty soldiers and some more ammunition +came in, to reinforce the little garrison at Fumsu. The full number +asked for could not be spared, as a rumour had arrived that the +enemy would endeavour to cut off the carriers, who were making +their way up from the coast. + +Next morning a start was made at an early hour. Four rivers had +been crossed, and five miles of the advance had been accomplished, +without an enemy being seen; and the troops began to hope that they +would reach Kwisa without further molestation. However, in mounting +a steep rise, after crossing a river, a heavy fire was suddenly +opened on them; and they had their first experience of the nature +of the ground chosen by the enemy for an ambuscade. + +The path zigzagged up the hill and, while the movements of the +troops could be seen by the natives on its crest, dense foliage +prevented the men toiling up it from obtaining even a glimpse of +the enemy. Volleys were fired both to right and left. The enemy +replied by firing volley after volley, and the shower of leaves +showed that the bullets were flying high. It was difficult for the +officers to control the extended line, and the scattered soldiers +marching among the carriers were altogether out of hand, and fired +recklessly. + +At last, however, this was checked. The advance guard had suffered, +but their fire had quelled that of the enemy. A rush was therefore +made, the ambuscade carried, and the enemy put to flight. + +Captain Wilson was, unfortunately, killed in the engagement. His +body was put into a hammock and taken to Fumsu, a march of +thirty-three miles. The force then returned to the Prah with the +wounded, leaving only a small garrison of fifty men, under a +British corporal. + +It was a terrible march. The river had swollen, and the crossing +took hours, many of the troops and carriers not arriving until the +following day. + +"Well, Bullen, how does this campaign compare with that in the +Tirah?" + +"It is infinitely worse," Lisle said. "We were only once or twice +bothered by rivers, the country was open and, when the enemy +crowning the hills were turned out, we were able to go through the +passes without much opposition. We certainly often went to bed +supperless, but on the whole we did not fare badly. At least we +were generally dry and, though the cold was severe, it was not +unbearable. At any rate, it was better than marching through these +forests, in single file, with the mud often up to one's knees. +Above all, the air was fresh and dry, and we had not this close +atmosphere and this wet to struggle against. + +"These fellows fight as well as the Afridis do, but are nothing +like such good shots. If they had been, we should have been +annihilated. I would rather go half a dozen times, through the +Tirah, than once through this country. + +"I think it is the darkness in the woods that is most trying. We +are all bleached almost white; my uniform hangs about me loosely. I +must have lost any amount of weight." + +Both of the young officers had received wounds, but these were of +so slight a nature that they had been able to keep their places. + +"I wonder what the next move will be. At any rate, we shall be in +clover at Prahsu, and be able to get into condition again by the +time we make another move. Plenty of stores are sure to be lying +there, while I expect that Hall and Wilkinson will be on pretty +short commons." + +"Well, I suppose it is all for the best." + +One day they came upon a swollen river, which was so deep as to be +unfordable, and the column were brought to a halt. The Pioneers, on +being questioned, were of accord that it would take at least two +days to build a bridge. There was a long consultation, and it was +agreed that, unless something could be done, the column must retire +for, by the time the bridge was built, the supply of food would be +exhausted. + +"If we could get a wire across," the engineer officer said, "we +certainly could build the bridge in less time than I stated." + +"I will try to carry it across, sir," Lisle said. "I am a strong +swimmer, and I think I could do it." + +"Yes, but the Ashantis are all on the opposite bank. You would be +picked off before you got halfway across." + +"I would try after dark. Once I got the wire across and fixed, +enough men could cross, with its assistance, to clear the other +bank of the enemy." + +"You would find it very hard work tugging the wire across, Bullen. +The stream would catch it and, as it is as much as you can do to +swim the current without any drawback, it would certainly carry you +down." + +"Yes, sir; but if I asked for a volunteer, I should find one +without difficulty." + +"Well, Mr. Bullen, if you volunteer to try, I shall, of course, be +very glad to accept the offer; especially as, if you keep tight +hold of the wire, the stream will only send you back to this bank." + +As soon as it was known that Lisle was about to attempt to swim the +river, several volunteers came forward; and from these he selected +one of the Sikh soldiers, not only because he was a tall and +powerful man, but because he could give him orders in Punjabi. As +soon as night came on, the preparations were completed. A length of +wire, that would be sufficient to cross the river, was laid out on +the bank from the spot that seemed to offer most advantages for a +bridge. In this way, as they swam out the line would go with them, +and they would be swept across the river by its pull, until they +touched the bank opposite to where the other end of the line was +secured. + +Lisle took off his tunic, putties, and boots; and the Sikh also +stripped himself to his loincloth, in which he placed his bayonet. +Lisle unloaded his revolver and put it into his waistband, at the +same time placing in his pocket a packet of twenty cartridges, in a +waterproof box. + +"You would swim better without those things, Bullen." + +"No doubt, sir; but I want to have some means of defence, when I +get across the stream. Some of the enemy may be lurking there, +now." + +"Before you start I will get the Maxim to work, and sweep the +opposite bank. When you get ashore fasten the end of the wire to a +tree, and then give a shout; we will stretch it tight on this side, +and I will send a half company over, without delay. That ought to +be enough to enable you to retain your footing, until we join you." + +When all was ready, Lisle fastened the end of the wire round his +body. The Sikh was to take hold a yard or two below him, and aid +him as he swam. Then they stepped into the water, and struck out. + +They had swum only twenty yards, when the Sikh cried out, "I have +cramp, sahib! I can swim no longer!" and he let go his hold of the +wire. + +Rapidly, Lisle thought over the position. It was very important to +get the wire across. Now that the Sikh had gone, he felt that it +would pull him under; on the other hand, the brave fellow had +volunteered to go with him, and he could not see him drown before +his eyes. He accordingly slipped the loop of the wire over his +head, and struck out with the stream. + +So rapid had been the course of his thoughts that the man was still +within some fifteen yards of him. He could see him faintly +struggling and, swimming with long, steady strokes, soon overtook +him. + +"Put your arm on my shoulder," he said; "I will soon get you +ashore." + +The Sikh did as he was told, and Lisle turned to make for the shore +they had left. To his dismay, however, he found that the centre +current was carrying him to the opposite side. As soon as he found +this to be the case, he ceased his efforts and allowed himself to +float down. Doubtless the Ashantis would be on the watch, and any +movement in the water would catch their eyes. + +He could hear their voices on the bank and, occasionally, a shot +was fired over his head. He felt sure, however, that he was still +unseen; and determined to float quietly, till the course of the +current changed, and brought him back to the side from which he +started. He felt the Sikh's grasp relaxing, and threw his arms +round the man's neck. + +A quarter of an hour passed and then, to his dismay, he saw that he +was close to the bush, on the wrong side of the river. He himself +was getting rapidly weaker, and he felt that he could not support +the weight of the soldier much farther. Accordingly he grasped a +branch that overhung the river, pulled himself in to the shore, and +there lay at the edge of the mud. + +When he recovered his breath, he began to calculate his chances. +The bush overhead seemed very thick, and he resolved to shelter +there for a time. Occasionally he could hear the sound of voices +close by, and was sure that the Ashantis were in force there. + +His companions would, he was sure, regard him as dead when, on +pulling on the wire, they found that it was loose; and after the +failure of this attempt to establish a bridge, would probably start +on their return march, without delay. He had, therefore, only +himself to rely upon, beyond what assistance he could get from the +Sikh, when the latter regained consciousness. + +He poured a little spirits into the man's mouth, and presently had +the satisfaction of seeing him move. Waiting until the movement +became more decided, he said: + +"You must lie still; we are across on the Ashanti side. They don't +know we are here and, when you are able to move, we will crawl down +some little distance and hide in the bushes. We must hide in the +morning, for I am sure that I could not swim back to the other +side, and certainly you could not do so. We are in a tight place, +but I trust that we shall be able to get out of it." + +"Do not encumber yourself with me," the Sikh said. "I know you have +risked your life to save me, but you must not do so again. What is +the life of a soldier to that of an officer?" + +"I could not get across, even if I were alone. At any rate, I am +not going to desert you, now. Let us keep quiet for an hour, then +we shall be able to move on." + +An hour passed silently, and then Lisle asked: + +"How are you feeling, now?" + +"I feel strong again, sahib." + +"Very well then, let us crawl on." + + + +Chapter 15: A Narrow Escape. + + +Keeping in the mud close to the bank, and feeling their way in the +dense growth produced by the overhanging bushes, they crawled +forward. Sometimes the water came up to the bank, and they had to +swim; but as a rule they were able to keep on the mud, which was so +deep that they sank far into it, their heads alone showing above +it. In two hours they had gone a mile, and both were thoroughly +exhausted. + +"We will lie here till day breaks," Lisle said; "as soon as it is +dawn, we will choose some spot where the bushes are thickest, and +shelter there. I am in hopes, now, that we are beyond the Ashantis. +I dare say that we shall be able to get a peep through the bushes +and, if we find the coast clear, we will make our way into the +forest. There we may be able to gather something to eat, which we +shall want, tomorrow; and it will certainly be more comfortable +than this bed of mud. We must get rid of some of that before we +leave." + +"It would be better to allow it to dry on you, sahib. Our white +undergarments would betray us at once, if any Ashantis came upon +us. For my part, my colour is not so very different from theirs." + +"Yes, perhaps that would be better. I must rub some over my face, +as well." + +"I do not care, for myself, sahib; we Sikhs are not afraid to die; +but after your goodness to me, I would do anything to save you." + +"What is your name?" + +"Pertab, sahib." + +"Well, Pertab, I think that as we have proceeded so far, we shall +pull through, somehow. You have your bayonet, and I have my +revolver, which I will wash and load before we get out of this. We +shall be a match, then, for any three or four men we may come +across. At any rate, I shall shoot myself if I see that there is no +other way of escape. It would be a thousand times better to die, +than be taken captive and tortured to death." + +"Good, sahib! I will use my bayonet, myself; but I don't think +there will be any occasion for that." + +"I shall certainly die fighting. I would rather not be taken alive, +Pertab; and shall certainly fight till I am killed, or can take my +own life." + +"Do you think that the troops will be marched away, sahib?" + +"I feel sure that they will. They have only got provisions enough +to take them back to camp; and as, when they pull the wire in, they +will find that we have gone, they will feel quite sure that we have +been drowned. + +"No; we must quite make up our minds that we have got to look after +ourselves. Fortunately, the Ashantis will not be able to cross the +river to harass them in their retreat; unless, indeed, they know of +some ford by which they can get over." + +As soon as daylight began, the Sikh went down into the water and +washed the mud from himself, and Lisle cleaned and loaded his +pistol. Then they waited until it was broad daylight and, as they +heard no sounds to indicate that any Ashantis were near, Lisle +climbed up as noiselessly as he could to the bushes, and looked +cautiously round. There were none of the enemy in sight. He +therefore called to the Sikh to join him and, together, they made +their way into the forest behind. + +"The first thing to ascertain," Lisle said, "is whether the enemy +are still here, and to find out for certain whether our friends +have left. If they stay where they were, we can swim the river and +join them; if they have retreated, and the Ashantis are still here, +we shall know that there is no ford. If, however, we find that the +Ashantis have gone, we shall be sure that they crossed at some +ford, and will be swarming round our men; in which case it will be +impossible for us to join them, and we must make our way as best we +can." + +They kept close to the edge of the forest, the soldier occasionally +using his bayonet to cut away the thorny creepers that blocked +their course. After an hour's walking, Lisle said: + +"That is the spot where the troops were, last night. I can see no +signs of them now. + +"Now for the Ashantis." + +They took the greatest pains to avoid making a noise, until they +stepped out opposite the point from which they had started, the +evening before. They saw no signs of the enemy. + +"This is bad," Lisle said. "I can have no doubt that they have +crossed the river, somewhere, and are swarming in the forest +opposite. However, now that we know that they have gone, we can +look out for something to eat." + +For three hours they wandered about, and were fortunate enough to +find a deserted village, where they gathered some bananas and +pineapples. Of these they made a hearty meal; and then, each +carrying a few bananas, they returned to the river and swam across, +finding no difficulty in doing so now that they were unencumbered +by the wire. They had not been long across before they heard the +sound of heavy firing, some two or three miles away. + +"It is as I thought," Lisle said. "The Ashantis have crossed the +river, somewhere, and are now attacking the convoy. They will not, +of course, overpower it; but they will continue to follow it up +till they get near camp, and there is little chance of our being +able to rejoin them before that." + +Travelling on, they more than once heard the sound of parties of +the enemy, running forward at the top of their speed. Evidently +news had been sent round, and the inhabitants of many villages now +poured in, to share in the attack upon the white men. + +"It is useless for us to think of going farther, at present," Lisle +said. "They will be mustering thickly all round our force, and I +expect we shall have some stiff fighting to do, before we get back +to camp--I mean the column, of course; as for ourselves, the matter +is quite uncertain. We may be sure, however, that they won't be +making any search in the bush and, as even in the Ashanti country +you cannot go through the bush, unless you cut a path, it will be +sheer accident if they come across us. At any rate, we may as well +move slowly on, doing a little cutting only when the path seems +deserted. If we keep some forty or fifty yards from it, so as to be +able to hear any parties going along, and to make sure that they +are moving in our direction, that is all we can do. + +"Of course, everything will depend upon the result of the fight +with the column. There is no doubt that they are going to be +attacked in great force; which, as far as it goes, is all the +better for us. If it were only a question of sniping by a small +body of men, the colonel would no doubt push steadily on, +contenting himself with firing occasional volleys into the bush; +but if he is attacked by so strong a body as there appears to be +round him, he will halt and give them battle. If so, we may be +pretty sure that he will send them flying into the bush; and they +won't stop running till they get back to the river. In that case, +when we have allowed them all to pass we can go boldly on, and +overtake the column at their halting place, this evening. + +"If, on the other hand, our fellows make a running fight of it, the +enemy will follow them till they get near Coomassie, and we shall +have to make a big detour to get in. That we shall be able to do so +I have no doubt, but the serious part of the business is the +question of food. However, we know that the natives can find food, +and it is hard if we do not manage to get some. + +"Making the necessary detour, and cutting our way a good deal +through the bush, we can calculate upon getting there in less than +four days' march. We have food enough for today, and a very little +will enable us to hold on for the next four days." + +They moved slowly on. The firing increased in violence, and it was +evident that a very heavy engagement was going on. Two hours later +they heard a sound of hurrying feet in the path and, peering +through the bush, saw a crowd of the Ashantis running along, in +single file, at the top of their speed. + +"Hooray! It is evident that they have got a thorough licking," +Lisle said. "They will soon be all past. Our greatest fear will +then be that a few of the most plucky of them will rally in the +bush, when they see that none of our troops come along. Our troops +are not likely to follow them up, as they will be well content with +the victory they have evidently gained, and resume their march." + +They waited for an hour and, when they were on the point of getting +up and making for the path, the Sikh said: + +"Someone is coming in the bush." + +In another minute, four natives came suddenly upon them; whether +they came from the force that had been routed, or were newly +arriving from some village behind, the two fugitives knew not; nor, +indeed, had they any time to consider. They threw themselves, at +once, into one of the divisions at the base of a giant cotton tree. + +These divisions, of which there may be five or six round the tree, +form solid buttresses four or five inches thick, projecting twenty +or thirty feet from the front, and rising as many feet high; thus +affording the tree an immense support, when assailed by tropical +storms. + +Illustration: Two of them fell before Lisle's revolver. + +The natives, seeing that the two men were apparently unarmed, +rushed forward, firing their guns as they did so. Two of them fell +before Lisle's revolver. One of the natives rushed with clubbed +musket at him but, as he delivered the blow, the butt end of the +musket struck a bough overhead and flew out of the man's hand; and +Lisle, putting his revolver to his head, shot him. The other man +ran off. + +Lisle had now time to look round and, to his dismay, the Sikh was +leaning against the branch of a tree. + +"Are you hit?" he asked. + +"Yes, sahib, a ball has broken my right leg." + +"That is a bad business, indeed," Lisle said, kneeling beside him. + +"It cannot be helped, sahib. Our fate is meted out to us all, and +it has come to me now. You could not drag me from here, or carry +me; it would be impossible, for I weigh far more than you do." + +Lisle was silent for a moment. + +"I see," he said, "that the only thing I can do is to push on to +camp, and bring out assistance. I will leave you my pistol, when I +have recharged it; so that if the native who has run away should +bring others down, you will be able to defend yourself. As, +however, you remained on your feet, he will not know that you were +wounded; and will probably suppose that we would at once push on to +join our companions. Still, it will be well for you to have the +weapon. + +"Now, let me lower you down to the ground, and seat you as +comfortably as I can. I will leave these bananas by you, and my +flask of water. It is lucky, now, that I did not drink it all when +I started to cross the river. + +"I suppose they will have halted at the same camp as before. It was +a long march, and we must still be ten or twelve miles away from +it, so I fear it will be dark long before I get there." + +"You are very good, sahib, but I think it will be of no use." + +"Oh, I hope it will! So now, give me your turban. I will wrap it +tightly round your leg, for the bleeding must be stopped. I see you +have lost a great deal of blood, already." + +He bandaged the wound as well as he could, and then he said: + +"I will take your sword bayonet with me. It can be of no use to you +and, if I do happen to meet a native upon the road, it may come in +very handy." + +"The blessing of the Great One be upon you, sahib, and take you +safely to camp. As for myself, I think that my race is run." + +"You must not think that," Lisle said, cheerily; "you must lie very +quiet, and make up your mind that, as soon as it is possible, we +shall be back here for you;" and then, without any more talk, he +made his way to the edge of the path. + +There he made a long gash on the bark of a tree and, fifty yards +farther, he made two similar gashes. Then, certain that he could +find the place on his return, he went off at a trot along the path. + +It was eight o'clock in the evening before he reached camp. On the +way, he had met with nothing that betokened danger; there had been +no voices in the woods. When about halfway to camp, he came across +a number of dead bodies on the path and, looking into the bush, +found many more scattered about. It was evident that the little +British force had turned upon their assailants, and had effected a +crushing defeat upon them. + +He was hailed by a sentry as he approached the camp but, upon his +reply, was allowed to pass. As he came to the light of a fire, +round which the white officers were sitting, there was a general +shout of surprise and pleasure. + +"Is it you or your ghost, Bullen?" the commanding officer +exclaimed, as all leapt to their feet. + +"I am a very solid person, Colonel; as you will see, if you offer +me anything to eat or drink. I am pretty well exhausted now and, as +I have got another twenty-mile tramp before I sleep, you may guess +that I shall be glad of solid and liquid refreshment." + +"You shall have both, my dear boy. We had all given you up for +dead. When we saw you washed down, we were afraid that you were +lost. The only hope was that the current might bring you over to +our side again, and we went two or three miles down the stream to +look for you. We hunted again still more carefully the next +morning, and it was not until the afternoon that we moved. + +"We encamped only three miles from the river, hoping still that you +might come up before the morning. We started at daybreak this +morning. We were harassed from the first, but the affair became so +serious that we halted and faced about, left a handful of men to +protect the coolies and carriers; and then sent two companies out +into the bush on each side, and went at them. Fortunately they +fought pluckily, and when at last they gave way they left, I should +say, at least a third of their number behind them. + +"We did not stop to count. I sent a small party at full speed along +the path, so as to keep them on the run, and then marched on here +without further molestation. + +"And now, about yourself; how on earth have you managed to get in?" + +"Well, sir, I can tell it in a few words. The current took us to +the opposite shore. We lay concealed under the bushes overhanging +the bank, and could hear the enemy talking behind the screen. On +the following day the voices ceased, and we made our way up to the +camp; and found, as we expected, that you had gone and, as we +guessed, the Ashantis had set off in pursuit. We went on through +the forest and, of course, heard the firing in the distance; and +saw the enemy coming along the path, terror stricken. We were +waiting for a bit, and felt sure that they had all passed; when a +party of four men came from behind upon us. I don't think they +belonged to the force you defeated. They were within twenty yards +when they saw us. + +"We jumped into one of the hollows at the foot of a cotton tree. +The whole four fired at us and then, as they supposed that we were +unarmed, made a rush. I shot two of them as they came on. One of +the others aimed a blow at me, with the butt end of his gun. +Fortunately the weapon caught one of the creepers, and flew out of +his hand. My revolver had in some way stuck, but it all came right +just at the moment, and I shot him. The fourth man bolted. + +"When I looked round to see what the Sikh was doing, he was leaning +against the tree, with the blood streaming from his leg; the bone +having been broken by one of their balls. Well, sir, I bandaged it +up as well as I could, and left him my revolver; so that he might +shoot himself, if there was a likelihood of his being captured. I +then set off, as hard as I could go, to fetch assistance for him." + +"The troops have had a very heavy day, Bullen," the colonel said, +gravely. "How far away is it that you left the man?" + +"About ten miles, I should say." + +"Well, they are all willing fellows, but it is a serious thing to +ask them to start on another twenty miles' journey, within an hour +or two of getting into camp." + +"I think, sir, if you will allow me to go down to where the Sikhs +are bivouacked, and I ask for volunteers to bring in their comrade, +they will stand up, to a man." + +Lisle's confidence in the Sikhs was not misplaced. As soon as they +heard that a comrade, who they believed had been drowned while +trying to get the wire across the river, was lying alone and +wounded in the forest, all declared their willingness to start, at +once. + +"I will take twenty," Lisle said; "that will be ample. I have just +come down the path myself, and I saw no signs, whatever, of the +enemy; still, some of them may be making their way down, to carry +off their dead. If they are, however, their astonishment at seeing +us will be so great that they will bolt at the first volley." + +"Are you going back with us, sahib?" + +"Yes, I must do so, or you would never find the place where he is +lying." + +"We will take two stretchers," the sergeant--a splendid man; +standing, like most of his companions, well over six feet--said, +"and you shall walk as far as you are able, and then we will carry +you. When will you march, sahib?" + +"I am going to get something to eat and drink first and, if you +will fall in, in half an hour I will be with you again." + +"Where is Pertab wounded, sahib?" + +"He is shot through the leg, three or four inches above the knee, +and the bone is broken." + +"Did the man get off, sahib?" + +"I can't say for certain," Lisle said, with a smile. "Four men +attacked us. They all four fired. I shot three of them with my +revolver, and the fourth bolted. Whether he was the man who really +shot your comrade, or not, I cannot say; but you see, the chances +are that he was not." + +The grim faces of the Sikhs lit up with a smile. + +"You paid them out, anyhow," the sergeant said. "I don't think we +are very deeply in their debt." + +Lisle went back to the campfire. The best that could be found in +camp was given to him, and the colonel handed him his own whisky +flask. While he ate, he related the story in full. + +"Well, it is a fine thing for you to have done," said the colonel; +"a most creditable affair. I know that you are a pretty good +marcher; but I hardly think that, after a long day's work, you can +set out for a march of nearly double the length." + +"I have no fear of the march, Colonel. The Sikhs have volunteered +to carry a stretcher for me. I shall, of course, not get into it, +unless I feel that I cannot go another foot farther; but the mere +fact that it is there, and in readiness for me, will help me to +keep on. The Sikhs have done just as long a march as I have, and I +hope that I shall be able to hold on as long as they can. I should +hate to be beaten by a native." + +"Ah! But these Sikhs are wonderful fellows; they seem to be made of +iron, and march along as erect and freely as they start, when even +the Hausas and Yorubas are showing signs that they are almost at +the end of their powers. I must say that I consider the Sikhs to +be, all round, the best soldiers in the world. They cannot beat +Tommy Atkins, when it comes to a charge; but in the matter of +marching, and endurance, Tommy has to take a back seat. He will +hold on till he fairly breaks down, rather than give in; but he +himself, if he has ever campaigned with the Sikhs, would be the +first to allow that they can march him off his feet. + +"Have you got a spare pair of shoes in your kit, Bullen?