'Do not be cruel, Cecil; goodbye, and heaven protect you.'

May echoed the prayer in her own mind, with perhaps a little more meaning; but she could not look at its subject as she faltered forth

'I forgive you, Captain Halidame -good-bye.'

Halidame inclined his head, and with a wave of the hand galloped off to rejoin the column. The look of despair which lit his handsome face was such as a man can bear but once in his life.

CHAPTER LVIII.

HOW THEY FARED AT BANGLEPOREA DISCOVERY.

It was sunset when the travellers arrived at Banglepore. The station bore a very different aspect from that which it had borne in the morning. Then it was all in repose; now it was alive with men moving about and talking in groups, evidently under the influence of some strong excitement. The dâk gharees, announced by the horns of the drivers, were at once surrounded by eager expectants of news. Whence did they come, and what was known of the enemy? Such were the questions addressed to Windermere as he alighted; and when it was found that the occupants of the other carriages were ladies, there came offers of hospitality from all sides. Windermere, on their part, accepted an offer to be put up' from the surgeon of the station, who had a larger house than most of his brother officers, and Mrs. Beltravers and their party soon found themselves in possession of a very pretty bungalow, with a garden and a great many civilised arrangements besides-a strong contrast to the dâk bungalows with which they had been content since leaving Calcutta. Provision was made, too, for Windermere, as a matter of course. He did not happen to find any men he knew, but strangers were quite sufficient for the purpose. One of these-an officer of a line regiment, of which a wing was quartered in the station -appropriated him immediately as a guest, and he was then and there

introduced to the mess as an honorary member. He dined there that evening, after having satisfied himself that the ladies were being cared for in right Indian style; and from the conversation of those about him he was soon able to form some idea of the nature of the crisis.

The enemy were on the march downwards, it appeared; but it was not certain which way they would take, whether they would come to Banglepore or go to Hookumabad, some thirty miles' distance, where the force opposed to them would be weaker, consisting as it did of little beyond the native police. Orders had been given that a regiment of Jesailchees, or lancemen, should be pushed up that night, the wing of Europeans being reserved for the defence of the station, for which service, at that time, native troops were not considered safe. The regiment marched off late in the evening, and there was a great gathering on the verandah of the mess-house to speed the parting of their officers.

The ceremony is a sad one, that of saying good-bye to men (who are going off to meet an enemy. There is a certain suspicion on both sides that they will not come back, and the cheery tone assumed has something ghastly about it. It must be said, however, for those who are left behind, that they always envy their friends who are for the front; and if they do not sentimentalize much upon such occasions it is not because they feel the less. Have a peg before you go.' 'Thank you, I have had one already.' 'Do you want any weeds?' 'Thank you, I shall be glad of a few.' 'I shall certainly go to the ball if I am back in time; and tell our young friend with the yellow hair that I shall hold her to her promise.' 'All right, old boy, count upon me. Khitmutgar, bilatee panee aur brandy shrab lao-stirrup-cup, my dear fellowmust have it.' Good-bye, God bless you; by this time to-morrow we shall expect to hear that you have given a good account of Feroze Shah.' 'Oh, he'll be settled before we arrive; Howland is down upon him by this time; like his luck;

we shall have nothing to do, depend on it.' 'Have that letter posted for me; I had no time to write it before.' 'Don't tell her anything about it; she'll only laugh at me, and at you too.' 'Yes, I think our men are all right, but if they cut our throats in the middle of the night, don't be surprised.' 'No, no more pegs; quite enough already. There goes the buglegood-bye again.'

This was the kind of conversation that went on in the verandalı; and as the officers of the Jesailchees rode out into the darkness, their comrades returned to the well-lighted mess-room, where the talk soon assumed its usual cheerful character, and the conviviality, as the graver visitors dropped off, took the form of comic songs. Windermere was among the graver visitors, and retired early to his-or rather his adopted friend's-quarters.

