ef anxiety at present, however, was about the safety of
Violet and Nuna, and the other ladies, as well as that of Colonel Ross
and the officers under him. He learned from a British soldier that the
sepoy regiment had mutinied, and having killed several of their officers
who had remained with them and attempted to bring them back to their
duty, had marched off with their arms, after setting fire to several
bungalows; that the Europeans had been surprised when on the point of
pursuing them by the rebel cavalry, who had dashed suddenly into the
cantonments, cutting off all connection with their officers and any of
the natives who might have remained faithful. Having for some time
gallantly defended themselves, they had been compelled to retreat, and
would undoubtedly have been destroyed had it not been for the arrival of
Reginald and his party.

No one could inform him whether the house occupied by Colonel Ross had
been attacked; therefore, anxious to ascertain the truth, he ordered his
men to advance. He was about to push forward with his small body of
horsemen, when Wuzeer Singh pointed out the rebel cavalry in
considerable force in the distance, ready to pounce down upon him. He
had therefore to restrain his eagerness, in order to allow his guards on
foot to come up with him. At length he came in sight of the building
which contained those so dear to him; and on seeing how totally unfitted
it was to offer any effectual resistance, he trusted that the mutineers
had not attempted to attack it. He hastened on, his heart beating with
anxiety. As he and his party were seen from the windows, Colonel Ross,
and several officers who had taken refuge there, came out to meet him.
They greeted him warmly, and expressed their thankfulness that he had
come so opportunely to their rescue, as every minute they were expecting
to be attacked by the rebels; while they were convinced that they had
but little chance of successfully defending the house. When they first
saw the rebel cavalry, they supposed that they were coming to their
assistance; but this hope vanished when they saw the horsemen dashing
forward towards that part of the cantonments where the company of
British soldiers was quartered. Their fear was that the latter would be
surprised before they could have time to make any preparations for
defence. Their hopes had risen and fallen as the sound of musketry
continued; but they at length began to fear, when the firing c