ks, and this served to increase the
contempt of our own men for the Nabob's forces.

About eleven o'clock Colonel Clive called some of the officers
together, and communicated his plans to them.

"It is quite clear that the Nabob is afraid to attack us at close
quarters," he said, "or he would have ordered a further advance before
this. Still I do not consider we are justified in quitting our shelter
for the present, in the absence of any demonstration from Meer
Jaffier. It will be better to let the cannonade go on for the rest of
the day, and then try a night attack on their camp."

Most of the officers concurred in this opinion. As the Colonel and I
were walking back to the lodge he turned to me suddenly, and asked me
what I thought.

"Why, sir, to be plain with you, I think the only men we have to
regard are those forty Frenchmen in the tank," I answered. "As far as
the rest are concerned, I very much doubt if they would stand five
minutes against a charge."

The Colonel nodded.

"I shouldn't be surprised if you were right. But remember, Ford, that
those nine hundred men are the only European troops in Bengal, and if
I lose even two hundred of them this will be an expensive victory for
me. What I want is to hold on till Surajah Dowlah's own troops desert
him, and then I may win everything without loss of life."

I was much impressed by this glimpse into Mr. Clive's mind, which
showed him as something very different from the reckless, hot-headed
soldier some of his enemies have called him.

Just at this time a shower of rain fell, and soon after the fire of
the enemy sensibly slackened, some of their powder evidently having
been spoiled. Towards two o'clock a stranger thing took place, for the
firing ceased altogether, and the Moors were perceived yoking their
white oxen to the gun-stages again; and immediately after the whole
army commenced to fall back slowly and re-enter the camp.

I was standing by myself outside the door of the lodge when this
singular movement commenced, and I at once stepped inside to inform
Colonel Clive. To my astonishment I found him asleep. The exhausting
work of the last few days, followed by the total absence of rest on
the previous night, had proved too much for him. He had fallen on to
a chair, and dropped asleep unawares.

While I was hesitating whether to awaken him I heard some one
approaching without. I went out softly, and found a sergeant of Major
Kilpatrick's company,