The Red, White, and Green

by Herbert Hayens

  CHAPTER XI.

  _GOeRGEI TO THE RESCUE._

  The noise of the battle died away as we left the town and made for thefield where the 9th Honveds were resting after their exertions. Asusual they had been pretty roughly handled; but Goergei had found timeto thank them for their bravery, and that paid for everything.

  Some were eating and drinking; others, wrapped in their bundas, werealready fast asleep. The colonel was just returning from visiting thewounded.

  "Hallo!" he exclaimed; "what are you doing here? Thought you were atTisza-Fured. Who are those fellows?"

  "They've just come from hospital to rejoin their regiments. I thoughtperhaps you'd tell me what to do with them."

  "All right. I'll attend to it.--Glad to see you, Dobozy.--A little bittoo late for the fight, Thurzo. We've had another turn at our oldfriend Schlick. Hot while it lasted; but we carried too many guns forhim. Plucky chap, though. I'd invite you into my tent if I had one;but you can take your choice of the ground--there's plenty to choosefrom.--Any of my fellows amongst that lot, Botskay? Thanks. Let themstand out.--Back again, my lads? Good-luck to you.--Now, George, comealong and we'll dispose of the others; they look as if they want arest."

  The colonel rattled on in his lively strain, passed the men on to theproper authorities, stopped here and there to joke with his friends, andthen took me back to the regiment, where we joined the other officers attheir evening meal.

  "Yes," he said cheerfully, in answer to some remark, "things are shapingwell at present. If only Goergei had a free hand, the white-coats wouldsoon be bundling out of Pesth."

  This seemed to be the general opinion, though here and there one heard aword in praise of Vetter, and even of Dembinski, the late chief.

  It was the second day after the affair at Hatvan when Stephen rode up tothe quarters of the 9th Honveds.

  "I expected to find you here," he exclaimed cheerfully. "Feel all rightagain?"

  "Thanks, old chap; I'm as well as ever. As for you, this soldieringseems to suit you perfectly. Haven't seen you look so smiling forages."

  He actually laughed. "Not heard the news? Well, it will be known in anhour or two. Vetter's resigned, and Goergei has been made chief."

  "Then we can begin to pack up?"

  "Yes. There won't be much rest for any one till we're in Pesth."

  "And not much then."

  "No. Of course, I don't claim to be in the general's secrets, but Iknow him well enough to feel sure he won't stop till we get to Vienna.By the way, that reminds me of a queer circumstance. Do you rememberVon Theyer?"

  I nodded briskly.

  "He's turned imperialist, and is either a captain or major in thehussars. The fellow made a dead set at me the other day, and I shouldadvise you to be careful."

  Thereupon I related what had happened at Kapolna, upon which Stephenrepeated his warning more seriously, saying that in Von Theyer I had, nodoubt, a special and determined enemy.

  "If possible, he will do you mischief," he continued; "so be on yourguard. Plainly he is a very clever fellow, or he would not so easilyhave hoodwinked the authorities, and he has courage enough foranything."

  "Yes, he makes a dashing cavalry leader; but why should he be so bitteragainst us? We haven't harmed the fellow."

  Stephen smiled, and made almost the same remark as Rakoczy at Kapolna.

  "Have you forgotten the fraeulein?" he asked. "No, I see you have notby the blush on your face. Well, my boy, Von Theyer wants to keep thefraeulein's favours for himself. Understand?"

  I nodded lightly, and Rakoczy coming up at the moment, the talk took afresh turn.

  Stephen's news soon spread, and, in our part of the army at least, gavegeneral satisfaction.

  Officers and men alike had perfect confidence in Goergei's judgment, andthe only fear expressed was that he would be hampered by the orders ofthe civil government.

  For a time, however, we were too busy with the work of preparation tothink much of anything else.

  Exactly what was in hand, of course, we did not know; but on the nightof the third of April a rumour spread through the camp that the armywould march at daybreak.

  Directly after breakfast the regiments mustered, arms were examined,instructions issued to officers; and as soon as it was well light wemoved out in three divisions by the highroad running to Pesth.

  Goergei commanded in person, and under him were Generals Klapka, Aulich,and Damjanics.

  Our regiment formed part of the first corps, which advanced by theright, keeping in touch, however, with the two others. Goergei had leftfifteen thousand men at Hatvan, but we were still nearly thirty thousandstrong; and our object apparently was to prevent Jellachich from joiningthe main army under Windischgratz.

  "There's the first move," cried young Thurzo excitedly, as away on ourleft one of Aulich's batteries opened fire.

