the
pressure from behind, at once turned, and flying through the breach,
followed their companions.

A loud cheer broke from the garrison, and the Major looking round saw
the Doctor standing by the parapet waving his hat, while Isobel stood
beside him looking down at the scene of conflict.

"Lie down, Isobel," he shouted; "they will be opening fire again
directly."

The girl disappeared, and almost at the same moment the batteries spoke
out again, and a crackle of the musketry began from the gardens. The
Major turned round. Bathurst was leaning against the wall breathing
heavily after his exertions, Forster was coolly wiping his sword on the
tunic of one of the fallen Sepoys.

"Are either of you hurt?" he asked.

"I am not hurt to speak of," Forster said; "I got a rip with a bayonet
as I jumped down, but I don't think it is of any consequence."

"How are you, Bathurst?" the Major repeated. "What on earth possessed
you to jump down like that?"

"I don't know, Major; I had to do something, and when you stopped firing
I felt it was time for me to do my share."

"You have done more than your share, I should say," the Major said; "for
they went down like ninepins before you. Now, Wilson, you take one of
his hands, and I will take the other, and help him up."

It needed considerable exertion to get him up, for the reaction had now
come, and he was scarce able to stand.

"You had better go up to the house and get a glass of wine," the Major
said. "Now, is anyone else hurt?"

"I am hit, Major," Richards said quietly; "a ball came in between the
sandbags just as I fired my first shot, and smashed my right shoulder. I
think I have not been much good since, though I have been firing from my
left as well as I could. I think I will go up and get the Doctor to look
at it."

But almost as he spoke the young fellow tottered, and would have fallen,
had not the Major caught him.

"Lend me a hand, Doolan," the latter said; "we will carry him in; I am
afraid he is very hard hit."

The ladies gathered round the Major and Captain Doolan as they entered
with their burden. Mary Hunter had already run down and told them that
the attack had been repulsed and the enemy had retreated.

"Nobody else is hit," the Major said, as he entered; "at least, not
seriously. The enemy have been handsomely beaten with such loss that
they won't be in a hurry to try again. Will one of you run up and bring
the Doctor down?"

Richards was car