"It must be some of our lads," whispered Brace; and the next minute, as a little body of men came by, in regular military step, I heard him mutter, "Must be;" and he cried, "Halt!" "Draw--swords!" rang out in answer, and there was the peculiar grating rattle of sabres being drawn from steel scabbards. "Who is that? Sergeant Craig?" cried Brace. "Captain!" shouted a familiar voice. "Thank God, we've found you at last!" and a faint cheer rose up. "Quick! tell me," cried Brace, as we pressed up to the men--"is it all true?" "You've heard, then, sir?" said the sergeant, with a groan. "Yes; Denny escaped and reached us." "Poor lad! I thought he was one of the goners." "How was it?" said Brace, sternly. "I hardly know, sir. A surprise. Everything was as usual, just at the hottest time, when they were down upon us like a thunder clap. One party made for the officers' quarters, another for the guard, and shot down the sentries; another made the men fast in their quarters, and before we could grasp it, they had seized the whole place, and we were helpless." "But the major--Lieutenant Barton?" "Don't ask me, sir," said the man, hoarsely. "Speak, man." "I saw the major run out, sword in hand, followed by a dozen of the scoundrels, and he was shouting for the trumpeter; but before Dick Dobbs could get out, the poor major was cut down, and we were locked in, could hear the lieutenant crying for help, and there was firing going on in his quarters, and then the scoundrels came out, shouting wildly." "Killed?" The sergeant uttered a low groan. "The wretches! the cowardly, traitorous wretches!" cried Brace. "They had murdered their own officers, and then came up to the barracks." "Beg pardon, sir." Brace repeated his words. "What! were the niggers mutinied too?" "Yes; did you not know?" "Not a word, sir. We were like being in prison till we managed to creep out; and then after a bit of a talk among us non-coms, as were left, we determined, as our officers were gone, to come and try and find you, sir." "Then you were kept locked in the barracks?" "Yes, sir; and if any of us showed a head, it was made a mark for a bullet. But we could hear all that was going on. One of them sounded boot and saddle as well 'most as little Dick." "Nay!" cried a boyish voice from the darkness. "Well, tidy enough; and then we could hear them bringing out the horses, and limbering up and forming up in the barrack yard, sir, till I could bear it no longer, and I risked the bullets so as to get a peep now and then; and I did till, with everything in order, and the ammunition chests and waggons crammed, they rode out of the yard, with the people yelling and tom-tomming like mad." "But who--who did all this? The sepoys of the native regiment?" "No, sir," cried the sergeant. "Then who did?" "The syces, sir." "What?" "The whole gang of them, sir; led by Ny Deen." "What?" said Brace again.