Soon there were several, lying at all angles. Some of the retiring troops went back to try to clear these, but a brisk fire from the hill above discouraged them and they soon gave it up.
"Trust Gimlet," said Copper enthusiastically. "E's blocked the road both ways. Blow me if this ain't beginnin' ter look like a full-sized war!"
Cub was thinking the same thing, and he was by no means happy about it.
He was wondering what the outcome of it all would be. The affair was certainly developing into something far bigger than had originally been intended, and he felt that the sooner it was over the better. He pushed on, saying nothing, determined to get through to Gimlet, who would, he was sure, when he realised the Pasha was safe, call off the attack.
There now came another alarming incident, although it had little effect on the situation as a whole. It was, Cub thought, something for which Gimlet was in a way responsible, although it was something that he had not intended. This is what happened. The driver of the backing car, finding further progress barred by obstructions, was trying to find a way between them and the edge of the road. Apparently perceiving that this was not possible by backing, he tried to turn, knowing that if he could get round he would be able to see more clearly what he was doing.
Copper stopped to look. "You know, chum," he said earnestly, "if the bloke drivin' that go-cart ain't careful 'e's agoin' ter 'urt 'imself presently." His voice rose to a shout as he went on. "There you are! Wot did I tell yer?"
Cub did not answer. He, too, had stopped to watch the car, now in a dangerous position.
The two off-side wheels had gone over the edge of the road so that the vehicle now hung balanced precariously at a terrifying angle. The occupants must have been well aware of this, for the side door was thrown open and a man jumped out. It was as if this movement was just sufficient to upset the balance of the car, for although the driver had stopped his engine it began to move. Quite slowly it turned over and in another moment had disappeared from sight. Cub could hear it bumping and thumping as it rolled over and over down the slope.
The remaining two cars now came into sight, but seeing what had happened to the other, stopped. There was, in fact, nothing else for them to do.
Cub had little interest in them. He ran on, leaving the others to follow, determined to put an end to this futile engagement. Thrusting his way through the bushes he went on until he reached some open ground. This was the area that had been cleared by the woodcutters. Here he saw some of Macgreggo's men, who had been keeping up a running fight with the cars.
He passed behind
them and reached the forest on the far side, calling Gimlet by name, knowing that he could not be far away.
Trapper appeared through the trees. "Howdy, kid," he greeted cheerfully.
"So you made it? Bon!" "Where's Gimlet?" asked Cub tersely.
Trapper jerked a thumb. "Over there, somewhere."
Cub went on, and presently came upon Gimlet standing behind a tree in earnest conversation with Macgreggo.
Gimlet stopped talking when he saw who was approaching. "Where the deuce have you sprung from?" he cried.
Cub told him. "I've been trying to make contact with you all morning to let you know I was okay," he explained. "So many things happened, though, that I couldn't get here any earlier. I've got the Pasha with me."
Gimlet stared. "You've got who?"
"The Pasha."
"But I thought he was in one of the cars."
"So I realised. But he got out with me some time ago. That's why I've been trying to get through to you. I'll tell you all about it when you've got time to listen."
Macgreggo who had of course overheard this conversation, turned away.
"I'll call my men together," he said. "There's no sense in going on with this any longer."
"The Pasha is over here—Copper, too," Cub told Gimlet.
"Then let's go over to them," said Gimlet.
Cub retraced his steps, and a few minutes later met the rest of the party.
"Which one is the Pasha?" asked Gimlet, looking at the mixed crowd, for more of Macgreggo's men, seeing Sienco, had joined him.
Cub introduced the Pasha, whereupon the entire party retired to safe distance up the hillside and there sat down to wait for Macgreggo and the rest.
"I don't think there's much risk of a counterattack," opined Gimlet. "I fancy the enemy has had about enough."
"I have, anyway," Cub admitted frankly. "Copper winkled you out of the fort, I suppose?
" said Gimlet.
