entrance was not
remarked. Reginald continued his address, inviting one after another to
speak in return. His determined demeanour had its due effect, and he
managed to keep the attention of his assembly till the day was nearly
ended, and the time fixed upon for the outbreak had passed.

The following morning, at an early hour, Reginald, full of anxiety as to
what might next occur, rode out to the cantonments, accompanied by a few
of his officers and a small company of his guards--some being on
horseback, but most of them on foot. He had expected the return of
Burnett with his cavalry that very morning, but he had not yet appeared.
As Reginald approached the cantonments, he was startled by the sound of
continued and rapid firing. Ordering the foot-guards to follow as fast
as they could, he dashed forward with his horsemen, among whom was
Wuzeer Singh, towards the scene of action. He saw clouds of smoke and
flames ascending in several places, evidently from buildings on fire;
while the sound of musketry, though more desultory than at first, was
still heard. He urged on his horse to its utmost speed, feeling
painfully anxious for the safety of Colonel Ross and those dear to him;
and in another minute he beheld a spectacle which filled him with dismay
and alarm. A small body of English troops who had their quarters in the
part of the cantonments nearest the city, had, it was evident, been
attacked, and after bravely defending themselves, had been cut down or
put to flight; for he now met several men endeavouring to make their
escape from an overwhelming body of cavalry, who were savagely sabring
all who attempted to withstand them, while numbers lay on the ground,
brought down by the bullets of their foes. As he called on them to
rally, they obeyed him, thinking that they were about to be supported,
and presented a bold face to the advance of the horsemen. The latter on
this--observing, as they must have done, Reginald's guards rapidly
advancing to meet them--wheeled round and galloped off to a distance.
He, to his dismay, remarked that the horsemen had the appearance of
Burnett's troopers, and he could not help dreading that the men had
mutinied and murdered their commander. He asked Wuzeer Singh his
opinion. "It is too likely to be the case," was the answer. "Captain
Burnett placed more confidence in them than they deserved; for though
some were faithful, there were many traitors among them."

Reginald's chi