Rujub, the Juggler

by G. A. Henty

  CHAPTER XIV.

  But though obliged to defer to Major Hannay's wishes, and to abstainfrom arguing with the men the question of Bathurst being given the coldshoulder, Dr. Wade had already organized the ladies in his favor. Duringthe afternoon he had told them the tiger story, and had confidentiallyinformed them how it was that Bathurst from his birth had beenthe victim of something like nervous paralysis at all loud sounds,especially those of the discharge of firearms.

  "His conduct today," he said, "and his courage in rescuing that nativegirl from the tiger, illustrate his character. He is cool, brave, anddetermined, as might be expected from a man of so well balanced a mindas his; and even when his nerves utterly broke down under the din ofmusketry, his will was so far dominant that he forced himself togo forward and stand there under fire, an act which was, under thecircumstances, simply heroic."

  There is little difficulty in persuading women as to the merits of a manthey like, and Bathurst had, since the troubles began, been much moreappreciated than before by the ladies of Deennugghur. They had feltthere was something strengthening and cheering in his presence, forwhile not attempting to minimize the danger, there was a calm confidencein his manner that comforted and reassured those he talked to.

  In the last twenty-four hours, too, he had unobtrusively performed manylittle kindnesses; had aided in the removals, carried the children,looked after the servants, and had been foremost in the arrangement ofeverything that could add to the comfort of the ladies.

  "I am glad you have told us all about it, Doctor," Mrs. Doolan said;"and, of course, no one would dream of blaming him. I had heard thatstory about his leaving the army years ago; but although I had only seenhim once or twice, I did not believe it for a minute. What you tell usnow, Doctor, explains the whole matter. I pity him sincerely. It must besomething awful for a man at a time like this not to be able to take hispart in the defense, especially when there are us women here. Why, itwould pain me less to see Jim brought in dead, than for him to show thewhite feather. What can we do for the poor fellow?"

  "Treat him just as usual. There is nothing else you can do, Mrs. Doolan.Any tone of sympathy, still less of pity, would be the worst thingpossible. He is in the lowest depths at present; but if he finds by yourtone and manner that you regard him on the same footing as before, hewill gradually come round, and I hope that before the end of the siegehe will have opportunities of retrieving himself. Not under fire--thatis hopeless; but in other ways."

  "You may be sure we will do all we can, Doctor," Mrs. Doolan saidwarmly; "and there are plenty of ways he will be able to make himselfmost useful. There is somebody wanted to look after all those syces andservants, and it would be a comfort to us to have someone to talk tooccasionally; besides, all the children are fond of him."

  This sentiment was warmly echoed; and thus, when the determinationat which the men had arrived to cut Bathurst became known, there wassomething like a feminine revolution.

  "You may do as you like," Mrs. Doolan said indignantly; "but if youthink that we are going to do anything so cruel and unjust, you areentirely mistaken, I can tell you."

  Mrs. Rintoul was equally emphatic, and Mrs. Hunter quietly, but withas much decision, protested. "I have always regarded Mr. Bathurst as afriend," she said, "and I shall continue to do so. It is very sad forhim that he cannot take part in the defense, but it is no more fairto blame him than it would be to blame us, because we, too, arenoncombatants."

  Isobel Hannay had taken no part in the first discussion among theladies, nor did she say anything now.

  "It is cruel and unjust," she said to herself, "but they only think asI did. I was more cruel and unjust than they, for there was no talkof danger then. I expressed my contempt of him because there was asuspicion that he had showed cowardice ten years ago, while they haveseen it shown now when there is fearful peril. If they are cruel andunjust, what was I?"

  Later on the men gathered together at one end of the room, and talkedover the situation.

  "Dr. Wade," the Major said quietly, "I shall be obliged if you will goand ask Mr. Bathurst to join us. He knows the people round here betterthan any of us, and his opinion will be valuable."

  The Doctor, who had several times been in to see Bathurst, went to hisroom.

