had determined that we would try to-night, which will be the last halt before they get to Delhi. It is very unlikely that we should have succeeded, but it was better to be shot down than to be taken to Delhi and given over to the mob to torture before they killed us. I am convinced we had no chance of really getting off, and that you have saved our lives, just as Dunlop and Manners saved mine, at the risk of their own, on that first night of our flight. And now let us be on the march."
They had not gone far before the three officers found that it was impossible to walk in their Sepoy jackets. They accordingly took them off and slung them from their muskets. Ned and Dick were fairly fitted. They halted for the night near the river, about ten miles above Delhi. In the morning they were off early. By nine o'clock they stood on the bank of the river, five miles higher up.
The river is wide, or rather the bed of the river is wide—half a mile at least; this in the rainy season is full to the brim, but at other times the stream is not more than half that width. After crossing the river they would have fifteen miles still to traverse to arrive at Meerut, and it was probable that the whole intervening country was in the hands of the Sepoys.
"Had we not better keep this side of the river for a bit, father?" Ned asked.
"No, my boy; we will cross here after dark and make straight for Meerut. If we can't find a boat we will each cut a large bundle of rushes to act as a life-buoy and carry your guns and ammunition and so swim across after it is dark."
"Well, major, as the sun is getting awfully hot I vote we get into the shade of those stunted trees and have a nap till the afternoon. It won't do to begin even to make the raft till the sun is down."