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I should advise you to take those you have on, off; and put +on a fresh pair." + +"I will take your advice, sir; but I really think that it would be +best to follow the custom of the native troops, and march +barefooted." + +"It would not do," the colonel said, decidedly. "The soles of their +feet are like leather. You would get half a dozen thorns in your +foot, before you had gone half a mile; and would stub your toes +against every root that projected across the path. No, no; stick to +your shoes." + +Lisle changed his boots, and then went across to the Sikhs; who +fell in as they saw him coming. + +"You have got everything, sergeant?" he asked. + +"Yes; a hundred and thirty rounds of ball cartridge, the two +stretchers, and some food and drink for our comrade." + +"You have got a good supply of torches, I hope. There may be some +small risk in carrying them, but I am convinced that the Ashantis +will not venture to return, tonight, whatever they may do tomorrow. +With three torches--one at the head, one in the middle of the line, +and one in the rear--we should be able to travel through the paths +better than if we had to grope our way in the dark." + +The little party at once moved off, many of the officers and men +gathering round, to wish them good luck and a safe return. Four +hours took them to the spot where Lisle had turned into the path. +For the last mile he had had three torches burning in front, so +that he should not overlook the signs he had made on the trees. + +"There it is, sergeant," he said, at last, "two slashes; the other +one is on the left, fifty yards on." + +They turned off when they came to this. + +"Here we are, all right, Pertab!" Lisle said, as they came to the +tree. + +"Allah be praised!" the man said, faintly. "I seem to have been +hearing noises in the wood, for a long time; and when I heard you +coming, I was by no means sure that it was not an illusion, like +the others." + +"Here are twenty of your comrades with me, Pertab, and we shall +soon get you into camp." + +"I didn't expect you till morning," the wounded man said. "I +thought that you would be far too tired to come out and, without +you, they could not have found me." + +"They would have carried me, had it been necessary; but I managed +to hold on pretty well. + +"Now, my men, get him upon the stretcher, and let us be off. Pour +the contents of that bottle down his throat; that will keep him up, +till we get back." + +For another four or five miles, Lisle kept along but, to his +mortification, he was obliged at last to take to the stretcher. The +four Sikhs who carried it made light of his weight. Once or twice, +on the way, some dropping shots were fired at the party; but these +were speedily silenced by a volley or two from the rifles. + +It was four o'clock in the morning when they re-entered camp. The +fires were already lighted and, as the party entered, the troops +received them with loud cheering; which called all the white +officers out from their shelters. + +"You have done well, my fine fellows," the colonel said to the +Sikhs. "Now, get some food at once, and then lie down for three or +four hours' sleep. I shall leave two companies with you; I don't +think that, after the thrashing we gave them yesterday, the enemy +are likely to trouble us--at any rate, not before the afternoon, +and by that time you will have rejoined us." + +"We can march on now, sahib." + +"No, no," the colonel said; "a thirty-six-mile march, through this +bush, is a great deal more than a fair day's march for anyone; and +I am not going to see such good men knocked up, by asking too much +of them. So just go, and do as I order you. You may be sure that I +shall put the deed you have accomplished in my orders of today. + +"Well, Mr. Bullen," he said, as he came to the spot where Lisle was +sitting, with his shoes and stockings off, rubbing his aching feet, +"so you could not outmarch the Sikhs?" + +"No, sir, and I did not expect to do so. I went at their head all +the way there, and four or five miles back; but should have had to +give up, even if I had been told that a big fortune awaited me, if +I got in on foot. I should have had to say: + +"'Well, then, somebody else may have it; I can go no farther.'" + +"Well, you have done uncommonly well, anyhow; uncommonly well. I +don't suppose there are five white men in camp who could have done +so much. After this you may be sure that, if you have need of an +expedition, the Sikhs would follow you through fire and water, if +they were allowed to volunteer for the service. + +"I should have been glad to recommend you for the Victoria Cross, +for your conduct right through the affair; but you have got it. But +I fear that, although you would get every credit for your doings, +the authorities would consider that it did not come under the head +of deeds for which the Victoria Cross is given." + +"I am sure I have no desire for another V.C., even if two could be +given." + +No attack was made on the following day, and it was evident that +the Ashantis had taken to heart the lesson that had been given +them. Two days later the column marched into the fort, and Colonel +Willcocks went out to meet it. + +The colonel's reports had been sent in by a runner. As the Sikhs +came along, the colonel ordered them to halt and, as Lisle marched +up at the head of his company, he made a sign to him to come up. + +"Captain Bullen," he said, "I have much pleasure in congratulating +you on the manner in which you saved the life of the Sikh soldier, +who volunteered to swim that river in flood in order to carry a +wire across; and still more for the manner in which you made what I +should say was a record march, in this country, to bring in a man +who had been wounded, in a fight with a small party of the enemy." + +Then he turned to the Sikhs. + +"Soldiers," he said, "I cannot praise you too heartily for having +volunteered, at the end of a long and exhausting march, to +undertake another still longer and more fatiguing, in order to +bring in a wounded comrade. It is an act of which you may be proud; +but not altogether a surprising one, for we know well that we can +depend upon the Sikhs, on all and every occasion." + +Lisle had been carried into the fort. His feet were so tender and +swollen that he could not possibly walk farther, and he was +consequently taken down by the carriers, during the last two days' +march. Hallett sauntered up, as soon as he was put into a hospital +hut. + +"Hillo, Bullen, so you have broken down! A nice example to set to +your Hausas, isn't it?" + +"I suppose it is," Lisle laughed; "but the Hausas did not march as +far as I did." + +"No? What were you doing? Scouting half a mile ahead of them, on +your own account?" + +"Not exactly; I only went the width of a river, and yet, the result +of that was that I had to do an extra march of some twenty miles." + +"Now you are speaking in riddles, Lisle; and if there is one thing +I hate, it is riddles. When a fellow begins to talk in that way, I +always change the subject. Why a man should try to puzzle his +brain, with such rigmarole things, is more than I can imagine." + +"Well, Hallett, I really feel too tired to tell you about the +matter. I can assure you that it is no joke, being carried down +fifteen miles on a stretcher; so please go and ask somebody else, +that's a good fellow." + +In a quarter of an hour Hallett returned again, put his eyeglass in +his eye, and stood for a couple of minutes without speaking, +regarding Lisle furtively. + +"Oh, don't be a duffer," the latter said, "and drop that eyeglass. +You know perfectly well that you see better, without it, than with +it." + +"Well, you are a rum chap, Bullen. You are always doing something +unexpected. I have been hearing how you and a Sikh started to swim +the Ordah, when it was in flood, with a wire; how you were washed +away; how you were given up for lost; how, two days later, you +returned to camp and went straight out again, with a party of +twenty Sikhs, took a little stroll for ten miles into the bush--and +of course, as much back--to carry in the Sikh soldier you had had +with you, but who had been wounded, and was unable to come with +you. I don't know why such luck as this is always falling to your +lot, while not a bit of it comes to me." + +"It is pure accident, Hallett. You will get a chance, some day. I +don't know that you would be good for a thirty-mile tramp, but it +must be a consolation to you that, for the last five miles, I had +to be carried." + +"It is a mercy it is so," Hallett said, in an expression of deep +thankfulness, "for there would have been no holding you, if you had +come in on your feet." + + + +Chapter 16: The Relief Of Coomassie. + + +"I certainly should not have volunteered for this work, Bullen, if +I had known what it was like. I was mad at not being able to go out +to the Cape, and as my regiment was, like yours, stationed in +India, there was no chance of getting away from there, if I had +once returned. Of course, I knew all about the expeditions of +Wolseley and Scott; but I forgot that these were carried on in the +dry season, and that we should have to campaign in the wet season, +which makes all the difference in the world. We are wet through, +from morning till night--and all night, too--and at our camping +places there is no shelter. The low-lying land is turned into deep +swamps, the little streams become great unfordable torrents, and +the ground under our feet turns into liquid mud. It is really +horrible work, especially as we get very little food and less +drink. It is not work for dogs." + +"It is all very well for you to grumble, Hallett, but you know just +as well as I do that, if the offer were made to you to go home, at +once, you would treat it with scorn." + +"Oh, of course I should! Still, one may be allowed to have one's +grumble and, after all, I think we are pretty sure of some stiff +fighting, which makes up for everything. I am not afraid of the +enemy a bit, but I do funk fever." + +"I don't think we are likely to get fever, so long as we are on the +move; though I dare say a good many of us will go down with it, +after the work is done. We have only to think of the starving +soldiers and people, in Coomassie, to make us feel that, whatever +the difficulties and dangers may be, we must get there in time. The +great nuisance is, that we can get no news of what is doing there. +We constantly hear that the governor, with a portion if not all of +the force, has broken out, some days since; and we begin to look +out for them; and then, after a time, comes the news that there has +been no sortie whatever. It is really most annoying, and I am often +kept awake at night, even after a day's fight, thinking of the +position of the garrison." + +"I don't think, if there were a hundred garrisons in danger," +Hallett laughed, "it would affect my sleep in the slightest. I lie +down as soon as I have eaten what there is to eat, which certainly +is not likely to affect my digestion; and however rough the ground, +I am dead asleep as soon as my head touches it, and I do not open +an eye until the bugle sounds in the morning. Even then I have not +had enough sleep, and I always indulge in bad language as I put on +my belts, at the unearthly hour at which we are always called. I +don't begin to feel half awake till we have gone some miles." + +"You would wake up sharp enough, Hallett, at the sound of the first +gun." + +"Yes, that is all right enough; but unless that comes, there is +nothing to wake one. The close air of the forest takes out what +little starch you have in you, and I verily believe that I am very +often asleep, as we march." + +"It is monotonous, Hallett, but there is always something to see +to; to keep the men from straggling, to give a little help, +sometimes, to the wretched carriers." + +"You are such a desperate enthusiast, Bullen. I cannot make out how +you keep it up so well. I really envy you your good spirits." + +"They are indeed a great blessing; I had plenty of occasion to make +the most of them, when I was marching in the ranks of the 32nd +Pioneers, on the way up to Chitral. Still, they came naturally +enough, there; and I am bound to acknowledge that it is hard work, +sometimes, to keep them up here." + +"I think that it would really be a mercy, Bullen, if you were to +pour a bucket of water over my head, when the bugle sounds. I have +no doubt I should be furious with you, and should use the strongest +of strong language; but still, that would not hurt you." + +"Except when the carriers bring up our bundles of dry clothes, we +lie down so soaked that you would scarcely feel the water poured +over you. At any rate, if you really think that it would do you +good, you had better order your servant to do it; that is to say, +if you don't think you would slay him, the first morning." + +"No, I suppose I must put up with it, as best I can; but really, +sometimes I do envy the colonel's little terrier, which frisks +along all day, making excursions occasionally into the bush, to +look for rats or mongooses. He seems to be absolutely tireless, and +always ready for anything. + +"Well, I shall turn in, now, and try to dream that I am on a +feather bed, and have had supper of all sorts of dainties." + +"I would not do that, if I were you. It would be such a +disappointment, when you woke up." + +"Well, perhaps it might be," Hallett said, despondently. "I will +try to dream that I am with you on that Chitral expedition, and am +nearly frozen to death; then possibly, on waking, I might feel +grateful that things are not so bad as I thought they were." + +They spent a few pleasant days at Prahsu and, while there, received +the news that a column had started, from Tientsin, for the relief +of the Europeans collected in the various legations at Pekin, news +which created general satisfaction. + +"I have no doubt they will have some stiff fighting," Hallett said, +as he and Lisle sat down to breakfast, after hearing the news. "One +thing, however, is in their favour. As they will keep by the river +all the way, they will never be short of water. The last news was +that they were collecting a large flotilla of junks, for carrying +up their provisions. Lucky beggars! Wouldn't I like to change +places with one of them! I hope all the different troops will pull +well together for, with a force of half a dozen nationalities, it +is almost certain that there will be some squabbling." + +"I should hardly think that there would be any trouble, Hallett. Of +course, it was reported in the last mail that the Russians, French, +and Germans were all behaving somewhat nastily; but as the Japs +have the strongest force of all, and the Americans stick to us, I +should think that things will go on well. It would be a disgraceful +thing, indeed, if troops marching to the relief of their countrymen +could not keep the peace among themselves. Of course, there may be +fighting; but it is morally certain that the Chinese cannot stand +against us, and I imagine that, in proportion to the numbers, their +casualties will enormously exceed ours. + +"Britain has her hands pretty full, at present, what with the big +war in the Transvaal, and the little one here, and another in +China. It is a good thing we thrashed the Afridis, two years ago. +If we had not, you may be sure that there would be an even more +formidable rising on our northern frontier than that we quelled. +News travels marvellously fast, in India; the Afridis always seem +to know what is going on elsewhere, and I am pretty sure that they +would be up, all over the country, if they had not had to give up +the greater portion of their rifles, and had not more than enough +to do to rebuild their houses. So we have something to be thankful +for." + +"I am glad that Marchand business did not come off just at the +present time," Hallett said. "You may be sure that we should have +had a war with France; it was a mighty near thing, as it was." + +"Yes; I think they would not have backed down, if we had been busy +with Boers, Chinese, and black men. They were at fever heat as it +was; and we could have done nothing, if we had had two hundred and +fifty thousand men engaged at the Cape." + +"It would have made no difference," Lisle said, scornfully, "we +have plenty of soldiers at home. Every barrack was crowded with +men, as we came away; and there were a great number of the militia +and volunteers, to back them up. Above all there was our fleet +which, however much the Frenchmen value their warships, would have +knocked them into a cocked hat in no time. + +"Well, I suppose it is time to go out and inspect our men." + +"I suppose it is, Bullen," Hallett said despondently, as he +stretched himself. "If there were no inspections and no parade, an +officer's life would be really a pleasant one." + +Lisle laughed. + +"And if there were no inspections and parades there would be no +soldiers, and if there were no soldiers there would be no need for +officers." + +"Well, I suppose that is so," Hallett said, as he buckled on his +sword. "Now, just look at me; do I look like an officer and a +gentleman? Nobody could tell what was the original colour of my +khaki; it is simply one mass of mud stains." + +"Well, I do think you hardly look like an officer and a +gentleman--that is to say, you would hardly be taken for one at +Aldershot. Fortunately, however, there are no English ladies here +to look at you and, as the blacks don't know what an officer and a +gentleman should be, it doesn't matter in the slightest." + +While at Prahsu, there was nothing to do but to speculate as to +what would be the next move. Colonel Willcocks kept his plan to +himself, for information as to our movements reached the enemy in a +most extraordinary manner. + +It was a busy camp. Bamboo grass-covered sheds, for stores, were in +course of construction. The engineers were employed in making a +road, to take the stores and troops across the Prah. + +Three of the wounded officers--Captain Roupell, Lieutenants +Edwardes and O'Malley--were invalided, and left for home in a +convoy with over a hundred wounded. This was necessary, owing to +the fact that there was no Roentgen apparatus in the colony, and it +was found impossible to discover and extract the slugs with which +the great proportion were wounded. + +It was unknown that four hundred men of the West African Regiment, +with nearly twenty officers, and a company from Jebba were on their +way to reinforce them. Three officers were away to raise native +levies in Denkera and Akim, and there were rumours about more +troops from other parts of the world. But the one thing certain was +that some more troops were coming down from Northern Nigeria. + +Colonel Burroughs arrived with a strong party, and Lisle and +Hallett prepared to go up again. No resistance was met with, as far +as Fumsu; but it was found that a foot bridge that had been thrown +across the river was washed away, and communication with the other +bank was thus cut off. To the disgust of the officers and men, they +were called out to a false alarm and, when dismissed, went back to +bed grumbling. When they rose again, the men cleaned their arms and +received their pay and rations. The latter amounted to but a pound +of rice a day, but this was subsequently increased. The officers +were little better off, for there was, of course, nothing to buy. + +Two companies had gone on in advance to open the main road, find +out the ambushes and stockades, and to join Colonel Wilkinson at +Bekwai. Those who remained in camp had little to do, and were +therefore glad to spend their time on fatigue duty; the officers +building shelters for themselves, while the men erected conical +huts, until the station was covered with them. + +A day or two after their arrival a letter, written in French on a +scrap of paper, was brought down. It stated that the garrison could +hold out until the 20th, a date that was already past. Supplies +were urgently wanted. It also warned the relief column that there +was a big stockade within an hour of the fort. Colonel Willcocks +sent out a messenger at once, asking that every available man +should join him; but the man never reached the coast, and no help +came from there. + +Sir Frederick Hodgson had then been out of Coomassie four days, and +was making his way down to the coast through a friendly country; +with an escort of six hundred soldiers, and all his officers but +one, who had remained in the fort with a hundred men. + +On the morning of the 27th Colonel Burroughs, with five hundred +men, started on his journey north. Scouts flanked the advance +guard, thereby preventing the chance of an ambuscade; but greatly +delaying the column, as they had to cut their way through the +bushes. They halted that night at Sheramasi. A detachment was left +at a village at the foot of the hills. Just as the head of the +troops arrived at the top, they were fired into from behind a +fallen tree. A sharp fight took place for nearly an hour, until the +enemy were turned out of their position, and pursued through the +bush, by a company which had moved round their flank. Kwisa was +reached after dark, when it was found that the place had been +entirely destroyed by the enemy. + +Next morning they moved forward with the greatest caution, fully +expecting that there would be another terrific fight at Dompoasi. +This place, though only four miles from Kwisa, was not reached till +nightfall. Darkness set in with heavy rain, and the officers +commanding the two leading companies held a council of war, and +decided to call in the scouts--who were useless in the dusk--to +make a dash for the village, and try to rush it before preparations +could be made for its defence. + +The terrible downpour of rain was all in their favour. The enemy's +scouts, who had reported the advance upon Kwisa, had given up the +idea of watching, that night; and they and the whole war camp were +at their evening meal. The noise of the rain drowned the sounds of +feet, and the troops were in the village before the enemy +entertained a suspicion of their approach. + +A scene of wild confusion then ensued. The enemy rushed wildly to +and fro, while our men poured volley after volley into them. +Savages have no idea of