  "The Major wants you to join us, Bathurst; we are having a talk overthings, and he wishes to have your opinion. I had better tell you thatas to yourself the camp is divided into two parties. On one side are theMajor, Wilson, and myself, and all the ladies, who take, I need not say,a common sense view of the matter, and recognize that you have done alla man could do to overcome your constitutional nervousness, and thatthere is no discredit whatever attached to you personally. The rest ofthe men, I am sorry to say, at present take another view of the case,and are disposed to show you the cold shoulder."

  "That, of course," Bathurst said quietly; "as to the ladies' view of it,I know that it is only the result of your good offices, Doctor."

  "Then you will come," the Doctor said, pleased that Bathurst seemed lessdepressed than he had expected.

  "Certainly I will come, Doctor," Bathurst said, rising; "the worstis over now--everyone knows that I am a coward--that is what I havedreaded. There is nothing else for me to be afraid of, and it is of nouse hiding myself."

  "We look quite at home here, Mr. Bathurst, don't we?" Mrs. Doolan saidcheerfully, as he passed her; "and I think we all feel a great deal morecomfortable than we did when you gave us your warning last night; theanticipation is always worse than the reality."

  "Not always, I think, Mrs. Doolan," he said quietly; "but you havecertainly made yourselves wonderfully at home, though your sewing is ofa more practical kind than that upon which you are ordinarily engaged."

  Then he passed on with the Doctor to the other end of the room. TheMajor nodded as he came up.

  "All right again now, Bathurst, I hope? We want your opinion, for youknow, I think, more of the Zemindars in this part of the country thanany of us. Of course, the question is, will they take part against us?"

  "I am afraid they will, Major. I had hoped otherwise; but if it betrue that the Nana has gone--and as the other part of the message wascorrect, I have no doubt this is so also--I am afraid they will becarried away with the stream."

  "And you think they have guns?"

  "I have not the least doubt of it; the number given up was a merefraction of those they were said to have possessed."

  "I had hoped the troops would have marched away after the lesson we gavethem this morning, but, so far as we can make out, there is no sign ofmovement in their lines. However, they may start at daybreak tomorrow."

  "I will go out to see if you like, Major," Bathurst said quietly. "Ican get native clothes from the servants, and I speak the language wellenough to pass as a native; so if you give me permission I will go outto the lines and learn what their intentions are."

  "It would be a very dangerous undertaking," the Major said gravely.

  "I have no fear whatever of danger of that kind, Major; my nerves aresteady enough, except when there is a noise of firearms, and then, asyou all saw this morning, I cannot control them, do what I will. Risksof any other kind I am quite prepared to undertake, but in this matterI think the danger is very slight, the only difficulty being to getthrough the line of sentries they have no doubt posted round the house.Once past them, I think there is practically no risk whatever of theirrecognizing me when made up as a native. The Doctor has, no doubt, gotsome iodine in his surgery, and a coat of that will bring me to theright color."

  "Well, if you are ready to undertake it, I will not refuse," the Majorsaid. "How would you propose to get out?"

  "I noticed yesterday that the branches of one of the trees in the gardenextended beyond the top of the wall. I will climb up that and lowermyself on the other side by a rope; that is a very simple matter. Thespot is close to the edge of Mr. Hunter's compound, and I shall work myway through the shrubbery till I feel sure I am beyond any sentrieswho may be pos
ted there; the chances are that they will not be thickanywhere, except opposite the gate. By the way, Captain Forster, beforeI go I must thank you for having risked your life to save mine thismorning. I heard from Mrs. Hunter that it was you and the Doctor whorushed forward and drew me back."

  "It is not worth talking about," Captain Forster said carelessly. "Youseemed bent on making a target of yourself; and as the Major's orderswere that everyone was to lie down, there was nothing for it but toremove you."

  Bathurst turned to Dr. Wade. "Will you superintend my get up, Doctor?"

  "Certainly," the Doctor said, with alacrity. "I will guarantee that,with the aid of my boy, I will turn you out so that no one would knowyou even in broad daylight, to say nothing of the dark."

  A quarter of an hour sufficed to metamorphose Bathurst into an Oudepeasant. He did not return to the room, but, accompanied by the Doctor,made his way to the tree he had spoken of.

