Page:The Land of the Veda.djvu/337

Rh additional men were actually required to man the defenses, and their safe arrival greatly cheered every person in the Residency. Strange things will occur in the most solemn circumstances. On calling their muster-roll they found one man was missing—an Irish soldier. He was given up as lost. The unfortunate fellow had been left behind in a state of intoxication. He was thrown into the air and returned again to mother earth unhurt, continued his drunken sleep, and awoke early next morning to find, to his astonishment, the fort all in ruins around him. He deliberately walked to the Residency, unmolested by any one. The men inside the Residency gate, just as day was breaking, were not a little surprised to hear a man outside sing out to them, with a rich Irish brogue, “Arrah, thin, open your gates!” Convulsed with laughter, they opened and let the poor fellow in. He was asked why he had left the fort, and with a look of wonder and simplicity answered, “Sure, an' I didn't see e'er a man in the place.” Every one seemed to catch the spirit of the noble chief—Sir Henry's presence anywhere was like a re-enforcement. Day and night he was inspecting and encouraging the various posts, exposed to imminent danger all the while. From twelve to forty men were at each point or battery, with thousands of the blood-thirsty and blaspheming fanatics opposed to each set; but these outposts must be maintained, for if once in, the enemy never could have been turned out; every man, woman, and child would have been ruthlessly butchered; yet each party fought under the apprehension that others might be more hardly pressed than themselves, and occasionally the cry would be heard, “More men this way!” and off would run two or three, all that could be spared, till a similar cry was heard from another direction, when others would rush to that point to give assistance.

On July 4 the heaviest trial that could befall them occurred—their trusted and heroic commander was struck down. The Sepoys had found out what room Sir Henry Lawrence occupied—the one shown on the lower floor, right-hand side, in the picture, and they began to send shells into it. One of these entered and