CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.
THE IDEA TAMED.
Onward, swifter or slower, they moved as the undulations of the mightysnow-slope ruled with the rough track crossing at right-angles far belowand gradually growing plainer, the white-coats of the fleeing enemy, thekharkee jackets of the advancing line of Ghoorkhas, and the pulls ofsmoke from each discharge coming nearer as if in a dream. Theexcitement of the wild rush seemed to madden Gedge, who, as he found outthat he could easily control his rough chariot of stone, let it glidefaster and faster, his eyes sparkling, and the various phases of thefight below sending a wild longing to be amongst it thrilling throughhis nerves.
"Oh," he shouted, "if there was only a hundred of us coming down likethis to take the enemy front and rear! Are you all right, sir?"
"Yes, yes; but beware of the rocks down below there by the track."
"Right, sir. Wish they weren't there, though, and we could go right on;charge through 'em in no time."
He had to speak without turning his head, and Bracy did not catch halfhis words. But it was no time for speaking; and, forgetting for thetime being his injuries and partial helplessness, Bracy began to sharein his driver's excitement, and watched the movements going on below.
The height to which they had climbed had been great, and some memory ofthe labour they had gone through in the ascent came back as they sweptrapidly down, till in an incredibly short space of time they neared therocky track, with its rugged pinnacles and masses standing right up outof the snow.
Gedge saw that the enemy was still far below the track; and as hechecked the way on the stone by gradually driving in his well-nailedboot heels, he looked to right or left for a spot where there would be aclear crossing of the track, free from projecting rocks, so that astoppage would not be necessary. There it was, lying well to the right,narrow but perfectly practicable. For, plainly enough, he could seethat there had been a snow-slide burying a portion of the track, and ifhe could steer between a couple of rocks, not ten yards apart, the glidedown could be continued without a pause.
"It's all right, sir," he cried. "Signals is clear, and we don't stopat that station. Hoorray! Her Majesty's mails. Fast express."
It was on Bracy's lips to cry, "Take care," but he nipped them togetherand sat fast, feeling their pace slacken as if, to carry out Gedge'ssimile, they were easing down to run through a station.
Nearer, nearer, with rough crags half-buried in the snow on both sidesand seeming to close in upon them as they glided down, with the narrowpass between the two rocks unaccountably growing for the moment closertogether. But directly after, by clever steering, Gedge made a curve intheir descent, brought the stone opposite the opening, and then let itgo.
Their way rose a little as they approached the track where it was buriedin the snow, but directly after the descent was steeper; and as soon asGedge felt sure of his course they dashed through the opening at agreatly increased speed. Then he shouted in his wild excitement as theytore down towards the enemy, who were toiling upward, slipping, and evencrawling on all-fours in places, while their active little pursuers werestriving their best to overtake them, but pausing at times to fire.
Pursued and pursuers were still far below, but Bracy saw that it wasonly a matter of a short time before they would be amongst them; andnow, for the first time, it was evident that their descent had caughtthe attention of the hill-men striving to reach the track, some of whomstopped short to stare, while a party of about twenty immediately boreoff to their left as if meaning to intercept them.
"What's it to be, sir!" panted Gedge. "Charge through 'em, or stop andlet 'em have it? They'll be `twix' two fives."
"Stop!" shouted Bracy. "They'll try to check us, and slash as we come;and if we strike against even one we shall be upset."
"That's right, sir. Be ready with the rifles. Mine's charged, I think.'Nother five hundred yards right for that lot o' twenty, and then slideoff and open fire--eh?"
"You don't want your orders, Gedge," said Bracy dryly. "Quite right."
Gedge did not hear him, for, as they rushed down over the icy snow, hehad his work cut out to check his awkward car, as it nearly masteredhim, his heels gliding over the smooth surface and refusing to cut in.Forcing them down, though, the speed began to slacken, till they nearedthe ascending group of savage faces of those who had borne off tointercept them; and as the car was brought to a stand a couple of shotswere fired, and the missiles sent whistled by their heads.
"Can yer roll off, sir, and lie on yer face?" cried Gedge as he snatchedhis rifle, threw himself down behind the stone, and opened hiscartridge-pouch.
"Yes. Look to yourself. Fire sharply, or they'll be upon us."
"Or our bay'nets," said Gedge through his teeth.
The next moment he fired as he rested upon his elbows, and a shot fromBracy rang out, with the result that two of the group below themdropped, and a yell came from the remainder as they made a rush to reachthem. But their running powers were exhausted, and at the end of twentyyards they resumed their heavy climb, with their feet breaking throughthe crust of frozen snow.
Crack, crack! from the English rifles, and one more dropped in histrack, while another sprang wildly in advance for a few yards, beforepitching forward upon his face and lying still.
"Fire steadily," said Bracy hoarsely, "and we may cheek them."
"Right, sir. Quick, too, for the beggars on the left are closing in tohelp."
A couple more shots were fired, and another man went down, and thenthere was a yell of rage and an order from one of the party, with theresult that all dropped upon their faces, checked, and began to fire atthe pair crouching behind the stone, made to look bigger by Gedge's_poshtin_ lying in a little heap on the top.
"It's all right, sir; they couldn't hit a haystack. Their hands are allof a tremble with climbing. We're right enough. I hit that chap."
