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

y
not pass near enough to hear the fir-
ing, and we have no means of sending
them word.
Fear nething for that mem sahib, p"
| (madan) said the Hindoo boy, quIets
| ly; Il will carry them worG myself. y
But how can you possibly do ltl "
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 Isrnaii.
II will slip out Of the house, AND
make dash into the enemy's lines,
as if / were deserving from you to
them; and you can tell your people
to fire a shot or two after me with
blank cartridge, as 1 go Then the
! Sepoys will receive me kindly, and
I'll tell them that you're all dying Of
| thirst, and that they need wait only
one day more to be sure of you, SO
| that they wont care to make another
attack. Then when they have no sus-
picion, and think I'm quite one of
themselves, I'll steal away and slip
across LtAe flVef.
"But are you quite sure the Sepoys
will believe you F." asked Maj. Arm
strong deubtfully.
They'll believe this, anyhow, re-
piled the boy, deliberately making a
deep cash on his bare shoulder, and
staining his white frock with blood,
as he glided from the room, followed
by the major
The plan was soon explained to the
men below, and a moment later
Ismail's dark figure was seen darting
like an arrow across the open space
in front of the building, followed by a
quick discharge of blank cartridges
from the marksmen at the loop-holes.
The sound of firing drew the atten-
ton of the Saboys, several of whom
ran forward to meet him, In another
instant he was in the midst of them.
II can scarcely see for those
bushes" said Col. Ayres; but he
seems to be showing them the wound
on his shoulder, and telling them it
was our doing"
AT that moment an exulted yell
from the enemy came pealing through
the still air.
That's the story of our being short
of water, for guinea I" said the ma
ior; Kit was a very good idea Of his.
If it only delays their attack two days
longer may be time for help to arrive
yet.
Slowly and YEARLY the long hours
of that fearful day wore on. The heat
was so terrific that even the native
soldiers Of the garrison could barely
hold their own against it, and the
handful Of Englishmen were almost
helpless. Had the Sepoys attacked
them then all would have been over
al one blow; but hour passed after
hour, and there was no sign Of an as
sault
AT length, as afternoon gave place
to evening, a movement began to
show itself ia the enemy's lines. Their
curls of smoke rising above the trees,
showed that the evening meal was in
preparation, and several figures, with
pitchers in their hands, were seen
going toward the river, among whom
the colCnel's keen eyes soon detected
Isman.
by Georgep' cried the old soldier
slapping his knee eXultinglv, that
lads worth his weight in gold There's
his way down to the river right open
to him without the least chance of
suspicionl Why he's a born general
nothing lessw
Every eye within the walls was now
turned snXiously upon the distant
group, fearing to see at every moment
some movement which would show
that the trick was detected How did
Ismail wish to accomplish his purpose
Would he plunge bodily into the river
without any disguise or had he some
other stratagem in preparation No
one could say. Suddenly. as lsmail
stopped to plunge his light wooden
| dipper into the water ii slipped from
his hands and went floating away
down the stream. A cry Of dismay,
a loud laugh from the Sepoys, and
then the boy was seen running franti-
cally along the bank trying IN vain
to clutch the vessel as it doated past.
"WAat on earth is he up tor
| grunted the colonel, completely mys-
titled
Il seer cried Mai Armstrong
triumphantly; there's a boat yonder
among the reeds, and he's making
right 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 tae alarm instantly
brought up a crowd of their armed
comrades, whose bullets fell Ike hail
around the boat aad its gallant little
pilot.
Let us fire a volley aud make a
show of ,sallying out, said the col
onel; 'it'll take their attention FROM
him.
But in this he was mistaken. The
first rattleof musketry did indeed re
call most Of Ismaii's assailants, but at
least a dozen were left who kept up
an unceasing firing, striking the boat
again and again. All at once the
colonel dashed his glass to the floor
! Al