His infantry advanced, and
clouds of horsemen swept round the flanks, and menaced the retreat. In
a very few minutes, Captain Minchin gave the order to retire; and,
abandoning their guns, the English force retreated in all haste to the
town.

Charlie had, on setting out, told Mr. Haines what was certain to
occur; and had implored him to send all his valuables, at once, on
board ship; and to retire instantly into the fort. Upon the arrival of
the troops at the gate, they found it almost blocked with the throng
of frightened Europeans, and natives, flying from their houses beyond
it to its protection. Scarcely were all the fugitives within, and the
gates closed, when the guns of Suraja Dowlah opened upon the fort; and
his infantry, taking possession of the houses around it, began a
galling musketry fire upon the ramparts.

Captain Minchin remained closeted with the governor; and Charlie,
finding the troops bewildered and dismayed, without leading or orders,
assumed the command, placed them upon the walls, and kept up a
vigorous musketry fire in reply to that of the enemy.

Within, all was confusion and dismay. In every spot sheltered from the
enemy's fire, Europeans and natives were huddled together. There was
neither head nor direction. With nightfall the fire ceased, but still
Mr. Drake 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 merchantmen were lying 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 in the evening, been
despatched on board ship to make arrangements for the boats being sent
on shore; but these cowardly wretches, instead of doing 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 movement,
again showed itself. There was no attempt, whatever, at establishing
anything like order or method. The watergate was open, and a wild rush
of men, women, and children took place down to the boats.

Charlie was on duty, on the walls. He had already said goodbye to Mrs.
Haines and her daughter, and thou