Fortunately the water shallowed as they neared the farther bank beneath the walls; unfortunately the enemy’s foot reached the bank that had been left soon after the last gun had been dragged in, and opened a dropping fire from their long matchlocks, the bullets rattling on the gun-carriages and making more than one horse plunge wildly.
It was only a matter of minutes, and then the enemy’s fire slackened before a fierce rattle of musketry opened upon them from the walls, effectually covering the retreat of the troop, once more on firm ground—a well-made road running along beneath the walls, leading to a gate, through which the battery passed—while the firing grew louder in the direction of the bridge.
“Going to make for the old palace, and defend ourselves there?” said Wyatt, riding up abreast of Hulton.
Dick heard the question, and looked towards his leader, seeing him slowly turn his face towards his brother-officer, and then raise his hand with his sword hanging by the knot from his wrist, to take off his helmet, before drooping forward over his saddle-bow.
“Ah!” exclaimed a familiar voice close to Dick’s elbow, “the captain’s hit;” and the old sergeant spurred forward to Hulton’s other side to keep him on his horse.
“Forward!” rang out Wyatt’s order, and then he shouted to one of the horsemen to guide them to their quarters.
“Pass the word for the doctor,” said Wyatt then hoarsely.
“He’s badly hurt, sir,” said the sergeant. “They’ve got him on the limber of the last gun.”
“Tut, tut!” ejaculated Wyatt; and then he was silent till the gateway of the old palace was reached, and they filed into the yard, where the guns were placed so as to cover the entrance, and Captain Hulton and six of the men were helped into one of the rooms, turned for the time being into a hospital; while directly after, by a strange irony of fate, the doctor, to whom they should have looked for help at such a time as this, was lifted carefully off the blood-stained limber and borne in last.
“Sergeant,” cried Wyatt, “gallop to the bridge and see what is being done there. The Rajah may need a couple of the guns to sweep it.”