Gil the Gunner Part 84

"Forward!" cried the colonel. Then to the officer with him. "Smith, take charge of my son. A sergeant's guard, Gil," he cried from the door. "Take off some of those things. You look like a sepoy chief. It is not safe with the lads like this."

He hurried after his men, and the young officer held out his hand.

"Tell me," I said quickly; "Captain Brace--my troop?"

"Yonder, not a hundred yards away," he said. "Didn't you hear him speak?"

"Yes," I cried. "Thank Heaven, then, it was he."

"Let's get out of here," said my new friend; "but hadn't you better change your clothes?"

"He cannot, sahib," said a voice behind me. "He has none here."

"Hallo! who are you?" cried the officer.

"My servant," I cried, as I laid my hand on his arm. "Dost, you saved my life."

"And he'll have to save it again," cried my new friend, "if we stay here. Come along, and let's get among our men, for this palace swarms with the enemy yet."

Even as he spoke, a couple of shots rang out, and as they were aimed at us, we rapidly beat a retreat.

CHAPTER FORTY NINE.

My appearance excited plenty of surprise as we reached the front of the palace, where a portion of my father's regiment had now fallen in, the enemy having taken flight, and a couple of squadrons of lancers were in full pursuit. But in a very short time it was whispered through the regiment that I was the colonel's son, and I was saluted with a cheer.

Just then there was the clattering of hoofs, and an officer galloped up, "Where's Colonel Vincent?" he cried; and I looked at him wildly.

"Scouring the palace with a couple of companies of men."

"But the people are pouring out of the town, and only those lancers after them."

"He's trying to catch the rajah."

"Got away safe," cried the officer. "I want orders to pursue; I can't stay here. Whom have you got there--the rajah's son?"

"Brace, don't you know me?" I cried, in a choking voice.

"Gil!" he shouted, and he swung himself off his horse, and rushed at me.

"I thought I should never see you again. A prisoner?"

"Yes, yes," I cried.

"But--"

He loosened my hands.

"You haven't--? Oh, Gil, my lad!"

That seemed the unkindest cut of all--to be suspected after what I had gone through; and I half turned away.

Brace saw it as a confession that I had turned renegade, and his face was growing very dark as my father strode up.

"Pursuit, Captain Brace," he said; "the rascal has escaped."

Brace sprang into his saddle, and galloped away, while, in spite of my father being at hand, my heart sank, and I felt more miserable than I had been for days.

CHAPTER FIFTY.

I stayed by my father, who, in the intervals of giving orders for the occupation of the palace by the troops, the planting of sentries and pickets, and the stoppage of all pillaging, told me how he, with his regiment and two squadrons of lancers, had joined the other foot regiment and Brace's horse artillery. That plans had been made for the attack on Ahdenpore, the Maharajah Ny Deen's chief city, and this had been carried out by one regiment of foot, half the horse artillery battery, and two troops of light horse, the rest, the larger part of the force, remaining at a distance quite out of sight.

The object had been to make a bold attack, and if the rajah's people gave way, to advance and send for help from the hidden force. But, if they fought stubbornly, to retire, and keep on making so st.u.r.dy a defence as should lure the rajah's army on to a long pursuit, leading them right away from the town, which was then to be attacked by Colonel Vincent's force while the greater part of the rajah's men were away.

This had all been carried out. The retreating party would be by this time retiring or holding its ground, and as soon as it was day, if the rajah's men had not heard of the defeat through the fugitives from the town, they would be attacked, and taken between two fires.

"But ought you not to advance at once, father?" I said. "Your men are flushed with success, and you are sure of meeting the enemy as he comes back."

He clapped me on the shoulder.

"Good!" he said, looking at me proudly. "Quite right, if the men were fresh, but they are worn out with marching, fighting, and want of food.

They must have a few hours' rest."

"But if the rajah, with his fugitives, meets the returning force, and they come back and attack us?"

"Let them," said my father drily. "I wish they would, and save us a long march to-morrow morning."

"But," I said, hesitating, and afraid to hear the news, in case it should be very bad, "mother and sister Grace?"

We had by this time entered the palace, and naturally I had led my father to the room I had occupied.

He looked very hard and stern as he drew a long deep breath.

"They are in G.o.d's hands," he said.

"Not dead, father?" I cried wildly.

"Heaven forbid, boy!" he said excitedly. "I was summoned away with all who could be spared, to form a junction with the --nth and Brace's troop. My orders were to take command, break up any bands which were collecting, and to keep an eye on Ny Deen, who has been a perfect firebrand through the country. I left as strong a garrison as I could at Nussoor, the place fairly provisioned and armed, and all the women and children are shut up in the Residency. But since I have been away with my little force I have had no communication with the place. We have been completely cut off, and it has been impossible to send or bring news."

"Then you know nothing of Nussoor?"

"Nothing."

"But have you sent messengers?"

"At least a dozen, Gil, my boy."