and, even for a minute, when we once entered their
stockades, though they defend them pluckily enough until we have
once got a footing inside.

"Still, these fellows ought to fight well tonight for, if they are
beaten, it will be a death blow to their reputation among their
countrymen. Besides, many of them do believe in the power they
claim and, as we have found before now, in India, fanatics are
always formidable."

After taking a look round with the colonel, the general accompanied
him to his quarters; while the two aides-de-camp remained on the
terrace, chatting with the officers; and then, after a time, went
with some of them to the mess tent, where they sat smoking and
talking until midnight, when all went out.

The troops were formed up under arms, and all listened impatiently
for something that would show that the long-delayed assault would
take place that night. At half-past twelve there was the sound of a
shot, which sent an electrical thrill through the troops. It was
followed almost immediately by others. The troops were at once
marched forward to the edge of the platform. A babel of wild shouts
went up at the sound of the first shots, followed by a burst of
firing.

The two aides-de-camp had taken their places close to the general,
who was standing in the gap between the infantry and the guns; and
was looking intently, through his night glasses, at the forest.

"They are in a dense mass," he said. "I cannot see whether they are
in any regular order, but they are certainly packed a great deal
closer than I have ever before seen them. Those in front have got
lanterns. They are coming along fast."

As yet the enemy were half a mile away, but the lanterns and the
flash of their guns showed their exact position, while the fire of
the outposts was kept up steadily. As the latter fell back along
the causeway, the interval between the two forces decreased; and
then the fire of the outposts ceased as, in accordance with their
orders, they broke into the double.

Illustration: The Burmese make a great effort to capture Pagoda
Hill.

The uproar of the advancing crowd was prodigious. Every man was
yelling, at the top of his voice, imprecations upon the defenders
of the pagoda; who were standing in absolute silence, waiting
eagerly for the word of command. Suddenly the firing broke out
again at the foot of the hill and, immediately, a bright light shot
up from its face.

The edge of the dense mass of Burme