y heart began to
beat heavily.

"Draw farther back," he whispered; "they are not country people."

Just then there was a click familiar enough to us all, and then another.

"It must be some of our lads," whispered Brace; and the next minute, as
a little body of men came by, in regular military step, I heard him
mutter, "Must be;" and he cried, "Halt!"

"Draw--swords!" rang out in answer, and there was the peculiar grating
rattle of sabres being drawn from steel scabbards.

"Who is that? Sergeant Craig?" cried Brace.

"Captain!" shouted a familiar voice. "Thank God, we've found you at
last!" and a faint cheer rose up.

"Quick! tell me," cried Brace, as we pressed up to the men--"is it all
true?"

"You've heard, then, sir?" said the sergeant, with a groan.

"Yes; Denny escaped and reached us."

"Poor lad! I thought he was one of the goners."

"How was it?" said Brace, sternly.

"I hardly know, sir. A surprise. Everything was as usual, just at the
hottest time, when they were down upon us like a thunder clap. One
party made for the officers' quarters, another for the guard, and shot
down the sentries; another made the men fast in their quarters, and
before we could grasp it, they had seized the whole place, and we were
helpless."

"But the major--Lieutenant Barton?"

"Don't ask me, sir," said the man, hoarsely.

"Speak, man."

"I saw the major run out, sword in hand, followed by a dozen of the
scoundrels, and he was shouting for the trumpeter; but before Dick Dobbs
could get out, the poor major was cut down, and we were locked in, could
hear the lieutenant crying for help, and there was firing going on in
his quarters, and then the scoundrels came out, shouting wildly."

"Killed?"

The sergeant uttered a low groan.

"The wretches! the cowardly, traitorous wretches!" cried Brace. "They
had murdered their own officers, and then came up to the barracks."

"Beg pardon, sir."

Brace repeated his words.

"What! were the niggers mutinied too?"

"Yes; did you not know?"

"Not a word, sir. We were like being in prison till we managed to creep
out; and then after a bit of a talk among us non-coms, as were left, we
determined, as our officers were gone, to come and try and find you,
sir."

"Then you were kept locked in the barracks?"

"Yes, sir; and if any of us showed a head, it was made a mark for a
bullet. But we could hear all that was going on. One of them sounded
boot and saddle as