CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
THE HIGHROAD TO LIBERTY.
When they had placed half a mile or more between themselves and theRussian outposts, Phil caught Tony by the sleeve and came to a halt.
"We'll have a breather and a consultation now, old chap," he said with acheery note in his voice. "We're safely through so far, but there's alot to be done before we reach our comrades. It was bad luck ourhitting up against that fellow, for when the outposts are relieved atmidnight he will be found, and our flight discovered. So we may take itthat we have barely an hour's start."
"It were bad luck," agreed Tony, "but I don't see as though it weren'tworser for him. We hit up against the beggar, but I can tell yer theknock he give us wasn't nothing to the smasher I got in on his face. Itfairly knocked the senses out of him, and will teach him to mind his ownbusiness in future."
"Now, what's to be done, Tony?" asked Phil. "We have an hour's start,and barely that. I am for making across to the road, and trotting alongit at our best pace. They are sure to send horsemen back by that way,and we shall be able to hear them if we keep our ears open. Then wewill slip across the grass and hide up in some vineyard, where I expectwe shall do well to stay until the search is over."
"Look here, Phil, you're bossing this show," said Tony with someemphasis. "I haven't a doubt but what yer proposes is the best, solet's get off at once."
Having settled the point they promptly swung to the right, and soon wereon the post-road. Then, taking to their heels, they ran steadily alongit. Every ten minutes they halted for a few moments to listen, but,hearing nothing, set out again. In this way they had covered some fiveor six miles before shouts and galloping hoofs striking hard upon theroad behind them caught their ears. Instantly they turned on to thegrass, and, climbing a wall, ran through a large cultivated field andhid themselves in a patch of corn beyond. It was well that they did so,for when opposite the wall the pursuing Cossacks halted, while two oftheir number dismounted, and, vaulting over it, searched in its shadowfor them.
Finding nothing they returned to their companions, and soon the beat ofhoofs again resounded along the post-road. Phil and Tony werecongratulating themselves on their safety thus far, when the latter, whohad pushed his head up through the ears of corn, strained his eyestowards the road, and clutching Phil by the shoulders, whispered, "Hush!I hear something." Both listened intently, but for some minutes couldneither see nor hear anything; the moon, however, was rising, and verysoon they were able to make out a solitary horseman patrolling the road.
"That settles it," muttered Phil. "Of course by creeping up to the wallwe might manage to silence that fellow, but it would do more harm thangood. At present they are uncertain of our whereabouts, but hisdisappearance would tell them at once that we were in the immediateneighbourhood. As it is, I doubt if they will think we have got so far,for the sentries are certain to declare that they noticed our sleepingfigures up to the last moment. Tony, we must make a move, and find somebetter hiding-place than this."
Stealing through the corn-patch they were not long in reaching itsmargin, and then, to their chagrin, nothing but open fields met theirview.
"I fear it means lying where we are," said Phil dejectedly. "We mighteasily slip across unobserved, but as far as one can see in this lightthere is not a vineyard or cover of any sort in sight. We must dosomething, for a couple of horsemen would quickly rout us out of this."
"I seem to remember some kind of house along this way," muttered Tony,trying to recall the spot. "Yes, I'm sure of it, and it's away overthere, half a mile or more, I should think;" and he stretched his armand pointed to the right.
"Then we'll try to find it," said Phil with decision. "There is nothingelse for it, and we cannot be in a worse spot than we occupy now. Iblame myself for not having kept a better watch on our surroundings aswe passed along the road with our escort. That Cossack has ridden awaya little, so now is our time; we'll strike straight across, and trust toluck. We haven't time to pick roads, for it will be dawn in anotherhour. If they come over here they are certain to see our footmarks, butno doubt we shall get on to grassy land soon, and that will throw themoff the scent."
Standing up for a few moments, to make sure that no enemy was near, theyplunged into the fields and walked steadily on for an hour; but still nohouse was in sight. Half an hour later, when they were almost indespair, and when a faint flush in the east and a waning of the pale,silvery gleams of the moon heralded the approach of dawn, they caughtsight of some outbuildings on their left, and were hurrying towardsthem, when Phil suddenly saw some ghostly-looking horsemen issuing frombehind them, and clutching hold of Tony, dragged him forcibly into anarrow ditch which he was in the act of crossing.
"What's up?" asked Tony, somewhat nettled; but Phil's whispered reply,"Cossacks! Hush!" appeased him.
The ditch was half-filled with water, but a thorough sousing ispreferable to captivity, and the two companions squeezed still closerinto it, wedging themselves into its slime and mud, and thrusting theirbodies as far as possible beneath the long grass and reeds which sprangfrom its bank, for a hasty glance and approaching sounds told them thatthe Russians would probably pass close at hand. Five minutes latertheir voices were audible, and a series of splashes and thuds told themthat they had leapt the ditch a few yards higher up.
