CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
FIRST CHECKS.
The last echoes of the distant firing had quite died out; the windingsof the river valley had long enough hidden away the mountainous hillswhich surrounded the fort; and far below where they slowly toiled alongthe faintly-marked track, worn where there was pasture by the feet ofthe mountain sheep, the river rushed, torrent-like, along in a greatlynarrowed bed, whose perpendicular shrub and fern decked sides hid itsleaping and tearing waters from the travellers' gaze. At rare intervalsthe river made a plunge over some mighty rock and flashed into sight,though its position was often revealed by a cloud of spray, which roselike steam into the sunshine, to become brilliant with an iris which,rainbow-like, spanned the falls.
The ascent had been gradual but marked, for, though trees were inabundance, rising in clumps of spires, their tops were well below theadventurers, while, where they trod, the forest was dwarfed andscrub-like, but thick enough to greatly hinder their advance.
Hardly a word had been spoken for hours, during which the watchfulnessobserved had been painful, especially when they had crept along undercover by three lateral valleys, familiar to both as the roads by whichthe enemy had approached for their attacks, one to the east being thatmade unenviable by the terrible adventure when they had received theirwounds.
The passing of the mouths of these gorges was a crucial task, from itsbeing almost a certainty that part of one or the other of the tribeswould be, stationed there. But the slow approaches and all the cautionexercised, as far as Bracy could judge, were waste of energy: not anenemy was seen, and when, twice over, rifles were brought to the ready,and their bearers stood prepared to fire at the foe rustling along amongthe low growth and tangle, it was to find, to their great relief, thatthe alarm was caused in the first instance by goat-like sheep, and inthe other by a bear, which had been feasting upon the berries growinglow down the cliff towards the hidden torrent.
The sun was long past the meridian, and, in spite, of the height, theirshut-in position made the breathless valley seem hotter than ever, whilethe thorny nature of the low growth hindered them so much that at lastBracy had hard work to force his way through a tangled mass, whosethorny hooks clung to the _poshtin_ he was wearing, and kept on robbingit of its wool. This brought them to a standstill, and Gedge, who hadjust freed himself from similar hindrances, stepped back, with hisdagger-like bayonet in his hand, with which he delivered a few sharpcuts, and Bracy struggled out.
"Ha!" he said; "that's better."
"Yus, sir; these are handier tools than the old-fashioned bay'nets; butwhat we ought to have had was a couple o' those pretty, bill-hookyblades the Ghoorkha boys use. They'd make short work of briars andbrambles and things. Toothpicks, our lads calls 'em; and the littlefellows the Toothpick Brigade.--Tired, sir?"
"Terribly!" said Bracy. "This is awful going; but we shall be out ofthe wood before many hours have passed. We might have avoided this bystriking up to the left, but I felt that it was not safe. Better beslow and sure. Look, my lad, it is more open yonder, and seems like away down to the torrent. We've earned a rest, and we must have one.Let's get down to where we can reach water, and lighten our load bymaking a meal."
Gedge's eyes sparkled, and he led on at once, reaching at the end ofsome hundred paces a sharp slope, which showed traces of the moss andferns having been trampled down, while twigs were broken here and there,some being left hanging, and others snapped sharp off!
"People been along here, Gedge," said Bracy, taking suspicious notice ofthe signs around.
"No, sir, I think not," said the lad, whose keen eyes were busy. "Ishould say it was only goats. Pst!"
Gedge had been speaking in a low tone, but the "Pst!" was sharplydistinct, and had its effect. For in an instant there was a rush, andsomething brown came into sight, making the adventurers present theirrifles in the full belief that they were about to be face to face withan enemy. But the next moment the object rose up to peer over thebushes and all around, proving to be a great brown bear, whose little,pig-like eyes flashed and glistened as it scanned the place, lookingwonderfully human in its actions as it balanced itself upon itshind-legs, its fore-legs hanging half raised on either side, till itcaught sight of the disturbers of its solitude, when it uttered agrowling grunt, dropped down on all-fours again, and dashed up the slopetowards the mountains.
"Might easily have shot him, sir," said Gedge as the sounds of thebreaking twigs died out.
"Easily," said Bracy; "but we have as much as we can carry now, and--Hark!"
Gedge was already listening, for, from up in the direction taken by thebear--which, unfortunately, was the continuation of their route--thereport of a gun rang out, followed by another and another. Then therewas a burst of exultant shouts, and the pair drew back more intoshelter.
"They've hit him, whoever they are, sir," whispered Gedge excitedly:"and they'll be along here direckly. Which way will you go, sir? Wecan't go that."
