bcornwell.sharpstiger-第36部分

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t　they　established　a　picquet　line　facing　an　earth…banked　aqueduct　that　wended　its　way　through　the　fields　about　a　mile　west　of　the　city　and　there　they　posted　some　field　artillery　and　infantry　to　cover　the　land　across　which　they　would　dig　their　approach　ditches。　The　sooner　those　ditches　were　begun　the　sooner　the　breaching　batteries　could　be　built；　but　to　the　south　of　that　chosen　ground　the　steeply　banked　aqueduct　made　a　deep　loop　that　penetrated　a　half…mile　westwards　and　the　inside　of　that　bend　was　filled　by　a　tope；　a　thick　wood；　and　from　its　leafy　cover　the　Tippoo's　men　kept　up　a　galling　musket　fire　on　the　British　picquet　line；　while　his　rocketmen　rained　an　erratic　but　troublesome　barrage　of　missiles　onto　the　forward　British　works。　One　lucky　rocket　streaked　a　thousand　yards　to　hit　an　ammunition　limber　and　the　resultant　explosion　caused　a　cheer　to　sound　from　the　distant　walls　of　the　city。
　General　Harris　endured　the　rocket　bombardment　for　two　days；　then　decided　it　was　time　to　capture　the　whole　length　of　the　aqueduct　and　clear　the　tope。　Orders　were　written　and　trickled　down　from　general　to　colonel　to　captains；　and　the　captains　sought　out　their　sergeants。　'Get　the　men　ready；　Sergeant；'　Morris　told　Hakeswill。
　Hakeswill　was　sitting　in　his　own　tent；　a　luxury　he　alone　enjoyed　among　the　33rd's　sergeants。　The　tent　had　belongedto　Captain　Hughes　and　should　have　been　auctioned　with　the　rest　of　the　Captain's　belongings　after　Hughes　died　of　the　fever；　but　Hakeswill　had　simply　claimed　the　tent　and　no　one　had　liked　to　cross　him。　His　servant　Raziv；　a　miserable　half…witted　creature　from　Calcutta；　was　polishing　Hakeswill's　boots　so　the　Sergeant　had　to　e　bare…footed　from　his　tent　to　face　Morris。　'Ready；　sir？'　he　said。　'They　are　ready；　sir。'　He　stared　suspiciously　about　the　Light　pany's　lines。　'Better　be　ready；　sir；　or　we'll　have　the　skin　off　the　lot　of　them。'　His　face　jerked。
　'Sixty　rounds　of　ammunition；'　Morris　said。
　'Always　carry　it；　sir！　Regulations；　sir！'
　Morris　had　drunk　the　best　part　of　three　bottles　of　wine　at　luncheon　and　was　in　no　mood　to　deal　with　Hakeswill's　equivocations。　He　swore　at　the　Sergeant；　then　pointed　south　to　where　another　rocket　was　smoking　up　from　the　tope。　'Tonight；　you　idiot；　we're　cleaning　those　bastards　out　of　those　trees。'
　'Us；　sir？'　Hakeswill　was　alarmed　at　the　prospect。　'Just　us；　sir？'
　'The　whole　battalion。　Night　attack。　Inspection　at　sundown。　Any　man　who　looks　drunk　gets　flogged。'
　Officers　excepted；　Hakeswill　thought；　then　quivered　as　he　offered　Morris　a　cracking　salute。　'Sir！　Inspection　at　sundown；　sir。　Permission　to　carry　on；　sir？'　He　did　not　wait　for　Morris's　permission；　but　turned　back　into　his　tent。　'Boots！　Give　'em　here！　e　on；　you　black　bastard！'　He　gave　Raziv　a　cuff　round　the　ear　and　snatched　his　half…cleaned　boots。　He　tugged　them　on；　then　dragged　Raziv　by　the　ear　to　where　the　halberd　was　planted　like　a　banner　in　front　of　the　tent。　'Sharpen！'　Hakeswill　bawled　in　the　unfortunate　boy's　bruised　ear。　'Sharpen！　Understand；　you　toad…witted　heathen？　I　want　it　sharp！'　Hakeswill　gave　the　boy　a　parting　slap　as　an　encouragement；　then　stumped　off　through　the　lines。　'On　your　bleeding　feet！'　he　shouted。　'Look　lively　now！　Time　to　earn　your　miser…able　pay。　Are　you　drunk；　Garrard？　If　you're　drunk；　boy；　I'll　have　your　bones　given　a　stroking。'
