At the Point of the Sword

by Herbert Hayens

  CHAPTER XV.

  WE CATCH A TARTAR.

  When I awoke at six o'clock in the morning, most of the officers andmen were still sleeping, but the colonel had disappeared. There wasnothing to be done beyond feeding and grooming my horse, which I alwaysmade a point of doing myself. As to my own breakfast, my haversack wasempty, and I think there was hardly a pound of meat to be found amongthe whole column.

  After a short time the men were roused, and just after seven o'clock wesaw the colonel come tearing along on horseback, as if pursued by acavalry division. Evidently he was in a great hurry, and his face waswreathed in smiles.

  "Good-morning, gentlemen," he cried. "You will be glad to hear mynews: we move in an hour's time. The general has only a scanty stockof provisions, but there is sufficient to provide your men withbreakfast.--Crawford, hunt up Lieutenant-Colonel O'Brien, and ask himto come to me at once."

  O'Brien was a famous Irishman who had served with San Martin allthrough the Chilian War. He was a fine fellow, standing six feet sixinches high, and well proportioned. Every one loved him for hiswinning ways, his ready smile, his perfect honesty, and his absolutefearlessness.

  "Colonel Miller?" said he, on hearing my message. "Faith, I'll comeinstantly." And we rode back together.

  "You're prompt, O'Brien," exclaimed the colonel, laughing; "Have youhad enough of this slow-time business?"

  "More than enough, colonel. What are your fellows looking so pleasedabout?"

  "First, the prospect of a breakfast; and then--"

  "You've badgered the general into giving you a free hand!"

  "Not quite that; but I have permission to push on. I fear it's toolate. Canterac is a fine soldier, and will be ready for us now; but Iam going to see if he has left any weak places. Would you care to comewith me?"

  "You're just a jewel, colonel," exclaimed the big Irishmanenthusiastically, "and I'm eternally devoted to you. When do we start?"

  "Directly after breakfast. Will you take some with me?"

  "That will I, colonel, and I'm as charmed with the second invitation asthe first. I dined with the general the day we left Mirones, andhaven't had a decent meal since."

  The colonel laughed, saying, "I'm afraid I can't say much for thequality of our food."

  "Never mind the quality, colonel; I think more of quantity just atpresent."

  "Well, that's on a par with the quality."

  This did not sound very promising; but we managed to satisfy ourhunger, and the men, having eaten their scanty rations, were drawn upready for the start. At nine o'clock we left the camp, and a rapidmarch brought us to the village of Macas, which the enemy had justabandoned. Here, to our great delight, we discovered a number of sheepdressed and ready for cooking; so, for once in a way, we enjoyed areally good meal, while cracking many jokes at the Spaniards' expense.Then having rested, we pushed on to the foot of the mountains, wherethe men bivouacked, being too tired to drag themselves any further.

  I was just preparing to off-saddle when the colonel said, "Crawford, ifyou aren't too tired, you can come with me. I am going just a littleway up the mountain."

  "Very good, sir," I answered, climbing into the saddle again, butwishing that he had taken it into his head to sleep instead.

  "I should like to find out where Canterac is. He is quite cleverenough to set a very ugly trap for us."

  It was dark now, and the road was difficult; but we rode cautiously,listening for sounds, and keeping our eyes well open. At the end ofperhaps half a mile the colonel suddenly stopped, and said in awhisper, "Some one is coming towards us."

  The position was very awkward. We were on a narrow road with nohiding-place at hand, and must either retreat rapidly or plumpourselves right into the arms of the strangers. In another minute wehad no choice at all, as several dusky figures loomed up before us.Fortunately Colonel Miller favoured the practice of taking the bull bythe horns, and levelling his pistol, he cried in a stern voice, "Halt!Who are you?"

  Taken by surprise, the men stopped, and we heard one of them say, "No,no; he's no Spaniard. I can tell by his speech."

  "Quite right," cried the colonel. "I'm an English officer in thePatriot army. Who are you? Make haste; we don't want to stay here allnight."

  "We're deserters from General Canterac's army," replied one boldly,"and want to give ourselves up."