  "By the way, you have taken no arms," the Doctor said suddenly.

  "They would be useless, Doctor; if I am recognized I shall be killed; ifI am not discovered, and the chances are very slight of my being so, Ishall get back safely. By the way, we will tie some knots on that ropebefore I let myself down. I used to be able to climb a rope withoutthem, but I doubt whether I could do so now."

  "Well, God bless you, lad, and bring you back safely! You may make aslight of it as you will, but it is a dangerous expedition. However, Iam glad you have undertaken it, come what may, for it has given you theopportunity of showing you are not afraid of danger when it takes anyother form than that of firearms. There are plenty of men who wouldstand up bravely enough in a fight, who would not like to undertakethis task of going out alone in the dark into the middle of thesebloodthirsty scoundrels. How long do you think you will be?"

  "A couple of hours at the outside."

  "Well, at the end of an hour I shall be back here again. Don't be longerthan you can help, lad, for I shall be very anxious until you return."

  When the Doctor re-entered the house there was a chorus of questions:

  "Has Mr. Bathurst started?"

  "Why did you not bring him in here before he left? We should all haveliked to have said goodby to him."

  "Yes, he has gone. I have seen him over the wall; and it was much betterthat he should go without any fuss. He went off just as quietly andunconcernedly as if he had been going out for an ordinary evening'swalk. Now I am going up onto the roof. I don't say we should hear anyhubbub down at the lines if he were discovered there, but we shouldcertainly hear a shout if he came across any of the sentries round thehouse."

  "Has he taken any arms, Doctor?" the Major asked.

  "None whatever, Major. I asked him if he would not take pistols, but herefused."

  "Well, I don't understand that," Captain Forster remarked. "If I hadgone on such a business I would have taken a couple of revolvers. I amquite ready to take my chance of being killed fighting, but I should notlike to be seized and hacked to pieces in cold blood. My theory is a manshould sell his life as dearly as he can."

  "That is the animal instinct, Forster," the Doctor said sharply; "thoughI don't say that I should not feel the same myself; but I questionwhether Bathurst's is not a higher type of courage."

  "Well, I don't aspire to Bathurst's type of courage, Doctor," Forstersaid, with a short laugh.

  But the Doctor did not answer. He had already turned away, and wasmaking for the stairs.

  "May I go with you, Doctor?" Isobel Hannay said, following him. "It isvery hot down here."

  "Yes; come along, child; but there is no time to lose, for Bathurstmust be near where they are likely to have posted their sentries by thistime."

  "Everything quiet, Wilson?" he asked the young subaltern, who, withanother, was on guard on the roof.

  "Yes; we have heard nothing except a few distant shouts and noises outat the lines. Round here there has been nothing moving, except that weheard someone go out into the garden just now."

  "I went out with Bathurst," the Doctor said. "He has gone in thedisguise of a native to the Sepoy lines, to find out what are theirintentions."

  "I heard the talk over it, Doctor. I only came up on watch a few minutessince. I thought it was most likely him when I heard the steps."

  "I hope he is beyond the sentries," the Doctor said. "I have come uphere to listen."

  "I expect he is through them before this," Wilson said confidently. "Iwish I could have gone with him; but of course it would not have beenany good. It is a beautiful night--isn't it, Miss Hannay?--and there isscarcely any dew falling."

  "Now, you go off to your post in the corner, Wilson. Your instructionsare to listen for the slightest sound, and to assure us against theSepoys creeping up to the walls. We did not come up here to distract youfrom your duties, or to gossip."

  "There are Richards and another posted somewhere in the garden," Wilsonsaid. "Still, I suppose you are right, Doctor; but if you, Miss Hannay,have come up to listen, come and sit in my corner; it is the one nearestto the lines."

  "You may as well go and sit down, Isobel," the Doctor said; "that is,if you intend to stay up here long;" and they went across with Wilson tohis post.

  "Shall I put one of these sandbags for you to sit on?"

  "I would rather stand, thank you;" and they stood for some time silentlywatching the fires in the lines.

