CHAPTER VII.
WHOM THE GODS LOVE DIE YOUNG.
It was, I believe, Lord Cochrane's desire to land his troops close tothe port of Arica; but two unsuccessful attempts having been made, theplan was abandoned.
Colonel Miller, who had by this time resumed his duties, nexttransferred his men to two small schooners captured from the enemy, andhaving taken on board food and water sufficient for twenty-four hours,set sail for the Morro de Sama, a miserable port ten leagues north ofArica.
Jose and I accompanied him, as did also, to my great delight, the youngdoctor. Our two vessels were crazy craft: they had only temporaryrudders, and it was impossible to steer with any degree of accuracy.Owing to this the trip occupied just double the calculated time, sothat on landing we were half dead with hunger and thirst. The soldiersstill suffered somewhat from the effects of the ague: their legstottered under them, and at first they could not march longer than halfan hour at a time without lying down to rest.
You must not, however, suppose that we were at all downhearted on thisaccount. The men had the greatest confidence in their leader, whilethe gaiety and high spirits of the young doctor acted as a fine tonic.He was full of quips and cranks, and his merry sayings brought a smileto the faces of even the most wearied.
A winding path three miles in length brought us to the summit of asteep mountain, where we stopped awhile to rest, and to enjoy therefreshing breeze.
"Well, Crawford," exclaimed the doctor cheerfully, when we once moreresumed the march, "how do you like being on active service? Apleasant change, isn't it, from being cooped up on board ship?"
At the moment I hardly agreed with him, but I made an effort to replyto his banter.
Only to a few of us was the really desperate nature of our expeditionknown. Of the Spaniards we entertained no manner of fear; the soleterror lay in the route to be traversed. We were already parched bythirst, and more than twenty miles of sandy desert lay between us andwater.
Nor was this all. Only one man knew the route, and years had gone bysince he had last travelled over it. If his strength or memory failed,it might well happen that the dreary desert would be our burial-placeand the loose sand our winding-sheet. It was not exactly a cheeringprospect, but we made the best of it.
The colonel marched at the head of his men, the doctor at the rear, sothat he might assist any unfortunate stragglers, while Jose and I wentforward with the guide.
With frequent halts for rest we ploughed our way through the shiftingsand, our eyes aching and our throats terribly dry.
About midnight, as near as I could judge, the guide stoppedirresolutely.
"What is it?" asked Jose, in an excited whisper; "what is wrong?"
We could not see the fellow's face, but he seemed very agitated, andthere was a break in his voice as he answered,--
"I don't know--I am not sure--but I can't be certain that we are on theright track."
The words sounded like a sentence of death, and I could hardly repressa cry of horror.
"Be still!" whispered Jose; "the men must not know. Stay here a minutewhile I ask the colonel to halt. That will give us a littlebreathing-space."
He was soon back, and taking the guide's arm, he exclaimed,--
"Now come, get your wits about you, and let us see what can be done.Where do you think we ought to be?"
"I don't know," replied the guide helplessly. "The saints preserve us,or we are lost!"
"Now look here," said Jose sternly: "you are giving way, and that won'tdo. Pluck up your courage, man, and remember that all our lives are inyour hands."
I think, perhaps, this awful responsibility had much to do withbreaking the guide down. He wrung his hands and groaned, saying aloudthat he had brought us to death.
"But we aren't dead yet," I remarked, "and needn't be if only you willcollect your wits. Come, let us cast about a bit; maybe you'll findsome landmark that will help you."
"No, no," he cried; "we may be right now, and if we stray away we shallcertainly be lost. May the saints preserve us!"
I think the fellow would be there yet, but for the click of Jose'spistol and the stern ring in his voice as he said sharply,--
"This nonsense has to stop.--Take his arm, Jack.--Now go on without aword, until you can make up your mind one way or other about the route."
The next quarter of an hour was one of the worst in my life. The manstumbled this way and that, now going in a straight line, again turningto right or left, and all the time the troops in our rear were restingin fancied security. I shuddered to think what would happen if theguide failed to locate the track. Suddenly he ran forward quickly,dragging me with him, and then uttered a joyful cry. We were at thefoot of a sandy hillock of peculiar shape, much like, as far as I couldtell, a truncated cone.
