Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-27
SAVED BY STRATAGEM.


country station at llutta Bagh. in north.
| ein India, had gone out upon tue vCranda
! with his wife and his two quests OIL
/ Il NrCS and Mai Armstrong of the TIL
! infantry. " lille the party were quietly
convcrsing sudden ciamor of angry
voices from the road below drew them all
to the front of the vcranda
The cause of The disturbance was visible
at once. Two half drunken i-ngish sol
dicrs, staggering along the road, had
come into violent contact with Il native
boy who was running past: and one Of
them, cnragcd at the collision, lad fcllcd
the poor AL To the ground, and was un.
clnsping his own bet with the evident in.
tcntion OF heating him numerically.
"ScrNcd The Young whclp right shouted
the co oncl, rubbing his hands; that
just what they all want "
The other on.ccr, Mai Armstrong
popularity called Mai Strongarm was
huge, hrawny, silent man, whose forte
lay in acting rather than tal>ing. TO
leap TO the ground twelve feet below, to
dart across the garden, 10 vault over the
high sto kadc beyond, was the work of
moment tor the athletic major, and in an
other instant he had raised the fallen boy
tenderly from the ground, while saying to
the foremost soldier. in the low. com.
pressed tone OF a man who means what he
says
lie of with you"
And who the deuce are you, shown
yer noe in where you amt wauted?"
roared the iniuriatcd ruliian, to whose
eyes the ma ior's plain evening dress bore
no token Of his being an officer; - list
| YOU
The sentence was never finished At
the sound of that last insolcnt defiance
Armstrong; sorcly tried patience gave
way altogether, and the strong right hand
which had hcwcd its way through a
whole squadron of Sikh calvary, fell like
sledgc hammer upon his opponent 3
face, da>hing him to the ground as if he
| had been blown from the mouth of q
gun.
"Wel done, majorlr shouted Mr. Cur.
ric from above. " \ on deserve your name,
and no mistake. At the name Of ma
jor" the old soldier took TO his heels. and
| Armstrong without even looking at his
! PROSTATE antagonist proceed to examine
the injuries OF the boy The latter was
sorcly bruised in many places, and tie
blood was lrckling freely over his
swarthy face, hut the little hero still did
his best to stand erect, and 10 keep down
every ign Of the pain which he was en-
during
oJrc "A brave lad, ANA you II make
soldier some day, " said the Ina or to him.
| in liiudousiance "Comc with me, and
! iii see that no one molcStS you again.
six months have come AID gone, and
! Mr.. urrics hoSpitablc house presents Il
very different spectacle. The pretty gar
den is tranpcd into dust and mirc. and
the bodies OF men and horses are living
thick among the fragments of the half
destroyed stoCkadc. The windows of the
house ave blocked up, and through the
loophoIed walls peer the mulllcs of ready
rifles showing how steady the be.
scigcd garrison stands at bay against
the countless enemies whose dark, fierce
faces and glittcring weapons are visible
amid the half ruined building and matted
thckcts all around. The Sepoy mutiny
is blazing sky nigh over northern India,
and COL AyrcS is bockadcd in llutta.
Bagh, with Il certainty of II hidc0us death
for himself and every man of the few who
arc stlil true to him, unless help comes
, speedily.
Day was Just breaking when two men
| held wins. cred cOunSCiS i'll one OF the up.
per omS.
NO fear Of the water running short, ="
said Ma. Armstrong; but even upon half
rations the food will he out in four days
more
Il NJ llIti VIZ u just 20 X AZ AT tltil,
aud cut our way through or die for it y"
growlcd the old colonel. with grim smile
on hi iron face, for with al. h harsh.
ness and injustice, Cot Ayr N.i, INT"
to the backbone We musu SAY any
thing to them about it. though. added
he. with side CLAN at Mr.. Curric, who,
standing in the further corner, was anX
lousy watching the thin. worn face of his
sleeping wi e.
At that moment loud cheer from he
low startled them both and the next mo.
mcnt l~mail thc ma OF 5 boy, as every
one now called HIM burst into the room,
with IA glow OF unwonted excitement on
his dark face.
- aAib!' cried he, there il hope for us
yet! \ detachment Of English are com
ing up on the other bank OF the river, if
We can send word to them us they pass,
we are saved"
"lIow do you know" asked the major.
eagerly
IL heard the scpoys say SO while | was
lying hid among the bushes yonder, an
swcrcd tn" lad.
Among the bushes yonder?" roarcd the
colonel, facing around. "IIave you
really been in the midst Of these cut
throat villains, listening to what they
said What ever did you do that for"
ulu IL lol StHlD ATHlStIOHEh sake,
replied the DO, proudly, because he was
good to me "
But if the troops are beyond the river,
how can We communicate with them"
! asked Mrs. Curric, who, awakened by
the shouting. had risen and joined the
group They may not pass near enough
TO hear the firing, and We have no means
of sending them word"
Fear no hing for that mem sahib, I"
(madam) said the lIindoo boy. quietly; Il
will carry them word myself
"hut how can you possibly do it," cried
Mr. Cuuic, thunderstrucN by the conf
dent tone III which this mere child spoke
OF task from which the hardest veteran
might well have shruuN.
Listen, sahib, answered lSmail a.
viii slip out Of the houo', and make u
dash INTO the cncmys lines. "a, if / were
dc>crtng from you to- them, and you can
tell your people to fire shot or Two after
me with Blank cartridge as / 60. Then
,t.'N D. D .