Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-02-15

| blank. lie drew himself up ne was
on his dignity at once.
Mr.. Rollynge,' he said, Mr.. Rol-
| lynge, am in the habit of deciding in
these cases as seems best for the in
terests of the service and those in
terests, may say, do not point to you,
but to another, as the proper person TO
fill the vacancy and the old man
wagged his head wisely, and stumbled
over a guy-rope as he walked into his
tent, leaving poor Gerald Rollynge
thunderstruck with despair.
Il say, Singleton, my boy, said Pad
dy Crcagh, coming into the mess-tent,
where most of the Tigers were at
tifin, you'll be for the treasure-guard
this evening Gilpin has gone sick.
.D-that treasure-guard ! said Sim
| gleton, ferociously.
The worst of il is, | should think.
having 10 stay up all night when one
| does get TO the new camp complacently
/ remarked Paddy Creagh. who had never
4 done the duty himself \ roar OF laugh
ter burst from all the subalterLs At
| table.
Just as if any one is such a mutf as to
do that, Paddy said Barron.
You don't suppose we are set OF
\ drivelling idiots. DO you, Paddy? Why
\ even old Estcourt hardly expects that
/ and young Todd continued his atten-
/ tons 10 the green parrot-a succulent
! jungle dainty-he was discussing.
Don't he, thought broke in Landon;
4 by Jove, he'd smash any fellow ho
thought turned-in when on that guard
4 know fellow who will take the
guard for YOU, Sing, remarked Barron,
with his mouth halt full.
Who, in the name OF goodness:
'Rellynge.'
'Will he really, DO you think
Certain. He told me he had some
row with old Estcourt, and wanted to
avoid the Christmas dinner.
by Jovc, that's lucky! Ill 90 and
ask him At once. You can square II for
Us, suppose, Paddy"
oh, bcdad, | can. Anything to get
Eolly ngc away from glaring at me rs
il he wanted to ate me without salt,
answered Creagh, devoting himself to
toamln. tankard Of Brass.
Thi, trea,ure-somc twelve artilIerv
tumbril> full of Spice--had been handed
over to the care of the Tigers by the
civil government at Ramporc, to take tp
the station they were marching on 1t
was 4 great worry to tho officers, as IL
gave them an extra guard, aud had
ALWAYS to be taken 10 the new camping
ground the night before the regiment
marched. The officer wa strictly or
dercd, on account ot the disturbed state
Of the country, to STAY up with II until
the regiment marched in the morning;
but as limited above, instead OF thus
acting he usually had his tent pitched
| amongst the tumbrlls, placed his loaded
and capped revolver under hi pillow,
and turned III comfortably Tor a nights
sleep.
Singleton found Rollvngc in 1esper-
ate lit OF the blues, and only anNiou, 70
get away from the camp. He wa- de-
lighted al the chance OF the duty, and at
haIf-pas four in the afternoon paradcd
his guard with the treasure tumbril,.
mounted hi, horse, ana with 4 sigh ot
relief marched away from the Christmas
rcve!ry.
IN.-'THE LAST POST.
The Roast Beef OF old England at
I eight o clock on that Christina. evening,
1 summoned the Tigers ~ r.n large
/ mess-tent, the interior Of whi,l present.
| Ell gorgeous spectacle. The canvas
| walls were lined with crimson hangings,
| contrasting well with the snowy yaultcd
roof OF the tent, from the ridge-polc of
4 which numerous oil lamps OF colored
| glass were suspended To within 4 lew
4 feet Of the long white-clothed table that
/ glittcred again with silver, cut-glass,
/ flowers, and rich china. Behind the
4 colouels chair the colors of the regiment
/ Haunted their gaudy drapery and when
| all had sat down, the red jackets, white
waistcoats, and scarlet cummerbundS Of
| the officers, the gold-embrUidered tur-
/ bans and rich Wristbands et the white
! dressed servants. the weIl-laden table,
the patches Of tinted light and shade
| from flashing tlauks of seductive wines.
made up picture OF varied hucs un-
| equalled ior brllllancy OF effect. All
was pleasure, Jovlality and confusion;
| and when-to the tune OF See the Con-
| qucrlu. Hero Comes the white beard
Ell old Mussulnlan appeared CHS face
.li-tening with pride,) bearing aloit an
| enormOu, bona .fle Christmas plum
pudding, stuck all over with blanched
almond, and decorated with sprig very
like mlstletoe, the climax was attained
and hearty cheers proclaim the success
| of his Eastern imitation of an English
| Christmas dinner. Thea came the post
prandial wine, healths were drunk :;
speeches, comic and sentimental, We're
made. and songs were sung a. the bot
ties went merrily round, and the festival
was at its utmost height, when suddenly
full stop was put to the nerriment-
the song broke oil short, the point OF the
annecdotc was never told, the joke was
,tiilcd in it, birth The alarm The
alarm was shouted on all sides, rs the
tones Of the bugle-call rang wildly out
on the night air from the main guard,
and was repeated still more wildly from
all the others.
What is What's the matter! ?
was eagerly questioned as the officers
tumbled out OF the tent into the dark
ness. The sepoys were rushing half
naked out Of their tents; the women and
children screamed with frightened, dis
cordant voices; camels groaned fearful
ly; elephants trumpetcd; dogs barked
buffaloes beloved in their mad terror
while, to add to the confusion, the bag
gage mules broae loose from their pick
cts and stampeded through the heart OF
the camp like fiends unclaimed.
| AZ Hc! AS dNa. WAS Seltcti
from one to another in every language
and every tone, and all was wild con-
fusion and dismay. The jungle for miles
in front was on fire! Away to the south
could be seen, at a considerable distance,
bat rapidly rushing on, great bright
glare and spots of flame extending
along the whole of the front, overlapping
the fanks, and in the direction from
| ,l al,u nd
"Sound the Assembly Dugler =
shouted old Esteourt, as the sepoys kept
wildly rushing about. why the, Mr.
Creagh, can't you get your native Off
GERS together'
But, alasl poor Paddy had been i'm
bibing the champagne at too fasta rate to
be master OF himself, and rolled about
in the confusion like ship without Il
rudder.
A horse came madly dashing up tc