  "And the answer to it," said I, as the enemy responded with a terrificstorm of shot and shell. "It must be warm over there."

  The battle soon developed, not reaching us, however, though occasionallywe caught glimpses of it as we marched on to take up our position nearthe village of Tampio-Biscke.

  From a mounted messenger sent in search of Klapka we learned that theCroats, by a brilliant charge, had captured four guns, but wereafterwards driven back, and could now barely hold their own.

  Jellachich was anxiously awaiting aid from the Austrians. Should it notcome, his army would almost certainly be destroyed.

  "Rather uninteresting work this," grumbled Thurzo. "Why, we were almostas lively down at Tisza-Fured."

  "Can't make out exactly why we are here," answered a comrade. "Wearen't actors, for certain; while, as spectators, we get a very poorview of the performance."

  "Listen!" I interrupted as a thunderous roar of heavy guns broke outapparently close upon us. "The Austrians are over the river."

  "Hurrah!" cried Thurzo; "now for our share in the fight!"

  Poor fellow! I have often wondered since if he would have shown sucheagerness had he known what was coming.

  Rakoczy spoke a word to the men, exhorting them to be steady; then westood awaiting orders.

  They did not come. The roar of the guns was unceasing, drowning therattle of musketry and the shrieks of the wounded; the blinding flashesplayed perpetually round their muzzles; our advanced guard was nearlyannihilated, though that we only guessed.

  We leaned on our swords and wondered, while the men fumbled impatientlywith their firearms; Rakoczy alone, smiling and genial, showed neitheruneasiness nor concern.

  Suddenly an officer dashed up, hatless, bleeding, and holding his reinsin his right hand. He spoke to the colonel, who, without a moment'sdelay, gave orders that the regiment should advance at the double.

  From that moment the horror of the fight began for us.

  Moving out from the low sand-hills that had hitherto sheltered us, wefound ourselves very shortly in the thick of it.

  The Austrians had placed their batteries in such an admirable positionthat not only were our guns partly silenced, but the head of the columnwas blown clean away.

  One battery pumped shot and shell into our flank as we went by, whileanother continued to draw lines through the troops in front of us.

  I concluded that we were required to support an attack on the guns, whena loud cry from the men announced that something was happening.

  I have never seen a more peculiar sight.

  The remnant of the column began to bend from one side to the other, forall the world like a boat rocking in the water. The movement was slowat first, but it soon increased in speed, and then the column broke inpieces.

  At this the Austrians, plying the guns with renewed vigour, literallyswept the plain with their fire, which put an end to the shatteredcolumn.

  In an instant a fine body of disciplined soldiers was changed into afear-stricken mob flying for dear life.

  Away went bayon
et and rifle, cartridge-pouch, and everything that byimpeding flight might lessen the chance of safety.

  A shiver of indecision passed through our regiment at the sight; butRakoczy's calmness stopped the mischief, at least for a time, and, underhis directions, we opened our ranks to let the runaways through.

  On they came, shouting, yelling, and so blind with fear that I believemany of them did not recognize us.

  To stop them just then would have been impossible; it would be well ifthey did not carry the regiment off in their wild career.

  With heads bent and muscles stretched to breaking-point, they thunderedalong, seeing nothing, caring for nothing, except to get away.

  Young Thurzo, mad with shame and rage, shook his fist and called thembitter names, any one of which at another time would have cost him hislife.

  Now they passed unchallenged; the fugitives heard nothing but thehissing of those terrible Austrian shells that had cost the column sodearly.

  Chiefly through the colonel's influence, the regiment stood firm, and,directly the runaways were past, proceeded to re-form its ranks.

  A moment's glance to the front, however, showed that another disasterwas in store.

  Windischgratz, noticing the break-up of the column, ordered the batteryto cease firing, and immediately launched two cavalry regiments--one ofcuirassiers, one of hussars--to finish the work.

  We were, as I have already said, in the very act of reforming when theydashed at us.

  With five minutes' grace we might have made somewhat of a stand, but nowthey were too quick for us.

  I heard the colonel's "Steady, lads, steady! Stand your ground!" andthen a blazing volley of musketry that brought down many a stalwarttrooper.

  The cuirassiers were astonished by this warm reception, but they couldnot turn back if they would--their speed was too great.

  Helmets and cuirasses flashed in the sunlight as the horsemen spranginto our ranks, cutting and slashing on all sides.

  There are many safer places than a broken square in a cavalry charge.

  Before the Honveds found a chance of running away they foughtdesperately, stabbing with their bayonets at men and horses, or makingserviceable weapons of their clubbed rifles.

