The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-11

II seep' exclaimed MINOR Armstrong,
triumphantly. There's a boat yonder
among the reeds, and he's making right
for it. Well done, my brave boy!',,
But at that moment yell of rage
from the Sepoys told that the trick was
discovered.
Luckily those on the bank had left
their pieces behind, or poor Ismail would
soon have been disposed Of; but the
alarm instantly brought up crowd Of
| their armed comrades, whose bullets fell
like hail around the boat and its gallant
little pilot.
"Let us fire volley and make show
of sailying OUT" said the colonel; "it'll
take their attention from him."
| But in this he was mistaken.
The first rattle of musketry from the
besieged house did indeed recall most of
1smalls assailants, but at least a dozen
were left who kept up an increasing fire,
striking the boat again and again.
| All at once the colonel dashed his glass
to the floor with frightful oath.
Between two gusts Ct smoke he had
seen the boat turn suddenly over, and 60
whirliug away down the dark river, keel
upward.
There's an end to the poor lad" NUT
tered the veteran, brokenly. "God bless
him for a brave little fellow. And now
old friend, we must just die hard, for
there's no hope left:
The first few hours of the night pass
ed quietly, and then the exhausted de-
tenders, utterly worn out, slept as If
drugged with opium. But little after
midnight the quick ears OF the two vet
erans officers-the only watchers in the
whole garrison, except the sentries them
selves-caught faint stirring IN the sur
rounding thickets, which seemed to ar
que some movement on the part of the
enemy. ...A ~ \...
Listening intently for a few moments
they felt certain that they we're right and
lost no time in arousing their men.
The scanty stores Of food were opened
once more, and, crouchlng together in
the darkness, the doomed men took what
they believed to be their last meal on
earth.
"They're comingl'' said Major Arm
strong, straining his eyes into the gloom
through loophole. 81 hear them creep
ing forward, though can't see them.''
What the deuce was thatY" exclaimed
the colonel, suddenly. "It looked like q
fiery arrow flying past"
"It's worse than that" said the major,
in low voice. ''The rascals are shoot
ing lighted chips of bamboo on to the
root to set it on fire. Send the women up
with buckets to flood the thatch-there
not moment to lose."
"Ill 60 and see to it myself?' cried
Mrs. Currie, fastening out of the room.
But the power of this new weapon had
already become manifest. The house
was an old one, and dry as finder from
the prolonged heat, and as fast as the
flames were quenched in one place they
broke out in another.
When day dawned, the fire had already
got a firm hold of one corner of the
building, and crushing discharge was
poured upon all who attempted to extin-
guish it, while the triumphant yells of
the human tigers below told that they
felt sure of their prey.
"It's all over with us old fellow said
the colonel, grasping his comrades hand
"but at least, we shall have done our
duty" -.
"Give me one of your pistols,'' whis-
pered Mrs. Currie to her husband, in a
voice that was not her own. must not
fall into their hands alive"
At that moment Major Armstrong was
seen to start and bend forward, as if list
ening intently; for he thought although
he could scarcely believe his ears-that
he had suddenly caught faint sound Of
distant firing.
In another instant he heard it again,
and this time there could be no more
doubt, for several of the others had
caught it likewise, and CLEAN OF hope
once more lighted up their haggard faces
and bloodshot eyes. 49,. :
j Louder and nearer came the welcome
sound, while the sudden terror and con-
fusion visible to the enemy showed that
they, too, were at no loss to guess it's
meaning.
Then high above all the din rose the
well-known "Hurrah !" and through the
smoke-clouds broke charging line of
glittering bayonets aud ruddy English
faces, sweeping away the cowardly MUIR
derers as the sun chases the morning
mist.
y X
"That boys worth his weight IN gold,''
said Colonel Annesley, as, few hours lat
or, he listened to Ismail's account of how
he dived under the boat and kept 1t be-
tween himself and the Sepoys, that they
might think him drowned. "He's the
Quickest little fellow I've ever seen, and,
although he belongs to the major, I'm 60
ing to take my share of helping him on,
| by Jove!' -