San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-19

smaller one for the people. The walls of
this part were fifteen feet high, rising plumb
from the earth, and could not be scaled with.
out ladders, while there were seven of us
with rifles to guard the archway, which was
not much larger than a common door.
While we were not sure that the driver
could be trusted, he was sent back to the main
road to cover our trail if possible, and to lie
in hiding and pick up such information as he
might. He had no sooner departed than we
watered the horses, hid them away in the
Jungle TO forage, got water for the people,
and then made scant breakfast on some
sandwiches which one Of the ladies had been
thoughtful enough to bring along. There
were plenty of wild gourds around the old
ruin, and in an hour we had ten gallons OF
water slowed away for emergency. 1t was
the season for many wild fruits and roots, and
before noon our commisSary department
would have stood a siege of four or five days
There were three children in the party, the
oldest only and the youngest 4, but not one
of them uttered a complaint. Even the
Youngest seemed to realize the situation and
to have determined not to add to the anxiety
of it in the slightest. Long enough before
noon we heard the firing of guns from the
spot where the Lucknow highway had been
barricaded, and, as was afterward known tC
me alone, over one hundred fugitives were
slaughtered at that point that day.
The driver reappeared about o'clock. He
had reached the road and effaced the wheel
and hoCf marks just in time. A party Oh
horseback, led by my body servant, was out
looking for us, and they not discover that We
had left the road From their talk our man
learned that the native soldiery were to re-
volt that morning, and that the town OF
Seetapore was TO be given up to plumber.
The whole country was up in arms against
British rule and the anticipated rebellion
was at last q fact. We were in a thinly set
tied district as be learned, and might remain
undiscovered for several days if we kept
quiet. The mans loyalty could no longer be
questioned and he was taken into our conf
dence and his advice asked for. He advised
us to remain where we were until obliged to
move on, and all agreed that this was the
wiseSt policy. We felt that our greatest
danger lay toward the highway from which
we had turned off, and that evening, after a
day of undisturbed peace, | accompanied the
driver back to the point from which he had
made his observations in the morning Ma
tives were passing in great numbss, some
going toward Seetapore and some the OtheT
way We soon heard enough to prove that
the expected revolt had taken place, and We
heard men boastng of the bloody deeds they
had performed The cantonment had been
burned most of the town laid in ashes, and
every European who had remained had been
hacked to pieces. The native soidisry were
nov scattering in detached bodies, each on
its own account, to rob, murder and join
ls ,,-itl mi tn he
rebellion.
We were awake the whole night long, and
our place of conceaIment was in a thicket
along the edge of the road About midnight
party coming from the east met one from the
west Just opposite us, and in minute or tive
recognized the voice of my body servant
He had been down the road to the east look
ing for me, having eight or ten villains witt
him, and, having failed in his search, was nov
asking for information. None of the Other
could enliShten him. and as he rode away
heard him saying something about searching
the thickets for our party. We returned tc
the temple at day break to find that the peopla
had passed quiet night. The horses vert
cared for, breakfast made on fruits and
roots and after having slept for three hour
| took the driver and set out for the south tC
see if we could not find way through thc
jungle to permit US to reach the Lucknow
road. After skirting the thickets for half
mile we found an opening. AT this juncture
the driver claimed to be very sick, and his
demearOr and appearance bore out hlS state
nents. He had violent pains, as if taxed
with colo, but after an hour he felt able Il
return to the temple, leaving me to follow the
route until could see if we would be able t.
reach the road. After an hours walk found
that we could, and in great good spirits l set
out on uy return.
1t was very sultry day, with no air stir
ring and | had to travel slowly. 1t was
fully three hours after | left the temple lie
fore ! approached it on my return. Every
thing was quet, bat the aoment | eBtereG
the main Enclosure noticed that the vehicle
were gone In the center of the Enclosure
lay the body OF the servant, his head cut
clean off his body but neither in that noI
the smaller incloSure could find any of the
others Of the party, living or dead. They
had, it seemed, been surprised, made prison
ers. and carried off in the vehicles. Nc
sooner was satisfied of this than | dashed
away for the jungle, and set out in the rec
tien of Lucknow That night fell in with
party headed for the same hayen, and we
reached it in SAFETY next day, to be penued
up there and take a hand in the sieg.
later on.
1t was not until British rule was firmly re,
stored that returned to SeetapOre. Almost
the4irst familiar face nay eyes beheld was
that of my treacherOus servant. who had iet
go of the native cause just at the right time
to ingratiate himself with the conquerOrs
and had been put in a position of trust. |,
however, caused his speedy arrest and trial