ond explosion only led into another courtyard, from
which there was also no exit. There was the same fire to be faced from
the next house whilst the needful preparations were being made for
making a third breach.

During the time Shepherd with his gallant lieutenants and equally
gallant sepoys was working his way in from the left, the companies of
Pioneers lining ditches and banks outside Palla were exposed to a
persistent fire from about a hundred of the enemy inside the big
two-storied house mentioned above. The men in this house--all Kham
warriors--seemed to be filled with an extraordinary fury. Many exposed
themselves boldly at the windows, calling to our men to come on. A dozen
or so even climbed to the roof of the house, and danced about thereon in
what seemed frantic derision. There was a Maxim on the ridge with the
mountain-guns, the fire from which put an end to the fantastic display.
Our rifle fire, however, seemed totally unable to check the Tibetan
warriors in the loopholed windows. They kept up a fusillade which made a
rush impossible. Major Peterson finally, with great daring, led a few
men into the dwelling on the extreme right. The escalade was managed by
means of a ruined tree which projected from the wall. But Peterson, like
Shepherd, found himself in a courtyard with high walls which baffled
further progress.

The fight now began to drag. Hours passed without any signal incident.
The Tibetans were greatly elated at the failure of our troops to make
progress. They shouted and yelled, and were encouraged by answering
cheers from the jong. Then about mid-day the jong Commandant conceived
the idea of reinforcing Palla. A dozen men mounted on black mules,
followed by about fifty infantry, suddenly dashed out from the
half-completed covered way mentioned above, and made for the village.
This party was absolutely annihilated. As soon as it emerged from the
covered way it came under the fire, not only of the troops round the
village and on the hill, but of the Maxim on the roof of the
mission-house. In three minutes every single man and mule was down,
except one animal with a broken leg, gazing disconsolately at the body
of its master.

This disaster evidently shook the Tibetans in Palla. Their fire
slackened. Captain Luke on the ridge was then directed to put some
common shell into the roof of the double-storied house. He dropped the
shells exactly where they were wanted, and so disconcerted the enemy
th