The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-09-04

the muzzles of ready rifles showing how
steady the beseged garrison stands at bay
against the countless enemies, whose dark,
fierce faces and glittering weapons are Wis
ible amid the half-ruined building and
matted thickets all around.
The sepoy mutiny of 1857 is blazing sky
high over Northern India, and Colonel An
nesley is blockaded in Hutta- a-Bagh, with a
certainty of a hideous death for himself and
every man of the few who are still true to
him, unless help como speedily.
Day was just breaking, when two men
held whispering counsel in one of the upper
rooms.
'.No 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 60 right at them,
and cut our way through or die for 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. owe mustn't say any
thing to them about it, though" added he
with a side glance at Mr.. Currie, who, stand
ing in the further corner, was anxiously
watching the thin, worn face Of his wife.
At that moment loud cheer from below
startled them both, and the next moment
lsmail (the 'major's boy" as every one now
called him) burst into the room, with glow
of unwonted excitement on his dark face.
"Sahib," cried he, "there is hope for us
yet A detachment of Ingleez (English)
are coming up the other bank of the river ;
if we can send word to them as they pass,
we are saved I"
GLOW do you know9' asked the major
eagerly.
81 heard the Sepoys say so, while was
lying hid among the bushes yonder," an
swered the lad.
"Among the bushes yonder?" roared the
colonel, facing around. "Have you really
been in the midst of those cut-throat vii
lains, listening to what they said2 What
ever did you do that for ?"
81 did it for sahib Armstrong; sake" re-
piled the boy, proudly, "because he was
good to me-"
The colonel turned hastily away to hide
the flush OF not unmanly shame that over
spread his hard face; and Armstrong smiled
slightly as ho heard him mutLer:
"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 p
asked Mrs. Currie, who. awakened by the
shouting, had risen and joined the group
"They may not pass near enough to heal
the firing and we have no means Of send
ing them word"
"Fear nothing for that, mem-sahib'
(madam) saio the Hindoo boy, quietlyj 81
will carry them word myselfp
"Bnt how can you possibly do t?" cried
Mr. Currie, thunderstruck by the confident
tone in which this mere child spoke of g
task from which the hardest veteran might
well have shrink.
"Listen, Sahib," anawered Ismail. ~
will slip out of the house, and make a dash
into the enemy's lines, as if | were desert
ing from you to them; and you can tell youl
people to fire shot or two after me with
blank cartridge, as I go. Then the sepoyt
will receive me kindly, and I'll tell then
that you're all dying of thirst,and that they
need only wait one day more to be sure o
you, 90 that they wont care to make another
attack. Then, when they have no suspicion
and Pm quite one of themselves, I'll stea
away, and slip across the river"
"But are you quite sure the Sepoys viii
believe ycuP" asked Major Armstrong
doubtfully.
"Theyll believe this, anyhow" replied
the boy, deliberately making deep gasl
in his bare shoulder, and staining his whit
irocl with the blood, as he glided from tn
room, followed by Armstrong.
The plan was soon explained to the mel
below, and a moment later Ismai's darl
figure was seen darting like an arrow acros
the open space in front of the building, fol
lowed by a quick discharge of blank cart
ridges from the marksmen of the loopholes
The sound of firing drew the attention O
the sepoys, several Of whom ran forward
meet him.
In another instant he was in the midst c
them.
81 can scarcely see for those bushes" sail
Colonel Annesleyj "but he seems to b
showing them the wound on his shoulder
and telling them it was our doing"
At that moment an exulting yell fror
the enemy came pealing throug the still
air.
"That's the story Of our being short {
water, for a guinea /" said the majorj a
was very good thought Of his. If it onl
+ delays their attack two days longer, ther
may be time for help to arrive yet.
Slowly and wearily the long hours Of tha
fearful day wore on. The heat was so tel
rife that even the native soldiers Of the gar
! I Il5nu GOulu uditlg hplN thSlA o"A ob"'A'
it, and the handful of Fnglishmen were al
most helpless. Had the sepoys attackc
then, all would have been over at one blow
but hour passed after hour, and there wa
no sign of an assault.
At length,as afternoon gave place to even
ing, movement began to show itself in tn
enemy's lines. Their curls of smoke, risin
above the trees, showed that the evenin
meal was in preparationi and several fig
ures, with pitchers in their hands, were see
, going toward The river, among whom th
colonel's keen eye soon detected Ismail.
"By George" cried the old soldier, slapF
ing his knee exultingly, "that lads wort
his weight in gold /? There's his way dow
to the river right open to him without tn
least chance of suspicion Why, he's
born general-nothing less"
Every eye within the walls was mo-
turned anxiously upon the distant groul
fearing TO see at any moment some NOV,
ment which would show that the trick WI
detected. How did Ismail mean to accom-