men were, of course, to make for their bungalows, except where, as in my
case, I had made other arrangements; and the rest to various bungalows
agreed upon, where traps were to be in readiness. Dunlop, Manners, and
myself had agreed to make for Dunlop's, as it was the nearest, and his
trap was to be ready that evening.

"There were not many who believed in a mutiny that night. The villains,
only in the morning, having sworn to be faithful, deceived most of us, for
it was very hard to believe they could be capable of such diabolical
treachery. Swords and pistols were, of course, taken off, but instead of
being left in the anteroom, were brought into the messroom. Some fellows
put theirs in a corner, others against the wall behind them. I was sitting
between Dunlop and Manners, and we were, as it happened, at the corner
nearest the window fixed upon for the bolt. Things went on all right till
dinner was over, There was an insolent look about some of the servants'
faces I did not like, but nothing to take hold of. I pointed it out to
Dunlop, and we agreed that the plan arranged was the best possible; and
that, as resistance would be of no use, if at each of the eight large
windows and the two doors a stream of musketry fire were being poured in,
we would make a rush straight for the window. Presently the colonel rose
and gave 'The Queen.' We all rose, and as if--as I have no doubt it was--
the toast was the signal, there was a sudden trampling in the veranda
outside, and at every window appeared a crowd of Sepoys, with their arms
in their hands. I shouted, 'To the window for your lives!' and without
stopping to get my sword, I dashed at the Sepoys who were there. Dunlop
and Manners were with me, and before the scoundrels had time to get their
guns to their shoulders, we were upon them. We are all big men; and our
weight and impetus, and the surprise, were too much for them; we burst
through them, standing as they did four or five deep, as if they had been
reeds. They gave a yell of rage and astonishment as they went down like