Of these, Lieutenant Archer and ten men were told to stay as the
last band to cover the retreat, and the enemy made a determined attempt
to annihilate them. McGregor was with Henry and his ten. All the pluck
that ever animated hero inspired those twelve men. Each felt the honour
of being chosen for such a post. No time for words; no time for more
thoughts than one, namely, "England expects every man to do his duty."
But of course Malcolm McGregor had a thought underlying the thought of
duty to Queen and country; he remembered his promise to the widowed
mother: he must "have an eye to Henry!"
The path that led down the hill was a most difficult one, being winding
and very rocky. Above the soldiers rose a precipice, manned by parties
of the enemy, who harassed them incessantly by throwing fragments of
rock down upon their heads. These immense stones were hurled from a
height of fifty yards; but the companies wound round the mountain in
good order.
Last of all came Henry Archer and his ten men, attended by the Doctor.
Theirs was the chief post of honour and of peril. Henry's foot slipped;
he tried to recover himself, but in vain. Down he rolled with the loose
stones that had been hurled from above. McGregor stopped, and two of the
men with him; the other eight men pushed forward.
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