rallying, when thus taken by surprise. Many +fell; some fled into the forest; others ran down the prepared +pathway and manned the big stockade, but the troops rushed forward, +and soon compelled them to quit it. + +Half a company were sent into the bush, to follow up the flying +foe. They remained out all night, and did much execution among the +Adansis. This was the first real success gained over them. + +Pickets and sentries were thrown out in a circle round the village. +At midnight, the troops got a scratch meal under the protection of +the huts. Many guns were captured, some Sniders, many cakes of +powder, and much food which was cooking over the fires when the +troops entered the village. Some of the rifles that had belonged to +the men who had fallen in the unsuccessful attack were found, +together with three thousand rounds of ammunition to fit them. All +this was accomplished without any casualties to our troops. + +The next day was spent in destroying the two great stockades, +cutting down the bush round them, and blowing up the fetish tree; +as well as burying the enemy's dead, thirty in number. On the +evening of the next day, Bekwai was gained. + +Colonel Burroughs determined, after this success, to get rid of the +next danger by making another attack on the entrenchments and war +camp at Kokofu and, with five hundred men and four Maxims, he +started out for that place. But the task was too heavy for him, and +the enemy were quite ready to receive our troops. They were in +great force, and fought bravely for some hours. The turning +movement which was attempted failed; and the colonel decided, at +last, to retire to Bekwai. This the troops accomplished safely, +although the enemy followed them till they reached the town. +Lieutenant Brumlie was killed, six other officers were hit +slightly; and one British non-commissioned officer and three +soldiers were killed, and seventy-two men wounded. + +After this, no fighting took place until Colonel Willcocks arrived +to carry out the main object of the expedition. Convoys of stores, +however, kept pouring in incessantly and, to Lisle's delight, a +large box of provisions, which he had bought before starting from +Cape Coast, arrived. + +Then Colonel Neal arrived, with the Sappers. He and his men built a +bridge across the Fum. It was twelve feet above the water, but +within thirty-six hours it was swept away. + +While the troops were waiting, a runner came in and reported that +heavy firing had been heard round Coomassie. On the evening of the +30th of June, news came that Colonel Willcocks would start the next +morning. He would have but a small escort of fighting men, but a +very large number of carriers, to bring in the stores intended for +Coomassie. + +Colonel Willcocks reached Fum on the night after leaving the Prah. +As the supplies were failing at Kwisa, and another post, Captain +Melliss took down a convoy to them, with twenty days' rations, and +succeeded in doing so without opposition. + +Colonel Willcocks pressed on, leaving all baggage behind. The +defeat of the Dompoasis had its effect, and the little column +joined Colonel Burroughs's men unopposed. The combined force then +pushed on, until they arrived at a town under the sway of the King +of Bekwai. + +Next morning they marched to Bekwai. Here it was decided to +evacuate Kwisa, for a time, and bring up the garrison that had been +left there. + +The next march was laborious, and wet, as usual. The troops marched +into the little village of Amoaful, where Sir Garnet Wolseley had +fought the decisive battle of his campaign, and saw many relics of +the fight. Signal guns were heard, at various times, acquainting +the enemy of our advance. The column stayed here for three days, +which both soldiers and carriers enjoyed greatly, for the fatigues +of the march had fairly worn out even the sturdy and long-enduring +British troops. + +Colonel Willcocks went forward with his staff to Esumeja, where the +three companies, of which the garrison was composed, had already +suffered sixty casualties. The Pioneers, some carriers with +hatchets, and some of the Esumeja were sent out, a hundred yards +down the road to Kokofu, to cut the bush on each side and build two +stockades. This was done to deceive the garrison, there, into the +belief that we were about to advance on the place by that road. + +The ruse succeeded admirably. The general there sent information to +the commander-in-chief of the Ashanti army, and the latter at once +despatched a considerable number of men to reinforce the garrison. +Thus the resistance along the main road was greatly reduced; and +the Kokofu, standing on the defensive, did not harass the force +upon its march. + +On the evening of the 11th, a starving soldier made his way down +from the fort with this message: + +"Governor broke out, seventeen days ago. Garrison rapidly +diminishing by disease, can only last a few more days, on very +reduced rations." + +Six star shells were fired, that night, to let the garrison know +that help was coming, but they never saw them. + +At midnight, the last contingent from Northern Nigeria, the Kwisa +garrison, and an escort of two companies of the West African +contingent arrived. This brought the force up to the regulation +strength of one battalion, on its war footing. At sunset the +officers were called, and orders were given for the next day's +work. + +The direction of the march was, even at that moment, a profound +secret. The column was to be kept as short as possible, and only +two carriers allowed to each officer. Only half rations were to be +issued. + +At daybreak the advance sounded, and the force moved out. It +consisted of a thousand rank and file, sixty white men, seventeen +hundred carriers, six guns, and six Maxims. The rain fell in +ceaseless torrents. The road was practically an unbroken swamp, and +the fatigue and discomfort of the journey were consequently +terrible. The Ordah river was in flood, and had to be crossed on a +felled tree. + +The distance to Pekki, the last Bekwai village, was fifteen miles. +It did not lie upon the main road, but that route had been chosen +because a shorter extent of hostile country would have to be +traversed, and the march thence to Coomassie would be only eleven +miles; but it took the relief force nineteen and a half hours to +get in, and the rear guard some two hours longer. Darkness fell +some hours before they reached their destination and, thence +forward, the force struggled on, each holding a man in front of +him. + +Nothing broke the silence save the trickling of water from the +trees overhead, and the squelch of the mud churned up by marching +columns. At times they had to wade waist deep in water. The +exhausted carriers fell out by dozens, but their loads were picked +up and shouldered by soldiers, and not a single one was lost. + +The men got what shelter they could in the huts of the village and, +in spite of wet and sleeplessness, all turned out cheerfully in the +morning. The start was made at eight o'clock, in order that the men +might recover a little from the previous day's fatigue. + +The enemy's scouts were encountered almost on the outskirts of the +village and, in a short time, the advance guard neared the village +of Treda. It was a large place, with a very holy fetish tree. It +stood on the top of a slope and, long before the rear guard had +fallen out at Pekki, it was carried by a brilliant bayonet charge, +by the Yorubas and the Sierra Leone frontier police. The enemy +fought stubbornly, in the village; but were driven out with only +some half-dozen casualties on our part. + +Thirty sheep were found in the village, and they were a Godsend, +indeed, to the troops. As in every other place, too, numbers of +Lee-Metfords, Martinis, and Sniders were found. + +Treda was burnt by the rear guard. The Ju-ju house, which was the +scene of the native incantations, was pulled down, and the sacred +trees felled. The enemy, however, were not discouraged; but hung +upon the rear, keeping up a constant fire. Some of them proceeded +to attack the Pekki people. + +Fighting went on at intervals throughout the day, and it was +decided to spend the night in a village that had been taken, after +some resistance. This place was less than halfway on the road from +Pekki to Coomassie. During the night a tropical deluge fell, and +the troops and carriers were, all the time, without shelter. + +Late that evening Colonel Willcocks called the white officers +together and, for the first time, told them of the plan formed for +the advance. He said that, after marching for an hour and a half, +they would reach a strong fetish stronghold, where a fierce +resistance might be looked for; but the final battle would be +fought at the stockades, two hundred yards from the fort. He +intended to attack these without encumbrance. A halt would +therefore be called, at a spot some distance from the stockades; +which would be hastily fortified, with a zereba and a portion of +the troops. Here all the carriers and stores would be placed. Then +the fighting force would take the stockades, return for the +transport, and enter Coomassie. By this means there would be no +risk of losing the precious stores and ammunition. + +So determined was Colonel Willcocks to reach the forts, at all +costs, that he gave orders that, if necessary, all soldiers killed +should be left where they fell. + +At four o'clock next morning the bugle sounded and, at the first +streak of dawn, the column moved off. The march was maintained +under a heavy skirmishing fire but, to the general surprise, the +fetish town of which Colonel Willcocks had spoken was found +deserted. Night was approaching, so that the plan proposed +overnight could not be carried out. The troops, therefore, went +forward hampered by the whole of the carriers and baggage of the +column. + +At four o'clock action began, at the point where the Cape Coast and +Pekki roads converged towards Coomassie. The Ashantis had taken up +a position on slightly rising ground--a position which was +favourable to the assailants, as it tended to increase the enemy's +inclination to fire high. Each of the roads was barred with massive +entrenchments, which stretched across them into the bush, and +flanked with breastworks of timber. These obstacles had been +originally intended to envelop the garrison. Consequently, the war +camps were on the British side of the stockades. + +The battle began by a heavy fire, from the bush, upon both flanks +of the rear guard. The attack on the left was soon successfully +repulsed. On the other side, however, the roar of musketry never +ceased, the enemy moving along abreast of the column, protected by +a stockade expressly prepared; until they approached the main +stockade, where they joined their companions. About fifty yards +from the stockades, which were still invisible, a fresh path +diverged towards the left; and the officers commanding the scouts +were discussing what had best be done, when the enemy poured in a +terrific volley from their fortified position in front, slightly +wounding one officer and four soldiers. The rest immediately took +shelter behind a fallen tree, which was lying across the path. + +Colonel Wilkinson, commanding the advance guard, ordered up the +guns. These were massed in a semicircle behind the fallen trees, +and opened fire on the unseen foe; while the Maxims poured their +bullets into the adjacent bush. The reply of the enemy was +unceasing and, for an hour and a half, the battle raged, the +distance between the combatants being only forty yards. Then +Colonel Willcocks gave the order to cease firing and, in a minute, +a strange silence succeeded the terrible din. The Ashantis, too, +stopped firing, in sheer surprise at the cessation of attack; but +soon redoubled their fusillade. + +The leading companies moved up and formed in line, to the front and +rear flank. Then came the inspiring notes of the charge and, with a +cheer, the whole of the advance guard sprang forward into the bush. +The dense undergrowth checked the impetus, as the soldiers had to +cut their way with their knives but, as they did so, they +maintained their deep-toned war song. As they got more into the +open, they rushed round and clambered over the stockade; and the +enemy, unable to stand the fury of their charge, fled in panic. + +As a prolonged pursuit was impossible in the bush, and as daylight +was fading, the troops were recalled at once. The first thing to be +done was to pull down the stockade along the fetish road, to enable +the transport to pass. When this was done, Colonel Willcocks +collected the troops nearest to him and moved forward, at their +head, along the broad road. + +Their delight, when they emerged into the open and saw Coomassie +ahead of them, was unbounded. Keeping regular step, though each man +was yearning to press forward, they advanced steadily. The silence +weighed upon them; and a dread, lest they had arrived too late, +chilled the sense of triumph with which they had marched off. At +last, the faint notes of a distant bugle sounded the general +salute, and a wild burst of cheering greeted the sound. The bugles +returned the call with joyous notes. Then the gate opened, and +Captain Bishop, Mr. Ralph, and Dr. Hay came out, followed by such +few of the brave little garrison as still had strength to walk. + +Just at this moment, a great glow was seen in the distance. The +flying enemy had fired the Basel Mission. A company therefore +started at once, at the double, to drive them off. + +The relieving force had, indeed, arrived only just in time. The +means of resistance had all been exhausted, and another day would +have seen the end. The garrison had held out desperately, in the +hope that Colonel Willcocks would be able to fulfil the promise he +had sent in, that he would arrive to relieve them on the 15th of +July; and he had nobly kept his word to an hour, at the cost of an +amount of hard work, privation, hardship, and suffering such as has +fallen to the lot of but few expeditions of the kind. + +The Ashanti rising was the result of long premeditation and +preparation. On the 13th of March, the governor of the Gold Coast, +accompanied by Lady Hodgson, left Accra to make a tour of +inspection. On his way up country he was received with great +friendliness at all the villages and, when he arrived at Coomassie +on the 25th, he found a large number of Ashanti kings, who turned +out in state to meet him. A triumphal arch had been erected, and a +gorgeous procession of kings and chiefs marched past. There was no +sign of a cloud in the horizon. + +Several days passed quietly, and Sir Frederick Hodgson had several +meetings with the chiefs about state matters. Gradually the eyes of +the governor's followers, accustomed as they were to savage ways, +saw that all was not right; and a wire was despatched, asking for +reinforcements of two hundred men. These arrived on the 18th of +April. + +Captains Armitage and Leggatt, with a small party of soldiers, went +out to the neighbouring village to bring in the golden stool. This +was regarded by the natives with considerable veneration, and was +always used as the throne of the king, as the sign of supreme +authority. When they reached the village the party were fired upon, +the two officers being wounded; and had to retire without having +accomplished their purpose. + +It was clear now that rebellion was intended. The native kings were +all sounded, and several of them decided to side with us, among +them five important leaders. On the 25th the Basel Mission servants +were set upon, and several of them killed. The Ashantis then +attacked and captured the villages in which the friendly natives +and traders lived, and set fire to these and to the cantonment. The +refugees, to the number of three thousand five hundred, with two +hundred children, crowded round the fort, imploring the mission to +allow them to enter. + +It was wholly beyond the capacity of the fort to accommodate a +tenth of their number. Troops were therefore ordered down from the +barracks, and formed a cordon round the fugitives. The fort gate +was closed, and a rope ladder led down one of the bastions. In this +way, only one individual could enter at a time, and the danger of a +rush was obviated. + +Close round the walls, huts were erected to shelter the fugitives, +who were exposed to all the inclemency of the weather. Thus passed +some wretched days and worse nights, sleep being constantly +interrupted by alarms, due to the fact that the rebels were in +possession of all the buildings in the place, except the fort, many +of which they loopholed. + +On the 29th a determined attack was made, the enemy advancing +boldly across the open, and fighting long and obstinately. Captain +Marshall, however, with his two hundred and fifty native troops and +friendly levies, taught them such a lesson that they never again +tried fighting in the open. A hundred and thirty corpses were found +and buried, and many more were carried off, while the fighting was +going on. + +That evening Captain Apling came in with his little column, but +without food and with little ammunition. Aided by these troops, the +outlying official buildings were occupied; and the friendly natives +lodged in huts a little farther from the fort. + +Things remained quiet until the 15th of May, when Major Morris +arrived with his force. He too was short of food and ammunition, +and famine already began to stare the beleaguered garrison in the +face. Meanwhile the enemy had been busy erecting stockades, to bar +every outlet from Coomassie. Many attempts were made to take these +entrenchments; but they always failed, as they could not be pushed +home, owing to want of ammunition; and the troops became, to some +extent, demoralized by want of success. + +Although the food had been carefully husbanded, it was running +perilously low. Rations consisted of one and a half biscuits, and +five ounces of preserved meat, per day. Five ponies, brought up by +Major Morris, and a few cows kept at the Residency were killed and +eaten. A few luxuries could still be bought from the native +traders, but at prodigious prices. A spoonful of whisky cost 2 +shillings, a seven-pound tin of flour 6 shillings, a box of matches +2 shillings, and a small tin of beef 2 pounds, 16 shillings. + +The refugees fared much worse. They had no reserve of food, and +foraging was next to impossible. As a result, they died at the rate +of thirty and forty a day. + +When only three and a half days' rations were left, it was decided +that something must be done, and a council of war was called. It +was then agreed that those who could walk should make a dash for +it; and that a garrison of three Europeans, and a hundred rank and +file, should be left behind. For these twenty-three days' rations +could be left. + +Major Morris, as senior officer, was to command the sortie. The +direct road down to the Cape was barred by a great force of the +rebels, and he therefore chose the road that would lead to the +Denkera country. If that could be reached, they would be in a +friendly country. The line to be taken was kept a profound secret, +and was not revealed until ten o'clock on the evening before +starting. The force consisted of six hundred soldiers, with a +hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition a man, seven hundred +carriers, and about a thousand refugees. + +There was a mist in the morning, and the garrison who were to +remain made a feint, to direct the enemy's attention to the main +road. The column was not engaged until it reached a strong +breastwork, at Potasi. This was taken after a severe fight; and +Captain Leggatt, who commanded the vanguard, was mortally wounded. +Four men were also killed, and there were nine other casualties. + +A part of the stockade was pulled away, and the force moved +forward. It was constantly attacked on the way and, on one +occasion, Captain Marshall was seriously wounded in the head. +Numbers of soldiers, refugees, and carriers fell out from +exhaustion, and had to be left behind. Nearly all the carriers +threw away their loads, and the men who carried the hammocks of the +two ladies found themselves unable to support the weight. + +The night was spent at Terrabum, eighteen miles from Coomassie; +some two thousand human beings being crowded into the village, in a +deluge. The soldiers were posted round the camp, in the form of a +square. + +The second day was a repetition of the first--heavy rain, muddy +roads; dying soldiers, carriers, and refugees; attacks by the +enemy. Twelve miles farther were made that day. + +Thus seven days were passed. Captains Marshall and Leggatt both +died. The ladies bore their trials wonderfully, as they had to +tramp with the rest, along the miry track. At last Ekwanter, in the +friendly Denkera country, was reached, and the force rested for two +days. They then set out again and, after a terrible march, in the +course of which they had to cross many swollen rivers, they +arrived, two weeks after they had left Coomassie, half starved and +worn out, on the coast. + +In the meantime the three white officers, Captain Bishop of the +Gold Coast Constabulary, Assistant Inspector Ralph, Lagos +Constabulary, and Doctor Hay, medical officer, remained behind, +with a hundred and fifteen Hausas, few of whom were fit for the +task of holding the fort. After the departure of the column, the +Ashantis swarmed down on the fort, thinking that it was entirely +evacuated. They were met, however, with a heavy fire from the +Maxims, and soon withdrew. + +The first duty of Captain Bishop was to tell off the men to their +posts. The soldiers who were to man the guns were ordered to sleep +beside them. The ammunition was examined, and found to amount to a +hundred and seventy rounds a man. The rations were calculated, and +divided up for the twenty-three days that they were intended to +last. + +Attempts were then made to burn the native shanties, for sanitary +reasons. They were so soaked, however, with water, that all +attempts to burn them failed; till June 27th, when a short break in +the rain enabled them to be fired. When they were all burned down, +the Residency windows on the windward side were opened, for the +first time. + +Sickness, unfortunately, broke out very soon; and three of the +little band died on the first day. This rate mounted higher and +higher, and at last smallpox broke out. So dismal was the prospect +that the men sank into a dull despair. + +A few women traders hawked their wares outside the fort. A little +cocoa, worth a farthing, cost 15 shillings; plantains were 1 pound, +6 shillings each; and a small pineapple fetched 15 shillings. The +men received 3 shillings daily, in place of half a biscuit, when +biscuits ran short; and this ready cash was willingly bartered for +anything eatable. + +Three heart-breaking weeks passed thus. Two-thirds of the troops +had been buried outside the fort, the remainder were almost too +weak to stand. When the food was all gone, it was arranged that +they should go out to forage in the darkness, each man for himself. +The three white men, each with a dose of poison, always stuck +together and, come what might, agreed not to fall alive into the +hands of the enemy. + +However, on 14th July reports were brought in that firing had been +heard. The news seemed too good to be true, but an old native +officer declared that he had heard distant volleys. It was not +until four o'clock on the next day, however, that a continuous and +tremendous roar of guns convinced them that a relief column was at +hand. The three imprisoned officers opened their last comfort, a +half bottle of champagne, and drank success to their comrades. +Several of the troops died while the fighting was going on, the +excitement being too much for their weakened frames. + +At last the Ashantis were seen flying in terror. Then the two +buglers blew out the general salute, time after time till, at six +o'clock, the head of the relief column came in view. The gate was +thrown open, and those of the little garrison who were able to +stand went out, to welcome their rescuers. + +Five star shells were fired, to tell those left behind at Ekwanter +that the relief was accomplished. Then the outlying quarters were +occupied, and all slept with the satisfaction that their struggles +and efforts had not been in vain, and that they had succeeded in +relieving Coomassie. + + + +Chapter 17: Stockades And War Camps. + + +"Well, Hallett, here we are," Lisle said the next morning, "and +thank God neither of us is touched, except perhaps by a few slugs. +Of these, however, I dare say the surgeon will rid us this morning. +It has been a big affair and, if we live to a hundred years, we are +not likely to go through such another." + +"I wish you would not be so confoundedly cheerful," Hallett said, +gloomily; "we have got to go down again, and the Kokofu are to be +dealt with. We shall probably have half a dozen more battles. The +rain, too, shows no signs of giving up, and we shall have to tramp +through swamps innumerable, ford countless rivers and, I dare say, +be short of food again before we have done. As to going through +such work again, my papers will be sent in at the first hint that I +am likely to have to take part in it." + +"All of which means, Hallett, that just at the present moment a +reaction has set in; and I will guarantee that, if you had a +thoroughly good breakfast, and finished it off with a pint of +champagne, you would see matters in a different light, altogether." + +"Don't talk of such things," Hallett said, feebly; "it is a dream, +a mere fantasy. It doesn't seem to me, at present, a possibility +that such a meal could fall to my lot. + +"Look at me, look at my wasted figure! I weighed nearly fourteen +stone, when we started; I doubt whether I weigh ten, now." + +"All the