"Tim," Charlie said, "you are now much stronger than most of them. They
are faint from the struggles. Make a charge to the window. Take that
little shawl and dip it into the bowl or whatever they have there, and
then fight your way back with it."
"I will do it, yer honour," said Tim, and he rushed into the struggling
group. Weak as he was from exhaustion and thirst, he was as a giant to
most of the poor wretches who had been struggling and crying all night,
and, in spite of their cries and curses, he broke through them and
forced his way to the window.
The man with the bowl was on the point of turning away, the water being
spilt in the vain attempts of those within to obtain it. By the light of
the fire which the guard had lit outside, Tim saw his face.
"Hossein," he exclaimed, "more water, for God's sake! The master's
alive yet."
Hossein at once withdrew, but soon again approached with the bowl. The
officer in charge angrily ordered him to draw back.
"Let the infidel dogs howl," he said. "They shall have no more."
Regardless of the order, Hossein ran to the window, and Tim thrust the
shawl into the water at the moment when the officer, rushing forward,
struck Hossein to the ground: a cry of anguish rising from the prisoners
as they saw the water dashed from their lips. Tim made his way back to
the side of his master. Had those who still remained alive been aware
of the supply of water which he carried in the shawl they would have
torn it from him; but none save those just at the window had noticed the
act, and inside it was still entirely dark.
"Thank God, yer honour, here it is," Tim said; "and who should have
brought it but Hossein. Shure, yer honour, we both owe our lives to him
this time, for I'm sure I should have been choked by thirst before
morning."
Ada was now lowered to the ground, and a corner of the folded shawl was
placed between her lips, and the water allowed to trickle down. With a
gasping sigh she presently recovered.
"That is delicious," she murmured. "That is delicious."
Raising her to her feet, Charlie and Tim both sucked the dripping shawl,
until the first agonies of thirst were relieved. Then tearing off a
portion in case Ada should again require it, Charlie passed the shawl to
Mr. Holwell, who, after sucking it for a moment, again passed it on to
several standing round. In this way many of those who would otherwise
have succumbed were enabled to hold on until morning.
Presently the first dawn of daylight appeared, giving fresh hopes to the
few survivors. There were now only some six or eight standing by the
window, and a few standing or leaning against the walls around. The room
itself was heaped high with the dead.
It was not until two hours later that the doors were opened and the
guard entered, and it was found that of the hundred and forty-six
English people inclosed there the night before, only twenty-three still
breathed. Of these very few retained strength to stagger out through the
door. The rest were carried out and laid in the verandah.
When the nabob came into the fort in the morning, he ordered Mr. Holwell
to be brought before him. He was unable to walk, but was carried to his
presence. The brutal nabob expressed no regret for what had happened,
but loaded him with abuse on account of the paucity of the treasure, and
ordered him and his friends to be placed in confinement.