The Monticellonian., 1903-10-08

we heard the challenge: "Who come,
 there?" but, taking no notice of this
 we pressed our spurs into the horses
 Hanks, flying for life. Within two min.
 utes after we passed the sentry who
 challenged us, hundreds of rebels turned
 out and began to fire from all sides:
 but the darkness of the night favored
 us, and we got through seot-free. After
 proceeding about half a mile we drew
 rein and dismounted to remove the bags
 from our horses hoofs and to give the
 nags a breather. This halt was neces-
 sary for we had 16 miles farther to 20
 before we could reach Cawnpore. and the odds were we would have to make
 another dash for it through Onoa, a
 village about eight miles off. It was i lucky for us in more ways than one that we did decide on this halt as within a quarter of an hour we heard
 the enemy's cavalry coming down the
 road, evidently following us up. of the road we went. and hid behind some high bushes, relying for safety on the darkness of the night and on the horses not neighlng The sensible creatures
 remained perfectly mute. and we had
 the satisfaction of hearing the enemy we could not see them-gallop on to- wards Cawnpore, shouting to each other: We have themi They are not far ahead!" Fortunately we were not discovered. so again we had to decide what was to be done, knowing our awk- ward position between the rebels at Busseerutgunge and those on the road 10 Cawnpore.
 But We were bound to face the mu- sic After resting for an hour we pro- ceeded, and got through Onoa without being in any way molested. Then al Munglewar. which was only eight miles from our destination. We were told by native traveller from Cawnpore that large body of rebel cavalry had passed through the town about an hour before, most of them squabbling with one an- other at the stupidity of allowing two Englishmen to outpace them and es- cape. He also added that he had seen them leave the road about half mile off and make for a tope of trees On hearing this Butler proposed that we should set off and ride as hard as we could for the banks of the Ganges op- poste Cawnpore. But that would not do; as if the rebels should see us (and it was very probable they would, as daylight was breaking), or if they over took us (which they would do unless the horses were fresh). our end would | not be far off Therefore we made up our minds to proceed at walk for the rest of the journey. and that in the event | of being waylaid or chased we would sit down in our saddles and ride as we had 1 never ridden before.
 We got along unmolested within | three miles of our destination, when al | sunrise we heard numerous trumpet | calls on our left "Ahi ahi" both of us exclaimed almost simultaneously; "so | there you are! Well. you beggars. you shall ride for it. Our horses are fresh | and by the time you get into your sad | dies and form up We will have had | good start; and, if the worst comes to | the worst the odds are that all that | can happen is that We may have to swim | our horses across the Ganges." Away We went at ripping gallop. and on | came the rebel cavalry in hundreds | They chased us for over a mile. but | never got within 3Go yards; and they ! gave up the pursuit when the Cawnpore | garrison, seeing the fix we were in, | loosed off a few shells in the midst of | them making them retreat pretty | sharp. On arrival al the banks of the Ganges we found large f1at-bottomed | boat waiting for us with a party of | armed men; and within a quarter of an | hour were landed safe and sound al Cawnpore. where We were entertained | for a week like kings
 IL was considered by Sir John Inglis | too risky to let us return to the Alum Bagh alone; therefore we were ordered | to await the departure of a convoy that | was to leave for that place in a few | days: so we had to stay. This weeks | absence made Gen. Outram decide that We had fallen into the hands of the enemy and been killed, which was tho iatN oi hCaiiy all liOSc VII were Cdp- tured by the rebels. You can picture to yourself how we were welcomed on | our return.
 cannot conclude without bringing to notice the heroic conduct of Sergt | Butler during the trying night we spen' together. and also the fate of his poor horse. Butler was a very stout man and when he began to ride fast, when chased by the cavalry, his weight be. | gan to tell on the animal Butler felt | this and said Ride on and save your self; leave me to my fate There |. nc | need for both of us to be caught" But | thanks to merciful Providence there was no necessity for this, as the game | old horse seemed to waken up sudden | ly to the danger of falling behind. made | a desperate effort and carried his rider | safely to the Ganges. But, alas! the enort was too much for him and he died | the next day.-Cham Ders' Journal.