better, Hallett. When I first saw you, on shore at +Liverpool, I said to myself that you were as fat as a pig. + +"'He would be a fine-looking young fellow,' I said, 'if he could +get some of it off. I suppose it is good living and idleness that +has done it.'" + +Hallett laughed. + +"Well, perhaps I need not grumble at that; but the worst of it is +that I have always heard that, when a fellow loses on active +service, he is sure to make it up again, and perhaps a stone more, +after it is over." + +"Yes, it is clear that you will have to diet, when you get home. No +more savoury dishes, no more champagne suppers; just a cut of a +joint, a few vegetables, and a ten-mile walk after." + +"Don't talk of such things," Hallett said, impatiently; "rather +than live as you say, I would put up with carrying sixteen stone +about with me. What is the use of living, if you are to have no +satisfaction out of life?" + +"Well, Hallett, my advice to you in that case is, make love to some +young lady, directly you reach England; and marry her in a month, +before you have begun to assume elephantine proportions. Once +hooked, you know, she cannot sue for divorce, on the ground that +you have taken her in; and she will have to put up with you, +whatever size you may attain." + +"Look here, Bullen," Hallett said seriously, "I know you mean well, +but the subject is a very sore one with me. However, seriously, I +will try to keep my fat down. If I fail I fail, and shall of course +send in my papers; for I don't care to be made a butt of, by young +subalterns like yourself. The subaltern has no sense of what is +decent and what is not, and he spares no one with his attempts at +wit." + +"Why, you are a subaltern yourself, Hallett!" + +"I am within two of the top of the list, please to remember, and +you have still four above you, and I am therefore your superior +officer. I have put aside youthful folly, and have prepared myself +for the position of captain of a company. I make great allowances +for you. You will please to remember that you are five years my +junior, and owe me a certain share of respect." + +"Which I am afraid you will never get," Lisle said, laughingly. "I +should as soon think of acting respectfully towards a Buddhist +image, simply because it is two thousand years old. However, since +the subject is so painful to you, I will try not to allude to it +again. + +"Is there anything you would wish me to do, sir? I have no doubt I +shall have plenty of work to do, but I dare say I shall be able to +find time to do anything my senior officer may require." + +"Get out, you young scamp," Hallett growled, "or I shall throw--" +and he looked round "--I don't see what there is to throw." + +"Hallett, I am afraid that this rest is going to do you harm. I +have found you a very companionable fellow, up to now; but it is +clear that a night's rest and high living have done you more harm +than good." + +So saying, with a laugh, Lisle put on his helmet and went out. + +There was, as he said, much to do. Everywhere there were proofs of +the rigidness of the siege. Even in the houses in which they were +quartered, which had been occupied by the enemy, the walls were +pitted with bullets. + +At eight o'clock a party of men went out, to destroy the stockades +and burn the enemy's camps. In the one in which the Ashanti +commander in chief had his headquarters were found over a thousand +huts and bamboo camp beds. + +The troops now saw the method of investment for the first time. It +consisted in making large entrenchments, to barricade all the roads +and tracks. In the bush between these were similar stockades, to +complete the circle of fortifications and afford flank defences. +All these were joined by a wide path; so that, as soon as one +position was attacked, it was reinforced by those to right and +left. + +The remainder of the troops and carriers were engaged in trying to +remedy the shockingly insanitary condition of the place. The staff +were employed in examining the matter of stores and provisions, +ammunition, and medical comforts; which were to be left behind for +the relieving garrison. The labourers worked in relays, as did the +rest of the soldiers. + +High grass had grown almost up to the fort walls, and had to be cut +down. While this was being done, skeletons and corpses in all +states of decomposition were met with. Almost all had died of +starvation. At first the bodies of those who died had been buried, +but latterly their friends had become too weak to perform this +office; and the poor wretches had crawled a few yards into the +jungle, to die quietly. Such numbers of bodies were found that they +had, at last, to be burned in heaps. Few, indeed, of the four +thousand fugitives who had gathered round the fort, reached the +coast with the force that had fought their way out. + +The doctors were busy all day with the refugees, the old garrison, +the thirty casualties from the fight of the day before, and several +white men down with fever. + +The Ashantis had burnt all the cantonments of friendly natives, but +had left the old palace of Prempeh uninjured. This structure was +burnt during the day. + +The order for officers to assemble was sounded in the evening, and +it was arranged that the return march was to start at four on the +following morning. The coveted post of leading the column was given +to a company of the West African Frontier Force. + +They were a little sorry that they were so soon to leave the place. +The fort itself was a handsome, square stone building, with towers +at the four corners. The resident's quarters had a balcony, and +excellent rooms. There was also, of course, barrack accommodation, +store rooms, and a well. Quick-firing guns were mounted on the +circular bastions. The surrounding buildings were bungalows, with +broad verandahs; and the force would have been well pleased to +remain for a few days, and enjoy the comforts provided for them. + +The force to be left was under the command of Major Eden; and consisted +of three officers, one doctor, three British non-commissioned officers, +a hundred and fifty men of the West African Frontier Force, and a few +Gold Coast Constabulary gunners; with fifty-four days' rations, and a +plentiful supply of ammunition. + +The column was a terribly long one, owing to the enormous number of +invalids, wounded, women, and children. They halted for the night +at the village halfway to Pekki. The villages on the road were all +burnt down, to prevent opposition next time we passed; and all +crops were destroyed. This work the soldiers quite enjoyed. +Continued explosions occurred during the burning of the huts, +showing how large an amount of ammunition the natives possessed. + +Next night they arrived at Pekki. The king had prepared a market, +so that the starving force got a more substantial supper than +usual. Here the column was to divide. Colonel Willcocks was to go +straight through to Bekwai; while the second portion, with the +wounded and cripples, was to take two days. + +They halted at Bekwai for two or three days, to give rest to the +soldiers; a large proportion of whom were suffering from coughs, +sore throats, and fever, the result of their hardships. Two +thousand carriers were sent to fetch up more stores. + +Preparations were then made for an attack on Kokofu, which was a +serious menace to the troops going up or down. The column for this +purpose, which was under General Moreland, consisted of six +companies, which were to be brought up to eight. With three of the +larger guns and two seven-pounders, they started for Esumeja on the +22nd. The force was a compact one, the only carriers allowed being +one to each white man, to take up some food and a blanket. Major +Melliss commanded the advance. + +They marched rapidly, as it was all important to take the enemy by +surprise. Some distance short of Kokofu, they stopped for +breakfast. Then the officers were assembled and, when the plan of +attack had been formed, the column moved cautiously on. + +The place was only a mile away, so that an attack was momentarily +expected. The troops entered a deserted village, and there halted. +A few sentries were thrown out, and the colonel held a short +council of war with Major Melliss and two of his other officers. +After some discussion, it was decided that a Hausa company should +go on, and rush the stockade with the bayonet, without firing. If +they carried it, they were to proceed along the river bank beyond, +and so place themselves as to cover the advance of the guns. + +The scouts were called in; and the Hausa company set off, in fours, +along the path. When they had marched a hundred yards, the little +band that formed the advance signalled that they made out something +ahead and, when they rounded the next sharp turn of the road they +saw, not thirty yards away, a great six-foot stockade, extending +far into the bush on either side. It lay halfway down a gentle +slope, a situation which favoured the assailants for, naturally, +the hill would increase the impetus of the charge. + +The order was sent down in a whisper, "Stockade ahead, prepare to +charge." + +The men kept together as closely as possible. The buglers rang out +the charge and, with a shout, the Hausas rushed at the stockade. In +an instant the white leaders scaled the timbers, and the men +followed at their heels. + +To their astonishment, the place was empty. The surprise was +complete. It was clear that the enemy had no information, whatever, +of their approach; and the guard from the stockade had gone to +feed, with their companions, in the war camp. + +The bugle had told them what was coming and, with a roar, thousands +of black figures dashed up towards the stockade. There was nothing +for it but to charge and, with fixed bayonets, the Hausas dashed +forward, regardless of the heavy fire with which they were met. + +Enormously as they outnumbered their assailants, the sight of the +glittering bayonets and the cheers of the Hausas were too much for +the enemy. Those in front, after a few more shots, turned and fled; +the Hausas following in hot pursuit. The river turned out to be of +no depth; and it had not, as reported, a parapet for defending the +passage. Hard as the Hausas tried to overtake the enemy, the +Ashantis, being fleeter of foot, kept ahead but, though the +shouting and running were beginning to tell on the pursuers, still +they held on. + +The path gradually became firmer; and suddenly, when they turned a +corner, there was Kokofu in front of them. From almost every house, +running for their lives, were naked Ashantis. The sight restored +the men's strength; and they redoubled their efforts, with the +result that they killed some thirty of the enemy. + +The pursuit was maintained until they reached the other end of the +town. Then the company was halted. The officers had difficulty in +restraining their men, who implored them to press on in pursuit; +but a general permission to do so could not be given. No one knew +whether the main column had followed them; and it was possible, +too, that the Ashantis might rally and return. Half the company, +however, were permitted to continue the pursuit, and to keep the +Ashantis on the run. + +With shouts of delight, the men darted off in the darkness. In a +short time they were recalled, and the company then marched back to +the centre of the town. Here they found that the main body had come +in. Two companies had been sent out, right and left into the bush, +to keep down sniping fire, and hurry the enemy's retreat. Pickets +and sentries had been thrown out round the town. Soldiers were +eating the food that the enemy had cooked. Piles of loot were being +dragged out of the houses; among which were quantities of loaded +guns, rifles, and powder barrels. The native soldiers were almost +mad with delight; and were dancing, singing, and carrying each +other shoulder high, shouting songs of triumph. + +But short time could be allowed for rejoicing. The various company +calls were sounded and, when the men were gathered, the town was +methodically razed, and a collection of over two hundred guns were +burnt. + +The troops, however, had reason for their joy. The Kokofu army of +some six thousand men, who had repulsed two previous attacks, were +a mass of fugitives. In the course of one week, the Ashantis had +suffered two crushing defeats in their strongest positions. + +As soon as the work was done, the force set out on their return +march. Their appearance differed widely from that of the men who +had silently, and in good order, advanced. Scarcely a man, white or +black, was not loaded with some token of the victory. All were +laughing, or talking, or singing victorious songs. + +A halt was made, to destroy the stockade and the war camp. The +former was found to be extremely strong and, had it been manned by +the enemy, the work of capturing it would have been very serious, +indeed. + +When they arrived at Esumeja, the garrison there could scarcely +believe that the success had been so complete, and so sudden. +Bekwai was reached as twilight was beginning, and here the whole of +the garrison, with Colonel Willcocks at its head, was drawn up to +receive them. The men were heartily cheered; and the Hausa company, +which had done such splendid service, were halted and congratulated +by Colonel Willcocks. Then after three cheers the force, which had +been on foot for sixteen hours, was dismissed, and returned to its +quarters. + +"Well, Hallett, how do you feel?" + +"Better," Hallett said. "I felt tired enough, after the march there +but, somehow, I forgot all about it directly the fight began. +Everyone was so delighted and cheery that, really, I came in quite +fresh." + +"I knew it would be so," Lisle said. "It has been a glorious day +and, if you had come in moping, I should have given you up as +hopeless." + +"And I give you up as hopeless, the other way," Hallett replied. +"You always seem brimming over with fun; even when, as far as I can +see, there is nothing to be funny about." + +"Well, it really has been a glorious victory; and I only wish we +had both been with the Hausa company who first attacked. They +really won the game off their own bat, for we had nothing to do but +to pick up the spoil. + +"There was not much worth carrying away, but I am glad of some +little memento of the fight. I got the chief's stool. I don't quite +know what I am going to do with it, yet; but I shall try to get my +servant to carry it along; and it will come in handy, to sit down +upon, when we encamp in a swamp. + +"What did you manage to get?" + +"I picked up a small rifle, a very pretty weapon. Do you know, I +quite approve of the regulation, in South Africa, that officers +should carry rifles instead of swords. I have never been able to +understand why we should drag about swords, which are of no use +whatever while, with rifles, we could at least pot some of the +enemy; instead of standing, looking like fools, while the men are +doing all the work." + +"I agree with you, there. In the Tirah campaign I, several times, +got hold of the rifles of fallen men, and did a little shooting on +my own account. Officers would all make themselves good shots, if +they knew that shooting would be of some value; and even three +officers, with a weak company, could do really valuable service. I +certainly found it so, when I was with the Punjabis. Of course, I +was not an officer; but I was a really good shot with a rifle, and +succeeded in potting several Pathan chiefs." + +"I suppose," Hallett said, mournfully, "that about the time when I +leave the army as a general, common sense will prevail; and the +sword will be done away with, except on state occasions." + +"It is very good of you to look so far ahead, Hallett. It shows +that you have abandoned the idea of leaving the army, even if you +again put on flesh. + +"I rather wonder that you should modestly confine yourself to +retiring as a general. Why not strive for the position of a field +marshal, who has the possibility of becoming commander in chief? It +may be, old fellow that, if you shake yourself together, you may +yet attain these dignities. You were always very jovial, on board +ship; and I trust that, when we get out of this horrible country, +you will regain your normal spirits." + +"I am not so sure that I shall get out of the country; for I often +feel disposed to brain you, when you won't let me alone; and I fear +that, one of these days, I may give way to the impulse." + +"You would have to catch me, first," Lisle laughed; "and as I +believe that I could run three feet to your one, your chance of +carrying out so diabolical an impulse would be very small. + +"But here is the boy with our supper, which we have fairly earned, +and to which I shall certainly do justice. + +"What have you got, boy?" + +"Half a tin of preserved meat, sah, done up with curry." + +"Let us eat, with thankfulness. + +"How much more curry have we got, boy?" + +"Three bottles, sah." + +"Thank goodness!" said Hallett, "that will last for some time; for +really, tinned beef by itself, when a man is exhausted, is +difficult to get down. I really think that we should address a +round robin to the P.M.O., begging him to order additional medical +comforts, every night." + +"You are belying yourself, Hallett. You have taken things very well +as they came, whatever they might be; save for a little grumbling, +which does no harm to anyone and, I acknowledge, amuses me very +much." + +"I have no expectation or design," Hallett grumbled, "but it seems +to amuse you. However, I suppose I must put up with it, till the +end." + +"I am afraid you will have to do so, Hallett. It is good for you, +and stirs you up; and I shall risk that onslaught you spoke of, as +we go down to the coast again." + +"When will that be, Lisle?" + +"I have not the smallest idea. I should imagine that we shall stay, +and give these fellows thrashing after thrashing, until we have +completely knocked the fight out of them. That won't be done in a +day or two. Probably those we have defeated will gather again, in +the course of a day or two; and we shall have to give them several +lickings, before we dispose of them altogether." + +The news of the victory at Kokofu spread fast, and the Denkeras +poured in to join the native levies. There was now a pause, while +preparations were made for a systematic punitive campaign. Captain +Wright was sent down to Euarsi, where three thousand Denkera levies +had been collected; and superintended the cutting down of the crops +in the Adansi country, to the south and west. The Akim levies were +to act similarly, in flank, under the command of Captains Willcocks +and Benson; while a third body of levies, under Major Cramer, +guarded the upper district. A company was sent to Kwisa to guard +the main road, which was now reopened for traffic. + +Convoys went up and down along the entire route, bringing up +supplies of all sorts; but those going north of Fumsu still +required strong escorts. Large parties went out foraging, almost +daily, to villages and farms for miles round. These bodies were +compact fighting forces, and took out considerable numbers of +unladen carriers. + +When a village was found the troops surrounded it, while the +carriers searched it for hidden stores. Then they would march away +to other villages, until every carrier had a load; when the force +would return, and store the results of the raid. + +The remnants of the reconcentrating Ashanti army were reported to +be somewhere in the bush, east of Dompoasi. It was necessary to +clear them out before the Adansi country could be subdued, and the +line of communication be at all safe. Consequently a flying +column--of four hundred of the West African Field Force, one large +and one small gun of the West Indian Rifles, to be joined by the +Kwisa company--was despatched, under the command of Major Beddoes, +against the enemy. They had to strike out into the bush by almost +unknown roads, and great difficulties were encountered. +Fortunately, however, they captured a prisoner, who consented to +lead them to the enemy's camp, on condition that his life would be +spared. + +Three days later, an advance was made on the camp. The column had +hardly started when they were attacked. The enemy held a strong +series of fortified positions; but these were captured, one after +another. + +A couple of miles farther, they again met with opposition. The +enemy, this time, occupied the bank of a stream. The Maxims at once +opened fire on them, and did such great execution that the Ashantis +rapidly became demoralized, and fled. Close to the rear of this +spot was found a newly-constructed stockade, some three hundred +yards in length; but the fugitives continued their flight without +stopping to man it. + +When they advanced a little farther, the force was severely +attacked on all sides. The enemy pushed up to within a few yards of +our men. Once they even attempted to rush the seven pounder; but +were repulsed by the heavy volleys of the West Indian Rifles, who +were serving it. Lieutenant Phillips and Lieutenant Swabey were +severely wounded, and two other officers slightly so. The Adansis +made another desperate attempt to cover their camp, and they were +not finally driven back until nearly dusk. + +It was found that the rebels had discovered the advance of Major +Cramer's levies while they were still a day's journey away. They +were, therefore, not only anxious to repulse our force, so that +they could fall upon the other one; but were fighting a splendid +rear action, so as to cover the retreat of their women, children, +and property, which had been gathered there under the belief that +the existence of the camp was unknown to us. + +Meanwhile, at Bekwai, the list of sick and invalids steadily +increased; and every convoy that went down to the coast was +accompanied by a number of white and black victims to the climate. +The kits of the men who died realized enormous prices. A box that +contained three cakes of soap fetched 27 shillings, and a box of +twenty-five cheroots 2 pounds, 2 shillings. + +On the 31st of July a runner arrived, from Pekki, stating that the +town was going to be attacked in force, the next evening, as a +punishment for the assistance it had rendered the white men. Major +Melliss was accordingly ordered to proceed thither the following +morning with two guns, a Hausa company with a Maxim, and a column +of carriers. They were to remain there a day, and put the place in +a state of defence; and then they would be joined by a force under +Colonel Burroughs, which was to complete the relief of Coomassie, +by doubling its garrison and supply of stores. + +The little party started, and tramped along the intervening fifteen +miles much more comfortably than usual; as the rains had +temporarily ceased, and the track had been greatly improved by the +kings of Bekwai and Pekki. There was great difficulty in crossing +the bridge over the Ordah river, but the guns were at last taken +over safely, and they arrived at Pekki at half-past four in the +afternoon. + +They were received with delight by the villagers, who had been in a +state of terrible fear. The war chief put his house at the disposal +of the officers. Fortunately, no attack was made by the Ashantis. +Hasty fortifications were erected, and a rough bamboo barracks +built for the force. Here, for the first time since the beginning +of the campaign, the Hausas received a small issue of meat, and +their delight was unbounded. + +Some scouts, who had been sent out in the neighbourhood of the +town, brought in a wounded Hausa who had been left behind in the +governor's retreat and, for six weeks, had managed to hide himself +in the bush, and live upon roots that he found at night. + +On the afternoon of the 4th of August, Colonel Burroughs and his +force arrived; bringing with him a fresh half battalion of the +Central African Regiment, with two large guns and two seven-pounders. +This raised the total strength to seven hundred and fifty. It was +decided that it would be necessary to proceed without delay to +Coomassie; for no signals had been received from the fort, for two +successive Sundays, and there was a rumour that the Ashantis had +again attacked it. The column therefore moved forward, next day. + +The garrison, when they arrived, was to be brought up to three +hundred soldiers and ten white men; the stockades round Coomassie +were to be destroyed; and then the relief column were to fight +their way down the main road, which had been hitherto closed for +all traffic. + +At first the column met with no opposition but, when they reached +Treda, the people of that place fired heavily upon them. After +driving these off the force proceeded, but were soon met by an +Ashanti force. They attacked only the transport and hospital, and +their tactics were clever. They had formed a series of ambushes, +connected by a broad path. The head of the column was allowed to +pass, unattacked; then the carriers were fired into heavily and, +when the tail of the column passed, they ran along the path to the +next ambush and renewed their tactics. + +Their plan, however, was soon discovered and, in order to checkmate +it, a gun was placed in the path, crammed with case shot, the +infantry were got ready to fire in volleys, and a Maxim ranged for +rapid fire. Presently the enemy were seen, hurrying along to occupy +the next ambush; and the big gun poured its contents into their +midst, while the troops fired well-directed volleys at them and, +when they fled in confusion down the path, the Maxim swept numbers +of them away. The attacks immediately ceased, and the column +proceeded on its way; rejoicing that, for once, they had beaten the +Ashantis at their own game. + +They arrived at the fort at six o'clock in the evening; and found +that, although the garrison had been harassed by sniping, no +serious attack had