The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-31

Themselves speedily OF the opportunity,
not knowing how long 1t might last.
To each OF his guests the zemindar
gave n rifle. keeping one for himself,
and he had just enough to go round.
Bullets. powder bags. and cnnisters OF
loose powder were collected In con-
veniens place.
Tho two cannon that belonged 1T the
inner gates. and the two that mad been
brought there from the front, Tiled the
four embrasures. All the pieces were
brass eight-pounders. but they were Of
an antique pattern, rusty and age-Worn.l
and had not been used for many years
Are they tit for service?" asked Jack.
"rhey will speak for themselves very
shortly sahib." Manrao Punt replied.
by the head Of Mahadern. 1 would
scarcely be afraid to wager that these
sons of evil will return to Jhnlapur with
tale of defeat"
Tho zemindnr's confidence had some
foundation Tie wall OF this little
stronghold was massive, and next to
that came n ditch. and then the high
palisade surrounding the house enclosure.
That small garrison would prove more
than match for besieging force half
n dozen times as large seemed not too
much to expect"
Were ready for 'em now!" exclaimed
Rugsles. They're long time about
making n start"
Crash. went one of tho enemys pieces
OF artillery. Crash went the second. An
echo OF splitting wood mingled with the
reyerberatlons, and then human wave
broke against the outer gates of the VIII
lnge. which had been badly shattered by
tho cannon balls.
a rafting thud. and tho gates were
down fiat. A trumpet peaed loudly above
tho sound OF cheering, and through tho
archway swarmed Chandra Slngh's dis
mounted troopers; an instant later, MS a
whitening volley was poured into their
compact ranks, tho invaders recoiled tenn
pornrly checked.
The red flashes blazed like flrefles and
then, out of the curtain of gray smoke,
the zeminGar's men fell back at the buglo
call. AS soon as the last of them had
entered. the inner gates were closed and
the transverse bars were dropped into
their sockets.
We've hit them hard" exclaimed
Jack, land we must follow up the blow
and try to dishearten them. Be ready to
serve the guns"
Manrao Punt's commanding voice sent
the greater part of Ills trusty fellows to
tho loopholes. while the others grouped
themselves about the cannon. which Jack
and Ilstcourt undertook to look AFTER
Charges of powder and bags OF musket
zles.
Here they come. the deyils!" cried
Rusgles. Let 'em have 1t hot!'
Tho enemy had quickly recovered from
tho deadly yolley that laid 80 many of
them low. The silver glare of the moon
showed them advancing up tho village
street. dragging their two pieces of arul-
lery With them.
"INire!" shouted Manaro Punt.
There was a cracking fusilade from the
loopholes, and then, as the lighted port
fires dropped upon the touch-holes, the
cannon Numbered one by one. and hurled
bullets and iron missiles into the onpour-
ing mass.
IL was more than tho daredevil pluck
Of tho mutineers could stand. They broke
and scattered. leaving dead and wound
ed In the path. but they had no Intention
Of retreating, Having sought cover for
themselves and their guns to right and
left, they We're presently firing struggling
volleys at the wall. and pounding away at
the big gates with the field pieces
For half on hour. almost Without cessa-