Proof was given, for one of the enemy started up, dropped his longjezail, and fell backwards.
"Keep on firing steadily, Gedge," said Bracy huskily. "I must open uponthat group on our flank. They're coming on."
"Then we're done, for, sir," said the young soldier. "But mind this,sir; I die game, though you did call me a coward last night."
"I did, Gedge, and it was a cruel lie, my lad. Fire away. I wish I hadyour pluck. Look here."
"Yes, sir.--One for you," growled Gedge as he fired again.--"I'mlistening, but I can't look. Hit him, sir?"
"Yes," said Bracy. "Look here."
"Can't, sir."
"Then listen. When it comes to the worst--one grip of the hand, my lad,before we go."
Crack--crack!
Two more shots in answer to the scattered fire of the enemy, whosebullets whistled over their heads, seeking billets in the snow around.
"Won't be long, sir, I'm afraid," said Gedge. "No, I ain't afraid--nota bit. But those chaps are coming on faster. 'Tain't climbing, sir,now."
"No; they'll be upon us before five minutes have passed. Turn yourrifle upon them, my lad, for two or three shots, and we may check themtoo."
Before Gedge could change his position a scattered volley from belowsomewhere rattled out, and the flanking-party coming on needed nochecking, some of them falling dying or wounded, while the remainderthrew themselves down and began firing, some at their pursuers below,the rest at Bracy and Gedge.
"Hoorray, sir! Didn't I say there was life in a mussel? The Ghoorkhasare at 'em. Look, sir, there's about a dozen of 'em lying down to coverthe advance, and another dozen coming on with their knives. Let's show'em how to shoot, sir. It 'll help the little chaps, too, when theycharge."
It was as Gedge said; and as shot after shot was sent with good aim, theparty of tribes-men in front was lessened by half-a-dozen before thelittle Ghoorkha party came up within charging distance and made theirrush.
"Fix bayonets!" cried Bracy. "The enemy may come at us;" and thelittle, dagger-like weapons clicked and clicked as they flashed in thesu
nshine.
But Bracy and Gedge got in a couple more shots before their foes sprangup to charge them. Then a couple more dropped as they came on, while avolley from below rattled out and made their attack feeble and aimless,though they reached their goal, one to make a slash at Gedge as he waspinned by the lad's bayonet, while two more struck at Bracy. Then theGhoorkhas were upon them, racing over the snow, their crooked knivesflashing, and the remaining enemy were fleeing for their lives,scattering far and wide, with their pursuers overtaking man after man,whose white-coats made blots on the glistening snow, and many a terriblestain. Then a whistle rang out as an officer came up to the stone atthe double, sword in hand.
"Hullo, here!" he cried; "who, in the name of wonder, are you? Icouldn't get up in time. My boys didn't do that?"
Bracy's lips parted, but no sound came.
"No, sir," panted Gedge; "it was the straight knives did it, not thempretty little blades."
"I'm glad of that. I was afraid my boys had made a mistake. But whoare you?"
"Private Willyum Gedge, in the 404th Fusiliers; and here's mylieutenant, Mr Bracy, sir. We was coming from the fort to fetch you."
"Ah!" cried the officer. "How is it with them there?"
"All right, sir; but hard pushed when we come away. Ain't got such athing as a doctor about yer, have you?"
"Yes, yes. My boys shall carry you down. All right," he cried as abugle rang out from below with the recall; and by that time the littlegroup were surrounded by some twenty of the active Ghoorkhas, for themost part with a begonia-leaved kukri in hand, laughing, chattering, andready to dance with delight around the two British soldiers they hadsaved.
Meanwhile their officer was down on one knee rendering first aid to thewounded, the knife of one of the enemy having slashed Bracy's thigh,which was bleeding profusely; and a havildar of the Ghoorkhas wascleverly bandaging Gedge's left arm, chattering to him merrily in brokenEnglish the while.
"Try and swallow a drop more," said the officer to Bracy, who wasreviving a little, and smiled his thanks, his eyes wandering rounddirectly after in search of something, till a movement on the part oftheir rescuers enabled him to see Gedge, to whom he feebly held out hishand.
"Much hurt?" he said faintly.
"Tidy, sir. Smarts a lot; but I don't mind, sir. Say you've not got itbad."
"Bad enough, my lad; but we've won."
Gedge turned to the officer with a wild, questioning look in his eyes,for Bracy sank back, half-fainting.
"A bad, clean cut; that's all," said the officer, smiling encouragement.
"But it ain't all, sir," cried Gedge passionately. "He's badly hurtbesides. Crippled in the leg."
"Ah! and you fought like that! Well, we must get him down to thedoctor; he is not far below. Ambulance party here."
"Beg pardon, sir; why not lay him on the stone again, and let him slidedown easy? I can ride, too, and steer."
"I don't understand you, my lad," said the officer, looking at Gedge asif he thought him wandering.
He soon did comprehend, though; and the little Ghoorkhas cheered withdelight as, with Bracy lying upon the sheepskin-coats, the stony sledgewent gliding slowly down the slope, half-a-dozen of the little fellowsforming its escort, and ready to check it from breaking away, till theend of the snowfield was reached, and the two sufferers were soon afterbeing well tended by the doctor in the temporary camp.
This was near the fir-wood hold by the enemy the night before--theenemy, after heavy loss, having been scattered far and wide.