"Away towards the water, my lad," said Bracy, quickly. "They're comingdown to reach the fort."
He led the way himself now, following the easier portions of the slope,and when close to where the now narrow river came thundering down, heplunged in amongst a chaos of creeper and fern hung rocks, down in ahollow of which they sank into a kneeling position, crouching low andwaiting.
"Well hidden, are we not, Gedge?" whispered Bracy.
"Splendid, sir. Couldn't see us 'less they was close to, and if we keptour heads down they'd take us then for sheep."
"And fire at us."
"They'd better not!" growled Gedge. "But, say, sir, as we're restingmightn't we just as well have a bite?"
"Could you eat now?" whispered Bracy.
"Could I eat now, sir?" said the lad wonderingly. "It's couldn't I eat!My! If you only knew what I've been feeling ever since dinner-time youwouldn't ask that."
"Go on, then," said Bracy, and as he listened he saw his companion takea packet of bread and meat from his haversack and begin to munch, whenthe sight of the food so woke him up to the state of his own appetitethat he opened his wallet, drew out some hastily-cut mutton andbread-cake sandwiches, and went on eating till there was the sound ofvoices close at hand, followed by the rustling of leaf and twig, withthe dull tramp of soft feet telling that a large body of men werepassing in Indian file, talking loudly; but the hidden pair were wellconcealed and satisfied that they were perfectly safe, till all at oncea voice was raised, and they heard the word "Water" uttered in the Dwatdialect.
There was an eager buzz of voices at this, and instead of continuingtheir course the party clustered together, and, to Bracy's horror, beganto descend the sharp slope as if coming right upon their hiding-place,but turning off by one of the bigger rocks, and rapidly crushing throughthe thin shrubs and ferns so close that Bracy, as he lay there, couldhave touched one man by stretching out the barrel of his rifle.
For the next ten minutes the position was agonising, the men coming andgoing, and even the noise they made in drinking just below was plainlyheard; while Bracy, as he cowered down among the ferns, felt that it wasimpossible for them to escape the observation of the keen-eyedmountaineers.
But still the discovery was deferred; and, as the drinking went on, agleam or two of hope illumined the position, but only to be dampedagain, and Bracy held his revolver ready, for there was a suddenmovement on the part of one of the men, whose sword and shield seemed tobe of a superior type, like his cotton clothes and the turban he wore.
It was as if this man had just caught sight of them, and, his curiositybeing excited, he came straight on, drawing his keen tulwar and strikingwith if to right and left so as to clear the way towards the rocks, hiseyes seeming to be fixed upon those of Bracy, who slightly raised themuzzle of his revolver, his finger resting upon the trigger.
Probably never was man nearer to his death, for the slightest additionalpressure of the young officer's finger would have sent a bullet crashingthrough the man's breast, as he c
ame on till almost within touch, whenhe suddenly turned round, and seated himself upon a mossy rock just infront, his broad back, in its loose while cotton garb, effectuallyhiding the fugitives from the men going up and down.
Bracy felt as if he would have given anything to have been able to uttera low "Hah!" of relief, as he breathed long and heavily, instead ofcrouching there nearly suffocated by holding it back; for he knew thatthe slightest movement, the faintest sound, must result in the man,evidently the leader, turning sharply, sword in hand, to discover thepair lying so close.
"I should have a bullet through him 'fore he could lift his sword," saidGedge to himself; "but what's the good o' that? Twenty or thirty wouldbe upon us before we could get away, and a nice condition we're in forthat! Why, I feel like a fat sheep at Christmas. Couldn't run if Iwanted to, and I don't, 'less he runs fust, and he won't, I know. Knowhim too well."
Bracy's thoughts were many as he crouched there. He wanted to feeldecisive; but the weary walk, heavily-laden as he was, had dulled hisbrain a little, and he could not come to a conclusion as to whether itwould not be best to take the initiative and attack at once, trusting totheir sudden appearance and the shots they could be creating a panic;for it was not likely that the enemy would imagine such an attack wouldbe made unless by a force at least equal to their own.
The idea was tempting; but, on the other hand, it seemed madness to makeso wild a venture; and he was giving it up, when they were both startledby half-a-dozen of the party who were going and coming stopping shortjust in front of their leader, to begin taking out some blackish-lookingcakes. Then others beginning to join them, they looked round, and acouple of the party pointed to the rocks behind which Bracy and Gedgewere hidden.
That was fatal, and from the movement which followed it was evident thatthey were about to make this their resting-place.
At the same moment Gedge's hand stole forward and touched his leader'sarm, when Bracy softly turned his head, to see his follower holding hisrevolver in his right hand, signing as if asking should he use it.
