Some months went on, and when the mutiny broke out we were engaged to be married.

It is a proof of how completely the opium dreams had passed out of the minds of both Simmonds and myself, that even when rumors of general disaffection among the Sepoys began to be current, they never once recurred to us; and even when the news of the actual mutiny reached us we were just as confident as were the others of the fidelity of our own regiment.

It was the old story, foolish confidence and black treachery.

As at very many other stations, the mutiny broke out when we were at mess.

Our regiment was dining with the 34th Bengalees.