impossibility of preserving the cleanliness so necessary in a hot climate,
all combined to generate swarms of flies, which rivaled those of Egypt.
The garrison waged war against them, but in vain. Powder was plentiful,
and frequently many square yards of infected ground, where the flies
swarmed thickest, would be lightly sprinkled with it, and countless
legions blown into the air; but these wholesale executions, however often
repeated, appeared to make no impression whatever on the teeming armies of
persecutors.

Their task finished, the fatigue party returned to their houses, and then
all who had not other duties threw themselves down to snatch a short
sleep. In spite of a night passed without rest, sleep was not easily
wooed. The heat in the open air was terrific, in the close little room it
was stifling; while the countless flies irritated them almost to madness.
There was indeed but the choice of two evils: to cover closely their faces
and hands, and lie bathed in perspiration; or to breathe freely, and bear
the flies as best they might. The former alternative was generally chosen,
as heat, however great, may be endured in quiet, and sleep may insensibly
come on; but sleep with a host of flies incessantly nestling on every
exposed part of the face and body was clearly an impossibility.

That day was a bad one for the defenders of Gubbins' garrison, for no less
than twelve shells penetrated the house, and five of the occupants were
killed or wounded. The shells came from a newly erected battery a hundred
and fifty yards to the north. Among the killed was one of Mrs. Righton's
children; and the boys first learned the news when, on rising from a
fruitless attempt to sleep, they went to get a little fresh air outside.
Edith and Nelly Hargreaves came out from the door, with jugs, on their way
to fetch water.