left; and in view of the general havoc that met his view Dick was
astonished that any one should have survived the long-continued
bombardment. In some respects the change had been favorable. The accession
of strength after the arrival of General Havelock's force had enabled
great and beneficial alteration to be made in the internal arrangements,
and the extension of the lines held had also aided in improving the
sanitary condition. But the change in the appearance of the place was
trifling in comparison with that in the faces of the defenders. These
were, it is true, still pinched and thin, for the supply of food had been
reduced to a minimum, and the rations had been lowered almost to
starvation point. But in place of the expression of deep anxiety or of
stern determination then marked on every face, all now looked joyous and
glad, for the end to the terrible trials had arrived.

As he moved along men looked at the midshipman curiously, and then, as the
lad advanced with outstretched hands, greeted him with cries of
astonishment and pleasure; for it was naturally supposed in the garrison
that the Warreners had fallen in the sortie on Johannes' house. Very
hearty were the greetings which Dick received, especially from those whom
he met who had fought side by side with him at Gubbins' house. This
pleasure, however, was greatly dashed by the answers to his questions
respecting friends. "Dead," "dead," "killed," were the replies that came
to the greater part of the inquiries after those he had known, and the
family in whom he was chiefly interested had suffered heavily. Mr.
Hargreaves was killed; Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie and all their children had
succumbed to the confinement and privation; but Mrs. Hargreaves and the
girls were well. After briefly telling how they had escaped in disguise,
after having been cut off from falling back after the successful sortie,
Dick Warrener hurried off to the house where he heard that his friends
were quartered.