fear us
horribly. The odds are very great; but if we can scatter them, it will
be a lesson that will bear fruit greater than we can imagine. It will
teach them how terrible the wrath of England can be, and how hopeless
their attempt is likely to prove, no matter how many men they bring into
the field. You agree with me?"

"Thoroughly," said Brace, "for my men are at their worst when placed in
a fixed battery."

"At once, then," said the colonel.

"At once," replied Brace, "before their cavalry come in sight. Don't
think me impertinent."

"No; go on."

"You will fight in square."

"Trust me," was the reply, with a nod and a smile, and the colonel
cantered off to join his men, and beginning to manoeuvre them at once,
after leaving a strong rear guard among the trees in case the sowars
should make a sudden dash, for they had nothing to fear from the sepoys;
any attempt on their part being for a long time to come impossible, for
the colonel could fall back and protect his rear and baggage-guard long
before the infantry could get near.

A low murmur of satisfaction ran through our little troop as orders were
given which they knew meant immediate action. We went off at a trot, as
if going right away, the object being to get upon the enemy's flank, and
long before they grasped our object we had changed to a gallop, wheeled
round, the men sprang from horse and limber, and in less than a minute
round shot were ploughing through their ranks, sending them into
confusion, and doing a vast deal of mischief before they had changed
their formation, and skirmishers were sent out in advance of a regiment,
the firing growing after a while somewhat annoying, when quick almost as
it can be described, we limbered up and went out of range, taking up a
fresh position, from which fresh confusion was thrown into their ranks,
the regiment sent out against us being left far on our left.

By this time our infantry friends were steadily marching in close
formation as if to aid us in our attack, when our scouts came in at a
gallop, and we saw the cause, one of the sowar regiments was coming down
upon us over the plain, the other being in all probability advancing
too, but hidden from us by the tope.

Will the colonel see them? I wondered as, at a word, the limbers were
drawn round, and we changed front, slewing about the guns, and sending
round shot at the sowars now approaching rapidly, while I wondered
whether Brace would stand f