"They are not there, and you have led us a fine goose-chase!" Philheard one of the Russians angrily exclaim. "What made you take us onsuch a fool's errand, Petroff?"
"It is no fool's errand," another voice replied gruffly. "I distinctlysaw two figures cross the land beyond. They are not at the farm, thatis clear; but we shall catch them, and then they shall suffer. Pigsthat all Englishmen are! I myself will tie them to a wheel and thrashthem before their comrades. It will be a good example, and our masterthe Czar would approve of it."
The speakers passed on, and Phil hastily interpreted what he hadoverheard.
"Whack us, will they?" muttered Tony, gritting his teeth. "That's onemore chalked up against these Cossack chaps. Pigs, indeed! Yah!" Andhis indignation being too great for words, he subsided into silence.Giving the patrol sufficient time to get well away, they sprang from theditch, and hastily squeezing the water from their clothes, struck acrossto the outhouses. Beyond them and within fifty paces was a smallfarmhouse, standing in absolutely open fields, with not a sign of avineyard or patch of cultivated ground, while fenced-in enclosures anddistant bleating and lowing told that this was a grazing-farm, and thatits owner did not trust to crops for his livelihood.
By this time the light was distinctly clearer and the night was rapidlydrawing to a close; so that, if they were to escape observation, it wasnecessary that they should hide themselves away.
"The outhouses will be the best for us," said Phil, thinking aloud."Come along, Tony; we must see which one will suit us best. If they aremerely empty huts, meant for cattle, they will be of no use to us, andwe shall have to try the house, or get into an empty pig-sty orsomething of the sort."
The first was simply an empty shed, and the second proved equallyuseless. The third was much larger than the others, and the big, closeddoors showed it to be a coach-house.
"That will do, so we'll get inside at once," whispered Phil. "Just runround, Tony, and see if there's a window close to the ground."
While Phil knocked out the pin that held the hasp of the door, Tony wentin search of a window, and returned to say that the only opening hecould find was a trap-door high up, evidently leading to a hay-loft.But there was no ladder.
"Then we must find one," said Phil quickly. "It will never do to get inand leave the door open. If we cannot find a ladder, perhaps there willbe a piece of rope inside, and we can manage it like that."
Tony disappeared again, while Phil, opening one of the huge doors,entered the shed. In it were several arabas and heavy carts run closetogether, while behind them, and pushed close against the wooden wall,was a dilapidated and old-fashioned four-whe
eled carriage, completelycovered in by an antiquated leather hood, and yet by its mere presencethere proving that the owner was a moderately well-to-do person.
"Just the thing for us," muttered Phil. "Now for a rope or a ladder."
He hunted about in the dim light, and presently came across someharness, made of twisted hide, hanging close against the door. To takeit down and buckle the traces together was only a few minutes' work, andby that time Tony had returned, to dolefully inform his friend that hehad searched everywhere without discovering a ladder, and that, inaddition, while prowling round the house, he had seen a light moving,showing that its occupants were already astir.
"How'll this do, Tony?" asked Phil, producing his improvised rope."Now, who's to do the climbing? You--or shall I be the one?"
Tony settled the question by stepping outside and closing the door,having taken the precaution to leave his stick with Phil. Then hejammed the hasp to, and, having replaced the pin, ran round till he wasbeneath the trap-door.
A series of niches had been left in the planks which formed the wall,and up these Phil rapidly swarmed, and gained the loft. Throwing thetrap-door open, he lowered his rope, and sitting on the floor, with bothfeet wedged against the wall, called softly to Tony to climb. Twominutes later they were together.
"Now, Tony," said Phil, "pick up a big armful of hay and toss it down.You will find an old coach in the corner of the shed. Take the haythere and make all comfortable, while I close and fasten the door, andput these traces back."
Working rapidly, for there was no saying when a hot search might be madefor them, it was not long before they were both comfortably ensconsed inthe dilapidated coach, leaving the interior of the shed as they hadfound it.
"All we want now is a look-out," said Phil thoughtfully. "You staywhere you are, Tony, while I search for one. In any case I shall haveplenty of time to get back to you, for no one could get in here withoutgiving us plenty of warning."
"Search away, old horse--search till yer find it. I'm as comfortablehere as a prince in his palace," exclaimed Tony, with a broad grin ofcontentment, throwing himself back upon the hay which filled the roomycarriage.
Phil opened the door and stepped out. Then he searched the wallsthoroughly, finding many cracks and apertures by which he was able toobtain a clear view of his surroundings. Better than all, he discovereda long crevice between two planks directly behind their hiding-place.
Stepping into the carriage he closed the door, and, opening his knife,cut a large triangular slit in the leather covering. Through this, toTony's absolute bewilderment, he thrust his head, and stared through theaperture in the wall, to find that it commanded an excellent view of thefarmhouse and surroundings.
