Isobel Hannay and
the wives of the two Captains were too anxious to remain below,
and went 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.
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