Bracy did not delay his silent reply, for, quick as lightning, he hadrealised that in another few moments they would be forced to fight indefence, and that it was far better to take the initiative and make theenemy believe that they had fallen into an ambuscade. He gave a shortnod, raised his own revolver, glanced at Gedge to see that he was ready,and then roared at the top of his voice:
"Fire!"
Gedge's shot followed his sharply, and then in rapid succession theyfired again and again till a dozen bullets had gone hurtling over theirsheltering rock amongst the trees, and then, springing up, they fixedbayonets with a rattle, and stood ready to fire again; but not an enemywas visible to charge or be shot down.
For at the word "Fire!" the chief had made a sudden bound from thestone, upon which he had sat, and rushed at his men, who turned and fledat full speed away in the direction from which our adventurers had come:and for the next few minutes Bracy and Gedge stood listening as theyrecharged their revolvers, hearing the distant crackling and rustling ofleaf and twig till all was still.
"Think they'll rally, Gedge?" said Bracy at last.
"Not them, sir: it was too much of a scare, and so sudden. It's hardwork to start these beggars running, but once you do get 'em on the moveit's twice as hard to stop 'em."
"You are right," said Bracy quietly.
"They'll go on till they come upon the next lot o' their pardners, andthen they'll tell 'em they were attacked by two whole ridgements, andshow their wounds, if they've got any. Don't think I hit one, sir. Didyou?"
"I did not even try to," said Bracy. "I only thought of firing asquickly as I could. Now, then, a drink of water apiece, and forward.We can't stop to rest, but must eat as we go."
They hurried down in turn to where the tribes-men had refreshedthemselves, each watching while the other drank hastily, and remountedto the track; after which, food in hand, they were about to recommencetheir journey, when Gedge started.
"What is it?" said Bracy quickly.
"One on 'em down, sir. Didn't think we had hit any of 'em, but yonder'sone lying among the bushes."
"Yes," said Bracy; "perfectly still. I saw and covered him while youwere drinking, and was going to see if he is dead as we went by, in casehe might be only wounded, and dangerous."
"Pouf!"
"What is it?" said Bracy wonderingly, for Gedge had broken into a quietlittle laugh.
"It's the bear they shot, sir, and brought into camp with 'em. Won'tcome back to fetch it--will they?"
"We will not stop to see," said Bracy quietly. "Now, forward oncemore."
Their path took them by the dead bear, whose paws were bound togetherwith twigs, and a freshly-cut pole was thrust through, showing how thetrophy had been borne so far. The next minute the pair were steadilyclimbing again, and finding by degrees that, though the slope increased,the way was less cumbered with dense growth, so that the advance waseasier; while as the sun sank lower a gentle breeze sprang up to refreshthem, making Gedge stretch out and increase the pace, in spite of thepath growing more steep.
"Don't think they're after us--do you, sir?" said the lad at last, asthey trudged on, watching the gradual ascent of a shadow on one of thehills in front.
"No; I think we succeeded in our scare."
"Because it makes a lot o' difference, sir."
"I don't understand you," said Bracy.
"We've a lot to do to-morrow, sir; and while it's dark I s'pose you'llbivvywack."
"I shall keep on till it's too dark to see, my lad," said Bracy, "andthen we must sleep till it is light enough to see, and go on again. Iwant to get twenty-four hours' walking between us and the fort."
"Exactly, sir. Be safer then."
"Perhaps," said Bracy, smiling grimly.
"O' course, sir," said Gedge sharply; "but I was thinking aboutto-night. Is it to be watch and watch, sir--one on dooty, t'other off."
"No; our work will be too hard for that, Gedge," replied Bracy. "Wemust have as many hours' heavy sleep as we can, or we shall never get tothe Ghil Valley. The work to-day has been play to some of the climbingwe shall have."
"Yus, sir; I s'pose so," said Gedge cheerily; "lot o' uphill, o'course."
"Up mountain, my lad."
"Yus, sir; only got in the way o' calling all these snow-pynts hills;but it'll be very fine; and after getting up one there must be somedownhill on the other side. Do you know, sir, I've been reg'larlonging, like, ever since we come here, to go up a mountain--a reg'larbig one; but I didn't think I should ever have the chance, and here itis come."
Instead of rapidly growing darker a glorious sunset lit up cloud andmountain, till the peaks literally blazed and flashed with the coloursof the various precious stones, wondrously magnified, till theever-changing scene rose higher, fading rapidly, and only a few pointsburned as before. Then, in a minute, all was grey, and a peculiar senseof cold tempered the climbers' brows.
"We shall just have time to reach that great patch of firs, Gedge," saidBracy; "yonder, this side of the snow."
