CHAPTER XXIV
THE DEFENSE OF THE POWDER TRAIN
After firing on the Chinese brigands as already described, Gilbertplunged into the brushwood which was not over half a dozen yardsdistant. He heard the shots discharged at him in return, but fortunatelyevery one went wide of its mark.
Once in the brushwood he did not stop, but continued on his way forseveral rods. Then he paused, wondering if Ben was anywhere in thevicinity.
"I hope they didn't kill him," he murmured. "What a trap that was, andhow easily we walked into it!"
He waited and listened, but nobody came near him. Then, with caution, hepushed ahead, until he gained once more the road leading back to thetemporary camp occupied by the powder train and the detachment guardingit. Following this, he ran on at full speed until the welcome camp-firesgreeted him.
"Major Okopa, we have been attacked by Chunchuses!" he exclaimed, as herushed up to the officer's quarters. And in a brief manner he explainedthe situation so far as he knew it.
The Japanese major had taken a strong liking to Gilbert and Ben, and helost no time in ordering out a company to round up the Chinese brigandsif they could be located. It was Gilbert's own command and he was givenpermission to remain out the whole night and the next day if necessary.
The young Southerner went at the task with vigor, for he realized thatevery moment was precious. He explained the situation to his men, andthey set off at double-quick to where the attack had been made.
As was to be expected, the spot was deserted. By torchlight they saw theevidences of the struggle which had taken place. In one spot was a poolof blood, left by the brigand whom Gilbert had shot in the shoulder.
"They went off in this direction," said one of the soldiers, who wasgood at tracing footsteps. He pointed to a side road, and along thisthey ran, keeping eyes and ears on the alert, so as to avoid anything inthe nature of a surprise.
Two hours later the company found itself on the seashore. But Chunchusesand vessels were gone and to where it was impossible to find out. But onthe beach Gilbert picked up an empty pocketbook which he knew was Ben'sproperty.
"They brought him here most likely," he said. "See, here are the marksof a rowboat, and of many feet. They have gone off on the water."
"Then the hunt is at a standstill," returned his second in command.
The young captain was unwilling to believe this, and the remainder ofthe night, and the next forenoon, were spent in an eager search afterthe enemy. But it was useless; and at last Gilbert, sick at heart,ordered his men to return to the camp.
On the following day the powder train moved onward once more. The firstlieutenant of Ben's company took command of the body, and Ben was marked"missing" on the roll.
"It is certainly too bad, and I sympathize with you, CaptainPennington," said Major Okopa. "Captain Russell is a fine fellow."
"It takes all the vigor out of me," replied Gilbert. "Ben and I werelike two brothers."
But Gilbert was given no time in which to grieve over Ben'sdisappearance. Two days later, the powder train was attacked by adetachment of the Russians, who seemed to spring out of the very ground.One of the wagons loaded with powder was blown to atoms, killing twohorses and three soldiers.
"_Banzai!_" cried the Japanese, and when the order was given theyattacked the enemy with vigor. It was a hot fight, lasting half an hour,and the Russians were driven among some high hills, backed up by severalmountains.
As the powder train had to go through one of the mountain passes soclose at hand, the soldiers were sent ahead, to clear the way of allRussians that might appear. This was dangerous work, for the enemy hadthe advantage of the higher position. But the Japanese were undaunted,and rushed up one slope after another with a vigor and animation thatwas surprising.
"Can't hold them back, when once they get started," said Gilbert, to themajor. "They are like our Southern bloodhounds, when once they strikethe scent."
"And that is the way to win victory," answered Major Okopa.
Not long after this Gilbert found himself at the foot of a steep hillwith his company. At the top of the hill were a number of great bowldersand behind these some of the Russians were in hiding, sending down aspiteful fire whenever the opportunity presented itself.
"We must dislodge those fellows," said Major Okopa. "It is verydangerous work. Do you think you can accomplish it, Captain Pennington?"
