Bring him in, Mrs. Doolan. If he won't
come, I will go in and send the Doctor out to him. Bad business,
poor Richards being hurt, isn't it? Awfully good fellow, Richards.
Can't think why he was the one to be hit."
So keeping up a string of talk, the young subaltern led Bathurst
into the house.
After breakfast a white flag was waved from the roof, and in
a short time two Sepoy officers came up with a similar flag. The
Major and Captain Doolan went out to meet them, and it was agreed
that hostilities should be suspended until noon, in order that the
wounded and dead might be carried off.
While this was being done the garrison remained under arms behind
their work at the breach lest any treacherous attempt should be
made. The mutineers, however, who were evidently much depressed by
the failure, carried the bodies off quietly, and at twelve o'clock
firing recommenced.
That evening, after it was dark, the men gathered on the terrace.
"Well, gentlemen," the Major said, "we have beaten them off today,
and we may do it again, but there is no doubt how it must all end.
You see, this afternoon their guns have all been firing at a fresh
place in the wall; and if they make another breach or two, and
attack at them all together, it will be hopeless to try to defend
them. You see, now that we have several sick and wounded, the
notion of making our escape is almost knocked on the head. At the
last moment each may try to save his life, but there must be no
desertion of the sick and wounded as long as there is a cartridge
to be fired.
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