  "Then you're just right. We will return with you to the camp, or thesentries might shoot you.--Crawford, turn your horse round so that theycan pass between us.--Now, my good fellows, march, and I hope for yourown sakes that you've given a true account of yourselves."

  Thus we journeyed back to the camp, where, beside a good fire, ColonelMiller examined the prisoners. From them we learned that GeneralCanterac had halted in a strong position halfway up the mountain; uponwhich I could see, by his restlessness, that the colonel was eager toresume the pursuit at once. A glance at his wearied men, however,showed him the folly of such an enterprise.

  "No," said he at last; "they couldn't stand it." Which was quite true.

  Having given the strangers into the charge of the guard, we unsaddledour horses, wrapped ourselves up, and lay down near the fire. Twoseconds later we were fast asleep. At daybreak we were moving again,and I fancy the colonel felt glad he had not attempted to lead his menup the mountains in the darkness of night. The road was simplyhorrible, and the pass might have been defended by a score of resolutemen against an army. Halfway up we received a check. O'Brien, goingforward with a handful of men, got in touch with the enemy, whoimmediately turned about and threatened to overwhelm us by a suddenattack.

  Under some leaders we should most certainly have come to grief; but thecolonel's cheery, smiling face kept the men at their posts. Drawingthem up in a strong position, he awaited the attack calmly.

  "If you try to run away, my lads," he said pleasantly, "the Spaniardswill make mincemeat of you; so it is wisest to stand firm."

  We watched three battalions come down from the height and halt justbeyond musket-range.

  "I don't believe they're going to attack, after all!" exclaimed O'Brienexcitedly.

  "Not until we move," answered the colonel, "and then they'll fall on ustooth and nail. I expect they are just gaining time while the mainbody gets away. It's aggravating, too, because they have the whip handof us. We aren't strong enough to turn them out."

  O'Brien shook his head, saying, "If the provisions would last, we mightstand here staring at each other till doomsday."

  Darkness found the position unchanged, while numerous watch-firesgleamed fitfully through the gloom.

  "I wonder," said the colonel thoughtfully, "if Canterac intends keepinghis men there all night? Those fires may be just a blind; he's quiteequal to a dodge of that sort."

  "Let me find out," said O'Brien.--"Crawford, do you feel in trim for astroll?"

  "Oh, thanks! it's very kind of you to think of me."

  "Don't mention it, my dear fellow! It's a weakness of mine to remembermy friends.--We'll be back in an hour, colonel.--Take off your sword,Crawford; we must trust to our pistols. Are you ready? Come along,then."

  Passing our outposts, we began to climb warily, keeping a keen lookout,and taking care to make no unnecessary noise. It was possible--indeedI thought probable--that we should meet the enemy stealing down tosurprise our camp by a night attack. However, we kept steadily on ourway, and had nearly reached the outer ring of fires, when, clutchingO'Brien by the arm, I dragged him bodily to the ground.

  "What's the matter?" he asked quietly.

  "A sentry! Listen! He's talking to some one."

  We lay quite still, trying to hear what was said; but in this we weredisappointed, and presently the two men separated, each walking slowlyin opposite directions.

  "Now's our chance!" whispered O'Brien; and crawling on hands and knees,we passed quietly between the two. Several yards away was a big fire,and a number of men had gathered round it, where they could easily beseen.
>
  "Then they haven't bolted, after all!" said O'Brien, in surprise.

  "It doesn't look like it; but don't let us be too sure. You stay inthis hollow while I investigate. You are not a good performer onall-fours."

  "No," said he, chuckling, and I was afraid that, in spite of ourdanger, he would laugh aloud; "this is a sort of circus trick nottaught at our school. Can you judge where to find me again?"

  "Easily, if they don't let the fires out;" and I crawled further intothe camp, and in the direction of a second fire. It looked verycomfortable, but no one was there to take advantage of it, and thethird and fourth I visited were equally deserted.

  The trick was plain enough now. After lighting the fires, the threebattalions had marched off, leaving just sufficient men to tend them,and to act as sentries. The sight of a soldier crossing the camp tothrow fresh fuel on one of the fires changed suspicion into certainty,and I hastened back to O'Brien with my information.