  "They are drawing pretty heavily on the wood stores," the Doctorgrowled; "there is a good deal more than the regulation allowanceblazing in those fires. I can make out a lot of figures moving aboutround them; no doubt numbers of the peasants have come in."

  "Do you think Mr. Bathurst has got beyond the line of sentries?" Isobelsaid, after standing perfectly quiet for some time.

  "Oh, yes, a long way; probably he was through by the time we came uphere. They are not likely to post them more than fifty or sixty yardsfrom the wall; and, indeed, it is, as Bathurst pointed out to me,probable that they are only thick near the gate. All they want to do isto prevent us slipping away. I should think that Bathurst must be outnear the lines by this time."

  Isobel moved a few paces away from the others, and again stoodlistening.

  "I suppose you do not think that there is any chance of an attacktonight, Doctor?" Wilson asked, in low tones.

  "Not in the least; the natives are not fond of night work. I expect theyare dividing the spoil and quarreling over it; anyhow, they have hadenough of it for today. They may intend to march away in the morning, orthey may have sent to Cawnpore to ask for orders, or they may have heardfrom some of the Zemindars that they are coming in to join them--that iswhat Bathurst has gone out to learn; but anyhow I do not think they willattack us again with their present force."

  "I wish there were a few more of us," Wilson said, "so that we couldventure on a sortie."

  "So do I, lad; but it is no use thinking about it as it is. We have towait; our fate is not in our own hands."

  "And you think matters look bad, Doctor?"

  "I think they could hardly look worse. Unless the mutineers take it intotheir heads to march away, there is, humanly speaking, but one chancefor us, and that is that Lawrence may thrash the Sepoys so completelyat Lucknow that he may be able to send out a force to bring us in. Thechances of that are next to nothing; for in addition to a very largeSepoy force he has the population of Lucknow--one of the most turbulentin India--on his hands. Ah, what is that?"

  Two musket shots in quick succession from the Sepoy lines broke thesilence of the evening, and a startled exclamation burst from the girlstanding near them.

  The Doctor went over to her.

  "Do you think--do you think," she said in a low, strained voice, "thatit was Bathurst?"

  "Not at all. If they detected him, and I really do not see that there isa chance of their doing so, disguised as he was, they would have seizedhim and probably killed him, but there would be no firing. He has goneunarmed, you know, and would offer no resistance. Those shots you heardwere doubtless the result
of some drunken quarrel over the loot."

  "Do you really think so, Doctor?"

  "I feel quite sure of it. If it had been Forster who had gone out, andhe had been detected, it would have been natural enough that we shouldhear the sound of something like a battle. In the first place, he wouldhave defended himself desperately, and, in the next, he might have madehis way through them and escaped; but, as I said, with Bathurst therewould be no occasion for their firing."

  "Why didn't he come in to say goodby before he went? that is what Iwanted to ask you, Doctor, and why I came up here. I wanted to havespoken to him, if only for a moment, before he started. I tried to catchhis eye as he went out of the room with you, but he did not even look atme. It will be so hard if he never comes back, to know that he went awaywithout my having spoken to him again. I did try this morning to tellhim that I was sorry for what I said, but he would not listen to me."

  "You will have an opportunity of telling him when he comes back, if youwant to, or of showing him so by your manner, which would be, perhaps,less painful to both of you."

  "I don't care about pain to myself," the girl said. "I have been unjust,and deserve it."

  "I don't think he considers you unjust. I did, and told you so. He feelswhat he considers the disgrace so much that it seems to him perfectlynatural he should be despised."

  "Yes, but I want him to see that he is not despised," she said quickly."You don't understand, Doctor."

  "I do understand perfectly, my dear; at least, I think--I think I do; Isee that you want to put yourself straight with him, which is very rightand proper, especially placed as we all are; but I would not do or sayanything hastily. You have spoken hastily once, you see, and made a messof it. I should be careful how I did it again, unless, of course," andhe stopped.

