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1
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£^s»^
..><l' '''-■
\\
^BV/-
\-
WITH CLIVE IN/lJ^DUX
M
OR
H:i' ?:h3ol
THE BEGINNINGS OF A^ EMPIRE- ''i
\ ST
%;STIH
BY
G. A. HENTY
Author of "Tho Lion of the North" " Through the Fray" "True to the OM Flag"
"In Freedom's Caube" "For Kame and Fume" "Facing Death" ic.
ILLUSTRATED BY GORDON BROWNE
LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, LIMITED
[COPP CLARK CO. LTD. WILLIAM BRIGGS
TORONTO TORONTO
rtOfl^ND IN FNCI.AND
PRV7S5
Uss
VJS
Life
PREFACE.
Trk
In the following pages I have endeavoured to give a vivid
picture of the wonderful events of the ten years, which at
their commencement saw Madras in the hands of the French-
Calcutta at the mercy of the Nabob of Bengal— and English
influence apparently at the point of extinction in India— and
which ended in the final triumph of the English both in
Bengal and Madras. There were yet great battles to be
fought, great efforts to be made, before the vast Empire of
India fell altogether into British hands; but these were but
the sequence of the events I have described.
The historical details are, throughout the story, strictly
accurate, and for them I am indebted to the history of these
events written by Mr. Orme, who lived at that time, to the
Uft of Lord Clive, recently published by Lieutenant-colonel
Malleson, and to other standard authorities. In this book
I have devoted a somewhat smaller space to the personal
adventures of my hero than in my other historical tales, but
the events themselves were of such a thrilling and exciting
nature that no needs of fiction could surpass them.
A word as to the orthography of the names and places. An
entirely new method of spelling Indian words has lately been
invented by the Indian authorities. This is no doubt more
correct than the rough-and-ready orthography of the early
traders, and I have therefore adopted it for all little-known
places. But there are Indian names which have become house-
hold words in England, and should never be changed, and as it
I would be considered a gross piece of pedantry and affectation
VI
PREFACE.
on the part of a tourist on the Continent, who should, on his
return, say he had been to Genova, Fironze, and Wien, instead
of Genoa, Flonmce, and Vienna, it is, I consider, an even worse
offence to transform Arcot, Cawnpoor, and Lucknow, into
Arkat, Kahnpur, and I^aknao. I have tried, therefore, so far
as possible, to give the names of well-known personages and
places in the spelling familiar to Englishmen, while the new
orthography has been elsewhere adopted.
G. A. HENTY.
CONTENTS.
Chap.
I. Leavino iroMB, '^"
II. Thb Yodno Writkr, ....*..'*'*
III. A Bbubh with Privatfriw . !!.'!. 84
rv. The Pirates of the Paoikic. . a»
V. Madras, . . *''
VI. The Arrival of Clivb, ' ' ' 70
VIL The Siege of Argot,
VIII. The Grand AssActT, ..!!...* 93
IX. The Battle of Kavaripak, .* . ." . , [ ' jos
X. The Fall of Serinqam, .....'. loi
XI. An Important Mission, •...!!'* iga
XII. A MuBDBBous Attempt, .
XIII. An Attempt at Murder, ...'..*.* i«o
XIV. The Sieob of Ambcb, ,--
XV. The Pirates' Hold, . .' Jf
XVI. A Tigeb Hdnt, ....].*
XVIL ThbCapttoeofOheriah,.* * !?«
XVIII. The "BMcKHou." OF CAiK^nxrl,: .' .' .' 'HI
XIX. A Daring Escape,
XX. The Resoob of the White CAPiivi . ! . 265
XXI. Thb Battlb outside Calodtta. . ' ' * ' 0117
XXIL PLASSBf, ... ^^^
XXIIL PtASBBT, .....[,[ ^®°
XXIV. MouNTiD Ihfantut,
XXV. Besieged ih a Pagoda, .* . ' * !??
XXVL The SiEOB OF Madbab. . Jf
XXVII. Mabclipataii, . ^^^
XXVni. The Defeat of L^l .' * ' ?J?
XXIX Thb Sieg. of Pondiohebbv; .* !"
XXX.H0M., «««
.i «75
/
r
ILLUSTRATIONS
A Bbush with Privateers Fronfu>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-<l'stan<!e
fettle chance for the hoSs P. t '"^ ''*.'* ^<^ t""'
Ui one of the b^st We;, SM *v'*P,"*' '"inimer
Reputation for beiTa &!„ »vi^ '"•'"?• ^« ''"'^ »
hm he was honourlbfe «Sl»„f^''' mischievous prank;
liimself under tte semWanS^f^'aT''''' T™ **> *»"«
|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 <Tht^ a thinff, sir. Joshua Tufton always haa
done, and doesn^t expect to be thanked tor it.
AUIask
'i
is unde
*; I am
rays has
lUI ask
AN INDUN OUTFIT. .g
Alter dinner was over rhar>]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."
<l
r said,
jr.just
aid he
n him
lor by
So he
tiad no
ike our
ire were
he sent
id, was
said it
tier dis-
er. As
Lormous
pounds,
sorts of
cind he
ball be
ber, said
only his
I, I have
I musn't
Lh! here
try and
idressed.
td, "lam
Einged as
Elizabeth
is a fan-
surprised
r grand-
A PAINFUL DUTY. m
her lips just L8h;J»t^i?« ?'!''"*''<'"' Charlil closed
both, muttering to himsel™ '"™*^ '^"'^
ing at, grand-niece /• "^"'^'""'y- What are you laugh-
peopV?hey H^'^'illy^P,'"*,,^ '"' ki^ed except by
you^uncie^thtwins ter arm/ "'A* ''° '*« ^^^
ing him heartilyT-i^u^ ™rZ'' ''k "'"^ »?'' "^'^
Tuf^rs^re/tifcaritn^^f tL^ £A; H^-
a'^ugttj^wUrthi' 4 >•- ^^^^^^^
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
<l.^>
''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<lJed quietly. '• Not
hstemng to the e:.plo3ioi of firear^;, anTthTmyTther
lady p^engers should be exposed t^ the dangTr whi^
" to :ZT: V^ '''"" » ■«'™> '»'^«" 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 leapin<r out Xie7S;™l,
yond the reach of the water \& the Z? 1 T Y
?orthiTit?1 ''""' *"-Ph«S5; dtTa^tertn?
£ „v! f *^' '"^''%«'»ent. This the lads were X
chief f«torf lfere1he7wernod ttt"oom?^„„tt
given them in one of the houses erected by the Comnanv
for the use of its employes, that they would mTw^f
the other derks residing in the same house 3 tWt
sights and scents which met their ^m- {^i^L%
very Uttle was known of Ma to Ci^I "l^eTw:^
5ZT/'f r*'^ disappointed. VisioilTf orie^S^fsplen:
dour, of palaces and temples, of sunerblv 1r«..ed c^'-°
wim wmus of gorgeous retainers had floated brfore 5^^ S
r,
4\
n
56
THB BLACK TOWN.
mmd s eye. Instead of this they saw squalid huts, men
dressed merely with a rag of cotton around them, every-
where signs of squalor and poverty. Madras, however,
they were told that evening, was not to be taken as a
sample of India. It was a mere collection of huts which
had sprung up round the English factories. But when
they went to a real Indian city they would see a very
different state of things.
I
Im
ts, men
every-
)wever,
m as a
I which
b when
a very
CHAPTER V.
MADRAS.
^S ^}f ^""""^ "^^'^^"^ ^^^ seen the native
town they returned to the beach and spen?
the afternoon watching the progress of S
sir, 'xs£SS^\^'='
according to its weigtr^^dlr^ofe^ff «?"/&
bhng sort of trot with their burden to the fe^^rt Ti. • '
z^^ «™' «- '"oaeifSTr^^t^^t-ST:
All were dressed in white ™its, and Oiiarlie was struck
lij
68
THE LIFl OF A WRITER.
with the pallor of their faces and the listless air of most
of them. The gentleman to whom they had first been
introduced made them acquainted with the others.
