Fix Bay'nets: The Regiment in the Hills

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

  UNCOOKED MUTTON.

  Two days passed--two of about the wettest and most dismal daysimaginable. There was no sign of the enemy, and the scouts sent outcame back dripping, and always with the same news--that the hill-men hadgiven up the siege in disgust, and were right away making for theirhomes in the valleys at the foot of the mountain-slopes.

  There was no relaxation in the watchfulness of the garrison, however,the treacherous nature of the tribes being too well-known. Hence it wasthat the sentries in their heavy greatcoats stood in such shelter asthey possessed, keeping watch and ward, with the valley stretched outdark and gloomy, and the booming and roaring river dimly-seen throughthe gloom of the night, as it foamed and tossed itself in spray againstthe various obstacles it encountered on its way towards the lower gorgewhence Colonel Graves's regiment had made its appearance when it firstcame to the assistance of the beleaguered in Ghittah Fort.

  The rain had ceased and given place to a thick mist, so peculiar in itsappearance that one of two officers going the rounds, both nearlyinvisible in their long overcoats, said softly to the other:

  "Might fancy we were at home after one of our muggy days."

  "Yes; just like a London suburban fog, old fellow."

  Then there was silence for a minute, as they walked on along theterraced wall, before the one who had just spoken said in a quickwhisper:

  "I say, Roberts, oughtn't there to be a sentry here?"

  "I was just thinking so," was the reply. "I hope to goodness he isn'tasleep, for I hate having to report a man for neglect."

  He had hardly whispered the words when there was the click of a rifle, avoice challenged them, and they gave the customary response.

  "This is not your place, my man," said Roberts then.

  "No, sir; twenty yards farther that way. But there's something downbelow then; that I can't quite make out. It seemed to come past and onthis way."

  "What! up on the ramparts?" said Drummond quickly.

  "No, no, sir; right down below the face of the wall, and I come on a bitso as to follow and look down. I didn't like to give the alarm."

  "Why?" said Roberts sharply.

  "Because it might be a false one, sir."

  "Better give a dozen false alarms, my lad, than miss a real danger.Now, then, what did you see?"

  "Well, sir, if we was at home I should say it was a drove o' sheep or aherd o' pigs; but these hill-niggers are so artful and ready to be downupon us that I fancied it might be men."

  "Men haven't four legs," said Drummond, laughing softly.

  "No, sir; but these Dwats don't think anything o' going down onall-fours."

  "But there have been none about lately," said Drummond; "the rain seemedto be too much for them."

  "Yes, sir; but ain't they the more likely to come down on us when theythink we believe we're safe?--Change guard, sir."

  For steps were heard, and a party of men came up smartly, werechallenged, and the non-commissioned officer in charge answered.

  "That you, Gee?" said Roberts.

  "Yes, sir."

  "Come here. The sentry thinks there are people below there. Come andhave a look."

  "The sentry I've just relieved thought the same, sir," replied Geesharply, "and I had a good look. They're sheep driven down from thehills by the bad weather. I was going to report to the Colonel, sir,and ask whether he'd order a sally from the gate to drive them in. Beuseful, sir."

  "To be sure. You'd better do it. Let's have a look over first."

  They stepped together to the embattled wall, and peered down into thedarkness; but nothing was visible now, and Roberts was about to give thematter up as all a mistake, when, from where the mist was most dense,there was the pattering of hoofs in the wet mud, followed by thepeculiarly human cough of one of the sheep of the district.

  "No mistake about what they are, sir," said Sergeant Gee softly."They've come down to the low grounds on account of the storm."

  "Yes," said Roberts, "and because there are none of the Dwats to keepthem back. Why, Gee, we're in luck. We must have the men out and theflock driven in."

  "Not much room for them in the court, sir," said the Sergeant.

  "No; but to-morrow we must have something in the way of hurdles to shutthem in close under the wall, and they can be driven out to pastureevery day by some of the men, with a guard to watch over them. You tryand keep them under your eye now while I go and tell the Colonel."

  The two young men peered down at where the pattering of hoofs could beheard through the mist twenty feet below them; though nothing wasvisible but a dimly-seen moving mass.

  A few minutes later they announced the find to the Colonel.

  "This is good news, gentlemen," he said; "such a store of freshprovisions will be a treasure. Order out your company, Roberts, and youhad better get five-and-twenty or thirty of your men, Mr Drummond."

  "Yes, sir," said the subaltern, smiling.

  "What's that you're thinking--rather absurd to get out two companies todrive in a flock of sheep?"

  "Well, sir, I was thinking something of the sort," said the young man,colouring.

  "I want them to strengthen the guard," said the Colonel quietly. "Adozen of the native servants can be sent round the flock to head thesheep toward the open gates. There is nothing like being on your guardwhen dealing with a venturesome as well as a treacherous enemy."

  "You think the enemy may make a rush, sir, as soon as the gates areopen?"

