of them with that mace of yours. It was splendid."

"More than that, Mr. Bathurst," Mrs. Doolan said, "I think we women know
what true courage is; and there is not one of us but has, since this
siege began, been helped and strengthened by your calmness--not one but
has reason to be grateful for your kindness to our children during this
terrible time. I won't hear even you speak against yourself."

"Then I will not do so, Mrs. Doolan," he said, with a grave smile. "And
now I will go and sit with the Major for a time. Things are quieter
tonight than they have been for some time past, and I trust he will get
some sleep."

So saying, he quietly left the room.

"I don't believe he has slept two hours at a time since the siege
began," Mrs. Doolan said, with tears in her eyes. "We have all
suffered--God only knows what we have suffered!--but I am sure that he
has suffered more than any of us. As for you men, you may well say you
are sorry and ashamed of your treatment of him. Coward, indeed! Mr.
Bathurst may be nervous, but I am sure he has as much courage as anyone
here. Come, Isobel, you were up all last night, and it's past two
o'clock now. We must try to get a little sleep before morning, and I
should advise everyone else off duty to do the same."

At daybreak firing commenced, and was kept up energetically all the
morning. At two o'clock a white flag was hoisted from the terrace, and
its appearance was greeted with shouts of triumph by the assailants. The
firing at once ceased, and in a few minutes a native officer carrying a
white flag advanced towards the walls.

"We wish to see the Zemindar Por Sing," Bathurst said, "to treat with
him upon the subject of our surrender."

The officer withdrew, and returned in half an hour saying that he would
conduct the officer in command to the presence of the chief of the
besieging force. Captain Doolan, therefore, accompanied by Bathurst and
Dr. Wade, went out. They were conducted to the great tent where all
the Zemindars and the principal officers of the Sepoys were assembled.
Bathurst acted as spokesman.

"Por Sing," he said, "and you Zemindars of Oude, Major Hannay being
disabled, Captain Doolan, who is now in command of the garrison,
has come to represent him and to offer to surrender to you under the
condition that the lives of all British and natives within the walls be
respected, and that you pledge us your faith and honor that we shall be
permitted to go down the co