“Good,” said the lieutenant. “But they may be coming on again. Stand fast, my lads, ready to fire at the slightest sound. I don’t know how they can stand it, Mr Murray,” he added, “for I feel as if my boot soles are being burned through. – Yes: what were you going to say – that yours are as bad?”
“No, sir,” replied the lad excitedly; “I was going to suggest that the men who fired should stand fast.”
“Why, of course, my lad; but why?”
“Because, sir, they can tell the direction in which they fired, and know the way in which the enemy retreated.”
“Of course, sir; but what good will that do?”
“It ought to be the way in which their friends are gathered, and the opposite direction to that in which we ought to retreat.”
“Good, my lad,” said the lieutenant, clapping the lad on the shoulder. “You’ll make a smart officer some day. I should not have thought of that. It may prove to be the way towards the shore. We’ll draw off at once. Oh!” he added. “If a good sharp breeze would spring up, to drive off this smoke!”
“But wouldn’t it set the remains of the fire blazing up again, sir?”
“Here, Murray,” whispered the officer pettishly, “you’d better take command of the expedition. You are sharper than I am.”
“I beg your pardon, sir.”
“Not at all. I’m not so weak as to resent hearing a good suggestion. You are quite right, my lad. I only wonder that your brain keeps so clear in the horrible confusion this smoke brings on. Here, let’s put your suggestion into use. Where’s Tom May?”
“Here, sir.”
“Can you tell which way the enemy retreated?”
“For sartin. This here nigger’s lying on his back with his head pynted the way his party came from – shot right through his chesty; and there’s a spear, sir, sticking slahntindickler in the ashes as shows the way which it was throwed from. Both being from the same bearings seems to say, sir, as that’s the way the niggers would run.”
“Humph!” ejaculated the lieutenant thoughtfully. “Not quite sure, my man?”
“No, sir, but I heerd them seem to run same way, so I thought it was a bit likely, sir.”
“Likely enough for us to follow, my lad,” said the officer; “so lead off, and keep on in the direction you think that the shore will lie.”
“Can’t do that, sir,” said the man bluntly. “Only think, sir, as it will be farthest from where the enemy came.”
“Lead on,” said the officer shortly. “It’s the best thing for us now. Forward, my lads. You, Mr Murray, keep alongside of me. We’ll bring up the rear.”
The retreat began, with the midshipman nowise happy in his own mind, for he could not help feeling that after all they might be marching into fresh difficulties instead of towards safety; but before long, as they tramped on over the heated ashes, suffering badly, for they began to inhale more and more the heated dust thrown up by their men’s feet, they had something else to think of, for Murray suddenly caught hold of his officer’s arm to check him.
“Don’t, do that, my lad,” came in response. “It’s as dark as can be, and if we are left behind we shall be worse off than ever.”
“Yes, sir,” whispered the midshipman; “but listen.”
“I am listening, Mr Murray, and I can hear the crackling of the men’s shoes as they trample up the burning embers. That’s what you hear.”
“Yes, sir, but something more.”
“Eh? What?”
“Listen again, sir. Just stop for a moment.”
The officer stopped short on the instant, and then caught the lad by the arm.
“Forward,” he whispered, “and keep step with me. Close up to the men, and we’ll halt, fall into line, give the brutes time to get within throwing distance for their spears, and then give them a volley. You are quite right, Mr Murray. Your ears are sharper than mine. We are followed, my lad, and if we hear their footsteps cease we must dash forward to put our movement into effect, for they will have halted to throw their weapons. – Yes, they are creeping after us quite fast now.”
“Yes, sir; I can hear them quite plainly.”
“Never mind so long as we don’t feel them quite plainly, Murray, my lad,” continued the officer, with a faint laugh. “I don’t know how you feel, my boy, but I am suffering from a peculiar tickling sensation about the upper part of my spine. It is a sort of anticipation of the coming of a spear; and the worst of it is that we can’t run, though I’ll be bound to say you feel as if you would like to. Now, frankly, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir,” said the lad; “I’d give anything to run now, as fast as I could.”
“That’s honest, Mr Murray,” said the lieutenant, in a low, eager whisper, and he squeezed his companion’s arm. “But then, you see, we can’t. That’s the worst of being an officer, Murray, with all his responsibilities. If we were to run we should throw our men into confusion by causing a panic. If the officer shows the white feather his men will whisk it out directly, and, what is worse, they will never believe in him again, and that would not do, would it?”
“No, sir,” said Murray quietly; “but I’ve got that tickling sensation in my back badly now.”
“Of course you have, Murray, but not so bad as I have, I’m sure.”
“Oh, I don’t know, sir,” said the lad, rather huskily.
“Better not talk, Mr Murray,” said the first lieutenant; “the ashes are getting into your throat.”
“Think it’s that, sir?”
“Some of it, my boy. Well, no: it does not do for officers to be too sure. We’ll say it is, though. Nasty sensation, however, that of feeling your enemies are waiting to hurl a spear through the air with such an aim that it will stick right into your back.”
“Yes, sir; it’s a horrible sensation.”
“But we must put up with it, Murray,” continued the lieutenant, “and be thankful that chance comes to our help.”
“Chance, sir?”
“Yes: the savages may miss us, for we are on the move, and besides, it is very smoky and hard for them to take aim. These blacks have very sharp eyes, but I doubt whether they get more than a shadowy glimpse of us, even at the nearest. You see, we have not had a man hit as far as we know. But speaking seriously, Murray, my lad, I do think that we officers have the worst of it, and the men the best. We have to cover them and lead them, and a good officer would never think of setting his men to do anything we would not do ourselves. There, Mr Murray, I have finished my lecture upon an officer’s duty, and I have only to add that I think you have behaved very well.”
“Thankye, sir,” said Murray drily; “but, begging your pardon, sir, what about you?”
“About me? Oh, I’m old and seasoned, my dear boy. And besides, I don’t think that if we had been hit, a spear would kill.”
“But it would make a very ugly wound, sir.”
“Horrible, my boy, so let’s hope none of our brave fellows will be giving the doctor a job. Now then, quick; double up to the lads, and we’ll halt and fire, for the enemy are getting too close to be pleasant, and it’s time that they had a check.”
Chapter Ten.
Hard Times
It was, quite, for the rustling behind seemed to be terribly near, and it was with a feeling of intense relief that the lad felt his arm pressed, and fell into step with his officer, who directly after cried “Haiti” in a low,