It was not high, but apparently of considerable circumference.
The guide laughed and wept like a man bereft of his senses, and thencrying, "We are saved!" he straightway fell on his knees and offered upa prayer of thanksgiving. The strangely-shaped hillock showed him thatthus far he had led us correctly; and although during the night he hadseveral further twinges of alarm, he did not lose his nerve again.
As mile after mile was traversed our thirst became excruciatinglypainful, and there was no chance of relief. Between us and the valleyof Sama no drop of water would be found. Still we plodded on, parchedand weary, until in the eastern sky the dawn rose slowly. For just abrief period we felt the cold, damp, but refreshing breath of morning,and then the hot sun added to our misery. Our heads were scorched byits burning rays, and we were almost blinded by the glare reflectedfrom the deep, loose sand.
It was nearly nine o'clock when the guide, extending his arm,exclaimed, "Sama--water!" And looking ahead, we caught a glimpse ofthe cool green vegetation in the Sama valley.
Under other circumstances it would have been laughable to watch theeffect produced by our near approach to the valley. What semblance oforder the colonel had kept on the march vanished. Breaking theirranks, the men rushed forward eagerly in search of the welcome water.One who for the last mile had been crawling along, supported by thedoctor, darted off like a champion runner, though he fell exhaustedbefore covering half the distance. On reaching the sparkling stream,we all, without exception, flung ourselves down by the margin, andlapped the water like thirsty dogs.
Here we remained till the next day, being supplied with food by thepeople from Sama, who also procured for us about a dozen horses, two ofwhich, I am thankful to say, fell to Jose and myself.
Most of the men, after eating and drinking, stretched themselves out onthe grass, and were fast asleep in a moment; but our leader had much todo, and the cheery young doctor spent half his time in attending on thesick. In this Jose helped him. I wished to do so, but in truth thelong march, and the want of food and water, had worn me out.
"Lie down and get some rest," said the doctor, "or you will be leftbehind to-morrow. We have another twelve leagues or so before us yet."
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To a village called Tacna."
"We call it a town," laughed Jose. "Why, there are more than fourthousand people living in it."
"Dear me," exclaimed the doctor good-humouredly, "what a considerableplace!"
Attended by Jose, he passed on laughing, and I curled up in thesheltered nook which I had selected as bed and bedchamber in one. Iknow nothing of what happened after that until Jose, shaking my arm,told me to rise.
It was scarcely light; but the troops were already preparing theirsimple breakfast, for they had another long and tedious march beforethem.
"How do you feel, Jack?" asked Jose.
"All right, thank you," said I, giving myself a shake, "buttremendously hungry. I could eat a horse!"
At that he laughed, saying, "Before the campaign's over I daresay youwill be glad to eat part of one"--a prophecy that was more thanfulfilled.
Directly after breakfast the men were ass
embled, the colonel addressedthem in a few stirring words, and the march began. We did notanticipate an attack, but a few sturdy and well-mounted peasants fromSama rode ahead to make sure that the route was clear.
Outside Tacna we were met by the inhabitants, who escorted us, withmuch noise and cheering, in triumph to the town.
"These worthy people are good patriots, Crawford," said the doctor, whowas riding next me. "Hark how they cry 'Down with the Spaniards!' Itis lucky for them that we are not part of the Spanish army."
"As to that," I answered, "it is as easy to shout for one side as forthe other. It is only a matter of words, after all."
"Well," he laughed, "if cheers were bullets, we need not go short ofammunition."
We remained several days in Tacna, where I had the luck to be quarteredon a wealthy Spanish merchant. It was most amusing to be in hiscompany, as he hated us like poison, and, in spite of himself, couldhardly prevent his real sentiments from popping out at inconvenienttimes. However, either from fear or from policy, he treated me well,and during our stay in the town I lived on the best of everything.This was an agreeable interlude in the making of war, and suited meadmirably.
