"Trouble, sahib? The mem sahibs, and the little children and their fathers--" He did not finish, but groaned. "Speak out. What is it?" "All slain." "But there was a regiment there--a whole regiment of foot." "Yes, sahib; but they were called away to fight the budmashes, and the evildoers from the bazaar at Miapore; and when they had marched away the budmashes came. The sahibs strengthened one of the houses, and fought bravely for two days, but they were only few in number, and there was neither food nor water at last." "And then?" The old man shook his head, and uttered a low groan. "And the wretches who have done all this?" cried Brace. "They are there, sahib, with two regiments who have risen up against their officers. It is not safe to go. The white sahibs have marched to Miapore, away yonder to the west." "And where are you going?" asked Brace, who looked suspiciously at the people behind their spokesman. But they were unarmed, and carried no plunder. The words of the old man were evidently the truth, as he said-- "To be at peace, and away from those who rob and slay. To Rajgunge, sahib." "Turn back," said Brace. "You are going to where there are worse troubles, man. Better follow us." There was a low moan from the little group, for Brace's words filled them with consternation. "But you will not go on to Arbagh, sahib?" said the old man, who seemed to have been the native butler to some family. "Yes; to drive these wretches out," was the reply; and the march was resumed. "Yes, we must drive these scoundrels out, Gil," he said again. "We need have no compunction about firing now. Likely enough our friends the sowars may be there. They headed for the south. Now, if we could send a message on to Miapore." I turned round soon afterwards, and found that the weary, footsore party were tramping back with us, close to the elephants, apparently trusting in Brace's power to protect them, and restore peace in the place that had been their home. Dost came alongside soon after to tell me more of these people's experience, for they had all been servants to the European residents at Arbagh. It was a terrible experience, but very similar to our own at Rajgunge. The English residents and officers had been in utter ignorance of the impending peril. They had heard rumours of troubles in connection with cartridges being issued to the men greased, so that they might pass more easily down the rifle barrels, the Mahommedan soldiers considering that they would be defiled by touching paper moistened with the fat of the pig; and the Hindus, jumping at the conclusion that the fat used was that of the cow--an animal held sacred in their religion; while, in all probability, the fat used would be prepared from neither of these animals, the whole being an excuse for the irruption in which Mahommedans and Brahmins made common cause.