been made upon them. It was known that there +were still four stockades occupied by the Ashantis; and it was +decided that two columns, each three hundred strong, should sally +out the next morning, and each carry two of the fortifications. The +companies under Lisle and Hallett formed part of the force under +Major Melliss, which was to destroy the stockade on the Bantama +road; while the other, under Major Cobbe, was to attack that near +the Kimtampo road. After this had been done, arrangements were to +be made for the attack on the other two stockades. + +The start was made at ten o'clock. At first everything went well. +The Basel Mission House was passed and, as they marched on without +seeing any signs of life, it was believed that no opposition would +be met with. They advanced, however, with great caution. Suddenly, +news was sent back from the advance guard that the village of +Bantama had been sighted, just ahead; and that the enemy were +running out from it. The force advanced, and found the fires in the +village still burning. At the other end the track through it +divided; but the defiance signal, a large vulture lying +spread-eagle fashion, showed the line the fugitives had pursued. +This was followed and, in a short time, a stockade was seen at the +foot of a slope, some eighty yards away. + +How far it extended into the bush on either side, there was no +means of knowing; nor could it be ascertained whether it was +defended, for no signs of life were visible. The carriers were +ordered to bring up the Maxim but, before they could get the parts +of the gun off their heads, a deafening volley flashed out from the +stockade. Several of the carriers fell, wounded by the slugs, and +the rest fled. + +The little weapon, however, was soon put together, and opened fire. +But rifle bullets were useless against a six-foot tree trunk. The +enemy, moreover, were firing on our flank, and it was thought that +they might be working round to attack the rear. An effort was +therefore made to cut a path through the bush, under the impression +that it was not so thick inside. The jungle grass, however, +prevented this from being carried out, and the heavy gun was +therefore ordered up. + +When it began to play upon the fort, as far as could be determined, +the enemy's fire grew momentarily heavier. Then it was seen that a +number of men were firing from a high tree, in the rear of the +stockade. Colour Sergeant Foster turned a Maxim upon it. He was +severely wounded on the left shoulder, but he said nothing about +it, and poured such a shower of lead into the tree that it was, at +once, deserted by the enemy. + +The din was deafening. Every white man belonging to the leading +company had been hit, and the ground near the gun and Maxim was +strewn with the dead and dying. + +Major Melliss gave the word: + +"Mass the buglers, form up left company, and both charge!" + +The buglers stood up, waiting for the word to blow. One of them was +instantly wounded but, though the blood was streaming down his +face, he stuck to his work. The word "Sound the way!" was given, +and the Hausas sprang wildly forward and dashed down the slope, +Major Melliss at their head. + +Contrary to custom, the Ashantis were not terrified at the sight of +the bayonets and, through their loopholes, kept up a heavy fire. +The assailants, however, soon reached the stockade. Two white men +scrambled up the timbers, which were slippery with blood; and +jumped down, eight feet, on the other side, where they were soon +joined by numbers of their men. The enemy, however, stood their +ground bravely, and there was a fierce hand-to-hand fight. But the +bayonet did its work; and the enemy, who were getting more and more +outnumbered, at last turned and fled, hotly pursued by the victors. + +A turn in the path revealed the war camp. It was an enormous one, +but already the last of its garrison were disappearing in the +forest, taking any path that afforded a chance of safety. The +assembly sounded, and the pursuit was abandoned; as another company +came forward, at a steady double, with orders to proceed up the +road to the next village. This they were to burn, and then return +to the war camp. + +The work of destroying the war camp at once began. The troops lined +its outskirts, while the carriers cut down and burnt the huts. Then +a party set to work to pull down the stockades, which turned out to +be nearly three hundred yards long, and crescent shaped--a fact +that explained why we had suffered so severely from crossfire. + +At last, sheets of flame showed that the work was accomplished, and +the company that had gone on in advance returned, and reported the +destruction of the village behind. The little force then gathered, +and proceeded to Bantama, a sacred village at which human +sacrifices had been perpetrated, for centuries. This place was +razed to the ground. + +On the left, the sound of continuous firing told that Major Cobbe +was still heavily engaged. There was, however, no means of moving +through the bush to his assistance. The force therefore returned to +the fort. + +It was late before the firing ceased, and Major Cobbe's column came +in, with the wounded on hammocks and stretchers. The first two +signal shots had slightly wounded Major Cobbe and a white colour +sergeant. After a prolonged fight, the former had finally turned +the right of the enemy's position, with two companies of the +Central African Regiment; but lost heavily, owing to the thick +grass and slow progress. + +Meanwhile the West African company had engaged a stockade similar +to the one we had rushed, but horseshoe in form. Thus our men had +been almost completely surrounded by a circle of fire. When, +however, the flanking movement had at last been completed, the +enemy were charged simultaneously from the front and flank, +whereupon they broke and fled. The large war camp behind had been +looted and burnt, and the stockade pulled down. The guns had failed +to penetrate this, and the defenders were only driven out at the +point of the bayonet, after a fight of two hours' duration. + +The loss had been heavy. Half a dozen white officers were wounded, +and seventeen Sikhs had been killed or wounded, out of a total of +fifty who had gone into action. The total casualties mounted up to +seventy. + + + +Chapter 18: A Night Surprise. + + +With the exception of replenishing the supplies of ammunition, +cleaning rifles, and burying the dead, nothing further was done +that afternoon. In the evening a consultation was held, in the +fort, among the principal officers. The situation was a difficult +one. An immense amount of ammunition had been expended, and it was +decided that it was out of the question to draw upon the supplies +that had been sent up for the garrison. There were still two +strongly-entrenched positions, and strong opposition was +anticipated to the clearing of the main road. Every round would, +therefore, be required for this work. This seemed to preclude the +idea of taking the other two stockades. + +The choice therefore remained of making the assault upon these, and +then returning through Pekki; or of leaving them and going back by +the main road, the route laid down in their instructions. Neither +of these plans was satisfactory, for each left half the programme +undone. + +It was suggested that a night attack might be attempted. In that +case, not a shot must be fired, and the attack must be made by the +bayonet alone. The moon rose early, and it was almost high at eight +o'clock. + +Of course, it was extremely risky to venture upon such a plan, with +superstitious black troops. The object of assault, however, could +be located the next day, and the danger of losing their way would +thereby be reduced to a minimum. Further, it was decided that no +dependence, whatever, be placed on any native guide. Finally, it +would be eminently undesirable to leave Coomassie again in a state +of siege. + +It was clear that only one of the stockades could be carried in +this manner, as the other would be placed on its guard. It was +therefore decided that the one on the Accra-Coomassie road was the +most suitable; first because it joined the main road to Cape Coast, +and secondly because the capture of the stockade would isolate the +remaining one on the Ejesu road, which the Ashantis would probably +abandon, as both the adjacent camps had fallen into our hands. + +As the result of this decision Captain Loch was sent out, at twelve +o'clock on the following day, to reconnoitre the position. His men, +by creeping through the tall grass and clambering among the tall +trees, succeeded in reaching a large cotton tree within seventy +yards of the enemy's entrenchment. Climbing this, they obtained a +good view of the enemy's stockade and camp behind it. + +At that moment a roar of voices was heard, and hostile scouts +poured out from the camp. The object of the expedition, however, +had been attained; and the soldiers retired rapidly, without +casualties. + +At five in the afternoon the officers assembled at Colonel +Burroughs's quarters. Here the details of the work were explained +to them. They were to fall in at eight o'clock, and deliver the +attack between nine and ten. The Maxims were to follow in rear of +the infantry, and no other guns were to be taken. + +Only five hundred men were selected to go. Captain Loch's company +were to take the lead, as a reward for the scouting they had done +in the morning. Major Melliss' company was to follow. The companies +in the rear were to move to the flanks, when the stockade had been +taken, so as to guard against an attack from the other war camp. + +An early meal was taken, and then the officers sallied out for a +last inspection of the company; which was, by this time, assembling +outside the fort gate. Silently the troops fell into their allotted +position. Then the word was passed down the line that all was +ready. The officers gave their final orders to the men--no smoking, +no talking, no noise, no firing, bayonet only. As if nothing +unusual was occurring, the bugle from the fort sounded the last +post. + +At the start the pace was for some time good but, after passing +Prempeh's palace, the road became a tortuous track and, at every +yard, the tall grass became thicker and, here and there, a fallen +tree lay across the path. The dead silence that prevailed rendered +every one nervous. At last they came in sight of the great cotton +tree. Here all halted, and crouched down. + +Two leading companies formed up and were awaiting orders when, +suddenly, two signal guns were fired and, instantly, the line of +timbers was lit up by a glare of fire, and a crashing volley of +slugs was poured in. Lieutenant Greer, who was in front of the +column, fell, seriously wounded. Then, with a shout of rage that +almost drowned the order, "Charge!" they leapt to their feet and +dashed forward. + +Nothing could stop the impetuous charge and, when they reached the +stockade, they scaled it and poured headlong over it. In front of +them was the war camp, through which ran a road, now crowded with +the panic-stricken defenders. As the enemy ran from their huts, +they were cut down in numbers with swords and bayonets. The din was +tremendous; yells, shouts, and groans rent the air. The path was +strewn with corpses. + +The headlong race continued. Three villages had been passed, but +there was a fort behind. This also was carried. Then there was a +halt, on account of the exhaustion caused by the speed with which +all had run. There was no fear that the panic-stricken foe would +rally; but there was the possibility of a counter attack, by the +Ashantis from the war camp to the left; for it was not known that +the panic had spread to these, also, and that they too had fled in +disorder, never to return. + +The four camps were burnt, one after another; the stockades pulled +down; and the force, still half mad with the excitement of the +fight, marched back to the fort. The number of casualties was very +small. Hardly one, indeed, had taken place, except those caused by +the first volley of the enemy. + +In one of the houses they entered, a child was found asleep. It had +been left behind, and had not been aroused by the noise. Terrified +as it awoke, it clung to a white man for protection, and was taken +by him to a place of safety. + +The force reached camp at eleven o'clock, having accomplished their +work with a success altogether beyond expectation. At eight o'clock +next morning, the column paraded for its march down. All the +wounded who were unfit for duty were left in the fort. + +Not long after the start, the scouts sighted another stockade. The +troops formed up for the attack; but they found, to their surprise, +that it was deserted. Both the stockade and the war camp behind +were destroyed, without opposition. + +Pressing forward they passed entrenchment after entrenchment, but +all were deserted. River after river was forded, breast high, but +no enemy was met with; although some of the entrenchments were +exceedingly formidable, and could not have been carried without +very heavy loss. + +The scouts captured a young girl, from whom valuable information +was obtained. She had been sent out, like many of the other women, +to get supplies for the army at Ejesu, where the queen mother was. +It appeared that the queen had been greatly upset by the night +attack, and the capture of all the entrenchments; and had collected +all her chiefs to decide what had best be done, now that the siege +of Coomassie had been raised. Then it was understood why the +advance had not been opposed. But for this council, we should have +found every stockade occupied in force. + +The expedition pushed on, and arrived at Bekwai without having to +fire a shot. The garrison there was formed up to receive and cheer +them and, what was still more appreciated, a ration of fresh meat +and another round of medical comforts were served out. + +"Well, Bullen," Hallett said, the next morning, "here we are again. +I wonder how long we shall get to rest our wearied bodies." + +"For my part," said Lisle, "I sha'n't be sorry when we are afoot +again. It has been hard work, and there has been some tough +fighting; but anything is better than being stuck in one of these +dreary towns. Fortunately we have both escaped bullets, and have +merely had a slight peppering of slugs and, as we have both been +put down in the reports as slightly wounded, on three occasions, we +may feel grateful, as it always does a fellow good to be mentioned +in the casualty list; and it should help you to attain that +position we spoke of, the other day, of commander-in-chief." + +"I renounce that dream utterly, and aspire to nothing higher than +colonel. It must really be an awful bore to be commander-in-chief. +Fancy having to go down to your office every morning, and go into +all sorts of questions, and settle all sorts of business. No, I +think that, when I get to be a colonel, my aspirations will be +satisfied." + +"I don't know that I should care even about being a colonel, +Hallett. Long before I get to that rank, I am sure that I should +have had quite enough of fighting to last for a lifetime, and would +be quite content to settle down in some little place at home." + +"And marry, of course. A fellow like you would be sure to be able +to pick up a wife with money. My thoughts don't incline that way. I +look forward to the Rag as the conclusion of my career. There you +meet fellows you know, lie against each other about past campaigns, +eat capital dinners, and have your rub of whist, regularly, of an +evening." + +"But, my dear Hallett, think how you would fatten out under such a +regime!" + +"Oh, hang the fat, Bullen; it would not matter one way or another, +when you haven't got to do yourself up in uniform, and make +tremendous marches, and so on. I should not want to walk, at all; I +should have chambers somewhere close to the club, and could always +charter a hansom, when I wanted to go anywhere. Besides, fat is +eminently respectable, in an elderly man." + +Lisle laughed merrily. + +"My dear Hallett, it is useless to look forward so far into the +future. Let us content ourselves with the evils of today. In spite +of your grumbling, you know that you like the life and, if the +bullets do but spare you, I have no doubt that you will be just as +energetic a soldier as you have shown yourself in this campaign; +although I must admit that you have sometimes taken it out in +grumbling." + +"Well, it is very difficult to be energetic in this country. I +think I could be enthusiastic, in anything like a decent climate, +but this takes all the spirit out of one. + +"I think I could have struggled over the snow in the Tirah, as you +did. I can conceive myself wearing the D.S.O. in European war. But +how can a man keep his pecker up when he is wet through all day, +continually fording rivers, and exposed all the time to a pelting +rain and, worse than all, seeing his friends going down one after +another with this beastly fever, and feeling sure that his own turn +will come next? + +"I should not mind so much if we always had a dry hut to sleep in, +but as often as not we have to sleep on the drenched ground in the +open and, consequently, get up in the morning more tired than when +we lie down. I have no doubt that, after all this is over, I shall +become a cripple from rheumatism, or be laid up with some other +disorder." + +"I don't suppose you will do anything of the sort, Hallett. Of +course this fever is very trying but, although men are being +constantly sent down to the coast, the number who die from it is +not great. Only some six or seven have succumbed. I expect myself +that we shall both return to our regiments in the pink of +condition, with our medals on our breasts, and proud of the fact +that we have gone through one of the most perilous expeditions ever +achieved by British troops; and the more wonderful that, except for +a handful of English officers and non-commissioned officers, it has +been carried through successfully by a purely native army. + +"I don't think we quite recognize, at present, what a big affair it +has been. We have marched through almost impenetrable bush; we have +suppressed a rebellion over a great extent of country, admirably +adapted for the mode of warfare of our enemies; and we have smashed +up an army of well-armed natives, in numbers ranging from six, to +ten to one against us." + +"Yes, yes, I know all that; and I don't say that it has not been a +well-managed business; and I dare say I shall look back on it with +pleasure, some day, when I have forgotten all the miseries we have +suffered. Besides, though I do grumble, I hope we are not going to +stick here long. I could do with a week of eating and drinking--that +would be the outside. It is wretched enough tramping through swamps, +but I think I should prefer that to a prolonged stay in this hole." + +"For once I agree with you thoroughly, Hallett. It is bad enough to +march in West Africa, but it is worse to sit still. It is only when +you try to do that, that you find how much you are pulled down; and +the longer you sit still, the less disposed you are to get up; +whereas, on the march, you are so full of the idea that you may be +ambushed, at any moment, that you have no time to think of your +fatigues." + +"Yes, there is no doubt of that, Bullen; so I mean to spend all the +time I have to spare here on my back; and sleep, if I can, +continuously." + +"Don't flatter yourself that you will be allowed to do that. You +may be sure that they will find ample work for lazy hands to do. +Now it is time to buckle on our swords, and go out and inspect our +fellows. I can see that they are mustering already." + +"I wish those white non-commissioned officers would not be so +disgustingly punctual," Hallett grumbled. "They are splendid when +it comes to fighting, but they never seem to know that there is a +time for work and a time for play--or, at any rate, they never let +others play." + +"They are splendid fellows," Lisle said. "I really do not know what +we should have done without them. There would be no talking of +lying down and going to sleep, if they were not there to look after +the men." + +"I don't think it would make any difference to you," Hallett said, +"for it seems to me that you are always looking after your men." + +"So are you, Hallett. You are just as keen about getting your +company into order as I am, only you always try to look bored over +it. It is a stupid plan, old man, for I don't think that you get +the kudos that you deserve." + +"My dear Bullen, you may argue forever, but if you think that you +can transform me into a bustling, hustling fellow like yourself, I +can tell you that you are mistaken. I know that I do what I have to +do, and perhaps may not do it badly, but I don't go beyond that. + +"When they say 'Do this,' I do it; when they don't say so, I don't +do it; and I fancy it comes to about the same thing, in the end." + +"I suppose it does," Lisle laughed, as they issued from their hut. + +"These poor fellows look as if they wanted a rest more than we do, +don't they?" + +"They look horribly thin," Hallett said. + +"Yes, it is well that the blacks have such good spirits, and are +always ready to chatter and laugh when the day's work is over--that +is, if it has not been an exceptionally hard one. + +"Well, though I don't care about staying long here, myself, I do +hope they will give the poor fellows time to get into condition +again, before starting. I fear, however, that there is very little +chance of that." + +This, indeed, turned out to be the case. Two days later, +reinforcements arrived from the coast, to increase the total +strength available for punitive expeditions. Two strong parties +then started, under Colonel Haverstock and Colonel Wilkinson. They +were to travel by different routes, and to join hands in the +neighbourhood of the sacred fetish lake, where large numbers of +Ashantis and Kokofu were reported to have assembled. The Hausa +companies did not accompany them, the columns being largely +composed of the newly-arrived troops--who were, of course, eager to +take their share of the fighting. + +Lisle and Hallett did a little grumbling, but they really felt that +they required a longer period of rest, and they could not help +congratulating themselves when the columns returned, ten days +after, without having exchanged more than a shot or two with the +enemy. + +They found that the country round the lake was thickly inhabited. +Many of the villages had been burnt and, in all cases, the sacred +trees had been cut down. It was quite clear that the spirit of the +enemy was greatly broken, and that the end was approaching. + +"We must certainly congratulate ourselves upon having a comfortable +time of it, here," Lisle said, "instead of a ten days' tramp, +without any great result. We can manage to keep ourselves dry in +this hut, now that our men have covered it thickly with palm +leaves; whereas they have had to sleep in the open, pretty nearly +every night." + +"It was good for them," Hallett said; "the fellows looked +altogether too spick and span, when they marched in. It is just as +well that they should get a little experience of the work we have +been doing, for months. I saw them, as they marched in, look with +astonishment at the state of our men's garments--or rather, I may +say, their rags. They would have grown haughty, if they had not had +a sample of the work; and their uniforms looked very different, +when they came back, from what they were when they marched away. +There is nothing like a fortnight's roughing it in the bush to take +a man, whether white or black, a peg or two down in his own +estimation. + +"I was amused, the first day they arrived, when I saw their faces +at the sight of their rations. It was quite a picture. Thank +goodness we have had nothing to grumble about, in that way, since +we got our box from the coast. Chocolate for breakfast, brandy and +water at dinner, preserved meat, are quite a different thing from +the stuff they manage to give us--two or three ounces of meat, +about once a week. Those boxes of biscuits, too, have been +invaluable. The ration biscuits were for the most part wet through, +and there wasn't a wholesome crunch in a dozen of them. We have +certainly improved a lot in appearance, during the last fortnight; +and I believe that it is due to the feeding, more than the rest." + +"It is due, no doubt, to both," Lisle said; "but certainly the +feeding has had a good deal to do with it." + +"Those tins of soup," said Hallett, "have been really splendid. I +believe I have gained seven or eight pounds in weight, in spite of +this sweltering heat." + +"You have certainly filled out a bit. I was rather thinking of +asking you to hand over all the soups to me, so that you should not +gain weight so fast." + +"That would have been a modest request, indeed, Bullen!" + +"It was a case of true friendship," Lisle laughed. "I know how you +have appreciated your loss of flesh." + +"You be blowed!" Hallett said. "If they would run to half a dozen +tins a day, I can tell you I would take them, whatever the +consequences." + +"Well, really, I do think, Hallett, those few cases have saved us +from fever. I felt so utterly washed out, when we arrived here, +that I began to think I was in for a bad attack." + +"Same here, Bullen. I fought against the feeling because I dreaded +that hospital tent and, still more, being carried down country." + +"Yes; we certainly did a clever thing, when we bought up everything +we could, that day we were in Cape Coast. Our servants, too, have +turned out most satisfactory. Poor beggars! though the weather has +been so bad, there has scarcely been a night when they have not +managed to make a little fire, and boil water either to mix with +our tot of rum, or to make a cup of tea." + +"Yes, they