  "No, Roberts," said the Colonel, laying his hand on the young man'sshoulder. "I think the enemy might make a rush if they were near; but,happily, I do not believe there are any of the hill-men for many milesround. The last reports are that they are heading homewards, and Ibegin to hope that the breaking-up of the weather has set us atliberty."

  The arrangements were soon made, everything being done quietly andwithout any display of lights. The Fusiliers and the draft of ColonelWrayford's regiment were stationed on either side of the gates, andabout twenty of the native servants, under the guidance of a couple ofthe friendly hill-men, accustomed to look after the camp live-stock,were detailed with their orders to divide as soon as the gates wereopened, and steal cautiously round to the far side of the flock beforetrying to head them in.

  Strict orders had been given to keep the court still and dark, so thatthe sheep might not take fright upon reaching the gates; while the newsspread very rapidly, and the men turned out of their rough quarters,seeking the walls, so as to try and see something of what was going on.

  At last, all being ready, the Colonel gave the order for the guardoccupying the two towers which commanded the gales to report the stateof affairs. Sergeant Gee had taken his place there, and he came down toannounce that the sheep were in a very large flock, apparently huddledtogether about a hundred yards from the gate. But they were quiteinvisible, and their position could only be made out by their fidgetymovements.

  "Sounds to me, sir, as if they'd got wolves hanging about them, or maybea bear."

  "Then they'll be all the more ready to come into shelter," said theColonel, who then gave the word. The great leaves of the entrance weredrawn inward, and, each party under his leader, the native servantsslipped silently out in Indian file, turned to right and left, anddisappeared in the darkness, the mist seeming to swallow them up aftertheir third step.

  "Quite a bit of sport, old fellow," whispered Drummond, who had chargeof the men on one side, Roberts being on the other, while the regularguard manned the tower and adjacent wall in strength, so as to see thefun, as they dubbed it.

  All was silent now, and the only lights visible were those of thewindows in the officers' quarters, so that it was hard to imagine thatmany hundred men, for the most part unarmed, were listening eagerly forthe first approach of the unsuspecting sheep.

  The listeners were not kept in suspense as to whether plenty of roastmutton was to supersede the short commons of the past. There was whatseemed to be a
long period of silence and darkness, during which a cloudof dense mist floated in through the gateway to fill the court; andduring this time of waiting the watchers, by other senses rather thansight, pictured the dark scouts playing the same part as falls to thelot of a collie dog at home, doubling round the great flock, whoserestless trampling they could hear in the soft, wet soil. But at lastthere was the sound of many pattering feet, telling that the flock wasin motion; and the suspense deepened, for the question was, "Would themen be able to head the sheep in, or would they dash off to right orleft, avoiding the big opening through the gates as the mouth of atrap?"

  "Will they--won't they?" muttered Drummond; and Roberts, like the men inthe angle hidden by the tower on the side, held his breath.

  The minutes seemed long drawn out now, as the pent-up excitementincreased; and Gedge, who was at the open window of the hospitalquarters, reached out as far as he could, his heart beating hard as helistened, hearing the pattering quite plainly, and reporting progress tohis officer, stretched upon his pallet. For the news had penetrated towhere they were. Gedge had heard it from an ambulance sergeant, andhurried in to Bracy.

  "Hoo-roar, sir!" he said excitedly, panting hard the while. "Tell yerdireckly. It's wonderful how soon I gets out o' breath since I had mylast wound,"--the knock-down from the stone in the pass was always "myfirst wound."--"The boys have captured a flock o' sheep, sir, and it'sgoing to be cuts out o' roast legs and hot mutton-chops for us everyday."

  Bracy sighed on hearing this.

  "Ah, you go like that, sir," said Gedge; "but just you wait till yousmell one o' them chops, frizzled as I'll do it, and peppered andsalted--wonder whether there is a bit o' pepper to be got."

  Gedge did not get the news till the arrangements were well in progress,and a pang of disappointment shot, through him, mingled with a longingto go and join in the fun. But he kept his thoughts to himself, and setto work to make his invalid participate as much as was possible bylistening and reporting all he could hear.

  "Just you hark, sir; can't hear a whisper, and it's as black as can be,"he said softly. "Hope; those chaps as they've sent won't muff it andlet the sheep get away to the mountains."

  "They most likely will," sighed Bracy, who was more low-spirited thanusual that night.

  "That's what I'm afraid on, sir. Can't hear nothing, sir," he saidmournfully. "Yes, I can; just a soft sort o' sound as is gettinglouder. It's pitter-patter o' little feet in the mud. Yes, that's it,sir. They're a-coming nigher and nigher. Oh! don't I wish I was outbehind 'em with a couple of those grey dogs without any tails thedrovers uses. I'd have 'em in through the gates in no time, withoutlosing one."

  "Are they going to drive the flock into the courtyard?" said Bracywearily.

