It promised to be as hot as usual, and the men sweated and cursed, but were nonetheless impatient to get at the enemy.
Some five hours after they left the encampment, they were back at the Fullallee, this time fording it unopposed at the village of Chilgheree. Beyond it they saw the Baluchi army.
The river here made a huge slow right-handed bend, in the semi-circle of which were the two villages of Chilgheree and Dubba two miles apart. Thus there was no river barrier held by the Baluchis, as they had attempted at Meanee.
The land was broken up by nullahs, some more than twenty feet wide and as much as eight feet deep. The Baluchis were extended along several of these stretching south from Dubba. The Lion was totally confident of victory, and banners fluttered over the gaily coloured tents of his harem behind the village.
Napier rode forward to inspect the enemy position, and gave orders for the army to deploy to the left as they crossed the river, thus taking up a front opposite the tribesmen.
‘They are strongly posted, and this Lion has a formidable reputation as a soldier,’ he said. ‘We must see if we can lure them out of their position, and into an attack.’
The Poona Horse and the 9th Cavalry therefore set off almost due north to reach the river bank at the top of the loop. The infantry followed, the 3rd Cavalry and the Sind Horse continuing to act as rearguard at the ford. Once all his men were in position, Napier arranged the guns in three batteries evenly spaced along his front, and told them to commence firing, which they promptly did. Napier then rode up the line to join the 22nd, who were again to lead the assault, although this time on the left of the British order of battle.
‘Now, my brave boys,’ he urged them, ‘Now ...’
He was interrupted by an outbreak of shouts and firing from the far end of the British position. He turned, levelling his glass. The rearguard horse, quite without orders, were charging at the Baluchi line, which was situated at the edge of a small wood and which Major Stack, the cavalry commander, had observed becoming restless under the artillery bombardment. Their way lay across several nullahs, but they were jumping these with tremendous elan, cheering and shouting.
Without a word, Napier put spurs to his horse and galloped off, Guy at his heels. They drew rein when they saw the horsemen crashing into the surprised Baluchis, who now were most certainly giving way.
‘By God,’ Napier muttered. ‘One learns, all the time. We must take advantage of this. The entire army will advance on the double, Colonel.’
They set off back along the line, waving their swords and summoning the men who, with a deafening shout, immediately charged at the Baluchis.
Again the tribesmen were surprised. They rose out of the first nullah, to be met by the thrusting bayonets and sent tumbling back in dismay. The Irish and the Sepoys followed them, bursting across the second nullah, up to the houses of Dubba itself.
Here some of the Baluchis rallied, but the Lion was already in flight, abandoning his tents and most of his women, although from the shrieks in the distance it seemed he had taken his favourites. He was hotly pursued by the British cavalry, who were hacking down and spearing the fugitives. Napier himself went in pursuit for a couple of miles, before calling his men to order and returning to the village to consolidate his victory.
*
Dubba was one of the briefest and yet most vicious actions ever fought by the British army in India. After only a couple of hours, five thousand Baluchis had been killed in the field or in the pursuit. Two hundred and seventy officers and men of the Company army had also fallen, of whom more than half were from the 22nd.
‘Well, Colonel Bartlett,’ Napier said. ‘I would say that is the end of all organised resistance from these people. Not that I intend to let the Lion get away. We’ll mount a pursuit. But the campaign is effectively over. I must send a despatch back to Bombay at the earliest moment. What shall I tell them, do you suggest?’
‘That you came, you saw, you conquered, sir?’
‘Veni, vidi, vici, eh? That confounded fellow Caesar used it damn near two thousand years ago. I shall have to improve on that.’ He smiled. ‘I shall amuse their lordships. They sent me to conquer Sind. Well then...peccavi. You know your Latin, Bartlett?’
‘Peccavi! I have sinned.’
‘Is that not brilliant? Yes, indeed. Peccavi.’
‘What are your orders now, sir?’
