Chapter 3-5
1006 Words
Din, dinAllah Akbar"They"ve outflanked us!" Elliot shouted.
A body of Ghazis had come from the left, having hidden in one of the topis of trees. Ignoring the 113th, the Ghazis charged at Colonel Cameron of the 42nd. Cameron dragged free his sword and fought a snarling Ghazi on the right side when another two on the left grabbed his tunic and pulled him from his horse.
topis"They"ve got the colonel!" Colour-sergeant William Gardener of the 42nd shouted and ran forward, kilt flying. He bayonetted two of Ghazis as they prepared to hack Cameron to death while a private swivelled and shot the third.
"We"re holding them!" Greaves said, and then it was over. The Punjabis streamed through the British lines to reform. Rifle fire and bayonets of the 42nd and 113th ensured that no Ghazis got through the line, while cold-eyed privates from both regiments stepped forward and plunged their bayonets into any of the fanatics who showed signs of life.
"That"s not right," Bryce objected. "We don"t murder the wounded."
"Would you rather they waited until you stepped over their prone bodies and they slashed at your privates with their tulwars?" Jack asked. "Any Indian veteran has seen that. This is not European warfare, Lieutenant. There are no civilised conventions here."
Bryce glowered, shook his head and said nothing.
"Forward!" Sir Colin ordered, and the line advanced over the carpet of dead Ghazis, staggering under the heat as the sun reached its zenith.
"Jesus, but it"s hot," Hutton said.
"This is the killing time." Greaves looked upwards. "I"ve seen it so often out East; men survive a bloody battle and then die of heat exhaustion when we chase the retreating enemy. If India doesn"t get you one way, it"ll get you another."
Sir Colin was equally aware of the perils of the Indian summer. As soon as the British reached the outskirts of Bareilly, he ordered a halt.
"We should pursue the pandies," Bryce said. "Harass and push them until they have to stand and fight. We can break them and win this war."
Jack nodded to the 113th, as they staggered with exhaustion after their day"s exertions. "I am sure all the breakfast table strategists back in Britain would agree with you, but India is a place where practicalities outweigh theories, and the laws of European warfare do not apply. An Indian Army will move faster across India than any British Army, especially in hot weather and Khan Bahadur Khan will not stop to fight unless he has overwhelming force. A rapid pursuit will cost us many casualties even without any fighting."
"It would be worth the risk," Bryce insisted.
"The longer we march," Jack said, "the more men we"ll lose to the sun, and therefore the weaker our army will be. The rebels could gather forces at any time, so when Khan Bahadur Khan thinks that the balance has tipped sufficiently in his favour, he would turn and rend us. No, Lieutenant Bryce, Sir Colin is correct."
A rising tumult from the rear disrupted the conversation. Jack focused his binoculars. "Pandy cavalry!" He swore. "They"re attacking the baggage train."
"We have to do something." Elliot looked suddenly agitated. He checked his revolver. "Could I take out a platoon, sir?"
"They"ve got an escort," Bryce frowned. "We"re not here to babysit grooms and syces and camel drivers."
"We"d best help them, sir." Elliot ignored Bryce.
"What"s to do, Elliot?" Jack knew by Elliot"s tone of voice that something was wrong.
Elliot hesitated, glanced at Bryce and made a formal request. "May I have your permission to take a party to help the baggage train, sir?"
"Yes, if you think it necessary," Jack said.
"Thank you, sir." Elliot ran at once, shouting: "Greaves, bring the Lucknow veterans. Jildi!"
Jildi!"What the devil?" Jack watched as Elliot led a file of fifteen men at the double, bayonets fixed. "Oh, damn it to hell. Bryce, take over here. Corporal Hunter, select ten more men and come with me." He followed Elliot, ignored a gaggle of bearers who ran in the opposite direction yelling "Sowar! Sowar!" and examined the baggage train.
Chaos, he thought. There was no other word to describe it other than chaos. A mob of animals and camp followers covered the road and the surrounding fields, all dashing for the security of the British encampment, with a few score rebel cavalrymen slashing and hacking at them. Defeated or not, the rebels had proved yet again that they could strike back.
ChaosIgnoring a panicking, splay-legged camel and the fleeing camp followers, Elliot led his men straight through the middle of the confusion and around a trio of rebel cavalry that circled a terrified elephant. The cavalry sliced at the tendons at the back of its legs until the beast trumpeted in agony.
Without waiting for orders, Private Parker dropped to one knee, aimed and fired in a single fluid movement. One of the horsemen staggered, and Parker immediately reloaded. "Look at them," he said. "Torturing that poor elephant."
"Oh, for God"s sake," Elliot said. "Help Parker, somebody, and then join us."
Elliot led his men to a bullock cart labouring at the rear of the scattered column. "Guard this wagon with your lives, men. The cargo is invaluable."
"Yes, sir." The men spread out around the cart.
What is that man doing? Jack asked himself. "Come on Greaves!" he increased his speed.
What is that man doing?A group of sowars galloped toward the wagon, saw the determined men of the 113th and reined away. They were there to kill and spread panic, not to fight professional soldiers.
"What"s happening, Elliot?" Jack left Greaves and Corporal Hunter to arrange the wagon"s defence.
"We"re just protecting the convoy, sir," Elliot said.
"Why this particular wagon? What are you hiding, Lieutenant?" Without waiting for a reply, Jack vaulted onto the back of the vehicle and pulled back the canvas cover. "Oh, dear God in heaven."
"Hello, Jack." Mary looked up at him.
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