Itpromisestobeahardwinter.Thesnow-linehasdescendedathousandfeetuponthepeaks,butthepasseswillbeopenforweekstocome,and,eveniftheywereblocked,wehaveestablishedsomanydepotsinthecountrythatPollockandNottwillhavenodifficultyinholdingtheirown.
ElliottoftheArtillery,andI,areanswerableforthesafetyofthecommunicationsforadistanceoftwentymilesormore,fromthemouthofthevalleytothissideofthewoodenbridgeovertheLotar.
Goodenough,oftheRifles,isresponsibleontheotherside,andLieutenant-ColonelSidneyHerbertoftheEngineers,hasageneralsupervisionoverbothsections.
ThesevalleysandravineswhichbranchoutofthemainpassarealivewithAfridisandPathans,whoarekeenrobbersaswellasreligiousfanatics.
Theycouldplunderthemandgetbacktotheirmountainfastnessesbeforewecouldinterfereorovertakethem.Nothingbutfearwillrestrainthem.
Theyarepersonificationsofthedeviltolookat,hawk-nosed,full-lipped,withamaneoftangledhair,andmostSatanicsneer.NonewstodayfromtheFront.
October2.—ImustreallyaskHerbertforanothercompanyattheveryleast.Iamconvincedthatthecommunicationswouldbecutoffifanyseriousattackweremadeuponus.
Now,thismorningtwourgentmessagesweresentmefromtwodifferentpointsmorethansixteenmilesapart,tosaythatthereweresignsofadescentofthetribes.
Elliott,withonegunandtheSowars,wenttothefartherravine,whileI,withtheinfantry,hurriedtotheother,butwefounditwasafalsealarm.
IsawnosignsoftheHillmen,andthoughweweregreetedbyasplutterofjezailbulletswewereunabletocaptureanyoftherascals.
ThesecontinuedalarmsmaymeannothingortheymaybeanindicationthattheHillmenareassemblingandhavesomeplaninview.
WehavehadnonewsfromtheFrontforsometime,butto-dayaconvoyofwoundedcamethroughwiththeintelligencethatNotthadtakenGhuznee.
KnewnoneofthemexceptMostynoftheHussarsandyoungBlakesley,whowasmyfagatCharterhouse,andwhomIhaveneverseensince.
AlinefromCalcuttaDaisyandanotherfromHobhousetosaythatMatildacomesinforallthemoneyunderthewill.Iamgladofit.
PollockenteredCabultriumphantlyonthe16thoflastmonth,and,betterstill,LadySalehasbeenrescuedbyShakespear,andbroughtsafeintotheBritishcamp,togetherwiththeotherhostages.TeDeumlaudamus!
SoshallBurnes,McNaghten,andmanyanothergallantfellowknowthathiscountrymencouldavengeiftheycouldnotsavehim!
Itishardwhenothersaregaininggloryandexperiencetobestuckinthismiserablevalley.Ihavebeenoutofitcompletely,barafewpettyskirmishes.However,wemayseesomeserviceyet.
AjemidarofoursbroughtinaHillmantoday,whosaysthatthetribesaremassingintheTeradaravine,tenmilestothenorthofus,andintendattackingthenextconvoy.
Proposedtoshootourinformant,soastopreventhisplayingthedoubletraitorandreportingourproceedings.Elliottdemurred.
TheChildrenofIsraelseemtohavebeentheonlypeoplewhoevercarriedwartoitslogicalconclusion—exceptCromwellinIreland.
Madeacompromiseatlastbywhichthemanistobedetainedasaprisonerandexecutedifhisinformationprovetobefalse.
NodoubtthesefellowsattheFrontwillhaveC.B.’sandknighthoodsshoweringuponthemthickandfast,whilewepoordevils,whohavehadmostoftheresponsibilityandanxiety,willbepassedovercompletely.Elliotthasawhitlow.
Thelastconvoyleftusalargepacketofsauces,butastheyforgottoleaveanythingtoeatwiththem,wehavehandedthemovertotheSowars,whodrinkthemoutoftheirpannikinsasiftheywereliqueurs.
ThatoldrascalZemaunisattheheadofit,andIhadrecommendedtheGovernmenttopresenthimwithatelescopeinreturnforhisneutrality!
Weexpecttheconvoytomorrowmorning,andneedanticipatenoattackuntilitcomesup,forthesefellowsfightforplunder,notforglory,though,todothemjustice,theyhaveplentyofpluckwhentheygetstarted.