"How refreshingly healthy and well you look!" a
young man of some six-and-twenty years old, named
Johnson, said. " I was something like that when I first
came out here, though you'd hardly think it now. Eight
years of stewing in this horrible hole takes the life and
spirits out of anyone. However, there's one consolation,
after eight or ten years of quill-driving in a stuffy room one
becomes a little more one's own master, and one's duties
begin to be a little more varied and pleasant. One gets
a chance of being sent up occasionally with goods or on
some message or other to one of the native princes, and
then one gets treated like a prince, and sees thai India
is not necessarily so detestable as we have contrived to
make it here. The only bearable time of one's life is
the few hours after dinner, when one can sit in a chair
in the verandah and smoke and look at the sea. Some
of the fellows play billiards and cards; but if you will
take my advice you won't go in for that sort of thing.
It takes a lot out of one, and fellows that do it are,
between you and me, in the bad books of the big-wigs.
Besides, they lose money, get into debt, and all sorts of
mischief comes of it."
The speaker was sitting between Charlie and Peters,
and was talking in a tone of voice which would not be
overheard by the others.
" Thank you," Charlie said. " I for one will certainly
take your advice. I suppose one can buy ponies here.
I should think a good ride every morning early, before
work, would do one good/'
" Yes, it is not a bad thing," Johnson said. " A good
many fellows do it when they first come out here; but
after a time they lose their energy, you see, though some
it up
ao
*-n 1 »
does one good to see you eat."
What appetitoa yuu luuuws uuvts:
Tx
1
(
' f
a
Ti.
i
\
AN INDIAN MEAL. gg
sai^ laSghing- ■■ buUV "f.,:''** ^' "i" •»*»«.'• Charlie
But there sefm, .n i '"^ """^ "'«« whatever it is
stuff ;?:ix„ZotrrThior"*''^ "^A'pp«- <» ""S
in this tremendoiL h«S^';tu,dZv7;;,"J'*™*''^"^'''•
in8tead of cooler." * ™*^" ""• hotter
pepp^rLd t,?rdo"wt'^''l?^ ;N»'^°"'" »" this
the to>Tfruit°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<rreed thlt.i^^F'S'' * ^'"^ *"■• common
remain pemaSy at his c^pLr ^'°°^ "^""^'^
'>
'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'<i. turning
Most warmlv " ih ^ i
greatcool„essandcouLetThe»ff'-'''?'y ,''»*'> 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
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Hiotographic
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WiBSTIR.N.Y. 14SS0
(716) 872-4S03
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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 <ifnt;«^ '^oana. On its too CJivo
«>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 <lay
;t hand, he despatcledlhett?! T*' "'>' «-''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 '' ^^ ^'"*»<J«h. h« fell
tore, which S, he ifamed f™l "?" .*". D'Auteuil's
to relieve Law He mlrS t^rn f °"* *" endeavour
D'Auteuil, raring ot htt ^P*^*}^ *» intercept him.
again to VaCX' The'"at ^ clk'oftSf^. *^" ^"^
ever, seeing that the affairs nfthTv \, '^ '*™' ''»«'-
and wiUint like all hif^ . ™°'' "'^'^« "^^^Perate.
with the sSoneest WI .1 !J''7'"'"' *° '"*''« his peace
English, S SX^Z^^ "'fP*^^ Whes from the
ani refused toTdm^t ht rf'"™ "^"^^^ *« S"**^
D'Auteuil, caught teL™;„ ^«™ '°°" arrived^and
his whole for«? ''° '"^^ ^^- snfrendered with
troops with him two LuC/c,' *'«''' ^r^^d French
of dnnda Sahibrtroom W^^P"^^."",'' *<>" ">°"«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
<tion with
knowledge
,s declared
,dy openly
can is now
jre. Now,
rritory lies
jarly up to
I, like that
. In days
and every
stant wars
of a chief
erful than
) feels that
I nizam or
Uy himself
iined to be
«h gratified
er into no
bory would
any war in
1 aa it is at
CHARLIE AS A MILITARY AGENT. 135
munications, and otherlte tlu^^^^^^ ^""^ °°^-
ments. But although wTaeethafM ^'^ "'''"!?' °^°^«-
useful to us in ca^e of Zh! w«. ^'^ "^"^"^^ ^^ ^^ry
our part we could^ivrhin? ' '^^^° ''^^ ««« ^^w oh
now, with thrgreafelt d ffi.fl? P^^^'l^^^' ^^« ^^^ve
successful concSn in th?&«r""lH ^^^^' *« ^
active and energetic and w.n ^^''^^^ ^^^ I>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<?^ '"*^'"'^- Their appear-
once had pa^ed be3?ft„'^fr-''"'">°^''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)
<iufcies at Arcot.'
146
THE rajah's hopes FOR THE FUTURE.
The rajah agreed heartily to Charlie's proposals, well
pleased at the thought tht^t he should, before the end of
a year, be possessed of a trained force which would enable
him to hold his own against his powerful neighbours
until an opportunity might occur when, in alliance with
the English, he should be able to turn the tables upon
them, and to aggrandize himself at their expense.
im
/
posals, well
the end of
3uld enable
neighbours
iance with
ables upon
ise.
CHAPTER XII
A MURDEROUS ATTEMPT.
IaNDSOME rooms with a . v .
were assigned to (^haL inT "^' ***^"dant8
" You niveJk ^^^ ''"*• *" V^rsonal
be up to. Thev^n^' ^f honour, what the^o no*-
*he next. TheTve T^^^*^ ^^^ o^ie day rnd'T u"""^
you do but iive^'e^ ^.^^^^herous varmint veril '^^^ ^^
At first 8h?l- ^ chance." ' ^^'^ honour, if
1:2 ^'"^?. ^"tKLls o*fl'^ P-«on excited
thimf), ?^t *^^'«^o^« ^d Si ^ v^' «"rroundin/ the
S^to^a^i^^^^^^^^^ ^^--
*J^at he shouM ^'"^ ^^""^y' ^7 him thSff ^^ 'fJ^^' ^ho
Pearance of ?i *^?'*'' ^'^ hold aCf ^^^ 'J ^«^ ^^^ better
148
DISCONTKNT AMONG THB N0BLK8.
made by the rajah, who should lend an ear to the advice
of his usual counciUoivs, but that once appointed they
should be under his absolute command and control, and
that he should have power to dismiss those who proved
themselves indolent and incapable, to promote active ancj
energetic men, wholly regardless of influence or position.
Tfie next morning Clarlie and his four a^istants
set to work to drill the three hundred men of the garri-
son, taking them in parties of twenty. , They were thus
able, in the course of a few days, to pick out the most
active and intelligent for the sub-officers, and these with
the existing officers of the body and the new ones ap-
pomted by the rajah, were at once taken in hand to be
taught their duty. , . , .
For a month the work went on steadily ana without
interruption, and from morn till night the courtyard
echoed with the words of command. At the end of that
time the twenty officers and forty sub-officers had fairly
learned their duty. The natives of India are very quick
in learning drill, and a regiment of newly raised Sepoys
will perform manoeuvres and answer to words ot command
in the course of a fortnight as promptly and regularly ^
would one of English recruits in three months. A good
many changes had taken place during the month s work.
Many of the officers became disgusted with hard and con-
tinuous work, to which they were unaccustomed, while
some of the sub-officers showed a deficiency of the quick-
ness and intelligence needed for the work. Their places,
however, were easily ulled, and as the days went on all took
an increasing degre ^ of interest, as they acquired facility
of movement, and saw how quickly, according to the Euro-
pean methods, manoeuvres were gone through. At tne
end of a month, then, the sixty men were able in turn to
instruct others, and a body of five hundred men being
called out, the work of drilling on a large scale began
The drill-ground now was a level space in the vaiiey
below the town, and tne wnoie popuiatiuii acoumoxv^a -.^j
IBE NIW LEVIES. , .q
them were kept entirely' senamf^ I "^ ?*""^ ^*"«d
mand of one of the Sepo^ys Sn^^^^^ ""^^' *^« ^om-
ta of the officers aS/U officrrS°"^ ^^^
Charlie came down for Rn v,^ ^^ ^^^^^ evening
through Its drill distribuHn^K, ^°^ ?"* ^^^h bod?
was leserved, thus keenW ^ ^'^^"'^ °^ P^^i^e as it
between the battaHons ffiheL^. f "J "^ ^°^"^^«on
the simpler manoeuvres had btnl! ""^f ^^^^^^S^t, when
hours each day, worked th«wt ^\'"'''^',^^^^"e' for two
ment, and waJ's^^'Sd W^^^^^^ '^ one regi?
