n assistance.
His native emissaries, penetrating the enemy's lines, carried the news
of the situation of affairs in the fort to Madras, Fort Saint David,
and Trichinopoli. At Madras a few 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, despatched, on
the 20th of October, a hundred 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 him. The contest was too unequal. Had the
British force been provided with field pieces, they might have gained
the day; but, after fighting with great bravery, they were forced to
fall back; with a loss of twenty English and two officers killed and
many more wounded, while the Sepoys suffered equally severely.

One of Clive's messengers reached Murari Reo, the Mahratta chief of
Gutti. This man was a ferocious free-booting chief, daring and brave
himself, and admiring those qualities in others. Hitherto, his
alliance with Muhammud Ali was little more than nominal, for he had
dreaded bringing upon himself the vengeance of Chunda Sahib and the
French, whose ultimate success in the strife appeared certain. Clive's
march upon Arcot, and the heroic defence which the handful of men
there were opposing to overwhelming numbers, excited his highest
admiration. As he afterwards said, he had never before believed that
the English could fight, and when Clive's messenger reached him, he at
once sent back a promise of assistance.

Riza Sahib learned, almost as soon as Clive himself, that the
Mahrattas were on the move. The prospects of his communications being
harassed, by these daring horsemen, filled him with anxiety. Murari
Reo was encamped, with six thousand men, at a spot thirty miles to the
west of Arcot; and he might, at any moment, swoop down upon the
besiegers. Although, therefore, Riza Sahib had for six days been at
work effecting a new breach, which was now nearly open to assault, he
sent on the 30th of October a flag of truce, with an offer to Clive of
terms, if he would surrender Arcot.

The garrison were to be allowed to march out with their arms and
baggage, while to Clive himself he offered a large sum of money. In
case of refusal, he threatened to storm the fort, and put all its
defenders to the