Ourintentionistogiveoutthatwearegoingdownthevalleytomeettheconvoyandtoblockthemouthofapassfromwhichweprofesstoexpectanattack.Verygood.
Ourfriendstheenemy,havingheardthatweintendedtogosouth,andseeingthecaravangoingnorthwithoutus,willnaturallyswoopdownuponitundertheimpressionthatwearetwentymilesaway.
WeshallteachthemsuchalessonthattheywouldassoonthinkofstoppingathunderboltasofinterferingagainwithoneofHerBritannicMajesty’sprovisiontrains.Iamallonthornstobeoff.
Elliotthasriggeduptwoofhisgunssoingeniouslythattheylookmorelikecostermongers’barrowsthananythingelse.
N.B.—Ifyouwishathingtobenoisedoverawholeprovincealwayswhisperitunderavowofsecrecytoyourconfidentialnativeservant.
October5.—Seveno’clockintheevening.Iotriumphe!Crownuswithlaurel—Elliottandmyself!Whocancomparewithusasverminkillers?
Ihaveonlyjustgotback,tiredandweary,stainedwithbloodanddust,butIhavesatdownbeforeeitherwashingorchangingtohavethesatisfactionofseeingourdeedssetforthinblackandwhite—ifonlyinmyprivatelogfornoeyebutmyown.
Theyhadtwoweakcompaniesofthe54thwiththemwhomightnodoubthaveheldtheirownwithwarning,butanunexpectedrushofwildHillmenisaverydifficultthingtostandagainst.
Wesoonmadehimunderstandthesituation,andwereallreadyforastartbydaybreakthoughhiswagonsweresofullthatwewerecompelledtoleaveseveraltonsoffodderbehindinordertomakeroomformySepoysandfortheartillery.
Aboutfiveo’clockweinspanned,touseanAfricanism,andbysixwewerewellonourway,withourescortasstragglingandunconcernedaspossible—ashelpless-lookingacaravanaseverinvitedattack.
Frommypostofobservation,underthecanvasscreensofoneofthewagons,Icouldmakeoutturbanedheadspoppinguptohavealookatusfromamongtherocks,andanoccasionalscouthurryingnorthwardwiththenewsofourapproach.
Itwasnot,however,untilwecameabreastoftheTeradaPass,agloomydefileboundedbygiganticcliffs,thattheAfridisbegantoshowinforce,thoughtheyhadambushedthemselvessocleverlythat,hadwenotbeenkeenlyonthelook-outforthem,wemighthavewalkedrightintothetrap.
Asitwas,theconvoyhalted,uponwhichtheHillmen,seeingthattheywereobserved,openedaheavybutill-directedfireuponus.
IhadaskedChamberlaintothrowouthismeninskirmishingorder,andtogivethemdirectionstoretreatslowlyuponthewagonssoastodrawtheAfridison.Therusesucceededtoperfection.
Astheredcoatssteadilyretired,keepingbehindcoverasmuchaspossible,theenemyfollowedthemupwithyellsofexultation,springingfromrocktorock,wavingtheirjezailsintheair,andhowlinglikeapackofdemons.
Withtheirblack,contorted,mockingfaces,theirfiercegestures,andtheirflutteringgarments,theywouldhavemadeastudyforanypainterwhowishedtoportrayMilton’sconceptionofthearmyofthedamned.
Fromeverysidetheypressedinuntil,seeing,astheythought,nothingbetweenthemandvictory,theylefttheshelteroftherocksandcamerushingdown,afurious,howlingthrong,withthegreenbanneroftheProphetintheirvan.
Twoorthreescorerolledoverlikerabbitsandtherestreeledforamoment,andthen,withtheirchiefsattheirhead,cameonagaininamagnificentrush.
Itwasourturnnowtoassumetheoffensive.Thegunswereunlimberedandgrapepouredintothem,whileourlittleinfantryforceadvancedatthedouble,shootingandstabbingallwhomtheyovertook.
Thesullenretreatbecameaflight,andtheflightapanic-strickenrout,untiltherewasnothingleftofthetribesmenexceptascattered,demoralisedrabbleflyingwildlytotheirnativefastnessesforshelterandprotection.
Onthecontrary,Ideterminedtoteachthemsuchalessonthatthesightofasinglescarletuniformwouldinfuturebeapassportinitself.
HavingdetachedChamberlainandElliottwithacompanyoneithersidetoprotectmywings,IpushedonwithmySepoysandahandfulofartillerymen,givingtheenemynotimetorallyortorecoverthemselves.
Weweresohandicapped,however,byourstiffEuropeanuniformsandbyourwantofpracticeinclimbing,thatweshouldhavebeenunabletoovertakeanyofthemountaineershaditnotbeenforafortunateaccident.
