ed, striking the edge of the stonework arch, sending
down a shower of fragments, in the midst of whose falling the shot
struck the wall of the palace on my left, shivering the stonework there.

No one attempted to man the barricades again, the task was too perilous,
for gun after gun sent its iron messenger ploughing through the archway.

As I stood there midway between the gateway and the wall on my left, at
right angles to my window, I did not stir, for I knew that though the
balls came by within ten feet from where I stood, none was likely to
injure me. There was a kind of fascination in listening to the heavy
report, and then instantly for the whistling of the ball as, after
demolishing a portion of the barricade, it struck the wall with a heavy
crash, and sent the splinters of stone flying.

Opposite to me were the soldiers, densely packed, forming one side of
the lane, down which the balls came plunging. Now and then one was
deflected by the part of the barricade it struck, and it flew higher
against the wall, or lower so as to touch the paving, and then ricochet;
but the work was being thoroughly well done; and as I saw the great gaps
made, and the clearance in the gateway, I knew the final attack must
come before long.

It was much sooner than I expected, for the firing from the roof
suddenly blazed out furiously, and it was as if shots were being poured
from every window, as a fierce roar literally followed the next shot--a
roar of men's voices, and beating feet, and my heart seemed for a moment
to stand still, but then began to bound as I leaned out to watch the
struggle, from which I could not have torn myself even to save my life.

I could see nothing outside, only hear the coming of men, whose cheering
was mingled with many a shriek and groan, as poor fellows dropped under
the terrible fire poured down upon them. Then I saw the men within the
court running round to defend the gateway; but ere they could fire a
shot, there was the flashing of steel, and a little ridge of bristling
bayonets appeared; their banners changed hands; the sepoys broke and
rushed for the doorway and windows of the inner court; and in a
wonderfully short time, so rapidly flowed in the stream of glittering
bayonets through the archway, the court was cleared, and the firing came
now, as I had expected, from the inner windows and the roof.

I heard the orders ring out. "No firing! In with you, lads; the
bayonet!" and with a ru