so on.

"You might mention in the orderly room that it is getting so hot now
that you think it would be as well to have a room or two fitted up under
a roof, instead of having the sick in tents, in case there should be an
outbreak of cholera or anything of that sort this year. I will say that
I think the idea is a very good one, and that as the courthouse is
very little used, you had better establish yourself there. The native
officers who hear what we say will spread the news. I don't say it will
be believed, but at least it will serve as an explanation."

"Yes, I think that that will be a very good plan, Major. Two of the men
who act as hospital orderlies I can certainly depend upon, and they will
help to receive the things sent in from the bungalows, and will hold
their tongues as to what is being done; I shall leave my tent standing,
and use it occasionally as before, but will make the courthouse my
headquarters. How are we off for arms?"

"There are five cases of muskets and a considerable stock of ammunition
in that small magazine in the lines; one of the first things will be to
get them removed to the courthouse. We have already arranged to do that
tonight; it will give us four or five muskets apiece."

"Good, Major; I will load them all myself and keep them locked up in
a room upstairs facing the gateway, and should there be any trouble I
fancy I could give a good account of any small body of men who might
attempt to make an entrance. I am very well content with my position as
Commandant of the Hospital, as we may call it; the house has not been
much good to us hitherto, but I suppose when it was bought it was
intended to make this a more important station; it is fortunate they did
buy it now, for we can certainly turn it into a small fortress. Still,
of course, I cannot disguise from myself that though we might get on
successfully for a time against your Sepoys, there is no hope of holding
it long if the whole country rises."

"I quite see that, Doctor," the Major said gravely; "but I have really
no fear of that. With the assistance of the Rajah of Bithoor, Cawnpore
is safe. His example is almost certain to be followed by almost all the
other great landowners. No; it is quite bad enough that we have to face
a Sepoy mutiny; I cannot believe that we are likely to have a general
rising on our hands. If we do--" and he stopped.

"If we do it is all up with us, Major; there is no disguising that.
However, we