Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-05-13

but are YOU quite sure the Sepcys will
believe you'" asked Major Armstrong.
doubtfully.
They'll believe this. anyhow" replied
the boy. deliberately making a deep cash IN
his bare shoulder. and staining his white
frock with the blood. as he glided from the
room. followed by the major.
The plan was soon explained TO the men
below. and moment later Ismails dark fig
ure ~as seen darting like an arrow across
the open space in from, of the building, fol-
lowed by a quick discharge of blank cart
ridges from the marksmen at the loopholes.
The sound Of 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.
II can scarcely see for those bushes. said
Col. Ayrcs ''bu; he seems to be showing
them the wound on his shoulder. and telling
them it vas our doing"
A; that moment an eXul'ant veil from the
enemy came pceling through the still air
That's the story Of our being shor, Of va
ter. for a guinea =" said the major; q, is a
verv good idea Of his II il only DELAYS their
attack two DAYS longer there NAV be time
for help to arrive yet"
SLOWLY and YEARLY the long hours Of that
fearful day wore on. The heat vas 90 ter-
rihc that even the native soldiers Of the gar
rison could barely hold their own against
IT. and the handful Of EHlishmcn were al
most helpless. Had the Sepoys attacked
them then. all would have been over N one
blow. but hour passed after hour. and There
Was no sign Of an assault. A, length. a.
afternoon gave place 20 evening. move
meni began TO show itself in the enemy
lines Their curl. Of smoke. rislng above
the trees. showed tha; the evening meal Vas
in preparation. and several figures, with
pitchers in their hands. were seen gong to-
ward the nscr. among whom the colonel 5
keen eve soon detected lsmaiL
'By George =" cried the old soldier slap
ping his knee c,al;ingly. that lad. worth
his weight in gold There's his way do~n
to the river nigh, open to him. ~'thou, the
least chance Of suspicion Why. he's born
gcncral-no,hing less :"
/ Ever, eve within the walls vas nov turned
anNiously upon the distant group fearing ia
see 81 anY moment some movement winch
would show that the trick vas Directed
How did lsmail mean 10 accomplish h, paF-
posc' Would he plunge boldly into the
rIyer without AN, disguise. or had he some
further stra;agem IN preparation No one
could say. Suddenly. az lsmAil stopped 70
plunge ms light wooden dipper into the "a
ter, i, slipped from his hands and vent aoa,-
ing down the stream 4 cry Of dIsmay. a
loud laugh from the Scpo,.. and then the
boy va, seen running franiIcali, along the
bank and irving TO clutch the se.se! as Il
aoaied past.
WA; on ear,h's he up 10 ?" grunted the
colonel. eomp!ctel, mys,lhed.
Il zee" crlcd MAJOR Armstrong. ,rium-
phAntly, "thcrr's a boat Wonder among the
r-cds. and he, making righ, for i, Well
done m, brave boy :"
But at that moment yell Of rage from
the Sepoy, told ,ha, the ,rick was discovered
Luckily tho-e on the bank had left their
pieces behind. OF poor Ismail would soor
have been disposed Of; bat their alarm IN.
s,anil, brought up a crowd OF their armed
comrades, whose bullets fell like hail around
the boat and It's gailan, little pilot.
Let Us FIRE vollcy and make show Of
saliy!ng out" said the colonel; "It'll take
their attention from aim
But in tins he vas mistaken. The hrst
rattle Of mu.kctr, did indeed recall most OF
l.mails as.allan,s but al least dozen were
lcft Who kept up an uneeasIng FIRE, striking
the boa; again and AGAIN All a, once the
colonel dashed hi. glass 10 the floor With 4
frightful oath. Bet~een two gusts Of smoke
he had seen the boat turn suddenly over
and 20 ~hirling away down the dark riser
keel up~ ard.
There. an end Of the poor lad" mu,,ered
the veteran, brokenly. God bless him foi
brave lii,le fellow And now. old friend
~c must JUS, die hard. for there's no hope
left"
The first few hour. Of the night passed
quietly. and the exhausted defenders. ui,erl,
worn out, slep, Is If dragged with opium
But a little after midnight. the quick ears Of
the two veteran ofheers-;hs only watcher,
in the whole garrison, except the sentrie,
them mselyes-caugh, a faint stirring in ,hs
surrounding ihickets, which seemed 10 argu,
some mo,emen, on the part OF the enemy
Listening intently for 4 ie~ moments. the,
felt certain that they we're right, and lost nc
time in awakening their men. The scant,
stores Of food were opened once more, and
/ crouching together in the darkness. III,
doomed men took ~ha, they fully believed
I 10 be their last meal on earth.
They're coming" said Major Armstrong
s,raining his eyes into the gloom through 1
| loophole. II hear them creeping forward
though can, ye, see them"
.Wha, the deuce Was that, exclaimed tn,
| colonel, suddenly. 1T looked ike fer,
arrow flying past"
Its worse than that" said the major. il
/ low voice The rascals are shooting ligh
! chips Of bamboo on TO the roof TO set i, OF
/ FIRE. Send the women up with buckets I,
food the tha,ch-,here's not a moment Il
lose"
! IN go and see to i, myself :" cried Mrs
Currie, fastening ou, Of the room.
! But the power of this new weapon had al
ready become manifest. The house was al
old one, dry as tinder from the prolonged
heat. and as fast as the flames were quenchet
in one place they broke out in another
When day dawned. the fire had already go
| q firm hold Of one corner Of the building
and crushing discharge was poured upor
| all who attempted TO extinguish 1t, whil'
the triumphant yells Of the human tiger
below told that they felt sure Of their prey
.'Its all over with US, old fellow" said the
colonel, grasping his comrades hand; "bu
! at least We shall have done our duty"
"Give me one Of your pistols" whispered
Mrs. Currie to her husband, in . voice tina
was not her own. II must not fall into
their hands alive"
At that moment Major Armstrong wal
seen to start and bend forward as If listen
ing intently. for he thought-although ht
could scarcely believe his ears-that he hae
suddenly caught faint sound Of distant fir
ing. In another instant he heard it again
and this time there could he no more doubt
for several O the others had heard it like
wise and gleam Of hope lighted up thei
hsggard faces and bloodshot eyes. Louder
and nearer came the welcome sound, while
the sudden terror and confusion visibl,
among the enemy showed that they, too
we're at no loss to guess its meaning. Ther
high above oil the din rose the well know
"Hurrah," :" and through the smoke cloud
broke . charging line Of glittering bayonet
and ruddy English faces, sweeping away th'
cowardly murderers as the sun chases th'
morning mist.
THAT boys worth his weight in gold.
said Colonel Ayers. as, few hours later h
listened to Ismail's account of how be hat
dived under the boat and kept il betweeI
himself and the Sepoys, that they nigh
think him drowned.