"There you are, Tony," he laughed, withdrawing his head. "That is ourlook-out, and one of us must be stationed there all day. This slit Ihave made is never likely to be noticed. Have a look yourself."
Tony did so, but withdrew his head almost more quickly than he hadthrust it out.
"Bust me! the Russians are already after us," he cried. "See foryourself, Phil. They are hammering at the door of the farmhouse."
Shouts, shrill hoots, and loud hangings reached their ears, and, glueinghis eyes to the crevice, Phil saw that a party of horsemen had ridden upand halted before the farmhouse, and within a short distance of theouthouse in which he and his friend were hidden. A few moments laterthe door of the farmhouse was opened, and a man appeared lookingsomewhat startled.
"What do you want?" he asked angrily. "Am I to have no peace? It isscarcely an hour since you roused me in search of some of your beggarlyprisoners who have escaped. Am I to be disturbed like this because youdo not keep a careful watch?"
"Gently, old man, gently," a rough fellow with a rasping voice answered."We are but doing the duty of our country and our master, and you hadbetter keep a civil and obliging tongue in your head. We know of farmsvery near at hand that are farms no longer. Don't we, my comrades?" heasked with a brutal laugh. "They were burnt--by accident, perhaps--andtheir owner hangs to the nearest tree outside. Perchance--wretchedman--of his own act, and perchance, my surly friend, because he wasindiscreet."
"What do you want, then?" asked the farmer in a more civil tone,evidently overawed by the black and lowering looks of the Cossacks, andby the covert threats which their spokesman had uttered.
"Something good and of your beat, my friend, for we are hungry; andafter that we will search the farm once more."
"Very well, come in if you will. Here, wife," he shouted, "prepare ameal for these good fellows."
"What's all the noise about," asked Tony impatiently, tugging at Phil'sarm.
Then when he had learnt he grumbled. "Something to eat. That's whatthey're after now, is it? Young 'un, the very mention of a meal makesme as hollow as the drum of our Grenadier band. Just keep an eye uponthem till they are out of the way, and then we'll fall to ourselves.We've only bread and water, but I feel like tackling anything."
A little later the Cossacks had entered the house, leaving their poniesoutside, unsaddled, and tied by the halter to a long rope attached to aring in the door-post. A plentiful supply of corn had been given them,and while their masters were busy with knife and fork, they ate ithungrily, and having finished it, promptly drooped their heads and fellasleep, for the Cossack pony, though hardy and full of strength, is along-suffering animal, and never knows how soon he may be called uponfor work. Therefore, having been on the move most of the night, one andall took immediate advantage of the moment's respite given them. As forPhil and Tony, stretching their legs and bunching a thick layer of haybeneath them, they set to work on the bread they had saved, and enjoyedtheir meal in spite of its being so simple.
An hour later there was a commotion outside, and Phil, who was on thewatch, saw the Cossacks emerge from the farmhouse.
Then they separated, and in couples searched every corner of the houseand its surroundings.
"This looks a likely kind of place," said one of them, approaching theshed in which Phil and Tony were hidden. "Come, Petroff, we will enterit together. I would not for the wealth of the Czar undertake thesearch alone, for these English fools, though unarmed, are capable ofkilling us. See how our unlucky comrade was damaged by a blow from oneof their fists. He says he remembers only thrusting at them with hislance, and then a flash in his eyes as of a thousand stars. Truly theyare brutes who learn to strike down men with their clenched hand alone."
"What is the good of entering there?" his companion answered surlily."Can you not see, fool, that the door is pinned outside? There is noother entrance but the trap-door, so how can they be there, unless,indeed, they possess wings? For I know the ladder is within thefarmhouse. Still, we will search the place, and then can honestly saythat we have used every endeavour."
A grating sound accompanied by loud creaking followed this as both doorswere thrown wide-open to afford a better light.
Crouching close between the seats of their refuge, the two comradeswaited breathlessly, stick in hand, and with fast-beating hearts, whilethe two Cossacks searched every corner of the dwelling.
"They are not here, as I said," a voice cried from the loft. "Thistrap-door is bolted on the inside, and the big doors on the outside. Itis clear that our trouble is for nothing. Still," he added, havingscrambled down by means of the niches, "were I escaping from our enemiesthis is the place I should choose, and that carriage over there is theroost I should take possession of. From its size it should form mostcomfortable quarters;" and as if to prove the truth of this, he creptbetween the carts, and, turning the handle, attempted to open the door.
"Hang on for your life, Tony," whispered Phil, who had overheard allthat passed. "This fellow is trying to pull the door open."
Both at once clung to it, Phil grasping the handle inside, while Tonydug his fingers into the window slits and pulled with all his strength.
"Bah!" muttered the Cossack, disappointed in his attempt. "What is theu
se of a carriage with a door that does not open?" and, turning away, heand his companion left the outhouse.
