"Quick! Under cover!" I cried to Grace; and I ran her up to the shelter, and started back to the guns, which were already sending flash after flash into the growing darkness, but all in vain. Ny Deen had been preparing for an assault which he meant to be final and, heading his men himself, he brought them on in such force that I saw our case must be hopeless, and that in another minute they would be over the earthworks, cutting us down. "Quicker, boys! Quicker!" I cried, as the men fired. "Now rammers and swords. They're on to us." I felt a boy no longer, but as fierce a man as any there, for mother and sister were not twenty yards away, and I used the rajah's sword with all my strength, saving poor Sergeant Craig from instant death by a sharp thrust. Then we were being borne back, and the sepoys and armed rabble were over the earthworks in several directions. "All over! Keep together!" yelled Haynes. "Old England for ever!" shouted Craig, still weak from his wounds, but fighting like the brave man he was, when _crash_! and then _crash_! and again _crash_! volley after volley, such as could only be fired by a well-drilled English regiment, not two hundred yards away; and, encouraged by the sounds, our little garrison sent up a tremendous cheer, and, instead of giving way, beat their enemies back, while volley after volley came again. Then there was the sound of a bugle, a rattling British cheer, and we knew that our friends were coming on at the double, with bayonets at the charge. Taken in the rear, in spite of their numbers, this was too much for the mutineers, who turned and leaped back over the earthworks, seeking flight in a wild panic; while, a minute later, there was a glittering line of bayonets in the darkness, and our brave fellows came clambering over into the enclosure. I saw them coming, but I was sick and fainting, held up by Craig and Denny, as a bronzed face was thrust close up to mine. "Gil!--your mother--your sister?" cried my father wildly. "Safe! safe!" I said faintly. "Thank God we were in time!" cried my father. "But my boy--wounded?" "I--don't know, father," I gasped, as everything seemed to turn round, and then something blacker than the night came over me, and I knew no more for some time. CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. "His old wound, colonel. Broken out with the exertion, perhaps from a blow," some one was saying when I opened my eyes, and saw the softly glittering stars over my head. Then all came back with a flash, and I tried to rise, but a hand was pressed on my chest. "How's Brace?" I said quickly. "Bad; but I have hopes," said Danby. "Lie still." "But, father," I said excitedly; "you can hold the place now?" "Oh yes; they're in full retreat; the town will be empty by daybreak. Oh for light now, to let loose your troop, and the lancers after them." "Better let the poor lads rest," grumbled Danby. "Is Colonel Vincent there?" said a voice.