The Disputed V.C.: A Tale of the Indian Mutiny
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CHAPTER XV
Ted's First Battle
General Anson, Commander-in-chief in India, had died a few dayspreviously; his successor, General Barnard, received and read thedespatch in silence.
He then looked up with stern face, but twinkling eyes. "Do you think,young gentlemen, that it shows good judgment to charge seventy horsemenwith only six?" for the captain of the Carabineers had reported theincident to his chief.
Ted stammered out, "We didn't think, sir."
"Think! I should imagine not. You must learn caution, if ever you hopeto get on in your profession."
The boys saluted and turned to go, when the general continued:
"Let me see; which of you was it who blew up the magazine atAurungpore?"
Ted blushed as Alec replied. The general rose from his chair, shookhands solemnly as with an equal, and the ensign departed, his heartnearly bursting with pride. No amount of praise could have pleased himso much as did this simple act.
The dragoon captain found sleeping quarters for them and for their men,and they made a tour of the encampment. In the camp the British soldiers(for their six men were the only dark-skins), horse and foot, weregathered in groups talking over the strange changes that had occurred,and eagerly discussing the latest tidings. The slaughter of thehelpless ladies and children in the city before them had maddened themen, and all vowed vengeance on the cruel foe.
"There's not a black regiment to be trusted, I don't care who they are,"declared one.
"Oh, there may be some who are all right! we mustn't condemn the lot,"replied another.
"Indeed! Who are your precious heroes, then?" sneered a third.
"Well, I don't know," the more hopeful red-coat replied; "but they saythat the Guides and the Sirmur Battalion of Gurkhas are coming to helpus."
"Guides and Gurkies be blowed! You'll just see; the niggers'll come asfar as it suits them, then they'll kill their officers and march intoDelhi. They ought to have been disarmed, Guides and Gurkies and everyoneelse, straight away."
"Hear, hear!" joined in the others. "We don't want no niggers helpin'us."
"They don't know much about the Guides, do they, Ted?" Alec whispered.
"They don't. But they spoke of the Sirmur Gurkhas. I wonder whether theyare coming here? My cousin Charlie Dorricot is with them, so I hope theyare. He's a jolly beggar is Charlie."
"They say Gurkhas are always to be trusted," Alec replied; "and fromwhat these fellows say, it's evident they haven't mutinied so far....Hullo! what's up now? The 'Alarm'! By Jove, the pandies are attackingus!"
A bugle had sounded the 'Alarm'; the men sprang to their feet, rushedfor their arms, and prepared to fall in. In an instant the whole campwas alive.
"What is it? Who are they?"
"Over there! Look! It's an attack on our rear."
The bugle blew again, and the alarm gradually subsided. All eyes weredirected towards a body of men marching wearily, but with correct,well-drilled step, along the road leading towards the British camp. Theyseemed dark, very short of stature, and curiously attired, and that wasall that could be made out. Though not Europeans, they were evidentlyfriends, because the "Alarm" sounded by the first bugle had beencontradicted by the second call.
And now that the sepoy regiments were proving false right and left, whatAsiatic corps except the Guides could be trusted so near thehead-quarters of the rebels? John Lawrence would take good care that nodoubtful regiments should be sent to Delhi, and that no Mussulman norBrahman of the Bengal army should be given such an excellent chance ofturning traitor at the critical moment.
The strangers drew nearer, and the camp turned out to meet them. Thenthe word passed from lip to lip that these were the Gurkhas--Reid'sGurkhas.
"It's the Sirmur Battalion, Alec," said Ted; and he executed a little_pas seul_ to proclaim his delight.
"Who are they?" asked some of the Tommies. "Where 'ave they come from?Can they fight?"
"Fight? Can't they just!" replied one of the knowing ones, a sergeantwith a dozen years' Indian experience. "They come from Dehra Dun, up inthe hills."
"I wouldn't give a dog-biscuit for all the native regiments in India," ayoung private declared. "They're all rotten with treachery."
"You'll never be commander-in-chief, Sammy," the sergeant retorted. "Youknow a dashed sight too much, and yet not 'arf enough. If you wasn't soignorant you'd know that these Gurkies ain't natives but furriners inInjia same as us, livin' in a furrin country called Nepal, up amongstthe Himalayas, which you've never 'eard on, I dare say. And the Gurkyking ain't a subject of the queen, like the Injian rajahs and nawabs andnizams and such, but free and independent, like voters at an election.I've fought side by side with 'em, Sammy, and they're as good pals on abattle-field as any chaps from Battersea."
Ted and Alec laughed at the sergeant's harangue, and strolled down theroad to meet the reinforcements. The short-legged, tough, little Gurkhaswere almost dropping from fatigue and heat. They had marched many, manymiles that day under the scorching Indian sun, and they were no moreaccustomed to the heat of the plains than were their British comrades.
"Hurrah for the Gurkies! Three cheers for the little 'uns!"
The cry was taken up by hundreds of the red-coats, who were now liningboth sides of the road, cheering again and again as the weary Mongoliansmarched sturdily through their ranks with soldierly swagger. The littlefellows grinned and tried to cheer and joke in return, but, being deadbeat and almost famishing, the attempt was a failure. Many Britishsoldiers ran out to help their new allies along, by lending the supportof an arm or shoulder.
"That's him, Alec!" Ted, regardless of grammar, informed his chum.
He made straight for a lieutenant of the Gurkhas, a tall, jolly-lookingman of about five-and-twenty, and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Please, sir," said the ensign, with great deference and as vacant anexpression as possible, "is there an officer of this regiment of pandiesnamed Dorricot, because he's wanted in camp."
