rrangements been previously
planned out that the rush of the advancing enemy from three sides of the
cantonments was temporarily checked by the steady fire of the defenders;
but not before two more of the sentries had been carried into the
mess-room, where the Major, hurrying in to see what was being done,
found the Doctor in his shirt-sleeves busily attending to the men's
wounds.

"Oh, there you are, Major!" he said, speaking with a strip of bandage in
his mouth. "This looks like my taking command of the expedition,
doesn't it?"

"Yes. Impossible," said the Major. "The brutes are coming on in
numbers, and much as I regret what you must feel, I am only too thankful
that your party has not started. But there, you see I can do nothing
until we have driven these scoundrels back, and then--we shall see."

"Yes, I know," grumbled the Doctor.--"You can take hold of one end of
that bandage yourself, my lad. That's right. Nasty cut; but you are
not going to lose the number of your mess this time."

"Oh no, sir!" said the wounded man excitedly. "Tight as you can,
please, sir. I think I can go back to the firing-line, and--ah!"

"I don't," said the Doctor grimly. "Poor lad--talk about British
pluck!"

"Not a bad wound, is it?"

"Quite bad enough," said the Doctor. "An inch lower, sir--"

"Yes, I know," said the Major, as the firing increased. "Why, they've
got muskets! There, Doctor, I felt that I must speak to you, and I am
afraid you are going to have your hands pretty full."

"But you should keep your men more under cover, sir," said the Doctor
pettishly. "Look! They are bringing in two more."

"Under cover!" said the Major angrily. "Every fence, wall, and
breast-work is occupied, and the men are holding the Residency according
to orders. These poor fellows were speared at their posts."

The Major hurried out, to busy himself with seeing that the various
occupants of the place were provided with shelter in the officers'
quarters and the other buildings of the cantonments, the upper windows
of which were occupied by the little force, with instructions to retire
to the Residency, which was so situated that it would lend itself well
to being treated as a sort of citadel in case they should prove to be
hard pressed.

Fortunately for the defenders, as the night advanced the smoke from the
firing hung low, prevented as it was from rising by a gathering river
mist; and as not a light was shown in either