signed to me to come to his side.

"I think I should have given him the two charges," the colonel was
saying as I came up; and then, soon after, "Well, perhaps you are
right."

"I am sure I am," Brace said eagerly. "If my men were a company or two
of infantry like your own, I should say, by all means let us strengthen
the residency, and after getting together all the provisions we could,
stand fast till more help came; but with my guns and horses cooped up
here in these streets, I am almost useless. We can fire a _few_ times,
and then, if the enemy makes a bold dash, there will be a short
struggle, and they must capture the guns again. You see, my horses are
in the way here, where there is no room to manoeuvre."

"Yes; that is quite right. But we might get them in the compound, and
turn your guns into pieces for our little fort."

"Yes," said Brace; "and how are you going to feed the poor beasts when
you have them in the compound? There is no begging the question, sir; I
can make my troop invaluable, and act as cavalry as well, out in the
open; but here we cannot develop our strength."

"He's quite right," said the major.

"Then what would you propose?" said the colonel.

"We have abundance of ammunition, and our waggons and elephants. Moving
out as soon as it is dark."

"They will not let us move; and it would be murderous for my poor lads
to carry on a hand-to-hand fight in these narrow lanes."

"More murderous to be shut up in that residency, to be attacked day
after day by a force that will always be increasing, while we grow
weaker."

"Unless help comes.--But you would move out?"

"Yes."

"And what then? Retreat and leave these scoundrels in possession?"

"No; they will think we are retreating, and follow us. We can keep on
retiring till you have got into a good position, when I can literally
mow them down from a distance."

"Unless their cavalry take your guns."

"I am not afraid of that, sir," said Brace, with a laugh.

"And they will be six or seven to one," said the colonel.

"The odds were greater at Plassy," said Brace, quietly. "Depend upon
it, if we get them out on fair ground--which we will--they will receive
a tremendous check."

"What do you say?" said the colonel, turning to his brother-officer, the
major.

"I side with Captain Brace, decidedly. If we shut ourselves up, we are
crippling a dashing troop of artillery; and, worse still, letting the
scoundrels think they a