bcornwell.sharpstiger-第44部分

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s　new　inner　wall；　but　opposite　Sharpe；　and　close　to　where　he　had　seen　the　powder…crammed　tunnel；　those　older　ramparts　had　crumbled　at　their　top。　That　decay　would　surely　serve　as　a　beacon　to　the　British；　enticing　them　to　aim　their　guns　at　that　stretch　of　decayed　wall　in　the　certainty　that　they　could　soon　finish　its　destruction　with　their　bombardment。　The　big　eighteen…　and　twenty…four…pounder　guns　would　hammer　away　until　the　older　outer　wall　collapsed　to　leave　a　ramp…like　breach。　The　British；　staring　across　the　river　at　that　breach；　would　doubtless　see　the　new　inner　wall；　but　they　might　well　think　it　was　nothing　but　the　Hank　of　a　warehouse　or　a　temple。　And　so　the　assault　would　e　storming　across　the　shallow　river　and　up　the　ramp　of　the　breach　in　the　outer　wall；　and　then　spill　down　into　the　space　between　the　two　walls。　More　and　more　men　would　e；　those　behind　forcing　the　ones　in　front　ever　onward；　and　slowly　the　crush　between　the　walls　would　grow。　The　guns　and　rockets　on　the　inner　wall　would　rain　down　death；　but　after　a　while；　when　the　attackers　filled　the　space　between　the　walls；　the　huge　charge　of　powder；　stored　in　what　remained　of　the　old　elaborate　gateway；　would　be　detonated。　And　that　explosion；　its　force　funnelled　by　the　old　and　new　walls；　would　tear　into　the　narrow　gap　and　flood　the　ditch　between　the　walls　with　blood。　Sharpe　looked　to　his　left　and　saw　that　the　tunnel　was　built　beneath　a　squat　gate　tower。　That　ancient　tower　would　surely　collapse；　spillingstones　onto　any　troops　who　might　survive　the　terrible　blast。　'Bloody　hell；'　Sharpe　said；　and　then　he　slipped　back　down　the　inner　wall's　ramp　and　went　to　find　Lawford。　If　Mary　did　not　get　the　news　out；　he　thought；　there　would　be　slaughter　when　the　assault　came。　It　would　be　pure　slaughter；　and　it　seemed　that　only　Mary；　who　was　now　in　love　with　the　enemy；　could　prevent　it。
　
　CHAPTER　8
　
　The　siege　works　advanced　steadily；　hampered　only　by　the　Tippoo's　guns　and　by　a　shortage　of　the　heavy　timber　needed　to　shore　up　the　trenches　and　construct　the　batteries　where　the　big　siege　guns　would　be　emplaced。　Colonel　Gent；　an　engineer　of　the　East　India　pany；　supervised　the　work；　and　he　agreed　whole…heartedly　with　General　Harris　that　the　decayed　stretch　of　the　city's　western　walls　was　the　obvious　and　opportune　target。　Then；　just　days　after　the　construction　of　the　siege　works　had　begun；　a　local　farmer　revealed　the　existence　of　a　new　second　wall　behind　the　first。　The　man　insisted　the　new　wall　was　unfinished；　but　Harris　was　worried　enough　by　the　farmer's　news　to　call　his　deputies　to　his　tent　where　Colonel　Gent　delivered　the　gloomy　intelligence　about　the　new　inner　ramparts。　'The　fellow　says　his　sons　were　taken　away　to　help　build　the　walls；'　the　engineer　reported；　'and　he　seems　to　be　telling　the　truth。'
　Baird　broke　the　brief　silence　that　followed　Gent's　words。　'They　can't　surely　garrison　both　walls；'　the　Scotsman　insisted。
　'The　Tippoo　has　no　shortage　of　men；'　Wellesley　pointed　out。　'Thirty　or　forty　thousand；　we　hear。　More　than　enough　to　defend　both　walls；　I　should　think。'
　Baird　ignored　the　young　Colonel；　while　Harris；　unfortably　aware　of　the　bad　feeling　between　his　two　deputies；　stared　fixedly　at　his　map　of　the　city　in　the　hope　that　some　new　inspiration　would　strike。　Colonel　Gent　sat　beside　Harris。　The　engineer　unfolded　a　pair　of　wire…framed　spectacles　andhooked　them　over　his　ears　as　he　peered　down　at　the　map。
