e shall get a store of water there.
Everything will be done quietly at present, and things will be sent in
there after dark by such servants as we can thoroughly rely upon. At the
first signs of trouble the residents will make straight for that point.
Of course we must be guided by circumstances. If the trouble begins in
the daytime--that is, if it does begin, for the native officers assure
us that we can trust implicitly in the loyalty of the men--there will
probably be time for everyone to gain the courthouse; if it is at night,
and without warning, as it was at Meerut, I can only say, Doctor, may
God help us all, for I fear that few, if any, of us would get there
alive. Certainly not enough to make any efficient defense."

"I do not see that there is anything else to do, Major. I trust with
you that the men will prove faithful; if not, it is a black lookout
whichever way we take it."

"Did you kill the tiger, Doctor?"

"Yes; at least Bathurst and I did it between us. I wounded him first. It
then sprang upon Bathurst's elephant, and he speared it, and I finished
it with a shot through the head."

"Speared it!" the Major repeated; "why didn't he shoot it. What was he
doing with his spear?"

"He was born, Major, with a constitutional horror of firearms, inherited
from his mother. I will tell you about it some day. In fact, he cannot
stand noise of any sort. It has been a source of great trouble to the
young fellow, who in all other respects has more than a fair share of
courage. However, we will talk about that when we have more time on our
hands. There is no special duty you can give me at present?"

"Yes, there is. You are in some respects the most disengaged man in
the station, and can come and go without attracting any attention. I
propose, therefore, that you shall take charge of the arrangement of
matters in the courthouse. I think that it will be an advantage if you
move from your tent in there at once. There is plenty of room for us
all: No one can say at what time there may be trouble with the Sepoys,
and it would be a great advantage to have someone in the courthouse
who could take the lead if the women, with the servants and so on, come
flocking in while we were still absent on the parade ground. Besides,
with your rifle, you could drive any small party off who attempted to
seize it by surprise. If you were there we would call it the hospital,
which would be an excuse for sending in stores, bedding, and