The next day was one of rumours. How they reached the station it would be difficult to say; but news, true or false, travels in India with wonderful speed, and the bazaar beats the telegraph as often as not. The authorities, in one way or another, received information which warranted them in appealing to the commissariat, and provision was made, as far as could be, for a siege of some length. The community at Banglepore, indeed, prepared to take upon themselves the character of an 'illustrious garrison,' holding out under conditions of great peril, and prepared to do heroic things collectively, and to quarrel dreadfully in detail, as 'illustrious garrisons' are apt to do. I am bound to say, however, that at the doctor's house, where Mrs. Beltravers and her party had taken refuge, the greatest harmony prevailed. Nobody gave way to despair except Matilda-Jane, who still said that her 'Enery would be very angry when he heard of the indignities that she had suffered, and still maintained her opinion that ladies and gentlemen should never expose themselves to such contingencies. She had lived in families of rank, she said with crushing sarcasm, and nothing of the kind had ever happened, and she

was not prepared to be made the Light of a Harem through the strange ways of mere military people. She had expected better things, she added, from Mr. Windermere, who was a gentleman and a civilian, and she could not understand how he could have been so imposed upon. Matilda-Jane, you see, had imbibed certain old Indian ideas concerning the relative status of the civil and the military services in India, and held the red coat in but small comparative esteem. Her intended 'Enery, perhaps I should explain, occupied the position of an uncovenanted clerk.

Banglepore, you may be sure, was prepared for the worst, and arrangements were made for holding out to any extent; but the day of rumours brought no authenticated news which would warrant decisive action, and several days passed without any positive intelligence. During this time the 'illustrious garrison' conducted itself remarkably well, apart from a little quarrelling; and the mess dinners, of which the principal civilians partook, were of a rather lively character than otherwise. A few of the officials were so divided as to the policy to be pursued at the crisis that they held no social intercourse; but scandals such as these were kept secret, and the majority of those who met at the festive board were unconscious of the under-current which was at work. The comic songs went on when the hours grew late, and the same men sang the same songs with a constancy worthy of a better cause. It is rather sad, when it is an open question whether you are to have your throat cut or not, to have to listen to convivial choruses which have 'Tooral, looral, looral, looral, right folooral la' for their main feature; but subalterns will be subalterns, though the skies fall, and I suppose there is no help for it.

At last came real and authenticated news. Feroze Shah was not marching upon Banglepore, but had gone to Hookumabad, having previously suffered a signal defeat at the hands of Howland's Horse, in which engagement Howland's Horse had performed prodigies of valour.

The remnant of his force had been disposed of in splendid style by the police of Hookumabad, headed by the magistrate and collector-an admirable specimen of the 'fighting civilians' who came out in such unexpected force during the mutinies. And the news, when it arrived at Banglepore, was accompanied by an urgent demand for medical assist

ance.

The news and the demand arrived when the evening had considerably advanced, and the comic songs were setting in at the mess. They were stopped at once, as you may suppose, and a very animated chorus remains unconcluded to this day. The solo performer was a young assistant-surgeon who had just arrived from his native Ireland, with as much of the accent of his native country as he could conveniently carry away with him-an advantage which he bestowed freely upon his song. Upon this officer devolved the duty of looking after the sick at Hookumabad; and, obedient to the call, he at once prepared to depart. I am afraid that the period of the evening had brought him to a state when he was better prepared for attendance upon the healthy than upon the sick; but he took a cheerful view of the case.

'I am an Irishman,' said Mr. O'Brien, and am going to die for my country.'

What benefit his country would derive from this arrangement did not seem very clear; but the young doctor appeared to consider that the Emerald Isle ought to be very much obliged to him for departing this life, upon abstract grounds. His present business, however, was connected only with departing from Banglepore, and this process was soon accomplished.

'My camel's at the door and my horse is on the sea,' said Mr. O'Brien, enthusiastically misquoting his favourite poet; but before I

and am going to die for my country. Where is my camel?'

