d man visible, the whole of the
fighting element having retreated with the rajah, as soon as it was seen
that the guns were retaken. But our numbers were so small, and the
position so precarious, that Brace used every precaution, throwing out
posts in the two directions from which danger was likely to approach,
while the men were rested and refreshed, and a search made for
ammunition, of which there was none too much in the boxes.

This was for a time in vain, but as soon as Dost was taken into
consultation, he salaamed, started off, and in a quarter of an hour was
back again to announce that he had discovered two ammunition-waggons in
a kind of shed, and upon my following him with half a dozen men and a
couple of teams of horses, he led us to the spot where I found that the
rajah and his men had brought away as many cartridges, with ball, grape,
and canister, as the two waggons would hold.

These were drawn out at once, and taken to the halting-place, where the
gunners gave a cheer as they saw that for some time to come their
six-pounders would not want for food.

The heat was intense, but we could not afford to study that; and after a
little council of war, in which I felt proud to be allowed to
participate, it was debated as to what should be our next move.

Haynes was still eager to go on in pursuit of the rajah, and the doctor
expressed his opinion that it would give him profound satisfaction to
make him prisoner, while to me the excitement of such a chase sounded
very tempting, although somehow I could not help feeling that the rajah
had had some cause for the steps he had taken. Then Brace spoke.

"My feelings go with all of you," he said, "but I am obliged to oppose
you. Our chase would be a long one, and into country about which we
know scarcely anything. Consequently we should have very little
prospect of success. As it is, we have crippled him almost completely,
and our troop would be invaluable to any officer who is coming down from
Calcutta or Barrackpore with a regiment or two."

"But is any one coming down?" said Haynes.

"For certain. The news of the rising at Rajgunge must have reached
there, and the mutiny of other regiments. Depend upon it, the
Government is straining every nerve to check the wildfire from spreading
far."

"Then what do you propose doing?" said Haynes.

"Starting at once back to Rajgunge, and finding out the state of affairs
there as we pick up the major. Possibly we