The Major had placed four men on the roof, and had ordered everyone else to fill the bags that had been prepared for the purpose with earth from the garden.

It was only an order to the men and male servants, but the ladies had all gone out to render their assistance.

As fast as the natives filled the bags with earth the ladies sewed up the mouths of the bags, and the men carried them away and piled them against the gate.
The garrison consisted of the six military officers, the Doctor, seven civilians, ten ladies, eight children, thirty-eight male servants, and six females.

The work, therefore, went on rapidly, and in the course of two hours so large a pile of bags was built up against the gate that there was no probability whatever of its being forced.
"Now," the Major said, "we want four dozen bags at least for the parapet of the terrace.

We need not raise it all, but we must build up a breastwork two bags high at each of the angles." There was only just time to accomplish this when one of the watch on the roof reported that the Sepoys were firing the bungalows.