he same moment they
opened a heavy fire. They were met, as before, with showers of grape
and well-directed volleys of musketry, which quickly drove back those
who had not fallen,--with the exception of a party of desperate
fanatics, who attempted to force their way over the entrenchments. Some
succeeded and were cut down, others were shot in the ditch, and not one
escaped. The garrison had scarcely breathing time before another
similar attack was made, which was repulsed in the same way.

"How much longer can we stand out?" asked Reginald of Colonel Ross.

"Another attack like the last will exhaust the whole of our powder, when
our only resource will be to abandon the fort--for to hold it will then
be impossible," was the answer.

The day passed by. Anxiously was the arrival of the scouts who came
over the hills looked for with the expected intelligence of the
movements of the British. Flying columns of the avenging army were
sweeping the enemy before them; but they were, it was supposed, yet a
long way off. Still the colonel endeavoured to keep up the courage of
those he commanded; and the officers, following his example, did their
utmost to encourage the men to prepare for another assault. The
strictest watch was kept, for it was thought that should the enemy again
venture to attack the fort, it would be by night.

The garrison were not mistaken. Two days more had passed, when again
the columns were espied by the watchful sentinels. The troops flew to
their arms, the artillerymen to their guns.

Reginald and Burnett, when relieved from their duty in the evening, had
snatched a few minutes from the rest they so much required to pay a
visit to Violet and Nuna. They talked hopefully of the future, and both
expressed a wish, as soon as the rebellion was quelled, to leave India
and reside in England.

"Oh, that must be a happy country," cried Nuna, "where there are no wars
or disputes, where the rich do not oppress the poor, and the latter are
happy and contented, and everybody lives in friendship with each other!"

Burnett smiled. "I am afraid only a part of your picture is true.
England has numberless advantages over this country, and I hope ere long
to take you there; but I am sorry to say that the English people quarrel
and dispute with each other as much as the natives of other lands,
though they do not fly to arms on all occasions. You must not expect to
find a paradise in England, or in any other