at once assented to Charlie's
request, and ordered that a batta of six months' pay should be given
to each man, upon leaving.

The troop, joined by many of their comrades, who had been at different
times sent down sick and wounded to Madras, formed up there on parade
for the last time. They responded with three hearty cheers to the
address which Charlie gave them, thanking them for their services,
bidding them farewell, and hoping that they would long enjoy the prize
money which they had gallantly won. Then they delivered over their
horses to the authorities, drew their prize money from the treasury,
and started for their respective homes, the English portion taking up
their quarters in barracks, until the next ship should sail for
England.

"I am sorry to leave them," Charlie said to Peters, as they stood
alone upon the parade. "We have gone through a lot of stirring work
together, and no fellows could have behaved better."

"No," Peters agreed. "It is singular that, contemptible as are these
natives of India when officered by men of their own race and religion,
they will fight to the death when led by us."

Chapter 29: The Siege Of Pondicherry.

As the health of the two officers was shaken by their long and arduous
work, and their services were not, for the moment, needed, they
obtained leave for three months, and went down in a coasting ship to
Columbo, where several English trading stations had been established.
Here they spent two months, residing for the most part among the
hills, at the town of a rajah very friendly to the English; and with
him they saw an elephant hunt, the herd being driven into a great
inclosure, formed by a large number of natives who had, for weeks,
been employed upon it. Here the animals were fastened to trees by
natives, who cut through the thick grass unobserved; and were one by
one reduced to submission, first by hunger, and then by being lustily
belaboured by the trunks of tamed elephants. Tim highly appreciated
the hunt, and declared that tiger shooting was not to be compared to
it.

Their residence in the brisk air of the hills completely restored
their health, and they returned to Madras perfectly ready to take part
in the great operations which were impending. Charlie, on his return,
was appointed to serve as chief of the staff to Colonel Coote; Captain
Peters being given the command of a small body of European horse, who
were, with a large body of irregulars, to aid