the progress which each dareffecte^^ Th^"^ l^& ^^
often came down to the 6rU] »rZ a /^® '*J*^ himself
interest in the work H« tf ?.^ ^°^ *ook the highest
regular p^if orms'dmilaf ?o fc^r ^^ fain have'h'ad
the service of the Euronean nnw! ^ ^7 *^® ^^V^ya in
but Charlie strongirSf?rnn';rr'^ ^°^ *^^ "^«°;
^d that the trools woffd hll^r^ ^V\ ^^ ^^"^it-
in regular unifor^ than 1 « 1 TT^^^, ^^**^^ if clad
according to his own fanTy H^"^- ^^Z' ^^^ ^'^'^
that while the news th!r^' -^^P^^n^ed out. however
his men drilled hi F« *^e 'ajah waa having some of
little attention atng^TsTig^^^^^^^^^^^ ^"^-'bul
waa raising Senov bnfffif '*®*^^'^o"rs, the report that he
by them in^ hSX^rr "'"'' ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ceted
foM^e^ihrtn^'t^^^ 2t\^ -^^orms made
They can be at once sTrved o^?t ^n ^^J'''' ^^ «*ora
service, to h/ ZTaJ^TP ."^ *>« 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<lo„ that therre,Je«trhe"d T"''t ^' '"« ve^
that they were stUl in hi„h^. '""'• ''"' he learned
^a mother continued LttiTthet'' •''^ """'"■ '"^^t
reached hin, of T^lo^t^i^irSiL'" "^L"'- 'T''^ -^ '"«'
^reS^h\1aTro:rg£":ht?i4^-^^^^
rupted," he said. "Mvlri.^ ^"^'"'^ ^^'^ a^^ays be cor-
room my four ^eu^lJ^tTl^' fi'^. '^^mf^Z-
y that the soldiera are forth! ' ^\ ^^^' and know-
^e, I do not think that open forlTn ?.^'*' ^***^^^d to
however, cause a We beU toT ^'" ^^ "««d- ^ will,
quartei-s, its ringing ISl hi « • ^ ?"?P«°ded above mv
in which case I ve%Xol%o^^^ ^^""^ ^ ^^ ^'^^^^l
^ Z'^^ ^^'^'^-^^^^^^^^^^^ s
newrthatiLj^thm^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^d at the
Fecaution thaf heZ^^t^^J^nTT^^^^ ""' ^°^ -^^
He took to going down U> 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 *,?'"""»• ^»<i Aouts were
the pice. OnemSredl«t^»ff!!r"°*''S ^^"gh
to beat the two m"n wHnnnt^^?* *' "^"^nts made
but Hossein and^thetLElt^-^fi^r Th '""'"ft
and numbers of their nnr.nn^c u ' "^^^ weight
when the firat of the seEr^^'. """^^^"^ ^^^ "P«^ *h^°^>
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^
<Sm ft^n7 .?'^"'*^n'^ ^^°"^ *^e slopes on their flanks
-"*' .".,''"^"^- -^^e enect wa« decisive Th^,
^u au tne commencement of the fight scarcely
172
DEFEAT OP THE ASSAILANTS
S'lii
I' li
I
outnumbered the troops of the rajah in front of them
and had derived but little assistance from the levies of
their &Uy, who indeed had contented themselves with
keeping up a fare upon the defenders of the slopes. They
had already suffered very severely, and the charge made
upon them along the whole line wa^ irresistible. Before
the bayonets crossed they broke and fled, hotly pursued
oy the troops of the rajah. These, in accordance with
Lharhes orders did not scatter, but kept in a close line
tour deep, which advanced pouring tremendous volleys
mto their foe. In vain did Murari Reo endeavour to
rally his men. His infantry, all order lost, fled at the
top of their speed, their flight covered oy their cavalry
who sacrificed themselves in two or three brilliant charges
right up to the line of pursuers, although sufTering
ranks withering volleys poured into their
The troops were now formed into heavy columns, and
toese rapidly marched down the valley after their flyinx?
enemy. An hour later the sound of heavy firing wal
heard m front, and at redoubled speed the troops pressed
onward. When they arrived, however, at the gorge
they found that the la^t of the fugitives had plss?d
through The ground m front was strewn with dead and
dymg, for as the mass of fugitives had arrived at the
gorge, the infantry from above had opened fire upon
them Several times the frightened throng had recoiled,
but at last, impelled by the greater fear of their pursuers
behind, they had dashed forward through the fire, only
to tall m hundreds in the gorge, crushed beneath the
ram ot rocks showered down upon them from above.
of them,
levies of
Ives with
is. They
rge made
. Before
»■ pursued
mce with
jlose line,
s volleys
avour to
d at the
' cavalry,
t charges
suffering
ito their
uns, and
ir flying
'ing was
I pressed
e gorge
I passed
iead and
1 at the
re upon
recoiled,
Jursuers
re, only
ath the
>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<i?''
of co„,.e, that it ma/be^Sl'-^"^^- , "/t is possible,
Jeave you in peace- W,,„ ™ fi! '''*' '' "« hotter to
that they wiU^ co^ide" ?fia? t" "''"" "''"^ " '"^y be
power that it isabsolutlnecera^'r '" /"^idabfe a
Stiii. r ol,„„iw ""./ ^P™ that which we hav. i-. j A J*^
" ="="<! on a juesaeneer to.mn-«;„™V"' -""""J-
ger lo-morrow to acquaint
174
A MORE FORMIDABLE INVASION.
' I
J
the nizam with the defeat you inflicted upon the Marattaa
who have invaded you, to assure him again of your loyalty
and to beg him to lay his authority upon Murari Reo not
to renew the attack.
Ten days later a messenger arrived from the nizara
ordering the rajah to repair at once to Hyderabad to ex-
plain his conduct. The latter sent back a messacre of
humble excuses, saying that his health was so injured by
the excitement of recent events that he was unable to
travel, but that when he recovered he would journey to
Hyderabad to lay his respects at the feet of the nizam.
Iwo or three days later a messenger arrived from Mr
Saunders with a letter to Charlie. In this he expressed
his great satisfaction at the defeat Murari Reo had re-
ceived, a defeat which would for some time keep him
quiet and so relieve the strain upon the English. Affairs
had, he said, since the departure of Clive for Eno-land
been going badly. Dupleix had received large reinforce-
ment, and the English had suffered several reverses •
Mr. baunders begged him to assure the rajah of the
respect and friendship of England, and to give him the
promise that if he should be driven from his capital he
would be received with all honour at Madras, and should
be reinstated in his dominions, with much added terri-
r?^'^^ J ^ . English were again in a position to take
the held in force and to settle their long feud with the
I rench. °
Ten days later they heard that the army of the nizam.
jiiteen thousand troops, with eight hundred French
under i^ussy were marching against them, and that the
horsemen of Muran Reo were devastating the villages near
the frontier. A council of war was held. Charlie would
fain have fought m the open again, believing that his
trained troops, flushed with their recent victory would
be a match even for the army of the nizam. But the
rajah a^d the rest of the council, alarmed at the presence
ot the iJ reach troops, who had hitherto nrovfld invineibl-
"I
B Marattaa
ur loyalty,
■ri Reo not
the nizam
bad to ex-
lessage of
njured by
unable to
ourney to
;he nizam.
from Mr.
expressed
o had re-
keep him
. Affairs
England,
reinforce-
reverses. «
h of the
3 him the
iapital he
id should
led terri-
n to take
with the
tie nizam,
i French
that the
ages near
lie would
that his
y, would
But the
presence
THE FRENCH AND THE NIZAM. ,..