　The　battalion　paraded　at　dusk　and；　to　its　surprise；　found　itself　being　inspected　by　its　Colonel；　Arthur　Wellesley。　There　was　a　feeling　of　relief　in　the　ranks　when　Wellesley　appeared；　for　by　now　every　man　knew　that　they　were　due　for　a　fight　and　none　wished　to　go　into　battle　under　the　uncertain　leadership　of　Major　Shee　who　had　drunk　so　much　arrack　that　he　was　visibly　swaying　on　his　horse。　Wellesley　might　be　a　cold…hearted　bastard；　but　the　men　knew　he　was　a　careful　soldier　and　they　even　looked　cheerful　as　he　trotted　down　their　ranks　on　his　white　horse。　Each　man　had　to　demonstrate　possession　of　sixty　cartridges；　and　those　who　failed　had　their　names　taken　for　punishment。　Two　sepoy　battalions　from　the　East　India　pany's　forces　paraded　behind　the　33rd　and；　just　as　the　sun　disappeared　behind　them；　all　three　battalions　marched　south…eastwards　towards　the　aqueduct。　Their　colours　were　flying　and　Colonel　Wellesley　led　them　on　horseback。　Other　King's　battalions　marched　to　their　left；　going　to　attack　the　northern　stretch　of　the　aqueduct。
　'So　what　are　we　doing；　Lieutenant？'　Tom　Garrard　asked　the　newly　promoted　Lieutenant　Fitzgerald。
　'Silence　in　the　ranks！'　Hakeswill　bawled。
　'He　was　talking　to　me；　Sergeant；'　Fitzgerald　said；　'and　you　will　do　me　the　honour　of　not　interfering　in　my　private　conversations。'　Fitzgerald's　retort　improved　the　Irishman's　stock　with　the　pany　twentyfold。　He　was　popular　anyway；　for　he　was　a　cheerful　and　easy…going　young　man。
　Hakeswill　growled。　Fitzgerald　claimed　his　brother　was　the　Knight　of　Kerry；　whatever　the　holy　hell　that　was；　but　the　claim　did　not　impress　Sergeant　Obadiah　Hakeswill。　Proper　officers　left　discipline　to　sergeants；　they　did　not　curry　favour　with　the　men　by　telling　jokes　and　chatting　away　like　magpies。　It　was　also　plain　that　Brevet…Lieutenant　bloody　Fitzgerald　did　not　like　Sergeant　Hakeswill　for　he　took　every　chance　he　couldto　countermand　Hakeswill's　authority；　and　Hakeswill　was　determined　to　change　that。　The　Sergeant's　face　twitched。　There　was　nothing　he　could　do　at　this　moment；　but　Mister　Fitzgerald；　he　told　himself；　would　be　taught　his　lesson；　and　the　sooner　it　was　taught　the　better。
　'You　see　those　trees　ahead？'　Fitzgerald　explained　to　Garrard。　'We're　going　to　clear　the　Tippoo's　boys　out　of　them。'
　'How　many　of　the　bastards；　sir？'
　'Hundreds！'　Fitzgerald　answered　cheerfully。　'And　all　of　them　quaking　at　the　knees　to　think　that　the　Havercakes　are　ing　to　give　them　a　thrashing。'
　The　Tippoo's　boys　might　be　quaking；　but　they　could　clearly　see　the　three　battalions　approaching　and　their　rocketmen　sent　up　a　fiery　barrage　in　greeting。　The　missiles　climbed　through　the　darkening　sky；　their　exhaust　flames　unnaturally　bright　as　they　spewed　volcanoes　of　sparks　into　the　smoke　trails　that　mingled　as　the　rockets　reached　their　apogee　and　then　plunged　towards　the　British　and　Indian　infantry。　'No　breaking　ranks！'　an　officer　shouted；　and　the　three　battalions　marched　stolidly　on　as　the　opening　barrage　plunged　down　to　explode　all　around　them。　Some　jeers　greeted　the　barrage's　inaccuracy；　but　the　officers　and　sergeants　shouted　for　silence。　More　rockets　climbed　and　fell。　Most　screamed　erratically　off　course；　but　a　few　came　close　enough　to　make　men　duck；　and　one　exploded　just　a　few　feet　from　the　33rd's　Light　pany　so　that　the　sharp…edged　scraps　of　its　shattered　tin　nose　cone　whistled　about　their　ears。　Men　laughed　at　their　narrow　escape；　then　someone　saw　that　Lieutenant　Fitzgerald　was　staggering。　'Sir！'
