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Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim^e sont filmds en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, r: pitce 37 Clivb leading thk Storming Party at Devikota 63 Charlie's Mission to Rajah Boorhau j^j M Thb Patb of the Assassins 2^2 " If too attack us, we will blow up the magazine "... igg p How Charlie dealt with his Superior Officers 281 '^ Charlie surprised by the French at T-tnavadt 817 The sudden Conversion op a faithless Ally 944 « 8 frontispiece ^7 t . 63 • . 141 . 1G2 •> < • 198 231 817 844 WITH OLIVE IN INDIA. CHAPTER I. LEAVING HOME. M& hi, achoolfellows knew Lt ci.-'f- i? '" ''""''• *"" were as firm and hari as thL Jf " T"^""^" ■"»«='«•' In all sports requiring aSiiv.^ i ""J ^^ '" *'« «=>«»'• weight "and sSoS he wi'^ ^t '"'*'"*"'=? ■*"•«' "•«" U in the school S oL^te wTSf Wm Krd^ . ''°' Vunning, and when he was one nf *!?.>. "V°"g- *»"« |yo«rite with his Zt™":, ten's Su srhlff «"■"« pis mother bewailAf? ♦»,« t ^® schoolfelJows. Crned home wTth WacW^'^"^ ^^''^ ^« re- ktween Dr. W llet's ..hnn? Tl^t ^"'^^^^ ^^^e; for aouth there wm a stanSfn! ^^^^^l^^^^' ^^^ ^^ Yar- « back that n^n:nt?K^iL^J^]?^:7\«'%origin dated so 10 THl OHOICl! OF A PROFFJUSION. Consequently fierce fights often took place in the narrow rows, and sometimes the fisher boys would be driven back on to the broad quay shade*! by trees, by the river, and there being reinforced from the craft along the side would reassume the otfensive and drive their opponents back into the main street. It was but six months since Charlie had lost his father, who was the officer in command at the coast-guard Htation, and his scanty pension was now all that remained for the support of his widow and children. His mother had talked his future prospects over many times with Charlie. The latter was willing to do anything, but could suggest nothing. His father had but little naval interest, and had for years been employed on coast-guard service. Charlie agreed that although he should have liked of all things to go sea, it was useless to think ot it now, for he was past the age at which he could have entered as a midshipman. The matter had been talked over four years before with his father; but the latter had pointed out that a life in the navy without interest is in most cages a very hard one. If a chance of distinguishing himself happened promotion would follow; but if not, he might be for years on shore, starving on half-pay and waiting in vain for an appointment, while oflBcers with more luck and better interest went over his head. Other professions had been discussed but nothing deter- mined upon, when Lieutenant Marryat suddenly died. Charlie, although an only son, was not an only child, as he had two sisters both younger than himself. After a few months of efibrt Mrs. Marryat found that the utmost she could hope to do with her scanty income was to main- tain herself and daughters and to educate them until they should reach an age when they could earn their own hving as governesses, but that Charlie's keep and education were beyond her resources. She had, therefore, very reluc- tantly written to an uncle whom she had not seen for many years; her family having objected very strongly to /. y. Ui ill. Ill -t I rf i»i 1 ! CRUSTY BUT KIND. 11 her marriage with a pennileas lieutenant in the naw She informed him of the loss of her husband a^d?hS life, I have heard 1 ttle of vou aa ^^^^0+1 T^ also if you wS^ favour rJt'^^^ f !' ^ '^*" ^« g^^^ dear niece, you™ sfnce«r ^ °- ^ '*""^' ""^ Joshua Tufton" "y oae Of thoae horrid natives, ta a fort^ft" ""»'''>"» 12 AN INDIAN WRITERSHIP. Um "Not 80 bad as that, mother, I hope," Charlie said sympathizingly, although he could not repress a smile; " other people have managed to live out there and have come back safe." " Yes," Mrs. Marryat said sobbing; " I know how you will come back. A little, yellow, shrivelled up old man with no liver, and a dreadful temper, and a black servant. I know what it will be." This time Charlie could not help laughing. "That's looking too far ahead altogether, mother. You take the two extremes. If I don't die in a fortnight I am to live to be a shrivelled old maa I'd rather take a happy medium, and look forward to coming back before my liver is all gone, or my temper all destroyed, with lots of money to make you and the girls comfortable. There is only one thing, I wish it had been a cadetship instead of a writership." " That is my only comfort," Mrs. Marryat said. " If it had been a cadetship I should have written to say that I would not let you go. It is bad enough as it is; but if you had had to fight, I could not have borne ii" Charlie did his best to console his mother by telling her how every one who went to India made fortunes, and how he should be sure to come back with plenty of money, and that when the girls grew up he should be able to find rich husbands for them; and at last he suc- ceeded in getting her to look at mattei-s in a less gloomy light. "And I'm sure, mother," he said, "uncle means most kindly. He sends twenty pounds, you see, and says that that is for immediate necessities; so I have no doubt he means to help to get my outfit, or at any rate to advance money which I can repay him out of my salary. The letter is rather stiff and business-like, of course, but I suppose that's his way; and you see he asks about your income, so perhaps he means to help for the girls' education. I should go away very happy if I knew that you would be able to get on comfortably. Of course it's a long way [ ' ' FAMILY DETAILS. to shake when I was a child\nH i ^"f ■»« ""'^ finger lum- He married a mmt d^. T *'"'*y« afraid of ye«or two before I Cm-ed5™f?"« ''»»»■> only a died not very long afto™!?'^'*- But I heard she talking of her eariy daw fn^f ' f",^ '° ^"^ Marrrat eot good spirits agai^ VKm? h °i' ""■-'' ""^ ^^^^^^ from sd.ool.and she t^old the™wh,T ,^"«'''*" '•«t«™ed to regard as the good fortuM Iv V^,." ^°? """^ "oming brother. The girfs were gZlv 'ff ?"? '^*«"» theif their brother, ^d the tLS th.fl?'"'^ ^^^ ""Jored f°f/«a« was terrible to t& N„.v ^^,g»ng away said pacified them in the sS't„ fS''"''? that could bi nothing but cry untU thL *?^'°? •'«?''ee. and they did much aWted ^y t^ ^J^^;!t?w*S H 't''"'" -« ' ie took his hat and went m,f * iHt" ^W """d retired "Pproaohing departure totme of hi/l ** "*''™ "^ ^^ The next day Mrs Hf.J™ * , ™"™s. 'or his kindnL '^te?*/™te 'Ranking her undo round to London by thTM^'h^?^.^''* '"'"Id go foUowing Monday, and woufi if i. ""•"'i "^^^ "n tSe all went weU, reih London on ti^wi"* """'^ fair and w«, of couree, at on,^l^,°l^^„Jtt''''^y- School a holiday till their brotEdTw ^%S,* "^ had »«»a«y clothes were orS t?^ "*• T^^^" the ne- do. and Charlie spent the Uml Ih™ J^. ""le more to m school, in w4i4^1°'!h"''l^ ^oy Wends wer^ talking to them of the fbtn~ .f ?u^ *'»"» the shore semd t£em home, and of ^'"^-"L*^' Pf^enb he would while at other tlnies-he--w;L^or:?St'tJ"„2j^ 14 THB YARMOirra PAOKKT. schoolfellows, and joined in one last grand battle with the smack boys. ,i . v t ;iw On Monday morning, after a sad farewell to his family, Charlie embarked on board the Yarmouth Belle, a packet which performed the journey to and ^ r^^^ ^^^«,^^^^* a fortnight. She was a roomy lugger built for stowage rather than speed, and her hold was crammed and her deck piled witli packages of salted fish. There were five or six other persons also bound for London the journey to which was in those days regarded as an arduous under- taking. As soon as the Yarmouth Belle issued from the mouth of the river she began to pitch heavily, and Charlie, who from frequently going out with his father in the revenue cutter, was a good sailor, busied himself m doing his best for his afflicted fellow-passengers. Towards evenmg the wind got up, and shifting ahead the captain dropped anchor off Lowestoft. The next morning was finer, and the Yarmouth Belle contmued her way. It was not. however, till Thursday afternoon that she dropped anchor in the Pool Charlie was soon on shore, and giving his trunk to a porter desired him to lead the w?y to Bread Street, in which his uncle resided, for in the last century such things as country villas were almost unknown, and the merchants of London for the most part resided in the houses where they carried on their business. Keeping close to the Porter to see that he did not make off with his trunk, for Charlie had received many warnings as to the ';reme wickedness of London, he followed him through the busy streete. and arrived safely at his uncle's door. It waa now dusk, and Charlie on giving his name was shown upstairs to a large room which WMlightod by a fire blazing in the hearth. Standing with his back to this was a gentleman whom he at once recognized fr:>m his mother's description aa her uncle, although he was a good deal more portly than when she hav* seen him »a-Sv. . i i 1 1- i. "So you are my grand-nephew," he s»id. holding out • A OUWOUS RKCKPTION. jg hid toSjr '''""• to be a veo^ lunp and flabby "Yes, uncle," Charlie said cheerfullv «««^ vy ucb Obliged to you, »a.r r ^i: ^^7^7 My niece'r 1 J.tLT/' ^*' 5^°" "*''« "»' here yesterday ? yiteiSy " "* "^ *° "^P*"' *•>»» y»" ^ould arrive "burofTu'rTtt'tTZT"''!! "°«>»." Charlie laughed; a^VeWtlKl^|-He.X3t„oaba^^^^^^^ ^n ^r -^ ™ i°^®' «^'' ^^arfie said eravelv "if vnn auiye?Md fam^Sn? 1 "i I suppose, now that's shaU getTffer." * ^ *" '^^ ""^ *'°" *" "riti^g. I Ttih "I ^ f^"'"^ ""* °* «"* "»»' desimbleffi' S>d vou left mv^ir ^T^ "?'» '''* » '^d't^ bearinf thesuddeniS-rfi^pof Af- '''°''*'°''-"' '''' ""'='• ^y The aaence contini:d1o^ ':^^:n7Zi^l^-'i^^, i' ^Q CHARUB'S ORKATUNCLl. l\,ff/,n said "I always dine at two o'clock; but as pro- LuTyou are hung/- 1 have observed that Ws alw^y^^ we Wry-some food will be served you m the next !^m f had already given my housekeeper orders. No St yL will r^^^^^ prepare! After that you may hke io takeTwalk in the streets. I have supper at nine, by which hour you will, of course, have returned. Charlie ai he ate his meal, thought to himself tha,t hw uncle wa^'a pompous old gentleman, and that it would be v^J^hTd w'ork^ing fn with him /- f e -.^^^^^^^ weeks However he consoled himself by tbe thougnt "S is as kind does" after all and V^PJ^tS^^td gentleman is not as crusty as be looks Charlie h^d handed to Mr. Tufton a letter which his mother naa ^>en him, and when he returned from a ramble through The street^ he found that gentlem^ sitting by the fire with lights upon a small table beside him. Upon this '^,T;A':'^nt:Ci^^^ a the streets of I^n- '%^^^i:tzi:^'':oTJ:s^- ^^^^T..'^tt'trt very'brightljr, and th^^^^^^^ is -ing - ^^^ouf Uhat if it crew thicker I might lose my way, au^ I milht not have been in at the hour you named for sup- ^^« Humph!" the other gentleman grunted. "So your ^nf w^^, tauffht vou to be punctual to meals. But, no; Bhe eS to t^l^ or to like? Her 4"'? f ^^^^ „' ' ^^ : J „;«*^fl ai^ina tramuii- about ine S' i^*% w\rk£%a pr 7y^ of m7 'grand-nieces going trampir (in) as pro- alway8 le next rs. Ko lay like line, by that his '^ould be ct three thought the old rlie had her had through the fire pon this of Lon- Qot bum ight that that case I for sup- So your But, no; if never •ely,"did >e she did > right had ly was to e circum- ^her I ajp- luout tne f THE RIGHTS OF A RELATION. |7 ch^oL\'Z^ir^^^^ a woman that they are to be denrivK%^>.''^ ^l"""^ ^'' ^^^^^^ of this W Eh sir^whaf 1*^"'" "^^*« '"^ * '"^^^^ Mr Tufton look?dV^^:4t^^^^^^^ to that.' and thou^tTht mX; ot:-^ ^'' "^ ^-« -ver done, and you'd been hun^ .tlhT, fi?* ^^^^^"^^ ^^ve such discredit as Sbrouf ht n^ * *^'^xl ^"^ ^ *« ^^^e any option in J?e ma W "P"'' '"^ ^^*^°"* "^^ ^^^ving ha;j t^rdTu?;^^a^;^^ Tf^a ;^ 'r ^ ? -^^'^'^ perhaps it was because™tW flre^^^^^^^ .^jjj wiSrmf ^i& tfraineTtlf ^ ''* ^^-"«' *^-gh wenshedidso/'t^'CtlTcSd;''^^^^^^^ not done so, I should have known ilJ? ? ®^® ^*^ "I thought so»Z^S^' ^-^ «™* *? * ««'«'•" sure of it. YouwmJl ° ! ** sarcastically ; «I was «nd to swagger aWth,,. IT * J*^ '^'^' "><* » "''"'•'J. making an1,onou»ble livin» f *^' °* ^*^'=""»' ''"'*»<1 <>* ;i /on't th~r» aX'^j'ThX' -r"";'; • red coat and sword en w!l i^*„ • *. "j* "^«» "f the to me the cho?^ of a Uf^ of aSwS^ Tf' •>"* '* '^"'^ one as a mere Vierk " ^ ** odventure against ev^^l^XTdto W Ti"*°^ »*T~ »* *« Company, to the imm«7of*a «riL^„r ~"i^ """y ''»P<' *^ very low dTn o^ S^eTxhTstaJdlif ? ST^ unaccountable. It's a .plJ^did mrf - - ^*k ^I' " opened^toyou, butif rd-L-o-*^eh1:i'^-£;jtL\& B It IHl BOARD OF DIMOTORa. I would have put you into my own counting-house, though JhTre that wSuldVt have Lne either for I know you woSld have blotted the ledger and turned all the ^counts topsy-turvy. And now, sir, supper is ready; and the old gentleman led the way into the next room. Upon the following day Charlie was introduced by his uncle to the director who had given him 1^^« nomination and was told by him that tSe board .v ould sit upon the following day, and that he must ca"^ ^^ /^^ J,^^^,^ House at eleven o'clock. The ordeal was not a formidable one. He was shown into a room where eight or ten elderly gentlemen were sitting round a la^-g^ *^^^^ Among these was his friend of the day before He wa^ Mked a question or two about his age. his father s pro- f^ion Xd his place of education. Then the gentleman aUhe Cd of the table nodded to him, and said he could go, and instructions would be sent to him, and ttiat he wa^ to prepare to sail in the Lizzie Anderson, which would kavX docks in ten days' time, and that he would be for the present stationed at Madras. Much delighted at having got through the ordeal so easily. Charlie returned to his uncle's. He did not venture to penetiute into the letter's counting-house, but awaited his coming upstairs to dinner, to tell him the news. " Humph!" said his uncle; " it is lucky they did not find out what a fool you were at once. I was nether afraid that even the two minutes would do it. After dinner I will slnd my clerk round with you to get the few tbmgs which are necessary for your voyaga I suppose you will want to, what you call amuse yourself, to see the feasts at Eieter Change, and the playhouses. Here^^^® *J? f^^f reigns; don't get into loosecompany,and don t get drmking, sir. or out of the house you go." , . v. ^i^ Charlie attempted to express his thanks, but his unde stopped him abruptly. "Hold your tongue, sir; I am " o;i;V«,h-t is r ]u I* charge of an old clerk and Ssffiif'^?"*.^"* "°^«' *h« shops, and found that hirunSXSZ r^ for a voyage differed veir wi'deil^?^^^^^^ clerk m each case inquired from /^ * ? ^'^ ^^'^^ The the outfit which geXmen loW tn ?!;^««™«« ^hat was with them, and Cha^T^lTi^'' I'i^'^ e^^'^^^lly took magnitude of the orders FoSrS'^^ fPP^^^^d ^^ the pairs of stockings, two dozen J^-^ff/" l^''^' <^^« ^^^^^ and everythingTeTn prop^^^^^^^^ "Vf ^r '?**"^ ^^«*^' monstrated, and even imSE iu , ^^arli® in vain re- ordering what appeared ^^^ 'J''^ *« ^^'^^^^ from of things, and bSd him T '"'^ ^ ^^^"^«"« a«^ount had spolen to his Sncle ?h«tl*Y'u^*" *" ™* "'^"I he he haS received inXttion^thatt'^^^^^^^ ?P"^^ *h-* to be obtained, and that Mr Tufton ^f "'"^^ '!^*^<^ ^^ orders to be questioned PKo r "T"" P^^^^^^ed his but he was aLlu dy o^^^^^^^ f^^ced to submit, his outfit, to carry whicH' v If T*^ ,*^® magnitude of " It is awful," Ch:^i:''sSat^l^^^^^ ?^"-?d- How much it will all rnml * ', positively awful, three or four huXi'Urd: .te""'^ »% knows; J0«te*r I^L^ ZZi^tfsIZ '""T^} "'• -" *»» never came home more *h»„ "■™"'' duration, men often remained"n ?ndU fiZTh^i" ^even years, and unta they finally retoed wifV,^, * "^^ ?' ">^''- "riral The outfit takL out Ce ^h* X"''^'"^^ ^rger than at the presenttim/ T '"^^'■'ify much England can be accomSed SVl. " * .""^ ''°'»« »» «e plenty of »hops Tn et^ 'f '^7„ 7^> and there European articles oi nece,,»7J? ■'°*» where all After separating fromTe L^J^pk'^.''*" "» purchased. n?>abletostartoutfa"J?I^l*_?'«"'^« f^i* altogether auout vaguely till suppeiltimr^rS ZZ^t ha li^ 90 ▲ PERI'.MITORY PARTY. address hi« uncle on the snhject "My dear uncle, ht began. " you've been f^o awfully kind to me that I reall> do not like to tr-sr w up< ). x you. I am positively fright- ened at the outlil your clerk has ordered; it is enormous. I'm sure I cant want so many things pofsibly, and 1 would refli'y rather take a much smaller outfit, and then, as I want iliem I can have more things out from England and pay for them myself." , „xt, * t\« " tou don't suppose," Mr. Tufton said sternly "that I m coing to have my nephew go out to India with the outht of a cabin-boy. I ordered that you were to ^^ave the proper outfit of a gentleman, and 1 requested my clerk to Uer a considerable portion of the thm-s to be made of a size which will allow for your growing, for you look to me as if you were likely snough to run up mto a lanky gitmt of six feet high. I suppose he has done as I ordered him. Don't let me hear another word on the subject . I . K ii u CHAPTER A. THE YOTO aiTER. vLsitec Exew'S ilT't ^'"^^«^^- »« down the dver to *°^^.\b«at and rowed and vi.s.ted the palace of Wo!^ «enwich. and a coach see the coaches Se th ir star' " ?r^' ^e went to places i,, England, and rnarveHeu it ^'T'^^^ ^"' ^" turn-out.-. He went to f k! ^ ^® pej'fection of the evening, .nd ^Z%%^:-j\'^^'^^ *jice. in the Richard the Third. On the fifth^i ' Performance as awaited 1 im. His uncle at t t^ ? P""^^ «"rprise briefly thU he did not wth h' 'f^ ^^^ *°^^ him dmner. as . me one miX iS f *.. ^^ «"* before supposing t .at a meSefger^^^^^^^ ^".^ Charlie, the India H use. waited indoS^^«n f T'""^. ^°^^ ^0™ astonished v hen the door of 4 ^ ^'^ ^°"^ ^^<^er he wm mother and inters ented Wi?h7°^. "P^/ ^°^ ^^ and^urpn^ .Charlie rush:'" inJS^ thei? atmf °' ^^^'^^^ pectedVe^urriLt;d"^vt^ llf^!' i^-'.- -n unex- here?" ^^^- ^^^3^' what has brought you up here to stay till J r, I 21 !''•, 32 MR. TUFrON*S GRAND-NIECES. «0h, my dear, he bas been so kind." his mother said « and so funny! He wrote me such a scolding letter just Bs if I had been a very naughty little girl. He said he wasn't gomg to allow me to bring disgrace upon him by living in wretched lodgings at Yarmouth, nor by his grand-nieces being sent out a^ governesses So he ordered me at once, ordered me Charlie, «^/f ^ ^^f ^^ will of my own, to give up the lodgings and to take our places in the coach yesterday morning. He said we were not to shame him by appearing here m rags, and he sent me a hundred pounds, every penny of which, he said, was to be laid out in clothes. As to the future he said it would be his duty to see that I brought no further dis- ^" Y^s^and he'sTefn just as kind to me, mother. As I told you when I wrote, he had ordered an enormous outfit, which will, I am sure, cost hundreds of pounds He makes me go to the playhouses and all sorte of amusements, and all the time he ha^ been so kind he scolds, and grumbles, and predicts that I shall be ^"Fm'sure you won't," Kate, his youngest sister, said indignantly. "How can he say such a thing! X doesn't mean it," Charlie laughed; "it's only his way. He will go on just the same way with you, 1 have no^oubt; but you mustn't mind, you know, and musnt laugh, but must look quite grave and senous. Ah! here he is. Oh, uncle, this is kind of you! -Hold your tongue, sir," said his uncle, "and try and learn not to speak to your elders unless you are addressed. Niece Mary," he said, kissing her upon the forehead, I am glad to see you again. You are not so much changed as I expected. And these are my grand-nieces Ehzabeth and Kate, though why Kate I don't know. It is a an- ciful name and new to the family, and I am surprised tbat you didn't call her Susanna, after your grand- mother." •- ^^^^^^^ so diadfuKTonarwomet ■•■"' ""^ '""' ^ ""^-^ eduS:''^ttar;aTa8*^^'"r '^^^^ P-fT ^'"^ *«'' said smiling ■■B,TJi!f„ " some others," Mis. Marryat 0* ^i^^tk?iteirutws™ti;? itd^"'^ tion, mind, and it is the Hnfv «1p *lk ^~"'^ modera- those salutations and I do i^ft *^' x.^*'^"" *° '^^^ive altogether an unple^antonP T °'''^ *^.^* *^^ ^^^^ i« to be kissed butitkTn J *°1 "^Jself unaccustomed torn myself\ time '' '^^''^'^'^ *" ^^^^^ ^ ^'^y accus- sai^druTely"'^^^^^^^ ^0!"";^^^ ^^^^^«'' ^^^^ ---, ^^„ ^ occ It a mucn woi Her uncle looked at her steadily. ^1 %f ?^a}d, grand-niece, that vou 'mi^r.^ to ^- .... «^ti. Tnia I. a hateful habit in a man: worse^^in ;" I if ) 'f ! S! ' 24 WORDS OP ADVICE. Vi woman. Cure yourself of it as speedily as possible, or Heaven help the unhappy man who may some day be vour husband. And now," he said, " ring the bell. The housekeeper will show you to your rooms. My nephew will tell you what are the hours for meals. Of course you will want to be gadding about with him. You will understand that there is no occasion to be in to meals; but if you are not present when they are upon the table you will have to wait for the next. I cannot have my house turned upside down by meals being brought up at all sorts of hours. You must not expect me, niece, to be at youi "beck and call during the day, as I have my business to attend to; but of an evening I shall, of course, feel it my duty to accompany you to the playhouse. It will not do for you to be going about with only the pro- tection of a hair-brained boy." The remainder of Charlie's stay in London passed most pleasantly. They visited all the sights of town, Mr. Tufton performing what he called his duty with an air of protest, but showing a general thoughtfulness and desire to please his visitors, which was very apparent even when he grunted and grumbled the most. On the evening before he started he called Charlie down into his counting-house. "To-morrow you are going to sail," he said, "and to start in life on your own account, and I trust that you will, as far as possible, be steady and do your duty to your employers. You will understand that although the pay of a writer is not high there are opportunities for advancement. The Company have the monopoly of the trade of India, and in addition to their great factories at Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras they have many other trad- ing stations. Those who by their good conduct attract the attention of their superiors rise to positions of trust and emolument. There are many who think that the Com- pany will in time enlarge its operations, and as they do so, superior OppOri#u2ili'lc3 wiii OiiCr i^aCui36iV6a, EHu SIIICq A GENEROUS FRIEND, 25 mined to invest somZwi*^^ ?"'?*'°? ^^ ^"^ deter- Company L stenwS w'n \'^'^T, '^ *^^ «*««k of the ence wSthe bCd TW f^^^^^^^^f ^e me some influ- posing thaf^our eond^f ;^^^^^^^^^^^ «^-^l' !^J-ys sup- behalf Aq wo o„!^ warrants it, exercise on vour PossTbie ttt fte^dTn whfr "'* ^"'°»«- ""O '' i» be attacked by the ™:; I h've Tr.^L'^-r"^^^ «"'? you should be armed TnntTii *v "^1" '' P'^P®"^ "»»' cabin a brace of n?rf„i. "'""'""' therefore, find in your gun, whi* fasuCl'^.^d*';""' » f r"'-'*"^' '^<"- quarteiB. ShoildTo!,, ,^ .'■ "^'t"^ "^^^P"" »' dose doing 80 you will finH 7k '**""' V; ^°*» P'™" your garni I C That tu wifrnott"' f *'^ P"™" »' a matter of fcinS 1X711.7-*? extravagant; but as give entertaii^X^ ~*' t'^Jf'*;:' •'" "" "^^^ *° too busy for talSng '' ^"^^ ^'**''' *^ ^"<^^' ^^d am dismVs:?Sg4he: ^"^"P*^^^ -- «f J^- 1^-d he undrg;nrosH^^.?^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^- *^»-^ her of his now anyhow I'o donhf ^^"^-^T ^^ ^"^ ^^ ^11 right for you and the^V], fi, ^'i^'t ?*^"^ *« ^o something ent Vy^d' fh: fa J^tt^ou Ire'n^fto^^^^^^^ ""^A ever does that? I She abH^' T,^ ^ ^^^'* ^^^^^ he kind, isn't he?" *^^^ ^ ^'^P ^^^ Oh, he is , ^he parting was far less aad fhon *k-* „.v:,v i, , . , piac€; at i'armouth ni^o^r ~ """" ""^^^ "ad taken xormoutn. Charhe was now assured that his IK ;* 36 THE EAST INDIAMAN. «b >ii n mother and sisters would be comfortable and well cared for in his absence; while his mother, happy in the lighten- ing of her anxiety as to the future of her daughters and as to the prospects of her son, was able to bear with better heart the thought of their long separation. Mrs. Marryat and the girls accompanied him on board ship. Mr. Tufton declined to join the party, under the plea that in the first place he was busy, and in the second that he feared there would be an emotional display. He sent, however, his head clerk with them, to escort the ladies on their return from the docks. The Lizzie Anderson was a fine ship of the largest size, and she was almost as clean and trim as a man-of- war. She carried twelve cannon, two of them thirty-two pounders, which were in those days considered large pieces of ordnance. All the ships of the Company, and, indeed, all ocean-going merchantmen of the day, were armed, as the sea swarmed with privateers and the black flag of the pirates was still occasionally to be seen. The girls were delighted with all they saw, as, indeed, was Charlie, for accustomed as they were only to the coasting vesselswhich frequented the port of Yarmouth.this floating castle appeared to them a vessel of stupendous size and power. This was Charlie's first visit also to the ship, for his uncle had told him that all directions had been given, that the trunks with the things necessary for the voyage would be found in his cabin at the time of starijjng, and the rest of the luggage in the hold. Everything was in order, and Charlie found that his cabin companion was a doctor in the service returning to Madras. He was a pleasant man of some five or six and thirty, and assured Mrs. Marryat that he would soon make her son at home on board ship, and would, moreover, put him np to the ways of things upon his arrival in India There were many visitors on board saying good-bye to 4'.1-iaii< i'woTi/la an/4 oil ao+. /lrt"nim fy\ litnnV* aariron in fno A iPi, .- It f.m l» THE START FOR THE EAST. 37 of his familv fnTth™ „ •! A" S'lmpse of the figures tide gaiW'stoenJll ' "" ^"' '"'' 'P'^""* ""d the vessel" mS^I 5own'^ "•"'"I, '"°^«' ^er, the examine hi^ i^l^^t Xj"' '""""^ '"""'' *» in number, and fortrS'^art'^r "1^X1 1*"'^ mercantile tuselfbu^ner^Thtwl "^'""^ " ^' ro^d V&re? ^atTadinH:" '"'^"^ f '=»'"''^y little army, com/osf^of two °f thrWwtt r'^- "P*" Youvf Wue'^^es^rd c t^S whir ''^""5' "' H- ex«ptwhenitrains.andtre;roJt:en:US . f '{«eTaf:^'^-^^^^^ forty had been sDent in th« co.„,- '/ J x?"^'^* "^^^""^ ^^ar forty had been s^ent in the service'^orthe ComBa.-^ -m „ot « ^onaoner,- Charlie said smiling; i. it 1' ,ii(i !• i- I ^ !l.' "and 28 FELLOW PASSINGERa 4 have no regret for leaving its ^oke. Do you think we shall make a quick voyage?" " 1 hope so," the captain said, " but it all depends upon the wind. A liner ship never floated than the Lizzie Anderson; but the Company don't build their vessels for speed, and it's no use trying to run when you meet a Frenchman. Those fellows understand how to build ships, and if they could fight them as well as they build them we should not long be mistress of the sea." Most of the people on board appeared to know each other, and Charlie felt rather lonely till the doctor came up and began to chat with him. He told him who most of his fellow passengers were: "That gentleman there, walking on the other side of the deck as if not only the ship but the river and banks on both sides belonged to him, is one of the council That is his wife over there with a companion holding her shawl for her. That pretty little woman next to her is the wife of Captain Tibbets, the tall man leaning against the bulwarks. Those two sisters are going out to keep house for their uncle, one of the leading men in Madras, and, I suppose, to get husbands, which they will most likely do before they have been there many weeks. They look very nice girls. But you soon get acquainted with them all. It is surprising how soon people get friendly on board ship, though, as a rule, they quarrel like cats and dogs before they get to the end of it." "What do they -quarrel about?" Charlie asked sur- prised. "Oh, about anything or nothing," the doctor said. "They all get heartily sick of each other and of the voyage, and they quarrel because they have nothing else to do. You will see we shall be as happy a party as possible till we get about as far as the Cape. After that the rows will begin, and by the time we get to India half the people won't speak to each other. Have you been •i I UUWU lilic txrcx ijvxiji.'o : ju zzzxv cj •^_^ * r« ▼ ^-tj' e-nrt I A SUSnuiOUS SAIL. 29 4- Via captain is getting ready to anchor. So. I suppose the tide haa nearly run out. If this wind holds we shall be tairly out at sea when you get up to-morrow. You snore, 1 nope f !!??' ^'^' ^ ^°^'* *^^in^ SO'" Charlie said. 1 hoped you did," the doctor said, "because I'm told i* f njetimes. However, as I usually smoke a cicrar on deck the last thing, I hope you will be fairly asllep before I am. If at any time I get very bad and keep you awake you must shake me." Charlie said it took a good deal to keep him awake, and that he should probably get. accustomed to it ere long. It s better to do that," he said with a laugh, " than to keep on waking you for the next four or five months." A week later the Lizzie Anderson was running down the Spanish coast with all sail set. She was out of sight ot land, and so far had seen nothing likely to cause un- easiness. They had met many vessels homeward bound trom the Mediterranean, and one or two big ships which the captain pronounced to be Indiamen. That mominc^ however, a vessel was seen coming out from the land.' bhe seemed to Charlie's eyes quite a small vessel, and he was surprised to see how often the captain and officers turned their glasses towards her. "I fancy our friend over there is a French privateer." the doctor remarked to him; "and I should not be sur- prised if we found ourselves exchanging shots with her before many hours are over." " But she's a little bit of a thing," Charlie said. " Surely she would never venture to attack a ship like ours." Its the size of the guns, not the size of the ship, that counts, my boy. She has the advantage of being able to sail three feet to our two, and probably, small as she is, sue carries half as many men again as we do. However we carry heavy metal, and can give a good account of ourselves. Those thirty-twos will astonish our friend if she comes within range " ( I: II ii ''ll ;l 30 THl TWO PRIVATEERS. The stranger was a large schooner, and the tautness of the spars and rigging showed that she was in beautiful order. She crossed the line upon which the merchant- man was sailing some two miles in her rear, and then bearing up followed in her wake. Charlie stood near the captain, who, instead of watch- ing her, was sweeping the horizon with his glass. Pres- ently he paused and gazed intently at a distant object. " I thought so," he said to th.) first officer. " I fancied that fellow wasn't alone. He would hardly have ven- tured to try his s'l^rength with us if he had been. Send a man up to the tops and let him see what he can make her out to be. I can only see her topmasts, but I can make out no yards." , i Presently the look-out came down and i jported that the distant vessel appeared to be a largo fore-and-aft schooner bearing down upon them. '• She will not be up for two hours yet," the captain said. "It will be getting dark then. It is not likely they will engage at night, but they will keep close and show their teetn at daybreak." It soon became known that the belief of the captain was that the vessel in their wake, and that which could be seen approaching on the beam, were French privateers, and soon all were preparing in their own way for what might happen. The sailors cleared the decks and loosed the guns. The gentlemen went below and shortly re- turned bringing up rifles and fowling-pieces. "Small- arms and cutlasses were brought up and piled round the masts. "Why don't you put on more sail, sir?" Mr. Ashmead, the member of the council, said to the captain. "My wife, sir, objects to the sound of firearms, and I must really beg that you will increase your speed As it is we are losing rather than gaining upon that vessel behind. The duty of the ship, of the Company is to try not to fight." lifJ.H IN FOK A FIGHT. SI f n 'fi!i? • J f?° ^^^^ 'V ^^^ ^P*^ a '»'^«" Ho- a^JtaT^i^ :^t^4-& ttrS^aSf aS d^o'^lJ asked'ofe rf%i?'lr'° S° *"'°^ *°' «">i' g"°« Charlie If, "t *'r"?^* of «>«>» since he sfw ?he g;nf,Les under his berth on his fimt arrival on bo^d shin ^e berth. You are a good deal better provided than mo J I: ill I; m f • as PREFAIIINQ yOR THE £NEMY. m ■'■* Not with this gun, sir. I used sometimes to practise shooting at gulls with a musket on board the cutter niv father commanded, and I got to be a fair shot with it." ' " Then you ought to be able to do good work with such a piece as that. What is in the other case? Ah! that's a beauty too," he said as he examined the double-barrelled gun. " Made extra strong and heavy, I see, so as to carry bullets. You'll find your shoulder ache at first, but you'll get accustomed to it in time. I'm always in favour of heavy barrels. They shoot stronger and straighter than your light guns, are not so liable to get bent or bruised if a stupid servant drops one across a stone, and, after all, two or three pounds difierence in weight does not make any material difference when you're accustomed to ii Although, I grant a heavy gun does not come quite 60 quickly up to the shoulder for a snap shot." "Now, Peters," Charlie said, "you take the double- barrel; I will use the rifle. Mine will come into play first, but, as my uncle said when he gave it me, yours will do most execution at close quarters." At dusk the schooners, having exchanged some signals by flags, took up their positions, one on each quarter of the ship, at a distance of some two m'.?es. "Do not you think," Charlie asked his friend the doctor, "that they are likely to try and board us to- night?" "No," the doctor said. "These privateers generally depend upon their long guns. They know that we shall be on the watch all night, and that in a hand-to»hand fight they would lose a considerable number of men, while by keeping at a distance and maintaining a fire with their long guns, they rely upon crippling their opponents, and then ranging up under their stem, pour- ing in a fire at close quarters until they surrender. An- other thing is that they prefer daylight, as they can then see whether any other vessel is approaching. Were one of our cruisers to hear a cannonade in the night she wo I Ith thej S ordc watc ex til in if their dark (iu CAUTION IN THE DARK. 88 pour- An- (if?) iaA-ii •""I m 1 IC'' CHAPTER IIL A BRUSH WITH PRIVATEERS, HE night passed quietly. Once or twice lights were seen as the schooners showed a lantern if '"?"^^"* *o ^°^^^y *iheir exact position to each other. As soon as dawn broke every man on board the Uzzie Anderson was at his post The schooners had drawn up a little, but were still under easy sail. The moment that the day grew clear enough for it to be perceived that no other sail could be seen above the horizon, fresh sail was spread upon the schooners and they began rapidly to draw up. On the previous evening the col ^r^^^T ^^^ ^''° ^"°"^^* ^^^' ^^d ^^^ Indiaman K fwl?^ ^* ^^^f.^'^^ipg fight with her opponents WfJ . P^'° ^T. ^»«PO««d. To this, however: he ob- jected strongly, as his vessel was sure to be hulled and knocked about severely, and perhaps some of his ma^ts cut down He was confident in liis power to beat off the two privateers, and he therefore did not add a stitch of canvas to the e^j sail under which he had been holding on all night. Presently a puff of smoke shot out from thi bow of inl'nfT"" iT *^«7«^*^«r quarter, followed almost instantaneously by one from her consort. Two round shot ?i?nfK"P A ^f*«^^he one under the Indiaman's stern, the other under her forefoot Quiellv "^Si' T """" 7'^^^ T^^'" *^« «»P**^ «aid quietly. See, they are taking off oAnv^M ur,^,. tu^^ . 1 S4 A SURPRISE FOR THK FRENCHMEN. 85 captain''J"df .Cat £^1^ * "*"' J"^ *» •><>"." th, them? Firel" ^''" Kot the sights well upon to watch the effect, and a cheer » ''"'^k^ anxiously accurate had been the tira of T^ *" " ""^ «««» ^"^ struck the schooner to windward ^n thf k""""' . ^"° »•«" above the water-level- unnfi. r"t ''°''' » *oot or two close to the n,2t '• ' ""'*' ''"'" tl^ough her forest) asu'nirf ""'"■'""' ^^ -»"'<> ^ave cut his forecast the'"ot;^rru7dt tr ^er'if '''""'y »- "><". above heraeck-lfne fhAoW ■ ' "^'"' "'»» struck iust and, a. they JLught o„ £1^^"^ "'[""«'' '^^ bulwS missing if iot actually sSnif?.''''''' •''"''"*"' °»™''ly •• There is «ome daUge dole "'d'?''?"'^'-., , his gto fixed on the vessel «•«,?/■ ?** ""^' "^^'Ping running about on deck tWe » " "^ " 8°°^ d^*! <>? ™ryrLliat;ltSnV' "i^ "^^ -ta. pnvateera. Both lowered ^;u„jP*^Ti ''"T>™e »» the was then a mpid excZniTf ,^ 7T'^ '^™g- »°d *'^«e " They don't like it " tS^nt?^* !. ?*'"'*«" 'hem. that they cannot play tte^fr*^ '*"""''?•■ "'hey see they've got to take Z well^rL^P *^Pm''"'''' »°d that upon the sort of stuff the'r c^t^n? *• ^V '*■ "^^P^^s they give it UD at one. '"!L??i*'!". »"•« """de of, whether Ahi they mekn fightL^ ™"° °""^"' "P '^ "'o^' quarters. ill sJii .%'» M U I %' 96 OOMING TO CLOSK QUARTERS. As he spoke a cloud of canvas was spread upon the schooners, and sailing more than two feet to the merchant- man's one they ran quickly down towards her, firing rapidly as they came. Only the merchantman's heavy guns replied, but these worked steadily and coolly and did considerable damage. The bowsprit of one of their opponents was shot away. The sails of both vessels were pierced in several places, and several rugged holes were knocked in their hulls. " If it were not that I do not wish to sacrifice any of the lives on board unnecessarily," the captain said, " I would let them come alongside and try boarding. We have a strong crew, and with the sixty soldiers we should give them such a reception as they do not dream of. However, I will keep them ofl' if I can. Now, Mr. James," he said to the first officer, "I propose to give that vessel to leeward a dose; they are keeping about abreast, and by the course they are making will range alongside at about a cable's length. When I give the word pour a broadside with the guns to port upon that weather schooner. At that mo- ment, gentlemen," he said, turning to the passengers, " I shall rely upon you to pick oflf the steersman of the other vessel, and to prevent another taking his place. She steers badly now, and the moment her helm is free she'll run up into the wind. As she does so I shall bear oflf, run across her bow, and rake her deck with grape as we pass. Will you, Mr. Barlow, order your men to be in readiness to open fire with musketry upon her as we pass." The schooners were now running rapidly down upon the Indiaman. They were only able to use the guns in their bows, and the fire of the Indiaman from the heavy guns on her quarter was infiicting more damage than she received. " Let all hands lie down on deck," the captain ordered, " they will open with their broadside guns as they come >. When 1 cfive the word let all the sruns on the T»ort ic be trained at the foot of her mainmast, and tire qm nn. sit •^m- vl.' -"il*. n'.. A CRUSHING BROADSIDE. 37 ■>> you get the line. On the starboard side lie down till I give the word." It was a pretty sight as the schooners, throwing the wator high up from their sharp cut- waters, came running a ong heelmg over under the breezt As they ranged alongside their topsails came down, and a broadside from both was poured into the Indiaman. The great ship shook as the shot crashed into her, and several sharp cries told of the effect which had been produced. Then the captain gave the word, and a moment afterwards an ir- regular broadside, as the captain of each gun brought his piece to bear, was poured into the schooner from the guns on the port side. As the privateer heeled over her deck could be plainly seen, and the shot of the Indiaman, all directed at one point, tore up a hole around the foot of the mainmast. In an instant the spar tottered and with a crash fell alongside. At the same moment three of the passengers took a steady aim over the bulwark at the helmsman of the other privateer, and simultaneously with the reports of their pieces the man was seen to fall Another sprang forward to take his place, but again the rifles spoke out, and he fell beside his comrade. Freed from the strain which had counteracted the pressure of her mainsail the schooner flew up into the wind. The Indiaman held on her course for another length and then her helm was put up, and she swept down across the bows of the privateer. Then the men leaped to their feet, the soldiers lined the bulwarks, and as she passed along a few yards only distant from her foe, each gun poured a storm of grape along her crowded deck while the troops and passengers kept up a continuous fire of musketry. " That will do," the captain said quietly; " now we may keep her on her course, they have had more than enough of it. * ,„. ,.^ „„3 ^^j viuuuo ui uiac, lor ine enact of the iron storm had been terrible, and the decks of the schooner 1. f. \m ill ' m M '•! ?)tl.l 88 THE CRIPPLED SCHOONERS. II', '^i« were strewn with dead and dying. For a time after the merchantman had borne upon her course the sails of the schooner flapped wildly in the wind, and then the foremast went suddenly over the side. ^ "I should think you could take them both, clftain Thompson," one of the passengers said. " They are as good as taken," the captain answered, "and would be forced to haul down their flags if I were to wear round and continue the fight. But they would be worse than useless to me. I should not know what to do with their crews, and should have to cripple myself by putting very strong prize crews upon them, and so run the risk of losing my own ship and cargo. No, my business is to trade and not to fight. If any one meddle with me I am ready to take my own part; but the Company would not thank me if I were to risk the safety of this ship and her valuable cargo for the sake of sending home a couple of prizes which might be recaptured as they crossed the bay, and would not fetch any great sum if they got safely in port" An examination showed that the casualties on board the Lizzie Anderson amounted to three killed and eight wounded. The former were sewn in hammocks with a round shot at their feet and dropped overboard, the clergy- man reading the burial service. The wounded were carried below and attended to by the ship's surgeon and Dr. Rae. The ship's decks were washed and all traces of the conflict removed. The guns were again lashed in their places, carpenters were lowered over the side to repair damages, and when the ladies came on deck an hour after the conflict was over, two or three ragged holes in the bulwarks and a half dozen in the sails were the sole signs that the ship had been in action, save that some miles astern could be seen the two crippled privateers with all sails lowered at work to repair damages. Two or three days afterwards Charlie Marryat and his friend Peters v I i ■D__ whou the latter said: T GETTING XJP HISTORY. 39 )tain V' " I hope that we sha'n't find the French in Madras when we get there." "The French in Madras!" Charlie exclaimed in surprise. "WW, sir, there's no chance of that, is there?" "It very great chance," the doctor said; "don't you know that they captured the place three years ago?" "No, sir; I'm ashamed to say that I know nothing at all about India except that the Company have trading stations at Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta." "I will tell you about it," the doctor said; " it is as well that you should understand the position of affairs at the place to which you are going. You must know that the Company hold the town of Madras and a few square miles of land around it as tenants of the Nawab of the Carnatic, which is the name of that part of India. The French have a station at Pondicherry, eighty-six miles to the sou -west of Madras. This is a larger and more important town than Madras, and of course the greatest rivalry prevails between the English and French. The French are much more powerful than the English and exercise a predominating influence throughout the Carnatic. The French governor Monsieur Dupleix is a man of very great ability and far-seeing views. He has a considerable force of French soldiers at his command, and by the aid which he has given to the nawab upon various occasions he has obtained a predominating influence in his councils. " When war was declared between England and France m the year '44, the English squadron under Commodore Barnet was upon the coast, and the Company sent out orders to Mr. Morse, the governor of Madras, to use every effort to destroy the French settlement, of whose rising power they felt the greatest jealousy. Dupleix, seeing the force that could be brought against him, and having no French ships on the station, although he was aware that a fleet under Admiral La Bourdonnais was fitting out and would arrive shortly, dreaded the contest, and nro- posed to Mr. Morse that the Indian colonies of the two 'II J. , :H f'i* 40 THE FRENCH IV MADRAa '41 nations should remain neutral and take no part in the struggle in which their respective countries were engaged. Mr. Morse, however, in view of the orders he had received from the Company, was unable to agree to this. Dupleix then applied to the nawab, who at his request forbade his European tenants to make war on land with each other, an order which they were obliged to obey. " In July, 1746, La Bourdonnais arrived with his fleet, and chased the small English squadron from the Indian seas. Dupleix now changed his tactics, and regardless of the injunction which he himself had obtained from the nawab he determined to crush the English at Madras. He supplied the fleet with men and money and ordered the admiral to sail for Madras. The fleet arrived before the town on the 14th of September, landed a portion of ite troops, six hundred in member, with two guns, a short distance along the coast, and on the following day disem- barked the rest, consisting of a thousand French troops, four hundred Sepoys, and three hundred African troops,' and summoned Madras to surrender. Madras was in no position to oflfer any eflfectual resistance. The fort was weak and indefensible. The English inhabitants con- sisted only of a hundred civilians and two hundred soldiers. Governor Morse endeavoured to obtain from the nawab the protection which he had before granted to Dupleix, a demand which the nawab at once refused. I was there at the time and quite agi-eed with the governor that it was useless to attempt resistance to the force brought against us. The governor, therefore, surrendered on the 21st. The garrison and all the civilians in the place not in the service of the Company were to become prisoners of war, while those in the regular service of the Company were free to depart, engaging only not to carry arms against the French until exchanged. These were the official conditions; but La Bourdonnais, influ- enced by jealousy of Dupleix, and by the promise of a aUitioD Cu r ,* ■V* .». . '*■ X ^ f •VI •V* - ' ' ' THE FIRST BLOW TO THE BfAHOMEDAN RULE 41 Madri^in^ri ^^ ""^''^ ^'f ^""^^ ^^'"^^'f to restore Madras in the future, upon the payment of a large sum uLT?i!^ Ji^^' "^r.^^^'^* Dupleix. whose heart wasTt upon the total expulsion of the English, refused to ratify A good many of us considered that by this breach of the agreement we were released from our parole not to carry arms against the French, and a dozen Tso of us n llhnfv T^' ^ '""H^ ^°^^^'^ settlement twelve mile? south of Pondicherry. I made the journey with a youn ' twi'XrTf ^^^^^^^'^ h^d come 'out as^a writerS two years before. He was a fine youncr fellow as unfif f od a'w^rb ' f ?r^'f *'^'^'' M4^Mor%h:drii"K a writer, but f u 1 of energy and courage. At Fort St hZrJl ^'"^^ *r ^"^1'^^ ^"g^i«^ soldier^ and a hundred Sepoys, and a number of us having nothing to « A ^''t^'^'^i work volunteered to aid in the defence to ttZ^n^t""}^^ conquered Madras,the nawab awoke ill iw!l 1 K !i!^^;^? ""^ ^"°^^"g *^^ ^^ench to become all-powerful by the destruction of the English, and ordered ^""^ r ^V^^""'' *¥. Pl^^^- Dupleix refused, and [he nawab sent his son Maphuz Khan to invest the town Dupleix at once despatched a detachment of two hundred and thirty French and seven hundred Sepoys, commanded On ??« ?TTm^''\°^°^?.^ ^^'^^''' *° '^^' '^he siege. oui fZY ""^ ^^^^"Jb^'^ *hf garrison of Madras sallied th. Uh ^"°^,^.^w,^y the (^yalry of Maphuz Khan, and on -tJ?' Z^^'' ^**^'^'^ ^'^ ^™y and totally det;ated it. ihJil^' ' ""^l *T "J^^^ora-ble battle; it is the first time that European and Indian soldiers have come into contest, and It shows how immense is the superiority of Europeans Wtat Paradis did then, opens all sorts of possibilities for ii ^ r'/'I^ '^ "'jy ^" *^^* ^^^'"^ w« or the French Zl^'^^fi^ nse from mere trading companies to be ru ers of Indian states. Such, I know, is the opinion of vnnnS fTn""* "V" " vuiy longneaUeU and ambitious young fellow. I remember his saying to me one night it^! i 1 p II I '■'t •! J' I [ui 42 THE SIE^E OF ST. DAVID'& when we were with difficulty holding our own in the trenches, that if we had but a man of euergy and intelli- gence at the head of our affairs in Southern India we might ere many years passed be masters of the Camatic. I own that it appears to me more likely that the French will be in that position, and that we shall not have a single establishment left there; but time will show. " Having defeated Maphuz Khan, Dupleix resolved to make a great effort to expel us from Fort St. David, our sole footing left in Southern India, and he despatched an army of nine hundred F] enchmen, six hundred Sepoys, and a hundred Africans, with six guns and six mortars, against us. They were f ou^ to one against us, and we had hot work, I can tell you. Four times they tried to storm the place, and each time we drove them back, till at last they gave it up in disgust at the end of June, having besieged us for six months. Soon after this Admiral Boscawen with a great fleet and an army arrived from England, and on 19th of August, besieged Pondicherry. The besieging army was six thousand strong, of whom three thousand seven hundred and twenty were English. But Pondicherry resisted bravely, and after two months the besiegers were forced to retire, having lost in attacks or by fever one thousand and sixty-five men. At the end of the siege, in which I had served as a medical officer, I returned to England. A fevv months after I left, peace was made between England and France, and by its terras Dupleix had to restore Madras to the English. I hear that fighting has been going on ever since, the English and French engaging as auxiliaries to rival native princes, and especially that there was some hot fighting round Davikota. However we shall hear about that when we get there." "And what do you think will be the result of it all, Dr. Rae?" "I think that undoubtedly dooner or later either the French or ourselves will be driven out; which it will be a Jv f V If '^' ^ vl' \f A TROUBLESOME LEAK. 48 remains to be seen. If we are expelled, the effect of our deteat is likely to operate disaatrously at Calcutta if not at Bombay. The French will be regarded as a powerful people whom it is necessary to conciliate, while we shall be treated as a nation of whom they need have no fear, and whom they can oppress accordingly. If we are successful and absolutely obtain possession of the Camatic, our trade will vaatly increase, fresh posts and commands of all sorts will be established, and there will be a fine career open to you voung fellows in the service of the Company." After rounding the Cape of Good Hope the ship en- countered a series of very heavy gales, which drove her tar out of her course up the eastern coast of Africa. In the last gale her foremast was carried away, and she put m to a small island to refit. She had also sprung a leak and a number of stores were landed to enable her to be taken up into shallow water and heeled over in order that the leak might be got at. The captain hurried on the work with all speed "Had it not been for this," Charlie heard him say to Mr. Ashmead, "I would have rigged a jury-maat and pro- ceeded; but I can't stop the leak from the inside without shifting a great portion of the cargo, and our hold is so full that this would be difficult in the extreme. But I own that I do not like delaying a day longer than necessary here. The natives have a very bad reputation besides which it is suspected that one if not more pirates have their rendezvous in these seas. Several of our merchantmen have mysteriously disappeared without any gale having taken place which would account for their loss. The captain of a ship which reached England two or three days before we sailed, brought news that when she was within a fortnight's sail of the Cape the sound of guns was heard one night, and that afterwards a ship was seen on fire low down on the horizon. He reached the SDOt anon affor rlavVifooL- qr.rl */>,,^J ^0, _j and other wreckage, but though he cruised about all day •■'* k m ii Sf> ; r CI : J ^ 44 THE BAY IN TRR ISLAND. he could find no signs of any boats. Complaints have been made to government, and I hear that there is an intention of sending two or three sloops out here to hunt the pirates up; but that will be of no use to us " Upon the day of their arrival at the island a native sailing boat was seen to pass across the mouth of the bay. When half across she suddenly tacked round and sailed back in the direction from which she had come. Before proceeding to lighten the ship the captain had taken steps to put himself in a position of defence. For some distance along the centre of the bay the ground rose abruptly at a distance of some thirty yards from the shore formmg a sort of natural terrace; behind this a steep hill rose. The teiTace, which was forty feet above the water level extended for about a hundred yards when the ground on either side of the plateau dropped away as steeply as in froni The guns were the first things taken out of the ship, and, regardless of the remon- strances of the passengers at what they considered to be a waste of time, Captain Thompson had the whole of them taken up on the terrace. A small battery waa thrown up by the sailors at the two corners, and ih each ot these two of the thirty-two pounders were placed, Ihe broadside guns were ranged in line along the centre or the terrace. " Now," the captain said when at the end of the second day the preparations were completed by the transport of a quantity ot ammunition from the ship's magazine to the terrace, "I teel comfortable. We 4n deiW our- selves here against all the pirates of the South Seas If they don t come we shall only have lost our two days' work and shall have easy minds for the remainder of our stay here, which we should not have had if we had been at the mercy of the first of those scoundrels who 'happened to hear of our being laid up." The next morning the work of unloading the ship becran, e bales anrl ntLoVarraa V^ain^ 1« — 1 J?_ ji * t .*' ' the bales anrl nap.lfA.nroa Koin/v ip,w»»^»^ e::!, xi. - , . - — i a''" -"^t'lg ii/TTcr^u XX Dili wie snip a8 lis have re is an to hunt a. native the bay. d sailed >ain had e. For md rose ■om the 1 this a it above . yards, Iropped he first remon- d to be hole of ry was in each placed. I centre second port of sine to d our- as. If ) days' ider of t^e had Is who began, hip an 1 t CAUPINa AtlUOKI. it of the sloM ^t^ shore and piled there at the foo *]k.* !• P?v ^^ occupied three days, and at the end nf moved"" Tt\r"" P°*" "^ ""' <="go had been >: aZl:.t * ''"P' '"'" «"'™™' f««t lighter in the water repiSed! ™' "'"'" "*"*' "«« '» "^^ ""^ k«d and th.^ii-^'^*" u*1 "•^maioed on board; but previous to were eLfe^^^^"™^- ^"^^ constricted oTthe "ai^ nec^^tv knd^S the tejrace, beds and other articles of roTj^^th'rtipTrir;te4"r- '™<'"^' -<» -- iifl J"- CHAPTER IV. THE PIRATES OP THE PACIFIC. REGULAR wffltch was set both on the plateau and on board ship. Towards morning one of the watch on board hailed the officer above : " I have fancied, sir, for some time that I heard noises. It seems to me like the splash of a very large number of oars." "I have heard nothing," the officer said; "but you might hear sounds down there coming along on the water before I do. I will go down to the water's edge and listen." He did so, and was at once convinced that the man's ears had not deceived him. Although the night was perfectly still and not a breath of wind was stirring, he heard a low rustling sound like that of the wind passing through the dried leaves of a forest in autumn. " You are right, Johnson, there is something going on out at sea beyond the mouth of the bay, I will call the captain at once." Captain Thompson on being aroused also went down to the water-side to listen, and at once ordered the whole party to get under arms. He requested Mr. Barlow, the voung lieutenant in charge of the troops, to place half his men across each end of the plateau, lie back was defended by a cliflf which rose almost perpendicularly irom it to a height of some hundred feeti the plaieau : „ i THI APPROACH OF THE SEA ROVERS. 47 fSi 1 "*• P^*^.^^"^^' ^""^ *° Jo^'^ *he soldiers in defendincr the position against flank attacks. The guns we^e "l! loaded and he sailors then set to work^d^J'ng So bales of goods from below, and placing them s"o fs to st"?ac:;"' '' '^""'"^^'^ ^^^- the^nrairng'th: o^J^lu'^^'l*.* ®®* ^"^ ^y *his time greatly increased^ and although it was still too dark to see what was pS ?hFiT K ^rP? ^^^ ^^'^^ ^« ^ad no doubt Xteve; that the boats had one or more large ships in tow «.o? i''^* ^'^ ^°^ <^^^*'" *^« «aid. "they would long ago h.„ve been here. I expect that they hoped to 3 us napping, but the wind fell and delayed them They of our TrT heZ T" ""T' ^1^?^^ ^^^ *W kno^ or our tort here, I question whether they would hav« hll:: XT/oni "'^1,'"^ '^" ^"^ ^^^^^« ^«"^d have oeen a slignt one. Well, gentlemen, you will allow that the two days were not waited. I think now the pirates are well inside the bay. In Iialf an hour we shalfhave light enough to see them. There, listen! thereVthe splalh of their anchors. There, again! I fancy thereTe two ships moored broadside on, stem and sS" .ht!i f ^.^°^^ *h« ^ork on shore had been conducted in ttmain fw'fi,'^^ *^^ ^^^^' «°"^d have had no i^ al^itrth^L^r J^^^^^^ ^^« discovered. Presen fy against the faintly dawning light in the east the mast» of two vessels could be seen. One was a large 8hi^Th« of boaW l^^-, ^°^^*.^* '^' '^^' ^i^e theTughToJn^' Just as I -thought," the captain whispered- "th^v have guessed that some of us will be ashore and wlU make a rush upon us here when the ships open fire/' The word was passed along the ^Z t£t "™ --e was 10 IM, double-ahotted and" that &ek fire w^J^/fii^t it ■'I M THK I'lHATRS' RKCEPTION. to be directed at the brig. They wore to aim between wind and water, and strive to sink her as speedily as possible. As the light gradually grew brighter the party on the plateau anxiously watched for the moment when, the hull of the Indiaman becoming plain to the enemy, these would open fire upon it, and so give the signal for the fight. At the first alarm the tents had all been lev- elled, and a thick barricade of bales erected round a slight depression of the plateau at the foot of the cliff in its Here the ladies were placed for shelter. rear. As the light increased it could be seen that in addition to the two ships were a large number of native dhowa Presently from the black side of the ship a jet of tire shot out, and at the signal a broadside was poured into the Indiaman by the two vessela At the same moment with a hideous yell hundreds of black figures leaped to their feet on the beach and rushed towards +■ as yet unseen, position of the English. The ' am dhouted "Fire I" and the twenty guns on the plateau poured their fire simultaneously into tne side of the brig. The captain then gave orders that two of the light guns should be run along the terrace to take position on the flanks, and aid the soldiers against the attacks. This time Charlie had lent his rifle to Peters, and was himself armed with his double-barrel gun. " Steady, boys," Mr. Hallam, the ensign who commanded the soldiers at the side where Charlie was stationed, cried; " don't fire a shot till I give the word, and then aim low." With terrific yells the throng of natives, waving curved swords, spears, and clubs, rushed forward. The steep ascent checked them, but they rushed up until within ten yards of the line of soldiers on its brow. Then Mr. Hallam gave the word to tire, and the soldiers and pas- sengers poured a withering volley into them. At so short a distance the effect was tremendous. Completely B\vept away, the leading rank fell down among their comrades, A I I between tedily an he party it when, 3 enemy, gnal for leen lev- i a slight ff in its addition 5 dhowa t of tire red into moment iaped to as yet dhouted ed their captain ould be iks, and Charlie ed with manded d, cried; m low." ; curved e steep within ten Mr. nd pas- 80 short y PM-ept tnrades, - 4.1 TH« ASSAULT OF THE FORT. 49 fc'2fdtLtrdT„tTo^1i»^^^^ "''■'e thee i„ Among the deftnde™ 1™L """^ »'""' t^eir heads, self, loading and firinra/rl^^i"""" "»" ^'"'S^*' f"' him the aative/nearly »f„e" ^'C^^-^ P"!?'" Sometimes time the defender ^U. clubC'"S„T ""l"^''' hut each again. The combat wm W. ^.!'' ^'t 'hem back assailants were many hSredZr- "l"''"?'- *<" their were gladdened witL St of • Sr^'" the defender. I«t us come to the front and gU"hem 17' "^ ''»""«' In a moment two aKiV., ^ i , ®™ * dose." bullets we«Tn fef S;;^'*^'' 'S ">? "•"»'« with among the crowded mS^tebeW C"! '^» '"■'tent. The natives, ehak.n wThe relkuIJ. tf""' r*! ^««'''«- experienced and appalled bv^h?^? '^?'' ''"'^ "'''^dy the cannon, turned «„jfl«7 1 •'fftraction wrought hv the shot, of Zitndt^h'V^? "hore, followed bj grape which the eailora p'ou^d^twv, """? r'"^' "' could reach their boats ^S ^ "'°'° hefore they the defender of the X ffif Th?'' '??'' »*'«"<'«^ hands now aided in swinrin7^„„j *i? P»«'tion, and all done such good servicrto^nfhl^^?'* *^* f"^ "hich had m the fight with thr;hiDrhfb?""Jf"i>'*i'»hare the party had heard r«eat .LlT"*'^!? °* "•« %ht the seaward euns 37l.^ ""**'' *'»°> those workms had disapiS^'^t tZT»''"'^r»^ Thebrif now engaged in TrnT*. . "?v^'', ""^ ^e sailors wer5 fought fhir g"ns "S'tt'lS "'•' '''•^- The"iS matched by tfe tweX'Zs nf^-'"' "'together'^over. commandi^ Position ^ICf'Ti^b^JP"" *'"»»'«>'>' » their sails, anj one of the »Uef of ?I,1 iT' "T ''"'ting appeared in the wate/ while »n.l*'P/"''<'«'^y * * upon the raUins. ' """her of men sprang "ci^^: h'et if^'ourn''''i:^raif:.?*'>T<'" »''»»*«»; trj to keep me/outTthe rigrin J^*"" """'^''' ""<" ""«« (m)^ - .,-- »....rea wuiun three hundred yards of D H^ •'IJ lil ,,«. Ill 00 FUOHT QF THB PIRATES. the shore, and although the distance waa too great for anything like accurate fire, several of the men dropped as they ran up the shrouds. The sailors worked their guns with redoubled vigour, and a great shout arose as the mainmast, wounded in several places, fell over the side. "Sweep her decks with grape," the captain shouted, " and she 8 ours. Mr. James, take all the men that can be spared from the guns, man the boats, and make a dash for the ship at once. I see the men are leaving her. They're crowding over the side mto their boats. Most likely they'll set fire to her. Set all your strength putting it out We will attend to the other boats." It was evident now that, the pirates were deserting the ship. They had fallen into a complete trap, and instead of the easy prey on which they calculated, found them- selves crushed by the fire of a heavy battery in a com- manding position. Captam Thompson, seeing that the guns of the ship were silent and that all resistance had ceased, now ordered the sailors to turn their guns on the dhows and sink as many as possible. These, crowded together in their eflforts to escape, offered an easy mark for the gunners, whose shot tore through their sides smashing and sinking them in all directions. In ten minutes the last of those that floated had gained the mouth of the bay and, accompanied by the boats crowded with the crews of the two pirate vessels, made off, f oUow ed by the shot of the thirty-two pounders until they had turned the low promontory which formed the head of the bay. Long ere this Mr. James and the boats* crews had gained the vessel, and were engaged in combating thfl-fire^ which had broken out in three places. ^-.s^ISS^ were sent back to shore and returned with Captain TE^mson and the rest of the sailors, and this reinforcemenvloon enabled them to get the mastery of the flames. Thc^ ship was found to be the Dover Castle, IJ!aC€W-*tfitfery ^ast ship of the Company's service, of " wBScH'aiTtracM l&d been'iost since she left Bombay two 1 o .^ f ST. AJGUSTfSV^ STREET ^^ eat tot pped as lir guns as the I side, houted, lat can naake a ing her. Most putting iing the instead 1 them- a com- bat the Ice had 3 on the srowded y mark ir sides In ten aed the jrowded •oUowed hey had head of s* crews tnbating ed with md this atery of r Castle, rvice, of bay two -»> THE INDIAMAN'S PRIZE. 5} seas^o for afthe I7n W ^&"1*'P' *» «•-« w waa to Keep wen with them, could not refiMA fn oii«™ ahipsforsa. Then M. Ji^^^-Kn^d^'portSf ^^ ' ! m fim 62 k MAN OVERBOARD. being placed on board the prize, they sailed together for India. The Dover Castle proved to be much the faster sailer, but Captain Thompson ordered her to reduce sail and to keep about a mile in his wake, as she could at any time close up when necessary; and the two together would be able to oppose a determined front even to a French frigate, should they meet with one on their way. The voyage passed without incident, save that when rounding the southern point of Ceylon a sudden squall from the land struck them. The vessel heeled over sud- denly, and a young soldier who was sitting on the bulwarks to leeward was jerked backward' and fell into the water. Charlie Marryat was on the . ter-deck, leaning against the rail, watching a shoal <* ig-fish passing at a short distance. In the noise and confusion caused by the sudden squall, the creaking of cordage, the flapping of sails, and the shouts of the officers to let go the sheets, the fall of the soldier was unnoticed, and Charlie was startled by perceiving in the water below him the figure of a struggling man. He saw at once that he was unable to swim. Without an instant's hesitation Charlie threw off his coat and kicked off his shoes, and with a loud shout of "Man overboard!" sprang from the taffrail and with a few vigorous strokes was alongside the drowning man. He seized him by the collar and held him at a distance. "Now," he said, "don't struggle, else I'll let you go. Keep quiet and I can hold you up till we're picked up." In spite of the injunction the man strove to grasp him, but Charlie at once let go his hold and swam a pace back as the man sunk. When he came up he seized him again, and again shouted, " Keep quite quiet, else I'll leave go." This time the soldier obeyed him, and turning him on his back and keeping his face above water, Charlie looked around at the vessel he had left. The Iiidiaman was still in confusion. The squall had been sudden and strong. TV»«k aViooi'ji YitkA V>*»an lot an flio ogjivnju UT'fl.'a {\svrirt\nrr in -ri' jther for le faster iuce sail could at together i^en to a eir way. at when sn squall »ver sud- mlwarks le water. r against i a short by the pping of B sheets, rlie was lie figure s unable ie threw 1 a loud rail and rowning dm at a J I'll let ill we're asp him, ace back m again, ave go." : him on e looked was still I strong. iTiinfir in l- — b — SAFE ON BOARD. jj , ' ™li™J^Vm: ttncIT ''^' ''•■'■rs sail. She *■ was brightLd dtar S%.T *',?"' ''™- ^^e sky seeing f„ Zi^^ W at^r^^L'""™'?™^'* '» to the masthead LookW rt. „^ ' ^^ V'S°»' ™° "P why no boat had teen lof .«ed ThH ^' "V »,* <""» { but a quarter of a mUe^J™ n ^'^ ^'^"^ ''" faliTnd rowel rXd?J^trh1ir' *" ^"^ ^^ '«' waf L^rirto'itp his tn tr 1°? '•"^'""^ "•>■" face above the wate? H»Z i?^ T 1""^ companion's up, and shoutedToHm that^?7 '"'1 *■>« fM^r's head minute they were dr^^^^d n „ trb^at'^Thi '" """""^ alongside the shin anrf tKi-ol • . , ™'^ ^»s soon Cal was purZgrer clt: '^tX'^toi t i^"^^" ^«c?mow, having signalled f hnf ft.t • ? ^ ? *^® ^*^^*« CharUe found thVXtldt'fa Ksl raTor"^"^ mxieteen yeaxs old. His name.Z ^d wt tL kT° BT-rheT.l^r^f?efn hTp^^ .'