In Times of Peril A Tale of India

s out of Calcutta, had, on the 29th of March, rushed out upon the parade ground and called upon the men to mutiny. He then shot the European sergeant-major of the regiment

r Ross, and at once rode at the man, who, finding that his comrades woul

ounded himself, was hung, and the same doom was allotted to a native officer of his regiment, for refusing to order th

f the news, papa?" D

these ringleaders, and by the disbandment of the Nineteenth, m

but men with wives and families were generally inclined to take a more somber view of the case. Nor is this to be wondered at. The British form an almost inappreciable portion of the population of India; they are isolated in a throng of natives, outnumbered by a thousand to one. A man might therefore well feel his helplessness to render any assistance to those dear to him in the event of a general uprising of the people. Soldiers without family ties take things lightly, they are ready for danger and for death if needs be, but they can always hope to get through somehow; but the man with a wife and children in India, at the time when a general outbreak was anticipated, would have the deepest cause for anxiety. Not, however, that at this time any one at Sandynugghur looked for anything so terrible. There was a spirit of insubor

Warrener, who was one of

or the colo

major, held out his hand for the message,

olonel; boy, b

nvelope and glanced at the dispatch. He uttered

what is the ma

officers and all the European men, women, and children they co

nt the two men sat half-stunned at the calamity, while the sound of music

compound," said the major,

bt about the truth of the news, for it was an official telegram from the a

ike wildfire over India. What was the general at Meerut about? what were the white troops up to? It is as inexplicable as it is terrible. Is there anything to be done, major, do you think?" But Major Warrener could think of nothing. The men a

ell them inside?

g up, ask all the officers to come round to the messroom; I will meet them there, and we can talk the matter over;

the music, and joined in the talk until ten o'clock struck and every

ot till two days later that letters giving any details of these terrib

ppily, they were not well handled. The cantonments of Meerut were of great extent, being nearly five miles in length by two in breadth, the barracks of the British troops were situated at some distance from those of the native regiments, and the action of the troops was paralyzed by the incompetency of the general, an old man who had lost all energy, and who remained in a state of indecision while the men of the native regiments shot their officers, murdered all the women and children, and the white inhabitants whose bungalows were situated at their end of their cantonment, opened the jail doors, and after setting fire to the whol

this, not one would have escaped the slaughter that commenced as soon as the Third Cavalry from Meerut rode into the town. The Fifty-fourth Native Infantry, who had hastily been marched out to meet them, fraternized with them at once, and, standing quietly by, looked on while their officers were murdered by the cavalrymen. Then commenced a scene of murder and atrocity which is happily without parallel in history. Suffice to say, that with the exception of some half-dozen who in one way or other managed to escape, the whole of the white population inside the walls of Delhi were murdered under circumstances of the most horrible and revolting cruelty. Had the news of the outbreak of Meerut been sent by a swift mounted messenger, the whole of these hapless people would have had time to leave the to

ughby and I were posted. The principal gate of the magazine was similarly defended by two guns and by the chevaux-de-frise laid down in the inside. For the further defense of this gate and the magazine in its vicinity, there were two six-pounders so placed as to command it and a small bastion close by. Within sixty yards of the gate, and commanding two cross roads, were three six-pounders, and one twenty-four pound howitzer, which could be so managed as to act upon any part of the magazine in th

he order, Conductor Scully fired the several trains, and in another instant a tremendous explosion took place which shook all Delhi, and covered the city with a cloud of black smoke. It was calculated that from fifteen hundred to two thousand of the mutineers and rabble of the town were killed by the falling walls, or crushed under the masses of masonry. Lieutenants Willoughby, Forrest, Rayn

ther, on his return from the orderly-room, where t

be done, I suppose, p

lode. I have been thinking, indeed for the last week I have done nothing but think, what is best to be done. If the mutiny breaks out at night or at any time when we are not on parade, we have agreed that all the whites shall make at once for Mr. Thompson's house. It is the strongest of any of the residences-for there would of course be no getting to the messhouse-and then we will sell our lives as dearly as we may. If it happens when we are on parade, defense by the rest of the residents would

, papa?"

t the first volley will be justified in trying to save their lives. The colonel, the adjutant, and myself are mounted officers, and two or three of the others will have their dogcarts each day brought

e asked after a pause, for the danger seemed so s

e Hindoo dress gives no concealment. I have also ordered her to get me two dresses: one, such as a young Mussulman zemindar wears; the other, as his retainer. They are for you boys. Keep the bundles, when you get them, in that closet in the dining-room, so as to be close at hand; and in case of alarm, be sure and take them with you. Remember my instructions are absolute. If by day, escape in the trap at the first alarm; if the trap is not available, escape at once on foot. If you hear the enemy

young Warreners, who were deeply affected at the sole

ut them on under your coats, so that they may not be noticed; it would be as well for you to practice yourselves

me a pistol each, too,

sed his daughter a

reled pistols; you shall each have

on them, no merry laugh when the ball went wide of the mark, no triumphant shout at a successful shot. Their faces were set, pale, and earnest, Scarcely a word was spoken. Each loaded in silence, took up a place at the firing point, and aimed steadily and seriously; the boys with an angry eye and frowning brow, as if each time they were

no formal engagements were entered upon, the young people understood each other, and Major Warrener gave his tacit approval. Very earnestly all the party hoped that when the dread moment came it might come when they were all together, so that they mi

bable that they would be so, for at the first symptoms of mutiny it would be the duty of the offic

station, came to an end; and even had there been implicit confidence in the regiment, the news of such terrible events wo

o remain at home alone, she passed the day in going from house to house of her female friends. Advice and example she obtained from these, but poor comfort. The colonel's wife was as brave as any man

e enough to worry them without being shaken by our tears. Death, after all, can

home; but this was not often, and day after day they bore the terrible strain with that heroic fortitude which characterized English women in India during the awful period of the mutiny. Ten days aft

not made up their minds to mutiny, and I shall be able to go to mess with a lighter

ies; this was to be used for staining the skin, and so completing the disguise. The Warreners knew that if their old nurse had any information as to any intended outbreak she would le

nd the young Warreners had finished their

eet again!" such was the solemn leave-taking with which the major and hi

Warreners and their cousin sat

, looking at her watch; and sh

us; but Kate waited two minutes, and then r

r out of hearing; but it is curio

veranda, but came in ag

ate; and I don't hear any

e servants left in a body? Did they know that something was going to h

but it is better to be prepared. Get the bundles out. Dick, put a bottl

tly the others di

ed their pockets; "let us empty it into that cloth, and tie it up.

of minutes

d," he said, "and not a soul i

in her favorite place outside the

he matter, Saba? All t

k her head. "Bad n

she would accompany them, to go into the villages to buy food; "D

it were the signal, in a moment the air rang with rifle shots, shouts,

ome of them are not fifty yards

old nurse said, and seated h

they entered and crouched down there came the sound of hurrying feet, and a band of Sepo

house; kill the boys, but keep the whi

curtains pulled down, and chests ransacked-and a

e far off; some of you run out to the plain; they can't have got a

eet just as the Sepoys were

ing," she said; "they h

he enraged jemadar; "who

aid steadily; "Saba w

s darted into the faithful old servant's body, and without a word she fell dead

carry everything off; it is all to be divid

rything else was soon cleared away, and then the house was lit in half a dozen places. The fire ran quickly up the muslin curtains, caught