"No, I was already out," asserted Cub.
Gimlet frowned incredulously. "How in thunder did you manage that?"
"Karzoff let me go—and the Pasha, too," stated Cub, smiling at the expression on Gimlet's face. Then, realising how ridiculous this must sound, he told Gimlet in as few words as possible what had happened.
Gimlet listened with growing amazement. When Cub had finished he remarked: "So that was it? You've solved a mystery that has puzzled me for some time."
Cub looked up. "What was that?"
"Karzoff's behaviour," explained Gimlet. "He hasn't the reputation of being a brave man, yet in the middle of the affair he arrived on the scene and surprised everyone by making a single-handed charge against our position. I realise fully now that he was trying to give himself up. He expected to be taken prisoner."
"Was he?" asked Cub.
"No. It's a wonder he wasn't shot. Several shots were fired at him, whereupon he lost his nerve, turned round and bolted back to the road.
Finding that his horse had gone he made a dash for the cars. The crew of one of them let him in."
Cub looked Gimlet in the face. "Which car did he get in?"
"The rear one," answered Gimlet slowly.
"It went over the edge and rolled down the hill." 1 "I know," said Gimlet quietly. "I saw it. I
was very upset at the time because I was afraid the Pasha might be in it."
"Well, well," breathed Cub. He didn't know what else to say. So that, he thought, was where Karzoff's scheming had landed him.
Macgreggo appeared, a long line of his men behind him, some carrying wounded on improvised stretchers made of fir branches. "Let us go back to camp and have something to eat," he suggested. "It's been an exciting day, even for here, and excitement always makes me hungry."
"Same as you, Mac," said Copper warmly. CHAPTER XIV
MACGREGGO MAKES A DECISION
SUNDOWN found the bandits, with Gimlet and his party—which now included the Pasha—back at the forest rendezvous, resting after the day's strenuous exertions. Not that the camp was quiet. The place buzzed like a saw-mill as experiences were exchanged, individual stories told, and explanations offered. Cub had as much to tell as anyone, and after he had finished he learned from Gimlet what action had been taken under the wall of the fort after his warning cry of betrayal.
Gimlet had done what Cub expected he would do. As no useful purpose could be served by remaining at the top of the secret path, a position that had become more perilous than ever, the entire party had retreated to the forest to discuss without fear of interruption what could be attempted to save both Cub and the Pasha. The outcome of this was Gimlet's plan to save the Pasha by attacking the cars as they were taking him away. The road was surveyed and the best place selected. Here, as the cars approached, a section of the road was blown away making further progress impossible. Retreat was prevented by men detailed to roll logs across the road. With the cars thus immobilised the attack was launched, and was still
proceeding when Cub appeared with the information that he and the Pasha were already free. Just before this, observing that most of the garrison had left the fort to save the cars, Gimlet had sent Copper, with Sienco and a force of bandits, to cause a diversion by attacking the fort itself. If they could break in and find Cub so well and good. Actually, he doubted if this would prove possible; and it was unlikely that it would have been, he said, had the governor remained at his post t
o direct operations. Copper said that he had met with practically no opposition at the fort. With Karzoff absent, the few men who remained inside knew nothing of what was happening. No defensive precautions had been taken, perhaps because a frontal attack on the fort in broad daylight was something beyond imagination.
That, really, was all there was to say. There were a few comments on Karzoff's behaviour, which, however remarkable it may have been to Gimlet and his men, caused no surprise to Macgreggo. It merely confirmed what he had told them about bribery and corruption being normal behaviour in that part of the world. Anyway, no one shed any tears for the man whose crooked schemes had inevitably at the finish resulted in his undoing.
What finally happened to him, if he was not killed in the fall, was never known; and the same with the three members of his bodyguard.