Like all good things, it came to an end much too soon, and verysuddenly. Jose, the doctor, and I had been spending an evening withone of the principal inhabitants, and on coming away met the colonel.
"I am pleased that you keep good hours," said he, with a smile. "Wemarch at dawn. The Spaniards are moving in three detachments tointercept us; we must crush them one by one."
"Well," exclaimed the doctor pleasantly, "we can't grumble; we have hada pleasant breathing-space."
During our stay at Tacna we had received reinforcements, bringing ouradventurous party up to four hundred and fifty, of which about a thirdpart consisted of cavalry. The few days' rest had recruited ourstrength, and we set out in high spirits for Buena Vista, a tiny hamletat the foot of the Cordillera.
As yet we had obtained no definite news of the enemy; but while we layat Buena Vista, a native scout brought word that a strong Spanish forcewas stationed at Mirabe, a village some forty miles distant. Thecolonel's resolution was instantly taken, and as soon as day broke wewere once more moving.
After we had left the valley, our route lay across a region where noblade of grass had ever grown. As far as the eye reached, the scenewas one of utter desolation. The horses picked their steps gingerly,and the foot-soldiers stumbled along as best they could, tripping nowand then over the stones and boulders that strewed the path. All daylong, with intervals for rest, we tramped, and the coming of nightstill found us pursuing the tedious journey.
The last part was worse than the first. For six miles the roaddescended amidst steep rocks and mighty precipices. The pass was sonarrow that we had to march in single file, each horseman on foot andleading his animal. Had the Spaniards caught us there, not a man wouldhave escaped.
Slowly and carefully we descended in one long line, until at midnightwe reached the rugged bank of the river which rushes through the Mirabevalley. In a hollow on the opposite side lay the village, and behindthe mud walls surrounding the cultivated grounds were the Spaniards,little dreaming of our proximity.
"Now," exclaimed the colonel softly, "we have them in our power. Wehave but to cross the river and fall upon their camp."
He had already begun to give his orders, when the report of apistol--fired, whether by accident or design, by one of our men--rangout, and all chance of a surprise vanished. The Spaniards, in alarm,began firing rapidly, though they could not see us, a thick woodstretching between them and the river.
"I'd hang that fellow," growled Jose. "He's either a fool or a rogue,and has completely spoiled the colonel's plans."
"Never mind," said the colonel cheerfully; "we must make new ones," andhe immediately dispatched two rocket parties--one to the right, theother to the left--in order to engage the enemy's attention.
Meanwhile each mounted man, taking up a foot-soldier behind him,crossed the river, and then returned for another, until in a short timeall had safely effected a passage. Then, unable to do more in thedarkness, we lay down to wait for the coming of dawn.
Many of the men fell fast asleep in spite of the random firing, but mymind was busy with thoughts of the approaching fight.
About two o'clock, Dr. Welsh, who had been assisting the regular armysurgeons, came and lay down beside me.
"Well, Crawford," said he, finding I was awake, "how do you like themusic? Rather alarming at first, eh? But you'll get used to it.After hearing the bullets swish round your ears a time or two you'llthink nothing of it."
"That may be," I replied, "but it is distinctly unpleasant just now."
He laughed, saying the fight would be only a skirmish at the most, andnot worth considering.
"Are you going to stay with us?" I asked.
"Oh no," said he; "this is only a run ashore, just to stretch my legs abit, you know. They get cramped on board ship. By George, thosefellows intend serenading us till daybreak. Who's that on the otherside of you--Craig?"
"Yes--sound asleep and snoring. I wish I were."
"Ah, no doubt he has a clear conscience. Take pattern by him, my boy."
"Thanks for the advice," said I, laughing; "it's very kind of you tooffer it."
"It costs nothing," he answered banteringly; "which explains why somany people are willing to give it."
After a time I fell asleep, and did not waken till, at the first streakof dawn, an order was quietly passed through the lines for every man tohold himself in readiness.
Jose sat up, rubbed his eyes lazily, and declared that he could sleepanother twenty-four hours.
