. An empire story; stories of India and the greater colonies told to children . ngs, broken with sudden alarms. Thehouses were shattered and riddled with shot, so as to bescarcely any protection from the burning sun or from theenemies guns. Food was scarce, clothes were in still the men fought and watched, and the womenprayed and waited, and endured. And Hke an emblemof their dauntless courage, all through the siege theUnion Jack floated from the highest tower of theResidency. It was faded and patched, tattered andriddled with holes, the stafl was spHntered with bullets,it was broken
. An empire story; stories of India and the greater colonies told to children . ngs, broken with sudden alarms. Thehouses were shattered and riddled with shot, so as to bescarcely any protection from the burning sun or from theenemies guns. Food was scarce, clothes were in still the men fought and watched, and the womenprayed and waited, and endured. And Hke an emblemof their dauntless courage, all through the siege theUnion Jack floated from the highest tower of theResidency. It was faded and patched, tattered andriddled with holes, the stafl was spHntered with bullets,it was broken again and again. But a new staff wasalways found, and up went the gallant flag once more, adefiance to the foe. At last one morning, distant firing was heard. Asthe hours passed the sound came nearer and the garrison knew that at length help was at excitement and suspense were awful. But therewas nothing to be done but to wait. It was not until itwas growing dark that amid the clamour of fighting thesound of the British cheer was heard, and louder THE MUTINY—LUCKNOW 477 shrill and piercing, the scream of the bagpipes, and theyeU of charging Highlanders. A few minutes more, andBritish soldiers were seen, fighting their way through thestreets to the Residency gates. Then from the battlements rose a deafening a cry of joy it has not often been mans lot to hear. Itwas the first cry of returning hope from hearts that hadgrown hopeless. It was a sob, and a prayer, and anoutburst of thanksgivmg, all in one. And as the gateswere opened, and the men, weary, dusty, bloodstained,rushed through, women sobbing with joy ran to throwthemselves upon them, happy to touch their bronzedhands or war-worn coats. With tears running downtheir cheeks the rough soldiers lifted the children intheir arms. From hand to hand they passed the littleones, kissing them and thanking God that they had comein time to save them. It was a scene of wild, sweet joyand almost
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidempirestorystori01mars