  "That's an old dodge," said he, "but a good one. It almost always paysin this part of the world. Now let us get back and tell the colonel."

  Cautiously we crawled back, waited nearly an hour for a favourablechance to dodge the sentries, and then hurried down the pass.

  "Thanks," exclaimed the colonel, on hearing our report. "We can affordnow to let the men have a couple of hours' sleep; they need it."

  "And I daresay some of the officers will lie down, if you press them,"laughed O'Brien.--"What do you say, Crawford?"

  "Well, the colonel need not press me much," I replied.

  "Good boy! I'm pleased you're so willing to do as you're told."

  "Well, he has certainly earned a rest," observed Miller. "But we aremoving sharp at daybreak, remember."

  "There's nothing strange in that," said I sleepily; "the wonder wouldbe if we didn't." At which the colonel and O'Brien laughed heartily.

  Next day we marched into the village of Puruchuco, on the eastern sideof the mountain, and about six miles distant from the small town ofHuamantanga, where the Royalists had halted. Owing to the difficultyof obtaining food, Colonel Miller now sent most of our infantry back toMacas; the Indians were thrown forward to act as a screen in front;while the rest of us bivouacked in some meadows near the village. Thenext day the colonel and I rode to within five hundred yards ofHuamantanga, where we saw the enemy formed up in marching order.

  "What restless fellows they are!" I exclaimed laughingly; "they're onthe move again!"

  "Yes; but this time, unless I'm much mistaken, they are movingbackwards. Ride round to the right, warn the Indians to be ready foran attack, and rejoin me at Puruchuco."

  I had barely reached the village when the colonel's suspicions wereverified. Two thousand of the enemy, all picked men, as we afterwardsdiscovered, rapidly descended the heights, drove the Indians back bysheer strength of numbers, and at last sent them flying pell-mell toseek safety in some of the numerous ravines. We had barely threehundred regular soldiers, many of whom were young boys, and scarcelyone had ever smelt powder in a real fight. But Miller was a host inhimself, and though the odds were so desperate, I did not despair ofvictory.

  O'Brien, with a picked detachment of infantry, occupied a strongposition, and began firing as soon as the assailants came within range.The cavalry and the remainder of the infantry were posted lower downthe mountain side.

  "Aim low, lads," said the colonel, "and don't waste your ammunition.If they reach you, give them a taste of the steel."

  The flight of the Indians left us a great deal exposed, and in dangerof being surrounded; but O'Brien had placed his men on a rockyplatform, from which they kept one detachment in check. Meanwhile, inour own quarter the fight raged furiously. A large body of Spaniards,slipping past O'Brien, came on again and again. We beat them back, butthey gave us no rest. Our men began to fall, and once I saw a shade ofanxiety flit across the colonel's face. It was gone in less than asecond, but it confirmed my opinion that we could not hold our ground.

  For the most part, we contented ourselves with repelling the enemy'sattacks; but twice our leader flung himself against their dragoons atthe head of his cavalry. We broke them easily, but could not pursue,and the experiment cost us a dozen in killed and wounded.

  "This won't do," said he. "They will eat us up.--Crawford, tellO'Brien to retire on us slowly. I intend to retreat.--Captain Prieto,get your men posted in that ravine to the left, and hold it until youare told to withdraw."

  I did not hear the captain's reply, being on my way to deliver thecolonel's order. I had left my horse behind, but even so, the journeywas distinctly unpleasant, as my body was a prominent target for dozensof muskets.

  "Warm work, Crawford!" exclaimed O'Brien. "I think the colonel isright. We've caught a tartar this time, and no mistake.--Steady, mylads! we'll make them fight for every yard."

  I stayed with the detachment, helping to carry a wounded man. Thecheering Spaniards pressed us closely; if they could break through ourcordon, Miller's men were doomed. But we returned shot for shot, andstopped their occasional rushes by steel. Every moment of delay gaveour brave fellows further down the pass a better chance of escape.

  "Well done, O'Brien!" cried the colonel, as we joined him where hestood with a few horsemen.--"Steady, my lads! Captain Prieto holds thepass. Don't lose your heads, and we shall come out all right."