against vastly superior forces of nof
such a course, and it was ZTded f ^ /?u ' '^'^'"^ ^^om
tent themselves with the dSce of fl. f'^ '^^"^^ ^^^i-
Orders were accordingly Issued il f !v ^""^ ^^^ castle,
women, and children sho^uld at l^^i ^' f^ "^^°' *he
under guard of one battahon of troon'^r. ^^'' *"^'«' ^^d,
a most impregnable hill fort som/J?^' ''^""^e ^n an
battalion was placed in garrison In /k'' ^^^^^ ^ne
other three, with the irrponia ? Y^ *^^ castle. The
whence they coul| if Sstr^v tf T^ '"^ '^' 'oZ>
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 <!.?*?. • j *** enemy,
the left foiiowIdTfe;^^^^^^^^ shot upon
told that the enemy were annrl 1 ^"^ ^^ °"^ <^° the right
afterwards the senfrils ^InT '& / '"^^^ <^r two
ladders which had been nM^u ^'"^^^ the ditch by
and. hauling these UDafL^f^"®^ *^^'® ^^^ the purposf
with the nfws t W^e^^^^^rs ^ r °^ ^" *^« ^a'Sy'
proacbng on either flafk W i *^^ ^"^"^^ ^ere ap-
at their posts when the French w^ ""''^ *^« &*^"«on
At once tliey broke into a run Lh' if"?, approaching
across the space of cleared rock 1^^"-!°"? ^"^' ^^^^ed
fire of musket-or and cmne m ^i^'*" °^ the heavy
to the edge of the deep^SSf inS^^-^^ ?™«' ^o^ever^
Theyhad had no idea ^fmeet^nt-i''^'^*^"^ Paused.'
f this. It wa^ easy enough ?nl!^ '!?*^ ""^^ ^ obstacle
to climb up the stefp ?^etn f^^^^^^ but impossible
and which, in the ^m lLJ.f ^}'§^ '^ ^''ont of them
-as, however, imp t^b ff^/^J^i ^e plainly seen'^It
Pressed upon bv /hrvJTJ j ?^® ^ ^ont to oausp
-as stopping tLmXgfnu^^^^^ °°* ^-«^ S
jump into the trench whfre thev fn 7.T ^^"^PeUed to
either to advance or rltrSt ^ ""^ themselves unable
, oy this time everv inm /» *i,- ..^ . ,
- opened oa the'^^tl7^-i^-^the^«.«e
i ■vl
182
THB SIBOB RAISED.
flank, while the fire of the battery was continued with-
out a moment's intermission. Bussy himself, who was
commanding one of the columns, pushed his way through
his struggling soldiers to the edge of the trench, when,
Bjeing the impossibility of scaling the sides, unprovided
as he was with scaling-ladders, he gave the orders to
retreat; and the columns, harassed by the flanking fire of
the guns of the castle and pursued by that of the battery,
retreated, having lost some hundreds of their number,
besides a hundred and fifty of their best men prisoners
in the deep trench around the battery. These were sum-
moned to surrender, and resistance being impossible they
at once laid down their arms. Ladders were lowered to
them and they were marched as prisoners to the fort.
The next morning when the defenders of the fortress
looked over the valley, the great camp was gone. The
nizam and Bussy, despairing of the possibility of carrying
the position, at once so enormously strong by nature and
so gallantly defended, had raised the siege, which had
cost them over two thousand of their best soldiers, including
two hundred French killed and prisoners, and retreated
to the plateau of the Deccan.
The exultation of the rajah and his troops was ivi-
bounded. They felt that now and henceforth they were
safe from another invasion, and the rajah saw that in the
future he should be able to gain greatly increased terri-
tory as the ally of the English. His gratitude to Charlie
waa unbounded, and he literally loaded him with costly
presents.
Three weeks later a letter was received by the la'^ter
from Mr. Saunders, congratulating him upon the inestim-
able service which he had rendered, and appointing him
to the rank of captain in the Company's service. Now
that the rajah would be able to protect himself should
any future assault be made upon him— an evtafc most
unlikely to happen, as Bussy and the nizam would be
unwilling to risk a repetition of a defeat which had
uve
RECALLED.
tiued with-
al who was
ay through
inch, when,
unprovided
> 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
<ed had he
vould have
iion. They
nged capti-
the service
o return to
Tible blow
t is a bad
ire bide our
had better
ve will sit
ird. They
eir seats in
ged along-
:. Beyond
)aid no at-
ihes and at
hold. The
I, but there
traders at
LCt, rather
L a native
ider of the
nining the
They rose
s service,
Fhe other
AN UNEQUAL STRUOOLX. jgg
An'Kll*t gtdThr'^ en^phatically. ^^mia^
capture any of our men whir"" ^«" ^our peoX
trader. Her heaV^I^fZe&td' ^
the four Maratta boats shT nrn« V'?""^' accompanied by
Another trader was caiturplnn?),'^^^ "P *^« ^^^t again
evaded the pirate? bTr^nb; -il'^ 1*^' ^«J *^o otCs
The trader was a slow saXr Ind ?>. ^"""^ °^ ^^^^^"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 <<n
a host of little curs." ^ '° * '"^^dow att^ ^ked by
are' fe^JS.' Xt'lS ^r sh'" ^*^t^ ^ ^^^ they
-.nun^beroFthem. Oo^St^ ^^^-^^^ ^
, Z'^^^eThL^^^^^^^^^^^^ got twenty-five."
frigates, one of fifty and ?.f? ^""i "'"«• They are two
,- f OOP of eightee^ I cLnVm!!: '' *^.'r«^^ ^""'^ «nd
1 don^ think they're EngTish " ^^^ ""* *^^ ^«^o«". but
fi^efe Tim said con-
^t tLafa tormSg them/. ' *° "'^ ^^ <*«"» va?-
«, lii
190
DESTRUCTION OF A DUTCH TUtVt.
' 1 * '
w
The scene as the boats approached
The three ship,
fV
was very exciting.
.._^_ .. poumig their broadsides wunoui
intermission mto the pirate fleet. This consisted of
vessels of all sizes, from the Jupitre and Bedoration
down to large rowing galleys. Althou!;h many were
sunk, and more greatly dan.aged by the fire of the Dutch,
they swarmed round the great ships with wonderful
tenacity and while the larger vessels fought their Ln,ns
against those of the men-of-war. the smaller ones kept
Close to them, avoiding as much as possible their for-
niJdable broadsides, but keeping up a perpetual musketry
hre at their bulwarks and tops, throwing stink-pots, and
shooting burnmg arrows through the ports, ancf gettincr
a ongside under the muzzles of the guiis and trying tS
climb up into the ports. "^ ^
Jm?/°V'' "®^^y arrived craft joined in the fray
1 his is mighty unpleasant, yer honour." Tim said, as
a shot from one of the Dutch men-of-war struck the
craft they were m. crashing a hole through her bulwarks
and laying five or six of her crew upon the deck, killed
or wounded by the snlinters. "Here we are in the
middle of a fight in which we've no consarn whatever,
and which is carried on without asking our will or plea-
sure; and we are as likely to be killed by a Christian
shot as these haythen niggers. Hear them yell, yer
look! There s smoke curling up from a hatchway of the
big ship. If they haven't set her afire!"
. It waa as Tim said. A cloud of black smoke was
f!.l?i ?r t^^^^^'^t ^!iys^^ frgate. A wild yell of
u^Tl }^ St *^«,Marattas. The fire of their guns
upon her redoubled, while that from the man-of-war die.l
fZ^'l ^a <^^«\,were called off to assist in extinguish-
mg the flames. Now the smaller boats pressed still more
cicely round her, and a rain of missiles was poured
;S™^ the open ports. Several times the Ukr&tt^
climbed on board, but each time were driven out again.
lest
got
now
Fi
boar
cont
of t
alonf
bat (
thef]
frigai
from
iire.
cut
Dutcl
and t
was €
sheet
them,
gines 1
"Is
"that
four gi
ever ni
natives
see, thi
that cli
"Yot
aten us
think o
lieve thi
may hai
When
captives
ry exciting.
les without
on.sisted of
ReHtoration
many were
the Dutch,
wonderful
their ^nma
■ ones kLj)t
> 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<i
CHAPTER XVI.
