CHAPTER XVII.
THE ISSUES OF AN AWFUL MOMENT.
The letter was written roughly in pencil on a large sheet of rough anddiscoloured paper:--
"To Lieutenant Robert Charteris, at Dera Gauleeb Khan or wherever hemay be.
"MY DEAR CHARTERIS,--I am sorry to say that the fat's in the fire atlast. This morning the Rajah invited us to go out with him to hisgarden-house, but did not send an elephant for us, as we expected.However, we rode to meet him, with a small escort. Honestly, I cannottell whether he is to blame for what happened, or not, but at thebeginning it certainly looked like an accident. There was a certainamount of confusion when we met on the way to the city gate, and therespective escorts found some difficulty in clearing a path through thecrowds. Suddenly a wild fanatic of some sort--an Akaulee I shouldsay--dashed at me from behind with a sword, and fairly knocked me offmy horse. I have a cut on the head, but my hat turned the blade.There was a horrid tumult, and soldiers and people were pressed thisway and that, forcing Cowper away from me. I got two or three moreblows as I lay on the ground, but one of our horsemen dragged me to myfeet. I saw that Sher Sing's hotties had turned tail and were in fullretreat, but it did not occur to me he was leaving us to our fate untilhis horsemen charged back through the crowd and made straight forCowper. He was cut down in an instant, and I saw them hacking at himbefore I could rally the escort. When we got through to him thingslooked pretty bad, for the horsemen withdrew only to come down on usafresh, and the crowd were siding with them, while all sorts ofmissiles began to rain from the roofs. Then old Sudda Sookhee turnedup and threw himself into the breach--ordered the troops back,harangued the mob, and took us up on his own hotty. He thought itunsafe for us to go back to the Residency, in which I quite agreed withhim, in view of the attitude of Sher Sing and his guards, so I decidedthat we should throw ourselves into the tomb of Rutton Sing outside thewalls, and hold it till assistance arrived. Without Sudda Sookhee'ssupport we could never have got through the gate, and as it was, theyfired at us with matchlocks from the walls. He took us straight to thetomb, and then hurried back to see how things were going at theResidency. Before noon we were joined by the rest of our escort, whohad been turned out of the fort without ceremony, but allowed to marchthrough the city unmolested. The native apothecary has done his bestfor poor Cowper and me. My hurts are merely scratches, but he is badlycut about, though quite cheerful. I need not ask you to relieve us assoon as possible, as you will know that Rutton Sing's tomb is not afirst-rate position for defence. I have sent a warm remonstrance tothe Rajah, demanding that he shall visit us in person and express hisregret for the outrage, but I repeat frankly that I do not understandhis attitude. Still, you will see the importance of keeping a stiffupper lip. Cowper begs that Mrs Cowper may not be alarmed about him,as he expects (he says) to be up and about again before you turn up.We rely on you to arrive with all convenient speed. It is possiblethat the situation is more serious than appears.--Very sincerely yours,
RICHD. NISBET."
Gerrard read the letter through, turning the paper this way and that tofind the carefully numbered additions written in the margin or crossingthe sheet. Poor Nisbet! how thoroughly he must have been thrown offhis balance before he would consent to send off a rough draft like thisinstead of making a fair copy--such was his first involuntaryreflection. Then his mind awakened suddenly to a realisation of theperilous plight of the two men and their escort. Ratan Singh's tomb!it was the very tomb in the grove, within sight of the walls of Agpur,where he himself had purposed to make a hopeless stand over RajahPartab Singh's dead body, in defence of Partab Singh's wife and son,and where Charteris had appeared in the nick of time to save him. Theplace could not be held, there was no hope of that, even if it wereproperly provisioned, and the letter was dated two days ago. If SherSingh were indeed a traitor--and his conduct would need a good deal ofexplanation if it was to be ascribed to mere cowardice--Nisbet andCowper's position was more than serious, it was desperate. And theresat Charteris, listening with knitted brows to the lucubrations of thewitnesses in this dispute over stolen cattle, pulling them up sharplywhen their flights of imagination became more than usually daring, andapparently oblivious alike of the disappointed messenger squatting inthe corner and of the men relying upon him outside Agpur. Gerrard'sbreath came faster, and he wondered whether he could frame a plausibleexcuse for getting out of the tent and starting immediately on hisreturn journey to Habshiabad. If Charteris was at a loss what to do,Sadiq Ali and the Rani would joyfully send every fighting man theypossessed to deal a blow at Sher Singh. Suddenly Charteris turnedround.