  At the ravine the horsemen halted, while the infantry continued theretreat; first O'Brien's men, and afterwards those who had held thepass under Captain Prieto. This was the fiercest part of the struggle.The fighting was at hand-grips now, and I wondered we were not sweptaway headlong.

  "Stand firm, my lads, stand firm; it's your only chance!" sang outMiller cheerfully, and his eyes brightened with the passing minutes, ashe knew that the bulk of his command was rapidly getting out of danger.

  For half an hour we held the narrow way with sword and pistol, and thena body of Spaniards, who unseen by us had worked round to the right,appeared lower down the pass.

  "We must cut our way through, and at once!" cried our leader. "Aboutface, lads, and into them. Ride hard, and strike hard."

  We were in a trap now, and the only way to get out was by smashing thedoor. The colonel led, the troopers followed as best they could, whileO'Brien and I remained in the rear to help to check the rush of theenemy's main body. There was a flash of swords, the sound ofpistol-shots, an outburst of mocking laughter from the enemy, a "Viva!"from our own men, a vigorous "Hurrah!" from the colonel, and then wewere through!

  "Go on, my lads!" cried the colonel, dropping to the rear. "Yourcomrades are at the foot of the mountain.--A narrow shave, O'Brien!"

  "Yes! and we aren't clear yet," replied the Irishman, turning in hissaddle to glance behind. "There would be more chance for us if wecould bring down that tall fellow who is leading."

  Whiz! whiz! The bullets were buzzing about our ears now, too close tobe comfortable, and but for our horses, we must soon have been killedor captured. At any other time I would not have ridden down thatmountain side at a foot pace. It was a succession of steep descents,which made one dizzy to look at; and how my animal managed to keep itsfeet I could not understand.

  "Push on!" cried the colonel suddenly, "and tell Prieto to line themouth of the pass, in case these fellows chase us all the way."

  He and O'Brien had stopped, intending to try the effect of a shot ortwo, and in another minute I was out of sight. Fifty yards furtherdown the road forked, and fancying the branch to the right looked theeasier, I turned into it.

  "It may take a little longer to reach the bottom," I thought, "but it'sa far less dangerous way. I wonder if the others will think to turndown here."

  It often happens that we come to grief when feeling most secure, and itwas so with me now. I was riding at a swift gallop, and perhaps withless care than was necessary, when all at once my horse stumbled,failed to recover itself, and fell heavily. Fortunately it lay still,and I was able to drag myself free, feeling dazed a
nd bewildered. Herewas a pretty pickle! What could I do? In any case the colonel wouldreach the bottom first, and the retreat would be continued without me.

  Getting up, I tried to help the animal to its feet; but the poor thingeither could not or would not move. It was clear that I must leave it,and though hating to do so, I walked a few paces down the narrow path.The fall had shaken me considerably. My head ached, and I had much adoto grope my way along. Three several times in the course of a shortdistance I stumbled, and the third time fell heavily to the ground,twisting my left foot underneath me. I tried to rise, but could not.Now, what should I do? I dared not call for help, lest the Spaniardsshould hear me. For two hours I lay thus, wondering what would becomeof me. The noise of the shouting and firing had now died away; theenemy had probably returned to their stronghold. Not a sound broke thestillness, and the gloom of evening began to envelop the path.

  It was now only that I realized fully my frightful danger. Unless someone passed that way by accident, I should die of hunger and exposure!The idea nerved me to a fresh effort. Rising painfully, and steadyingmyself here and there by the rocks, I limped a short distance, thoughevery step wrung from me a cry of agony. Several times I stopped torest, and to wipe the sweat from my brow; twice in less than fiveminutes I was obliged to sit down, and at last the pain in my footbecame so excruciating that I could struggle no further.

  "It's no good!" I exclaimed; "I must stay here till the morning, atleast." And finding a kind of recess in the rocks, I crept in. Thenit occurred to me to take off my boot; so opening my knife, I hacked atthe leather till I succeeded in getting my foot free.

  This, after the first sudden rush of pain, was a great comfort. I felteasier and brighter, and lay down to sleep in a happier frame of mind,intending to make a fresh start as soon as daylight appeared.