  In such a _melee_ it was almost necessarily a case of every man forhimself; but a few of the officers stuck together, and by degreesgathered round them the steadiest of the men.

  The colonel was at their head, and I joined them with young Thurzo, whowas wild with grief. He had taken part in two battles, and each hadended in defeat.

  By this time the larger part of the regiment was in full flight, and thecuirassiers, finding the way open, followed in pursuit.

  We formed ourselves into a square, officers and privates shoulder toshoulder, with Rakoczy on foot to lead us.

  I had caught the colours as they dropped from the grasp of the man whobore them, and they still fluttered bravely overhead.

  I have said that Windischgratz sent out two cavalry regiments, and thesecond now charged hotly on our poor remnant.

  Amongst the officers Von Theyer showed conspicuously, and, as before, hepaid me special attention, which was flattering but uncomfortable.

  However, we beat the hussars off time and again, and continued to retiresteadily, though not without great loss.

  It was pitiful to see man after man drop dead or grievously wounded, butthe others closed up and ever showed an unbroken front.

  Poor Thurzo, whom I had learned to like well, and who marched out sogaily to the fight that morning, met his death here. Two troopersdashed at him with uplifted sabres: one he shot dead with his pistol;the other cleft him from head to chin.

  Poor fellow! He had been much afraid that Aulich's corps would get allthe fighting.

  There he lay dead, and his greatest friend could do no more than givehim the fleetest of passing thoughts.

  Back we went steadily; and, though death was busy in our ranks, yet thesquare grew larger, for many fugitives belonging both to our own andother regiments joined us.

  How the battle went elsewhere it was impossible for us to guess, but theutter rout of our corps was painfully apparent.

  Once we set up a cheer as a small party of cuirassiers went gallopingback, but the cheer changed into a cry of rage when we saw they weredragging a captured gun.

  Another and another followed. The hussars yelled exultingly, and,nerved by the sight, made another effort to break the square.

  Instantly we halted; the front rank men kneeled down; the rifles werelevelled; there was a line of light, a loud report, and once more thehussars were thrown back.

  It was just after this that a shout arose which put heart into the mostdepressed.

  From the throats of thousands there leaped a cry of "Goergei! Goergei!"The runaways stopped in their headlong flight. A part of Damjanic'sdivision hurried to the scene, and flung themselves across the path ofthe victors.

  The rout was stayed. The Austrians who had followed in the wake oftheir cavalry were brought to a standstill; the battle, which had passedus, now began to return. Our eyes danced with joy as we saw thewhite-coats come back at a run.

  Following them closely, Goergei and his staff rode at the head ofSchwartzenberg's Hungarian regiment. Rakoczy, seizing his opportunity,led us forward to join them.

  The tide had turned with a vengeance.

  Back went the Austrians--horse, foot, and field-guns--not exactlybroken, yet in extreme disorder, and seeking shelter under their twofixed batteries.

  Now we had a taste of the reception our advanced guard had met withearlier in the day, and understood how it was they failed to hold theirground.

  Goergei quickly made up his mind what to do.

  We saw him speak to his staff, and two officers darted off, one towardsus, one towards the rear.

  Our messenger was Stephen, his face flushed, his eyes glowing withexcitement.

  He dashed up to the colonel, saluted, pointed with his sword, deliveredhis message, threw me a kindly look in passing, and was gone.

  Rakoczy lost not a moment, but, pointing to the battery, exclaimedquietly, "My lads, the general says we are to take that battery; thesooner we reach it the better."

  The men cheered in reply; but many a lip twitched nervously, and morethan one face paled, for the colonel's words were a message of death.

  The colonel knew it too; and, as we started, he gave my hand a slightpressure as in token of farewell. But his voice was firm, his face fullof quiet confidence, his glance proud and smiling. The sacrifice wasfor his country: let it be made.

  Then away we went, and at the same moment the veterans from Damjanic'sdivision started for the second battery.

  Unfortunately, there was little cover on our route; and, as the colonelhad said, our best plan was to reach the sandhill where the battery wasposted in the shortest possible time.

  A terrible fire opened on us at once, but the first flight of shellspassed harmlessly; the second killed a few men and smashed the flag-poleI carried; at the third we flung ourselves into a gully of sand, Rakoczyalone remaining upright.

  Then, springing to our feet, we ran on, cheering frantically as aregiment of hussars dashed up from the right straight at the flank ofthe battery.

  The horsemen were still a long way off, but they rode hard, and wouldreach the guns in time to give us help.

  "Forward! forward!" shouted Rakoczy; and the brave fellow, fleet of footas a deer, led the way several yards in advance.

