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

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it slipped from his hands, and went
floating away down the stream. A cry
of dismay, loud laugh from the Sc
poys, and then the boy was seen running
trantically along the bank, and crying
in vain to clutch the vessel as it floated
past.
What on earth's he up TOP" grunted
the colonel, completely mystifed.
81 seem cried Major Armstrong. tri-
umphantly, there's a boat Wonder
among the reeds, and he's making right
for it. Well done, my brave boy!''
But at that moment yell of rage
from the Sepoys told that the trick was
discovered.
Luckily those on the bank had left
their pieces behind, or poor Ismail
would soon have been dispaed. of; but
of their armed comrades, whose bullets
fell like hail around the boat and its
gallant little pilot.
Let us fire volley and make show
of sallying out" said the colonel; "it'll
take their attention from him."
But in this he was mistaken.
The first rattle of musketry from the
besieged house did indeed recall most of
lsmaiPs assailants, but at least dozen
were left who kept up an unceasing fire,
Striking the boat again and again.
All at once the cOIonel dashed his
glass to the floor with frightful 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 )"
muttered the veteran, brokenly. "God
bless him for brave little fellow.
And now, old friend, we must just die
hard for there's no hope left
The first few hours ofthe night passed
quietly, and the exhausted defenders,
utterly worn out, slept as if drugged
with opium. But a little after mid
night the quick ears of the two veteran
otficers-the only watchers in the whole
garrison, except the sentries themselves
caught faint stirring in the surround
ing thickets, which seemed to argue
some movement on the part of the
enemy.
Listening intently for few moments
they felt certain that they were right,
and lost no time in arOusing their men.
The scanty stores of food were opened
once more, and, crouching together in
the darkness, the doomed men took
what they fully believed to be their last
meal on earth.
They're comingm said Major Arm
strong, straining his eyes into the gloom
through a loophole. q hear them
creeping forward, though l can't see
them"
"What the deuce was thatp" ex-
claimed the colonel, suddenly. "It
looked like fiery arrow flying past"
It's worse than that" said the
major, in a low voice. "The rascals are
shooting lighted chips of bamboo on to
the roof 10 set it on fire. Send the
women up with buckets to flood the
thatch--there's not moment to lose"
I'm go and see to it myself" cried
Mrs. Currie, Fastening out of the room
But the power of this new weapon had
already become fatally manifest. The
house was an old one, and dry as tinder
from the prolonged heat, and as fast as
the flames were quenched in one place
they broke out in another.
When day dawned, the fire had al
ready got a firm hold of one corner OF
the building, and a crushing discharge
was poured upon all who attempted to
eXtinguish it, while the triumphant
yells of the human tigers below told
that they felt sure of their prey.
It's all over with us, old fellow y
said the colonel, grasping his old COM
rade's hand; but, at least, we shall
have done Our duty"
d" Give me one of your pistols whis-
pered Mrs. Currie 10 her husband, in q
voice that was not her own. 81 must
not fall into their hands alive"
At that moment Major Armstrong
was seen to start and bend forward, as
if listening inteDt,y; for he thought
although he could scarcely believe his
ears that he had suddenly caught q
faint sound of distant firing.
In another instant he heard it again
and this time there could be no moro
doubt, for several of the others haC
caught it likewise, and a CLEAN of hope
once more lighted up their haggard faces
and bloodshot eyes.
Louder and nearer came the welcome
sound, while the sudden terror anC
confusion visible among the enemy
showed that they, too, were at no loss
to guess its meaning.
Then high ahoTe all the dine rose tht
well-known " Hurrah !" and through III,
smoke-clouds broke a charging line o
glittering bayonets and rudGy Englisl
faces, sweeping away the cowardI,
murderers as the sun chases the morn
ing mist.
"That boys worth his weight il
gold" said Colonel Annesley, as, a tev
hours later, he listened to Ismail's &C
count of how he had dived under tn
boat and kept it between himself an,
the Sepoys, that they might think hin
drowned. Hes the pluckiest littl
fellow I've ever seen, and, although h
belongs to the major, I'm going to tax
my share of helping him on, by Jove!"