CHAPTER XIII
Special Service
"The English are truly a wonderful people, and their General is awonderful general," wrote Scindia, when referring to the action atAhmednuggur. "They came, looked at the pettah, walked over it, slew thegarrison, and returned to breakfast. Who can withstand them?"
That was the reputation which General Wellesley and his small forceobtained for themselves, a reputation which was before very long to beconsiderably enhanced. They took the town of Ahmednuggur, and then atonce put their guns in position to bombard the fort, opening with sucheffect that the commander volunteered to capitulate. Thus was theinitial action of the campaign rendered successful.
"We shall leave a garrison and march on at once," said the Major thatevening, when he came to see our hero in his tent, for Owen was confinedto his camp-bed for a few days, the blow having resulted in a slightfever, for which he had already been freely bled. "It will never do toallow Scindia and the Rajah of Berar to march up and down the countrygathering supplies and recruits. At the present moment all the robbersand ruffians who have not attached themselves to Holkar are hurrying tojoin the enemy, and the longer we delay the more there will be of them.Our General has a reputation for hurry and dash, and you will see thathe will stir them up."
However, circumstances alter the plans even of generals, and it was nottill the 24th of August that the force crossed the Godavery, whileColonel Stevenson moved in the direction of Aurungabad. Then cametidings that Scindia and his ally had issued through the Adjuntah passand had seized Jaulna in the Deccan, wheeling at once to the south-eastas if about to march on the city of Hyderabad, for he had discoveredthat Wellesley was within forty miles of Jaulna, and the object of theMahratta chiefs was to keep free of his force and in any case to avoid ageneral action.
The indefatigable Wellesley followed them, and finally compelled them totake up a position at Jaulna. On the 21st of September the whole of theMahratta army was encamped at Jefferabad, twenty-two miles south ofJaulna, while our forces, consisting of the troops under Wellesley andStevenson, were ten miles to the west, at Budnapore. There seemed atlast every opportunity of a general engagement, and hope rose high inthe two united divisions. An attack was to be made, and according to theplans of the General the troops, divided into their original divisions,were to throw themselves upon the enemy on the morning of the 24th. Forthis purpose they separated two days earlier, Colonel Stevenson takingthe western route to the rendezvous, while Wellesley and his force wentto the east.
"I shall be surprised if they do not manage to escape us," said theadjutant of the 7th cavalry, on the evening before the divisions saidfarewell to each other and moved off. "You see, Jones, these unitedattacks are most difficult to time. Everything depends on the two forcesarriving on the ground practically at the same moment, and the smallestcircumstance may delay one or other commander. There may be a wide anddeep stream to cross, the ground encountered may be far too rough forguns, and that would mean a wide detour, or the enemy might themselvesoverthrow our plans by moving into another position. However, we shalldo our best, and our spies will keep us informed. That brings me to yourorders. A note was sent in to the C.O. after that affair at Ahmednuggur.One of the staff officers brought it, and so I expect it came directfrom the General. As a reward for your conduct in the storming of thebreach you were to be given opportunities of accompanying outposts andadvance parties. This is an opportunity, and the C.O. has asked me totell you off for the duty. You will take six men to-morrow, and willleave camp before daybreak. Draw rations to-night, so that you may befree of the column altogether, and be sure to send us back dueinformation of what you find. Here is a map. On it I have drawn theroute we are to follow, and have sketched in the position of the enemy.Call at the orderly tent and ask for a pocket-book for your despatches,for you will have to send back your observations in writing. My boy,you have a chance. Make the most of it."
When the adjutant had departed Owen threw his cap in the air, and wouldhave given vent to a whoop of delight had he not been occupying a tentwithin the lines, while the General was situated within fifty yards. Forhe was to be employed upon a duty for which he had longed ever since hehad joined the division. He liked his work as a cornet of cavalryimmensely, but the post of advance-guard or scout fascinated him, andhere he was detailed for the work. He called for Mulha, and having givenhim directions as to his horse, he went across to choose his men anddraw the rations. Then he visited the orderly-room tent, and that done,gathered about him the dozen or so harcarrahs, or spies, who wereattached to the division.
When the sun got up on the following morning it found him and his littleparty some five miles from the camp, dismounted beneath a tope of trees,and cooking a hasty breakfast.
"We will send the harcarrahs ahead as soon as possible, Mulha," he said,as he paced restlessly up and down, for, to tell the truth, Owen had notyet acquired the great virtue of patience which comes to men of maturerage. Any delay fretted him, and on this occasion he would gladly haveneglected the meal and pushed on.