‘We mustn’t give those rascals time to recover. I want as many fresh men as can be found sent off immediately, to keep them on the run. How many people do you estimate fled with Sher Mohammed?’
‘If we include his women, several hundred. But I doubt more than two hundred fighting men, although he may well recruit from among the fugitives. I would like permission to command the pursuit, sir.’
‘You, Bartlett?’ Napier stroked his chin. ‘It is an unChristian morality, to wish to hunt down the husband of your mistress. You do not even know that Batraj accompanied Sher Mohammed.’
‘He is certainly not here. And I cannot pretend to have any Christian feelings towards Batraj, General. But there is an even more personal matter involved. Fourteen years ago the Thug made a fool of me and destroyed the company I was commanding.’
‘Revenge is also an unChristian self-indulgence,’ Napier said. ‘You are sure he will not make a fool of you again?’
‘I will endeavour to make sure, sir. It also appears that Rajah Sivitraj has fled with his stepfather, and Abbas Ali Khan is also apparently with the Lion.’
‘With the Dowager Rani’s daughter. I cannot help but feel that you are too personally involved in this business, Bartlett.’
‘I merely need to know your mind, sir: whom do you consider the more important, Batraj or Sher Mohammed? Supposing they divide their forces?’
Napier considered for a few minutes. ‘Batraj is the true troublemaker. He must be got rid of. You’ll take an adequate force; as you say, he may have been accompanied by only two hundred men when he left the field, but he will certainly have regained some support on the road. You will need two squadrons of lancers, two companies of Sepoys mounted on mules, and two field guns. Organise it.’ He pointed. ‘Colonel Bartlett! We want to end this business as quickly and cheaply as possible. Any amir who offers to surrender with his people is to be accommodated. That includes Sher Mohammed himself.’
‘Does that also apply to Prince Batraj, sir?’
‘No, it does not. Just make sure that this time you beat the beggar. And remember that I am moving to your support.’
*
Guy had no means of telling Laura what he was doing, but he had no doubt she would approve; both of her children were with Sher Mohammed. He rode immediately to where Pattle and his men were resting, and gave them Napier’s orders.
Pattle nodded. ‘You’ll want volunteers,’ he decided. ‘Major Brewster, call out the men.’
When the regiment was assembled and told of the mission, every man stepped forward.
‘Good lads,’ Pattle said. ‘Very well. A Troop, Captain Onslow; B Troop, Captain Kelly. Now, lads, you’ll be under the command of Colonel Bartlett, and you’ll obey him as you would obey me. The Colonel is not a cavalryman, but you’ll remember that he rode with us at Meanee and proved himself as good as any cavalryman there ever was. Good fortune, and good hunting.’
The men gave a cheer. Equally satisfying was the response from the infantry; the allotted companies were commanded respectively by Captains Brotherton and Avery. Lieutenant Barker commanded the two horse artillery pieces. Guy also called for two loyal Baluchi guides, Samji and Mudha Ali; they would follow the trail for him.
By now the commissariat wagons had come up, and Guy was able to draw three days’ rations for his men. He knew there was some pretty rugged country ahead of them, but he didn’t intend to lose an hour. By mid afternoon the little brigade of three hundred men was ready to march out.
*
Many of the Baluchis had fled south and west, but from information given by prison
ers Guy already knew that the Lion had fled north along the river, apparently making for Rajputana. One of the captured amirs said that Batraj had gone with him, another that he had not. But Abbas Ali Khan had certainly accompanied Sher Mohammed, and there had been several women with the party. That Batraj had gone with them, and almost certainly Sivitraj and Mary as well, seemed certain.
It was Batraj Guy wanted, even more than did Napier. He was not sure if he wanted Sivitraj or not. He wished to cause Laura as little grief as possible, but Sivitraj had certainly taken up arms against the Company. If he now surrendered his life at least would be safe. If he chose to follow his stepfather, then he must meet the same fate.
