Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea Page 3

  CHAPTER III.

  THE ESCAPE

  Shortly after the meal was over, the brigands rose. The boys wereagain bound, and were laid down on the ground near the fire. One ofthe brigands then took his seat beside them, and the others, rollingthemselves in their cloaks, were soon asleep at the fire. The boys,tired as they were by the long and fatiguing day through which theyhad passed, were some time getting off to sleep. Indeed, with theirarms bound by their side, the only way of doing so was by lying flatupon their backs.

  With the early dawn they were awake.

  "I expect they are getting up steam on board the 'Falcon,'" Hawtrysaid, "and no doubt there is a nice row over our being missing. I'dgive a good sum, if I had it to give, to be back on her decks again."

  The band was soon astir, but for some hours nothing was done. Theywere evidently waiting for the arrival of some one, as one or other ofthe bandits went frequently to the edge of the plateau and lookeddown.

  At last one of them announced to his comrades that the person expectedwas in sight, and shortly afterwards the muleteer of the previous dayappeared. Over his shoulder hung a heavy skin of wine. In his hand hecarried a large basket, in which were several loaves of coarse bread.His arrival was hailed with a shout. A fresh supply of meat had beenplaced on the fire immediately his coming was reported, and in a shorttime the meal was prepared, the meat being washed down by horns of therough wine of the country.

  The lads had been again unbound when the band awoke, and were, asbefore, invited to share the meal. They continued to maintain theirforlorn and downcast attitude. The rascally guide of the day beforegave the company an account of the proceedings, and roars of laughterwere excited by his tragic imitation of the defiant way in which theboys had drawn their dirks, a proceeding which was rendered the moreludicrous from its contrast with their present forlorn attitude.

  "But mind," he continued, "they can run like hares. Going up a hill,no doubt, any of you would soon overtake them, but along a straightroad, I would back them against the best of us."

  "There is no fear of their trying that," the chief said, pointing tothe rifles. "They would soon be stopped if they tried it on. However,they are not likely to make any such mad attempt. They are, after all,only young boys, and their spirit has speedily evaporated."

  However, as a measure of precaution, he ordered that the man who wasacting as sentry over the boys should always keep his rifle in hand.

  The meal over, the muleteer produced from his pocket somewriting-paper and a pencil. The chief then wrote on a piece of paperthe figures 5000, followed by the word "dollars." Then he said to theboys, "Capitan," giving them a pencil and a sheet of note-paper. Hepointed to the figures he had written down, then to the sun, markedwith his hand its course twice through the sky, and then drew itsignificantly across his throat.

  "Well," Hawtry said, "that's clear enough. We are to write to thecaptain to say that unless 5000 dollars are paid in two days we are tohave our throats cut. Well, I may as well write,--

  "Dear Captain Stuart,--We are in an awful mess. We took some mules inthe Spanish lines for a ride yesterday, and the fellow who owned themsteered us into the middle of a lot of brigands. They were too strongfor us to show fight, and here we are. As far as we can make out, theysay that, unless 5000 dollars are paid in two days, we are to have ourthroats cut. We don't expect that you will get this note, as by thistime the 'Falcon' was to have sailed. In that case we suppose it willbe all up with us. We intend to try to slip our anchors, and make abolt for it. We are awfully sorry that we have got into this scrape."

  To this epistle the boys both signed their names, and as the muleteerhad not provided himself with envelopes, the letter was roughly foldedand directed,--

  "Captain Stuart, H.M.S. 'Falcon.'"

  Another letter, embodying the same in the form of a demand, was thenwritten, after much consultation, by the brigands, with postscriptstating that if the bearer were in any way molested, the prisonerswould at once be put to death. The youngest of the party, a peasant ofsome twenty years old, was then selected, and to him the letters weregiven, with full instructions as to his conduct.

  During the next two days, the boys maintained their appearance ofextreme despondency. They lay on the ground with their faces buried intheir arms, and at times strolled listlessly about. They could seethat this conduct had lulled to rest any suspicion of their captorsthat they might attempt an escape. The sentry no longer kept in theirimmediate vicinity, and although he retained his gun in his hand, didso as a mere form. The others went about their business, several ofthem absenting themselves for hours together; and at one time butthree men, including the guard, remained at the encampment.

