nt up to the roof also. The
Doctor took his place by them, examining the lines with a field glass.

The officers halted when they reached the parade ground, and sat on
their horses in a group, waiting for the men to turn out as usual.

"There goes the assembly," the Doctor said, as the notes of the bugle
came to their ears. "The men are turning out of their tents. There, I
can make out Forster; he has just mounted; a plucky fellow that."

Instead of straggling out onto the parade ground as usual, the Sepoys
seemed to hang about their tents. The cavalry mounted and formed up in
their lines. Suddenly a gun was fired, and as if at the signal the whole
of the infantry rushed forward towards the officers, yelling and
firing, and the latter at once turned their horses and rode towards the
courthouse.

"Don't be alarmed, my dear," the Doctor said to Isobel; "I don't suppose
anyone is hit. The Sepoys are not good shots at the best of times, and
firing running they would not be able to hit a haystack at a hundred
yards. The cavalry stand firm, you see," he said, turning his glass in
that direction. "Forster is haranguing them. There, three of the native
officers are riding up to him. Ah! one has fired at him! Missed! Ah!
that is a better shot," as the man fell from his horse, from a shot from
his Captain's pistol.

The other two rushed at him. One he cut down, and the other shot. Then
he could be seen again, shouting and waving his sword to the men, but
their yells could be heard as they rode forward at him.

"Ride, man, ride!" the Doctor shouted, although his voice could not have
been heard at a quarter of the distance.

But instead of turning Forster rode right at them. There was a confused
melee for a moment, and then his figure appeared beyond the line,
through which he had broken. With yells of fury the troopers reined in
their horses and tried to turn them, but before they could do so the
officer was upon them again. His revolver cracked in his left hand, and
his sword flashed in his right. Two or three horses and men were seen to
roll over, and in a moment he was through them again and riding at full
speed for the courthouse, under a scattered fire from the infantry,
while the horsemen, now in a confused mass, galloped behind him.

"Now then," the Doctor shouted, picking up his rifle; "let them know
we are within range, but mind you don't hit Forster. Fire two or three
shots, and then run down to the gate. He is w