t the walls; and,
headed by their officers, the troops ascended. The surprise was
complete. Not until the leaders of the storming party stood upon the
parapet was their presence perceived. The guards discharged their
firelocks, and fled hastily.

As soon as twenty men were collected on the wall, Charlie took the
command of these, and hurried forward towards the gate. Hallowes was
to lead the next party along the opposite direction. Peters was to
form the rest up, as they gained the wall, and to follow Charlie with
fifty more; while Anstey was to hold the remainder in reserve, to be
used as circumstances might demand.

The resistance, however, was slight. Taken absolutely by surprise, the
enemy rushed out from their sleeping places. They were immediately
fired upon from the walls. The greater part ran back into shelter,
while some of the more determined, gathering together, made for the
gate. But of this Charlie had already taken possession, and received
them with so vigorous a fire that they speedily fell back.

When the whole circuit of the walls was in his possession, Charlie
took a hundred of his men, and descended into the fort. Each building,
as he reached it, was searched; and the garrison it contained made to
come out, and lay down their arms, and were then allowed to depart
through the gate.

Upon reaching the rajah's quarters, he at once came out and
surrendered himself. Two guns were discharged, to inform the little
body in the town of the complete success of the movement; and the
guard on the road then fell back, and joined the party with the guns.

Thus, without losing a man, the fort of Guzarow, regarded by the
natives as being impregnable, was carried. Fifteen lacs of rupees were
found in the treasury. Of these, in accordance with the rules of the
service, half was set aside for the Company, the remainder became the
property of the force. Of this half fell to the officers, in
proportion to their rank, and the rest was divided among the men. The
share of each trooper amounted to nearly two hundred pounds.

Knowing how demoralizing the possession of such a sum would be,
Charlie assembled his force next morning. He pointed out to them that,
as the greater part of the plunder was in silver, it would be
impossible for them to carry it on their persons. He advised them,
then, to allow the whole sum to remain in the treasury, to be
forwarded under an escort to Madras; each soldier to receive an order,
for