Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-26

held whispered council III one OF the
upper rooms.
'No fear of the water running short, -
said Maj. Armstrong, "but, even upon
half rations, the food will be out in four
days more.
"And then We'll just go right at them,
and cut our way through or die for it -
growled the old Colonel, with grim
smile on his iron face, for, with all his
harshness and injustice, Col. Annesley
was "grit " to the backbone. "We
mustn't say anything to them about it,
| though, added he, with side glance at
| MIR. Currie, who, standing in the further
corner, was anxiously watching the thin,
worn face of his sleeping wife.
At that moment loud cheer from
| below startled them both, and the next
moment Ismail {the ''Maior's boy" as
| every one now called him) burst into the
| room with glow of unwonted excite
| ment ON his dark face.
''Sahib," cried he, ''there is hope for
| us yet! A detachment of IngleeH (En-
! glish) are coming up the other bank of
| the river; If we can send word to them
| as they pass we are saved.
GLOW do you know?" asked the Major
eagerly.
81 heard the Sepoys say so. while ]
| was lying hid among the bushes yon-
der" answered the lad.
among the bushes yender?" roared
the Colonel, facing around. "Have you
really been in the midst of those cut
throat villains listening to what they
said. Whatever did you do that for?'
81 did it for Sahib Armstrong; 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:
t'By Jovei these chaps aren't SO black
as they're painted. after ALL"
''But Z the troops are beyond the
river how can we communicate with
them?" asked Mrs. Carrie, who, awakened
by the shouting, had arisen and joined
the group. ''They may not pass near
enough 80 hear the firiFg, and we have
no means of sending them word
''Fear nothing for that, mem sahib"
(madam), answered the Hindoe boy,
quietly. 'FI viii carry them word my
self"
But how can you possibly do it?"
cried Mrs. Currie, thunderstruck by the
confident tone in which this mere child
spoke of task from which the hardest
veteran might well have shrunk.
"Listen, SIib," answered IsnaiL
81 will slip out OF the house and make
q dash into the enemy's lines, as if I
were deserving from you to them, and
you can tell your people to fire a shot or
two after me with blank cartridge as l
go. Then the Sepoys will receive me
kindly, and I'll tell them that you're all
dying of thirst, and that they must only
wait one day more to make sure of you,
so that they won't care to make another
attack. Then, when they have no sus-
picion, and think I'm quite one of them
selves, I'll steal away and slip across the
river"
But are you quite sure the Sepoys
will believe you?" asked Maj. Arm
strong, doubtfully.
piled the boy, deliberately making q
deep cash in his bare SHOULD er and stain
ing his white frock with the blood as he
glided from the room, followed by Arm
strong.
The plan was soon explained to the
men below, and moment later IsmaiPs
dark figure was seen darting like an az
row across the open space Ia front of the
building, followed by a quick discharge
OF blank cartridges from maTksnIen at
the loopholes. The sound of the firing
drew the attention of the Sepoys, sew
eFal 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
shoulder, and telling them it was 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 guinea p said the Major;
g it was very good thought of his. If
it only delays their attack two days Ion
ger, 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 terrible that even the native soldiers
of the garrison could barely hold their
own against it, and the handful of Eli
glishmen were also helpless. Had the
Sepoys attacked them, all would have
been over at one blow; but hour passed
hour, and there was no sign Of an as
sault.
At length, as afternoon gave place to
evening, movement began to show
itself in the enemy's lines. Then eurls
of smoke rising above the trees showed
that the evenings meal was In prepare
ton; then several figures with pitchers
in their hands were seen going toward
the river, among whom the Colonel's
keen eyes detected Ismal
"By George!' p cried the old soldier,
slapping his knee exultilgly, "that Lads
worth his weight in gold There's his
way down to the river right open to him
without the least chance of suspicion.
Why, he's a born gentleman-nothing
less!"
Every eye within the walls was now
turned anxiously upon the distant
group, fearing to see at any moment
some movement which would show that
the trick was detected. How did Ismail
mean to, accomplish his purpose?
Would he plunge Loldly into the river,