symbol of "chupatties," little unleavened cakes, of which two were left with the head man of each village of Northern India on an appointed morning, with directions to make similar cakes and pass them on. When the standard of rebellion was hoisted on the citadel of Delhi, the train had been laid and all was in readiness for an explosion which should shatter to fragments British rule in India. [Illustration: _Chevalier L. W. Desanges._} {_In the Victoria Cross Gallery, Crystal Palace._ THE BATTLE OF KOOSHAB, February 8, 1857. The Persian War of 1856-1857 was undertaken to establish the independence of Afghanistan, and the Persians were defeated in an action at Kooshab, about forty-four miles from Bushire. When the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry charged the enemy's square, Lieut. Moore, who was foremost, leapt into the square and had his horse killed under him. Lieut. Malcolmson fought his way to his brother officer and rescued him. Both officers were awarded the Victoria Cross.] [Illustration: _Chevalier L. W. Desanges._} {_In the Victoria Cross Gallery, Crystal Palace._ CAPTAIN DIGHTON PROBYN AT AGRA. In the action against the mutineers at Agra, in August 1857, Captain (now Lieut.-General Sir) Dighton Probyn distinguished himself by leading his squadron against an overwhelming mass of the enemy's infantry. He received the Victoria Cross for his gallantry on this occasion.] [Sidenote: Loyalty of the Sikhs.] But there was one factor essential to making the convulsion complete, and that was the co-operation of the Sikhs--the most warlike population of India--the people who, only eight years before, had inflicted on British arms what we must be honest enough to own as the defeat of Chilianwalla. While the rebellion was spreading like wildfire through the whole of the rest of the North-West, and blazing through Oude into Lower Bengal, while regiment after regiment was rising, shooting its officers, and joining the native population in pillage and massacre of Christians, the Sikhs never wavered in fidelity to British rule. That was what saved the British Indian Empire--that, and the way in which British officials behaved in the hour of trial.