"And what of the men, sahib?" asked Mulha, when he had expressed thisintention. "They will soon become fatigued if you do not study theirwants. It would be wise to halt, so that man and beast may feed. Thenit will matter little if no other opportunity occurs before the nightcomes."
And so a halt had been called, and the men had eased the girths of theirsaddles. And now they sat on their heels, in the accustomed position ofthe East, discussing their boiled rice, while they chatted quietlytogether. Owen was bound to confess that they were likely-looking men,these six whom he had chosen. Their uniforms were handsome and showedoff their figures, while their turbans gave them an imposing appearance,which their fine horses and the lances they carried set off beautifully.At length, however, the meal was finished, girths were tightened, andthe men threw themselves into their saddles. Then the harcarrahsscattered and rode off, their tats or small ponies looking very quaintbeside the bigger animals of the native cavalry.
"They will go miles without showing fatigue, sahib," observed Mulha asthe men rode off. "They will bring you news, and you will send it to theGeneral."
"I shall do my best to discover something for myself," was the answer."After all, that is what I am sent out for, though, of course, I cannotbe supposed to see as much as all the spies. Still, if possible I shallget in touch with the enemy."
But an hour or more passed without incident, and it was not till it wasapproaching ten o'clock that our hero saw anything to attract hisattention. He was riding at the head of his men, and as the sun was veryhot, was taking advantage of every atom of shade to be found. Inconsequence the little party walked their horses at the edge of a longstretch of jungle which offered a grateful shelter. Suddenly one of themen gave an exclamation of surprise and wheeled his horse.
"Sahib, look there!" he said, lifting his lance to point across theplain towards a long eminence. "There are horsemen, and they belong tothe enemy."
Owen was off his horse in an instant, and had his eye glued to thespy-glass with which he was provided. And by its aid he was able to makeout that the horsemen were undoubtedly the enemy.
"There are eight of them," he said, "and they are armed with lances likeourselves. They are riding this way."
"Then perhaps, sahib----" began Mulha.
"We must capture them. They may be able to give valuable information.Let us watch them for a time, and then we will charge."
Thanks to the fact that Owen and his party were riding in the shade,they had remained completely hidden from the enemy, while the latterbeing out on the plain were distinctly visible. Taking advantage of thisthe little party reined their horses still farther back in amongst thetrees and waited eagerly for the moment when they might attack. Owenhitched his sabre a little farther to the front and eased the blade,while his hand sought the butt of his pistol. As for the troopers, theyfidgeted in their saddles, lifting their lances now and again, andstaring from the enemy towards their young leader. Suspens
e is alwaysmore trying than action, and all found the waiting telling upon theirpatience.
"What is that?" suddenly demanded Owen. "There is a commotion amongstthe horsemen, and----"
"It is one of the harcarrahs whom they have seen and are about tofollow," suddenly exclaimed Mulha, pointing across the plain. "He cameround the angle of the jungle, sahib, and then saw the enemy for thefirst time. He knows that we are here, and has turned this way."
"What are his chances?" demanded Owen quietly, as he stared out from theshadow.
"He will keep well ahead of the enemy for two miles perhaps, sahib.After that they will come up with him swiftly, for they are wellmounted. They will overtake him just before he reaches us."
"Then we will interfere. Now, my men, stay quietly where you are till Igive the command. Then ride out into the open, and form single linebehind me. We will go through those men and scatter immediately, withthe object of capturing a few."
Once more there was a restless movement amongst the troopers, while alleyes went to the native harcarrah who had so unexpectedly come upon thescene. Too late he had noticed the enemy, and now came spurring alongthe edge of the jungle at his utmost pace. And the Mahratta horse,seeing his object, galloped madly after him, their direction taking themdiagonally across the plain. It became abundantly evident, when somefive minutes had passed, that the harcarrah's pony could not live withthe beasts ridden by the Mahrattas. They were gaining on him faster eventhan Mulha had imagined possible, and long before Owen had intended togive the order he found it necessary to emerge from the shelter of theforest.
"Walk!" he commanded. "Trot! Gallop! Now, keep your horses in hand tillI give the word. Then at them!"
His sabre came out of its sheath with a hiss and went to his shoulder.He gripped his reins in his left hand, and set his feet home in thestirrups. And as he did so the pace of the little troop increased from agentle canter to a gallop. They were sweeping along across the plain ata pace which brought a gleam of excitement to his eyes, and as yet theenemy had not seen them. But within a few seconds there was a shout andthe Mahrattas drew rein suddenly.
"Do not stop, sahib. Push on! They will see that we are few and may waitfor the attack."
