CHAPTER XXVII
THE POWDER MINE
"Had a good sleep, Hal?"
Harry sat up with a sudden start from the cushioned seat upon which he had been lying in the open hall of the King's palace, to find the doctor grimly smiling down. His second glance was at a great, grotesque, bronze figure looming up over him, and his third at Phra, who was lying on his back with his lips apart, sleeping heavily.
"Have—have I been asleep?" he stammered.
"Fast as a top, boy."
"But—but I thought we were in the boat up in the jungle, and—"
"We're here in the palace instead. How's your arm?"
"My arm?" said Harry wonderingly; "I don't know."
"Not very bad, then, old fellow."
"Oh, I recollect now. Here, I'd no business to go to sleep. I ought to have been watching."
"No, you ought not; the King told me that he had sent you boys to lie down."
"Yes, of course, he did," said the lad excitedly; "but oh, what a shame for us to be sleeping here at such a time! I say, has there been any more fighting?"
"Not a bit. The ruffians were sickened by those two boxes of powder they had."
"Oh, I am glad. But I say, Doctor Cameron, how is your wife?"
"Quite well, Hal. She has gone to lie down for a good sleep."
"What, has she been up all night?"
"Yes, helping me with the wounded."
"Oh, what a good woman she is!" cried Harry enthusiastically.
"Right, Hal," cried the doctor merrily. "Bless her! she is."
"And I do feel such a lazy pig! You two hard at work all night, and
I've been snoring here like old Phra."
"So as to be ready to work hard to-day. It's all right, my boy."
"I say, doctor, you do look well and jolly to-day; any one would think we were not in trouble," said Harry gravely.
"Trouble, boy? I feel as if there was no trouble in the world."
"Yes, I understand," said Harry slowly. "You must feel relieved to have got back to Mrs. Cameron and found her safe and well. But I say, do you think we can beat these wretches off?"
"Think? No. We are going to do it, my lad."
"So we are," cried Harry. "Here, let's wake up old lazy-bones."
Boys will be boys, thanks to the grand elasticity of their nature. Over night Harry had felt like a serious man, but the night's rest and the doctor's hopeful words made him feel as full of light-heartedness as if there were not an enemy within a thousand miles.
Catching up the first thing near, a peacock's feather from a huge bunch in a massive bronze vase, he went behind Phra's head and gently inserted the quill end between the sleeper's lips.
There was no response, so the act was repeated, and Phra's teeth closed with a snap on the quill, which Harry released. Then the boy's eyes opened, and he lay staring at the waving plume standing straight up above him, raised his hand, took hold of it, and gave it a tug, but it was fast. He gave it another tug, discovered that it was held in his teeth, and sat up facing the doctor.
"Did you do that?" he cried.
"I? No."
"Then it was one of Hal's childish games. Oh, there you are! Here: have I been asleep? Yes, father told me to lie down. Oh, tell me, has the enemy come on again?"
"No, it's all right, old chap. I say, aren't you hungry?"
"Hungry? No. Where is my father. Doctor?"
"I don't know; he was with me just now, looking at the wounded."
The colour came a little in Harry's cheeks, for the thought struck him that he had not asked after his own father.
"How are the wounded, Doctor?" said Phra.
"All doing well, my dear boy. Now then, shall I prescribe for you two?"
"No, no; we don't want anything," cried the boys in a breath.
"Yes, you do, both of you—washing. Go and tidy yourselves up, and by that time there will be a regular comfortable breakfast ready. The ladies and Mike have been busy this hour past. If we are to fight, we must eat."
The doctor walked away, and Phra turned to Harry.
"If we get over this trouble, Hal," he said solemnly, "I'll punch your head for playing me that stupid trick."
"Do, old chap—if you can," cried the boy; "but I say, is my face dirty?"
"Horribly. Is mine?"
"Well," said Harry, frowning and looking very serious, "one could hardly call it dirty, but there's a black smudge across one cheek, and a dab on your forehead, and three black finger marks on your nose."
"Nonsense!"
"Quite true, old chap. You must have been painting your face with your gunpowdery fingers."
"Come to my bedroom then, and let's have a good wash."