  "Unless what, Doctor?" Isobel asked shyly, after a long pause. But therewas no reply; and looking round she saw that her companion had movedquietly away and had joined Wilson at his post. She stood for afew minutes in the same attitude, and then moved quietly across thestaircase in the center of the terrace, and went down to the partybelow. A short time later the Doctor followed her, and, taking hisrifle, went out into the garden with Captain Doolan, who assisted him inclimbing the tree, and handed his gun up to him. The Doctor made hisway out on the branch to the spot where it extended beyond the wall, andthere sat, straining his eyes into the darkness. Half an hour passed,and then he heard a light footfall on the sandy soil.

  "Is that you, Bathurst?" he whispered.

  "All right, Doctor;" and a minute later Bathurst sat on the branchbeside him.

  "Well, what's your news?"

  "Very bad, Doctor; they expect the Rajah Por Sing, who, it seems, is theleader of the party in this district, and several other Zemindars, to behere with guns tomorrow or next day. The news from Cawnpore was true..The native troops mutinied and marched away, but were joined by NanaSahib and his force, and he persuaded them to return and attack thewhites in their intrenchments at Cawnpore, as they would not be wellreceived at Delhi unless they had properly accomplished their share ofthe work of rooting out the Feringhees."

  "The infernal scoundrel!" the Doctor exclaimed; "after pretending foryears to be our best friend. I'm disgusted to think that I have drunkhis champagne a dozen times. However, that makes little difference to usnow, your other news is the most important. We could have resistedthe Sepoys for a month; but if they bring up guns there can be but oneending to it."

  "That is so, Doctor. The only hope I can see is that they may find ourresistance so obstinate as to be glad to grant us terms of surrender."

  "Yes, there is that chance," the Doctor agreed; "but history shows thereis but little reliance to be placed upon native oaths."

  Bathurst was silent; his own experience of the natives had taught himthe same lesson.

  "It is a poor hope," he said, after a while; "but it is the only one, sofar as I can see."

  Not another word was spoken as they descended the tree and walked acrossto the house.

  "Never mind about changing your things, come straight in."

  "Our scout has returned," the Doctor said, as he entered the room. Therewas a general exclamation of gladness on the part of the ladies who hadnot retired.

  "I am very glad to see you safe back, Mr. Bathurst," Mrs. Hunter said,going up to him and taking his hand. "We have all been very anxioussince you left."

  "The danger was very slight, Mrs. Hunter. I only wish I had brought youback the news that the native lines were deserted and the mutineers infull march for Delhi and Lucknow."

  "I was afraid you would hardly bring that news, Mr. Bathurst; it wasalmost too good to hope for. However, we are all glad that you are back.Are we not, Isobel?"

  "We are indeed, Mr. Bathurst, though as yet I can hardly persuade myselfthat it is you in that get up."

  "I think there is no doubt of my identity. Can you tell me where youuncle is, Miss Hannay? I have to make my report to him."

  "He is on the roof. There is a sort of general gathering of ourdefenders there."

  Two lamps had been placed in the center of the terrace, and round thesethe little garrison were grouped, some sitting on boxes, others lying onmats, almost all smoking. Bathurst was greeted heartily by the Major andWilson as soon as he was recognized.

  "I am awfully glad to see you back," Wilson said, shaking him warmly bythe hand. "I wish I could have gone with you. Two together does not seemso bad, but I should not like to start out by myself as you did."

  There was a hearty cordiality in the young fellow's voice that was verypleasant to Bathurst.

  "We have all our gifts, as Hawkeye used to say, as I have no doubt youremember, Wilson. Such gifts as I have lay in the way of solitary work,I fancy."

  "Now, light a cheroot, Bathurst," the Major said, "and drink off thistumbler of brandy and soda, and then let us hear your story."

  "The story is simple enough, Major. I got through without difficulty.The sentries are some distance apart round the garden wall. As soon as Idiscovered by the sound of their footsteps where they were, it was easyenough to get through them. Then I made a longish detour, and came downon the lines from the other side. There was no occasion for concealmentthen. Numbers of the country people had come in, and were gathered roundthe Sepoys' fires, and I was able to move about amongst them, and listento the conversation without the smallest hindrance.

