“It is hard—the worst of it?” said Bracy wonderingly. “What do you mean?”
“You and me, sir, having to lie up and be out of all the fun.”
“Oh, I see,” said Bracy, smiling, and with the careworn look seeming to die out of his thin face. “Well, I think we have done our share.”
“Did you hear the firing last night?”
“I? No. Was there an attack?”
“A big un, sir; but the enemy was driven back everywhere, and left a lot of dead behind. I never see such fellows as these little Ghoorkha chaps is to fight.”
“If they can only cut their way through to the fort, Gedge, there will be nothing then to fear, for Colonel Graves will hold the place, against any number that can be brought against it.”
“And they will, sir,” cried Gedge proudly; “nothing can stop ’em. They’ve got so much dash and go in ’em. There’s going to be a big fight to-day, for the hills seem dotted with white-coats as far as you can see; and in an hour’s time I hear we’re to advance, so as to get the job done before it’s dark.”
Gedge’s news was correct: and in an hour the column was in motion, the order coming to advance in skirmishing order, with ample supports, and no following up of the enemy was to be attempted, the sole object, being to reach the fort before night, and trust to the future for giving adequate punishment for all that had been done.
The orders of the officers were splendidly carried out, and the gallant regiment advanced along the right bank of the river as fast as the front was cleared, but at a severe cost, for the hills and patches of forest and rock swarmed with the enemy, and but for the abundance of cover the attempt must have failed. But by a series of rushes and their deadly fire the brave little fellows won their way on till well into the afternoon, when farther progress seemed impossible, the enemy’s leader holding a patch of cedar forest most determinedly with a dense body of men. All this Bracy knew, for Gedge, in spite of his wound, was active enough, and kept his officer well furnished with accounts of their progress; but his face looked grave as, in obedience to Bracy’s question, he told him all.