Thereisasmallerravinewhichopensintothemainpass,andintheirhurryandconfusionsomeofthefugitivesrusheddownthis.
Isawsixtyorseventyofthemturndown,butIshouldhavepassedthembyandcontinuedinpursuitofthemainbodyhadnotoneofmyscoutscomerustlinguptoinformmethatthesmallerravinewasacul-de-sac,andthattheAfridiswhohadgoneupithadnopossiblemeansofgettingoutagainexceptbycuttingtheirwaythroughourranks.
LeavingChamberlainandElliotttocontinuethepursuitofthemainbody,IwheeledmySepoysintothenarrowpathandproceededslowlydownitinextendedorder,coveringthewholegroundfromclifftocliff.
Oneithersidenakedprecipicesrosesheerupforathousandfeetormore,converginguponeachothersoastoleaveaverynarrowslitofdaylightaboveus,whichwasfurtherreducedbythefeatheryfringeofpalmtreesandaloeswhichhungovereachlipofthechasm.
Thecliffswerenotmorethanacoupleofhundredyardsapartattheentrance,butasweadvancedtheygrewnearerandnearer,untilahalfcompanyincloseordercouldhardlymarchabreast.
Asortoftwilightreignedinthisstrangevalley,andthedim,uncertainlightmadethegreat,basaltrocksloomupvagueandfantastic.
Therewasnopath,andthegroundwasmostuneven,butIpushedonbriskly,cautioningmyfellowstohavetheirfingersontheirtriggers,forIcouldseethatwewerenearingthepointwherethetwocliffswouldformanacuteanglewitheachother.
Atlastwecameinsightoftheplace.Agreatpileofboulderswasheapedupattheveryendofthepass,andamongtheseourfugitiveswereskulking,entirelydemoralizedapparently,andincapableofresistance.
Theywereuselessasprisoners,anditwasoutofthequestiontoletthemgo,sotherewasnochoicebuttopolishthemoff.
Wavingmysword,Iwasleadingmymenon,whenwehadamostdramaticinterruptionofasortwhichIhaveseenonceortwiceontheboardsofDruryLane,butneverinreallife.
Inthesideofthecliff,closetothepileofstoneswheretheHillmenweremakingtheirlaststand,therewasacavewhichlookedmorelikethelairofsomewildbeastthanahumanhabitation.
Outofthisdarkarchwaytheresuddenlyemergedanoldman—suchavery,veryoldmanthatalltheotherveteranswhomIhaveseenwereaschickenscomparedwithhim.
Hisfacewaswrinkledandbrownandebony,acrossbetweenamonkeyandamummy,andsothinandemaciatedwerehisshriveledlimbsthatyouwouldhardlyhavegivenhimcreditforhavinganyvitalityleft,wereitnotforhiseyes,whichglitteredandsparkledwithexcitement,liketwodiamondsinasettingofmahogany.
Thisapparitioncamerushingoutofthecave,and,throwinghimselfbetweenthefugitivesandourfellows,motionedusbackwithasimperiousasweepofthehandaseveranemperorusedtohisslaves.
“Menofblood,”hecried,inavoiceofthunder,speakingexcellentEnglish,too—“thisisaplaceforprayerandmeditation,notformurder.Desist,lestthewrathofthegodsfalluponyou.”
IcouldseethattheHillmenweretakingheart,andthatsomeofmySepoyswereflinching,asiftheydidnotrelishthisnewenemy.Clearly,ImustactpromptlyifIwishedtocompleteoursuccess.
Theoldfellowrushedatuswithhisarmsoutasiftostopus,butitwasnottimetostickattrifles,soIpassedmyswordthroughhisbodyatthesamemomentthatoneofthegunnersbroughthiscarbinedownuponhishead.
Hedroppedinstantly,andtheHillmen,atthesightofhisfall,setupthemostunearthlyhowlofhorrorandconsternation.
TheSepoys,whohadbeeninclinedtohangback,cameonagainthemomenthewasdisposedof,anditdidnottakeuslongtoconsummateourvictory.
Ilooked,aftertheaction,fortheoldchap,buthisbodyhaddisappeared,thoughhoworwhitherIhavenoconception.Hisbloodbeuponhisownhead!
Hewouldbealivenowifhehadnotinterfered,astheconstablessayathome,“withanofficerintheexecutionofhisduty.”
Iwentintothecave,andhowanymancouldliveinitaweekisamysterytome,foritwaslittlemorethanfourfeethigh,andasdampanddismalagrottoaseverwasseen.