For a few moments it seemed as if the enemy would turn tail and fly, butseeing that only a few were riding towards them, and that there was onlyone white man amongst them, for the turbans and dress of the trooperswere distinct at that distance, they faced Owen and his men and settheir horses at a trot. In a moment they were galloping, and as Owenwatched them, their long lances, a formidable weapon for which they werefamous, came down to the horizontal, while their pace developed into acharge. Owen stood in his stirrups and turned to his men with a smile.Then he waved them on with his sabre, and swinging round in his saddleset his horse galloping at his fastest pace. The dust flew up in columnsbehind him, while the hoarse shouts of the enemy came to his ears. Heleaned forward, sinking low in his seat, while his eye sought for theleader of the enemy. Before it appeared possible the two parties werewithin a few yards of each other, and it seemed that they would meetwith a terrible crash. But, almost as the lances of the contendingparties crossed, the Mahrattas lost heart. Owen could see them pullingat their horses, and in a second they would have cut out to his rightand so avoided the charge.
"To the right! To the right!" he shouted, while he turned his own horsein that direction. The troopers, riding almost level with him now,obeyed the order instantly, and catching the Mahrattas on the flankhurled them to the ground like ninepins. Two of the enemy weretransfixed with the lances, while four who were farthest on the leftmanaged to elude the troopers and were not upset. But Owen dashed afterthem without delay, while four of his men followed. The chase was ashort and sharp one. Thanks to the fine horse he rode Owen quicklyoverhauled the nearest of the enemy, and standing in his stirrupsprepared to cut the man down if he would not draw rein. Then suddenlythe Mahratta twisted in his saddle, aimed a pistol at his head andfired. There was a thud as the bullet, missing the mark by half an inch,struck the saddle of the trooper behind. Then Owen's sabre came downwith a crash, and the man dropped out of his saddle, stunned by theblow, the full force of which had been broken by the thick turban he waswearing. A minute later the remainder had surrendered, and Owen foundhimself in possession of prisoners.
"One of our men has a lance wound in the thigh, sahib," said Mulha,coming to his master, and looking at him searchingly lest he, too,should be wounded. "Three of the enemy are killed, and two slightlyhurt. What are your orders?"
For answer our hero drew his handkerchief from his coat and mopped hisforehead, while he looked back at Mulha. He was gasping for breath, andas yet was hardly prepared to issue orders.
"There are many hours before the darkness comes, sahib," went on Mulha."These men have not ridden far to-day, that I feel sure of, for theirhorses, in spite of the charge, are fresh, and not travel-stained. Itmay be that the camp of these Mahrattas is near, and if that wereso----"
"We must see it, and locate the position. But how can we be sure? Canthe harcarrah say?"
"He may be able, sahib, but if he cannot, the prisoners will speak.Remember the ruffian aboard the pirate ship which we captured. There areways of making men speak. I will see what can be done."
He went off to the troopers, who had now gathered the prisonerstogether, and had dismounted, while Owen interviewed the harcarrah,discovering that he had failed to locate the enemy. Calling two of themaside, Mulha selected one of the Mahrattas, who appeared to be theleader of the party which had been captured, and with the troopersfollowing brought the man to Owen.
"Say where you have come from, and where the forces of Scindia and hisally are camped," he demanded sternly, as the troopers ranged themselvesup beside the prisoner. "So! You cannot remember? Then we will help you.Get your carbines."
He sent the men back for their weapons, while he faced the prisoner,looking at him unconcernedly, as if his action were one of thecommonest. And as Owen watched the scene, not caring to interfere, forit was important to have information, though he hardly liked to obtainit by means of threats, he noticed that the Mahratta's courage wasmelting. Out of the corners of his eyes the prisoner watched thetroopers go to their horses and lift their carbines from the buckets inwhich they were carried. He heard the metallic click as the locks weredrawn back, and his heart weakened. He looked pleadingly at Owen andthen back at the troopers.
"I will speak, sahib. The white lord shall know. Listen, my lord, thisis where Scindia and his friend, the Rajah of Berar, lie."
A trembling hand went out towards the highland from which the Mahrattahorse had first appeared.
"Sahib, they are encamped on the river Kaitna, on its north bank, andonly a half-hour's ride from here. We were out foraging, for provisionsare scarce. Will my lord offer protection to me? These native trooperswould slay me without mercy."
"Silence! This Scindia is within half an hour's ride. What troops hashe?"
Mulha interrupted the man, and coolly ranged his two troopers up beforehim, so that their carbines might be in full evidence.
