in separating from his faithful henchman by the
fortuitous circumstance that, at that very moment, an English officer's
riderless charger came in sight. The animal, a beautiful chestnut, was
uninjured, and allowed itself to be caught without trouble. They
were now in a position to continue their flight together, and Heideck
resolved to turn towards the left English wing, because, as it appeared
to him, the action was there proceeding with less ill-fortune than at
other parts of the now totally defeated British army. This was certainly
not the shortest way to reach Lahore, but it would have been a foolhardy
enterprise to join the wild throng of fleeing troops and their pursuers
which was already pouring along the road towards Lahore.

The far-stretching plantations of Shah Dara, lying on both banks of the
Ravi, with the bridge of boats connecting them, were, as a matter of
fact, still occupied by English troops, who had until now maintained
their positions without any severe loss; but they had been, of course,
in superior numbers to the Russians confronting them. For the attack
upon Shah Dara, with which the battle had opened, had in the main been
only a feint; its object being to force the English centre, against
which the main attack was to be directed, to send out reinforcements,
and thereby fatally to weaken itself. Heideck had seen with his own eyes
how completely this plan had succeeded. Now, however, when the victory
they had gained made their forces in other positions available for the
work, the Russians commenced to attack this position also in superior
numbers. Russian battalions from the reserves were being hurried up at
the double, and new batteries made their appearance, ready to open fire
upon Shah Dara and the mausoleum of Shah Jahangir, which lay to the
south of it.

The English on their side were prudent enough not to engage in a
hopeless battle of sheer desperation, but began their retreat, whilst
they had still time to carry it out in tolerable order.

When Heideck had reached the southern end of the plantations, a regiment
of Bengal cavalry was just crossing the pontoon bridge, and Heideck
joined it. A Russian shell, which burst right in the middle of the
troop, without, however, despite the severe losses it had caused,
interrupting the formation, was a clear proof that the situation was
here also quite untenable.

With comparatively few losses and without having once been drawn into an
engagement