Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14

The plan was soon explained to tht
men below, and moment later lsmaif'
dark figure was seen darting like an ar
row across the open space in front of tn
building, followed by quick discharg
of blank cartridges from the marksme
at the loopholes. The sound of firm
drew the attention of the sepoys, severa
of whom ran forward to meet him.
another instant he was in the midst o
| them.
81 can scarcely sec for those bushes,
said colonel Ayres, "but he seems to b
showing them the wound on his shoulde
and telling them it was our doing"
AT that moment an eXultant yell fron
the enemy came pealing through the still
air.
"That's the story of our being short o
water, for guinea' said the major; 81
was a very good idea of his. If it onl,
delays their attack two days longer ther
may be time for help to arrive yet"
Slowly and wearily the long hours o
that fearful day wore on. The heat wa
so terrific that even the native soldiers O
the garrison could barely hold their OWL
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, a 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 were seen going
toward the river, among whom the colo
nel's keen eye soon detected Ismail.
by George" 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 a 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 tioated past.
"What on earths he up to?" grunted
the colonel, completely mystifed.
81 seew said Major Armstrong, tri-
umphantly; "there.s a boat yondcr
among the reeds, and he's making right
for it. Well done, my brave boy.n
Rnt at that uop,nop+ n y-all e ,.o rro fro,,,
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 a crowd
of their armed comrades, whose bullets
fell like hail around the boat and its gal
liant little pilot.
''Let us fire volley and make show
of sallying out" said the colonel; "It'll
take their attention from him."
But in this he was mistaken. The first
rattle of musketry did recall most of Is.
mails assailants, 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 tc
the floor with fierce imprecation. Be
|
the boat turn suddenly over, and g
whirling away down the dark river, kee
upward.
"There's an end of the poor lad, " nut
tered tne veteran brokenly. "God bles
him for brave little fellow. And now
old friends, we must die hard, for there'
no hope left.n
The first few hours of the night passec
quietly, and the exhausted defenders
utterly worn out, slept as if druggec
with opium. But little after midnigh
the quick ears of the two veteran officer
the only watchers in the whole garriso
except the sentries Themselves caught
faint stirring in the surrounding thickets
which seemed to augur some movemen
on the part of the enemy. Listening in
tently for a few moments, they felt Ger
tain that they were right, and lost n
time i'll awakening their men. The
scanty stores of food were opened one
more, and, crouching together in tn
darkness, the doomed men took wha
they fully believed to be their last mea
on earth
"They're coming" said Major Arm
strong, straining his eyes into the gloor
through a loophole. 81 hear ther
creeping forward, though l can't yet Sc
them.n
"What was that2" exclaimed tn
colonel suddenly. 'It looked like
fiery arrow flying past"
cts worse than that" said the major
in a low voice. THE rascals are shoot
ing lighted chips of bamboo into the roc
to set it on fire. Send the women u
with buckets to flood the thatch-there
not moment to losem
''Ill go and see to it myself, crieC
Mrs. Currie, fastening out of the room.
But the power of this new weapon hat
already been fatally manifest. The hous,
was an old one, dry as tinder from thu
prolonged heat and as fast as the flame,
were quenched in one place they broke
out in another. When day dawned, the
fire had already got hold of one corner OF
the building, and crushing discharge
was poured upon all who attempted to
eXtinguish it, whilst the triumphant wells
of the human tigers below told that they
felt sure of their prey.
''lts all over with us, old fellow, " said
the colonel, giasping his companions
hand; ''at least we shall have done our
duty"
"Give me one of your pistols" whis-
pered Mrs. Currie to her husband, in a
voice that was not her own. 81 must
not fall into their hands alive"
At that moment Major Armstrong was
seen to start and bend forward as If lis.
tening intently, for he thought although
he could scarcely believe his ears-that
he had suddenly caught faint sound ot
distant firing. In another instant he
heard it again, and this time there coulC