A TIGER HUNT.
lOMMODORE JAMES was greatly aatonishod
I at the easy success which he had /ained The
extraordinary ce.s.s.^ion of fire fVom the sea
tace and the sound of artillery within *lia
walls had convinced him that a mutiny among their-
nson must have taken place; but, upon entering the for
he waa surprised mdeed at being received with a hcartv
English cheer from a little body of men on the summit
1-n M T ^*P*?^" Marryat, sir, of the Company's service
nW '^wT^ was captured three months ago by these
ranged to effect a small diversion, and with the a^ssistance
of these five native officeiB, of my soldier servan here
and these ten men of the merchant service, we have I
hope been able to do so. The native officera dilablp Af
f::tZ'Zt^l.''''^ during the nlgl^^ndt^^^^
wl,^?^^ 1 *"'! *^*3 mornmg we seized this inner work
rti of YAV^' r^^"^""'^ ^'^^ ^P^'^^d fire uporthe
rear of the sea defences. By dint of our OTin/nn^ !.f
HT *' ^^r "P '^' P^^« if *4 ^ aE H we
^T^er^fr* '^^ "°*^i *^^^? «^^ ^^ ^^"l«d down."
men. sir, Commodore James said warmly: "I have
200 w J ^
aatonislicd
ined. The
m the sea
ivithin the
g the gar-
ig the fort
h a hearty
le summit
ice thrown
id towards
'•'s service
» by these
day I ar-
assistance
ant here,
e have, I
abled the
nd when
ler work,
jpon tlie
3 and of
d it, we
vn."
"I have
THE RETURN OP THE FLEITT. ^oi
^verV?rctT • ^'""'"'X ^""^ *^^ ^-^'«tance you have
I w^ by\'rmi;:renlV?'^«"/-"^ the'?ortre^^
indeed, had come f^ fi? , °- ^"^ '^ «« ^^''^"g. and,
force it my command wri'?." ^^^ '^'"^^^ ^^^^^ the
capture. FortunTte?v I dl ''^^"j ^ "®«^^°t f«r its
another days C But ha^T w ^ ^'^ .'^' ««*«^t of
would assuredly have tan '*."«* ^een for you this
You have, indeed PerformpS f ^"f ^^^,^^^1 as the first,
shall hav; great pSurTt ."^' -^^"^^^ *^*^«"' ^^^ I
the authoritils at We " "P°'*^"^ y"«' ^^^^uct to
the ships. Very Tame ouanH?^/'' f P"T'" «^ t)oard
stored ip.and strona^l^r 5'^' of powder were found
for the Wowin * up ITtl t"yf ^.^^"" *« ^^^"^ "^^^^^
labour of some" days whp„ ^?u'*^^^*^«»«- This was a
charged a series or/r.!?", *^^^ "^^^^ completed and
Man^of Ve'Ctil^rrtlTp^^^^^^^ '?^ P^--
in others the walls werTshat^e^Pd 1^he n^ *' P^'"^^'
again landed and set to work aSed hv f\f ^^'^ ^/^
great stones which comco.pH ki ii ^ *^® ^^^^°^«- The
the steep faces TtK^k on whlH '.iTT *."PP^^^ «^«'
at the end of a for/nfr.K? H • . ^ *^® ^^^t stood, and
which had so loMn the ^Z/"*' ^'il°^ Suwarndrug
had disappeared " ^ *^^^°' °^ *^« Indian Seal,
whin; ttffi:tTt*:ttt"n^' '" ^^" -^^-%
defended as that place wo^rK^'??^* ^'^ ^^«"ah,
fleet, which had ev^en witW thP >• .*^' ""¥' 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 <?^ ^""^ /^"^ ^^^ ^^arce near
Butthft'isnotall There ar^T^' ^"^^ ^^ ^"^ ^'^^
who set the authority of ?h!' ^7"'"°"' ^^^^« ^^ ^^^^oits.
travellers and merZn^^^^^^ defiance, plunde^
into the BZiZ^'XS't^! r' f^r "^1^^ '^^^
the gates of Bombflv ^ ^, ®^ ^^^ ^^^ land nearly up to
sentlgaLt them but th^wf ^ ^P'^^'^""^ ^^'^ ^een
hills. Tha^r ki ■L'acoits know every foot of the
of feet froramU;"thr^;^"s oHfelr "^ Y'^''^'
pressed, shift their auaito,.^,? IT^' *"'' <^»"' 'f
among the trees whlh, «?! 4^ move fifty miles away
for them." ' ""^ *''°°P" »" ™ ™in searching
CharliS" ""''' " "" «'"^«» of ">«^ "'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 <iimiHoT. „ , '"' ™jali s, and
which waa aSnedSmStT P™ '"'' ? '""^ '"'«'«•
follow immediSy b^hTn'S'ht. "^l^S^- ^1?"-^ *»
showed the^th That fL ?• ^^d t™ted 'brushwood
moved aa noi^ellyt Zmr^^i^^r.^ti:?-, ^Iharlie
forward towards the rocts beht^ T^ /f" '"* ''^'g^'
within four or five vS« of ?M '*w '' "^ "o' «"'"
tiger could beseelT Sn thebnl. *' ™^ ''S° "* «>«
-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<l
Dutch, and iScLtda^fwhTA???' ^''^ ^'^'""' ""^
English in Bengal °* ""^ property of the
reckoning f?om th^tabolthev Sfd^nl'"^^^^^^ "i^^^
moment. But nofhinr, ^o ^,.? , ^^^ ^oubt for a
news of the fi^t dTsfX? T'JV^'i^,*^^^ ^^^t at the
nabob would order hifcaS^ ^*f ^'' *^^^P« '^'
Upon the march untL?f *?a.^^ ?"* to death.
chirfulnessSUdtemner'?«S^^^^^^^ ^^' ^^ ^^^^
officer commandifrtL Zrd fn^^ *^' ^^P^'^^" ^^ the
destination he recLmeffi^^ ^'^^"^ ^* ^^^^^
mander of the priso^tW f ifo T !? '^^^^^^^ *° ^'^^ ^om-
Wm in the apaSent aU^^^^^^^^ w?' ^°'*^^? ?^ P^^^^^g
prisoners, assicmed Tsemrpt ! 't'P^^der of thl
Tim. at h;« r!!lr.t A^ *^ ''°f°' *^ ^^°^' permitting
worn of fair sii tn ' 1 '"''"Py '^ ^^th him. *^It was I
tair si^e, in a tower on one of the angles of ^e
340
IN AN INDIAN PRISON.
.1 I
*^
walls It had bars, but these did not prevent those behind
them looking out at the country which stretched around.
The governor of the prison, finding that Charlie spoke the
language fluently, often came up to sit with him, con-
versing with him on the affairs of that unknown country
England. Altogether they were fairly treated. Their
food was plentiful, and beyond their captivitv they had
little to complain of. Over and over a';ain they talked
about the possibilities of effecting an escape, but on enter-
ing the prison they had noticed how good was the watch,
how many and strong the doors through which they had
passed. They had meditated upon making a rope anc'
escaping from the window; but they slept on the divan,
each with a rug to cover them, and these torn into strips
and twisted would not reach a quarter of the way from
their window to the ground, and there was no other
material of which a rope could possibly have been
formed.
" Our only hope," Charlie said one day, " is in Hossein.
I am sure he will follow us to the death, and if he did
but know where we are confined he would not, I am cer-
tain, rest night or day till he had opened a communication
with us. See, Tim, there is my regimental cap, with its
gold lace. Let us fasten it outside the bars with a thread
from that rug. Of course we must remove it when we
hear anyone coming."
This was speedily done, and for the next few days one
or otiier remained constantly at the window.
" Mr. Charles!" Tim exclaimed in great excitement one
day; "there is a man I've been watching for the last half
hour. He seems to be picking up sticks, but all the
while he keeps getting nearer and nearer, and two or three
times it seems to me that he has looked up in this
direction.
Charlie joined Tim at the window.
" Yes, Tim, you are right That's Hossein, I'm pretty
sure.
CI
ha
wl
dei
ev(
fro
hac
(u
hose behind
hed around,
ie spoke the
ti him, con-
iwn country
ted. Their
by they had
tney talked
ut on enter-
) the watch,
ch they had
a rope anc'
a. the divan,
1 into strips
e way from
IS no other
have been
in Hossein.
id if he did
)t, I am cer-
imunication
lap, with its
ith a thread
it when we
sw days one
itement one
}he last half
but all the
two or three
up in this
A JUiRND oxmrntc -.J
hnndred'^JSrl^VZ "PP^^^^^ed within two or thr^
Parentjy /ofiing %^T, ''A' "^^^- He was aT
Pj-e.entJy he glafce^d Jn the df ^^"«^^ood for ^^
ever was intended for them w ^ ""^ ^^"^t what-
from them to be able to disf^" ?u ^^ «*"^ too far off
^ not the least doSb^ttfc' ^r^' '^' ^^^
, I'm pretty
(uri
1 !
11
CHAPTER XIX.
A DARING ESCAPE.
|nD what's to be done next, Mister Charles?