have turned out uncommonly well. We must certainly make +them a handsome present, when this is all over. It was awfully +lucky we brought up a good supply of tea with us, and condensed +milk. I am certain that the hot drink, at night, did wonders in the +way of keeping off fevers." + +"That is so, Lisle; there is nothing that will keep the wet out, or +at least prevent it from doing harm, like a cup of hot tea with the +allowance of rum in it. I am sure I don't know what we should have +done, without it. That tea and milk were all that we could bring, +especially as our carriers were cut down to one man, each." + +"That was your idea, Lisle, and I agree that it has been the saving +of us. I was rather in favour of bringing spirits, myself; but I +quite admit, now, that it would have been a great mistake. Besides, +half a dozen pounds of tea does not weigh more than a couple of +bottles of spirits; which would have been gone in four or five +days, while the tea has held out for months. I never was much of a +tea drinker before. It is all very well to take a cup at an +afternoon tea fight, but that was about the extent of my indulgence +in the beverage. In future I shall become what is called a votary, +and shall cut down my spirits to the narrowest limit." + +"That would be running to the opposite extreme, Hallett. Too much +tea is just as bad as too much spirits." + +"Ah! Well, I can breakfast with coffee or cocoa. The next time I go +on the march, I shall take two or three pounds of cocoa in my box. +Many a time I have longed for a cup, when we have started at three +o'clock in the morning, and have felt that it would be well worth a +guinea a cup. Now I shall have the satisfaction of always starting +with a good warm drink, which is as good for hunger as thirst. I +have often wondered how I could have been fool enough not to bring +a supply with me." + +"Yes, it would have been very comforting," Lisle agreed; "we shall +know better, another time." + +"I trust that there will never be another time like this for me. I +shall be ready to volunteer for service in any part of the world, +bar Western Africa. They say that the troops at the Cape are going +through a hard time, but I am convinced that it is child's play in +comparison with our work here. Why, they have hours, and indeed +days, sometimes, without rain. Just think of that, my dear fellow! +Just think of it! And when the rain does fall, it soon sinks into +the sandy soil and, if they lie down at night, they only get wet on +one side, and have waterproof sheets to lie on. Just think of that! +And yet, they actually consider that they are going through +hardships! + +"They say, too, that the commissariat arrangements are splendid. +They get meat rations every day--every day, mind you--and I hear +they even get jam. It is enough to fill one with envy. I remember I +was always fond of jam, as a boy. I can tell you that, when I get +back to civilization, one of my first cries will be for jam. Fancy +jam spread thickly on new bread! + +"And men who have all these luxuries think that they are roughing +it! Certainly human ingratitude is appalling!" + +Lisle laughed. + +"But you must remember that there are compensations. We get a fight +every two or three days, while they have often to tramp two or +three hundred miles, without catching sight of an enemy at all." + +"There is certainly something in that," Hallett said. "I must admit +that that is a great consolation; and it is satisfactory, too, that +when we do fight we are fired at principally with slugs; which we +both know from experience are not pleasant customers, but at any +rate are a great improvement upon rifle bullets, pom poms, and +shells of all sizes. + +"Yes, I don't even grudge them the jam, when I think how awful it +must be to be kept, for months, at some miserable little station on +the railway, guarding the roads. We get restless here at the end of +three or four days, but fancy spending months at it!" + +"Besides, Hallett, in such places they get their rations regularly, +and have nothing to do but to eat and get fat. If you were living +under such conditions, you would be something awful at the end of +six months of it." + +"There is a great deal in that," Hallett said, thoughtfully. "Yes; +I don't know that, after all, the gains and advantages are not with +us; and indeed, if we had our time to go over again, we could make +ourselves fairly comfortable. + +"In the first place, I should purchase a large ground sheet, which +I might use as a tent. I would have a smaller one to lie upon, and +the biggest mackintosh that money could buy. Then, as you say, with +a good supply of tea and chocolate, I could make myself extremely +happy. + +"I cannot think why the authorities did not point out the necessity +for these things, before we started. They must have known it was +going to rain like old boots, all the time. I don't mean, of +course, the authorities at Cape Coast, because I don't suppose any +of these things could have been picked up there; but we should have +been told, when we got our orders, that such things were essential. +Really, the stupidity and thoughtlessness of the War Office are +beyond belief." + +"I should advise you to draw up a memorial to them, pointing out +their want of thought and care; and suggesting that, in every room, +there should be a printed reminder that mackintoshes and ground +sheets are essential, in a campaign in Western Africa in the wet +season." + +"Yes, and cocoa and tea," Hallett said, with a laugh. "I should +like to hear the remarks of the War Office, when my communication +was read. It would flutter the dove cot, and the very next steamer +would bring out an intimation that Lieutenant John Hallett's +services were no longer required." + +"No doubt that would be the case, Hallett; but think what an +inestimable service you would have done, in campaigning out here!" + +"That is all very well, Bullen, but I should recommend you to try +your eloquence upon someone else. Perhaps you might find someone of +a more self-sacrificing nature who would take the matter in hand." + +"Perhaps I might, but I rather fancy that I should not. The only +man who could do it is Willcocks. After the victories he has won, +even the War Office could hardly have the face to retire him from +the service for making such a suggestion. Besides, the public would +never stand it; and he is just the sort of fellow to carry out the +idea, if he took to it." + +"I agree with you, Bullen, as in the end I almost always do, and +should suggest most strongly that you lay the matter before him. No +doubt, if he applied, the War Office would send out a hundred +waterproofs and two hundred ground sheets, for the use of the +officers, by the next ship sailing from England." + +"I might do it," Lisle laughed, "if it were not that the rainy +season will be at an end before the things arrive here." + +"That is a very good excuse, Bullen; but I hope that, at any rate, +you will carry out your idea before the next wet season +begins--that is, if we are kept on here, as a punishment for our +sins." + +At this moment one of the non-commissioned officers came in with a +letter, and Hallett opened it. + +"Oh dear," he said, in a tone of deepest disgust, "we are off +again!" + +"Thank goodness!" Lisle said. "You know we were just agreeing that +we have had enough of this place." + +"I often say foolish things," Hallett said, "and must not be taken +too literally. Here is an end to our meat rations, and to all our +other little luxuries. Besides, I have been getting my tunic +washed, and it will certainly take three or four days to dry in +this steaming atmosphere." + +"Well, my dear fellow, you can put it on wet, for it is certain to +be wet before we have gone a quarter of an hour. My tunic has gone, +too, but at any rate they will both look more respectable for the +washing. + +"Well, I suppose we had better go across to headquarters and find +out what the route is, and who are going." + +As they went out, they saw the return of the Central African +Regiment. They had been more fortunate than the other regiments, +having captured and razed Djarchi. They had taken the enemy by +surprise, and run them right through the town, with only a single +casualty. They had ascertained that the enemy had been commanded by +the brother of the Ashanti commander-in-chief, and that he had been +killed in the fight. + +A very large amount of spoil had been captured, the first haul of +any importance that had been made during the campaign. Among the +loot were the king of the Kokofu's iron boxes, containing much +official correspondence; union jacks, elephant tails, and other +symbols of royalty, together with gold ornaments, gold dust, and +two hundred pounds of English money; numbers of brass-nailed, +vellum-backed chairs, part of the Ashanti chief's regalia; robes, +guns, ammunition, drums, and horns, and also sheep and poultry. + +A company was at once despatched to the Sacred Lake, to join Major +Cramer's levies, which had been told off to act as locusts and eat +up the country. Colonel Wilson was ordered to go to Accra, to +reorganize and recruit the remnant of the Gold Coast Force; so +that, when the campaign was over, they could again take over the +military control of the colony. It was also decided that Bekwai +could no longer be occupied, and that all the stores there should +be removed to Esumeja, as the whole main road up to Coomassie would +shortly be open. + +At last all was in readiness for the general and final advance. All +the Adansi country to the south, and Kokofu to the east had been +conquered, and the roads cleared. The next step was to clear +Northern Ashanti; neglecting altogether, for the present, the +parties of the enemy between the southern boundaries of Ashanti +territory and their capital. + +It was therefore decided to move the whole of the headquarters +staff and the advance base to Coomassie, Esumeja being selected as +the point, between it and Kwisa, to be held in force. The general +plan was to send up all the stores, carriers, and troops via Pekki, +as had been done on both previous occasions. This would reduce the +chance of attack and loss to a minimum while, simultaneously, a +fighting column with the smallest possible transport would follow +the road through Kokofu and take Ejesu, which was the residence of +the queen mother, and the headquarters of the remnant of the +Ashanti army. + +The general opinion was that it would be the last fight of the +year. Colonel Brake, who was the last arrival, having had no chance +of a fight hitherto, was selected for the command. The whole force +was to advance, and five thousand carriers were required to effect +the movement. + +There was general joy when it was known that Bekwai was to be +evacuated. It was a dull, dirty place, surrounded by dense, dark +forests, and was in a terribly insanitary state. Europeans were +rapidly losing their strength, and an epidemic of smallpox was +raging among the natives, of whom a dozen or more died daily. + +On the 28th of August Colonel Burroughs left Bekwai, with seven +hundred and fifty men, and three thousand carriers taking +ammunition and baggage. The column was fully two miles long. They +had an extremely heavy march, and did not arrive at their +destination till night. The carriers returned to Bekwai the next +day, so as to be ready to march out at daylight, on the 30th, with +the second column. + +The troops at Pekki being in enforced idleness, half of them +marched out to attack the enemy's war camp, which had for so long +threatened Pekki. The place was found to be evacuated, and it and +the bush camps on the way were all burnt. + +The second column had now well started. The downfall of rain +continued without intermission, and the roads became worse than +ever. The day after the first column left Pekki, Colonel Brake +started with eight hundred men and two guns. + +The news came in that the king of Akim had been asked, by a number +of the Kokofu, to intercede on their behalf for peace; and a +messenger with a flag of truce came in from the Djarchi district. +The appearance of the messenger was singular. He was completely +clad in white, even his skin being painted that colour, and he +carried an enormous white flag. He was well received, but was sent +back with a message that the chiefs must come in themselves. + +On the 30th Colonel Willcocks arrived and, the next day, the whole +force started in fighting formation for Coomassie, where they +arrived after twelve hours' march. The distance was only twelve +miles, so the condition of the roads may be well imagined by the +time the column took to traverse them. + + + +Chapter 19: Lost In The Forest. + + +On the way up, Lisle met with a very unpleasant adventure. He and +Hallett had been sent out, with a small party of men, to enter the +bush and drive out any of the enemy who might be lurking, for the +purpose of attacking the carriers and rear guard. They went some +distance into the bush but, though they came upon tracks that had +recently been cut, they saw none of the enemy. Some men were +planted on each of these paths; and the two officers, who had +followed one a little distance farther into the bush, were on the +point of turning, when they heard men cutting their way through the +undergrowth behind them. + +"Hide, Hallett!" Lisle exclaimed, "they must be enemies." + +Illustration: They saw a strong party of the enemy crossing the +road. + +As noiselessly as they could they took refuge in the thick bush +and, a minute later, saw a strong party of the enemy crossing the +road that they had just passed along. There were several hundred of +them. Some thirty or forty halted on the path. The others continued +to cut a track through and, in five minutes, a scattered fire was +opened, showing that they had come in contact with the troops. The +fire was kept up for some time, and then died away; whether because +the troops had retired, or because the natives had turned off and +taken some other line, they could not be sure. Later they heard +very heavy firing abreast of them, and guessed that the Ashantis +had followed some other path, and come down on the convoy. + +Peering through the bushes, from time to time, they found that +those who had halted on the path were still there, probably in +waiting for some chief or other who was to take command of them. + +"We are in a nice mess, Bullen," said Hallett. "By the sound the +convoy is still moving on, so how we are to rejoin them, I don't +know." + +"Yes, we are certainly in a hole and, if these fellows stop here +till night, I see no chance of our being able to move. The +slightest rustle in the bushes would bring them down upon us, in no +time. The firing is getting more and more distant every moment and, +no doubt, a big body of the enemy have engaged our fellows. + +"I have been in a good many tight places, but I think this is the +worst of them. Our only course, so far as I can see, is to wait +till nightfall; and then, if these fellows still stick here, get +into the path again, and follow it up till we come to some path +going the other way. Then it will be a pure question of luck +whether we hit upon the enemy, or not. If we do, of course we must +fight till the last, keeping the last shot in our revolvers for +ourselves. I have no intention of falling into their hands alive, +and going through terrible tortures before I am put to death." + +"That really seems to be the only thing to be done, Bullen. +However, we must hope for the best." + +When night fell, a fire was lit by the party on the path. + +"The beggars evidently mean to stay here," Lisle said, "and even if +they moved away we should be no better off for, as the column will +be ten miles away by now, we should really have no chance of +regaining it." + +When night fell they crept out of the bush, taking the greatest +care not to make any noise, for the natives were but thirty yards +away. They crawled along for forty or fifty yards and then, a turn +in the path hiding them from sight, they rose to their feet and +pushed on. + +They found, however, that it was no easy matter to make headway. It +was pitch dark, owing to the canopy of leaves, and they had to feel +their way at every step. The path, moreover, was constantly turning +and twisting. After travelling for upwards of two hours, they came +to a point where two paths met and, without knowing, they took the +one that led off to the left. This they followed for some hours, +and then lay down to rest. They awoke at daybreak. + +"I wonder where we have got to," Hallett said. + +"I am afraid somehow we have gone wrong," Lisle exclaimed, after +looking round, "and the light seems to be coming from the wrong +quarter, altogether. We must have turned off from the main path +without knowing it, and tramped a long distance in the wrong +direction." + +"I believe you are right, Bullen. What on earth are we to do now? +Retrace our steps, or push on and chance it?" + +"We have the choice of two evils, Hallett, but I think it would be +better to go on than to turn back. In the first place, however, we +must search for something to eat. We crossed several little streams +on our way, so I don't think we are likely to be hard up for water; +but food we must have. The natives are always able to find food in +the forest and, if we cannot do that, we may come upon some +deserted village, and get some bananas. We might even steal some, +at night, from a village that is not deserted. At any rate, it is +useless to stay here." + +They set out at once, moving cautiously, and stopping frequently to +listen for the soft trail of naked feet. They came at last to the +spot where they had left the other track. Here they held another +council, and decided that there was too much risk in turning on to +the main path again; as that was sure to be occupied by the enemy, +who would be burying their dead, or examining any loot that they +had captured from the carriers. After proceeding two or three +miles, they came upon another path on the right. + +"This path," said Lisle, "will take us in the proper direction." + +"I doubt if we shall ever get there," Hallett said. "I am feeling +as hungry as a rat, already; and we have seen nothing to put +between our lips since we started out, yesterday morning." + +"It is a little rough," Lisle said cheerfully, "but we must hit +upon a village, presently." + +"I should not mind, if the path went on straight," Hallett said, +"but it zigzags so much that we can never feel certain that we are +going in the right direction." + +"Well, you see," said Lisle, "we have passed two tracks to the +left, since we struck into this road. I cannot help thinking that +these must lead to villages, and that the one we are following is a +sort of connecting link between them. I vote that we stop at the +next one we come to." + +"All right, old man! It seems to me that it will make no great +difference which way we go. Indeed, so far as I can make out, by +the glimpses we get of the sun, the path has turned a great deal, +and is now going right back to that from which it started." + +"I am afraid you are right, Hallett. However, there is one thing +certain. The Ashantis don't cut paths through their forests without +some reason, and I should not be surprised if we come to some large +village, not far ahead." + +After walking for another half hour, they found the bush getting +thinner, and they could soon see light ahead. They went very +cautiously now and, at last, stood at the end of a large clearing, +in which stood an Ashanti village. + +"Thank God there is something to eat ahead!" said Hallett. "There +are lots of bananas growing round the village and, when it gets +dark, we will get two big bunches. That should last us some time." + +Utterly exhausted, they both lay down just inside the bush. Many +villagers were moving about and, twice, native runners came in. The +afternoon passed very slowly; but at length the sun set, and +darkness fell quickly. They waited a couple of hours, to allow the +village to get comparatively quiet; then they crept forward, and +cut two great bunches of bananas from the first tree they came to +and, returning to the forest, sat down and ate a hearty meal. + +"I feel very much better," Hallett said, when he had finished. +"Now, let us talk over what we had better do next." + +"I should say we had better keep along by the edge of the bush, and +see if we can strike some other path. It would be useless to go +back by this one, as it would simply take us to the place we +started from." + +Hallett readily agreed to this suggestion, and the two officers +started and gradually worked round the village. Presently they +struck another path. Turning up this they again pushed forward, +each carrying his bunch of bananas. After walking two hours, they +lay down. The darkness was so dense that their rate of progress was +extremely slow. + +In the morning they went on again but, after walking for some +hours, they came suddenly upon four of the enemy. As soon as these +saw them, they rushed on them with a yell, firing their guns as +they did so. Both were struck with slugs; and Lisle was knocked +down, but quickly jumped to his feet again, revolver in hand. The +Ashantis charged with their spears, but the revolver bullets were +too much for them and, one by one, they dropped, the last man being +shot just as he reached them. Two were only wounded, but Lisle shot +them both. + +"It would never do," he said, "for any of them to get to a village, +and bring all its occupants upon us. We are neither of us fit to do +much running, and the beggars would be sure to overtake us." + +"It is horrid," Hallett said, "though I admit that it is +necessary." + +For four days they wandered on. The path never seemed to run +straight. Though they found a plentiful supply of bananas, their +strength was gradually failing. + +On the fourth day they came upon a sheet, doubtless a portion of +some officer's baggage that had been looted. Hallett, who was +walking fast, passed it contemptuously. Lisle, however, picked it +up and wound it round his body. + +"We can lay it over us, Hallett, at night. It will at least help to +keep the damp off us." + +"We sha'n't want it long," Hallett said; "I think the game is +almost up." + +"Not a bit of it," Lisle said, cheerfully. "In spite of the turns +and twistings we have made, I think we cannot be far from +Coomassie, now. I thought I heard the sound of guns this morning, +and it could have been from nowhere else." + +Late that afternoon they came suddenly upon a great war camp and, +at once, sat down in the bushes. + +"What is to be done now?" Hallett said. "We cannot go back again. +We are neither of us fit to walk a couple of miles." + +Lisle sat for some minutes without answering him, and then said +suddenly: + +"I have an idea. I will cut down a sapling, seven or eight feet +long; and fasten the sheet to it, so as to make a flag of truce. +Then we will walk boldly into the village, and summon it to +surrender. It is a bold stroke, but it may succeed. We know that +most of them are getting tired of the war. We can give out that we +have lost our way in the bush and, if the fellows take it kindly, +well and good; but if not, we shall have our revolvers, and shall, +of course, use them on ourselves." + +"I am game to carry it out, Bullen. Your idea is a splendid one. +Anyhow, it is our last chance. I really don't think I could go a +mile farther. We know enough of their language to make ourselves +understood." + +"Yes. What with our servants, the Hausas, and the carriers, we have +both picked up a good deal of the language." + +With renewed spirits they cut down a sapling, stripped it of all +its leaves and branches and, fastening the sheet to it, walked +straight down towards the camp. There was an immediate stir in the +camp. Many of the Ashantis ran for their arms but, when they saw +that the two officers were alone, they calmed down. Presently two +chiefs advanced, followed by some twenty warriors. + +"Now, Bullen, muster up your knowledge of the language, and address +them. Lay it on pretty thick." + +"Chiefs," Lisle said, "we are come to you from the governor of +Coomassie. He says that it must be clear to you, now, that you +cannot stand against the white man; and that you will only bring +ruin upon yourselves, and your country, by further resistance. They +have therefore sent us to say that, if you will surrender, a small +fine only shall be imposed upon you; and that your soldiers may +retire to their villages, after having laid down their arms. While +you are talking about this, we shall be glad if you will give us +some provisions; for we have lost our way in the bush, coming here, +and need food." + +"If you follow me into the village," one of the chiefs said, +"provisions shall be served to you, while we talk over what you +say. We shall be glad of peace; for we see that, however strongly +we make our stockades, your soldiers always take them. Our men are +beginning to long to return to their people, for they have fought +many times, and already have begun to complain. Do you guarantee +our safety, if we return with you to your fort?" + +"I can promise that," Lisle said. "We respect brave men, and are +anxious that there should be an end to this fighting. When it is +over, you will again live under the protection of our government, +and the past will be forgotten. You attacked us without reason, and +have suffered heavily for it. This is the third time that we have +had to come up, and we hope that it will never be necessary to do +so, again. We recognize each other's valour; we have each made +sacrifices; and we hope that, when this war is over, we shall live +together in peace. Had we only been armed as you are, the fortunes +of war might have gone differently; but we have rifles and guns, +and these must always give us victory, in