The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-04-11
Select Storg,
THE Siege OF SUNDA OUNCE.
From Temple Bar.
CHAPTER /.

On the 1st of July, 1857, the Indian
Mutiny was at its height. For ten days
the little British station at Sunda Gunge
had been besieged by the insurgent Sepoys.
The station was divided into two pOr-
ii ons; the lower, consisting of tho Indian
village, and the upper, part of which, in
Guiding the magazine and the British resi-
dency, was strongly fortified. Within this
portion the English residents had retired
on the first signal of approaching danger.
The rebels, fortunately, possessed only one
small piece of cannon, which had proved
quite Intellectual against the walls of the
inclosure Provisions were not scarce; and
up to the present moment the garrison had
entertained strong hopes of being able to
hold out until relief arrived.
Suddenly a new and unexpected danger
had arisen.
The buildings inclosed within the fortif-
cations formed an open square In the
middle of the square was the well which
supplied the garrison with water About
) o'clock in the afternoon group of sew
eral persons was standing within the shelter
of an archway which opened into the square,
and gazing with looks of CONSERVATION and
dismay in the direction of the well.
The cause of their alarm was singular.
The town was situated at the foot of a
range of hills, and from one particular
point upon the slopes outside the walls the
well in the middle of the square was visible
This the Sepoys had at length discovered.
Their single piece of cannon was at once
posted at this point and brought to bear
exactly on the we'll within the town. The
result of this proceeding is self-evident If
one of the garrison should now venture
into the square for the purpose of fetching
water, he would run an imminent risk of
being blown to atoms by volley of grape
shot
The group of spectators looked in silence
at the well. The same thought occupied
the minds of ALL There were women in
the garrison-delicate English ladies, girls
and children-and within the room set
apart for the purpose of hospital wounded
men were moaning for water Water, at
all costs, must be had-even in the face of
vigilant enemy and loaded cannon. But
how?
Over fringe of mango trees and the
tops of some low bungalows to the right of
the square knot of dusky figures could be
deserted at certain point on the hillside.
The dark point marked the spot where the
cannon was posted. Even as the specta-
tors looked toward it the cannon doomed
there came puff of smoke and flash of
| fre-and at the same moment the ground
about the mouth of the well was torn up
by fierce hail of shot The gunners were
trying 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 latter two were water-carriers, each of
whom carried about his waist large, hol-
low belt of skin, capable of containing sew
eral gallons of water. The duty of these
men was, in ordinary times, one of no par
ticular danger. But now the case was
altered There they stood, trembling, their
dusky faces turned to sickly yellow. as
they stared at the space of shattered ground
which the storm of shot had torn up ali
round the mouth of the well. The other
natives 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
soldiers and the other two were officers
Colonel Dundas, the officer in charge Of the
garrison, and young Lieutenant, st.
George Vane. The Colonel was tall, gray
man, grave, stern and martial The Lieu
tenant was a 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.
"'rhis is an awkward business, Vane, y
he said. awe 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-
stay 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
Cdu pe iSdu( W rush Outj anu may DTIu9
him in, and the water as well, before they
have time to load again, and he looked
inquiringly at the Colonels face, eager tC
learn what he thought of the proposal.
'The cannon is not the only danger .
said the Colonel "They have rifles there
as well.
"True," said Vane, ''but a rifle at that
range would most likely miss-a shower OF
grape is different"
The Colonel hesitated. No commander
likes to send brave men on desperate ven
lures. But he could see no other schemt
which would not involve much greater risl
of life, with still less prospect of success
And they must reach the well in some way
the necessity was vital. If once thei
supply of water were cut of their chane,
was gone. They could not last twelv,
hours.
Vane had kept his eyes fixed upon th'
Colonels face.
! "Let me try" he said, eagerly, "Giv,