That's Ilossein, sure enough, but it don't
bring us much nearer to getting out."
" The first thing is to communicate with
him in some way, Tim."
" If he'd come up to the side of the moat, yer honour
might spake to hiuL"
"That would never do, Tim. There are sure to be
sentries on the walls of the prison. ^ We must trust to
him. He can see the sentries and will know best what
he can do."
It was evident that Hoasein did not intend doing any-
thing at present, for still stooping and gathering brush-
wood he gradually withdrew farther and farther from
the wall Then they saw him make his sticks into a
bundle, put them on his shoulder, and walk away.
During the rest of the day they saw no more of Hossein.
"I will write," Charlie said — "fortunately I have a
pencil — telling him that we can lower a light string down
to the moat if he can manage to get underneath with a
cord which we can hoist up, and that he must have two
disguises in readiness."
" I don't think Hossein can read," Tim said, " any more
than I can myself."
" J daresay not, Tim,
nave irienus
242
f
?ter Charles!
but it don't
g out."
lunicate with
b, yer honour
e sure to be
nust trust to
iw best what
id doing any-
lering brush-
farther from
sticks into a
walk away,
-e of Hossein.
Bly I have a
t string down
meath with a
lust have two
id, " any more
T have friends
REMOVING THE BARS. j. ^
in the town T)ia
English factory at KSnTbTj'ZT^ '"Bloy^d in the
out of emplojient aS will reiiyly ^«»« "i" be
English. We can trust Ho ,.^^*', *•>» 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 "" ""^^ """^ ^^' «<l"««zed him-
linrougn the bars, and grasping the rope tightly
S46
THB KNOTTED ROPB.
'i'*^-*l'
J m
be^an to descend. He found the knots of immense
assistance, for had it not been for them, unaccustomed as
he was to the work, he would have been unable to pre-
vent himself from sliding down too rapidly. The win-
dow was fully sixty feet above the moat, and he was
very thankful when at last he felt the water touch his
feet. Lowering himself quietly into it, he shook the rope
to let Tim know that he could begin his descent. Before
Tim was half-way down Charlie could hear his hard
breathing and muttered ejaculations to himself:
" Shure I'll never get to the bottom at all, my armo are
fairly breaking. I shall squash Mr. Charles if I fall on
him."
"Hold your tongue, Tim," Charlie said in a loud
whisper.
Tim was silent, but the panting and puffing increased,
and Charlie swam a stroke or two away expecting every
moment that Tim would fall. The Irishman, however,
held on, but let himself into the water with a splash
which aroused the attention of the sentry above, who
instantly challenged. Tim and Charlie remained per-
fectly quiet. Again the sentry challenged. Then there
was a long silence. The sentry probably was unwilling
to rouse the place by a false alarm, and the splash might
have been caused by the fall of a piece of decayed stone
from the face of the wall.
"Tim, you clumsy fellow," whispered Charlie, "you
nearly spoiled all."
" Shure, yer honour, I was kilt entirely, and my arms
were pulled out of my sockets. Holy Mother, who'd
have thought 'twould be so difficult to come down a rope!
The sailors are great men entirely."
" Now, Tim, lie quiet, I will turn you on your back
and swim across with you."
The moat was some twenty yards wide. Charlie swam
across towing Tim after him, and taking the greatest
pains to avoid making the slightest splash. The opposite
of immense
customed as
able to pre-
, The win-
md he was
jr touch his
)ok the rope
int. Before
IV his hard
ilf:
ny arms are
if I fall on
in a loud
g increased,
jcting every
,n, however,
th a splash
above, who
ttained per-
Then there
IS unwilling
plash might
scayed stone
larlie, "you
id my arms
ther, who'd
[own a rope!
your back
barlie swam
ihe greatest
Che opposite
,
ONCE MORB FRER
2i7
your rar'Then 1 ^T'^^ T" ''^'^'^ '"o -P« --^
^S¥?^^^^-^ Ho^-r4
^ JWhere are you taking us, Hossein?" Charlie asked at
qulrter°rf »'r-l"°^'"''"" tr"^ » » -J'^^ted cottage a
snuy ?eSd 121- hut'^is std":f th "^ tV
thT"! 1"?="^;. ^'>«° they hid enteedtht Chariil t?
res'^ied'th^"' ""°'^^' *^™^ "^ follower Trtavl?^
mv5ft ''"^^ " ?/>?*>" 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\^^^^^^^ <!«-%. "I did not
dreadful that I LaSv Sl^f ^/^ '° «*^»^g« ^^d so
on the way here when! tuZf'. *n *"• ^"* afterwards
that it m4 be sr He Id nnf J-n* T' ^^ '^'"^'^ *^ °^«
noon. He was not shnf ,, ^?J *'''°^® *° '"^' ^^^ ^^at after-
and everyone tth^^^^^^^^ that dreadful pl^^,
niust have been kmTd butfbff * ^'T/^ *^ ^"« ^^at he
^^„ XI Kiiiea, but that you did not like to tell
t.i^fKi7!^,^*h^ ^^F h>> 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
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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<r1i,h .! *''' ""^ "" ''««'
of neutrality with him »n^ fv T f? *" ^'^ »° agreement
objects of UtZt tt Cauulm'^Ty''* ^'^'' "^^t
gcrs to the nabob ursS, ?,nlT"^w '?/°"* "^^'on-
were allowed to a„n?hiSf Ztth hfv woSd if "^"*
Frendi t"K^S "S "^^ hostilities against the
hundred men to^ "Sw? Hedespatclfed fifteen
doned after capturta? J wttb !n ** ^."S"* ^ad aban-
French if attacked fndhltnn'S''T ^ ^'^^ '^e
and 'tte'n^^'^C'ta'^vour^it'' ^'"T *''« ^»*
orders. The treatt Iff ^I?? ,°^ acceding to the nabob's
dmwnup Md3/L i!*'"5'."">' »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^ "" »«<!« to sink
dred and fifty ya^dsto'^fhr^i''^ channel, about a hTn-
coramanded 1/1^^,^^'':'^ "f 'he fort, at a pZ*
: ill
:-. H
»i
m
ill
m
u
378
OHARLIS SENT TO RI0ONNOITR&
a positio.' as to leave a channel through which the Eng-
lish ships might pass, and then, seizing his opportunity,
deserted to thorn.
On approaching the town Clive, knowing that Charlie
could speak the native language fluently, asked hinj
whether he would undertake to reconnoitre the position
of the enemy, with which he was entirely unacquainted.
Charlie willingly agreed. When, on the night of the 13th
of March, the army halted a few miles from the town,
Charlie, disguising himself in a native dress and accom-
panied by Hossein, left the camp and made his way to
the town. This he had no difficulty in entering. It
extended a mile and a half back from the river, and con-
sisted of houses standing in large gardens and inclosures.
The whole of the Europeans were labouring at the erec-
tion of the batteries and the destruction of the houses
surrounding them, and Charlie and his companion, ap-
proaching dosely to one of these, were pounced upon by
the French officer in command of a working party, and
set to work with a number of natives in demolishing the
houses. Charlie, with his usual energy, threw himself
into the work, and would speedily have called attention
to himself by the strength and activity which he dis-
played, had not Hossein begged him to moderate his
efforts.
" Native man never work like that, sahib. Not when
he's paid ever so much. Work still less, no pay. The
French would soon notice the sahib if he laboured like
that."
