The times., 1901-06-02

winch CISdheA as lASy ClOStu II from tIi'
inside.
They lit candle and searched fol
snakes, and barricaded the door. and wheI
the guns were loaded and Mrs. Blenktn
sop had lulled the frightened mites {
sleep the candle was extinguished, beinl
precious, and they sat down in the dark
ness to think.
The man in the window of the club tool
his firm chin in his hands and was agaiT
in that close-smelling vault. just as had
crouched more than forty years before
with his elbows on his knees, listening
to the yells of the mutineers, coming
nearer and nearer.
Nothing happened that night-if one
e%ceptS the firing of the bungalOw-but
with daylight the mutinied troops and
their attendant rabble surged up TO the
ruins, and the three white men inside
sought each one his previously arranged
position and awaited developments.
Developments began when Aim Boola
RODE up the slope on his cream-colored
Arab and smiled.
AZim Boo!a was a prince of sort
the fat son of a lean father whose role as
local potentate of Kholpat had suffered
some limitations when the honorable COM
pany placed garrison there.
Gut OF the corner of his almOni-Shaped
eye ne had gazed on Mrs. BlenkinSop at
dances and functions where the native
princes came with their jewels and their
white teeth. and Aim Boola's infatuation
had become troublesome to her
She said nothing to her husband. know
ing what the result would have been. but
when the crash arrived she had an added
terror, which was all the worse to bear,
because she had an idea that she alone
was aware of Its existence
FROM window in the bastion she saw
the lat scoundrel gay with yellow satin
and ropes If pearls below his triple chin.
ana MouSie Blenkinsop dug the nails into
ner poor little soft palms, and strange
drawn, greyness came into her face.
fp (
Ducie! called Blenkinsop from the
other end of the vault. Drop that vel
low beggar, If you get half a chance;
herer' w u" a.
Right You are replied the Captain;
but m only primed with small shot, and
ne Keeps out OF range so far
Young Mainwaring stepped over to Du-
Gle loophole and whispered in his ear.
the Captain.
Yes, I've watched his game for a
month, and can't make out why Mousie
coming up?"
havildar of the revolted regiment was
aT,ppl'r1paachlng. al waving white cloth, and
BienkInsop hailed him sternly
,, Blenkinsop Sahib.'' he said, huskily,
pear with me. for | TalIst deliver a mes
sage that bllsters my tongue / am true
TO my salt in secret, and so is Khara Nal.
my brother-in-law, and Manok, who was
marx IN your company; but we are three
TO thousand
90, Speak. said Blenkinsop in Hindustani,
but first, what of the officers?"
They are slain, sahib. and their souls
are in Paradise, for they fought like
gods, replied the soldier impressiveIy.
The Colonel sahib killed four of the dogs
before the others shot him from behind -
Good. CALCULATED Mainwaring over
Bicnkinsop's shoulder. Il knew Yer
schoyle would die game"
And row your message, havildar?'
said RlpnkinSnD ''Tf 10
cal, Aim Boola ?"
THE sahib has said" replied the SOL
der, sorrowfully. 1t concerns the mem
sahib, and | will be brief brief as yoIIr
answer when YOU have heard 1t; if you
will deliver the mem-sahib up TO him, he
promises. by the bones of his forefathers.
that you and the other sahibs. and little
mem-sahibs. shall have safe conduct
whittier you wish
Ducie and Mainwaring looked at each
other, and then at the Adjutant
Bienkinsops face grew pale as death.
and he opened his mouth several times
before he could articulate q word
When he did speak his voice had an
unearthiy vibration in Il, and his reply
was short as the havidar had predicted.
Tell the hell hound to come and fetch
her" he said; that's my answer"
The native sergeant, standing very erect
in the sunshine, a model OF manly vigor
in his scarlet coatee, with his visage of
bronze, bowed his head, and smiled.
You forgive me, sahib?" he said
There Is no reason for you to ask for
giveness," replied Blenkinsop, ''but get
you gone, and send me aid
The havildar shook his head sadly
Listen. oh sahib. There is only one
way said the man, visibly moved. You
are surrounded. and you have no food
Ihere is winding passage, If you can
find it: it leads from the lower angle of
this bastion to the river bank, but it is
partly fallen in, and II is so old that men
have forgotten it. Dig, sahib, burrow like
the moles. and If IL is written that you are
to escape. l shall be on the bank tonight
with my brother-in-law and a boat"
IF II IS written, we shall be there" re-
Piled Blenkinsop, solemnly, and with
low salaam the soldier turned away and
strobe back to Prince Aim Boola.
IL
Ducie had beckoned young Mainwaring
to the other end of the vault, and they
stood there. whispering
IT'S all up with them" said Ducie, ''un-
less we can get help; the food is almost
done
They had tried the passage, and their
hopes had risen as they found it practic-
able for some distance, but a solid mass
of stone had fallen across it, probably the
result of Hislop's pioneers in the old days,
and after twelve hours of superhuman ef-
fort they had returned, detected and
weary
What S to be done, them" said Main
waring.
"Tn tell you" said The cavalry captain.
We can get out on top OF the bastion
and tonight am going to pass the lines
and a .s,g reach Colin Campbell, somehow"
you'll never do il.
III fail, at any rate there's one mouth
the less, said Ducie. But l shall not
fail am dirty enough, heaven knows. to
pass even for fakir: know the dialects
spoken by every Satans son of the ~ and
there's a bottle of Worcester sauce thatu
transform my cuticle Ask your cousin
II she has pair OF scissors, and a scrap
OF looking g-glass-I cannot bear to go near
those little girls
He had gone. a very personable native
IN appearance. and. as no unWonted sound
had occurred during the night, they block
ed up the opening and descended worn
out with the acute tension as the dawn
came over the plains, but with hope re-
newed.
Mrs Blenldnsop was grooming softly to
the children, and they had broken their
fast, meagrely.
Mainwaring and Blenkinsop, each un-
known to the other, had stealtaily re-
placed their portion into the sadly dimin-
shed store, and the Adiutant sat beside
mis- loophole with Dot on his knee and his
gun in his right hand
a terrific report doomed through the
vault, making the children scream with
terror, and Blenkinsop's practiced ear
caught stifled groan from the far end.
where young Mainwaring had retired TO
mis- post.
Take her." he said TO his wife. and.
knowing what he would find. he strobe
over TO the boy. who lay with his eyes
wide open and between his set teeth the
,hewed cigar he had had no match to
light.
A sepoy had crept up outside and shot
him through the heart
Bienkinsop carried him very tenderly
Town into the underground passage, and
aid him there. as far away as possible;
md returning flung his arms. so strong