"You are precious bored by all this, I can see," he said casually."Never mind; it will soon be over now. Take a cigar," and as he heldout the case, his fingers again met Gerrard's with that warningpressure. His friend accepted the cheroot, and resigned himself tofurther waiting. It was not for long. Charteris's brief summing-upwas masterly, so incisive, so searching, so constantly punctuated withpopular proverbs and familiar references to the domestic affairs of thelitigants, that it drew applause from both sides. Then he pronouncedjudgment, and the winning side rent the air with their shouts, whilethe losing party threw dust on their heads and lamented that they hadever been born. They went off peacefully enough, however, andfraternised with their late opponents over a sheep sent out to them byCharteris, while the two Englishmen, alone at last, faced one anotherin the hot shade of the tent.
"Bob, I don't think you realise how bad it is," said Gerrard hurriedly."They can't hold out in Ratan Singh's tomb if they are attacked withanything like vigour. We have lost too much time already."
"Steady, old boy. No harm done. There's no starting until just beforesunset, unless you think sunstroke all round would improve theefficiency of the relieving force. We have all afternoon for makingarrangements."
"But we have wasted a full hour when we might have been laying ourplans."
"Plans are laid all right. Got 'em here," said Charteris, tapping hisforehead. "What! you thought I was wholly engrossed in my family ofperjurers? Purely mechanical, my boy--interest and interruptions andall. Brain working like clockwork at more than railroad speed theentire time. Everything cut and dried. Start to-night for Dera Galibto pick up my men. But those two poor chaps must have a letter tohearten them up at once. The _kasid_ can move faster than we can, sowe'll have him in and question him a little before writing. Must payour Mr James the compliment of passing on the news, and enlighteninghim as to our intentions, too."
"Just tell me first what part you have given me. Am I to accompany youwith such men as I have?"
"No, you are to ride back to Habshiabad hell-for-leather, and create adiversion by crossing the Ghara with every man you can lay your handson. Even if I get to the city in time, I shall have to fight my wayback through hostile country, so if you can draw off the army by animposing demonstration in the other direction, it may save all ourlives."
"Old boy, I did you an injustice," said Gerrard.
"Don't apologise, my boy--quite used to it. Knew I could depend onyou, though."
The messenger, summoned into the tent, could do little more thanconfirm the contents of the letter, though he was able to add that oflate the Agpuris had been urged by various fanatics to resist theimpending rectification of frontier, and that much bad feeling had beendisplayed towards the Feringhees. He added that when the escort wereturned out of the fort, rumour said that a conference was going on atthe palace, in which the war party were making every effort to bringover Sher Singh completely to their side, assuring him that he had gonetoo far to retreat when he left the two wounded Englishmen to thetender mercies of his guards and the mob.
The hot hours of the afternoon were spent in issuing orders and inwriting. A letter to Nisbet and Cowper, assuring them that immediatehelp was on its way, and adjuring them in no circumstances to surrenderthemselves to Sher Singh; a report addressed to James Antony, detailingthe alarming news, and addin
g that Charteris was on the point ofcrossing the Tindar with a relieving force, and had requested supportfrom Habshiabad; a formal invitation to Sadiq Ali to allow his troopsto co-operate in the rescue of the Englishmen, and to Gerrard toaccompany them; a proclamation to be made throughout Darwan, announcingthe treachery of Sher Singh, and inviting suitable men to enlist forthe purpose of punishing it; orders to the subordinate officials invarious parts of the province to be on their guard against Agpuriemissaries, and to enrol and train any native Darwanis who applied tothem; and--though these, indeed, were despatched first ofall--directions to the troops Charteris intended to take with him to beready to start at any hour. As the news of the preparations leakedout, deputations began to come in from villages and tribes to assureCharteris of their loyalty and entreat him to lead them against theperjured Sher Singh, and these had to be received, entertained byproxy, and dismissed, at the cost of much impatience and loss ofprecious time. But while Charteris was thus engaged, Gerrard and theMunshis prepared papers for his signature, and the writing work was allfinished before Gerrard and his followers went down to the river ontheir return journey. Charteris could not even come down to see himoff, much less accompany him across and ride a little way with him, ashe had intended, but they promised themselves a speedy meeting beforeAgpur--perhaps even in the palace itself, if the Rani's prophecy wasabout to be fulfilled.
