Mr. Gubbins was astonished when he heard from the boys that they had been
out, and rendered the guns temporarily useless. "You were wrong to act
without orders," he said, "but I can't scold you for such a gallant
action. We must act on it at once. I would send for a reinforcement, but
we must not lose a moment. If the attack from Johannes' house begins
before our attack, the artillerymen will prepare for action, and may
discover that the breeches of their guns are wet. Call up every man at
once, Mr. Johnson, and let them fall in on the battery; and do you," he
turned to another, "run down to the Sikh Square and Martiniere garrison,
and warn them that a great attack is just going to be made. Tell them that
we are making a sortie, and ask them to bring every rifle to bear on the
houses to the left of the guns, so as to keep down the infantry fire
there."

In two minutes every man of the garrison was assembled in the battery,
even those from the roof being called down.

"Bring a dark lantern," Mr. Gubbins said; "it may be useful. Now, lads, we
are going to spike the guns; they have been rendered useless, so we have
only got to make a dash for them. The moment they are in our possession,
you, Mr. Johnson, with ten men, will clear the house immediately behind
it, and look for the magazine. Mr. Leathes, you, with fifteen men, will
move to the right a little; and you, Mr. Percival, with your command, to
the left. Do not go far, but each carry a house or two, set them on fire,
and fall back here when you hear the bugle. I have got the hammer and
spiking nails. Now, as quietly as you can till you hear that we are
discovered, and then go with a rush at the guns."

In fact, they had gone very few paces before there was a shout in the