, 1880-12-10

. =
are still true to him, unless help comes
! speedily. .,.
Day Was just breaking when two men
held a whispered counsel in one OF the
upperrooms. .,..,
No fear of the water running short,
said Major Armstrong; "hut, even upon
half ntions, the food will be out IN four
days more, ,,n
"And then we'll Just so right at them,
md cut our way through, or die for 1t!
rrowled the old Colonel, with grim
smile on his iron face, for, with all hls
arshness and injustice. Col. Anresley
8 "rrit" to the backbone. "Wo must
not saw ANYTHING to them about 1t,
though - he added, with side glance at
Mr.. Currie, who was standing i'll the fur
ther corner, was anXiously watching the
thin. worn face OF his sleeping wife.
At that moment loud cheer from be-
low startled them both, and the next mo-
ment Ismail (the MAJORS boy, as
every one now clllcd him) burst into
the room with glow Of unwonted ex-
citement on his dark face.
"Salib," cried he, ''there is hope for
vet! A detachment of Ingleez Eng
lisG) are coming up the other bank OF
the river; if we can send word TO them
as they pass, we are saved
Chow do you know asked the MAJOR,
eagerly.
81 heard the Sepoys say so, when L
was lying hid among the bushes yon-
der, answered the lad.
Among the bushes yonder?" ?" roared
the Colonel, facing around. Have you
actually been in the midst of those cut
throat villains, listening to what they
said! Whatever did you do that for!
II did it for Sahib Armstrong's sake"
replied the boy, proudly; "because he
was good to me.
The Colonel turned hastily away to
hide the flush of not unmanly shame
that overspread his hard face; and Arm
strong smiled slightly, as he heard him
mutter:
"By Jove these chaps aren't so
black rs they're painted, after all"
"But il the troops are beyond the
river. how can we communicate with
them ?" asked Mrs. Currie, who, awak-
ened by the shouting, had arisen and
Joined the group. "rhey may not pass
near enough to hear the firing, and we
have no possible means of sending them
werd."
Fear nothing for that, mem-sahib, ;"
(madam, answered the Hindoo boy,
quietly. "I will carry them word my
self"
"But how can you possibly do it?"
cried Mrs. Currie, thundcrstruck by the
confident tone in which this mere child
spoke of task from which she hardest
veteran might we'll have shrunk.
Listen, Sahib, answered Ismail. 81
will slip out of the house and make q
dash into the enemy's lines, as if were
deserting from you to them, and you can
tell your people to fire a shot or two
after me with blank cartridge as [ CO.
Then the Sepoys will receive me kindly,
and will tell that you are all dying of
thirst, and that they need only wait one
day more to be sure of you, so that they
won tcare to make another attack. Then,
when they have no suspicion, and think
I'm quite one Of them, I'll steal away,
and slip across the river"
"But are you quite sure the Sepoys
will believe you" asked Mai. Armstrong,
doubtfully.
"They'll believe this, anyhow" re-
piled the boy, deliberately making deep
cash in his bare shoulder and staining
his white frock with the blood as he
glided from the room, followed by
Armstrong.
The plan was soon explained to the
men below and a moment later Ismaips
dark figure was seen darting like an ar
row across the open space in front Of the
building, followed by a quick discharge
of blank cartridges from the marksmen
at the loopholes. The sound of the
firing drew the attention of the Sepoys,
several of whom ran forward to meet
him.
In another instant he was in the midst
of them.
81 can scarcely see for those bushes, :"
said Col. Annesley; "but he seems to be
showing them the wound on his shoul-
der. aud telling them it was all our
doing"
At that moment an exulting yell from
the enemy came pealing through the
air.
"That's the story Of our being short of
water, for guineap said the Major; sit
was very good thought Of his. If it
only delays their attack two days longer
there may be time for help to arrive
yet"
Slowly and YEARLY the long hours of
that fearful day wore on. The heat was
so terrific that even the native soldiers
OF the garrison could barely hold their
own against it, and the handful of Eng
lishmen were also helpless. Had the
Sepoys attacked them, oil would have
been over ut one blow; but hour passed
after hour, and there was no sign of an
assault.
At length, as after noon gave place to
evening, a movement began to show it.
self in the enemy's lines. Thin curls of
smoke rising above the trees showed
that tie evenings meal was in prepara.
ton; that several figures with pitchers
I