Truly, even in this year of heroes and heroic deeds, the story of these glorious men and of their act of devotion stands out clear to dazzle our imaginations, to lead us to thank God that they were of our breed, to make us wonder what we of the same blood would have done had we been in their place. Then let us hope we become more humble in our pride. By the 18th of September the Lahore Gate and Bastion were also captured, and on the 20th the whole of Delhi was in our hands. The Palace taken and the king a prisoner, the Indian Mutiny had lost its sting. Yet, in spite of victory, gloom was over the camp, for a hero lay dying, and there was no hope of saving his life. John Nicholson's wound had proved mortal: a life that had promised to be of unusual brilliance would soon be cut short, even before its work was more than half done--but that half had been done well. The career of this dying leader of men had been unique, even in the annals of British rule in India, whose pages teem with the deeds and lives of heroes in the noblest sense of that word--men worthy of all admiration, men whose lives inspire others to follow the gleam. CHAPTER XXIII Ted Extinguishes Himself "Where shall I find Ensign Russell?" enquired a messenger from head-quarters as he approached the outpost. Ted was quickly found, and his agitation may be imagined when he learned that General Nicholson had sent for him. Nervously, reverently, and full of sorrow, he entered the tent. The somewhat stern and haughty look, so well known to all evil-doers who had chanced to cross his path, had vanished from the great man's countenance as he greeted the boy. "So, young man, you've escaped unwounded?" "Yes, sir, ... at least only very slightly." "Ah, your arm, I see!" began the general. "Perhaps you can guess why I sent for you? Somehow I took a strange liking to you that day I arrived on the Ridge, ... though I ought not to approve of disobedience," continued the wounded man, smiling. Ted bent his head and was silent. "You are the son of Major-general Russell, I hear? I knew your father well. I served with him in Afghanistan, and he will be a proud man when he hears that by an act of conspicuous bravery you perhaps averted a disaster to a whole column." John Nicholson was silent for a few moments before resuming: "I have since heard how you distinguished yourself when your regiment mutinied. You have begun well, keep on in the same way. Put duty first, and your country may one day be proud of you, as she is to-day of Tombs and Brind and Reid." Here the wounded general was interrupted by the entrance of Sir Archdale Wilson, who, with grave and anxious face, had come to enquire as to the condition of his second in command. Nicholson turned to him. "This is the lad, Wilson, of whom we were speaking yesterday. You received a report from the officer commanding the 4th Column, stating how Ensign Russell had helped to bring it safely in."