>'4^™«>""^ ''' drunSmi^ had bel ^u^!S'"""^k''"]° " " »""« »« •vhere, when he recover.,) Kf "°, '^'^ « g««dship. unfortunat^ l^ehS B.Cf f ,'""°''" «* other fommunicate witl WslL,^ So°,f tt^hldT^'l' '? m close conBnement until he h^Te'en out 1 "^P* DODul„ron» "h"-- *^rf''."ys service was not a i.nnuur, M„",.y nor'n-mn^n °^V'"g '" ^'"*'''- ""J ""^ther . feioij, nor rromotign to be won. The climate ■4 m 04 IN MADRAS ROAD& V'. was unsuiied to Europeans, and few indeed of those who sailed from England as soldiers in the Company's service ever returned. The Company then were driven to all sorts of straits to keep up ev6*i the small force which they then maintained in India, and their recruiting agents were by no means particular as to the means they employed to make up the tale of recruits The vessels did not again communicate until they came to anchor in Madras roads, as the wind was fair and Captain Thompson anxious to arrive at his destination. During these few days Tim Kelly had followed Charlie about like a shadow. Having no duties to perform on board, he asked leave to act as Charlie's servant; and Charlie was touched by the efforts which the grateful fellow made to be of service to him. Upon their arrival they saw to their satisfaction that the British flag was waving over the low line of earthworks which constitute the British fort. Not far from this, near the water's edge, stood the white houses and stores of the Company's factors, and behind these again were the low hovels of the black town. The prospect was not an inviting one, and Charlie wondered how on earth a landing was to be effected through the tremendous surf which broke upon the shore. He soon found that until the wmd went down and the surf moderated somewhat, no communication could be effected. The next morning, however, the wind lulled, and a crowd of curious native boats were seen putting off from the chore. Charlie had, after the vessel anchored, rejoined his ship with Tim Kelly, and he now bade good-bye to all on board; for only the doctor, two civilians, and the troops were destined for Madras, all the rest going on in the ship to Calcutta, after she had discharged that portion of her cargo intended for Madras. Charlie had during the last twelve hours been made a great deal of, on account of the gallantry he had displayed in risking his iiic s.i0 that oi the soldier. Peters and one of the other THE SURF-BOAT. 55 lose who s service > all sorts hey then were by loyed to key came fair and tination. Charlie form on int; and grateful r arrival Bag was )nstitute jr's edge, } factors, he black Charlie effected le shore, and the ould be i lulled, tting off his ship ) all on B troops L in the portion during of, on dug his le other ever, ceased rowing outside thf line of brni;! 'f ' ^^'^; lay on their paddlfs for three or four m^ ""^^l^t wavelargerthananyofitspredecessors"^^^ mg As It passed under them the steerman gave a Tul In an instant the rowers struck f bpir t.o^!Ji^ -^f Ii ^^ -- rowers seized the boys and leapinTfruit°t' T^ "^Y- ^'**" ^''''^ »«' having peeled inde^d:1hfZnX?^nS"''?C^^^^^ any English fruft in flavour^ "l wo^fee tT* ' "i? for a good Enriish annlo V.. V ^°'"'' S'™ them all licioua^ere; X noTas vo» I "^T" ''?i''<' *« 'In- come and sit in the v^iCf ^ ''''°°' "^ y»" ''"' a cigar and havrsSl^J iT^toTj^^S' 7"^,! answer as well as T pun fT.f ^""^ ^*o arinjs, and I will about the stat^oTthin^hteS""^*'""' ^'"'^'' '«''«<' »« co^M^ela^ L' a'vZtrf^- *'>^«'"-ly had lit their cigars, thdr friend Te^a^.'^^^-^K *•>« »»• "-d have*ttlt'Sfo-:?ht FreSi'r.V'>* T" =''»»'d of nothing buTtrade an^ ™re ^f^-'' ?" "*'**' t^ink mieerablels the pW^wW^t '!?,""''« how squalid and French have Wended Th )'^ T^" "»"•?• The cleared away St Dort,\fn „J*F t^'jsfonned this place, rounded th/f^W ^d fort ' "^''^ »<""» which*^sur- !^ esplanade. T^7oZ^J,Tk.T±^Z± ^h '"^^ iiouB, forbad the nativAa *n +v^ ^n"!^'^. ''"^ lorwnca- Offal on the beX^dltif S^f^. f ^;:;;,X'"o? •i' 60 A. SUMMARY OP THE SITUATION. it. We hardly knew it when we came back, and what- ever the Company may have thought, we were thoroughly grateful for the French occupation. One good result, too, m that our quarters have been greatly improved; for not only did the French build several new houses, but at present all the big men, the council and so on, are still living at Fort Si David, which is still the seat of ad- ministration. So you see we have got better quarters; we are rid of the stenches and nuisances of the native town; the plague of flies which made our life a burden is abated; and we can sit here and enjoy the cool sea breeze without its being poisoned before it reaches us by the heaped-up filth on the beach. It must have wrung Dupleix s heart to give up the place over which they ex- pended so much pains, and after all it didn't do away with the fighting. In April we sent g force from i^'ort St. David— before we came back here,— four hundred and thirty white soldiers and a thousand Sepoys, under the command of Captain Cope, to aid a fellow who had been turned out of the Rajahship of Tanjore. I believe he waa a great blackguard, and the man who had taken his place was an able ruler liked by the people." " Then why should we interfere on behalf of the other?" "My dear Marryat," their host said compassionately, " you are very young yet, and quite new to India. You will see after a time that right has nothing at all to do with the dealings of the Company in their relations to the native prin<;es. We are at present little people )iving here on sufferance among a lot of princes and powers who are enemies and rivals of each other. We have, moreover, as neighbours another European colonjr con- siderably stronger than we are. The consequence is, the question of right cannot enter into the considerations of the Company, It mav be said that for every petty kingdom ^in 'Southern fndia there are at least two pre- tenders, very often half a dozen. So far we have not ■^v THl RIVAL RAJAH8. 61 medaieJ much in their quarrels, but the French have mftn Ih«l these pretenders, and when ttey get the man they support into power, of course he renavf them for their assistance. In this manner, as I shalUxplaS maJt^^sTtE^^r^'^^.-^'^^ri^*"^"^^ CM tMs puT*" °^^^'^ ''''' "'^^^ "^ ^^^ »*• FrInYl?"K T P^?P^^ *^^"^^* ^^^ **^« a leaf out of the for ot «M ;r^ ^ ^^^^ ^^-^^^^ «^«'«d "« i° payment mou?h of 1 *^- PT'?^"'' °^ ^^^ik«** * *owS It the mouth of the river Kolrun. a place likely to be of areat use to us we agreed to a^ist Sim. Cope with the^Cd LTan^^tirr'^' ^'i^^ ^^^^^' '^ *^« ?anjore te"^ tory and the guns and heavy baefface were tn irn \L scv; but. unfortunately, we hYd aKenTous ealf iu^ after they sailed. The admiral's flag-ship, the lamur of seventy-four guns, the Pembroke, of s xty and th^' hospital ship, Apollo, were totally list, and the rest of the fleet scattered in all directions. Cope entered the taSTtolh:":'^' ^"\'°"?.' *^ -^«^^ P^P'^S at! tached to the new rajah. It was useless for him there- fore, to march upon Tanjore, which is a reallv ' stronl town, so he marched down to Devikota. where h^e hoped to find some of the fleet. Not a ship, however wTto be seen and as without guns Cope could do nothi^^ he returned here, as we had just takL possession^a ^^' ^' arJ/- •'^^°* ^ ^°^ S*- I^*^i^' and the?e wa^ a what cTr'°^ ^uT^ *^" ^'S-^'S^- I^ waa clearTom what Cope said that our man had not a friend in hk own country. Still, as he pointed out, DevTkote was a St L'T^*""^ &l' ^'' "^- Neither Mad7^ nor Fort St. David has a har>K)ur, and Devikota, therefore wh^re the largest ships could run up the r ver and Jn W triiLiirj??- "H^^^^T to us.; ink^^trirv decided i;^;:p-ruira^|^^^ 4.* ili It THS ECPEDrnON TO DIVIKOTA. Lawrence, who commands the whole of the Company's forces in India, and who had been taken a prisoner in one of the French sorties at the siege of Pondicherry, had been released, so he was put at tne head of the ex- pedition, and the whole of the Company's English troops, eight hundred in all, including the artillery, an'' fifteen hundred Sepoys, started on board .ship for D./ikot> I must tell you that Lawrence is a first-rate fellow, he only really good officer wo have out here, an 1 le aft'i ir couldn't have been in the hands of a better mai " The ships arrived safely at the mouth of the Jiolrun, and the troops were landed on the bank of the river opposite the town, where Lawrence intended to erect his batteries, as, in the first place, the shore behind the town was swampy, and in the second the Rajah of Tanjore, who had got news of our coming, had his army encamped there to support the place. Lawrence got his guns in position and tired away, across the river, at the earthen wall of the town. In three days he had a breach. The enemy didn't return our fire, but occupied themselves in throwing up an entrenchment across the side of the fort. We made a raft and crossed the river, but the enemy's matchlock men peppered us so severely that we lost thirty English and fifty Sepoys in getting over. The enemy's en- trenchment was not finished, but in front of it was a deep rivulet which had to be crossed. " Lawrence gave the command of the storming party to Clive. He is one of our fellows, a queer, restless sort of chap, who was really no good here, for he >iated his work and always seemed to think himself a martyr. He was not a favourite among us, for he was often gloomy and discontented, though he had his good points. He was straightforward and manly, and he put down two or three fellows here who had been given to bully the young ones, in a way that astonished them. He would never have made a good servant of the Company, for he so hated his work that when he had been out here about a year he ^f ^: \ ^i \ n k: ill It >v \ NARROW ESCAPES OF CLIVI 93 right StrCe wa^titr«„V''°"Sh «* was loaded all that he wa^f iS to kill V ?r* ^ *■"« conclusion till sometMng ahotTd {:^'B'™««- ""<» ^»» <»• living StDlvM, aIdTndic?:J^T "' *■" '''8" "^ ^°^» "Yes," Johnson said. "He camft mif +k«, -x • party gamed the^^n^SmtnuTC W The""';:' his twenty-nine rtipn ««* «« -^"e enemy let Olive and and thenihercav2/th?hrbin'rL° ™ advance, lection of the fort. lu^tdt^ZytZ^'l: H^ Si^Tn.SrenTj^tf'th'''^^ ^'^^'^ ^ ^^'' CHvfl anA /k^ !i: ?i^^'®^^ °* ^'^^^ were cut to Dieces "AtTAin f>w.V • ,^"^ ^^^ ™a^» body and advanced wer^rep *e&Wn?r/?r^^'*' ^"' ">"-"« fourteeb and sent '^^V.^il^-^Lltly'^'t.^^ i{ it '>m 64 THE POLITICS OP THE CARNATIO. pushed forward. The garrison, panic-stricken at the defeat of their cavah'y, abandoned the breach and escaped to the opposite side of the town, and Devikota was ours. A few days later we captured the fortified temple of Uchipuran. A hundred men were left there, and these were afterwards attacked by the Rajah of Tanjore with five thousand men, but they held their own and beat them off. A very gallant business that ! These affairs showed the rajah tliat the English could fight, a point which, hitherto, the natives had been somewhat sceptical about. They were afraid of the French, but they looked upon us as mere traders. He had, too, other things to trouble him as to the state of the Carnatic, and so has- tened to make peace. He agreed to pay the expenses of the war, and to cede us Devikota and some territory round it, and to allow the wretched ex-rajah, in whose cause we had pretended to fight, a pension of four hun- dred a year, on condition that we kept him shut up in one of our forts. Not a very nice business on our side, was it? Still we had gained our point, and, with tht exception of the ex-rajah, who was a bad lot after all, no one was discontented. " When the peace was signed our force returned to Fort St, David. While they had been away there had been a revolution in the Carnatic. Now this was rather a com- pli.ated business; but as the whole situation at present turns upon it, and it will not improbably cause our expul- sion from Southern India, I will explain it to you as well as I can. Now you must know that all Southern India, with the exception of a strip along the west coast, is governed by a viceroy, appointed by the emperor at Delhi. He was called the Subadar of the Deccan. Up till the end of 'forty-eight Nizam Ul-Mulk was viceroy. About that time he died, and the emperor appointed his grand- son, Muzaffar Jung, who was the son of a daughter of his, to succeed him. But the subadar had left five sons, tuui ui tiicsc uvuu a(« x/uiia, aau were comreris w enjoy A HOSTILE COMBINATION. n at the i escaped was ours, emple of nd these jore with and beat se affairs t, a point sceptical jy looked bhings to i so has- expenses territory in whose bur hun- lut up in our side, with tht er all, no i to Fort d been a sr a com- ; present ir expul- u as well rn India, coast, is at Delhi. ) till the About s grand- ghter of ive sons, to enjtty 65 ■V I ^ t their hfe there. The second son, however, Nazir Jun^r was an ambihous man, who had rebelled even againS his father. Naturally he rebelled against his nephew. He was on the spot when his father died while the new subadar was absent. Nazir, therefore, seized the reins ot government and all the resources of the state. The emperor has troubles enough of his own at Delhi, and Muzaffar had no hope of aid from him. He therefore went to Satarah, the court of the Maratta^s, to ask for their assistance. There he met Chunda Sahib. This man was the liephew of the 1^ nawab of the Camatie, Dost ^"l-r^? /il^^^^^"" ^^"^^ ^^ a ba<^*le with them in 1739; and they afterwards captured Trichinopoli, and took Chunda Sahib, who commanded there, prisoner, and had since kept him at Satarah. Had he been at liberty would no doubt have succeeded his uncle, whose only son had been murdered; but as he was at Satarah the bubadar of the Deccan bestowed the government of the Carnatic upon Anwarud-din. " Chunda Sahib and Muzaffar Jung put their heads together and agreed to act in concert. Muzaffar, of course desired the subadarship of the Deccan, to which he had been appointed by the court of Delhi. Chunda Sahib wanted the nawabship of the Camatie, and advised his ally to abandon his intention of asking <• >r Maratta aid, and to ally himself with the French. A c» despon- dence ensued with Dupleix, who, seeing the aense advantage It would be to him to gain what would virtually be the position of patron and protector of the Subadar of the Deccan and the Nawab of the Camatie, at once agreed to join them Muzaffar raised thirty thousand men! and l^nunda Sahib six thousand— it is always easy in India to raise an army with a certain amount of money and lavish promises—marched down and joined a French force of tour hundred strong, commanded by DAuteuil. The nawab advanced acrainst them but woe ,nff^^i,, ^«4?^„j.„j at Ambur, the French doing pretty well the whole of the 'I ' 66 CatJNDA SAHIB. 14 Khan taken prisoner The other, Mahummud Ali, bolted fti^.f^^''''"'^ ""^.^^^ ^^^^' ^'^^^' *h« capital of the Camatic, surrendered next day. r^n ^nT^*'' ^f ""g P^pclaiped himself Subadar of the Dec- ^ Sfv on^ conferred upon Dupleix the sovereignty MnSi^ ^r '''"':^'' adjoining the French territor/ ,^ fhf I' ^^*^^P^W a visit to Pondicherrj, remained that Tr^ rf 5^ ST-l' *^^°*y "^il^" d^«*^°* ^'om that place Chunda Sahib remained as the guest of Uupleix at Pondicherry. ^ TTil'J?'' *^t '■^.''^'P* °* *^^ "^^^« «^ *^he battle of Ambur, Mr. to rhnnH« V\^kT°°^ ^* ^r^ ^^' ^^^i<^' «e^* at once in th. nnin- i" ^^ acknowledge him as nawab. which, m the opinion of every one here, was a very foolish sten Mahummud Ali had Sed to Trichinopoli, 2id s nt wo/d to Mr. Floyer that he could hold the place, and even re- rZw^W^T^^^^n^ *^^ English Wd assfst him. at Fn^ i n "?i'^^ Boscawen, who was with the fleet at Fort St David, urged Mr. Floyer to do so as it was clear that Chundl Sahib would be a meie too m the hands of the French. When Chunda Sahib de- layed week after week at Pondicherry, Mr. Floyer began id^irifp' ^""^ ^' T^\^°* ^^^«% ^'^^ mind S hnZ S'^'^T^' ""^^ ^^^ ^^*^«^ved orders to rkurn trobll^ed t^sir ^ ^°* ^^ contravention to them, and fn^JJ^Vf *^'',* *^^^t.''* ,^^^ ^^^^' ^^d ^e remained vir- tually defenceless, Chunda Sahib, supplied with troops and money by Dupleix, marched out from Pondicher^ and joined Muzaffar Jung with the avowed ^n ent ;i of marching upon Trichinopoli. Had he done tSs at ^^^tf.r^ and days only of our being turned alto- gether out of Southern India. Nothing indeed could have saved us. Muzaffar Jung and Chunda sS ' "i^ a, Maphuz ^li, bolted tal of the f the Dec- Carnatic. vereignty territory, remained ant from guest of nbur, Mr. k at once b, which, lish step, mt word even re- list him. the fleet 10, as it ere tool a,hib de- jr began nd, and > return em, and tied vir- i troops licherrj' itention this at a ques- jd alto- l, could TEE SIEGB OP TANJORH ^7 oT^^'ltfA^ ?"P^- l^ad marked , to conquer T^jore, which kl^^^^^^^^^ ?^ Trichinopoli, India The ra ah hid onlv ^t/'""^''^ ?*^ ^" Southern peace with us, and he now Jnf ^'"^ """"^^ ^^^^^^ made Muzaffar's ri^al in th??)!! "messengers to Nazir Jung Ploring their tZat'^T^' ':2: "^%^"/-h' -f-' to grant it, for alone both m^Z ^v, ^t resolved at once by the alliance between the fw 7^7- ^""^ overwhelmed French, and their oTXhone o^^ ^^^^^^^P^^^es and the ths combination wasTn t'ving SS "^^^^^"^^ '' to ^^^i^:^r^s^^^ twenty men we^e at onc?dSm&? w^th a hundred and mud All's garrison. Of tS^^^^^ *^ f'"^^^'" ^^"^^m- men to the aid of the Raiah f T '"' ^' '""* ««' ^^^e^ty cover of the night, paf^^^^^^^^ ^P^ *hese, under siegers and into the cTtv whTI^ *^'.^'^'' °^ ^^^ be- and able to stand a lol' sTe.e ThVp'^f-^^. ^^^^^^^^ entered into a treaty with Nf.,v t ^""^^'^^ ^^ «"ce SIX hundred English^rZs to Z.iT^' ^'^'^''''^S bim his sovereignty of fhp T? ^ ^®*, ^^"^ '« maintaining Muhamn.ulX^i^,^,*^^„f-^^^^^ to pl'cf jore held out bravelv ^^^^P of the Carnatic. Tan- thrown dust in the ej;3 o^'chundarh^t ^ ^^>^ ^^^ to negotiate. Then w-hpn +1.^ ir ^^^'^ ^y Pretendin<^ the city for fif ty^twf dayf at Jl' ""''^Y ^e defendeS the gates of the^town S bin '^^ 1 ""^''^ ^^^^ of was virtually at thl mercer of f hT^u"^"^' ^^^ *^« city delayed them by enterSS n 1 ^^^,.\^.''^S^^^; he again In vain Duplei J coSKo urf pl.*'"'^ for .,,rren"der. en^r^ticall^ and to S"r T^' ^^"^^^ «^' ^o act ^ pSnlt^^^ he^ ,ood head discontented at the want of l v Th« ir ' ^ '^^P' ^^^^ also was demomlized from l^/L^^^-^^^'^^^V^'^^i^tingent '-- to engage in a d-erp;;;^*;-^-?;! i^ ^^Z 1::; !1 .jj m k'l^ SUCCESS OF THK ALUKS. of 1, town abounding with palaces, each of which was virt\(any a t .^itress. especially as it was known that Nazir Jung was marching with all speed to fall upon their rea bo at last the siege was broken up, and the army fell back upon Pondicherry. " Mean^vhiie Cope's detachment of a hundred mer, with BIX thousand native horsemen, escorted Muhammud Ali to join Nazir Jung at Valdaur, fifteen miles from Pondi- foberry. Lawrence was busy at work at Fort St. David organizmg a force to go to his aid. Dupleix saw that it was necessary to aid his allies energetically. The army on Its return from the siege of Tanjore was reorganized, the French contmgent increased to two thousand men and a supply of money furnished from his private means' iT *^™^ ®®* °^* *° attack Nazir Jung and his ally at Valdaur. When the battle began, however, the French contingent mutmied and refused to fight; and the natives panic-stricken by the desertion of their allies, fell back on Pondicherry. Chunda Sahib accompanied his men. Muzaffar Jung surrendered to his uncle, the usurper In three or four days the discipline of the French army was restored, and on the 13th of April it attacked and defeated a detachment of Nazir Jung's army, and a few days later captured the strong temple of Tiruvadi, sixteen miles from Fort St. David. " Some months passed before the French were complete- ly prepared; but on September the firat, D'Auteuil who commanded the French, and Chunda Sahib attacked the army of the native princes, twenty thousand strong, and defeated it utterly, the French not losing a single man Muhammud Ali, with only two attendants, fled S) Arcot a^d the victory rendered Chunda Sahib virtual master of the Camatic. Muzaflfar Jung, after his surrender to his uncle, had been loaded with chains, and remained a prisoner m the camp, where, however, he managed to win over several of the leaders of his uncle's army. Gineee wag stormed b"" •> u»«oli v^^-^^u *-, -_.i /i -r^ ° , which was that Nazir their rea , army fell mer, with inmud Ali om Pondi- St. David, : saw that The army ^organized, sand men, ate means, his ally at be French tie natives, fell back his men. irper. In army was i defeated days later Qiles from complete- beuil, who acked the rong, and agle man. to Arcot, master of ler to his naincd a ed to win Gingee e French TREACHERY. -g attacked Nazir June Kfl. u j""?" '•"* ^'^^""^ »™7 "On the 15th KSr ttff "^'l"" ^Sainst him. ' eight hundred EuroTans thJ'T^ commander, with ten guns, marched aSt nZ ^'"'^^d Sepoys, and twenty-five thousandCn opp^d Mm^' ^°^^^"^y »' he defeated easily. Whiln tf. t »*! ^^' however, conspiratore murdered N^J^r T "° '^f ^oing on, the Jung, and saluted him S^ub^ar^' w"^""^ ^"'"^^ fortunate one, for his unrf. LT J ?'? .^^P" was «' cuted that ve^y day iJulffi r"*'' ''™ *° ^^ ««- cherry, where ^he was reS wZ^ l"^'t'^ *» ^O"*- nominated Dnpleix NawXlf Y'^'il'^ca' honours. He bearing cou„tSerwitrA:LlsaWr"\'^°V'''s''- conferred the hio-ho-t j; ."""* *>ahib as his deputy theFrench7sseSoflSSl''T '"Ti '»'' g^^'i conquered fe ~ed w th Dun"! ' """, H'^ ^^'^ ^ad action, and a 'I'K 14 I CHAPTER VI. THE ARRIVAL OF CLIVE. HAVE nearly brought down the story to the present time," Mr. Johnson said. "One event has taken place, however, which v/as of importance. Muzaffar Jung set out for Hyderabad accompanied by a French contingent under Bussy. On the way the chiefs who had conspired against Nazir Jung mutinied against his successor. Muzaffar charged them with his cavalry; two of the three chief conspirators were killed, and while pursuing the third Muzaffar was himself killed. Bussy at once released from confinement a son of Nazir Jung, proclaimed him Subadar of the Deccan, escorted him to Hyderabad, and received from him the cession of considerable fresh grants of terri- tory to the French. The latter were now everywhere triumphant, and Trichinopoli and Tanjore were, with the three towns held by the English, the sole aces which resisted their authority. Muhammud Ali deeming further resistance hopeless had already opened negotiations with Dupleix for the surrender of Trichinopoli. Dupleix agreed to his conditions; but when Muhammud Ali found that Count Bussy with the flower of the French force had been despatched to Hyderabad, he gained time by raising fresh demands which would require -hd ratification of the subadar. "Luckily for us Mr. Floyer had been recalled and his 70 )ry to the L "One rhich was it out for snt under id against Muzaffar iree chief the third tsed from i Subadar recf»:yed } of terri- srywhere with the es which y further ons with ix agreed und that bad been ing fresh 1 of the and his THE ENGLISH POSITION MENACED. 71 place token by Mr. Saunders, who is. everyone savs a Airulrunnn" ^ ^^' determination. TuhaSuS All urged upon him the necessity for the English to make common cause with him against the enemy for if year tLn "^^ ''* * 7''^'''*' ^"'^ ^^^'^ ^"i««- Early this Skd wif^nll "''^''' "If '"^ ^^"^ *^^* he should be nnnn I T S^l?""" ^^^^""gth, and Muhammud Ali there- upon broke off the negotiations with the French K unfortunately for us Major Lawrence had gone home to England on sick leave. Captain Gingen, wlio now^om?^ Z:^^^;^:. --'''^' -"^ ^or U^T Cap. " Early this year Mr. Saunders sent Cope with two caused bef.e Dupleitowrnl t'j^tMnTe ^f^kt Ct troops at Hyde:. :l.d, could collect an army Cope la?d siege to MadiirL, but was defeated and h^d\ Xndon his guns Three thousand of Muhammud All's native troops thereupon deserted to the enemy. T^e cause of the Enghsh now appeared lost. Dupfeix ^U S thl white flags, emblems of the authority of Fra; ce in the fields withm sight of Fort St. David. Witii tmmenBe efforts Mr Saunders put into the field five hundred eS troops, a thousand Sepoys, a hundred AfriX and etht ^"e": lo'S ''; T"'"^ '' ^?P*^f GingeSse orirs were to to- . V, be movements of the army with which ,nl^*"^.,*^''"5'^ ^''^'^- '"^^^ of doing so at once moved northwards to confirm his authority In the tS Ql.it, """^ ^°"* ^.T'- ""d *o raise addit°onal levl^ Great delay waa caused by thia On arriving before Z Selfthft"'' °^!?"'?".'^''• Chunda lahTbTo,^d oerore it the troona of Cnnfoip n;«^^^ _t.- r , , reinforced by sixteen hundred lo^o^-ffrom^'Tri^^L^I? lipiii 72 rarCHINOPOIJ BESIKOKn. Fflfil ' The crovprnor of the plaro, not knowinjr which party was the stronger, refused to yield to either, and for a fortnight the armies lay at a short distance from each other, near the fortress, with whose governor both con- tinued their negotiations. Gingen then lost patience and attacked the pUice, but was repulsed, and the governor at once admitted the French within the fortress. The next day the main body of the French attacked us, the guns of the fortress opening fire upon us at the sr le time. Our men, a great portion of whom were recruits just joined from England, fell into a panic and bolted, abandonin<' their allies and leaving their guns, ammunition, and stores in the hands of the enemy. Luckily D'Auteuil was laid up with gout. If he had pressed on there remained only the two or three hundred men under Cope to offer the slightest resistance Trichinopoli ronst have fallen at once, and we, without a i. ndred soldiers here, should have had nothing to lo but puck up ard go. As it was, Gingen's beaten men were all -ed to retreat quietly towards Trichinopoli. "Tlie next day D Auteui' as better and followed in pursuit, and Gingen had the eatest difficulty in reach- ing Trichinopoli. There at the present moment we lie shut up, a portion of our force only remaining outside the wallb The place itself is strong. The town lies round a lofty rock on which stands the fortress, which commands the country for some distance round. Still ther'^ is no question that the French could take it if they attacked ii^ Our men are utterly dispirited with defeat. Cope and Gingen have neither enterprise nor talent. At present tlie enemy, who are now under the command of Colonel Law, who has succeeded D'Auteuil, are contentintr themselves with beleaguering the place. But as we have no troops whatever to send to its rescue, and Muhammud All haa no friends elsewhere to whom to look tor aid, it is a matter of absolute C( rtainty that the place must' fall or..^, vxtT^ii jL^-^-^xxjiJi. Tiii uxny iiavu wj requeoti us Uj leave, I" hich party , and for a from each • both con- atience and e governor tress. The ked us, the SP' le time, just joined tbandoning , and stores il was laid ained only offer the len at once, i have had 8, Gingen's y towards ollowed in Y in reach- ent we lie ag outside town lies ess, which ind. Still i it if they ith defeat, ilent. At mmand of :ontenting a we have uhammud r aid, it is must fall, to leave, A SORE STRAIT. 73 " There, that's a tremendous long yam I've been tpllintr you and not a pleasant one. It's I Ltory of defeat loi of prestige and position. We have been on.-fouMU and out-diplomatized. and have made a mess of evervtln^ w« r\: l^^^^^K *^o°e so much talking for years " wa?mi; forthe"^''-'^ '^"^^f '"i^^ new^cquaintance warmly tor the pains he had taken in exclaininrr ih. various circumstances and events which had led t^o th! sdrto"'^"^'%P^^^t^> ^^^ ^^^^^^^^It^^ "the'^f.^H*if«'''''?J!^'* of Devikota," Mr. Johnson said. posts, but to show that they recognized his services the authorities allowed Clive to attaiS the rank orrDtain which would have been bestowed upon hkn had he re ' Zmfssirvt t:'r ---' -iW ipnoild Hm" awav from th« nffl °'^' f P,°«* ^^i^^ wcufd take him away trom the office- work he hated. Almost directlv a terwards he got a bad attack of fever anTwas forced ftgot a member of the council, started wUh a ar|e co„: 17JL^^' "1^^ ^"f ^'g'X'y English an/ thr« Thev hif'P"^'- u S^!™ ^°l"«'te<>red to ^icompany theT convoy to Trichinopoirwoufd^TS toTal"«:o;:^e4 74 AT WORK AS WRITERS. but ihe intervening country was hostile to the Enfflish. However the convoy passed unmolested, and after seeing It safely to that point Pigot and Clive set out to return li^cZ TA'^ *^,'^^' I'^'y'- ^^^y ""''^ *t once attacked and for miles a heavy fire was kept up on FoT' Qf T."" 'A *.^® ^'?°'* ""^'^ ^'^^^' *^« 'est reached i^ort St. David in safety. Pigot's report of Clive's conduct, strengthened by that previously made by Major Lawrence induced the authorities to transfer him per- manently to the army. He received a commission as hll^X''i''Vf ?? ^/^^ ^ «"^^" detachment remain- 3er rw^ PI *«^^«^lkota There he placed himself under Captain Clarke, who commanded, and the whole body, numbering altogether a hundred English fiftv Sepoys, with a small field-piece, marched up to Trichi- nopoh and I hear managed to make its way in safety. He got in about a month ago." ^ "And what force have we altogether, here and at St David's, m case Trichinopoli falls ?^' * J' ^*u** '^'^^ l^^ detachment that came with you, and two others which arrived about ten days back, we have e'in^f ^M^^r* '^''' ^^^^'^^ ^^^ ^^^y^'^- What on earth could these do against all the force of the nawab the subadar, and three or four thousand French troops?" itni *L^'''''P^''^ certainly seemed gloomy in the extreme, nthfn/T-^ '""•"'^ retired to their beds on this the first mght of their arrival m India, with the conviction that circumstances were in a desperate positioa The next day they set to work, and at its end agreed that they should bear the loss of their situations, and their expulsion from the country, with more than resignatior. Jt was now August, the heat was terrible, anl as they sat in ^Zt'^^'^v'T "^ ^^'^ ^''^'' ^^*^^d i« perspiration T^i r>?tT ""^ C7f"°»stances would be for the better. IdL Tt^:.^t *^' '''^*' '^\" ^"'*^^' °°^fi™«d these Ideas. The nights were nearly as hot a.^ fhA ^o^c English. nr seeing lO return at once t up on reached Clive's y Major ira per- 3sion as remain- himself B whole h, fifty Trichi- safety. I at St. ou, and ^e have ^hat on nawab, oops?" ctreme, he first in that e next t they )iilsion rt was sat in ration, y pos- better. these rloTra SHIPS IJf 8I0HT. 75 tetu'rC "oS'^^ ttLST^' '?^"-'y " «!-» unrefreshed aiid worn out """""« "'"' ""aking be glad to get „e4 fem home I am s*t f ""^'' ^ "'"?"'<' just at present for news from «/ r. • ,. '" ^'°™ anxious •elves I long to hear 0/ the^.n f ^'^j'.- ^^''"'««° ""- one says it is cerSn .„ t„\ ,"' ^""hinopoli. Every. Booner^t does thetoon ? we sZ fh ^[""l T^' ""d t^« place." ^' ^^ '*"*'' be out of this frightful ships, which 7ere nowlust s?>.l"^ "^'^ *''™' «« »» «>« jigBalled that theyTeie frZ It t?; 3 '^«« h^d already had on board Mr feLndL f?,T """'* ^' ™d that they of troops. Alrldy the 8<5dlr!,f ™''?u°'' "J^f^ " detachment aided b^ a numbeTof nattt weTat t-'r^r t'-"'''^''''^- in the fort for the receoUon '„f T ™''' P'"=l"ng tents jecture wa^ busy o^S amon^'.?!"':"?,'?''^- »■"* ""n- objectof bringingtroops from St^n„ -.?.'".''*?/ as to the ...directly a^/from^^tWnf of^acta *" '^'"' "'^' It IS one of two thinira " n, b '"-"on. nopoli has surrenderedTd ^^^^ '*"*= "«'«'«' Triehi- David, or they have ne^ that%r ^^^"■ating Fort. St. attack us here I .Sj t^? fe nawab is marching to Fort St. David is a S deaf L'* *° \'^' '»«« f» though the French dlSttrtgthlnTdut-"''' II'' P''"=»' Jr- 1 • "■«". the authorities h^atdli^^^f .'^T «*»y one „. „e two town., and to c««enir.te"2f SerS t re I: 1'^ m U|»i,p UiM\ THE ARRIVAL OF CTJVa. for the defence of the other, I should have thought they would have held on to St. David's. There is a bo'at being lowered from one of the ships, so we shall soon have news " A signal from the ship announced that the governor IZ ^^ri ^"^ ^fJ^^V^^d the principal persons at thi factory assembled on the beach to receive him. Dr. Rae and thi two young writers stood a short distance from the party. As the boat wa^ beached Mr. Saunders sprang out and 'ZIT^"'^.\^^T ^««e^bled to meet him, talked at once towards the factory. An officer got out from the boat and superintended the debarkation of the baggage which a number of coolies at once placed on their heads and carried away The officer was following them when a e 7ou wr ?^- ^''- :^^-' ^^^^<' ^' «-id, "how "A 1 .1, ^"^ ^l^ ^"""^ S^* <^"<^ again from England?" Unly three or four days since, Captain Cll/e. I did not recognize you at first. I am glad to see you agaia" in. «^^' A r^ ''^I'^y. '^^"S^'" Captain Olive said lauch- swV^ot gtd> ''^^' ^^'' ^^^^^^^^^ -y p- ^- a saidTa'uXg. '"'' *' ^''*' *'"''' "^ "" """''"'" ^'- ^' of'^^LZtv^^ some tough Cahting behind the ramparts of St David s and m the trenches before Pondicherry " but we shall have sharper work still before us, or I am mis- excJmed. "'^ *^^^ ^""^ ^ ^^^""^ "' ^^'^•" ^^- ^^ nJ ^^ ''V''^^ *^® ^^^^'^ "^^y" Captain Olive said; « we are going to carry the war into their quarters. It is a secret yet, and must not go farther." \nd he included the two writers m his look. "^^uueu " These are two fresh comers, Oaptain Olive, They ^T^M i\^^^ '^^^ '^^P "^'^^ °^«' ^^^i« is Mr. Marryat this Mr. Peters. They are both brave young gentSen and had an opportunity of proving it on the way out X we were twice engaged. The first time with privateera ?ht they 'at being 'e news." governor } factory and the le party. 3ut and, liked at rom the )aggage, r heads n when 1, "how land?" I did igain." laugh- i for a )r. Rae mparts y; but n mis- r. Rae .; "We t is a eluded They trryat, lemen, lit, for iteers; TOUNG VOLUNTKJSKa ^^ -^atshij ; Well^u^^^^^^ if^^-'frt the lads. "W^t t ^^"' ^^^ here ?^' ^'''' ' ""^^^ y^« thousand Vmes ratLr enS S/^ ^^"^^ ^^^^ ^^ "« a Oh, sir, if there is any expedS^^'' a^ private soldiers you think there is a IhlTeoiZT^^ ^""J^^^ V^^^^> ^o volunteers ?" *^^^ °* ^^^ being allowed to go J mui i:tn »o'it^he^,1"' «ive said s.i,i„g, „ t^,, hand that can hoM a swo'dC?*' ""? ""^ "^"t '^-y You are sure you can recrmmenSthr.'^: in the field^ to Dr. Rae with a smile. *''*"' ^ ^« »a' showed you any surgeons with vf u Ln*,t ?-P ^ 'P°^^ "i- Have i he doctor here is in^t ...„„ '^ • °i' '"*' '"'I take dW and will not b^fitCl^Xf^hl^n-^" ^**-^ '^ W vice^ May I ask who iXcoZ^'J^X^'''' "^ ^'^^' ^^r- ."I am," Clive said quietlv '^# '^^ expedition?" Pnsed that an officer who hS but^^f "^'^^ T^" ^^^^ sur- been selected; but in fact trereTsC *'''^?^ '^""^^ ^^ve Gingen are both at Trichinnin] J'''^ ^^'^- ^ope and not " he paused and ^ v ^^^ ^"^^^^ '^ ^bey were pressed his tannl/Seariv V^*^''^^"^^^^^^^^^^ enough to feel some conSi; in '' ^^"^ders is good ^ It is the or./^,^^^;^^^ To attack Arcot?" Dv^ t> • , does indeed apnear '«. wl ! ^^''^' astonished. "Thut «mall body a^Tou haveTt^r'^P"^ "^^^ -^b a enf-irnlw ,, -^ "avtf ac your common^ J ., ■tiut 1 recognize the importance 78 A BOLD STBOKK ! ! II; if"' f .1 of the enterprise. If you should succeed it will draw ofl Chunda Sahib from Trichinopoli. It's a grand idea, Captain Clive, a grand idea, though I own it seems to me a desperate one." " In desperate times we must take desperate measures. Doctor," Captain Clive said. " Now I must be going on after the governor. I shall see you to-morrow. I will not forget you, young gentlemen." So saying he pro- ceeded to the factory. It was afterwards known that the proposal to effect a diversion by an expedition against Arcot was the proposal of Clive himself. Upon arriving at Trichinopoli he had at once seen that all was lost there. The soldiers were utterly dispirited and demoralized; they had lost all con- fidence in themselves and their officers, who had also lost confidence in themselves. At Trichinopoli nothing was to be done, and it must be either starved out, or fall an easy prey should the enemy advance to the assault. Clive had then, after a few days' stay, made his way out from the town and proceeded to Fort St. David, where he had laid before the governor the proposal which he believed to be the only possible measure which could save the English in India. The responsibility thus set before Mr. Saunders was a grave one. Upon the one hand he was asked to detach half of the already inadequate garrisons of Fort St. David and Madras upon an enterprise which, if »in- successful, must be followed by the loss of the British possessions, of which he was governor; he would have to take this great risk, not upon the advice of a tried veteran like Lawrence, but on that of a young man, only a month or two back a civilian; and it was to this young man, untried in command, that the leadership of this desperate enterprise must be intrusted. Upon the other hand, if he refused to take this responsibility the fall of TriehinoDoli- followed by the loss of the three Enc^lish ports, wa^ certain. But for this no blame or responsibility THE PEN THROWN ASIDE. 79 nir. rigot, Who had seen Chve under the mmt trrrJn™ circumstances, was also his warm supporterlnd^Mf S'^^ders at last determined to adopt E plan and to natw^vf T'^i'j*x™S * ''™^^'l ™«n only at Fort St should, wi h the wioTetSbLttr rfh~ It? factor to the effect that their rervtstatKce would thdrTrest^^'r""' f .1' '""^ "^'^' '" --"dance :?^ volinteer yf w ^S themselves to Captain Olive as volunteers. No words can express the iov of the twn Ltch'Lnni*'"' 1°'^"^"' ^^ th^ -eitd*:: mucn noise m the exuberance of their deliJht ihs^i M^ "whtn T fi" f"^*^' '"''«?.''« "i^arf the cause of the uproar- ta-l^^teh^SS^r^ut ra^Ln^'dra^^^ nj^pt'/Lttt .rj "'^ ^---- '--- Cattarctel^^heTm;"'^^- "^""^ »"'' ^^""^ i^-d Thi^r^iLfCTou^rf/^^^^^^^^^^^ 80 THE MARCH TO AROOT. !||ii who, like yourselves, volunteered at St. David's. Tliey are of four or five years' standing, and as they speak the language they will serve with the Sepoys under one of my military officers; another officer, who is also an ensign, will take the command of the three guns. The Europeans are divided into two companies; one of you will be at- tached to each. The remaining officer commands both." During the day the lads had not a moment to them- selves, and \ ere occupied until late at night in superin- tending the packing of stores and tents, and the following morning, the 2Gth of August, 1751, the force marched from Madras. It consisted of two hundred of the Com- pany's English troops, three hundred Sepoys, and three small guns. They were led, as has been said, by eight European officers, of whom only Clive and another had ever heard a shot fired in action, four of the eight being young men in the civil service who had volunteered. Charlie was glad to find that among the company to which he was appointed was the detachment which had come out with him on board ship; and the moment these heard that he was to accompany them as their officer, Tim Kelly pressed forward and begged that he might be allowed to act as Charlie's servant, a request which the lad readily complied with. The march the first day was eighteen miles, a distance which in such a climate was sufficient to try to the utmost the powers of the young recruits. The tents were soon erected, each officer having two or three native servants, that number being indispensable in India. Charlie and Peters had one tent between them which was shared by two other officers, aa the column had moved in the lightest order possible in Ii/dia " Sure, Mr. Marryatt," Tim Kelly said ro lihh confiden- tially, " that black hathen of a cook is goi - - tr; pison ye. I have been watching him, and there he is puiimg all sorts of outlandish things into the mat«. He's been pounding them up on stones, for all the world like an apothecary, and t' eve] a dc end "J Tim, lookj bogs Tim, "s: with i "P( bacon the CO for th( Oni ft town CJive g He fou] to one, I tion to : of beinj Clive at that twc then wit against j dUT) • t Tliey are peak the sr one of n ensign, uropeans 11 be at- 3 both." bo them- superin- ollowing marched he Com- id three by eight iher had ht being inteered. pany to lich had nt these r officer, [light be hich the distance to the le tents e native I India. 1 which mn had onfiden- )n ye. I sorts of Qg them iry, and / n« AND THB OOOK. On the morninirnf . I, « "^'^^ ^^ ^^e worse He tomdtL ^'?'' 'fustworthv int.m ^'^'^"^- Here tion to r^faut atf„T? *J"= defences we^ I"/-' ^^ ''^o CJiveatonop,!., i? '"'' ■''ny force r>„* ''"^capable 'hat two eHittr'"'""^ * "^'^^n^r to m!/" Pf""''"'- 'hen withouTlw^n^t-? "'«'" be *en&V^''^P»8 "gainat Ar^ot. """S «"*"• ^ming he march/d fo"?;'"^^ im) CHAPTER VTL , (i '''■I: THE SIEGE OP ARCOT. ROM Conjeveram to Arcot is twenty-seven miles, and the troops, in spite of a delay caused by a tremendous storm of thunder and light- ning, reached the town in two days. The garrison, struck with panic at the sudden coming of a foe when they deemed themselves in absolute security, at once abandoned the fort, which they might easily have maintained until Chunda Sahib was able to send a force to relieve ii The city was incapable of defence after the fort had been abandoned, and Clive took possession ot both without firing a shot. He at once set to work to store up provisions in the fort, in which he found eight guns and an abundance of ammunition, as he foresaw the likelihood of his having to stand a siege there; and then, leaving a garrison to defend it in his absence, marched on the 4th of September with the rest of his forces against the enemy, who had retired from the town to the mud fort of Timari, six miles south of Arcot. After a few discharges with their cannon they retired hastily, and Clive marched back to Arcot Two days later, however, he found that they had been reinforced, and as their position threatened his line of communications he again advanced towards them. He found the enemfr about two thousand strong drawn up in a grove under cover of the ffuns of the fort. The crove was inclosed by a bank and (j 62 mover theme the toj These the foj Clive 1 fell ba. should For 1 thro win the fort number the tow and at m surprise, for whic the road, and wer a conside Clive fou to meet i He therei onlv siiffl. ity-seven ly caused nd light- ys. The T o£ a foe jurity, at 3ily have d a force after the ession ot work to ind eight resaw the and then, irched on !s against the mud icr a few 3tily, and however, avS their he again ibout two rer of the bank and THE FIRST FIGHT. ditch, and somn fif^xr j by a baj,k higher tett^hTclT*' " '^^ '^"k »<='osed In this the enemy couW «« u" surrounded the erovT first po^itioa ^ """''' «''"■« "hen dislodged from^S to aS: 'Xte.:ro:^ \^ "-'-^ '"e order .i,en one, and wero Z T^ outnumbered them b^fi^ ! advanced, ^htreV's tTleir*^^^- ^^ "^e^fe Only three men wIrVSled .nHTr^^ "P°^ ^^e^ the men went at the grove at Th' i .^^ ^^^'' ^^^ers at once evacuated it S took fj '^''''^^^' ^^^ enemy behmdwhosehighbanlT hevoinf^? '"^ *^^ *^^^k. ^^om Chve at once divided his mTn ?Tn1 '" "?°° *^^ English, them round to attack thT?ank ,fr '?^"^"«' ^^^ «ent movement wa^completelysLeTsL^A^t^^ sides. The the men went with a rush ^the ba^V,^^ ^^/ «^°^« "foment the top opened a heavy fire unon th. ' "!? VP^° ^^^^hing These at once fled in d'sS n^^"^^^ "^^'^ ^^^^^ii the fort to surrender: but thJ" .^ ^^^'' summoned C ive had no battering tra n r!f T.^^^""' '^^^^g that fell back upon ArcohS^ u^^l^ *".^f ««' and^C ive should arrive. ^^^^° "°<^^^ ^^s eighteen-poundera number of three thouifd anf !^^7i''^'"'^ '» th? the town, prodaimins thaf tl! P^"* '^ree miles from and at midnight on thflilhPr^ "^f.'" "t'o-'t to bes L^? surprise and^dispersed ^tmSf''*^. ™'- 1^^^ ■ ""■"°"' '"g^'-'-" the fort The-p^rr^hl^'^Sf I 84 LEU' IN GARRISON. «!l ii!j{ enemy occupied was a temple near Conjeveram, and as this was twenty-seven miles distant, the force would be obliged to be absent for at least two days. As it would probably be attacked and might have to fight hard, he decided on leaving only thirty Europeans and fifty Sepoys within the fort. He appointed Dr. Rae to the com- mand of the post during his absence, and placed Charlie and Peters under his orders. ^^ "I wonder whether they will have any fighting,' Charlie said, as the three officers looked from the walls of the fort after the departing force. " I wish we had gone with them," Peters put in; "but it will be a long march in the heat." "I should think," Dr. Rae said, "that they are sure to have fighting. I only hope they may not be attacked at night. The men are very young and inexperienced, and there is nothing tries new soldiers so much as a night attack. However, from what I hear of their own wars, I believe that night attacks are rare among them. I don't know that they have any superstition on the sub- ject, as some African people have, on the ground that evil spirits are about at night; but the natives are cer- tainly not brisk after nightfall. They are extremely sus- ceptible to any fall of temperature, and as you have, of course, noticed, sleep with their heads covered completely up. However, we must keep a sharp look-out here to- night." , J • " You don't think that we are likely to be attacked, sir, do you?" " It is possible we may be," the doctor said. "They will know that Captain Clive has set out from here with the main body and has left only a small garrison. Of course they have spies and ^iH know that there are only eighty men here, a number insufficient to defend one side of this fort, to say nothing of the whole circle of the walls. They have already found out that the English can fight :« ii,-^ ^r./»« QT»/l fhoir Avnpiripnpo. at Timari will make them possil day. y intent \ men r gates quiet, know, and th to-day round while i We mi Dr.] well fo go on themse] which \ looking "Wei that sol water w pale." "And frighten( bad enoi with hor St. Patrii he'd driv "1 Irelar Christian the crack there are they call them, and lip to, as I they say t , and as 'ould bo it would hard, he 7 Sepoys he com- Charlie ighting," he W£ m; "but are sure attacked erienced, 3 a night wn wars, them. I the sub- md that are cer- nely sus- have, of mpletely here to- tcked, sir, rhey will with the Of course ily eighty de of this he walls. can fight vill make ' \ TIM AND TlIE INSECTa «, aay, while Clive fs go'L L tSh^ '° this direction*^ to- intend canning it with a rush T 1 u^"^ *^^* ^^^^ ^ay s men repose-'asiuch I^Vosstle keTnlf^' *°;^"^ ^^* '^' gates and walls, but otherwTe l^t fh? ^\T^'^^^ °° "^« quiet. You can tell the whif^V! }T ^ ^^^^^ absolute know, that they w Ul haTe trh^""' -' *^ *^' ^'P°^^ and that they had betfprf^! ? ^ i'"" ^^^diness all nLht to-day. We wSl take uK^^ f ^ "^ T'^ ^ Possfble round the walls and seeing \ZT,^ ^' ^'^ ^"^>^' «"« going while the others sU in Si. t* the sentries are vigilant We must all three keen on tTf^^'r,^,^^^^ ^^^^ they caa Dr. Rae said that he W i/^""* f?""^ <^he night.'^ well for the Lt fLr hourfft^^^^^^^^ f^nl^^* '^^^ ^«^t go on duty; and ihe tt. siL 17^''^ ^^^'^'^ «h«"id ther^selves'^a^ eomforLbraa ?hefcould^'^^^^^^^^ "^^^^ which were high ud in /h« f^ /^ f^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ quarters ^C"' '^ '''°^' ^ -ri^ t-^^xt;";": Woof bad .^ough on^the ma "h bunM*™r " '^^^ " ''^^ Ht ratrick didn't fi^d time (Tn ' ^ I^' ? """* *''« holy lie'd driven the varmint ,v* ^..^^^ \™'' '» India. If i" Ireland, the Se '"-,'?? ''^^ ^'" ">««". as he did Chriatians out of put ^^^aT ^^^ ''"« '^»°'« the cracks and crev"eaK» ^' ™?' y*"" '«"><""■. in there are busheirald buthetVf '..r "l^^' »"" ?'«<=« they call centipades with a mi^L i ^^'"' ^'^ *'^'"'S» them, and hor.^ big TnoLh 7nf\^^^ °° ^"^^ «*<»« S "P to, as lomr a., „,lf S'!2.'^.*";g\'«n ye; of all sizes 'hey say that a bit^ froroTeTtir ^m^uf ^ant 8$ A BATTLE WITH A SPIDER. Miipni i - Atul lit. M . . >' i > pi, 'II .r"M a raging fever, and maybe kill him. Then therp are scorpiong, the savarest looking little bastes ye ever .saw, for all the world like a little lobster with his tail turned over his back, and a sting at the end of it Then there's spi(!"i-s, some of 'em nigh as big !\a a cat." •' Oh, nonsense, Tim!" Charlie said; " I don't think from what I've heard that there's a spider in India whose body is as big as a mouse." " It isn't their body, yer honour, it's their legs. They're just cruel to look at. It was one of 'em that gave me a tui 1 a v.^hlle ago. I was just lying on my bed smoking my pipe, when I saw one of the creatures as big as a saucer, I'll take my oath, walking towards me with his wicked eye fixed full on me. I jumped off the bed and on to a bench that stood handy. ' What are ye yelling about, Tim Kelly?' said Corporal Jones to me. ' Here's a riotous baste here, corporal, says I, that's meditating an attack on me.' ' Put your foot on it, man,' says he. ' It's mighty fine,' says I, 'and I in my bare feet.' So the corporal tells Pat Mu^^hy, my right-hand man, to tackle the baste. I could see Pat didn't like the job ayther, yer honour, but he's not the boy to shrink from his duty; so he comes and he takes post on the forui be my side, aii 1 just when the cratur is making up his mind to charge us both, Pat jumps down upon him and squelched it. Shure, yer honour, the sight of such bastes is enough to turn a Christian man's blood." "The spider had no idea of attacking you, Kelly," Peters said laughing; " it might possibly bite you in the night, though 1 do not think it would do so, or if you took it up in your fingers." "The saints defind us, yer honour! I'd as soon think of taking a tiger by the tail. The corporal, he's an Englishman, and lives in a country where they've got snakes and reptiles; but it's hard on an Irish boy, dacently brought up within ten miles of Cork's own town, to be know, yer honour. , exposed to th< ye wher see I bit of yer h when pJay. nayth sarper ear ha selves "W strusfor "Sh just toi inside 1 "Th< said; " yet, bui were n( the muj believe and the afraid c fangs w "Doi what th now. B in gettii boy for h to see hi one of th( yer hono trust me beside the buying an safe for y "Kow, A BASKET OP SNAKKS. I :«t,iT^!^*°"*.A"^o the town 87 «ee but rm;r;ittZ'3ow'? ^''\''^^y' ^hat should I bit of a flute in h s haL 2^^ «Tl'\\^^" ^^^h a little yer honour. I thought ma^be he ^^ '* -^ ^'' «^^^- W^"! when he lifts up the toTof the bZ^f '"^, *.^P^"^ ^ ^uae pJay. Ye may call it music v«rf ^°^^ ^^en began to nayfcher tune nor musicTn t ' ^rLn'^^'i ^"^ ^^^^e waa «arpents in the ba^ke li?ts "un TLf i! ^I ^ '"^^^^^ two ear hanging down on ach side^ lufbe^^ ^''^ ^ ^''^^ selves about." ' ^^^ began to wave them- str^Sgl\^hht?L^^^^^^^^^^ *^-^" Charlie asked, ]usttortom,^tds^'L"d'rnf '*^'PP^"^^ '^f*-' for I inside the gates." ' ^ ^ ''^''^^ ^^^^ breath till I was ^^^r^':^i:tZ.%^^^^^^ ^'' Tim," Charlie yet, but there are nuS)ers onh.rn n^"^" "f^" «^«^ ««« were not ears you saw but th-T- over India. Tliose the music and wave th;ir LJi T^' ^^^ «°akes like believe that alSh tW «r« ^^'"* ^^ *^"^« *« i*- I and their bite is certain d.«Th V^- ^^^'^^ons snake afraid of them as thf^hfr*^' *5^^^ ^« '^o need to be fangs when they 'Itch them ^''' ^'"^ ^"* ^^^^^ Poison wharV'j^rrntll^^^^^^^^^ -I wonder .now. He well nigh broke ^^^11-^^ *^ ^ J°^ "^e that in getting out a big tooth ar./f^'''^^' jaw yesterday boy for having such! potrf ufstro^^^^ '"""'"/l *^^ Poo^ to see his fad if he w^^^ked fn n ^li^^"^: ^ «^^ould like one of them dancing sr^e^sli^^L^"* ^ *«oth from yer honours. I do^n^?now wi«^''^^^ ^''''''"^'^""^*«• trust me they're not poisoT hV^%T' ^^* ^^^ «^ay beside the stall till I saw snm« Ll^^^^^ f^^ ^^^^ an hour buying and ating hem"" sTthen T • ^^^t ?^ *^« ««"ntry safe for^yer honours'^* ^°*^«^J Judged that they were "How, Tim, you'd better go and lie down and get a IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) &^ f/ .fk ^ 2.0 1.0 f,^ 1.1 !.■* L2| au u 11.6 0^ ^ ^>. ""^^ c/>^- Hiotographic .Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRIET WiBSTIR.N.Y. 14SS0 (716) 872-4S03 r<\^ V iV <^ \^ ^X^\ '4fS <■ ii!: ! ii imMk m pii.ii 88 A NIGHT ATTACK. sleep, if the spiders will let you, for vou will have to h« under arms all night, as it is possible that we may be attacked." The first part of the night passed quietly. Double sentries were placed at each of the angles of the walls. The cannons were loaded and all ready for instant action. Dr. Rae and his two subalterns were upon the alert, visiting the posts every quarter of an hour to see that the men were vigilant. Towards two o'clock a dull sound was heard, and although nothing could be seen the men were at once called to arms and took up the posts to which they had already been told off on the walls. The noise continued. It was slight and confused, but the natives are so quiet in their movements that the doctor did not doubt that a considerable body of ruen were sur- rounding the place, and that he was about to be attacked. Presently one of the sentries over the gateway perceived something approaching. He challenged, and immediately afterwards tired. The sound of his gun seemed to serve as the signal for an assault, and a large body of men rushed forward at the gate, while at two other points a force ran up to the foot of the walls and endeavoured to plpnt ladders. The garrison at once collected at the points of attack, a few sentries only being left at intervals on the wall, to give notice should any attempt be made elsewhere. From tho walls a heavy fire of musketry was poured upon the masses below, while from the windows of all the houses around, answering flashes of fire shot out, a rain of bullets being directed at the battlements. Dr. Rae himself commanded at the gate; one of the subalterns at each of the other points assailed. The enemy fought with great determination; several times the ladders were planted and the men swarmed up them, but as often these were hurled back upon the crowd below. At the gate the as5?ailant8 endeavoured to hew their way with axes through it, but so steady was the fire directed from the lave to be a may be Double the walls. Tit actioa the alert, 3 that the ull souhd i the men posts to ills. The , but the he doctor were sur- attacked. perceived triediately I to serve Y of men • points a roured to )f attack, the wall. Isewhere. A poured wa of all lot out, a Dr. Rae litems at y fought lers were ten these the gate v^ith axes A OATHERINO STORM, gg slaughter^ K w^not ^il "''', '"Z*™" withVeat attack <^d\ZTZ\Z^LTX^''y}''^^ 'hat the day that the enemy werfaDn^K-'^rf **■' *°"°»'"'g the effect which Clivehadrnfe of Arcot had produced and irritated the b™ieffer^„f 7*15 '™°! '*• " »l"»ed the besieged wi?h hon! »„rt ^"jhrnopoU. Md inspired ehief of &uttr^d tfe ^th " 't""^ ^' M*™*** Muhammad AH had for ,VS^^ ♦• H.^"""^' "'"> ''•i°m once declared to hi favour TlI'"l''T negotiating, at the chief of Pudlto JiliJ^^ S?"?^ "^ Tanjore and o=reru.^Tti£^^^^^^ ?nd that witnrcaptSethltwT"'^ 2' '^ English, in Trichinopoli wou?d be af aL end''7* '!'" ^^'^^ ^■?ge, he despatched three tho?sa^3 of hf"'.^^"^ "'^ with a hundred and fiftv PrenTr^ * • „ hest troops thousand men aIieadyne«Arcot,Tn!f '^ «"'f<>«=« the two -^on Riza Sahib. tCs the w! ■! *?*r"""*"'' of his amounted to five thoZnd men »lf- w^ '» ="'*'='^ ^'"ot Clive's orders had bv Z W^-'^Ji'^jh/ ga™'™n under by fever and dkeZ beei ?edu. .?! ''**™? "^ 'he fort, twenty Europeans and two hun5r^H'°«°°' ^'"'t'"^ «"<) --',h.i ,«« „, ,,„,,„,, T,^^ _,^__^p_^_^^ waTuaixow f 90 COMMBNCIMENT OF THE SIFOK I- t . ;i. |i; and the parapet low, and the ditch in many places dry. The fort had two gates. These were in towers standing beyond the ditch, and connected with the interior by a causeway across it The houses in the town in many places came close up to the walls, and from their roofs the ramparts of the forts were commanded. On the 23rd September Riza Sahib with his army took up his position before Arcot. Their guns had not, how- ever, arrived, with the exception of four mortars, but they at once occupied all the houses near the fort, and from the walls and upper windows kept up a heavy fire on the besieged. Clive determined to make an effort at once to drive them from this position, and he accord- ii^g^y. oil the same afternoon, made a sortie. So deadly a fire, however, was poured into the troons as they advanced that they were unable to make any way, and were forced to retreat into the fort again after suffering heavy loss. On the night of the 24th, Charlie Marryat, with twenty men carrying powder, was lowered from the walls, and an attempt was made to blow up the houses nearest tc them; but little damage was done, for the enemy were on the alert, and they were unable to place the powder in effective positions, and with a loss of ten of their number the survivors with diflficulty regained the fort. For the next three weeks the position remained un- changed. So heavy was the fire which the enemy, from their commanding position, maintained, that no one could show his head for a moment without running the risk of being shot. Only a few sentinels were kept upon the walls to prevent the risk of surprise, and these had to remain stooping below the parapet. Every day added to the losses. Captain Clive had a series of wonderful escapes, and indeed the men began to regard him with a sort of superstitious reverence, believing that he had a charmed life. One of his three remaining officers, seeing an ih. MARVELOUS ESCAPES OF OLrvit aim and the officer fell d^d On H "^^^^^^h^nged hi «ergeant« who accompanied him on w"' '^^.^^ °«^^i««« dead by his side, yet nohallinZh'^ ?""^" ^^^« ^^o* |ad been stored in the fort tfo'rthe .^ ^'"^^«^««« the siege, sufficient for sixtv Hn? ^on^wencement of was a r.ady exhausted wfen^on the l^l 1 *i"^ '^ ""^^ French troops ser^'in<. wUh Kit« q JV^ ^^^^^er the eighteen-ponnders and seven smf n ""^'^^ ''"^^^^^^ ^^o Hitherto the besieged had o^f ^^ FT' °^ ^^t'^^ery. harassing the garrfson ni'ht Ind'T"^ themselves with any attack which woul^ coli th.^^' "i^'^^^^^^ from arrival of their rruns TW • *" ^^^^s until the placed them in a^Ster^rhirtheTL^" *'^^ '' -- north-west of the fort ^d oneLd T ^^^J^'^P^^"^^ «" the battery placed, and so accurate th^ J^' ^^^ "^"^ '^^ <^Ws the very Hrst shot dismSSone^^^^^^^^ ^-^ \^ ^"""«r' «^at m the fort the second ag^n^^^^^^^^^ Pletely disabled it. The bp.fJ!7 *^® ?"" ^nd com- heavy gun in its place and '^'^ '"^""'^^^ "^eir second on tfie French battery' when f'sh^f^f^ dismounted it. It w^' useless to «f/^'"f'' ^* ^^«° ^nd and It was during the ni^ht 11.1 5 !°'P* ^ ^^P^^ce it, v^alls not expose^d to tlfVrlZ'lV'' "" ^'^^^^^ The besiegei^ continued their fir. „ !, ^°'"^^" ^^^^ery. demolished the wall fanin^ It • T^®' ^'^^ ^^ six days had of fifty f«et wide ''^"^ '^^^^ ^^^^^'^^ '"aking a Cach <^hve, who had now nnW *i. ± serving under him. worked in!wJ^\7°""^ subalterns and confidence of bearing W W/' ^^« <^oolness httle garrison, and every ni^hP* ff *^^ courage of his from the view of the eS', «,h "^f ^°'«« ^'^ ^ben, laboured to prepare for the fmn 5-^'^°°*^^' *he men werethrown'upWethefonrn^^'^**."^^- Works IrJAT..*-'^^}^- were' du^. trr.?i \^,^ ^-ach. ^ -- -- - ^he wall the other some 'ir^;!.-^^^^^^^ ij, i 93 PREPARATIONS FOR TWK ORAXD ASSAULT. back. These trenches were filled with sharp iron three- pointed spikes, and palisades erected extending from the ends of the ditches to the ramparts, and a house pulled down in the rear to the height of a breastwork, behind which the garrison could fire at the assailants as they endeavoured to cross the ditches. One of the three tield- pieces Clive had brought with him he mounted on a tower flanking the breach outside. Two he held in reserve and placed two small guns, which he had found in the fort when he took it, on the flat roof of a house in the fort commanding the inside of the breach. From the roofs of some^f the hou,ses around the fort «ie besiegers beheld the progress of these defences; and Kiza Sahib feared, in spite of his enormously superior numbers, to run the risk of a repulse. He knew that the amount of provisions which Clive had stored was not large, and thinking that famine would inevitably compel his srrrender, shrank from incurring the risk of dishear- tening his army by the slaughter which an unsuccessful attempt to carry the place must entail. He determined at anyrate to increase the probability of success and utilize his superior forces by making an assault at two points simultaneously. He therefore erected a battery on the south-west, and began to effect a breach on that side also. Clive on his part had been busy endeavouring to obtain assistance. His native emissaries, penetrating the enemy's lines, earned the news of the situation of affairs in the fort to Madras Fort St. David, and Trichinopoli. At Madras a tew fresh troops had arrived from England, and Mr Saunders, feeling that Clive must be relieved at all cost" however defenceless the state of Madras might be des- patched on the 20th of October a hun Jred Europeans and a hundred Sepoys under Lieutenant Innis. These after three days marching arrived at Trivatoor, twenty-two miles from Arcot. Riza Sahib had heard of his approach and sent a large body of troops with two guns to attack I fUE MARAm CHlKir i • __ • go tin PT'"«"^' "i^eterth ""^ '^ «"« force tl'" Jay. but after fi<.htin/S ^"^^ "."Sht have rained Ss'S^iJi:'] '^h" '^'^ « '«ofC tvr? J;"^'.^-' Maratta°chief'of VtS'Th" '"*"='''<' M-^ri Re„ the booting chief. darinTand K "'^1^'^ » feroci",s Ve' those qualitii in Ith^^ '"i?!? '>™s««. and admiiW Muhammud Ali was m.T' ^'"i^fto his alliance w,f dreaded bringi^';';,'^'^?^™^ than nominal. Co had Sahib and the French J^r^,.?"' vengeance of ChimT appeared certaircii™r„a '?''''' ^'«=»«^^ in'hesS heroic defence which IL T iJ ."P"" ^reot, and th! opposing to overSm n' tT'^l"^ "^ »» there were admiration. As ho .f? ^^ numbers, excited his hiJ ! believed thatthe'Llt&^Hhe had never'S messenger reached him ho »?„ %ht, and when Clive'a a^istance Ri,a SaWb lear„c3°'ar"'>'' » P'o-niirof pr htitu^'^'-f-on'rm^^^^^^^^ bo..emenX7S"tuSl"?^»™-d Vthl^ l^r^ encamped with six thouindT'"^- ^^""i Reo w^ to the west of Arcot, and he n.T .1 "'. " 'Pot thirty mZ Enfffo-ixifh3^^ while to Clive himself Coffered /'.'■ "™ ""^ b^gg^g™ In ease of refusal he threaded J"^.^" ™"' »' '"onfy dofiaS^> '? "^f'"^'" to tte "word ''?^'';?' ""^ '«' »d ,™nt refusal, and the ffiiT.= .„ • '-'"™ returned a breach S-"" "gain opened on the se^nd On the flth .if M_-, , . — ■-.<.>ember the Maratta. began to show m % * III 94 FKRRET8 AND lUBBrTO. themselves in the neighbourhood of the besieging arm\ The force under Lieutenant Innis had been reinforced, and was now under the command of Captain Kilpatrick, who had a hundred and fit^y English troops with four field-guns. This was now advancing. Four days later the new breach had attained a width of thirty yards, but Clive had prepared defences in the rear similar to those at the other breach; and the difficulties of the besiegers would here be much greater, as the ditch was not ford- able. The fifty days which the siege had lasted had been terrible ones for the garrison. Never daring to expose themselves unnecessarily during the day, yet ever on the alert to repel an attack, labouring at night at the defences with their numbers daily dwindling, and the prospect of an assault becoming more and more imminent, the work of the little garrison was terrible; and it is to the defences of Lucknow and Cawnpore, a hundred years later, that we must look to find a parallel in English warfare for their endurance and bravery. Both Charlie Marryat and Pe^-srs had been wounded, but in neither case were the injuries severe enough to prevent their continuing on duty. Tim Kelly had his arm broken by a ball, while another bullet cut a deep seam along his cheek and carried away a portion of his ear. With his arm in splints and a slmg, and the side of his face covered with strappings and plaster, he still went about his business. "Ah! yer honours," he said one day to his masters; " I ve often been out catching rabbits, with ferrits to drive 'em out of their holes, and sticks to knock 'em on the head as soon as they showed themselves; and it's a divarshun I was always mightily fond of, but I never quite intered into the feelings of the rabbits. Now I understand them complately, for ain't we rabbits ourselves. The officers, saving your presence, are the ferrits who turn us out of our holes on duty, and the niggers yonder with their muskets and their matchlocks are the men with sticks ready to knock us on head directly we show ourselves. ng army jinforced, ilpatrick, i^ith four ays later ards, but to those besiegers lot ford- had been o expose jr on the defences ospect of ihe work defences .ter, that rfare for ryat and vere the uing on 11, while i carried ints and rappings masters i to drive !;he head varshun ! intered ad them officers, 18 out of th their h sticks irselves. "M KELLY'S RESOLVE. 95 S^'^"^-«°^-rcTir;.7,*?> 1 1 1 3 ill ^f^ ■ I W'' * CHAPTER Via li bf^ii THE GRAND ASSAULT. HE 14th of November was a Mahoramedan festival, and Riza Sahib determined to utilize the enthusiasm and fanatic zeal which such an occasion always excites among the followers of the Prophet, to make his grand assault upon Arcot, and to attack at three o'clock in the morning. Every pre- paration was made on the preceding day, and four strong columns told off for the assault. Two of these were to attack by the breaches, the other two at the gates. Rafts were prepared to enable the party attacking by the new breach to cross the moat, while the columns advancing against the gates were to be preceded by elephants, who, with iron plates on their foreheads, were to charge and batter down the gates. Olive's spies brought him news of the intended assault, and at midnight he learned full particulars as to the dis- position of the enemy. His force was row reduced to eighty Europeans and a hundred and twenty Sepoys. Every man was told off to his post, and then, sentries being posted to arouse them at the approach of the enemy, the Tittle garrison lay down in their places to get two or three hours' sleep before the expected attack. At three o'clock the firing of three shells from the mortars into the fort gave the signal for assault The men leaped up and stood to their arms, full of confidence in 06 '«'<'"« OF TH. 8TOK«mo rxMlES. thoir abiJity to resist the attarlr q , advancing columns t',Utl.d^^\u ^''^^ *^« «^'0'^ of th. ^r^our of the assailante '^''^ ^' ^^^ ^^"'^ «0"'idt«nce Id «rAr at^^^^^^^^ -,ls of the fort suddenly a stream of fire jl 'I 7^^?^, ^^« ^^tes. Then battlement So well d recti anS"* ^?.°^ Wl.ole anS hre that the elephants ![;» ."^ continuous was tl « At the fif4XS^fv1,^f'''''™/S'^«'">« breach^ marched resolv^tefytom^^ 'fe"« ^'"•«« "f the enemy <">t a shot being-^fireTtT'thi^? *"•' Permitted whl monnt the shattlr^ Ibl: J'T'.u'' '^'^ ""e dry S the interior of the fort l?„, '^/.f'- »"d pour S "■■thout a check, theyleachod fiT* ^^'^ a<>™n?ed un U with spikes. Th;n, Jthe^alS^f '''^' '"^""h b'WthW spot which commanded th» \, I 'a™Parts, and evei-v ^^ poured on them while theT"'"' " '^"" <>' muskl?^ mass with grapo an/bZ rfbSTir^Tr '*« «°wde^ mendons. Mowed dowTin 1... .i ^^^ <'''■<«:' was tre" and then, without a m^meSt^h ^•.'^.? assailants rec^iw Three times, strongly St cor^'"""' '""'«'^ ^-d Aed at^k. but were eactUrreSdwi^:'''''"''^ t" the btill less successful wern Ik„ with severe slaughter A great raft capable of ft^!''^° *' ">e other bS' llll fi t 1^ IS 1^ •li:.i,l K. 98 TUK HICOK RAISID. Ainoog those who had fallen at the great breach was the comiuanaer of the storming party, a man of great valour. Four hundred of his followers had also been killed, and Riza Sahib, utterly disheartened at his repulse at all points, decided not to renew the attack. He had Ktill more than twenty men to each of the defenders; but the obstinacy of their resistance and the moral efllct produced by it upon his troops, the knowledge that the Muratta horse were hovering in his rear, and that Kilpatrick's little column was close at hand, determined him to raise the siege. After the repulse of the assault the heavy musketry fire from the houses around the fort was con- tinued. At two in the afternoon he asked for two hours' truce to bury the dead. This was granted, and on its conclusion the musketry fire was resumed and continued until two in the morning. Then suddenly it ceased. Under cover of the fire Riza Sahib had raised the siege and retired with his army to Vellore. On the morning of the 15th Clive discovered that the enemy had disappeared. The joy of the garrison was im- mense. Every man felt proud and happy in the thought that he had taken his share in a siege which would not only be memorable in English history till the end of time, but which had literally saved India to us. The little band made the fort re-echo with their cheers when the news came in. Caps were thrown high in the air, and the men indulged in every demonstration of delight Clive was not a man to lose time. The men were at once formed up and marched into the abandoned camp of thu enemy, -vdiere they found four guns, four mortars, and a great quantity of ammunition. A cloud of dust was seen approaching, and soon a mounted oflBcer riding forward announced the arrival of Captain Kilpatrick s detach- ment. Not a moment was lost, for Clive felt the impor- tance of at once followi^ig up the blow inflicted by the repulse of the enemy. Three days were spent in con* CMVJe VVlitHJKH THE KNJCMY ^j 1 us .lone he returned towanL w\ ^'^^°'P. ^^^^^J him. a.thouMund Alaratta horrwhioh S?. *°^T*'* ^^e arrival of h'.';;: When these anfved howt " !['° ^*^ P^'^'"'-^^^^ vvi ling to accoinpany hZ ^71; '^'^ ^''''^ ""- f'll en ,n witli a portion of Riz^SnH-K"'' T^ *^'«3^ ^^^^ and had been worsted in the atS ' f^'^""^^^ ^"^^« of plunder Heemed small while ?h«nr' ^""l "^ ,^^^ ^^'^"ce was certain, the freebootini K Prospect of hard blows to.join in the Puttot^'SatlL"'^^^ ^*^'^^^"*«" this moment the news cani« Jn Jw ? ^"®'"3^- J"st at Pondieheriy were mrchtnT o me'et T'^l^T^"^ ^^«"^ a p ace seventeen miles south r^ A f ! ^^^'^ ^^ Ami, Veilore. It was stated that wUh « pf ' ^^^^^ «°"*h «^ arge sum of money was h.Jn i. ^^'^ reinforcements a Riza Sahib's army Vh^n*K"^c^'°"«^*^ ^«'' ^^e use o? the chance of ho^oiy aYo^ice al^^^^^^^^ ''^'^^ '^^ ne\^ they declared themsel ve^ ret l ? *5'n' ^"<^^ntions. and greater portion of them however^hnL -"""^ P'""'' The over the country, and ireat S' ^^«P«r«^d plundering could be collected wCi.l^ was caused before thef brought together Clive dli^ "^S'^f ^ °^ *^^"* had been Btarted at once for Arni ^'"'^ *^ ^^^^^ °« longer, but ^^^o:eM^^^^^ down from a forced march of twentfm^^^^^^ ^live. af?e^ the enemy, composed of th?ee h,??? 5'^"^ ^l""'' ^^ ^^und thousand five hundred Sepoys and ?J^^^^^ *^^^P«' ^^o men, with four guns drawn^n^T /"^^ *^°"«^°d horse- immense auperioritV'in n«^i!? ^!^'^ ^*- Seeing their attack. ^ "^ '° ""'"hers these advanced to the posilS:';^^^^^!