old them
to barricade the gates, and to be ready to take post at the
windows, in case of assault. Looking out, he saw that the rajah's
men had taken up their position in front of the house.

A great crowd soon began to gather there. Most of the men were
evidently soldiers, and had arms in their hands. Loud shouts were
raised, and it was not long before a musket was discharged, quickly
followed by others. The native officer in charge of the guard
ordered the soldiers to seize those who fired but, as his men
pressed their horses forward, the crowd closed in upon them,
breaking their ranks and rendering them powerless.

While this had been going on, the men of Harry's escort were hard
at work in getting up the paving stones of the yard, and piling
them against the gate. The lower windows were all barred and, as
there was no entrance except by the front gate, it was felt that
they could hold the house for some time.

As soon as the guard were swept away, a portion of the crowd
attacked the gate with showers of stones, while a heavy musketry
fire was opened at every window. So heavy was this that Harry would
not allow the troopers to show themselves there, but posted them
behind the barricades of stone against the gates so that, when
these yielded, they might be able to open fire whilst showing only
their heads over the top line of stones.

Harry regretted, now, that he had not, when he returned from the
rajah, at once ordered his men to mount and cut their way through
the mob. A few at least might have escaped though, doubtless, they
would have been pursued by the irregular cavalry. As it was he felt
that, although they might sell their lives dearly, they must be
destroyed to a man, unless the rajah sent assistance to them. That
he would endeavour to do so he felt sure, for the massacre of a
British envoy, and his escort, was certain to bring the English
troops to Nagpore, sooner or later; and no assurances that the
rajah had done all in his power to save them would be accepted as
sufficient.

The house stood in a garden, which extended some distance behind
it; and it was here that the horses were picketed. The front gate
was a very strong one, and was certain to resist all attacks, for
some time.

Harry called off half his men, and set them to work at the wall at
the end of the garden, which was only constructed of dry mud;
directing them to make a hole large enough for a horse to pass
through. At this side all w