we trotted into the square with the guns, the foot regiment
following at the double, to occupy the roof and windows of the big
buildings, while our guns were planted so as to command the approaches,
outposts being placed all round.

We were none too soon, for hardly had the position been occupied, than
from the outposts and from the top of the building we had reports of the
enemy's approach from the west, a second regiment of native cavalry
being in advance, while a cloud of dust gradually resolved itself into
quite a little army of native infantry, followed by a huge crowd of
camp-followers with horses, donkeys, elephants, and camels.

The colonel was on the roof, making good use of his glass, and he
shouted down to where Brace was standing with the two reserve guns--

"Lucky we got back," he said. "Their fighting men must be about three
or four thousand strong."

In spite of their numbers, the inclination was to advance at once and
attack them, before they had time to get in order or into a strong
position, Brace being naturally strongly in favour of this course, his
branch of the service being, of course, adapted for field duty; but the
colonel of the foot regiment was more cautious. His men were, opposed
to so great a force, strongest behind walls defending such a building as
that they occupied, and Brace had to give way. And there we waited,
while the mutineers marched into the place. From where I was stationed
with two of the guns I had an uninterrupted view before me, for about
half a mile, of the scouting parties, mounted and on foot, which came to
spy out our position, some of them going so far as to begin firing, the
balls stirring up the dust in front of us, and the practice getting
warmer, till one of the balls struck and glanced off from the gun
nearest to me, while the carriage was struck directly after, the sound
being like a sharp rap.

But about half a dozen pretty good marksmen replied from our side, and
the firing was soon silenced.

After this a knot of sowars rode down into sight from time to time,
offering our men a tempting mark for a discharge of grape, but there was
no firing, for such shots could do no good, and they were reserved for a
time when they could have a demoralising and scattering effect upon some
attacking party.

All at once, as I stood there, hot and weary in the scorching sun, I saw
another party ride up reconnoitring, one evidently composed of the
leaders of the lit