The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-01-08
and kissed it with the deepest reverence
and the two walked away together.


a very different spectacle. The pretty
garden is trampled into dust and mire.
and the bodies of men and horses are
lying thick among the fragments of the
half destroyed stockade.
All the windows of the house are
blocked up, and through the loopholed
walls peer the muzzles of ready rifles,
showing how steady the besieged gar
rison stands at bay against the countless
enemies. whose dark, fierce faces and
glittering weapons are visible amid the
half-ruined building and matted thickets
all around.
The Sepoy mutiny of 1857 is blazing
sky. high over Northern India, and
Colonel Annesley is blockaded in Hut
tee-Bagh, with a certainty of hideous
death for himself and every man of the
few who are still true to him, unless
help come speedily.
Day was just breaking, when two
men held whispered counsel in one of
the upper rooms.
mo fear of the water running short" q"
said Major 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
| Tor it!'' growled the old colonel, with a
grim smile on his iron face, for, with all
| his harshness and injustice, Colonel
Annesley was "grit to the backbone.
1--WE mustn't say anything to them
about it, though" added he, with a
side glance at Mr.. Currie, who, standing
in the further corner, was anxiousIy
watching the thin, worn face of his
sleeping wife.
At that momenta loud cheer from be-
low startled them both, and the next
moment Ismail the majors boy" as
every one now called him) burst into
the room, with glow of unwonted ex-
citement on his dark face.
Sahib," cried he, there is hope for
us yet! A detachment of Ingleez eng
| !ish) are coming up the other bank OF
the river; if we can send word to them
as they pass, we are saved!"
major, eagerly.
Il heard the Sepoys say So, while I
was lying hid among the bushes yon.
der" nswered the lad.
Among the bushes yonderp" roared
the colonel, facing around. Have you
really been in the midst of those cut.
throat villains, listening to what they
saidP Whatever did you do that for?
II did it for Sahib Armstrong; sake,
replied the boy. proudly, because he
was good to me-"
The colonel turned hastily away tc
hide the lush h of not unmanly shame
that overspread his hard face; anc
Armstrong smiled slightly as lie heard
him mutter:
by Jove! these chaps aren't so black
us they're painted after AL"
" But if the troops are beyond tho
river, how can we communicate witt
them ?" asked Mrs. Currie, who, awak.
cned by the shouting, had risen anC
joined the group. "They may not pass
near enough TO hear the firing, and W.
have no means of sending them word.
(nladam) said the Hindoo 10y, quietly
Il will carry them word myselfm
" B 1t how can you possibly do it?'
'cried Mr.. Currie, thunderstruck by tn,
confident tone in which this mere rhilC
spoke of a task from which the hardies
veteran might well have shrunk.
Listen, sahib,' answered Ismail
II will slip out of the house, and max
dash into the enemy's lines. as if
were deserting from you to them; ant
you can tell your people to fire II shot o
TWO after me with blank cartridge, as
go. Then the Sepoys will receive m
kindly, and I'll tell them that your
all dying of thirst, and that they nee
only wait one day more TO be sure O
you, so that they won't care to max
another attack. Then, when they hav
no suspicion, and think I'm quite on
of themselves, I'll steal away, and sill
across the river"
"But are you quite sure the Sepoy
will believe you?" asked Major Arm
strong, doubtfully.
They'll believe this. anyhow" re
piled the boy, deliberately making
deep cash in his bare shoulder, an,
us he glided from theroQm, followed h
Armstrong.
The plan was soon explained to tn
men below, and moment later lsmail'
dark figure was seen darting like IA
arrow across the open space in front o
the building, followed by quick dis
charge of blank cartridges from tn
marksmen at the loopholes. The SCUM,
of firing drew the attention of til
Sepoys, several of whom ran forward t.
meet him.
In another instant he was in th
midst of them.
Il can scarcely see for those busl. .es,
said Colonel Annesley; but he seem
to be showing them the wound on hi
shoulder, and telling them it was ou
doing
At that moment an exulting yell fror
the enemy came pealing through tn
still air.
"That's the story of our being shol
of water, for guinea!" said the major
sit was very good thought of his ]
it only delays their attack two day
longer, there may be time for help t
arrive yet.
Slowly and wearily the long hours c
that fearful day wore on. The heat wa
so terrific that even the native soldier
of the garrison could barely hold thei
own against it, and the handful of Eng
lishmcn were almost helpless. Had til
Sepoys attacked then, all would hav
been over at one blow; but hour passe
after hour, and there was no sign of a
assault.
At length, as afternoon gave place
evening, II movement began to show i
self in the enemy's lines. Their curls
! smoke, rising above tie trees, Shove
that the evening meal was in prepars
tion; and several figures, with pitcher
. in their hands, were seen going towaT
the river, among whom the colonel
keen eye soon detected Ismail.
/. by Georger' cried the old soldie
slapping his knee exultingly, "that lad
E worth his weight in gold! There's b
3 way down to the river right open to hi
without the least chance of suspicion
, Why, he's born general-nothir
Z lessm
, Every eye within the walls was no