The Air Patrol: A Story of the North-west Frontier

by Herbert Strang

  CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND

  DITTA LAL INTERPRETS

  During his brother's absence Bob had been energetic in organizing thedefence. He threw an entrenchment across the track beneath the shoulderof the cliff, a short distance from the mass of broken rock thrown downby the explosion of dynamite. By this means he hoped to interpose aneffective obstacle to the enemy if they, without waiting for the trackto be cleared, should attempt to climb round and slip by up the valley.Nurla Bai's swimming feat showed him that the river could be crossedotherwise than by the drawbridge, and the assemblage of any considerablenumber of men on the southward side might be a serious menace. True,the enemy could hardly cross in daylight in face of opposition from thewall of the compound; but remembering how Nurla Bai had got over andmade his way by the cantilever pathway to the mine, Bob saw that asimilar movement might be attempted when the attention of the garrisonwas held by an attack from down-stream. In that case he would have todispatch men whom he could ill spare to guard the aeroplane platform andperhaps to destroy the pathway constructed with such toil. As aprecautionary measure he stationed three men on the aeroplane platformday and night.

  Further, in order not to be at too great a disadvantage in case of asudden rush in the darkness, he contrived a makeshift searchlight out ofa large photographic camera of his uncle's and a reflector of polishedtin. He hoped that it would not be necessary to use it often, for thestock of calcium carbide was running low, and he had no other illuminantthan acetylene gas and paraffin candles.

  When Lawrence alighted on the aeroplane platform, Fazl, one of the threemen on guard there, informed him that the enemy had opened a brisk fireat daybreak.

  "The sahib cannot get to the house to-day," said the man.

  "Why not?"

  "Because, sahib, when you once get round the shoulder, the path is insight of the enemy. They will shoot you. It is necessary to wait fornight."

  "Nonsense! I can't stay here all day. Let me see for myself."

  He went across the platform and along a few yards of the path until hereached the bend. There he peeped cautiously round. He forgot his primeobject in the anxiety and concern to which the state of affairs down theriver gave rise. Being slightly above the level of the track he wasable to take a good view of the position. The enemy had cut a new pathalong the fallen cliff, and had thrown across it a breastwork aboutthirty feet long, from loopholes in which they were maintaining a hotfire on the northernmost boundary of the compound. The reply of thegarrison was astonishingly feeble; the characteristic rattle of themachine gun was not to be heard, and Lawrence saw the havildar standinginactive by the weapon. Bob was near the wall, smoking a cigarette, andit was apparently only when he gave a distinct order that the men fired.Lawrence guessed that he was husbanding his ammunition, and blessedMajor Endicott's forethought in sending a supply which would be sowelcome.

  Recollecting his purpose, Lawrence scanned the wooden pathway narrowly,to see how far Fazl's advice was justified. For forty or fifty yards itwas fully exposed to the enemy's marksmen, but beyond that distance itgained some shelter from the buildings in the compound. If the enemyhad not already had their attention drawn to it, there was a chancethat, in spite of his weak ankle, he might dash across the exposedportion before they noticed him. But after a few seconds he saw withgreat relief that it was possible to lessen still further the risk ofbeing hit. The pathway being a little higher than the track on theopposite side of the river, he might perhaps crawl along it withoutbeing discovered. By lying at full length, and hugging the face of therock, he would get a certain protection from the outside edge of thepathway.

  He returned to the platform.

  "Has any one crossed from or to the mine since the enemy began firing?"he asked Fazl.

  "No, sahib: it was still dark when we came to relieve the night watch,and none has come or gone since."

  "Very well: I am going to crawl. Take care you don't show yourselves."

  He was rather astonished at his lack of nervousness; but the events ofthe last few days had in fact exercised a bracing influence upon him.He crawled on all fours as rapidly as possible along the exposed sectionof the path, rose to his feet on reaching the spot where the buildingsgave him cover, and in another few minutes greeted his brother.

  "Well done, old chap!" said Bob heartily. "I hardly expected you to getback yesterday, but it's a great relief to see you. You had notrouble?"

  "Not with the machine, but we came across a lot of hillmen marchingsouth, and they potted the major in the arm, and riddled the petrolcans, so that I ran short. But they gave me some paraffin at the tower,and it serves surprisingly well. It's lucky we had a secondcarburetter."