"I can try," answered Gilbert, modestly, and ordered his companyforward. He turned them slightly to the left, for here a fringe of thinbrushwood offered a shelter that was not great, but much better thannone.
"Major Okopa expects us to take this hill," he said, in the bestJapanese he could muster. "Let us do our best!"
"_Banzai!_" came the rallying cry from the men, and up the slope theyrushed, with Gilbert at their side. Crack! crack! went the rifles of theRussians, and then, without warning, several shells were sent up. Oneman of Gilbert's company was killed and two wounded, but they did notwaver. Passing the brushwood, they ran out boldly on the slope abovethem.
Many of the rocks at the top of the hill were loose, and as the Japanesecame closer, the enemy began to send them down in a shower which washighly dangerous to those below.
"Beware of the stones!" cried Gilbert.
He had hardly spoken when he saw that he would have to look after hisown safety. The Russians were working over a rock that weighed severalhundreds of pounds.
All at once the mass broke loose. There was a yell of delight fromabove, and then the big bowlder came rolling straight for Gilbert. Hadit touched him he must surely have been crushed to death.
But the young Southerner was as cool as he was quick. Pausing to makecertain which way the big stone was coming down, he made a quick leap inthe opposite direction. Then the bowlder went bounding past him, tocrash into some small trees at the bottom of the hill.
"Are you hurt, captain?" asked his lieutenant.
"No," answered Gilbert. Then he leaped to the front once more. "Come!"he cried. "_Banzai!_ Forward for the Mikado!" And on the whole companywent as before, firing rapidly as they did so. The Russians clung to thehilltop a few minutes longer, and then, as the first of the Japanesegained a footing there, they broke and fled in wild disorder down theother side of the hill, and into the woods to the northward. TheJapanese pursued them for two hours but could not catch them, and atlast the chase was abandoned. In this skirmish, called the battle ofPo-yang-ling, the Japanese lost in killed and wounded four men, and theRussians seven. Three of the Czar's soldiers were also taken prisoners.
After that the powder train had no more difficulty, and four days laterreached its destination, which was the village of Fanshen, where theJapanese had established something of a base of supplies for thatportion of the army which was moving southward to join in the siege ofPort Arthur. At Fanshen, Major Okopa's command received orders to gointo camp instead of returning to the vicinity of Liao-Yang.
"This looks to me as if we were to be transferred to the army in thesouth," said the major, after communicating the news to Gilbert.
"Well, I shouldn't mind helping to take Port Arthur," returned the youngSoutherner. "If you will remember, it was my treatment by the Russiansat that place which caused me to take up arms against them."
"So you said before, Captain Pennington. But do not imagine that thetaking of Port Arthur will be easy. The Russians have fortified it inevery possible manner."
"Yes,--they were doing that before I came away from there."
"For months they have been strengthening their fortifications, andgetting in ammunition and supplies in secret. Their chain of fortsextend, so I have been told, for twenty miles and more outside of thecity, and being in a mountainous country, they will be hard to reduce."
"Don't you think we can capture the place?" demanded Gilbert.
"Capture it? Most assuredly, captain. But it will mean a greatdestruction of life," returned Major Okopa, gravely.
What the major said about the Russians fo
rtifying Port Arthur was true.Lieutenant-General Stoessel, the Russian commander at that place, hadunder him sixty thousand men, the very flower of the Russian army. Onthe side of the sea the town was fortified at a dozen points, only threeof which had been thus far captured under the Japanese army led byGeneral Nogi. To the northward and the westward were some twentydefenses, set among the mountains where they were next to impossible toreach.
In a work of this kind, it is impossible to relate in detail all of themany battles fought over the possession of Port Arthur. The firstassault was made in February by Admiral Togo's fleet, and the navalconflict was kept up for almost three months after that. In the meantimea Japanese army under General Oku landed at Pitsewo, and after severalbattles at Kinchow and Nanshan Hill, drove the Russians back to theirmountain defenses and took possession of the railroad running toLiao-Yang and Mukden. Thus Port Arthur was cut off from almost allcommunication with the outside world.