which captured Salsette and Tannah in 1775, four years
ago. Since then Rugoba has become a fugitive and, without a shadow
of reason, is making war against the whole force of the Mahratta
confederacy; who, although divided amongst themselves and
frequently engaged in the struggles for supremacy, have united
against us--for they say that Scindia, Holkar, and Hurry Punt are
in command of their army. To send four thousand men, of whom less
than six hundred are Europeans, against the whole Mahratta power is
a desperate step.

"I know we have fought and won against greater odds, many times in
the history of India; but our forces have always been well led,
marched with the smallest amount of baggage possible, and made up
for inferiority in numbers by speed, activity, and dash. Here, on
the contrary, we have a force hampered to an unheard-of degree by
baggage and camp followers; with an invalid at its head, controlled
by two civilians; and moving at a rate which, in itself, testifies
to divided councils and utter incompetency on the part of its
commander. It is almost impossible even to hope for success, under
such conditions."

"The lookout is certainly bad," the younger officer agreed.
"However, before now the fighting powers of the British soldier
have made up for the blunders of his commanders; and we may hope
that this will be the case, now."

"If a disaster happen," the major said, "we shall have the
Mahrattas down at the gates of Bombay; and as soon as I hear a
rumour of it--and news travels wonderfully fast among the
natives--I shall return to the city."

"Oh, I don't think you need fear anything of that sort, Major!
Besides, this is not on the direct line between the Ghauts and the
city. And even if they find they cannot push on, I should say our
force would be able to secure their retreat. The Mahratta horse
will never be able to break our squares; but of course, in that
case we should have to abandon all our baggage and baggage
animals."

"I agree with you that the Mahrattas would doubtless hang on the
skirts of our force, and follow them down the Bhore Ghaut, and so
would not come anywhere near us; but they might detach flying
parties to burn and plunder, as is their custom. Brave as they are,
the Mahrattas do not fight for the love of fighting, but simply
from the hope of plunder and of enlarging their territories.

"Well, we may hope, in a day or two, to hear that a battle has been
fought, and that a vic