*
The first part of the pursuit was simple enough. It was merely a matter of following the discarded weapons of the fleeing Baluchis; often enough there were men lying dead or dying as well. The road led through a succession of villages, many of which were deserted as the inhabitants had run off at the news that the dreaded John Company had won another victory.
The column camped for the night at one of these, and next morning resumed their march an hour before dawn. Now they were on the edge of the true desert, the Thar, which stretched for hundreds of miles to the east. Beside the river, however, the land remained reasonably fertile.
They halted again at noon, and rested for three hours until the heat had gone out of the sun, then pressed on again. Now the land began to rise, and they were among low, barren hills. Guy had no intention of being ambushed again, and threw out a flanking patrol as well as an advance guard.
Onslow, the senior captain, was having similar thoughts. ‘Good place for an ambush,’ he commented.
‘Something at which Batraj is adept,’ Guy agreed.
Next day they came upon the naked bodies of three women by the side of the trail. They had been mutilated and their throats had been cut. Guy’s stomach rolled as he peered at them, but all were definitely too dark and too old to be Mary.
‘What do you make of it?’ Onslow asked.
‘They’re getting rid of the unwanted,’ Guy told him.
The men mounted and rode on, their faces grim.
*
That afternoon they saw flashes of light ahead of them, and soon the advance guard returned, with one man killed and three wounded.
‘They came at us sudden like, sir,’ the sergeant explained.
‘How many?’
‘A good number, sir. Several hundred.’
‘Are they still there?’
‘Reckon so, sir. They was firing at us as we rode off.’
Guy rode out a little way to survey the possible battlefield through his glass. Batraj was definitely in command, he decided; he had chosen a similar position to that north of Sittapore, with one vital difference. The road led between the river and the hills, making it almost obligatory for the pursuing force to pass beneath the hillside; if the entire brigade turned off to flank the hill, not only would a great deal of time be wasted, Batraj would be able to watch its every move. His position was nowhere as strong as fourteen years ago, yet it was a reasonable place for an ambush, and there was no telling how much support he had accumulated during the past twenty-four hours.
Would he remain there or, his position now being known to the pursuers, pull out? Guy thought he would remain there, and wait for the pursuers to challenge him.
Guy called his officers together. He knew they were a little uneasy; the story of his ambush and defeat fourteen years before was fairly common knowledge.
‘We’ll pitch camp here. If Batraj is in command, that’s what he’d expect us to do. But this time we’ll do some ambushing of our own. Captain Kelly, as soon as it is dark I wish you to take your squadron off to the right, walking your horses for the first two miles, until you are out of earshot of the enemy. ‘Then see if you can work your way round that hill. The rest of us will advance one hour before dawn. If you do find a way, Captain, hold any offensive action until you hear our bugle.’
Kelly nodded, and went off to speak with his eighty-odd men. The other two hundred and fifty pitched camp in full view of the enemy, and ate their evening meal as the sun sank into the mountains beyond the river to the west, while Guy allowed himself to reflect how convenient it would be if Batraj were to attack.
‘You don’t think it could be a trap?’ Onslow inquired over dinner. ‘We don’t know how many men he has.’
‘True. But the Baluchis have a healthy respect for Company troops. Oh, they’d have liked us to enter the defile blind, but that didn’t work. As we’re here, they’ll expect us to force the road tomorrow.’
‘And you intend to oblige.’
‘Oh, indeed.’
*
At three in the morning the brigade was stood to. It was a still night, and there was little hope of concealing their movements, so Guy did not attempt to try. He left a platoon to hold the camp, and ordered a general advance. When they reached the defile, he called a halt and went forward, accompanied by the sergeant, to have a closer look through his binoculars. It was now broad daylight.
‘They came from up there on the right, sir.’
Guy studied the rocks. If Batraj was in command, he thought, he did not have his people as well in hand as he had had his Thugs, so long ago. Quite apart from the alerting of the advance guard, he could make out several gleams of light amidst the bushes and rocks on the shallow hillside. He suspected that Batraj would probably use the same tactical plan as before, especially in such similar terrain.
