In Times of Peril A Tale of India

elhi? We heard the

hirty

things are going o

they boast that they are going to drive us out of the country. Our troops are still a

e is any chance of

as gone down except Agra, Allahabad, and Benares, and that

whites killed

t hope that they are making a stand. We shall be a long time before we know anythin

to Meerut to-night, I hope; we could walk as far if it were ab

and cross after nightfall. There is a clump of trees; we will pass the night there; I think we are safe enough now. Th

Dick said, "since we started; we have

cially if the bushes are thick. We are four miles at least from

the major was about to scatter some powder among the

e bushes all around. Now," he said, when the fire had burned up brightly, "let us hear the full story

conduct; and Captain Dunlop threatened under his breath that if he ever had a chance he would not leave one cake of mud upon another in the village where Kate was w

is alive with rebels marching to Delhi. But as Rose cannot be fit to travel for weeks, we have no choice in the matter. They must remain where they are, and we can only hope and pray for their safety. Our duty lies clearly at Meerut, where every man who

ely move in them, and they won't meet by eight or nine inches. It does not seem to me that

or us. But they are useful. As we go along, any one who saw us at a distance would take us for a straggling party of

r as height goes he is well enough; but thirty Sepoys on parade take up no more room than twenty English. I had to take my jacket off last night and la

intly to the ear, for the bivouac

Now they have gone by, we can be movin

ard your adventures yet; ple

thered in the messroom. We had all agreed that if taken by surprise, resistance would mean certain death; they would shoot us down through the doors and windows, and we should be like rats in a cage. We agreed, therefore, that in case of an attack, a simultaneous attempt to break out must be made, and we had even settled upon the window by which

solent look about some of the servants' faces I did not like, but nothing to take hold of. I pointed it out to Dunlop, and we agreed that the plan arranged was the best possible; and that, as resistance would be of no use, if at each of the eight large windows and the two doors a stream of musketry fire were being poured in, we would make a rush straight for the window. Presently the colonel rose and gave 'The Queen.' We all rose, and as if-as I have no doubt it was-the toast was the signal, there was a sudden trampling in the veranda outside, and at every window appeared a crowd of Sepoys, with their arms

THE SCOUNDRELS HAD TIM

ERS, WE WERE

rom their first astonishment; but they are not good shots at the best, and a man running at his top speed is not an easy mark by moonlight. We heard yells and musket shots all round, and knew that while a part of the regiment was attacking us, parties were told off to each bungalow. By the time we had got over the few hundred yards to Dunlop's, the whistling of the bullets round u

had fifty yards' start, but they fired away at us, a ball passing through the syce's leg as he scrambled up behind. The horse went along at a gallop; but we were not safe, for parties were carrying on their hellish work in every bungalow, Dunlop and Manners were maddened by the screams they heard; and if it had not been for having me under their charge, and by the thoughts of the girls, I believe they would have jumped out and died fighting. A few of the black devils, hearing wheels, ran out and fired; but we kept on at a full ga

him with you? he would

k a

ely wounded the major was; indeed, we both feared he was killed; but the mutineers, when they found the dead horse in the morning

was quite at the other end. They brought cheering news. They had first been to the house, and found it utterly destroyed as they expected. That told them nothing; for if you had been killed, your bodies would probably have been burned with the house. Then they went out to the tope of trees where it was agreed that you should, if possible, first fly. Here they found a pocket-handkerchief of Rose's; and going round to the other side, found by the marks upon the soil that four of you had started together. With hearts immensely lighte

some one else betrayed us, we shall never know-but the men that we saw there belonged to a regiment of mutineers that had marched in that afternoon from Dollah. We saw at once that resistance was useless, and we were, moreover, without arms. Had we had them, I have no doubt we should have fought and been killed. As it was, we were bound and marched into the camp at Sandynugghur. It was resolved to take us in triumph into Delhi; and we were marched along with the regiment till you saw us. We had talked over every co

them off, and slung them from their muskets. Ned and Dick were fairly fitted. They halted for the night near the river, about ten

im, but at other times the stream is not more than half that width. After crossing the river they would have fifteen miles

his side of the river for

e can't find a boat, we will each cut a large bundle of rushes, to act as a li

the shade of those stunted trees, and have a nap till the afternoo

more soldiers instead of fugitives, with power to fight in defense of their sovereign's dominions, and of the helpless women and children exposed to the fury of the atrocious mutineers. With these thoug

they had taken the proper course. They knew, too, that in acting as they had done they were performing their duty; and that at a moment when the fate of British India trembled in the balance, the place of every soldier was by the side of the British troops who still maintained the old flag flying in the face of increasing numbers of

Indian corn apiece; eat t

ives, but the others had been stripped of everything they had at the time of their capture. In about an hour, however, five bundles were made, each some si

diles, I hope," Dic

arge rivers; the chances of

risk it. But they're as bad as sharks; and shark

formed their clothes were placed, and then, side by side, pushing it before them, the party shoved off from shore. In twenty minutes they touched ground on the other side. They dressed, examined their muskets to see if they were in good order,

n, and had begun to congratulate themselves upon being near their friends, when the sound of a

d," the major said; "run for th

out of "Who goes there?"

med. For the lad, with the weight of his musket an

or as the cavalry swept up. It was a small temple; a building of massive construction

t once at them. Our only chance is to hold out with the hope that we

just as the troopers

e boys, he jammed a beam of wood between the door and the wall, at such an

my turn;" and he fired

y. Are you loade

jor; jus

follow; tak

f which was taking effect, by a confused disc

ar-rank men hold the horses, front-ra

fire, to which the straggling return of their pistols was but an inefficient answer. Vai

eader; and a dozen men sent themselves against the door;

window," said the major; "the boys

through the door, and after three o

urt?" the

t in my shoulder,"

and Manners exclaimed: "Confound the fellows, they have

" said the major, as he fired among t

ey pressed on, and, at the first blow given by the batterin

e against bayonets in a narrow space. Dunlop, will you stand in reserve? you have still got your right hand; use your bayonet as a dagger if a

door dropped from its hinges, and the doorway was open.

he infidel dogs!" sh

one of the troopers; "the of

fficer, on whose breast hung

me fate; while, as they fell, the muskets of Ned and Dick sent their contents into the mass. The rest recoiled from the fatal doorway, while the defenders set up a cheer of triumph. It was drowned in a crash of musketry, mingled with a cry of surprise and despair fro

turned to the shrine, outside which the little party had gathered. "It seems as if you

u? You haven't forgotte

and M

that you had all gone down. I am glad;" and he shook hands enthusiastically with

asked. "If so, they are wonders; for I don't know a case as

ons," Major Wa

her, laughing-believing

ee were prisoners, and that these lads rescued us from the middle of a pandy regiment. If they hadn't we should have been dead men before now. And now have you got anything to eat at Meerut, for

now let us be off. Have we any casualties, sergeant?" he

e, s

the enemy

an be fairly counted to us

had gathered round, "and let us get back. You will be glad to hear

t very closely together in those terrible days. Then, falling in, the two comp