  "The Sepoys were loudly expressing their dissatisfaction at theirofficers leading them against the house today, when they had no meansof either battering down the walls or scaling them. Then there was ageneral opinion that treachery was at work; for how else should theEuropeans have known they were going to rise that morning, and so movedduring the night into the house? There was much angry recriminationand quarreling, and many expressed their regret they had not marchedstraight to Cawnpore after burning the bungalows.

  "All this was satisfactory; but I learned that Por Sing and severalother Zemindars had already sent in assurances that they were whollywith them, and would be here, with guns to batter down the walls, sometime tomorrow."

  "That is bad news, indeed," the Major said gravely, when he hadfinished. "Of course, when we heard that Nana Sahib had thrown in hislot with the mutineers, it was probable that many of the landownerswould go the same way; but if the Sepoys had marched off they might nothave attacked us on their own account. Now we know that the Sepoys aregoing to stay, and that they will have guns, it alters our positionaltogether."

  There was a murmur of assent.

  "I should tell you before you talk the matter over further," Bathurstwent on, "that during the last hour some hundreds of peasants have takenup their posts round the house in addition to the Sepoy sentries. I cameback with one party about a hundred strong. They are posted a couple ofhundred yards or so in front of the gate. I slipped away from them inthe dark and made my way here."

  "Well, gentlemen, what do you think we had better do?" the Major said;"we are all in the same boat, and I should like
to have your opinions.We may defend this house successfully for days--possibly we may eventire them out--but on the other hand they may prove too strong forus. If the wall were breached we could hardly hope to defend it, and,indeed, if they constructed plenty of ladders they could scale it atnight in a score of places. We must, therefore, regard the house as ourcitadel, close up the lower windows and doors with sandbags, and defendit to the last. Still, if they are determined, the lookout is not a verybright one."

  "I am in favor of our cutting our way out, Major," Captain Forstersaid; "if we are cooped up here, we must, as you say, in the long run bebeaten."

  "That would be all very well, Captain Forster, if we were all men,"Mr. Hunter said. "There are sixteen of us and there are in all eighteenhorses, for I and Farquharson have two each; but there are eight womenand fourteen children; so all the horses would have to carry double. Wecertainly could not hope to escape from them with our horses so laden;and if they came up with us, what fighting could we do with women behindour saddles? Moreover, we certainly could not leave the servants, whohave been true to us, to the mercy of the Sepoys."

  "Besides, where could we go?" the Doctor asked. "The garrison atCawnpore, we know, are besieged by overwhelming numbers. We do not knowmuch as to the position at Lucknow, but certainly the Europeans areimmensely outnumbered there, and I think we may assume that theyare also besieged. It is a very long distance either to Agra or toAllahabad; and with the whole country up in arms against us, and thecavalry here at our heels, the prospect seems absolutely hopeless. Whatdo you think, Doolan? You and Rintoul have your wives here, and you havechildren. I consider that the question concerns you married men morethan us."

  "It is a case of the frying pan and the fire, as far as I can see,Doctor. At any rate, here we have got walls to light behind, and foodfor weeks, and plenty of ammunition. I am for selling our lives asdearly as we can here rather than go outside to be chased like jackals."

  "I agree with you, Doolan," Captain Rintoul said. "Here we may be ableto make terms with them, but once outside the walls we should be at thescoundrels' mercy. If it were not for the women and children I shouldagree entirely with Forster that our best plan would be to throw openour gates and make a dash for it, keeping together as long as we could,and then, if necessary, separating and trying to make our way down toAgra or Allahabad as best we could; but with ladies that does not seemto be possible."

  The opinion of the married civilians was entirely in accord with that ofMr. Hunter.

  "But what hope is there of defending this place in the long run?"Captain Forster said. "If I saw any chance at all I should be quitewilling to wait; but I would infinitely rather sally out at once andgo for them and be killed than wait here day after day and perhaps weekafter week, seeing one's fate drawing nearer inch by inch. What do yousay, Bathurst? We haven't had your opinion yet."

