The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-23


In all directions. like London fog.
He heard the kissing and roaring Of
| the flames. the crash OF the failing
houses and bungalows. the dlabolical
! yblls of gnol-birds and mutineers, and
the shrieks OF the poor hunted wretches
as they pershed by bullet or steel. Sick
at heart. his blood boiling with futile
rage, he descended to the ground.
II am too late-rny news Is worthless
now" he 1nuttered, thinking OF the dis
| covery he had made at Jhalapur. What
the rajah feared has come to pass. and
tho Sepoys Of Meerut have fired the
train before the appointed date But the
conspirators hire all ready, and this
| will merely force their hands The tide
of mutiny Will roll east and west, north
and south, unless"
All, there was still a ray of hope-a
chance of ayerting the great disaster
should a prompt and decisive blow be
struck ut the rebels. But now now was
the opportunity for that And where
were the British troops7 Not at the
oantonments--ln that quarter there was
an ominous and pu2zling silence. except
for the cracking OF the flames and an
occasional yell OF drunken frenzy.
'"They must be marching on the
town." Jack concluded: and at that mo-
ment a brisk vol1ey OF musketry seemed
to bear out his suppostlon.
| He hurried along for several hundred
| yards. and then wisely determined to
| avoid the locality OF the burning canton-
ments. He made q lengthy detour to
the right. creeping through grain fields
and thick grass. and when he ventured
back to tho road again he found HIM
self within mile or the town. He lis
tened In vain for the hoped-for roar OF
artillery and the rattle OF small arms.
'-rhe mutincers are still at their devil
ish work." he said to himself. by
heavens. where are our trOOpSI
He went on irresolutely for N short
distance, and then sound that he knew
too we'll Sbroke on his ear rising above
tho clamor Of approaching voices.
eQupments-cava1ry on this Gnllnpl 4
He drew back into the shadow OF the
trees and waited. Down the hard white
road came n score of mounted men.
squirting madly. The MOONLIGHT shono
on the drawn snbres. on the silver-gray
uniforms OF the Third native cavalry:
They swept nolsily by, and for several
minutes a line OF stragglers trailed be-
hind them. Then a larger force OF troop.
ers OF the Third more than one hundred
this time. and riding In good order.
ITO Delhil'' they cried. ITO Delhi.
brothersl To the kings palace"
The refrain died away with the pound
inn OF tho hoots. md from the rear n
new sound was borne on the signing
wind More cavalry No, this was IN.
fantry-impossiblo to mistake the dull
tread of marching men. All. the sepoys
Of tho Eleventh and Twentieth regiments!
They swung by rapidly. IN an uhais-
ciplined mass shouting the same cry
with reckless enthusiasm. and yet turn
Ing frequently to glance over their
Flushed though they were with vic.
tory and slaughter they evidently felt
that they were fugitives and were IN
dread OF pursuit But no falntesI est ecn1
q, Il was heard-no avenging gallop OF
dragons and flying rumble OF aruiicry
rang above the throbbing tumult back
In the town. $500,
Again Jack asked himself tho question,
as he crouched in the dusky shadow.
Something was wrong. that much was
certain, but what 1t was ne couid h, ~.
imagine. He realized that fatal dun.
der had been committed-that 1t would
soon be irretrievable.
with every minute tho golden oppor-
tunity was slipping farther aWay-the
chance OF pursuit and punishment was
fading to n shadow. The mutineers'
horse and foot, were pressing on 10
Delhi to spread the news OF their III
nmnb and to offer their allegiance TO
tha did king. who dreamed of ruling
over n united India as his ancestor, Shah
Jehnn, had done In the glorious past
And at Delhi, alas, n mere hnndiui OF
I,,ropenn troops were ranged against
vast native garrison.
at will DO the same there-and' mhcn
worse" Jack told himself, inassa-
ere on large scale. and old I3anauur
Shah proclaimed absolute king. ana az
fast as the tidings fly throughout the
country the sepoys Will rise 10 man
God help the English IN inola.
mi
was nearer and dearer than any to tho
Young officer, might be in peril of her
Iife Madge Estcourt! Jack spoke the
name aloud and his thoughts went 10
the plantation at Rampoora. nine niles
away.
"Duty before ALL must find my regi'
ment first" no vowed. after. a BRIEF men I
tai struggle. 'Rampoorh Is In no preseEt
danger j doubt If Chnndra Singh VIII get
word of the revolt Mt Meerut until
some time Tomorrow, and by then ]
shall have been able to warn Estcourt-'
Yes. that he must do. but not now. lie
slipped out from the trees and hurried
along the edge Of the road though with
no settled purpose In his mind. To ap-
proach the town was dangerous. but
in what other direction could he seek for
his comrades?
Hank! thud and n clattor In front
the furious pounding OF horses hoofs.
Jack took to cover again and watched
the curve Of the road, expecting to sec
tardy trooper of the Third cnvnlry'
The rider appeared. heralded by glim-
mer OF cold steel, but instead of the sil-
ver gray uniform he wore linen trousers
and scarlet jacket
'By 5ove. one of our felows!" Jack
exclaimed aloud
Just then, before he could leap forth
ana show himself. there was flash
and report from spot about twenty
yards dlagonally across the road. Horse
and rider came down with crash,
kicking up a little cloud of white dust,
and as that rolled away a half-naked
figure sprang from ambush. and with a
ferocious yell made at the PROSTATE V|o-
tim of his workmanship.
"A lusty shout rang close, on the yell
and as quickly Jack was running with
drawn tulwar. The race was his. and
the Hindoo, an eyil-loolsing ruffan. who
was doubtless one of the liberated gao'