oldiers were utterly dispirited and demoralized. They had
lost all confidence 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 Saint 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 Saint David and Madras upon an enterprise which, if
unsuccessful, 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 Trichinopoli, followed by the loss of the three English ports,
was certain. But for this no blame or responsibility could rest upon
him. Many men would have chosen the second alternative; but Mr.
Saunders had, since Clive's return, seen a good deal of him, and had
been impressed with a strong sense of his capacity, energy, and good
sense. Mr. Pigot, who had seen Clive under the most trying
circumstances, was also his warm supporter; and Mr. Saunders at last
determined to adopt Clive's plan, and to stake the fortunes of the
English in India on this desperate venture.

Accordingly, leaving a hundred men only at Fort Saint David, he
decided to carry the remainder to Madras; and that Clive, leaving only
fifty behind as a garrison there, should, with the whole available
force, march upon Arcot.

The next morning as Charlie and Peters were at breakfast, a native
entered with a letter from the chief factor, to the effect that their
services in the office would be dispensed with, and that they were, in
accordance with their request, to report themselves to Captain Clive
as volunteers. No words can express the joy of the two lads, at
receiving the intelligence, and they created so much noise, in the
exuberance of their delight, that Mr. Johnson cam