coundrels.--Tut, tut, who's that down?"

"Corporal Bray," says some one.

"Here, Emson, Smith, both of you lend a hand here: we'll make Bantem's
quarters hospital.--Now then, look alive, ambulance party."

We were about lifting the poor fellow, who had sunk down behind the
breastwork, all doubled up like, hands and knees; and head down; but as
we touched him, he straightened himself out, and looked up at Captain
Dyer.

"Don't touch me yet," he says in a whisper. "My stripes for some one,
captain. Do for Isaac Smith there. Hooray!" he says faintly; and he
took off his cap with one hand, gave it a bit of a wave--"God save the
Quee--"

"Bear him carefully to the empty ground floor, south side," says Captain
Dyer sternly; "and make haste back, my lads: moments are precious."

"I'll do that, with Private Manning's wife," says a voice; and turning
as we were going to lift our dead comrade, there was big, strapping Mrs
Bantem, and another soldier's wife, and she then said a few words to the
captain.

"Gone?" says Captain Dyer.

"Quarter of an hour ago, sir," says Mrs Bantem; and then to me: "Poor
trooper, Isaac!"

"Another man here," says Captain Dyer.--"No, not you, Smith.--Fill up
here, Bantem."

Joe Bantem waved his hand to his wife, and took the dead corporal's
place, but not easily, for Measles, who was next man, was stepping into
it, when Captain Dyer ordered him back.

"But there's such a much better chance of dropping one of them mounted
chaps, sir," says Measles grumbling.

"Hold your tongue, sir, and go back to your own loophole," says Captain
Dyer; and the way that Measles kept on loading and firing, ramming down
his cartridges viciously, and then taking long and careful aim, ah! and
with good effect too, was a sight to see.

All the while we were expecting an assault, but none came, for the
mutineers fell fast, and did not seem to dare to make a rush while we
kept up such practice.

Then I had to go round and ask Lieutenant Leigh to send six more men to
the gate, and to bring news of what was going on round the other sides.

I found the lieutenant standing at the window where I caught Chunder,
and there was a man each at all the other four little windows which
looked down at the outside--all the others, as I have said, looking in
upon the court.

The lieutenant's men had a shot now and then at any one who approached;
but the mutineers seemed to have determined upon forcing the gate, and,
so