　'It's　nothing；　boys；　nothing；'　Fitzgerald　called。　A　scrap　of　the　rocket's　cylinder　had　torn　open　his　left　arm；　and　there　was　a　gash　on　the　back　of　his　head　that　was　dripping　blood　from　the　ends　of　his　hair；　but　he　shook　off　any　help。　'Takes　more　than　a　black　man's　rocket　to　knock　down　an　Irishman；'　he　said　happily。　'Ain't　that　right；　O'Reilly？''It　is；　sir；'　the　Irish　Private　answered。
　'Got　skulls　like　bloody　buckets；　we　have；'　Fitzgerald　said；　and　crammed　his　tattered　shako　back　on　his　head。　His　left　arm　was　numb；　and　blood　had　soaked　his　sleeve　to　the　wrist；　but　he　was　determined　to　keep　going。　He　had　taken　worse　injuries　on　the　hunting　field　and　still　been　in　his　saddle　at　the　death　of　the　fox。
　Hakeswill's　resentment　of　Fitzgerald　seethed。　How　dare　a　mere　lieutenant　overrule　him？　A　bloody　child！　Not　nineteen　years　old　yet；　and　still　with　the　bog　water　wet　behind　his　ears。　Hakeswill　slashed　at　a　cactus　with　his　halberd；　and　the　savagery　of　the　gesture　dislodged　the　musket　that　was　slung　on　his　left　shoulder。　The　Sergeant　never　usually　carried　a　musket；　but　tonight　he　was　armed　with　the　halberd；　the　musket；　a　bayonet　and　a　brace　of　pistols。　Except　for　the　brief　fight　at　Malavelly　it　had　been　years　since　Hakeswill　had　been　in　a　battle　and　he　was　not　sure　he　wanted　to　fight　another　this　night；　but　if　he　did　then　he　would　make　damned　sure　that　he　carried　more　weapons　than　any　heathen　enemy　he　might　meet。
　The　sun　had　long　gone　by　the　time　Wellesley　halted　the　three　battalions；　though　a　lambent　light　still　suffused　the　western　sky　and；　under　its　pale　glow；　the　33rd　formed　line。　The　two　sepoy　battalions　waited　a　quarter　of　a　mile　behind　the　33rd。　The　rocket　trails　seemed　brighter　now　as　they　climbed　into　a　cloudless　twilight　sky　where　the　first　few　stars　pricked　the　dark。　The　missiles　hissed　as　they　streaked　overhead；　their　smoke　trails　made　lurid　by　the　spitting　flames。　Spent　rockets　lay　on　the　ground　with　small　pale　flames　flickering　feebly　from　their　exhausts。　The　weapons　were　spectacular；　but　so　inaccurate　that　even　the　inexperienced　33rd　no　longer　feared　them；　but　their　relief　was　tempered　by　a　sudden　display　of　bright　sparks　at　the　lip　of　the　aqueduct's　embankment。　The　sparks　were　instantly　extinguished　by　a　cloud　of　powder　smoke；　and　the　sound　of　musketry　followed　a　few　secondslater；　but　the　range　was　too　great　and　the　balls　spent　themselves　harmlessly。
　Wellesley　galloped　his　horse　to　Major　Shee's　side；　spoke　briefly；　then　spurred　on。　'Flank　panies！'　the　Colonel　shouted。　'Advance　in　line！'
　'That's　us；　boys；'　Fitzgerald　said　and　drew　his　sabre。　His　left　arm　was　throbbing　now；　but　he　did　not　need　it　to　fight　with　a　blade。　He　would　keep　going。
　The　Grenadier　and　Light　panies　advanced　from　the　two　flanks　of　the　battalion。　Wellesley　halted　them；　formed　them　into　a　line　of　two　ranks　and　ordered　them　to　load　their　muskets。　Ramrods　rattled　into　barrels。　'Fix　bayonets！'　the　Colonel　called　and　the　men　drew　out　their　seventeen…inch　blades　and　slotted　them　onto　the　musket　muzzles。　It　was　full　night　now；　but　the　heat　was　still　like　a　wet　blanket。　The　sound　of　slaps　echoed　through　the　ranks　as　men　swatted　at　mosquitoes。　The　Colonel　curbed　his　white　horse　at　the　front　of　the　two　ranks。　'We're　going　to　chase　the　enemy　off　the　embankment；'　he　said　in　his　cold；　precise　voice；　'and　once　we've　cleared　them　away　Major　Shee　will　bring　on　the　rest　of　the　battalion　to　drive　the　enemy　out　of　the　trees　altogedier。　Captain　West？'
　'Sir！'　Francis　West；　the　mander　of