  "Why, I telled him they were just now," muttered Gedge; and then aloud,"Yes, sir, that's it; and here they come, and--I can't see, but I canhear--they're a-getting quite near. And of course, as soon as they'reall in, bing-bang our chaps'll swing them great gates to and make 'emfast, and there, you are. What a glorious grab, and won't the niggersbe wild! Say, Mr Bracy, sir."

  "Yes."

  "Don't you feel as if you want to shout?"

  "No, Gedge, no."

  "I do, sir. I say, sir, if I was you I'd give me orders to see thebutchers, and buy four o' the sheepskins. I could dress 'em, and youcould have 'em made up into a rug, or let the tailor line your greatcoatwith 'em. For if we're going to be shut up here all the winter, everyone of them skins 'll be better for you than two ton o' coals."

  "Buy six for me, my lad," said Bracy, "and have three to line your owncoat."

  "Oh, thank ye, sir; but--"

  "No, no; three will do, my lad, for I shall be lying asleep under theturf before the winter comes."

  "Mr Bracy, sir!" cried Gedge in a husky voice. "Oh, sir, plee, sir,don't go and talk like that, sir! Oh, blow the sheep, and the mutton,and the skins!" he muttered; "what do I care about 'em now?"

  He was turning away, when, regretting what he had said, Bracy raisedhimself a little on one elbow, and said softly, and with his voicesounding stronger:

  "Why don't you go on telling me, my lad! Is the flock coming nearer?"

  Gedge thrust his head out again, and then partly withdrew it.

  "Yes, sir--close in, sir. You can hear 'em now; they must be coming inat the gates. Oh, do be careful!" he whispered to nobody, once morefull of excitement, and imagining everything in the darkness. "Steady,steady! Mind, you nigger to the left. Yah! don't get waving your armslike that; you'll scare one o' them old rams. Can't you see him tossinghis head about? He'll bolt directly, and if he does the whole flock 'llbe after him and off and away to the hills."

  "Can you see them, Gedge?" said Bracy, beginning to take interest in thecapture now for his lad's sake, for deep down in his breast there was awell-spring of gratitude for all the poor, rough, coarse fellow haddone.

  "See 'em, sir? No; it's as black as the inside of a tar-barrel: but Ican hear and fancy it all, and I've helped drive many a flock outWhitechapel way when I was a small boy. Here they come, though, patter,patter, and the chaps have done it splendid; they haven't made a sound.Here they come; they must be half in by now. There's some on 'em closeunder the winder, sir. Hear 'em puffing and breathing?"

  "Yes, yes; I can hear them there quite plainly, Gedge. I hope they willsecure them now, for every one's sake."

  "So do I, sir; but they're not caught till they're all in and the gatesis shut. Our sheep in London's wild enough when they take fright, whilethese things is more like goats, and you know how they can run up amongthe rocks. Oh, steady, steady, out there; look sharp and shut thosegates," whispered the listener. "Oh, do mind! If I sees all them legso' mutton cutting their sticks off to the mountains I shall go mad."

  "What's that?" cried Bracy, as in the wild flush of excitement thatflashed through his brain it seemed as if he had received a galvanicshock, and he sat right up in his bed, to keep in that position, gazingwildly towards the darkened window.

  Gedge doubtless replied, but his voice was drowned by the wild, warlikeyell of triumph which rose from the court--a yell which told its owntale of the success of a _ruse_. The sheep had been driven into thecourt through the mist and darkness--a great flock; but with them fullya hundred tulwar and knife armed Dwats in their winter sheepskin-coats,who had crept in with the quiet sheep on all-fours, the placid animalshaving doubtless been accustomed to the manoeuvre, thought out andpractised for weeks past, with a so far perfectly successful result.

  The yell was answered by the Colonel's voice shouting clearly the orderfor the gates to be shut; but the massacre had begun, the mad Mussulmanfanatics who had undertaken the forlorn hope being ready to do or die;and, as the rattle of the moving gates began, an answering war-cry camefrom not far away, the rush of a large body of men making for theopening being plainly heard.

  "Taken by surprise!" shouted Bracy wildly as he realised the horror."Gedge, it means the slaughter of the poor women and our woundedcomrades in the ward. Here, quick, my sword! my revolver! Quick! getone yourself."

  "I've got yours, sir, here," cried Gedge excitedly as he snatched themfrom where they hung. "Don't--don't move, sir; you're too weak and bad,and I'll keep the window and the door, sir. They shan't come near yerwhile I'm alive. After that--here, ketch hold, sir--your pistol, sir--after that you must lie still and shoot."

  The light had been extinguished, so that the sheep should not be scaredby a glare from the window; and in the darkness, amidst the howls,yells, and shouts in the courtyard, Gedge felt for the bed so as tothrust the loaded revolver into Bracy's hand. But, to his astonishment,a strong hand was laid upon his shoulder, and the sword was snatchedfrom his grasp, while Bracy cried in a voice the lad hardly knew:

  "Keep the pistol, close that door and window, and come on. Gedge, lad,we must try and keep the ward, before these savages get in."