Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-22

at the we'll. The same thought occupied
the minds of all. There were women in the
garrison-delicate English ladies, girls and
children-and within the rooms set apart
for the purpose of a hospital wounded men
were moaning for water. Water, at all
COSTS must be had-even in the face OF
vigilant enemy and a loaded cannon. But
how?
Over fringe of mango trees and the roofs
Of some low bungalows to the right of the
square a knot of dusky figures could be
deserted at a certain point on the hillside.
The dark point marked the spot where the
cannon was posted. Even as the spectators
looked toward it the cannon boomed-there
came a puff of smoke and flash of fire
and at the same moment the ground about
the mouth of the well was torn up by a
fierce hail OF shot. The gunners were try
ing their range; and what is more, it was
only too evident that they had found it.
The spectators looked significantly at one
another. Four of the group were English
soldiers; the rest were natives. Of the lat
ter, two were water carriers, each of whom
carried about his waist a large, hollow belt
of skin, capable of containing several gall
Ions of water. The duty of these men was,
in ordinary times, one of no particular
danger. But now the case was altered.
There they stood trembling, their dusky
faces turning to sickly yellow, as they
stared at the space of shattered ground
which the storm of shot had torn uD all
round the mouth of the well. The other ma
tiyes were all Sikhs; and these, with the
impassive courage of their race, looked on
calmly and betrayed no emotion.
Of the Englishmen, two were private SOL
diers; the other two were oficers-ColoDel
Duudas, the officer in charge Of the garrison
and a Young lieutenant, st. George Vane.
The Colonel was tall, gray man, grave,
stern and martial. The lieutenant was
Young man of not more than five or six and
twenty, with blue eyes, fair mustache and
careless, handsome features, much bronzed
BY exposure to the sun.
The Colonel was the first to speak.
''This is an awkward business, Vane," he
said. "We might drive these towards to
the we'll, but they will certainly be blown
to pieces, and we shall get no water. And
at night, with this moon, it is as light as
day. One could see mouse stirring"
"True," said Vane, rejecting, "yet-stayl
one of us might go out alone, and try to
bring in water. If they hit him, as they
most likely will, three or four others can be
ready to rush out, and may bring him in,
and the water as well, before they have time
to load again." and he looked inquiringly
at the ColonePs face, eager to learn what he
thought of the proposal.
"The cannon is not the only danger"
said the Colonel. "They have rifles there
as WE'LL"
''True," said Vane, "but rifle at that
range would most likely miss-a shower of
grape is different"
The Colonel hesitated. No commander
likes to send brave rRen on desperate vent
ures. But he could see no other scheme
which would not involve much greater risk
of lie, with still less prospect of success
And they must reach the well in some way
the necessity was vital. Ii once their sup
ply of water were cut off their chance was
gone. They could not last II hours.
vane had kept his eyes fixed upon the
Colonel's face.
LET me try," he said eagerly. Give me
few men-a score will volunteer-and we
will laugh at these black scoundrels yet."
The Colonel hesitated-but only for mo-
ment There was no man in the garrison
whom he valued and trusted more than st.
George Vane. He knew well the danger Of
the proposed adventure; and he knew well,
also, that Vane, ifhs were allowed to under.