em a dim
low line of blue. My master was one of this cluster, and having
recovered from the depression which had afflicted both his spirits and
his stomach during the early part of the voyage, now celebrated the
"discovery of India" with a cry so outlandish, and other manifestations
of joy so extravagant (one of which was pitching one of the sergeants'
caps overboard) that he was instantly summoned before the officer in
command, and ordered to remain below for the next twelve hours. This
was, I need hardly say, a disappointment to both of us.

All day long we heard overhead the crowding of footsteps, the clanking
of chains, and the banging about of baggage. The men were paraded on
deck and one or two servants down where we were were very busy polishing
the officers' swords. Altogether it looked as if we were not intended
to remain an hour longer in Bombay than was necessary before marching to
the front. Indeed, the arrival of a newspaper on board, along with the
pilot, created such a ferment among the officers and men that it was
evident something unusual had happened since we last heard the news.

When, towards evening, my master was allowed once more to come on deck,
we were not long in discovering the cause of all this.

The Indian Mutiny, which had just broken out when we left England, had
suddenly assumed enormous and hideous dimensions. The rebels, taking
advantage of their first success, seemed to have gone mad with a most
cruel madness. Helpless Englishwomen and children had been massacred
and outraged; gallant Englishmen, overpowered by numbers, had been put
to shameful deaths. One by one our strongholds had been surprised and
captured; and, carrying all before them, the traitors bade fair to leave
England not so much as a foothold in India.

This was enough to make the blood of the tamest among us boil with
indignation, and, as the dreadful truth, bit by bit, dawned on our
gallant fellows, their impatience became almost beyond control. My
master was in sad peril of another arrest by reason of his excitement.

"Show me the spalpeens! Show me 'em!" roared he, almost beside himself.
"Let me at 'em, Duck, ye blackguard; let me at 'em!"

And so saying he seized Mr Downie, who happened to be standing near
him, and nearly shook the bones out of that unoffending hero's body.

"Do ye hear?" roared Paddy, quite out of his senses.

"I hear," said Downie, coolly, proceeding to take off his coat and tuck