Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-07-07

A cry Of dlSmay, a loud laugh from
the sepoys, and then the boy was seen
running ffantlOally along the bank
and trying In vain to clutch the weasel
as II aoalcd past,
What on earh's he up tot granted
the colonel, completely myslided.
| zee said Major Armstrong
triumphanlly, there's q boat yonder
among the reeds, and he's making
right It, Well done my brave boy
But q, that moment q yell OF rage
fiom the sepoys toll that the trick
was discovered,
Luckily those on the bank had LETT
their pieces behine, or poor lsmail
would soon have been disposed OF
but the alarm instantly brought up q
crowd Of their armed comrades, whose
bullets foil like hail around the boat
and It's gallant little pilot.
Let us fro q volley aud make a
show Of sallying out, said the colonel !
it'll take their attention from him.
But in this 10 was mistaken.
Tho first rattle Of musketry from
the bcsicged house did indeed recall
most Of Ismails assailants. hut at
least dozen were left who kept up
au pnceasing fire, striking the boat
again and again.
All at once the colonel dashed his
glass to the floor with frightfnl oath.
Between two gusts Of smoke he
had seen the boat turn suddenly over,
and go whirling away down the dark
river, keel upward.
There's an end Of the poor lad NUT.
tered the veteran, brokenly. God
bless him for n brave little fellow
And now, old fellow, We must just die
hard, for there's no hope left
The first few hours Of the night
passed quietly, and the exhausted de-
Tenders, utterly WON out, slept as il
drugged with opium. But little af-
ter midnight the quick ears OF the two
veteran otiicers-the only watchers in
the whole garrison, except the SEN
tries themselves caught a faint stir
ring in the surrounding thickets, which
seemed to argue some movement on
the part of the enemy.
Listening intently for a few mo-
ments they felt certain that they were
right, and lost no time in arouslng
their men.
The scanty stores Of food were
opened once more, and, crouching to-
eether in the darkness, the doomed
men took what they fully believed
to be their last meal on earth.
They are coming, said Major Arm
straining his eyes into the
gloom through n loophole. | hear
them creeping forward, though | cant
see them.
What the deuce was that? ex-
claimed the colonel, suddenly. 1t
looked like fiery arrow flying past.
It's worse than that, said the major,
in a low voice. The rascals are shoot
ing lighted chips Of bamboo on the
roof to set it on fire. Send the women
up with buckets to flood the tdatch ;
there's not moment to lose.
I'll 90 and see to it myself, cried
Mrs. Currie, fastening out Of the
room.
But the power of this new weapon
hnd already become fatally manifest.
The house was an old one, and as dry
as li..der from the prolonged heat,
and as fast as the flames were quenched
in one place they broke out in anoth-
er.
When day dawned, the fire had al
ready got firm hold on one corner of
the building, and a crushing discharge
was poured upon all who attempted t"
extinguish it, while the triumphant
yells of the human tigers below told
that they felt sure of their prey.
It's all ever with us old fellow, said
the colonel, grasping his old comrades
hand but at least we Snali nave uOne
our duty.
Give me one Of your pistols, whis-
pered Mrs. Curne to her husband, in
a voice that was not her own, / must
not fall into their hands alive.
At that moment Major Armstrong
was seen to start and bend forward,
as if listening intently; for he thought
although he could scarcely believe
his ears-that he had suddenly caught
a FAINT sound Of distant firing.
In another instant he heard it again,
and this time there could be no more
doubt, for several Of the Others had
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