many—man, woman, or child, was taken before the Nana and murdered by his orders.
Day by day the sufferings of the garrison in the intrenchments became greater and the mortality among the women and children was terrible. Every day saw the army of the Nana increasing by the arrival of mutineers from other quarters, until it reached a total of over twelve thousand men, while the fighting force of the garrison had greatly decreased; yet the handful of Englishmen repulsed every effort of the great host of assailants to carry the fragile line of intrenchments.
When Ned and Dick Warrener, having carried out the instructions given them by the ranee, arrived next morning at her house at Cawnpore, Ahrab at once led them to a small apartment.
"I have much news to tell you. The fighting is over here. The Nana sent in a messenger to the English sahibs to say that if they would give up the place, with the guns and treasure, he would grant a free passage for all; and the Nana and his Hindoo officers have sworn the sacred oath of our religion, and the Mohammedans have sworn on the Khoran that these conditions shall be observed. Boats are to be provided for them all. They leave to-morrow at dawn. Her highness the ranee will shelter you here if you like to stay; but if you wish it you can go at daybreak and join your countrymen."
With many thanks for the ranee's offer, the boys at once decided to join their countrymen, and accordingly next morning, after a kind farewell from their protectress, they started before daybreak under charge of their driver of the day before, and, still in their disguises of native women, made their way to a point on the line of route outside the town. There were but few people here, and just as day broke, the head of the sad proces-
