The face was formed of large slabs of stone, piled one upon
another, backed by a considerable thickness of earthwork. This,
however, although capable of resisting a sudden rush of infantry,
would, Charlie knew, be incapable of resisting artillery.

During the night, he divided his men in two parties, which alternately
slept and worked at the inner defences which he had designed. These
consisted of two walls, running from each side of the gateway to the
temple. They were placed a few feet farther back than the edge of the
gateway, so that an enemy advancing to the storm would not see them,
until within the gate. These walls he intended to be eight feet high;
and to be backed with earth, four feet high, so as to form a bank on
which the defenders could stand, and fire into the space between them.
To obtain materials, he pulled down several buildings forming a part
of the temple. The distance from the gateway to the temple was fifty
yards, and although the men worked without ceasing, the wall had made
but little progress when daylight dawned.

During the night, Charlie lowered one of his men from the wall
farthest from the enemy; with instructions to make his way, as fast as
possible, to Madras to ask for succour. In the morning, Charlie found
that the enemy had, on their side, been also busy. A house, which
faced the end of the street leading to the temple, had been pulled
down; and a battery of four guns erected there.

As soon as it was light, the combat began. The enemy had sixteen
pieces of artillery, besides those on the fort; and while the four
guns in front played unceasingly upon the barricade across the
gateway, the others cannonaded the tower, whence the English guns kept
up a fire on the battery in front. So well were these directed, and so
heavy was the musketry, that the enemy's guns were several times
silenced, and the artillerymen driven from them.

Behind the barricade, a working party threw up fresh earth, to
strengthen the part most shaken by the enemy's fire, and then set to
work to form a similar barricade, in a line with the back of the
gateway. This was completed by nightfall, by which time the enemy's
guns had completely shattered the stone facing of the outer barricade,
rendering it possible for it to be carried with a rush. As, from the
windows of the houses, they could see the new work behind it; they
would, Charlie judged, not attempt an assault, until this also was
destroyed.

During the