^,-^^^^ Th« — ...«Hwus one. ±ie occupied a space w iiii lih iiiiil! ., .1 ''1 If. lU I V If" ill Mm^i TS" I' 100 tllE BATTLE OF ARNL of open ground some three hundred yards in widtk On his right flank was a village. On the left a grove of palm-trees. In front of the ground he occupied were rice fields, which, it being the wet season, were very swampy and altogether impracticable for guns. These fields were crossed by a causeway which led to the village, but as it ran at an angle across them, those advancing upon it were exposed to the fire of the English front. Clive posted the Sepoys in the village, the Maratta horse- men in the grove, and the two hundred English with the guns on the ground between them. The enemy advanced at once. His native cavalry with some infantry marched against the grove, while the French troops with about fifteen hundred infantry moved along the causeway against the village. The fight began on the English left. There the Maratta cavalry fought bravely. Issuing from the palm grove they made repeated charges against the greatly superior forces of the enemy. But numbers told, and the Mar- attas, fighting fiercely, were driven back into the palm grove, where they with difficulty maintained them- selves. In the meantime the fight was going on at the centre. Clive opened fire with his guns on the long column marching almost across his front to attack the village. The enemy, finding themselves exposed to a fire which they were powerless to answer, quitted the cause- way, and formed up in the rice fields fronting the English position. The guns, protected only by a few Frenchmen and natives, remained on the causeway. Clive now despatched two of his ^ns and fifty English to aid the hard-pressed Marattas m the grove, and fifty others to the village with orders to join the Sepoys there, to dash forward on to the causeway and charge the enemy's guns. As the column issued from the village along the causeway at a rapid pace the French limbered up their guns and retired at a gallop. Tlie infantry, dispirited at their dis- appearance, fell back acrass the rice fields, an example INDIAN OPINION OF BRITISH PROWESS. IQl ^^^los^"^^^^^^^^ already disnirited by English muskeW^and the ^^"^^ ^'^"^ the newly arrived rollowed wit.hou7deW Cllv. «r^''' °^ ?« field-pieces, The Marattas were deLf .1,1 1 /. ''''''? ""'^""^^ * Pursuit while he himseirwtet^^^^^^^^^ causeway and pressed UDon ?h.^- *^™ced across the the enemy made a stand b"^.?w ^^^^^ «°^es the impetuosity of tKrsuel'^^ H'^ ^ ^««i«* a stop to the pursuit wSf' .1*^^ ""'^^^ ^^^^^^ put pletely routed ' ^ ^'^^ ^'"'^ *^« ^nem- were com- FJi!S.Italnffi^^^^^^ ?-^. for but fifty wounded; but the armv -« ^^°^ ^^' "^^"^ ^^"^^ ^^ of the enemy completeTvdiT ^'5^^^ "P. the morale to all SouthemTdk wh^ioh w ""^"^ .^"^, ^* ^^« Proved struggle, that th^^'l^^ CeTnX'^ Tf^^^^^^ superior to their European rivals Th?« /'^^ °^ ^^<^*^« had an immense effect VVnnIi ^5 .^sp^ance alone with the English many of f£. k^?^ '? ^^^^ ^"^^^ce had hitherto^been lukLar,^ '^'1' ""^^'^ friendship wavererstoourside TnT.4 f^^.^^o^ght over many of the Maratta cavalry were ki«!d^ "t^ ST^^ ^^^ ^^^^ did not lose a singleirn Manv of P '^^L'^,! ?^ ^"g^i«^ came in during the next f Jw / ^'^? ^^^^^'« soldiers British force. The CL! ^T ^?^ ^°^^«*ed in the pr^pect of which L5^LdutdXtl ''^ '^'T'' *^« and the governor of Arni « ^ ? ^ J°'° ^° ^^e fight, Muhammud AH Clive mn5/''^ t° ^^^^ *^« *own for where thirty French trZl ?fu* °"^" *° Conjeveram! occupied the^tempTeLe^^^^^^^^^ ^"'^^'^^ Sepoys up t^o eiohteen?po;^S?rr^^ walls, ani the elemyseeinTih^'^l^ ^""^ P°^^^«^ *he evacuated it in thTni^ht /„i V*^! P^^*^' "»"«* fall. North Arcot heingnoTcl^l^^^^ Pondicherry.' RncrlioK ni: ? ""w Completely m the nnwei- «* aC^ '■ill 102 DUPLEIX AND HIS LIEUTENANTS. for the relief of Trichinopbli. This place still held out, thanks rather to the feebleness and indecision of Colonel Law, who commanded the besiegers, than to any effort on the part of the defenders. Governor Dupleix, at Pondicherry, had seen with sur- prise the result of Olive's dash upon Arcot. He had, however, perceived that the operations there were wholly secondary, and that Trichinopoli was still the all-im- portant point. The fall of that place would more than neutralize Olive's successes at Arcot, and he, therefore, did not suffer Olive's operations to distract his attention here. Strong reinforcements and a battering train were sent forward to the besiegers, and by repeated messages he endeavoured to impress upon Law and Chunda Sahib the necessity of pressing forward the capture of Trichi- nopoli. But Dupleix was unfortunate in his instruments. Law was always hesitating and doubting. Ohunda Sahib, although clever to plan, was weak in action, indecisive at moments when it was most necessary that he should be firm. So then, in spite of the entreaties of Dupleix, he had detached a considerable force to besiege Olive. Dupleix seeing this, and hoping that Olive might be detained at Arcot long enough to allow of the siege of Trichinopoli being brought to a conclusion, had sent the three hundred French soldiers to strengthen the force of Riza Sahib. He had still an overpowering force at Trichinopoli, Law having nine hundred trained French soldiers, a park of fifty guns, two thousand Sepoys, and the army of Oht^nda Sahib twenty thousand strong Inside Trichinopoli were a few English soldiers under Oaptain Oope and a small body of troops of Muhammud Ali; while outside the walls, between them and the besiegers, was the English force under Gingen, the men utterly dispirited, the oflicer without talent, resolution, or confidence. Before leavin» the troo^is with which he had won the battle of Arni, Olive had expressed to the two young THI HOONSHIK lOS I'^^of A^n?^ appreciation of their conduct during the request made byTm Z certJ^t„ T'**' *?•'*/"* » He strongly ad4ed"thZ to"p Sd eveW^aSl ""'"• ment of their time in the studv of f^I ^*? i * '^°- wfen hepd ttt cClItL^r^tffePir' ■• moo4ee™or S W Th^ff "'V^T'^ °f « native with them some time ' ^""^^^^ ^'"^ *^ ^^^^^^ A few days later Tim Kellv camft in «pi honours, there's a little shri^lled aTom v S ^^ ^f as wants to spake wid ve frl llw^ *^f S.'"^'* °"*«^de come to teach us the native lanluage" ''^ black hathens Isn^^foTf?^ .?^ *^^ ^'''^^ «f *^ese mighty pleaSk tW^'rJ^^ b*? i^^ ^^^^nglish, and :elike ChristianJ."""^ "" "^ ^^' tnoimeives to 8 « -l^ J, it !!i: llillli ! ■i;i'. ! ^11 ! 104 tim's opinion of the vernactiar. "But who's going to teach them, Tim?" "Oh, they lam fast enough," said Tim. "You've only got to point to a bottle of water, or to the fire, or whatever else you want, and swear at them, and they understand directly. I've tried it myself over and over again." "There, Tim, it's no use standing talking any longer; bring in the moonshee." From that moment the little man had his permanent post in a corner of the boys' room, and when they were not on duty they were constantly engaged in studying the language, writing down the names of every object they came across and getting it by heart, and learning every sentence, question, and answei which occurred to them as likely to be useful. As foi Tim, he quite lost patience at this devotion to study on the part of his master, who, he declared to his comrades, went on just as if he intended to become a nigger and a hathen himself. " It's just awful to hear him. Corporal M'Bean, jabbering away in that foreign talk with that little black monkey moonshine. The little cratur atwisiing his shrivelled fingers about, that looks as if the bones were coming through the skin. I wonder what the good father at Blarney, where I come from, vou know, corporal, would say to sich goings-on. Faith, then, and if he were here, I'd buy a bottle of holy water and sprinkle it over the little hathen. I suspict he'd fly straight up the chimney when it touched him." " My opinion of you, Tim Kelly," the corporal, who waa a grave Scotchman, said, "is that you're just a fule. Your master is a brave young gentleman, and is a deal more sensible than most of them, who spend all their time in drinking wine and playing cards. A knowledge of the language is most useful. What would you do yourself if you were to marry a native woman and couldn't speak to her afterwards." I lis!" Tim exclaimed iints dei <«, put such an idea in yer head, corporal? It's nayther *ve only fire, or nd they tnd over ' longer; he little jrs' room, nstantly Dwn the ng it by I answer As for jtudy on omrades, er and a Corporal ith that ktwifiting le bones the good corporal, he were e it over ; up the who was b a fule. leal more time in je of the yourself n't speak ind what nayther DUPLEIX'S COUNTER-STROKE. ,05 should manyi h.X"?braekU"r'a:dTfvo?*^'^^^^^^ my suparior officer corooml T'^T !!' ? . ^^^ weren't Fortuilately at th^s i^mey PI, r ^^ ^'>*"" manners." shouting for his serv^rin/T-*'^'^' ""T^ ^^ heard from tfe breadi ofX' n ^'"^J^ therefore saved showed that hT^eSitat^d ^ '" ""^''^ ^^ indignation an^i^r^eTtioW^^^^^^^ ^ i^ary, 1752. governor of Pon(ficher^ hZ ^^ \ ^^^^^ °"*- The disappointmenl°t&\te';Tnt ^^^^^^ 'T despair, and L LoTv/d „-„ ''^'i-'"' ^'^^^' ^"^"^ ^ occupy the attentTon of ??. ^^^'""^ ^^^^^^ ^^0'^ to reco^ized a^eT^^^^^ "^ .^Jo'" he already for ^e relief^f Tr chkoDo^^^ Prevent his taking steps again assured him thatTnfi'.n "" 5*^ ^^^'^ *^^ ^^^^ tfiat place would be driven bvT'^^^ °^* ^""^ ^^^ ^^^ks a.s soon a^ Cli4 arrived at /or^^^^^^^ •"^• about taking stem whinSw f^ *' ■^^'^'*' ^"P^eix set retunitothenortrjdin .^^^^^.^g^^^ necessitate his asked for SuppL of -n^ ^ ^^ *^' *^°^^ ^^ich he together with Tur h„nTT^''\'^^* ^ ^'^ Sahib mirched suddenly upon P^^^^^ n-'^'5 '"^^^"- These again the fortffie J tCple^f Co" l^^ captured it, seized point threatened bottdrL anffir '''' '"'^ '""^ maX,'it"c^uld SnlTbfedrvf '"^ and determined corn- instructions e^tured^^^^^^^ T* ?u"P^^^^'« upon the EngliJh. Fortun^dTf^^ * ^f?^^ ^^^^ marched indeed KffJr^^i/^xtA^ , . '^^ ^'^eh head. It factories levLd Sl,5 '^' PJ^^dered and burnt the everything but thf fort wT' ^tt ^^^^^ P^^^ssion of men whn «4..:-^^ *' '^*'''^- *^® ^^^^^^ans and the f pw attacked:in^wS";^eZlw'"" daily expected to"be , wmcn case the place must have fallen. This, §\\W 'I lliilii; !1 'I I ,1 106 NATIVB APPRECIATION OP STRONG RULERS. however.theenemyneverfevenattempted.contentinffthem- selves with ravaging the place outaiJle the walls of the fort The little garrison of Arcot, two hundred men in all, were astonished at the news that the province which they had thought completely conquered was again in flames, that the road to Madras was cut by the occupation of Con- ieveram by the French, and that Madras itself was, save the fort, in the hands of the enemy. The fort itself, they knew, might easily be taken, as they were aware that it was defended by only eighty men. The change in the position was at once manifest m the altered attitude of the fickle population. The main body of the inhabitants of Southern India were Hindoos, who had for centuries been ruled by foreign masters. The Mahommedans from the north had been their conquerors, and the countless wars which had taken place, to them signified merely whether one family or another were to reign over them. The sole desire was for peace and pro- tection, and they, therefore, ever inclined towards the side which seemed strongest. Their sympathies were no stronger with their Mahommedan rulers than with the French or English, and they only hope-l that whatever power was strongest might conquer; and that after the hostilities were over their daily work might be conducted in peace, and their property and possessions be enjoyed in security. The capture and defence of Arcot, and the battle of Ami, had brought them to regard the English aa their final victors; and the signs of deep and even servile respect which greeted the conquerors wherever they went, and which absolutely disgusted Charlie Marryat and his friend, were really sincere marks of the welcome to ma&ters who seemed able and willing to maintain their rule over them. With the news of the successes of Riza Sahib all this changed. The natives no longer bent to the ground as the English passed them in the streets. The country people who had flocked in with their products to the markets absented themselves altogether, and the whole ARCOT AGAIN MENACED. 107 ngthem- ; the fort all, were they had mes, that L of Con- was, save self, they ce that it Bst in the lain body iocs, who era. The •nquerors, , to them r were to ! and pro- Is the side stronger French or ower was lities were peace, and " security. le of Ami, iheir final le respect went, and his friend, i&ters who 3ver them, lb all this ground as le country cts to the the whole population prepared to welcome the French as their new masters. In the fort the utmost vigilance was observed. The garrison laboured to mend the breaches and complete the preparations for defence. Provisions were again stored up, and they awaited anxiously news from Clive. That enterprising officer was at Fort St. David, busy in making his preparations for a decisive campaign against the enemy round Trichinopoli, when the news of the rising reached him. He was expecting a considerable number of fresh troops from England, as it was iu January that the majority of the reinforcements despatched by the Company arrived in India, and Mr. Saunders had written to Calcutta begging that a hundred men might be sent thence. These were now, with the eighty men at Madras, and the two hundred at Arcot, all the force that could be at his disposal, for at Fort St. David there was not a single available man. With all the efforts that Clive, aided by the authorities, could make, it was not until the middle of February that he had completed his arrangements. On the 9th the hundred men arrived from Bengal, and, without the loss of a day, Clive started from Madras to' form a junction with the garrison from Arcot, who, leaving only a small force to hold the fort, had moved down to meet him. !'! ■it 111 'fi ' liiiiii It CHAPTER IX. THE BATTLE OF KAVAUIPAK, TIE troops froic Arcot had already moved some distance on their way to Madras, and Clive, therefore, with the new levies, joined them on the day after his leaving Madras. The French and Riza Sahib let slip the opportunity of attacking these bodies before they united. They were well aware of their movements, and had resolved upon tactics, calculated in the first place to puzzle the English commander, to wear out his troops, and to enable them finally to surprise and take him entirely at a disadvan- tage. The junction with the Arcot garrison raised the force under Olive's orders to three hundred and eighty English, thirteen hundred Sepoys, and six field-guns, while the enemy at Vendalur, a place twenty-five miles south of Madras, where they had a fortified camp, had four hundred French troops, two thousand Sepoys, two thousand five hundred cavalry, and twelve guns. Hoping to sur- prise them there Clive marched all night. When the force approached the town they heard that the enemy had disappeared, and that they had started apparently in several directions. The force was halted for a few hours, Vnd then the news was obtained that the enemy had united their forces at Conjeveram, and that they had marched away from that place in a westerly direction. Doubting not that they A i-RYLNO MARCH. 109 evening that rflive at Vendalur obtained inLZnce thtt the enemy had assembled at Conieveram ^h. w Ld reached PnS ^'' ^';™ ''»'"'<> '''«' them at onc^ ana reached Conjeyeram, twenty miles distant at (our m the morning Finding that the enemy had Lain Z ffilT'i ""f "'f'""^ the troops fo halt La few hours' They had already marched forty-five miles in tweltv fmr hours, a great feat when it is remembered that oX the fheo hf^T™ *'", " ^y way accustomed to fX„e the othera being newly raised levies. The ereater norH™ fr^ii^'^'' "^^ ^-^ -'-t^d withi^^t^f fS^^ thilVv?'* ''"?"•,?&■ Marryat, whether the French call this fighting; I ca 1 it playing hide and seek," T?m Ke^y said. Shure we've bin marching with on v a halt S wo or three hours since yisterday morning, ^d ml '° I'm shit rr„^* ^.^.-■'•"-k^ mf b'tsTffCe w J S fi^hTithTdonf 'the^ Z t^lZ l^ 71^ racmg a«d chasing aUt lil?e a U of wild )u seen the moonshee, Tira haoror --00 :age.' He is with the fi Jj,4, II If 1 il t i ,:)l i 1 1 1 i !' 1' 1 i |i .1' .11 i, til 'i ^ ' iiill;i< no A SURPRISE BY THK EN KMT. " Shure and I saw him," Tim said. " The cart come in juHt now, and there was he perched up on the top of it like a dried monkey. You don t want him to-ni<^ht, shure, yer honour." "Oh no, I don't want him, Tim. You'd better go now, and get to sleep at once it' you can, we may be off again at any minute.' Arcot is twenty-seven miles from Conjeveram. Clive felt certain that the enemy had gone on to that place, but, anxious aa he was for its safety, it was absolutely necessary that the troops should have a rest before starting on such a march. They were, therefore, allowed to rest until twelve o'clock, when, refreshed by their eight hours' halt and breakfast, they started upon their long march towards Arcot, making sure that tney should not find the enemy until they reacheil that place. Had Clive possessed a body of cavalry, however small, he would have been able to scour the country, and to make himself acquainted with the real position of the French. Cavalry are to a general what eyes are to a man, and without these he is liable to tumble into a pit- fall. Such was the case on the present occasion. Having no doubt that the enemy were engaged in attacking Arcot the troops were plodding along carelessly and in loose order, when, to their astonishment, after a six- teen-mile march, as they approached the town of Ka- varipak just as the sun was setting, a fire of artillery opened upon them from a grove upon the right of the road but two hundred and fifty yards distant. No- thing is more confusing than a surprise of this kiml, especially to young troops, and when no enemy is thought to be near. The French general's plans had been well laid. He had reached Kavaripak that morning, and allowed his troops to rest all day, and he expected to obtain an easy victory over the tired men who would. Unsuspicious of !!ii|l' A WELL-LAID TJ{AP. Ill calculations hud been corroff pn 7 *i t? ,. , nmu,ni,.i„u.i^ into t;:;:;7tu bf unt'' Iv'r';"'' Frfnch rruns we»-e nlacorl in « ; ^"*'' ^^welve facing fhe point" ? om^'whicl^ah;''"""'' ^'"'"" r''<^»- ran a deep ditch will, „ i. u i , 7"-'' "Pproacliin),', battery, Uody oTf enel^f.faSt,':^ '""'""g a regui,iy port of the gun8 with somlTl' ^ ""■""' '''"'^'^'1 "' -""P- tho grove. AralierwIlXroaJrth" fS?"' "^T' water-course now <.inr>t„ ■ i • ., ■ '"" '■a" a dui'p infantry were strtioned V^"" '" J'"' ""^ '•"^' "^ "' " Kavaripak.and al»ut anlt P"'."' '"""• *•"> t<»™ of than theg ove On eitheTS' f.?-""'^ ^"'^^"^ ^-^^ ene„,y haS placedt potrJitc:™ ^fl^r""'" ""^ fu.S; .Vpare'a:;tg tt E ^T^ "^ '"^^ ^^ <=- ever, ever cool iSd^nlient in i ^'^ """Pf <^"™- ''°«'- by his office«;ralh^d them at tnT' Th'' ^^".f^-'ded one of extreme dann.,. r* ^f', ^"^ position was but in the fa"e of XnemvT ^°'""'^^': ''^'^'"^' '" ''''f'^at, and possessing! po3la''hnH''".'"'*"f '7''"'* «»■" ation would fave ?»! a i ^^ "* ""^'-^^ «'« °Pe«- accomph-shed Twoud enta^ L r^"'"","""- ^'"'" « and prestige to Ws ro^™ mr?'""''!, '™1 "* ""^"^ they had b°een alwl™ZcessSfand°.Tl-'','!'\'?''*"g superiority adds iniuen^irM k 1\^?''°* "" ■>'' o™ so&er. Even sirH *^ ^ ° "? ^S""*'"? POW" of a way back to MaSthl. /""•*"' °*."'^ ''<»^« %bt ite one: and al hope S^slvin 'X'f ° "°1 '' ''''? ^"^ » '°" at an end. ^ ° ™^ TrichinopoU would have been andSi^^'VK wt°"".f "^°™ "P q-etly know and ^e wm dorag:?i!.:' '"" '°™y ''*-. ^u enemy's infant^^vanS nn ♦K^™".'"'- ^' "^^ ">e *el.*red by it 2 ^ro^t^ofThet^nn^^- '"''ll" »>v „en. cavalry sweeping down on ihe „the;7ir„f it I ' T'i Mi ( I fi { !i * ill iill"'!:!! I I I J- iiuilill iii m A STOUT RESISTANCB. mMiSi=*oxxrH&, menacing' hi.; left and threatiiiing his bag- gage. The guuH were at once broug-Ut up froui the rear, but btei'uia th*8e arrived the men were falling fast. Three of the g jns he placed to answer the French bat- tery, two of them he iiurried to his left with a small body of English and two hundred Sepoys, to check the advance of the enemy's cavalry. The main body of hi.s infantry he ordered into the water-course, which afforded them a shelter from the enemy's artillery. The baggage carte and baggage he sent half a mile to the rear, under the protection of forty Sepoys and a gun. While this was being done the enemy s fire was continuing, but his infantry advanc^^d but slowly, and had not reached a point abreast of the grove when the British force in the water-course met them. It would not seem to be a very important matter at what point in the water-course the infantry of the two opposing j)arties came into collision, but matters apparently trifling in themselves often decide the fate of battles ; and, in fact, had the French artillery retained their fire until their infantry were abreast of the grove, the battle of Kavaripak would have been won by them, and the British power in Southern India would have been destroyed. Clive moved confidently and reso- lutely among his men, keeping up their courage by cheer- ful words, and he was well seconded by his officers. " Now, lads," Charlie Marryat cried to the company of which he was in command, " stick to it. You ought to be very thankful to the French for saving you the trouble of having to march another twelve miles before giving you an opportunity of thrashing them." The men laughed and redoubled their fire on the French infantry, who Mere facing them in the wai course at a distance of eighty yards. Neither party liked to cbarge. The French commander knew that he had only t< -/jld his position to win the day. His guns were mowiL, f^own the English artillery-men. The ■C_™i;„X, ^a'^\' V '' A 1.' #i nf f ho wnfor-CQUrHA XI7lfVl diffi- ciilty h and w( fire, wl the bag to guar( might r fences, i The a ten o'clc advank;, fidence, t Clive sa The grov just possi ing a ser, bade hin make his cover whe twenty mj there was CJive at the men v, water-cour or the gToi the water-c the greater presence of longer rep] infantry, j I andinamiv r- :^'' this mt: I ^>^ had marl g^uessing wh °;and of .th( , officer, and h iJj^erejust a^ j -hrowing hL ' (197) A CRITICAL POSITION. to gunrJit He kZZ fr^Il'"S the little force toW^ fight make tonlS ^' t» ""^ ""'^■"Pt the Englfeh fencoa, „„,t j,,,,^.^^^^ ^the battery, with its strong^de ten oy^ot the" fiX tr '"« -^'^P^™*- It wa, „o «Jva„t»,e had^be^S'^tHe"" '"' '"""-" S: ficlenee,and the positiSnCTew ^ ■"*"""» losing con- aive aaw that there WMb.^r '"? """•« desperaS. The grove could not h7^ ■} .°"« "hance of vW„T just po^ible thatuJ^KV" '^^ '""'' hut 'S!^ -ng » sergeant who Zfe tfe T? '" ,">« '^a''. Choo^ "oter „? .r^ ."•ound to thf rcSrof *i> ^''■'"»"^« and ?;srthZr^^^f '«^ r t clZT" ='™4 SXr™"' "'"> thene^'thl? '^^, -n tro^la^ tg1;,''-r 0/ his EngHsh infantry irater-course and madf if- ' '^^"ot, and qfletlv leff */ ' of the grove. Before he hj*^ ''T'* '<"'a^df the ,1 the water-course, surprised at ^t"' ^^Ij^^ "ain bodyl the greater portion oHhe pt' ^^t V"^'^^" "ithdrawaf Tt presence of Clive himself b. *^ '? 'f"^ and missine thf :, V" a - .«te or two tht wo"m h'^^ "l" «- --t - htm"a^:d"\h''rd'' '^'"™" ^ ht tv^d t'^^-'f iTh-ovp:?- 1^ *^-® *'*ooPa had r.nr«.«„_ ''?®; ^e arrived I -^-g h:u,seif a.o-ng th.„: wirh'X„4"a™d"e^S ilJ V') I m 114 A BOLD STROKB FOR VKTTORY. tations he succeeded in arresting their flight and by ^surances that the battle wa^ as good as won elsewhere^ Tnd That they had only to hold their ground for a few m" longer to ensur^ victory, he got them to advance to their former position and to reopen fire on the French, who had fortunately, remained inactive instead of ad- vancinrand taking^^^^^^^ of the cessation of the "^Tnte^meantime Lieutenant Keene led ^-^ ^etf mei^^^^ makin<- a long circuit, to a point three hundred yaids ^mediately behind the grove. He then «ent forward one of his officers. Ensign Symmonds who ^^e F'^^^ nerfectlv to reconnoitre the grove. Symmonds had pro- ved but a little way when he came upon a kr^^^ mimber of French Sepoys, who were covering the rear ot ?he g?ove, bitwho, L their services were not required were shlltering themselves there from the random bullet Xh were fifing about. They at once challenged, but SvmmonraSwering them in French they being unab e tZreXs uniform in the darkness, and supposing him to Le a Fr^nchofficer, allowed him to advance. He passed boldly forward into the grove. He proceeded neary through it until he came within sight of the guns^ which were st^ll keeping up their fire upon those of the English S a huXd^rench infantry who were in support were all occupied in watching what was going on m front ""^S^monds returned to the detachment by a path te the S of that by which he had entered, and passed out wfSioui seeing^ soul. Lieutenant Keene ga^ ^h word to advance, and, following the guidance of Mr. i;mmonds. entered the grove He advanced unobsem^ ,.L\] wUbin thirtv vards of the enemy. Here he tiaitea ^d p"td rily into them The effect w^ i-t^^ taneous. Many of the French fell and the «st '«^nW -t *¥« ""Iflen a-nd unexpected attack, left their eons m | a"ed "Siityof them rudied for shelter into a bmiai^t III H i . .1^1 it, and by elsewhere, I for a few to advance the French, ead of ad- iion of the letachment, dred yards nt forward oke French ds had pro- ion a large ; the rear of ot required idom bullets Uenged, but )eing unable jsing him to He passed eded nearly guns, which the English, J in support, g on in front jy a path to ., and passed 3ne gave the lance of Mr. d unobserved ere he halted ; was instan- jst, astounded I beir guns and to a building i A COMPLETE SUCCESS. at the end nf iv, ^^^ grove was captured T?^ ' ^"'''' *^^^ Clive that ^^^^^^ fop Clive to attempt a pursuit H°^ " ^"^ i^msS sixty wereXt^r"* T 'f ^'"l ™ S ^^d^i!? ^ The moral effect of i^!- . ^ tiemseives to be cooped ^nt^'^t ^»P« had ^Jed 2 rack a blow in it, Tfen?e iff ""'?<'" ""^ ha" no? ^covered that the eSI .-4' ?»™'-ipak the „««"°' »« the French. mlJtHe^Te:^^^ «« Ti ""^ "®" somewhat stronger ii,: ill |te iniiij ! I ftefi «lfc,i;!! X16 TllICHlNOPOH TO BE REUKVKIX numerically than their rivals; they had double the force 'thfnteforth the natives o£ India -garde^ the En^Uh M a oeople to be feared and respected, and for the hrst time cSered their uHjmate triumph over the M ♦n he a Dossibilitv. As the policy of the native princes had^ve?ren to^ side with the strongest the advantage ?h^ glined to the English cause by the victory of '^r&tfXrgTa^V En.li.h^^ P-|s^n,^^ frl* L St David, ordering him to -turn there a once with all his troops, to march to ttie reiie . oi SiColi%here the ^ison was .reported to be m the sorest straits from want of provisions Ihe torce teLS Fort St. David on the 11th of March. Here renarationrwere hurried forward for the advance to Sh[nopoU. ^d in three days Clive was ready to start. Just as he was about to set out a ship arrived from Endand havmg on board some more troops, together wliMaior Lawrence and several officers some of whom were Sins senior to Clive. Major Lawrence, who LTalTeady proved his capacity and energy of course t^k commanS of the expedition, and treated Clive, who hTd served under him at the siege of Pondicherrv, and whte s™^ in the field had attracted his high^^^^^^^^ tion. as second in command, somewhat to the discontent nf ihc officers senior to him in rank. The foice consisted of four hundred Europeans, eleven hundred Sepoys and eight guns, and escorted a large ^lt.f nSons and%lores. During these mon^. ;toh the'diversion, caused by the attack ot Ku« oaoi. and J of Tr town. not b gover; montl ^crainec that i would only a with t] and or relief c and, in mamtai sands c hundre( fifty na: that wh of Lawr Thep occupy As the t mile apa could, nc Lawrenci upon hin as the F mander t his troop Law heai round a miseram, ever, after English a acted as c avoided tl ^« BLUNDERS OP THE niKNCH. ,,7 o?Trich^^^^^^^ to the besiege. towii In spite of all the orTrs ofVT- ^«?*"red°the not bring himself to attack thp f n™?"^^^?' ^^ ^^uld governor of Pondicheiry saw wff >, T' "^^ *^« ^'^nch months and a half ScHir ^1 r^^.*^** *h^ *wo gained for the besieJ^ v?.f u ^^°'*^ ^"^^ energy had that it waa probablf The whn?'%'°-*^^^^y ^^'^' and would be thro'wn awV H^^^^ ?"'*? ."^^^« ^^^ours on V a small force in front of S,°\^^'ected Law to leave witi the whole of hVamy aS^^^^^^^^ *« niarch and crush the forop u^\7^' ^ ^'^^^ ®^ Chunda Sahih relief o. Trichinopl. uHL^^'^^^^^^^^^^ toX and, ndeed, actedV dirt t con Sw'-^^'°^"y«d orders! maintained six hundred Fren^Sf'^''^'^^ *° *hem. He sands of native before tXT ^T^^ *"^ °^any thou- hundred and fif ty F^'^h ^^^^^ ?^"^ T' ^^^ '^o fifty natives-a force altoa!?^ -^ r* f^""^^ ^"°dred and that which it wa. sent o fnno^L^^^^^ '"^ numbers to of Lawrence's advancing coffn^*^ ^^^««* the progress i-he position which this Frpnnl, f occupy wa^ the fort of Mad? /'''"? ^^ ^^^««*ed to A3 the two branches of thltavar? w^^T^^l" P««i«o°. mile apart, had Law concenfm^ if'u-^T ^^^ half a could, no doubt, have sSsSlW ^" ^^'/^"^« ^ere he Lawrence, however wW !f ^ °PP°«^^ the English upon him, replied to tiem by thf f?' 1 .*^^ ^^'^ W as the French force wITiZ « .^''! °^his artillery, and mander to fight S irTf,.^"®*'^* *« ^^able its com- his troops a'nd%t"v ^ tsS^^r.r.^^^^ *^ t^"e Law heard this he marked on? ^^* .*^? ^°^t- When round a lofty and Xnff • * ^'?? ^^^^^ his position miseram, andVep;r:^to ?r^^^^^^^^^ T^ ^^^^ed eT ever after passing Koilad? hl?K "•^•- ^^^^ence, how- EngHsh and fift^ dr^nrL^l^^'u^^ ^^ ^ hundred acted as miW]^. i^/y^.^. *^?m Irichmopoli. T»^«.^ -ded the .„„eh PoaUion":!^^^^ jljl^t^^ 118 THE SIEOB RAISED. . I ii;;:ilHi r ' , ' f! two hundred Europeans and four hundred Sepoys from Trichinopoli, and with a body of Maratta cavalry under Murari Keo. Law having failed to attack the English force upon its march, now, when its strength was nearly doubled, suddenly decided to give battle, and advanced against the force which, wearied with its long march, had just begun to prepare their breakfast. The French artil- lery at once put the Maratta cavalry to flight. Lawrence called the men again under arms, and sent Clive forward to reconnoitre. He found the French infantry drawn up with twenty-two guns, with large bodies of cavalry on either flank. Opposite to the centre of their position was a large caravansary, or native inn, with stone buildings attached. It was nearer to their position than to that occupied by the English, and Clive saw at once that if seized and held by the enemy's artil- lery, it would sweep the whole ground over which the English would have to advance. He galloped back at full speed to Major Lawrence, and asked leave at once to occupy the building. Obtaining permission he advanced with all speed to the caravansary with some guns and infantry. The negligence of the French in allowing this move- ment to be carried out was fatal to them. The English artillery opened upon them from the cover of the inn and buildings, and to this fire the French in the open could reply only at a great disadvantage. After a cannonade lasting half an hour, the French, having lost forty European and three hundred native soldiers, fell back, the English having lost only twenty-one. Disheartened at this result, utterly disappointed at the failure which had attended his long operations against Trichinopoli, without energy or decision. Law at once raised the siege of the town, abandoning a great portion of his baggage, and destroying great stores of ammunition and supplies, crossed an arm of the Kavari and took post in the great r — 1.KJL f^i. fled i. .!_ _iJ O , bcuipic ui. »ocr iiig UlU. Pill u Hi w A STEP IN RANK. j-g polM^^^^^^ besieged in Trichino- the exultation o/Muhammud ilf %T ^^*'^^«' ^^^ was no less. ^^nammud Ali and his native allies kii&t"on?Sf%t"?^^^ the siege, had been took place with thrFrench '^''^'^ ""^^^ occasionally oWst^^^^^^ the large numbers of S reSuit^ If • °' '""y^^}^'^' and to step in rank. They were nni?- .""^ '^''^^' ^^^^i^ed a manded a body o^f Se'Tfw"*r^^> ^"^ ^^^^ com- Charlie's request Tim ^i?^n ^^"^ hundred strong. At company Tnratowe? to tUn'wt't^' '^^^ ^^^ servant. After the retreat of fT^ *^ ^'°^ ^« so^^ier down of the English fbrce in tt 1?'"''?^ ^^? *^« ''^^^^S Charlie and his^riend ^nter,. fc^^^^ surprised at the tempL Tid llT i?^^^^'' ^^^ ^^re very inferior to TanTore a^lP^^'^' *^''^"- ^^^ough to the cities of the noSwest S InZ^^ 'T ^^P^rable far more important oii^ Z ..' Tnehmopoli was a They ascended tTeioffvt^^^^ «eea summit, which looked LiMn.l'^'l'*"^. ^H ^^'^ ^'^ ^^^ garrison, it should be im^re;;«S]^ ^f^'t °* ^ ^^^^l"*® in which this rock ^^wtff ^i^^^*^^^• The manner others lying LSt^nli "^ *^^* °* Elmiseram and them with^sSprfse ' for 'uf ""l ^'T *^^ P^^^' AM fortresses are coSon enoul^^^^ J^^ni ^"*"'^^ ^^^^ without an exampTeSi Enrfi I^?*' ^.^'^ ^^« almost out. If these fellows c^^^^^ ^^ ^ t^rninf work and wsr-^ - ^?}^ *^"* ^^ht as well as ^h-- » a^d wer« .u. united among themselves/ni^ only 120 A QUESTION WAITING FOR THE ANSWER. Bliould we be unable to set a foot in India, but the em* peror, with the enormous a,rmies which he would be able to raise, would be able to threaten Europe. I suppose they never have been really good fighting men. Alex- ander, a couple of thousand years ago, defeated them, and since then the Afghans and other northern peoples have been always overrunning and conquering them. I can't make it out. These Sepoys, after only a few weeks' training, fight almost as well as our own men. I wonder how it is that, when commanded by their own country- men, they are able to make so poor a fight of it. We had better be going back to camp again, Peters, at any moment there may be orders for us to do something. With Major Lawrence and Clive together we are not likely to stop here long inactive." '11 iimiii!!! TH« BHVIR0N8 Of TBICHIMOPOH, to iUuitrate the MUiUry Operatiou* ox I7&l-i793- CHAPTER X THE FALL OF SERINOAM. [lTHOUGH called an isknri cj • f^et a long narrow CSe'ofT^n ''■ '^ between tlie two branches ofl'"''^^"^ W Wred^Sapi^^^^^^^^^ alt b^a^ defended against ^Jh.1 , '^^^^^ can therefore hA retreat of tf e ^en^ bv t^t r ^'°^ *^« ^^^d. Bui the Ijf'' Fp°° *^« soutCur forces ^^T ^u? "^^^^ ^^om the French across the river TT^. fi? Trichmopoli faced Kolnm, as the norther^ rrSi ofe *^' ^^^^^ «^^« «f tie French couJd cross thT ri^r Li^ ^.^"^^^ ^« ^"^d, the necessary, in a^ydirectioaThtf ""^^^ *-^i' retreat if ever led from iichlndS a strn^ f S^P^^ ^^^^^^ how- the bank of the ny^,t;,^'^T^ /'''^'^^^ Positi^jn on Clive saw that a f^^ce crS !^ ^"^^^^ °^ Seringam fts position on the north ^oll^pnr T^'' ^""^ <^kin| up m the island, would iS^^ent^^^^^^^^ off Law's am| ^upJeix to its rescue and Xu^''^^°^?^°^«^e«ts sent by ho whole French army ThTa^f^lTP"^ *^^ surrender of dangerous ona The French W^* '^°"^^' <^f courae, be a than the English/and wer^tT^'^^.'^'^J^^^^^^ystro^ portions, entirely iuToff from et^^^^^ divided into two Wween them Lin^fJ^T^t tV^ P-nt -M have an opportunit^of t^^^^wJ^tL '^e^ 122 A BOLD DE'^BRMINATION. I! ri, ,(ll iiliii upon one after the other. This danger would have been 80 great that, had the French been commanded by an able and active officer, the attempt would never have been made. Law, however, had shown amply that he had neither energy nor intelligence, and Major Lawrence therefore accepted Clive's proposal. ^ . v iu But to be successful it was necessary that both portions of the English force should be well commanded. Major Lawrence felt confident in his own capacity to withstand Law upon the southern bank, and in case of necessity he could fall back under the guns of Trichm- opoli. He felt sure that he could, with equal certainty, confide the command of the other party to Captain Cliye. There was, however, the difficulty that he was the junior captain present, and that already great jealousy had been excited among his seniors by the rank which he occupied in the councils of Lawrence. Fortunately the difficulty was settled by the native allies. Major Lawrence laid his plans before Muhammud Ali and his allies, whose co-operation and assistance were absolutely necessary. These, after hearing the proposal, agreed to g^^e their assistance, but only upon the condition that Clive should be placed in command of the expeditionary party. They had already seen the paralysing efiects of the incapacity of some English officers. Clive's defence of Arcot and the victories of Ami and Kavaripak had excited their intense admiration, and caused them to place unbounded confidence in him. Therefore they said, "If Captain Clive commands we will go. Unless he commands we do not." Major Lawrence was glad that the pressure thus placed upon him enabled him, without incurring a charge of favouritism, to place the command in the hands of the officer upon whom he most relied. On the nighh of the 6th of April Clive set out with a force composed of for:r hundred English, seven hundred Sepoys, three thousand Maratta cavalry, a thousand Tanjore cav- -1 _i_ i:~vi ~,,w»^ ».».f) f«rrt ]ioQ\r»r nriAR Dpscfindinc the THE FRENCH HEMMED IN. j . town nine Jlesl^HrofZ^iT^^'^}'' Samieaveram a roads from the north and e^r^^rt '^^ ^^^^^^^^ndin^he made m time. DupJeix utwL I-^^ "^^^ement wa^^just resolved to displace hS D'/ ?'«?"«*ed with Law Cd had of sufficient high rank t^taV^V^' \^' °^^3^ ^^cer he Kr "%rpIoye3 beTayed InvillF^"^^' ^^^ °«* when It appeared, nevertheless that hpfo^r^''^^^'" capacity, to Law. On the 10th of Aprif tWf * ^T"*^ 4erio^; P Auteuil with a hundred «ni\f°'"®' ^^ despatched hundred Sepoys, ^^Xr^'^'y ^^ench, a^d fi^e Sermgam. where he was to tS^^fT, "^ * ^^^^^ convoy to arnved within fifteen miles of %«-''"'"'^^^- ^^^^ he that Chve had possessio^ofthafv^r'"^^""^'"' he learned upon a cireuitU rout^by wL'cfe '"\^^ ^^ with his plans in order thpf ?! • Cl^^ *^ acquaint him a diversion. ""'^'^ *^** ^« °^^ght aid him by making afte/ri^'arri^aTlTs^^^^^ ^^^" ^^ ^ork. On the dav ^ured the t^m^lf'SurtV?/^^^^^^^^^ 7"age and the island TTeV^i""^^ ^"^^"^^ *^« stood on rising ground «n^ ^^"'P^^ was lofty and cTbl^^. ^ "a'nT-iC'rrd"'-^^^^^ ^-ngetf tSe established a sJotbI med the muffotttf °^,3'"' the f°"owing'^day he th? north bank of the^^ef tt "^'t ^*' «tnateT„n Pmchandah, which now rem^n*7? '"]^^' *» «ie east of from the island. ^ """""^^ ^^'s only place of exit tions:'Sed1rL"fe^<'«» <» ^^ of his inten ^^d tothewestwhicted^r'jf- ''f '^"^ V » Samieaveram to Paichandah a vi"" ^ 'n»ve%ound hh^ ^."e*" and set off witJ, v%'*P'""'l <>ne «f ' "' "'"" "■«--■". »d not 't^"z ^j': I 134 A NIGirr SURPRISE. battle in the open with a superior force, fell back to Utatua, while Clive returned to Samieaveram. Law, too, had received news of Olive's movement Here wa^ a chance of retrieving the misfortunes of the camnaiga Paichandah being still in his hands, he could sally ou. with his whole force and that of Chunda Sahib, seize Samieaveram in Olive's absence, and extend his hand to D'Auteuil, or fall upon Olive's rear. Instead of this he repeated the mistake he had made before Tnchmopoli; and instead of marching out with his whole force, he sent only eighty Europeans, of whom forty were deserters from the English army, and seven hundred Sepoys. The English returned from their march against D'Auteuil. The greater portion of the troops were housed in two temples, a quarter of a mile apart, known as the Large and Small Pagoda. Olive with several of his officers was in a caravansary close to the Small Pagola. Charlie s company were on guard, and, after paying a visit to the sentries and seeing that all were on the alert, he retti'-.-ed to the caravansary. The day had been a long one, and the march under the heat of the sun very fatiguing. There was therefore but little conversation, and Charlie, finding on his return from visiting the sentries that his leader and the other officers had already wrapped them- selves in their cloaks and lain down to rest, imitated their example. Half an hour later the French column arrived at Samieaveram. The officer in c6irimand was a daring and determined man. Before reaching the place he had heard that the English had returned, and finding that he had been forestalled, he might well have returned to Law. He determined, however, to attempt to surprise the camp. He placed his deserters in front, and when the column, arriving near the Sepoy sentinel, was challenged, the officer in command of the deserters, an Irishman, stepped forward, and said that he had been sent by Major Lawrence to the support of Captain Olive. As the other English-speaking soldiers now came up me aauwjf aiiti uaviyo omv^.r t.w-! A SCENB OF CONFUSION. ,«. Without interruption the cohfrin ^"^^i«'\«f the camp. ines of sleeping Sepoys and M«r..'°^''^"^ °" through the heart of the vfZe Jf^,^^*^^^ »««! they reachfd lenged. They replied ^Hh a voHovT ""T ^^^^^ ^^^al- caravansary and another into h^ ^^ musketry into the rushed into the pagoda b'^i° * -^ ^S^^^^ Then thev . Charhe. who h^st drTped "I * > ''"'^^ '^^'^ feet. a. did the otLoSwh?^"^"'^'.^^^^^ noise and suddenness of the atiacX"' '^''^"''^ V the ?tood what was happening Clitl' °*^^^ scarcely under- judgment grasped tG sTtu^Sn /*'*' ^'^^ ^^^ ready he said calmly: " there is no fi ° ** °^'^' " ^^entlemen^ t>on of the Great Pagoda Fnn"^ ^^^"^ ^'^ ^^ the direc- Snatching up thd? arms fhlZ '"^ J^^''^ »* o«ce." run. The whole vil We™a^^! °®°^^« ^^"owed him at a The firing round thefagT^a and T "^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ tinuous. The MarattaSemen l.T^T^'^ '^ ^^'"^ c«n- saddles and riding away ouHnf n ?K '^T^^'^^ ^^*« their were running hither and fluf ^^^ P^*^°' the Sepoys found the soldiers tumit out ^nd ^' '^' P^»^«^- ^e ordering his officers to do fW u^^' ^^'"S' ^nd CJive troops in good ord^r LaL ^the ent *' ''^1^ '^' ^^^^ forward towards the camva^atv w^^ \* °"'^ '"^^^d hsh troops. On arrivingTwe L^n ^T ^"^^''^^ Eng- Sepoys firing away at random ^IlT-'^ ^^"^^ ^^^y Sf own men, for the French an^En^HrJ?^ *^"°^ *° ^« his dressed in white, he halted the S\ ^'5'^' ^^^^ ^^ike them, and rushed aC. them ^^S ^- r ^ ^^'^^ their panic, striking them° and^'r//- '''i''^ ^^^"^ for to cease firing and to form In ""^^^^""^ them instantly officers recogSizedciiveS he a'i^En 1^^ °^ *^^ ^ep^; cCe'sTiHr ^-,-th tTworf ^^^^-' «*-^ -' furiou^kf wha^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ -e of his own men, waa ^d an act of inr ' • - ' "* dragged him duiation, and considered him an act of insolent across m isubor- to the ■i 126 ALL AT SEA. £.^ ■" Small Pagoda to hand him over, as he supposed, to the guard there. To his astonishment he found six French- men at the gate, and these at once summoned him to surrendei. Great as was his surprise, he did not for a moment lose coolness, and at once told them that he had come to beg them to lay down their arms, that they were surrounded by his whole army, and that unless they surrendered his troops would give no quarter. So im- pressed were the Frenchmen with the firmness of the speaker that three of them at once flui-rendered, while the other three ran into the temple to inform their com- Clive took the three men who had surrendered, and returned to the English troops he had left near the cara- vansary. The French Sepoys had discovered that the Encrlish were enemies, and had moved quietly off. Con- fusTon still reigned. Clive did not imadne for a moment that so daring an assault could have been made on his camp by a small body of enemies, and expected every moment an attack by Law's whole force. The com- mander of the French in the pagoda was disturbed by the news brought in by the three men from the gate, and despatched eight of his most intelligent men to ascertain exactly what was going on. These, however, fell into the hands of the English, and the officer of the party, not know- ing that the Small Pagoda was in the hands of the French, handed them over to a sergeant, and told him to take a party and escort his eight prisoners and the three Captain Clive had captured to that pagoda for confinement there. Upon arrival at the gate the Frenchmen at once joined their comrades, and these latter were also so bewildered at the affair that they allowed the English sergeant and his guard to march off again unmolested. By this time, owing to the absence of all resistance else- where, Clive had learnt that the whole of the party who had entered the camp were in the Lesser Pagoda, and, as he was stili expecting momeutariiy to be attacked by Lav/ s A MlRAOULotrs gsCAPa jj. could enter abreVt. cC Si ""« '"'' ""'^ "^o »«" 80 well did the rrench , 7fl 1 i ""r" '" '^e attack but «n officer and fiSr,^e^Cl 1^^'^ ™'-''^*' "''" '^-^g morning. " "■*"• •-''™ determined to wait till ^'t^^^yZ'^lfZ^Zf'i^l >>« -aa surrounded, cutting a way through «L *^,"'^"'"'' ■■"^o'ved unon out from the Lnprt fierce howi'''°'" '''^ ""^^ ^ which the English recJved hjm tT„?*' T "'' «■•« -^"h were^.neta.t,y killed, and iC ^^Z^Z^ ^^'^^^ -fcitectrtiJLroTbr '. -?"'^ -»- ™- gateway and entered the porch ^nS?'*' *''™'"='"' '« 'he self so faint from the loss of hW^ /" ^f-""' He was him- could not stand alone but lL„.^^ ''''■"' ^" """""^^ that he by two sergeants. The offiTr 1^'°^'," """' ^PPo^ed came out to parley, but afiri,? ™*"''."'g ""e deserters levelled his m^,ske^' and'i^XriT ^^.^'t^*' "P™ ^iive 4S;1i^^'''-''^"»<'thetw:st,^Zts.bower^ ^ fh" W""'™ '«Vr r dt^^S"-' «* «>« con. that he had determined to dtfj .?'"'"' "• <""i stated solely for the sake™ the de«e,l™ ?•* P°^' '» 'he last of their officer had released hT.^'r' ^1 ""a' 'he conduct he now therefore suSered^> "^ "'a'<'hligation,a^d broke and Clive saw that w *" '"^'ant ' «-''P'^'='e'( tl e French Sepoys. These ZH^ ^?''f "> ?'"«"» of P-eces, and not one man of X ,°''"="'*a\en and cut to ^spatched against CU™ retu™edT„%r'''^'l ^""^ ^ad Mglish loss was heavy Ths I^! » ° ""* '»land. The e"pan.ts of the Sn>m^-pJ^^^^^'.PortU>n of the oc! ^-« whea they »t„ed. and^ te^eX^: I'i ,i 128 LAST ATTEMPT TO RAISE THE SIEGE. * 1 1 killed in the attack, it is probable that at least one-fourth of the English force under Clive were killed. Clive's own escapes were extraordinary. In addition to those of being killed by the French Sepoys, among whom he ran by mistake, and of death at the hands of the treacherous deserter, he had one almost as close when the French fired their volley into the caravansary. A box at his feet was shattered, and a servant who slept close to him was killed. Some days passed after this attack without any fresh movement on either side. Major Lawrence then deter- mined to drive back D'Auteuil. He did not despatch Clive against him, as this would involve the risk that Law might again march out to surprise Samieaveram. He therefore directed Clive to remain at that place and watch the island while he sent a force of a hundred and fifty English, four hundred Sepoys, five hundred Marattas, with four guns to attack D'Auteuil from his own force, under Captain Dalton. This officer in the advance marched his troops near Samieaveram, and, making as much show with them as he could, impressed D'Auteuil with the idea that the force was that of Clive. Accordingly he broke up hi camp at Utatua in the night, abandoned his stores, and retreated hastily upon Valconda. Dalton then marched to Samieaveram, and placed his force at Clive's disposal, and, to prevent any disputes arising as to pre- cedence and rank, offered himself to serve under him as a volunteer. Not only D'Auteuil but Law was deceived by Dalton's march. From the lofty towers of Seringam he saw the force marching towards Utatua, believed that Clive with his whole force had left Samieaveram, and did now what he should have before done, crossed the river with all his troops. Clive's look-out on the temple of Man- surpet perceived what was going on and signalled the news to Clive, who at once set out with his whole force, saveram. THE SURRENDER OF LAW. 129 fouStTulf fSr^ha::* *^' P'""^- I-"^ "igW ^tiU have thaS hiTremy but h^ w. ^o?*^; »« he was^r stronger and want of e^'er^'lI^J'S*'" *^« l'"'™ of indecisfon back across the rifT^ a"ain '' ^^ ^'"*»" ">°"«and crossed the Kavari I^^y.^ f"/}l^ ^^^^ ^^^ easily whose force Therrnotw£.2H%" '?P°° ^^'^^o- Chunda Sahib in v^ b^Ze? h i'' t "*^"" *" ''^ °™- tation continued unffl S^ r!° ''° *"• His hesi- DAuteuiUbatLw&i^ *•"> ™™nder of Law at once surrendiedW^^tf ^?*fT^' thereupon the life of ChundtlSst^fdtta "mfS "!"* a^'eXlonhe^^i^hlfT™'^*^ ^"f"'-^ p'^eS'tl intrigued sLte lf^r5.til*"S;r"Jh 'f ^^T' *™- All or the EnMish whom Tl j *, *° Muhammud enemies. S hepTaced Mnf^f'^^'^ *" ?'» implacable would have been safe H» 1 ' '".°". hands his life -^-J'*-?ntent?!^rhrf„? .-.'ri'-'^-*- ^.;^ tne tall of Seringam terminatea iie'^Sto / 'fl ^^ i m "' 130 THE MASTERSHIP OF THE CARNATIO. the supremacy of the Camatic between the English and French, fighting respectively on behalf of their puppets, Muhammud All and Chunda Sahib. This stage of the struggle was not a final one, but both by its circumstances and by the prestige which we acquired in the eyes of the natives it gave us a moral ascendency which even when our fortunes were afterwards at their worst was never lost again. Muhammud Ali had himself gained but little in the struggle. He was indeed nominally ruler of the Camatic, but he had to rely for his position solely on the support of the English bayonets. Indeed the promises of wb*3h he had been obliged to be lavish to his native allies to keep them faithful to his cause, when that cause seemed all laut lost, now came upon him to trouble him, and so precarious was his position that he was obliged to ask the English to leave two hundred English troops and fifteen hundred of their Sepoys to protect the place against Murari Reo and the Rajahs of Mysore and Tanjore. The fatigues of the expedition had been great, and when the force reached the sea-coast Major Lawrence was forced to retire to Fort St. David to recover his health, while Olive, whose health had now greatly broken down, betook himself to Madras, which had, when the danger of invasion by the French was at an end, become the headquarters of the government of the presidency. There were, however, two French strongholds dangerously near to Madras, Covelong and Chengalpatt. Two hundred recruits had just arrived from England, and five hundred natives had been enlisted as Sepoys. Mr. Saunders begged Clive to take the command of these and reduce the two fortresses. He took with him two twenty-four pounders, and four officers, of whom two were Charlie Marryat and Peters, to both of whom Clive was much attached, owing to their courage, readiness, and good humour. Covelong was first attacked. It mounted thirty guns and was garrisoned by fifty French and three hundred Sepoys. "I aonS liKe ihe lOOk O ttUlugs, mj:. wuaiicS, ill Tim t^SmDINESS OP NW LEVIES. Kelly said: "there's n^+i,- i. and black. Does it stanS'J!? "* ^"^'^ ^^*«^«*her white aa a shred of faith avther in f?. P' ^^"^ ^^^^n't Is much are fit to fight the F^enZ^ *^'^^^^^^ «- ^^eir office^, ^h I don't know, Tim "" Ch. i- . , a« plucky as men in thS; S^'^^«f ^d. "Boys are just And that is so Mr r>,„ i boys to dale with"' bui 2^lfc^''«" the/ve only other some tnne before theyVe o^f?''* ^^'"8 »P they taki ^.«f- That's what ilis ^e^hT" *\'^'^ « match fo? w.n see it soon." "' ^" ''<"'<"»•. I tell ye, and you iims predictions were «n„ji morning after they arrived LtV^^^^- The very and lied away from thlflV'cir'^^t".'^ '» t^dr hlX threw h^rnself among tht» aSd fn'"'"'' "'''^« "ffioe™ attempted to turn tie S t? " '"""^ time in vain several had been cut dol tw T "°'' "deed, CtU and they were broughtCk .„ tt- ''?' ''^^ «^eS Chengalpatt ISv: thTp^^'^'A^r --''^^ from to continue the siege, and w fh ij,"^! ''*' ''a'* his for«e offered battle to the r^Ikvlrf ""^ ^^' marehed out and as usual prevailed w1a\u^ ^°'"^- faring and confilt^I doubt th^y ZIJ h^;,^ l';VS-''*'^4 ''«" fe Theywere.however,cowedbvf,! /V?'^ '«"«» *» Afeht ^treated hastily ir^ovefc civ*^? "*'''''»«. and - -urth day of the ^le^WpltX^^^rf^n^^' 132 OLIVE RETURNS TO ENGLAND. afterwards the enemy from Chengalpatt, ignorant of the fall of the fort, again advanced, and Clive met them with his whole force. Taken by surprise they suffered heavily. Clive pursued them to the gates of their fort, to which he at once laid siege. Fortunately for the English, the com- mander of this place, like him of Covelong, was cowardly and incapable. Had it not been so, the fort, which was very strong, well provisioned, and well garrisoned, might have held out for an indefinite time. As it was it surrendered on the fourth day, and CHve took possession on the Slst of August. He returned to Madras, and there, a short time afterwards, married Miss Maskelyne. Finding his health, however, continuing to deteriorate, he sailed for Europe in February, 1753. It was but five years since he had first taken up arms to defend Fort St. David, an unknown clerk without prospects and without fortune, utterly dis- contented and disheartened. Madras was in the hands of the French. Everywhere their policy was triumphant, and the soil surrounded b^ the walls of St. David's alone remained to the English m Southern India. In the five years which had elapsed all had changed. The English were masters of the Carnatic. The French were broken and discredited. The English were regarded by the natives throughout the country as the coming power, and of this great change no slight portion was due to the energy and genius of Clive himself. CHAPTER XI AN IMPORTANT MISSION. St'tto^f :;^^^^^^^ -' the expedition received a note^from ^0^^^^^^**' Charlie anguage with some facility." ^ *h** iJ^o^^ speak the "S C^ ^°®* ^ fluently -'—«'*. — ^"wwiedge of the IBS n /*, 134 INSTRUCTION FOR THE MISSION. This was indeed the case. Peters had but little natural aptitude for foreign langu&,ges, and after working hard for a time with the moonshee he found that he was making so little progress in comparison with Charlie that he lost heart; and although he had continued his lessons with the moonshee, he had done so only to the extent of an hour or so a day, whereas Charlie had devoted his whole leisure time to the work. ^ " The facts of the case are these, Mr. Marryat. Owing to the failure of Muhammud Ali to fulfil the ridiculously onerous terms extorted from him by some of his native allies during the siege of Trichinopoli, several of them are in a state of discontent, which is likely soon to break out into open hostilities. The Rajahs of Mysv/f e and Tanjore are, 1 have learned, already in communication with Pondicherry, and will, I believe, shortly acknowledge the son of Chunda Sahib, whom Dupleix has declared ruler of the Carnatic. Murari Reo has already openly jomed the French. Their influence in the Deccan is now so great that Bussy may be said to rule there. Now, there is a chief named Boorhau Reo, whose territory lies among the hills, and extends from the plain nearly up to the plateau land of the Deccan. His position, like that of many of the other small rajahs, is precarious. In days like the present, when might makes right, and every petty state tries to make profit out of the constant ware at the expense of its neighbour, the position of a chief surrounded by half a dozen others more powerful than himself is by no means pleasant. Boorhau Reo feels that ha is in danger of being swallowed by the nizam or by the Marattas, and he earnestly desires to ally himself with us, believing, 8B he says, that we are destined to be masters here. I have assured him that, although Ratified at his expressions of friendship, we can enter into no alliance with him. The position of his territory would enable him to be of great assistance to us in any war in which the whole force of the Deccan, controlled aa it is at tie natural king hard it he was larlie that bis lessons ) extent of svoted his t. Owing diculously his native f them are break out id Tanjore upleix is of the chiefs lafey our amis hT"'^^^^^^ ^^^7 declared against LVr are i^ ^ ^T.J"«t said"^ the question for us to Sfnt ? ^ ^"^ ^°' ^^ '^ is out of removed from us"^ C ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ? chief so far that we greatly dSrVhirf^i J^ v '' u^''''^^"^' ^^^^ him powerless^ to proS him ^W??^^^^ ^'^ ^^ Present northern neighbours He f.n^ ?• ^? ^,' attacked by his his men aftef the European CS''^^^^""^ *^ ^^^^^ Sepoys are a match fo? five times V^ ''t ^^** °^^ untrained troops of the Man ^^ces " '""^'" ^' *^^ writS%^Sfir sVM"*-r^'!.- I ^-e English officer capable Jf S- ^^" ^^^^ *o him an ani whose ad^r^y teTsffuf t^^^^^^^ ^^^ *^°«P«' occasions: but that «/»; ^! 1 *° ^^"^ "Pon all received a British offi^^rf!, '* ^°°^° that he had train his troops ft ^ou d exdteTh '^^^f ^ ^^"^ to of Bussy and of the Pa lit u® J'J^tant animosity iliar with the I~! S^^^^^^ '^^^^ «^^d «^e fam^ Captain Clive haTslfon^v I "^^^ P«fa as a native, difficult mission." ^ ^ recommended you for this -^ol^eXlo^^^^^ - native. The in speaking." "''^''^^^ correctmg mistakes which I make a ztifiLtt ari^dif^^;'"* *^- - passed upon nineteen ortbp?« .' ^"""^ Z'^" ^^"^d be tbem afi Lon^nr^ '^!! l!5!.*_^^.^ty peoples who speak 136 PARTING FROM AN OLD FRIEND. k\\ %8l!!i| "If you think, sir, that I shall do,^' Charlie said, "1 shall be glad to undertake the mission." "Very well, Mr. Marryat, that is understood then. You will receive full instructions in writing, and will understand that your duty is not only to drill the troops of this chief, but to give him such advice as may suit his and our interests, to strengthen his good feeling towards us, and to form as far as possible a compact little force which might at a critical moment be of in:mense utility. You will, of course, master the geography of the country, of which we are all but absolutely ignorant, find out about the passes, the mountain paths, the d'^fensille positions. All these things may some day be of the liigLest impor- tance. You will have a few days to make your arrange- ments and settle as to the character you will adopt. This you had better do in consultation with some one who thoroughly understands the country. It is intended that you shall go down to Trichinopoli with the next convoy, and from there make your way to the stronghold of Boorhau." "Shall I take any followers with me?" "Yes," Mr. Saunders said. "As you will go in the character of a military adventurer who has served among our Sepoys long enough to learn European drill, you had better take two, three, or four men, as you like, with you as retainers. You might pick out two or three trusty men from the Sepoys you command." Charlie left Government House in high spirits. It was certainly an honour to have been selected for such a post. It was quite possible that it would be a dangerous one. It was sure to be altogether different from the ordinary life of a subaltern in the Company's army. Peters was very sorry when he heard from Charlie that they were at last to be separated. It was now nearly two years since they had first met on board the Lizzie Anderson, and since that time they had been constantly together. Charlie '^rha'^Sj TIM VRGJSa HIS CLAIMa jgy given him perhaps SmtshV?/^^ ^''"" *» P^**". had advantage. His fM>\S • ? ' *"'* *'"">»» imperceDtible Keily hid beei'STothL-'S'irT'''"'* toLcffi Oiarlie would have dem'ed u'^h Ltf/fr'' ^""^ »'">»°gh that he generally took the h^^^ there was no doult accustomed to \L. upon him ».;^^ .""j' '"'" '"'"^ waa for the initiativr It wL th^^f *" '»"'' *» him always Peters to find that Chlriie wf T *. '*™''» "ow to detached service. L foj Tim Kelt^i;' *° *"> =»' <>» ai^r:LJ:^ ■"« '■-^ JS.^^^ a-ps a poor ry tt?a:;^' ^f tet'^l '"e heart to lave montha Tim KellvwonM „?^^5^ ™'* ^?y *»' «ghteen and ye wouldn't gfaTdtte^fe^^h^v" J"'' "^^ ^« 7^- alone among these^lack ^^'"onhfw^ir. *"' «"^ words of the languor How th^" "^"^ '^^ *«" pass undetected. S.&;er^a^^:%T;^ ^ ^^'^^ bar!;' /o^ S'^S-S""'" "' *" »'Xer honour, answtdt..^Sf,«^„^',J?^<»r V"'" Charlie ■mracle would silent yJ„S^*t W',"'^ short of a Tim, and I will Ullr *C xl *^*- ^"' 'eave us now should be gS et^A toT*"' °™' ^"l" ^- ^^^'^ I arrange if^ ^^ ^ ''»™ you with me if we could aak?d\r:Snrto**5,?d^'°-*''^\'=.»?'-^- <»d ^ adopt with feast ris" o^ ^L^'^'t^?''* ^^^^ «<"Jd that he might pass as a bS Th«. ?!!°r^v^ '^P'^^'^ a dialect quite distinct from that „HJ^'" *"^ 'f^^ fem and the moonshe;Tid*l'.f .•f*\%P«°Ii'« ""'"'^ Charue wouw be able to p.«. an^h^?;°''^f„/'^^ ' i 138 THE MOONSHBE's OPINION OF TIM. people, provided always that he did not meet with another of the same race. "You might assert," he said, "that your father had taken service with some rajah on the f lain, and that you had there learned to speak the language, n this way you would avoid having to answer any difficult questions regarding your native place; but as to that, you can get up something of the geography before you leave." " There are several Bheels among our Sepoys," Charlie said. " I can pick out three or four of them who would be just the men for me to take. I believe they are gener- ally very faithful and attached to their officers." When Tim again entered the room he inquired anxiously if his master hit upon any disguise which would suit l."ra. "What do you say, Mr. Moonshine?" Tim said. The moonshee shook his head. Between these two a perpetual feud had existed ever since the native had arrived at Arcot to take his place as a member of Charlie's establishment. In obedience to Charlie's stringent orders Tim never was openly rude to him; but he never lost an opportunity of making remarks of a disparaging nature as to the value of Charlie's studies. The moonshee, on his part, generally ignored Tim's existence altogether, addressing him, when obliged to do so, with a ceremonious civility which annoyed Tim more than open abuse would have done. " I think," he said gravely in reply to Tim's demand, " that the very worshipful one would have most chance of escaping detection if he went in rags, throwing dust on his hair and passing for one afflicted." " And what does he mean by afflicted, Mr. Charles?" the Irishman said wrathfully, as the two young officers laughed. " He means one who is a born fool, Tim." Tim looked furiously at the moonshee. " It would," the latter said sententiously, " be the char- acter which the worshipful one would support with the greatest ease." "1 "but name I mi^ "B talkii impos go, as with , him, i you 01 "I( "Ai you q as in s of cour nesses, "No too har any ma a year i Charles i-hat tic my chai It wa Peters, ^ to a po to his £ that he ^ its intric and pun the disgi Sepoys V character their cost Sepoys ii dress in tl 1 A DISGUISE PIXED TJTOK J39 name isn't Tim Kelly l"" T ,° *^''^ ^^^^ ^^ my I rni,ht represent- delf^dt m^ ''' ^^^-^' '^'^ impossible you could^go as a dti^H^""""''! X ^^'' ^^^^^ with just sense enouXfn „ ^^If-witted sort of cfap him., b^ut with nreruA foTd! ^^.^ "\^ ^''^ «*'*'' yo^r to answer anrqute"'''^^^^ "^'^^'^ ^^^^ ^ 1 could do that aay enough, Mr. Charles" too hard oLne Sly ?lik^a ^7''""^' "^^'^^ any man, but it's all for divarfin« 5 t" '"^''^ *« ^^11 as a yeai without qu^relL^wUh?' ^f"^ V°"^^ ^^ ^^ ^^r Charles, just try mTf J^^a 'If h ^ '^ l^^^^ *7 me, Mr. that time you find me in tnT ' ^""^J ** ^^^ end of my characir. then s^^d m^eTL^:^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^on't keep It was arrancred thpf fil fg^n to the regiment." Peters. who,^edi X^^^^ should remain with to a post which nromis«^f-. """^^^ ^'^ appointment to his^kilMn thrnTtitl ^''^''^^''^ and adventure, that he would La^ s°f;j1 languages, was determined its intricacies ?S mooXT'fr^ ''^ *^^^ «^««ter and purchased the clXs whil"''* mT *° *^« ^^^^^ar the disguises, and CharUe fo fn^'"-''" u- ^' ""^^^^^^^ for Sepoys who Willingly a^'ed^^^^^^ ^"^ company "four character of his retLtS „ accompany him in the their costume tLfrTod?ffiTul^^ ^^b^'^%^ ^ *- Sepoys m the Company'rser^^i/* ^^^"^ ^^ dress in their native aS n^ ^^""f ^^^"-stonied to aavive aiure. Unsequently it needed only liiii ii llil ¥'i h 140 OHARUS IN A NEW CHARAOTKIt. the addition of a tulwar or short curved sword, a shield throMm over one shoulder, A long matchlock, and two or three pistols and daggers stuck into a girdle to complete their equipment. Charlie himself was dressed gaily in the garb of a military oflBcer in the service of an Indian rajah. He was to ride, and a horse, saddle, and gay housings were procured. He had at last given in to Tim s entreaties, and that worthy was dressed as a syce or horse-keeper. Both Charlie and Tim had had those portions of their skin exposed to the air darkened, and both would pass muster at a casual inspection. Charlie in thus concealing his nationality desired only to hide the fact that he was an officer in the Company's service. He believed that it would be impossible for him to continue to pass as a Bheel. This, however, would be of no consequence after a time. Many of the native princes had Europeans in their service. Runaway sailors, deserters from the English, French, and Dutch armed forces in their posses- sions on the sea-coast, adventurers influenced either by a love of a life of excitement, or whom a desire to escape the consequences of folly or crime committed at home had driven to a roving life — such men might be found in many of the native courts. Once settled, then, in the service of the rajah, Charlie intended to make but little farther pretence or secrecy as to his nationality. Out- wardly he would still conform to the language and appear- ance of the character he had chosen, but he would allow it to be supposed that he was an Englishman, a deserter from the Company's service, and that his comrades were Sepoys in a similar position. His employment, then, at the court of the rajah would have an effect the exact reverse of that which it would have done had he appeared in his proper character. Deserters were of all men the most opposed to their countrymen, to whom they had proved traitors. In battle they could be relied upon to fight des- oeratelv. for thev fouflrht with ronos rnnnd f.TiAir nAnVa. i, a shield ad two or > complete 1 gaily iD an Indian and gay n to Tim a % syce or LS of their ould pass joncealing %t he was ^d that it pass as a ence after iiuropeans from the sir posses- ther by a to escape at home be found en, in the but little bv. Out- d appear- d allow it k deserter iides were en, at the ct reverse red in his the most ,d proved fight des- ' Nl * a 1" flipll CHARLIE'S MISSION TO RAJAII BOORIIAU. ii'4 r Bi be fr( pai an( one the the byj moE inde Sep( cons F( ques: what soon was i stood and J inuni( a poi] Along attack summ; joined iabour, "It was wi hold 01 properl " It's ^HE TORT OF AMBUR. Hierefore wYiil^ *k upon himself the Slnt h^tilS^T''' """^ ''^'^ ance, indeed, would hZStlrJ°^''eSCy the town occupied W the whi?e, Tlv"* *' P""^'"" »' the appearance of asmallzemindt „^ ""/ "*"''« 1«arter by four or five armed fo CeSt ?o„f '''^°'™?'- »«^nded mon occurrence as to att,r«nTl °" '°°*. ^as of such com- '"deed, numbe,. of thll'^^om: ?nt' "^ "■«"«-«; an". E.?°J "Pfients. the proSon „f ^* f "'"« » the Forrfo^-^rl'^'^InS °* "'■'"' "^^g "l-ays St ^ -^^o^b^reLl'^Jt^r^- ''"•><>-' wa^ a small one, and above f^ ^^e r^jah. The to^ stood on a rock rlinasheer ft^o^ fr\*^^ ^^^*^«««> whi^ and standing boldlv on? /"".*> ^«**o°» of the vallev municationwVeSd'iUT^^^^^^ ^he c L^' . a point half-way up the^ool w 'i^'.^'^^'^^^^i^gf^om AongthisshoulLVere;at'n'^*^' ^'^^ ^^^^ ^ attacking these would be exno^^ gateways. An enemy ummi of the rock. From thrrfo^ ^ l^' ^"« ^^"^ thl joined the rock a zigzag CdhadT* ""^f'^ *^^ ^^^"Wer labour m the face of tie rock to ^tT '"* "^^^^ ^^^''^^oua It IS a strong place" PU V -. summit, was walking byTC;.e?h:ad '''and^^'"?/.^"^' ^^^ hold out against anything but o^^T"^ '^?"ld be able to properly defended " ^ starvation, that is tc say tf "It's . powerful place surely," Tim said; "and would liiJi i.fiij \4 '^t'i-i 142 A HARD NTT TO CRACK. puzzle the ould boy himself to take. Even Captain Cliv^ who is afeard of nothing, would be bothered by it." As they rode up the valley two horsemen were seen spurring towards them from the town. They drew rein before Charlie, and one bowing said: " My master, the rajah, sends his greeting to you, and begs to know if you are the illustrious soldier. Nadir Ali, for whom his heart has been longing." "Will you tell your lord that Nadir Ali is here," Charlie said, " and that he longs to see the face of the rajah." One of the horsemen at once rode off, and the other took his place by the side of Charlie; and having intro- duced himself as captain of the rajah's body-guard, rode with him through the town. Had Charlie appeared in his character as English officer the rajah and all^ hia troops would have turned out to do honour to his arrival. As it was, a portion of the garrison only appeared at the gate and lined the walls. Through these the little pprty passed, and up the sharp zigzags, which were so steep that had it not been that his dignity prevented him from dis- mounting, Charlie would gladly have got off and pro- ceeded on foot; for it was as much as the animal could do to struggle up the steep incline. At each turn there was a gateway, with little flanking towers on which jingalls or small wall-pieces commanded the road. "Faith, then, it's no fool that built this place. I shouldn't like to have to attack it wid all the soldiers of the king's army, let alone those of the Company." " It is tremendously strong, Tim, but it is astonishing what brave men can do." In the after wars which England waged in India the truth of what Charlie said was over and over again proved. Numerous fortresses, supposed by the natives to be absolutely impregnable, and far exceeding in strength that just described.Jiave been carried by assault by the dash and daring of English troops. RECEPTION BY THE RAJAR 14J . '"^7 gained at last the top of the rock Tf«roc, in surface, some Dortiona ht^iJ^rrL '/^\ ^^ ^^ uneven than others. ESritf pff'T'^''^^^ °^°'« ^^^^^ted yards either wav T^h'p I ^""i^ "^f *^°"* » ^^^^red buildings oecuS bwL '' ^""^"^ 7^ ^^^^'^^ with the uppTr Teve? sL/forf/^^^^^ T^ storehouses. On of thenar ft cormu^L^S^ ^ife «*°^d the palace by a broid flight of sTenTTh.