Every
two hours the officer of the night used to come round to all the
posts, to make sure that all was well.
"The third night of my watch was dark and dirty, with a small,
driving rain. It was dreary work standing in the gate-way hour
after hour in such weather. I tried again and again to make my
Sikhs talk, but without much success. At two in the morning the
rounds passed, and broke for a moment the weariness of the night.
Finding that my companions would not be led into conversation, I
took out my pipe, and laid down my musket to strike the match.
In an instant the two Sikhs were upon me. One of them snatched
my firelock up and levelled it at my head, while the other held a
great knife to my throat and swore between his teeth that he
would plunge it into me if I moved a step.
"My first thought was that these fellows were in league with the
rebels, and that this was the beginning of an assault. If our
door were in the hands of the Sepoys the place must fall, and the
women and children be treated as they were in Cawnpore. Maybe
you gentlemen think that I am just making out a case for myself,
but I give you my word that when I thought of that, though I felt
the point of the knife at my throat, I opened my mouth with the
intention of giving a scream, if it was my last one, which might
alarm the main guard.
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