Quite clearly they could hear the spades at work, very near to the wall, amongst the almond and the mulberry trees.
"Get a fireball," said Luffe in a whisper, "and send up a dozen Sikhs." On the parapet of the roof a rough palisade of planks had been erected to protect the defenders from the riflemen in the valley and across the river.

Behind this palisade the Sikhs crept silently to their positions.
A ball made of pinewood chips and straw, packed into a covering of canvas, was brought on to the roof and saturated with kerosene oil.

"Are you ready ?" said Luffe; "then now!" Upon the word the fireball was lit and thrown far out.

It circled through the air, dropped, and lay blazing upon the ground.

By its light under the branches of the garden trees could be seen the Pathans building a stone sangar, within thirty yards of the fort's walls.
"Fire!" cried Luffe.