He rode back to his officers.
‘Dismount your infantry, Captain Brotherton, Captain Avery,’ he said. ‘Take them forward to just within musket shot. When the command is given, advance and clear the hillside. Lieutenant Barker, unlimber your guns, and throw some shot on to that right hand slope. Captain Onslow, you will hold your men for the charge.’
Guy then went forward with Barker to see the two guns emplaced. They were still out of musket range of the hillside, but Guy estimated there were several hundred men up there.
By now Brotherton and Avery had taken their eager Sepoys forward. The Baluchis could restrain themselves no longer. Puffs of smoke began to appear amidst the rocks as they opened fire.
The cannon exploded, and shrapnel shells burst over the Baluchi position.
‘Two more, Mr Barker.’
Once again the shells burst amidst shrieks and screams from the Baluchis. The firing from the hillside was now very ragged. ‘Sound the charge,’ Guy ordered, and Brotherton and Avery, now a good quarter of a mile in front of the artillery, led their men at the double up the hill, bayonets fixed.
The Baluchis rose from concealment to meet them, but were soon fleeing for their horses on the far side of the hill. Guy summoned Onslow and his horsemen and rode forward behind the infantry, leaving Barker to limber up his guns and follow.
The last of the Baluchis were now in full flight and Guy led Onslow’s men into a canter. Kelly brought his men round in a wide sweep, and charged the fleeing men.
When it was all over, Guy was amazed to find that he had lost only the one man of the advance guard, while thirty Baluchi tribesmen lay dead.
Several prisoners had been taken. One in particular was richly dressed, a sullen-looking man with a drooping moustache.
‘Your name?’ Guy demanded.
‘I have no name.’
Guy looked round at the other men. ‘His name?’ he said. ‘Or I will have one of you hanged.’
The men shuffled their feet.
‘I will give you five seconds...’
‘I am Abbas Ali Khan,’ the man said.
‘Ah,’ Guy commented. ‘You had best come and sit with me, Your Excellency. We must talk.’
*
‘Where is the Lion?’ Guy asked.
‘He flees north, for Rajputana,’ Abbas said.
‘With Prince Batraj? Was Batraj here?’
‘He was. But he left.’
‘You mean he ran away. How far away i
s the Lion’s encampment?’
‘Not far.’
‘Where is your wife?’
‘She is with the Lion, and Batraj.’
‘Whose idea was it to stop and fight us?’
‘Batraj’s. The Lion has given him command of his soldiers. Batraj said we would stop you here, that you would abandon the pursuit. But as soon as things went badly...’
‘He rode off. Was Rajah Sivitraj with him?’
Abbas Ali Khan shook his head. ‘The Rajah was wounded in the fight at Dubba.’
Guy frowned. ‘Badly?’
‘No. But he cannot use his right arm.’
‘Hm. And your young wife. Is she well?’
‘She is well.’
‘Good. Well, Your Excellency, I am going to release you to rejoin your wife and family.’
Abbas gazed at him apprehensively.
‘I will allow you some three hours’ start before I resume my march. When you catch up with Prince Batraj, tell him that this pursuit column is commanded by Colonel Guy Bartlett. Remind him that Colonel Bartlett pursued him once before, unsuccessfully, but that this time he intends to overtake him and capture him and carry him back to Bombay for execution, no matter how long it takes. Do you understand this?’
Abbas swallowed. ‘I understand.’
‘Good. I would also like you to speak with Rajah Sivitraj, and tell him that should he abandon the Lion and Batraj, he will be welcomed by General Napier. The same goes for yourself.’
‘I have abandoned them,’ Abbas protested. ‘I willingly surrender myself to the jurisdiction of the Company.’
‘I will not allow you to do so until after you have delivered my message,’ Guy told him.
‘Batraj will kill me if I attempt to desert.’
‘Batraj will wish to stand and fight, when he learns that it is I who pursue him,’ Guy said. ‘You will stand and fight with him. How many men does he command?’
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