"Lay down your arms!" Captain Hodgson shouted in a stentorian voice.

Eight or ten shots were fired from the crowd, and the bullets whistled
over the heads of the horsemen, but fortunately none were hit.

"Lay down your arms!" he shouted again. "Men, unsling your carbines.
Level."

As the carbines were leveled, the bravery of the mob evaporated at once.
Those nearest threw down their arms, and as with leveled guns the horsemen
rode through the crowd, arms were everywhere thrown down, and resistance
was at an end. Over a thousand guns, five hundred swords, and quantities
of daggers and knives were collected; and a number of elephants, camels,
and horses were captured.

Ordering the native lieutenant to remain with the troop in charge of these
things until some carts could be sent out for the arms, Captain Hodgson,
accompanied by the boys, rode off after the carriage, which had started
two hours before.

They rode rapidly until they neared Delhi, when they saw the carriage,
surrounded by a great mob. Captain Hodgson set spurs to his horse and
galloped forward at full speed, followed by the boys. They burst through
the crowd, who were a large body of ruffians who had just left the city,
where the fighting was even now not over, and who were all armed. A
defiant cry broke from them as the three horsemen rode up to the carriage,
from which with the greatest difficulty the guard had so far kept the
crowd.

There was not a moment for hesitation. Captain Hodgson raised a hand, and