ny men were drowned in crossing;
while the wives and children of the Sepoys who, by some gross
mismanagement, were left to the last, were slaughtered by the enemy
under the eyes of their husbands and fathers.

On the 29th the corps reached Rampoora; where a reinforcement of
two battalions of Sepoys, six guns, and a body of cavalry, together
with a supply of grain forwarded by Lord Lake from Agra, awaited
them. Notwithstanding this reinforcement, Colonel Monson considered
it his duty to continue his retreat and, on the 22nd of August,
reached the Banass, which was also in flood. Some boats, however,
were found, and a portion of the troops were carried across.

Early the next morning Holkar's cavalry appeared, and encamped at a
distance of four miles. The next day the river was fordable, and
most of the baggage and four battalions crossed. The enemy's
cavalry also crossed in great numbers, both to the right and left
of the British position.

Their artillery and infantry arrived in the afternoon, and opened
fire on the battalions still left on the bank. Harry was with
these. Seeing that they were being decimated by the guns, he called
upon the Sepoys to charge. This they did with great spirit, drove
back the enemy, and captured some of the guns; but the Mahrattas
soon rallied and, led by Holkar himself, charged in such
overwhelming numbers that the handful of troops was nearly
annihilated. Harry, seeing that all was lost, cut his way through
the enemy's horse and succeeded in crossing the river.

[Illustration: Harry succeeded in crossing the river.]

Colonel Monson continued his retreat, and reached Kooshalpur on the
night of the 25th. He found that the native officer in command
there had declared for Holkar; but that the fort, which contained
the elephants and baggage, still held out. That evening Monson
learnt that some of his Sepoy officers were in communication with
Holkar; and two companies, and a large portion of the native
cavalry deserted.

The whole of the enemy's cavalry now encamped round the detachment.
At seven in the evening Colonel Monson continued his march, forming
his troops into an oblong, which the enemy in vain attempted to
break. On the night of the 27th, after halting for a few hours, he
moved again, at one in the morning; but had no sooner cleared the
broken ground than the enemy's cavalry made a desperate charge.
This was repulsed with great coolness, the Sepoys reserving their
fire till