Bayonets Along the Border by John Wilcox Read Free Book Online Page B

now.’
    ‘Very good, sir.’
    Then the colonel banged the table lightly and stood. A hush fell on the room. ‘Madam and gentlemen,’ he said. ‘I am afraid we must end our dinner immediately. I have just received a telegraph from Malakand. The garrison there is expected to be under attack within the hour from a force of tribesmen approaching them and rumoured to number some ten thousand. We are the nearest post to them and we must hasten to their aid, so we shall ride and march through the night, leaving as soon as we are ready. The whole command will be involved. The cavalry will ride ahead and the infantry will follow. Major Darwin will give you your orders. See to your men. That will be all.’
    Fortescue turned to his guests. ‘I am so sorry, but I doubt whether you will be able to get away now. The Malakand Pass is some thirty-six miles away and is a vital link in the road to the north and we must not let it fall.’ He sighed. ‘It seems that I was right and that the whole Frontier will soon be ablaze. This uprising is more than a little local affair and the way to the north is closed. You should be safe, of course, within the camp, so do make yourselves as comfortable as possible and please do finish this bottle of claret. Now you must excuse me.’
    Fonthill became aware that Jenkins had materialised by his side. He exchanged glances with his wife. ‘If you will allow, sir,’ he saidto the colonel, ‘Jenkins and I will come with you. Even an extra couple of rifles may be of some help to you.’
    ‘And I will come, too,’ said Alice immediately, rising from her chair.
    ‘Certainly not, Alice,’ Simon spoke firmly. ‘I will not allow it. You must see that you must stay here.’
    ‘On the contrary, I don’t see that at all—’
    Fortescue interjected. ‘I am afraid, my dear, that your husband is right.’ He smiled. ‘From what I have heard, particularly today, you shoot as well as any trooper.’ Then his tone hardened. ‘But I fear I must request – no, order – you to stay. Having a woman with us would impose an extra burden on me as commander. I am sure you will understand.’
    He turned to Fonthill. ‘But glad to have you and your man, Fonthill. Please both of you ride with me with the cavalry. We leave within three hours – earlier if Darwin can get us provisioned in time.’ He gave a curt bow to Alice and then strode away.
    Alice face was white. ‘Damn and blast this masculine superiority,’ she stormed. ‘I was fighting as well as … as well as Jenkins this morning, but all that is forgotten now. I’m just a frail little woman who must be protected. Well, I think that is just nonsense. There is a damned good story in this for the
Morning Post
and I must write it and I can’t write it if I don’t observe it at first-hand.’
    Simon sighed. ‘Well, my love, this may be male chauvinism but we must respect the colonel’s wishes. We must not add to his problems. Having to worry about keeping a woman safe when he is about to deploy his small force in the face of ten thousand warriors would be asking too much of him. You must see that.’
    ‘Well, I don’t—’
    Another, more effective argument struck Simon and he interrupted her. ‘Look, you have an exclusive – what do the Americans call it … ? A scoop, yes. A scoop. By staying here you have the chance to write a story about the fact that Malakand is about to be attacked, set against the background of the general uprising, and get it on the telegraph to Peshawar and via the cable there to London before anyone else has heard about it. I saw you scribbling away while the colonel spoke. Get writin’, my love!’
    He grinned and brought a rueful smile to his wife’s face. ‘Very well, Simon. But you and Jenkins must not go on this ridiculous ride. You are both too old to go soldiering again, really you are. Please don’t go. I shall be so worried about you both. Stay here and protect this poor fragile woman.’
    ‘No. You will