These holes,
we afterwards found, were in the ornaments round the idol's neck.
The holes enlarged inside, and enabled us to have a view all round.
"The mutineers were furious at our disappearance, and for hours
searched about. Then, saying that we must be hidden somewhere, and
that they would wait till we came out, they proceeded to bivouac
in the courtyard of the temple.
"We passed four terrible days, but on the morning of the fifth a
scout came in to tell the rebels that a column of British troops
marching on Delhi would pass close by the temple. They therefore
hastily mounted and galloped off.
"Three quarters of an hour later we were safe among our own people. A
fortnight afterwards your aunt and I were married. It was no time
for ceremony then; there were no means of sending her away; no
place where she could have waited until the time for her mourning
for her father was over. So we were married quietly by one of the
chaplains of the troops, and, as your storybooks say, have lived
very happily ever after."
"And how about Mr. Simmonds, uncle? Did he get safe off too?"
"Yes, his dream came as vividly to his mind as mine had done. He
crawled to the place where he knew the trapdoor would be, and got
into the cellar. Fortunately for him there were plenty of eatables
there, and he lived there in concealment for a fortnight.
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