　Harris　sighed。　'I　still　think　it　has　to　be　the　west；'　he　said；　'despite　this　new　wall。'
　'The　north？'　Wellesley　asked。
　'According　to　our　farmer　fellow；'　Gent　answered；　'the　new　inner　wall　goes　all　the　way　round　the　north。'　He　picked　up　a　pencil　and　sketched　the　line　of　the　new　inner　wall　on　the　map　to　show　that　wherever　the　river　flowed　close　to　the　city　there　was　now　a　double　rampart。　'And　the　west　is　infinitely　preferable　to　the　north；'　Gent　added。　〃The　South　Cauvery's　shallow；　while　the　main　river　can　still　be　treacherous　at　this　time　of　year。　If　our　fellows　have　to　wade　through　the　Cauvery；　let　them　do　it　here。'　He　tapped　the　city's　western　approach。　'Of　course；'　he　added　optimistically；　'maybe　that　fellow　was　right；　and　maybe　that　inner　wall　ain't　finished。'
　Harris　wished　to　God　that　McCandless　was　still　with　the　army。　That　subtle　Scotsman　would　have　despatched　a　dozen　disguised　sepoys　and　discovered　within　hours　the　exact　state　of　the　new　inner　wall；　but　McCandless　was　lost　and　so；　Harris　suspected；　were　the　two　men　sent　to　rescue　him。
　'We　could　cross　the　Arrakerry　Ford；'　Baird　suggested；　'then　blast　our　way　in　from　the　east　like　Cornwallis　did。'
　Harris　lifted　the　hem　of　his　wig　and　scratched　at　his　old　scalp　wound。　'We　discussed　all　this　before；'　he　said　wearily。　He　offered　Baird　a　wan　smile　to　take　the　sting　from　his　mild　reproof；　then　explained　his　reasons　for　not　assaulting　from　the　east。　'First　we　have　to　force　the　crossing；　and　the　enemy　has　the　river　banks　entrenched。　Then　we　must　get　through　the　new　wall　around　their　encampment'　…　he　touched　the　map；　showing　where　the　Tippoo　had　constructed　a　stout　mud　wall；　well　served　with　guns；　that　surrounded　the　encampment　which　lay　outside　the　city's　southern　and　eastern　walls　…　'and　after　that　we　have　to　lay　siege　to　the　city　proper；　and　we　know　that　both　the　east　and　south　ramparts　already　have　inner　walls。　And　to　breach　those　walls　every　round　shotand　pound　of　powder　will　have　to　be　carried　across　the　river。'
　'And　one　good　rainfall　will　make　the　ford　impassable；'　Gent　put　in　gloomily；　'not　to　mention　bringing　those　damned　crocodiles　back。'　He　shook　his　head。　'I　wouldn't　want　to　be　carrying　three　tons　of　supplies　a　day　across　a　half…flooded　river　full　of　hungry　teeth。'
　'So　wherever　we　attack；'　Wellesley　asked；　'we　have　to　pierce　two　walls？'
　'That's　what　the　man　said；'　Baird　growled。
　'This　new　inner　wall；'　Wellesley　asked　Gent；　ignoring　Baird；　'what　do　we　know　of　it？'
　'Mud；'　Gent　said；　'red　mud　bricks。　Just　like　Devon　mud。'
　'Mud　will　crumble；'　Wellesley　pointed　out。
　'If　it's　dry；　it　will；'　Gent　agreed；　'but　the　core　of　the　wall　won't　be　dry。　Thoroughly　good　stuff；　mud。　Soaks　up　the　cannon　fire。　I've　seen　twenty…four…pounder　shots　bounce　off　mud　like　currants　off　a　suet　pudding。　Give　me　a　good　stone　wall　to　break　down　any　day。　Break　its　crust　and　the　guns　turn　the　rubble　core　into　a　staircase。　But　not　mud。'　Gent　stared　at　the　map；　picking　his　teeth　with　the　sharpened　nib　of　a　quill。　'Not　mud；'　he　added　in　a　gloomy　undertone。
　'But　it　will　yield？'　Harris　asked　anxiously。