Well,hehasgonewherehewilllearnthatthegospelofpeaceandgoodwillissuperiortoallhisPaganlore.Peacegowithhim.
Ihaveneverbeenadreameroravisionary,soIcanrelyuponmyownsenses,thoughIamboundtosaythatifanyotherfellowhadtoldmethesamethingIshouldhavedoubtedhim.
ImightevenhavesuspectedthatIwasdeceivedatthetimehadInotheardthebellsince.However,Imustnarratewhathappened.
Elliottwasinmytentwithmehavingaquietcherootuntilaboutteno’clock.Ithenwalkedtheroundswithmyjemidar,andhavingseenthatallwasrightIturnedinalittlebeforeeleven.
Iwasjustdroppingofftosleep,forIwasdog-tiredaftertheday’swork,whenIwasarousedbysomeslightnoise,and,lookinground,IsawamandressedinAsiaticcostumestandingattheentranceofmytent.
MyfirstthoughtwasthatthefellowwassomeGhaziorAfghanfanaticwhohadstoleninwiththeintentionofstabbingme,andwiththisideainmymindIhadallthewilltospringfrommycouchanddefendmyself,butthepowerwasunaccountablylacking.
IsupposeabirdwhenitisundertheinfluenceofasnakefeelsverymuchasIdidinthepresenceofthisgloomy-facedstranger.
Ishutmyevesonceortwiceandtriedtopersuademyselfthatthewholethingwasadelusion,buteverytimethatIopenedthemtherewasthemanstillregardingmewiththesamestony,menacingstare.
“LieutenantHeatherstone,”heanswered,speakingslowlyandgravely,“youhavecommittedthisdaythefoulestsacrilegeandthegreatestcrimewhichitispossibleformantodo.
Youhaveslainoneofthethriceblessedandreverendones,anarchadeptofthefirstdegree,anelderbrotherwhohastrodthehigherpathformoreyearsthanyouhavenumberedmonths.
YouhavecuthimoffatatimewhenhislabourspromisedtoreachaclimaxandwhenhewasabouttoattainaheightofoccultknowledgewhichwouldhavebroughtmanonestepnearertohisCreator.
Allthisyouhavedonewithoutexcuse,withoutprovocation,atatimewhenhewaspleadingthecauseofthehelplessanddistressed.Listennowtome,JohnHeatherstone.
“Whenfirsttheoccultscienceswerepursuedmanythousandsofyearsago,itwasfoundbythelearnedthattheshorttenureofhumanexistencewastoolimitedtoallowamantoattaintheloftiestheightsofinnerlife.
Theinquirersofthosedaysdirectedtheirenergiesinthefirstplace,therefore,tothelengtheningoftheirowndaysinorderthattheymighthavemorescopeforimprovement.
Itonlyremainedtoprotectthemselvesagainsttheassaultsofwickedandviolentmenwhoareeverreadytodestroywhatiswiserandnoblerthanthemselves.
Therewasnodirectmeansbywhichthisprotectioncouldbeeffected,butitwasinsomemeasureattainedbyarrangingtheoccultforcesinsuchawaythataterribleandunavoidableretributionshouldawaittheoffender.
“Itwasirrevocablyordainedbylawswhichcannotbereversedthatanyonewhoshouldshedthebloodofabrotherwhohadattainedacertaindegreeofsanctityshouldbeadoomedman.
Itwasjudgedafterwardsthatthispromptretributionpreventedtheoffenderfromhavingtimetorealizetheenormityofhisoffence.
“Itwasthereforeordainedthatinallsuchcasestheretributionshouldbeleftinthehandsofthechelas,orimmediatedisciplesoftheholyman,withpowertoextendorshortenitattheirwill,exactingiteitheratthetimeoratanyfutureanniversaryofthedaywhenthecrimewascommitted.
SufficeitthatyouarethemurdererofGhoolabShah,thethriceblessed,andthatIamtheseniorofhisthreechelascommissionedtoavengehisdeath.
Itisanimmutablelaw,anditisasimpossibleforustorelaxitasitisforyoutoescapefromitSoonerorlaterweshallcometoyouandclaimyourlifeinatonementfortheonewhichyouhavetaken.
“Thesamefateshallbemetedouttothewretchedsoldier,Smith,who,thoughlessguiltythanyourself,hasincurredthesamepenaltybyraisinghissacrilegioushandagainstthechosenofBuddha.
Ifyourlifeisprolonged,itismerelythatyoumayhavetimetorepentofyourmisdeedandtofeelthefullforceofyourpunishment.
