There were pale faces .among them, but their thoughts
were of those on the roof rather than of themselves.
Mrs. Hunter took up the Bible she had been reading, and said, "Tell
them, Captain Rintoul, we shall be praying for them." The ladies
went into the room that served as a nursery, and with the ayahs and
other female servants carried the children down into the storeroom.
"I would much rather be up there," Isobel said to Mrs. Doolan; "we
could load the muskets for them, and I don't think it would be
anything like so bad if we could see what was going on as being
cooped up below fancying the worst all the time."
"I quite agree with you, but men never will get to understand women.
Perhaps before we are done they will recognize the fact that we
are no more afraid than they are."
The music was heard approaching along the road where the bungalows
had stood. Presently a number of flags were raised in the battery
amid a great beating of drums. On the previous day a flagstaff had
been erected on the roof, and a Union Jack was run up in answer to
the enemy's demonstration.
"A cheer for the old flag, lads," the Major said; and a hearty cheer
broke from the little party on the roof, where, with the exception
of Bathurst, all the garrison were assembled. The cheer was answered
by a yell from the natives not only in the battery, but from the
gardens and inclosures round the house.
"Pay no attention to the fellows in the gardens," the Major said;
"fire at their guns--they must expose themselves to load.
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