The latter was so occupied that he had not noticed Bathurst, who
had suddenly risen to his feet, and just as Wilson was about to
grasp him and pull him down, leaped over the sandbag in front of him
down among the mutineers. The Major gave a swing to the canister,
of which the fuse was already lighted, and hurled it through the
breach among the crowd, who, ignorant of what was going on inside,
were still struggling to enter.
"Look out," he shouted to the others; "mind how you throw. Bathurst
is down in the middle of them. Hand up all the muskets you have
loaded," he cried to the servants.
As he spoke he swung another canister through the breach, and almost
immediately two heavy explosions followed, one close upon the other.
"Give them a volley at the breach," he shouted; "never mind those
below."
The muskets were fired as soon as received.
"Now to your feet," the Major cried, "and give them the brickbats,"
and as he stood up he hurled two more canisters among the crowd
behind the breach. The others sprang up with a cheer. The inclosure
below them was shallower now from the number that had fallen, and
was filled with a confused mass of struggling men. In their midst
was Bathurst fighting desperately with his short weapon, and bringing
down a man at every blow, the mutineers being too crowded together
to use their unfixed bayonets against him. In a moment Captain Forster
leaped down, sword in hand, and joined Bathurst in the fight.
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