Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-06-08

room, With glow Of unwonsed excite.
ment on his dark face.
"Sahib," cried he, ''there is hope fo
US yet. A detachment Of Ingleez Eng.
lish) Are coming up the osax bank Of III,
river; il We can send word to them a,
they pass, we are sayed!''
''How do you know" asked the major
eagerly. ls.,. ..l-.
81 heard the Sepoys say 80. while
was lying hid among the bushes yonder, y
answered the lad.
"Among the bushes yonderw roared
the colonel, facing around. "Have you
really been in the midst Of those cut
throat villains, listening to what they
said: Whatever did you do that for"
81 did it for Sahib Armstrong; sake, -
replied the boy, proudly, because he
was good to me-"
The colonel turned hastily away to
hide the flush Of not unmanly shame that
overspread his hard face; and Armstrong
smiled slightly - he heard him mutter
"By Jove! these chaps aren't so black
as they're painted, after all.
"But if the troops are beyond the
river, how can we communicate with
them.' asked Mrs. Curie, who, awak.
ened by the shouting. 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, mem-sahib," !"
madam said the Hindoo boy, quietly !;
II will carry them word myselfr'
"But how can you possibly do it."
cried Mr.. Currie, thunderstruck by the
confident tone in which this mere child
spoke of a task from which the hardest
veteran might well have shrunk.
Listen. sahib," answered Ismail. ~
will slip out Of the house, and make a
dash into the enemy's lines, as if were
deserting from you to them; and you can
tell your people to fire a shot or two after
me with blank cartridge, as 90. Then
the Sepoys will receive me kindly, and
Ill 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 the river"
"But are you quite sure the Sepoys
will believe you," asked Major Arm
strong, doubtfully.
They'll believe this, anyhow" replied
the boy. deliberately making deep cash
in his bare shoulder, and staining his
white frock with the blood as he glided
from the room, followed by Armstrong.
The plan was soon explained to the
men below, and q moment later lsmaifs
dark figure was seen darting like an
arrow across the open space in front OF
the building, followed by quick dis
charge Of blank cartridges from the marks
men 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.
81 can scarcely see for those bushes"
said Colonel Annesley; ''but he seems to
be showing them the wound on his shoal-
der. and telling them it was our doing"
At that moment an exulting yell from
the enemy came pealing through the still
air.
That's the story of our being short
of water. for guinea" said the major
"it was a very good thought Of his. If
it only delays their attack two days
longer, there may be time for help to
arrive yet"
Slowly and YEARLY the long hours OF
that fearful day wore on. The heat was
30 terrific that even the native soldiers OF
the garrison could barely hold their own
against it, and the handful Of English
men were almost helpless. Had the
Sepoys attacked them, all would have
been over at one blow; but hour passed
after hour, and there was no sign Of an
assault.
At length, - afternoon gave place to
evening, = movement began to show itself
in the enemy's lines. Thin curls' Of
smoke, rising above the trees, showed
that the evening meal was in prepara-
ton; and several figures, with pitcher
in their hands, were seen going toward
the river, among whom the coloners keen
eye soon detected Ismail.
"By George" cried the old soldier,
slapping his knee exultingly, "that lad'i