Harry followed willingly, for he felt as if the operation would be delightful, and the next minute they were in the young prince's thoroughly English-looking bedroom, though it did not look at its best, for the curtains had been dragged aside, heavy boards nailed across the lower part of the window like a breastwork, and a couple of stout mattresses fixed up within the boards to make them less vulnerable to bullet or spear. But the rest of the room was as it should be, and a quarter of an hour was pleasantly spent with soap, water, towels, and brushes.
"Hah!" ejaculated Harry at last; "that was a treat; but I should have liked a regular bath."
"Let's whip the rebels first," said Phra, who looked bright and refreshed. "Come and have breakfast."
He led the way to the handsome saloon where the table was spread, and Mike was busy arranging a few things and looking clean and smart—even to being fresh shaved—as if nothing were wrong.
But the boys only glanced at him, and were directly after being warmly greeted by plenty of familiar friends. For about half the white defenders were gathered there, while the other half were on guard keeping careful watch. There was not a single enemy to be seen, though Sree and two men who had been scouting at daybreak had returned to announce that there were a great many of the rebels in hiding among the bushes and trees just beyond the outer wall, especially outside the grounds, as if to take care that no one should escape from the palace, where they were hemmed in.
A minute later the King came in with about half a dozen of the faithful officials, Mr. Kenyon, and the doctor.
His Majesty smilingly greeted all his white friends, and crossed then to the boys, with whom he shook hands warmly, after which the excellent breakfast was discussed, during which the King turned to Mr. Kenyon.
"We could not fare like this, my friend," he said, "if we took to the jungle or a boat."
"No, sir, no," replied Mr. Kenyon quickly. "I spoke last night on the impulse of the moment, but I have since thought that my idea was impracticable. I've been all about this wing of the palace too this morning, and I feel satisfied that we can hold it as long as we like if we do a little more to the defences. I'll talk with you, though, after breakfast."
The change from the hopeless despair of the past night was strange, and before long the two boys began to long for an opportunity to leave the table, for the disposition among their friends whom they had rejoined seemed to be one of crediting them with completely altering the state of affairs and making them the heroes of the hour.
At last the opportunity came, for the King rose, and those who had breakfasted hurried away to take the places of the guard.
"Let's slip out this way," said Harry, "or we shall meet the others as they come in, and I'm sick of it. Such rubbish! Why, it was all father, Sree, and you."
"Old Sree deserves pretty well all the credit," agreed Phra. "Let's go and see where he is."
They soon found him and Lahn on their way back from the gate, and hurried them in to where Mike had a second breakfast waiting, the old hunter smiling with content at the genuine eagerness the two lads displayed in regard to his comfort.
But before they had been there long Mike hurried in from attending on the second party at the King's table, to see that his native friends, as he called them, were all right.
"Of course we shall beat the enemy, Master Harry," he said; "but I had a look out from the top of the palace as soon as the sun rose, and you could see hundreds of thousands of them down by the river."
"Millions, Mike," cried Harry.
"Ah, you may laugh, sir, but there's an awful lot. Seems too many for us to beat, but we've got to do it, I suppose."
"Yes," said Sree, smiling, "we have got to beat them; but they will not come on all at once."
"How many shots did you fire last night, Mike?" said Harry banteringly.
"I didn't count, sir," said the man quietly; "you see, I got so excited. Didn't feel half so scared as I thought I should. Hands trembled a bit first time I pulled the trigger, but they didn't afterwards. I suppose I was too busy."
"Didn't you count your cartridges?"
"No, sir. I took a belt full, and some in my pockets."
"And how many did you bring back?" asked Phra.
"None at all, sir."
"Michael was between Lahn and the sahibs," said Sree quietly, "and I hope he will fight by our sides the next time the enemy come on. I like to be fighting with a brave Englishman at my side."
"Yes, sir; coming, sir," cried Mike, and he ran out of the room, with a very red face.
"Did any one call?" said Phra.
"No, it was his gammon, so as to get away," said Harry. "I say, Sree, no nonsense. Old Mike didn't fight like that, did he?"
"Oh, yes, Sahib; no one could have been more brave and cool. I did not expect it. I always thought he was what you English people call a coward."
"I say, Phra, what a shame to laugh at him like that!"
"Yes, but you began it."
"Oh, that I didn't," cried Harry. "Never mind, we'll go halves; I'll take my share of the blame."
