. India; . und of running feet was heard, and a body ofSepoys emerged from the gloom. It was theResidency guard, known to be disloyal. They drewup in line, facing the Residency steps, while thenative officer inquired if the men should load. Yes,let them load, replied Lawrence quietly. A fewthrilling moments passed while the men obeyed theorder. Then came the crisis. The entire staffat Lucknow stood at the mercy of a body ofmutinous Sepoys 1 A single volley from theirmuskets and all would have perished. Yet none ofthe officers turned a hair during this trying was their iron composure
. India; . und of running feet was heard, and a body ofSepoys emerged from the gloom. It was theResidency guard, known to be disloyal. They drewup in line, facing the Residency steps, while thenative officer inquired if the men should load. Yes,let them load, replied Lawrence quietly. A fewthrilling moments passed while the men obeyed theorder. Then came the crisis. The entire staffat Lucknow stood at the mercy of a body ofmutinous Sepoys 1 A single volley from theirmuskets and all would have perished. Yet none ofthe officers turned a hair during this trying was their iron composure alone that saved theirlives; for after a few moments of terrible suspense,the troops wheeled off again into the darkness. It was not until a month later that the siege ofthe Residency commenced. On 30th June tidingsarrived that the mutinous regiments from EasternOudh were marching on to Lucknow. Lawrenceresolved to strike first, and sallied out to meet therebels. The enemy were found to be overwhelmingly270. See, he said, here is one of my monkeys THE END OF THE COMPANY strong. They advanced to the attack with a regu-larity worthy of a field-day on parade. They executedthen- manoeuvres with mathematical precision. Onewonders with what emotions the white officers beheldsuch martial prowess on the part of men whomthey themselves had taught to fight. Only too wellhad the Sepoys remembered their lessons; andafter some stiff fighting the British were driven backwith heavy loss. The same night all the Europeanswere gathered into the Residency, which was nowclosed for the siege. A building called the MutcheeBhawan, which had been heavily fortified for thepurpose of overawing the city, had to be was blown up with all the ammunition it contained,while the garrison, after lighting the fuse, crept outunder cover of darkness to take refuge in theResidency. By some oversight a private of the32nd, wrapped in drunken slumber, was leftbehind in the doomed building. He was, of cour
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