"There's too much hurry and bustle about this kind of warfare," saidhe. "Why don't both sides agree to meet at a certain place, and tofight it out?"
"A famous plan, upon my word!" cried the doctor; "it would save no endof trouble."
"And get the business over quickly," said Jose, who was saddling up."Hullo, there goes the colonel! I wonder if he ever gets tired?"
"No," laughed the doctor merrily; "he's made of iron."
The dawn was broadening now; and moving from the shelter of the wood,we saw the Spaniards on a level piece of ground about half a mile wide.
"They're trying to gain the ridge on the left," cried Jose; "that willgive them the advantage."
But the colonel had seen the manoeuvre also, and flung his small bodyof cavalry at them with such force that they drew back, trying toretreat by the winding track through the mountains. Again they wereintercepted, this time being forced to the edge of a precipitous cliff.
"By George," exclaimed the doctor, "they're in it now! It's neck ornothing with them."
All this time I had quietly sat on my horse, watching the phases of thefight. The scene was to me so extraordinary that I had no sense offear. I was not upset even by the strange, wailing sounds made by therushing bullets.
Jose and I were with the reserve cavalry; Welsh was at the colonel'sside. The Spaniards fought with desperate courage, I could see that,and they pushed our men hard. Fallen soldiers dotted the level tractof ground. Some, raising themselves painfully, began to crawl back.
I make no pretence of giving an accurate description of the combat. Tome it was a confused medley of men and horses inextricably mixed; ofshining swords, of blinding red flashes; and my ears were deafened withthe fierce cries and shouts of men spending their lives recklesslyunder the rising sun.
At last I saw the colonel raise his sword. Then he shouted somethingin Spanish, whereat, gathering up the reins in my left hand, I spurredmy horse, to keep company with the rest.
"A firm seat, Jack; keep a firm seat!" cried a familiar voice in myear; and there was Jose, riding as coolly as if taking a canter overthe grounds of our park at home!
We were riding at no great pace, but all well together, when again thecolonel's voice rang out, and we broke instantly into a gallop. Thenin a flash I saw a body of Spanish
cavalry drawn up to receive us,while from our left came a stinging hail of bullets.
A man close to me dropped his sword with a cry of pain, and the nextmoment his horse, taking the bit between its teeth, rushed madly to thefront. I watched its progress with queer fascination. On it went,right through the Spaniards, who edged aside to let it pass, straightto the brink of the precipice, over which it fell, still carrying itshapless rider. It seemed to me that I heard his shriek, though thatmust have been fancy, as it could not have risen above the tumult ofthe fight.
"Forward!" roared the colonel, waving his sword, and the next instantwe were in the midst of the throng. The young doctor was just in frontof me, Jose on my right hand, and the men pressing close behind. I sawnothing of the fight save that part only which concerned myself. Againand again the shining steel was within a hair's-breadth of me--now atmy head, now at my heart--while I was almost suffocated in the press.
Inch by inch, by sheer force of steel, we threaded our way through,re-formed on the further side, and, still headed by the colonel, dashedonce more into the fray. This time the resistance was less obstinate.The Spaniards began to weary--to fall back, as if unable to hold theirground.
"Hurrah!" cried the young doctor, "hurrah! they're done for!"
I shall not easily forget the picture he made. His handsome face wasflushed with excitement, his beautiful eyes were ablaze with light; hesat his horse erect as a young sapling. A handsomer or finer man couldnot have been.
I saw the tragedy from beginning to end, but could do nothing toprevent it. It was over quick as a flash of summer lightning. Beforeus rode a Spanish officer, calling fiercely on his men to come back.At the sound of the doctor's triumphant note he turned, and I saw hisface black with anger.
"Ah, Englishman!" he cried savagely; and even as he spoke his left armrose, there was a flash, a report, and the doctor fell forward on hishorse's neck.
"See to him, Crawford!" cried the colonel huskily; and as I clutchedthe animal's bridle, the troopers swept on in hurricane fury, whilefrom all parts of the battlefield there rose a cry of triumph.