the long run." + +"We will talk it over," the chief said. "While we do so, you shall +have food." + +So saying, he turned and led the way to a house in the village, +where food and native spirit were set before them. + +"Your dodge has succeeded admirably," Hallett said, as they were +waiting for the meal. "I think they will surrender." + +"I hope they will," Lisle said; "but at any rate, I think they will +treat us as coming in under a flag of truce; and will perhaps send +an escort with us back to the camp. However, they are preparing a +meal for us and, if the worst comes to the worst, it is much better +to die full than fasting." + +In a quarter of an hour two women entered; one carrying a bowl with +four chickens, and a quantity of rice; the other a large jug of +water, and a smaller one of native spirit. Not a word was spoken, +while the meal was being eaten. At the end, nothing but bones +remained of the four chickens. + +"Thank God for a good dinner!" Hallett said, after the meal was +over. "I feel, at present, at peace with all men; and I can safely +recommend the chiefs, when they arrive at Coomassie, as being +first-rate fellows; while I am sure that the chief will be greatly +pleased that we have secured the submission of their tribe. It will +be a big feather in our caps. When I came in here, I thought I +could not go another mile to save my life; now I feel perfectly +game for a seven or eight mile march to Coomassie." + +At this moment, they noticed that there was a great hubbub in the +camp. Half an hour later, the chiefs entered. + +"We accept the terms you bring," one of them said, "and will go +with you on condition that, if the terms are not as you say, we +shall be allowed to return here, unmolested." + +"That I can promise you," Lisle said. "We have not come here +without reason, and the terms we offer are those that you can +accept without dishonour. I can assure you of as good treatment as +you have given us; and permission to leave the fort, and return to +your people, if you are dissatisfied with the terms." + +A quarter of an hour later the party--consisting of the two chiefs, +ten armed followers, and the two officers--set out. The camp was, +they learned, about six miles from Coomassie. After a march of +three hours, they emerged from the forest into the cleared space +round the fort. When they reached the outlying sentries they were +challenged, but a word from Lisle sufficed to pass them on. + +As they approached the fort a number of soldiers gathered round +them and, when they neared the entrance, Colonel Willcocks himself +came out. + +"You remain here with the chiefs, Bullen. I will go on, and explain +matters to the chief." + +Lisle nodded, and Hallett hurried forward, while the others halted. + +"Why, Mr. Hallett," Colonel Willcocks said, "we had given you up +for dead; you and Mr. Bullen, whom I see over there. Whatever have +you been doing now?" + +Hallett gave a brief account of their adventure. + +"You will probably be annoyed at us for acting as your messengers +but, as we have induced the two leaders of the large war camp to +come in, I trust that we shall be forgiven. We have promised them +permission for their force to return, unmolested, to their +villages; and I may say, from the formidable stockades they have +made there, this result could not have been achieved, otherwise, +without very heavy loss. + +"I wish to say that the idea was entirely Bullen's. It seemed to be +the only chance of getting through; for we were both utterly +exhausted, when we reached the village." + +"I think you have done extremely well, Hallett. I was about to send +a force to capture that camp; and I am glad, indeed, of being +relieved of the necessity of doing so. It means, perhaps, the +saving of a couple of hundred lives. Besides, we should probably +not have caught quarter of them; and the rest would have taken to +the bush, and continued to give us trouble. + +"Tell me exactly what the terms are, upon which they are willing to +surrender." + +"Simply the lives and freedom of the chiefs; and permission to +their men to retire, unmolested, to their villages." + +"Those are exactly the terms I have offered to some of their +chiefs, who had sent in to ask for terms. Now, I will speak to them +myself." + +He accordingly walked forward, with Hallett, to where the chiefs +were standing. + +"I am glad, indeed, chiefs," he said, "that you have decided to +take no further part in the war. You will stay here with us, until +I hear that your camp is broken up; and you will then be at liberty +to return to your own grounds. I thank you for receiving my +messengers so kindly; as a reward for which I shall, when you +leave, present you each with five hundred dollars. Henceforth, I +trust that you will always remain on good terms with us, do all you +can to aid us by sending in carriers, and will accept our rule +frankly and truly. + +"Now, I will ask you to come into the fort; where you will be +treated as guests, until I hear of the dispersal of your camps." + +The chiefs were much gratified by their reception; and sent off the +escort, at once, to order the camp to be abandoned and burnt, and +the stockades to be pulled down. Then they followed Colonel +Willcocks into the fort, where a room was assigned to them, and +everything done for their comfort. + +As soon as the governor had retired with them, the other officers +flocked down round Hallett and Lisle, to learn their adventures. +Both were warmly congratulated upon their safe return; and Lisle +came in for a large share of their congratulations when, in spite +of his protestations, Hallett insisted on giving him the largest +share of credit for the manner in which he had suggested the +scheme, and had unquestionably been the means of saving their +lives. + +"Hallett had everything to do with it, except that," he said; "and +that was only an accidental idea. We mutually helped each other, +during those long days of tramping; and it was most fortunate for +me that he was with me for, had I been alone, I don't think I +should have had the strength of mind or body to hold on, when the +prospect seemed altogether hopeless." + +As they went down to the lines of their company, they were +surrounded by the delighted blacks; who continued to cheer so +heartily that it was some time before they could get an opportunity +to tell what had taken place. Cheers again broke out, when the +stories were finished. The men insisted on shaking their hands, and +then started a war dance to show their satisfaction. + +Then both retired to a shelter erected for them and, lying down, +slept for some hours. When they awoke they ate a hearty meal; after +which they agreed that, in a day or two, they would be fit for duty +again. + +"I shall mention your conduct in my despatches," the colonel said, +next day. "You have not only saved your own lives; but have +rendered very important service, in inducing those two chiefs and +their followers to submit. From the information that we have been +able to get, their camp was very strongly fortified, and could only +have been taken after hard fighting; and even then, as has happened +on all previous occasions, the main body would have escaped, +rallied again a short distance away, and given us all the trouble +of dispersing them, once more. As it is, I have no doubt that the +influence of their chiefs will keep them quiet and, indeed, +scattered as they will be among their villages, it will be +difficult to persuade them to take up arms again. + +"On second thoughts, I allowed them to leave this morning, with a +column that was starting to collect the arms of the garrison. They +seemed quite in earnest; and will, I have no doubt, succeed in +inducing their men to part with their arms, without a squabble." + +The detachment, indeed, returned in the evening. The success of +their mission had been complete; and the natives had handed over +their arms, and started off with their chiefs into the forests, +after burning the camp and razing the stockades. They all seemed +highly pleased that they should not be called upon for more +fighting, and had individually taken an oath that they would never +again fight the white men. + +Several other flags of truce came in, and many chiefs surrendered. +The Queen Mother, the most important of the leaders, tendered her +submission. Colonel Willcocks gave her four days in which to prove +the truth of her submission by coming in, in person. Shortly, +however, before the truce expired, she sent in an impudent message +that she would fight till the end. + +Some of the chiefs who had been foremost in their opposition, and +who had personally taken part in the torture and death of those who +fell into their hands, were tried by court martial; and either shot +or hanged, it being necessary to prove to the natives that even +their greatest chiefs were not spared, and that certain punishment +would be dealt out to those who had taken part in the murder of +soldiers, or carriers, who had fallen into their hands. + +The greatest tragedy of this campaign became known, on the 8th of +September, through a letter from a native clerk who was with the +Akim levies, which were commanded by Captains Willcox and Benson. +These levies had worked up on our right flank, as we advanced from +the south, in the same way as the Denkeras had done on the west. +They were as cowardly, and as terrified of the Ashantis, as all the +other neighbouring races. In fact, the only work they were fit for +was living in deserted villages, or cutting crops and eating up the +produce. + +Three thousand of these levies were ordered to cooperate with +Colonel Brake's column. They were met by the Ashantis, and bolted +as soon as the latter opened fire; and Captain Benson, deserted by +his cowardly followers, fell. In a letter he had sent home, a few +days before his death, he expressed in the strongest terms his +opinion of the men under his command, saying: + +"If it comes to a real show, after all, Heaven help us! +Three-quarters of my protective army are arrant cowards, all +undisciplined, and quite impossible to hold." + +The native levies cannot be compared with the disciplined troops. +They were simply a motley mob, armed with stray guns, arms, and +powder, and their pay is what they can loot; whereas the African +private's drill and duties are identical with those of the British +private. His orders are given to him in English, and his knowledge +of our language is probably superior to that of most Indian or +Egyptian soldiers; while the British soldiers in West Africa are +rarely able to understand the language of their men. + +A column had started, at once, to Captain Willcox's assistance. +They returned, however, in ten days, having been unable to come up +to him, as he had retired fifty miles farther to the east. They had +no fighting, the enemy having gone north; but they ascertained that +all the country immediately to the south was free from rebels and +desirous of peace. The spot where Captain Benson's action had been +fought was strewn with dead bodies, baggage, and rifles; evidence +of the disordered flight. It seemed that the levies bolted, as soon +as they were fired on. Then, with a few trained volunteers, the +white men hastily entrenched themselves; and held out till late in +the afternoon when, their ammunition having run short, they were +compelled to retire, which they did fighting. It was during the +retreat that Captain Benson was shot. + +Another column came in on the following day, after five days' +reconnaissance. It had gone by the same road by which the governor +had broken out, on the 23rd of June. The road was entirely +deserted, the villages destroyed, and the crops burnt. They made no +attempt to search the bush but, on the path, they found +ninety-eight headless skeletons; a painful testimony of the number +of soldiers and carriers who had died of privation, and hardship, +during the retreat. + +Information now came in that, to the north, the most reckless of +the Ashantis had again concentrated, and were determined to make +another stand. On the 16th there was a big review of the seventeen +hundred troops and the nine guns of the garrison. The heavy guns +were exercised on a stockade, similar to those of the enemy. +Hitherto they had not been altogether successful; as it was found +that, owing to the large bursting charge, the range had to be +estimated at double its real distance. Six shots smashed a +barricade which was six feet high by six feet thick. + +Friendly chiefs, who were invited to witness the experiment, were +profoundly impressed; and there can be no doubt that the feat was +reported to the enemy in the field, for they raised no stockade in +the future, and reverted to their old plan of bush fighting. + +The heavy and continuous rains were now rapidly bringing on +sickness, and the officers were attacked in forms that were quite +novel to them. + +"I don't know what is the matter with me," Lisle said, one morning, +"but I am swollen all round the neck. I once had mumps, when I was +a little boy and, if it were not so ridiculous, I should declare +that I had got them again." + +Hallett burst into a fit of laughter. + +"I expect you are going to have all your old illnesses +again--scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, and the rest. We +must see that the hut is fitted up for you, with something as much +like a bed as possible, and a fire for making a posset, or whatever +they give you." + +"It is all very well for you to laugh, Hallett, but look at my +neck." + +"Well, it is swollen," Hallett agreed; "and I expect that you have +caught a cold, when we were wandering about in the bush. Seriously, +I should advise you to put a piece of warm flannel round your neck, +or else go across and consult the doctor." + +"I think I will do so, Hallett. It hurts a good deal, I can tell +you and, as you see, I can hardly drink my tea." + +After breakfast was over, he went to the tent of the principal +doctor. + +"I have come, sir," he said, "to ask you about my neck." + +"You don't say so, Bullen! Why, yours is the third case I have seen +this morning! Let me look at it. + +"Yes, the symptoms are just the same as in the others. If this were +England, I should say that an epidemic of mumps has broken out; but +of course it cannot be that. + +"Well, I have sent the other two into hospital, and you had better +go there, too. Is it painful?" + +"It is rather painful, and I can hardly swallow at all." + +"Well, when I come across to the hospital, I will put you in with +the others. I certainly cannot make out what it is, nor why it came +on so suddenly. The only thing I can put it down to is the constant +rains that we have been having, though I really don't see why wet +weather should have that effect. I should advise you to keep on hot +poultices." + +In the evening another patient came in, and Lisle burst out +laughing, when he saw that it was Hallett. + +"Oh, you have come to the nursery, have you? I hope you have made +up your mind to go through scarlet fever, or measles, Hallett?" + +"Don't chaff. It is no laughing matter." + +"No? I thought you took it quite in that light, this morning. Well, +you see we have all got poultices on; and the orderly will make one +for you, at once. My face is bigger than it was this morning, and +what it is going to come to, I cannot imagine. Although the doctor +said, frankly, that he did not understand it; he seemed to think +that there was nothing very serious about it." + +The next day the swelling had abated and, two days later, both of +them were discharged from the hospital; to their great delight, for +they heard that a column was just going to start, and that their +companies were included in it. + +On the following day the column started. It was nearly a thousand +strong, with guns, and rations for twenty-eight days. This force +was to penetrate into the northwestern country. The enemy here had +sent an impudent message that they would not surrender; and that, +if they were attacked, they intended to revert to their former +tactics, and direct all their efforts to shooting down the officers +and, when these were disposed of, they would have little difficulty +in dealing with the native troops. + +On the second day, when twenty-five miles from Coomassie, the enemy +were met with in force; and it was found that the message they had +sent was true, for there was no stockade, and the enemy resorted +entirely to sniping. They were commanded by Kofia, one of the most +turbulent and determined of their chiefs. The attack did not come +as a surprise for, the day before, a number of Ashantis had been +found in a village which was rushed. The active allies now searched +the woods thoroughly, and succeeded in ascertaining the spot where +the enemy had their war camp. They had been careful that the +Ashantis had no notion of our approach, and a number of them were +shot down by the Maxims and rifles. + +The enemy, who held a strong position on the hilltop, rushed down +and attacked our front and flank. Their number was estimated at +four thousand. Three companies on each side entered the bush, and +soon succeeded in pressing the enemy into a path; where they were +fiercely charged by the West African Field Force, under Major +Melliss. That officer was wounded; and Captain Stevenson, who was +close to him, was shot in the chest. + +For a moment the soldiers wavered but, almost immediately, dashed +on again to avenge the loss of their officers. The charge was very +effective. Those of the enemy who gradually assembled were +bayoneted, and the rest fled. + +Captain Stevenson's death was greatly regretted. He and Captain +Wright, of another company, had asked for leave to accompany the +force. As the one had no better claim than the other, Colonel +Willcocks suggested that they should toss for it. They did so, and +Captain Stevenson won; but what he deemed his good fortune cost him +his life. + +After the fight was over, there was a short pause to reorganize the +force; and an advance was made to a village, three miles ahead, the +intention being to attack the next morning. That evening, however, +a flag came in, with an offer to surrender. Word was sent back that +the offer would be accepted, if made unconditionally; and at seven +o'clock in the evening a chief, a large number of men, four hundred +guns, and some sheep arrived. They said that Kofia was holding a +village, farther on; and would again give fight there. The force +returned with them to Coomassie. + +The next day, some scouts brought in the news that the enemy had +again concentrated, and their numbers had been raised to four +thousand by their junction with another fighting tribe. Kofia was +in command, and a big war camp had been established some twelve +miles away on the Berekum road. Berekum itself, which was a hundred +and forty miles to the north, was reported to be invested, and had +asked for help but, as so large an Ashanti force was near at hand, +no men could be spared for the purpose. + +A column twelve hundred strong, with five guns, and every available +man in the garrison who could carry a gun, moved out early on the +29th, to give battle. It was followed by a supply column, and the +bulk of the carriers. + +Nine miles were accomplished without any opposition. Then a small +Adansi outpost retired on their approach. The commandant decided to +halt, for the night, at a deserted village. It was a miserable +place. The huts had all been burnt by the rebels; so that the +troops had to sleep in the open, in a steady downpour of rain. The +Europeans tried to get rest in some hastily-constructed shelters, +but a perfect tornado of wind was blowing, and swept the ground on +which they were built. + +Next day the troops marched, in their drenched clothes, through a +heavy rain. Between seven and eight, however, this ceased and, +almost at the same moment, a tremendous fire burst out upon them. +The advance guard and support at once became engaged, but the enemy +clung with such determination to their position, and contested +every foot of the ground so stoutly, that two companies of +reinforcements had to be called up. + +Two companies were sent out into the bush, and eventually succeeded +in getting partly behind the enemy, and forcing them to retreat. +More troops were sent out on the left; and a company was instructed +to move through the bush, on an extended line. In this way the +enemy were driven out of the jungle, and forced to retire slowly up +the hill. + +Then the main column started, led by Major Melliss and headed by +the Sikhs. The enemy, however, did not fly; and Major Melliss +dashed into the thick of them, with the few men he could collect. +An Ashanti fired at him, at close quarters; but a native soldier +ran the man through. As they struggled on the ground, another +Ashanti fired at Major Melliss, hitting him in the foot. He was +practically unarmed, as he could use neither his sword nor his +revolver; and would have been killed, had not another officer come +up and shot the wounded Ashanti. + +As the head of the column reached the spot, a heavy fire was +directed upon the enemy, who were soon in headlong flight. The +village in the rear of the position was taken, at the point of the +bayonet. One hundred and fifty of their dead were found, lying on +the battlefield; and it was learned, from prisoners, that over five +hundred had been wounded. + +The defeat was a crushing one. Several of their most determined +chiefs were found among the dead. So hopelessly demoralized were +the enemy that they never rallied again. + +The victory had been achieved with very small loss, owing to the +excellence of Colonel Willcocks' force. The casualties consisted +only of two officers severely, and two slightly wounded; and +twenty-six rank and file killed and wounded. + +When the wounded had been dressed, and the scattered units +collected, an advance was made to the next village; where the +wearied troops slept, as it was still doubtful whether the rebels +might not rally. Major Cobbe was sent on, next morning, with eight +hundred men. He was to go as far as he could, but to return the +next evening. + +The march was a very trying one, the weather terrible. After going +four miles they reached the bank of an unfordable river, some forty +yards wide. The Pioneers, although they had no technical equipment, +succeeded in making a rough bridge by the afternoon; and Major +Cobbe decided to push on to Kofia. At ten o'clock they reached this +place and, to the general relief, it was found to be deserted. The +troops, therefore, marched in and turned into the huts, amid a +howling tornado. + +The return journey, next day, was even worse. The tracks, in many +parts, were now covered with between two and three feet of water. +The bridge, though submerged, had fortunately not been carried +away; and the troops were able to cross, and march into camp the +same evening, having carried out their orders without encountering +the smallest opposition. + + + +Chapter 20: At Home. + + +It was now found necessary to give the worn-out troops a long rest. +They had been on constant service, for months; the stream of +invalids that had been sent down to the coast daily increased, and +the sick list had already reached an appalling length. The want of +fresh rations was very much felt, and any large combination of +troops not only caused great discomfort, but engendered various +diseases, smallpox among them. In addition to this, as the black +soldiers always go barefooted, their feet had got into a deplorable +state. + +The halt, however, had a good effect; and there was general +satisfaction that it was unlikely that they would be called upon to +make further efforts, as no news came of fresh gatherings of the +enemy. + +Colonel Willcocks now saw that the time was come to issue a +proclamation promising, henceforward, to spare the lives of all +rebels that surrendered. This was done, with the result that large +numbers of the enemy came in. Almost all of them declared that they +would have surrendered, long ago, had they not feared to do so. + +On October 6th, the Commandant and British Resident held a state +levee. It was attended by all the friendly and submitted kings. +These vied with each other in their pomp; they were dressed in +gorgeous robes and carried their state umbrellas, while their +attendants danced round them, beating drums and blowing horns. +After the palaver was over, target practice took place, with the +guns. Canvas dummies were riddled with bullets by the Maxims; and +stockades, specially constructed for the purpose, were demolished +by the big guns. The natives retired, greatly impressed. + +Two days later, Colonel Willcocks got up a rifle meeting for a cup; +and he himself took his place among the competitors. + +Five days later, news came that a fresh force of the enemy had +gathered. Two columns were sent out--one of seven hundred and the +other of five hundred men--but, though they traversed a wide +stretch of country, they had no fighting. They received, however, +the submission of a number of chiefs and villages. + +The new commander of the Ashanti force was captured, tried, and +hanged. The queen also was caught and, on the 24th of April, a +telegram was sent home with the words: + +"The campaign is at an end." + +There can be no doubt that this expedition will lead to great +results. The natives of Ashanti and the surrounding tribes have +received a lesson that will not be forgotten for a great number of +years and, long before that time, it may be hoped that civilization +will have made such strides there that there will be no more chance +of trouble. They have been taught that they are absolutely unable +to stand against the white man; that neither distance, the +thickness of their forests, stockades, nor weather can check the +progress of British troops; and that resistance