  Just then a bullet sang overhead.

  "Can you come to the house for a minute or two?" said Lawrence. "I'vegot a good deal to tell you, and you can't attend to me and the enemy atthe same time."

  "All right. I'll leave Gur Buksh in charge. They've done us no harmyet--inside at any rate; but I'll give you all the news. Come on!"

  Seated in the house, Lawrence repeated the substance of the conversationbetween Major Endicott and Captain Fenton. Bob listened in amazement.

  "By George! it's a big thing," he exclaimed. "No wonder we were puzzled.It's desperately serious, then."

  "Yes, and this is the serious part for us. The major wired all about usto headquarters, and the commander-in-chief wired back that we must holdon at all costs for a week. He made no bones about it: simply said itmust be done."

  "Well, we'll do it!" cried Bob with flashing eyes. "We'll not cave inafter a direct order from the commander-in-chief. It's the best thingthat could have happened. Some of the men are getting rather shaky, butI'll tell them the Sirkar depends on them--talk about their knownvalour, and all that: and it'll buck them up no end."

  "Wouldn't the promise of a reward from Government be more effective?"

  "I dare say; but it's only a jolly ass who'd give a pledge of that sortfor Government. I dare say they mean well, but--no, my boy, it's notsafe. We'll rely on moral stimulants. Now look here: this is what I'vedone----"

  "I see you've thrown up a breastwork on the other side, but so have theenemy, and cut a path too."

  "Yes, that's one to them, confound them! I had twenty men behind mybreastwork, but when the enemy came round the bend this morning theybolted back in a panic. They'd have done better to stick to it, for twoof them were shot in the back and killed outright. I'd left the bridgedown under a guard, so that the others got back safely, but theirretreat had a bad effect on the rest. They need a tonic."

  "The major gave me a dozen rifles and a lot of ammunition: that'llhelp."

  "It will indeed: I've had to be sparing."

  "Why didn't the enemy occupy your breastwork?"

  "No doubt they would have only I built it at such an angle that it canbe enfiladed from our wall. It's a great nuisance that they've managedto get so far as they have. I hoped to be able to check them at thebend much longer--at any rate until they'd brought up the two field gunsyou told me about. When they arrive we shan't be able to hold the wall.We shall have to take refuge in the galleries."

  "That means suffocation."

  "Well, we won't think of it. We'll hold on as long as we can. Youdidn't notice perhaps that I've had a shield of boiler plates set up ontop of the parapet. I found we couldn't loophole the embankment, andthe men couldn't fire without protection of some kind. This metalshield is better than nothing. It's loopholed. I only allow a few mento fire at the enemy, when there's a chance of their doing some good.But to keep up their spirits I let them all have a turn. They come up insquads, so that every man will have a chance of a shot during the day."

  "You haven't used the machine gun? Couldn't you batter their breastworkwith it?"

  "It would be very much like pelting toy bricks with a pea-shooter. GurBuksh has orders only to fire if there's a rush. What I fancy willhappe
n is this. At night they'll try to rush our breastwork. If theyget it they'll push a trench southward along the track until they'reopposite us. What they'll do then about crossing the river I don't know.We've got to delay them as long as possible. I've made a ramshacklesort of searchlight out of Uncle's old camera: it may help us a littlein the dark. But I must go out and talk to the men. I wish I were adab at the lingo. Will you do the spouting?"

  "You're in command. Get the Babu to interpret for you: what you saywon't lose anything in his mouth."

  "It may do him good too. He's getting positively thin with funk. Comealong!"

  While this conversation was in progress in the house, there had fallen alull in the firing outside. It was clear that the enemy were notprepared for a rush, and had realized the uselessness of continuallysniping at a garrison whom they rarely saw. There could be little doubtthat they were waiting either for darkness to cover a dash up the track,or for the arrival of their field guns. Whatever the reason, therespite was welcome. Taking advantage of it, Bob left a small guard atthe wall, and assembled the rest in the compound.

  Lawrence was struck by the altered appearance of Ditta Lal when he cameforward at Bob's summons. His fat cheeks had fallen in; his featuresspoke eloquently of despair; and his clothes hung loosely where formerlythey had closely encased his rotundities.

