seen across the plain.

"Here come some of the talookdars," Captain Wilkins said. "I suspect those
elephants are dragging guns behind them."

"Yes, the fun will soon begin now," Captain Dunlop answered. "Now, Dick,"
he went on to young Warrener, "you are going to see a little native
artillery practice. These fellows are not like the Delhi pandies, who are
artillerymen trained by ourselves; here you will see the real genuine
native product; and as the manufacture of shell is in its infancy, and as
the shot seldom fits the gun within half an inch, or even an inch, you
will see something erratic. They may knock holes in the wall, but it will
take them a long time to cut enough holes near each other to make a
breach. There, do you see? there are another lot of elephants and troops
coming from the left. We shall have the whole countryside here before
long. Ah! that's just as we expected; they are going to take up their
position on that rising ground, which you measured this morning, and found
to be just five hundred yards off. Our carbines make very decent practice
at that distance, and you will see we shall astonish them presently."

The two forces with elephants reached the rising ground at the same time,
and there was great waving of flags, letting off of muskets, and beating
of drums, while the multitude of footmen cheered and danced.

By this time the greater portion of the little garrison were gathered
behind the wall. This was some two feet thick, of rough sun-dried bricks
and mud. It was about fourteen feet high. Against it behind was thrown up
a bank of earth five feet high, and in the wall were loopholes, four feet
above the bank. At the corners of the walls, and at intervals along them,
were little towers, each capable of holding about four men, who could fire