can only draw down +upon them terrible loss, and the destruction of their villages and +crops. + +They had received no such lessons in the previous expeditions. That +of Governor Sir Charles M'Carthy had been entirely defeated, and +the governor himself killed. Another expedition, in 1867, met with +a total failure. Sir Garnet Wolseley, in 1873, marched to Coomassie +but, though he burnt the place, he had at once to fall back to the +coast. In 1895 Sir Francis Scott led an expedition which, for some +reason or other, met with no resistance. + +Now Ashanti had been swept from end to end, and fire and sword had +destroyed the major part of the villages. Garrisons were to be +left, at Coomassie, strong enough to put down any local risings; +and the natives had been taught that, small as our army might be in +their country, it could at any time be largely augmented, at very +short notice. Most of all, they had learned that, even without the +assistance of white soldiers, the native troops--whom they had +hitherto despised--were their superiors in every respect. + +The completion of the railway to Coomassie has enabled troops to be +sent up from the coast, in a few hours, to the heart of the +country; and the numerous companies formed to work the gold mines +will, in themselves, prove a great check to trouble as, no doubt, +the miners will, in future, be well armed. + +Colonel Willcocks left the headquarters staff a few days after the +despatch of his telegram. He rode through a two-mile avenue of +troops and friendly natives and, on arriving at Cape Coast, had a +magnificent reception. Major C. Burroughs remained in command of +Coomassie, with a strong garrison. + +A few days later, the rest of the force moved down to the coast. +Lisle and Hallett were carried down in hammocks, for both were +completely worn out by the hardships of the campaign and, as there +was no limit to the numbers of carriers that could be obtained, +they gladly acquiesced in the decision of the medical officer that +they ought to be carried. Both, indeed, had the seeds of fever in +their system and, when they arrived at Cape Coast, were laid up +with a sharp attack. As a result they were, like the great portion +of the officers who had gone through the campaign, invalided home. + +A day after his arrival in London, Lisle was visited by his friend +Colonel Houghton, at whose house he had spent most of his leave +when he was last in England. + +"I saw your name in the paper, yesterday, as among the returned +invalids; and thought that I should find you in the hotel where you +stayed before." + +"I wrote yesterday afternoon to you, sir." + +"Ah! Of course, I have not got that letter. And now, how are you?" + +"I am a little shaky, sir, but the voyage has done wonders for me. +I have no doubt that I shall soon be myself, again." + +"You have not seen the last gazette, I suppose?" + +"No, sir." + +"Well, there was a list of promotions, and I am happy to say that +you have got the D.S.O. for your services. I dare say you know that +you succeeded to your company, just six months ago?" + +"No, I did not know that. I knew that I stood high among the +lieutenants, and expected to get it before long; but I am proud, +indeed, of the D.S.O." + +"To have won the V.C. and the D.S.O. is to attain the two greatest +distinctions a soldier can wear. + +"Now, you had better come down with me to my place in the country; +the air of London is not the best, for a man who has been suffering +from African fever." + +"I certainly want bracing air, and I shall be only too glad to go +home with you; for I feel it is more my home than any other in +England." + +As soon as Lisle began to recover a little, Colonel Houghton +introduced him to his neighbours, who made a good deal of the young +soldier. Five years had elapsed, since he had started with the +Pioneers for Chitral, and he was twenty-one. + +Soon after he went to the colonel's, he was speaking to him of his +friend and constant companion in the late campaign; and the colonel +at once invited Hallett down. Hallett accepted the invitation, and +soon joined them. He had pretty well recovered, and the campaign +had knocked all his little laziness and selfishness out of him. He +also had received the D.S.O. + +"I am sure, Colonel Houghton," he said one day, "that I owe a +tremendous lot to Lisle. He was always cheerful, and his unmerciful +chaffing kept me alive. I am quite sure I should never have got +through that time, when we were lost in the forest, if it hadn't +been for him. I was a confirmed grumbler, too; but he never let me +indulge my discontent. Altogether you have no idea, Colonel +Houghton, how much he did for me." + +"Well, you know, Captain Hallett, how much he did for me." + +"No, sir," Hallett said, in surprise; "he has often spoken to me of +you, and of your kindness to him; but he did not tell me about +anything he had done for you." + +"Well, he saved my life at the risk of his own. If he has not told +you the story, I will." + +And he related the manner in which Lisle had won his V.C. + +"Why did you not tell me about it, Bullen? It was a splendid thing +to do. You did tell me, I remember, how you got the V.C. by helping +to get an officer out of the grasp of the Afridis, but you gave no +details." + +"There was nothing to tell about it, Hallett. I only did what I am +sure you would have done, in my case." + +"I am by no means sure of that," Hallett said. "I am always slow in +making up my mind about anything; and should never have thought of +putting a wounded officer on my horse, and sending him off, while I +remained to be cut to pieces. I hope I should have stood by him, +and been cut down with him; but I am certain that I should not have +thought of the other thing, with the Afridis rushing down upon me, +only thirty yards away. + +"You ought to have let me know about it. You did bully me a great +deal, you know; and though it was all for my good, still I think I +should have put up with it better, if I had known that you had done +such a thing as that." + +"I think you put up with it very well, Hallett. Chaffing you, and +getting you sometimes into a rage--which was pretended, rather than +real--did me a lot of good. I am sure I should have given in, +several times, had you not acted as a sort of tonic; and had I not +been sure that it did you as much good as it did me." + +A month after Hallett's arrival, the colonel said, one morning: + +"Good morning, Lisle! I am going out with the hounds, tomorrow. +They meet near here. As you are not great riders, I won't press you +to go with me but, at least, you will ride with me to the meet. It +is sure to be a good gathering, and you will probably meet some +nice girls; who will, no doubt, have much greater attractions, for +young fellows like you, than a gallop round the country." + +"They have no particular attraction for me, sir," Lisle laughed. +"It will be time enough for that, in another eight or ten years. It +is more in Hallett's line." + +"But we shall be chaffed, if we don't ride after the hounds, +Colonel," Hallett said. + +"Not at all," the colonel replied, "you have a first-rate excuse. +You are only just recovering from fever. That would get you no end +of commiseration and pity." + +"In that case," Lisle said, "I think I should prefer staying at +home. I don't feel that I need the least pity, and don't want to +get it on false pretences." + +"It won't be false pretences," the colonel said. "I have taken care +that all the ladies I shall introduce you to should know what you +did for me, and how you did it." + +"I am sorry to hear it, Colonel. It is really hateful, being +regarded as a man who has done something, especially at my age. +However, I shall leave Hallett to bear the brunt of it. I know that +he is on the lookout for a wife." + +"I don't think you know anything of the sort, Lisle. It will be +time for that when I get my majority." + +"Ah! That is all very well, Hallett; I know you took a good +half-hour dressing your hair, previous to that dinner party last +week." + +"It has to be brushed. It was nearly all cut off, when we were in +Cape Coast, and one doesn't want to go out looking like a fretful +porcupine." + +So, laughing and joking, they started the next morning. There was, +as the colonel had predicted, a large meet. Many ladies came on +horseback, and others in carriages. The two young officers were +soon engaged, chatting and laughing, with the latter. + +"Do you mean to say that you are not going to ride, Captain +Bullen?" one of the ladies on horseback said. + +"In the first place, Miss Merton, I am an infantry officer and, +except for a few weeks when I was on the staff of Colonel Lockhart, +I have never done any riding. In the second place, I am forbidden +to take horse exercise, at present. Moreover, although no doubt you +will despise me for the confession, I dislike altogether the idea +of a hundred men on horseback, and forty or fifty dogs, all chasing +one unfortunate animal." + +"But the unfortunate animal is a poacher of the worst kind." + +"Very well, then, I should shoot him, as a poacher. Why should a +hundred horsemen engage in hunting the poor brute down? Bad +horseman as I am, I should not mind taking part in a cavalry +charge; but hunting is not at all to my taste." + +"You like shooting, Captain Bullen?" + +"I like shooting, when there is something to be shot; in the first +place, a dangerous animal, and in the second, an animal that is +able to show fight. I have several times taken part in tiger hunts, +and felt myself justified in doing so, because the animals had made +themselves a scourge to unarmed villagers." + +"I am afraid that you are a sort of Don Quixote," the girl laughed. + +"Not quite that, Miss Merton; though I own I admire the good +knight, greatly. We are going to move off, now, to the covert that +has to be drawn; and I know I shall shock you, when I say that I +sincerely hope that nothing will be found there." + +The whole party then moved off, and the hounds were put into a +covert. Five minutes later, a whimper was heard. It soon spread +into a chorus, and then a fox dashed out from the opposite side; +followed, in a couple of minutes, by the whole pack. + +"Well, that is fun, is it not, Captain Bullen?" said a girl, to +whom he was talking, in one of the carriages. + +"It is a pretty sight," he said, "and if the fox always got away, I +should like it. As it is, I say honestly that I don't." + +The meet now broke up, and the carriages dispersed. Hallett and +Lisle accepted an invitation to lunch with the ladies to whom they +were talking. Two hours later, Lisle was on the point of leaving, +when a groom rode up at full speed. + +"Is Captain Bullen here?" he asked. + +With a presentiment of evil, Lisle went out. + +"The colonel has had a bad accident, sir. He was brought in, half +an hour ago, by the servants. I understand that he asked for you; +and three of us at once rode off, in different directions, to find +you." + +Lisle called Hallett and, in five minutes, they were mounted and +dashed off. As they entered the house, they were met by the +surgeon. + +"Is he badly hurt'?" Lisle asked, anxiously. + +"I fear that he is hurt to death, Captain Bullen. His horse slipped +as it was taking a fence, and fell on the top of him. He has +suffered severe internal injuries, and I greatly fear that there is +not the least hope for him." + +"Is he conscious?" Lisle asked, with deep emotion. + +"Yes, he is conscious, and I believe he understands that his case +is hopeless. He has asked for you, several times, since he was +brought in; so you had better go to him, at once." + +With a sinking heart, Lisle went upstairs. The colonel was lying on +his bed. + +"I am glad you have come in time, my dear boy," he said faintly, as +Lisle entered. "I am afraid that I am done for, and it is a +consolation for me to know that I have no near relatives who will +regret my loss. I have had a good time of it, altogether; and would +rather that, as I was not to die on the battlefield, death should +come as it has. It is far better than if it came gradually. + +"Sit by me, lad, till the end comes. I am sure it will not be long. +I am suffering terribly, and the sooner it comes, the better." + +The ashy gray of the colonel's face sufficed to tell Lisle that the +end was, indeed, near at hand. The colonel only spoke two or three +times and, at ten o'clock at night, passed away painlessly. + +Upon Lisle devolved the sad work of arranging his funeral. He wrote +to the colonel's lawyer, asking him to come down. Hallett had left +the house at once, though Lisle earnestly begged him to stay till +the funeral was over. The lawyer arrived on the morning of the +funeral. + +"I have taken upon myself, sir," Lisle said, "to make all the +arrangements for the funeral, seeing that there was no one else to +do it." + +"You were the most proper person to do so," the lawyer said, +gravely, "as you will see when the will is read, on our return from +the grave." + +When all was over, Lisle asked two or three of the colonel's most +intimate friends to be present at the reading of the will. It was a +very short one. The colonel made bequests to several military +charities; and then appointed his adopted son, Lisle Bullen, +Lieutenant in His Majesty's Rutlandshire regiment, the sole heir to +all his property. + +This came almost as a surprise to Lisle. The colonel had indeed +told him that he had adopted him, and he was prepared to learn that +he had left him a legacy; but he had no idea that he would be left +sole heir. + +"I congratulate you, sir," the lawyer said, when he folded up the +paper. "Colonel Houghton stated to me, fully, his reasons for +making such a disposition of his property and, as he had no near +relations, I was able to approve of it heartily. I may say that he +has left nearly sixteen thousand pounds. The other small legacies +will take about a thousand, and you will therefore have some +fifteen thousand pounds, which is all invested in first-rate +securities." + +"I feel my good fortune, sir," Lisle said quietly, "but I would +that it had not come to me for many years, and not in such a +manner." + +The meeting soon after broke up, and Lisle went up to town and +joined Hallett at the hotel they both used. + +"Well, I congratulate you heartily," Hallett said, when he heard +the contents of the will. "It is a good windfall, but not a bit +more than you deserve." + +"I would rather not have had it," Lisle said, sorrowfully. "I owe +much to the colonel, who has for the past three years given me an +allowance of two hundred pounds a year; and I would far rather have +gone on with that, than come into a fortune in this manner." + +"I can understand that," Hallett said; "the colonel was a +first-rate old fellow, and his death will be an immense loss to +you. Still, but for you it would have come three years ago and, +after all, it is better to be killed hunting than to be shot to +pieces by savages. + +"Well, it will bring you in six or seven hundred pounds a year, a +sum not to be despised. It will enable you to leave the army, if +you like; though I should advise you to stick to it. Here are you a +captain at twenty-one, a V. C. and D. S. O. man, with a big career +before you and, no doubt, you will get a brevet majority before +long." + +"I have certainly not the least idea of leaving the army. I was +born in it, and hope to remain in it as long as I can do good +work." + +"What are you going to do now?" + +"I shall go down there again, in a fortnight or so." + +"Would you be disposed to take me with you?" + +"Certainly I shall, if you will go. I had not thought of asking +you, because everything must go on quietly there, for a time; but +really I should prize your company very much." + +"Well, the fact is," Hallett said, rather shamefacedly, "I am +rather smitten with Miss Merton, and I have some hopes that she is +a little taken with me. I heard that she has money but, although +that is satisfactory, I would take her, if she would have me, +without a penny. You know I have three hundred pounds a year of my +own; which is quite enough, with my pay, to enable us to get on +comfortably. Still, I won't say that, if she has as much more, we +could not do things better." + +Lisle laughed. + +"I thought you were not a marrying man, Hallett! In fact, you have +more than once told me so." + +"Well, I didn't think I was," Hallett admitted, "but you see, +circumstances alter cases." + +"They do, Hallett, and your case seems to be a bad one. However, +old man, I wish you luck. She is an exceedingly nice girl and, if I +were ten years older, I might have been smitten myself; and then, +you know, your chance would have been nowhere." + +"I quite feel that," Hallett said; "a V.C. is a thing no girl can +stand against. + +"If you will take me, I will go down with you and stay a little +time, and then try my luck." + +"That you certainly shall do. I can hardly do anything in the way +of festivities, at present; but there is no reason why you should +not enter into anything that is going on." + +So they went down together. Ten days later, all the families round +came to pay visits of condolence; and to each Lisle said that, +although he himself could not think of going out, at present, his +friend Hallett, who had come to stay with him for a month, would be +glad to join in any quiet festivity. So Hallett was frequently +invited out, Lisle accompanying him only to the very quietest of +dinners. + +One evening Hallett returned in the highest glee. + +"Congratulate me, my dear fellow," he said. "Miss Merton has +accepted me and, after she had done so, I had the inevitable talk +with her father. He told me, frankly, that he had hoped that his +daughter would make a better match. I of course agreed with him, +heartily; but he went on to say that, after all, our happiness was +the first consideration, and that he felt sure that it would be +secured by her marriage with me. He said that he should allow her +four hundred pounds a year, during his and her mother's lifetime. +At their death there would be a small addition to her allowance, +but naturally the bulk of his property would go to her brother. Of +course, I expressed myself as infinitely grateful. I said that he +had not enquired about my income, but that I had three hundred +pounds a year, in addition to my pay; and should probably, some +day, come into more. He expressed himself as content and, as I had +expected, asked me whether I intended to leave the army. I said +that that was a matter for his daughter to decide; but that, for my +part, I should certainly prefer to remain in the service, for I +really did not see what I should do with myself, if I left it. I +said that I had been very fortunate in having, to some small +extent, distinguished myself; but that if, after some experience of +India, she did not care for the life, I would promise to retire." + +"'I think you are right,' he said. 'It is a bad thing for a young +man of seven or eight and twenty to be without employment. Your +income would be insufficient to enable you to live, with comfort, +as a country gentleman; and you would naturally find time lie heavy +upon your hands, if you had nothing to do.' + +"He was good enough to say that he thought his daughter's happiness +would be safe in my hands and, as she would be able to have every +luxury in India, he thought that the arrangement would be a very +satisfactory one. It is awfully good of him, of course, for she +could have made an infinitely better match." + +"You have, of course, not settled anything about the date, +Hallett?" + +"No; I expect we shall settle about that when I see her, tomorrow. +Of course, it must be pretty early, as we had letters, yesterday, +to go up to town to be examined by the board; and we have both +picked up so much that, I fancy, we shall be ordered back to our +regiments pretty sharply. You see, every man is wanted at present +and, as we both had a year's leave before we went out to West +Africa, it is not unnatural that they should send us off again, as +soon as they can. I dare say, however, they will give us a couple +of months; and I suppose we shall want a month for our honeymoon, +in which case we ought to be spliced in a month's time; if she can +get ready in that time, which of course she can do, if she hurries +up the milliners and other people." + +"I have no doubt she could, in the circumstances," Lisle laughed. +"Well, old man, I do congratulate you most heartily. She certainly +is a very charming young woman. I expect I shall not get leave +again, till the regiment comes back; which will be another five +years yet, and perhaps two or three years longer, if there is any +action going on anywhere. I can tell you I am not so hot about +fighting as I used to be. The Tirah was sharp, but it was nothing +to West Africa, which was enough to cure one of any desire to take +part in fighting. + +"If we are going to have a fight with Russia, I certainly should +like to take part in that. That would be a tremendous affair, and I +fancy that our Indian soldiers will give a good account of +themselves. If it is to be, I do hope it will come before I leave +the army. I am certainly in no hurry to do so." + +"You would be a fool, if you were," Hallett said. "Thanks to your +luck in getting a commission at sixteen, and to the loss of so many +officers in the Tirah, you are now a captain at twenty-one, +certainly the youngest captain in the service. Of course, if there +is no war, you can't expect to continue going up at that pace; but +you certainly ought to be a major at thirty, if not before. You may +command a regiment within five or six years later, and be a +brigadier soon after that, for you will have that by seniority. Of +course, if you marry you will have to consider your wife's wishes; +but she is not likely to object to your staying on, if you get to +be a major, for a major's wife is by no means an unimportant item +in a regiment." + +"Ah! Well, we needn't think about that," Lisle laughed, "especially +as, if there is war with Russia before we come home, a good many of +us will certainly stay out permanently. Well, old man, I do +congratulate you, most heartily." + +Miss Merton, after some demur, agreed that it would be just +possible for her to be ready at the end of a month. Three days +later the two friends went up to town and, after undergoing a +medical examination, were told that they must rejoin their +regiments in a couple of months. As both regiments were in India, +they decided to return in the same ship. + +"I am not sorry that we are off," Lisle said, when they met on the +deck of the P. and O. steamer. "I was getting desperately tired of +doing nothing and, after you had gone off with your wife, on the +afternoon of the marriage, I began to feel desperately lonely. Of +course, I have always been accustomed to have a lot of friends +round me; and I began to feel a longing to be with the regiment +again and, if we had not agreed to go out together, I think I +should have taken the next steamer." + +Six weeks later Lisle rejoined his regiment, where he was heartily +welcomed. + +"Now you are a brevet major, Mr. Bullen, I am afraid that you will +cease to be useful to us all; for of course we cannot be sending an +officer of that exalted rank about to do our messages. However, +several nice boys have joined, while you have been away." + +"I shall always be happy to be employed," Lisle laughed, "and I +dare say I am no older than many of the subalterns." + +"I suppose you have had hard times?" + +"Very hard. I thought that the Tirah business was about as hard as +one would have to go through, in the course of one's soldiering; +but I was greatly deceived. When I say that for six months I hardly +ever had dry clothes on, and that I waded something like a hundred +rivers, you may guess what it was like. + +"And we had our full share of fighting, too. I was very fortunate +in only getting hit three or four times, with slugs; but as we were +for the most part fighting against men hidden in the bush, it was +unsatisfactory work, though we always did lick them in the end. I +can assure you that I do not wish for any more service of that +kind. + +"Have the tribes been quiet since I went away?" + +"Quiet, as far as we were concerned. Of course, there have been a +few trifling risings along the frontier but, as a whole, even the +Zakka-Khels have been quiet. I don't think there will be any +trouble, on a large scale, for some time to come." + +"Then there is a prospect of a quiet time; that is to say, if the +Russians will keep quiet." + +"That is a very strong 'if,' Major Bullen; but I think that, if +there is trouble, it will be in China." + +"In that case, no doubt a good many regiments will be sent from +here. I hope that it will be our good fortune to be among them." + +"Well, in that case," the colonel said, with a laugh, "you will +have to restrain your ardour, and give a chance to other men. You +have got the V.C. and the D.S.O., which ought to satisfy you; to +say nothing of having got your company, and brevet majority, at the +age of twenty-one. You must be content with that, otherwise the +regiment will rise against you." + +"That would be very unpleasant," Lisle said, with a laugh. "I will +try to suppress my zeal. I can assure you that I am perfectly +conscious of the incongruity of being in such a position, at my +age." + +At present Lisle is with his regiment, and the prospect of a war +with Russia is no nearer than it was. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Three Campaigns, by G. A. Henty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH THREE CAMPAIGNS *** + +***** This file should be named 20641.txt or 20641.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/6/4/20641/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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