was in command, we
found the garrison on the walls.

"'What do you think, Rajah?' Captain Davis, who was riding by his
side, asked. 'My orders were that I was to take possession of the
place, but it was supposed that I should find it empty.'

"'I should say that you had better try, with or without orders,' my
father replied. 'The annihilation of Baillie's force, and the
miserable retreat of Munro, have made a terribly bad impression
through the country, and a success is sorely needed to raise the
spirits of our friends.'

"'We will do it,' Captain Davis said, and called up a few English
engineers, and a company of white troops he had with him, and ordered
them to blow in the gate.

"My father volunteered to follow close behind them, with his
dismounted cavalry, and, when the word was given, forward we went. It
was hot work, I can tell you. The enemy's guns swept the road, and
their musketry kept up an incessant roar. Many fell, but we kept on
until close to the gate, and then the white troops opened fire upon
Hyder's men on the walls, so as to cover the sappers, who were fixing
the powder bags.

"They soon ran back to us. There was a great explosion, and the gates
fell. With loud shouts we rushed forward into the fort; and close
behind us came the Sepoys, led by Captain Davis.

"It took some sharp fighting before we overcame the resistance of the
garrison, who fought desperately, knowing well enough that, after the
massacre of Baillie's force, little quarter would be given them. The
British loss was considerable, and twenty of my father's little
company were among the killed. Great stores of provisions were found
here, and proved most useful to the army.

"The news, of the capture of Carangooly, so alarmed the besiegers of
Wandiwash that they at once raised the siege, and retreated; and, on
the following day, Sir Eyre Coote and his force arrived there. It was
a curious thing that, on the same day of the same month, Sir Eyre
Coote had, twenty-one years before, raised the siege of Wandiwash by a
victory over the army that was covering the operation. Wandiwash had
been nobly defended by a young lieutenant named Flint, who had made
his way in through the enemy's lines, a few hours before the
treacherous native officer in command had arranged with Hyder to
surrender it, and, taking command, had repulsed every attack, and had
even made a sortie.

"There was now a long pause. Having no commissariat train, Sir Eyre