Nedra

  CHAPTER XXVI

  ON THE EVE OF BATTLE

  Ridgeway looked at his watch as he drew up to the torch bearers. It wasthen ten minutes after ten o'clock. In all probability the entire forceof the enemy had landed upon the coast and was already on its way towardthe village. He realized that these savages, friend and foe, knewnothing of the finer stratagems of warfare. Their style of fighting wasof the cruel kind that knows no science, no quarter. A new commander hadcome to revolutionize the method of warfare for at least one of thearmies. It was to be a case of strategy and a new intelligence againstsuperior forces and a surprised ferocity.

  He was somewhat amazed to find that none of his troopers had attemptedto leave the village before he was there to lead. This, when he thoughtof the eagerness and bloodthirstiness of the men, was certainly a fairpromise of submissiveness on the field of battle. To be sure, therestraint was almost unendurable to the fierce fellows who had caught uptheir shields and spears long before he came in from the river. Theexcitement was intense, the jabbering frightful. Here, there, everywheredanced the frantic warriors, tossing their weapons in the air andscreaming with a loyalty that savored very much of impotent rage.

  "Heavens, I'd give little for a man's life if he crossed these devilsto-night," thought Hugh as King Pootoo detached himself from the hordeand raced unmajestically over to meet him, almost, forgetting toprostrate himself in his frenzy. Grossly exaggerated by the flare of thetorches, the spectacle was enough to strike terror to the strongestheart. The king subdued himself sufficiently to grasp the meaning ofHugh's signs and set about to bring order out of chaos--a difficult taskfor even a king. Gradually the excitement subsided and the band stood atrest, awaiting the command to move to the hills across the river. Theyreminded Hugh of dogs he had seen. We all have held a chunk of meat highabove a dog's nose and we have seen him sit in enforced patience, hopingfor the fall thereof. And we all know that after a certain time he willthrow patience to the winds and leap frantically upward in the effort tosecure the prize.

  A force of fully one hundred young fellows was to be left in the villageas a guard against disaster in case the enemy should force its waythrough the pass. Lady Tennys was to have a bodyguard, even though itcrippled the fighting force at the front. The men comprising thisreserve did not relish the plan, but their objections were relentlesslyoverruled by the white Izor and King Pootoo. With sulky heads theyseated themselves as directed near the temple they were to protect withtheir lives.

  It required but a few minutes of time for Ridgeway to find that hislittle army was ready to move. After some hesitation he went to thetemple door to bid farewell to his fellow-castaway. She was stillleaning against the doorpost and did not move as he approached.

  "We're off now," he said as he came up. "Don't worry, little woman;we'll come home victorious as sure as fate. See these fellows? They areyour guard, your own soldiers. You can command them to do as you wish."

  "Mine?" she asked slowly, as if not comprehending.

  "Yes; they are the Lady Tennys Reserves," he said, smiling. A glad lightsuddenly broke in her eyes, her face brightened and her whole mienchanged from despair to delight.

  "Thank you, Hugh. I shall never forget you for this. You will never knowhow happy I am to have these men to do my bidding. If it is necessary Iwill show you that a woman of England can fight as valiantly as herbrothers, the bravest men in all the world." In her eyes there weretears as she uttered these words,--tears of courage and pride.

  "Would that I could have you by my side all through this fight. There isan inspiration in your very gentleness that could make me do prodigiousdeeds of valor. But, good-by, Tennys! I'll be back for lunch to-morrow!"he cried as he dashed away. He could look into those swimming eyes nolonger and restrain a certain impulse that was trying to force him intothe liberation of an entirely unnecessary bit of sentiment.

  "Good-by, Hugh! Don't be careless. What will the Reserves be worth to meif you are killed? I shall pray for you, Hugh--every minute of thisawful night I shall pray for you."

  "God bless you," he called back from Velvet Valley, his brain whirlingwith the wish that he had kissed her and the fear of the result had hemade the attempt.

  A few minutes later he sent his jacket back to the temple. It was hismost valued possession. Had he seen the look of tenderness in her eyesas she hold up the worn, blue jacket; had he seen her kiss the bluecloth impulsively, he would have been thrilled to the bone. But had hebeen there to observe the startled, mystified blush that rose to herbrow when she found that she had really kissed his coat, he might havebeen as perplexed as she over the unusual act.

  With heart beating violently and nerves strung to their highest tension,Ridgeway led the way to the river. He was as confident of victory as ifhe were returning from the pass with the result out of doubt. Reachingthe river, his men plunged into the water and swam across, not waitingfor the canoes. He and the king were rowed over, meeting the swimmers asthey came up from the bank, dripping and puffing. Again the march wasresumed, and within fifteen minutes the band was at the foot of thehills. Here Hugh called a halt.

  With Pootoo and a dozen men he went forward to take a look down the longgorge. All torches were extinguished and absolute silence was enforced.The scouting party failed to hear a sound except the cries of nightbirds and their own heavy breathing. All nature seemed to be resting forthe struggle that was to come.

  Six fleet fellows were sent over the hills to skirt the edge of the passfor its full length, a mile or more. They were to wait at the oppositeend until the enemy revealed its approach and then hurry back with thealarm. Returning to the waiting army, Hugh and the king began the workof assigning the men to their places. Two hundred were stationed in thetrenches and behind the breastworks at the mouth of the pass, ready tointercept those of the enemy who succeeded in escaping the boulders andspears from the hilltops. These men stacked their spears behind them andthen, at the command of the king, who had been instructed by the Izor,laid themselves upon the ground to sleep. This was an innovation inwarfare so great that open rebellion was threatened. The novices incivilized and scientific fighting were fully convinced that the enemywas nowhere in sight and that they would be called when the propermoment came.

  Then came the manning of the four hundred boulders on the top of thehills. All along the line of heavy rocks men were stationed withinstructions to roll them into the pass when the signal was given, Bothsides of the pass were lined with these boulders, The king was as nearin ecstasies over the arrangements as one of his nature could possiblybe. He prostrated himself a dozen times before the wonderfully clevergenius who was in command, twice bumping his head against exceedinglyhard rocks that he had been unable to see when he began his precipitouscollapse to reverence.

  It was after midnight before the army in ambush was ready for theconflict. Hugh was amazed to find the men cool and submissive, obeyingevery order that he managed in some way to convey to them. Witheverything in readiness there was nothing to do but to wait for thecrisis, so he threw himself on the grass at the top of the highest pointon the ridge near the opening to the valley, and tried to sleep.

  While he reclined there, thinking of a sweet-faced woman and herReserves, fully eighteen hundred warriors were stealthily coming up fromthe sea. Six wakeful sentinels were waiting for them.