Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-08-21

DESERVING lIOu you " 1hSAf "H
can tell your people TO fire "a shot OF two
after me with blank cartridge as go.
Then the Sepoys will receive me kindly,
and I'll tell them that you are all dying
of thirst and that they need only wait a
day more to be sure Of you, so that they
won't come to make another attack.
Then. when they have no suspicion, and
think I'm one of themselves, I'll steal
away and slip across the river"
but are you quite sure the Sepoys
will believe your asked Major Arm
strong, doubtfully.
They'll believe this, anyhow" re-
piled the boy. deliberately making q
deep cash in 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 moment later IsmaiPs
dark figure was seen darting like an ar
row across the open space in front of the
building, followed by quick discharge
of blank cartridges from the marksmen
at the loopholes. The sound OF firing
drew the attention of the Sepoys, several
of whom ran forward to meet him. In
another instant he was in the midst OF
them.
~ can scarcely see for those bushes, ="
said colonel Ayres, "but he seems to be
showing them the wound on his shoulder
and telling them it was our doing
At that moment an exultant yell from
the enemy came pealing through the still
air
'sThat's the story of our being short Of
water. for a guinear' said the major; lit
was a very good idea Of his. II it only
delays their attack two days longer there
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 English
men were almost helpless. Had the Sc
poys attacked them then all would have
been over at one blow, but hour passed
after hour and there was no sign Of an
assault. At length, as afternoon gave
place to evening, movement began to
show itself in the enemy's lines. Their
curls of smoke, arising above the trees,
showed that the evening meal was in
preparation, and several figures with
pitchers in their hands we've seen going
toward the river, among whom the colo
nel's keen eye soon detected Ismail.
"By Georgen cried the old soldier,
slapping his knee exultingly, ''that lads
worth his weight in gold There's his
way down to the river open to him, with
out the least chance Of suspicion. Why,
he's born general-nothing less
Every eye within the wall was now
turned anxiously upon the distant group,
fearing TO see at any moment some move
ment which would show that the trick
was detected Suddenly, as Ismail
stopped to plunge his light wooden dip
per into the water, it slipped from his
hands and went floating away down the
stream. A cry Of dismay, loud laugh
from the Sepoys, and then the boy was
seen running frantically along the bank
and trying in vain to clutch the vessel as
it fioated past.
What on earth's he up tor grunted
the colonel, completely mystified
81 seer said Major Armstrong, tri-
umphantly; 'there's a boat yondcr
among the reeds. and he's making right
for il. Well done, my brave boy.n
But at that moment yell Of rage from
the Sepoys told that the trick was dis
covered. Luckily those on the bank had
left their pieces behind, or poor Ismail
would soon have been disposed Of; but
the alarm instantly brought up crowd
of their armed comrades, whose bullets
fell like hail around the boat and its gall
liant little pilot.
''Let as fire volley and make a show
Of sallying OUT said the colonel; eth
take their attention from him"
But in this he was mistaken. The first
rattle of musketry did recall most Of Is
nails ASSISTANTS, but at least dozen
were left, who kept up an increasing fire,
striking the boat again and again. All
at once the colonel dashed his glass TO
the floor with fierce imprecation. Be
tween two gusts Of smoke he had seen
the boat turn suddenly over, and 90
whirling away down the dark river, keel
upward.
There's an end of the poor lad. NUT
tered tne veteran brokenly. "God bless
MN lol pidNt ittit itiloW. anu now,
old friends, we must die hard, for there's
no hope left
The first few hours Of the night passed
quietly, and the exhausted defenders,
utterly worn out, slept as if drugged
with opium. But little after midnight
the quick ears of the two veteran officers
the only watchers in the whole garrison
except the sentries themselves caught
faint stirring in the surrounding thickets,
which seemed to augur some movement
on the part Of the enemy. Listening in
tently for few moments, they felt GER
tain that they were right, and lost no
time in awakening their men. The
scanty stores of food were opened once
more, and, crouching together in the
darkness, the doomed men took what
they fully believed to be their last meal
on earth.
They're coming" said Major Arm
strong, straining his eyes into the gloom
through a loophole. 81 hear them
creeping forward, though can't yet see
them"
"What was thatf" exclaimed the
colonial eVfilaolx ssTt loolvol 1,l~o =