"Now," the Major said, "we want four dozen bags at least for the
parapet of the terrace. We need not raise it all, but we must build
up a breastwork two bags high at each of the angles."
There was only just time to accomplish this when one of the watch
on the roof reported that the Sepoys were firing the bungalows. As
soon as they saw that the Europeans had gained the shelter of the
courthouse the Sepoys, with yells of triumph, had made for the
houses of the Europeans, and their disappointment at finding that
not only had all the whites taken refuge in the courthouse, but that
they had removed most of their property, vented itself in setting
fire to the buildings, after stripping them of everything, and
then amused themselves by keeping up a straggling fire against the
courthouse.
As soon as the bags were taken onto the roof, the defenders, keeping
as much as possible under the shelter of the parapet, carried them
to the corners of the terrace and piled them two deep, thus forming
a breastwork four feet high. Eight of the best shots were then
chosen, and two of them took post at each corner.
"Now," the Doctor said cheerfully, as he sat behind a small loophole
that had been left between the bags, "it is our turn, and I don't
fancy we shall waste as much lead as they have been doing."
The fire from the defenders was slow, but it was deadly, and in a
very short time the Sepoys no longer dared to show themselves in
the open, but took refuge behind trees, whence they endeavored to
reply to the fire on the roof; but even this proved so dangerous
that it was not long before the fire ceased altogether, and they
drew off under cover of the smoke from the burning bungalows.
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