  "I should never have believed that a man could lose so much flesh in solittle time," said Lawrence in a low tone.

  "Do him good," returned Bob unfeelingly. "Ditta Lal, I'm going to speakto the men, and I want you to translate faithfully what I say--noadditions or subtractions."

  "I will do my best, sir," said the Babu with unwonted simplicity. "Myvoice is not strong; I am fading away like a flower."

  "For goodness' sake say something to buck him up," whispered Lawrence,"or he'll damp their courage with his lugubrious manner."

  "Look here, Babu," said Bob, "Major Endicott is telegraphing forreinforcements. They should be here in a week."

  "Can I believe my ears?"

  "You can believe me. The Government knows all about us. Thecommander-in-chief himself has asked us to hold the place for a week,and we're going to do it."

  "That's jolly bucking, sir," said the Babu in his usual manner. "Thehour brings forth the man. The King-Emperor will dub you knight, or atleast baronet, for thus stepping into deadly breach, and----"

  "We're wasting time," Bob interrupted. "Just tell the men what I say."

  "Right-o, sir. My voice is recovering wonted rotundity. Fire away!"

  Lawrence's eyes twinkled more than once during the Babu's address to thegarrison. Bob's words were simple and direct, with no surplusage ofrhetoric: Ditta Lal transformed them into an oration.

  "Sikhs and Pathans, Rajputs, Gurkhas and Chitralis," he said,"misfortune makes brothers of us all. In a thunderstorm the lion andthe ass are friends. The thunderstorm is about to burst upon us. Wehave heard the first rumblings; we have seen the lightning flash in thelurid sky; and the huzur having been taken from us by the hand of theKalmucks, we have lost our chief defence and stay.

  "Yet in the blackest night we behold a star of hope. My brother thechota sahib" (the Babu spoke as though translating) "has even nowreturned from a frontier house where the Sirdar who for one brief dayshed the light of his countenance upon us, spoke to the Sirkar along thequivering wire, that carries men's thoughts swifter than speech. TheSirkar far away knows us what we are, and how we, a handful of men, arebeset in this narrow valley by a host of evil-doers, in number like thestars of heaven. The Sirkar knows that though we be few, yet are westout of heart and strong of hand. The lurid storm-cloud does notoppress us, nor does the lightning fire appal our souls. We are not themen to quail before a host of flat-nosed dogs. The order is given thatwe sharpen our swords and resist to the uttermost, and within aweek--such is the word--the Sirkar will send a great army to strengthenour hands and smite the enemy until not one of them is left. I havesaid that we will do even as the Sirkar has commanded. Will you put meto shame? Will you not rather brace yourselves to the conflict, andoppose yourselves like a wall of adamant to these off-scourings of theplains?"

  This was the spirit if not the letter of Bob's appeal, and the wholeassembly responded with cheers and passionate ejaculations of loyalty.The Sikhs, some of whom understood English and knew that the Babu hadinterpolated a good deal, had listened gravely, their inveteratecontempt of the unwarlike Bengali yielding to their appreciation of theeffect he aimed at. Later on, Ganda Singh spat, and said to Gur Bukshthat any one would know the Bengali for a coward, because his words wereso big. The more simple miners were as impressible to high-soundingeloquence as any ignorant mob all the world over; and when the Babu, ata word from Lawrence, wound up his speech with the announcement thatMajor Endicott had sent some service rifles and a large stock ofammunition for their use, they cheered again and again. Those timidones who had fled from the breastwork earlier in the day shouted theloudest, to ease themselves of their shame.

  The Appletons never knew that after the assembly had been dismissedDitta Lal, in a private audience of some of the Pathans, indulged hisfancy in announcements that were quite unauthorised.

  "Tidings of our prowess and valour," he said, "will be spoken in the earof the King-Emperor over the black water, and the august majesty of ourgreat prince will deal bountifully with us and shower his graciousnessupon us. He will take the sahibs our masters by the hand and lift themup the steps of his throne, speak them words of comfort and set them onhis right hand among his lords; and furthermore, the humblest of usshall be exalted and be bounteously rewarded. A lakh of rupees will bedistributed among those who quit themselves well, and we shall besatisfied with a feast of fat things."

