e
spectators of the capture; but to reach them and their rifles and
ammunition they had to cross the court, which was now one tossing chaos
of cutting and slashing fiends in human form, rushing here and there,
and stumbling over the frightened sheep, which plunged and leaped
wildly, adding greatly to the din by their piteous bleating, many to
fall, wounded, dying, and struggling madly, beneath the sword-cuts
intended for the garrison. These were flying unarmed seeking for
refuge, and often finding none, but turning in their despair upon their
assailants, many of whom went down, to be trampled under foot by those
whom they sought to slay.

The firing now began to rapidly increase, the flashings of the rifles
seeming to cut through the dense mist, now growing thicker with the
smoke, which, instead of rising, hung in a heavy cloud, mingling with
the fog, and making the efforts of the defenders more difficult as it
increased. For some time every one seemed to have lost his head, as, in
spite of the efforts of the officers, the panic was on the increase, and
the Ghazis had everything their own way. Colonel Graves, as soon as he
had got his little force together, gave the word for a rush with the
bayonet, and led the way, his men following bravely, but the
difficulties they encountered were intense. It was almost impossible to
form in line, and when at last this was roughly achieved in the
darkness, and the order to advance was given, it was upon a mass of
struggling sheep mingled with the yelling fiends; and, to the horror of
the line of sturdy men, they found that to fire, or advance with the
bayonet, would be to the destruction of friend as well as foe.

To add to the horror, the wild and piteous shrieks of women arose now
from the portion of the fort containing the officers' quarters; and at
this Roberts, who was firing with his men down into the seething mass of
fresh assailants swarming at the gates and striving, so far vainly, to
mount the walls, gave a sharp order.

"Here, cease firing, my lads," he yelled. "Drummond--Drummond! Where's
Mr Drummond?"

"Gone, sir," came from one of the men.

"What! down?" cried Roberts.

"No, sir; he said something about go on firing, and hooked it off along
the ramp."

An angry groan arose, and Roberts muttered something about his friend
before shouting again.

"Sergeant," he cried, "take the command of your men, and keep these dogs
from mounting the gate. I am going