^l^*^/ ^^urtyard below way. with a wall anXttllm^^^^^^^^ *° •'^ ^'^^^^ g^^«- line of defence should «nnM^ f?rming an interior lower portion of fl.. ? ^l'^^"}* ^^^'^ * ^oo^^g m the horse aHhe foot S thtlf^r'b ^^H^^f^ ^^«- ^1' five retainers, minted V-? ^a^:^:'''''^:'^ ^l!'' guard of honour w«<. H, gateway. Here another they entered a shaTi' T ^*^'"« ""-""gh these a lone paliUon ^re^flrir °°' ''''*"' '^"<=h^<« massive columns clJh. covered '^f^ was supported by The roof was arabe^nXl ^fkj ■ "''"'ate sculpture, out in brigW^S iTo wf-'P'^™'/?"*"" P'*«» On the fafthersMe the fln-^" f ^^"* '" *''<' "'<'^'«- raised, and two stens kd t^ f' "^^f^ '"^ »* '"»''''«. "as valley below T>,^1-^^ * "*^ °™' ">• town and c.n.ei,^7he«%SnedTe™i:bP"^' "' cushions and loofeng man of sometrty yea ™^Id ' ^S^": ""* «««™- approached the anHi««, .Zi a "® '"^^ as Charlie thTlimits of the pa"u?a ^''"'^ '^"'^''g ^^-^^ dom is sfM to t far hevnnST™' °* ™« "''^« wis^ learned the ar^ of Z- ofZ infi'. Tf ' "1^ '''"> •"»» sea.,." Then ™vitinrrh«rlf« t * ?*'' *■■•"" ''^y''"^ the A am glad to see voij fioK;k" u _• i , "." s^gnaJ- ..one; nhough,in'tru'th:i"iioiredXre\fd:?S .liH 144 CHARLIE'S MISSION EXPLAINED. yourself. The great English governor of Madras tells me, however, in a letter which I received four days since, that you are skilled in war, that you fought by the side of that great Captain Olive at Arcot, Ami, Kavaripak, and at Trichinopoli, and that the great warrior himself chose you to come to me. Therefore I doubt neither your valour nor your prudence, and put myself in your hands wholly. The governor has already told you, doubtless, of the position in which I am placed here." " Governor Saunders explained the whole position to me," Charlie said. " You are at present menaced on all sides by powerful neighbours. You believe that the for- tunes of the English are on the increase, and as you think the time may come ere long when they will turn the French out of the Deccan and become masters there, as they have already become masters in the Camatic, you wish to fight by their side, and share their fortunes. In the meantime you desire to be able to defend yourself against your neighbours, for at present the English are too far away to assist yoa To enable you to do this I have been sent to drill and discipline your troops like our Sepoys, and to give you such advice as may be best for the general defence of your country- I have brought with me five soldiers, four Bheels, and one of my country- men. The latter will be of little use in drilling your troops, for he is ignorant of the language, and has come as my personal attendant. The other four will assist me in my work. Your followers here will, no doubt, discover in a very short time that I am an English- man. Let it be understood that I am a deserter, that I have been attracted to your court by the promise of high pay, and that I have assumed the character of a Bheel lest my being here might put you on bad terms with the English." Charlie then asked the rajah as to the strength of his military force. " In time of peace," the rajah said, " I keep three hun- <1«i/mI rrtAn under srnrtS- iTi easft of taking the field. thr66 irms; ^n^f^JXf x« «BB PLAN OF PBOCEEDINQ. tnousanA To dt»f i a upon me at onie." "'"^' """ ^""'d bring my neighbours dred," Charlie «i7 "??Por 1 ^' 7.''?Si° with eight hun fine myself to the troo^ youTn^; ''Tr^'. ^ wS con." eaU no„oo„S'4^^^»f„^h^most intelligent ^^^^^^ -mble,t Jtiartmttor « ^^AfS Will be one of mv rlriii - ^ ^*^° ^^^r parties Th^ At the endVtte : ,»^^^,g»^ -' to fighttu £ ty an equal nnmberrf ?re,h ^1°"''' J""^ 'epla^them you have your three thoZnd fiS\?°<* ^ P^eoed nntU '^ned. In nine months aTwm It^'l^J""'' 'borough i of exercise, and could ilk^th- , ™ ^^ *beir six wiet; h : %•» notice. Tw^h^nS^SST '" ">« ""i" «gaS .^. ^ ,r..-i„.^„ it.. , .. -« --- .^^at uraneii of the (W) « English and Frennh 160 TRAINING A NATIVl fOROl. himself took in hand a party of forty picked men, koA instructed them in the use of field-guns. The superiontv of Europeans in artillery was one of the reasons which gave to them such easy victory in their early battles with the native forces in India. The latter possessed a very powerf^^l artillery in point of numbers, but there was no regular drill nor manner of loading. They were in the habit, too, of allowing each gun to cool after it was fired before being loaded again. It was thought, therefore, good practice if a gun were discharged once in a quarter of an hour. They were then utterly as- tounded and dismayed at the effects of the European guns, each of which could be loaded and fired twice, or even three times, a minute. . , -o t. So month passed after month until Rajah Boorhau was in a position to put, if necessary, five battalions of Sepoys, each seven hundred strong, into the field, with thirty guns, served by trained artillerymen. So quietly had the work gone on that it attracted no attention among his neighbours. The mere rumour that the rajah had some European deserters in his service, and that these were drilling four or five hundred men, was considered of so little moment that it passed altogether unheeded. . , ^ ,. The accounts of the state of affairs m the Oamatic, which reached Charlie, were not satisfactory. Dupleix, with his usual energy, was aid'ng the son of Chunda Sahib with men and money in his combat with the British proteg^, and most of the native allies of the latter had fallen away from him. Trichinopoli was again be- sieged, and the fortunes of England, lately so flourishing, were waning again. In the Deccan French influence was supreme. Bussy, with a strong and well-disciplined French force, maintained Salabut Jung, whom the French had placed on the throne, against all opponents. At one time it was the Peishwar, at another the Marattas, against whom Bussy turned his arms, uiid always with succeas, ontoxmsPEcmoN necessary. W?r I"?^^ "S^^j tt' V'^trieU o„ the eo!! Charlie endeavoured to aain l^' * ™ ,'° ^^^n that he political position so^TuieTi;^:"f« knowledge of this change. At one time tV« pl-^v, "^ continually did a^theSub'adarof theDeccrnw2.nn^T,*"^ *^« Nizam; ing in alliance against one o7^fK'^'?".'^'^«"id be fight- At another timf they wou d be'in^ ^^e Maratta chfefs. other, while the Rajah^Mysore M^, '' • p'* ^^*^ ^^^^ chiefs were sometimes fighS „„ f "'^.'} ^^°' *"d other another. ngnimg on one side, sometimes on wpuM^mofe t Wce^i^W^^ ^''f' ^^'^^^^ Reo loined in the warfare gd,^^ ll'JZf ^^^ year, have succeeded in restraininrr him f!!°"5^: ^^^^^'^' however, that the victor of oie^day w^thr^ «o, pointin. out next, and that it was worse th«n T^"'"^^^ "^ t^e struggle of which thrcStion. ^ "''^''' *^ j^^^ i« a the changes of fortune sfra^^^^^^ IZ" '" "^°^^*^^'^' ^^ upon others for aid, ho^evT^' S i''^°^^°"^d ^^unt perh'prCely fo'ftr '?j;^' ^>^' ^^ich you might might^r^ndef to^^^^^^^ aid ^hicHou object of a hostile co^Sation^*-"': ^T ^°^^^ be the not hope to struggle"'''' ^^^'^^* ""^'^^ you could The rajah yielded at once in rhn^v > the influence of the lattTr added ?n.? IT^^'^^^' ^^^ the favour shown him by Ihf rakh L!?' ^°'* "V ^^^i^h niany of the leading men of fbi . Y^ Provoked among were often so closelv X^.H a '*^*^' ^here the side! intestine strug^ Ifc^v"^^^^^^ - thS his following, was sought bv on^n?"^^^' however small batants, and the counsfSors of ?L ''^^'' ^^ *^« com- spectable force in "kT fii"^? ^L*^^^ *.^^« *« P^ace a re- wore heavily bribed hv n?. ieHv^'tllf • t"'^^" found lea by the influence of the side their i .^'^ iV- 162 THB CONSPIRATORS AT WORK. English coTTTiander of his forces, and a faction of increas- ing strength and power was formed to overthrow him. The rajah himself had kept his secret well, and one or two only of his advisers knew that the Englishman was a trusted agent of the Company. The soldiers were much attached to their English leader. They found him always just and firm. Complaints were always listened to, tyranny or ill-treatment by the officers suppressed and punished, merit rewarded. Among the officers the strictness of the discipline alienated many, who contrasted the easy life which they had led before the in- troduction of the European system, with that which they now endured. So long as they were engaged in mastering the rudiments of drill they felt their disadvantage; but when this was acquired each thought himself capable of taking the place of the English adventurer and of leading the troops he had organized to victory. Already Charlie had received several anonymous warnings that danger threatened him. The rajah was, he knew, his warm friend, and he, in his delight at seeing the formidable force which had been formed from his irregular levies, had presented him, as a token of his gratitude, with large sums of money. In those days this was the method by which Indian princes rewarded European officers who rendered them ser- vice, and it was considered by no means derogatory to the latter to accept the money. This was, indeed, the univer- sal custom, and Charlie, knowing that Captain Clive had received large presents of this kind, had no hesitation in following his example. The treasures stored up by many of these Indian princes were immense, and a lac of rupees, equivalent to ten thousand pounds, was considered by no means a large present. Charlie, foreseeing that sooner or later the little state would become involved in hosti- lities, took the precaution of forwarding the money he had received down to Madras, sending it piecemeal, in charge of native WA /***/» r ■Jiti t.txvs.^itaiilva («xxv( v \*J »*M»*-Irt 1 a'Ltcx : Ti. ,^-« Vv^ AU, 4 irrf"'°'«"SMien7rii''r ? '""•«« >»»« of the Company. ' "^ "^ employes was given by For those at homn >•> »»u -el thefol ^'°'?^ ^'' '^^^^l provisions, and so far as po^fbt^?' ^'"^'f^ ^ Purchase He procured two or thrfe^oto^^ these^himself! held in horror, and offered tK a no^^'"'^^ ^^^^^ he llf '*'"'^^'' *^« <^hle, before h.^."*,"*'^? "^^ everything "paster. Charlie at first nr.f .5 P^^°®^ ^^^ before his dinner became cold W waftt''*f .^^^°«* *his, as h s prepared and ordered diW 5' i^* ^T ^^^ an oven time fixed by his miter E^hr ^ ^.°"' before Ihe --—-^ half an- hour waa" .iTe^^i; |Jf-^^- rnrrrTrr iHI 164 THE MONKEY GUARDS. poison to work. This was done without Charlie's know- ledge, the oven being placed in the ante-room, and the dishes thence brought m in regular order by the body servant, whom even Tim allowed to be devoted to hja master. One day Charlie was just sitting down to his soup when Tim ran in. "For the love of Heaven, Mr. Charles, don't put that stuff to your mouth. It's pisoned, or, at anyrate, if it isn t, one of the other dishes is." "Poisoned, Tim! Nonsense, man; you are always thinking of poisonings and plots." „ "And it's lucky for your honour that I am," Tim said. " Jist come into the next room and look at the monkeys." Charlie went in. One of the little creatures was lyin^ upon the ground evidently in a state of great agony. The other was sitting up rocking itself backwards and forwards like a human being in pain. "They look bad, poor little beasts," Charlie said; "but what has that got to do with my soup?" "Shure, yer honour, isn't that jist what I keep the cratures for, just to give them a taste of everything yer honour has, and I claps it into the oven there to kape it warm till I've had time to see by the monkeys whether its good." "It looks very serious," Charlie said gravely. "Do you go quietly out, Tim, call two men from the guard- house and seiaa the cook, and place one or two men as sentries over the other servants. I will go across to the rajah." The latter, on hearing what had happened, ordered the cook to be brought before him, together with the various dishes prepared for the dinner. The man upon being i terrogated vehemently denied all knowledge of the affair. " We shall see," the rajah said, " Eat up that plate of 8oup. * ^ lie's know- m, and the J the body )ted to his his soup t put that yrate, if it ire always ' Tim said, monkeys." was lying 2at agony, wards and said; "but keep the rthing yer to kape it '■s whether ely. " Do ;he guard- 10 men as •OSS to the rdered the be various bly denied it plate of THE COOK IN CUSTODY. jfifi The man turned pale I cannot sajwhich Ld l,vL "T ?*^» '» P°™"«d- one." •^ * *"" whichever I eat may be the fatal Ch^Srp":^! " ''^'" *° '^ *» <"'»y his orde«, but wS:rth: rntZo^e^t'f '^-n- y°" ^^'--^■ equally from ea«ng Ty of thl^''//^ T" ^"^^^ that he may know^nothig of it Tht n J'*"^ ^T"' been introduced into tCl>7t. • > -'*>« P<"son may have man is taken to a dungeon Tthink T ^*?f '>^°'i « the by which we could tSt Mm T S- 1! ** '."S^^*^* » ?'»» he ,^d when the prPrXd^'c^^Temt'ed'" "^ ^"''*^'" rajah'^rkef '^ •'°' '^' ''^ "» '^^'-''^d "' onca?" the reptel'Selistftll'"^" ^"P^"' ^l'"'- death. I pronoae ..ir ^J ^ T °^? ""nocent one to food. whicSTa^' bTen ISd tr '^ "^'" '^'*^» °* carefuUv weishpH iTt J!; ^^ i ,, ""^ dmner, to be the P4:r!tfthere efatf^L' t *^ '^" 1 two or three days he will if !vn,-iV \ ^ *^^ ^°"^se of his hunger bv LtL^ li/i^"^^ endeavour to assuage dish except that whi.h"),it ^'*! ^^ ^°°^ ^^om every take such^asmal7 notion f''^'"' *\be poisoned, but wiU it will not be detected l/'r- '^-'^ *^^* ^^ ^^^ ^^^^k ignorant -tit^t\lll:iV^^t,r^ t "^"^ wirs^ifL'!^^^^^^^^^ running the chance of d^fh^ ^'''°"' *^'°^ *« *^« end, the pan^gs of tnge?!^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ *h«^ endure' and removed every t'n^^'^^p'^^^^ ^i^.r.^^ -orning ;iii':!l 11 sAfei be weighed. every evening, Ea^h JSWIUU, f cney ahalJ 166 III! m II I;- m PROOF OP HIS OUILT. These orders were carried out, and on the following morning the dishes were placed in the ceU of the prisoned When removed at night they were found to be untouched. Ihe next evening several of the dishes were found to have lost some ounces in weight. The third evoning all but one had been tasted. ^ wbl^t *f ^ prisoner be brought in again," the rajaJi ordered when informed of this. "Dog," he said, "you have be- trayed yourself. Had vou been innocent you could not have known m which of the dishes the poison had been placed. You have eaten of aU but one. If that one contains poison you are guilty." Then turning to an attendant he ordered him to take a portion of the untouched food and to throw it to a doe I'endmg the expenment the prisoner was removed Half an hour later the attendant returned with the news that the dog was dead. 'aThL^bfexIcutd.^'" ^ confirmed," the rajah said. askeT'""^'l^£?K^''^ii^ T.1 ^T ^^g^^^?" Charlie asked His death would not benefit me now, and to save punishing the instrument and letting the instigator go " You are right" the rajah agreed. " If you can find out who bribed him, justice shall le done though it wTre the highest in the state." ^ ® Charlie returned to his own quarters, assembled his heutenants and several other of his officers, and had the man brought before him. "Hossein," he ^id, "you have taken money to take my lite. I looked upon you as my faithful servant. 1 had done you no wrong. It has been proved that you attempted to poison me. You, when driven by hunger ate small quantities, which you thought would pass un- observed, of all t^e dishes but one. Wt dish hTbeen given to a dog and he has died. You knew then wS following le prisoner, untouched. found to d evening all ordered have be- could not had been that one m to take to a dog, ed. Half lews that ijah said. Charlie d to save )f no use gator go find out were the CHARUK'S MAGNANIMITY. to take ^ant. I bat you hunger, >ass Un- as been 1 which ^as the poisoned dish Th.. • , , execution. I offer yonlifltf "^^^^ ^^ ^^^ered youi was that tempted yl^^ ^' ^ y^^ will tell me whH of tje rajah's oter^ *« torture him at once," one "^tF'^^^'^o^^^^^ «^ ^-- well the mflieted to extort t?f °^^ "" ««* an insW» k , '"'"^ "'^ "»-- of those who Surib^ - f {teli^'^^'" "^ -'^ «™^y. "'"ough you tea. "A cor^Zon^'Z'^ThJ.'^^'^"''^ 7™'' Charlie said true, and even did you ^ IT " ^ ^"^^'^ <» <>« 4?t -> siay a^.aste;;/-i '^-t^ -*^,„.ou w] nottnitme.' A'e'^^^dltL'? v /'^'""'''^'y- " You did I knew it; but I thought that t^^ ^^^ *"'*«'^ ^d tried f ted on the monkeys mtatnnl? 5°"*™ """^ not have fool who sold it mfdeTeived^*^^'"f° "'^ d^h. The I would never have doneTt T^' ^^ T" '""'«d me that I was suspected Td douhtL "^^i. ""'y "•"=" I sa^^ heart turned against Z Md lLT*il™* <*"^« that my offered to me & kill C ' TJJ^l «>« gold which w<^ hadnosuspiciSs- Uy'^L':f''JT'"'^^>^<"^ 1 hese precautions witZ Sw tr V°' "^ ^""^ t^k J pardon yon, and if you x^mL?^^ However, Hossein "We I will trust you i^JT,^ °« to be faithful »»,J / will eat the food^you pret« ^^ ^' ""^ ^^. ^j "*c ia cia - ' ='"*<5 iii a low tone. I'i 168 A FOB BECOMES A GUARDIAN. Charlie nodded, and the guard standing on either side of the prisoner stepped bacJk, and without another word he left the room a free man. Charlie's officers remonstrated with him upon having not only pardoned the man, but restored him to his posi- tion of cook. " I think I have done wisely," Charlie said. " I must have a cook, for Tim Kelly here is not famous that way, and although he might manage for me when alone, he ce^ii/ainly could not turn out a dinner which would be suitable when I have some of the rajah's kinsmen and officers dining with me. Did I get another cook he might be just as open to the offers of my enemies as Hossein has been, and do you not think that, after what has passed, Hossein t» ill be less likely to take bribes than any other man?" Henceforth the oven was removed from the ante cham ber, and Charlie took his meals as Hossein prepared them for him. The man said little, but Charlie felt sure from the glances that he cast at him that he could rely upon Hossein now to the death. Tim Kelly, who felt the strongest doubts as to the {)rudence of the proceeding, observed that Hossein no onger bought articles from men who brought them up to sell to the soldiers, but that every morning he went out early and purchased all the supplies he desired from the shopkeepers in the town. Tim mentioned the fact to his master, who said: "You see, Tim, Hossein has determined that I shall not be poisoned without his knowing ii The little ped- lars who come up here with herbs, and spices, and the ingredients for curry might be bribed to sell Hossein poisoned goods. By going down into the town and buy- ing in the open market it is barely possible that the goods could be poisoned. You need have no more anxiety whatever, Tim, as to poison. If the attempt is made pi y< it wi is ye ke an, tw hu] the sai( rae ^^ hot either side other word )on having bo his posi- "I must I that way, I alone, he would be Qsmen and r cook he enemies as after what sribes than inte cham )ared them sure from rely upon as to the lossein no t them up g he went sired from the fact to lat I shall little ped- s, and the II Hossein I and buy- » that the re anxiety t is made A CHANGE OP SLEEPING-PLACB. jgg P^oI''\^:\^tTli^^^ better than you've got sentries outside your if/"' '^?,"P^°- ^^ it is that we ain't iH clLatP wT '^°'^'- ^^^* * V^^Y windows and boult the shuTte^ »^ fe T T ^^^^'^ *^^ IS over affain ve mic^Uht ^. °°^ ^^^ ^et season year, on fhe ro?f S^^our To^r;,^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^-^ keep off the dew f^ZZTl h » canopy over it to anyone comin/t^roi^h Th« . ' 'f ' *^^°' ^^^^P* ^om Charlie's beVroom^^J^^at X I '^''^'' two sides he could loT dL^ % ^'^'^-^ ^ ^^"' ^^ on hundred feet, she"r into th-v«^^ i'^^ '^''''^^'^' *^ ^ the flat terraced roof ^t^J^^^^^^^ The view from said, Charlie had, in hlfine wpX'°^ °°'' ^^> «^ Tim race into a sleeping-room Jw^^^ '"'^^^^*^^ *h« ter- by poles at the corner st?etcifpdot T""^!' «"PPorted hottest weather the n^fta T^^^^ 'S^""^ ^^^^ ^ the n^gnts were not unpleasant here. CHAPTER XIII. ^1 iiiii) AN ATlE^fPT XT MURDER. I HE house, of wiii/:!. the bed-room occupied by Charlie fo'-me 1 part, wati elsewhere two stories higher, this iroora jutting out alone into the angle of the wall The rest of the suite of rooms were in the house iiself, but access could be obtained to this room through the window, which looked on to the ten-? ce of the wall. Charlie's lieutenants always took painy io place men upon whom they could thoroughly rely an gentries on this terrace. One night, a fortnight after the events which have been described, Charlie was asleep on his bed on the flats above his room. On one side the house rose straight beside it. On two others was the fall to the valley, on the fourth side was the wall, along which two sentries were pacing to and fro. From' time to time, from a door some distance along the side of the house, opening on to the wall, a white figure came out, stretched himself as if unable to sleep, looked for a while over the parapet down into the valley, appeared to listen intently, and then sauntered into the house again. It was the cook, Hossein. It was his custom. Successive sentries had for many nights past seen him do the same, but in a country where the nights are hot, a sleepless servant attracts but little attention. Upon the occasion of one of these visits to the parannf. he stood in an attitu'^e of deep attention longer than ; ;U. Then he carelesalr uc I I bai #■'• ccupied by two stories ae into the he suite of be obtained d on to the ways took thoroughly i fortnight Jharlie was 1. On one bwo others is the wall, m From the side of 3 came out, :or a while d to listen again. It Successive • the same, a, sleepless occasion of kn attitu'^s careless] .1 I HOSSmu TO THE Mscmt ,gj Then he went to Em who^i.T° '"^^'^ '"*»'''>• couch placed there and tonohTv- '^'2^ ^^""'^r on « HindcteLe. "Badt:S^co^in/'** *™' ""' ="d » who had glided^upThe stair^ »H^'^5 *°"<"^*'' ^ossein, hand. At^ the mLtitte ^d * *1, ™™ '"'"^ » >"» heavy bodies droDDinrf„l?„ j u *'" '""^ « "oise of Charlie, ^aere^^^^i f ?n7^ J'V t'?'^'^'" *«»» *"»» the renort of a pTZ Z Timt "^^""^ "^ "^^ «»<• with tL terrace he saw Hol^- T*" ?"* "" « J«^«l blade into the midst T» ^^^ >"""* ''"'' °P'«ted Three times the"we le a?dZl°* ""/° ? ^« «'"'«'•• shriek followed. ThenCdiSn^! ,' ^^ l^"* ""■« » '°«d was but a few se«Z, MWT*** '°i''« "'^st. Tim pistol into the boTS^;„^„\'l„''™- Discharging his Bword into another Vtn?!<.„iu T°' .*"^ ^''n'ng his Charlie, streS^ng wfth bV„^ "=? the s Je of his m£ter. in the ^gle of the Mranlr H^ half sitting half lying long hair^streaming^down hif ^r- *"' *"'^" °« ^il him, fighting furiouslvZinS ' T"^ standing over pressed forward SeS'h''"'"' '""' "''° '"" In spite of the emival „f Pk , - '^^ "?»» ^^ ground. pressel forward to l°sho^^?h'''''-*i'r A ='"1 echoed bythemiskeLnf jk! ?■ *''e pistols had been heard, showi^? "hat the *,?'"""»• ^» followed closely by hTsc^^^^^ the platform bAvnn«*» ^f— ^ i^^. . co°iraae, and both with i^,,«iuj -..n.^^ .h..gea into the fray. The aasaiiiite^ nc ft J'W no\r 162 THE ASSASSINS IN A TRAP. "I"i I ' Mmsmn tliflf\ri^ were coming to their assistance. It was wpII As the assailants followed them with a ^1^ f^hf ^ -••uiiovii. liau Cut still a desperate nd tried to 1 from the id to rush le sentries ' told that b was well Jsperate at is together n and the lother cut ht of their the stairs, the guard ace below e conflict, lircase on ' into the le last of from the tened to le of his linst the is sword m, stood that all ik upon himself, >ncerned Charlie 5 rajah's to. A attack- i fallen e blows lad Cut AN ATTEMPT AT REVOLUTION. ,53 down one and shot another befors ha fnii i i. ^ . ^^ tT' rt ^ ^^««^i" bounded th^^^^^^^^^ r'^y The bodies of the dead wo^^ T - i.°" . assailants. together for identification TntCl '^'- ''^'^' «r^«^« laid still lived were caS to th! '''''?^- The two who wounds dressed in orShatf hi ^^'^T^' ^^^^ *heir might be obtained from them W?'' ^^ ^^'^ employers lieutenants had hasti?^ fot^^/'' 1^^.°^^^^^^ together, and thesf a ^oSffdl I'n'r' ^^^' «^^^^-« who were crowding up the stens t^fh * f"""^^^ °^ '"^^ of "Death to the Vg fstt 'a f /f *°1,^^*^ «h^ among these effectually scSfi^ Vh ^ ""^7^ P^"^^^ and hurried down thf st^Pn v'!^ t"^' ^^^ ^^'^7 broke the town, the senses on the wav^off/.-"^^ '^' ^^''^ *« but many fallino- under thpfil? TJ"^ ''^ opposition, fort In'ten min\?es aU was over 'Ve! T'^'* '' *'^ closed and a strong anZj JZ'.a ^ ^^J^^ ^^^« again attempted insurrecti^^rafattntnd"" ''^"' ^^' r tha^Lre^Tth/C ^ot^h^'^^^^^^^- P~ced for the most part se verlwerp n! ^^^ ^fT ^^' ^^*bough therewaseve?ych:ShrrecoveTi^^^^^^^^^^^ *^^* three m number, were nrononn«!rFv ^^^^^^'^ ^ wounds, one being a deepTtab ^^he TodV^i^^^^^^^^ ^^-g-o"«; had rushed at him as Ha wol J-^ ^^T®*^ by a man who Tim Wounds Ceeom^^^^^^ more from the bruises heTad^^^^ ^1 f^^^^^ wards down the stone staircase h! ''•"f^^^ ^ack- m a sling and his htldh^lT a f ^^^^^er, with one arm place b/his masters bed3W^^^^ *^ke hS that it was entirelv dnpfn w P^V^^g beard from him been saved, th mft^^^^^^ *^^* Charlie's life had be paid to him. aff several tim^! every attention should s ole away to his bS?o preTl^^S *^ V^^* /im blessmgs upon him. The stS I Tt' ^°^ "**" ^°^° the appUcation of strong r*2 at^f s?^^-"- ^T ^^ «^^ ^aarhe to open his eyes.° rau./eo pxeseutly caused !»' '.t m il f Hl^''* 184 Wi The Lord be ▲ VlQllAUt oniitD. praised Mr. Charles," Tim said, "that ^ure coming to yonrs.^lf agaia Don't you trouble, sir. Veve done for the murdhering rascals, and plase God vouU soon be about again. Jist drink t> ' . . < .;. yer honour, and go off to sleep if you can. in the mormng 1 n tell you all about it. You're in the rajah's own room^ he continued, seeing Charlie's eyes wander wonderingl'v around him. "and all you've got to do is just to lie still and get well as sron as you can." It was a fortnight before Charlie, still very weak £nd feeble, was ab.e to totter from his room to that in which Hossein was lyii.cr. He himself knew nothing of what had passed after he fell. The conflict had to him been little more than a dream. Awakened from sleep by the sound of his assailants as they dropped frcfn the ropes he had leaped up as a rush of figures came towards him' catching up his sword and pistol as he did so. He had' shot the first ynd cut dov/n the next who rushed at him but at the same moment he had felt a sharp pam and remembered no more. Tim heard from Hossein, when the latter, two days after tlie fight, was able to speak that he had suspected that some rencv/ed attempt wicAii be made upon his master's life, and that for nany nights he had not slept, contentin^^ ^limsp^i witl mch repose as he could snatch in the dayume, between the intervals of preparing meals. A few minutes before the attack he fancied he heard a nover o. on the roof of th house, and running to Charlie^s room he had from the window seen some dark figures sliding down +i;e wall Then he roused Tim and rushed up to t..b rescua Tim eloquently described to his master \e ^ anner in whicii Hossein sprung upon his foes, b c his way through in time to drive back those wl. were hacking at him BB he lay prostrate, and how he found him standing o/er him, keeping at bay the whole of his assailants. Charlie wiih difficulty made his way to the bedside of said, "that trouble, sir. I plase God ■ • -o '''. yer he morninff own room, i^onderingly b to lie still ^ weak end it in which ng of what 3 him been leap by the the ropes, wards him, ). He had led at him, 3 pain and sein, when ' to speak, mpt niight any nights ich repose e intervals the attack >of of tlj • from the the wall. :.« roscne. anner in his way u hacking 3und him )le of his hpdHirlp of A nWE OF CONVALESCENCE. \^^ .talking rapidl/rhiSseff^ "H^Suld^r- S" "^ watch; I ^iuZl h^^ T ""'?,? *" * <'"«■ I "'ill ungratofur ' ''"" ^'* "*»' ^ossein is not he Mked the doctor ''^ ""^ '"'P^ *»' "m ?» .attl^^T^L^l/S:-''"''' "^ -^ '-" "'^ ever ^aleffto^'.^Xul?^' '''"'" "''"' "^ ^-^^ •>» with which hrkeottt"! '" "'^ f?""^ "«^ ""^ntion fresh water Ldw Ld hfe"? '''' ''f.^ ''~' ™'>> drink,. It was anaC„V btfo ?!•''•» '^'•^'•'°g turn. Then the fever left m 1 ! k" .'""^"^ '""^ » helpless as an infant sf'i„'°'' '"'* ''« '»y "''at »nd of the oool4 drTnk, ^d i"'7f ""^J '""K*^ P'»=« doctor V « «U to say^nfidenOvra/^r."''' ■'""^<' passed and that HosseL" recotef ^°^'' "*" hrJugi^^%rSht"thfdetilf ^fr'"' «"= "J"* '"«' wou^deamenfadcorfeiedLff.,*' ''"'^Pi'^y- The t' vee of the nrin^i„.i *' they were employed by ever, wt slroelv £d.} V' '^^^ information how- that'th^fr aSenfa we're^'elr /^^t '°-*''^ '"''™'"S themenwholmd att, t.T*^ P'f' "";?, having fled witS eonsisted pl^ fol ' Ml'^?8**f °' ?« Pal'^ce. These de»pei^oKom th. 7 ™ r J^ey had bril«d and of fort'd^Cth"?»*Vj'n r^° ^»'l »™e'y. . ..tered the -nta of ae eo^pirltoV-nitrS^^^^or^t^^^^ |j • 160 RUMOURS Of INVASION. F^Jmi .?^®J°*f.^*^°'* <*^ *^^' conspirators was not onlv to kill the Englishman but to dethrone the rajah, and mstall his brother in his place. The attack hid com- menced with the attemnt upon Charlie's life, because it was beheved that his 5eath would paralyse the troops who were faithful t,. the rajah. ^ At the end of six weeks Charlie was able to resume nis duties and his appearance at the parade ground was hailed with enthu8ia.stic shouts by the soldiers. The rajah was more attached to him than ever, and had arrain made him large nresents in token of the regret he felt at the suffermgs lie had endured in his caSse. Drilling was now carried on with redoubled energy, and large numbers ot new levies had been summoned to the standard A storm was gathering over Ambur. The rajah's brother waa raising a force to attack him, and had, by means of large promises m case of success, persuaded Murari Reo to take up his cause, and he had, it was said, also sent wffHl!! V ^^.^'^^^'^'Vointmg out that, in case of war with the English, the Rajah of Ambur would be a thorn m his side. He told of the numbers of troops who had been drilled and how formidable such a force would be It opposed to him at a critical moment, while if he the claimant, gained power the army of Ambur would be at the disposal of the nizam. The rajah on his side had also sent messengers to Hyderabad with assurances to the ni^am of his fidelity and friendship He urs;ed that the preparations he had made were intended solely for the defence of his state against marauding bands of Maratta^, and especially agamst those of Murari Reo, who was a scourge to all his neighbours In the meantime every effort was made to strengthen the defences of Ambur. The walls sur- rounding the town were repaired, and although these in themselves could have offered but a slight d&ence to a determined assault, the approaches to the town wero all covered bV the grimB nf f^o frxr.*^ ^\^ rr,^ , LWiLv Gtl^rvrc rri. - ■urn we&K. .ill Bs not only I rajah, and k had com- , because it the troops to resume ground was The rajah if^ain made t'olt at the rilling was je numbei-s indard. A I's brother y means of lurari Reo I, also sent ase of war be a thorn s who had would be if he, the )uld be at iengers to is fidelity US he had his state especially rge to all was made vails sur- I these Id ence to a I were all 1 -I THE WKAX POINT OF AMBUR. tt'tiZlT'^J'l'J}'} behind the town. 167 in rugged cliHs some two hundred feThicvhor l7 iT^ fell away again steeply to its summit l^tl' * *^/'' back for the fire nf ;rnr.a , i ^j'"^'^' 4^^^ ^^^ *oo far castleor t^wn GunsTced hn "^^^ \ *« jnjure the way along the ^C Zl^ra;:^™.:^ ^Ce'Si "j-"^ been trained by an^fiS^^ to declare for 4 rival «i!f ^-? ' f ^^'''^^^ ^^^ ^^^an* to his assignee Necessary X«\''°'^^''"^^^ ^'''' spnf nff iv,-f 1. „ necessary. Jjresh messengers were Zm "" "'^ '^""'"'^ °* "^^ '"J-'h'^ loyaft/to th: can tad?,!!? S?' t ""^.good," Charlie said, "but if we won^n. and children, to LI^^'^^^^^^^^^^J^^ too, w»« ail «,uptoyed, and under Charlie^ suji^iS 168 A PEOPLE AT WORK. IP !r "WF-ri W f i W' 1 t if ^ is 1 enc6 a wondrous change was soon effected. The spot chosen^ was levelled, a strong earthwork was erected round it, and then the surrounding ground was removed. This was a work of immense labour, the ground consisting first of a layer of soil, then of debris which had fallen from the face of the rock above, stones and boulders, to the depth of some fifteen feet, under which was the solid earth. The slope resembled an ant-hill. The soldiers and able-bodied men broke up the boulders and rock with sledge-hammers, or, when necessary, with powder, and blasted the rock when needed. The women and chil- dren carried away the fragments in baskets. The work la»sted for a fortnight, at the end of which a position of an almost impregnable nature was formed. At the foot of the earthworks protecting the guns, both at the face and sides, the ground, composed of great boulders and stones, sloped steeply out, forming a bank fifteen feet deep. At its foot, again, the solid rock was blasted away so as to form a deep chasm thirty feet wide and ten feet high round the foot of the fort. For a hundred yards on each side the earth and stones had been entirely removed down to the solid rock. Ten guns were placed in the battery, and the fire of these swept the slopes behind the town and castle, rendering it impossible, until the fort was carried, for an enemy to attack the town on that side, or to operate in any way against the only point at which an attack could be made upon the castle. ^ The rajah was delighted at this most formidable acces- sion to the defensive power of his fortress, which was now in a position to defy any attack which could be made against it. A store of provisions and ammunition was collected there, and the command given to one of Char- lie's Sepoy lieutenants, with a hundred trained artillery- men, and two hundred infantry. Numbers of cattle had been driven into the town and castle, and stores of pro- visions collected. The spot IS erected I removed, consisting lad fallen )ulders, to } the solid diers and :ock with vder, and and chil- The work I. position . At the •th at the boulders fteen feet ted away and ten hundred 1 entirely re placed he slopes ble, until town on Qly point le. jle acces- was now be made tion waa* of Char- artillery- Eittle had 3 of pro- RBADY FOB THE ENEMY. that r nel*"aS that 't '^**t^ ^^ --Plete mr;r "^^^ ^^^ ^-tS th:\ath'sT''- .^^^^^^^ ^^^ Tllfy y *^^ ^a"ey to the Ttu ^^^^'^^^ and waa Iv I't P^^'^ listed to defend a if ^^^ '^>^ ^^^ in which the enemy would Wrfn ^^f?""^' ^^^g^ through been considered^the deWb^^^^^^^^ ^"^^"^ ^^^^erlo an invasion. Charlie pointed oK ^ ^'' ^P^^^ against no doubt a successful^ £r!:.^Tr'r"' *^^* ^^t^ough would only be a ren, l«f ?• I ""'^^^ ^^ inade here if but little weakene7forfSw"'"''.>^^ *^«' "eVy that It was better to aHow fS fP^^f ^^^ns. He argued where the valley opened onf""' *f ^^^^"^^ *« ^^e pS miles wide. He had^no doubt J f ^ P^^^'^' some^two sent down tothe S' ^ut ?r ^''"'''•^'^ *»& were ''■nong the heighl fe ^.T^-'^ '°.."°'*» *" hiding unmolested, and tlien to i^m '''f, •"™dirg army to pas? upon the„ ,3 th,y r°tu'?„',"d ■=' 'he S""**^' Po^ibleC orders from liim to erect brJ?f'"'T''' "'ho received slopes above the entree toTf'""*' °* «>* on the had passed on, and Tltae th«/°-f,!' ^^^' *he enemy men who should pour a heaw « •"'i"' ,* Portion of his came down the vXt wS ^^ "■'" ">* ^^^my "^ thcT heights above the Z' and t 'n' /^"-^ 'o line thi those who passed th?oS|uhe fit o?V?"° rocks upon The umforms were ferved onf *!!,'' °"-"'"^««- Charlie surveyed with orul tv,. « ' *? *•>« "oldiera, and troops which'^with twelve 'n, 1™ "'^'^"""^ "^ 'rkined valley and took up their LffT *!S°^'^ "^own into the he had carefully 'choSn^hi^?!?'' "• *' » Point wh eh - -™. .. .r^eu arfcilJerymen wer;"'&Id"'^ff°J„^7£ ' ■■ r :^ '^ifii 170 THE APPROACH OP THE MARATTAS. service, and the last-raised levies were posted in the castle and on the walls of the town. The position was so chosen that the flanks of the line rested on the slopes on either side. These were broken by inclosures and gardens, into which on either side half a battalion was thrown forward so as to deliver a flanking fire upon an enemy advancing against the centre. Across the valley, two hundred yards in front of the position, the stream which watered it made a sharp turn, running for some distance directly across it, and several small canals for the irrigation of the fields rendered the ground wet and swampy. Across the line occupied by his troops, a breast- work had been thrown up, and in front of this rows of sharp-pointed stakes had been stuck in the ground Altogether the position was a formidable one. An hour or two after the position so carefully prepared had been taken up, large bodies of Maratta horse were seen dashing up the valley, and smoke rising from several points showed that they had begun their usual work of plundering and destroying the villages on their way, A few discharges from the field-pieces, — those in the castle had been ordered to be silent until the raising of a white flag gave them the signal to open fire,— checked the ad- vance of the horsemen, and these waited until their infantry should arrive. The force of Murari Reo was at that time the most formidable of any purely native army of Southern India. Recruited from desperadoes from all the Maratta tribes, well disciplined by its leader, it had more than once fought without defeat against bodies of Europeans, while it had in all cases obtained easy victories over other native armies. Presently the horsemen opened, and a compact body of three thousand Maratta infantry, accompanied by an equal number of the irregulars of the rajah's brother, advanced to the attack, while the cavalry at their sides swept down upon the flanks of the rajah's position, and A WARM RECEPTION. jyj thirty pieces of artillery opened fire. Not a shof w«« »d^leav>ng the ground .trewn with their 1^:^^^:^ ^^^^^^'r^ -:-- eh^ ve. CHAPTER XIV. THE SIEGE OP AMBUR. of their victory over sunh fn -I^ff' ^^^ ^^ese, proud of the defeat of MirkriRi . l" "■?,"" ^''«n the news •'It is difficult w"rL r'''',?y'i«'a''a The day following\he re3o7\T* '°^" *^^ ^^^i«' the enemy appealed comS. 15 .¥ ^^^'^'^nihatants marched over the hills S the M*^! ^""^>^' ^^^^ing poured up from below. *^^ ^^^"^^^^ cavalry agaiS agat^^^^^^^^^^^ of the town, as it was directed. It was an imnolf *^\f ««^y would be first mzam w^und down the Tnef thf "" .'^'' ''^y ^^the •with their gay flao-g f hi ii ^V I ^""^^^ masses of men broidery of Veir tmpn^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ith the gold T^ bands of horsemen ca?eS: fcuTf)^" *^.t «""' ^^^ artillery drawn by bullocks nnfl .^'^'^^^' *^^ ^i^es of more menacing, the dark boX d'^^^ but far formed the nucleus and hpTr/J .^'^'',^^ infantry who wa. pitched just out o? ranleVt.^^' ^^"l^" ^^^^ ^^4 soon line after line of S ^ ^""^ ^^ the fort and floated above them rol *'' ^f^ "^'^^ the fiac^s 'tw mounted tothet^XSrto'oV'"^'^;. "^^^ ^^^ of the enemy, and he Drp.pnf i ^^^^""^^ *^e movement- ^nen ride out of the camn f J'^"^ ^ '"^^" body ofTorse the valley. A glass sho^^d tw"^ '^' ^^"^^^^ -^Z native officers, wlile other! were In T% 1 *^^«^ ^^^1 the French. ^ ^®^® ^^ the dark unifonn of -^he'nil^^^^^ the rajah, "that the position. I wond«r\."'?.^,^.?^ "?.*« reconnoitre ' wish we could have turfed "fhTKl'/f^ ^^^ ^°<^^ of it. ''I! II i: i' turfed the batteiy abo ve and the 176 THE OPENING pF THK SIEGE. newly stripped land. "We might in that case have given them a pleasant surprise. As it is they are hardly likely to begin by an attack along the slopes in the rear of the town, and you will see that they will commence the attack at the farther face of the town. The battery above cannot aid us in our defence there, and although the castle may help it will only be by a direct fire. If they try to carry the place by a coup de main I think we can beat them ofi", but they must succeed by regular approaches. We must inflict as much loss as we can and then fall back. However, it will be sometime before that comes." The next morning Charlie found that the enemy had during the night erected three batteries on the slopes facing the north wall of the town, that farthest removed from the castle. They at once opened fire, and the guns on the walls facing them replied, while those on the castle hurled their shot over the town into the enemy's battery. For three days the artillery fire was kept up without intermission. The guns on the wall were too weak to silence the batteries of the besiegers, altliough these were much annoj'^ed by the fire from the fort, which dismounted four of their guns and blew up one of their magazines. Several times the town* was set on fire by the shell from the French mortars ;'l)ut Charlie had organized the irregulars into bands with buckets, and these succeeded in extinguishing the flames before they spread. Seeing that the mud wall of the town was crumbling rapidly before the besiegers' fire, Charlie set his troops to work and levelled every house within fifty yards of it, and with the stones and beams formed barri- cades across the end of the streets beyond. Many of the guns from other portions of the walls were removed and placed on these barricades. The ends of the houses were loopholed, and all was prepared for a desperate defence. Charlie's experience at Arcot stood him in good stead lave given re hardly n the rear commence le battery although t fire. If n I think 3y regular e can and ne before nemy had the slopes b removed the guns 3e on the e enemy's 3 kept up were too altliough the fort, up one of as set on it Charlie buckets, les before town was harlie set thin fifty led barri- ny of the removed be houses desperate )od stea(i "" «»Am.T 0. r^ B^^ and he imitaterl fK ^'^ P^ace. When these 1^^"''" **^«^ by dive at f», * second line J Z . ^^^^ces were comnlo/p^ iT * . ^^^^ ■^^^Tf*^ fi 1 t 178 A SHORT TRUCE. opened furiously upon it, to check any sortie which the besieged might attempt. An hour later the besiegers hoisted a white flag and requested to be allowed to bury their dead and remove their wounded. This Charlie agreed to, with the proviso that these should be carried by his own men beyond the breach, as he did not wish that the enemy should have an opportunity of examining the internal defences. The task occupied some time, as more than five hundred dead and dying lay scattered in the open space. During the rest of the day the enemy showed no signs of resuming the assault. During the night they could be heard hard at work, and although a brisk fire was kept up to hinder them, Charlie found that they had pushed trenches from the batteries a considerable distance round each corner of the town. For four days the b -irif gery worked vigorously, harassed as they were by the gur^s of the fort and by those of the battery high up on the hillside, which were now able to take in flank the v/orks across the upper angle of the town. At the end of that time they had erected and armed two batteries, which at daylight opened upon the walls which formed the flanks of the clear space behind the breach. Although suffering heavily from the fire of the besieged, and losing many men, these batteries kept up their fire unceasingly night and day, until great gaps had been made in the walls, and Charlie was obliged to withdraw his troops from them behind the line of barricades. During this time the fire of the batteries in front had been unceasing, and had destroyed most of the houses which formed the connecting line between the barricades. Each night, however, the besieged worked to repair damages, and to fill up the gaps thus formed with piles of stones and beams, so that, by the end of the fourth day after the repulse of the first assault, a line of barricades stretched across the line of defence. The enemv this time nrenared to attack bv daylight, ™ WNAL ASSAULT. J 1 MB farc^^^^^^^^^ of the nizam they formed up in a Ions ifnl of », ^^'® ^'® °^ ^^e caatle flope One huge column mov J f ^'^"^^^ "^^««« along th .'-reach, two advanced obSlvf^'^l ^^^^"«* ^helaL m the walla on either side ^Tri*?^'^^''^'' <^^e great gam headed by bodies of F^'^J^^^.l^^^^^^^IumnsVereS the fort, aided by those of th«^^f: ^"^ "^^^^ *^« g«^ of them, the columns lZanledl}if'7 °^ *^^ hilf swept entered the breaches Then Zt""^ ? J^^^^ "^til th£r the crest of the barricade from ^^°^ ^^^ «^ept alon^ non of the besieged ToareH^f'^V^ '^^' ^^^ the c^nt from behind, the folumns advan^* ^ T'"'^''^ ^^ *^e ^s fire, and at last gained thoW * x?"'' *^^ 'e^t by the tiiose in front stfove desnllf °^. *^^ barricade. Here mound of rubbish while fhn^'A.*'' ^^^"^^ up the ^eat a storm of bullets aTmed a^T. ^^""l^"^^^«^ ^^^m S he troops of the rajah rusht.T'^'S.^^^^ *^^an once drove back the strSin^ i"L """^u f^" ^"^bankment they suffer from thelfre Ih^nT' t^ '^ ^^avil did selves, that Charlie forbade tW 7 *^"' "^P°««d them- He knew that there wSslfet)^ )°- '?'^* the attempt, t^that his brave ^^^^t^^^ :Z;^ treVt"^"^^^ *« ^ke^T Bu T ^P *^lb-rricadt the flanks were steadily fSna fl -'^ ^'"^""^ ^^^^^^^ at had climbed un bv ih^ .^^^^S their way up Man^ fP were firin^^doL on the'll '^/ ^a]l,Ld\omT^ :^ t^at hiJmen ^eT^int^ trwa^-^^^et: ll^^^Zl ^ tUT«?t"?^.^-^.-en above the --, a.a the ci«fende.-^TL"d1ntoTeT^^^^ ^^J^ Q . *^,«^^^ '> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1^121 |25 Jf Ki |Z2 :^ itf 12.0 u IL25 i 1.4 ik I 1.6 Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STMIT WMSTIR.N.Y. MS80 (716) 877-4503 \ <^ '^ k.'i irr 180 FALUNO BACK TO THE STRONGHOLD. partition walls between these on the lower floora had already been knocked down, and without suffering from ths heavy fire which the assailants opened as soon as they gained the crest of the barricade, the defenders retreated along these covered ways until in rear of the second line of defence. This was held by the battalion placed there until the whole of the defenders of the town had left it by the gate leading up to the fort. Then Charlie with- drew this battalion also, and the town remained in the hands of the enemy, who had lost, Charlie reckoned, fully fifteen hundred men in the assault. During the fight Tim and the faithful Hossein, now fully recovered and Eromoted to the rank of an officer, had remained close eside him, and were, with him, the last to leave the town. The instant the evacuation was complete, the guns of the hill battery opened upon the toAvn and a tremendous fire of musketry was poured upon it from every point of the castle which commanded it; while the guns, which from their lofty elevation, could not be depressed sufficiently to bear upon the town, directed their fire upon the bodies of troops still beyond the walls. The enemy had cap- tured the town, indeed, but its possession aided them but little in their assault upon the fort. The only advantage it gave them would have been that it would have enabled them to attack the lower gate of the fort, protected by its outer wall from the fire of the hill battery. Charlie had, however, perceived that this would be the case, and had planted a number of mines under the wall at this point. These were exploded when the defenders of the town entered the fort, and a hundred yards of the wall were thus destroyed, leaving the space across which the enemy must advance to the attack of the gate exposed to the fire of the hill battery, as well as of the numerous guns of the fort bearing upon it. Two days passed without any further operations on the of the enemy, and then Bussy, seeing that nothii)g fl^ri^i TH« FORT ON THB HILL ,gj Jngt^LTai^r^'r^^^^^^^^ the fortress so determined to make adesperaT^lf? .?^ °^ *^« ^"^ged! of It. immense strength ^ITh'S^'.V^ T'^ ^*' ^'^oriit two bodies of men eachfif^ '^^^h*. therefore, he ordered the hillside, farTthe rtui"^^^^^^^^ ,7^«fiongatthefooTof the\vTi?n/^* f *^^ *«^'^. to the battery by storm at daytealpK TV°^ *° ^a^iy such an attempt would be made Iw^^*^^*^^^^^ that ^g the fall of the town Tken hf/*^*"? x?" ^^^ ^«"«^- ordered a most vigilanrwatch tn K fV^^'^' ^^ had facing sentries some hundred vJdl ^'^* "^ "*^^ "^^^t. to give warning of the approacro?^^^^ ^"^ "^*^«^ «ide , Towards daybreak on orders to king fire of he battery, ir number, n prisoners were sum- ssible they lowered to he fort, he fortress jone. The jf carrying nature and which had }, including i retreated s was iin- they were ;hat in the ised terri- to Charlie 7ith costly the la'^ter le inestira- nting him ice. Now elf should vbiit most would be rhich had 183 FwTrnel Z^^:.^ ^'^^ how he nmde his way back asThf V^' ^^^^'^^^^ most disturbed state/the Mkratt^br^^^V'^. ™ ^" * where out plundering and burnW ^fu ^'^"^ ^""^'y mation that the uJattas w^TJ^' ?"^«?q»ont infor- below, determined Chart! 7nZ f'^'''^ '"^ *^« Plains rajah made him. thU be .h^J^*^^,^^^^^ offer which the cross the xnountains and S'v""^^" * '*^«^g escort, the west coast in the state o?«f^'T^ *^ * P^^t on would be able to ake shtn LV"'"?^^ '^^^^' ^^^''^ ^e The rajah promisedto send^harhV T"^ '' ^^^^'•*«- presents down to Madrrwbpn ^ ^°''^' *"d «<^her offer; and Charlie accor^^mT^ K ^'i «PP«rtunity should whom had been pStXo the rank ^"'i'^'^t' ^" '' Kelly and Hossein, who wonM n 'i ''^^^''^' ^^ ^im moment from his side star^.^ fl J 'f^*'^*^ ^"«self a of thirty horsemen ^'"""^ "^"^^"^ ^^^h an escort aJ^^Site^^^^^ the bim for the last time and n^LfT^ Pf'^^^^^ before Charlie himself, alLou-hLJTn..'^*"^ ^^''' ^^^^^vell. trymen, from whoTlie had br*"'° ^T "^ ^^« co"°- separated, was vetTorn. f o i ^^1 "^^^^^ *^o years bad made. His posS 1 ^"^^ *^' ^^"^ fiends he from that whicl C tfd ^'e^ he U"{r 'J''^^^^* «- he was a newly madp Htn+r . , ^®? ^^^adras. Then himself, indeec( und'eVctrb^ttho'w ^^«*^°^"-he3 known save to his commander «L? ^^ ^ ^^^ "«- when he had landed dXol' and who was as poor as Now he had gafned a S T ?.'"'^Hl ^^^""'^ ^^^ India, ful defence of^r had been'of'^^^' ^"^ ^'' ''''^^- Company. He was too a wealth vmTn'l^' "%^''' ^ *^« m money alone of the rajaS haSS to'- ' f ''''^*^ five thousand pounds., i suu.'^St\^XT^i «. 'i: ,: 184 THE PIRATE FLOTILLA. in Hi! l:?i' appear extraordinary, but which was small to that fre- quently bestowed by wealthy native prirces upon British oflScers who had done them a good service. Clive him- self after his short campaign had returned to England with a far larger sum. For several days the party rode through the hills with- out incident, and on the fifth day they saw stretched at their feet a rich flat country dotted with villages, beyond which extended the long blue line of the sea. The dis- tance was greater than Charlie imagined, and 'twas only after two days' long ride that he reached Calicut, where he was received with great honour by the rajah, to whom the leader of the escort brought letters of introduction from the Rajah of Ambur. For four days Charlie re- mained as his guest, and then took a passage in a large native vessel bound for Ceylon, whence ne would have no difliculty in obtaining passage to Madras. These native ships are very high out of water, rising considerably towards the stem and stern, and in form they somewhat resemble the Chinese junk, but are with- out the superabundance of grotesque painting, carving, and gilding which distinguish the latter. The rajah accompanied Charlie to the shore, and a salute was fired by his followers in honour of the departure of the guest. The weather was lovely, and the clumsy craft with all sail set was soon running down the coast. When they had sailed some hours from Calicut, from behind a head- land four vessels suddenly made their appearance. They were lower in the water and much less clumsy in appear- ance than the ordinary native craft, and were propelled not only by their sails but by a number of oars on each side. No sooner did the captain and crew of the ship behold these vessels than they raised a cry of terror and despair. The captain, who was part owner of the craft, ran up and down the deck like one possessed, and the sailors seemed scarcely less terrified. "What on earth is the matter?" Charlie exclaimed )o that fre- pon British Clive him- to England I hills with- tretched at ges, beyond . The dis- . 'twas only icut, where ,h, to whom atroduction Charlie re- B in a large lid have no ater, rising id in form t are with- ig, carving, Ihe raj an e was fired the guest, ift with all iVhen they nd a head- ice. They in appear- i propelled trs on each f the ship terror and the craft, d, and the "TULAGI ANORIAJ" . 2«J --'» a^e those, and why ^ y„„ ,,^, „, they uttered fuliyaccou'^t^MrJ^! na„e that exclaimed CHAPTER XV. THE PIRAIES' HOLD. nVi I't 11 I VAGI, the founder of the Maratta Empire, had, in 16(52, seized and fortified Vijiyadrug, or, as the English call it, Gheriah, a town at the mouth of the river Kanui, one hundred and seventy miles south of Bombay, and also the island of Suwarndrug, about half way between Gheriah and Bom- bay. Here he established a piratical fleet. Fifty years later Kanhagi Angria, the commander of the Maratta flt^t, broke off this connection with the successors of Sivagi, and set up as a pirate on his own account. Kan- hagi not only plundered the native vessels, but boldly preyed upon the commerce of the European settlements. The ships of the East India Company, the French Com- pany, and the Dutch were frequently captured by these pirates. Tulagi Angria, who succeeded his father, was even bolder and more successful, and when the man-of- war brig the Restoration, with twenty guns and two hundred men, was fitted out to attack him, he defeated and captured her. After this he attacked and captured the French man-of-war Jupitre, with forty guns, and had even the insolence to assail an English convoy, guarded by two men-of-war, the Vigilant, of sixty-four guns, and the Ruby, of fifty. The Dutch, in 1735, sent a fleet of seven ships of war, two bomb-vessels, and a Btrong body of troops against Gheriah. The attack was, ISO mpire, had, Jrug, or, as wn at the ndred and s island of and Bom- rifty years le Maratta jcessors of int. Kan- but boldly attlements. ench Coin- i by these ather, was 16 man-of- 3 and two e defeated i captured guns, and ih convoy, sixty-four 1735, sent iels, and a .ttack was, THH EASTERN ROVERg. ,«. dappiS^^^^^^^ loss. Fro. that feet scourge to tfe commerce of \V * '"' ^^. ""^'^ » ?«'" Marryat had, of coura^freZlv f'"^ i^'^*' ^^^^"e these noted pirates, and the c" of T"1n '1 *^^^°^"ff« ^^ explained to him the terror ofV/ If ^' ^"P* ^* ^'^ce " What is it Mr rhnli« \ ? "taster and crew, tion about? Is^t th^fttl' 1^-^* ?? ^^^^^ ^^ "^^ l>othera- " Those ships belonVl^ '^'^l *^^7^« ^fecred of ?" CJmrlio said, "and I L^^^^^ Angria." little boats" ' ^'" ^°"^"''' ^^ r« "ot afeered of those four those^boS J'yiu^ca]rf{7 "^uch afraid too. Each of as many m;nVthislip^^"Thrr '^^.^ '' ^^^ '^^' ^e have only those twf little Ln'' '""f ^'"'''^' ^^^"^e except for show If iZJ ^"^^' "^^^^ch are useless attempt a defrnce, al^uTelTf^^^ be terribly against us; b„t with fh.° ^'' ^^^^ ^^^^^ Jess to think of it, aid ihe Iff f ''''^T' '^ '' ^ope- our throats being cut " ^''"^^ ^""^^ ^nlj ensure threw themselves upon the deck of 111 ^fP^'*"' ""'"^ hair and rolled a^ if in convnlSL l^^^^' ^^''^ *beir quietly with the air of an«fW °?^- ^^me sat down the natives of Ind^a areTp ?! ' ^^^'g^^ation, with whS the rvitable."'Cse,"^Vo'rth:'S* l^^'V'^^^^ ^l^t!;^^?--^ . all your prLn^t;?o'£ fo'^^.^rld' lo if /" 'r^ ^^^^ 're wrong, Mr. Cha^s tin ^^uTlV ^ i^'"^^* - thousand rupees the rajaE ^^v^e mt ^fc^^ you i^r 188 IN THE HANDS OP THE PIRATES. Wim. i-f 'MMj ,f mSB^ i i mm ]:■ MSBBG^HI ,5'. rlnP 1'' 11^^ !■ f fl^y ?' :'Ei Si f> your money. A hundred pounds wasn't a sum that Tim Kelly was likely to handle again in a hurry, and it went agin tb<> grain with me to part with them out of my hands; sure and it's well I took yer honour's advice." The four Sepoy oflBcers also exchanged a few words with Charlie. They, too, would have resisted had he given the word, hopeless though the effort would have been. But they acquiesced at once in his decision. They had little to lose, but the thought of a prolonged capti- vity, and of being obliged, perhaps, to enter the service of the Maratta freebooters just when about to return to the'r wives and families at Madras, was a terrible blow for them. "Keep up your spirits," Charlie said. "It is a bad business, but we must hope for the best. If we bide our time we may see some chance of escape. You had better lay down your arms in a pile here. Then we will sit down quietljp^ and await their coming on board. They will be here in a minute now." Scarcely had the seven passengers taken their seats in a group on the poop, when the freebooters ranged along- side and swarmed over the sides on to the deck. Beyond bestowing a few kicks upon the crew, they paid no at- tention whatever to them, but tore off the hatches and at once proceeded to investigate the contents of the hold. Tlie greater portion of this consisted of native grains, but there were several bales of merchandise consigned by traders at Calicut for Ceyloa The cargo was, in fact, rather more valuable than that generally found in a native coaster, and the pirates were satisfied. The leader of the party, leaving to his followers the task of examining tlie hold, walked towards the group on the poop. They rose at his approach. "Who are you?" the Maratta asked. "I am an officer in the English Company's service," Charlie said, "as are these five natives. The other Ei^lishman is a soldier under my orders." be n that Tim uid it went out of my advice." few words . ^"""^ °^ ^^^^^"t- before they approached Gheriah E^L"^''tu''S^^ ^«3^« a heavy cannonade was heard in ^u%'1 *he morning the greatest excitement amZfh" M ' i'**"^«' causinf ™ ho sted, the sweeps got fut'^T^*^' ^^^^^ ««« to jog along in their rear the fn„ ^"^ Jf*^ng the trader ^»/ [apidl^ along the coast Th« ^^^-^^ 'i:*^* "^^^^ their and heavier, and" a^ it b^can.I H t\^^^^^^ heavier coud be seen about two rdle, ^^^ ^^''^ ^^^ge ships host of smaller craft ^^®*'^' surrounded by a reS^^ Tim e,elai.eci < their for- 1 musketry k-pots, and ,nu getting I trying to ray 'im said, as struck the * bulwarks, leek, killed ire in the whatever, ill or plea- . Christian yell, yer ^er honour, vay of the moke was ild yell of their guns P-war diefl xtinguish- still more as poured Marattas }ut agaia c^jr.: ™111?;f:"-;;^ «-■<-. and to„^«, „, fl.„, continued fire of muXt, It *""''*'' " "Pito of tlie of tl,e sailors ZXy^^iCT'^^^\'^'^^'''^"''^y flongside her and LppL wiM, (^""i '"'«'"•«■•. '"n bat could be seen pSdinron H '' S""", » *'""™' ""m- he flames mounted hiS ami hi ° t ^'^•'""vhile ngates. The crew now could ^,^= "',''" ^"^ ">« t«-o from the poits, cho<^Z any |o,!tr". '"P'T ''^'=''"«"-'' lire. It was but a choice Jf.i,, ""i" "'"" "'«' by cut or shot down by the U^Zh^'" '^^''"•"^- "'» '«t ""tch flag, flutterin/ from the ,r,, "r? "»'"« the and the wild Maratta mU mZlJ 1^ °^ ""« "'""P. was everywhere complete '^Thi T-'' .""*' ">« 'i^'o-y sheet of flames, and tt MarartaJlif ^ ""» "°«' » them until with two tremendou^ Jl'f ' ■"" f^^ '■■<»» gines blew up and thsv T^u k '^P'o^'ons their macra- ■' I should s^roelvhlvXr ^5'?"' "'^ ""tora. ° "that three C C^f wi' 7„t'''r''''»':Charliesaid, four guns, could be Ltrord'bv a^ i"? », ''!""'red and ever numerous. Well T!m .1,. ' * **'' °^ pirates, how- natives can fight S we7l el ?* ''•° ■'"'.'^' *•"" «>ese fee, that we Sid not attemnt 1 «■ " J"'' "" "'ell, you that dumsy craft wewl'tTbtd"" ""^ -™'»nce^m .ten u?u" StVmruter fc' ^? --" have hink of ?he sailoS of those twol? "^-"^^"^ '''"'l »» heve that a soul has escaS W ?"!,*"'Ps. ^ don't be- "'^hen t^^ J»kenSeV^.?' ^ «■» »»»" one some cpu?i° ,^' f,|^' ?«« »7«tl>e craft in whi.h w-r- -, ^on^de d.e flagship „f y,^ pi-J-j^-^^^ ill: f« H i' f ^ii' .f^ -.r ii 3l % fw A t /;. Jjl lj.*5j^ 'i'fs-l m >.-'■ *. '■ r 192 THK PIRATI HOLD. m i and the captain reported to him the capture he had made. Fortunately Tulagi Angria was in a high state of delight at the victory he had just won, and instead of ordering them to be instantly executed, he told the captain to take them on to Suwarndrug and to imprison them there until his arrival. He himself with the rest of his fleet, and the captured Dutch sloop, sailed into Gheriah, and the craft in which Charlie and his companions were imprisoned con- tinued her course to the island stronghold of the pirates. Suwarndrug was built on a rocky island. It lay within gunshot of the shore. Here, when Kanhagi Angria had first revolted from the authority of the Maratta kingdom, the ruler of the Deccan had caused three strong forts to be built in order to reduce the island fort. The pirates, however, had taken the initiative and had captured these forts, as well as the whole line of sea- coast, a hundred and twenty miles in length, and the country behind, twenty or thirty miles broad, extending to the foot of the mountains. On their arrival at Suwarndrug the prisoners were handed over to the governor, and were imprisoned in one of the casemates of the fort. The next day they were taken out and ordered to work, and for weeks they laboured at the fortifications with which the pirates were strengthening their already naturally strong position. The labour was very severe, but it was a consolation to the captives that they were kept together. By Charlie's advice they exerted themselves to the utmost, and thus succeeded in pleasing their masters, and in escaping with but a small share of the blows which were liberally dis- tributed among other prisoners, native and European, employed upon the work. Charlie, indeed, was appointed as a sort of overseer, having under him not only his own party but thirty others, of whom twenty were natives, and ten English sailors, who had been captured in a mer- chantman. Although closely watched he was able to cheer these men by giving them a hope that a chance of ie had made, te of delight of ordering >tain to take Q there until leet, and the Qd the craft irisoned con- the pirates. id. It lay 3n Kanhagi xity of the had caused le the island litiative and s line of sea- th, and the 1, extending soners were oned in one ' they were weeks they pirates were ig position, isolation to Jy Charlie's t, and thus »ping with berally dis- European, 3 appointed ily his own jre natives, d in a mer- as able to a chaiico of ARRIVAL OF AN ENOUSH FLEET. 108 escape from their captivity might shortly arrive. All expressed their readiness to run any risk to regain their From what he heard the pirates say, Charlie learned that they were expecting an attack from an expedition which was preparing at Bombay. The English sailors were confined in a casemate adjoining that occupied by Oharhe and his companions. The guard kept over them was but nominal, as it was considered impossible that they could escape from the island, off whic^- lay a large fleet of the pirate vessels. One morninc pon starting to work they perceived by the stir in the tortress that something unusual was taking place, and presently, on reaching the rampart, they saw in the dis- tance a small squadron approaching. They could make out that It consisted of a ship of forty-four guns, one ot sixteen, and two bomb vessels, together with a fleet of native craft. The pirate fleet were all getting up sail. " It's a bold thing, Tim, to attack this fortress with only two ships, when the pirates have lately beaten a Dutch squadron mounting double the number of guns." "Ah, yer honour, but thin there is the Union Jack Heating at the masthead. Do you think the creetura don't know the differ l" "But the Dutchmen are good sailors and fought well, lim. I think the difference is that in the last case they attacked the Dutch, while in the present we are attack- t"§- ^^ makes all the difference in the world with Indians. Let them attack you and they'll fight bravely enough. Go right at them and they're done for. Look, the pirate fleet are already sailing away." "And do you think the English will take the fort, ver honour?" "^ " I don't know, Tim. The place is tremendously strong, and built on a rock. There are guns which bear right down on the ships if they venture in close, while theirs will iwy. ^ ' lE ; i ;f^sf; 194 THE BOMBARDMENT OP SUWARNDRUft i! do but little damage to these solidly built walls. Suwam, before us.-' '^''*' * ^''* ^''^ ^'"^^^ ^' '*'°°g «^ *^^* »,«l?o^iV'^ *^-°' ^^' ^°''°,"?'' ^^^ ^^" ^e have to remain here all our lives, do ye think?" f n K^^?''? ' -^ ^SP® ''°*' ^^"^'^^^ I *hink that we ought to be able to render some assistance to them." fn c;7l .i?"^ "^"i '^^^^.'*' y^^ ^«"°"^? You have but to spake the word and Tim Kelly is ready to go throuc^h that" ' ""^ '° '' ^'''''^'' y" "^^y ^' «^"'^ «f Seeing that the pirates were now mustering round their guns, and that the ships were ranging up for action S;'l'' A°"^^^ it prudent to retire. Hitherto no atten tion had been paid to them, but 'twas probable enoucrh that when the pirates' blood became heated by the fight they would vent their fury upon their captives. S.' therefore, advised not only the native officers but the nwl ^ /i!*''^*5 *^''' casemates, which, as the guns placed m them did not command the position take! up by the ships, were at present untenanted by any of the garrison. Presently the noise of guns proclainfed that the engagement had begun. The boom'^cf the cannon ot the ships was answered by an incessant fire from the far more numerous artillery of the fortress, while now and then a heavy explosion close at hand told of the burstin-^ ot the bombs from the mortar-vessels, in the fortress. '^ f^lSn^f Yv^^T- *^i"^^^" ^* *^^ ^^«* measures to be taken to aid his friends ever since the squadron came in si^ht and after sittipg quietly for half an hour he called nis officers around him. JlL^fi. convinced" he said, "that if unaiJed from withm, the ships will have no chance whatever of taking this fortress; but I think that we may help them. Th? S! *°A'^^.'''^ ^°^***?f *^« magazine, commands the w^ole of the interior. But its guns do not bear upon toe ships where they are anchored. Probablv tha •J" le pl{ ,ce lis. Suwam- ;rong as that iVe to remain bat we ought "ou have but 3 go through be shure of Bring round ip for action, rto no atten- ►able enough by the fight, ptives. He, ers but the as the guns )n taken up ' any of the laimed that the cannon re from the lile now and he bursting fortress, tsures to be 'on came in ir he called liJed from r of taking hem. The mands the bear upon r the place CHARLIE'S PLAN TO AID THK FLEET. 195 at present is almost deserted Aa «« « tention to us, I proDose w^h T- T^n^ P^^^ ^^^^ »*- English sailo;s to sdze if W "" Y^^ *"^ *^« t^n discharge the Ins uoon fh« J'f "^^ '^°''. *^^ g*^^ ^^d We could no\^f course def.nf ^'^T "J *^^ ''^ ^^''^ they attacked us but we wS th eat' ^/'.r'^"*^^ ^^ magazine if thev did 90 T? threaten to blow up the ing^u four and Hossdn sh^.l?? • *^.^* ^^'^^^'ow Lvn- and^-ust beforfit beco^^^^^^^^ »carnl^^^^^^^^^ be instantly S SfiV .n ^^^^f^^f^d you will would rather r^rtte ^LH ti„7kled"ttn f ""^ demned to nass mv lifo fi,^ ^«"ig Kiiiea, than be con- »ay at any momenf cuUur thi t '^7./'" '"' ^'''' hajipening to them " ""^^ "* *°y '«^«rae to joi:tXprr''rss:i„°did tt*^" *t -"""gne. necessary. w5h him it wS a matlr" .? ' *°^/'P> whatever Charlie sutr Jst J Thf i *. ".I °*'"'^'' *° <■» effected by the Jrs of ^i,^TT ?^**"^^' ^^^ been ii tJ • \ 196 SPIKES FOK THE QUNS. through the touch-hole. When pushed down to their full length they touched the interior of the cannon below, and were just level with the top of the touch-hole. Thus it would be next to impossible to extricate them in a hurry. They might, indeed, be broken and forced in by a solid punch of the same size as the touch-hole, but this would take ^ 'me, and would not be likely to occur on the moment to tne pirates. The skewers, for this is what they resembled, were very strong and tough, being made of slips of bamboo. The prisoners had all knives which they used for cutting their food. With these the work was accomplished. Towards morning the five natives, with the skewers hidden away in their loin-clothes and their turbans twisted in Maratta fashion, stole out from the casemate. Charlie had ordered, that in case they should see that the ships had drawn off from the position they occupied on the preceding day, they should return without attempting to carry out their task. He himself, with Tim, joined the sailors, and, first ascending the ramparts and seeing that the ships were still at anchor abreast of the fort, he and his comrades strolled across the interior of the fort in the direction of the magazine. They did not keep together, nor did all move directly towards the position which they wished to gain. The place was already astir. Large numbers of the pirates thronged the interior. Groups were squatted round fires, busy in cooking their breakfasts, numbers were coming from the magazine with powder to fill up the small magazines on the walls, others again were carry- ing shot from the pyramids of missiles piled up here and there in the courtyard. None paid any attention to the English prisoners. Presently a dull boom was heard. There was a whistling sound, and with a thud, followed by a loud explosion, a bomb fell and burst in the open Hpace. This was the signal for action. to their full inon below, hole. Thua them in a arced in by >le, but this >ccur on the iiis is what being made lives which ;e the work he skewers lans twisted ;e. Charlie tt the ships »ied on the attempting Joined the seeing that brt, he and the fort in not keep he position )ers of the e squatted 3, numbers : to fill up vere carry- p here and Lion to the vas heard, i, followed 1 the open THE SEIZURE OP THE MAOAZINE. I97 ovSooSlh" 1"^""^^!.