Company Of Spears

Somerset was indignant. ‘But my orders were for you to see in the Zulu. You appear to have let them bustle you in.’

Hervey was even more indignant. ‘Don’t be an ass! We’ll see them in all right. But I won’t lose men when there’s no need. These Zulu are damned clever; they know how to use ground. We need to take careful measure of them.’

‘I seem to recall some great captain of your arm saying that a cavalryman, properly mounted, ought never to be taken captive.’

Hervey was determined not to anger further; Somerset had marched all night, as he had. ‘Colonel, you will do me the honour of allowing me to know my business, and judging me on the results. So far, I have delayed the advance of the Zulu sufficiently for you to be able to take a stand here, where at least the chances of being outflanked are so much the less. There’s not another river in ten miles.’

Somerset made no reply. There was truth in what Hervey said, and very evidently his intention was to be of support.

‘Shall you give me orders?’ asked Hervey quietly. ‘How is the force disposed? Where are the Xhosa?’

Somerset nodded, as if resolving on amity. Then he told him the plan of defence. The Xhosa were clearing the cover on each bank – not nearly as thick here, mercifully, as on the Fish – the artillery were posted on the rising ground fifty yards back from the river, able to command both the ford and its approaches, and the 55th Regiment would take post covering the ford itself. The burghers were to range up-stream and down, and the Rifles, dismounted, would skirmish on the eastern bank before crossing and reinforcing the Fifty-fifth.

Hervey could not disapprove; it was a sound plan. Except, perhaps, in one detail. ‘I should say, with respect, that the Rifles – and the troop – are very tired. They have had no sleep to speak of in three days. They’ll need more time to get back than supposed. Although the cover is good for their purpose this side, the field of fire, as you perceive, is not great.’

Somerset looked irritated again.

Hervey knew the look well enough. He had seen it many a time in his twenty years’ service: the look of the officer who is apprised of some piece of information which interferes with his otherwise perfectly laid plans, and whose instinct is to dismiss the intelligence by dismissing its bearer.

‘Do you say your dragoons and these half-baked riflemen have no more stomach for the fight?’

Hervey, so tired that his patience was near the end, but by long years persuaded that such men as Somerset could only be dealt with through flattery, spoke calmly. ‘They do indeed have stomach, Colonel. They will fight for you to the last. It is only that … their stomachs may be a little empty, so to speak.’

The emollience worked. ‘I see. Yes, of course they will be tired. I will take careful note of it. Perhaps, now, you will ride with me as we post the Rifles, and I will point out the lie of things.’

‘By all means,’ replied Hervey. And then, imagining he would not likely have a better – or perhaps any – chance to say it, added: ‘I must commend to you, Colonel, in the strongest possible terms, the valuable service of Captain Fairbrother these past two days. Without his address I do believe we should have suffered many casualties; and, I venture to admit, perhaps even a reverse.’

Somerset was not entirely dismissive of the notion, though his ‘surprise’ was unconcealed.

The first reports came within an hour: the black host advanced as before, a dozen columns, single file. Hervey at once alerted Somerset, who was siting each field-piece in detail. Somerset declared he would see for himself. Hervey did not discourage him.

In minutes they were with Fearnley at the picket line, and with just enough elevation to see what they faced. The sight shook Somerset, as it first had Hervey – the order, the discipline of it, not at all the horde of savages he had imagined.

‘We must suppose they know we are here,’ said Hervey. ‘They’ll likely make a probing attack at once, or else try again to encircle us, though the river will confound them in that. May I recall the outposts?’

Somerset was less confident than an hour ago. ‘Yes … by all means … do.’

Trumpeter Roddis repeated the call until Hervey saw the outposts acknowledging, and then bid him cease.

The Rifles were trained to the bugle too, but Captain Welsh had decided instead on signals by whistle in order to avoid confusion. Hearing the recall of the picket line he gave three long blasts – the order to stand to arms.

‘It will now depend on each rifleman’s initiative,’ said Hervey, and to Somerset’s evident discomfort.

The outposts came in at the trot, tall in the saddle though the horses looked weary. Each dragoon saluted as he passed the two colonels, eyes on Hervey but Somerset acknowledging with a finger to the peak of his cap. They had done their work, they had done it well, and they knew it. Once across the river they could dismount and take a little ease before it was their turn again. For it would be their turn again; it always was. When the men with the rifle and the musket had done their work it would be theirs to turn defeat into rout – to make vulture meat of the fleeing enemy so that they might not turn again. It was a grim business sabring those who no longer wanted to fight, but it had to be done lest the next day these fleeing men became resolute once more. To think otherwise was nothing but sentiment – dangerous sentiment.

Rifle fire began on both far flanks almost at the same time. Hervey marvelled at the evident ability of the Zulu to coordinate the movement of the two horns of the crescent formation. And then the firing spread along the entire front as the main columns began approaching, still hidden by the prodigious grass.

But not, apparently, hidden to the gunners. A shell buzzed high over him and to the left, bursting twenty feet above the ground three hundred yards in front. Hervey smiled to himself. Never had he known an artilleryman to miss his opportunity. How he was able to place his fire so accurately, and have the shrapnel shell explode at the precise height, was quite beyond him. He was only grateful for it; vastly grateful. It was, in truth, how war should be made.

‘Colonel Hervey?’

He turned to see his lieutenant, and detached himself from Somerset’s party to confer with him. ‘All eager, Mr Fearnley?’

‘Indeed, Colonel. Minnie has wind aplenty left.’

Hervey glanced approvingly at Fearnley’s second charger. Minnie – Minerva – had won one of the regimental races at Hounslow that year. She looked in as hale condition now as then. ‘The intention for you now is clear?’

‘Exactly clear. I think I shall be well pleased to see that ford.’

A cry like hounds breaking covert turned every head. The staunchest heart faltered for a moment as Zulu rose up from the ground like corpses on the Day of Judgement, swarming, stabbing, grunting like rutting pig.

Hervey saw two of Somerset’s staff tumble from the saddle, and then Somerset’s own horse fall to its knees, and Somerset himself half under it, his escorts desperately lashing out with sword and pistol.

Hervey spurred for him at once, sabre drawn, Fairbrother and the others close on his heels. He cut left and right, taking a passing spear in the thigh though not feeling a thing.

Fairbrother sprang from the saddle beside Somerset like a tumbler at a fair, drawing his revolver and firing three shots in quick and lethal succession at the nearest Zulu.

Wainwright and Roddis circled, keeping a dozen others at bay while Hervey and Fairbrother pulled Somerset from beneath his charger and heaved him astride Hervey’s mare.

Fairbrother emptied his revolver as Hervey vaulted on her quarters to support the winded colonel.

Hervey turned his mare on her hocks and dug in his spurs, fending off a Zulu and losing grip of his sabre in the process.

Fairbrother managed to clamber into his own saddle, draw his second pistol and shoot the Zulu before he could take advantage.

But the horde was already reluctant to follow: every rifle within range was now turned on them.

As he glanced back, Hervey could see but a handful of black shapes haring for the cover whence they’d sprung. He heard Welsh’s whistle repeated along the front, the desperate recalling of his riflemen. They had done their work. They had stood their ground, shot well, broken up a surprise attack that would have prevailed against all