enemy's line. The noise of so many men stumbling over the _debris_ of
leveled houses was heard in an instant in the night air.

"Forward!" Mr. Gubbins shouted; "don't fire, give them the bayonet."

At a charge the little party rushed along. They were in the lane now, and
were able to run fast. The shout had been followed by a shot, then by a
dozen others, and then a rapid fire broke out from the houses and walls in
front.

They were still invisible, however, and the balls whistled overhead. They
heard the voice of the officer at the guns shout to his men:

"Steady; don't fire till they are on the crest, then blow them into dust."

They topped the crest and rushed at the guns.

"Fire!" shouted the officer, but a cry of dismay alone answered his words,
and in a moment the British rushed on to the guns, and bayoneted the
astonished and dismayed enemy.

Then they separated each to the work assigned to them, while Mr. Gubbins,
with a man with the lantern, went from gun to gun and drove a nail down
the touchhole of each. Then he followed into the house behind. Here a
short but furious fight had taken place. The Sepoys lodged there fought
desperately but unavailingly. A few leaped from the windows, but the rest
were bayoneted. The fight was stern and silent; no words were spoken, for
the Sepoys knew that it was useless to ask for quarter; the clashing of
sabers against muskets, an occasional sharp cry, and the sound of the
falling of heavy bodies alone told of the desperate struggle.