“Andlestyoushouldbetemptedtocastitoutofyourmindandtoforgetit,ourbell—ourastralbell,theuseofwhichisoneofouroccultsecrets—shalleverremindyouofwhathavebeenandwhatistobe.
Youshallhearitbydayandyoushallhearitbynight,anditwillbeasigntoyouthatdowhatyoumayandgowhereyouwill,youcannevershakeyourselfclearofthechelasofGhoolabShah.
“Youwillneverseememore,accursedone,untilthedaywhenwecomeforyou.Liveinfear,andinthatanticipationwhichisworsethandeath.”
“SurelytheBurraSahibismistaken,”themananswered,respectfullybutfirmly.“Ihavebeenhereforanhour,andnoonehaspassedfromthetent.”
Puzzledanddisconcerted,Iwassittingbythesideofmycouchwonderingwhetherthewholethingwereadelusion,broughtonbythenervousexcitementofourskirmish,whenanewmarvelovertookme.
Fromovermyheadtheresuddenlysoundedasharp,tinklingsound,likethatproducedbyanemptyglasswhenflippedbythenail,onlylouderandmoreintense.
WhenIawokethismorningIwasinclinedtoputthewholeofmyyesternight’sexperiencesdowntoimagination,butIwassoondisabusedoftheidea,forIhadhardlyrisenbeforethesamestrangesoundwasrepeatedinmyveryearasloudly,andtoallappearanceascauselessly,asbefore.
Canthefellow’sthreatshavesomethinginthemandthisbethewarningbellofwhichhespoke?Surelyitisimpossible.Yethismannerwasindescribablyimpressive.
Evening.—HavemanagedtocomparenoteswithGunnerRufusSmithoftheArtillery,whoknockedtheoldfellowoverwiththebuttofhisgun.
Itseemedtomethat,comingasitdidafterfourdays’completesilence,ittoldaclearertaleofshakennerveandabrokenspiritthancouldanymoreelaboratenarrative.
“Fromthatdaytothis,”itsaid,“Ihavehadnonightordayfreefromtheintrusionofthatdreadfulsoundwithitsaccompanyingtrainofthought.
Timeandcustomhavebroughtmenorelief,butonthecontrary,astheyearspassovermyheadmyphysicalstrengthdecreasesandmynervesbecomelessabletobearupagainstthecontinualstrain.
“Iamabrokenmaninmindandbody.Iliveinastateoftension,alwaysstrainingmyearsforthehatedsound,afraidtoconversewithmyfellowsforfearofexposingmydreadfulconditiontothem,withnocomfortorhopeofcomfortonthissideofthegrave.Ishouldbewilling.
Heavenknows,todie,andyetaseach5thofOctobercomesround,IamprostratedwithfearbecauseIdonotknowwhatstrangeandterribleexperiencemaybeinstoreforme.
“FortyyearshavepassedsinceIslewGhoolabShah,andfortytimesIhavegonethroughallthehorrorsofdeath,withoutattainingtheblessedpeacewhichliesbeyond.
Ihaveimmuredmyselfinthislonelycountry,andsurroundedmyselfwithbarriers,becauseinmyweakermomentsmyinstinctsurgemetotakesomestepsforself-protection,butIknowwellinmyhearthowfutileitallis.
Ithasalwaysbeeninmypowertocheckmatemyoccultpersecutorsinthatway,butIhaveeverheldthatamaninthisworldcannotdeserthispostuntilhehasbeenrelievedinduecoursebytheauthorities.
Ihavehadnoscruples,however,aboutexposingmyselftodanger,and,duringtheSikhandSepoywars,IdidallthatamancoulddotocourtDeath.
Hepassedmeby,however,andpickedoutmanyayoungfellowtowhomlifewasonlyopeningandwhohadeverythingtolivefor,whileIsurvivedtowincrossesandhonourswhichhadlostallrelishforme.
“OnecompensationProvidencehasmademeintheshapeofatrueandfaithfulwife,towhomItoldmydreadfulsecretbeforethewedding,andwhonoblyconsentedtosharemylot.
Shehasliftedhalftheburdenfrommyshoulders,butwiththeeffect,poorsoul,ofcrushingherownlifebeneathitsweight!
Gabrielwehaveendeavouredtokeepinthedark,thoughwecannotpreventherfromknowingthatthereissomethingamiss.
MysadexperiencemayshowhimthatIspoketruthwhenIsaidthattherewasmuchknowledgeintheworldwhichhasneverfounditswaytoEngland.
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