  "I do not think that the defense is so hopeless as you suppose, althoughI admit that the chances are greatly against us," Bathurst said quietly."I think there is a hope of tiring the natives out. The Sepoys know wellenough there can be no great amount of loot here, while they think thatwere they at Cawnpore, at Lucknow, or still more at Delhi, their chancesof plunder would be much greater. Moreover, I think that men in theirposition, having offended, as it were, without hope of pardon, wouldnaturally desire to flock together. There is comfort and encouragementin numbers. Therefore, I am sure they will very speedily becomeimpatient if they do not meet with success, and would be inclined togrant terms rather than waste time here.

  "It is the same thing with the native gentry. They will want to be offto Lucknow or Delhi, where they will know more how things are going,and where, no doubt, they reckon upon obtaining posts of importance andincreased possessions under the new order of things. Therefore, I think,they, as well as the Sepoys, are likely, if they find the task longerand more difficult than they expect, to be ready to grant terms. I haveno great faith in native oaths. Still they might be kept.

  "Captain Forster's proposal I regard as altogether impracticable. We aresomething like two hundred and fifty miles from the nearest British postwhere we could hope to find refuge, and with the horses carrying double,the troopers at our heels directly we start, and the country hostile,I see no chance whatever, not a vestige of one, of our getting safelyaway.

  "But there is a third alternative by which some might escape; it is,that we should make our way out on foot, break up into parties of twosand threes; steal or fight our way through the sentries, and then foreach party to shift for itself, making its way as best it can, travelingby night and lying up in woods or plantations by day; getting food attimes from friendly natives, and subsisting, for the most part, uponwhat might be gathered in the fields. In that way some might escape,but the suffering and hardships of the women and children would beterrible."

  "I agree with you," Mr. Hunter said; "such a journey would be frightfulto contemplate, and I don't think, in our case, that my wife couldpossibly perform such a journey; still, some might do so. At any rate, Ithink the chances are better than they would be were we to ride out ina body. I should suggest, Major, when the crisis seems to beapproaching--that is, when it is clear that we can't defend ourselvesmuch longer--it would be fair that each should be at liberty to try toget out and make down the country."

  "Certainly," the Major agreed; "we are in a position of men on board asinking ship with the boats gone; we should try to the end to save theship, but when all hope of doing that is over, each may try to get toshore as he best can. As long as the house can be defended, all mustremain and bear their share in the struggle, but when we decide that itis but a question of hours, all who choose will be at liberty to try toescape."

  "It will be vastly more difficult then than now," Captain Forster said;"Bathurst made his way out tonight without difficulty, but they willbe a great deal more vigilant when they know we cannot hold out muchlonger. I don't see how it would be possible for women and children toget through them."

  "We might then adopt your scheme, to a certain extent, Forster," MajorHannay said. "We could mount, sally out suddenly, break through theirpickets, and as soon as we are beyond them scatter; those who like cantry to make their way down on horseback, those who prefer it try to doso on foot. That would at least give us an alternative should the siegebe pushed on to the last, and we find ourselves unable to make terms."

  There was general assent to the Major's proposal, which seemed to offerbetter chances than any. There was the hope that the mutineers mighttire of the siege and march away; that if they pressed it, terms mightbe at last obtained from them, and that, failing everything else, thegarrison might yet make their way down country.

  "As there is evidently no chance of an attack during the night," theMajor said, "we will divide into two watches and relieve each otherevery four hours; that will give two as lookouts on the roof and sixin the inclosure. As you are senior officer next to myself, Doolan, youwill take charge of one watch; I shall myself take charge of the other.Forster and Wilson be with me, Rintoul and Richards with you. Mr. Hardy,will you and the other gentlemen divide your numbers into two watches?Dr. Wade counts as a combatant until his hospital begins to fill."

  "I fancy he may be counted as a combatant all through," the Doctormuttered.

  "Tomorrow morning," the Major went on, "we will continue the work offilling sandbags. There are still a large number of empty bags on hand.We shall want them for all the lower windows and doors, and themore there are of them the better; and we must also keep a supply inreadiness to make a retrenchment if they should breach the wall. Now,Mr. Hunter, as soon as you have made out your list my watch can go onduty, and I should advise the others to turn in without delay."