^"?^^^ ^°^" *« ^^^ tactions ovenookmg the sea, and the Englishmen (rafliprori ir, « Knives they had no arms, but each had picked uo two of thr\'il"'.7 '^'"'- ^ ■»'■>"'« afterTe eii^n of the shell the cannonade of the ships broke out Tt X^ltni b^ ™1^ " ?■=" ^"^ f-rthe fortrl' and moment Ut^?fi"'J-*"'* "^^ ''«« ''««'» ^ a™e A ^!ir T.C • ™, "f'""® "■"» "P to the group of Enrfiah- EZrthaTflb'""' ^" '''" done^nrmorXan i^'^i P ther^Xnt^r'tre^^^enS Itve^^'' ''^"f '"-?'* *^ P-t/^nu^'t^'rhe'blS above. Not a single pirate was to be seen there The ™pf "Sid fh^^' .''T "''« "' ""- ><-"'d wUh grape, and a heavy discharge was poured into tl,« crowded masses of pirates upon the baC on the ea Z; Jr'- *''«»^y grs^tly disturbed at finding that most of their guns had in some way been rendered mele,, were janic-stricken at this sudden and "Cpectodatt^k from the rear. Many of them broke f roSeh- guM^d Totb ^Tt "'^ T^"^^^ They were rTceiv^ wT* tSe.'^Zhrrrair '"-^ -'™ ^"' ^^ .houM:" ''"P"" "P™ °*^« <"'g« »* ae parapet and *n!a i 'f .«i 198 SUCCESS OF THE PLAN. ; -t '4 i .''i ,:f, ,fl " If you attack us we will blow up the magazine. I have^ but to lift my hand and the magazine will be fired." The boldest of the assailants were paralysed by the threat. Confusion reigned throughout the fortress. The fleet kept up their fire with great vigour, judginc^ by the feebleness of the reply that something unusual must be happening within the walls. The gunners, dis- heartened by finding their pieces useless, and unable to extract the wooden plugs, while Charlie's men continued to ply them with grape, left their guns and with the greater portion of the garrison, disorganized and panic- stricken, retired into shelter. A shell from the ships falling on to a thatched building set it on fire. The flames rapidly spread, and soon all the small huts occu- pied by the garrison were in flames. The explosion of a magazine added to the terror of the garrison, and the greater portion of them, with the women and children, ran down to the water, and taking boats attempted to cross to Fort Goa, on the mainland. They were, however, cut off by the English boats and captured. Commodore James, who commanded the squj^dron, now directed his lire at Fort Goa, which was being feebly attacked on the land side by a Maratta force, which had been landed from the Maratta fleet accompanying the English ships, a few miles down the coast. The fort shortly surrendered; but while the Marattas were marching to take possession, the governor, with some of his best men, took boat and crossed over to the island, of which, although the fire had ceased after the explosion of the magazine, the English had not taken possession. The fire from its guns again opened, and as Commodore James thought it probable that the pirates would in the night endeavour to throw in large reinforcements he determined to carry it by storm. The ships opened 'fire upon the walls, and under cover of this half the seamen were landed; these ran up to the gate and thundered at "N. agazine. I ne will be sed by the bresa ur, judging ig unusual inners, dis- unable to L continued I with the and panic- the ships fire. The huts occu- :plosion of n, and the 1 children, empted to J, however, bmmodore rected his ied on the nded from lips, a few lered; but ession, the boat and le fire had le English 3mmodore aid in the ments, he 3ened fire le seamen Qdered at V!li l!f' IF YOU ATPACK US, WK Wl LL BLOW UP THE MAGAZINE." it m th ga cr( th SURRENDER OF THE FORT. 199 m m I'll' - hi. I mm' ? ... I ■ 1 t; i• .*^' ""¥' P^^^te proved itself a ^«+«i7f *, assistance of its guns of that und r t?e eomm^^^^^^ ^"^^^ *^^ ^tre^th rejoicings at Bombay W,l Commodore James, f he had been inflicted on ThT."'^''"^' ^°/ enormous damage pirate hold ituated b,!f^?f '"" ^-^ *^** P^^«« V thl^ Commodore Jami'^and^f ^^.^^^^ from the W Charlie Mar^at had hi^ ^^ ^Ce^^, ^our?^'; ^at IH mm 202 CLIVK AT BOMBAY. ' ":,;ri! -JiKl lant sailor everywhere assigning to him the credit of its capture. Charlie would now have sailed at once for Madras, but the authorities wished him to remain, as Clive was shortly expected to arrive with a considerable fr)rco which was destined to act against the French at Hyderabad. The influence of Bussy with the nizam rendered this important province little better than a French possession, and the territory of our rivals upon the sea-coast had been im- mensely increased by the grant of the five districts known as the Northeni Sirdars to Bussy. It was all that the English could do to hold their own around Madras, and It was out of the question for them to think of attempt- ing single-handed to dislodge Bussy fro.n Hyderabad. iJetween the nizam. however, and the Peishwar of the JJeccan there was a long-standing feud, and the Company had proposed to this prince to aid him with a strong H-nglish force m an attack upon Hyderabad Colonel Scott had in the first place been sent out to command this expedition; but when Clive, wearied with two years life of inactivity in England, applied to be appointed to active service, the directors at once appointed him governor of Fort St. David, and obtained for him the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the royal army. They directed h-^ ft to sail at once for Bombay with three com- panies of the Royal Artillery, each a hundred .strong, and three hundred infantry recruits. Upon his arrival there he was to give Colonel Scott any assistaucje he required. Ihat officer, however, had died before Clive amved Upon reaching Bombay Clive found that events had occurred m the south which would prevent the intended expedition from taking place. The French government had suddenly .called bupleix, the great man whose talent and sttte... -i •. ap hrd sustained their cause. On his return to Frtin-: m^ead of treating him with honour for the wort h^ n%i icae for the-, they even refused to repay him the A^r-e -1211s which he had advanced from iredit of its Madras, but vvns sliortly which was ibad. Tho i important ►n, and tho I boon ini- icts known II that tho fadras, and f attempt- lytlerabad. var of tho 5 Company 1 a strong ent out to iried with lied to be appointed i for him ly. They hree com- trong, and ivai there i required, ived. ;^ents had i intended vernment m whose luse. On ;h honour efuaed to iced from iXPEDinON A0AIN8T OHERIAH. .,««w, e f^ J 1 ,^' " v.*"ui iJttu seni oui a man bv thp rTl tv AM- '' r' ^^?u^^^ ^^^'^ ^"d wholly destitute o? abihty At tiie tnue of his arrival the English were hardlv on the cocust. When, however, Mr. Saunders proposed to h m a treaty of neutrality between the Indian Sessions of the two powers he at once accepted it, and thus thr^w away all the advantages which bupleii had strulTed waa?iat*trF"?- J^' '^^"^^ «^ *^^« treatrhowfve^^^ was that the English were unable to carry out their nro posc3d alhance with the peishwar again7 the nizam Ci to him" SV"'r^ ^^^'"' ^* °"°^ '^ported himself to him. For a time, however, no active duty was assicrned to him, as It was uncertain what steps would Zw be taken. Finally it was resolved that, taking advanlaee of the presence of Clive and his troops and of a squadron which jiad arrived under Admiral Watson, the work com" menced by Commodore James should be comXed by teower'' '''""' ^^^ the entire destructiL of tS The peishwar had already asked them to aid him in his attack upon Angria. and Commodore James w^lw sent with the Projector and two other ships to reco^o^trT Gheriah. which no Englishman then liViurhad Teea The nat ^ ^.described it as of enormous strength andTt was behoved that it was an Eastern Gibraltar.^ Commo hour C ^T? *^? '^^^T^'^ ^''^ ** ^^hor in the h^- bour. Notwithstanding this he sailed in until witMn cannon-shot, and so completely werp the enemv TowpS and demoralized by the lols of Lwarndrug thaUhrdM not venture out to attack him. "^ After ascertaining the position and character of the defences, he returned, at ih^^r^A «* n..^»:u _ . ' °\ "^® " ""■ "" jjonaDfty, aud reported that while i'^^^lfs^^'iCp^ *■ was I 204 ■ I, t . ^ sifi I S" f k ' '"* l« ft «i r ■■ m ^^^^Bl ''^JLJ rJ 'y\ 1 i Sr fl THE GIBRALTAR OP THE EAST. by no means imprecrnable. The Maratta army under the command of Ramajee Punt marched to blockade the place on the land side; and on the 11th of February. 1756^ the fleet, consisting of four ships of the line, of sev^ity sixtv- fZl: 71^' ^f ^^^y ^"°«' ^ ^"g^*« «f forty-four and three of twenty, a native ship called a grab, of twelve guns and five mortar ships, arrived before the place Besides the seamen the fleet had on board a battalion of eight aundred Europeans and a thousand Sepoys. nf lil T °^^^^«"*h ^^ situated on a promontory of rock a mile and a quarter broad, lying about a mile up a large harbour forming the mouth of a river. The pro? montory projects to the south-west on the right of the harbour on entering, and rises sheer from the water in foXl^- "^'' rt' ^^^y-^''^ ^^^^' C>n this stood tlo fortihcations. Ihese consisted of two lines of walls with round towers, the inner wall rising several feet above th ^ff ,T^lPr«°^«ntory was joined to the land by a sandy slip, beyond which the town stood. On this neck of land between the promontory and the town were the repaired «.1Pf "^ 7^^^ '^' ^^^'^ '''''^' ^-« built o repaired, and ten of these, among which wa^ the Derby which they had captured from the Company, lay m^red off'th/place ^ ^^' ^""^^^ '"^''^ *^" ^''^ ^'^^'^ wi?h Thl'MnTr* ^^^ ^^^V^""^ ^y ^^^^^ ^« commissioner Tm. fl Tt^^ u'^y; ^ P^'^y °^ ^^ratta horsemen came down to Bombay to escort him to Chaule.at which P^ace the Maratta army were assembled for their march He was accompanied by Tim and Hossein, who were of course, like him, on horseback. A long day's ride thf f 'rof ?'f ^'f '"''''''% ^''''' ^ ^- -^- frl' wnll f^ .if '?^°^,'^ 5^?^^ °^ ^^^^ ^hich rise like a Zl; A^A^^^^''>?^'^^^ ^^^* di^t^'^ce along the coast. At the top of these hills-called in India, ghauts -lay the plateau of the Deccan, sloping gradual /away _ . j^ — . .su?jar^,Ui3 or miiua lo ine eatt, llii ny under the ade the place ry, 1756, the venty, sixty- rty-four and b, of twelve e the place, battalion of poys. promontory lit a mile up '. The pro- 'ight of the he water in s stood tho walls, witli :t above the land by a n this neck 'n were the ere built or the Derby, lay moored set arrived nmissioner I horsemen e, at which leir march, who were, day's ride niles from 'ise like a along the iia, ghauts ally away A JOURNEY ON HORSEBACK. £05 your\^onrur1^"^ *' '""^^ "P *° *^P ^^ ^^^em mountains. theM^'for^lTunte^^^ T ^T'"' ^' ^^^^ «kirt behind GW,'' ^""^''^ ^"^ fi% ^^^^> till we get TimlZ^^'^nl^^ * ^-- -"^d elimb them." I'alf-way up, reaf the ^?P V^'* Z^^f^^'^^ extend which ^n^eT^telle'SV^o^Jt^dTacf '"-'"r There must be auantifi-p« i ^^^^l ^^ Pack animals. leader of the escoit " on fhf ^^"?' ^^'^'^ '^'^ *« the " OuantitL? » ii' ?? . mountam sides." «warmthreldL\^r^^^^ "Tigers and bears villages withirmiCoytl%T'#^^ *^^^« ^^e n" the gateau aboretLV^^^^^^^ '^*^'' ^^^ ^^«" «^ the edge so great i. *).i «^ "'Peking us," wh;fiPr„ttr!:;?f.':L\^»° ''^'p «. -^ ^en omy of very la^e pWder'H^; wirZ^^C a' t^g IB, 206 WITH THB MARATTAa 'im party of armed men, from whom nothing but hard blows IS to be got, in peace." The journey occupied five days, and was most enjoyable. Ihe officer of the escort, as the peish war's agent, would have requisitioned provisions at each of the villages, but Charlie insisted, under one pretence or another, on buying a couple of sheep or kids at each halting place, for the use of his own party and the escort. For a few copper coins an abundant supply of fruit and vegetables was obtainable; and, as each night they spread their rugs under the shade of some overhanging tree and smoked ttieir pipes lazily after the very excellent meal which Hossem always prepared, Charlie and Tim agreecTthat they had spent no pleasanter time in India than that occupied by their journey. Charlie was received with much honour by Ramajee Punt, and was assigned a gorgeous tent next to his own. "People in England. Mister Charles," said Tim that ovenmg, "turn up their noses at the thought of living in tents, but what do they know of th^i^ The military tent is an uncomfortable thing, and as for the gipsy tent a dacent pig wouldn't look at it. Now this^is like 'a palace, with its carpet under foot and its M^js covered • ?*S ^^K hangings, and its furniture fit for a palace. Father Murphy wouldn't believe me if I told him about It on oath. If this is making war, yer honour, I shall be in no hurry for pace." The Maratta force took up its position beleaguering the to\^ on the land side some weeks before the arrival ot the fleet, Commodore James with his two ships block- ading it at sea. There was little to do, and Charlie accepted with eagerness an offer of Ramajee Punt that they should go out for two or three days' tiger hunting at the foot of the hilk ^ «= b ^ "Well, Mr. Charles," Tim said when he heard of the intention " if you want to go tiger hunting, Tim Kelly is not the ho^ *^ "^^t? u^u:J^ S-i i °' , •' .. -i«« vuv uKrj vu avaj weciiiu. £>us snure. yer honour, if i hard blows TIM UPON TIGERS. 207 I shouiri wish to see on TV ^* ^"f^' ^^^ ^*'« * ^aste It had a wa7S weISLIk f-f.^?^ °^.^ ^^^^ ^^g^t. comfortable Hke to thfrinf ^^ ^^^^ ^^^" ^^^ ^^^1 "n- at me for somftime thp [« / ^'' ^^' ^""^ ^^^'' ^°°^^°g aroarthatToo'r^e'th^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ safer to let alone than to meddle with " ^ ^"^^^ shalfhJ:re^nt,^h%re^^^^ We minfn^ Vafw^r/Va^;" f' '^"'^^""^^ "^"* I Peter was throwTn. sods rLouT """ f'^ "^^ ^^^^^^^ "A thousand feet hiffh, Tim? He rpn'f ,i« +1, * • j , plentiful, and that one tt^v^Zl t1 'i^'" "'^''^ spot at which i^^teTJt^t'^ " ""'« '""^ "- new! .wtenr '" ''''° ^^'-^ ''•>» he heard the M.% a. rbnlK™^'' »» "^ off " ""ouse in her mouth " It seems almost imnrvjaiWo t,-^ u„x -^ , i? , .. «ge« can carry i. their-i/TiillUd'h^'^ttJ 208 THE HUNT fiEtilNS. laL. m considerable distances, and that they can kill them with one stroke of their paw. However, they are not as for midable as you would imagine, as you will see to-mor- row." In the morning the elephants were brought out. Charlie took his place in the front of a howdah with Tim behind him. Three rifles were placed in the seat, and these Tim was to hand to his master as he discharged them. Ramajee Punt and his officer were also mounted on elephants, and the party started for their destination. " It's as bad as being at sea, Mr. Charles," Tim said. " It does roll about, Tim. You must let your body go with the motion just as on board ship. You will soon get accustomed to it." On reaching the spot, which was a narrow valley with steep sides running up into the hill, the elephants came to a stand. The mouth of the valley was some fifty yards wide, and the animal might break from the trees at any point. The ground was covered with high coarse grass. Ramajee Punt placed himself in the centre, assigning to Charlie the position on his right, telling him that it was the best post, as it was on this side the tiger had been seen to enter. Soon after they had taken their places, a tre- mendous clamour arose near the head of the valley. Drums were beaten, horns blown, and scores of men joined in with shouts and howls. " What on arth are they up to, Mr. Charles?" " They are driving the tiger this way, Tim. Now, sit quiet and keep a sharp look-out, and be ready to hand me a rifle the instant I have fired." ^ The noise increased and was plainly approaching. The elephant fidgeted uneasily. "That baste has more sinse than we have," said Tim; "and would be off if that little black chap, astraddle of his neck, didn't keep on patting his head." Presently the mahout pointed silently to the bushes ft nea u, anu ■oinarxiQ cauglit sigut for a niomeiit of some U them with e not as for see to-mor- Drought out. ah with Tim he seat, and e discharged ilso mounted destination. Tim said, ^our body go )u will soon valley with phants came le fifty yards trees at any coarse grass. assigning to that it was ad been seen places, a tre- the valley, •res of men I?" 1. Now, sit kdy to hand ching. The ," said Tiin; astraddle of the bushes iut of some A SOMERSAULT WITH A TIGER. — 209 f otplVfKl^fn tn^r: )t' ^-^ or scented Presently a redoublTvelW «??u^ f.*^" "P *he valley, showed that it h&dhJ^^'^^'^^ *^® ^nng of ffuns Punt held uXLnTVcCV''' '^^'^^«- ^-"^e'e time the tiger might be expected ? ^f^^^^ ^^^^ ^^xfc movement among^ the bushes f*r ®"^^^"^y <^here was a half-way between ChLlieftnLnf ' 5^/?"^ ^ut about Punt. It paused for rmomeS l^-'''* t^^ ^^ ^^^«^J«« fl It was about to spri^rforward'^";^' l^ff^^and th'en, It sprang a short distance how!? ' ^^J" ^"^ «*r"ck it. over and over. One S h«rK T' ^''^ *^«^ ^^^l rolling hadstruckitonthehead JSl^'b^n? ^ '^' ^^'ef "" m * !?}', ^^"^d over ^d over :^^^^^^ ^^'^'' P"«* said^a^""'^ ^- ^-^ - tSxrrifiV^^ -,^^^^^^^ b^-^^^^^^^^^ To think baste anyhow. IVe seen p^^T i ^^® ^^S^^ « a poor - %ht for its life."^l?:?; Mot^r^^ ^^'^ *^"- - «t'ong sudJlV^t^^t^^^^^^^^ from Tim's lips by a had fal/en.tdtprt':Xm- ^^^^^^^^^ upon the elephant. Mh on^ f brushwood and leaped howdah witlf the other du^^^^XT .^' ^^^T^ ^^e an inch or two only beS ?i. V^^P^^"*« sUulder Charlie snatched thf rifle fromT" '^.^^ *^" "^^^out the muzzle into the tigerl ZJ'^l ^^'^^^^d thrust swerved round with ^sudd^ fri if V^' ?^«P^^^* the same moment the weX of fll V ^ ^^^ ^* (lah caused the ffirfTiQ f« • ^ * *he tiger on the how 'he tiger fell tol'tt ^ Z'^;;r'^'"^}\ ^i". aTi h« tagger just M he felt WrSTlf • ^'""'',"' ''*<' P»«ecl moment he heard the lZ:kolR!l^%'''"^ »' "'«»■»« mstant they touched [h^°o„^rT^?° ^}'i,"<>^- The &7«^.over and oler K S^e"^' '^"""f "^' '-P»d » u^ir fee, Charlie gr^p^^ni;"J^V;iUt flllil mn 310 TIM CLAIMS THE HONOURa the best defence he could if the tiger sprang upon him. The creature lay, however, immovable. " It is dead, Tim," Charlie exclaimed; " you needn't be afraid." . "And no wonder, yer honour, when I pitched head first smack on to his stomach. It would have killed a horse." "It might have done, Tim, but I don't think it would have killed a tiger. Look there." ^a^lie's gun had gone off at the moment when the howdah turned round, and had nearly blown off a portion of the tiger's head, while almost at the same instant the ball of Ramajee Punt had struck it in the back breaking the spme. Death had, fortunately for Tim, been instan- taneous. The tiger last killed was the great male which had done so much damage, the first, a female. The natives tied the legs together, placed long bamboos between them, and carried the animals off in triumph to the camp. The elephant on which Charlie had ridden ran some distance before the mahout could stop him. He was, indeed, so tenified by the onslaught of the tiger that it was not considered advisable to endeavour to get him to face another that day. Ramajee Punt, therefore, invited Charlie to take his seat with l;iim on his elephant,' an arrangement which greatly satisfied Tim, whose ser- vices were soon dispensed with. " I'd rather walk on my own feet. Mister Charles than nde any more on those great bastes. They're uncom- fortable anyhow. It's a long way to fall if the saddle goes round, and next time one might not find a ti^^er handy to light oa" ° Two more tigers were killed that afternoon, and, well pleased with his day's sport, Charlie returned to the huntmg camp. The next day Hossein begged that he might be allowed to accompany Charlie in Tim's place, and as the Irishman was perfectly willing to surrender it, the change was agreed upon. The march was a longer mg upon him. yrou needn't be pitched head nave killed a hink it would ent when the a off a portion le instant the Daek breaking , been instan- it male which female. The ong bamboos in triumph to ad ridden ran ;op him. He of the tiger eavour to get mt, therefore, his elephant, n, whose ser- Charles than ey're uncom- if the saddle find a tiger >on, and, well irned to the ^ged that he Tim's place, to surrender w.a.«. a longer A MAN-EATER. 311 notorioS^ m&tlt-mT'l-J'' *^® Previous momin? A uphisabodeTnlt^feXTi "^r *^ W faket almost perpendicular^wS of rocf S ?V^^ ^°«* ^^ ^ the place where the camn L -f ^°"* *en miles from jungfe stood upon a Sp teL^'^'^f ^he patch o^ formed of boulders the mfnJ, T-''^ "^^^^^ ^^^Pes were yards long and thirty dee^ ^""^ '""^^ ^^^^ «^ ^^4 We will send a nartv f nVi? * ^arhe asked will throw down ?raelrawP.°^ *^« hi" ^'J they rockets too, which we wHl send^n f ^^" if""^^* «omI We will take our plecernn n„ f'"""' ^^^ other side the terrace." ^^^' ""^ °"^ elephants at the foot of bou^dUlSreid^^:^^ tt^' P?S*« ^* *he ^oot of the menat the topofThe rolk Tegrto^'hT ""f ^^°« - ^'e of lighted crackers, while frfm pff l^ ""'^/^^'^ "«°»bers rockets whizzing iito he iZif ^'J ^^^« Parties sent tiger showed no sims of hl''^^ ^°^ ^"^^^ time the to doubt whether hrcouidb^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^e begt JH>wever. declared that he wrL^T • ^^' ^^^karis. He had on the dav jeforp 7.11; T S ^ ''^ ^^^ J^^ffJo neighbouring village ^d KnT?^"* "^^ * ^^^man from g round which^a wS'hTd'be:n kelTair^t^ ^^^ J-"^« uttermg a mighty roar the H^p. l^ ^1 "i^^*' Suddenly and stood at thi ed Je of f P^"""^^^ ^^^m the jun/e «!^dden appearance tfe d^hJr^'\ ^*^^"«d S hL a'm of tfieir riders Thr!? i?^ '■^'^°'^^^' ^^^^ing the almost at the sam?moment at ?>^^-'' ^'""'^'''^'^^ roar bounded back intX)u„l ' ''^'' ^^^^ ^^*h«- tohLt%l',f-J«^-d,"thfti;eisbadlyhii Listen ^he tiger for a time roared loudly at intervals. Ol^en ihau 212 A WOUNDED TIGER. the sounds became lower and less frequent, and at laat ceaaed altogether. In vain did the natives above shower down crackers. In vain were the rockets discharged into the jungle. An hour passed since he had last been heard. " I expect that he's dead," Charlie said. "I think so too," Ramajee Punt replied; "but one can never be certain. Let us draw off a little and take our luncheon. After that we can try the fireworks again. If he will not move then we must leave him." " But surely," Charlie said, " we might go m and see whether he's dead or not." " A wounded tiger is a terrible foe," the Kamajee an- swered. " Better leave him alone." Charlie, however, was anxious to get the skin to send home, with those of the others he had shot, to his mother and sisters. It might be very long before he had an opportunity of joining in another tiger hunt, and he resolved that if the tiger gave no signs of life when the bombardment of the jungle with fireworks recommenced, he would go in and look for his body. it, and at la»t above shower its discharged had last been " but one can and take our Bworks again. n." ^0 in and see I Bamajee an- 3 skin to send to his mother re he had an hunt, and he life when the recommenced, CHAPTER XVII. THE CAPTURE OF GHERIAH. FTER having sat for an hour under th^ «l,o^. menced, elicit the s&l.t»=f IH ' . , *' """^ '"ecom- on for half an hour cratKr'- ^I*fl ""'^ ^^ g""* ™ dead. dia„,ou„"t^d''£\rebprl%e*h T^^ bm a heavy double-barrelled rifle of th.?? '^"^ Hossein, carrvins a « -a the great yelW^Cdf ^hJSfdlS ^-^iTS^^' "Li- lili: 214 A NARROW ESOAPS. h 11 Charlie. The attack was so sudden and instantaneous that the latter had not even time to raise his rifle to his shoulder. Almost instinctively, however, he discharged both of the barrels, but was at the same moment hurled to the ground, where he lay crushed down by the weight of the tiger, whose hot breath he could feel on his face. He closed his eyes only to open them again at the sound of a heavy blow, while a deluge of hot blood flowed over him. He heard Hossein's voice, and then became insensible. When he recovered he found him- self lying with his head supported by Hossein outside the jungle. "Is he dead?" he asked faintly. " He is dead. Sahib," Hossein replied. " Let the Sahib drink some brandy and he will be strong again." Charlie drank some brandy and water which Hossein held to his lips. Then the latter raised him to his feet. Charlie felt his limbs and his ribs. He was bruised all over, but otherwise unhurt, the blood which covered him having flowed from the tiger. One of the balls which he had fired had entered the tiger's neck, the other had broken one of its forelegs, and Charlie had been knocked down by the weight of the animal, not by the blow of its formidable paw. Hossein had sprung forward on the instant, and with one blow of his sharp tulwar, had shorn clear through skin and muscle and bone, and had almost severed the tiger's head from its body. It was the weight upon him which had crushed Charlie into a state of insensibility. Here he had lain for four or five minutes before Hossein could get the frightened natives to return and assist him to lift the great carcass from his master's body. Upon examination it was found that two of the three bullets first fired had taken efiect. One had broken the tiger's shoulder and lodged in his body, the other had struck him fairly on the chest and had passed within an inch or two oi hia heart DOUBLE-DEAUNO. ^thought." Ramajee Punt said, as he 310 to turn him out/' ^ ^ '^ ^°°^ '" 'P^*« °^ «"' ««orts Charlie was too much hurt to walk an^ « !,•*♦« speedily formed and he was earned barken K ™ in Ihe crurt™e"Cn1„Tt„Tf '^^oTO-'^^ was able .nd to return ttCZf btf J^e' otgr '" " '''"''^^''' was sure it was uTeS Li^fw Tt I* 5^'" *^^* ^^ them. The meeting then broke nn nnrl nv,„«r sa^sty that Angria wouId°immedS^ ;?;t''„t''^:ni^^ tent, where he directed Hossein at on "to mh^gir^th the thwthat he nr''"'"^ -^^ """l to finYoTt any! thing that he could concerning the state of things in tihe " « S?r fstumed an hour later. ^ "** ,r» t^ p ^^^'V^^^J'^ P«nt is thinking of cheat- i ^1 J 316 DESTRUCTION OF THE PIRATE FLEET. to deliver the fort at once to him. Ramajee wants, you see. Sahib, to get all the plunder of the fort for himself and his Marattas." "This is very serious," Charlie said, "and I must let the admiral know at once what is taking place." When it became dark Charlie, with Tim and Hossein made his way through the Maratta camp, down to the shore of the river. Here were numbers of boats hauled up on the sand. One of the lightest of these was soon got into the water and rowed gently out into the force of the stream. Then the oars were shipped and they lay down perfectly quiet in the boat, and drifted past the tort without being observed. When they once gained the open sea the oars were placed in the rowlocks and half an hour's rowing brought them alongside the fleet. Charlie was soon on board the flag-ship, and in- formed the admiral and Colonel Clive what Hossein had heard. It was at once resolved to attack upon the follow- S^x x?"" .^^® *^° ^^^^^ ^^^ ^"^^ *hink it was likely that the pirates would, even in obedience to their chief's orders, surrender the place until it had been battered by the fleet. The next morning the fort was summoned to surrender No answer wm received, and as soon as the sea breeze set in, m the afternoon the fleet weighed anchor and pro- ceeded towards the mouth of the river. The men-of-war were m line on the side nearest to the fort to protect the mortar vessels and smaller ships from its fire. Passincr the point of the promontory they stood into the river and anchored at a distance of fifty yards from the north'face ot the fort. A gun from the admiral's ship gave the signal, and a hundred and fifty pieces of cannon at once opened fire, while the mortar vessels threw shell into the u^^ ^H ?^^°' ^^ *®^ minutes after the fire began a shell fell into one of Angria's large ships and set her on bre^ Ihe flames soon spread to the others fastened to- getx^er on either side of her, and ia less than an hour thia aURRENDRR OP THE STRONGHOLD. B was soon fleet, which had for fiff,r Malabar co.st. wal^^feri^, JXye7 *'^ ^^^ «' *^e pate^t^i^^^^^^^^^^^ «-* ^epl un their fire with the fall the enemy's C wLon^V^""'^'' ^"^ before nicht! flag however.^w^'hun^ Tlifll ''^T'^ ^o XL doubt that it wa^ inSeTto «? ^^^^^^i^ral had little Marattas. As soon therefore Z'Tt"' ^^' ^^^'^ *« ^^e Colonel Clive landed S f >. A * ^^"^"^^ ^"ite dark tion between the Mam La^^^^^^^ grea disappointment and dis^^ ^J^^^re, to\is Hira m the morning. The adSl ?^^*''' ^""* ^^"'^d fort, declaring that he wnnU ^^'"^ summoned the no quarter ufless it waTsurln^'V^" ^**^«k and give governor sent back To ».!>J fu '^^'"^'^ immediately. The Hostilities until St day Vt'^'"""^*° '^^^ ^-m orders from Anuria to «mU % ® "^^ °^^3^ ™ting for he had already Snl the orS'"' ^^"^ ^eclared'that was renewed, and intrSafhafr 't ^-^-dmont appeared above the wall L 1 ^" ^^"" * ^^^^e Aag n^ade no further sign 5 surrpnJ. ^""^^^^ *^« garrison Colonel Clive withl.VtroXwh.;^'^ 'f""''^ *« ^^^^^ possession, the bombardS ^^f ^^^^dvanced to take vigorously than ever. Thlenemv.^^''' 'f?'^^^ «^ore the violence of the fire and ^^^ were unable to support to Cliye that they su,^Cder TanlT*'^ "r *^^^«"« take possession, ^e aTonce Ir^b^ • ^^'=5* .'°*^^ ^"d aiddowntheirarmsandsuSeXr^f^^ and the pirates It was found that a great narfnl ft T""^.^"^ P^^^^ers. been destroyed by the firt £ I ^ *^® fortifications had have held the fort i^elf a±l' T"^"*? ^^^^««° "^^ght dred guns fell into Kands of thV'"^/'"^"* ^^^ ^"n- g^eat quantities of amotion ^fP^""' together with The money and effecrarounte3t?«l.'*Ti'^ ^" ki"^«- thousands pounds, whi^^^"° .t*P,^^"^dred and twenty Therestof-A.gria'sfi-eet,a^m";nt4":rtr^^^^^^^^^ 918 A STORM AT SEA. m m the stocks, was destroyed. Ramajee Punt sent parties of his troops to attack the other forts held by the pirates. These, however, surrendered without resistance, and thus the whole country which the pirates had held for seventy years fell again into the hands of the Marattas, from whom they had wrested it. Admiral Watson and the fleet then returned to Bombay in order to repair the damages which had been inflicted upon them during the bombardment. There were great rejoicings upon their arrival there, the joy of the inhabi- tants, both European and native, being immense at the destruction of the formidable pirate colonies which had so long ravaged the seas. After the repairs were completed, the fleet with the troops which had formed the expedition were to sail for Madras. Charlie, however, did not wait for this, but, finding that one of the Company's ships would sail in the course of a few days after their return to Bombay, he obtained leave from Colonel Clive to take a passage in her and to proceed immediately to Madras. Tim and Hossein of course accompanied him, and the voyage down the west coast of India and round Ceylon was performed without any marked incident. When within but a few hours of Madras the barometer fell rapidly. Great clouds rose up upon the horizon, and the captain ordered all hands aloft to reduce sail. "We are in," he said, " for a furious tempest. It is the breaking up of the monsoon. It is a fortnight earlier than usual. I had hoped that we should have got safely up the Hoogly before it began." Half an hour later the hurricane struck them, and for the next three days the tempest was terrible. Great waves swept over the ship, and every time that the captain attempted to show a rag of canvas it was blown from the bolt ropes. The ship, however, was a stout one and weathered the orale= TTtinn t-h« fnijrfh Tnorninor thfi passengers, who had, during the tempest, been battened it parties of the pirates, ce, and thus for seventy rattas, from I to Bombay Jen inflicted I were great the inhabi- lense at the rhich had so et with the e to sail for )r this, but, d sail in the Bombay, he , pEissage in . Tim and oyage down s performed e barometer liorizon, and sail. t. It is the light earlier e got safely em, and for ible. Great ; the captain blown from Dut one and lorninor f.hfi -' o — - m bftttened DRIVEN TO THE HOOGLY. 219 'ht:kr;:retsi .dtl^ ™ ^."^^^-^ ^^-r, a.d was alread^set a^d O T""' ^ ^°°^ ^^^ "^^ «ail damager^ ' "^^ *^' ^^^^ ^«^« ^^ ^o^k to repair "Well, captain," Charlie said to that officer "I rnn gratulate you on the behaviour of the shin tJ\«o ^ 3^es, Captain Marryat, she has don« x^f^U f\ wen, the captam said with a smilp "T om „#^ -j "ZTJ "J^,k^« no great difference to you '« ^ ' JNo indeed," Charlie said. "And I am L r,« ..y JJ^® ??»n*s presarve us. Mr. Charl^i,! AiA « Koltilfdo^^^^^ "TWs'/n7thrd41 Douy floating down towards us. and that is the eighth I'M ^■■r'sm^ '■i ill i ! 220 CHARLIE ARttlVES AT CALCUTTA. I've seen this morning. Are the poor hathen craturs all committing suicide together?" "Not at all, Tim," Charlie said, "the Hoogly is one of the sacred rivers of India, and the people on its banks, instead of burying their dead, put them into the river and let them drift away." " I calls it a bastly custom, yer honour, and I wonder it is allowed. One got athwart the cable this morning, and ■") frightened me nigh out of my sinses, when I happened to look over the bow, and saw the thing bob- bing up and down in the water. This is tadious work, yer honour, and I'll be glad when we're at the end of the voyage." " I shall be glad too, Tim. "We have been a fortnight in the river alreauy, but I think there is a breeze getting up, and there is the captain on deck giving orders. In a few minutes the ship was under way again, and the same night dropped her anchor in the stream abreast of Calcutta. Charlie shortly after landed, and, proceeding to the Company's offices, reported his arrival and that of the four Sepoy officers. Hossein, who was not in the Company's service, was with him merely in the character of a servant. As the news of the share Charlie had had in the capture of Suwamdrug had reached Calcutta he was well received, and one of the leading merchants of the town, Mr. Haines,' who happened to be present when Charlie called upon the governor, at once invited him warmly to take up his residence with him during his stay. Hospitality in India was profuse and general. Hotels were imknown, and a stranger was always treated as an honoured guest. Charlie, therefore, had no hesitation whatever in accepting the offer. The four native officers were quartered in the barracks, and, returning on board ship, Charlie, followed by Tim and Hossein, and by some coolies bearing his luggage, was soon on his way to the bungalow of Mr. Haines. On hia way he was surprised at the number and sijse of the I . I craturs all y is one of its banks, 3 the river I I wonder s morning, js, when I thing bob- lious work, end of the I fortnight 3ze getting lers?' ^ again, and im abreast proceeding nd that of lot in the ) character he capture il received, [r. Haines, 1 upon the ke up his y in India wn, and a ed guest, accepting red in the llowed by 8 luggage, inea On ijse of the - 1 A MBRCHANT'S BUNGALOW. ggj .-&g'cl\;r^^^^^ which offered a ings round the fort ofMadr^^ '?? unpretending build- was a We one, and stood S' . I ' ^°"!.' °^ Mr. Haines gardea Mr Hkinp« !1„ • ^ \ . ^^® *"^ carefully kent once led hrohfsroLt^^^^^^ ^^"^ ^* *he door, Ldll Outside wa^ a wfde vSanS ""^ '^^'^9^'' ««^^' ^«d airy ^ith the custoC of The cottrvT ^^^^ ^° accordanc^e ^ "Here is your batWoor-Yf ?^-''*' ^^"^^ «i«ep. " to an adjoining rooT 'T^-J^''' ^^^^f «aid, pointing ready. We dl^e Xalf an W^>°" "^" ^^ Athinf '^fiarJie was soon in his bnfli 1 i every European indXes in aMp« ??'^ "^^^'^ '"^ ^^^^ia 'n his coolVhite sSfwhlf ^1^^ " ^^^ '^hen regular evening dress he foim/t *'™^ ^^^^^ed the «ight. The punkah wav^^^X T'^ !^^^* ^ «*"king drives the cool air whLh comZ ^ *^.^^ ^^^ o^erhea! windows down upL tt tabif F?l,*^'°"^^ *he open own servant, who^ither in wMf ^^ .^"^^^ brings his n turbans of many Xent W. ''" ^ ^r ^'^ ^^hes,and to the wearer's caJte stands hi' ^t^^apes, according The light is alwa^ a%Xt iS^fl.^^! T^K' ^^air "ta^rS»itT&^^ ^^^ ^'^"■ questionsconcernLg [Lintn^ ™ «^^«^ "^«ny about the defence oViLZ;.!^",^^^^ ^«o «tory, had excited the ^reatesT 'f ' ^7?t "^^^ ^ ^^d Presently, however th*f!! "l*^""^^* through India, topics, an^dChlrirU^d?^^^^^^^^^^ ^^'^^V^ loca^! earnest tones of fch« sn^o v^ f^""/?,^ ^f'^^ looks and ^•ciered a very seHous on^Hr^^^^ t^^^Zl 222 TRB SITTTATION IN BENGAL. then; but after the guests had retired and Mr. Haines pro- posed to him to smoke one more quiet cigar in tho cool of the verandah before retiring to bed, he took the opportunity of asking his host to explain to him the situation, with which he had no previous acquaintance. " Up to the death of Ali Kerdy, the old viceroy of Bengal, on the 9th April, we were on good terms with our native neighbours. Calcutta has not been, like Madras, threat- ened by the rivalry of a European neighbour. The French and Dutch, indeed, have both trading stations like our own, but none of us have taken part in native affairs. Aii Kerdy has been all powerful, there have been no native troubles, and therefore no reason for our interfer- ence. We have just gone on as for many years previously, a.s a purely trading company. At his death he was suc- ceeded in the government by Suraja Dowlah, his grandson. I suppose in all India there is no prince with a worse reputation than this young scoundrel has already gained ior himself for profligacy and cruelty. He is constantly drunk, and is surrounded by a crew of reprobates as v/icked as himself. At the death of Ali Kerdy, Sokut Jung, another grandson of Ali, set up in opposition to him, and the new viceroy raised a large force to march against him. As the reputation of Sokut Jung was as infamous as that of his cousin it would have made little difference to us which of the two obtained the mastery; within the last few days, however, circumstances have occurred which have completely altered the situation. "The town of Dacca was about a year ago placed under the governorship of Rajah Ragbullub, a Hindoo oflicer in high favour with Ali Kerdy. His predecessor had been assassinated and plundered by order of Suraja Dowlah, and when he heard of the accession of that prince he determined at once to fly, as he knew that his great wealth would speedily cause him to be marked out as .*■ victim. He therefore obtained a letter of recommenda- Unrt f«rv«v« V- XXT^H.„ tl, i. ~e i.1--. n A tv --- Haines pro- in tho cool e took the to him the laintance. y of Bengal, I our native iras, threat- bour. The tations like ,tive affairs, ^e been no or interfer- previously, ne was suc- s grandson, th a worse lady gained constantly probates as rdy, Sokut fcion to him, rch against ks infamous e difference within the e occurred aced under )o officer in r had been ja Dowlah, ; prince he 'j his great id out as * commenda- ny at thoir . < THE DANGER OF CALCT/TTA. 223 Two Sr three davs aft.rTi ' .treMures, to Calcutta to surrender KfeiS 't., P™™"' ""''''""g him The man whom helentdo^ ■ 'f-^"*' immediltely. out any stateTr rSefa^rLt£''h:r' -'"l""^- was an impostor naid \v, .tfl!:.- . ' °?''«™g that he expelled hi^ frlff JtUement ^°^^^^ f' '''""""?■ >"" came from the vicerov or .^ „ ' " f.^^' «?" » 'ette«^ nabob, to Mr DrakTLT;; T g?°''»"y "a" him, the all th; fortifl^S™' wS"fcr AMrf ^"^ r.Srfhatti3"e?eX^r r?>1^ — ^ 'h^e executing some remt^l +i? ^^^^^^fications, but simply in view of tCxpeS war tV^^^P^'*' f"'^'^^ *he river. That is all that C btrdon frr'' ^"^^^.^ ^^^ ^^^^««' %ht^against h"tS!.' trthrtirSteta-r*^ *° the directors C^^L^^^S^'l^t^ZlZir ?=°' should be put in a state of defenc^ DuS iht fift ! P'*"* which have passed peacefully here theWHfi„ *• ^^'*" been entirely neglected Swd^f fif '"'''fixations have bemg keptcLrSj^tvetln^bKr' '•'^'^ them, and the fort is whoUv iin«>,l. t^ built close against The authorities of the Comm„Th.; i^ 'T' "^^ "t'^k. nothing to carry out t£ZSfr:mtme""?h'''^°i!;Hy I am sorry to say, only of making Inevwith^b^ """''■ tradmg ventures; anS although s?v3 ™ .'ho"- own been presented ti them bv f £^ ^! T ^''0^ have „«„_ fu ,, J™ """^ oy the merchants ber<> nrV--. -*,.-. ^.u, .he dingers which might arise at «.e"d^^"J iji 224 THE APPROACH OF THF. ENEMY. Ali, they have taken no steps whatever, and indeed have treated all warnings with scorn and derision." " What force have we here?" Charlie asked. " Only a hundred and seventy-four men, of whom the greater portion are natives." " What sort of man is your commander? " "We have no means of knowing," Mr. Haines said. "His name is Minchin. He is a great friend of the governor's, and has certainly done nothing to counteract the apathy of the authorities. Altogether to my mind things look as bad as they possibly can." A week later, on the 15th of June, a ruessenger arrived with the news that the nabob with fifty thousand men was advancing against the town, and that in two days he would appear before it. All was confusion and alarm. Charlie at once proceeded to the fort, and placed his services at the disposal of Captain Minchin. He found that officer fussy and alarmed. "If I might be permitted to advise," Charlie said, "every available man in the town should be set to work at once pulling down all the buildings around the walls. It would be clearly impossible to defend the place when the ramparts are on all sides commanded by the musketry fire of surrounding buildings." " I know what my duty is, sir," Captain Minchin said, " and do not require to be taught it by so very young an officer as yourself." " Very well, sir," Charlie replied calmly. " I have seen a great deal of service, and have taken part in the defence of two besieged towns; while you, I believe, have never seen a shot fired. However, as you're in command you will, of course, take what steps you think fit; but I warn you that rniless those buildings are destroyed the fort cannot resist an aasault for twenty-four hours." Then bowing quietly he retired, and returned to Mr. Haines' house. That gentleman was absent, having gone ^^N AV*.rt. ^M^^vv^wM^/xw a rX'* /^'^ w*^^^ ^%r^inr%£% Vii*ii^Ij»' ivv^ril Inyri it* ^nil W vu^u ^vYcauVa o» £j.\3 vuii uvv \j\riJJ.^ tjutxjxx uxavIs icitvv ±±X vxiv indeed have of whom the Haines said, riend of the to counteract to my mind inger arrived lousand men two days he 1 and alarm, d placed his L. He found Charlie said, ) set to work nd the walls, e place when the musketry Minchin said, 3ry young an I have seen a a the defence e, have never ommand you ;; but I warn ►yed the fort rs." urned to Mr. , having gone ttii late in the IMBECIUTY OF THE AUTUORITIES. 825 cheel'^fp ]S?rH«P'"''^*'?^ ^^' ^"^ endeavouring to Zd-'if vl-^ -^^^^^^^ who was a very bright anH nrniV^V • i daughter Ada, her ease a^nHhaVr i P^**^ S*'^' ^^ ^^en sooner at vfllnow X ' ^'^^ '^^^ implored him to send all hia btthffort'T''' ^r^ «%' «"^ *<> retrLtLlv ^K) tne tort. Upon the arrival of the t-oo-^ -^ "^ K^te jiey found ft almost blocked wM. liXong rf M^ 226 OOWARDIOB AND PANia f nghtened Europeans and natives flying from their houses beyond it to its protection. Scarcely were aU the tugitives withm and the gates closed when the guns of feuraja Dowlah opened upon the fort, and his infantry, taking possession of the houses around it, began a galling musketry fire upon the ramparts. Captain Mincliin re- mained closeted with the governor, and Charlie, findmg the troops bewildered and dismayed, without leading or orders, assumed the command, placed them upon the walls, and kept up a vigorous musketry fixe in reply to that of the enemy. Within aU waa confusion and dismay. In every spot sheltered from the enemy's fire Europeans and natives were huddled together. There waa neither head nor direction. With nightfall the fire ceased, but still Mr. L>rake and Captain Minchin were undecided what steps to take. At two o'clock in the morning they summoned a council of war, at which Charlie was present, and it was decided that the women and children should at once be sent on board. There should have been no difficulty in carrying this into effect. A large number of merchant- men were lymg in the stream opposite the fort, capable of conveying away in safety the whole of the occupants. Two of the members of the council had early m the evening been despatched on board ship to make arrangements for the boats being sent on shore; but these cowardly wretches in- stead of domg so, ordered the ships to raise their anchors and drop two miles farther down the stream. The boats however, were sent up the river to the fort The same helpless imbecility which had characterized every move- ment again showed itself. There was no attempt what- ever at establishing anything like order or method. The water-gate was open, and a wild rush of men, women, and children took place down to the boats. CJarlie was on duty on the waUs. He had already said good-bye to Mrs. Haines and her daughter, and though US ucaxu oRi^ais ouvi Buroiiuia commg irom the water-gate om their houses were all the en the guns of i his infantry, began a galling in Minchin re- ^arlie, finding )out leading or tiem upon the ixe in reply to In every spot 18 and natives ;her head nor , but still Mr. ied what steps bey summoned jre^ent, and it should at once sn no diflSculty r of merchant- fort, capable of cupants. Two e evening been sments for the y wretches, in- I their anchors Q. The boats, rt. The same i every move- ittempt what- method. The Q, women, and d already said ', and though he water-gate TWO INFAMOUS ENGLISHMEN. 227 jTin^efh^m/'^'^ ''^'* ^^'^ *"^^° P^^^^ "^^^^^ ^' Haines " Mv wiH '""'' *^^^ safely off?" Charlie asked My wife haa gone," Mr. Haines said; " my daughter is S hon^h J w^^' ^^^° ^ ^^^"ble scene ^fSusTon Although the boats were amply sufficient to carrv all n^* steps whatever had been taken to secure S C consequence was, there was a wild rush women and children were knocked down and trampled upo^ Th^v eaped mto the boats in such wild haste thKVeraldf these were capsized and numbers of people drowned I kept close to my wife and child till we Reached the side the^^atiTof ^ °^T^^' *^ ^1 ^y -^« '^'^-^osl, Ld Tr^T^f r"^^ Pf?P> separated me from my daughter and before I could find her again the remaining boats had all pushed off Many of the men have g^f e wfth hem. and among them, I am ashamed to say, feveraTof tlif^LZ' ^"^'T' \ *^«* *^« b«^t« wm come up again to-morrow and take away the rest. Two have remamed, a guard having been placed over thTm ^d I hope to get Ada off to her mother in the mornS' lowards morning Mr. Haines again joined Charlie What do you think ?" he said « Those cowardly vHlains* oto^ra'rdl"!?' '^^^ ^'^^^^ *^^ *- boatsL^gTn:' "Impossible!" Charlie exclaimed " It IS too true," Mr. Haines said « The names of these cowards should be held as infamous as longtZl EngHsh nation exists. Come, now. we are just assembS to choose a commander. Mr. Peeks is thi sen~nt?bi? aVd'^Sg^roLtt^^^^^^ ""'' ^^^^^^^' -^^ ^ - --^e^e a)}l !I^ ^^ ^l- ^^""^^ ^^ expected Mr. Holwell was SedtVf r!.*°°^ '^'^'^^ He imSat™ assigned to Charlie the command of the troons Litfli was done at the mnnnil ha^^r^A " p^u^^ ,°?P®- ^\"^® riainr, ♦« «- i '• — j -"-^ opeEiveF oiier speaker nsmg to express his execration of the conduct ai the T 228 REPULSE OF THE FIllST ATTAOK. governor and Captain Minchin. With daybreak the enemy's fire recommenced. All day long Charlie hurried from post to post encouraging his men and aiding in working the guns. Two or three times when the enemy showed in masses, as if intending to assault, the fire of the artillery drove them back, and up to nightfall they had gained but little success. The civilians as well as the soldiers had done their duty nobly, but the loss had been heavy from the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters in the surrounding buildings, and it was evident that however gallant the defence the fort could not much longer resist. All day long signals had been kopt flying for the fleet, two miles below, to come up to the fort; but although these could be plainly seen, not a ship weighed anchor. frbreak the i,rlie hurried i aiding in i the enemy i, the fire of ;ht£all they 5 well as the ss had been Dters in the lat however jnger resist. or the fleet, it although d anciior. CHAPTER XVIII. THE "BLACK HOLE" OP CALCUTTA. T nightfall, when the fire of the enemy slack- ened, Charlie went to Mr. Holwell "It is impossible, sir," he said,' "that the tort can hold out, for in another three or four tZ SM'f •"^'^^ r"«°" ^i" b« killer The only hope of safety is for tie ships to come up and remoie the garrison which they can do without thrsliXes? danger to themselves. If you will allow me, sir I wHl swim down to the ships and represent our situatron Cowardly and inhuman as Mr. Drake ha^ proved hSf he can hardly refuse to give orders for the fliet to mo^' J'^"^^"! ^""V/ ^^^ ^'- Holwell; "after the wav in Which I believe him incapable. But you are mv rLht hand^ere. Supposing Mr. Drake refuL, yoS c^ffiot ihl k'" '''''^u ^^°^' '"■•" ^^^'^ answered. "I will if there be no other way. make my way along by thrriver bank. It 18 comparatively free of the enemy, Z our Sins command It If you will place Mr. Haines at the comer re^S^'et r ^^^ '^ "'^ '^^^^^ -^ --' -"l - da^*S'"-'°'^?''*'f ^°^ "^ «°°^ ^ ^* ^^ perfectly dark Charlie issued out at the water-gate, took off his 230 CHARLIE GOES FOR AID. 'Mm- n ■ coat, waistcoat, and boots, and entered the stream. The current was slack; but he had no difficulty in keeping himself afloat until he saw close ahead of him the lights of the shipa He hailed that nearest him. A rope was thrown and he was soon on board. Upon stating who he was a boat was at once lowered, and he was taken to the ship upon which Mr. Drake and Captain Minchin had taken refuge. Upon saying that he was the bearer of a message from the gentleman now commanding the fort he was conducted to the cabin, where Mr. Drake and Captain Minchin, having finished their dinner, were sit- ting comfortably over their wine with Captain Young, the senior captain of the Company's ships there. " I have come, sir," Charlie said to Mr. Drake, " from Mr. Holwell, who has, in your absence, been elected to the command of the fort. He bids me tell you that our losses have been already very heavy, and that it is im- possible that the fort can hold out for more than twenty- four hours longer. He begs you, therefore, to order up the ships to-night, in order that the garrison may em- bark." "It is quite out of the question," Mr. Drake said coldly — -" quite. It would be extremely dangerous. You agree with me, Captain Young, that it would be most dan- gerous?" " I consider that it would he dangerous," Captain Young said. "And you call yourself," Charlie exclaimed indignantly, " a British sailor! You talk of danger, and would desert a thousand men, women, and children, including two hun- dred of your own countrymen, and leave them at the mercy of an enemy!" ** You forget whom you are speakmg to, sir," Mr. Drake said angrily. "I forget nothing, sir," Charlie replied, trying to speak calmly. " Then, sir, Mr. Holwell has charged me that if— a .'fiOmeili^ w 06 i tream. The r in keeping im the lights A rope was stating who vas taken to Minchin had i bearer of a ing the fort Drake and er, were sit- tain Young, }re. rake, "from a elected to '^ou that our at it is im- tian twenty- to order up m may em- > said coldly You agree most dan- )taLn Young ndignantly, uld desert a g two hun- hem at the ' Mr. Drake Qg to speak le that if — 'luent to he Si t] ir b« 81] fe D] be an Er to thi 8h< As wi] wh Co smc hea can (I fing DISGRACE TO THE NAME OP ENGLISHMEN. 331 possible— you refuse to move ud the sTiina f/. ««- • xi. ^f Xr !^ * ^"? ^^'P"*'' *° "»y ™k whatever^ .aM .^Th "^J^y. d» nothing of tfie sort," Mr Drake mob XmyZLr ^ " """ ^"^ "" "^P*"' »* feit^"'*""^'" o^^"'*™"! the three men, rising to their D^e^'eS^"" " "^' " '""^' *" y»" ^^0^." Mr. "I despise your arrest as I do voursplf T a; a « x beheve it possible," Charlie said, at Jdl. vent to Ws anger and scorn; "and England will notKveThat three Cowards, base, infamous cowards!" °- Charlie stepped back to go Pwf ^'°''' i,^*;- ^'^^« ^'^' hi°^self rushing forward l-P^beneath the tabl. Then cLClr^Y^: 232 DEATH OF MR. HAINKS. The two officers stood paralysed. Charlie walke«l to the door and sprang up the cabin stairs, and as he did so, heard shouts for assistance from behind. He gained the deck, walked quietly to the bulwark, and placing his hand upon it, sprang over the side into the river. He swam to shore, and, climbing up the bank, made his way along it back to the fort, where he arrived without any misadventure. A fury of indignation seized all in the fort when the result of Charlie's mission became known. With daybreak the attack recommenced, but the garri- son all day bravely repulsed every attempt of the enemy to gain a footing. The fire from the houses was, however, so severe, that by nightfall nearly half the garrison were killed or wounded. All day the signals to the fleet were kept flying, but not a ship moved. All night an anxious watch was kept in hopes that at the last moment some returning feeling of shame might induce the recreants to send up the boats of the ships. But the night passed without a movement on the river, and in the morning the fleet were seen still lying at anchor. The enemy recommenced the attack even more vigor- ously than before. The men fell fast, and, to Charlie's great grief, his friend Mr. Haines was shot by a bullet as he was standmg next to him. Charlie anxiously knelt beside him. " It is all over with me," he murmured. " Poor little Ada. Do all you can for her, Marryat God knows what fate is in store for her." "I will protect her with my life, sir," Charlie said earnestly. Mr. Haines pressed his hand feeblv in token of grati- tude, and two or three minutes later breathed his last. By mid-day the loss had been so heavy that the men would no longer stand to their guns. Many of the Euro- pean soldiers broke open the spirit stores, and soon drank to intoxication. After a consultation with his oflicera Mr. Kolwell agreed that further resistance was hopeless. e walked to as he did so, e gained the placing his B river. He lade his way without any d all in the ime known, ut the garri- the enemy to as, however, ihe garrison fnals to the . All night at the last light induce Ds. But the r, and in the hor. more vigor- to Charlie's by a bullet iously knelt "Poor little God knows Charlie said en of grati- [ his last, kat the men >f the Euro- soon drank his officers as hopeless. THE SURRENDER OF CALCUTTA. 233 TJe flag of truce was therefore hoisted and onp nf +].. anlusly awaS^^^^^^ St'h^'^ '"'' t'''^''' ^'^^ weeping. ""^^'"^^ news. Both were exhausted with "Where is papa, Captain Marryat ?" Ada asked beco™"^eV^f i'™«ru7gers„t "tsA fha «ok u \ J ^olwell was then sent for and after amm^nf f^ ^^^ expressed his resentment at the small ,vhtrt™tf.„tf •!.".-* '^ -"Ph of -me building ;« iu r 1 r"';0"ei3 uuiad oe coniined. but everv rnr.m ■n the fort had already been taken poiessiorofVthe m a a • 2S4 SHUT UP IN THE DUNGEON. I i 'i«; . nabob's soldiers and officers. At eight o'clock they re- turned with the news that they could find no place vacant, and the officer in command at once ordered the prisoners into a small room, used as a guard-room for insubor- dinate soldiers, eighteen feet square. In vain they protested that it was impossible the room could contain them, in vain implored the officer to allow some of them to be confined in an adjoining cell. The wretch was deaf to their entreaties. He ordered his soldiers to charge the prisoners, and these, with blows of the butt-ends of the muskets and prods of the bayonets, were driven into the narrow cell Tim Kelly had kept close to his master during the preceding days. The whole of the four native officers who had so distinguished themselves under Charlie were killed during the siege. Hossein, who would fain have shared his master's for- tunes, was forcibly torn from him when the English prisoners were separated from the natives. The day had been unusually hot. The night was close and sultry, and the arched verandah outside further hin- dered the circulation of the air. This was still heavy with the fumes of powder, creating an intolerable thirst. Scarcely were the prisoners driven into their narrow cell, where even standing wedged closely together there was barely room for them, than cries for water were raised. "Tim, my boy," Charlie said to his eompanion, "we may say good-bye to each other now, for I doubt if one will be alive when the door is opened in the morning." On entering, Charlie, always keeping Ada Haines by his side, had taken his place against the wall farthest from the window, which was closed with iron bars. " I think, yer honour," Tim said, " that if we could get nearer to the window we might breathe a little more easily." "Ay,, Tim; but there will be a fight for life roimd that window before long. You and I might hold our own if we could get there, though it would be no easy matter A STRUOOLB FOR UFBL 985 ck they re- )lace vacant, he prisoners or insubor- vain they luld contain w some of The wretch his soldiers ows of the e bayonets, Y had kept days. The stinguished l the siege, laster's for- he English it was close urther hin- still heavy •able thirst, larrow cell, • there was rere raised, anion, "we ►ubt if one loming." Haines by ill farthest bars. e could get little more round that our own if asy matter where all are strugglmg for life, but this poor little drl would be crushed to death. Besides, I believe that what fS?i, ^'^ }^l^^'''\^. ^* °^*y ^^> i« greater for us here than there. Th^ rush towards the window, which is be- gimimg already as you see, will grow greater and greater: and the more men struggle and strive, the more air they require. Let us remain where we are. Strip off your coat and waistcoat, and breathe as quietly and easily as you can Every hour the crowd will thin, and we may yet hold on till morning." the'i^iunrthrgls' '"" '^^' ^ ^ ^^"^^^^^- ^-^^« 'al's^Tt, fsn'tTt r '"'"^' ^'^•" '^ "^^^ ^^-^-"y- "It is dreadful," the girl panted, "and I seem choking tST' ^'''' ^^' ^^P**'"" Marryat, I am sS "It is hot my dear terribly hot, but we must make the best of it; and I hope in a few days you will ioin won't it f^""* '''' ^°^'^ '^'P- ^^^* ^'^^ ^^ P^^^^°*' "Where is papa?" the girl wailed. " I don't know where he is now, my child. At anyrate we must fee very glad that he's not shut up here with ua Now take your bonnet off and your shawl, and undo the hooks of your dress, and loosen everything you caiL We must be as quiet and cheerful as possible. I'm atraid, Ada, we have a bad time before us to-night. But try to keep cheerful and quiet, and above all, dear, pray C^od to give you strength to carry you through it, and to restore you safe to your mamma in a few days " As time went on the scene in the dungeon became terrible Shoute, oaths, cries of all kinds, rose in the air. ^"^^^^^f^^o^ men fought like wild beasts, tearing Vr °*J^6'/o^..or clingmg to the bars for dear life, for a breath of the air without Panting, struggling, erying. men sank exhausted upon the floor, aSd the last remnante 236 A NIGHT OF AGONY. of life were trodden out of them by those who surged forward to get near the window. In vain Mr. Holwell implored them to keep quiet for their own sakes. His voice was lost in the terrible din. Men, a few hours ago rich and respected merchants, now fought like maddened beasts for a breath of fresh air. In vain those at the window screamed to the guards without, imploring them to bring water. Their prayers and entreaties were re- plied to only with brutal scoffs. Several times Charlie and Tim, standing together against ihe wall behind, where there was now room to move, lifted Ada between them, and sat her on their shoulders in order that, raised above the crowd, she might breathe more freely. Each time, after sitting there for a while, the poor girl begged to come down again, the sight of the terrible struggle ever going on t o the window being too much for her, and when released, leming against Charlie, supported by his arm, with her head against his shoulder, and her hands over her ears to shut out the dreadful sounds which filled the cell. Hour passed after hour. There was more room now, for already half the inmates of the place had succumbed. The noises, too, had lessened, for no longer could the parc..ed lips and throats utter articulate sounds. Charlie and Tim, strong men as they were, leaned utterly exhausted against the wall, bathed in perspiration, gasping for air. " Half the night must be gone, Tim," Charlie said, "and I think, with God's help, we shall live through it. The numbers are lessening fast, and every one who goes leaves more air for the rest of us. Cheer up, Ada dear, 'twill not be very long till morning." " I think I shall die soon," the girl gasped. " I shall never see papa or mamma again. You have been very kind. Captain Marryat, but it is no use." " Oh, but it is of use," Charlie said cheerfully. " I don't mean to let you die at all, but to hand you over to mamma safe and sound. There, lay your head against WATER I WATER! 3 who surged Mr. Holwell a sakes. His ew hours ago ke maddened those at the iploring them ities were re- ir.g together now room to her on their e crowd, she • sitting there wn again, the b the window ased, lea ling ith her head I' ears to shut Hour passed ah-eady half le noises, too, -.ed lips and i Tim, strong 1 against the lie sairi, "and Jgh it. The goes leaves a. dear, 'twill d. "I shall ^e been very ly. "I don't you over to lead against 237 ine.^^ear, and say your prayers, and try and go off to Presently, however, Ada's figure drooped more and moje, until her whole weight^leaned S^on cJarS^'s "She haa fainted, Tim," he said. "Help me to raise ThJf'i:^^^''^'' ^""^ ^^y ^'"^ l^ead on^mTshoukler undtmvtet.h^oM •/'"'" /^^^^^ '^^'^^ ««- 'wh "« under my teet; hold it up and make a fan of it. Now trv to send some air into her face." i^owtry By this time not more than fifty out of the hundred ' a scream of joy from those near the window proclaimed t^^lTZ'^'^^P^^^^^^ ^^^^ '^^^ wLr. The struggle at the window was fiercer than ever. The bowl was being spilt in vam; eacL man who strove to get his Wk wT""^^ ^^''''^h ^ *°"<^^ *h« bowl be4 torn «mPy,!';?^^T' °«°^rades behind. ^ lim Charlie said, "you are now much stronger than most of them They are faint from the struS Make ft te)!' t r^^T ^^^' ^^^^ little shfwTand dip it into the bowl or whatever they have there and then fight your way back with it." mi'nihl^^'^'' %^^' ^''''°"''" «^ld Tim, and he rushed haust on an7?g''Tv,^""P- ^^^^ ^ ^' ^«^ ^om ex- fiaustion and thirst, he was as a giant to most of the noor r;fi^l7te'of'th i^^- struggling and crying an niK thLuXf A^t''^ "^"^^ *^^ °"r«^ ^^ broke through them and forced his way to the window. ^ «wo .?*'' with the bowl was on the point of tumino away, the water being spilt in the vain attempt of Zs? ^ar'h^dtwHh^- . T^ '^^ \^* '' ^1^^ fire^lTch the gua^ had lit without, Tim saw his face. The ."Ss IT^^^^- """^ ™'^'- *» «»d-s ».ke! Hoasein at once withdrew, but soon again approached ijj.% ri ilif 238 A WELCOME MOUTHFUU with the bowl. The officer in charge angrily ordered him to draw back. " Let the infidel dogs howl," he said. " They shall have no more." Regardless of the order, Hossein ran to the window, and Tim thrust the shawl into the water at the moment when the officer, rushing forward, struck Hosseir to the ground: a cry of anguish rising from the prisoners as they saw the water dashed from their lips. Tim made his way back to the side of his master. Had those who still remained alive been aware of the supply of water which he carried in the shawl they would have torn it from him; but none save those just at the window had noticed the act, and inside it was still entirely dark. "Thank God, yer honour, here it is," Tim said; "and who should have brought it but Hossein. Shure, yer honour, we both owe our lives to him this time, for I'm sure I should have been choked by thirst before morn- ing." Ada was now lowered to the ground, and forcing her teeth asunder a comer of the folded shawl was placed between her lips, and the water allowed to trickle down. With a gasping sigh she presently recovered. "That is delicious," she murmured. "That is delicious." Raising her to her feet, Charlie and Tim both sucked the dripping shawl, until the first agonies of thirst were relieved. Then tearing off a portion in case Ada should again require it, ChpHie passed the shawl to Mr. Hoi well, who, after sucking lo for a moment, again passed it on to several standing round, and in this way many of those who would otherwise have succumbed were enabled to hold on until morning. Presently the first dawn of daylight appeared, giving fresh hopes to the few survivors. There were now only some six or eight standing by the window, and a few standing or leaning against the waUs around. The room itself was heaped high with the dead. tily ordered Y shall have vindow, and )ment when the ground: bey saw the 8 way back .11 remained 1 he carried n; but none he act, and said; "and Shure, yer oie, for I'm »fore mom- Forcing her was placed ickle down. } delicious." oth sucked thirst were A.da should J. Holwell, ed it on to y of those enabled to red, giving 3 now only and a few The room THE SURVIVORS RELEASE 239 opet™ rLnL'd'^nt^^^ '''7'f'''' the doors were the hundred andTrttsfr Entlf ^ "^"^^ ^^"^^ *^^^ ^^ night before,but tSvtK f^^^ ^^«'« t^e ve?y few re ai^ed strenU fn 1'" ^''^^^^^ ^^ these door. The rest wereTarrfed o". « ^?f '"i •''' -*^'°"^^ *^^ When the naborcamf [i!o?v,i%'^^>3d 'I *^« vertndah ordered Mr. HolweHtn !?«>. t^l ? *^^ ™<^'"^"g he unable to wSk but w«« ° • ^^* ^f «^^ ^'"- He was brutal nabo?expre^^^^^ Zlit *" ^^^P^esence. Th^ but loaded him wTh abT.p '£'* ^^^ ^^^* ^^d happened,^ the treasure, Jd o^A^lZT' 1 -'^' ^^^^'y '^ The other prisoners werp^l!n ^J^'!? •'" confinement. veye/ to nZshXhad lf'^\,-'^Viir<- ^-e all con- after havinnxtortd ?«rl " *! "«*'' *'»» '<'t'>™e» expulsion of the one of these bara. I wi t "^.T.^™ *" t'^ « to loo^n before, ^owev<.^ ti,» V " ""<' tl- uuii- ht t dnino ;* shall have no'SX fehir P^;'*'.™'* - -"/we get a tool of some sort!" "'*'' ^ ^'' •''"' t- "g is t^ "othtU'htelJt'at'r'"'* '»^--« «- aaw «|d wide bench mnnSg^Jf '^"T"- ..^« ''«"'. floor, which served as their^bSs werf. •^*"* ""^ ™*ions ''•DiraSi;Kr^-.«t^^^^ ^ ^^o- Tim said, ^crdon't even' riv° *'''"'', *'''''''' Ch^H' half acrossthe S Urn"n?rf''fh''°''-T''' «*«»ding work they set to work PM^!- "'^ *"■<>"« of this iron- f» angle of thlwall f^S'll '"^^^} P'^'=« »* «t^°e difiBculty they thrust this nnd.t i^ ""^''T' ''"h great » wedge. Another piece sH^hH^ f" '""^ °^ *•>» ^efoU as luider it. The gain was'aS^ "«"' '"^ "i*" Pushed the piece of irSn wr rais^^fJ^r^'P*"''''' ''»'«' I^* ficiently fe, allow them to It '^ S« woodwork enf- thumbs. Then little br Stfi* 'l"''' "^ >t with theii at last they conld obtat a L't^^J''' V'^ ""t comparatively easy. The inTji"''! °* i*- ^^e rest was by bending It nn and 1>I^ .7°^ '™S'' ^od stion.. but breaking ft o&^lTltX. f"^ T-'^^*'' «' '^t in .upon which they hadTerlted TTK^'TSe of the doo" •ron there woullbe lesSKj" J\* 'r "^ » Pieee of comine in. Th.- liT:L"f '^ *» ?«tch the eve of «nv.. "f theroSm -noistonedT^d ™bW t S?^«- '""erof ruDDed It on to the wood so y ■; W'^ '' - i" 244 THE PREPARATIONS CONCLUDED. as to take away its freshness of appearance; and they then set to work with the piece of iron, whieh was of a curved shape, about three inches long, an inch wide, and an eighth of an inch thick. Taking it by turns they ground away the stone round the bottom of one of the bars. For the first inch the stone yielded readily to the iron, but below that it became harder and their progress was slow. They filled the hole which they had made with water to soften the stone and worked steadily away till night, when, to their great joy, they found that they had reached the bottom of the bar. They then enlarged the hole inwards in order that the bar might be puUed back. Fortunately it was much decayed by age, and they had no doubt that by exerting all their strength together they could bend it suflficiently to enable them to get through. At the hour when their dinner was brought they had ceased their work, filled up the hole with dust collected from the floor, put some dust of the stone over it and smoothed it down, so that it would not have been noticed by anyone casually looking from the window. It was late at night before they finished their work. Their hands were sore and bleeding, and they were com- pletely worn out with fati^e. They had saved from their dinner a good-sized piece of bread. They folded up into a small compass the leaf from his pocket-book upon which Charlie had written in Hindustanee his letter to Hossein, and thrust this into the <*.entre of the piece of bread. Then Charlie told Tim to lie down and rest for three hours while he kept watch, as they must take it in turns all night to listen in case Hossein should come out- side. The lamp was kept burning. Just as Charlie's watch was over he thought he heard a very faint splash ^n the water below. Two or three minutes later he again thought he heard the sound. He peered out of the wmdow anxiously, but the night was dark and he could see nothing. Listening intently, it seemeU to him several times that he heard tiie same taint '.; and they cdi was of a h wide, and turns they one of the idily to the eir progress had made 3adily away 1 that they en enlarged t be pulled >y age, and dr strength ble them to v&s brought e with dust 3 stone over b have been window, their work. T were com- saved from rhey folded socket-book ee his letter the piece of md rest for it take it in d come out- it he heard v^o or three sound. He 3 night was intently, it i same taint A MESSAGE THROUGH THE AIR. 245 Zlf Jht'&tUT^^^ ""^'^'^ ^y ^^' «nd looking window. Bound rewntooS,*" '^~*- ^^"^^ ">« silk was wrwned 1t.