resolved to take the whole force, leaving
only sufficient to garrison the fort.

The post which the 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 Doctor Rae to the
command 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," Doctor 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 subject, as some African people
have, on the ground that evil spirits are about at night; but the
natives are certainly not brisk, after nightfall. They are extremely
susceptible 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 lookout here, tonight."

"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 will 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 in the open,
and their experience at Timari will make them shy of meeting us again.
Therefore, it is just possible that they may be marching in this
direction today, while Clive is going in the other, and that they may
intend carrying it with a rush.

"I should say, today let the men repose as much as possible; keep the
sentries on the gates and walls, but otherwise let them all have
absolute quiet. You can tell the whites, and I will let the Sepoys
know, that they will have to be in readiness all night, and tha