The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

40 The Highland Monthly.shortly expired. Many natives, also badly wounded, wererolling- in the dust.No. 6 was left as an advanced picquet to hold a smallmosque, near the open space, to the left-front of the JumuniaBagh, and was so pressed and outnumbered thatCaptain Macdonald sent back Ensign Kerr to the Imambarafor reinforcements. As the company was nearlysurrounded, Kerr had to run the gauntlet, and was fired atseveral times, but fortunately was not hit. He met ColonelTaylor and another officer before reaching the RoomeDurwasa, and told them his errand, warning them not toproceed alone. Sir Colin and Brigadier Douglas and staffcame up just after he reached the Imambara, and he madehis report. Two guns were sent, and Kerr rejoined hiscompany. During his short absence Captain Macdonaldand Lieutenant Durant had each gone out with a partyand cleared some of the adjoining streets, and the two gunsopening fire, drove the enemy further back. The men ofthis picquet had a narrow escape from an accident causedby the folly of a gunner. In the mosque were several hivesof bees high up on the walls. A gunner threw a stone intoa hive ; down came the bees with a vengeance, and attackedthe men. Kerr, though sitting some little distance off, wasseverely stung, several bees getting down his back ;theman who threw the stone was nearly blinded, the beeswould not leave him. The rebels, seeing the confusion)again advanced, and the guns had to be served to keepthem in check ;but it was the duty of the gunner, alreadynearly blinded, to load. He was so beset and confused bythe bees that he only got in a small portion of the chargeof powder, and the consequence was that the shell, whenfired, fell only a few yards from the gun and from the men.The artillery officer yelled out, " Men lie down," which theydid forthwith, and had to lie and watch till it burst.Happily no one was struck, but pieces of the shell passedunpleasantly close over the heads of several of the men.Soon afterwards Kerr was sent out with a small party, and on