"I will tell all that I know," answered the prisoner in piteous tones."Scindia has all his battalions with him, and there are ten thousand atleast of the troops trained by the French sahibs. Of other troops, thereare as many again in the foot regiments, but these are irregulars. Thecavalry number perhaps thirty thousand, while we have a hundred guns.That is the full total, on my lance and tulwar, sahib."
"And quite enough I should say," burst in Owen. "Fifty thousand men anda hundred guns!"
"And within four miles, sahib," added Mulha.
"While our troops must be quite as far behind us, if not more. This isvery important information, for if the enemy are so near us, and in suchforce, it would seem as if the combination of our two divisions would beimpossible. Perhaps the Mahrattas intend to attack the divisionsseparately. I will ask this prisoner."
He slipped from his horse and went towards the man. Mulha accom
paniedhim, and stepping to within a foot of the unhappy Mahratta looked intohis eyes with such a sinister expression that the man quailed. "He willspeak at once, sahib. Ask him the questions, and listen, dog! See thatyou reply on the instant, and correctly."
Mulha had little love for the class of Mahratta who had sided withScindia, and in addition he made pretence of anger which he did notfeel. Every day Owen was learning that, besides being a faithful fellow,he was an astute native, who knew his countrymen well. Had our hero beenleft to extract information it is more than probable that his trainingwould have made him hesitate and decline to use threats to gain what hewanted. However, Mulha had no scruples. He knew well that the natives ofthe country were as prone to dissemble and give false news as they wereto pilfer and murder, and he knew that stern measures were required. Andhow well those measures had succeeded! As the prisoner looked at Mulhaand then at the troopers, with their loaded carbines, any returningcourage that he may have felt oozed from his finger-tips, or through thesandals he wore. His colour changed to a sickly hue, the pallor of theEast, and his lips trembled.
"Tell me more of this army," demanded Owen. "Are they now encamped, orare they preparing to march against the English?"
He waited anxiously for the answer, knowing that a great deal dependedon it, and heaved a sigh of relief when the man had spoken.
"My lord can rest easy on that point. The troops of Scindia are inposition for the day. They will not move till to-morrow, and not eventhen perhaps. They know that the British are advancing, and it is saidin the camp that Scindia will attack each division in turn."
"That will do. Set a watch over the prisoners, and get ready toaccompany me, Mulha," exclaimed Owen at once, his tone changing. "Wemust not delay an instant longer than is necessary."
His hand went to his leather pouch and he abstracted the note-book whichhe had obtained from the orderly-room. Then he hastily scrawled anaccount of his meeting with the Mahrattas, and of the information givenhim. Tearing the sheet out of the book, he enclosed the map, marking onit the position which he then occupied and that where the prisonerstated the enemy to be.
"I am advancing at speed to ascertain the truth of this," he wrote, "andwill report at the first opportunity."
"Now, Mulha, I will select two of the men. The others must escort theprisoners back to camp. Tie their hands, and put a noose round theirfeet beneath the horse's belly. They must submit to that seeing that wehave so few to guard them."
A few moments later he had selected one of the troopers to carry hisnote, and at a sharp order the man swung himself into his saddle,saluted, and galloped off at furious speed, intent on getting the noteto General Wellesley in as short a time as possible. The prisoners andtheir escort followed, while Owen, Mulha, and the remaining trooper settheir faces to the highland, and cantered toward it.
"Time is the main object," said our hero as they went along. "We willnot push our horses yet, but once we have seen the position of the enemywe will send them back towards the division at a pace which will soontake us there. Keep a sharp eye open, and as we get near to the top ofthe rising ground, halt and dismount."
There was silence after that as the three rode on towards the hills.Owen occupied the central place, with Mulha and the trooper on eitherside. And presently they were breasting the rise. Selecting a tope oftrees Owen rode into it, and throwing one leg over the saddle slippedquietly to the ground. Mulha was at his side in an instant, and caughthis rein as he let it drop. Then he ran on up the hill, keeping in theshelter of the trees, and finally halted on the very summit, where helay down, partly to recover his breath, and partly so that he should notbe seen by the enemy. But he could not be still, with the thought thatthe enemy was so close at hand. Grasping his sabre in one hand to keepit out of his way and from clattering against the ground or the trees,he crawled on some yards till a sudden opening and a falling of theground gave him a clear view of the country beyond. Then indeed he cameto a halt with a gasp of amazement and delight. For beneath him ran theKaitna, a deep and strong stream, supposed by the enemy to beunfordable, while its course was east and west. To his right was anotherriver, the Juah, joining with the Kaitna, and cutting off a strip ofland between the two rivers which, commencing as an acute-angled piece,widened out till it was of large proportions. And it was here, with hisfront facing the north bank of the Kaitna and looking towards Owen, thatour hero discovered the army of Scindia comfortably encamped, with itsguns parked and its lines filled with a multitude of soldiers andhucksters. Not a scout or sentry was to be seen beyond the river, thoughthere were sentries on the outskirts of the camp, and on the right astrong outpost of horsemen. Indeed, a glance showed Owen that it wasthere that the 30,000 horsemen were stationed. At once his pocket-bookcame out, and as he lay there he rapidly sketched in the position of therivers, their junction, and the disposition of the various arms. Thatdone, he crawled away again and ran to the horses. Swinging himself intothe saddle, he turned to see that the others were ready.
