Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-03-12

listening to what they said ? Whatever did
you do that for -
81 did it for SGllib Armstrong; sake, re-
piled the boy, proudly, "because he was
good to me-
"But if the troops are beyond the river,
how can we communicate with them p ask
ed Mrs. Currie, who awakened by the shout
ing, had risen and joined the group. They
may not pass near enough to hear the firing,
and we have no means of sending them
word"
Fear nothing for that, nom -sohib"
(madam) said the Hindoo boy, quietly II
will carry them word myself"
''But how can you possibly do it?' cried
Mr.. Curre, thundcrstruck 10y tho confident
tone in which this mere child spoke of a task
from which the hardest veteran nigh well
have shruuk.
Listen, sahib" answered Ismail ~ will
slip out of the house, and make n dash into
the cnemy's lines, rs if | were dcsertng from
you to them aud you can tell your people to
fire a shot or two after me with blank cart
ridge, as go. Then the Sepoys will receive
me kindly And I'll tell them that you're all
dying of thirst, and that they need only wait
one day more to be sure of you, so that
they won't care to make another attack. Then,
when they have no suspicion, and think I'm
quite one of themselves, I'll steal away, and
slip across tho river"
s'But are you quite sure the Soypoys will
believe you Z" asked Major Armstrong doubt
fully.
"Theyll believe this, anyhow" replied the
boy. deliberately making deep cash in his
bare shoulder and staining his white frock
with the blood, as he gidcd from the room,
followed 10y the major.
The plan was soon explained to the men be
low, and a moment later Ismaips dark figure
| ~. : Ia.
open space in front Of the building, followed
| by quick discharge of blank cartridges from
the marksmen of 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.
Il can scarcely see for those bushes" said
| Col Ayros but he seems to be showing
them the wound on his shoulder, and telling
| them it was our doing
At that moment an eXultant yell from the
enemy came poaling through the still air.
That's the story Of our being short of wa
ter for guinea - said the major lit was a
very good idea of his. II it only delays their
attack two days longer there may be time for
! help to arrive yet o."
Slowly and YEARLY the long hours of that
| fearful day wore on. The heat was 80 ter
rife that even the native soldiers of the gar
! rson could barely hold their own against it,
and the handful of EnglishIneu were almost
helpless. Had the Sepoys attacked them then
| all would have been over Mt one blow, but
| hour passed after hour, and there was no sign
of an assault At length, As afternoon gave
! place to evening, movement began TO show
! itself in the enemys lines. Their curls of
smoke, rising above the trees. showed that
the evening meal was in preparation, and
! several figures. with pitchers in their hands
were seen going toward the river, among
| whom the coloneps keen eye soon detected
| I~mal.
'By George :" cried the old soldier slap
ping his knee exultingly, 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 born gen
era-nothing less 90
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 boldly into the river with
out any disguise, or mad he some further
strltagem in preparation; No one could say.
Suddenly, as Ismail stopped to plunge his
light wooden dpper uto the water, it slipped
from his hands aud went floating away down
the stream. A cry Of dismay, loud laugh
from the Sepoys, aud then the boy was seen
running frautically along the bank, and try
ing in vain TO clutch the vessel rs it foatcd
past
what on carth's he up to now ?" grunted
the colonel, completely mystifed.
Il sto,' cried Major Armstrong, trl-
umphantly, there's a boat yondar among
the reeds, aud he's making right for it. Wen
done my brave boy
But at that moment a 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 instant
| ly brought up crowd of their armed com
rldes, whose bullets fell like hail around the
boat aud it, gallant little pilot.
Let us fire u voley and make a show of
sallying out" said the colonel; "itll take
their attention from him.
But in this he wa, mistaken. The first rat
tie of musketry did indeed recall most OF
Ismails assaants, but "a least dozen were
| left who kept up au unceasing fire, striking the
boat again and again All Mt once the colonel
dashed his glass TO the floor with frightful
oath. Between two gusts of smoke he had
seen the boat turn suddcny over, and 90
whirlng away down the dark river, keel up
ward.
There's an end of the poor lad" mutter
ed the veteran, brokcnly. ''God bless him
for 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 passed
quietly aud the exhausted defenders, utterly
worn out, slept as if drugged with opium.
But little after midnight the quick ears OF
the two veteran officers the only watchers in
the whole garrison, except the sentries them
selves caught a faint stirring in the sur
rounding thickets which seemed to argue
some movement on the part of the enemy
Listening intently for few moments, they
felt certain that they were right, and lost nc
time in awakening their men. The scanty
stores of food were opened once more, and
crouching together in the darkness, the
doomed men took what they fully believed tc
be their last meal on earth.
"They're coming" said Major Armstrong,
straining his eyes into the gloom through q
loophoe. ~ hear them creeping forward
though | can't yet see them"
"What the deuce was that, exclaimed the
colonel, suddenly. 1T looked like a fiery
arrow flying past"
ITS worse than that, said the major, in G
low voice. "The rascals are shooting Lighted
chips of bamboo on to the roof to set it OF
fire. Send the women up with buckets tC
food the thatch-theres not moment tt
lose :"
"Tll 60 and see to it myself !" cried Mrs
Currie, Fastening out of the room.
But the power of this new weapon had al
ready become fatally manifest The hous,
was an old one, dry as tinder from the pro
longed heat, and as fast as the flames wer,
quenched in one place they broke out in an
other. When day dawned, the fire had al
ready got firm hold of one corner of thu
building, and crushing discharge was pour
ed upon all who attempted to extinguish it
while the triumphant yells of the human
tigers below told that they felt sure of thei
prey.
ITS all over with u.s. old fellow, said tn
colonel, grasping his old comrades hand