The fate of Yakoff was for some time in doubt. No one had seen anything of him. Later in the evening a scout came in with the news that his body was hanging on the gibbet. It seemed that he had made his escape from the fort with the rest of the prisoners, and had for some time been unnoticed. But when things had settled down somewhat he was recognised, and as his treatment of the prisoners in the fort had been no more humane than that of his fellow Cossacks he was promptly seized and hanged on the very gallows where in his time he must have seen many men die. So, as Gimlet remarked, his graft had got him nowhere, either.
"What a mob," grunted Copper. "Strike ole Riley! Wot a mob. Wot a country. The whole joint stinks. Let's get out of it. Give me Ole Smokey—
wot say you, Trapper, ole cock?"
"Sure, pal, every time," agreed Trapper.
"I think you'd be wise to make a move fairly soon," put in Macgreggo, who had joined the party in time to hear the end of this conversation. "This has been no ordinary raid.
Burning the fort and blasting the road are likely to have serious repercussions in high quarters. They'll be mad when they hear about it.
It wouldn't surprise me if an army is sent down, with tanks and aeroplanes, to make a big attempt to wipe us out."
"I'm sorry we've brought all this trouble on you," said Gimlet gloomily.
"Oh, that won't worry us," declared Macgreggo. "It has happened before, more than once. By the time the troops get here my men will be sitting tight in the mountains at the other end of the peninsular."
Gimlet looked at the speaker. "Are you going with them?"
Macgreggo hesitated. "I was wondering if. . . er. . . ."
"You could come with us?" suggested Gimlet. "You needn't wonder about that. Of course you can come with us. We shall be only too pleased to have you. There will be plenty of room in the aircraft. If you asked my opinion I'd say this may be your golden opportunity to get out."
"I didn't necessarily mean leave the country for good," returned Macgreggo quickly. "But I would like to see Scotland, and, as you say, this may be an opportunity that will never occur again. With the country here overrun with soldiers, it will be impossible for me to do anything for some time. Sienco could take charge, meanwhile. He knows where our money is hidden, so the men will not go short of anything."
"Well, all I can say is, we shall be happy to have you. Apart from that I will say no more.
The decision must rest with you."
"I'll come," announced Macgreggo suddenly; and from that moment his face wore a different expression. "Sienco and one or two of my best men shall see us to the coast. I will tell the rest to go to the mountains, where Sienco will know where to look for them after he returns."
"That's the stuff," put in Copper enthusiastically. "With you as well as the Pasha this is goin' ter be a beano."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that," said Macgreggo seriously. "The whole area, not to mention the coast, will be under constant patrol within a few hours of the time today's business becomes known. The sooner we start and the faster we travel the easier the journey to the coast will be."
"You make your plans, which I imagine will take a little while, and we'll be ready to start when you are," Gimlet told him. "Meanwhile, we may as well get some rest. I think we're all in need of it."
"Very well. I shall try to be ready to start by dawn. I haven't much to do."
"That suits me," agreed Gimlet.
"And me," murmured Cub drowsily, for he was only keeping himself awake with difficulty.
He was fast asleep as soon as he had closed his eyes.
When he was awakened by Copper shaking him, and was told that he had been asleep for eight hours, he found it hard to believe. But paling stars in the east confirmed Copper's words, and he rose stiffly to his feet.
"Get this inside you, chum, and you'll feel better," said Copper, holding out a big mug of steaming tea.
Cub looked bleary-eyed at his big Cockney comrade. "If I look anything like you I must be a pretty sight," he observed.
"Wot's looks got ter do with it, mate?" returned Copper brightly.
"There'll be plenty of time for a wash and brush up when we get back to a free country. Come on, put a jerk in it. Most of the gang 'as gone off ter the mountains and we shall be movin' off in a brace o' shakes."
Cub gulped the tea, munched a jammy biscuit, had a wash at the brook and returned to find the party getting in order for the march. Gimlet was there, washed and shaved and his clothes brushed —in fact, looking little different from when he had started. Nothing seemed to make any difference to him, thought Cub, as he set about packing his rucksack. Macgreggo arrived, a plaid over his shoulders and a blackcock tail sticking jauntily out of his bonnet. With him came Sienco and four stalwart brigands, bags strapped on their backs. The Pasha, who had cut himself a rough walking stick, in his rags looked like the lowest sort of tramp.
