eased,
that the party had been cut to pieces. Their satisfaction therefore was
great, when they found so considerable a number of English soldiers with
Reginald. But even counting the force he had brought with him, they
could not hope to defend the residency should any regular attack be made
by the rebels, who had carried off several guns, which many of them were
well able to serve.

"Your only resource then, Colonel Ross, is to allow me to escort you to
the city; within the walls of which you and your party will, I trust,
find protection," said Reginald.

Colonel Ross, after a short consultation with his officers, accepted the
offer, and preparations were at once made for moving. Reginald enjoyed
a few minutes' conversation with Violet and Nuna. The latter, poor
girl, was in a state of great anxiety at not hearing from Captain
Burnett. The horsemen had been recognised from the residency as
belonging to his regiment, and fears had been expressed in her presence
that he had fallen. Violet did her best to console her, by suggesting
that they had been detached for some separate duty, when they might have
been tempted to join the mutineers; or perhaps that they had deserted
while encamped, without injuring him or those who remained faithful to
their colours.

Some elephants had been procured to carry the ladies and the articles of
chief value; and most of the officers had their horses, though some had
been carried off by the rebels. Scouts had been sent out in all
directions to ascertain the movements of the mutineers; and two of them
now came back with the intelligence that the men of the sepoy regiment
having been joined by another which had marched across the border, as
well as by the cavalry and native gunners with their guns, they were
advancing on the cantonments. No time, therefore, was to be lost. The
ladies, including Mrs Molony, were immediately placed on the
elephants--two of which animals were also employed in dragging the
remaining field-guns; the baggage was secured, and the order to advance
was given.

Just at that moment a sowar was seen rapidly coming up from the
direction of the city; whom, as he approached, Reginald recognised as
his faithful ally, Buxsoo.

"Alas, O Rajah! Alas!" he exclaimed, "I bring sad tidings. Scarcely
had you left the gates of the city when a tumult arose, and the houses
of many persons supposed to be favourable to you were attacked. Several
people were killed, an