Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-19
SAVED by STRATAGEM.

Dinner was over at last, ana MI
Walter Currie, English commissioner
at the up.country station at Hutta
Bagh, in northern India, lad gone
out upon the geranda with his wife
and his two guests-Col. Ayres and
NAL Armstrong of the --th infantry.
While the party were quietly CONVEX
sing sudden clamor Of angry voices
from the road below drew them all to
the front Of the veranda.
The cause OF the disturbance was
visible at once. Two halfdrunken
English soldiers, staggering along
the road, lad come into violent con-
tact with native boy who was run
ming past; and one of them, enraged
at the collision, had felled the poor
lad to the ground and was unclasp-
ing bis own belt with the evident
intention of beating him unnaerci-
fully.
Served the young whelp right, -
shouted the colonel rubbing his hands,
chats Just what they all want
The other officer, Maj. Armstrong
-popularly called Maj. Stropgarm-
was a huge, brawny, silent man,
whose forte lay in acting rather than
thinking. To leap TO the ground II
feet below, to dart across the garden,
to vault over the high st0ckade be-
yond, was the work of a moment for
the athletic major; ana In another in
slant he had raised The fallen boy
tenderly from the ground, while say
ing to the foremost soldier, in a low,
compressed tone of a man who means
what he says:
BE off with you !"
"And who the deuce are YOU.
shown yer nose in where you amt
wanted" roared the infuriated ruff
fans, 10 whose eyes the majors plain
evening dress bore no token of an
officer; 'Jist you
The sentence was never finished
AT the sound OF that last Insolent de
Aance, Armstrong; sorely tried pa
tence gave way altogether, and the
strong right hand which had hewed
its way through a while squadron Of
Sikh calvary, fell like a sledge ham
mer upon his opponents face, dashing
him to the ground IS if he had been
blown from the mouth of gun.
"WelI done, MAORI shouted Mr.
Currle from above. You deserve
your name, and no mistake At the
name Of major the old soldier took
to his heels; and Armstrong, without
even looking at his PROSTATE antagon-
list, proceeded to examine the Injuries
of the boy. The latter was sorely
bruised in many places, and the blood
was trickliWg freely over his swsrthy
face; but the little hero still did his
best to stand erect, aEd 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 Hlndoostanee. Como with
me aud I'll see that no one molests
you again.
Six months have come and gone,
and Mr.. Curries hospitable house
presents very different spectacle.
The pretty garden is tramped into
dust and mire, and the bodies of men
and horses are lying thick among the
fragments of the half-destroyed
stockade. The windows of the house
are blocked up, and through the loop
holed walls peer the muzzle of ready
rifles showing how steady the beseiged
garrison stands at bay against the
countless enemies whose dark, fierce
faces and glittering weapons are Wis
ible amid the half ruined building and
matted thlckets all around. The
Sepoy mutiny is blazing sky nigh over
northern India, and Col Ayres is
blockaded in Hutta>Bagh, with q GER
tainty of a hiteous 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 whispered couusels in one
of the upper rooms.
'No fear of the water running
short, said Maj. Armstrong; "bur
even upon half rat,ons the food will
be out IN four days more.
And then wsll lust go right al
them, and cut our way through or die
for it," growled the old colonel, witt
a grim smile on his iron face, for
with all his harshneSs and injustice
Col. Ayres was grit to the backbone
I'VE mustn't say anything To them
about it, though, added he, with
x
ing in the further corner, was aux
iously watching the thin, worn fac
of his sleeping wife.
At that moment a loud cheer from
below startled them both, and th
next moment Ismail the major
boy as every one now called hin
burst into the room, with q gloy
OF unwonted excitementon his dar
face
"Tahibw cried he, there is hop
for us vet A detachment Of Englis
are coming up on the other bank 6
the river; if we can send word /
them as they pass we are saved l.
How do you know" asked th
major, eagerly.
Il heard the SepoyS say SO while
was lying Ind among the bushes yoI
der answered the lad.
Among the busher yonderl' roa
ed the colonel facing around. HAY
you really been IN the midst of thes
cut-thrOat villains. listening to wis.