«1- ? f'''S!^"P''«<'<'*gf«"8d beneath itTpfece of nt^ took this off, and* found HindustMiee " Tf „„; ^P"" ?° "■"<* "»« written in and h™urup a roD^i?*?. '*,''" 'T'"- P»" th" ^^g will come ala^Eo^ir^igt?" *^' •"»' ^"^ ^ every two feet cLe ud (^ ?^' "^^^ \'^°^ "«« '«d one of the tori^TZn f-^ rC .Pfy ^^^'ened this to had loosened Indnntt^nw^ •'"''/ f "'** "^'"^ *i">7 exerted themXS He ftaol '^* '^'"™' */ ""^ than they had exacted w ft! *• ^! ™? "^ 'ougher and with^despeX^^trn^XCt' H ^^^^ ' "Cr/o^ s^.X^^"^"' '""'''" »» -^"^^g" «=;'- tsf ;ou:oLfdo'i° 'hr'^v''' "^r "-w't Sto tht wat°°"° -^ I^^'*' ""l Jo'^er yourself qSie^y Ohnrlio iha^ -£. -11. »olf throm;h the W "" ""^^ """^ ^^' «?*>" Hossein answered simply "he ^vy' ■»«• » >» his again whenever it is Sul to "No, Hossein, the balance U all on TOur side „„„ You saved my life that night at Ambu JjTou Ive^Ti that night at Calcutta, for. without the water vouhZ,.,!,* US I question whether we could have l^ed ffmornl ' ^;:irnotr js^.."" '-'^°- '^^ o«htrx^ "Hossem is elad that his lor.i ia — .*^^f .. ^^- m v medan murmured; "now what will mylord ^^f.^"''"'"- 248 DISaUISED AS NATTVEa 1 *i'! " Have you any place in the town to which we could go, Hossein?" " Yes, Sahib, I hired a little house. I was dressed as a trader. I have been here for two months, but I could not find where you were confined, although I have tried all means, until I saw your cap." " It was foolish of me not to have thought of it before," Charlie said. " Well, Hossein, for a little time we had better take refuge in your house. They will not think of searching in the city, and as Calcutta is in their hands there is nowhere we could go. Besides, I must discover, if possible, where Miss Haines is kept a prisoner, and rescue her if it CJ»n be done." "The white girl is in the zenana of Rajah Dulab Ram," Hossein replied. "Where is the rajah's palace?" " He has one in the city, one at Ajervam, twenty miles from here. I do not know at which she is lodged." " We must find that out presently," Charlie said. " It is something to know she is in one of two houses. Now, about getting back into the town?" "I have thought of that," Hossein said. "I have bought a quantity of plantains and two large baskets. After the gates are opened you will go boldly in with the baskets on your heads. ISfo questions are asked of the country people who go in and out. I have some stain here which will darken your skins. I will go in first in my merchant's dress which I have here. I will stop a little way inside the gate, and when I see you coming will walk on. Do you follow me a little behind. My house is in a quiet street. When I reach the door, do you come up and offer to sell me plantains. If there are people about I shall bargain with you until I see that no one is noticing us. Then you can enter. If none are about you can follow me straight in," Hossein now s^t about the disguises. A light was fttruck. aud both Tim and Ohwiie were shftved up to the ch we could dressed as a but I could '. have tried •f it before," ime we had 1 not think their handa ist discover, risoner, and )ulab Ram," yenty miles dged." 3 said. " It isea Now, "I have ge baskets, in with the iked of the some stain in first in will stop a you coming 3hind. My he door, do [f there are see that no i none are light was d up to the TIM'S NATIVE MODESTY. 249 line which the turban would cover rharlia'o u- i which were somewhat f«inf I \ '-"arlies whiskers, arms and leos Th^v^^ .^^""^ ^'"'^- ■» were the clothes in peasant Cff "'? ^"i^f^^ » ^ark blue their heads^ EoLr^!" ""> t.^bans wound round announced thaJ^TwoutprSSa^'/wrrf '" "^' naked legs" ° ™''a<=«'>t <» be walking about with my Charlie laughed. " WTitr t;.^ see thousands^ men S day S nnfh™"'''"".''' "> loin-cloth." ^ y ™'° nothmg on but a ~x:iTt'£™''jodoTo *btf ""f^"'- ""-^ " go walking aCt iThe st^ete tuh a fv"=™' ''7> covers no mora tb«n k;. ^??*'*'.''«h a thing on wh ch Mother o^ Ees wW ' «t"^' '»'""'at»™l altogether. altogether unnecessar; Befw^n wS ^LTt?''^'''"^ was a sort of hrnflim-i^ /"^ceu nossem and lim there mutual We of £;'^:iT l)';^•'™^^ *"» '>>^'' warmest friendshin hf>^ Jr^ v-^nariies lite at Ambur the humoured S'tMaXd""^^^*".;™ It ^^ S.i^tl.^-^--'^- TimfSndTh1pten':°! «ligioa'"'He"hadc^mrtn".K " *i^'^*^<"' of Ho.,.sein's » u. aenadcometotheconduaionthatamanwho hosskin's adventurbs. at stated times in the day wouLi leave his employment, whatever it might be, spread his carpet, and be for soirft minutes lost in prayer, could ndt hc^ altogetli - a hathen, especially when he learned from Charlie that the Mahom- medans, like ourselves, worship one God. For the SL>ke ot his frie:;d, then, he now generally excluded the Maho-n- medans from tho genoral designation of heathen, which he still applied to tija Hindoos. He learned froa^ tj "g^ein tlu<..t the latter, having observed from a disk jice the Europeans driven into the cell at Calcutta, perte viii at once how fatal the con- sequences would be, lib had, an hour or two after they were confined there, approached with some water, bn'i, the officer on guard had refused to let him give it. Et had then gone into the native town, but being unable to find any fruit there, had walked out to the gardens and had picked a large basketful. This he had brought as ail offering to the officer, and the latter had then consented to his giving one bowl of water to the prisoners, among whora, as he had told him, was his master. For bringing a secoiid bowl contrary to his orders Hossein had, as Tim saw, been struck down, but had the satisfaction of believmg that his master and Tim had derived some benefit from his effort.^ On the following morning, to his delight, he saw them issue among the few survivors from the dungeon, and had, when they were taken up the country, followed close behmd them, arriving at the town on the same day as themselves. He had ever since been wan- dering round the prison. He had taken a house so close to it that he could keep a watch on all the windows facing the town, and had day after day kept his eyes fixed upon these without success. He had at last found out from one of the soldiers that the white prisoners were confined on the other side of the prison, but until he sav Charlie's cap he had been •i )ble to discover the roo.D '•. which they were confined. In the momiiig they started for the town. Groujsi :^ i employment, id be for some th«j* a hathen, it the Mahom- i'or ihe si'ke ot 1 the Mjxho.n- eathen, whiih. latter, having riven into the atal the con- wo after they 18 water, hiit 1 give it. Et jing unable to i gardens and id brought as hen consented soners, among For bringing ssein had, as latisfaction of 1 some benefit bo his delight, ors from the » the country, I town on the ce been wan- ^ a house so the windows :ept his eyes it last found risoners were until he sav ' the roo.x) ^. . Grouj'ti '' '"^ OP ADA HAINES. ggj peasants were already making, ♦»,.• gate with fruit and^rai^pn^l ^'"^ "^^^ ^"^^^^ the parties, while sXS' ^1^!'^^ ""'^'one of these of their being addrS Th^^v **" P/^^^^* the chance way to the gfte theTtW^iff • ^""^ ^'"^ '"^de their fvom the 4ropSy of his a^^^^^ ^^'^^Y in his mind asked^ they pised^the guarf Thev "tr'*'"^ ^^'^ Hossem standing a little wav off ^ } ??f Perceived through the busy streets T^L""^' *°^ followed him quieter quarter, Ld stoppefaT/r *"^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^ which scarcely any one wl „f- • ^"""^V ^ street in round, as he open° d ?he do?r l^T i. ^°r ^ ^^^^^ enter at once. ^Th^ thev S ^ ^^ckoned to tiem to way'^/o^r^oXTabVX*^^^^^ -^ led the that you might stay here fori apartment. "I think . sweeper com?s eve^ dav fo^ °''*^' unsuspected. A He Relieves the rTsfof the house"?? T^'. ^own-stair^. you must remain nerWf W ., ■ ?^ *° ^® untenanted, and is here. Otherwise t one ?^^^^^^^^^ '^' ^^^ ^^"^ he Hossein soon set' to work a^d nrL'" ? ^^* '^^''^^•" breakfast. Then hp loff fvl ^ .Prepared an excellent devote himselFto find&'Xh^ '\t' ^' ^^^^ "^^ ady waa in the town pJacfor^t '-^u^ ^^^^^^ ^^ite in the afternoon. ^ ""^ *^® '^J^' He returned ''She is here, Sahib," he said " T cmt- i«* with one of the retainers of th« rJj "5*? conversation some wonderful b^ 1 Delh twf ^^ ^^^^ ^^ opening his lips. I'^da^ nnin^l }^^^^^ succeeded in ^o4U4°i^;"t;frr;*^jr »- see .one,. "I am'S?,t^?.^?''«<»i'y »' my lord," Ho8s«„ said The a«t day Hossein discovered th«t the window. I 111 ' I i r i \m:. I' 252 A MESSAGE PREPARED. of the zenana were at the back of the palace, looking into the large garden. " I hear, however," he said, " that the ladies of the zenana are next week going to the rajah's other palace. The ladies will, of course, travel in palan- quins; but upon the road I might get to talk with one of the waiting-women, and might bribe her to pass a note into the hands of the white Tady." " I suppose they will have a guard with them, Hossein?" " Surely, a strong guard," Hossein answered. The time passed until the day came for the departure of the rajah's zenana. Charlie wrote a note as follows: — " My dear Ada, I am free and am on the look-out for an opportunity to rescue you. Contrive to put a little bit of your handkerchief through the lattice-work of the window of your room, as a signal to us which it is. On the second night after your arrival we will be under it with a ladder. If others, as is probable, sleep in your room, lie down without undressing more than you can help. When they are asleep get up and go to the window and open the lattice. If any of them wake, say you are hot and cannot sleep, and wait quietly till they are off again. Then stretch out your arm and we shall know you are ready. Then we will put up the ladder, and you must get out and come to us as quickly as possible. Once with us you will be safe." This note was wrapped up very small and put into a quill. As soon as the gates were open Hossein and his companions left the town and proceeded as far as a grove half-way between the town and the rajah's country palace. " They are sure to stop here for a rest," Hossein said. " I will remain here and try to enter into conversation with one of them. It will be better for you to go on for some distance and then turn aside from the road. When they have all passed, come back into the road again and I will join you.' After waiting two hours Hossein saw two carts full of v/ OAININO AN ACCOMPUOt. 263 where H;^eirS%1>tedh3f''''C"^'^'!, ^^ 'P"' lUs ve:y beautiful/^d sttoUru t^riSSi;^ y»^p„f rre'lt^^:-^ «.e. wiU both be of a friend whom she thought wai dSd^ Tt^.f T" ' her heart and will be a Cimi .?.• \t '"" "'''^' know it" " ^»" ■» a kind actioa None can ever hand^'™ wm d^it^-"'" "■* ""^ »"»' """"g «»' he, otlLf ^he^7Zo7t£i *I^ "'1' ^^' "°" ""^ "■"'. tl" ici wueii 1 Know that the note is c iverpH T oi^oii would gladly give he.- pleasure." ' " ^eiy hid . r s-"^v 8^>'« ne.- Pleasure. tlOSSem hflndorJ +^ K->„ fV- V 1 • - i- d*k«^ • I — V """^ ''"" bmceiet ana the auilL Sh* them in her dress llnr^ oo«r,j.^^. j 1""^ ^"® ner dress and sauntered away. 254 THR KAJArf'3 ZKNANA. Hossein lay back as if taking a sleep, and so remained until, half an hour lator, he heard the shouts of the drivers to the women to take their places in the «"'-^.s. Then the sound of retreating wheels was 1: .aid. xlobsein was about to rise when he heard the clatter of horses' hoofs. Looking round he saw eight elephants, each carrying a closed pt/ilion, moving along the road escorted by a troop of hoi i. men. In the pavilions, as he knew, were the ladies of the rajah's zenana. mm I so remained jf the drivers '"'•^fi. Then iiotisein was horses' hoofs, ich carrjring scorted by a knew, were CHAPTER XX THE RESCUE OP THE WHITE CAPTIVE. *^ Tn ?• **^ f ^^^^cade had passed Hossein rose I his feet and followed them, allowinTtS r.^TZ"rtr'''^T^- I^resen%iwS walked Quiei^ ^L^^.^^^*""^^^ ^"^ ^'''^' and the thre^ r^h-sVaL ; inZnttoodl^^ ^^^^^ «^ '^^ also surrounded ' a wl w.n ^^'^V'°"'**"?^^^' ^^^^^d, was always de. Led tn^K« ' '^'^l^^ ^^'^^^^^ ^^ this that theTooms of the ^f.f ""^^^ *^7.^^^ ^^^^^ <^o"bt hours later they were dc. htpZ? ''''' ^^'' ''^'' ^^^ *^« white stuff thruX'uthStoffheTaSf^^^^^^ had been faithful to her tra-r A^n J. .J ^^^^^^an lettr They then ;:tired "a dis W frlX"^ ^ and at once set to work on fU IT- /• . P^'*^®' Hossein. followed by Charge ^Ltll"^^-"'' °* * ^^^d«^- than Tim wenfinf^ n m ' ^^° ^^^^^'^ ^°acted the part w^ne^'fe -? «t rip? "- - Hossein chopped down * ^Lt t ^"""^ ^^^ ' ^° ^^^e, kn«fk. ^JjP , r,'^^° * young tree, end itiintT ,. ,vt,J -_,_ I'-i'- ^ -«ne runga^^ It took tuem aU tKit ev^^ :li if ': 256 Ta£ MAKTINO WltH At>A. ing and the greater part or the next day before they had satisfactorilv accomplished their work. They had then a ladder thirty feet long, the height which they judged the window to be above the terrace below. It was strong and at the sam^ time light. They waited until darkness had completely fallen, and then taking their ladder went round to the back of the garden. They mounted the wall, and sitting on the top dragged the ladder after them and lowered it on the other side. It was of equal thick- ness the whole length, and could therefore be used in- differently either way. They waited patiently until they saw the lights in the zenuna windows extinguished. Then they crept quietly up and placed the ladder under the window at which the signal had been shown, and found that their calculations were correct, and that it reached to a few inches below the sill. Half an hour later the lattice above opened. They heard a murmur of voices, and then all was quiet again. After a few minutes Charlie climbed noiselessly up the ladder, and just as he reached the top an arm was stretched out above him, and a moment afterwards Ada's face ap- peared. " I am here, dear," he said in a whisper; " lean out and I will take you." The girl stretched out over the window. Charlie took her in his arms and lifted her lightly out, and then slowly descended the ladder. No sooner did he touch the ground than they hurried away, Ada sobbing with excitement and pleasure on Charlie's shoulder, Tim and Hossein bearing the ladder; Hossein having already carried out his promise of concealing the second bracelet under the window. In a few minutes they had safely surmounted the wall, and hurried across the country with all speed. Before leaving the town Hossein had purchased a cart with two bullocks, and had hired a man, who was recom- mended to him by one of his co-religionists there as one ijnnn whoa« fidftHtv hfi r^nid rslv. This osiri was Awajt- fore they had hey had then 1 they judged It was strong intil darkness r ladder went mounted the ler after them f equal thick- e be used in- tly until they uished. Then ler under the /n, and found lat it reached pened. They IS quiet again, ilessly up the w^as stretched A.da's face ap- ' lean out and Charlie took id then slowly ch the ground ih excitement and Hossein y carried out let under the y surmounted nth all speed, rehased a cart 10 was recoBo- 8 there as on*) rt '^'Bs await- ADA HEARS SAD NEWa ^^m walking beside him. iMhaHi'^'^ w^^'a ^"°^^ places in the cart. Thev w^ri *?u ^^* *°«k their would be set up. The raL nf f i.'"'\*^.^* ^ ^«* Pursuit Charlie and his servant S?d if"^ ''f^^^ ^* *^« ««^^Pe of country had beeH^oteS'byTarT^^^^^^^^ *^« -^^^« they were sure that the rainh I il ^ horsemen, and means to discover Ada befori h " "^ ""f ^^^^ P^^^ible "We shallZv^fjP, *« U-^S Charlie a^wered. have got things here fo?you"" '" ^^""^ '°''™i»g- W„ and hopeless when I jj„u Wesl^^'P °" '""'^'''g »d so miserable. There seemed I?h!! ""' i°?i ^ '"'<1 heen rny sT?e Sfat' eit^^^^^^^ wa. killed by me to take care of yoT" ^* ^"^^^^^^ ^« asked ^^^^'^T^t\^^^^^^^ > dear, than to h«.va ^;.^ ;. xr... ■ rj-^"- -^^aiiii: Ciod vour m«^rv,„ "^J " "rT*^^ ^" ""**«* (W) Ciod your mamma is safe, and B some \m 258 THROWN OFF THE SCENT. day you will join l;ier again. We have news that the English are coming up to attack Calcutta. A party are already in the Hoogly, and the nabob is going to start in a few days to his army there. I hope in a very very short time you will be safe among your friends." After travelling for several hours they stopped. Charlie gave Ada some native clothes and ornaments, and told her to stain her face, arms, and legs, to put on the bangles and bracelets, and then to rejoin them. Half an hour later Ada took her seat in the cart, this^ time trans- formed into a Hindoo girl, and the party again proceeded. They felt sure that Ada's flight would not be discovered until daybreak. It would be some little time before horsemen could be sent off in all directions in pursuit, and they could not be overtaken until between eleven and twelve. The waggon was filled with grain, on the top of which Charlie and Ada were seated. When daylight came Charlie alighted and walked by the cart Un- questioned they passed through several villages. At eleven o'clock Hossein pointed to a large grove at some little distance from the road. "Go in there," he said, " and stay till nightfall. Do you then come out and follow me. I shall go into the next village and remain there till after dark. I shall then start and wait for you half a mile beyond the village." An lM)ur after the waggon had disappeared from sight the party in the grove saw ten or twelve horsemen galloping rapidly along the road. An hour passed and the same party returned at an equal speed. They saw no more of them, and after it became dark they continued their way, passed through the village, which was three miles ahead, and found Hossein waiting a short distance beyond. Ada climbed into the cart and they again went forward. "Did you put the rajah's men on the wrong track, Hossein? We guessed that you had done so when we tigr ^-.KoTin rfrAryrr no/*!/- BTT t/a*v,*aa» fiive--ffii f-'t^'\.'«*.f news that the A party are >ing to start in n a very very ends." )pped. Charlie lents, and told on the bangles Half an hour is time trans- jain proceeded, i be discovered le time before in pursuit, and en eleven and lin, on the top W^hen daylight she cart. Un- lages. large grove at ) in there," he 1 come out and ge and remain d wait for you red from sight elve horsemen )ur passed and They saw no they continued tiich was three short distance ley again went » wrong track, le so when we THE JOURNEY TO THE COAST. 359 had'lSi for^mlh"; 2avl"°^?^^? ^^^ ^""-^« -d They came in, an^ theirlZT.TY\'\^^'y *^"^^d- that I wa^ taking dowi a load i^'^. ""^ l^^"^' ^ «aid army at Calcuttf hT asked JhiT''' ^°' S" "«^ ^* *^« and the woman who were witl'! ""T *^" ^^° '"^'^ knew nothing of them T jT^d \ ^ ""^P^^^^ *hat I road, and the> had asked W fn f^*^*"'^ *^^"^ °° t^e the cart. Thev said thpl J *?' *?^ ^°°^an to ride in who was sick.^ He a kS TiT^T^ ^\T^ '^'^' ^^^^^r, and I counterfeiSrsunfri£ Jr "^^^i^^^ ^ere natives were, for which lie ShwiHT f'^.^u** '''^'^''^y ^^ey it wa^ told to an entmy T sail fh'*/ ^^ °^r^^"^' ^^^^^^ just when we had pasSd thp ulf -if* ^^^^ had left me off by the road to the ri^bf «i^ ""' l^^^ ^^ ^^^ *«rned to go; They talked%"|e\lT^^! d'e:i;ied'th"r "^^" were the only neonlfl wh>. t.„j v "^^^^^d that as you thirty men unVrTetdL of Majl '^^ '"?'?'',"'' ""d party reached Falta on the Holfrjhf fe'' f ; "^^^ and there heard of the capSre of r^l»„tt ^b* 4"g"»t. ments who camo down from some ofil^n*'*- ^^ ''«'»<*• posta the force wa« in«eirdrnearlt f™r 3T5 "r^ 3.ck„e«s broke out amo„„ tht attL'l''??"''-,.^''* ...c «, aavance agaaaat io powerful » "arSy-rttet'rf ..i' .^(S if K IV ' .i;.!,,. 360 MOTHER AND CHILD. the nabob, Major Kilpatrick sent to Madras for further assistance. When the news reached that place Clive had recently arrived with a strong force, which was destined to operate against the French at Hyderabad. The news, however, of the catastrophe at Calcutta at once altered the destination of the force, and on the 16th of October the expedition sailed for Calcutta. The force consisted of two hundred and fifty men of the 39th Foot, the first regiment of the regular English army which had been sent out to India; five hundred and seventy men of the Madras European force; eighty artillerymen; and twelve hundred Sepoys. Of the nine hundred Europeans only six hundred arrived at that time at the mouth of the Hoogly, the largest ship, the Cumberland, with three hundred men on board, having grounded on the way. The remainder of the fleet, consisting of three ships of war, five transports, and a fire-ship, reached Falta between the 11th and 20th of December. Hossein had returned from Calcutta with the news that the party commanded by Major Kilpatrick had been for some weeks at Falta, and the party at once set off towards that place, which was but forty miles distant. Travelling by night and sleeping by day in the woods, they reached Falta without difficulty, and learning that the force was still on board ship they took possession of a boat moored by the bank some miles higher up and rowed down. Great was their happinof?s indeed at finding them- selves once more among friends. Here were assembled many of the ships which had been at Calcutta at the time it was taken, and to Ada's delight she learned that her mother was on board one of these. They were soon rowed there in a boat from the ship which they had first boarded, and Ada on gaining the deck saw her mother sitting among some other ladies, fugitives like herself. With a scream of joy she rushed forward, and with a AitT of " Mamma, mamma ! " threw heraelf into her ras for further place Clive had h was destined 3.d. at Calcutta at nd on the 16th tta. The force the 39th Foot, rmy which had seventy men of illerymen; and dred Europeans le mouth of the nd, with three d on the way. three ships of 1 Falta between h the news that rick had been at once set off ' miles distant. r in the woods, i learning that book possession higher up and finding them- were assembled ;;!alcutta at the 16 learned that rhey were soon 1 they had first aw her mother es like herself, rd, and with a rsp.lf into her A HAPPY BfEBTINO. 26] was her child 3 ttn £ ?«t-*inned Hindoo girl daughter It w^3„„!"«i"^ f? '"J™"^'! that of Lr versation cou d^e XL '"1 ..f'"'!/"'' ™''^'"*"* <=«»- Charlie, drew h.'Tfo^ward ?n ^ '° ^^f?' ™""'°g ''«'='' '» him to her as W ^36^^^ tvf/ ^'^' T/ P'^''*'"*'' had stayed with tSm at rJltL* ??P**'" Manyat who was exLme Md rh„lr '*■ *I''^- Haines" gratitude gratulated by toe offi eir boardT"™^^^ ^"^ ""^■ pre^o. f^S|;rhVfed-pltI-''^^' in his e. "men''the'''d-^r'^' Tl: "How « that?" captured entirXThroui v^? tVf Suwamdrug had been appointment as VajoT^fce St^^f/ir' ™'£°" advelS'res'rth're"^'^"' "^'■' "he't^^ ahfrfd aU my ing^ullTi;1rotiot T^'l^'y-lF 't ''»''""*• 'Wft- extreme shortneS of bit^ """ "f" *'"= '"^^^S of the than ever ^" garments stronger a|on him see'';^u"T7i™verri7"!^ ^ ''" ''?''''• " ^ ""» g'^^ to Ma^at everSef" ^^ '° y™™ ''^'"' '-ith^^Major "For the Lord's sake, Mr. Peters" Tim .„!j • earnest whisner "mt mi r„ • , 1 ^"" '*■'! >•> an ashamed of mvsrff fn Z P™' "* trousers. Im that like to drop.™^ ' P'""""* of the ladies that I'm " ^"" ""'""8 '"'"O"' Tim; come along, Charlie. There ',' 262 MRS. HAINES' PLANS. I I are lots of poor felloes have gone done and uniforms are plentiful. We'll soon rig you out again." "There is one more introduction, Peters. This is my man Hossein. He calls himself my servant; I call him my friend. He has saved my life twice, and has been of inestimable service. Had it not been for him I should still be in prison at Moorshedabad." Peters said a few hearty words to Hossein and they then went below, returning on deck in half an hour, Charlie in the undress uniform of an officer, Tim in that of a private in the Madras infantry, Mrs. Haines and Ada had gone below, where they could chat unrestrained by the presence of others, and where an attempt could be made to restore Ada to her former ap- pearance. Mrs. Haines had heard of her husband's death on the day after the capture of Calcutta, Mr. Holwell having been permitted to send on board the ships a list of those who had fallen. She had learned that Ada had survived the terrible night in the dungeon, and that she had been sent up country a captive. She almost despaired of ever hearing of her again, but had resolved to wait to see the issue of the approaching campaign. Now that Ada was restored to her she determined to leave for England in a vessel which was to sail in the course of a week with a large number of fugitives. Mr. Haines was a very wealthy man, and had intended retiring altogether in the course of a few months, and she would therefore be in the enjoyment of an ample fortune in England. Among those on board the ships at Falta was Mr. Drake, who at once, upon hearing of Charlie's arrival, ordered him to be arrested. Major KHpatrick, however, firmly refused to allow the order to be carried out, saying, that es Charlie was under his orders as an officer in the Madras army, Mr. Drake had no control or authority over him. He could, however, upon Clive'o arrival lay the case before him, A Wedk lidUit Mi'u. Haliieu and Ada Hailed for Eugltuiu, 1 uniforms are . This is my at; I call him id has been of him I should gein and they half an hour, r, Tim in that ere they could and where an ler former ap- isband's death , Mr. Holwoll he ships a list that Ada had , and that she nost despaired /ed to wait to Now that Ada e for England se of a week les was a very Dgether in the jfore be in the '^as Mr. Drake, J, ordered him firmly refused hat es Charlie Madras army, y^er him. He 16 case before L for Englaiid, A BAFFLED COWARD. 263 promM TheTti^^^^f ^ ^l ^^"^^^ ^'^"^ ^^r"-' ^^o InZfe STouM ply^^hem TZit'^'^H''' ^t^' his mother's address j^an^dM^. HaTes' pfomifTto tu upon her as soon as she reached England, S^d give her full news of him, adding that she hoped that hi! sisters b'/gST rlfndl :^rher ''''' ''''' '^^ ^'^ Th^tf^J^Thl ^^^s^^ZXZ hundred and thirty men whom Kilpatr ck brought WUh him from Madras in July only about thirty remained a ive, and of these but ten weri fit for duty wheTcHve at la^t arrived. The fleet left Falta on the^2nh of De! ?hfforf'of P^'^t"'"'^ off Moiapuron the following day. The fort of Baj-baj, near this place, was the first obfect of attack, and It was arranged that while Admiral Watson ttlnd'Se."' "^*' ''' '"'' ^^^"^ «^^"^^ atLk it"n ih?^!^' '^^^'^^^ .^/^d the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the young officer who had served under hfm at Arcot and who had in his absence obtained a fame scfrcelv inferior to his own by the defence of Ambur and the M? Dr«l ^rr"^5"^- / ^^^ ^^"'•^ ^f*«r Olive's arrival whi^? P^ ^^.«^?^« * ^?r«^al complaint of the assault which Charlie had committed; but after hearing from Charlie an account of the circumstances Clive sent^ SiaWr T''T. *" ^'' ?'^^'' *« *he effect that ut^frit "^^ ^'*'^ ^ ^' '^^"^^ ^i^««lf have done under the same circumstances, and that at the nresent time he ^ould not think of d.pnrii.^ bhnse^Tth^ r= ^x^^ -^^-' -- ^^ - h^^ -i™ u. uun^seli would be recoiled ^ soon as~the"ciSii^terc^' 264 Ir',': i' , •'" t iJi , ir ■ I A CARELESS WATCH. attending the capture of Calcutta were known in England he was unable to do anything further in the matter, and Cnarhe landed with Clive on the 28th. The force con- sisted of two hundred and fifty Europeans, and twelve hundred Sepoys, who were forced to drag with them, having no draft animals, two field-pieces and a waggon of ammunition. The march was an excessively fatiguing one. The country was swampy in the extreme, and intersected with water-courses, and after a terribly fa- tiguing night march and fifteen hours of unintermittent labour, they arrived at eight o'clock in the momina at the hollow bed of a lake, now perfectly dry. It lay some ten feet below the surrounding country, and was bordered with jungle. In the wet season it was full of water. On the eastern and southern banks lay an abandoned village, and it was situated about a mile and a half from the fort of Baj-baj. _ Clive was ill, and unable to see after matters himself- mdeed, accustomed only to the feeble forces of Southern India, who had never stood for a moment against him m battle, he had no thought of danger. Upon the other hand the troops of the nabob, who had had no experience whatever of the superior fighting powers of the Europeans, and who had effected so easy a con- quest at Calcutta, flushed with victory, regarded their European foes with contempt, and were preparing to annihilate them at a blow. Manak Chand, the general commanding the nabob's forces, informed by spies of the movements of the English troops, moved out with fifteen hundred horse and two thousand foot. So worn-out were the British upon their arrival at the dried bed of the lake, that, after detaching a small body to occupy a village neav the enemy's fort, from which alone danger was expected, while another took up the post in some jungles by the side of the main road, the rest threw them- selves down to sleep, shade of the bushes Some lay in the village, some in the along the sides of the hollow. Their wn in England ihe matter, and The force con- ns, and twelve ag with them, and a waggon lively fatiguing extreme, and a terribly fa- unintermittent he morning at T. It lay some d was bordered full of water, an abandoned id a half from atters himself; !s of Southern it against him r. Upon the ) had had no hting powers 50 easy a con- egarded their preparing to i, the general y spies of the it with fifteen So worn-out dried bed of 7 to occupy a alone danger post in some b threw them- e. some in the ollow. Their I STJRPRISED BY THE EVEMY. jgg erLir&t'fi^^er t*^ r^« ^-- *^e east- fide of the illZ nK^ Manak Chand, kfowin^atTff ' ''°*7. ^«^ P°«ted. they would be exhaS now stol!f ""^"'^"^ ^" ^^^^1^* rounded the tank on Three^I « ff '" • ^T ^^^ «"'■ perceive that their arms were 'Z ^?fl ^' ^'^ ""^^ yards from the nearest man ^^tl ^^'^^^^ of sixty ish would have been helX; if S^ ^ ^^""^ «^ *^« Eng- ing an hour, to be sure VhaHh?] 'J ^^^i^' ^^^^^ wait- sound asleep, he ordered a treln"^ ^^' ^"?"^^ ^^^^ on the hollow and village ^'^"'^^^^"^ ^^e to Se opened irt'Z^i:l'^dit'' ^*^^ *^^ -- sprang up thdrarms. Sfvfe^^eoteir ^-*-% -^le^t^ to be steady, and hi^ nffi.! "} danger, shouted to them Unfortunat^iy'^ttttfce"^^^^^^ instead of rushing to theT/Snn ^^'^"i"^^^" «"rprise, troops as they ran back to7^- ''^'''''"^ *^^ ^««* ^^ the once fell intj the hands of tL^'""'' ^""^ *^^ ^"^« ^* now climbed the eastern L^l \ ^""T^' These had was poured upon thTtroops hndS? . ^ ^''J''"^ ^" '^^'^ ^ '.'Major MaVt/ciiTsa^ .-Z''^"?'?,"^ fatigued a^ the men are IL I 'i '^ ^^ ^^" ^ack now, are lost. Do you take atw^ ^J ^^^l «"rprise, we tank towards thj vHlale ' V 1, nr^ T^P* ^^"^d the tacked in front Th^^o^^^^^ ^^d already at- but the main body efnof.^'fl'^^***"^"^^^^^^^^^ r^ -re heavV'Tht tl^ r.r?_^-*«^ %«,' ^^"^^«. --^i"ng the bank they pou;edrvdi;;St^ i;!ll i- 'i1 r 'HM 266 THE DEFEAT OF BiANAK CHAND. village and charged with the bayonet, just as Charlie's men dashed in at the side. The enemy fled from the village, and taking shelter in the jungles around opened fire. The shouts of their officers could be heard urging them again to sally out and fall upon the British; but at this moment the party which had been sent forward along the road, hearing the fray, came hurrying up and poured their fire into the jungle. Surprised at this reinforcement the enemy paused as they were issuing from the wood,' and then fell back upon their cavalry. The British artillerymen ran out and seized the guns and opened with thein upon the retiring infantry. Clive now formed up his troops in line and advanced against the enemy's cavalry, behind which their infantry had massed for shelter. Manak Chand ordered his cavalry to charge, but just as he did so a cannon-ball from one of Olive's field-pieces passed close to his head. The sensation was so unpleasant that he at once changed his mind. The order for retreat was given, and the beaten army fell back in disorder to Calcutta. ) as Charlie's led from the •ound opened heard urging British; but sent forward hurrying up )rised at this issuing were heir cavalry, the guns and . Olive now '. against the Y had massed ry to charge, ne of Olive's sation was so L The order fell back in CHAPTER XXI. THE BATTLE OUTSIDE CALCUTTA, ^Sd^'ndl?* "^ 1*^' ^"?."^^' ^^« h^d «»r- prised and so nearly annihilated him Olive marched at once towards the fort of Baj^b^ ,,„Hi *i, P' ■ determined upon dela^ns the atwt Si w.rr"*'- ^""^ » P"'y °* *""> hundred and S strZI'"" ^™ "'""' '"'''"* *» *^^' part t ffi nn,« „. they eam^ gtrahan, drawi^-hSTuli^ X' 207 * r^ h''ii t, 268 A DRUNKEN SAILOR'S FREAK. fendf d himself vigorously for some time, but his weapon broke off at the hilt just as a number of Sepoys and men of the 39th, who had been awaked from their sleep by the shouting and firing, came running up. Reinforcements of the garrison also joined their friends, but these were dis- pirited by the sudden and unexpected attack, and as the troops continued to stream up the breach the garrison were pressed, and. losing heart, fled through the opposite gate of the fort. The only casualty on the British side was that Captain Campbell, marching up at the head of the Sepoys, was mistaken for an enemy by the sailors and shot dead. Strahan was in the morning severely reprimanded by the admiral for his breach of discipline, and retiring from the cabin said to his comrades: " Well, if I am flogged for this here action, I will never take another fort by myself as long as I live." Manak Chand w&> so alarmed at the fighting powers shown by the Engiis-b m these two aflTairs, that, leaving only a garrison o' five hundred men at Calcutta, he re- tired with his aiJiiy %o join the nabob at Moorshedabad. When the fleet arrive;! before the town the enemy sur- rendered the fort at the first shot, and it was again taker possession of by the English. Major Kilpatrick was at onpe sent up with five ships and a few hundred men to fix- ture the town .of Hoogly, twenty miles farther up. -The defences of the place were strong. It was held by two thousand men, and three thousand horsemen lay around it. The ships, however, at once opened a cannonade upon it, and eflfected a breach before night, and at daybreak the place was taken by storm. Two daya after the capture of Calcutta the news arrived that war had again been declared between Eng- land and France. It was fortunate that this was not known a little earlier; for had the French forces been joined to those under Manak Chand the reconquest of Calcutta would not have been so easily achieved. The t( a A ut his weapon poys and men ir sleep by the iforcements of hese were dia- ck, and as the I the garrison h the opposite le British side at the head of by the sailors ning severely 1 of discipline, rades: Q, I will never re." jhting powers I, that, leaving alcutta, he re- iloorshedabad, le enemy sur- is again taker ck was at onpe I men to c^- iher up. ^The 1 held by two en lay around nnonade upon at daybreak bta the news between Eng- thia was not b forces been reconquest of ihieved. The THE SITUATION AT CALCUTTA. 269 sack of Hoogly, at once despatched a mess^naer to tb« governor of the French oolong of Chan^rLlgfre, t^ jo^ him m crushing the English. The governor, howeve? had received orders that in the event of war berrdJ' cured between England and France L w^if Sible' to arrange with the English that neutrahty should re'^S'andth^^^^^ ''7' '^ *'^^^^°- refuse^the nib request, and th en sent messengers to Calcutta to treat. I*-*- T e n t s ^°a! '"'N^ **->'a *i^..v l^k" 'v^'' Thb tkreitort of Calcutta in 1757. and fiftppn'i^ ^^'^ !f u^"'"^ ^^ ^'^"^y °f ^^^ thousand foot and fifteen thousand horse, and advanced against Calcutta arrmng before the town on the 2nd F?brua^ 17^^^^^ Chves force had now, owing to the arrival of some rein- forcements from Europe and the enlisting of fresKpoys been raised to seven hundred European infantry ahun t^^^IS^ ^^^- ^-^-^ Sepo;^^th%^ur: The whole of the town of Calcutta was surrounded hv 1 mif« t.:o^fX^^ '*''?•"*' "^^'^ *« Maratte KtZ ^^.-a ^nxo .raz a large salt-water lake, so that IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^/ ^ i< 1.0 I.I Sf Lfi 12.0 25 2.2 IL25 i 1.4 ■ 1.6 -► U/^' Photographic ^Sciences Corporation 4^ ^ V W^ 23 WIST MAIN STRin WIBSTIR.N.Y. I4SM) (716) 872-4S03 ^ Jf. -^ r ''I i,.r toWj); m 270 THE ATTAOK ON THE NABOB'S CAlfP. an enemy advancing from' the north would have to pass within a short distance of Olive's intrenched position out- side the town, affording him great opportunities for a flank attack. On the day of their arrival Olive marched out, but the enemy opened a heavy fire, and he retired. Olive determined to attack the enemy next morning. Admiral Watson, at his request, at once landed five hiin- dred and sixty sailors, under the command of Oaptain Warwick of the Thunderer. A considerable portion of the enemy had crossed the Maratta Ditch and encamped within it. The nabob himself pitched his tent in the garden of Omichund (a native Calcutta merchant, who, though in the nabob's camp from motives of policy, sym- pathized entirely with the English), which occupied an advanced bastion within the Maratta Ditch. The rest of the army were encamped between the ditch and the salt- water lake. Olive's intentions were to march first against the bat- tenr which had played on him so eflfectually the day before, and having carried this, to march directly against the garden in which the nabob was encamped. The force with which he started at three o'clock in the morning of the 3rd consisted of the five hundred and sixty sailors, who drew with them six guns; six hundred and fifty European infantry, a hundred European artillery, and eight hundred Sepoys. Half the Sepoys led the advance, the remainder covered the rear. Soon after daybreak the Sepoys came in contact with the enemy's advanced guard, placed m ditches along a road leading from the head of the lake to the Maratta Ditch. These discharged their muskets and some rockets and took to flight. One of the rockets caused a serious disaster, lie Sepoys had their ammunition pouches open, and the contents of one of these was fired by the rocket. The flash of the flame communicated the fire to the pouch of the next Sepoy, and so the flame ran along the line, killing, wounding, and scorching many, and causing the greatest confusioa I have to ptuss 1 position out- tunities for a Dlive marched i he retired, lext morning, ided five hun- id of Captain ble portion of 3.nd encamped s tent in the lerchant, who, f policy, sym- 1 occupied an The rest of . and the salt- ainst the bat- he day before, Y against the 1. The force le morning of sixty sailors, red and fifty artillery, and I the advance, ter daybreak ly's advanced ing from the !se discharged > flight. One e Sepoys had ntents of one I of the flame next Sepoy, g, wounding, 3st confusion. A BATTLE IN A VOQ. 371 Si"°wh?i 5%1T 7itTr^ rV?^ ^^V^- Eyre CharlieTho ledX adt^^^^^ f-^' ^^^^ forward movement IgalnTent^n ""'"^^ '''''' ^^^ *^« A new obstacle had, however arispn WifK *u of appioachine cav2v Th^^ ". j"" ■ ^ ^reat body unseeS horse had approached Kf.^'i "'"''">; ""i*" *^ and then poured aS^^^y vol7efi'„l%t"CX ceased abruntlv and w«<. f,^ll j X. ., ^^' -^^^e noise cavalry in r£f tL / ^"^'^ ^^ *^** °^ *^^« enemy's hnpos^ble eveT to IXlZ\t T '?- ^'""'^ '^^' ''' ^^ troops were movinV Wiv/v ^^^^^^^^^ ^^ which the into Z ToX Z™nd Tr"^^ the Maratta Ditch obMquely ttXr.?h' I'd iT ^ *'""' *''« ^"^^ causeX"'aXhe''Tir^ ^PP"?'""" °^"' '«'«'>ed the vanced Ifong thttowSXthTdSfh*" ft "«^'- •^• this, however, thev came ?^ th! I- . /° '^^^ ''™=s«'J ^ns, the officer^comm jC%^^<'f ««> °f ""'' »^» what waa taking pEn St InT S^ /gnorant of before him f 'I,™,.? i . '■ '"'' enable to see a foot wi at t^e vli'"'i\':'T'y'«'°'"P'">'»'^ always by Tim downnum ™r3 0™™! A n^- "* *''^ «'>'»■>«'. "owing terror-.t^ken ^t tSi."t ^""5 '°"'«'^' •"'^ f"* Sepoys, u^.. , ^ occuxo, itjapea iroiu the cause- S7S A DKADLT DISCHARGE. "PS way into the dry ditch and sheltered themselveb there. Charlie and his companion were saved by the fact that they were a few paces ahead of the column. '• Run back, Tim," Charlie said. " Find Colonel Clive, and tell him that we are being mowed down by our own artillery. If you can't find him, hurry back to the guns and tell the officer what he is doing." Charlie then leaped down into the ditch and en- deavoured to rally the Sepoys. A few minutes later Clive himself arrived, and the Sepoys were induced to leave the ditch, and to form again by the side of the causeway, along which the British tioops were now marching. Suddenly, however, from the fog burst out the dis- char^t'e of two heavy guns which the enemy had mounted on a bastion flanking the ditch. The shouts of the office/8 and the firing of the men indicated precisely the position of the column. The grape-shot tore through it, and vwenty-two of the English troops fell dead and woun led. Immediately afterwards another discharge followed, and the column, broken and confused, be- wildered by the dense fog, and dismayed by the fire of these unseen guns, fell back. Clive now determined to push on to the main road, which he knew crossed the fields half a mile in front of him. The country was, however, here laid out in rice- fields, each inclosed by banks and ditches. Over these banks it was impossible to drag the guns, and the sailors could only get them along by descending into the ditches and using these as roads. The labour was prodigious, and the men, fatigued and harassed by this battle in darkness, and by the fire from the unseen guns which the enemy continued to pour in their direction from either flank, began to lose heart. Happily, however, the fog began to lift The flanks of the columns were cov- ered by bodies of troops thrown out on either side, a'ld ftfter more than an hour's hard work, and abandoning; A MILITARY FAILURE. KltfS^^lLt^^^^^.p'cen down, CHve reacM swenf^ "^'^ '^' '' great force of ff, W^^^' «^'j" swept down on the rear nr^Tf *"® nabob's cavalrv the fort of Calcutta. sSZ'tL^T"'^'''S forward fnto under the most difficult circum.tf H" '"'' marcSins "ounded and thirtte 1"^°^' «'?'"y-two EuropZi oaufed almost eutirl b' th/"^'' '?"' ««wlti" £ ~ , The expedition, from a m,rf"^' "">"<>»• ^ been an entire fai ure H» Ti^'^ P™"' of view had e-y nor Omichundl garden kTJ'^ neither th^' ut tlnT'^)t '"'veeuS in^th'*?"' ''I™ ^» th« Upon the other hand ih^ ^*" *"ese objects • )i»f ■ ^;1 i ".. Ui li't J H A MORAL SUC'JESa camp, was seized with terror. He had lost thirteen hundred men in the fight, among whom were twenty- four rajahs and lesser chiefs, and the next morning he sent in a proposal for peace. A less determined man than Clive would, no douht, have accepted the proposal. Calcutta was still besieged by a vastly superior force, supplies of all kinds were running short, the attack of the previous day had been a failr. i e. He knew, however, the character of Asiatics, and determined to play the game of bounce. The very offer of the nabob showed him that the latter waa alarmed. He therefore wrote to him, saying, that he had simply marched his troops through his highness' camp to show him of what British soldiers were capable; but that he had been careful to avoid hurting any one except those who actually opposed his progress. He concluded by expressing his willingness to accede to the nabob's proposal and to negotiate. The nabob took it all in. If all this destruction and confusion had been wrought by a simple march through his camp, what would be the result if Clive were to take into his head to attack him in earnest He therefore at once withdrew his army three miles to the rear, and opened negotiations. He granted all that the English asked: that all the property and privileges of the Com- pany should be restored, that all their goods should pass mto the country free of tax, that all the Company's fac- tories, and all moneys and properties belonging to it or its servants, should be restored or made good, and that permission should be given to them to fortify Calcutta as they pleased. Having agreed to these conditions, the nabob, upon the 11th of February, retired with his army to his capital, leaving Omichund with a commission to propose to the English a treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, against all enemies. This proposal was a most acceptable one, and Clive determined to seize the opportunity t~o \ lost thirteen were twenty- ; morning he Id, no doubt, still besieged I kinds were lay had been r of Asiatics, 56. The very e latter was y, that he had ness' camp to ible; but that y one except He concluded 3 the nabob's sstruction and larch through I were to take e therefore at the rear, and b the English 3 of the Com- Is should pass ompany's fac- nging to it or cod, and that rtify Calcutta ibob, upon the to his capital, propose to the ^nd defensive, lost acceptable fupurcuxxivjf V-- I THE FRENCH C0IX)NY. 275 crush the French Wio ».. • Madras had Chi him tharZ"v «^P,^'i™'=«» """inJ formidable rivaU^ of Engltl 01!^^'^ ""' "T' large reinforcements we?9 on th^i. ^e knew that and he feared that tm^V^',.'^ ^^'^ *° Pondicherry. his panic mtMreJ^^fth"''' "^•? ''* "^"""^'^ f™" effort again to expel the^Kn™ish *^""°'' " »° Th?de^uiert%^^^^^ 'He French. the govemo^r ttTtheVTeWdThat'V "°" """"^ ^ intention on the part ol the En' »he French was for theTi^ttrreftdrf Adm-T^';'^ '' ■"" ^ a Between that officer Id oZl^''^''^ *° "S™* *» any cordial feeliW 7nH f V'i'™.">ere had never been nection, aVthe s"e™ of oT-l" *i'-T "^ '^eir firat con- frequently leadi7rlnMput^"hT*t "P'T"' between them nnJ\^«JW disputes, had taken place an.. KnfK l.!?.,.^'''^ ^f it.fitrange that thisshnnU h! " "-- -«^e and gallant men; but whileWatson n - ! .if'' 376 J DISPUTES BEtWEKN CLiVft AND TfiE ADMlflAL N ■ bad the punctilious sense of honour which naturally Ltloiigs to an English gentleman, Clive was wholly un- scrupulous as to the means which he employed to gain his ends. Between two such men it is not singular that disagree- ments arose. Admiral Watson, impelled by feelings ot per- sonal dislike to Clive, often allowed himself to be carried to unwarrantable lengths. On the occasion of the capture of Calcutta he ordered Captain Eyre Coote, who first en- tered it, to hold it in the king's name, and to disobey Clive's orders, although the latter had been granted a commission in the royal army as lieutenant-colonel, and was, moreover, the chief authority of the Company in all affairs on land. Upon Clive's asserting himself Admiral Watson absolutely threatened to open fire upon his troops. Apparently from a sheer feeling of opposition he now opposed the signing of the treaty with the French, and several days wefe spent in stormy altercations. Circumstances occurred during this time which streng- thened the view he took and changed those of Clive and his colleaf^'ies of the council. Just then the news reached Suraja-u-L>owlah that Delhi had been captured by the Afghans, and, terrified at the thought that the victorious northern enemy might next turn their arms against him, he wrote to Clive, begging him to march to his assistance, and oflfering a lac of rupees a month towards the expense of his army. On the same day that Clive received the letter he heard th»t Commodore James and three ships, with reinforcemmts from Bombay, had arrived at the mouth of the Hoogly, and that the Cumberland, with three hundred troops, which had grounded on her way from Madras, was now coming up the river. Almost at the same moment he heard from Omichund, who had accompanied the nabob to Moorshedabad, that he had bribed the governor of Hoogly to offer no opposi- tion to the passage of the troops up the river. Clive was now ready to agree to Admiral Watson's views, and to Ich naturally 18 wholly un- oyed to gain >hat disagree- ielings ot per- 5 be carried to f the capture who first en- id to disobey sn granted a t-colonel, and )mpany in all iself Admiral on his troops, ition he now > French, and )ns. nrhich stnpg- of Cliveand news reached tured by the ihe victorious I against him, lis assistance, s the expense received the I three ships, •rived at the ^erland, with . on her way m Omichund, ledabad, that fer no opposi- ir. Clive was riews, and to ™k Exnomc aga™st the rK«Kca ^ unless the consent of the naS w " T'? *^ ""o "'^"'^ however, himself, a thrclten?^™ a "''?'"«<'• He wrote, to the nabob. o.;derinrh!m fA •'' '"t"'' "'"'^n'- "«tter nabob, still «nder"thf iSfl"entThfa%°°"%'"- ^''"> Afghans, replied in terms wm!.!. 5*?" *""» th* but the vefy next dT^vSl Z°^''*f ^ «»'«'=»'. calmed his fearsa-sfntt-^' At V® received news which forbidding thTSntd Uon S J'''^ r™** P^^mptor ly letter, however, w^dl rZrS'Tn'l '^ ^"""'^- ^fi pared to start. It comSf 1 „f "^ ■"'^ expedition pre- and fifteen hundred naUveinw" ^""^^'^ ^""P^^ land, a hundred and mT.Jn'^- *'"' "tarteS by e-scorted by three^hiJTo? ^flZ f'°^''f''g » boat^ »els under Admiral \vKi. "'"^ *'"*"« »«»- forty^six^Ftel^trtStunrt °l " '""«'«d "nd these were three hundred of Zp** ^'P'^^ B^iJe» and sailors of the mercCt,!,,'^ • ""*?**" population hastily formed intTa milMa ^^1° ^"- "''° ^^'^ ^een at the duplicity with which he u/T'™"' ''"'■>ant worked vigorously at h? defences "^T^r .»"**** """l tended along the river Imnl» ? . * settlement ex- centre stood the fort, which wL^h^5 "i"«^ ^"«'e . yards square, mounti J ten tCf^*'"'''*'* »"<^ '^^oty each of its four bas?fo,^° Twert7?„r"''".8""» "^ were placed on the mm„«J. i^ 'our-pounder guns «»;th. On an outlyir^*' iTr^ '^' "T »"»»'• gate eight thirty-two Donnl^*"'^'"8 ">e water- Kenault set to work to demoth .72 T"""^^ «• a hundred yards of the for^,.^?/" ""* .''""ses within ■nanding thi appr^ches H*°''.*° T"*' batteries com^ several Ships in the onI?„. • "^^^'f^ "" »« go where they wounded French var. hundred and six lony was blamed : English distress sad of joining the • hand there was liral Watson had ty of neutrality, nless ratified by i known that the had ever sent to \rn that Bussy, at as in communica- lort time English more formidably it of the French was a measure of ipon the gallant opinion generally stifled the course ialcutt«L y at the news of UNWORTHY INTRIOUEa 283 d%"fcf.f!jS:''Sr . "at hearing a rumour two gratulatin.- them nZ, *W ^^""' *""* ^"t^on wn- which it hZ been ST^S^tt ^Z*T' "P"" tyrant of Moorahfldflha^^™ , -^u* the young fluctuating fee wlh^ ""^ ^T^^"^ ^^ constantlf most, the neSangetrdTa^^^^^ of recalling the anuforS Du,I P^^ H"*^ promised, he ordered if fn^fif^^i ^°'' as he ^ ^ fwenty-t^o mtr^'uJh ^f '^^l^o^^^^^^^^^^ ^^fT^.^ were represented at his court b v Mr w ^ ^® ^^g^^^h greatest difficulty in ma?ntaini/cr ^'^ ^v*?' "".^^ ^*^ *he stantly changin/moorof ?i^ ^^v^^^^ P??'*'°° ^° *^« con- would'threatfnforde^hfmlL'tS^^ One day the latter *^r.? ^r'^'^ ^-^" ^i" ^th ptsente^^^^ "'°"'^^°' b/rSu^; I^ai^^^ »= -re conducted whom Suraia-u.DowKn7 i ^^^^ """^ ^**^^« bankers the succession to the Wd^ w!f J^ ^ *T ^''^^^^^ '^ This was agreed to unonhT Tr ''"'^r^^ "P^'^ *^i°>- immense su^s to the Comn^nt Pr''^ *^ P^^ "°* o^^lj the principal l^r^s o^^Cin'^LhZTir'''^'' ^ mdeed, were tfiese demands that fven Meer T«ffl ^^°™«"«' as he waa to concludfi TkI „ir ^'^ •^*™®^' *^^io"s squadron wa^t^Wetw^^•?^'^'''^'^¥ ^§^^^*- The th^e same amount wL i^l^^^^\t }''''' ^P^^ ^^^ amounting to six millionrnni *^^ *'"°'y' Presents buted between ClivfZor kEZ 'T^u*^ ^^ ^^«*"- and the members rihfSuncil^^'^ u' ^^7""^^^' enormoussums amounted rZL;^!;^l.!?f'^^.?f*J^^? -pe«. in those days a rupee Va^'w^rtH^frcrwa J if 284 A DISGRACEFUL TRANSACTION. Never did an English officer make such a bargam for himself. But even this is not the most dishonourable feature of the transaction. Omichund had for some time been kept in the dark as to what was gomg forward, but obtaining information through his agents he questioned Mr. Watts concerning it. The latter then informed him of the whole state of affairs, and Omichund, whose services to the Encr- lish had been immense, naturally demanded a share of t& plunder. Whether or not he threatened to divulge the plot to the nabob, unless his demands were satisfied, is doubtful. At anyrate it was considered prudent to pacify him, and he was accordingly told that he should receive the sum he named. Clive and the members of the council, however, although willing to gratify their own extortionate greed at the expense of Meer Jaffier, determined to rob Omichund of his share. In order to do this two copies of the treaty with Meer Jaffier were drawn up on different coloured papers. They were exactly alike, except that in one the amount to be given to Omi- chund was entirely omitted. This was the real treaty. The other was intended to be destroyed after being shown to a friend of Omichund in order to convince the latter that all was straight and honourable. All the English authorities placed their signatures to the real treaty, but Admiral Watson indignantly refused to have anything to do with the fictitious one, or to be a party in any way to the deceit practised on Omichund. In order to get out of the dif'culty, Clive himself forged Admiral Watson's signature to the fictitious treaty. A more disgraceful transaction was never entered inio by a body of English gentlemen. That Mr. Drake and the members of his council, the pitiful cowards who fled from Calcutta and refused to allow the ships to draw off Its brave garrison, should consent to such a transaction was but natural, but that Clive, the gallant and dashing conuaander, should have stooped to it, in sad indeed. It a bargain for [•able feature of time been kept 1, but obtaining ned Mr. Watts m of the whole ces to the Eng- i a share of the to divulge the ere satisfied, is id prudent to that he should le members of ) gratify their f Meer Jaffier, . In order to er Jaffier were y were exactly given to Omi- le real treaty, d after being convince the ible. All the !S to the real fused to have to be a party michund. In limself forged 3 treaty, r entered in io [r. Drake and ards who fled ps to draw off a transaction \> and dashing bd indeed. It m NABOB FOBCED m,t) WAR. gg^ Jvotu"^^ his life dive defended Omichund was a scounTeT ''S' T^f' *^^ «^c"«e that confiw'"l"^^ character 0pe2'h«^^^'^ 1^ ^^^' indeed. confidant of the nabob. whileTlI fK ^^'^ }^^ ^"e^d and m bribing and corruptinah ' ^L *'°!.' ^^ ^«^ engac^ed his enemies. This, howfvei ^T ^°^ ^" P^otting'wltb that he rendered iiestS ; servL7^.."^*?^ *^^ ^^^ts that the men who deceived wT.*^ *,^*^ Enghsh, and more severely^did' n^!f '""' '^^'^ complete. More »nJ compelled hil toeSeTr'' "S"" *•>« ™I»b HaWnf Moorshedabad ^d^^ ^^'T ^^ the French, first froi fresh demands upon hVT,^\^'"'^<>"^. he pressed -taven to despair, and buAv^H ""*• V°fortunate Si shou d recei,re ^sistane" ^frl, "''r'"* ""^ ^°P^ 'K' expelled the English from 7?" ^''^'y- "ho had just ordered Meer Jaffipr »„ ^ **"■ ^*<=*Ofy at VizanaW ">en to reinfor^eXh fcr'*'' ^ft«^» CI"' J:^ ht:™"r&^^^^^ ,.7. on Charlie - - "» «useu nimself at once l "ie^n^^S oa^ 286 THB ADVANCX TOWARDS FLASSET. and was received with the greatest heartiness and pleasure by his old friend, the captain, and assiduously attended by the doctor of the ship. In order that he might have as much air as possible the captain had a sort of tent, with a double covering, erected on deck. During the daytime the sideso^" this were lifted so that the air could pass freely across the ued. Charlie's wouad was a severe one, and had he been nursed in a hospital on shore, it is probable that it would have been fatal. Thanks, however, to the comforts on board ship, the freshness and coolness of the situation, and the care of all surrounding him, he was, after some weeks' illness, pronounced convalescent, and was suflSciently recovered to join the force with which Clive marched against Plassey. This force consisted of nine hundred and fifty European infantry, a hundred artillerymen, fifty sailors, and two thousand one hundred Sepoys. The artillery consisted of eight six-pounders and two small howitzers. The army of the nabob was fifty thousand strong, and against such a force it was indeed an adventurous task for an army of three thousand men, of whom only one-third were Euro- peans to advance to the attack. Everything depended, in lact, upon Meer Jaffier and his two colleagues in treachery, Rajali Dulab Ram and Yar Lutf Khan. The nabob on hearing of Olive's advance had sent to M. Law, who was with a hundred and fifty men at a place over a hundred miles distant, to which he had in accordance with the orders of Clive been obliged to retire, and begged him to advance to join him with all speed The nabob had with him forty or fifty Frenchmen commanded by M. St. Frais, formerly one of the council of Chandranagore. These had some field-pieces of their own, and also directed the native artillery of fifty-three guns, principally thirty- two, twenty-four, and eighteen poimders. Had Clive been sure or the co-operation of Meer Jafiier and his confederates, who commanded three out of the four divisions of the nabob's armyj he need not have hesitated !artiness and 1 assiduously •rder that he in had a sort eck. During b the air could was a severe m shore, it is tiks, however, and coolness ding him, he convalescent, B force with f ty European lors, and two Y consisted of }. The army against such )r an army of i were Euro- : depended, in in treachery, rhe nabob on law, who was er a hundred ace with the egged him to bob had with i by M. St. andranagore. also directed ipally thirty- : Meer Jaffier at of the four tve hesitated. A COUNCIL OP WAK. 287 Meer Jaffier had Sdn^'S^'Tl^^'l^^^^^^^ '' the Koran of fidelity and JihZrl^i, ? ^^^^ «^®"i on his correspondence with CltvpV^ 1 *^/ *'^^*°' continued dubious eharacter^:rCh^e ;^^^^ -"^^^ «* ^ --7 his real intenti6ns So innuf i •^**\^^"0''»"ce as to whenonlyafewmLsSgtundM^^ "^>. *'-* lay between him and the^enemv c1it«%T^^^^ so serious that he called Tl^7: V r ^^^^ *^^ position them the question wS^Wu^ i^ '^^'^' ^"^ P"<^ *« or fortify themse?vratllL^ '^J'^^l ^^^^ the nabob the rain/se Jon whfch hf^ w ^^^ ^^^^ *^** P^««e until should aLte IjuK^^^^^ JJ ^ith great violence, twenty in number were '^^^^^^^^^ 'T^ ^^ subalterns to custom, gave hirvot^/ W • ^j^^« ^^"^self, contrary Katwa. Maj&patrlck J^^^ "" ^^'^S"'* ^f halting at troops, Maj^Sf S thl sTh""™^^^^^^ the Company's voted the same way Mainr F ^''^n "'^ ^^^^^ o^^^ra favour of an imZdi'^f^.T ^^'^ ^oote declared in troops were ySKrlts Inr^^^ He argued that the where successful Ind Tat T^ i ^'*^f *^ ^"^'^ «^«^- and his troops Carriv:* Vf cTnsTdtedIt ^ .f ^ determmed not to fight thev sL,, U f 11 ? , * *^ ^^^^ cutta. Cnarlie MarA/at .?Z. * ^ 1^^" ^^^^ "Po° Cail officers, all belonSo th.TJ-''^ ^'°'.' ^ ^'^ ^^^ o^^er taken, the councl^p^rated ^^^^^^ V"' ^^"^^0° grove and sat down by him«^f ^ '*i:°"^,^ ^^^^ *«» in his mind the ^^Z^ZtL ^^t ^' thought over both sidea He saw f ^^ ? which had been advanced by Jad been\d?:ced bf MSorEl^r'r"^^*^ ^^^^ Marryat, and hie ow^^.f ^^ • ^t ^^^^ and Charlie daring c;,u^ is alwl^s tK^r '^^l^ ^^ that the with Asiatics AtlZ h.^^K P^'^^^^t one in fighting way informed Um"7!i t'h'd' -^^^^^ P-^ on th^' wouia tight the next day."' -"»"S«u nis mmd and ii If i S88 TIM IN DESPAIR. Charlie returned to his tent after the council broke up disheartened at the result. He was greeted by Tim, " Shure, yer honour, Hossein is in despair. The water has filled up the holes where he makes his fires, and the rain has soaked the wood. Yer dinner is not near cooked yet, and half the dishes are spoilt." " It does not matter a bit, Tim," Charlie said. " You know I'm not particular about my eating, though Hossein will always prepare a dinner fit for an alderman." " We are going to fight them to-morrow, yer honour, I hope," Tim said. "It's sick to death I am of wading about here in the wet like a duck. It's as bare as the bogs of ould Ireland, without the blessings of the pigs and potatoes, to say nothing of the colleens,** " No, Tim, I'm afraid we're going to stop where we are for a bit. The council of war have decided not to fight," "Shure and that's bad news," Tim said, "the worst I've heard for many a day. What if there be fifty thousand of 'em, Mister Charles, haven't we bate 'em at long odds before, and can't we do it agin?" " I think we could, Tim," Charlie replied; " but the odds of fifty-three heavy cannon, which the spies say they've got, to our ten pop-guns is serious. However, I'm sorry we're not going to fight, and I'm afraid that you must make up your mind to the wet, and Hossein his to giving me bad dinners for some weeks to come, that is to say if the enemy don't turn us out of this," A few minutes later Lieutenant Peters entered the tent, " Is it true, Charlie, that we are not going to fight after all?" " True enough," Charlie said. " We are to wait till the rains are over." "Rains!" Peters said in disgust; "what have the rains got to do with it. If we had a six weeks' march before us I could understand the wet weather being a hindrance. Men are not water-rats, and to march all day m these heavy downpours, and to lie all night in the mud would. so< da we enc yoi sai( is £ sup If' Ji put char the I "] That "1 breal of an not a Sei for tl wais,a ences amon^ enemy hearty "He enteret in half dozen to celel heavy 1 occurrei lielp to pose of Some 9 wait till the A CHANGE OF PLANS. ^ ^aZ^c r /n'r^r l ^: ''"> ^^ - .uu^ . wet in the field as here ^ii "en might as well eet enemy, and a halt wiU W«f If^ ?™ '""g^ to be at ie you got to drink, GbJtJr "^ ^ '^^*^ What have -it « BurXt":;lf r s; r '"? ^-•" c^^ae « » cup of tea: Hossein .„.i ..*^"° «">er for vou suppose you havMiSS J" ^"^ '* "" ^«U " ever.^l res, half an hour ago." PuttstS'^t'thf SLt'^-r- ""J^ ^^- Coote changed his mind. We ^ot .^^^"^^ the chief hu the morning and movTat^re Jnorpf **' *,""* '^^S ^ ■' Hurrah !" Charlie shouted- "?ni? *?"'?: Tha^« good news indeed" ' *^'"'* '' ^™»«« again. brealc'^d' Jri: C to?Tcrt'™ ^■.*'>« "'«"* d«y- of any opposition, as the^'i„ ZT x?*'* " "o ohan^ not arrived yet at H^'y ? *'" "* ">»» *« "abob hS ^0. ^nl:f^-f,f-;«--^^^^^^ into the ten, a>nong thf ju^oJ'o*^^^^ P™d»ce of the measu^^^i r^^SaJL^ "'*^-" - 't-z.T^^ enteteta-:^ ^-^-tern ^ p,, ^ ^^ foi^f p^:ie\»Kdi?i^ ' ^ »^^'te^^^^^^ to celebrate our victir? But '^"tv'^ ^ kcep these h^vy baggage U to Cleft We an^° '*^° *'^* ?'«<» all occuired to me that pisiblv ?" t *?* ^"""d, it ha» help to drink it, we m^^Zj, f ^^ P°*' <=ome back to P«>. of drinking Zc^^tTth^ itTt/.' *<;. t"-* good put ""J '~"'*'"'^«<'P'""'d and* merry evening ■^ I 290 A TOILSOME BCAROH. was spent, but the party broke up early, for they ha«] a heavy day's work before them on the morrow. At daybreak the troops were in movement towards the banks of the Bhagirathi. They had brought boats with them from Chandranagore, and the work of cross- ing the river continued without intermission until four in the afternoon, when the whole force was landed on the left bank. Here Clive received another letter from Meer JaflBer, informing him that the nabob had halted at Mankarah and intended to intrench himself there. He suggested that the English should undertake a circuitous march and attack him in the rear; but as this march would have exposed Clive to being cut off from his communica- tions, and as he was still very doubtful of the good faith of the conspirators, he determined to march strright forward, and sent word to Meer Jafl&er to that effect. From the point where Clive had crossed the Bhagirathi it was fifteen miles to Plassey, following as they did the curves of the river. It was necessary to do this as they had no carriage, and the men were obliged to tow their sup- plies in boats against the stream. Orders were issued that as soon as the troops were across they should prepare to eat their dinners, as the march was to be resumed at once. The rain was coming down in a steady pour as the troops, drenched to the skin, started upon their march. The stream, swollen by the rains, was in full flood, and the work of towing the heavy-laden barges was wearisome in the extreme. All took a share in the toil In many cases the river had overflowed its banks, and the troops had to struggle through the water, up to their waists, while they tugged and strained at the ropes. Charlie, as a mounted officer, rode at the head of his Sepoys who formed the advance of the force. Three hundred men preceded the main body who were towing the boats, to guard them from any sudden surprise. Tim marched beside him, occasionally falling back and takiD| a turn at the ropea. '"' This is dog's worK, Mister Charles, or they ha«l •ow. ent towards rought boats ork of cross- n until four IS landed on • letter from lad halted at E there. He I a circuitous march would communica- le good faith ,rch strright at effect, e Bhagirathi they did the s as they had w their sup- e issued that Duld prepare he resumed steady pour 1 upon their was in fuU laden barges share in the id its banks, water, up to at the ropes. head of his orce. Three were towing rprise. Tim k and taking ARRIVAL AT PLASSiy. jg mXt Je't'a t'^Lf ™r°g. for the rive, can't with pulling at the ° "^ f <^ % hands are fairly «,re ^^T£'S^^A''^Zi^S-^y- know. T„„ - owt'SSS' " WrvTr'h °'«^' '^ « ' «- to •« on U8 if we do not thrash th.^„'^°'"'' " '^" •» J>"d the villageTlirey' ThJy^ma^^^^^^^ --^^^^ halted and bivouacked in a\Seln *^'°"^^ ^*' ^^ distance beyond. ^^^® °^^°go grove a short ' " 1 , jr sr rill I .? CHAPTER XXIII. PLASSEY. CARCELY had the soldiers taken off their packs when the sound of martial music was heard. Charlie was speaking at the time to Major Coote. " There are the enemy, sure enough," the latter said. " That old rascal Meer Jaffier must have been deceiving us when he said that the nabob had halted at Mankarah. I'm afraid he means to play us false." " I expect," Charlie remarked, " that he does net know what he means himself. These Asiatics are at any time ready to turn traitors, and to join the strongest. At f resent Jaffier does not know which is the stronger, and think it likely enough that he will take as little share as he can in the battle to-morrow till he sees which way it is going. Then if we are getting the best of it the rascal will join us for the sake of the advantages which he expects to gain. If the day is going against us he will do his best to complete his master's victory; and should proofs of his intended treachery ever come to light he will clear himself by saying that he intended to deceive us all along, and merely pretended to treat with us in order to throw us off our guard, and so deliver us into the hands of his master." " Yes," Maj or Eyre Coote replied. " These Mahommedan chiefs are indeed crafty and treacherous rascala The whole history of India shows that gratitude is a feeling THE ENEMY'S POSITION. jjj altoo^ether unknown to them anr? fT,o* v . a master may have lavished ',?ni]l * ^^atever favours ready to betray him TthZi^^T ^t^"^ *^«y ^re always will better thefr po^itln Vo;"! *^^ \^ f ^""^S thiy to get a few hours' sleep befo^ J^" ^'^ ^«^° ^^^ try the skin, but fortuSv in th?'™'"i?' ^ *"^ ^^<^ *« matters little." '"'°*^^^y »" these sultry nights that th:ln7r^s^arj„7h"et^^^^^^^ "-^ - that 'red I should have safd thlf ih! ^ I °1'° "^^'^ "«* «<> been to make a dash straight «f f^'* P^^'^ ^°"^^ ^ave be affto Cnt Shtg^^f t: ^f - si so as to that would be our best coufse " M^^^''r'''t '^ *^« ^«"^d. even if the troops had be?n fS a ^T.U^^^^^^ "^"*' unknown position is a UyJl^ ' ?'^^* ***»ck on an night, I must see ClTve and Lv^lf- "^^r^^W^g. Good- At daybreak f hp Fn!.r u ^^® ^^ ^^^ orders." the eneS;: teat S^^ ^'''' ^^^^^^ Position of trenched ^orkswhLhttLaf^^^^^ t^^^^^ i^- "P during his stay. The riX of fhf ^^^^^ ^^''^^^ the r ver, and extended ffid at iTl^'^f ^"'*^^ «« about two hundred yards tSd ?Ln ^^* x^"^^^ *^ ^^ ^^r north at an obtuse aS[e f o^^^^^^^^^ '^?'^^ *<> *he angle was a redoubt mounted wTf^ '^ '"'^?- ^* *he of this was a mound^ covered w^fh^^^^ In advance between the intrenchmente fn^/i, J""^^®' ^alf-way two large tanks near the river st1?%^^^^^^^ ^«'« of earth. These tanks'^eTe ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^/^^ °^«"^ds English position. On thTr^^r bik I Ht^^^ ^'T '^' of the grove, was a hunting bnv S ' • **^^ ^^ advance surrounded by a mason^^^alT fell' '^^ "'^^.