　'Oh；　it'll　yield；　sir；　it'll　yield；　I　can　warrant　you　that；　but　how　much　time　do　we　have　to　persuade　it　to　yield？'　The　engineer　peered　over　his　spectacles　at　the　bewigged　General。　〃The　monsoon　ain't　so　far　off；　and　once　the　rains　begin　we　might　as　well　go　home　for　all　the　good　we'll　ever　do。　You　want　a　path　through　both　walls？　It'll　take　two　weeks　more；　and　even　then　the　inner　breach　will　be　perilously　narrow。　Perilously　narrow！　Can't　enfilade　it；　you　see；　and　the　breach　in　the　outer　wall　will　serve　as　a　glacis　to　protect　the　base　of　the　inner　wall。　Straight　on　fire；　sir；　and　all　aimed　a　deal　higher　than　any　respectable　gunner　would　want。　We　can　make　you　a　breach　of　sorts；　but　it'll　be　narrow　and　high；　andGod　only　knows　what'll　be　waiting　on　the　other　side。　Nothing　good；　I　dare　say。'
　'But　we　can　breach　this　outer　wall　quickly　enough？'　Harris　asked；　tapping　the　place　on　his　map。
　'Aye；　sir。　It's　mostly　mud　again；　but　it's　older　so　the　centre　will　be　drier。　Once　we　break　through　the　crust　the　thing　should　fall　apart　in　hours。'
　Harris　stared　down　at　the　map；　unconsciously　scratching　beneath　his　wig。　'Ladders；'　he　said　after　a　long　pause。
　Baird　looked　alarmed。　'You're　not　thinking　of　an　escalade；　God　save　us？'
　'We've　no　timber！'　Gent　protested。
　〃Bamboo　scaling　ladders；'　Harris　said；　'just　a　few。'　He　smiled　as　he　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　'Make　me　a　breach；　Colonel　Gent；　and　forget　the　inner　wall。　We'll　assault　the　breach；　but　we　won't　go　through　it。　Instead　we'll　attack　the　shoulders　of　the　breach。　We'll　use　ladders　to　climb　off　the　breach　onto　the　walls；　then　attack　round　the　ramparts。　Once　those　outer　walls　are　ours；　the　beggars　will　have　to　surrender。'
　There　was　silence　in　the　tent　as　the　diree　officers　considered　Harris's　suggestion。　Colonel　Gent　tried　to　clean　his　spectacle　lenses　with　a　corner　of　his　sash。　'You'd　better　pray　our　fellows　get　up　on　the　walls　damned　fast；　sir。'　Gent　broke　the　silence。　〃You'll　be　sending　whole　battalions　across　the　river；　General；　and　the　lads　behind　will　be　pushing　the　fellows　in　front；　and　if　there's　any　delay　they'll　spill　into　the　space　between　the　walls　like　water　seeking　its　level。　And　God　knows　what's　in　between　those　walls。　A　flooded　ditch？　Mines？　But　even　if　there's　nothing　there；　the　poor　fellows　will　still　be　trapped　between　two　fires。'
　'Two　Forlorn　Hopes；'　Harris　said；　thinking　aloud　and　ignoring　Gent's　gloomy　ments；　'instead　of　one。　They　both　attack　two　or　three　minutes　ahead　of　the　main　assault。　Their　orders　will　be　to　climb　off　the　breach　and　onto　the　walls。　One　Hope　turns　north　along　the　outer　ramparts；　the　othersouth。　That　way　they　don't　need　to　go　between　the　walls。'
　'It'll　be　a　desperate　business；'　Gent　said　flatly。
　'Assaults　always　are；'　Baird　said　stoutly。　'That's　why　we　employ　Forlorn　Hopes。'　The　Forlorn　Hope　was　the　small　band　of　volunteers　who　went　first　into　a　breach　to　trigger　the　enemy's　surprises。　Casualties　were　invariably　heavy；　though　there　was　never　a　shortage　of　volunteers。　This　time；　though；　it　did　promise　to　be　desperate；　for　the　two　Forlorn　Hopes　were　not　being　asked　to　fight　through　the　breach；　but　rather　to　turn　towards　the　walls　either　side　of　the　breach　and　fight　their　way　up　onto　the　ramparts。　'You　can't　take　a　city　without　shedding　blood；'　Baird　went　on；　then　stiffened　in　his　chair。　'And　once　again；　sir；　I　request　permission　to　lead　the　main　assault。'
　Harris　smiled。　'Granted；　David。'　He　spoke　gently；　using　Baird's　Christian　name　for　the　first　time。　'And　God　be　with　you。'
　'God　be　with　the　damned　Tippoo；'　Baird　said；　hiding　his　delight。　'He's　the　one　who'll　need　the　help。　I　thank　you；　sir。　You　do　me　honour。'
　Or　I　send　you　to　your　death；　Harris　thought；　but　kept　the　sentiment　silent。　He　rolled　up　the　city　map。　'Speed；　gentl