river.
Sometimes they were without information for many days together. Then
news would come of fresh disasters; the truthfulness of which, however,
they had reason to doubt. Soon a too authentic account of the frightful
massacre at Cawnpore, like all other bad news, which flies apace,
reached them. Then came the succour of Lucknow by Sir Henry Havelock
and Sir James Outram. Still week after week went by, and they remained
shut up in the fort. Some time in November they heard of the storming
of Delhi, and the rescue of the women and children from Lucknow.
Notwithstanding these successes of the British, the rebels still
continued in arms. Again the fort was besieged; the enemy being
instigated, it was understood, by one of the chiefs at Allahapoor, whose
object was to destroy the young rajah; but the garrison were as ready as
before to defend it stoutly, notwithstanding the threats of the enemy to
put them all to the sword should they offer any resistance.

With so many mouths to feed, provisions were, however, growing scarce,
and it was only with the greatest difficulty that their stores could be
replenished. The small quantity of gunpowder captured from the foe
would enable them to hold out for some time yet; but should the enemy
persevere, they would be reduced to the greatest straits, and be
compelled either to cut their way through the enemy or capitulate--which
last alternative was not for a moment to be entertained. News of
varying import reached them, brought in by the scouts. One thing was
certain, that although great success had been achieved by the British,
the enemy still held together in large numbers. Consequently,
encumbered as they would be with sick and wounded, it would be hazardous
in the extreme were they to attempt to make their way through the
country towards any of the cities already in the power of the English.
Another consideration weighed greatly with Reginald: he would not desert
the villagers who had remained so faithful to him,--knowing as he did,
that the rebels of Allahapoor would certainly wreak vengeance on their
heads.

For several days the garrison had enjoyed perfect tranquillity. The
colonel kept up the spirits of all the party by assuring them that
relief would come, and urging them to bear patiently the hardships they
were now called on to endure. Violet showed herself a true heroine, by
ever wearing a cheerful countenance, by her constant attention to the
sick and wou