"Is the news true, sahib?" Mulha ventured to ask him. Then, when he hadheard the few details which Owen could give him, he shook his headvigorously.
"Well as I know the English and their great courage, they will neverdare to attack now, before the divisions are joined," he said."Remember, there are perhaps twenty thousand troops there who have beentrained by French officers, and they have done well with the men.Besides, there is the river. How can it be crossed? Who can say that itis fordable?"
"The very thing! The most important thing!" burst in Owen. "We must makeinquiries. There is a village over there, and perhaps it would bepossible to get one of the inhabitants to help us."
They discussed the matter for a few moments, and then turning theirhorses galloped down to the village. It was almost empty, all the menbeing away in the camp, disposing of their various possessions. But asthe trio drew up at the biggest hut a woman came out, and eagerlyanswered their questions.
"A ford, my lords?" she said. "Would that I could say that there was notone! But there is, and it is by that that my man has gone, together withall the others from this place. They have been selling goods to thesoldiers, and spending their time gambling and smoking. There! Look atthe bank, where the trees crop up together. The ford is within a fewfeet on the right, and any one can find it, for there are wheel-marks.Had I command of the men yonder I would never have encamped in such aspot. But they are all the same. This Scindia thinks that he is secure,and has not troubled to look for himself with his own eyes, or he wouldhave seen this ford."
It was evident that Scindia and his men were no friends of hers, andOwen felt confident that her information was all the more correct. Hetossed her a piece of money and rode down the street. Once out of thevillage, he set spurs to his horse, and did not draw rein till he hadcovered six miles. At that distance he found the division, which he hadleft before daybreak, weary and tired after a fourteen-mile march, andjust about to encamp for the night. But there was to be no rest for thesoldiers, for within half an hour of Owen's arrival the bugles weregoing, and the order was, "Boot and saddle! Stand to your arms!"
"Fall in with your company, Mr. Jones," said the General, when Owen hadhanded him his sketch and explained the positions and strength of theenemy. "I am obliged to you for the news you bring. It is ofimportance."
Nothing more. Just a curt acknowledgment of his work. But GeneralWellesley was a soldier who never wasted his breath, and more especiallywhen there was important work before him. Calling for his horse, he gaveorders that the division should march for the highland ahead, and thenrode on to reconnoitre with his staff. It was very obvious that he hadmade up his mind to attack, and had there been any doubt on this matterit was instantly set at rest when he had himself seen the position ofthe enemy. "They cannot escape me!" he cried with the utmost confidence.
It was approaching one o'clock before the division had come up andmarched into position, but there was no halting. Leading the men alongto the east, past the right of the enemy, ther
e composed solely ofcavalry, and of course camped on the opposite bank of the river Kaitna,Wellesley marched down the front of the Mahrattas till he had passedScindia's left. Then he swept to the left, opposite the village ofAssaye, situated on the strip of land between the two rivers at theirjunction, and taking the path pointed out by Owen had no difficulty infinding the ford. A little later his infantry were across the stream,facing the guns and infantry of the enemy, this arm having been facedround to oppose them. And thus, in the early afternoon the two forcesmade ready for a battle which was to prove decisive. Let the readerthink of the audacity of the British. Here was a force of Mahrattasestimated at 55,000 horse and foot, of whom a large number were trainedand seasoned battalions. There were in addition 100 guns. Truly aformidable armament. And against this host marched the British, theirGeneral at their head, numbering, according to one authority, 1200cavalry, 2000 sepoys, and 1300 European infantry, consisting of the 74thand 78th Highland regiments, a host in themselves. In addition we had afew guns and some 3000 native cavalry from the Peishwa, who were knownto be on the eve of mutiny. No wonder that Scindia and his host stoodamazed at the very audacity of such an undertaking.
Jones of the 64th: A Tale of the Battles of Assaye and Laswaree Page 14