But he was ready, and stood talking to Copper and Trapper.
Gimlet looked round. "All right. Fall in. We're ready to move off."
Macgreggo's men, under Sienco, who were to act as scouts, moved forward.
The others followed, and the march back to the coast had begun.
How far they had to go Cub did not know and he didn't like to ask. It seemed unlikely that they would cover the same ground as on the outward journey, which had been by no means a direct route. The risk of meeting enemy troops would force them to keep under cover, anyway. He knew that Gimlet must have described to Greggo the point at which they landed, for as the dinghy was there they would have to go to it. Perhaps Macgreggo, knowing the country so well, would be able to take a short cut, thought Cub. He hoped so, although his early stiffness soon wore off once he was on the move.
The march continued, with occasional short halts, which were chiefly for the Pasha's benefit, particularly after a steep hill had been climbed.
For the rest, the going was much the same as it had been on previous occasions—up hill and down dale, through forests of pine, and across the flanks of stony landslides where only scrubby birch and juniper grew. The clouds had rolled away; once more the sky was blue, leaving the way open for a torrid sun to soak the shirts of the travellers with perspiration.
At noon a halt was made for lunch. It was taken quickly, and the march resumed. Cub realised that Gimlet had a particular reason for haste, apart from the ones Macgreggo had given. That night Biggles would be at the rendezvous. If they failed to reach it in time they would have to wait, and the longer the delay the more dangerous would their position become.
About three o'clock the first aeroplane was seen, proving that Macgreggo had been right in his estimation of what the enemy would do. The machine, a dark-painted, low-wing monoplane, was some way off, so little attention was paid to it. But half an hour later another swung round a hill towards them so low that everyone went flat, face downwards, until it had passed.
After the first glimpse Cub saw it no more, for he knew from experience that an upturned face is a conspicuous mark easily seen from the air.
At five o'clock they topped a rise, and there before them was the sea, deep blue, tranquil, sparkling in the bright sunshi
ne. But it was still some way off, and another hour of labour was necessary to bring them to within striking distance of the cliff that overlooked it.
Looking about him Cub saw that their guide had not made a mistake. Some little distance to the left rose the conical hill that carried the little hermit's cell in which they had passed their first night ashore. Everyone now sat down to rest while Gimlet and Macgreggo had a quiet conversation.
Presently Macgreggo went over to Sienco. Watching, Cub saw that they were making their farewells, possibly for ever. Both were visibly moved, which was understandable after their long association in a life of peril. Cub turned away and stared at the sea. When he looked again, Sienco and his bandit comrades had disappeared.
Copper broke the spell. Lying on his side, smoking a crumpled cigarette, he remarked: "I reckon we were lucky not ter see anyone the whole blinkin' way. Macgreggo was dead right, I reckon, makin' us get a move on when 'e did."
Hardly were the words out of his mouth when a movement in the distance caught Cub's eye. Focusing his eyes on it he saw a squad of about a dozen grey-coated men coming along the top of the cliff. A word of warning and the whole party lay flat while the troops came on, and after a time passed within fifty yards without seeing them. After they had gone by Gimlet watched them through his glasses, and not until they had disappeared into the hazy distance did he say it was safe to move.
"We shall have to be careful," was all he had to say about the incident.
It was not really necessary to say any more. It must have been obvious to everyone that if patrols were on the move, as seemed to be the case—and as Macgreggo had predicted—
they would have to move warily.
Not until he was sure that there were no more troops in sight did Gimlet lead the party to the edge of the cliff, and so down to the sea. Nothing had been touched in the cave where the dinghy had been hidden.
07 Gimlet Bores In Page 12