'Methinks you see two camels in the field,' said another ensign, who prided himself upon his ready wit.

There was only one camel, however, and that animal was waiting, with its native driver, outside the verandah; and, Mr. O'Brien was soon mounted upon its hump, looking not a little uncomfortable in his buttoned-up shell-jacket, with, under his arm, a square case of instruments which he had sent for from his quarters in case the contents of his pouch should not be sufficient. In this state he went off very valiantly, under a cheering salute from the party assembled in the verandah, to which was added a voice expressive of playful sympathy with the wounded of Hookumabad under the circumstances. But the devoted doctor responded to this only with a reiteration of his former sentiment, affirmative of his nationality and his approaching departure from this sublunary sphere.

When his friends returned to the mess-room they found fresh news awaiting them. Windermere, who had been absent during the previous proceedings, now returned with the announcement that news had been received of Feroze Shah having been reinforced; and it was added that his supposed intention was to attack the station. This report was soon confirmed by the arrival of an order from the brigadier for officers to hold themselves in readiness, etc.; and a general dispersion immediately took place-not, however, before some curious speculations had been thrown out concerning the probable consequences of certain high authorities being allowed to conduct the defence in their own way. As I have said, there was considerable difference of opinion between some of the authorities on this subject; and, judging from the opinions now expressed-quietly but significantly-one would have a right to suppose them all in the wrong. 'Did you see Bloater this eveningscrewed as an owl?'-' Mullins is evidently not up to the mark-did you hear what he told Jawster this

morning?'' Unfortunate for Holster that his adjutant is laid up-the doing-duty Wallah won't coach him a bit, and when he had his regiIment out this afternoon he could no more move it about than he could fly. He was always galloping after the major to know what were the next words of command, and the major could not always tell him. I heard this from Jenks, who always goes to see Holster parade as he would go to a play-he says it was finer than ever to-day.' Such were the cheerful commentaries upon the qualifications of authority. I dare say they were undeserved; but things certainly did not look very promising for the expected crisis.

Windermere was returning to his quarters, and on his way thither intended to call at the doctor's bungalow and inquire after Mrs. Beltravers and her party, intending to apprize the elder lady quietly of the new danger, and to warn her to be in readiness in case flight should be necessary; for the native regiment, commanded by that able officer, Colonel Holster, was not considered safe, and in the event of its rising, the European troops would find it hard to face the double danger. But he was stopped on his way by an officer on a camel, who called to him, with a rich Irish accent:

'Mr. Windermere-if you are Mr. Windermere-I have come back to say that there is a gentleman lying in the road outside cantonments who is not able to move. He was fainting, and I had only just time to revive him a little, and can't wait. Tell the fellow here,' pointing to the native driving the camel, 'that he can go on now as fast as he likes -I can't muster enough Hindustanee-how I got him to turn back I can't tell.'

Windermere gave the required direction, with a hint to Mr. O'Brien -for it was that enthusiastic young doctor-not to hazard any further delay; and he then proceeded to the spot indicated, to look after the stranger.

Lying by the side of the road, his head and shoulders supported by

a heap of kunker, was a European having the appearance of a gentleman. Windermere dropped upon one knee to examine him more closely, and as he did so the light of the waning moon revealed the features of Captain Pemberton.

CHAPTER LIX.

HUSBAND AND WIFE.

