16 True Nobles and Heroes.

moments the shell must explode, scattering
death and destruction all around it. Now
was the chance to put his schoolboy resolu-
tions of heroism into practice! With scarcely
a moment’s hesitation, he rushes forward to
the ship’s side, catching the deadly shell in
his arms (though they were hardly long
enough to encircle it), rolls it over into the
sea, and with a hissing noise the shell bursts
harmlessly in the water, amidst, we may
suppose, a true British hurrah from all the
Jack-tars who witnessed the noble act, for
which Lucas received the Victoria Cross.
You say, “ Well done!” and you are right ;
but let me tell you that there are those who,
with their hearts right towards God, and
the love of Christ filling their souls, can
show a truer heroism than any of those I
have mentioned. During the Indian mutiny,
when the Sepoys had risen against the British
forces, their hatred was particularly strong
against. all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ.
A young ensign named Cheek was shut up
in a cell with a native Christian, when the
infuriated mob came, and one of them flour-
ishing over his head a naked sabre, threatened