In Times of Peril A Tale of India

situation?" one of the senior captains

ery village, and by to-morrow night we shall have, at the very least, ten thousand of them round us. Against a moderate force we could defend

alls. It is not likely that they would attack on all sid

hey were ordered to give it up, and a good many old guns were sent in; but there is not one of these fellows who cannot bring a battery at the

fter that it would be a trap. But about Bithri; I don't like to give up the idea of rescuing our country-peop

Warrener? have you heard

t is another wall with a strong outwork and gate. There are believed

l attack us to-morrow,

fel

we sally out; but I should think if we remain quiet they would wai

to be out of this early

f we intend to get off without having to fight our way through

rener answered; "he has o

ce, just as he is thinking of popping i

al idea, if it could be carried out

until it finally was definitely arrang

nd had a look at it and its surroundings, and were able to discern that a great deal of bustle was going on around it, and that considerable numbers of horse and footmen were gathered near the gate. Then they rode rapidly back again, having to run the gantlet of several bodies of natives, who fired at them. One party indeed had already placed

discharged their long matchlocks at the walls, with much shouting and gesticulation. Major Warrener's order was that n

let the horses be well groomed and attended

unded by a large body of horse,

ptain Wilkins said. "I suspect those e

is in its infancy, and as the shot seldom fits the gun within half an inch, or even an inch, you will see something erratic. They may knock holes in the wall, but it will take them a long time to cut enough holes near each other to make a breach. There, do you see? there are another lot of elephants and troops coming from the left.

ime, and there was great waving of flags, letting off of muskets, and

feet above the bank. At the corners of the walls, and at intervals along them, were little towers, each capable of holding about four men, who could fire over the top of the walls. In these towers, and at the loopholes, Major Warrener placed twenty of his best shots. There was a great

towers, with his second in command, an

let the rest of them fire at the artillery. Tell them to take good aim, and fire a volley; I w

te the instructions were given. The major glanced down

ir

as seen to fall from the howdah as it started. There was also confusion visible in the howdahs of the other elephants. Several men dropped at the guns; some, surprised and startled, fired wildly,

do nothing now till it gets a bit cooler, for even a nigger could hardly stan

and footmen, who were now trying to drag the guns back. Again, a third volley, and then the g

of Bithri, and proceeded to a tope at about a mile from the village. There the elephants of the firs

ed to his brother. "I shouldn't mind some iced

e guns in position on that knoll a little to the righ

d-glass which his

ntly; but they won't breach the wa

front, or came with heavy thuds against the wall, or, in some instances, crashed into the upper parts of t

overnment carbines, but with sporting rifles, shortened so as to be carried as carbines; and although none of the weapons were sighted for more than six hundred yards, all with sufficient elevation could send balls far beyond that distance. Ten of the best-armed men were told off against each battery of artillery, and a slow, steady fire was opened. It was effective, for, with the field-gla

Two or three of the nearest huts were demolished rapidly, there being plenty of native tools in the village, and a rough wall was constructed of the materials; a trench five feet deep and eight feet wide was simultaneou

ush them back a bit if you can; if not, knock the part

e, already splintered with sho

ou hear my dog-whistle, every man is to leave his post and come on here at a run. Thirty men more will man this front wall and towers. They are to direct their fire to check the crowd pushing forward behind those immediately assaulting. The remaining forty will fire through the loopholes as long as possible, and will then form

leaders, foremost among whom were a number of Sepoys, who, when their regiments mutinied, had returned to their homes, and now headed the peasantry in their attack upon the British force. When the dense mass arrived within thirty yards of the gate Major Warrener gave the word, and a retreat was made behind the breastwork. On, with wild shouts, came the assailants; the first few saw the trench, and leaped it; those who followed fell in, until the trench was full; then the crowd swept in unchecked. The defenders had laid by their carbines now, and had drawn their revolvers. They were divided into two lines, who were alternatel

ptied his revolver before the one behind him h

his father; and the latter put his whistle to his lips,

losion, a flight of bodies and fragments of bodies through the air, a yell of terror from the enemy, and then, as those already rushing triumphantly through the breach stood paralyzed, the British

t, had recoiled through their whole mass at the explosion, and the sight of the handful of their comrades flying through the gate completed the effect. With yells of

ener said; "but it has been hot while i

ad been shot through the head, by a stray ball entering the loophole through which he was firing. Thirteen of the defender

and Major Warrener mounted one o

ls, and two fresh bodies of troops, with elephan

id. "They will wait, and r

Major Warrener had a huge bonfire lighted outside the gate, with

s," he said, "quite long

ard, and occasionally a shout that they would finish with the infidel dogs to-morrow rose on the air. Evidently by the low buzz of talk there were a large number here, and probably the guns had been brought closer, to check any attempt on the part

but cloths, of which there were plenty in the village, had been wound round them, until their footfalls would, even on the har

ugh for a horse to pass through easily, had been made, and the ditch behind had been filled up with rubbish. There was no word spoken; every one had received his orders, and knew what to do; and as silently as phant

emy as so certain that the English would not abandon their horses and fly on foot, only to be overtaken and destroyed the next day, that

i. The moon had risen; and when, about a mile and a half in front, they could see the castle, Major Warrene

r horse's feet and ride on by yourself," he said to one of the nativ

n going to Bithri. He passed on with a word of greeting, turned his horse when he reac

carts full of

Warrener exclaimed; "not

rs were abreast of the first cart, then to halt and dismount suddenly. The dr

of women," Major Warrener said; "they are peasants who have fought brave