They were glad to get in, for the rain, since they left Synee, had been
falling in sheets. The force was fortunately moving now along the grand
trunk road, a splendid piece of road-making, extending from Calcutta to
Peshawur, for already the country roads would have been almost impassable.

"Do we halt here for the day?" Ned asked his father, as they drew rein in
the camp.

"Yes, Dick, the enemy are in force at Futtehpore, which is only some
fourteen miles away. Havelock is coming up by double marches. He halted
last night fifteen miles the other side of Synee. To-day he will reach
Synee; will bivouac there for a few hours, and will march on here in the
night. We are to be under arms by the time he will arrive, and the whole
of us will push forward to Khaga, five miles this side of Futtehpore. So
Havelock's men will have marched twenty-four miles straight off, to say
nothing of the fifteen to-day. The troops could not do it, were it not
that every one is burning to get to Cawnpore, to avenge the murder of our
comrades and to rescue the women and children, if it be yet time."

The boys were at once taken by their father to Major Renaud, who welcomed
them warmly. This officer had under his command a force of four hundred
British, and four hundred and twenty native troops, with two pieces of
cannon.

After being introduced to Major Renaud the boys went to the tents allotted
to their corps, which were already pitched, and Major Warrener asked the
officers, and as many of the volunteers as his tent would hold, to listen
to the account of the massacre of Cawnpore, which was now for the first
time authentically told; for hitherto only native reports had come down
from the city. Great was the indignation and fury with which the tale of