"Right, sir, I see; but it's a good two mile away."
"Surely not," said Bracy sceptically.
"'Tis, sir," persisted the man. "Distances is precious deceiving."
They kept on, with the gloom darkening rapidly now in the valleys, andthe peaks in the distance standing up of a ghastly grey; while Gedgeshook his head and said to himself:
"Gov'nor ought to know; but it 'll be dark 'fore we get there."
The next minute Gedge was looking in wonder at the peculiar rosy glowwhich suddenly began to suffuse the great mountain. The chilly greydied out and the ruddy glow grew richer and brighter for a time, whilethe sky in the west seemed to be blazing and as if the glow were beingdragged backward, to aid the weary messengers till they could reach thefir-tree forest that was to form their camp.
"Think there's a tremenjus fire somewhere, sir?" said Gedge at last.
"No; it is on
ly what people call the Alpenglow," said Bracy softly, forthe wondrous beauty of the scene impressed him. "It will soon die outagain, but it will help us on our way: for you were right, Gedge; thatpatch of trees was fully two miles from where we stood, and we have allour work cut out to reach it before dark. If we cannot we must shelterbeneath the first wind-screen of rock we can find. What about yoursheepskin coat? Is it too hot?"
"Not a bit, sir; I'm cooling down fast; and, I say, there goes the lastof the light. Shall we get to the wood?"
"I'm afraid not," said Bracy. "Look to the left, and I'll look to theright. We'll stop at the most likely spot we see."
"Don't, sir. I can keep my eye on that tall tree that goes up like aspike, and hit it if it gets twice as dark. Wind feels cool now;by-and-by it'll be like ice up here. Hadn't we better get right, intoshelter?"
"Go on, then, my lad. I was thinking of you."
"Then don't, please, sir; I can keep on as long as you."
The next minute--it seemed so close--the stars were shining brightly outof the deep purple sky, and it was as if their coming brought on acooler breath of wind, which Gedge suggested had a sniff of frost in it.But they had no time for conversation; and, making a final effort toovercome their weariness, they pressed on till it had grown so dark thatthey felt that it would be hopeless to persevere, for the forest couldnot be readied. The next minute the darkness was profound; they were nolonger stumbling along a stony way, but passing silently over a thickcarpet of fir-needles; the sky was blotted out as if by a dense blackcloud; and there was a strange humming overhead as of the sea upon theshore. For they had unwittingly reached and plunged into the forestwhen giving it up in despair.
"Mind the trees, sir," said Gedge warningly. "I've just ketched myselfan awful rap."
"Feel your way with your rifle," said Bracy hoarsely. "We need only goa little farther, so as to be well in shelter."
So, after cautiously advancing about a hundred yards, feeling their wayfrom trunk to trunk, they stopped short beneath one of the largesttrees, and sank down amongst the fir-needles.
"Shall I make a fire, sir?" said Gedge; "here's heaps of wood as 'llburn like hoorrah."
"Fire! Are you mad?" cried Bracy.
"No, sir; but I was feared you'd be cold."
"No fire, and no watch, my lad," said Bracy. "It would be impossiblefor any one to find us here. Make the best meal you can in the dark;then take out your revolver, and lie down with it in your hand, as Ishall. You must sleep as hard as you like till daybreak. Think youcan?"
Gedge said something indistinctly, for he had begun eating, but tenminutes later his voice sounded clear again.
"Likely to be any bears, sir?" he said.
"Very likely," replied Bracy. "If one comes supper-hunting he'll wakeus by pawing us about and sniffing. Use your revolver then, only makesure of his head. Good-night, my lad."
"Good-night, sir," said Gedge, snuggling himself as close as he could,and nestling among the fir-needles. "Here," he muttered; "and I wasgrumbling because I had to carry this here coat. Why, it's a patentfeather-bed, wool mattress, and blankets, all in one. Scrumptious!--Howmy trotters aches!--And if one comes supper-hunting he'll wake us bypawing us about and sniffing. `Use your revolver then, only make sureof his head,' he says. Just as if I was going to fire at his tail! Isay, though, have bears got tails? I never see one at the 'LogicalGardens as had--and it don't matter now. Well, this here is a change,and--and--"
The next muttered word somehow stretched itself out thin, and into along deep-sighing breath, which seemed to be the echo of another closeat hand, and to have nothing to do with the cool breeze which rushedthrough the pines, making that soft peculiar sound as of the seabreaking upon a sandy shore; for the two adventurers, relieved of theirloads, and tightly buttoned up in their _poshtins_, were sleeping thesleep of the weary through that long night, undisturbed by enemy, wildbeast, or dream.