  The boys kept every faculty on the alert, and were ready to seize thefirst opportunity, however slight, which might offer itself. Theyagreed, that however much their guard might be reduced, it would beunsafe to make the attempt in the daytime, as they were whollyignorant of the way down to the sea, and the shouts of their pursuerswould be sure to attract the attention of any of the party who mighthave gone in that direction.

  As to the two days assigned for payment, they did not anticipate thatthe crisis would arrive at the end of that time, as they felt surethat the "Falcon" would have sailed before the messenger could havearrived, in which case fresh negotiations would probably be set onfoot.

  So it proved. On the evening of the day after his departure, themessenger returned, and the news that he brought was greeted with anoutburst of ejaculations of anger and disappointment on the part ofthe brigands. They crowded round the boys, shook their fists at them,cuffed and kicked them. When they had somewhat recovered theirequanimity, they made signs that the ship had departed.

  By using the word "Governor," they made the boys understand that afresh letter must be written to that officer.

  This was done at once, and another of the party started immediatelywith it.

  Late on into the night the boys talked in low voices as to their bestplan of attempting an escape. Although free in the daytime, they weretightly bound at night, and the guards, who were changed every twohours, never for a moment relaxed their vigilance. Finally, theyconcluded that their only chance was to endeavor to slip away on thefollowing evening, just as it became dusk, when all the partygenerally reassembled, and were busy cooking their food, or relatingwhat had happened during the day.

  Immediately in front of the encampment the slope was extremely steep.The brigands, in going or coming, always turned to the right or left,and kept along the brow for some distance to points where, as the boyssupposed, the slope became more gradual, and paths existed by whichthey could make their way down to the shore.

  At one time the boys thought of rolling down the steep slope, andtaking their chance, but this they agreed would be a last resource, asit was probable that the slope ended in an absolute precipice.

  "I have an idea," Jack said suddenly in the middle of the day.

  "What is it, Jack?"

  "You see that heap of rugs in which they wrap themselves when they goto sleep? Now I vote that when it gets dusk, we stand for some time atthe edge, looking down into the sea; then, when we see our guardchatting with one of the men who have just arrived, and the othersbusy round the fire, we will quietly move back towards it. If ourguard notices us at all, he won't pay any special attention, as we aregoing that way. We will steal up to the rear of the blankets, within afew feet of where they are standing, and will crawl quietly underthem. When we are missed, they are sure to suppose that we have eithermade down the slope, or along the brow, and will at once set off inpursuit. The betting is they'll all go, but if only one or two areleft, we may take them by surprise. At any rate it seems our bestchance."

  Hawtry agreed, and it was decided that they should attempt to put theplan into execution that evening.

  Late in the afternoon, the brigands, as usual, came dropping in, intwos and threes. One brought in a kid, and two others exhibited totheir admiring friends a purse containing some
ten or twelve dollarsin silver. They related, amid the uproarious laughter of theircomrades, the manner in which they had threatened the worthy farmer,its late possessor, into surrendering the proceeds of his day'smarketing without resistance. It was already dusk. Jack and Hawtry hada minute before been standing near the edge of the slope. The guardwas chatting with the last comer, and keeping one ear open to thenarrative told by the fire.

  Suddenly he glanced round, and perceived that the figures he had, ashe believed, scarcely taken his eye off were missing.

  "Madre de Dios!" he exclaimed. "Where are the prisoners?"

  At his exclamation, all round the fire started into activity. A hastyglance round the encampment showed that their captives were not withinits circle. With an exclamation of fury, the captain seized his gun,and with the butt-end struck the sentry to the ground. Then in furioustones he ordered every man off in instant pursuit. Snatching up theirarms, some hurried off one way, some another, shouting threats ofvengeance as they went.

  As their voices receded, there was a slight movement among the rugs,and the boys' heads peered out from below their hiding-place. Theencampment was deserted, save that on the ground lay the form of theprostrate sentinel, while the captain stood, gun in hand, on the edgeof the slope, peering down into the gathering darkness.

