Some native officers went in search of a building where the prisoners
could be confined, but every room in the fort had already been taken
possession of by the nabob's soldiers and officers.
At eight o'clock they returned with the news that they could find no
place vacant, and the officer in command at once ordered the prisoners
into a small room, used as a guard-room, eighteen feet square. In vain
the Europeans protested that it was impossible the room could contain
them, in vain they implored the officer to allow some of them to be
confined in an adjoining cell.
The wretch was deaf to their entreaties. He ordered his soldiers to
charge the prisoners, and these, with blows of the butt-ends of the
muskets and prods of the bayonets, were driven into the narrow cell.
Charlie's servant, Tim Kelly, kept close to his master. Mr. Haines'
native servant, Hossein, who would fain have shared his master's
fortunes, was forcibly torn from him when the English prisoners were
separated from the natives.
The day had been unusually hot. The night was close and sultry, and the
arched verandah outside further hindered the entrance of air, and this,
with the heavy fumes of powder, created an intolerable thirst. Scarcely
were the prisoners driven into their narrow cell, where even standing
wedged together there was barely room for them, than cries for water
were raised.
"Tim, my boy," Charlie said, "we may say good-bye to each other now, for
I doubt if one will be alive when the door is opened in the morning."
On entering, Charlie, always keeping Ada Haines by his side, had taken
his place against the wall farthest from the window, which was closed
with iron bars.
"I think, yer honour," Tim said, "that if we could get nearer to the
window we might breathe a little more easily."
"Ay, Tim; but there will be a fight for life round that window before
long. You and I might hold our own if we could get there, though it
would be no easy matter where all are struggling for life, but this poor
little girl would be crushed to death. Besides, I believe that what
chance there is, faint as it may be, is greater for us here than there.
"The rush towards the window, which is beginning already as you see,
will grow greater and greater; and the more men struggle and strive, the
more air they require. Let us remain where we are. Strip off your coat
and waistcoat, and breathe as quietly and easily as you can. Every hour
the crowd will thin, and we may yet hold on till morning."
This conversation had been held in a low voice. Charlie then turned to
the girl.
"How are you feeling, Ada?" he asked cheerfully. "It's hot, isn't it?"
"It is dreadful," she panted, "and I seem choking from want of air; and
oh, Captain Marryat, I am so thirsty!"
"It is hot, my dear, terribly hot, but we must make the best of it; and
I hope in a few days you will join your mamma on board ship. That will
be pleasant, won't it?"
"Where is papa?" the girl wailed.
"I don't know where he is now, my child. At any rate we must feel very
glad that he's not shut up here with us. Now take your bonnet off and
your shawl. We must be as quiet and cheerful as possible. I'm afraid,
Ada, we have a bad time before us to-night. But try to keep cheerful and
quiet, and above all, dear, pray God to give you strength to carry you
through it, and to restore you safe to your mamma in a few days."