In Times of Peril A Tale of India

eir heads, and with their hands to their ears to keep out the noise of the awful din around them, they awaited, in shuddering horror, their fate. The boys sat, revolver in hand, determined to sell

e, and the boys had difficulty in restraini

much to be borne, and feeling that for the present Saba's act had saved them, the boys, laying down their weapons, pressed their hands to their ears to keep out the din.

ill flickering with tongues of fire, and a heap of glowing embers marked where the

st to move; he t

come back and search. We had better make for the trees; by keep

oused from their

arry out our orders. God has protected us thus f

o the wall to a side door, through which they issued forth into the open. Ten steps took them to the cac

ling of the flames of many of the burning bungalows could be distinctly heard; and outside the shadow of the trees it was nearly as light as day. Yells of triumph rose on the night air, but there

h would come when he thought of who had given the order, and how it was given. "We were to make for Meerut. Be strong and brave, girls, as father would have had you. I have gone over the course on the district map, and I think I can keep pretty straight for it. We need not change our clothes now; we can do that when we h

tone, "so they were sure to keep together, and if any one has got away, they would." Neither of the boys had at heart the least hope, but they spo

as we can. Now let us be moving: but before we go, let us all thank God for having s

the open country beyond the grove, without a word being spoken. The moon was as yet quite young, a favorable state for the fugitives,

hat till it begins to get daylight. We must keep in the fields till we are past Nussara, which is five miles by the road; then we can walk straight on. There is a nullah a few yards on; we ha

e said, "Walk on as fast as you can, Ned; we can keep up

for a bit, but you must not knock yoursel

pitch dark between its steep banks, and there were bowlders and stones lying

he said; "let us make

sar

to listen to the barking of a village dog, now making their way through a thick clump of trees, and at last tramping for hours-that seemed ages-along the dead flat of the highroad. This at the first faint dawn of morning they left, and took refuge in a thick grove a quarter of a mile from t

for some four or five hours, had watched by turns. No one had approached the wood; but a party of four Sepoys, mounted on horses, had passed from Sandynugghur; and a larger party

as a large gourd lying by it which we have taken the liberty of borrowing. You can drink some water if you like, but you must each take a glass of wine. You must keep up your strength. There is no one in sight, so if you like you can go to the well and have

, have laughed at the comicality of their aspect, muffled up in white, with only their eyes visible. The awkward shoes were the only part of the costume to which they objected; but the sight of European boots bel

ed in the dress of a young Mussul

east," Rose said; "as far as appearan

lage. After some consultation it was decided that Dick, whose dress was the darkest and least noticeable, should steal forward and recon

t house of the place. I suppose they belong to some of the men

und our waists. What do you say, girls? With our dress it would be natural for us to be on horseback, and no one would ask any quest

Ned; but I do think it would be ou

had better

. We can change when we have gone half a mile. Will you stand close to Dick, Kate, when he mounts; Rose, you keep close to me. The moment we are fairly in the saddle, and have got the reins in our hands, yo

to give them a lick and ma

oked the reins, but the horses moved uneasily, and objected to their mounting them, for horses accustomed to natives dislike to be touched by Europeans. However, the boy

ealing the hors

on the animals' sides. Dick's at once leaped forward, but Ned's horse only backed. Ned gave his stick to Rose and seized his pistol, which was

lop, the boys holding on as well as they could, but expecting every moment to be thrown off. For awhile shou

t on the yardarm in a storm than ride on that b

were successful. Once seated, they were more comfortable, and they again went on, this time at an easy canter. After half an hour's ride they came to a crossroad, and turned up there, goin

o a thick wood, dismounted, and prepared for the night. Attached to the saddle of each horse was a nose-ba

ld be possibly dispensed with, in order to conceal the fact that the horses had belonged to a British cavalry regiment; then they mounted, with the girls behin

llower riding with two closely-veiled women en croupe. Late in the afternoon they stopped at a village store, and Ned purchased, without exciting any apparent suspicion,

of peasants suddenly rushed out into the road, and shouted to them to stop. They were armed with sticks and hoes,

the gun; that's the man who sold u

nothing else to do. Hold tight, girl

across his cheek; then they were in the midst of the crowd, emptying their revolvers with deadly effect among them; some fell, and the horses dashed forward, followed by the ye

ittle startled

darling?" he

speak of, Di

art of Kate's arm, as it went round Dick's body. Fortunately it had gone through the flesh

aid, "and it would have taken me fairly

ck's face. Ned proposed that for Kate's sake they should make a h

ay have dispatched people to the main road, as well as further on to stop us here; and we may be pursued at any moment, if there happens to be any native cavalry upon the road. Evidently they ar

left. There is nothing for it but to press straight on. Fortunately, the country is not thickly populated, and there is a good deal of jungle. If the wors

ose cried. "They are coming, Ned; t

ack, along the straight roa

tance behind," he sa

icks, and the horses sp

, Rose?" he asked, after t

eal nearer; but they have not

p, or they would gain faster on us, as ours have to carry double, and are getting terribly blown; but there is a

they entered the wood while their

," Ned said, "and then

le of sharp blows with their sticks to the hor

fugitives hurried into the thickest part. In five m

away by to-morrow morning. They will come up with the horses before very long, and wi

ood grew thicker, being filled

and see how far it goes. The girls can never get through this.

nutes he

river; it is not fif

s serio

We must push forward, and, by keeping as close as we can to the river, shall most likely pass them; besides, they will be some time before they decide upon forming a

the fields, but close to the line of jungle that bordered the river, they walked onward for upward of

keep in the open count

e right direction, and we can go on so much faster than in the fields.

d a few minutes afterwar

p from the next garrison, or, perhaps, to rouse up a village and press them in the work. Trot on, girls; the jungle is