"Pandies! you impudent puppy!" the enraged lieutenant replied."Pandies! I like your cheek! My name's Dorricot. Who wants me?"
"Please, sir, I think it's a tailor with a lot of unpaid bills--"
The lieutenant opened his mouth, and, gripping Ted's wrist, looked himsquarely in the face. He burst into a laugh.
"Ted Russell! What on earth are you doing here, you cheeky chimpanzee?"
He wrung Ted's hand heartily, and was unceremoniously introduced toPaterson.
"What are you doing here, Ted?" Dorricot repeated. "Your regiment hasmutinied, has it not?"
"Yes. Seeing we were at liberty, the general sent for Paterson and me tocome and give him a lift. We're his military advisers, ain't we, Alec?"
"Oh, Ted's altogether too modest," said Paterson. "In reality he's theactual commander here, and General Barnard takes orders from him."
"Oh, that's it, is it?" Dorricot replied. "Well, look here, come to mytent as soon as we've settled down. I want to have a talk with you."
The Sirmur Battalion passed within the lines, and General Barnardhimself came out to welcome them.
"Get something to eat sharp!" he exhorted Major Reid. "Sorry you're deadbeat, but we may have to turn out at any moment."
Luckily this was not necessary, as the expected attack did not come off,and the tired Gurkhas were granted a few hours' well-earned rest. Soonafter they had settled down our two ensigns paid the promised visit toLieutenant Dorricot, and fought their battles over again, talking andlaughing over their several adventures, interrupting, contradicting, andagreeing with one another as they discussed the situation and the causesthat had combined to bring it about.
The elder cousin was full of a natural curiosity concerning Jim'sengagement, soon persuading the ensign--and in truth it was no difficultmatter--to give his opinion of Miss Woodburn, her accomplishments andattractions.
"Hullo!" interrupted Charlie, as the boy waxed particularly eloquent onthe subject. "You're sure it's Russell Major who's i
n love, and notRussell Minimus."
Ted blushed, laughed outright, and sought to change the subject; butCharlie was determined to extract further information relating to hiscousin's love affairs--a matter on which he was conventionallyfacetious.
"So you really think that old Jim's done well--eh, young Solomon?"Dorricot resumed after a few moments' reflection.
"I tell you he's a jolly lucky chap!" declared the ensign emphatically."Jolly lucky, I should say. You should just have seen her when shewhipped her pistol out as soon as that beggar had knifed me in the_bazar_!"
"What was that, Teddy? You never told me about that."
So our ensign related the incident with great gusto, and the eldercousin whistled as he heard of the girl's coolness.
"She's the right sort for Jim," he agreed, as Ted concluded thenarration. "But I must be toddling off to bed now, I'm badly in need ofsome sleep. By-bye, young 'un!"
"Good-night, Charlie! It's just stunning to see you again. Jim'll bedownright glad when he comes; he's bound to be here in a day or twonow."
"His men must be rattling good marchers if he is! I hardly think itpossible."
With a hearty handshake the cousins separated, the ensigns returning totheir own quarters in the highest possible spirits, looking forward withgreat eagerness to the coming struggle.
A few days later General Barnard advanced and gave battle to the enemyat Badli-Ka-Serai, six miles from the city. Not a soldier there but wasburning to meet the traitors, but none was more keen than the littleGurkhas, who, to the delight of the amused Tommies, turned somersaultsand played leap-frog when they heard that an attack was to be made.
The multitudes of sepoys fought with courage and fierce determination,but were hurled back by the little army, which occupied position afterposition as the mutineers recoiled. At his cousin's request Ted wasallowed to act with the Sirmur Battalion until the arrival of the GuideCorps, whose absence the boy greatly regretted.
"How mad they will be to have missed this!" he whispered to Charlie asthey led the Gurkhas at the double to the foot of the ridge, where theyhalted and attempted to dislodge the enemy by rifle-fire. The bulletswhistled around, and many a gallant fellow fell, and it must beconfessed that our ensign felt uncomfortable. He hoped that this waiting"would jolly soon be over", but, with the eyes of the little Mongoliansupon him, he scorned to show signs of flinching even when a bulletflattened on the stone beside him. The fire had little effect on therebel regiments above; the swarthy faces seemed to glare down upon themin demoniacal fashion, defying their approach.
At length came the welcome order to storm the ridge. With a cheerBritons and Gurkhas rose and dashed up the slope, racing likeschool-boys for the top. The Gurkhas yelled and shrieked, challengingthe 60th Rifles to the race; the English had no breath left forcheering, but they put in all they knew, not to be outdistanced by "themGurky chaps". The little mountaineers, however, had had far morepractice in rapid climbing than their British comrades, and were soonwell in front, with Major Reid and Lieutenant Dorricot at their head.Though Ted toiled manfully forward, he could only arrive at the top withthe rear sections of his regiment, with whom were mixed thedark-coated English riflemen. The sepoys were standing no longer. Theirranks broken up by the furious charge from right and left, their gunstaken and leaders slain, they dared no longer face the glisteningbayonets and determined faces of vengeful Englishmen and furiousGurkhas, but broke and fled towards the city. After them ran theinfantry, and in the plains below the cavalry charged and re-charged theflying mobs, scattering them again as they tried to reform. The battleof Badli-Ka-Serai was over.
BATTYE ROSE IN HIS STIRRUPS AND THUNDERED FORTH THE ORDER TO CHARGE]