ees the rebel horsemen were driven back. Reginald had seen Captain
Hawkesford fiercely engaged with a native officer, as he himself dashed
on to attack another whom he had just cut down, when he heard a loud cry
behind him: turning his head, he caught sight of his rival with his
sword uplifted, to all appearance about to cut him down. To defend
himself was impossible, as another foe was advancing towards him. The
next moment he saw Faithful--who, unknown to him, had been following at
his heels--spring at Captain Hawkesford's throat. It was but a glance,
for the next minute he was compelled to engage in mortal combat with a
powerful chief whom he well knew, and who was noted as being one of the
best swordsmen in the country. In the heat of the fight he had got
somewhat separated from his men, and he had to depend on his own skill
and courage. Neither failed him; and for several seconds he kept his
enemy at bay. Still, an imperfect guard would prove fatal; when again
Faithful came to his assistance, and springing on the chief dragged him
to the ground.

The fall of one of their principal leaders disheartened those who
witnessed it; and hard pressed by Burnett's well-disciplined horsemen,
the whole of the rebel cavalry at length wheeled round and galloped off,
hotly pursued by the former. It would have been prudent had Burnett and
Reginald not pursued the flying enemy so far, for in the meantime the
infantry, rallying, made a furious attack on the party which had
captured their guns; and, although repulsed, they succeeded in carrying
off two of them, besides those which had been spiked. Their ammunition
and tumbrils were, however, captured by the British.

At length Burnett and Reginald, desisting from the pursuit, turned their
horses' heads towards the fort, when, succeeding in getting between it
and the foe, they captured another gun. The infantry, though rapidly
retreating, presented too formidable a front to allow them the hope of
successfully breaking through their ranks and putting them completely to
the rout; they therefore contented themselves by hovering round the
retreating force, and keeping them in check till the guns and ammunition
were secure within the fort.

Some time had been occupied by the events which have been described, and
the pursuit had carried Reginald and Burnett to a considerable distance
from the fort. Several of their men had fallen, and others had been so
badly wounded as to be s