Thus admonished Charlie adapted his actions to those
of his companions, and after working until dawn ap-
proached he managed, with Hossein, to evade the atten-
tion of the officer, and, drawing off, hurried away to rejoin
Clive. The latter was moving from the west by a road
leading to the northern face of the fort It was at the
battery whidi Renault was erecting upon this road J;hat
Charlie bad been labouring. The latter iufuiiued Clive
ch the Eng-
opportunity,
that Charlie
asked hinj
the position
aacquainted.
b of the 13th
n the town,
and accoin-
) his way to
sntering. It
rer, and con-
i inclosures.
at the erec-
i the houses
upanion, ap-
ced upon by
5 party, and
lolishing the
irew himself
ed attention
hich he dis-
Qoderate his
Not when
o pay. The
ahoured like
ions to those
il dawn ap-
ie the atten-
way to rejoin
jst by a road
t was at the
lis road that
toi'iued Clive
OUVE DETERMINES TO ADVANCB. %f$
strong by iteelf, it was commanded J»y manv adioinin^
houses, which the French, in spite of ^thdr efforr ha§
not time to destroy. This news decided Clive to Idia^ce
immediately without giving the enemy further timrS
complete their operations. '"^wicr ume to
I
I'"
I
Ir:
CHAPTER XXIL
PLASSEY,
MiM
I S the English troops advanced they were met on
the outskirts of the settlemsnt by the enemy,
who contested bravely every garden and
inclosure with them. The British force was,
however, too strong to be resisted, and gradually the
French were driven back until they formed in rear oi
the battery. Clive at once took possession of the houses
sun-ounding it, and from them kept up all day a heavy
fire upon the defenders, until at nightfall these fell back
upon the fort after spiking their guns. The loss of this
{)osition compelled the French to abandon the other out-
ying batteries, from which, during the night, they with-
drew their guns into the fori The next four days Clive
spent in bringing up the guns landed from the fleet and
establishing batteries round the fort, and on the 19th he
opened fire against it. On the same day the three men-
of-war, the Kent of sixty-four guns, the Tiger of sixty,
and the Salisbury of fifty, anchored just below the channel
which the governor believed he had blocked up. The
next four days were spent by the fleet in sounding, to dis-
cover whether the statements of the French deserter
were correct. During this time a heavy cannonade was
kept up unceasingly between Clive and the fort. In this
the garrison had the best of it, silenced some of the English
guns, killed many of the assailants, and would certainly
'M)
™ ATTACK ON CHANDRANAGORIL
281
^t^^t^J:^.:^ '^' ^'^ «-^ not been
arrive frl'ThV!;:,XThe M.'^^'-'^? ''''' -^ ^^uU
force under Rajah Cab J,nW if' '"^"^^' ^'^ ^^^^ ^
bribed by Omkhund^M^^^^^S'^^^^^
him to hVal cTatvalZ^^^ f - -^n^g
and he would only incur tK« ^^,*^S?* to surrender,
On the mornin/of the 2^^^^^^^
channel was fre| the tet ad^^ Th:1^'^^^', *^^^ *
made her way through the Z^ll'^Itl^'^''' ^^^^^°?'
tion abreast of the north.PR?f Tf^*® and taking up a posi-
a heavy fire upon "t with ^ °'' ^^ *^^ ^^rt. opened
besieged with aCusketTtfir«'f ^T ^"^ *^*^«^««S the
wa« on the poinUf anc^orW nT ^-T ^T' ^he ^er^<
when so heavy a fire wl, n. ^ ?P°''*^ **'« ^^^^r gate,
confusion the^cable raHuf and 1"^^^^^ ^7' *^^* ^^ ^he'
till she anchored at a point e^l^JV^'Pu^'^PP^^ ^«^'»
from the south-east Ld sonfh ^ ? ^ ^^^^^^ c^-o^s fire
this accident thet^Z^L^^was" W^^^^^ .^"^"^ *«
dred and fifty yards below thTfZw^ ^''^^^^ a hun-
with extreme bmverv V^?!^''"*- ^' ^'^""^^ bought
English force and S' thl^rfn l"S'"°' *" ^^''^ ^he
wiA the greatest fT^ Ld ^^^'L"^^ "^'^^^'^^^
directed and animated bv M n^v-' *^® gunners being
of.the ships which had len'sunlcX''' ^^^^ ^f onf
gained by the ^W in hpr^f i" ^°, advantage waa
bastion, ind thefuns of Thf "^fi^ ^^^^ *^« north-ea^t
the Kent so sevefely tha thflld^'^t ^^^^^"'^ ^^"^d
south-east bastion, w^i Wa'tr'^^^ the
guns upon it Be vtnes coninJ ?iH.^. ^^^le of his
one point in the i^ JS present^^^^^^^^^ ^'^ '^"^°«*
her on fire. The confla^r/Hnf ^ succeeded in setting
and some seventy or Svt:'/?^^^^^^ ensue|
alongside. The Xer^h^r ^^^^1"*° *^^ ^^^^^
crew. The fire was extin^ilS .i ^"^ *^® ^^"* o^ the
their duty, an^l fi,.^i^i''^V''^^^' «^e men returned i^
^' """ --"ioiiade was recommenced. ~
283
A VALIANT DEFBNCB.
After the battle had raged for two hours the fire of the
fort began to slacken, as one after another of the guns
was dismoanted. M. Renault saw that the place could
be no longer defended. Of his hundred and forty-six
soldiers, over ninety had been killed and wounded. Col-
lecting the remainder and their oflficers, with twenty
Sepoys, the governor ordered them to leave the fort
immediately, making a detour to avoid the English who
were aiding the fleet by attacking the land side, and to
march to Kossimbazar to join M. Law who commanded
there. Then, there remaining in the fort only the clerks,
women, and wounded, he hdisted a flag of truce. Terms
were speedily arranged. The governor and all the
civilians and natives were allowed to go where they
chose with their clothes and linen. The wounded Frenen
soldiers were to remain as prisoners of war.
Chandranagore cost the English two hundred and six
men. The attack upon the French colony was blamed
by many at the time, for in the hour of English distress
they had offered to remain neutral instoad of joining the
nabob in crushing us. Upon the other hand there was
force in the arguments with which Admiral Watson had
defended his refusal to sign the treaty of neutrality.
That treaty would not be binding unless ratified by
Pondicherry, and to Pondicherry it was known that the
most powerful fleet and army France had ever sent to
India was on its way. It was also known that Bussy, at
the court of the Nizam of the Deccan, was in communica-
tion with the nabob. Thus then in a short time English
interests in India might be menaced more formidably
than ever before, and the crushing out of the French
colony, almost at the gates of Calcutta, was a measure of
extreme importance. It was hard upon the gallant
governor of Chandranagore, but public opinion generally
agreed that the urgency of the case justified the course
adopted by the English authorities at Calcutta.
Suraia-u-Dowlah waa filled with fury at the news of
urs the fire of the
•ther of the guns
b the place could
■ed and forty-six
1 wounded. Col-
jrs, with twenty
leave the fort
the English who
land side, and to
who commanded
•t only the clerks,
of truce. Terms
lor and all the
> 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*"^ '?•"<! & «&
,--%.oteg-crdtTg^a
f»« S;'f Jrtnjtr ^' ''^ '<»«« tonld consist of
'7,* """■ «>» 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"<l don't be
you; but even if hZho.iW Iv "^ '"'*«"* his touchin*
Ud there will be n„T„" '^l'^ ?«». with help rtS^^i
K'//"""?'! ontil the blarlplTi Ti'"/" »?« of the men
" ,' 5
%
314
A PORTUNATB ESCAPR
instantly make a deep cut through the line of the punc-
tures of the fangs, cutting down as low as these could
Eenetrate, and immediately cauterize it by placing the
ot knife in the gash so made. Six men were called in
with orders to seize Tim on the instant and hold his leg
firm, to enable the operation to be performed. Two
others were to occupy themselves with the snake. These
were armed with sticks. Hossein now approached the
bed, from which hitherto they had all kept well aloof.
The snake, Tim said, lay against his leg, between the knee
and the j^nkle, and the spot was marked by a slight eleva-
tion of the rug. Hossein drew his tulwar, examined the
edge to soe that nothing had blunted its razor-like keenness,
and then took his stand at the foot of the bed. Twice he
raised his weapon, and then let it fall with a drawing
motion. The keen blade cut through the rug as if it
had beea pasteboard, and at the same instant Tim sprang
from tho other side of the bed, and fainted in the arms
of the men. Hossein threw off the rug, and there,
severed in pieces, lay the writhing body of a huge cobra.
Tim soon recovered under the administration of water
sprinkled in his face, and brandy poured down his throat.
But he was some time ere he thoroughly recovered from
the effects of the trying ordeal through which he had
passed. Many of the buildings in the fort were in a
very bad condition, and Charlie had several of the most
dilapidated destroyed, finding in their walls several colonies
of cobras, which were all killed by the troops.
of the pmic-
these could
placing the
ere called in
hold his leg
jrmed. Two
nake. These
broached the
t well aloof,
een the knee
, slight eleva-
sxamined the
ike keenness,
d. Twice he
h a drawing
rug as if it
t Tim sprang
in the arms
', and there,
I huge cobra,
ion of water
m his throat.
jovered from
hich he had
pt were in a
I of the most
veiSkl colonies
IS.
