The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-01-21

to keep down every sign of the pain
which he was enduring.
You're brave lad, and you'll make
a soldier some day." said the Major to
him in Hindoostanee. "Come with me,
and I'll see that no one molests you
again"
The lad seized the huge brown hand
which had defended him so brayely,
and kissed it with the deepest reverence;
and the two walked away together.
Six months have come and gone, and
Mr.. Curie's hospitable home 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 loop-holed
walls peer the muzzles of ready rifles,
showing how steadily 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 thick
cts all around.
The Sepoy mutiny of 1857 is blazing
sky-high over Northern India, and
Col. Annesley is blockaded in Huttee-
Bagh, with certainty of hideous death
for himself and every man Of the few
who are still true to him, unless help
comes speedily.
Day was Just breaking when two men
held a whispered council in ono of the
upper rooms.
"No fear of the water running short, /"
said Maj. Armstrong, "but, even upon
half rations, the food will be out in four
days more"
"And then wen Just go right at them,
and cut our way through or die for it I"
growled the old Colonel, with grim
smile on his iron face, for, with all his
harshness and injustice, Col. Annesley
was "grit" to the backbone. "We
mustn't say anything to them about it,
though" added he, with 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 loud cheer from
below startled them both, and the next
moment Ismail (the "Maior's boy" as
every one now called him) burst into the
room with n glow of unwonted excite
ment on his dark face.
"Sahib," cried he, ''there is hope for
MS yeti A detachment of Ingleez (Eln-
glish) are coming up the other bank of
the river; if we can send word to them
as they pass we are saved.
GLOW do you know?" asked the Major
eagerly.
"I heard the Sepoys say so, while L
was lying hid among the bushes yon-
der" answered the lad.
''Among the bushes yonder?" 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's 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 Arm
strong smiled slightly as he heard him
mutter:
"By Jovel these chaps aren't so black
MS they're painted. after all.
"But if the troops are beyond the
river how can we communicate with
them?" asked Mrs. Currie, who, awakened
by the shouting, had arisen 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), answered the Hindoo boy,
| quietly. 81 will carry them word my
| self. "
"But how can you possibly do it2'
/ cried Mrs. Currie, thunderstruck by the
confident tone in which this mere child
spoke of task from which the hardest
veteran might well have shrunk.
"Listen, Sahib," answered Ismail
81 will slip out Of the house and make
dash into the enemy's lines, as if
were deserting from you to them, and
Won can tell your people to fire shot OF
two after me with blank cartridge as
go. Then the Sepoys will receive me
kindly, and I'll tell them that you're al
dying of thirst, and that they must only
wait one day more to make sure of you
so that they won't care to make another
attack. Then, when they have no sus
picion, and think I'm quite one of them
selves, I'll steal away and slip across tn
river"
"But are you quite sure the Sepoy
will believe your asked MAJ. Arm
strong, doubtfully.
"They'll believe this, anyhow" re
piled the boy, deliberately making
deep cash in his bare shoulder and stain
ing his white frock with the blood as h
glided from the room, followed by Arm
strong.
The plan was soon explained TO th
men below, and a moment later Ismail
dark figure was seen darting like an al
row across the open space in front OF tn
building, followed by quick discharg
of blank cartridges from marksmen {
the loopholes. The sound Of the frin
drew the attention of the Sepoys, se'
eral of whom ran forward to meet hin
In another instant he was in the midi
of them.
"I can scarcely see for those bushes,
said Col. Annesley, "but he seen
to he showing them the wound on h