Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-02-05

they have no suspicion, and think I'm
quite one Of themselves, III steal away
and slip 4s.ross the river"
But YOU are quite sure the Sepoys
will believe you?' asked Major Arm
strong doub,iully.
They'll believe this, anyhow" re-
piled the boy, deliberately making a
deep cash iii his bare shoulder and
staining his white frock with the blood
;,s he glided from the room, followed
hy Armstrong.
The plan Was soon explained to the
men below, and moment later Is
mails dark figure was seen darting
like an arrow across the open space
in front Of the building, followed 10y
quick discharge Of blank cartridges
from the narksmen at the loopholes.
The sound of the firing drew the at
tention of the Sepoys, several of whom
ran forward to meet him.
In another instant he was in the
| midst Of them.
| Il can scarcely see for those bushes"
| said Colonel Annesley; ''but he seems
| 10 be showing them the wound on his
shoulder, and telling them it was our
| doing
At that moment an eXultant yell
from the enemy came pealing through
| the air.
That's the story of our being short
of water, for guinea :" said the major
'it was very good thought of his. Ifit
only delays their attack two days long
er, there may be time for help to ar
rive yeti
Slowly and wearily the long hours
Of that fearful day wore on. The heat
was So terrific that even the native sol
diers Of the garrison could barely hold
their own against it, and the handful
of I.ngliShmen were almost helpless.
Had the Stpoys attacked them, all
would have been over at one blow
but hour passed after hour, and there
was no sign of an assault.
At length, as afternoon gave place to
evening. a movement began to show
itself in the enemy's lines. Thin curls
of smoke rising above the trees showed
that the. evaning's meal was in prepa-
ration and several figures with pitch
ers in their hands were seen going to-
wards the river, among whom the
colonel's keen eyes soon detected Is
mail
"By Georgen' cried the old soldier,
slapping his knee eXultantly, that
lads worth his weight in gold. There's
his way down to the river right open
to him without the least chance of sus-
picion. Why, he's born gentleman
nothing else.'
Every eye within the walls was now
turned anxiously upon the distant
group, fearing to see at any moment
some movement which would show
that the trick was detected.
How did Ismail 'aean to accomplish
this purpose? Would he plunge boldly
into The river, without any disguise, or
had he some further stratagem in pre-
parationo No one could say.
Suddenly, as Ismail stopped tc
plunge his light wooden dipper into
the water. it slipped from his hands
and went floating away down stream
, a cry of dismay loud laugh from
the Sepoys, and then the boy was seer
running frantically along the bank
and trying in vain to catch the vesse
as it floated past.
What on earth is he up to o. grunt
ed the colonel, completely mystified
Il see.' cried Major Armstrong tri
umphantly; there's boat -yonde
among the reeds, and he's making righ
for it. Well done, my brave boy..'
: But at that moment yell of
: from tl3e Sepoys told that the tricl
was discovered
h Luckily those on the bank had lef
their pieces behind, or poor Ismai
e would soon have been disposed of
h hut the alarm instantly brought up
( crowd OF their armed comrades, who's
4 bullets fell like hail ar ,und the boa
II and its gallant little pilot.
: Let us fire a volley and make
Z show OF sallying out, - said the colone
''it'll take their attention from him. =
/" But in this he was mistaken.
), / e first rattle Of mu>ketry from bs
: hind the house did indeed recall mos
of Ismails asSailants. but at least
!" dozen Were left, who kept up an ince.
y SAINT firing, striking the boat again an
-e again.
le All al once the colonel dashed h
e gla>, 10 the floor with frishtful oati
Between the two gust. OF smoke b
/, had seen the boat turn suddenly owe
,e and 20 whirling down the riv~r. ke,
/ upward.
I'll 1heres : all end Of the poor lad
a mutteresi the veteran, brohenly. Go
l. bless him Tor brave little fellow. An
e now. old friend, VT must just die har,