The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-01-21
ger, there may be time for help to arrive

that fearful day wore on. Tho heat was
so terrible that even the native soldiers
of the garrison could barely hold their
own against 1t, and the handful of En-
glishmen We're also helpless. Had tho
Sepoys attacked them, all would have
been over at 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 prepara-
ton; then several figures with pitchers
in their hands were seon going toward
the river, among whom the Colonels
keen eyes detected Ismail.
"By George y cried the old soldier,
slapping his knee exultilgly, '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
less p
Every eye within tho 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
mean to accomplish his purpose2 ?
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,
it 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 tioated past.
What on earths he up to?" grunt-
ed the Colonel, completely mystified
81 see cried Maj. Armstrong, tri-
umphantly; "theres boat yonder
among the reeds, and he's making 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 disposed of but
the alarm instantly brought up crowd
VI theI HIulcu COlllhtlSbs WAonb buiicuH
fell like hail around the boat and its
gallant little pilot.
"Let us fire a volley and make a
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 be-
hind the house did indeed recall most Of
Ismail's assailants, but at least a 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 a frightful oath.
Between the two gusts of smoke he
had seen the boat turn suddenly over.
and 60 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 little after midnight
the quick ears of the two veteran officers
the only 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 Maj. Arm
strong, straining his eyes into the
gloom through loop-hole. " hear
them creeping forward, though can't
see them.
"What the deuce was that?" ex-
claimed the Colonel, suddenly. " II
looked like fiery arrow flying past.
"It's worse than that. said the Ma.
ior, in low voice. "The rascals are
shooting lighted chips Of bamboo out OF
to the roof to set it on fire. Send tho
women up with buckets to hocd the
thatch there's not moment to lose"
"I1l go and see to it myself y criet
Mrs. Currie, Fastening out Of the room
But the power of this new weapon haC
already become fatally manifest. Th'
house was an old one, and dry a
tinder from the prolonged heat
and as fast as the flames were quencheC
in one place they broke out in another
When the day dawned the fire had al
ready got firm hold Of one corner o
the building, and crushing discharg
was poured upon. all who attempted t
extinguish it, while the triumphant yel
of the human tigers below told ther
that they felt sure of their prey.
cts all over with us, old fellow, sal
the Colonel, grasping the old comrade
hand "but, at least, we shall have don
our duty" -.
"Give me one Of your pistols, " whil
pered Mrs. Currie to her husband, in
voice that was not her own. mui
, not fall into their hands alive"
) At this moment Maj. Armstrong WI
J seen to start and bend forward, as if Ii