  When the ladies were informed that half the men were going on watch,Mrs. Doolan said, "I have an amendment to propose, Major. Women's earsare just as keen as men's, and I propose that we supply the sentries onthe roof. I will volunteer for one."

  The whole of the ladies at once volunteered. />
  "There is no occasion for so many," Mrs. Doolan said; "and I proposethat tonight, at any rate, I should take the first watch with one of theMiss Hunters, and that Miss Hannay and the other should take thesecond. That will leave all the gentlemen available for the watch in theinclosure."

  The proposal was agreed to, and in a short time the first watch hadtaken their station, and the rest of the garrison lay down to rest.

  The night passed off quietly. The first work at which the Major set thegarrison in the morning was to form six wooden stages against the wall.One by the gate, one against the wall at the other end, and two at eachof the long sides of the inclosure. They were twelve feet in height,which enabled those upon them to stand head and shoulders above thelevel of the wall.

  When these were completed the whole of the garrison, including theladies and native servants, again set to work filling sandbags withearth. As fast as they were finished they were carried in and piled twodeep against the lower windows, and three deep against the doors, onlyone small door being left undefended, so as to allow a passage in andout of the house. Bags were piled in readiness for closing this also incase of necessity.

  Mrs. Rintoul and another lady had volunteered for a third watch on theroof, so that each watch would go on duty once every twelve hours. Thewhole of the men, therefore, were available for work below.

  A scattered fire was opened at the house soon after daybreak, andwas kept up without intermission from bushes and other cover; but thewatchers on the roof, seated behind the sandbags at opposite angles,were well under shelter, peering out occasionally through the crevicesbetween the bags to see that no general movement was taking place amongthe enemy.

  About midday there was a desultory discharge of firearms from the nativelines; and the Major, on ascending to the roof, saw a procession ofelephants and men approaching the camp.

  "I expect there are guns there," he muttered, "and they are going tobegin in earnest. Ladies, you are relieved of duty at present. I expectwe shall be hearing from those fellows soon, and we must have someone uphere who can talk back to them."

  Accordingly the Doctor and Mr. Farquharson, who was the best shot amongthe civilians, took the places of the ladies on the roof. Half an hourlater the Major went up again.

  "They have four cannon," the Doctor said. "There they are, on thatslight rise to the left of the lines. I should fancy they are abouteight hundred yards away. Do you see, there is a crowd gathering behindthem? Our rifles will carry that distance easily enough, I think. Youmight as well let us have three or four more up here.. The two lads areboth fair shots, and Hunter was considered a good shikari some yearsago. We can drive their cannon off that rise; the farther we make themtake up their post the better, but even at that distance their shootingwill be wild. The guns are no doubt old ones, and, as likely as not, theshot won't fit. At any rate, though they may trouble us, they will do noserious harm till they establish a battery at pretty close quarters."

  The Major went down, and the two subalterns and Mr. Hunter joined theDoctor on the roof.

  Ten minutes later the boom of four guns in quick succession was heard,and the party below stopped for a moment at their work as they heard thesound of shot rushing through the air overhead; then came five shots inanswer from the parapet. Again and again the rifles spoke out, and thenthe Doctor shouted down to those in the courtyard, "They have had enoughof it already, and are bringing up the elephants to move the cannonback. Now, boys," he said to the subalterns, "an elephant is an easiermark than a tiger; aim carefully, and blaze away as quickly as youlike."

  For five minutes a rapid fire was kept up; then Wilson went below.

  "The Doctor asked me to tell you, sir," he said to the Major, "thatthe guns have been removed. There has been great confusion among thenatives, and we can see with our glasses eight or ten bodies left on theground. One of the elephants turned and went off at full speed among thecrowd, and we fancy some of the others were hit. There was great troublein getting them to come up to the guns. The Doctor says it is all overfor the present."

  Two other large parties with elephants were seen to come up to thenative lines in the course of the afternoon. The defenders of the roofhad now turned their attention to their foes in the gardens around, andthe fire thence was gradually suppressed, until by evening everythingwas quiet.

  By this time the work of filling the sandbags was completed; the doorsand windows had been barricaded, and a large pile of bags lay in theinclosure ready for erection at any threatened point.