Then half-an-hour passed, and this grew into an hour, during which the Rajah’s men changed their position again and again, but, as in accordance with Hulton’s notions, they kept well out in the open; and Dick was watching the restless movements of the body, where every man seemed to be acting according to his own ideas—there being no signs of cohesion or mutual support—when he found that the old sergeant was close to his elbow.
“I expect these fellows can fight, sir,” he said in a low voice. “You’ve never seen anything of the kind, I suppose?”
“Nothing but sham fights, Stubbs,” answered Dick.
“Ah! there’ll be nothing sham about this, sir. I expect the enemy will get well within reach, and then make one big charge, if our side doesn’t begin the business; and then they’ll all brush up, and it’ll be hand-to-hand lighting, scattering all over the field, and giving us a very poor chance, for we shan’t be able to fire for fear of hitting our friends. Look, sir, look!” he said sharply. “Your eyes are keener than mine. Can you make anything out yonder, a mile away, by that patch of wood?”
“Cavalry,” said Dick excitedly.
The officers had caught sight of the movement, and Hulton’s orders were given sharply. The men sprang to their saddles, the guns were wheeled round, unlimbered, loaded; and Dick’s heart began to throb heavily as the movement developed, and they could make out a detachment of horse galloping back towards them, followed by another and another—evidently the parties sent out in search of the enemy.
There was no doubt of this being the case, for, directly after, a cloud of horsemen came into view in full pursuit; and, from a movement in the neighbourhood of the Rajah’s elephant, it was evident that all this was seen, for fully half of his force began to gallop forward in support of their friends.
“That’s what the captain was afraid of, sir,” said Stubbs. “Before long they will all be mixed up together, and there’ll be no telling which is which. They ought to keep retiring and leading the enemy on, so as to give us a chance. Hullo, what does this mean?” he said aloud, and he looked anxiously in the captain’s direction.
It meant that, however inexperienced the enemy’s chief might be in European tactics, he was a better general than Rajah Doon, for the attack was to be made from two quarters at once, and the horse artillery troop was to have its chance of doing good after all.
Hulton saw the danger at once—a serious peril not yet noticed by the troops about the Rajah’s elephant.