sent a reviving thrill of hope through the fast-falling
defenders, and they held their _chevaux-de-frise_ of bayonets once more
now, though with trembling, unnerved hands.

A minute before it seemed to them that their last blow had been struck,
and that there was nothing else to do but die with their face to the
dead and living enemy. But that wild British cheer sent a thrill
through them; the massacre of the wounded was after all to be stayed,
and they stood firmly there in the brightly illumined room, witnesses of
the bayoneting, till the last savage lay dying on the floor.

Roberts had headed his party, and was the first to return to try and
save his friend and comrade; and it was into his arms Bracy fell and was
carried out, while the men crowded in now to bear out Mrs Gee, the
Doctor, Gedge, and the rest, those outside cheering madly as first one
and then another bloodstained, ghastly object was borne into the light;
while, in the interval between two of the outbursts, poor Gedge, who was
being cheered by his comrades, seemed drunk with excitement, as he
contrived with failing arm to wave his rifle above his head and shout:

"Three cheers for Mr Bracy; three cheers for the Doctor and old Mother
Gee! Three cheers for us all!"

There was a tremendous roar at this, heard loudly above the crackling
fire kept up on the enemy still striving to force a way in from beyond
the walls.

"Three more," cried Gedge. "Cripples, all on us, but we held our own,
and hip--hip--hip--hoo--"

Gedge did not finish his cheer, for half-way through the last word he
fell forward, utterly exhausted, fainting dead away.

It was just then that an officer with blackened face and sword in hand
suddenly made his appearance high up in the golden light of the fire,
and the moment he appeared a howl of execration was raised, which ran
through the crowd of soldiery, while the officers scowled and turned
away.

The tall, thin figure stopped short in front of the burning building, to
gaze down wonderingly.

"Drummond--Scotch coward!" roared a voice, and a yell of execration
burst forth.

Just at that moment, from behind an angle of the building, four of the
Ghazis, who had lain hidden there and escaped the deadly fire, rushed
forth yelling and waving their swords as they made for the figure
standing apparently beyond the reach of help.

"Quick, some one--fire, fire!" shouted Roberts.

The figure heard the cry, and turned just in time t