as far
as we can. I should say that we have ten days or a fortnight before us
before matters get to an extremity, and in that time we ought to be able
to get, working night and day, from fifty to a hundred yards beyond the
wall, aiming at a clump of bushes. There is a large one in Farquharson's
compound, about a hundred yards off. Then, when things get to the worst,
we can work upwards, and come out on a dark night. We might leave a long
fuse burning in the magazine, so that there should be an explosion an
hour or two after we had left. There is enough powder there to bring the
house down, and the Sepoys might suppose that we had all been buried in
the ruins."

"I think the idea is a very good one, Bathurst. What do you think,
Doctor?"

"Capital," the Doctor said. "It is a light sandy soil, and we should
be able to get through it at a pretty good rate. How many can work
together, do you think, Bathurst?"

"I should say two of us in each shift, to drive, and, if necessary, prop
the roof, with some of the natives to carry out the earth. If we have
three shifts, each shift would go on twice in the twenty-four hours;
that would be four hours on and eight hours off."

"Will you take charge of the operation, Bathurst?"

"With pleasure, Major."

"Very well then. You shall have with you Wilson and Richards and the
three youngest of the civilians, Saunderson, Austin, and Herbert. You
six will be relieved from other duty except when the enemy threaten an
attack. I will put down Saunderson and Austin together. Which of the
others would you like to have with you?"

"I will take Wilson, sir."

"Very well, then, Richards and Herbert will make the third party. After
breakfast we can pick out the twelve strongest of the natives. I will
tell them that they have to work, but that they will be each paid half
a rupee a day in addition to their ordinary wages. Then you will give a
general supervision to the work, Bathurst, in addition to your own share
in it?"

"Certainly, Major, I will take general charge of it."

So at breakfast the Major explained the plan agreed upon. The five men
chosen at once expressed their willingness to undertake the work, and
the offer of half a rupee extra a day was sufficient to induce twelve of
the servants to volunteer for it. The Major went down to the cellars
and fixed upon the spot at which the work should begin; and Bathurst and
Wilson, taking some of the intrenching tools from the storeroom,