to lead my company to the officers'
quarters. Ready, my lads? No firing. The bayonet. We must save those
women, or die."

A loud, sharp, snapping hurrah rang out, seeming to cut through the
mist, and then at Roberts's "Forward!" they dashed after him at the
double, to reach the next descent into the court, which meant right
among the yelling Ghazis, but at the opposite end to that where Colonel
Graves and the Major--who had reached them now with a couple of dozen
men, mostly armed with the Indians' tulwars--had managed to struggle
into line.

Very few minutes elapsed before the shouting of Captain Roberts's men,
as they dashed down, two abreast, cutting into the mass below, added to
the wild confusion, and for a time it seemed as if the struggle would
become hopeless, as the brave fellows' strength began to yield to
exhaustion, for the power to combine seemed gone, and the _melee_ grew
more a hand-to-hand fight, in which the savage Ghazis had the advantage
with their keen swords, their adversaries wanting room to use their
bayonets after a few fierce and telling thrusts.

"This is useless, Graham," panted the Colonel at last; "these sheep
hamper every movement. We can do nothing in this horrible darkness. I
am going to give the order for every man to make for the walls, where we
must defend ourselves with the bayonet as the fellows attack us. We
must wait for morning, and then shoot them down."

"And by then they will have slaughtered every woman and non-combatant in
the fort," growled the Major savagely.

"No; we must each lead a company or two for the quarters. You take as
many as you can collect straight for the ladies' rooms."

"Roberts has gone ten minutes ago, and is fighting his way across."

"Go round by the walls on the other side and get in behind. I am going
to rush for the hospital. Bracy and all those poor fellows must be
saved."

"Too late," said the Major bitterly. "Two of the men here left a score
of the hounds fighting their way into the ward. Oh, if we only had a
light!"

Strange things occur when least expected, and there are times when, as
if by a miracle, the asked-for gift is bestowed.

"God bless you, Graves!" whispered the Major; "if we don't meet again,
I'll do all that man can do."

"I know it, Graham. You'll save the women, I'm sure. Ah! what's that?"

"Fire--fire!" shouted a voice, and a yell of triumph rose from the
Ghazis, to be echoed by the seething mob of fan