o save
his life, he must have run faster than he had ever before done. In his
imagination he pictured the match not an inch from the barrel. In a few
seconds the fire would touch the powder, and all would be over.

Major Molony had mounted his horse, and the sepoys having moved on, the
European troop had just fallen in outside the fort, and were beginning
to march, when suddenly an awful roar was heard, and a vast sheet of
flame ascended from the middle of the fort. The major, clapping spurs
into his horse's flanks and dashing forward, ordered his men to run for
their lives. But the warning came too late, for many of the poor
fellows were struck down. Though pieces of stone and huge masses of
timber fell around on every side, the gallant major escaped uninjured,
as did happily the larger portion of his men; and, as he rode forward to
meet Burnett, who came galloping up, he passed Sambro, dragging on Khan
Cochut, and the elephant carrying the slave Bikoo. Sambro explained the
way in which he had captured the khan and his companion, and described
their suspicious conduct. Burnett ordered him to give them in charge of
a party of sepoys, who were directed on no account to let them escape.

A short halt was called, for the purpose of burying the dead. During
the time, Burnett and the major examined the fort, but made no discovery
which enabled them to fathom the mysterious circumstance. Not a living
being remained within it. Should any unfortunate persons have been left
behind, they must have been blown to pieces. Burnett then rode forward
to explain what had happened to Reginald; but as a long delay was
unadvisable, he deferred the examination of Khan Cochut and his
companion till their noonday halt.

Though Reginald was very happy to devote himself to his young sister,
and to go through any amount of ceremony which his new position demanded
of him, he soon got tired of sitting in a howdah; so ordering a horse to
be prepared, he mounted, and took his place with Burnett at the head of
his troops.

The scouts sent out returned with the report that the enemy had
retreated--probably overawed by the imposing force protecting the
ranee--and the intelligence that other troops were advancing from the
capital. A strong body of these troops were met at the spot fixed on
for the noonday halt, and handsomely-furnished tents were already
pitched.

That there had been a nefarious plot to destroy the lives of himself and