The men who paddled the _mashaks_ were stimulated to unwonted exertionby the promise of large rewards, and the party, swimming their horsesby the bridles, crossed in less time than Gerrard had dared to hope. Abrief halt to arrange loads, inspect girths and snatch a mouthful offood, and Gerrard and his men were in the saddle, and riding steadilyinto the gathering darkness. The men would have ridden at top speed intheir eagerness to carry the news and hasten the vengeance, but Gerrardheld them back. They had a long way to go, and hard work to do, andthe life of every horse, as well as of every trained man, might be ofinestimable value in the days to come. When they had ridden for nearlythree hours, he called another halt, that the horses might be rubbeddown and have their mouths washed out with water, and the troopersrefresh themselves hastily with fragments of _chapati_. The men weremounted again, and he was about to give the order to march, when adistant sound became audible--the sound of horses' hoofs in thedirection from which they had come.
"One man--or at most two. Surely it is a messenger, sahib," said theGranthi in command of the escort.
"We will wait to hear what news he brings. It may be that the Rajahhas submitted already," said Gerrard, and was answered by a groan ofdismay from his men. "Let two shots be fired at intervals," he wenton, "that the messenger may know where to find us."
The well-known border signal proved effectual, and the horsemen--it wasnow clear that there were two of them--approached rapidly. Gerrarduttered an exclamation of astonishment as he saw by the moonlight thatone of them was a European, and rode back to meet him.
"Bob!" he exclaimed, in utter surprise, as Charteris slipped from hisexhausted horse. "What is it?"
"Bad news. No use going on."
"What! They are not dead?"
"Murdered--both of 'em. Tomb was shelled, but they held out. ThenSher Singh sent messengers to the escort--promised 'em double pay tojoin him--pair of gold bracelets to Nihal Singh. They accepted andwent over--left Nisbet and Cowper all alone, except for a few faithfulservants. Cowper was too badly wounded to get up, he was lying on hiscot, and Nisbet sat beside him holding his hand. There was no hope offurther resistance, and they told the servants to escape if they could.One of 'em hid, and brought the news to me just now. Sher Singh's menburst in, with old Sarfaraz Khan at their head, shouting all thewickedness he could lay his filthy old tongue to. Nisbet told him hemight kill them, as they were only two to thousands, but that he mightbe sure thousands of English would come and destroy Sher Singh and hiscity."
"And they killed them?"
"Hacked 'em to pieces, and took their heads to Sher Singh."Charteris's face twitched, and he turned away angrily.
"There's no possibility that the servant's tale is false, I suppose?"
"I wish to Heaven there were. But why should Sher Singh make thingsout worse when they were bad enough already? Besides, I questioned thefellow pretty sharply, and he was not to be shaken. So I started atonce to catch you up."
"Thanks," said Gerrard absently. "That poor little woman, Bob! Howwill she ever stand it?"
"Doesn't bear thinking of," said Charteris brusquely. "Question is,what are we going to do?"
"Why, what can we do? Rescue their bodies, do you mean?"
"Not a bit of it. Look here, Hal; I've been thinking it out as I camealong. Sher Singh has drawn the sword and thrown away the scabbardnow--burnt his boats, in fact. He can't stop where he is and take hispunishment quietly; he must call upon the Granthis generally to backhim up. Remember, they wouldn't rise against us in cold blood, but nowthat he has plucked up courage to give them a lead they'll go. Theservant tells me that they called upon the escort to join them in thename of God and the Guru, and the murderers were calling out _Wa Guru!_and _Guru-ji ki Fatih!_ as they rushed in. They'll make a religiousbusiness of it, and every Granthi in Granthistan will join Sher Singhunless he is nipped in the bud."
"Well, but he is nearer Granthistan than we are. Who is going to niphim in the bud?"
"You and I, if you are game."
"Oh, I'm game to do anything that's feasible."
"Are you game to take a big risk? If Sher Singh is to be kept fromoverrunning Granthistan, he must be stopped at once. I believe thatyou and I can do it."
"But how? with merely the Habshiabadis and your troops?"
"Precisely. If we march on Agpur, they daren't leave the cityundefended with us in their rear. They have no military genius to seethat the only chance lies in snapping us up before we can unite, andstraining every nerve to do it, and we can get together a large enoughforce to give a very good account of anything less than the whole Agpurarmy. If we find ourselves faced with that, and luck's against us, weshall probably go down, but we shall have done it more damage than SherSingh can repair before he finds a British force in his country."
"Honestly, Bob, I don't know what to say. Your plan sounds reasonableenough, but you must see that it's subversive of every rule of militaryscience."
"Hang military science! If we can confine Sher Singh within the boundsof his own state, prevent him from throwing down the gauntlet toBritish power by invading Granthistan, and make him so anxious aboutthe safety of Agpur that we keep him there until we can get a siegetrain from Farishtabad to batter the walls about his ears, ain't itworth it?"
