”Soundthetaboor！”FortunatelyIgavethisordertothebuglerbymysidewithoutonemoment’sdelay。Ihadjusttimetotellmywifetorunintothedivanandgetmyrifleandbelt，whenthesharpshootersopenedfireatmefromthebushes，withinafewyards。
Ihadwhitecottonclothes，thusIwasaveryclearobject。AsIwalkedtowardsthedivantomeetmyrifle，theserjeantwhofollowedclosebehindmefellshotthroughtheheart。Poorfellow，theshotwasaimedatme！
Thetroopshadfallenintopositionwithextraordinaryrapidity，andseveralascendedtheroofofthefort，soastoseeclearlyoverthehighgrass。Asoldierimmediatelyfell，todieinafewminutes，shotthroughtheshoulder-blade。Anothermanofthe”FortyThieves”wasshotthroughthelegabovetheknee。Thebulletswereflyingthroughthegovernmentdivan，andalongtheapproach。
Atumultuousroarofsavagevoiceshadburstfromallsides，andthewholeplacewasaliveafewinstantsafterthefirsttwoshotshadbeenheard。Thousandsofarmednativesnowrushedfromalldirectionsuponthestation。
AthrillwentthroughmewhenIthoughtofmygoodanddevotedMonsoor！