ore
between the fort and the sea, the English erected a strong stockade,
behind which was a battery called the Fascine Battery.

A few days after the siege began, it was found that the numbers
crowded up in the fort could scarcely be accommodated; and the rajah
was, therefore, invited to leave by sea, on board a ship which would
land him at the Dutch settlement of Negapatam, whence he might journey
through the Tanjore country to Trichinopoli. This proposal he
willingly accepted, and embarked with his wife, women, and children,
his other followers leaving by the land side, opposite to that
invested by the French. Thus the garrison were relieved of the
embarrassment, and consumption of food, caused by four hundred men and
two hundred horse.

Charlie rode, with his troop, without interruption through the
country, avoiding all bodies of the enemy until he reached the sea,
fifteen miles north of Madras. Here he hired a native boat and,
leaving the troops under the command of Ensign Anstey, sailed for
Madras; in order to inform the garrison of Forde's victory over the
French, and to concert, with the governor, as to the measures which he
wished him to carry out to harass the enemy. He was accompanied only
by Tim and Hossein.

The wind was fair and, starting an hour before sunset, the boat ran
into Madras roads two hours later. The Harlem, which had that day
arrived with artillery for the French from Pondicherry, fired at the
little craft; and the native boatmen were about to turn the head of
the craft northward again. Charlie, however, drew his pistol, and
Hossein took his place with his drawn tulwar by the helmsman. The
boatmen, thereupon, again continued their course; and, though several
shots fell near them, they escaped untouched, and anchored just
outside the surf, abreast of the fort.

The English had taken the precaution of erecting a number of huts
under the walls of the fort for the boatmen, in order to be able to
communicate with any ship arriving, or to send messages in or out. As
soon as the boat anchored, a catamaran put out, and brought Charlie
and his followers to shore. There was great joy at the receipt of his
news, and the guns of the fort fired twenty-one shots towards the
enemy, in honor of the victory.

Governor Pigot was in general command of the defence, having under him
Colonel Lawrence, in command of the troops. The latter, after
inquiring from Charlie the character of the officer he had left i