Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-01-09

Ok IuOIlbuS nave come ana gone, ana
Mr.. Currie's hospitable house presents
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 b1ockaded 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, :"
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 q
grim smile on his iron face, for, with all
his harshness and injustice, Colonel
Annesley was "grit to the backbone.
eve 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 anxiously
watching the thin, worn face of his
sleeping wife.
At that moment a loud cheer from be-
low startled them both, and the next
moment Ismail 0he 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 savedw
"How do you know?" asked the
major, eagerly.
Il heard the Sepoys say 50, while l
was lying hid among the bushes yon-
der" answered 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
said? Whatever did you do that for?'
Il 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 as 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
thcm?" asked Mrs. Currie, who, awak-
cned 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, -sahib"
(madam) said the Hindoo 10y, quietly ;
Il will carry them word myself!'
B 1t how can you possibly do it?"
cried Mr.. Currie, thunderstruck by the
confid, ntton in which this mere child
spoke of a task from which the hardest
veteran might well have shrunk:
Listen, sahib," answered Ismail
| L WILL sip OuU VI lllG llOuSt, dllU lldhG
Il dash into the enemy's lines, as if
were deserting from you to them; and
you can tell your people to fire shot or
TWO after me with blank cartridge, 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 Pm quite one
of themselves, III steal away, and slip
across the river"
But are you quite sure the Sepoys
will believe youP" asked Major Arm
strong, doubtfully.
They'll believe this, anyhow" re.
piled the boy, deliberately making q
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 a moment later Ismail's
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
marksmen at the loopholes The sound
of firing drew the attention of the
Sepoys, several of whom ran forward tc
meet him.
In another instant he was in the
midst of them.
" can scarcely see for those bushes,
said Colonel Annesley; but he seems
to be showing them the wound on his
shoulder, and telling them it was oul
doing
At that moment an exulting yell from
the enemy came pealing through the
still air.
That's the story of our being shor
of water, for guinea!" said the major
it was very good thought of his.
it only delays their attack two day.
longer, there may be time for help tt
arrive yet.
Slowly and wearily the long hours O
} 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
lishmen were almost helpless. Had tn
, Sepoys attacked then, all would hav
: been over at one blow; but hour passe,
after hour, and there was no sign of al
| assault.
At length, as afternoon gave place t.
: evening, II movement began to show il
self in the enemy's lines. Their curls c
l smoke, rising above the trees, shove
that the evening meal was in prepare
ton; and several figures, with pitcher
&. in their hands, were seen going towar
: the river, among whom the colonel
keen eye soon detected Ismail.
+ "By Georgew cried the old soldier
:, slapping his knee exultingly, THAT lad
e worth his weight in gold! There's hi
e way down to the river right open to hir
without the least chance of suspicion
y Why, he's a born general-nothin
g lessp'