The times., 1901-06-02


table, making pretence Of cracking nuts
Draw your chair a trife closer dear
he said, watching the veranda with the
as elsewhere; / have plan. and there 5
no time to lose if were to carry it out
Abbotts wife and the youngsters are GO
ing north to Poorhabad tomorrow, with
young Mainwaring who is sick; the road
there is the only safe one open to us, and
you must go with them
Pat"
.'Mousie, now 90 be sensible. know
what you are going to say. but it's just
those babies or yours you must think OF.
l can take care of myself. little woman,
and better if Know you are safe
She was looking at him across a beaten
silver dish of fruit, ard the heaven of
unreasonableness that is in every wom-
ans nature shone out from her eyes for
an instant, and died away before the
terrible earnestneSs in her face.
You know best, Pat, dear" and her
voice was very faint.
That's right. little wOmaE," he said
in a tone of great relief. And now list
en-, Mousie, for every detail is of vital
import"
He got up and went quietly to the door.
peered into the passage. where every
thing was dark and silent, scanned the
veranda carefully for any eavesdropping
rascal. and returned calmly to his chair.
We've planned it this way, he con-
tinued, lighting cigar at one of the
candles. Mrs. Abbott and the children
will be dressed and ready when the first
bugle goes for parade; Mainwaring has
been off duty with that smashed ankle
for some time so there will be nothing
unusual in his driving out in the phaeton.
and as he passes Abbott's bungalow they
viii nip in and he'll come on here: YOU
must be waiting with Marion and Dot
no luggage. mind, simply the clothes you
stand inland before our black devils on
parade can possibly hear of il, you'll II
have got half an hours start with those
chestnuts Of his. Is it quite clear2'
Yes. but it's forty miles to Poorhabad.
Pat. No chestnuts in the world could do
it before the heat comes. He will tele-
graph for them TO come out and meet
US. won't he?'
No said the adiutant grimly. "The
wires were cut this afternoon
She caught her breath and turned very
pale, and they sat in silence, looking at
each other.
1t was coming then; it would be a mat
ter of hours now.
Solemn and lonely was the night out
side.
only the distant yelp of the jackals
over the grey plains, and the splash of
some nocturnal creature down below in
the river.
They could see the lights in the mess
hut where the handful of British officers
We're going through the hollow mockery
Of the evening meal, knowing that at any
moment the turbaned walters. the SEN
try under the windows, the Sepoys in the
guardhouse might commence the massa-
could have but one endi
Abbott. the second in command, and
Blenkinsop were the only married men
among them; Abbott was drowning his
sorrows in brandy-pawnee-
That morning Bienkinsop had gone over
TO the doctors quarters, and, stalking up
to the drug chest. had taken down phlal
two-thirds full of a turgid, straw-colored
Il want you to let me have this, old
fellow" he said: and Drake had looked
very searchingly at him, and had made
reply, nodding his head IN the direction
of Bienkinsop's bungalow, Good heaY-
ems man, you don't think it win come
Z don't know: but must be on the
safe side. Drake.
And the doctor had got up and laid his
hand on the adiutant's shoulder, and
looked into his eyes as only one strong
man can look at another, and had turned
away suddenly, waving the assent he
could not trust himself TO speak.
The phial was in Blenkinsop's pocket.
with the brace of loaded pistols as he
sat there calmly. gazing at his wife
through the blue smoke Of the cigar.
The tension was getting on his nerves
at last; the silence was becoming lntol-
cradle.
For Gods sake. play something, Mou-
sic" he said, irritably.
What would you like, dear2' and she
rose with a faint smile, glad to do any
thing rather than sit IN that striiins a.
She opened the piano, struck some
wailing minor chords. and turned 10
runmage in the pile of music beside her
The piano was in the corner where the
room gave on to the yeranda and the ST.
lent night. and she raised her hand sud
denly, listening.
He was at her side in bound, ana ne
heard it. too 4 horse ridden at its ut
most speed pounding up the loose slope
from the direction of the north; the
welting of the hunting-crop on its Hanks
was regular as the stroke OF fail.
1t fell at the gate and the rider came
staggering Towards the light, stumb-
ling blindly into Blenkinsop's arms.
''Ducie; by George. you're cut about, too
voice the man gasped out in jerks. Beg
gars mutinied this morning-the coloneIs
led-Poorhabad's slHughterhouse,
and the demons are coming down here!'
RIeulinsou threw a glance of mute ago
ny at his wife; the last hope was gone
The man in the club window was star
ing so fxedly out into the road
way that passing constable was
attracted. and, after lam yam essay
missed the matter from his mind and con-
tinued his beat down Pail Mall
They put Ducie into a chair. and revived
him. binding his arms and his head, which
had been badly smashed, and then Blen-
kinsop buckled on his sword TO ride over
and warn the officers of the Eightieth.
Too late. old chap-see yonderi' cried
the wounded captain. as a rattle or small
arms broke out from the cantonmentS,
your men have risen; there goes the
thatch of the mess-nO good going; stay
here with your wife-and, L say, haven't
you got some youngsters
Blenkinsop did not reply. bot stood with
clenched hands. glaring toward the lines.
whence the wild firing came on the sitting
night and a lurid flame lit up the wall OF
f1ag, Of AlFl
TRES.
He turned suddenly on his heels. and
faced the messenger. What's TO be done.
Ducie?" he demanded. with a dry sob in
his throat. Those fiends will be here
when they've butchered the others"
I'VE heard last night that Colin Camp
bell was coming on TO Poorhabad, said
the captain, getting out OF the chair, stiifly.
rs there any place we can hold for a
couple of days2 He'll follow the pandies
down. and may be in time 10 save as.
It's our only chance. Who's thiS?
Young Mainwaring limped across the
white as ashes, twelve bore
and his service blade under one arm, a
bag of cartridges in the other hand.
Blenkinsop pointed to Ducie. and told
him what had happened north.
No good for US If 1t hadn't" said
with strange awe in his voice.
''Abbott's servants have murdered Mrs.
Abbott and are looting the place, and my
syce bolted after hamstringing my horses.
There's nothing for fl but the ruins Of the
Tort over there. Get Mousie and the kids
II once. and every firearm In the bunga-
low. Pat, there's not an instant 10 be |
ost"
She came into the room as he spoke. |
carrying Dot. with fYc-year-old Marion |
beside her. very grave and great-eyed, and |
jnly half-awake.
Mainwaring kissed Mrs. Blenkfnsop;
hey were cousins; and Captain Dick pick |
ID up the little girl.
Go on; I'll be with you in a minute" |
said the Ad5utant, diving into the pas |
;age; and they heard him calling Yainly |