Tables and couches were placed here,
and Bathurst undertook the work of entertaining the visitors.
He was glad of the precaution that had been taken in sending them,
for with the glass he could make out that there was much disturbance
in the Sepoy lines, men gathering in large groups, with much shouting
and noise. Muskets were discharged in the direction of the house,
and it was evident that the mutineers were very discontented with
the decision that had been arrived at.
In a short time, however, a body, several hundred strong, of the
Oude fighting men moved down and surrounded the house; and when a
number of the Sepoys approached with excited and menacing gestures,
one of the Zemindars went out to meet them, and Bathurst, watching
the conference, could see by his pointing to the roof of the house
that he was informing them that hostages had been given to the
Europeans for the due observance of the treaty, and doubted not
he was telling them that their lives would be endangered by any
movement. Then he pointed to the batteries, as if threatening that
if any attack was made the guns would be turned upon them. At any
rate, after a time they moved away, and gradually the Sepoys could
be seen returning to their lines.
There were but few preparations to be made by the garrison for their
journey. It had been settled that they might take their personal
effects with them, but it was at once agreed to take as little as
possible, as there would probably be but little room in the boats,
and the fewer things they carried the less there would be to tempt
the cupidity of the natives.
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