"Are you lads in there?" cried Mr. Kenyon.
"Yes, father," cried Harry.
"You may as well come with me. Ah, Sree, meet me in half an hour's time by the great gates; bring the men who came with us, and we shall want spears."
"Yes, Sahib," said Sree, rising.
"No, no; finish your meal first, my man. There is plenty of time."
The King, with several of his followers, was in the great hall; and after Mr. Kenyon had gone round with the party to the several windows to see what more could be done by way of strengthening them and making more loop-holes for firing from, they were led to the vault-like arrangement beneath, where, dimly lit by slits in the thick wall, the ammunition stored up lay ready to hand.
Everything was in good order, and in addition to chests of cartridges—an ample supply—there were two perfectly new stands of rifles, with bayonets attached, while the other end was stacked with provisions, barrels of flour, boxes of biscuits, chests of tea, and bags of coffee and sugar—an ample store, the water supply being furnished from a spigot fitted to a bamboo pipe connected with a reservoir right away in the higher part of the grounds.
Two small kegs of gunpowder were carried up into the hall, Mr. Kenyon taking up one and the King the other; but in an instant Harry had relieved his father of his load, and Phra had taken the King's.
These being placed ready by the door opening on to the steps, the party, at Mr. Kenyon's request, ascended to the roof, where Harry's father explained his wishes; namely, that an ample supply of food, water, and ammunition should be brought up there ready for use, if at the last they were driven from the ground floor to the rooms above, and from there to taking refuge on the top, each floor forming a stronghold.
"And if it comes to the worst, Kenyon," said the King gravely—
"If it comes to the worst, sir," replied Mr. Kenyon solemnly, "we must not let ourselves and those we love fall into the hands of these wretches."
"No," said the King, with his eyes flashing. "What would you do?"
"I propose, sir," said Mr. Kenyon, "that a sufficiency of the powder be placed ready below, and with that I shall make an arrangement through which, on the firing of a gun by means of a wire brought up here, the place can be blown up, and our enemies perish with us."
"Yes," said the King. "Good."
Harry and Phra exchanged glances, and then they shuddered.
Sree was waiting with the men when they descended to the terrace, where, refreshed by their meal, the second party had assembled, ready for anything that might happen that day; eager also to see what Mr. Kenyon and the doctor would suggest.
The first thing done was to send scouts once more to try and find out whether an advance was being prepared. While they were absent, Mr. Kenyon, after explaining to the King his plans, asked for the gates to be opened, so that he and his men could pass out with an advance guard of about twenty, to screen as well as protect them while the mine was prepared.
The distance was so short that there was no scruple about the gates being unclosed, though both Harry and Phra looked upon the posting of the guard across the pathway outside the defences as being like a defiance and invitation to the enemy in one, and Harry told his father their thoughts.
"Exactly what I thought myself, Hal, but it must be done; and what I hope they will think is that we have become emboldened by the defeat we gave them last night, and have advanced to meet them in fair fight outside."
"They will be watching, of course," said Phra.
"Yes, and that is why I have placed the men to cover us. No more words. Now to get the mines made as quickly as possible."
There was this difficulty in making the mines: to be effective, it was necessary that they should be as near the gates as possible, for there the greater part of the enemy would crowd to the attack; but if they were too close, they might blow down the defences and inflict injury upon their friends; while if they were too far off, they would be ineffective from the attacking party being few.
The only thing to be done was to choose the medium way, and the men were set to work to dig two small, deep holes, each capable of holding one of the powder kegs, and in each case the head was taken out before it was laid upon its side. But previously a narrow trench of about a foot in depth was dug, leading from the head of the cask right in through the gates. This finished, stout matting was laid over the keg and a loaded gun placed in the trench, already cocked, so that when the trigger was pulled by means of a wire, the flash from the gun would explode the powder. Then the wire was run through a number of large bamboos such as were used—after boring through the divisions—for water, and these were laid along the trench and through the gateway.
The result of this was that when the wire was pulled it would run easily and not be checked by the earth with which the trench was again to be filled, so that, the wire being attached to the trigger of the gun, the mine could be sprung in safety by those within the gates.