^^' -'s immediately he S^ard L so^'4 of V^ ^^^^^^^ ws uis arrivai ^^ujh* uj cho iiaooos m ■r mil •f fl'll «r-Ai 294 *4 ||»PERATE POSITION. Soon after daylight the nabob's troops moved out from their intrenchments, and it was evident that he was aware of the position of the English. The French witli their four fiela-guns took up their post on the mound of the tank nearest to the grove, and about half a mile dis- tant from it, and in the narrow space between them and the river two heavy guns under a native officer were placed. Behind the French guns was the division of Mir Mudin Khan, the one faithful general of the nabob. It consisted of five thousand horse and seven thousand foot. Extending in the arc of a circle towards the village of Plaasey, were the troops of the three traitor generals ilaja^ Dulab Ram, Yar Lutf Khan, and Meer Jaffier, Thus t.ie English position was almost suiTounded, and in advaT oing against the camp they would have to expose themselves to an attack in rear by the troops ui' the con- spirators. These generals had between them nearly thirty- eight thousand troops. From the roof of the hunting-box Clive watched the progress of the enemy's movements. He saw at once that the position which they had taken up was one which would entail the absolute destruction of his force should he be defeated, tind that this depended entirely upon the course taken by .he conspirators. Against such a force as that opposed to him, if these remained faithful to their master, success could hardly be hoped for. However, it was now too late to retreat, and the only couise was to show a bold front Clive accordingly moved his troops out from the mango trees to a line with the hunting-box. The Europeans were formed in the centre with three field- pieces on each side. The native troops were on either flank. Two field-gui ?.iid the two howitzers were placed a little in advance c.f ts • i: ati*'g-box facing the French position on the moun t At eight o'clock iu %iv^ vicming of 'ud 23d of June, a memorable day in the annais of India, the preparations on both sides were complete, and St. Frais opened the battle oved out from that he was B French with the mound of ilf a mile dis- een them and 3 officer were le division of of the nabob, ven thousand rds the village litor generals Meer Jaffier unded, and in ave to expose ps o£ the con- nearly thirty- watched the IV at once that Eis one which 3 force should rely upon the such a force thful to their However, it joiiise was to ed his troops hunting-box. ;h three field- ere on either 8 were placed y the French 3d of June, a eparations on led the battle rai WmUEAT TO THE GROV* 395 opened their fire. Thofr.,. hP ^ ""^ '""g «""'« overwhelming df«,h«rg„n^'dfo*h.nnrP"*'^ ^ *''» to plav on tlje donse ma^»e" of the eieC b!',*T""""'^ well they mie'-f ■ (, handlo.! li,i ™™y; f""* however the fire of the hfty S nf ^f '=°'''<' ^'' ""''* 'goinst them. Had th^eleiSl servTwp °''°™'™'''* "P™ men the British force wo IdT 7 European artillery. ated ^ the/sL^A kT^it^eT^ftohow^ '^''"^■ extremely clumsy gunners Tlf«tfifjv,x '',*™.'' ^^"^ had the feeblest iffoHiev.]^^^ n^ *"" "'""'y- ""^ balls, for the most ptrt weMW •^"'m™''*'^ *•>"'' English, and the foC'iTd"JuSro7st F^lf ?/' "^* Leaving a party in the huntinff-box and in fi,. i. • i kilns in front of it. in which \h^^.^ ^ j ? *^® ^"^^- ^J^aifflwi^io^rt??:;^^^^'' "-o their guns closer, again opened fire tSFp ^? J'PTP^ this time pierced the holeffor thef; field meSt ^t ^^ opened so vigorously that several of /ht^i' ^""^ *^''^ were disabled, numbers of t^nLt t^^^^^^^^ T'^"'^ ammunition waggons blown un ^ On /S 1^ ' J""^ ^°°^« English, now in nerfect «L^F: ^^J^^ ""^^'^^ *^^^<^ t^^e alttugUhe tons of fhp L ^''' '^''^ ^«*^ ^^^^^ at all, by theTtom oCnnon balk ZwT^ °^ ^ ^" ^^^^^^^ Although thi S^^^u^S"" ^^^^^ «wept through them. -on ^.^ _,gi,^„ ^^ ^^ producing considerable 1 1 % ' - 1 ,'ll m 296 KBPULSE OP THE CAVALRY. loss among the enemy, this was as nothing in compari- son to his enormous numbers, and at eleven o'clock Clive summoned his principal officers around him, and it was agreed that as Meer Jaffier and his associates, of whose position in the field they were ignorant, showed no signs of drawing ofi" or of treachery to their master, it was impossible to risk an attack upon the front, since they would, as they pressed forward, be enveloped by the forces in the rear. It was determined, therefore, that unless any unexpected circumstance occurred they should hold their present position till nightfall, and should at midnight attack the enemy's camp. A quarter of an hour later a tremendous tropical shower commenced, and for an hour the rain came down in torrents. Gradually the enemy's fire slackened. The English had tarpaulins to cover their ammunition, which, therefore, suffered no injury. The natives had no such coverings, and their powder was soon completely wetted by the deluge of rain. Mir Mudin Khan, knowing that hi'j own guns Lad been rendered useless, believed that those of the English were in a similiar condition, and leading out his cavalry made a splendid charge down upon the grove. The English were in readinesa As the cavalry swept up a flash of fire ran from a thousand muskets from the top of the embankments, while each of the field-guns sent its load of grape-shot through the embrasures into the throng of horsemen. The effect was decisive. The cavalry recoiled before the terrible fire, and rode back with their brave leader mortally wounded. This blow was fatal to the fortunes of Suraj-u-Dowlah. When the news of the death of his brave and faitht'u! general reached him he was struck with terror. He had long suspected Meer Jaffier of treachery, but he had now no one else to rely upon. Sending for that general he reminded him in touching terms of the bench ts° which he iiad rAnnivAd af iha hanAa nf Viio f^lU^-^ ^ 1 -• J ~ — ...„.-.,,• v-1 ij^o 4awici, aii.u. iHJiijurvQ SURROUNDED BY TRAITORS. 297 turba?" ' ^''^' '^^^^^' y°" "^"^^ defend that . Jaffier responded with assurances of his lovaltv «n^ l™&ri?'^°"^^1 ^^'^^f-d hisToverei^^i fh\t to Olivp^n? "^ u? ^^.^* «^°« despatched a messenger of affairs in the handsTf thi ihll ^^\ management course was now pla^n ^''' conspirators, and their Ihe traitor gave him counsel that led to his destrSct?on ^^^^^^^^^-V^!^ The *.r Muiin KW. also obeyed o7ders 'aiSlelf^rSt! / luh I m 398 THB ADVANOB OP THE BRITISH. Frais, however, refused to obey. He saw the ruin which would foUow upon the retreat, and he pluckily continued his fire. Give, after the council had decided that nothing should be done till nightfall, had lain down in the hunting-box to snatch a little repose, his thoughts having kept him awake all night Major Kilpatrick, seemg the retirement ot the enemy, and that the French artillerymen remained unsupported on the mound, at once advanced with two hundred and fifty Europeans and two guns against it sendmg word to Clive what he was doing. Clive, angry that any officer should have taken so important a step without consultmg him, at once ran after the detachment and severely reprimanded Major Kilpatrick for moving from the grove without orders. Immediately, however that he comprehended the whole position he recognized the wisdom of the course Kilpatrick had taken, and sent him back to the grove to order the whole force to advance. St. Frais, seeing that he was entirely unsupported, fired a last shot, and then limbering up fell back in perfect order to the redoubt at the comer of the intrenchment where he again posted his field-pieces in readiness for action. Looking round the field CUve saw that two of the divisions which formed the arc of the circle were march- ing back towards the intrenchments, but that the third that on the left of their line, had wheeled round and waa marching towards the rear of the grove Not having received the letter which Meer Jaffier had written to him, he supposed that this movement indicated an intention to attack his baggage, and he therefore detached some European troops with a field-gun to check the advance. Upon the gun opening fire the enemy's division halted It ceased its advance but continued apart from the rest of the enemy. In the meantime Clive had arrived upon the mound which St. Frais had l«ft anrl ^io,>f *MrxA irxLic CAPTURE OF THE NABOB'S CAMP. 299 The Indiajaoldiers and inferior officers, knowing nothim? ot the treachery of their chiefs, were ii^dieW^at S hus cannonaded in their intrenchmente b^? foe so^^ fenor m strength, and horse, foot, and arfilL^poured Thf hJir *^' i^*^«°5=h.«^«^t« and attacked I7e Sh The battle now raged m earnest Clive posted half his infantry .nd artillery on the mound of the tank nearest to the enemy's iitrenchments.^dthf Later fhe le/tin-/'t-r r",^ ^!;^^^ *^« hundred yfrds to the left of It, while he placed a hundred and sixty nicked shots, Europeans and natives, behind thTtank dose to the intrenchments, with orders to keep up a contSous musketry fire upon the enemy as they ^sallied ou? The enemy fought bravely. St. Frais worked his ouns unflinchingly at the redoubt, the infalt^ luref S rtKto%lflfV-\^ eavaliy made despTrafeTaV- rignt up to the British lines. But they had no leader and were fighting against men well comLnded Ld con'' fident m themselves. Clive observed that the divSioSon the enemy's extreme left remained inactive and detached from the army, and it for the first time struck h^ that sa tHf hf,1;^'^"^ "^ ^T ^^^''' ^^li^^^d for the ^Ir^. .1?"'^^*^^*^^' ^^^ f^o^ the attack which had c±1b * Vlf- ^'V'^ ^' T'' ^« ^* «^«« determTned to carry the hill in advance of St. Frais's battery, and the redoubt occupied by the French leader. StroS co^umn^ were sent against each positioa The hill wf s aiS without opposition, and then so heavy and TearcH^^ a &oTirbA''-*^i"*"°°^^ '^^ that tS^Tei; hSf l¥l ^°^"', "^^^.'^ confusion. St. Frais finding hunself isolated and alone in the redoubt, as he had beforf been on the mound, was forced to retire. Nabob I? V^'^^ *^' t^^^^ ™ ^^^^' «^^ *^« camp of the Jiabob of Bengal in the possession of th« En.>i;o^ tu! i^mish loss was trifling.- Seven European "5ir8ixt;;n 300 THE RESULT OF THE BATTLB. W' native soldiers were killed, thirteen Europeans and thirty- SIX natives wounded. It was one of the decisive battles of the world, for the fate of India hung in the balance. Had Chve been defeated and his force annihilated, as it must have been if beaten, the English would have been swept out of Bengal The loss of that presidency would have had a decided effect on the struggle in Madras where the British were with the greatest difficulty main-' taming themselvesagainst the French. Henceforth Bengal the richest province in India, belonged to the English' for although for a time they were content to reco^ize Meer Jather and his successors as its nominal rulers these were but puppets in their hands, and they were virtual masters of the province. After the battle Meer Jaffier arrived. Conscious of his own double-dealing he by no means felt sure of the reception he should meet with. It suited Clive, however to Ignore the doubtful part he had played, and he was' saluted as Nabob of Bengal. It woW have beenTS ^tter for him had he remained one of the great chiefs of Bengal. The enormous debt with which Clive and his colleagues had saddled him crushed him. The sum was so va^t that It was only by imposing the most onerous taxation upon his people that he was enabled to pay it and the discontent excited proved his destruction ' Omichund had no greater reason for satisfaction at the part which he had played in the ruin of hif country! The fact that he had been deceived by the forced treaty was abruptly and brutally communicated to hiin, and thi blow broke his heart. He shortly afterwards became m^ne and died before eighteen months were over Suraj-u-Dowlah fled to Moorshedabad, where the rem- nants of his army followed him. At first the nabob endeavoured to secure their fidelity by issuing a con- siderable amount of pay. Then, overpowered byliis fears of treachery, he sent off the ladies of the zenana and al his treasures on elephants, and a f«w hn„r« oVf. .j„ . THF MURDER OF A TYRANT. j^l A boat had been prenaLd »n51•'*'^*'*•**?^<^^g"««• wharf of the palaJ Cn^ '^ 'i* readiness at the stream the h^^^h^^t?!^,^^ "'«•>* »g«i«^t the on the night of the fo,Si S^*''i",?^'y """^ distant, Here the rowera were .^ W, f*? following his flight, that it was imTosS t^ ^^"'^f^'Pby their exertfons refuge in a deStt^'XtS^:'"^'' '»" ^''^^ ^"""^ fakir.' wteL^S'^f' ^'"'T'- '^«y '''^ »<«» by a thirteen To^thrp rev ouT^/Z! '"' '""' ■="'»« the nabob even in his dS. * ^ ""*"■ recognizing Meer Jaffier's brother Sh-nl""'!? ^°^ *">« """^ tS town. ThelatterTmmedirtelv^^?F'°'^*"/r'^« ™ the who captured the Sbw&diEf'^'''^'"'''*'"^'-^- placed in the boat «n/l.i, 1 ."'ty- He was again where he wm led ?nW^ ^° '""'' *° MoorehedaLi wretched ™lg m^ Lfe'^f"* »* ***'' •f"®'^'- The successor. ttS whoTwed stetloT''^''* '"l' triumphant to his grandfather^ni^^^ ^ "P" *"'' ™"k and wealth himtoihe Ength ° '"^ nevertheless betrayed irrSlTe'S'rti^/^m ''"' "^S:®". «><" "^^ -- His son. howeveJXrvt ™uthT.^%*r" P"'«»<'- as the deposed nabnh il'-it/? Jf ?f.«hout the same age merc^, as'^Met'^^''-,'^^^^^ fel'^r f "^ V ''•°'' Suraj-u-Dowlah remained altel^d ifi ^/t,"' '""^ » assigned the captive tnll i, '• , ''" **ther at last the'lesult woSd b™ In the „■"?? 'J""'^'"?. "^" ^hat mnrdered. His man,r7o5 °'^''* Suraj-u-Bowlah was placed on an^elephalt « J"""'™ 7'"^ '" the morning populace aJsS^ ""^ "P™''^ ^ the gaze of thf jJienated hrpe^plet^oVZr^/jJj^'.J?-"'.' ."^^ "-^ i«weaul chiefs. The war "wlT,i're"'SerUk * if i| I m 302 A BLACK BUSINESS. against the English, although at the moment unprovoked, must still be regarded as a patriotic one, and had he not soiled his victory by the massacre of the prisoners, which he first permitted and then approved, the English would have had no judt cause of complaint against him. From the day of the arrival of Clive at Calcutta he was doomed. It is certain that the nabob would not have remained faithful to his engagements when the danger which wruncr the concessions from him had passed. Nevertheless the whole of the circumstances which followed the signature of the treaty, the manner in which the unhappy youth was alternately cajoled and bullied to his ruin, the loatli- some treachery in which those around him engaged with the connivance of the English, and lastly the murder in cold blood, which Meer Jaffier, our creature, was allowed to perpetrate, rendered the whole transaction one of the blackest in the annals of English history. CHAPTER XXIV. MOUNTED INFANTRY. WaX^'*" ^'"^'^ ^^^-^^ Clive sent " Marryat » he said, "I must send you back governor the^^a^^Ln" wSL"?o *° ^^''^ ^^ which has come up the LTl^ •*'' ""® ^^ «^«^ ship with the bulk of the fnrnf «' '^^°^ °^® *^ move dowS settled here, ^at is out n1 r"" ^ ^5^^^« »^« * Ii*«e innumerable matters foT . *^® question. There are be sustained The Fre^^^^^ ^««' J^^-«r must entirely out of BeLfl Th. n Tu^"^ °^"«* ^« ^"ven Altogether I haveTeed of «?"*'^ "'"'* ^" ^^^^^ ^^^h. and ^of every mal unlf mTo^de'^^T* f T^ *^^«' years. However, I shall ^t^Lnl -' ^'''*^** ^^^'^* *^o array, and so re ea^e the sZ '^i^^A^e^gal native be any speciaUnd sore neeH^' ,f .^f '^ ^^ *here myself here of troons to snln Z^'f °°"^«®' <^®»^"de it will not come K,.f t ?J ^*^^««5 but I hope that you shSna^e tck two ^TK W'^ Europeans. Lawrence will be Td L ^ ^® ^^'^'"^ your chances of %htinffTr« ^Jl ,i!^ ^.^^ y°"' ^^d be here Bpn^n.! 1 «^ peater there than they will tbe fo^e I nfw havJ'uTs 1',^ ?° ^-^^^^ ^ ^^^^i" rise; whereaa batt?rVnV • "^'^^^^ "^ *^« ^^t^eme to kh« r. — IiTL r^r^ 5?_^ sieges, great and «mnii .^ — -»^*"iCM ^-uiiuiiion of Madras." "~ — "" "*^ V;- 304 BACK AT MADRAS. ,1 i >V The next day Charlie, with two hundred European troops, marched down towards Calcutta. Clive had told him to select any officer he pleased to accompany him as second in command, and he chose Peters, who, seeing that there were likely to be far more exciting times in Madras than in Bengal at present, was very glad to ac- company him. Three days after reaching Calcutta Charlie and his party embarked on board a ship, which conveyed them without adventure to Madras. The authorities were glad indeed of the reinforcement, for the country was disturbed from end to end. Since the departure of every available man for Calcutta the Com- pany had been able to afford but little aid to Muhammud Ali, and the authority of the latter had dwindled to a mere shadow in the Carnatic. The Marattas made in- cursions in all directions. The minor chiefs revolted and refused to pay tribute, and many of them entered into alliance with the French. Disorder everywhere reigned in the Carnatic, and Trichinopoli was again the one place which Muhammud Ali held. The evening after landing Charlie Marryat had a long chat with Colonel Lawrence, who, after explaining to him exactly the condition of affairs in the country, asked him to tell him frankly what command he would like to re- ceive. " I have thought for some time," Charlie said, "that the establishment of a small force of really efficient cavalry, trained to act as infantry also, would be invaluable. The Maratta horsemen, by their rapid movements, set our in- fantry in defiance, and the native horse of our allies are useless against them. I am convinced that two hundred horsemen, trained and drilled like our cavalry at home, would ride through any number of them. In a country like this, where every petty rajah has his castle, cavalry alone could, however, do little. They must be able to act as infantry, and should have a couple of little four- pounders to take about with them. A force like this i European ive had told )any him as who, seeing ag times in glad to ac- ig Calcutta ship, which dras. The cement, for Since the » the Com- Muhammud indled to a IS made in- evolted and intered into lere reigned le one place . had a long ning to him ', asked him I like to re- d, "that the Bnt cavalry, uable. The , set our in- ir allies are wo hundred y at home, n a country itle, cavalry be able to little four- 5e like this would do more to keen nrA - . composed of infantry Xn« J/" ^" ^*"^*«c than one could act as a police fm^! u"" ^'"^^^ ^^ strength j! refuse to pay the'frZr:^^^^^ petty chieTwho disturbed places, and permit th?''""' ''^^^^^^ order in their agricultural work n,^n l^- P^^^^ to carry on Company depends, a^d ICJh ^^! ^«venue o/the vices. Among the soWiers |h>/ "'"^'^ ^*^"»We ser! a sergeant who was afc on? y "^^^ ^^^n with me I vice. 1 would make him r^r,•Tl • i *"® Company's ser- him a commission ^ ensT^n p"f ^''^'t^^^' '^ 7on Jn '^1 "d "g^e ^^:m1Sr,Tf P'^^0 «' the ide. work of enlistment »f """"'"'y to carry it out tj. ' native bazaars, and by tellinf S V " ,''.*''t into the «t Amburand SuwarndX fn?i,*,j.*''P'°'ts of CharUe Pects of the plunder whief'^i ^^8 ""t bright"^* to obtain, he succeeded talSitiL*"^ '?•"» POrty he had wr-S"""" ■" '""- "■'- J'l! iian -"^wu w take this bought do^a He £^ 306 DRILL AND DISOIFLINB. no difficulty in obtaining volunteers, for as soon as the nature of the force was known the men were eager to engage in it To this troop the two little field-pieces would be committed. A few days after the scheme had been sanctioned Ensign Anstey was at wwk drilling the recruits as cav- airy. Charlie and Peters were instructed by him also in the drill and words of command, and were soon able to assist Two mon'ihs were spent in severe work, and at the end of that time the little regiment were able to execute all simple cavalry mancEUvres with steadiness and regularity. The natives were all men who had lived on horseback from their youth, and therefore re- quired no teaching to ride. They were also, at the end of that time, able to act as infantry with as much regu- larity as the ordinary Sepoys. When so engaged four horses were held by one man, so that a hundred and fifty men were available for fighting on foot The work had been unusually severe, but as the officers did not spare themselves, and Charlie had promised a present to each man of the troop when fit for service, they had worked with alacrity, and had taken great interest in learning their new duties. At the end of two months they were inspected by Colonel Lawrence and Governor Pigot, and both expressed their highest gratification m\ surprise at their efficiency, and anticipated great benefits would arise from the organization. So urgent, indeed, was the necessity that something should be done for the restoration of order, that Charlie had with difficulty obtained the two months necessaiy to attain the degree of perfection which he deemed neces- sary. The day after the inspection the troop marched out from Madras. Ensign Anstey commanded the white troop, the other three were led by native officers. Cap- tain Peters commanded the squadron composed of the white troop and one of the others. A Lieutenant Hal- ~ kn.ftw to be a hard-workincr and 1 „ ^ IxOux J. vv\jM.a V.ms\f T. *»^^ allr soon as the rere eager to e field-pieces n sanctioned sruits as cav- by him also ^re soon able re work, and were able to bh steadiness len who had therefore re- 10, at the end 3 much regu- engaged four hundred and b. The work icers did not led a present ice, they had it interest in ' two months md Governor .tification and great benefits at something , that Charlie 3 necessaiy to ieemed neces- roop marched ded the white )fficers. Cap- iposed of the mtenant Hal- workincf and THR FIRST SKIRMISn. j^y manded the whole '' '^"'^'"°- ^e himself com' Arcot';!:;:,^ IzZiX^v""^ '"^p^-« *^ -ve to The .hole of the c unt^ afoun7w '^ ^^\^^^^d AH? Frencii intrigues and th/sLhrnf 7lf' !• '^* -^^ ^'«^"rbed. of the Euglfsh had caused lost of fl^''"i"^«^^^ P«^«r that neighbourhood to hrow off 1w' T^^ ^^^^ft in body of Maratta horse were rLl 1'' ^"«a»«nce. A and it was against there ?hirpr?-*^^^"''*'"ydistrict8, first place to^act. He had LS^'^'*' determined in tho own way in the cIotfiL an^^^^^^ have his man carried a musket^^which Sf ^^ ^u ^'''''- ^ach SIX inches, and hung in sKfrnm.r^'' shortened some restmg in a piece of leatW JS "^ '? ^' *^^ °^"^^^« The ammunition pouch wL^"*"^ *^^°^^d « bucket, of the saddle, and^coSti T f^Z^ ^'^ *^" ^^^^^ «ide two straps to the beZ which th^f"^ "" "^ ^^«**^* ^Y their waiste. The men were dl *'^°V^^ wore round cotton cloth, called Ske? RounTl"^ fe°^' ^^^^ caps was wound a lonffWh nf ?? *^^'^ ^^^^'^ ^^^age cloth, forming a turbal wXf i? ^^^^ ^ ^ ^^^^^ cotton protect the bfck orthe neef a^d?r?^^^ ^"^^'l^ ^^^'^ *o Having obtained news th^ *K^^ ""^ *^' '"°- thousand strong, were nX!?. ^^ ?f*^**** ^^^^^. two from the tow|' SK"sft f/f ? ^1'*"°°,^ ^^ ^ arrival to meet them The jSL,^ ^^^J^^^^^^^S his commg; but hearing that fh!^ ^ ^^^ ^°^^ce of his two hundred hors« fij^ *^® ^^^^^^ consisted only of When Charit S'c^t/Zft^ 1^^*^ ^^^v' open country, and sTeTnl ?W Ju""' ^^^^ ^e''^ ^ the attack him, he drew up hi itt f '^ -^^"^ P^^Pa^ed to !econd n^, ^e ordered to d^mouT^^^^ ^T ^^''' The ^8 two guns were Wp^ i-?i? °* *** ^^* ^ infantry the first Bne wer^c^awn «T J.^T'-^^ *^^ ^^e^^f """ - -«n.ryman to pass-between~;^Vorrr "^ til 808 DirSAT Of THB MARATTAA rrr-". ir With shouts A anticipated triumph the Maratta horse swept down. The front line of English horsemen had screened the movements of those behind, and when the enemy were within fifty yards, Charlie gave the word. The troopers already sat musket in hand, and between each horse an infantry soldier now stepped forward, while towards each end the line opened and tne two field-pieces were advanced. The Maratta horse aien were astonished ut this sudden manoeuvre, but, pressed by the mass from Ijehind, they still continued their charge. When but fifteen yards from the English line, a stream of fire ran along tnis from end to end, every musket was emptied into the advancing force, while the guns on either flank swept them with grape. The effect was tremendous. Scarcely a man of the front line survived the fire, and the whole mass halted and recoiled in confusion. Before they could recover themselves another volley of shot and grape was fired into them. Then Charlie's infantry ran back, and the cavalry, closing up, dashed upon the foe, followed half a minute afterwards by the lately dis- mounted men of the other two troops, ten white soldiers alone remaining to work and guard the guns. The effect of the charge of these two hundred disciplined horse upon the already disorganized mob of Maratta horsemen was irresistible, and in a few minutes the Marattas were scattered and in full flight over the plain, pursued by the British cavalry, now broken up into eight half troops. The rout was complete, and in a very short time the last Maratta had fled, leaving behind them three hundred dead upon the plain. Greatly gratified with their success, and feeling confident row in their own powers, the British force returned to Arcot. Charlie now determined to attack the fort of Vellore, which was regarded as impregnable. The town lay at the foot of some very steep and rugged hills, which wevQ surmounted by three detached forts. The rajah, encour- aged by the French, had renounced his allegiance to Maratta horse horsemen had and when the ave the word. , and between forward, while wo field-pieces ere astonished the mass from I. When but am of fire ran b was emptied n either flank 8 tremendous. I the fire, and asion. Before ey of shot and s infantry ran upon the foe, he lately dis- white soldiers tis. The effect ciplined horse atta horsemen Marattas were )ursued by the it half troops. t time the last ! hundred dead lir success, and rs, the British ort of Vellore, e town lay at Is, which were rajah, encour- allegiauce to THE FORTS OP VKLLORB. ggg Muhammud Ali. and had declared hirv, i* • ^ As nowever. it was certain fwt ""'^^^ ^dependent. a^si.tance to the French when 1 \'^^ Preparecfto give the English, Charned^7^^J^^^ ^^l'^ aginst French had received lama rl,w "*°^ *^® P^ace. The captured many fortsTd l^^^«°»f ^ ^^ had already chernr. They^werf holt °°^ P^'^"^ ^^^"'^d Pond? Btill farger foU.TiownTb; Tth^ '\T''-' ^' tTet^glllr- -'' - *W^:^erfi^K^ the English force. Crri^e^il.^ ^^T""^ ^ '"^^t came on, and retired "r"®*"®., deigned a retreat as thev tant. The cava ^'^tsued^^^^^^^^ °^"e« dS^ fantiy behind. ^pC reachLl i'^ ^'^^^^^ ^^e in- once dismounted aHis Sienint^%^^^^^^^ ^^^'^'^ ** received the enemy's c^vaTry '2 ttv %r^"f"^^^' ^^^ so heavy a fire that tW ^spred^?^^*"^^'? "?' ^^*h trymg for some time to iIrc?th^lLr^\^^'^- ^^^^^ fall back, and the Enghsh fonvf ^ • *'^'' ^^^y ^^^^n to upon them and coSted fW ^J"'? "'^^'^^^d' ^^^ed horsemen, as they r^Sross f h. 1 ^'^'^*' ^^^ broken advancing, and th^e Sf ^ P\^'°' "^^^ ^^^^ir infantry cavalry, fell back in 1^'!^^^^^^^ at the defeat of thi own, which was w^out fo^^fi ' ^ abandoning the the forts commandingit ct?H^^^^^ "t^'''^ ^^^'^^^ the town, and spent the nl^f it f ^''?^ Possession of the forts. The lar^sTr^ ^^"^ ^^^^ '"^ reconnoitring right of the town Ttta'lin^sf '' '"^^t^-^^ tS? on an even steeper hill wL^ni^/^'^'^^' The second. ;hich lay som^ distance bSd ?i?r°^A ^^^ ^^^'^ smaller, was called Mortz A^nlnu'v ^^*^ ^«« °»"ch attempt in the first p'Sje tllrr^a"^'^ determined to which wa« considered the mosffn^'^'.^T' ^ ^° ^^^'' Jiniself had taken up his nS^ttn r^'''^^"'. *^« '^J^h his trAfij=M^« /^i ..t^ '"^ position, havinor wifK i.;~ =11 - =. .„»„ie »aw that it would ?a neit'to"^. I Si \ 810 A DARINO EXPLOIT. pocsible with so small a force to cany it by a direct attack by the road which led to it, as this was com- pletely covered by its guns. It appeared to him, however, that the rocks upon which it stood were by no means inaccessibla He left twenty men to guard his guns, placed a guard of ten upon the road leading up to the fort, to prevent the inhabitants from sending up news of his intentions to the garrison, who had, with that of Suzarow, kept up a fire from their guns upon the town since his arrival there. The moon was not to rise until eleven o'clock, and at nine Charlie- marched with a hundred and seventy men from the town. Making a considerable detour, he found himself, at half -past ten, at the foot of the rocks, rising almost sheer from the upper part of the hill. He was well provided with ropes and ladders. The most perfect silence had been enjoined upon the men, and m the darkness the march had been unseen by the enemy. While waiting for the moon to rise the troopers all wound pieces of cloth, with which they had come pro- vided, round their boots to prevent these from making a noise by slipping or stumbling on the rocks. When the moon rose the ascent of the rocks began at the point which Charlie had, after a close inspection through a telescope, judged to be most accessible. The toil was very severe. One by one the men climbed from ledge to ledge, some of the most active hill men from northern India leading the way, and aiding their comrades to follow them by lowering ropes, and placing ladders at the most inacces- sible spots. All this time they were completely hidden from the observation of the garrison above. At last the leadera of the party stood at the foot of the walls, which rose a few feet from the edge of the cliff. The operation had been performed almost noiselessly. The ammunition pouches had been left behind, each mao carrying ten rounds in his belt. Every piece of metal I by a direct his was com- him, however, by no means laced a guard rt, to prevent lis intentions irow, kept up ;e his arrival leven o'clock, I and seventy )le detour, he of the rocks, the hill. He 3. The most men, and in y the enemy. troopers all id come pro- om making a ). When the e point which 1 a telescope, very severe. ) ledge, some [ndia leading ow them by Qost inacces- ietely hidden le foot of the > of the cliff. b' noiselessly. id, each man ece of metal "Ois, the very THB CAPTURE OF A HILL TORT. JH in thick cov«fe« Th, JT '*!v''*'' ^'^ »™thed up ridge, ^relT^f^ I^i^7oo't'P7u S"""?," *>" «PP» who e &dv had ,5itw!5 *C "L*''® "*"» '»>«1 the voices of X etnt&l,, /'!• ^'^ '»''" >««' the having no ide^ of Z S,v „f ''"''' "'™- '^»' *•>»«. over the edge of the wSl L^ ^3 T^^' "^'"^ "o* look Indian fortiica?^^ weT^^^a^'so 1'^%^.^?!^'' "^ *•"« from projecting towera tW T?r* . f .J^*"*' '* ^°« only seea When tt,e Si!^ f ^°°' °* '•"« ^«" «ouId bi dera, which like e3h-„?ZT^ •^^emUed. the lad- Placed agaiiast thT^W ieald bv T^'V*"' the troops ascended Tl,« .!!l, • ^ *"®"' officers, until the leaSlf • the IT""'* ""^ complete. Not 1-apet wasted pretnctrX^r^nr' ''T ^"^ charged their firelocks and /ed hitlly ' ^''"^ <"■"- ChtliXkVe'ctLndVr "41^" 0° '•■» -«'• X"tL%^£dS7"--""^^^^^^^^^^ ^trntflt^^53«S?^?- reserve to he n^a^ oo ^-^ x °^ *^® remamder in resista^'c'e hret'^rs'l^^^^^^ ^r^^- The surprise the enemy rushed off ^t^'° absolutely by Th^y were immSely ted unn^^^^^^ P^^«^« greater part ran S fnTo K from the walls. The more determinedffXerW f n^lvf ''' "^^'l^ «°°^« «^ *1^« But of this Srlo W !i *°!f ^^«^' «iade for the gate received Tern S«ntf ^^"^^^yj^ken possession, and Ills possession. Charlie f^nt o I j ^ . ,™^ ^«« in descended into the foA. F«.t ^m^""^ °^ ^^ '"^'^ ^^ was searched, and thetrl3^iS^^ "? ^^^^°^^^ i* out and lay down thef^^f i contamed made to come t\ar..u. xi-_^ _ V ., *"eir arms, and were then aIIow-^ a^ -^.-.v ^^ugo ^« g,^ up^^ reaching" the^'rifah^ 313 THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK. i quarters he at once came out and surrendered himselt Two guns were discharged to inform the little body in the town of the complete success of the movement; and the guard on the road then fell back and joined the party with the guns. Thus, without losing a man, the fort of Guzarow, re- farded by the natives aa being impregnable, was carried, 'ifteen lacs of rupees were found in the treasury. Of these, in accordance with the rules of the service, half was set aside for the Company, the remainder became the property of the force. Of this half fell to the officers, in proportion to their rank, and the rest was divided among the men. The share of each trooper amounted to nearly two hundred pounds. Knowing how demoral- izing the possession of such a sum would be, Charlie assembled his force next morning. He pointed out to them that as the greater part of the plunder was in silver, it would be impossible for them to carry it on their persons. He advised them, then, to allow the whole sum to remain in the treasury, to be forwarded under an escort to Madras, each soldier to receive an order for the amount of his share upon the treasury there. This was agreed to unanimously, and Charlie then turned his atten- tion to the other forts. The guns of Guzarow were turned against these, and a bombardment commenced. Suzarow, which extended partly down the slope, was much exposed to the fire from Guzarow, and, although no damage could be done to the walls at so great a distance, the garrison, suffering from the fire, and intimidated by the fall of Guzarow, lost heart. Large numbers deserted, and the governor, in the course of two days, thought it prudent to obey the ordcra which the rajah had, upon being made captive, sent to him to surrender. The next day the governor of Mortz Azur followed his example, and Vellore and its three strong forts were thus in the possession of the English. At Vellore Charlie nearly lost one nf his faithful fol- red himself, ttle body in rement; and Bd the party Juzarow, re- was carried, easury. Of service, half ider became > the oflBcers, «^as divided r amounted )w deraoral- be, Charlie ated out to der was in carry it on IV the whole jd under an 'der for the This was d his atten- these, and h extended le fire from ione to the fering from zarow, lost rnor, in the ■ the orders ve, sent to >r of Mortz i its three English. lithful fol- -* »f "" H^C' 'AZ'rJ went U> hi. He did death.- '^ ^« ^--Muite rigid ^Ii3''^"^i2e'"a^ carrie^lthreetS"""'^ t ">« next "oom H. h'"? and had thp;:: the^e^rZ i'T '"^-^-fdit' the warning S-s*h." '"''^ "P ^^ «g»in gave vent to i>o All..'''^ -'*«'. T-' mat is the matte, my '-'harlie drew Wt'* 5s'"- J'"« I""''*"! TiS'"t *^5 ~"^'^'«<' with afraid We wilf try to kill M * ^"^' "a"'» f"«« to were two hundred French w^^'^^'^'^^^g whom attacked. He therefore ^Jm-T'.^'I*^ too stronl to S attacked and captured contJf™"''?' '''"''''^ '■> their rear people from brfng^' ^^"^J^^^^^^ prevented the coJt^' besiegmginfantr^a/vMce^'alSK-^Tfi *™«» tK raided the siege andllfl^k T« ''*°* "^ P^^^^^io^s! fcjf Charlie entered The for^' ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ bm with the greatest warmth H« J'^ V^^*^ '^^^^^ed d^stre^ed at tSe capture S^l hill tS^'v'"''"^"^' °^"** from Permacoil. In thi« L\ 1 . ^ ** some distance treasure thinking tharitwouM t^^^ ^^ ^i^«« ^d french howeverf had iusrS ^® ?!?°^olested. The t*?f^«? • strong fore; itl ..^5f i.i^^'^s. arrival <^Tvu.w tiie pi^ ^^^ force" wiricri;:'/"'' *^^'^ ^^^ 3,J^ wincii had accomplished J '■ 316 THE ATTACK ON A PAGODA. this had, he now heard, marched to Trinavody, a fort and town thirty miles away, upon the road by which the force which had besieged the town was retiring. The treasure was a considerable one, amounting to seven lacs of rupees, and as the rajah stated his willingness that the troops should take possession of this if they could but rescue his women, Charlie at once determined to attempt the feat. The main body of the enemy would not reach the place until the afternoon of the following day. Charlie soon collected his men, and making a detour through the country arrived next morning within a mile of Trinavody. The town was ai small ^ne, and the fort one of the ordinary native forts, built in a parallelogram with flanking towers. The place, however, contained a very large and solidly built pagoda or temple. It was sur- rounded by a wall forty feet high, and at the gateway stood an immense tower with terraces rising one above the other. Capturing a native, Charlie learnt that the fort was tenanted only by the troops of the native rajah of the place, the French detachment being encamped in the pagoda. He at once rode forward with his troops, dashed through the native tolvn, and in through the wide gateway of the tower into the court-yard within. Beyond two or three straggling shots from the sentries he had so far encountered no opposition, and the native troops in the court-yard, thrown into wild confusion by this sudden appearance of a hostile force, threw down their arms and cried for mercy. From the temple within, however, the French infantry, a hundred strong, opened a brisk fire. Charlie sent some of his men on to the tower, whence their fire commanded the flat roof of the temple, and these speedily drove the defenders from that post. The field-pieces were unlimbered and directed towards the gate of the inner temple, while a musketry fire was kont up against every window and loophole in the building. Tne gate gave way after a few shots had been fired, and I y, a fort and r which the tiring. The to seven lacs Less that the f could but to attempt Id not reach iay. Charlie through the I Trinavody. one of the ogram with ined a very It was sur- -he gateway g one above •nt that the native rajah mcamped in I his troops, igh the wide lin. Beyond .ries he had ve troops in • this sudden jir arms and lowever, the brisk fire. wer, whence temple, and post. The towards the re was kont he building. jn fired, and ich defended CHARLIE SURPRISED BY THE FRENCH AT TRINAVODY. JBS iSSAIUNTS BJSIIOH). - jjj we'rHri^n^^^'y- ^»* «'»y were outnumbered, and vor. laid doTO thefr „° '~S.*° /»'>'», ""i'il 'he survi- co^ the British ,03^ ^-^^-^^The—. however, had to be brought down an7pW & "v'^"^'' *>•« '*^'^ «f he was about to order hia ^.„ ^"^ ™»gg»™' Just through the temple iS^ *„%°' "■■? "«■•« scattered from ?he tower, and iSflitV""™ "?• >>! Jeard a shout gesticulating wildly Re^"? '^^ T °* ^^ ""^n there reaching thf first ferrace saTj?- """ *°y^'- «"<» »" the force which heTL^d t^ ^ fi« 'P"'".,"'* "•>»!« already entering the to™ Th° f *f*^'^° ™'es distant mand, knowing W^Xandda,w'?-°®'*'" '" «'«'■ feanng that an°attemptShTto r^llJ"' °PPr.«°'. »nd and recapture the raii),', ifl ? , *"''*^Trinavody When wfthin alikime :S.''t'' '^"l'^ "» '^'d pened, and at once p^lhed^Z^' ^'^ ^'>"' '"«' ""V juSri'ioXe X »t^ar r ,T -' »« -" hurry out with aU the men alrl!5t '^"."u"^ *» ^«<*'-^ *« occupy the houses ouSide the^^^ >» the court-yard, to advancing enemv S,™ '"e gate, and to keep back the tower, foi Z7„^ftr?"'g ™»ther pafty to th* and these opTed "C h^ &f Tf "' "^^ '"^d^ «f they entered the stoeet linfn .'''^"'"'y'^ »'•"»■» short time a brisk fight btrir^i*f ""' '*?'P'»- 1° a to bear upon the tower f^^ „.„ *°T^ P'»°tod guns m the assault, the inT^try^^^°" °* *';\';°rt Jo»ed houses and inclosure? to thrtllT^"''. *■"'''"«'' ">e engaged with the men under V'^? %*?'' "'"'^ ^"o" S aud muskets fro^-tefcal^o-^-^aXt ■ •" ""'"-y*"^ '■">-> weak pointofihei'S^:;; wrth^ 818 PREPARATIONS FOR DEFBNGK, gateway. This was fifty feet wide and unprovided with sates, and Charlie at once set a strong party to work to form a barricade across it For some hours the party outside the gates maintained their position, but they were gradually driven back, and towards evening, by Charlie's orders, thoy retired within the temple. The barricade was now eight feet high, the face was formed of large slabs of stone piled one upon another backed by a considerable thickness of earthwork. This, however, although capable of resisting a sudden rush of Infantry, would, Charlie knew, be incapable of resisting artillery. During the night he divided his men in two parties, which alternately slept and worked at the inner defences which he had designed. These consisted of two walls running from each side of the gateway to the temple. They were placed a few feet farther back than the edge of the gateway, so that an enemy advancing to the storm would not see them until within the gate. These walls he intended to be eight feet high, and to be backed with earth four feet high, so as to form a bank on which the defenders could stand and fire into the space between them. To obtain materials he pulled down several buildings forming a part of the temple. The distance from the gateway to the temple was fifty yards, and although the men worked without ceasing the wall had made but little progress when daylight dawned. During the night Charlie lowered one of his men from the wall farthest from the enemy with instructions to make his way as fast as possible to Madras to ask for succour. In the morning Charlie found that the enemy had on their side been also busy. A house which faced the end of the street leading to the temple had been pulled down and a battery of four guns erected there. As soon as it was light the combat began. The enemy had sixteen pieces of artillery besides those on the fort, and while the four guns ia front played unceasingly upon the barricade CLOSKLY PRESSED. ^ across the ffatAtrnv *k^ xt whence tha^EnglStt^^^^r.'^^T^^^ *^« <«wer, m front So will wefTTh^:!?!- "P * ^'^ on the batterv «;e musketry, thatThe e«^^^^^^^^ «^ ^«*vy ^Z earth, to strengt™e % Jfc m^^^^^^^ *^'«^ "P fresh fire, and then^et to Zk to l ^^^^ ^^ *^« ^^^^^y a m a line with the b^ck of th! T * ^^'^^"^ barricade Pleted by nightf^l, by wtich'^^^^^^^^ ^M« ^'^ com! completely shattered thrstone fTL^ t^'T^' S"°« ^^d cade rendering it possibL fo?it fni;^ ""* ^^' °"*«^ ^arri- As from the windows of the hot^ T''^ "^^^ * ^«h. new work behind it th«v w ^f ^J^'°^ ^°"^d see the attempt an assauUunVthLTr^^' ^^'^'' J"^g«d, no? the night large quant tip, nf? T ^^^t^oyed. ^Durinff theoufer bPrficaTe'^Mch ^l^^^.t P"^^ "^ regularly repairefatnTgMinS^^^ '^"^ ^'^ ^ and matchlock fire which Si !^® ^^^^^ *^«"ery spot. On the fourth Iv th« .1^ 'P*n"P ^^^^^^s thi f anding just in the rX of thdr^b^.^^^ ^°^? ^ ^«"«« found tSat behind it they had er!nf«^***^'S ^""^ ^^'''^^^^ It was a solidlv hi, If ^ i i?*^? *°*^*her. and the ene4 S^st ,^^^^^^^ ?''^ ?^^* ^° height, every night ft had a stron^^S l^ continuously at it bags protecting the guS-s^fm,^ t^^ P*"f P"* ^^ ^^"^ the tower. The muzfleTof fonr^ *^® musketry fire o! embrasures which had been IfPr P/i?''*"^ ^^'^^S^ opened fire over the head^Tf Jbl ^""'^ *^*°^' '^d ^^^ese battery. """^ ''•**^ ^^ tbe gunner* in the lower In s*^'*^ *»* ■•■'- -^ ' " ""^ *°"'' »* ""« '^'ieged the enem, k,p» I ! s» lAUN IN ▲ TSLAf. op SO heavy a fire that by the afternoon the inner as well as the outer barricade was knocked to pieces. By this time, however, the inner walls were completed, and the English awaited the storm with confidence. The doorway of the temple had been closed and blocked up behind, but the doors had been shattered to pieces by the shot which had passed through the gateway, and the entrance now stood open. Inside the temple, out of the line of fire, Charlie had the two little field-pieces, each crammed to the muzzle with bullets, placed in readiness to fire. The lower floor of the tower had been pierced above the gateway, and here two huge caldrons filled with boiling lead, stripped from the roof, stood ready for action. At three in the afternoon, after a furious cannonade, the fire of the enemy's battery suddenly ceased. They had formed communications between the houses on either side of the street, and at the signal the troops poured out from these in large bodies and rushed to the assauJt. The guns from the tower, which had been awaiting the momeiit, poured showers of grape among them, but, believing that the temple now lay at their mercy, the enemy did not hesitate but rushed at the gateway. K ot a shot was fired as they entered. Scrambling over che remains of the two barricades the enemy poured with exulting shouts into the court-yard. 1lien those in front hesitated. On either hand, as far as tiie doorway of the temple, extended a massive wall eight feet high, "^roughly built certainly, but far too strong to be battered down, too steep to be scaled. They would have retreated, but they were driven forward by the mass which poured in through the gateway behind them; and seeing that their only safety was in victory they pressed forward again. Not a defender showed himself until the head of the column had reached a point two-thirds of the distance across the court-yard. Then suddenly on either side the wall was lined by the British, who at once opened a A T2RRIBLB RECEPTION. 331 tremendous fire on the mass below At ih. the guns were run into f L J^ . ^^"™® moment contents into the sl^in™ T^"^ '^^'^ walls, unable to return the fi^a I T^. "P between the with lanes torn through hem C thl .'''? "^^^ *^^™' cannon, the greater portion n^ f7 ^ discharge of the and retire. The officer n° ^ ?^ '*"^^« *« t"rn man, called upon the survvo^Tm^ ??"*'^* F^«««h- who had led the attack to fol?nw v' ^^^^ French infantry upon the guns Hpro *C "^ ^i,?' and rushed forward Europeans^ and these ' sw^J' '' ^^^^'^ ^^^ P°«*«d h's poured a Volley intof^r?'"^ •*'"* ^^^"^ ^^^ temple. charged themTithtetyotr^^^^ *^""^^ ^"^ *^«^ of IoLT5a7pt"d'tt^^^^^^^^^ -r^- Streams way had^ effectLly checkel *1^*« Y'' ^^^^" '' ' ^^l^' this molten shower th««w! ?® advance, . through ing column TwTed for Ih^^^^^^^^ "^ ^^^ ^««-"^t- and fifty of theirbest men L-^''^ ^- "^ '"^ *'''° ^"""^'^^ la^t of the column issuTonfl ^"^''^^ *^*^"^- ^^ the again angrily opened fire A« A' ?"l"*' *^« ^^^tery the enemy, findinrw !V ^^^'^^^ ^^^ anticipated. abandoned' all fSftheriderof TV'^^ 'T^ ^^^^^^^^ determiU To evaeuateThe'^nf '"^^^^^ '""'^ Charlie wasmadeupintrsm^l^icL^^^^^^^^ ^^' '."J*^'« *^««^"^« J^orses' croups. fiTd t not bepn V'lt ^^*'°"^ *^ <^h« would have defended L place t Z w' ^"iT^^ *^« his power to devise fr^I S . *^^ ^*^*' confident in The store of forage hnl '^''?, *^ "^P^^ ^'^sh assaults, their own use inTe temnirw '°"''*^^^ .^^ *^^ ^««°^y for directed Peters with t^enevm^T '"^^^^^ ^^^'^^ gate at midnight to entTr f ^ ° *^ 1^">^ °"* ^^-^n^ the Sand side, anf f ''^^i!-!r *^^ ^^arest house on the riirht tw) '^"■' '"""""• ''^'^^ communications made by the X Mi .! S22 SAFELT OUT. enemy before the assault until they came to the end of the street Lieutenant Hallowes with a similar party- was to take the left side. If they found any guar(& within the houses they were to overpower these, and, rushing straight on, to attack the battery and spike the guns. Should they find the houses deserted they were to gather in the houses nearest the battery, when Peters was to fire his pistol as a signal to Hallowes, and both parties were to attack the battery. One of the inner walls had been pulled down, and the main body of the force, having the wounded and the ladies of the rajah's zenana in their centre, were to sally out the instant the guns were taken. The plan was carried out with the greatest success. The houses on both sides of the street were found to be deserted, and as Peters fired his pistol, the party dashed at the flanks of the battery. The French gunners leaped to their feet, and, believing that they were attacked in front, discharged their cannon. The grape-shot swept along the empty street and through the gateway, and Charlie, leading one of the troops, at once dashed down the street. At their first rush Peters and Hallowes had carried the battery, cutting down the gunners. Immedi- ately behind, however, the enemy had posted a support several hundred strong, and these speedily advanced to recover the battery. Leaving their horses in charge of a small party, Charlie dismounted his men and joined Peters, and his fire quickly checked the assault. In the meantime the rest of the defenders of the temple rode down the street; and leaving a few men with the horses of Peters' and Hallowes' detachments, rode out into the open country. After driving back his assailants Charlie led his party back to their horses, mounted them, and speedily rejoined the main body. An hour later they were well on their way towards Permacoil, which they reached next day. — ■ " „ j_i;_i-x_j _x ^_--.„ • fiT ,_:_i. AUUlil Mlt LALLY AND BUSSY. ,„ treasure was divid a j troops was, with the cT^ ^^.P"!?'"" belonging to the » «t«.ng escort to Z^^'^^' *'^. »«"' &i unSe? outTr ^^'''S t <^Ptee MSzSt'r.'-''^ ''»«'*«d thai out of India. Nothmg couW hf ^^'^ ''"™ ""e Enslish for the French than ^the chott %''''\"'°'« ""fortulate innuence m India as f K^ ^ ^ ^^^* Wow to Frennh personally brave; but t 1. ^^ ^'^^ virtue, he w^ jealous. He had no canaoiJl ?^°g«^*> passionate IZ or conciliating those wf^tt*"^^^ ^^' either a W treated the natives with o^e^T t '^°^" ^'^ contact Sf much hated by them as Tv V*^"'^*' ^^<^ ^^ soon as step had been to ordS Bussv t ""T '^^^i^'^- His W th^ whole of his force ""^ ^"^^ ^'°°^ Hyderabad wHh ^oct S4"dg: ^f Thf lldTr f '^'^'^^ *-*> of per. years maintained French S^ character, had fir eiVht and had acquired f^Fmn^^^^^^^^ splendid and most vahiflW^ *^? Northern Sirkars a at \h' ^^^- slZtrnHre % *^^ ~«t aoad, the protegd of tho Fr^^ i?^' *"® '"^^r of Hvder Wii. However, he ohiv^I^ ""^ y**'^ "f thought an^' hundred and fiftv ff. "'"'*• «°d niarched wf/l, . 'oops into theS^"™K f^ ^^' hundred ta^^" '^ty to the Mar^S^-^ °^"|<'«over the char™ „fti^ - -^ed W^iur^e^lrti^^^-J'^nSii ■^ ; .If 324 INVASION OP THE NORTHBRN SIRKARS. affairs, Count de Lally had sent to replace M. Moracin, who had for years ably managed the province. He then marched with his troops to join the main army under Count de Lally. This force having taken Fort St. David had operated against Tanjore, where it had suffered a repulse. The news of this reached the Northern Sirkars soon after the departure of Bussy, and Anandraz, the most powerful chief of the country, rose in rebellion, and sent a messenger to Calcutta begging the assistance of the English to drive out the French. While the rest of the Bengal council, seeing that Bengal was at the time ithreatened with invasion from the north and menaced with troubles within, considered that it would be an act little short of madness to send troops at a time when they could be so little spared to assist a chief, who, even from his own accounts, was only able to raise three thousand irregular followers, Clive thought other- wise. He saw the great value of the Northern Sirkars, whose possession would complete the line of British ter- ritory along the sea-coast from Calcutta down to Madras. He saw, too, that a movement here would effect a diver- sion in favour of Madras. The situation there appeared very serious, and he could spare no troops which would suffice to turn the scale. But even should Madras be lost the gain of the Northern Sirkars would almost com- pensate for the disaster. Having gained the council to his views he sent Lieutenant-colonel Forde, who commanded the Company's troops in Bengal, with five hundred Euro- peans, two thousand natives, and six six-pounders by sea to Vizagapatam, a port which Anandraz had seized. These landed on the 20th of October, 1758. Had Conflans been an efficient officer he could have crushed Anandraz long before the arrival of the English. He had under his orders a force composed of five hundred European troops, men trained by Bussy and acciLstomed to victory, four thousand native troops, and a brigade of Mllav^ TnafAftH nf mftrfthincf at once to crush the Wl. VXAAVJL J t CHARLIB JOINS THE EXPEDITION. 335 Jally that he had directed M.-^ "^^-^^ ^^ ^^^^d from European troops to suTpoH MmTatT ^^^^^.^--dred Anaxidraz. His opportunitv h^i h ^^ "'*'7^^ ^^^^0-^* his hands. He hTtWnawi "^""'"^""n'^^PP^^ ^^'o™ upon the march the newsTeacS^ M^ weeks and when the English, he took ud th! v. ^'^ °^ *^® ^^^ding of sight of the fort PeddZr .n?^/^^^^^ ^""'^^^ witliin ^ Clive had sent to Sr^ '?^''' '^ ^r ^^^ *^^^« despatching Colonel FonLr ^ Q- 7' *^** ^^ ^^^ that aiy body of troops who .'i-^M tS"?^"^?' x^^ ^^g^^^ forwarded. Charlie's coTps ^H «l T'^?^^^ ^^^^^^^ be towards Madras to keen th« ho r T^^ ^^^" ^^ca»ed converging in that direction ^f''' ^- ^'^'^ ^^« ^^^e possible, sS a. to allow tTe^;^^^^^^^^ as umnterrupted. Mr Pi Jf «,! • i.^ ®^ Madras to go on over the cLma^d of"^ ^ frc^tf S^^^^ Charlie toU men to make his way north ?n^ I Z^T' *^^ ^^^h fifty Forde. who wa. entl^erdefic?^^^^^^^^^^ witt the French force Char i« r!o!{f i i^ cavalry. Avoiding 2d of December?and foL'Hh^^^ J^'^f 1^°^ "P^^^ thf the previous day. He SpH «^ "^^ ^^^ ^^^^^«d on of t|e 3d came^up to Fordl t^^^^^^^^^^^ "°^ °° *^« «--^i«g the French position ' "^ ^^"^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ sight of Fo?det%^:^g,t^^^^^^^ of Cblonel ance and advife if an officer who f d *° °^*^^ *^^ ^^^^t" An hour after arrivinrChrr^! ^ '^^V° °^"«^ ««rvic8. inander aiid reconnoUrfd the M' ^"t^^*^ ^^^ ^om- they concluded, too stroL to^^^^^^^^ wa^. numb6ra the forces wpr« «k . ^**acked. In point of addition to hL five hu^dreS Er^'- ^^^^A^^ had, ?n native infantry, five hundred n^r^"*"^! "^^ ^^^"'^'^^ guns. Forde W four hundl J ? '^''^^'y' ^'^^ *^i% " one thousand nine hundred sinl T^''^^ Europeans, draz Ha.! fy.*„ ^. "'^*^'^®^ Sepoys, and six cruna. a «o^ ' — -u.^ Europeans, five thmia^n^ r„*~x *^^r"" r.... — ^ ^^F^y», ana six cruns. a «„„ Europeans, five thousand fnflntry, fiTe 326 WATCHl. EAOn OTHDR. hundred horsemen, and four guns. These five thousand men were, however, a mere ragged mob, of whom very few had firearms, and the rest were armed with bows and arrows. His horsemen were equally worthless, and Forde could only rely upon the troops he had brought with him from Calcutta and the troop of fifty natives under Charlie Marryat. Finding that the French position was too strong to be attacked, Forde fell back to a strong position at Chambol, a village nearly four miles from the French camp. Here for four days the two armies remained watching each other, the leaders of both sides considering that the position of the other was too strong to be attacked. S \ CHAPTER XXVI THE SIEOE OF MADRAa ^ !??n7'Tn^'"^°.*^^^<^3^ the Marquis de Con- «;^ during the night:rdtTpe„t/wr£L"tu t^3 him to return. and\e himseKSfi wlt^t^"^^ 327" "* '"'"° S"*^* **"ti soon 828 DEFEAT OF THE BRITISH SEPOT& met the rajah's rahble in full flight, and uniting with them marched back to Condore. Conflans supposed that the fire of his guns had driven the whole of his opponents in a nanic from Chambol, and determining to take advantage of the confusion marched with his force against them. Forde at once pre- pared for the battle. In the centre he placed the English, including the rajah's forty Europeans. Next to these, on either side, he nlaced his Sepoys, and posted the troops of Anandraz on the right and left flanks. He then advanced towards the enemy. The French guns opened fire. Forde halted. In the position in which he found himself his centre, occupied a field of Indian com, so high that they were concealed from the enemy. Confl 'ns had moved towards the English left, with the intention ap- parently of turning that flank, and after the artillery battle on both sides had continued for forty minutes he ordered his troops to advance. In Madras both the English and French dress their Sepoys in white. In Bengal, however, since the raising of Sepoy regiments after the recapture of Calcu a, the English had clothed them in red. Conflans, therefore, thought that the force he was about to attack was the English contingent, and that if he could defeat this the rout of his enemy would be secured. The French advanced with great rapidity and attacked the Sepoys in front and flank so vigorously that they broke in dis- order. The rajah's troops fled instantly, and in spite of the exhortations of Forde the Sepoys presently followed their example, and fled with the rajah's troops to Chambol pursued by the enemy's horse. They would have suflfered even more severely than they did in this pursuit had not CharUe Marryat launched his little squadron at the enemy's horse. Keeping his men well togethesJie made repeated charges, several times riding through and through them, until at last they desisted from the pursuit, and forming in a compact body fell back towards the 1^ OVER-CONFIDENCii: PUNISHED. 329 noUhtt^^t?^^^^^^^ ^-^^ lost twelve .en. Conflans'^eal/X^eL f^^^^^ '° «*^°"g ^ force him. Believin/ that Z h!^ ft ^xT^" ™ ^^tal to gave orders to feveral comDaif ^ifi!^ i.*^^ ^"^"«1^' he press on in pursuit wiZurdeW *^^/r-^,^V?°ps to tot speed, proceeding without ^1, ^a^' '*^'*'^ ^^ ^^ when they were sn^^JIi % "°** ^^^^^ or regularity of English^Z^sTn solter^T'^ ^^ *^ -^^^^S corn to take the^pkcr/atlvtn^ *h« high vain the scattered and surtrisMf^ ^^. ^^^ .^^P^^^- ^^ endeavoured to re W 1^? companies of the French So heavy was the fire^ri.'?*^^ ^'^ ^S^^^^ them, line, imLdktei; th^lrd f^l^.^P^.^^ ^^ *he British the French broke thtir rant tl'^ *^T ?^^*^«°' <^hat they could to regain their^ilTv.-'r ^^^ «^ ^^^ ^^ mile ii the rear. ^'^' ^^'^^ were fully half a been «T^^^^^^^ |epoys o, .^eir left had disregarding this Zfsed W J"^^''? "^^t; butForde, French with" his L^LTth^^'l '"' ?i?* P""«^* ^f the of the beaten SepX had «rf J^"""",,*.^^ ^"^**«' Portion men well togeS^L' afed^ ^f i?^ .f-A his toUowinK so cloaelv im™ .1, ™' fullest speed only time to foeTneCfl' '""T ""»' t''^ latteffl giuis before the Clish t^J/Z^r"' *^nf'' t^'^^^ th.irc»^^^3 ri^ 'S^^tte Ffo-f Sepoys, seeing on the English St Id f^il ^t** ^'"'"' **''• »«««k The English Seno^^t ^t ' ^l''. "P<"» 'heir camp Forde's for4. Srail-f t^r''1? '"''"'^^ »°d Joine^d whom had fled remS i^°^' '"'^'^T' ""^ '^hole of arge d^ tank. F^d^r^g Vll *l"f ."^ * mg hifl iruns y^e^in-i I,,-- T "O*^ them, but, Iaat;. ^„ m t)e..ad hizn, pressed forward an hour after 'H fj'lsl' .^ sso A HOT PURSXJIT. the defeat of the French against their camp. To reach this he had to pass along a narrow valley commanded by the French heavy guns. These opened fire, but the Eng- lish pressed forward without wavering. The defenders, not yet recovered from the effects of their defeat in the plain, at once gave way, and retreated in the utmost confusion towards Rajahmahendri. Had the cavalry of Anandraz been at hand to follow up the advantage great numbers might have been captured. As it was, Charlie Marryat with his little force harassed them for some miles, but was unable to effect any serious damage on so strong a body. The English captured thirty-two pieces of cannon, and all jthe stores, ammunition, and tents of the French. Forde at once despatched a battalion of Sepoys under Captain Knox in pursuit, and this officer pressed on so vigorously that he approached Rajahmahendri the same evening. Two more native battalions reached Knox during the night. So thoroughly dispirited were the enemy that the sight of the red-coated Sepoys of Knox, whom they could not distinguish from English, induced them to abandon Rajahmahendri in all haste, although it contained a strong mud fort with several guns. The Godavery is two miles wide, and all night *he passage of the river in boats continued, and when at daybreak next morning Knox broke into the towL he found fifteen Europeans still on the banks expecting a returning boat. These he captured; and seeing upon the opposite bank a party about to disembark guns and stores from another boat, he opened fire from the guns of the fort towards it, and although the shot could scarcely reach half-way across the river, such was the terror of the enemy that they forsook the boat and fled. Knox at once sent a boat across and brought back that containing the guns. The French retreated to Masulipatam, the capital of the pro- vince, a port which rivalled Madras in its commerce. MADRAS BESIEGW). 33J httedt^tf of^^^^^^^^ but he was now, excited and arrocrant hv f?^i • . ° ^"^P^^ °^o°ey. done nothing towS^ .ain^. . 7''*5'^ ""^^^^ ^^ J^ad many weeks were spent frnZ;,-«r"''l*xP '"PP^^' ^^^ able to move forward ""^^^^^^^^^^ before Forde waa stating the urgencnf f>l L •?• ^l?""^^ ^'^"^ ^adraa night ifter thf baftle Coj J^^^^^^^ ""^ "P°^ *he return to aid in the defencrof tW ^^^^ ^^^^"« *« French had appeared on the 29fh^^^^^^^^ ?'" ^^^^^ *h« skirmishes took place onfJ^fS ^^^^^^ Several then retired withrtheTo^t Th« f *^' ^^^ -^^^ English teen hundred white troons and f ?vf^ '°"'^'*^^ ^^ «i^- dred Sepoys. The nabob wSn iTa *^"'^^^ ^^^^^ ^^n- town, h^d^two hunled 'h!t and'\'^^^^^ ^°*^ ^^^ attendants. °^^® ^^^ * ^luge retmue of six hundred me^ ThTse for rtV'''! "^f^ ^ '°^*^^ ^^^^ before them through the str^p^^^M^^^"^^ ^^^« ^^^^ch French graduallvrSliedfl..fl °* ^f^"^5 ^^^ ^ the heavy tfat the'lol^f;^^ hundred soldiers and sTroKrft'n '? * ^^^ ^^ *^o prisoners. The French LrS\"'^V'^°""^^^' *^d Had not a large quantitv of ft ^^'° ?^°"* ^^^ «ame. into the wine-storeronthLi-ti^''5^ ^''^^P' ^"^^^° of intoxication ifis prXble W "?^.*' ^ P°^* party would have returned tn fwT^m'!? *^^ ^"««h however, the effect thafsir? ^ ^°'*' . ^^^ «<^r<^ie had, French officers was tlt^^^ T °^ ^^^ '^^^^^ ^^ the "— 2iww a lar more formidable 332 THE FRBNCH OPEN THEIR TRENCHES. post than it had been when the French before captured it In the year 1743 Mr. Smith, an engineer, had marked out the lines for a considerable increase in the fortifica- tions. The ditch was dug and faced with I rick, but on account of the expense nothing further had been done. The French had added somewhat to the fortifications during their stay there in 1750. Nothing had been done by the English when they recovered the town until the news of the preparations which the French were making for the siege of the place had been received. Four thousand natives were then set to work, and these in eighteen months had completed the fortifications, as de- signed by Mr. Smith, just before the arrival of the French. The latter determined to attack from the northern side. Here the fort was protected by a demi-bastion next to the sea, and by the Royal Bastion, the wall between the two being covered by a work known as the North Ravelin. The defence was also strengthened by the fire of the north-west lunette and Pigot's Bastion. Against these the French threw up four batteries. Lally's Battery, erected by the regiment of that name, was on the sea- shore directly facing the demi-bastion. To its right was the Burying-ground Battery, facing the Royal Bastion. Against the western face of this position the French regiment of Lorraine erected a strong -york, while farther round to the west, on a rising ground, they threw up a battery called the Hospital Battery, which kept up a cross- fire on the English position. To prevent the French from pressing forward along the strip of shore between the fort and the sea, the English erectea a strong stockade, behind which was a battery called the Fascine Battery. A few days after the siege began it was found that the numbers crowded up in the fort could scarcely be ac- commodated, and the rajah was, therefore, invited to leave by sea, on board a ship which would land him at the Dutch settlement of Negapatam, whence he might journey through the Tanjore country to Trichinopoli This pro- 'ore captured , had marked the fortifica- bi ick, but on d been done. fortifications ad been done wn until the were making jived. Four and these in ations, as de- •f the French, lorthern side, ition next to between the orth Ravelin. 3 fire of the Lgainst these ly's Battery, on the sea- its right was )yal Bastion. the French (vhile farther '' threw up a pt up a cross- French from veen the fort kade, behind ery. und that the ircely be ac- ritea to leave him at the light journey . This pro- CHARUK ENTERS MADRAS. 333 Cl„';jarffl-/ -barked "■'•" »'' -''"■ )»d aide opp<»itr th'S fv t fbyX fS Xt hunSred horae ^ °" ''""''"^ ""«» and two t.l:rw^]tS^d^-^ the Fr7nch from Po J • 1, ^^y,^""]^^^ with artillery for for thrtoitmT^orfert be"ahi:^' """^ °^ '^^ ^"^ Sthf efctoT;"'^"""^ ''•°'' '<"'"''' 'he enemfln honoS: "OOP. He latter, after inquiring-go^ cSr^e°^t li. 334 THE FRENCH OPEN nWt ililli ■ llii!! acter of the officer he had left in command of his troop, and finding that he was able and energetic, requested Charlie to send orders to him to join either the force under Captain Preston at Chingalpatt, or that of a native leader, Mahommei Issoof, both of whom were ravaging and destroying the country about Conjeveram, whence the French besieging Madras drew most of their provisions. Charlie himself was requested to remain in the fort, where his experience in sieges would render him of great value. At daybreak on the 2d of January the Lorraine and Lally Batteries opened fire. The English guns, however, proved superior in weight and number, dismounted two of the cannon, and silenced the others. The French mortars continued to throw heavy shell into the fort, and that night most of the European women and children were sent away in native boats. The French batteries, finding the superiority of the English fire, ceased firing until the 6th, when seven ^uns and six large mortars from Lally's Battery, and eight guns and two mortars from the Lorraine Battery, opened upon the town. I'he cannonade now continued without intermission, but the enemy gained but little advantage. Every day, however, added to their strength, aa fresh vessels with artillery continued to arrive from Pondicherry. They were now pushing their approaches from Lally's Battery towards the demi-bastion. The losses on the part of the besieged were considerable, many being killed and wounded each day. This continued to the end of the month in spite of many gallant sorties by parties of the besiegers, who repeatedly killed and drove out the working parties in the head of the French trenches. These progressed steadily and reached to the outworks of the demi-bastion. On the 25th the Shaftesbury, one of the Company's trading vessels, commanded by Captain Inglis, was seen approaching. The five French ships hoisted English coloura. A catamaran was sent out to warn her, and at nine o'clock in the evening she came to anchor. She had ™ SIBGE MAKES LIITLE PROGRESS. 886 She had on board too T^T ^'''T "^^"^^ «««° l^*' "P- many military ^re'^m^^^^^^^ ^^«tf of silver aa^d large shell, w^ich werel3 T ^^^'Sre-Mi^ and who had nearly SprndedTw '^'^'?™' *° *^ ^ .^^^^^^^n. went off from^^the^fS an^^^^^^^^^^ The:.af,rve bo.,ts' munition and stores Tn??^ 4?^^* ""^ '^'^^^ ■ '*'^' a i- was attacked by the two i ^^1^^-°° *^^^ '^^-^ ^^^^^rj, the ^ar/m. si foul? fCf 'V^' ?^^ ^^'^^^^^^ ^^^ sailed in and ancLred al n n^ ^\*7 ^"^' «"d then ships lay off at a dLt^ce «n Wi^^' ^""'^ ^^'' ^'^^'^ batteries'^ played upon the ^li^T ^"^.^°^ «^ ^h^i^ anchored, and contCd o do i*?''^.?"^ ^^^^' «^« ^^^ Many of the ffuns of tbp f ? °'' *^]? °'^* *^^«« days, artillei^. fire wS had . r "^"^^ dismounted by the interm&ionW month Th '"""'^ T^K scarcely^any were in many pCTtJ^V^^'^^^^^'f *^^ '^^P^^ts posed to the e^neVyTfire t-^^'^^' ^""^^^^^ ^"^"«^^- now opened therieachinff X damaged. The enemy and oS the Ttrtwo SSp. t''J t'^ *^ *^« ^°^ks. I^ally ordered his nrinmn!i ^. ^^"^ ^^^^ ^ff^c^ed. and to give thefr opiS^^^^^^^ assault. These W^x ^ *^f practicability of an would ha JtVspIc^^^^^^^^^^^^^ *^ ' — " mg the ditch were still »r.^^^'i^®p""^ *^°"«»»and- which stormei^ must c limh n*''''''^i. T^ ^^''^ P^^^^^des breach untouched SnW ^^^"^ ^^^^^^ i caching the to bear b^he be^ie^ed u'Z?'"''"^'^f.?""^^ ^^ ^^Sugh? it would be swept awavb?fn ^? ^f.''^*^"^ «°^"°^n that These office^added the^r onin- '"1^ f "^* *^« ^^^^^h. number of merlfendfng TefTrt ^n V°""''""^ *^« those attacking if flr,„i ^ * ^^ comparison with and further pros^^^^^^^^^^^ TilT ''l^^ °^* ^' looked tor, useless loss of Hfe ^ "^^'^^ ^°"^d only entail a On the 9th of ir*»b»« -^^ -c ^1,1 336 TliE FRENCH ABANDON THE SIEGE. under the command of Major Calliaud, who had come up from Trichinopoli and had taken station three miles in rear of the French position. The greater part of the natives, as usual, behaved badly, but Calliaud with the artillery and a few Sepoys defended himself till night- fall and then drew off. For the next week the French continued to fire, and their approaches were pushed on. Several sorties were made, but matters remained unchanged until the 14th, when six English ships were seen standing into the roads, and that night the French drew out from their trenches and retreated. The next morning six hundred troops landed from the ships, and the garrison, who had so stoutly resisted the assaults made upon them for forty- two days, sallied out to inspect the enemy's works. Fifty-two cannon were left in them, and so great was the hurry with which the French retreated that they left forty-four sick in the hospital behind. The fort fired during the siege 26,554 rounds from their cannon, 7502 shells, threw 1990 hand-grenades, and expended 200,000 musketry cartridges. Thirty pieces of cannon and five mortars had been dismounted during the siege. Of the Europeans the loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was five hundred and seventy-nine. Three hundred and twenty-two Sepoys were killed and wounded, and four hundred and forty deserted during the siege. In spite of the resolution with which the French had pushed the siege it was from the first destined to failure. The garrison were well provisioned, iiad great stores of ammunition, and plenty of spare cannon to replace those disabled or dismounted. The works were strong and the garrison not greatly infer* or in number to the besiegera. The French, on the other hand, had to bring their artillery, ammunition, aud stores by water from Pondicherry, and the activity of the Englisa parties in their rear rendered it extremely difficult for them to receive supplies of^food by land. Laliy had disgusted even the French omcers AGAIN IN THE HKLD. 337 deLr^&^L^^^^hfd "^^/-r-"™ in the to him, but used htoMTl,? ^i§°"' °° »?»"»• P"" chief of tte staff CJil*' wouia now be called'^his thickest, enc^uraJng^emS Z',>,7^''\^.^^!' ^"' ""« comparative cessS nf fi?. v ^.""i'^S *'"' 'ntervaJs of to tfe ^'r^ior:^7:i!^t\is^^^z^i't:'^r., of stores, and other maffpra tt^ quarters, tt the issue mmmMm rence considered that these wmil J v^.' * . ^^ ^*^" following UD thfi Fr!Lif ^^ 1 ^® °^ extreme use in of'$h'a?^^trt»a^'aYJ!;:r"t Masulipatam, ^d thTfoIlo^n^ dav Ch'.rr '-^^^ ^t^ tre^aibJ^^i^u"^^^^^^^^ ontJesidrtaK'e^r^^^^^^^^^ re;:^5j;^il1«?f-?fS2u%s^ & eS ~"^ --tettrof^^ bv«wo — T^V. *!^®'**'»6.*own,which.al8osurronndpd ■'.? I' ' tlXKratm (197) ..,. -_ 1 1 . r'*"'"^..''""">wiucn,aj80surronndpd ^F- uuu lymg iwo miles to the north-west ofthe T: 338 ,IN FRONT OF MASULIPATAM. fort, was itself a most defensible position, and retired across the narrow causeway, more than a mile long, to the fort. THE rORT OF M'ASULIPATAM IN 1759. Scale. Bastions and DBrsNOHS. a, Fran9ols, . . b, Dutch, . . . 0, St. John'i, ■ d, Chameleon, . e, Small gate, . (, Churchyard, t. Oreatgato. . 8 gum 6 18 10 8 8 8 II b, RaTelin, . . 6 guns. i, Fettah, ... 6 „ k, Engodoar, . 8 „ 1, Saline, ... 8 „ m, St. Michael, . 8 „ n, Watergate, . 