The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-01-05

couple Yes, take two of these pills
and go to sleep. Good night. You'll
be right as trivet tomorrow.
At last he was alone, sitting on his
charpoy and looking at the bare walls
with eyes which told of bleeding
heart within.
eff I could see motherl'' he MUIR
INJURED. IF could only have her here
for just five minutes of advice and
sympathy l must ask to be relieved
after this inspection" And thus de-
termining, he spent the awful hours of
the tropical night in trampling down
that love which comes but once to
man or woman.
The next day the regiment paraded,
while the grizzled, one-armed general
sat motionless upon his charger, watch
ing the black phalanxes ride past the
flagstaff in salute.
''Humphl Good drill, well set up,
your fellows. Colonel, hope they are
keeping sweet. We shot three yester-
day"
''Pll go bail for these men, general.
They are as good as they look. Every
one is trustworthy"
The sepoy who was removing the
covers at luncheon overheard, and the
faintest flicker of a smile passed over
his immobile face.
Trustworthy! Little did they know
the general himself would be cut down
by his own escort before reaching the
next station. Who was to tell these
English of that sudden, awful treason
,l,s L, Il, IL.
from Patna to Delhi? Even now the
coloners boosted sepoys were stealthily
sharpening their sabers, while their
sergeants were stealing ammunition.
A tall Malay crept into the native
quarters the next evening at dusk. He
was white with dust and thirsty.
''Ugh, drink" said he. And they gave
drink to him.
''These sons of pigs must die. So de-
clares the rajah," he whispered, look
ing cautiously around.
"Where's our brothers. token?"
queried native trooper.
''Truly, the TOKEN" reechoed the
group.
The Malay picked his teeth, and
pulled out a little fragment of yellow In
dian paper covered with hieroglyphics.
He passed it around, and they smiled at
each other with gruesome delight.
Twenty-Five minutes later the ''trusty"
Fifth Bengal had sworn to kill and
spare not. Every European was doomed.
Such were the orders of the secret
headquarters.
The night deepened. Charlie Mere
dith had dozed for the first time. Sud-
denly he was awakened by cracking
noise.
Cir ep' shouted he, jumping up and
looking out.
What scene! The square in front
of his quarters was filed with black,
dancing. grinning, Infatuated devils. A
bullet pinged and fattened against the
wall behind him. He was frozen with
horror at that moment, for his beloved,
gray-haired old colonel just then ran
out, his only daughter in his arms, his
wife sheltered behind him, and all
three were cut down before Charles
eyes.
"a mutinyr' he gasped. 1.-THE in.
fernal hell-hounds!" He sprang to the
door, sword and revolver in hand.
There stood his body-servant.
''The sahib must fly or he will die.
should be slain if they knew 1 warned
the sahib," said the man, gravely.
Charlie ran past him, behind the
building down to the tall river reeds,
and crouched there.
"Fortescue, are you here?' he whis-
pered, catching glimpse of scarlet.
'sYes, Meredith, and Clara with me-"
was the low response.
"Have care!' said Meredith do
not go too far out. hear crocodiles in
mid-stream.
The heart-piercing screams died
away, the barracks famed up, and the
three sole survivors crouched lower in
the jungle, while the sepoys danced
around the burning pile
They had looted the canteen, and the
Malay was asked to drink He shook
his head.
"The tall man-where is he and his
maiden?" queried he. SEARCH the
river, for they have escaped"
Tho sepoys passed so closely to the
fugitives that Fortescue drew Clara
nearer to him and clutched his pistol
COI many OIdNC lAdA AISI hlSoeQ his
loved women and then shot them be-
fore he died himself, in the terrible
days of the mutiny.
Down the stream the mutineers went,
while the Malay waited tor them on
the bank. close to Meredith.
''Now or never!" thought Charlie.
He leaped through the air like
tiger, his 1.-THE form wound around the
Malay's, and he clutched his tawny
throat as they struggled in the reeds.
That iron ugrasp never relaxed until
life had fed. He spurned the corpse
into the current behind him.
Good, Charlie! One fiend gone,
and he who caused the mischief, too!
Now let's make rush toward the
stables, and then for Lucknow said
the major.
The two heroes G rasped each others
hands, while Clara, calm and silent,
but deathly pale, followed their every
motion.
Fortescue tried to speak. He could
not His lips were parched, his eyes
bloodsht, his heart was on fire with
the terrible strain. At last he stam-
mered out these words:
If l drop first, Charlie, don't let
them take her aliver'
Charlie gripped his hand afresh in re-
ply. No words were needed They
understood each other.
Swiftly and neisetesslF tbs three
eFeptlpaaeF the sheitesin< .s"-7-. Mi; ;,4yti1
Sf,--Tt r.. = 20, - s-s-S NAHAt