Year: 1878

Adventure With Sepoys.


1t was a lonesome, dreary spot, not
far from the banks of the Ganges where
the military bungalow of Harry Eversly
was situated. Built of brick, and coated
with white chenam, it appeared to be
half smothered amid a thick hedge of
prickly pears where snakes and jackals
lurked.


The furniture was of the plainest de-
>cription, and well worn at that, but il
was all the same to the young but stall
wart soldier, who gazed listlessly
through the open window, to where
the distant grove of teak and pepul
trees rose darkly against the clear blue
sky of night, and where the crimson
fire-fiies were flashingin and out among
the slender shafts of the graceful bam-
boo.


Harry was a thorough soldier, strong
in frame and oool in head having served
with distinction against the Sikhs. But
despite his proves and valor in the
field of Mars, it was reserved for a soft,
blue-eyed, golden-haired maiden to van
quish the stout heart of the warrior.
Harry sighed amid his reverie, emitting
a cloud of smoke from his lips as he
twined the plant stem of his hookah
around his fingers. The monotonous
creak of the punkah and the drow sy
hum of the insects amid the shrubs out
side proved insufficient to divert his
thoughts.


Close to his hand lay lis sword and
pistols, for the ominous mutterings of
the Sepoy rebellion already overshad-
owed India, and he knew not at what
moment the detachment of native troops
under his command might turn upon
him. No European laid his head on
the pillow with the certainty of being
a live man in the morning, and many a
poor fellow lay at night listening with
nervous attention TO the clang of the
camp ghurrics or gOngs, on which the
Sentinels struck the time, and thought
perhaps that each reverberation might
be the signal for revolt


Suddenly through the open window
of the bungalow a rocket with its gilt
tering train of sparks was seen TO as
cend in a fiery arch. In silence the
soldier watched the strange signal soar
ing into the clear blue sky until it burst,
casting a brilliant shower of sparks on
every side. 4 faint murmur like the
distant purring of a tiger fell upon the
ear, then all was silent as before.


The room was full of wavering shad-
Ows, but dimly relieved by the fitful
light of the night-iamp, and a slight
movement in the further recesses Of
the apartment was sufficient for Harry
to grasp his ready revolver as he strove
70 pierce the darkness.


For aught he knew a Thug or naked
thief, with skin well oiled. might be
lurking in a distant corner, or, per-
chance, a deadly cobra or hideous hy-
ena, all of which abounded.


Judge, then, of the soldiers aston
ishment and sickening anxiety, when
he beheld the slight form of a graceful
native girl, whom he recognized at once
as the avah or attendant of his affianced
bride.


80 Safru, what brings you hither at
this hour? For heavens sake, speak
Has anything happened to the mem sa-
hib-to Miss Florence, your mistress 2"


- come TO save her love and serve
from a terrible fate, and to warn you of
your doom, sahib, which already over
shadows you with the mantle of death.
The mem sahib is destined for the Ra-
jah of Spampoora, and at midnight your
men will join the rebels. The signal,
u rocket, has announced that all is ready
| can do no more but invoke the aid of
Brahma to save those love. You must
away at once. silva be thanked, have
been true to my SALT" and with a soft
81 igh the native maiden disappeared as
mysteriously and silently as she had
come.


For a moment the resolute soldier ap- |
peared paralyzed by the appalling IN
formation, impaired so suddenly, but
his irresolution was of short duration. |
With an impetuous exclamation he
5 started TO his feet, dashed the hookah |
from his hand, and glanced stealthily |
on all sides as he buckled on his arms, |
to ascertain if his movements were be- |
ing watched by some dark-skinned spy. |
But all was silence, and with rapid |
glance he satisfied himself that his two |
Colts revolyers were capped and ready |
for use.


Carefully the young man stole from
the bungalow, gliding noiselessly to the |
O outbuilding where his horse was shell |
tered, and throwing the saddle upon |
the thoroughbred, he led the animal
along by-path which opened out upon
the highway.


Not sound proceeded from the cam
tonment where the treacherous native |
troops reposed, but the rays of the moon |
reflected back the glitter of a sentinel's |
musket as he paced to and fro, all un-