thought of Smith; and Sergeant Jones, the only good horseman we have,
went off at two o'clock, and by this time is, I hope, out of danger.--
Good heavens! what does that mean?" he said, using his glass.

It was curious that I should have thought of such a thing just then, at
a time when four sowars led up Sergeant Jones tied by a piece of rope to
one of their saddle-bows, while the trooper's horse was behind.

Captain Dyer would not shew, though, that he was put out by the failure
of that hope: he only passed the word for the men to stand firm, and
then sent me with a message to Mrs Colonel Maine, requesting that every
one should keep right away from the windows, as the enemy might open
fire at any time.

He was quite right, for just as I knocked at Mrs Maine's door, a
regular squandering, scattering fire began, and you could hear the
bullets striking the wall with a sharp pat, bringing down showers of
white lime-dust and powdered stone.

I found Mrs Maine seated on the floor with her children, pale and
trembling, the little things the while laughing and playing over some
pictures. Miss Ross was leaning over her sister, and Lizzy Green was
waiting to give the children something else when they were tired.

As the rattle of the musketry began, it was soon plain enough to see who
had the stoutest hearts; but I seemed to be noticing nothing, though I
did a great deal, and listened to Mrs Bantem's voice in the next room,
bullying and scolding a woman for crying out loud and upsetting
everybody else.

I gave my message, and then Miss Ross asked me if any one was hurt, to
which I answered as cheerfully as could be that we were all right as
yet; and then, taking myself off, Lizzy Green came with me to the door,
and I held out my hand to say "Good-bye," for I knew it was possible I
might never see her again. She gave me her hand, and said "Good-bye,"
in a faltering sort of way, and it seemed to me that she shrank from me.
The next instant, though, there was the rattling crash of the firing,
and I knew now that our men were answering.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER TWELVE.

As I went down into the court-yard, I found the smoke rising in puffs as
our men fired over the breastwork at the mob coming at the gate.
Captain Dyer in the thick of it the while, going from man to man,
warning them to keep themselves out of sight, and to aim low.

"Take care of yourselves, my lads. I value every one of you at a
hundred of those black s