insurgents, things began again to assume a threatening aspect. Reinforcements were urgently applied for, but none could be sent — not a man could be spared, while all European soldiers were required where they were. So that, in the very teeth of at least twenty thousand infuriated and exultant rebels, it was tolerably evident that the Brigade was expected to fight on, and hold on, where it was. And thus, it really seemed as if we had volunteered for a forlorn hope.
No doubt the Brigade would have continued to hold the position with the same indomitable resolution, and untiring energy as it had already repeatedly displayed in its defence, had not serious and unforeseen events now demanded its attention in another quarter. But I am anticipating, for the climax in the approaching hostile complications has not yet arrived.
By-and-bye rumours of night attacks began to pervade the camp, and in consequence the various guards were doubled during the dark hours, while the rest of the Brigade lay under arms, asleep with one eye open, until the sun was fully risen.
Bad tidings were also received from the rear, where a strongly fortified village, named Nugger, was threatened by a body of mutineers and their followers. Incendiaries, too, were active and busy; for hardly a night passed without some lurid conflagration lighting up the country, or villages blazing with such brilliancy that, had the rebels carried into effect their threats of hazarding nocturnal attacks on the camp, we should have welcomed them in the midst of these illumina-
