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; and 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
Englishmen inclosed there the night before, but 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 veranda.
When the nabob came into the fort in the morning, he ordered Mr.
Holwell to be brought before him.
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