cape.

"The magazine, which was within the city walls, not far from the palace,
was of course in danger from the very beginning. The officers in charge
had seen the mutineers crossing the bridge in the morning, and
Lieutenant Willoughby had gone in with Sir T. Metcalf to endeavour to
get the gates closed. On his return, he found eight of the officers
attached to the establishment--Lieutenants Forrest and Raynor,
Conductors Buckley, Shaw, and Scully, Subconductor Crowe, and Sergeants
Edward and Stewart--with the native Lascars and servants. Preparations
were instantly begun for the defence of the magazine till the arrival of
relief from Meerut, which none doubted was at hand. The magazine
consisted of a number of buildings enclosed by a high wall. The gates
were closed and barricaded. Inside the gate leading to the park were
placed two 6-pounders, doubly charged with grape. The two sergeants
stood by with lighted matches, ready, should that gate be attacked, to
fire both at once, and fall back upon the body of the magazine. At the
principal gate two guns were put in position, with a _chevaux-de-frise_
on the inside; and a little behind, but bearing on the same point, were
two others. Farther in were placed four more pieces, commanding two
cross passages. A train was laid to the powder-magazine, ready to be
fired at a given signal. Arms were put in the hands of the natives in
the establishment, which they took sulkily. They were getting insolent
and disobedient--the Mussulmans particularly so. Scarcely had these
arrangements been made, when the Palace Guards appeared and demanded the
magazine in the name of the Badsha of Delhi. No answer was given.

"The king, they heard soon after, had sent word that ladders would be
immediately brought from the palace to scale the walls. The natives in
the magazine scarcely concealed their hostility. One man was seen to be
communicating with the mutineers outside through the gate, and ordered
to be shot if he was observed doing so again. The enemy, who had thus
learned what was ready for them, did not attempt to force the gates; but
in a short time the scaling-ladders arrived. On their being placed
against the walls, the whole of the Lascars deserted, climbing over the
sloped sheds on the inside, and down the ladders. It was found that
they had hid the priming-pouches. The enemy now appeared in hundreds on
the walls. The guns were immediately pointed at them, and wo