"I believe you, my boy! but can we do it? If we try and fail, it meansruin, utter and complete, for both of us."
"And if we try and succeed, it will save England and India a secondGranthi War."
"Right, Bob; I'll do it. Give us your fist, old boy."
Charteris drew a long breath as they shook hands. "I don't mindtelling you that if you wouldn't come in, I had made up my mind to tryit by myself," he said. "And then, Hal, you might well have talkedabout ruin utter and complete. But as it is, why, I am proud to serveunder you, old boy, and if my Darwanis don't give a good account ofthemselves under your command, you may call me a Dutchman."
"Under my command? Nonsense, Bob! I am going to serve under you, ofcourse. Why, you are the man on the spot, holding a commission fromthe Granthi Durbar, and obviously the proper person to punish itsrebellious vassal. I am merely accompanying the troops of a friendlystate as a matter of curiosity."
"My dear Hal, it's no end good of you, but I am perfectly content. Youhave always been top-sawyer, you know."
"And a precious mess I should have made of things more than once, ifyou had not been at hand. Why, Bob, I couldn't conscientiously takecommand in an affair like this. It's your idea; I should not havethought of it, and it isn't likely I should carry it out properly. Yousee your point and go st
raight at it through thick and thin, while Iplot out a plan for getting there on the lines of the best commanders,with proper care for communications and supplies. But if you will giveyour orders, I'll carry them out or burst. If I don't agree with 'em,I promise you you shall hear about it."
"No doubt whatever about that. Well, Hal, so be it. Even if you don'tagree, you'll obey orders, I know. Just a minute or two to worry outour immediate moves, then back I go. Got a light? Take a squint atthis map of mine. I propose to cross the Tindar about Kardi, so as tothreaten Agpur from the south-west, throw up such entrenchments as timeallows, and wait there for you. You will cross the Ghara wherever youfind most convenient--the Habshi with his local knowledge will adviseyou best there--remembering that if you can get far enough to the eastto give the impression of threatening the city from another side, somuch the better, but remembering also that unless you come up quickly,I may have the whole Agpur army launched against me."
"My dear Bob, you forget the distance I shall have to march. You willbe annihilated before I can reach you."
"Not if I know you, or myself and my Darwanis. If I can hold theAgpuris in front, while you come up and deliver a flank attack, I will,but that circumstances must decide. We will keep open communicationsby means of _kasids_ if we can, but it is quite possible we may have toact independently. At any rate, I will not leave Kardi alive withoutletting you know, and you won't let anything short of a signed messagefrom me persuade you that I have abandoned it?"
"Trust me. But I wish we could both have made forced marches and metat a point on the Ranjitgarh side of Agpur."
"So do I. But if wishes were horses----! The meanest intelligence,even Sher Singh's, couldn't miss the propriety of attacking us indetail if we trailed our toy armies separately past him with the forcewe possess. Don't think I labour under any delusion as to our powers.We can't push Sher Singh back; we can only hold him back by fear forthe city. We can't hope to conquer him, but we may make it impossiblefor him to move until a British brigade with battering guns arrives toeat him up."
"I see. Less glorious, but possibly quite as useful."
"Just so. And there's a private and personal advantage for us in beingon this side of the city rather than the other. Our Mr James willreadily acknowledge that while there was a chance of rescuing our poorfellows we were bound to cross into Agpur. But when he hears they aredead, I have a foreboding--I feel it in my bones--that he willinstantly order us back. Of course I shall send him allparticulars--my reasons for invading the country, our force, ouranticipations of success, the exact reinforcement we need to finish thejob in style, and you will do the same before leaving Habshiabad. Butit is a good long way for the messengers to go, both in your case andmine, and it is also a good long way back, and the same address may notalways find us. Therefore I trust that when we get our orders forretreat, we shall be so far into Agpur that it is impossible to obey.Even James Antony would allow a man a little discretion when to goforward is safety, and to go back would mean destruction."
"You old fox!" cried Gerrard. "I'll back you up, don't be afraid.We'll put the telescope to the blind eye, and our careers may go hang!"
"That's the style. We shall have you a swaggering dare-devil yet, oldboy. And now it's boot and saddle again. Good-bye, and come up intime."
"Good-bye. Take care of yourself, Bob."
Charteris laughed as he swung himself into the saddle. He and hisorderly clattered off into the night, and the campaign of vengeance hadbegun.
The Path to Honour Page 17
