you must hurry the tailor on, for you may be sure that the army
will not remain long at Delhi; but will set off to meet Holkar as
soon as provisions are collected, for there is no saying how far we
may have to march before we meet him. I do not think that he will
be in any hurry to give battle."

On the 18th of October, the army arrived before Delhi. Holkar's
cavalry were still in the neighbourhood; but news came that the
infantry, with a considerable number of his guns and a few thousand
horsemen, had left him. On the 29th he crossed the Jumna, below
Panniput, to attack a detachment of one battalion of Sepoys and
some matchlock men who were, under Colonel Burns, returning to the
station at Saharunpoor--from which he had hastened, when a report
reached him that Holkar meditated an attack on Delhi. He was
overtaken by Holkar at Shamlee.

The inhabitants of the place joined Holkar, but Burns formed his
camp into a square, and repulsed all attacks; until General Lake,
with six regiments of cavalry, the horse artillery, and a brigade
of infantry, arrived to his relief on the 3rd of November; when
Holkar at once retired, and marched south into the district known
as the Doab, where his horsemen plundered and burnt every village
near his line of route. General Lake followed at once.

He had, before leaving Delhi, sent the rest of the British
infantry, with two regiments of cavalry, under General Fraser, to
attack Holkar's infantry and artillery; which had retired into the
dominions of the Rajah of Bhurtpoor who, although he had been the
first to enter into alliance with the British, after the capture of
Agra, had now declared against them. They had taken up a position
near the rajah's fortress of Deeg, which was believed to be
impregnable.

Their position was a very strong one. An extensive morass and a
deep tank covered their front. On their left was a fortified
village; and on their right the fort of Deeg, which was supported
by several lines of batteries.

Harry had been directed to accompany General Fraser, and was to
take with him Abdool's little troop, to serve as escort and furnish
messengers. Abdool--now in his new uniform--rode at its head,
behind General Fraser's staff, as he reconnoitred the enemy's
position; and felt no small pride in his changed position,
especially as the British officers of the staff, all of whom had
heard of the manner in which he had brought about Harry's escape,
took special notice of