The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-11-19

over his Swarthy face; but the little hero
still did his best to stand erect and to
keep down every sign of the pain which
he was enduring.
You're brave lad and you'll make n
soldier some day, said the Major to him
in llindoostannc. Come with me, aud
I'll see that no one molests you again.
The lad seized the huge brown hand
which had defended him so brayely and
kissed it with the deepest reverence, and
the two walked away together.
Six months have come and gone, and
Mr. Cmrie's hoSpitablc house presents II
very different spectacle The pretty gar
den is tramplcd into dust and mire, and
the bodies of men and horses are lying
thick among the fragments of the half
destroyed stockadc.
All the windows of the house are
blocked up, and through the loop-holed
walls appear the muzzles of ready rifles,
showing how steadily the bcsieged gar
rison stands at bay against the countless
enemies, whose dark, fierce faces and
gIittcring weapons are visible amid the
half ruined building and matted thickcts
all around.
The Sepoy mutiny of 1857 is blazing
sky high over Northern India. and Col
oncl Anncsslcy is blockadcd in IIuttee-
Bagh, with certainty of hideous
death for himself and every man of the
few who are still true to him. unless help
comes speedily.
| Day was Just breaking when two men
held Il whispered counsel in one of tre
upperrooms.
'Nofcar Of the water running short,
said Ma jor Armstrong; but, even upon
half ratious, the food will be out in four
days more.
And then well just 90 right at them,
and cut our way through or die for it,
growed the old Colonel, with grim
smile on his iron face, for, with all his
harshucss and injustice Colonel An
ucslcy was grit to the backbone.
We mustn't say anything to them
about it, though added he, with a side
glance at Mr.. CmTie, who, standing in the
further corner, was anNiouSly watching
the thin, worn face of his sleeping
wife
At that moment loud cheer from be
low startled them both, and the next
moment ismall (he Majors boy, as ev-
cry ono 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! \ detachment of lngleez (English)
are coming up the other bank of the riy-
er; if we can send word to them as they
pass we are saved!
How do you know asked the ma jor
eagerly.
Il heard the Scpoys say so, while | was
lying hid among the bushes ,,yonder. an
swrrcd the lad.
Among the bushes yonder?' roared the
Colonel, facing around. Have you re
alv been in the midst of those Gu
throat villains, listening to what they
said' Whatever did YOU do that for!
i did it for Sahib Armstrong's sake,
replied the boy, proudly; because he
was good to me
The Colonel turned hastily away t,
hide the flush of hot unmanly sham,
that oversprcad his hard face; and Arm
strong smiled slightly as he heard lin
muttcr:
by Jovc. these chaps aren't so blacl
MS they're painted after all.
But if the troops are beyond the riv
cr, how can we communicate with themi
, asked Mrs. Curric. who awakened b,
the shouting, had arisen and joined tn
I group 'Thcy may not pass near enougI
to hear the triug,and We have no mean
r Of sending them word
Fear nothing for that, mcm-sahil
p (madamc), answered the lIindoo boy
| quietly, Il will carry them word myself
But how can You possibly do ii
/. cried Mrs. Curric, thundcrstluck by tn
T. confident tone in which this mere chill
spoke of task from which the hardic.
t veteran might well have shrunk
n Listen, sahib. answered lSmail.
+ will slip out of the house and make
e dash into the cnemy'S lines, as if wel
r descrting from you to them, and You ca
- tell your people to fire shot or two n
p ter me with blank cartridge as | q,
+, Then the Sepoys will receive me kind,
: and I'll tell them that you're all dyingt
/ thirst and that they need only wait on
h day more to be sure of you, SO that the
wont care much to make another "A
d tack Then, when they have no susp
L cion, and think I'm quite one of then
y selves, I'll steal away and slip across II
II river
But you are quite sure the Sepoys wi
/ believe you ? asked Major Armsuon
: doubtfully.
|, They'll believe this, anyhow replie
/ the boy,dcliberately y making a deep gas
e in his bare shoulder and stainirg h
d white frock with the blood as he Glide
It from the room, followed by Armstron;
e The plan was soon explained to the me
T. below, and IA moment later lsmail's dai
figure was seen darling like an AFRO
t. acro>Sth the open space i'll front of the bull,
: ng, followed by quick discharge {
blank cartridges from the marksmen
70 the loopholcs. The sound of the tiriu
: drew the attention of ScpoyS, several
G whom ran forward to meet him
In another instant he was in the mid
Il of them
a i can scarcely see for those bushc
Z said Colonel Annesley; but he seems
he showing them the wound on his shol
= er, and telling them 1t was our doing.
It At that moment an cXalting yell fro
r the enemy came pealing through Il
I, air,
d That's the story of our being short
l. water for guineaH said the Major
n was a very good thought of his If
% only delays their attack two days long,
There may be time for help to ari
yet
n Slowly and YEARLY the long hours
Y that fearful day wore on, The heat W
Sc 50 terrific that even the native soldi,
IS of the garrison could barely hold th'
II own against it, and the handful of En-
lishmcn were almost helpless. Had t
Sepoys attacked them, all would la
re been over at one blow but hour pass
ic after hodr, and there was no sign of
hi assault,
,h At length as afternoon gave place