  Still carrying the shattered pole, I toiled on, while the great guns,belching forth fire and flame, poured their deadly missiles into themidst of us.

  Once, tripping over a prostrate body, I fell to the ground heavily, andlay for a moment half-stunned; the next I was on my feet, and runningwith all my might to get a place in the front.

  "The flag!" I gasped, overtaking the rear. "Make way for the flag!"

  Everywhere now the Austrians were making a stubborn last stand. If onlythey could roll us back ever so li
ttle, the day would be theirs.

  Through a rift in the smoke-cloud I saw a hussar regiment ride out frombehind the battery, and guessed they intended to meet the charge of ourown horsemen half-way.

  The curtain dropped again; I could see no more. Rakoczy was stillunhurt, for his voice sounded clearly above the din, and the menresponded to his cry of "Forward!" with a cheer.

  Then we were there, so unexpectedly that I stared amazedly at the long,black monsters which the gunners could not spike.

  I sprang on one and waved the colours, while the men cheered madly.

  Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, there went by a ragged line ofhorsemen, spurring hard, and leaning over the heads of their animalsthat, with foam-splashed lips, distended nostrils, and heaving sides,strained every muscle.

  We gazed open-mouthed at the apparition, and then gave ourselves up torenewed cheering as our own hussars--Stephen riding neck by neck withtheir colonel--dashed in pursuit.

  Farther away on the left, the regiment of veterans, having captured thebattery, was engaged in fierce conflict with a body of infantry. Nowfrom all sides our friends were hurrying up, and the Austrians,overwhelmed by numbers, fled over the Tapio River towards Koka, wherethey sheltered behind the sand-hills. As for us, we halted on theground it had cost us so dear to win; and the colonel immediately sentme to collect the runaways from the regiment, and bring them back.

  This I did with exceeding difficulty, as the whole of Klapka's corps wasin a terrible state of confusion. Then, with Dobozy and half a dozensoldiers, I proceeded to search for the body of the hapless Thurzo.

  I picked up the sword which had dropped from the nerveless fingers,while Dobozy cut a curl from the dead lad's raven hair.

  "For his mother," he said softly, not attempting to hide the tears thatgathered in his eyes. "He was her only son, and she is a widow."

  The men carried the body to a small wood nearly half a mile away, andthere, with the sweet-smelling pines swaying mournfully overhead, weburied him, marking the place by a rude cross.

  "It will comfort _her_, when the war is ended, to come and pray besideit," said Dobozy, as we turned sorrowfully toward the spot where ourregiment was stationed.

  We were not very cheerful in camp that night. We were tired out withmarching and fighting, saddened by the loss of many brave companions,while the shame of that morning's rout hung over us like a pall.

  True, the Austrians had finally been repulsed; but the credit of thatwas not ours. That belonged to Goergei and the veterans of the seconddivision.

  The runaways were sulky and ashamed; the officers--some of whom had beenliterally carried off by the crowd of fugitives--were furiously angry.

  For myself, I was on fatigue duty till a late hour, and Dobozyvolunteered to help me: hard work would divert his mind somewhat fromdwelling on the death of his comrade.

  It was nearly midnight when we rejoined our brother-officers, who,wrapped in their mantles, lay in a ring on the ground. Some hadforgotten the disaster in sleep, others were still chatting quietly overthe events of the day.

  Rakoczy was absent; he had been sent for by the chief, who wished toconsult him, or more likely, perhaps, to give him some orders for themorning.

  Dobozy and I lay down side by side, wrapped ourselves in our mantles,and tried to snatch an hour or two's sleep.

  In this my companion happily succeeded, but I was less fortunate, beingweighed down by a sense of uneasiness as to my brother's fate.

  After that momentary glimpse of him riding at the head of the hussars,he had vanished, and no one seemed to know what had become of him.

  True, he might have rejoined Goergei, and been sent with a message toAulich; but the general gloom of the day made me nervous and fanciful,and I lay awake until Rakoczy returned.

  "Stephen?" he said, in answer to my anxious questioning. "No, Icertainly didn't see him; but what of that? Goergei's _aides_ flit aboutlike ghosts in a stage-play. They aren't supposed to be like ordinarymortals, who want food and rest. Cheer up, my boy; I really don't thinkthere's any reason to worry. If Stephen had come to grief, Goergeiwould have known and told me, you may be sure. Clear your head of thesenotions, and go to sleep. We're likely to have a hard day to-morrow."

  This was sensible advice, and I tried to act on it; but after all, Imust confess, there was little sleep for me that night.