4 ,, o, Battery on other lide of the water to flank EngliBh batteries, 4 guus. Ths Attack. p, t gun» i2-pounder«. q, 2 •> 18 „ 2 „ U and 2 mortars. r, 2 giiuB, 18-pounden, and 2 guns 24-poimden CHAPTER XXVIL 400 600 larjd MASULIPATAM. M^JtS^^^ ,^'*? i""** y«» •'"ve come see hnf'rt, : ■ S"* "^^^ "t last, as you getting in. Mugfe^tj: to at'Lk't""' "^« '^™ m other respects mates are t,f^J °7«' '»«'; and constant worry and t^^-Mf' ^'^i^ Amndnz is a togain by ourCc^Tnd yet ^i do^ott, "'r'^"!^ His men are worsft fLr, , ''^ i . « nothing to aid it. thing which wl wit rd he ^^iri^""' ""^ *« ^'7 wiU not let us have Will LT'j S'™™— money— he where 'm erecttal mv wf ? "*** T'* "« *" the spot prospietforySf"/ ^'""''' ""^ ^o" "'^ ^ «ie to erect his tetSes ™, ^n * "^'"^ 1°"^^ ^'^ ««'«ited f^ yards fr^rZ Ttem farortt^'f *'fl" ''""■ ^ impossible to cnn.t™^ i ""* '»'*• " wou d »d should a b«aTwd??!r''?,fS«^» '^« '^a"^. •"ek to be croiet Woni 'wWch ti TT"^ » ''"^ most parts ab»nln*li,r • ?! ° '*y tl"® deep, and in his ".» we« emntv.r-PT*''H '"""P- Chariie and the surToS«T&. hi""!"!! '? P™™*"™ from ..French col.L"Z'^.'^'i^'-^^^^^^^^_ro». "--vi-ean anu two thousand natiV; '^^ImT^ 340 TIMS OPINION OF 1H£ SITUATION. field-pieces, watched the British and rendered the col lection of provisions difficult. Du Rocher had several strong places with European and Sepoy garrisons near him, in which to retire in case Forde should advance against him. " Well, Mister Charles," Tim said one morning, " this is altogether a quare sort of a siege. Here we are with a Elaf f in front of us with ten times as many guns as we ave got, and a force well nigh twice as large. Even if there were no walls and no guns I don't see how we could get at 'em barring we'd wings, for this bog is worse than anything in the ould country. Then behind us we've got another array, which is, they say, with the garrisons of the forts, as strong as we are. We've got little food and less money, and the troops are grumbling mightily, I can tell you." On the 18th of March, while his batteries were still in- complete, Forde received certain news that the Nizam of the Deccan, the old ally of the French, was advancing with an army of forty thousand men to attack him. No British commander ever stood in a position of more imminent peril. Tiiis completed the terror of Anandraz. Du Rocher had caused reports to be circulated that he intended to march against that chief's territories, and the news of the approach of the nizam, who was his suzerain lord, completed nis dismay. He refused to advance another penny. Colonel Forde had already expended the prize- money gained by the troops, his own private funds, and those of his officers in buying food for his troops, and the men were several months in arrear of their pay. "I'm afraid, yer honour," Tim said that evening to Charlie, " that there's going to be a shindy." " What do you mean by a shindy, Tim ? ' " I mane, yer honour, that the men are cursing and swearing, and saying the divil a bit will they fight any longer. It's rank mutiny and rebellion, yer honour; but «^kia*.a'a jrkmoflpnrv irt lift aftif! tnr fVift nnop hovs. TheV ; were still in- DISCONTENT OF THE TROOPS. 34, NTaThLtn^tvH^^^ "^^^ ^^^- spent, clothes are in raench behind us f^ ^'^^ tl^at thousand of his men m^r^^V^""^? thenizam with forty kettle of fishXgetherver h^ ^^'""'K^'. ^^'' ^ V^4 I care, Mr. CharLT HaVen'. \aT ^*. ''""^ ^'' "^^^^^^ on the treasury at MadT^for fhJV^? ? "^^ Po^^et over; but it's mighty hard tZ l ^^ ^".°^'^^ P°"^d and become a wealthf mL tAri ?°°''^ J"'<> ^^^«n one haa "Well, Tim, I L^rthl l-n^K "^ ? ^ ^'^"^^ P^son/^ that things look bad "*^''' """^^ *^' '^'^ ^'^^^e; but I own th^^rttw ay'^o"^^^^^ Z !;?"^" V^^* ^« *^-ks and chop off the heads of tu J"'"^ ^""^ °^« ^ go out leadem "^ But ?tWh? i?f ^k *,.^°T °^. ^^« chief ring- the ^tJrwT: tXh rt "^i^r!!^ ^f "^ *^at present '^^'''^ ^® could hardly assent at a«T^^^^^^ JJ^-o turned out with their them gently but firmly Hp fni/^^' .^°^^« «Poke to believe that men who h^ad ShJS ^ <^hem that he co'uld not would fail now in theiV tov H^^ ^^"^^^ ^* C^^dore their tents, and to send Ln^f .\'^^'^ *^"^ *° '«<^"rn ties to him. 'This the^did T, ^'"^ ?."^^^^^ «^ ^^P"" colonel's tent and toldW fK«f n ^^^""^'^^ c^°^« *« the n; n^ore unless they were Imm^ 7T ''-^."^^^^ '^ %ht 0^ pri.e-money due^ tTthem pn^''*'^^ ^^^^ the amount whole booty in «! J iJr ,'• ^^ ^«^® assured of the Colonel F^ri^roSdSt^'?^*""^ ^^?"^^ ^^ ^^ken prize-money out^of the v«-^^^^^''*'- '^""^^^ ^^^'^ ^^ As ^ the W^„.I!!? _fif * .f^«d« which reached Patam. he said he haT ""^'''^ ""^^^ ' ^ ' ' _ . ; r ^^^ "-iiicxi reacned "iign^ be taken in Masuli- no power to change the reguTaSons n H ,'? '■'if' A FAITHLBSS ALLY. of the Company; but that he would beg them, under con- sideration of the hardships which the troops had endured services, to forego their half the plunder. Directly Masulipatam was iakcn, he bti(i, he would divide one half among them, and hold the othei until he obtained the Company's answer to his request. Then he wouUi distribi^te it at once. With this answer the troops were Batisfif-i, and returned at once to their duty. On the 25th the guns of tbo I'attery opened fire upon the fort, but the damaj^e wiix* i they did was inconsider- able. On the 27th news cixniB that the French army of observation had ijetaken RajcaRiahendri, and that the nizam with his army had arrived at Baizwara, forty miles distant. Letters came in from the nizam to Anandraz ordering him instantly to qalt the English camp and join him. The ri; jah was so terrified that that night he started with his troops without giving any information of his intentions to Colonel Forde; and dilatory as were his motions in general, he cm this occasion marched sixteen miles before daybreak. The instant Colonel Forde heard that he had left he sent for Charlie Marryat. " I suppose you have heard, Manyat, that that scoundrel Anandraz has bolted. Eide off to him with your troop and do your best to persuade him to return." " I will do so, sir," Charlie said; " but really it seems to me that we are better without him than with him. His men only consume our provisions and cause trouble, and they are no more good fighting than so many sheep." That is so," Colonel Forde said. "But in the first place his five thousand men, absolutely worthless as they are, swell our forces to a respectable size. If Confians and Du Rocher saw how small i~ * ir really fighting body they would fall upon us togethc . nd annihilate us. In the second place, if Anandraz goes to the nizam he will ^l\4k b^*.A vt /. r. .»v«^ •■T^ll fwtxrfk vuo X-1.CIUVMX, auvi nui K**" CHARLIE TRIES ARQUMENT. 343 >• -si }t^ f'"" P"^""' Co'onel." Charlie said; "you are r,;at and I ara wrong. I will start at once " ^ Cha^Mroff if *' ''^'^ "* '''^ five-anitwenty men £?und li™t ^p^Ta vilfar'ktH^"5n ?« bv his chief offlp^rc Tu • ?^ Anandraz surrounded pL. iL .°™cers. The rajah received him coldly but Chaihe paying no attention to this, took a seat cbse to and fl! 'p**r^ ^"^'^^^^ ^*^°1« ««"^t^ between thS and the Godaveiy. At Rajahmahendri is Du Roche? with his army, who will take you in flank Fvor! Efofe^\ryinrEnX^^^^^ .ad the^ni.aplVn^*'r: f^L^en^^ ^y^^ t J u cannot hope to escape with life when W treason ...^brought such troubles upon them." ^ ^°° •omte'dW hf '^ ^'' * ^i°?*^ ^«»b*^f"l' «^d then, en- were weary of the expedition and iis^ }^i. , ^ixi.'. v ^.W troops had not fired a s^V;i,^:i7''JrZf. '•''M hh #i 344 DECISIVE MEASURES PREVAIL. V'V nately: " No more words are needed. I have made up my mind." "And so have I," Charlie said, and with a sudden spring he leaped upon the rajah, seized him by the throat, and placed a pistol to his ear. Hossein drew his sword and rushed to his side. Tim ran outside and held up his arm, and the little body of cavalry at once rode up, and half of them dismounting, entered the tent with drawn swords. So astounded were the oflScers of the rajah at Charlie's sudden attack, that for a moment they knew not what to do, and before they could recover from their surprise Charlie's troopersi entered. " Take this man," Charlie said, pointing to the rajah, *' to that tree and hang him at once. Cut down any of these fellows who move a finger." The rajah was dragged to the tree almost lifeless with terroi'. "Now, Rajah," Charlie said, "you either give iixstant orders for your army to march back to Masulipatam, or up you go on that branch above there." The terrified rajah instantly promised to carry out Charlie's orders and to remain faithful to the English. The officers were brought out from the tent and received orders from the rajah to set his troops instantly in motion on their way back. The rajah was led to his tent and there kept under a guard until the army was in motion. When the whole of it was well on its way Charlie said: " Now, Rajah, we will ride on. We will say no more about this little affair, and I will ask Colonel Forde to forgive your ill-behaviour in leaving him. But mind, if at any future time you attempt to disobey his orders or to retire from the camp, I will blow out your brains, even if I have to follow you with my men into the heart of your own palace." Upon their return to the British camp Charlie explained to Colonel Forde the measures which he was obliged to take to convince the rajah of the soundness of iiis have made up nth a sudden by the throat, rew his sword I and held up once rode up, the tent with ih at Charlie's aew not what their surprise to the rajah, down any of 1 was dragged Now, Rajah," iers for your jp you go on to carry out the English. ; and received instantly in led to his tent army was in I on its way We will say [ ask Colonel Dg him. But o disobey his low out your my men into rlie explained as obliged to dness of \m lii A FORLORN ROPE. 345 with Salabut Jun/so 1 tn ,W ' ? *° T" "^gotiaWons at Baizwara vn'thn,^ , ■? '"'? " '™g ^ Possible continued to play on the ?S ■nterrni.s.ion tSe battea-iea the Cth of April. •" Several h^t T fu ^'^ "^ ^arch to some breach^ effected but Sethi Kv" If '"^-^'^ ""d the night as fast as they were made TW '"^'"'"' " Itejj;? »' '>•* Wish,"':^'d%e&x-- thatDuRochS-wrhuSLm P?"^ ""S ^^^Hsh, and a ju-ction with hii? E?^ Bajahmahendri toeffect oftce, reported to C,WefSf?°n:'':S''l'^*°'" artillery munitionfor the bat Telr •' *^' "^'^ ''^o days'*,, too, that a ship wUh thr!" h.'Z'"!? ^ "\""- ^^ '^"°=d, arrive in the cCie „'?' iay oAwf ' W? '"'"'r """''» indeed, a desneratp nn „J^% °' "^^^ position was, ternatiVes olCcess La^^l %' 7^^^^^^^ ^^^ the al-' He determined to atteckAi, ^°'? .°\*°**^ destruction, a heavier fire than Pvprt, -^^ -^^^ ^'^^ batteries kept up any inforuiation of thrprote L '..'''r^^ ^^^'^'^ know against which noin^ wt ^^ *^°^J ^^^^ ^^"^^ "ot hadascfrtaineJSlswL'w^^^^^^^ their n'ay across the swamrTf!! fl xi. ^^^^^ °^ making fort, that^n ZlZZCJt:L''tt^^^ ff' «f *hl he d-termined to t^wJil J^^^^^r *? *be British frontiers; -le, anraere?or?f^^^^^^^ that hundred Sepoys to mak^ 1 ??^"l ^^^' ^^^^ ^^^^^^ and to attacKp^n Zt side ' SHI i*? 'T '^' ^^^^P the attention of Te larri^on\«1 ^"1*5"' *^ ^^«t^«^t advance with his mef aW ^Vf *'"'*'^ ^'' "^^^ ^ fire against the rav?^^ Th?J^ causeway anc to open of thi rest of f ^t f^ ^ ^^'"^ attack, wh ch consisted twepfl S,-l *^^ .%°«' composed of three hundr.^ '.!? -V -uxupuan iruaxxtry, thirty gunners, thirty siilora; 'i If: '1(1 1^' 846 1 i ▲ MARCH THROUGH A SWAMP. ajttd seven hundred Sepoys, was to be delivered against the breach in the bastion, mounting ten guns, in the north- east angle of the fort. At ten o'clock the force drew up under arras. The fire of the batteries was k pt up much later than usual in order that the enemy should have no time to repair the breaches. The hour of midnight was fixed for the attack, as at that time the tide was at its lowest and the water in the ditches round the ramparts not more than three feet deep. Captain Knox and his party started first. The main body should have set out half an hour later, but were detained owing to the unaccountable absence of Captain Callend^r, the oflBcer who was to command it. As this officer was afterwards killed the cause of his absence was never explained. The party started without him, and before they could reach the ditch they heard the sound of firing from the farther corner of the fort, telling that Knox was already at work. "Shure, yer honour," muttered Tim, as he made his way through the swamp knee-deep beside his master, " this is worse than the day before Plaasey. It waa water then but this thick mud houlds one's legs fast at every step. I've lost one of my boots already." It was indeed hard work; but at last the head of the column reached the ditch just as a fresh burst of firing told that the Rajah Anandraz was attacking the ravelin! The French, in their belief in the absolute security of the pla<;e, had taken but few precautions against an attack, and it was not until the leading party had waded nearly breast-high through the ditch and began to break down the palisade beyond it, that they were discovered. Then a heavy artillery and musketry fire from the bastions on the right and left was opened upon the assailants. Cap- tain Fisher with the first division attacked the breach; Captain Maclean with the second covered them by opening fire upon the bastion on their right; while the third le by Capta' ^ Yorke, replied to that on their left Charlie. leered against in the north- rns. The fire ban usual in to repair the or the attack, id the water B than three started first. 1 hour later, le absence of command it. cause of his rted without they heartl of the fort, be made his master, " this I water then b every step. head of the irst of firing the ravelin, jurity of the it an attack, 'aded nearly break down ered. Then bastions on lants. Cap- the breach; 1 by opening le third, le 't. Charlie. TAKBN BY SURPRISEL 347 volunteer. Moompanied the party as a simple the left, seized the Ctii^V 1*"^- J""^^- '"'"i"? to while Fisher turned ak„"Th;* """ ^""S °" ^ttclfan; secure the bastionTfn thaTd ?ect bTSust*" "V^ ".f" *° setting out he saw « .*. i , ''™' «« Yorke was advancing between the & ^I "' ^''""^ Sepo™ buildings^ thlt^wn Th°l h! /k' """P"*^ »"d^te firing ^as heardTreinfote fh. r.?''''.'^'™''"y 'he Without a moment's he' totinn V^l*"''"? J"'" '^'^<^- part, seized the French nffllu ""^ '^°«'° ''»' ™>n- ordered him to surrender, t on- .^k" '=?«'«""'ded, and takea Confused and bewildered t&°' ""^ "''^""^y sword and ordered th« o""™ , '"' """"er gave up his They were then":nt t pri S ntolb'^-*''^"/™^' now pushed forward w^r^^ "'^ bastion. Yorke rampLand c:S'tw"o'tt'if Ke'of 't 1?*"/' "-^ that side. The men hr.r^^ ^^^ bastions on and alone in tL unknowrtown''^^'^*^'^ ^'""^ *^« ^««* heart. Suddenly therclmeunn;'"''' ^n^^""^°^ *« ^°«« some of the me^ calK ,?.T^^«^^" magazine and sudden panic the whole d\vili^^ T , ?^^^^^ ^^^^ a alone with two na«ve dr^'T T ^^'^^ ^'^^^^^ Yorke beat the advance The «nU^ ^u^'' "^^^ continued to running untilTey rILhef theV^ '^'''n ^^^ °«* «*«P went back, and found th«f 1 *1?°' ^^P^^^ Yorke posing to eave the foi iu ^^^i,''^ the soldiers ^ere pro- wouicut down tL fi^st *'^'*^f • ^' «^°^^ ^^-at he the men who Cd served w^^ri.^.'^.'ir'^' "^^ ''"^^ «^ of their conduct slid tW ^l"^ "" ^^eJ9th, ashamed Heading the tWrVsTx i^^^^^^^^ follow him. senses. Captain YoYkeLrn^H^ ^*^ °?T ^°°^^ *« their boy. Ju?t .a, hrJ^LTtSinlrr'n.^^^^^^^^^^ "^- gone wui. iter's diviaior hekrin'g t'e^^^"^! Z48 A DEADLY DISCHARGE. tion of fire on the other side, ran up to see what was going on. X- CM "Major Marryat," Captain Yorke said, "will you rally these fellows and bring them after me. They've been frightened with a false alarm of a mine and have lost tneir heads altogether." Charlie, aided by Tim, exerted himself to the utmost to encourage and command the soldiers, shaming them by telling them that while they, European soldiers, were cowering m the bestion, their Sepoy comrades were wimiing the town. "Unless," he said, "in one minute the whole of you are formed up ready to advance. I will take care that not one shall have a share in the prize- money that will b* won to-night." The men now fell in, and Charlie led them after Cap- tain Yorke The first retreat of the latter's division had given the French time to rally a little, and as he now made along the rampart towards the bastion on the river the ^rench officer in command there having turned a cun and loaded it with grape discharged it When the English were withm a few yards. Captain Yorke fell badly wounded. The two black drummer boys were killed, ^ were several of the men, and sixteen others were wounded. Oharhe, hurrying along with the rest of the party, met the survivors of Captain Yorke's little band coming back carrying their wounded officer. ^ "There/' Charlie shouted to his men, "that is your doing. Now retrieve yourselves. Show you are worthy of the name of British soldiers," With a shout the men '^ w ,3 1°^^^*^^ and cai^ried the bastion, and this com- pleted the capture of the whole of the wall from the north-east angle to the river. In the meantime Captain Fisher with his division was advancing to the right along the rampart Maclean's men had joined him, and they were pushing steadily for- ward. Colonel Forde continued with the Reserve at the Dastion first taken, receivincr reDorts fmm Knfh /IJ^JoV^^o see what was will you rally They've been md have lost 10 the utmost Qing them by loldiers, were mrades were L one minute Ivance, I will in the prize- m after Cap- division had d as he now on the river, turned a gun the English e fell badly ire killed, as jre wounded, e party, met coming back hat is your I are worthy out the men d this com- 11 from the iivision was Maclean's jteadily for- serve at the CARRYING ALL BEFORE THEM. 349 down the breach intotKt 1, l""' "\ ""^y ''e™ sent b^Sepoys, ^^^^t±^^Z:&t suptTrttrfthe^'siS^^^ *^^ *-- ^-% they could, if proDerlvhfn^i?,*^^''' ^^^^^^^nts in number, back. Inst IrSweW d?' ^^^^^^^7 driven them' Knox at the south w'«n i^'^^^^J^mg the attack by feint, and tLt of CndrTz^on S'^ T '^T^? ^^^^ ^ have been disreffardtd^-frf i ? l^''^^'''' ^^"^h miirht all their forSSt the ,^^« • ^^ f/l^' ^'^^ ^°°^^^^^^ tained effort aSeithero? '^'^ "^\^^ '^^ «"«- rapidly carryinlbasiotafter^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^« to have completely lost hirL^!? Conflans appeared senger arrived at hi. ^Lk^x? ^.^^^ssenger after mes- prolress of the il^u^^^^^^ *^^ '^\^' witli news of the advlnced towardrtii Jr^ ^ ^''^^^'^ division gate, the FrSwho Ltt^ 7^^''^ ^^ '^' ^''^^ to check his proJrpL Bnf ^r *here again attempted until close to^^r^nemvandX^'^T''-^^ *^^^^ ^^^ at a few yards d^Annw'i, .jj discharging a volley Fisher atS cW L^J T^f ^ '^'f'^ *^^ ^a^tioa the defenders of fh/-/^^^^^^ ^? ' ^""^ *^"' ^"* ^^a" troops Sn from iofnW '?h^''^ ^T^^*^^ ^^7 ^^ ^^e through the raiaTs-'frnT^ these and cutting tW way difBcult maL?^ Jui LTy; !5 "• ^ ^^"^^ ^^^« l^^e^ no ing. CanSrCallender^. ^K ^'""T"^ ^^'^ ^^^^^^ ^dvanc appeared ^ISd'^SS place^T ^ T' '/ T^'^'"^' only were fired after \\f«oL.i!^i^^^'^- ^ ^^^ shots Captain Callender ' ^""^ *^' ^^* d^^^^^^-^ge killed % this time Conflans, bewildered Anri f^r,.,-fi ^ u j a message to Colonel FAr^A nffi. • . terrified, had sent ourablel^erms CoWr fI/^ 1° surrender on hon- would give no terms wLw 'tW ^ W *" '''^ '^'^^ ^« nn,.r^> __j ^ ''^tuia wnatever; that the town wno i« i,;„ r "^x «.u lurtner resistance hopeless, and" that If It m -■If I li F 360 THK OARBISON LAZ DOWN THBIR ARMS. continued longer he would put all who did not surrender to the sword. On the receipt of this message Conflans immediately sent round orders that all his men were to lay down their arms and to fall in in the open space by the water. The English assembled on the parade by the bastion of the gateway. Captain Knox's column was marched round from the south-west into the town. A strong body of artillery kept guard over the prisoners till morning. Then the gate was opened and the French m the ravelin entered the fort and became prisoners with the rest of the garrison. The whole number of prisoners exceeded three thousand, of whom five hundred were Europeans and the rest Sepoys. The loss of the English was twenty-two Europeans killed and sixty-two wounded. The Sepoys had fifty killed and a hundred and fifty wounded. The rajah's people, who had kept up their false attack upon the ravelin with much more bravery and resolution than had been expected, also lost a good many men. Considering the natural strength of the position, that the garrison was, both in European troops and Sepoys, considerably stronger than the besiegers, that the fort mounted a hundred and twenty guns, and that a relieving army enormously superior to that of the besiegers was within fifteen miles at the tiBiti the assault was made, the capture of Masulipatam may claim to rank among the very highest deeds ever performed by British arms. MS. ot surrender ige Conflans men were to open space the parade lox's column the town. he prisoners the French le prisoners number of ive hundred loss of the d sixty-two a hundred had kept much more ed, also lost Dsition, that md Sepoys, at the fort b a relieving: siegers was was made, ; among the arms. CHAPTER XXVIIL THE DEFEAT OF LALLF. ^M^^v quantity of plunder was obtained at 7Xif ^r„r ^' M:^tal\s:7Mr Jut Kad arrived ZT^^t ^r"' "''«'' ^^ f°""d that three hS7d F i"'.*"" ^^ "^°^™'J th*' when the to thrpf tr?e" a^dt e t:,dTe' ntdTtit ff ™' fconflanl KndW tC '* * "'^^"g^"' <>» shore to that the fire h»d^ei,«,tw „ Z^H ™ '"*""■"«'! ""d elusion tw*{!. ,^™rely ceased, they came to the con- and joiHim Ford« w -^M^^ ^^l^'^""" ^^^"^ *^^ <^oast turn.^ although S^ ^^^'^ ^?^^T^ i« hi« ineffe«l,»al «_«:! iJ^- *^^ siege would have been - ^.^jcw, ^^^^-j _^^ gfoatiy terrified at the 851 I'll III 3^3 THE NIZAM MAKES PEACE. approach of the nizam, had, two days after the capture of the place, received a portion of the plunder as his share, and marched away to his own country, Forde, disgusted with his conduct throughout the campaign, making no effort whatever to retain him. When Salabut Jung heard that the French had sailed away to Pondicherry, he felt that his prospects of retak- ing the town were small, and at the same time receiving news that his own dominions were threatened by an enemy, he concluded a treaty with Forde, granting Ma- sulipatam and the Northern Sirkars to the English, and agreeing never again to allow any French troops to enter his dominions. He then marched back to his own country. Colonel Forde sailed with a portion of the force to Calcutta, where he shortly afterwards commanded at the battle of Chinsurah, where the Dutch, who had made vast preparations to dispute the supremacy of the Eng- lish, were completely defeated, and thenceforth they, as well as the French, sunk to the rank of small trading colonies under British protection in Bengal. Charlie returned to Madras, and journeying up the country he joined the main body of his troop under Peters. They had been engaged in several dashing ex- peditions, and had rendered great service; but they had been reduced in numbers by action and sickness, and the whole force when reunited only numbered eighty sabres — Lieutenant Haliowes being killed. Peters had been twice wounded. The two friends were greatly pleased to meet again, and had much to tell each other of their adventures since they parted. The next morning a deputation of four of the men waited upon Charlie. They said that from their share of the booty of the various places they had taken, all were now possessed of sums sufficient in India to enable them to live in comfort for the rest of their lives; they hoped, therefore, that Charlie would ask the authoritiea IJ^TEKS FROM HOME. 353 that the posHion wTstm a^r^r^' ^'^^^l^ °"* *« ^^^^^ possesse/a vervTwfrfnl « '*\°??^ that the French would ^^orti;tLri^:tL"zitL^^^^ ^^^^^ need every one of their soldipfc f the Enghsh would victorious there conM^f^ ^"^ °'^^* *^e storm. If would be ^t to^n^ -^fl ^°^^* *^^* ^ fi^al blow pany would then b^^^e Jo "T'' 'f^'^'^* '^' ^om- months would settlp ilT. .^""f .'*^ ^°^<^es. A few be useless to app ffor Jhel'I^'' T^ ^^^2"^^' ^« knew. He thought heTuM nrom? I ^^^^T ^'^^^^ *h^<^ ^^^e end of the yea? at lat?f f h • *^''^' however, that by the with. The^ men aItho„ah''' 'T''f- ^""^^ ^^ ^^^P^nsed content to mTe the besf of'lf -^^^^^ '''^''^' tions were very frequent inlhl I °^"^T'*^°''«- ^^'^^r- pany. as the mentuminVL fe V^' ^'^' resuming their former drp£ » ^ ""^^'^^ ^^^^^^^^ and danger Whatever of Xcove" IrinTh T' ^^ ^'^ "^ a single desertion had takeTplace tince^K^^^^^ ^''''/"* the men knew that hv ]«o«- ft. , " ^^^ raised, as forfeit their share of *VT'''^ ^' '°^''"'' ^^^^ ^«"ld the Madras treasury P"^^-°^«^«y> ^eld for Ibhem in letters lying foi me at M^t"^ Tf ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ of has now bee^n marSed thr^e v^' ?^^ • ^^'''- '^'*^^' ^^« with a second nephew k2 a ^'"^ J"'* Presented me and a half siC we ^f E^nd ^d T ''^' ^'^^ years old then. She is now^n« . \ ^ ■^'' "^ *^^^1^« do nicely for you Peter, w^ ^ *'^^'',^-^- ^^« ^o^^d he awfully ioCif vr^rv"" ^''^ ^^ ^^«k- I* would each other^"-' ^ ^°" ^^'^ ^^^^« ^"' ^a» in love with v^UlbO disposed to do so," Peters said laugh ing. i. 354 TIMS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. " from your descriptions of her. I've heard so much of her in all the time we've been together, and she writes such bright merry letters, that I seem to know her quite well." For Charlie, during the long evenings by the camp- fires, had often read to his friend the lively letters which he received from his sisters. Peters had no sisters of his own, and he had more than once sent home presents, from the many articles of jewelry which fell to his share of the loot of captured fortresses, to his friend's sisters, say- ing to Charlie that he had no one in England to send things to, and that it kept up his tie with the old country; for he had been left an orphan as a child. The day after the deputation from his men had spoken to Charlie, Tim ^aid: " I hope, yer honour, that whin the troop's disbanded you will be going home for a bit yerself." " I intend to do so, Tim. I have been wanting to get away for the last two years, but I did not like to ask for leave until everything was settled here. And what is more, when I once get back I don't think they will ever see me in India again. I have suflBcient means to live as a wealthy man in England, and I've seen enough fighting to last a lifetime." "Hooroo!" shouted Tim. "That's the best word I've heard for a long time. And I shall settle down as ycr honour's butler, and look after the grand house and see that you're comfortable." " You must never leave me, Tim, that's certain," Charlie said; "at least till you marry and set up an establisli- ment of your own." " If I can't marry without leaving yer honour, divil a wife will Tim Keily ever take." "Wait till you see the right woman, Tim. There is no saying what the strongest of us will do when he's once caught in a woman's net. However, well talk of that TT 3J>.VJLZ. ZH.XV VJlXjaV WilAVO* 7 0042 THF EVE OP A GREAT STRUGOLE. 865 d so much of nd she writes low her quite by the camp- letters which sisters of his presents, froir) > his share of 's sisters, say- jland to send Bold country; n had spoken p's disbanded anting to get ke to ask for And what is hey will ever ans to live as Dugh fighting 3st word I've down as yer lOUse and see bain," Chcarlie an establish- )nour, divil a There is no len he's once talk of that wnnU^Vi. ''^1.^°'''''''^^'^ ^°^°"^- Fire and water wouldn t keep him away from you, though what he'll do m the colds of the winter at home is more than I know It makes me laugh to see how his teeth chatter and how the creetur shivers of a cold morning here. But cold oT no cold he'd follow you to the nortf pole, and climb up it if yer honour told him." ^ thfrp%^!^^^"&^'^- " ^' '' '^^' ^^* *^ ^^ P^* *« the test tnere lim. However, you may be sure that if Hossein IS willmg to go to England with me, he shall go. He has saved my life more than once; and you and he shall never I)art from me so long as you are disposed to stay by my nn^uV°°'%"'''''\T' ""^ ^^^^ undertaking was attempted on either side. Many petty sieges and skirmishes took place each party preparing for the great struggle which wa^ to decide the fate of Southern India. At last in S^'tJ'^W?' t^ "irL^?"^?.' approached each other. Captain Sherlock, with thirty Europeans and three hun- dred Sepoys, were besieged by the French in the fort of tlrm'rm'the'FL'^^^^ ^'"'^^ '^'^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ Lally was himself commanding the siege, having a^ his second m command M. Bussy, of whom. however,1ie was more jealous than ever. Lally's own incapacity was so marked that the whole army, and even Lally's own regi- ment, recognized the superior talents of Bussy. But although Lally constantly asked the advice of his sub- hSToXlectl^^^^^^^ '* *^'* '^''' S^^^'^"^ ^«^P^"-d r.^t^ f*^• ^?^"'^ ^''^.'; ^^^'^"^ ^'^^t^' ^h« 'i^w com- manded their forces m Madras, were known to be ad- Zr? ^?aT^ ^''^\ ^"'"^ "^'^^"g^y advised that the S ir t h ^^^S?^"^^ *^d ^ «*^o^g position taken up for the battle The advice wa^ unquestionably good, butj.ally ne^lect^d it, and remained in front of vfndi- T«ii uufcu ma ii^ngiisii were seen approaching. The ;i"l:' :'if; >vj 356 FACma EACH OTHEtL French cavalry, among whom were three hundred Euro- pean dragoons, and a cloud of Maratta horse moved for- ward against the English, whose troops were scattered on the line of march. Colonel Coote brought up two guns, and these, being kept concealed from the enemy until they came within two hundred yards, opened sud- denly upon them, while the Sepoys fired heavily with their muskets. The Marattas rapidly turned and rode off, and the French cavalry, finding themselves alone, retired in good order. Colonel Coote now drew up his army in order of battle, and marched his troops so as to take up a position in front of some gardens and other inclosures which extended for some distance from the foot of the mountains out on to the plain. These in- closures would serve as a defence in case the army should be forced to retire from the open. The French remained immovable in their camp. See- ing this, Colonel Coote marched his troops to the right, the infantry taking up their post in the stony ground at the foot of the mountain, at a mile and a half from the French camp. Some of the French cavalry came out to reconnoitre, but being fired upon returned. Finding that the French would not come out to attack, Colonel Coote again advanced until he reached a point where, swinging round his right, he faced the enemy in a position of great strength. His right was now covered by the fire of the fort, his left by the broken ground at the foot of the hills. As soon as the English had taken up their position the French sallied out from their camp and formed in line of battle. The French cavalry were on their right; next to these was the regiment of Lorraine, four hundred strong; in the centre the battalion of India, seven hundred strong. Next to these was Lally's regiment, four hundred strong, its left resting upon an intrenched tank, which was held by three hundred marines and sailors from their naa^. hti+T-> fniiv mina nT^XTtiilirii rvi'.ntit" nrnna xxraya in linft CHARGE OP THE FRENCH CAVALRY. 357 remained m the batteries facing Vandivn^h t1!^ ,„u i sand strong J^L'efr^he Jo™ r™"^^^^^^^ advance to the assistance of their allies * ^"' ""' „»»?<, 5"^ {. army consisted of nineteen hundred Euro horse, and twenty-six field mns Caf'' '"''^ *'' thet E?t Th'I^jr"' °" *i!^''" "g''' ""-J Draper's on meir lett Ihe four grenadier companies of the whito their left being the nearest to the enemy. As the Enghsh took up their position Lallv led onf tn'atl^eeTtalnrthe^TPjr.' '"^^^^ »'^ drawn up Zt Sl^. ffifthtr^rvt" vZ seeing their approach the whole of the irreguUr hoZ -ving forward to meet-th;m: h^" n^t clpZ bX^ m dbl 308 THE INFANTRY BATTIA who commanded the British artillery, turned two of hia guns and opened fire upon them. Fifteen men and horses fell at the first discharge, throwing the rest into some confusion, and at the next deadly discharge the whole turned and rode off. Seeing the enemy retreating, many of the irregular horse rode back, and, joining Charlie's troop, pursued them round to the rear of their own camp, For a short time a cannonade was kept up by the guns on both sides, the English fire, being better directed, caus- ing some damage. Upon Lally's return to his camp with the cavalry he at once gave the order to advance. Coote ordered the Europeans of his force to do the same, the Sepoys to remain on their ground. The musketry fire began at one o'clock. The English, according to Coote's orders, retained theirs until the enemy came close at hand. Following the tactics which were afterwards repeated many times in the Pod insula, the Lorraine regi- ment, forming a column i ■•■(■:He deep, advanced against that of Coote, which receive « them in line. The French came on at the double. Wli* ij within a distance of fifty yards, Coote's regiment poured a volley into the front and flanks of the column. Although they suffered heavily from this fire the French bravely pressed on with levelled bayonets, and the head of the column, by sheer weight, broke through the English line. The flanks of the Eng- lish, however, closed in on the sides of the French column, and a desperate hand-to-hand fight ensued. In this the English had all the advantage, attacking the French fiercely on either side, until the latter broke and ran back to the camp. Colonel Coote, who was with his regiment, ordered it to form in regular order again before it advanced, and rode off to see what was going on in the rest of the line. As he was passing on a shot struck an ammunition waggon in the intrenched tank held by the French. This exploded, killing and wounding eighty men, among whom was the commander of the post. The rest of its occupants, panic- ADVANCE OP THE BRITISH. 359 tied two of hia men and horses rest into some irge the whole treating, many ining Charlie's heir own camp, up by the guns ■ directed, caus- his camp with ivance. Coote the same, the musketry fire ling to Coote's came close at ire afterwards I Lorraine regi- vanced against >. The French istance of fifty into the front ufFered heavily n with levelled ' sheer weight, ks of the Eng- ^'rench column, i. In this the ig the French e and ran back ent, ordered it advanced, and est of the line, inition waggon This exploded, whom was the cupants, panic- stricken by the explosion, ran back to the next tank. Iheir panic commnnicated itself to the Sepoys there, and all ran back togeth»!r to the camp. Colonel Coote at once sent orders to Major Brereton, who commanded Drapers regiment, to take possession of the tank before the enemy recovered from the confusion which the ex- plosion would be sure to cause. The ground opposite that which Draper's regiment occupied was held by Lally's regiment, and in order to prevent his men being exposed to a flanking fire from these. Draper ordered them to file off to the right. Bussy, who commanded at this wing, endeavoured to rally the fugitives, and gathering fifty or sixty together, added two companies of Lally's regiment to them, and posted them in the tank; he then returned to the regiment. As Major Brereton, moving up his men, reached the intrenchment a heavy fire was poured upon him. Major Brereton fell, mortally wounded, and many of his men were killed. The rest, however, with a rush carried the intrenchment, and firing down from the parapet on the guns on Lally's left, drove the gunners from them. Two companies held the intrenchment, and the rest formed in the plain on its left to prevent Lally's regiment attacking it on this side. Bussy wheeled Lally's regiment, detached a portion of it to recover the intrenchment, and with the rest marched against Draper's troops in the plain. A heavy musketry fire was kept up on both sides until the two guns, posted by Draper's regiment, and left behind when they attacked the intrenchment, came up and opened on the French. These began to waver. Bussy, as the only chance of gaining the day, put himself at their head, and endeavoured to lead them forward to attack the English with the bayonet. His horse, how- ever, was struck with a ball and soon fell; the English fire was redoubled, and but twenty of Lally's men kept ^ound him. Two companies of the English rushed for- ward and surrounded the little party, who at once sur- I m 'J ! IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ^/ ^ >. f^^" ^ ^ 4^ I.I 1.0 £fK£l^ ^ lii 122 Jf fig "^ III ISI u — 6" / rljuiLi^cifjiiiC Sciences CorporaUon 4 ^4 23 WIST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSIO (716)a72-4»03 ^^1^ ^ ^ ^t^ %*^ ii ^ 960 DEFEAT OF LALLT'S ARMY. rendered. Bussy was led a prisoner to the rear, and as he went was surprised at the sight of the three hundred grenadiers, the best troops in the English army, remain- ing quietly in reserve. While on either flank the French were now beaten, the fight in the centre, between the European troops of the English and French Companies, had continued, but had been confined to a hot musketry and artillery fire. But upon seeing the defeat of their flanks the enemy's centre likewise fell back to their camp. From the moment when the Lorraine regiment had been routed, four field -pieces kept up an incessant fire into their camp to prevent them from rallying. The three English regiments now advanced in line and en- tered the enemy's camp without the least opposition. The Lorraine regiment had passed through it a mass of fugitives, the India regiment and Lally's went through rapidly, but in good order. Lally had in vain endeavoured to biing the Sepoys forward to the attack to restore the day. The French cavalry, seeing the defeat of Lorraine's regiment, advanced to cover it, their appearance com- pletely intimidating the English irregular horse. Charlie's troop were too weak to charge them single-handed. Re- animated by the attitude of their cavalry, the men of the Lorraine regiment rallied, yoked up four field-pieces which were standing in the rear of the camp, and moved oft in fair order. Ihey were joined in the plain by Lally's regi- ment and the India battalion, and the whole, setting fire to their tents, moved oflf in good order. The four field- pieces kept in the rear, and behind these moved the cavalry. As they retired they were joined by the four hundred and fifty men from the batteries opposite Van- divash. Colonel Coote sent orders to his cavalry to harass the enemy. These followed them for five miles, but as the native horse would not venture within range of the enemy's field-guns, Charlie, to his great disappointniei.t, wijs able to do nothinsr, THE RESULT OF THE BATTLE. the rear, and as e three hundred li army, remain- ank the French re, between the inch Companies, a hot musketry defeat of their k to their camp. B regiment had n incessant fire rallying. The in line and en- east opposition, gh it a mass of J went through lin endeavoured k to restore the at of Lorraine's ppearance com- horse. Charlie's e-handed. Re- , the men of the 3ld-pieces which id moved off in by Lally's regi- iole, setting fire The four field- ese moved the ed by the four 3 opposite Van- y to harass the lies, but as the range of the iisappointmeiit, 361 bat^feof vln r "'^l ^'\?'^ ^%^y' *^^« ^y P^rt i° the battle of Vandivash. It was fought entirely between the two thousand two hundred and fifty French no" mcluding those in their battery, and sixteen Tundm Tw?n 'f'^""^-"^ the grenadiers, who never fired a shot Twenty-four pieces of cannon were taken and eleven waggons of ammunition, and all the tents, stores, and ba^ ilead upon the field. A hundred and sixty were taken fheTrx"?' "^ ^-^'"^ '^^'^y ^''^ «f ^^'" w^ounds before the next mommg. Large numbers dropped upon the march and were afterwards captured. T^e EnC had wou^nd'ed" '''^'' "^' * ""^^^'^ -^ twenty.four The news of this victory reached Madras on the fol- hirj ^,«"^^°&*?d excited as much enthusiastic joy as dmLf ^l«^«y had done at Calcutta, and the event wal a most a^ important a one. There was no longer the sli^ht^ ZJZ °* .r'\ ^''^ *^' ^^^'^' authorities began to Srel F^r^^^^f.^ T" Pondicherry. So long Is the great French settlement remained intact, so long would tia^Fr^nVT-'^ '" fresh invasions, and it waf cSa n that France, driven now from Bengal would make a te*\t1 *° 'r^^ ^^^ shaken Tu^V™ in' futT' It-fP^""^' however, at the disposal of the Madras authorities was still far too weak to enable them to undertake an enterprise like the siege of Pondicher^ or their army did not exceed in nufnbers that whS Laly possessed for its defence. Accordingly, urgent etters were sent o Clive to ask him to send clown in^he summer as many troops as he could spare, other reinforce- ments being expcctei^ from Englancf at that time The KaXT'°^'^ ""^ ""^ T""^ '"^ ^^^ reduction of Chittapett Karical. and many otTier I'orts which held out for the Afte^ the battle of Vandivash Charlie kept his promise i men. Tie represented to Mr. Pigot Ihat they had VM m .3* '•0 to l» J.:: 862 THE TROOP DISBANDED. already served some months over the time for which they were enlisted, that they had gone through great hard- ships, and performed great services, and that they were now anxious to retire to enjoy the prize-money they had eanied. He added that he liad given his own promise tha? they should be allowed to retire if they would ex- tend their service until after a decisive battle with the French. Mr. Pigot at once assented to Charlie's request, and ordered that a batta of six months' pay should be given to each man upon leaving. The troop, joined by many of their comrades, who had been at different times sent down sick and wounded to Madras, formed up there on parade for the last time. They responded witn three hearty cheers to the address which Charlie gave them, thanking them for their services, bidding them farewell, and hoping that they would long enjoy the prize-money which they had gallantly won. Then they delivered over their horses to the authorities, drew their prize-money from the treasury, and started for their respective homes, the English portion taking up their quarters in barracks until the next ship should sail for England. " I am sorry to leave them," Charlie said to Peters as they stood alone upon the parade. " We have gone throuf,fh a lot of stirring work together, and no fellows could h)>'o behaved better." " No," Peters agreed. " It is singular that, contemptible as are these natives of India when officered by men of their own race and religion, they will light to the death when led by us." e for which thev agh great hard- that they were tncney they had lis own promise they would ex- battlo with the Iharlie's request, ' pay should be troop, joined by different times formed up there aded with three die gave them, ; them farewell, ihe prize-money Y delivered over }ir prize-money jspective homes, iers in barracks d. iid to Peters as ve gone throuf,'h lows could hi>"o it, contemptible jred by men of ht to the doutli CUAPTER XXIX. THE SIEGE OF PONDICHEKRY. S the health of the two officers was shaken bv I their long and arduous work, and their ser- vices were not for the moment needed, they Ar..„ • obtained leave for throe months, and went tZV"" Vr^^''? '¥l *" ^°^"^^b«' ^^ere severalEnS trading stations had been established. Here they spent T^C^f"'' Riding for the most part among th^e hTs at the town of a rajah very friendly to the English and with him they saw an elephant hunt, t.e he?d beW driven into a great inclosure formed by a large numbef ^J^^"" '-^'".^^^ for weeks been employed upon ii St thtoXtL^^^^^ fastened to trees Vnativrwho cut through the thick gross unobserved, and were one bv one reduced to submission, first by huAger and then bv bein. lustily belaboured by the tru^s uJfL^fel ^ IC}'^^^^ appreciated the hunt, and declared that Sger shooting was not to be compared to it. ^ Iheir residence in the brisk air of the hills comoletelv restored their health, and they returned to S^ pe^ fectly ready to take part in the great operatio^^fi were impending Charlie on hisSetnrn was appoTnted to serve as chief of the staff to Colonel Coote^^Sptain Peters being given the command of a small bo/v of European horse, who were, with a lar^e bX .iiLZ «lars, w> aid in bringing in supplies to the British i^y 0, 364 A GREAT CONVOY ENTERS THE TOWN. Ml and to prevent the enemy from receiving food from the surrounding country. Early in June the British squadron off the coast was joined by two ships of the line, the Norfolk and Panther, from England, and a hundred Europeans and a detach- ment of European and native artillery came down from Bombay. Around Pondicherry ran a strong cactus hedge strengthened with palisades, and the French retired into this at the beginning of July. They were too strongly posted there to be attacked by the force with which the English at first approached them, and they were expect- ing the ai-rival of a large body of troops from Mysore with a great convoy of provisions. On the 17th these approached. Major Moore, who was guarding the English rear, had a hundred and eighty European infantry, fifty English horse, under Peters, sixteen hundred irregular horse, and eleven hundred Sepoys. The Mysoreans had four thousand good horse, a thousa ad Sepoys, and two hundred Europeans, with eight pieces of cannon. The fight lasted but a few minutes. The British native horse and Sepoys at once gave way, and the English infantry retreated in great disorder to the fort of Trivadi, which they gained with a loss of fifteen killed and forty wounded. Peters' horse alone behaved well. Several times they charged right through the masses of Mysorean horse, but when five-and-twenty were killed and most of the rest, including their commander, severely wounded, they also fell back into the fort. Colonel Coote, when the news of the disaster reached him, determined, if possible, to get possession of the fort of Vellenore, which stood on the river Ariangopang, some three miles from Pondicherry, and covered the approaches of the town from that side. The English encampment was at Perimb^ on the main road leading through an avenue of trees to Pondicherry. Colonel Coote threw ud 'Sv»ouwt on t t-!11 1--U lUc ii'ii: uC hind Perimbe and another on tiie A COWARDLY COMMANDER 365 5 food from the ohlrr^' TV. *"? ^^'^"^^ ^^""^ advancing from Pondi- the loih n?'f /^'^l ''"'" ^"^'^'^ °" *^^^ "corning of the 19th of July. The next morning the French a?mv hfef "''T *^' r.l' AriangopangTbut Coote marched fn iff 1. ?r ^''i^'f ^ ^^^™' ^^"'^ h« n^o^ed the rest as if A- fh^t 11 p'.t^""^^ interspersed along the line of hedge. Ab the fall of these would have placed tfie attacking force m his rear Lally at once returned to the town The ZtfJ.""??^-*^" Mysoreans with three thousand bullocks fwlfv? ^'l artdlery and drawing their baggage, and three thousand more laden with rice and other ??o?isions arrived on the other bank of the Ariangopang r vei- :r;e'd ?hetw'a ^"'^^ ^' ^'^ ^^'^"^^ ^' ^^^'-- -^' The fort of Vellenore was strong, but the road had French had neglected to erect works to cover this passage Coote took advantage of the oversight and laid his two ^ghteen-pounders to play upon the gate, while two others weie placed to fire upon the parapet. The Endish batteries opened at daybreak on the ICth, and at nine clock the whole of the French army with the Mysoreaas advanced along the bank of the river. Coote at once ffot his troops under arms, and advanced towards the French sending a small detachment of Europeans to reinforce the Sepoys finng at the fort of Vellenore. By this time the batteries had beaten down the parapet and silenced the enemy s fire. Iwo companies of Sepoys set forward at lull run up to the very crest of the glacis. The French commander of the place had really nothing to fear, as the Sepoys had a ditch to pass and a ver? imperfect breach to mount, and the fort might have held out for two days before the English could have been in a position to storm it. The French army was in sight, and in ten minutes a general engagement would have begun. .!!-!?'_^^ . *" *^!^ *^® °^,y*^4 ** o^ce hoisted a fla| of The Eujopeana and Sepoys ran snucrui. 366 SKIRMISHES ROUND THE TOWN. rf( m through the gate, and the former instantly turned tlie guns of the fort upon the French army. This halted struck with amazement and anger, and Lally at once ordered it to retire upon the town. A week afterwards six ships with six hundred fresh troops from England arrived. ^ rONDICKKKRY Ju AND ITS r I.VIRONS ^nl ,^lt'%«^^%W^#^''*^' a a s, Finit encampment, July 17 dad, Redoubti erected, July la b b b, Second encampment, Sept. lo. e e e, Third encampment, Oct. e. The Mysoreans who had brought food into Pondicherry made many excursions in the country, but were sharply checked. They were unable to supply themselves with food, and none could be spared them from the stores in tho magazines. Great distress set in among them, and this wai heightened by the failure of a party with two thousand bullocks with nee to enter the town TKia r^ari^r p.«^|.*„j - _ . . — .„ r-»i 5r T J Cowl ircU w. antly turned the y. This halted, i Lally at once c hundred fresh NDICKKKRY kNO ITS r I.VIRuNS IN i;ot; P ■IFi,^^}, If,!., nmpnient, Sept. lo. mpment, Oct. 6. nto Pondicherry lit were sharply themselves with the stores in the 3m, and this wai h two thousand party, PRESSING THE SIEOB. m by the greater portion of the Mysorean horse from Pondi- tu7i 7', ^**'^<:ked and de4ted. and nine^undred wart tlo : t? Z't \F'^' ^^^'^"^-'- Shortly after- waras the rest of the Mysorean troops eft PondicheiTv and marched to attack Trinomany onuicnei-iy Seemg that there mis little fear of their returnincr to SThfhf f r^f t^"^^^^^^^ "«^^ determined to com? Chance of rih, ' '^' -f .^'* P>'^.- ^^ °^^^^ *« ^'^^^ ^"^ nnlo • '^^I'^c^'^g It ^>y famine it Avas nece.s.sary to obtaih possession of the country within the hcd-c, which with S redoubts extended in the arc of a circTe from the river Ariangopang to the sea The space thus included con, lained an area of nearly ^even square miles, attbrdimr pasture for the bullocks/of which there were siflident to TlF/J^f *^" , r'Pl T^ inhabitants for many montha" Therefore, although the army was not yet strong enough to open trenches agamst the town, and indeed the siege artillery had not yet sailed from Madras, it was d|! termined to get possession of the hedge and its redoubts, lietore domg this, however, it wa^ necessary to capture akinr Vf ^n^?P^"^- This was a dififcult under- !t;T^" A :j^« \^»ropean force was but two thousand strong, and if eight hundred of these were detached across the river to attack the fort, the main body would be scarcely a match for the enemy should he march out against them. If on the other hand the who?e army moved round to attack the fort the enemy would be able to send out and fetch in the great com^oy of pro! visions collected at Jinji. Mr. Pigot therefore requested Admiral Stevens to land the marines of thefleet. Althou~v„r 01 a nuudred gun. mounted on the sei'facTrf ihl 372 THE OUTTINQ OUT OF THE HERMIONE. fort. These ships were awaiting the stormy weather at the breaking of the monsoon, when it would be diflBcult for the English fleet to maintain their position off the town. They then intended to sail away to the south, fill up with provisions, and return to Pondicherry. Admiral Stevens, in order to prevent this contingency which would have greatly delayed the reduction of the place, determined to cut them out. Charlie's health being much restored by the sea breezes, he asked leave of the admiral to accom- pany the expedition as a volunteer. On the evening of the 6th, six-and-twenty of the boats of the fleet, manned by four hundred sailors, were lowered and rowed to the Tiger, which was at anchor within two miles of Pondi- cherry, the rest of the fleet lying some distance farther away. When at midnight the cabin lights of the Hermione were extinguished, the expedition started. The boats moved in two divisions, one of which was to attack the Hermione, the other the Baleine. The third vessel lay nearer in shore, and was to be attacked if the others were captured. The night was a very dark one, and the boats of each division moved in line with ropes stretched from boat to boat to ensure their keeping together in the right direction. Charlie was in one of the boats intended to attack the Hermione. Tim accompanied him, but the admiral had refused permission for Hossein to do so, aa there were many more white volunteers for the service than the boats would accommodate. They were within fifty yards of the Hermione before they were discovered, and a scattering musket fire was at once opened upon them. The crews gave a mighty cheer, and casting oft' the ropes, separated, five making for each side of the ship, while two rowed forward to cut the cables at her bows. The Compagnie des Indes opened fire upon the boats, but these were already alongside the ship, and the sailors swarmed over the side at ten points. The combat was a short one. The seventy men on board fought bravely for [IONS. rmy weather at d be difficult for )n off the town, uth, fill up with admiral Stevens, ich would have 3, determined to Qch restored by miral to accom- i the evening of tie fleet, manned id rowed to the miles of Pondi- distance farther ' the Hermione ed. The boats IS to attack the third vessel lay the others were le, and the boats 1 stretched from iher in the right ats intended to i him, but the sein to do so, as for the service ey were within vere discovered, 3ned upon them. Qg oft' the ropes, the ship, while her bows. The the boats, but and the sailors le combat was a ight bravely for THE TWO SHIPS BROUGHT OUT. 373 Th'^hrf^bp." ^"'''' Y 5^'y ^^^" ^P^^^ily d"^«n below, alreadv ot T'" '• °''^ °^'' *^'^' ^"^ ^^^ «^bles being hoTs? d and fh.rr.^T'"^^' ^^' ^^'y '^^ bent, wj the^^^rH^n^f^T- ''''' *^^* *^" ""^^^^^^^ Of fire informed the garrison the ship was captured, a tremendous cannon- rlLTJrw ^^ >^.5.^""^ °^ *^^ fo^^^^««- The lighl mng was flashing vividly, and this enabled the gunners to direct their aim upon the ship. Over and over aS she was struck, and one shot destroyed the steerir ^hee? rlt *}"'' -I'P"' ^^^ ^"^^^ *^o ^^« ^ho were sWng: The single sail was not sufficient to assist in steering he?, thp rin! r'' *n^ ^^^^^ ^^^^'^ ^i*h such energy^hat tt S' 7^*^°"^% snapped. The fire continued from the shore, doing considerable damage, and the men in the boats, who could not see that the ship was moving through ^irll'^ "^^1"^^^ t^t «he was anchored by a?onceal?d t^t ^^^r'^i^r- P'^ °®^^^ '"^ command, therefore, called up the Frenchmen from below, telling them he tTeir^W ' • ^It \' '}'^' J'i'y ^^™^ «- de^k aXok their places m the boats, which rowed back to the Tiqer Upon arriving there Captain Dent, who commanded her e Sr w'^^' officer, and said that unless the boaS Ih^Z T*r"^ ^^^ ^'^"^^* *be Hermione out he should send his own crew in their boats to fetch her. a mil. nff'^K thereupon returned and met the ship half a mile off shore the land wind having now sprung up The 5aW had been easily captured, £id having severS sa Is bent she was brought out without difficulty. No attempt waa made to capture the third vessel. steadf] J'T^y, • ^ w7 '"* ^V^"* ^^^ E^gli^b laboured nr!i 7/ *^^'' batteries. The French were becoming pressed for provisions, and Lally turned the whole of thi hunZHT^''''°f '"^ ^^^ *^^'^' *^ *be number of fourteen nunarea men and women nnfairi/^ *>,« i?~_i.:p--x- .^ their amval at the English lines they were refused per" 874 A GREAT STOAIC. mission to pass, as Colonel Coote did not wish to relieve the garrison of the consumption of food caused by themu They returned to the French lines and begged to be again received, but they were, by Lally's orders, fired upon and several killed. For seven days the unhappy wretches remained without food, save the roots they could gather in the fields. Then Colonel Coote, seeing that Lally was inflexible, allowed them to psiss. On the 10th of November the batteries opened, and every day added to the strength of the fire upon the town. The fortifications, however, were strong, and the siege progressed but slowly. On the 30th of December a tremendous storm burst, and committed the greatest havoc both at land and sea. The Newcastle, man-of-war, the Queenborough, frigate, and the Protector, fire-ship, were driven ashore and dashed to pieces, but the crews, with the exception of seven, were saved. The Duke of Aquitaine, the Sunderland, and the DuJce, store-ship, were sunk, and eleven hundred sailors drowned. Most of the other ships were dismasted. b wish to relieve caused by them. gged to be again 5, fired upon and ihappy wretches ley could gather I that Lally was ries opened, and le fire upon the strong, and the »th of December ;ed the greatest stle, man-of-war, )tector, fire-ship, , but the crews, . The Duke of ')uke, store-ship, drowned. Most CHAPTER XXX. HOME. HE fire of the batteries increased, and by the 13th of January the enemy's fire was com- pletely silenced. The provisions in the town were wholly exhausted, and on the loth the town surrendered, and the next morning the English took possession. Three days afterwards Lallv was embarked on board ship to be taken a prisoner to" Madras, and so much was he hated that the French officers and civilians assembled and hissed and hooted him, and had he not been protected by his guard, would have torn him to pieces. After his return to France he was tried for hav- ing, by his conduct, caused the loss of the French posses- sions m India, and being found guilty of the offence, was beheaded. At Pondicherry two thousand and seventy-two military prisoners were taken, and three hundred and eighty-one civilians. Five hundred cannon and a hundred mortara tit tor service, and immense quantities of ammunition arms, and military stores fell into the hands of the cap- tora Pondicherry was handed over to the Company who, a short time afterwards, entirely demolished both the fortress and town. This hard measure was the con- sequence of a letter which had been intercepted from the i^rench government to Lallv. ordering him to razA M«^ras to the ground, when it fell into his iTanda 376 376 HOMEWARD BOUND. Charlie, after the siege, in which he had rendered great services, received from the Company, at Colonel Coote's earnest recommendation, his promotion to the step of lieutenant-colonel, while Peters was raised to that oi major. A fortnight after the fall of Pondicherry they returned to Madras and hence took the first ship for England. It was now just ten years since they had sailed, and in that time they had seen Madras and Calcutta rise from the rank of two trading stations, in constant danger of destruction by their powerful neighbours, to that of vir- tual capitals of great provinces. Not as yet, indeed, had they openly assumed the sovereignty of these territories, but Madras was, in fact, the absolute master of the broad tract of land extending from the foot of the mountains to the sea, from Cape Comorin to Bengal, while Calcutta was master of Bengal and Oressa, and her power already threatened to extend itself as far as Delhi. The conquest of these vast tracts of country had been achieved by mere handfuls of men, and by a display of heroic valour and constancy scarce to be rivalled in the history of the world. The voyage was a pleasant one and was, for the times, quick, occupying only five months. But to the young men, longing for home after so long an absence, it seemed tedious in the extreme. Tim and Hossein were well content with their quiet easy life after their long toils. They had nothing whatever to do, except that they in- sisted upon waiting upon Charlie and Peters at meals. The ship carried a large number of sick and wounded officei-s and men, and as these gained health and strength the life on board ship became livelier and more jovial. Singing and cards occupied the evenings, while in the daytime they played quoits, rings of rope being used for that purpose, and other games with which passengers usually wile away the monotony of long voyages. It THE ARRIVAL IN LONDON. 877 was late m June when the Madras sailed up the Thames. fTl^ r""" ^\ '^^ ^""^ *^ *"°^^' *h6 two officers and sppIJ' 7"'! ^^"'^'^- '^^^ ^"^ ^"^ ^"«tle of the streets seemed almost as strange to Charlie as they had done Zfnni l^rT.x^"^ ^,^°^ ^'^''"^ Yarmouth. Hossein was astonished at the multitude of white people, and inquired ot Charlie why, when there were so many men, England reply ""^^ """^^^^ ^'^ S^^^ ^ satisfactory c "J* ^"^J! ^^.^"^ strange," he said to Peters, " that when such mighty interests were at stake, a body of even ten thousand troops could not have been raised and sent out. buch a force would have decided the struggle at once ^t f? n"*^^ "'''"^^' *^^ ^^^^t possessions, which have cost the Company twelve years' war, would have been at wif- {n ^* '^''''^'? ''^^ ^^^^ c««t them more, indeed, nothing like as much as it now ha^ done, nor one tithe ot the loss m life. Somehow England always seems to make war in driblets." ^ Charlie knew that his mother and Kate had for some years been residing at a house which their uncle had taken in the fashionable quarter of Chelsea. They looked thCTe, but found that he wa^ not in the city, and, indeed had now almost retired from the business. They there-' ^f • w"? a coach, placed the small articles of luggage which they had brought with them from the ship on the tront seats, and then Hossein and Tim taking their places on the broad seat beside the driver, they entered the coach and drove to Chelsea. Charlie had invited Peters, f^r « ^tr ^^'"It ""^ ^'^ ^"""^ *° «^^y ^ith ^'^^ at least tor a while. Both were now rich men, from their shares ot the prize-money of the various forts and towns in whose capture they had taken part, although Charlie possessed some twenty thousand pounds more than his I' !► i 878 WILOOMKi friend, this being the amount of the presents he had re- ceived from the Rajah of Ambur. Alighting from the carriage, Charlie ran up to the door and knocked. Inquiring for Mrs. Marryat, he was shown into a room in which a lady, somewhat past middle age, and three younger ones were sitting. They looked up in surprise as the young man entered. Ten years had changed him almost beyond recognition, but one of the younger ones at once leaped to her feet and exclaimed, "Charlie!" ^ His mother rose with a cry of joy, and threw herself into his arms. After rapturously kissing her he turned to the others. Their faces were changed, yet all seemed equally familiar bo him, and in his delight he equally embraced them all. "Hullo!" he exclaimed, when he freed himself from their arms. "Why, there are three of you! What on earth am I doing? I have somebody's pardon to beg, and yet, although your faces are changed, they seem equally familiar to me. Which is it? But I need not ask," he said, as a cloud of colour flowed over the face of one of the girls, while the others smiled mischiev- ously. "You are Katie," he said, "and you are Lizzie, cer- tamly, and this is— why, it is Ada! This is a surprise, indeed; but I sha'n't beg your pardon, Ada, for I kissed you at parting, and quite intended to do so when I met again, at least if you had offered no violent objection. How you are all grown and changed, while you, mother, look scarcely older than when I left you. But, there, I ha :e quite forgotten Peters. He has come home with me, and will stay till he has formed his own plans," He hurried out and brought in Peters, who, not wish- ing to be present at the family meeting, had been paying the coachman, and seeing to the things being brought into the house. He was warmly received by the ladies, A HAPPT PARTY. nta he had re* 379 smcelv^rwl!? °/"°P»°r of Charlie in bis adventures, srarcely a letter having been received from the latter without mention having been made o( his comrade. In a minute or two Mr. Tufton, who had been n ih. large garden behind the house, hurried ia^ He w^now quite an old man and under the influence of age and thT tdtl Zit fl'^ *^"7at and her daufhtr.^, h^ lr4Jfahedh"m."' *' '"""P"''^ "'"'«'' "^ *-'*»- dis! « Ahl nephew," he said, when the happy party had sat down to dinner, their number increaseFbrt^e ani^ of Mrs. Haines, who had a house close by.''wafu™ 7hIjJ^^" °"; '"'y-, I ^•"''d t» raake a rich mer! soldier. But youve not done badly for yourself after aJl. to you have in your letters often'^talke^ aSut p7ke! k T^i T"^^' ^ '■*^« «'"^«'' in my way close unon a made^tha Trh ffl^^ / eer|inly^shoSdnThav: maae that if I had stuck to the office at Madron even wl h in'^'' "^ '"■' <*P''»f. y" "^"'"^ t" lend me to S with on my own account. There was a general exclamation of surprise and nlea sure at the mention of the sum, although tfiis am* imt wm ^i^at^sr^te^beTo-io^e"'!:;; Shircrii^ffl^sgi^^'-^" ^^ ■'^'' """^"^ '^^ «r.!i^*'®-*^^°'**.® ^ ""^^ ^® ^*^' ^*5<>her, aiid the danger and excitement of a soldier's life there it present reX It very fascinating. But I have done with it Petera and I intend, on the expiration of our leave to resi^ou^ toder our own vines and fiff-treea. Tim »,«o «u..^ 380 KATIE'S OPINION. f 1 :*V \^U'i l:>ii- ..:f.l v.: J ■*;-:, ;T ' ki\ .ft-:-. ■ . ■■ • '*'■■'! i 1 ;- " * ' " . '" '■' J .IK '■.'1 '' - i^S -m..i- elected himself to the post of my butler, and Hossein intends to be my valet and body-servant." ^ Immediately after their arrival Charlie bad brought in his faithful followers and introduced them to the ladies who, having often heard of their devotion and faithful services, had received them with a kindneas and cordiality which had delighted them. Lizzie whose appearance at home had been unexpected by Oharhe, for her husband was a landed gentleman at bevenoaks, m Kent, was, it appeared, paying a visit of a week to her mother, and her three children, two boys and a little girl, were duly brought down to be shown to and admired by, their Uncle Charles. "And how is it you haven't married, Katie? With such a pretty face os yours it is scandalous that the men have allowed you to reach the mature age of twentv-two unmarried." "^ "It is the fault of the hussy herself," Mr. Tufton said. It is not from want of offers, for she haa had a dozen and among them some of the nobility at court; for it is well known that John Tufton's niece will have a dowry such as many of the nobles could not give to their daughters. " This is too bad, Kate," Charlie said laughing. •' What excuse have you to make for yourself for remaining single with all these advantages of face and fortune?" u ml^'^'P^^ ^h^\ ^ ^'^""'^ ^'^^ ^°y of *hem," Katie said. Ihe beaux of the present day are contemptible. I would as soon think of marrying a wax doll. When I do marry, that IS, if ever I do, it shall be a man, and not a mere tailor s dummy." "You are pert, miss," her uncle said. "Do what I will, Charlie, I cannot teach the hussy to order her tongue." "Katie's quite right, uncle," Charlie laughed. "And I must make it my duty to find a man who will suit her utler, and Hossein ,nt." arlie had brought them to the ladies, otion and faithful ne&s and cordiality d been unexpected ided gentleman at saying a visit of a Jren, two boys and I to be shown to, ed, Katie? With ilous that the men 9,ge of twenty-two " Mr. Tuf ton said, has had a dozen, at court; for it is vill have a dowry lot give to their laughing. "What r remaining single )rtune?" ihem," Katie said, mptible. I would When I do marry, , and not a mere d. "Do what I 3sy to order her laughed. "And who will suit her MARKIKD A^D HAPPT. 35 j tojte though, according to your account of her he will wo«^ for'wr^" "'' ''^'" '^^ ^^^^ «^"^"y' "«r it will be Two days later Charlie's elder sister returned with her family to her house at Sevenoaks, where Charifnro mised before long, to pay her a Wsit. liW she Cd gone, Charhe and Peters, with Katie, made a serL of excursions to all the points of inter^sHound Son and on these occasions Ada usually accompanied them The natural consequences followed. Charlie had fo; yeai^ been the hero of Ada's thoughts, wSle Katie had ht:d iTcfj ^^.^^n^* '^e ;I from th: fi^t aisposed to regard him m the most favourable li^hf Before the end of two months both couples we eL4fed and as both the young officers Possessed ^^1 leans' e'^^^'Ji^n " Th? 'T.""' '^i' ^^' - oSrcleTan' lnd\\TZ • ?i! ^^^!-^^"g« took place a month later, dmnk L Z fi *^ «5"bera.ice of his delight, hilariously ChlrL P fi. ''* ??^ ^^^r ^^^ ^""'^g his service with Char he Both gentlemen bought estates in the country and later took their seats in Parliament, where thevviJ' orously defended their former command r Lord fefn the assaults which were made upon him settS Zwif^- ''''''' •' ^i?.ht y^^rs after his master, and settled down m a nice little house upon the estate Although henceforth he did no work whatever ITt sisted to the end of his life that he was still in CoWl Mairyat's service. Hossein. to the great amusemenrof his master and mistress, followed Tim's examnl^Tl?! pretty cook of Charlie's establishli ^ade ^7ol to his swarthy, hue. Charlie built a snu^ cotta 'e for them close to the house, where they took up tS resi' ^^ce. but Hossein, though the happy fathe? of a We family, continued to the end nf . tJz, ui'L^l.^,^^ of a lonff life to dischar re 583 TIM AND IIOSSWN. the duties of valet to his master. Both he and Tim were mimense favourites with the children of Charlie and fll i^' T^^ Tx? ^«7^^i^ed of listening to their tales of the exploits of their fathera when with Clive in India. ^ lu xnai& I THE END C he and Tim were I of Charlie and ? to their tales of Clive in India \