of boys they thought but little of it.

Across the plain they could see the campfires, but as the evening went on
these gradually died away, and the sounds which had come faintly across
the still night air ceased altogether. As patiently as might be, they
waited until they guessed that it must be about ten o'clock. The night
was, for the country, cold--a favorable circumstance, as the natives, who
are very chilly, would be less likely to leave their tents if they felt
restless. The moon was now half full and shining brightly, giving a light
with which the boys could well have dispensed.

"Now, Dick, old boy, let's be moving. May God help us in our night's
work!"

They made a considerable detour to approach the camp in the rear, where
they rightly judged that the Sepoys, having no fear whatever of any
hostile body being near, would have placed no sentries.

"Listen!" Dick said, as they were pausing to reconnoiter; "that sounded
like a cannon in the far distance."

There was no doubt of it; faintly, but quite distinct, across the air came
the sound of heavy cannon fired at regular intervals.

"Those cannon must be fired as a salute to some great chief newly arrived
at Delhi--we should not fire so late, but I suppose they are not
particular," Ned said; "we calculated it was not more than twenty-five
miles off, and we should hear them at that distance easily. We had better
wait a few minutes to see if any one comes out to listen to it."