  As the brothers returned to the house, Bob said:

  "I'm very much inclined to make another attempt to hold our breastwork.It's bad tactics to let the enemy have free course between the bend andthe bridge. Probably if I lead a detachment myself the men will followreadily enough."

  "I daresay you're right on the point of tactics, but you ought to have agood sleep before you try it. You look very fagged; I suppose you'vebeen up all night."

  "Pretty nearly."

  "Well, go and lie down. I'll take charge. I had a good night's rest atthe frontier house. It's clear the enemy are waiting for their guns, andyou ought to be able to get at least six hours' sleep before there's anydanger. Of course I'll wake you if they make a move."

  "Then I'll take your advice. The trouble will begin at night, andthere'll be no chance of sleep then."

  Left to himself, Lawrence went round the defences, noting the admirablearrangements Bob had made during his absence. As he looked southward upthe river, the sight of the pathway along the face of the cliffsuggested the necessity of doing something to protect any one who shouldpass over the portion exposed to the enemy. If they should succeed inpushing their entrenchments southward beyond the bend, they would beable to pick off any man who passed between the mine and the aeroplaneplatform, and it was essential that access to the latter should bemaintained.

  After consultation with Gur Buksh, he hit on a means of giving thepathway the security required. Two rows of planks laid on edge alongits outer border would completely screen a man crawling along by therock wall, even from the sight of an enemy on the bank immediatelyopposite. He collected a number of men who were expert in handlingtools, and sent them to construct this parapet. A few shots were firedat them when they began their work, but they were screened by theplanks, and the enemy, having nothing to aim at, soon desisted. To holdthe parapet firmly in position, uprights were nailed to the planks atintervals, and screwed down on to the timbers of the pathway.

  When the work was done Lawrence felt far more at ease regarding thesafety of the aeroplane. The guards on the platform could now berelieved more frequently. They could be reinforced from the mine withina few minutes, or withdrawn without risk.

  The enemy's continued inactivity c
onfirmed Lawrence in his belief thatthey were waiting for the field guns. When he saw those being draggedlaboriously up the track, he had suggested to Major Endicott to shatterthem with a charge of dynamite dropped from the aeroplane. But theMajor pointed out that others would immediately be brought up from themain army. Such an attack would be more effective later, when they werenearer to the mine. Their replacement then would be a matter of muchlonger time.

  It occurred to Lawrence now that it would be well to reconnoitre theenemy's position before Bob attempted to reoccupy his entrenchment, orat any rate to cover his movement by a diversion on the part of theaeroplane. Bob could not leave the mine in daylight without exposinghimself to the enemy's fire. If he waited for darkness, he might findhimself anticipated by them; and even with the searchlight against themthey would have far less to fear from the garrison by night than by day.It would be almost impossible to prevent a sudden determined rush. Theenemy would lose a number of men; but they could afford to sacrificesome lives in a successful effort to improve their position. Nothing,however, could be done without consultation with Bob, so Lawrence waitedpatiently until about four o'clock in the afternoon, the time which hehad fixed on for awakening his brother.

  Remembering the mishap with Major Endicott up the river, he got Fazl toprotect the engine and the petrol cans by slinging a number of ironplates under the chassis of the aeroplane. By means of these he hopedto reduce risk from the enemy's rifles when he should start on hisreconnaissance. The Kalmucks northward had had no experience of thedynamite bombs, unless indeed some of those whom Bob had chased down thetrack were among them. But even without any definite fear of theaeroplane they would recognise it as a means of intelligence to thegarrison of the mine, and would certainly be eager to put it out ofaction.

  Bob on being awakened at once agreed to Lawrence's suggestion of areconnaissance.

  "I'd like to go myself," he said, "but we can't both go, and I'd betterstick to my job. Take Fazl with you. You may have to bombard them ifyou find the guns close at hand."

  "If I do, that will be your best chance of occupying your breastworkagain."

  "Undoubtedly. I'll lower the drawbridge and have my party ready; and ifI hear any explosions I'll make a rush for it. But let us have a clearunderstanding. You won't drop any bombs unless you find the guns closeat hand, or unless the enemy are up to something that looks threatening.There's very little dynamite left. Besides, at this stage it's no goodmerely to frighten the enemy. It's war now. I shall take it that yourexplosions mean serious business."

  "All right. In any case I shall be back in an hour."