The preparations took some time, the arrangement of the bamboos causing a good deal of trouble. But all this was satisfactorily overcome at last, the trenches filled and trampled down so as not to betray the danger; the kegs were covered in as well, the ground levelled, and dust and stones thrown over. Nothing remained to be done but to attach the wires to the triggers, lay boards over the guns from beneath the matting which covered the powder to the bamboos, and then fill in and level over the boards.
"Who is going to do this, father?" said Harry, who had stood by looking on all through.
"Do what?"
"Fasten the wires to the triggers."
"I am, my boy," said Mr. Kenyon, through his teeth.
"But suppose the guns went off?"
"I am going to provide against that," said Mr. Kenyon firmly, and he ordered the men who formed the screen and guard to advance fifty paces towards the enemy and away from the mines.
"But it will be very dangerous, father."
"Very, Hal; and I want careful guard to be kept over the ends of the wires within the gates, so that they shall not be touched. You and Phra had better take that duty."
"No, don't send me to do that, father," said Harry in rather a husky tone of voice. "I want to stay and help you."
"No one can help me, Hal; no one can do this but myself."
"But, father," whispered the boy, in agonized tones, "suppose—"
"I will suppose nothing, Hal," said Mr. Kenyon sternly. "It is very dangerous work, and I dare trust no one but myself. Now obey me, and remember that my life is in you boys' hands. No one must touch the end of those wires. Phra, you hear?"
"Yes, Mr. Kenyon, but I feel like Hal. We don't like to leave you."
"I am going to help the Sahib," said Sree quietly from where he stood, spade in hand.
"No, Sree; the task is too dangerous. Go with my son."
"The Sahib will want help to fill in the earth over the boards; there is much to do, and his servant begs that he may share the danger with the Sahib."
"You know the risk."
"Yes, Sahib," said the man calmly.
"Then stay."
"Hah!" ejaculated the old hunter, in a sigh of satisfaction, and he smiled as Mr. Kenyon held out his hand and took his follower's in a strong grip.
Then turning to the men who had helped with the digging:
"Follow my son and the Prince inside.—Now, Hal, you know your task."
"Yes, father," said Harry, with his brow all in wrinkles and his teeth set; and, leading the way, his first act was to order every one back from the ends of the wires, which he made the men protect by building a ring of big stones around them—stones which had been used to form the breastwork from behind which the defenders had fired.
As he looked up from this he saw that his father was waiting and watching; and now seeing that all was ready, he waved his hand to the boys and went down on one knee, Sree standing close by with one foot resting upon his spade.
"Why is he left alone, Phra?" asked a familiar voice, for the King had come up to the breastwork to see how matters were progressing.
Phra explained, but in the midst Harry interrupted:
"It is horribly dangerous, sir, and my father told us to keep every one back in case the powder exploded."
"Then why do you stand there with my son in such peril, boy?"
"Because I can't leave my father," said Harry, in a choking voice.
"Then you, Phra?" said the King.
"I cannot leave my friend," said Phra hoarsely.
"I forgot," said the King quietly; "and you both have your duty to do in guarding the ends of those wires. Hal, boy, your father is a brave man, and he is doing this to save my kingdom to me and our lives for us all. I too, Phra, my son, feel that I cannot leave my friend."
As he finished speaking he turned and walked slowly towards where Mr. Kenyon was still kneeling over his dangerous task; and as the King reached the place it was just as the wire had been successfully looped over the trigger and tied so that it could not slip, when Mr. Kenyon covered his work with a board whose sides rested on two ledges left for the purpose high above the gun.
"Fill in, Sree," he said quietly.—"You here, sir? Go back! Go back! I cannot answer for this. The slightest touch, and the powder will explode."
"You order me, Kenyon, your friend. I, the King, command you. Go on; finish the other now."
"But the danger, sir," said Mr. Kenyon, upon whose brow the moisture stood in great drops.
"I will share it with you," said the King calmly. "Go on."
Mr. Kenyon seized another spade, and helped in the covering in and levelling of the short piece of trench, while those who watched from the gate were in expectation moment by moment of seeing the earth rent asunder and the three standing before them torn to fragments by the explosion.
They were horrible moments, and the two boys could hardly breathe, while their hearts kept up a painful throb, as if unable to fight against the heavy pressure which kept them down.
