ely on the support of the English bayonets. Indeed, the
promises, of which he had been obliged to be lavish to his native
allies, to keep them faithful to his cause, when that cause seemed all
but 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 seacoast, Major Lawrence was forced to retire to Fort
Saint David to recover his health; while Clive, 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 don't like the look o' things, Mr. Charles," Tim Kelly said.
"There's nothing but boys altogether, white and black. Does it stand
to reason that a lot of gossoons, who haven't learnt the goose step,
and haven't as much as a shred of faith, ayther in themselves or their
officers, are fit to fight the French?"

"Oh, I don't know, Tim," Charlie said. "Boys are just as plucky as
men, in their way, and are ready to do all sorts of foolhardy things,
which men would hesitate to attempt."

"And that is so, Mr. Charles, when they've only other boys to dale
with; but as they're growing up, they take some time before they're
quite sure they're a match for men. That's what it is, yer honor, I
tell ye, and you will see it, soon."

Tim's predictions were speedily verified. The very morning after they
arrived before the fort, the garrison made a sally, fell upon the
troops, and killed one of their officers.

The whole of the new levies took to their heels, and fled away from
the fight. Clive, with