第48章

Confident that the weighty blows and thrusts of the cavalry would beat off the enemy and prevent them from forcing their way in with them, the garrison opened the gate at the critical moment, and, together with his regiment, Heideck and his faithful companion managed to enter the city.The lancers made their way into the citadel, and Heideck and Morar Gopal, who had followed him like his shadow, turned their steps towards the Charing Cross Hotel.It was, however, far from easy to get there; for the streets were packed with an impenetrable mob of howling and gesticulating natives, who were manifestly in the greatest state of excitement.

The news that the English had lost the battle had long since reached the city, and the apprehensions which had long been entertained that such tidings could not fail to have a disastrously disquieting effect upon the Indian population, were only too soon seen to be justified.In all the brown faces which he saw directed towards him Heideck clearly read detestation and menace.They naturally regarded him as an Englishman, and it was only his decided manner and the naked sword in his hand that prevented the rabble from venting in a personal attack their rage against one of the hated race of their oppressors.

The door of the hotel was closed, probably because an attack was feared on the part of the natives; but as soon as a white man, who was at once regarded as an English officer, demanded admittance, it was opened.Heideck found most of the officers' wives and children, who were living in the hotel, assembled in the hall and the dining-room which led from it.The foreboding of a terrible disaster and the fear of coming events, which was perpetually increased by the noise in the streets, did not allow the poor creatures to rest longer in their rooms.Mrs.Baird and Edith Irwin were not, however, among those who thronged round Heideck and, in a hundred confused questions, hoped to obtain from the dust-begrimed man, who had evidently come from the battlefield, news as to how matters stood.Heideck said nothing more than that the army was retreating, bravely fighting the while.It would have been useless cruelty to increase the terror and despair of these unhappy creatures by a detailed account of the whole truth.He had almost to tear himself away by force from this close knot of inquirers, in order to go up to Mrs.Baird's room.It was the first joyous feeling that he had experienced throughout this disastrous day, when in the friendly "Come in," in answer to his knock, he recognised Edith Irwin's voice.The fear that something might have happened to her during his absence had unceasingly tortured him during the last few hours, and for a moment he forgot all the terrors that surrounded her in the rapture which, as he entered, her incomparable beauty awoke in him.

She had risen from the sofa in the middle of the room and stood with a serious, but perfectly composed face, and with bright eyes, which appeared prepared for even the extremest danger.Mrs.Baird was, with her two little girls, in a corner on her knees.So completely was she absorbed in her religious devotions that she had not heard Heideck's entrance into the room.It was only when Edith exclaimed, "Here is Mr.Heideck, dear friend; I knew he would come," that she sprang up in great excitement.

"Thank God! You have come from my husband? How have you left him?

Is he alive?"

"I left the Colonel, as he was defending himself at the head of his brave troops against the enemy.He bade me give you his love." He had endeavoured to give a firm tone to his voice.But the sharp feminine instinct of the unhappy woman guessed what was behind his words, intended to give comfort.

"Why don't you tell me the truth? My husband is dead!""He was wounded, but you need not give up the hope of seeing him again alive.""If he is wounded, I will go to him.You will conduct me, Mr.

Heideck! There must be a possibility of getting to him.""I earnestly beseech you, my dear Mrs.Baird, to compose yourself.

It is quite natural that your heart should draw you to your husband's side; but it is quite impossible for you to carry out your intention.The night is drawing on, and even if it were broad daylight nobody would be able to get through the confusion of the retiring army to the place where your husband must be sought.""The battle is then lost? Our army is in full retreat?""The treachery of the Indian troops is to blame for this disaster.

Your countrymen, Mrs.Baird, have fought like heroes, and as a lost battle does not yet mean a lost campaign, they will perhaps soon retrieve to-day's disaster.""But what is to become of us? The wounded will be brought in here, won't they? Therefore I shall not think of leaving before I see my husband again."Her determination to remain in the panic-stricken city would certainly have been impossible to shake by any art of persuasion, but Heideck did not dream of attempting to dissuade Mrs.Baird from her resolve.It was his firm conviction that the flight to Amritsar, which the Colonel had advised in case of a defeat, was, under the present circumstances, quite impracticable.As a matter of fact, there was scarcely anything else possible but to remain in the hotel and patiently await the development of events.