CHAPTER XXV.
BESIEOED IN a PAQODA.
fa: I
.. . the FrencllefS "»'"'«'''■•« aided by
hiaassutance. He found tWtLb ■°"'™'^ '>'» 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 ra<rr«!!i I *^ <f ^ched for months. Their
there's no mo'Se WeL^ rt^'^T. ' ^'^'^ ^^^
their flying up to the dourJ. a ^}'''S than there is of
besides the i>ench 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)
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23 WIST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. MSIO
(716)a72-4»03
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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<rh
wrinwil-'' r^' French fleet was expected, the admi?ai
waa unwilling to weaken his squadron, he complied with
hnn rf'^S T^^^ *^" "^g^^^y «f ^^^ case, and four
hundred and twenty marines were landed.
Un the 2d of September two more men-of-war the
Arnica and Me<huay, arrived, raisin^ fh« fl-™:f'ra
i-unOicherry to seventeen ships' of the^Une"; "Thefcon!
m
SM
A FRENCH 80RTIB.
voyed several Company's ships wlio hud brought with
them the wing of a Highland regiment.
The same evening Coote ordered four hundred men to
march to invest the fort of Ariangopang, but Colonel
Monson, second in command, was so strongly against the
step that at the last moment he countermanded his
orders. The change was fortunate, for Lally, who had
heard from his spies of the English intentions, moved
his whole army out to attack the — as he supposed —
weakened force.
At ten at night fourteen hundred French infantry, a
hundred French horse, and nine hundred Sepoys marched
out to attack the English, who had no suspicion of their
intent. Two hundred marines and five hundred Sepoys
proceeded in two columns. Marching from the Valdoie
redoubt one party turned to the ri^'ht to attack the
Tamarind redoubt, which the English had erected on the
Red Hill. Having taken this they were to turn to their
left and join the other columa This skirted the foot of
the Red Hill to attack the redoubt erected on a hillock
at its foot on the 18th July. Four hundred Sepoys and a
company of Portuguese were to take post at the junction
of the Valdore and Oulgarry avenues. The regiments of
Lorraine and Lally were to attack the battery in this
avenue, Lorraine's from the front, while Lally 's marching
outwards in the fields was to fall on its right flank. The
Indian battalion with the Bourbon volunteers, three hun-
dred strong, were to march from the fort of Ariangopang
across the river to the villages under the fort of Vellenore,
and as soon as the fire became general were to fall upon
the right rear of the English encampment
At midnight a rocket gave the signal and the attack
immediately commenced. The attack on the Tamarind
redoubt was repulsed, but the redoubt on the hillock was
captured and the guns spiked. At the intrenchment on
the Oulgarry Road the fight was fierce, and Colonel
Coote himself brought down his troops to its defence.
brought with
undred men to
ig, but Colonel
gly against the
termanded his
Lally, who had
Biitions, moved
he supposed —
ich infantry, a
epoys marched
ipicion of their
undred Sepoys
m the Valdore
to attack the
erected on the
turn to their
ted the foot of
id on a hillock
1 Sepoys and a
at the junction
ke regiments of
3attery in this
dly's marching
ht flank. The
sera, three hun-
if Ariangopaiig
rt of Vellenore,
re to fall upon
and the attack
the Tamarind
ihe hillock was
trenchment on
I, and Colonel
to its defence.
STORMING THE ADVANCED WOiUH. 369
^::i!Zl TnTeredllall"' "' T^"V^ ^^^^ ^^^^'^^'
halted and ^3m S t v in^Ti *e%f '^^'^^^ ^^^ '^-<^
Lorraine and Lally drew off IL K ' u 1 'pg"»««*« of
to the town. ^ ' ^^'^ *^® ^^o^e force retired
app'^i^^tf Cn^^^^^^^ ^-^^* a commission
pnor to that of Colonel Cnn? °^<=^«^«"«i. ^i^h a date
not to aasert his s^niori v «o !' °'^''^"^ ^^"^' ^°^<^ver.
Madras. Coote howpvir ^ •?"« f'\ ^°^*« remained at
that he 8hou?d ietulTn^^^^^ '^ ^^ intended
command ^Monsrhe weTh' 't^^'^Il^^^S ^^^ *h«
Monson at once nrenarprfn *^,f^, ^.Madras. Colonel
redoubts. Wn^J «nffi5 . **^°^ ^^^ ^^^S^ and its
advanced at mSht w t h'^^'I ^- - ' "^"^^ ^''
brigades, the onfc^olrdedX^S^^^^^^^^
and dr^i^r/hnn! t ^?^® ''' ^^^ ^i"a|?e of Oulcrarrv
while tremU'^bodywe^ *^^ ^^"--e -S.'
Hill and conTe down tTtL^^n^ %^Z^^fr ?""^ *^« ^^^
Smith moving to th^^^ ^^^oubt.
attacked that position on tKff ^^^^^^^^a^ry avenue
Captain Myers^c^S b^strfa^lu^^^^^^^^^ 'i^^
down all obstaSnM^^^^ village, tore
approach tt'va'fCXr ^ut'tS^V^i ^°--
'Ji^chargeda twenTvZr n^^ P'^^^^^^ *he°^ and
into the^olumT'^r^^^^^^ t*.
SIX wounded bv this terrihlA !i; ^ ^ ^"^ twenty-
Colonel MonsoVhimse7f M T '?''^"'*'''^ the latter
grenadiers rrrusSfunnnl'^ \V^^ ^^'^k^"' The
roun.l , i,o rZ,-^^'*'''^, furiously to the attack, swam^d
--^^ r.«„u.., and altiiough several times reputed;
370
THI FRBNCH DRIVEN INTO THI TOWN.
at last forced their way through the embrasuros and cap-
tured the position.
The defenders of the village of Oulgarry had halted
outside the Vellenore redoubt, but upon hearing the firing
to their right retreated hastily within it Major Sniith
pressed them hotly with his brigade, and followed so
closely upon their heels that they did not stop to defend
the position but retreated to the town. Major Smith
was soon joined by the Highlanders under Major Scott,
who had forced a way through the hedge between the
two captured redoubts. Thus the whole lino of the
outer defence fell into the hands of the English, with the
exception of the Ariangopang redoubt on the left which
was held by the India regiment Major Gordon, who
now took the command, placed the Bombay detachment
of three hundred and fifty men in the captured redoubts,
and encamped the whole of the force in the fields to the
right of Oulgarry. Major Smith advised that at least a
thousand men should be left near at hand to succour the
garrisons of the redoubts, which, being open at the rear,
were liable to an attack. Major Gordon foolishly refused
to follow his advice, axA the same night the French
attacked the redoubts. The Bombay troops, however,
defended themselves with extreme bravery until assist-
ance arrived. Three days later the French evacuated
and blew up the fort of Ariangopang which the English
were preparing to attack, and the India regiment retired
into the town, leaving, however, the usual guard in the
Ariangopang redoubt.
Colonel Coote had scarcely arrived at Madras when he
received a letter from Colonel Monson saying that he
was likely to be incapacitated by his wound for some
months, and requesting that he would resume the com-
mand of the army. The authorities of Madras strongly
urged Coote to return, representing the extreme impor-
tance of the struggle in which they were engaged. He
consented and reached camn on the night of the 20tb.
E TOWN.
ibrasuros and cap-
carry had halted
hearing the firing
it Major Smith
and followed so
lot stop to defend
^n. Major Smith
nder Major Scott,
jdge between the
rhole lino of the
English, with the
on the left which
ijor Gordon, who
inbay detachment
»ptured redoubts,
a the fields to the
ed that at least a
,nd to succour the
open at the rear,
1 foolishly refused
aight the French
troops, however,
ivery until assist-
French evacuated
vhich the English
I regiment retired
3ual guard in the
; Madras when he
n saying that he
wound for soiue
resume the corn-
Madras strongly
e extreme impor-
ere engaged. He
light 01 the 20tb,
OHARUE ON BOARD 8HIP.
871
Which was still hovering m the neighbourhood of PonZ
fev^er*hid T^J" ^*^ ^'" 1"^""°^ ^^^°^ « ««ght attack of
lever, had for some time been stayinrr on board s^n f ^.
>~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 \