  The boys rose stealthily to their feet, and keeping along by the sideof the hill, so as to be out of the direct line of sight should thebrigand turn towards the fire, they noiselessly approached him.

  He did not look round until they were within five paces, and it wasthen too late. He turned and threw up his gun, but before he couldlevel it, they both threw themselves upon him.

  Taken wholly by surprise, he staggered backwards. He was but a pacefrom the edge of the steep declivity, and in another moment he fellbackward, his gun exploding in the air as he went. The boys heard hisbody as it rolled and crashed through the slight brushwood on theslope. Fainter and fainter became the sound, and then it suddenlyceased.

  As long as it continued the boys stood motionless, and were turning togo, when there was the crack of a rifle, and a ball whizzed betweenthem. Leaping round, they saw the guard, whom they had supposed to beinsensible, had risen to his feet. Throwing down the rifle which hehad just discharged, and drawing his long knife, he rushed at them.

  "Dodge him, Hawtry, dodge him. Get hold of the rifle. I will get astick from the fire."

  The boys separated, one going each way. The Spaniard, still bewilderedby the stunning blow he had received, hesitated a moment, and thenrushed at Jack, who darted round the fire. Hawtry seized the rifle,and with the butt-end attacked the Spaniard, who turned to defendhimself. Jack snatched up a heavy brand from the fire, and comingbehind the Spaniard, who was waiting, knife in hand, for anopportunity to rush in between the sweeping blows which Hawtry wasdealing at him with the butt-end of the rifle, smote him with all hisforce across the side of the head.

  With a scream of agony the Spaniard fell prostrate and Jack, snatchingup his knife, while Hawtry still retained the rifle, they darted offat full speed along the brow.

  Presently they heard footsteps of men hastily returning, and drawingaside, threw themselves down among some low bushes. The men weretalking eagerly. They had heard the two reports of the guns, and hadno doubt that the captain had discovered the fugitives.

  When the Spaniards had passed, the boys rose to their feet, andcontinued their flight at the top of their speed. The men had comefrom below, and the boys soon discovered traces of a path descendingthe slope. This they at once took, proceeding with caution now, forthe descent was an extremely steep one, and the path little more thana goat track. Fortunately the moon was shining brightly, and by itslight they were enabled to follow its windings.

  After half an hour's descent, they found themselves in a rough road,along the face of the hill. This they doubted not was the road fromone of the coast villages into the interior. They now went morecautiously, for the road was extremely rough, with large stones lyinghere and there upon it, and a heavy fall or a sprained ankle would bedisastrous. They had no fear of pursuit. Once or twice they fanciedthat they heard shouts far above them, but they considered it likelythat the band would be too far paralyzed by the loss of their captainto again take up the pursuit.

  Three hours later, they stood by the sea shore, near a tiny fishingvillage, composed of three or four houses only. They held aconsultation as to whether it would be better to rouse the villagersand explain the circumstances, but they had become suspicious ofSpaniards, and thought it likely that there would be a closerelationship between the people here and the band in theirneighborhood. No lights were visible in the village, and it wasprobable that the inhabitants were already in bed.

  They sat down for another hour to avoid the chance of their beingsurprised by any straggler. Then, proceeding to the shore, theylaunched a small boat. Hawtry stepped the mast and hoisted the sail,and they were soon making their way off the land. The wind was light,and their progress slow. For a time they kept straight out to sea, andthen turned the boat's head towards Gibraltar.

  The wind presently died quite away, and, lowering the sails, they gotout the oars, and set to work. Beyond trying once or twice upon theStour, Jack had had no experience in rowing, and his clumsinessexcited considerable indignation on the part of Hawtry. The boat washeavy, and their progress, in consequence, very slow. They calculatedthat they must have twenty-five miles to row, as the point at whichthey were captured was, Hawtry had judged by the sound of the gun,fully fifteen miles distant from it, and they had walked another tenbefore arriving at the brigands' encampment.

  All night they rowed, until the moon sank, this being, as they wereaware, about three o'clock. They then lay down in the boat for a nap,and when they awoke it was daylight. They found that the wind had gotup, and was blowing steadily off shore, and that they were now distantsome five miles from land, the Rock of Gibraltar rising steeply fromthe sea some ten miles from them in a straight line.

