it will be very different work now. These scoundrels are fighting with
ropes round their necks; they know that every Cawnpore Sepoy who falls
into our hands will have but a short shrift, and they can't help fighting.
Altogether, they have something like five times our force; and as they
have all been most carefully drilled and trained by ourselves, the
scoundrels ought to make a good fight of it."

"I don't mind the fighting," Ned said, "so much as the heat; it is awful."

"It is hot, Ned," Captain Dunlop said; "but at rate it is better for us
who sit on horseback than for the men who have to march, and carry a rifle
and ammunition."

"Do you think we shall have fighting to-morrow, father?" Dick asked.

"We are certain to do so. The pandies have been intrenching themselves
very strongly at Dong, which is five miles from here. But this is not the
worst part. We know they have placed two heavy guns on the other side of
the Pandoo Nuddee, which is a large stream three miles beyond Dong. These
guns will sweep not only the bridge, but the straight road for a mile
leading to it. The bridge, too, has, we know, been mined; and our only
chance is to go on with the mutineers, so as to give them no time to blow
it up."

The work of the 14th, however, was less severe than was expected. The
enemy fought stoutly at the village, advancing beyond the inclosures to
meet our troops. Our superior rifle and artillery fire, however, drove
them back, and then they clung stubbornly to the village and inclosures,
our advance being retarded by the threatening attitude of large bodies of
the enemy's cavalry, who moved upon the flanks and menaced the baggage.