The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-01-20
ger, there may be time Sos help 10 azrivo

yet"
Slowly and YEARLY the long hours OF
that fearful day wore on. The heat was
30 terrible that even the native soldiers
Of the garrison could barely hold their
own against 1T, and tho handful Of En-
glishmen were also helpless. Had the
Sepoys attacked them, all would have
been over ut one blow but hour passed
hour, and there was no sign of an as
sault.
AT length, as afternoon gave place TO
evening, movement began to show
itself in the enemy's lines. Then curls
OF smoke rising above the trees showed
that the evenings meal was in prepare
tion then several figures with pitchers
in their hands were seen going toward
the river, among whom the Colonel's
keen eyes detected Ismail.
"By George p cried the old soldier,
slapping his knee exulti1gly, ''that lads
worth his weight in gold There's his
way down to the river right open to him
without the least chance of suspicion.
Why, he's born gentleman-nothing
lessl''
Every eye within the walls was now
turned anx1ously upon the distant
group, fearing to see at any moment
some movement which would show that
the trick was detected. How did IsmaiI
mean to accomplish his purpose?
Would he plunge boldly into the river,
without any disguise, or had he some
further stratagem in preparation? No
one could say.
Suddenly, as Ismail stopped to plunge
his light wooden dipper into the water,
1t slipped from his hands and went float
ing away down the stream. A cry of dis
may, loud laugh from the Sepoys,
and then the boy was seen running
frantically along the bank and trying in
vain to catch the vessel as it floated past.
"What on earth's he up to? ?" grunt-
ed the Colonel, completely mystifed.
see u" cried Maj. Armstrong, tri.
umphantly; "theres boat yonder
among the reeds, and he's making for it.
Well done, my brave boyl"
But at that moment q 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 disposed of but
the alarm instantly brought up q crowd
| OF their armed comrades. whose bullets
fell like hail around the boat and its
gallant little pilot.
"Let us fire volley and make q
show Of sallying out" said the Colonel;
1T III take their attention from him."
But in this he was mistaken.
The first rattle of musketry from be-
hlnd the house did indeed recall most Of
Ismails assailants, but at least dozen
we're left, who kept up an inoessant fir
ing. striking the Boat again and again.
All at once the Colonel dashed his
glass to the floor with frightful oath.
Between the two gusts Of smoke he
had seen the boat turn suddenly over.
and go whirling down the river, keel
upward.
There's an end Of the poor lad" NUT
tered 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 of the night passed
quietly, and the exhausted defenders,
utterly worn out, slept as if drugged
with opium. But a little after midnight
the quick ears of the two veteran officers
the onl y watchers in the whole gar
rison 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, crouched together in the
darkness, the doomed men took what
they fully believed to be their last meal
on earth.
"They're coming" said Mej. Arm
afF0TO Snt1 hA
gloom through loop-hole. "I hear
them creeping forward, though I can't
see them"
"What the deuce was thatP" ex-
claimed the Colonel, suddenly. "It
looked like fiery arrow flying past"
"Its worse than that" said the Ma
ior, in low voice. "The rascals are
shooting lighted chips of bamboo out on
to the roof to set it on fire. Send the
women up with buckets to flood the
thatch there's not moment to lose."
"Ill 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 the day dawned the fire had al =
ready got firm hold of one corner of
the building, and a crushing discharge
was poured upon all who attempted to
extinguish it, while the triumphant yell
of the human tigers below told them
that they felt sure of their prey.
"Irs all over with us, old fellow, said
the Colonel, grasping the old comrades
hand "but, at least, we shall have done
our duty"
Give me one OF your pistols" whis-
pered Mrs. Currie to her husband, in q
voice that was not her own. "I must
not fall into their hands alive"