The day had been one of much excitement to Mrs. Beltravers and her friends. The position of danger in which they were placed was not to be ignored; and their host, like a great many amiable persons, was a gossip of no small magnitude, and faithfully retailed to them every rumour which reached him in the course of his professional visits, so that they had no chance of forming a too favourable impression of affairs. They heard the latest news almost as soon as it reached the mess, and their anxiety was so great that they dared not retire to rest at the usual hour, but waited up with a vague idea that a crisis would occur before morning and compel them to take flight. Every sound heard from outside the cry of a jackal, the thumping of a tom-tom, or even the noise of the wind, which was beginning to rise-set their hearts beating, and filled them with tremors which they would not confess. I suppose people ought to be more assured under such circumstances; but I suspect that few of the sex which is not obliged to be brave would have conducted themselves differently. They experienced a dozen false alarms at least, but at last there came a real one. There was a noise of feet in the compound and of voices, native and European, and a loud call was made for the chowkedars, who had gone to sleep in the verandah. Then came a knocking at the doors, which were opened by the bearer, and then there was a scuffling noise, and the deposit, apparently, of some heavy body upon the floor. The ladies by this time were seriously alarmed, and Mrs. Beltravers told MatildaJane to go out and inquire the meaning of the disturbance; but as

Matilda-Jane objected to do anything of the kind, a native ayah was despatched in her stead. The ayah returned in a few minutes with the intelligence that Windermere sahib had brought in a strange sahib, wounded, upon a litter, and that the doctor was attending him.

This explanation alleviated the fears of the ladies, who had begun to apprehend an attack upon the house; but they concluded, from the fact of a wounded man having been brought in, that there must have been fighting of some kind not far off. Presently a message was received from Windermere, asking to see Mrs. Beltravers in the drawing-room. That lady immediately left the side room, which had been appropriated to her, and hastened to the larger apartment. There she found Windermere, looking serious, but with no signs of agitation in his face.

'I think it right to tell you,' said he, that awkward reports are afloat of what may happen to us here by the morning. I do not myself think the case very urgent, but it is well to be prepared, and to prepare our friends, in the event of the worst coming to pass. Should we have to fly I will stay with you, and give you every protection in my power. In the meanwhile an awkward complication has arisen. A gentleman has been found almost insensible on the road outside cantonments. He was travelling down country and came across three of Feroze Shah's rascals, who stopped his carriage. He unhorsed two of them with his revolver, and before the third had time to set upon him he had leaped into one of the empty saddles and ridden away at full speed. The third man was now joined by a score or two more, who all started off in pursuit; but it was a good horse that they had to follow, and they soon abandoned the chase. This horse bore its strange rider with great willingness for twenty miles or more, almost to the boundary of the cantonments here, when on a sudden it started at something on the road, and threw him with great violence. I have just brought him in to get the doctor's assistance, and am glad

VOL. XVIII.-NO. CVIII.

to find that he is not nearly so much hurt as I supposed. He is a great deal shaken, but no bones are broken. And now I must tell you who this gentleman is, for I want you to break it gently to May.'

'To May-why to May?'

'He is her father-Captain Pemberton.'

Mrs. Beltravers turned deadly pale at this announcement, and sank fainting upon a couch. Windermere, alarmed as he was at her condition, was even more surprised at her reception of the intelligence. But his first duty was to call for assistance; and between him and the ayah the lady was soon restored to conscious

ness.

'Pray pardon me for this weakness,' she said, with a faint smile; 'I know not-I know not why I should have been so affected; but -but-I have been much excited all day. I will tell May, of course. She will be glad to be on the spot to help her father-he is not much hurt, you say?'

'No; he will be able to move about in two or three days, and there is not the slightest danger.'

Thank God!' said Mrs. Beltravers, emphatically.

'You know Captain Pemberton, I suppose? Oh, of course you would, as a friend of his daughter.'

manner.

Yes, I know Captain Pemberton,' replied Mrs. Beltravers, in an absent 'Very well, then; excuse my abruptness-you will tell May at once, will you not? He will be glad to see her presently. He knows she is here.'

Mrs. Beltravers then retreated to her room, and at once made the communication to May, whose surprise was great, as may be supposed; but her gratitude for her father's escape overcame every other emotion, and she did not lose her presence of mind. She was prepared to see him at once, and was presently conducted to the room in which he lay, extended upon a couch, but looking not much the worse for his accident.

'My dear May,' said the captain, presently, after receiving your letter I resolved to make a journey

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