half-hour, when, having apparently made their plans, fatigue-parties
were ordered out; and what I remember then thinking was a wise move, the
soldiers' wives and children in quarters were brought into the old
palace, since it was the only likely spot for putting into something
like a state of defence.

I have called it a palace, and I suppose that a rajah did once live in
it, but, mind you, it was neither a very large nor a very grand place,
being only a square of buildings, facing inward to a little court-yard,
entered by a gateway, after the fashion of no end of buildings in the
east.

Water we had in the tank, but provisions were brought in, and what sheep
there were. Fortunately, there was a good supply of hay, and that we
got in; but one thing we did not bargain for, and that was the company
of the great elephant, _Nabob_, he having been left behind. And what
does he do but come slowly up on those india-rubber cushion feet of his,
and walk through the gateway, his back actually brushing against the
top; and then, once in, he goes quietly over to where the hay was
stacked, and coolly enough begins eating!

The men laughed, and some jokes were made about his taking up a deal of
room, and I suppose, really, it was through Harry Lant that the great
beast came in; but no more was said then, we all being so busy, and not
one of us had the sense to see what a fearful strait that great
inoffensive animal might bring us to.

I believe we all forgot about the heat that day as we worked on, slaving
away at things that, in an ordinary way, we should have expected to be
done by the niggers. Food, ammunition, wood, particularly planks,
everything Captain Dyer thought likely to be of use; and soon a
breastwork was made inside the gateway; such lower windows as looked
outwards carefully nailed up, and loop-holed for a shot at the enemy,
should any appear; and when night did come at last, peaceful and still,
the old palace was turned into a regular little fort.

We all knew that all this might be labour in vain, but all the same it
seemed to be our duty to get the place into as good a state of defence
as we could, and under orders we did it. But, after all, we knew well
enough that if the mutineers should bring up a small field-piece, they
could knock the place about our ears in no time. Our hope, though, was
that, at all events while our regiment was away, we might be unmolested,
for, if the enemy came in any number, wh