away, as I did Lizzy and the children.

How it was that we were none of us hit, seems strange to me, for all the
time the bullets were pattering on the wall beyond us. I only know I
turned sick and faint as I just said to Lizzy: "Thank God for that!" and
she led off the children; Miss Ross shrinking from Lieutenant Leigh with
a strange mistrustful look, as if she were afraid of him; and the next
minute they were under cover, and we were back at our posts.

"Poor bairns!" says Measles to me, "I ain't often glad of anything, Ike
Smith, but I am glad they ain't hurt. Now my soul seemed to run and
help them myself, but my legs seemed as if they couldn't move. You need
not believe it without you like," he added in his sour way.

"But I do believe it, old fellow," I said warmly, as I held out my hand.
"Chaff's chaff, but you never knew me make light of a good act done by
a true-hearted comrade."

"All right," says Measles gruffly. "Now, see me pot that sowar.--Missed
him, I declare!" he exclaimed, as soon as he had fired. "These pieces
ain't true. No! hit him! He's down! That's one bairn-killer the
less."

"Sam," I said just then, "what's that coming up between the huts
yonder?"

"Looks like a wagin," says Measles. "'Tis a wagin, ain't it?"

"No," I said, feeling that miserable I didn't know what to do; "it isn't
a wagon, Sam; but--Why, there's another. A couple of field-pieces!"

"Nine-pounders, by all that's unlucky," said Measles, slapping his
thigh. "Then I tell you what it is, Ike Smith--it's about time we said
our prayers."

I didn't answer, for the words would not come; but it was what had
always been my dread, and it seemed now that the end was very near.

Troubles were coming upon us thick; for being relieved a short time
after, to go and have some tea that Mrs Bantem had got ready, I saw
something that made me stop short, and think of where we should be if
the water-supply was run out, for though we had the chatties down below
in the vault under the north end, we wanted what there was in the tank,
while there was _Nabob_, the great elephant, drawing it up in his trunk,
and cooling himself by squirting it all over his back!

I went to Lieutenant Leigh, and pointed it out to him; and the great
beast was led away; when, there being nothing else for it, we opened a
way through our breastwork, watched an opportunity, threw open the gate,
and he marched out right straight in amongst the mutineers,