The time seemed, too, so very long, as Mr. Kenyon once more went down upon his left knee and carefully passed the second wire loop over the trigger of the other gun, tied it there with fingers that did not tremble in the least, and then took the board, laid it carefully upon the ledges, and rose to help Sree to throw in the earth and stones.
The King had followed them there as well, and stood with his arms folded across his chest, looking proud and defiant—more like a king, Harry thought, than he had ever appeared when upon state occasions he had mounted one of his elephants, a blaze of cloth of gold and jewels, to take his seat in a howdah which was a resplendent throne.
"At last!" said Harry, speaking unconsciously, for the heroic deed was done; but there was no triumph in the boy's tones, his voice sounded like a groan; and upon turning to glance at Phra he was startled for the moment, his comrade's face and lips were so clayey looking and strange.
Sree had shouldered the tools, and at an order walked slowly back, the King and Mr. Kenyon coming next, the former with his hand resting upon his English friend's shoulder; and as they reached the gateway the boys were startled by the rush of feet behind them.
The sounds brought them back to the duty they were set, and darting before the wires, they raised their guns to the "ready," and shouted, "Back!"
The sudden movement of the two lads had an instant effect upon the body of armed men, who for days past had been as it were under military rule. They stopped short, but only to raise gun, spear, or cap high above their heads and burst forth into a stentorian cheer, which was echoed by the little body of men fifty yards on the other side of the deadly mines.
As his brave defenders cheered again the King bowed, and with a quick movement fell back behind Mr. Kenyon, seeming to thrust him forward to receive the acclamations which rent the air again and again.
Then as they passed in amongst the defenders, with Mr. Kenyon's face showing in its marble sternness the tremendous emotion through which he had passed, Harry reached out one hand and touched his arm, to have it grasped and wrung before he went on with the King towards the terrace entrance.
"Oh, Hal," panted Phra half hysterically, "don't you feel proud?"
"Proud?" cried Harry wildly. "Oh, I wish we were not obliged to stay here. Ah!" he half yelled; "there he is! I must do something. Hi! everybody," he yelped, "three cheers for old Sree."
The cheers were given again and again, and when at a sign the guards outside marched back in two parties, single file, one on each side of the mines, the cheering burst forth again, and was kept up till the last man was within, a final roar being given when the gates were shut to and firmly secured.
"Beaten, Phra?" cried Harry excitedly, but with something in his throat; "who's going to be beaten? Here, I say, if we were free, do you know what we'd do?"
"I should like to go and shut myself in my room and cry," said Phra simply.
"Cry?" said Harry, turning angrily upon his comrade; "cry? What, like a great, silly goose of a girl?"
"Yes," said Phra gravely; "that's how I feel."
"Cry?" said Harry again. "Bah! I feel as if I want to shout."
"But your eyes look quite wet, and there's a cracked sound in your voice."
"It's with shouting so, and the sun being in one's face."
"Yes," said Phra, with a wistful look and a smile. "I know, Hal. But what should we do if we were free?"
"Go and hoist the flags on the top of the palace."
"Yes," cried Phra eagerly, "we will, and the British colours too."
The boys were relieved in an hour's time, when Mr. Kenyon came out with the King to superintend a piece of strong breastwork being built up round the spot where the two wires lay; and when this was done, fresh guards were set. Soon after, another cheer arose from the top of the palace, to be taken up by those in the court below and wherever the defenders were distributed, for the boys had kept their word and hoisted the King's gay, silken standard and the Union Jack side by side.
"It seems as if we've frightened the enemy all away, Phra," said Harry, as he shaded his eyes and gazed from his point of vantage in every direction.
"Yes," said Phra, who was following his example; "there isn't one to be seen."
"Hurrah!" shouted Harry.
"But it's a bad sign," said Phra; "they mean to come on again quietly to-night."
"Then they'll never see where the ground has been dug," said Harry, "and—oh, I say, Phra, I hope they will not come; it seems so horrid, after all."
"But if it's to save our fathers and our friends from a horrible death, I'll pull one of the wires."
"Yes," cried Harry, flushing, and with sparkling eyes, "and so will I.
But I hope they'll stay away."
"Amen," said a voice behind them.
Mr. Kenyon had come up with the King, each telescope in hand, and unobserved.