will all send every
available man and, ere long, his losses will be much more than
counterbalanced by the forces that will join him. We have, during
our history, suffered several disasters; but never one that has not
been redeemed and revenged."

"Holkar was here, this morning," the rajah said, after a long
silence. "He came to congratulate me on our victory. After he had
done so, he asked that you and your troopers should be handed over
to him. I need scarcely say that I refused. You were captured by my
men and, though I am in alliance with Holkar, I do not owe him any
fealty. It is I who have aided him, while he has given but little
assistance to me; and would, I am sure, ride away and leave me to
my fate, if he knew where to go to. But his country, his capital,
and his forts are all in the hands of the English; and he stays
near here because it is, at present, the safest place for him."

On the 23rd of March, the British cavalry returned. For a month no
attempt had been made to renew the siege, but the camp still
remained as a threat against Bhurtpoor, and the time had not been
lost. Convoys, escorted by strong parties of infantry, had come out
from Agra. Supplies of all kinds, battering guns and ammunition,
arrived almost daily. The armourers worked at the old guns, and
made them again fit for service; and everything showed that, when
the attack was renewed, it would be much more formidable than
before.

The cavalry were given a few days' rest after their arrival but,
before daybreak on the 29th, they moved out in hopes of surprising
Holkar. He had, however, scouts well posted far out; and he
effected his retreat with the loss, only, of some of his baggage
animals. He retired some miles to the southwest, and again pitched
his camp.

On the 2nd of April the cavalry, with the horse artillery, again
moved out at midnight and, this time, came upon the enemy
undiscovered; and before they had time to mount their horses, the
cavalry charged them in front and on both flanks, while the
artillery swept the camp with grape. Great numbers were slain, both
in Holkar's camp and in the pursuit, which was continued for eight
miles. The whole of the camp equipage, the greater portion of the
guns, and the bazaars were captured and, during the next day or
two, large bodies of Holkar's troops, considering his case
hopeless, deserted him. When in his flight he crossed the Jumna, he
had but eight thousand horse, five thousand infa