in the lightest order possible
in India.

"Sure, Mr. Marryat," Tim Kelly said to him confidentially, "that black
hathen of a cook is going to pison ye. I have been watching him, and
there he is putting all sorts of outlandish things into the mate. He's
been pounding them up on stones, for all the world like an apothecary,
and even if he manes no mischief, the food isn't fit to set before a
dog, let alone a Christian and a gintleman like yourself. If you give
the word, sir, I knock him over with the butt end of my musket, and do
the cooking for you, meself."

"I'm afraid the other officers wouldn't agree to that, Tim," Charlie
said, laughing. "The food isn't so bad as it looks, and I don't think
an apprenticeship among the Irish bogs is likely to have turned you
out a first rate cook, Tim; except, of course, for potatoes."

"Sure, now, yer honor, I can fry a rasher of bacon with any man."

"Perhaps you might do that, Tim, but as we've no bacon here, that
won't help us. No, we must put up with the cook, and I don't think any
of us will be the worse for the dinner."

On the morning of the 29th Clive reached Conjeveram, a town of some
size, forty-two miles from Madras. Here Clive gained the first
trustworthy intelligence as to Arcot. He found the garrison
outnumbered his own force by two to one; and that, although the
defences were not in a position to resist an attack by heavy guns,
they were capable of being defended against any force not so provided.
Clive at once despatched a messenger to Madras, begging that two
eighteen-pounders might be sent after him; and then, without awaiting
their coming he marched forward against Arcot.

Chapter 7: The Siege Of Arcot.

From Conjeveram to Arcot is twenty-seven miles, and the troops, in
spite of a delay caused by a tremendous storm of thunder and
lightning, reached the town in two days. The garrison, struck with
panic at the sudden coming of a foe, when they deemed themselves in
absolute security, at once abandoned the fort, which they might easily
have maintained until Chunda Sahib was able to send a force to relieve
it. The city was incapable of defence after the fort had been
abandoned, and Clive took possession of both, without firing a shot.

He at once set to work to store up provisions in the fort, in which he
found eight guns and an abundance of ammunition, as he foresaw the
likelihood of his having to stand a siege there; and then, leaving a
garrison to d