  Hawtry at once set the sail again, and the boat was soon slipping fastthrough the water.

  "What a nuisance!" Hawtry said. "The wind is hauling farther round,and we shall not make into the Rock this tack. This tub of a boatmakes no end of leeway. We shall have to make right across towards theAfrican shore, and then tack back again."

  They were, as Hawtry anticipated, fully three miles to leeward ofEuropa Point, as they passed the Rock. The wind was now blowingstrongly from the west.

  "Upon my word," Hawtry said, "I question whether we shall ever be ableto make the Rock in this beast of a boat. She won't sail anywhere nearthe wind, and makes awful leeway. Hurrah! there's a big steamer comingout. We will hail her."

  Hawtry now steered the boat till he had placed her as near as possiblein the line which the steamer was pursuing, and then lowered the sail,and waited for her to come up.

  When she came within a quarter of a mile the sail was again hoisted,and Hawtry so steered the boat that for a moment Jack thought he wouldput her under the bows of the steamer. This, however, had the effectwhich Hawtry had intended, of drawing attention to them.

  The steamer passed within thirty feet of them. Hawtry lowered thesail, and standing up, shouted,--

  "Throw us a rope!"

  A number of persons had been attracted to the side, and one of theofficers, seeing two young midshipmen in the boat, at once threw arope to them, while the officer on duty ordered the engines to bestopped. In another two minutes the boat was hauled alongside. The twolads scrambled up the rope, the boat was cast adrift, and the steamerwas again ploughing her way eastward.

  The boys found that they were on board the transport "Ripon," havingthe Coldstream Guards on board, the first detachment of the army onits way east.

  Considerable excitement was caused by the sudden and unexpectedboarding of the ship by the two young officers, and great curiositywas expressed as to how they had got into such a position. As Hawtrysaid, however, that they had been twenty-four hours without food, t
heywere at once taken to the saloon, where breakfast was on the point ofbeing served. No questions were put to them until they had satisfiedtheir hunger; then they told the story of their adventures, whichcaused quite an excitement among the officers.

  The "Ripon" had sailed from Southampton docks on the 23d of February,in company with the "Manilla" and "Orinoco."

  The next four days passed pleasantly, the boys being made a good dealof by the officers of the Coldstream Guards, but they were not sorrywhen, on Saturday evening, the lights of Malta were seen, and soonafter midnight they dropped anchor in Valetta Harbor. The next morningthey were delighted at seeing the "Falcon" lying a few cables' lengthdistant, and, bidding good-bye to their new friends, they hailed ashore boat, and were soon alongside the "Falcon." The first lieutenantwas on deck.

  "Young gentlemen," he said sternly, "you have committed a very seriousoffence, and are liable to be tried by court-martial for havingdeserted your ship. I expected better things of you both. Go belowimmediately, and consider yourselves under arrest. I shall report yourcoming on board to the captain."

  The boys saluted without a word, and went below to the midshipmen'sberth where the tale of their adventures was soon related to theircomrades, who were at first inclined to believe that the whole storywas an invention got up to screen themselves for breaking leave.However, they soon saw that the boys were in earnest, and the truth ofthe story as to their being picked up at sea by the "Ripon" could, ofcourse, at once be tested.

  Presently they were summoned to the captain's cabin, and there Hawtryagain recited the story.

  The captain told them that they had erred greatly in going away insuch a reckless manner, without taking proper precautions to securetheir return before gun-fire. But he said they had already beenpunished so severely for their thoughtlessness that he should overlookthe offence, and that he complimented them on the courage and coolnessthey had displayed in extricating themselves from the dangerousposition into which they had fallen.

  He then invited them to breakfast, at which meal the first lieutenantwas also present, and here they gave much fuller details of theirescape than Hawtry had done in his first narration of it.

  At ten o'clock, when the boys were below, they heard a loud cheering,and found that the "Orinoco," with the Grenadiers, had just come intoharbor, and were being cheered by their comrades on board the "Ripon"and by the blue jackets of the men-of-war.

  All through the day the harbor was alive with boats. Before nightfallthe Coldstreams were all ashore, and by Monday evening the last of theGrenadiers had also disembarked.