feel as weak as a child, but no spirits."

With an impatient shrug of the shoulders the Doctor mixed a strong dose
of quinine and gave it to him.

An hour later a sudden outburst of musketry took place. Not a native
showed himself on the side of the house facing the maidan, but from the
gardens on the other three sides a heavy fire was opened.

"Every man to the roof," the Major said; "four men to each of the rear
corners, three to the others. Do you think you are fit to fire, Forster?
Had you not better keep quiet for today; you will have opportunities
enough."

"I am all right, Major," he said carelessly. "I can put my rifle through
a loophole and fire, though I have one arm in a sling. By Jove!" he
broke off suddenly; "look at that fellow Bathurst--he looks like a
ghost."

The roll of musketry was unabated, and the defenders were already
beginning to answer it; the bullets sung thickly overhead, and above the
din could be heard the shouts of the natives. Bathurst's face was rigid
and ghastly pale. The Major hurried to him.

"My dear Bathurst," he said, "I think you had better go below. You will
find plenty of work to do there."

"My work is here," Bathurst said, as if speaking to himself: "it must be
done."

The Major could not at the moment pay further attention to him, for a
roar of fire broke out round the inclosure, as from the ruined bungalows
and from every bush the Sepoys, who had crept up, now commenced the
attack in earnest, while the defenders lying behind their parapet
replied slowly and steadily, aiming at the puffs of smoke as they darted
out. His attention was suddenly called by a shout from the Doctor.

"Are you mad, Bathurst? Lie down, man; you a throwing away your life."

Turning round, the Major saw Bathurst standing up--right by the parapet,
facing the point where the enemy fire was hottest. He held a rifle in
his hand but did not attempt to fire; his figure swayed slightly to and
fro.

"Lie down," the Major shouted, "lie down, sir;" and then as Bathurst
still stood unmoved he was about to run forward, when the Doctor from
one side and Captain Forster from the other rushed towards him through a
storm of bullets, seized him in their arms, and dragged him back to the
center of the terrace.

"Nobly done, gentlemen," the Major said, as they laid Bathurst down; "it
was almost miraculous your not being hit."

Bathurst had struggled fiercely for a moment, and then his resistance
had sud