"That was a near go, Phil, old horse," whispered Tony excitedly. "Ithought it was all up, and was ready to jump out and tackle the otherbeggar while you settled the fellow tugging at the door. We'd havedowned 'em, too, but I suppose they'd have given warning to the others."
"Certain to have done so, Tony. You may not know it, but the man whowas doing his best to break in here is the gentleman who proposes tothrash us when we are captured."
"Oh, he is, is he?" was Tony's grim reply. "Wait a little while andI'll settle the hash of that fine chap."
A quarter of an hour later Phil saw the horsemen collect together, and,having saddled their ponies, they rode away from the farm, evidently tothe no small satisfaction of the farmer. In half an hour two of themreturned, and having unsaddled they turned their horses into a shed,and, carrying their saddles, banged at the farmhouse door again.
"What now?" surlily asked the owner, appearing.
"Only a lodging for the two of us," one, a big burly fellow, the samethat had attempted to open the carriage door, answered with an oath."Come, master farmer, we want no trouble; accommodation for two, goodfeeding, and plenty of that vodka we have already tasted, are what wedesire. We have been ordered here to keep a look-out for the runaways."
With a growl of displeasure the man bade them enter, and nothing more ofthem was seen till the evening, when they appeared, evidently in anintoxicated condition.
That night Phil was lowered from the trap-door by Tony, and when hereturned he brought a loaf of bread and a joint of meat, which he hadabstracted through an open window of the farmhouse, and in addition, apocketful of apples from a tiny orchard growing near.
The following day passed uneventfully. The two Cossacks made a thoroughsearch of the surroundings, and once more returned to their belovedvodka.
That night again Phil went out in search of provender, but, inendeavouring to reach a plate of provisions which stood upon a shelfwithin the window, he upset a dish which clattered to the ground andsmashed into a thousand pieces. Instantly a window was thrown open anda head put out.
Phil crept into the shadow and crouched low.
"Who is there?" a drunken voice called. "Comrade, there are thievesabout. Rouse yourself."
The window closed with a bang, and, darting across to the outhouse, Philrapidly clambered up through the trap-door, and he and Tony havinggained their hiding-place, once more waited anxiously for what was tofollow. But the Cossacks evidently preferred the comfort of a warm roomto searching for a thief who was, for all they knew, far away already.So, grumbling that they would see to it on the morrow, they turned inagain, and soon all was quiet.
"We shall have to clear away from here, Tony," said Phil as they waited."The disappearance of food is certain to lead to suspicion, and weshall be caught. To-morrow night we will make a bolt for it."
On the following morning it was evident that more than suspicion hadbeen aroused, and a hot search was instituted, for, from what Philoverheard, none in the farmhouse doubted that the escaped prisoners wereclose at hand. Saddling up, the Cossacks searched every corner of thefields, and returned utterly baffled at mid-day. A feed of corn wastossed into the shed close at hand, and the ponies driven in ready foran instant start; then the Russians betook themselves to their favouritebottle, and when they reappeared were evidently the worse for itscontents. But they were far from giving up the search.
"They must be close at hand," the man, whose voice Phil had heard sooften, exclaimed with an oath. "We must find them too, comrade, andthen we shall be rewarded. Where can the fools be? Ah! let us try thecoach-house again. These English, I have heard, are dense and slow, butperhaps these two have more wits than their brothers."
"Tony, we're done for, I fear," said Phil, hastily withdrawing his head."This shed is to be searched again."
"We must just chance it then," grunted Tony. "It's a bad scrape we'rein, but we were lucky the other day. If this fellow does find us inhere, why, we must just silence the two of them. It's their lives orour liberty, and I'm determined to get out of their hands. Lie low, oldboy, and if these coves spot us it'll be the worse for them."
Tony shook his stick threateningly, and was on the point of launchinginto an elaborate explanation of the exact punishment he would mete outto the Cossack who had promised his friends to thrash the fugitives,when the door of the shed was thrown open with a bang, and the twoRussians reeled in.
"Search the loft, comrade," said the big man authoritatively. "Thisspirit of our friend's is good and powerful stuff, and my legs are nonetoo steady."
The man did as he was told, and, peeping through the window, Philwatched him laboriously climbing to the loft, looking as though he mightlose his grip and fall at any moment.
The big man stood still for a second, stroking his beard. Then,evidently struck once more by the appearance of the covered carriage, hecrept towards it.
"What is this?" he muttered loudly when a few paces away. "Is it thevodka, or did I turn that handle and leave it so?" With an effort hepulled himself together; suddenly remembering that he had indeed turnedthe handle and neglected to restore it to its usual position, andrealising that it was now closed, he gave a drunken shout and rushed atthe door.
A Gallant Grenadier: A Tale of the Crimean War Page 13
