ng their invaders on the alert, did not venture to
attack them.

Next morning the march was resumed. The country ahead, however, soon
became more difficult than any they had yet passed through. Orders were
therefore given to scale the heights, and the lightly-clad sepoys
quickly scrambled up them; but when they reached the summits, no enemies
were to be seen. The heights being occupied, the cavalry once more
advanced; the foot-soldiers, as they dashed forward, taking possession
of each commanding height. A large force was now seen ahead, perched on
an apparently inaccessible hill, with a village on the summit, and
perpendicular cliffs from eighty to a hundred feet in height surrounding
it. The only practicable path passed below this height; while posted on
the top and on every projecting crag were the native warriors, prepared
to dispute the advance of their invaders.

The rajah's rage at the audacity of the rebels, as he called them, was
excessive. He insisted that the heights should be stormed, and the
village and all the inhabitants destroyed. Captain Burnett advised him
not to make the attempt, but rather to starve out the garrison, or to
try and bring them to terms by other means. He would not listen to
reason, however, but insisted that the place should be taken as he
proposed. As the cavalry could be of no service, the fighting fell upon
the foot-soldiers,--who, in a very dashing way, attempted to climb up
the heights, but were hurled down again by the enemy from above with
arrows, javelins, and huge stones. Again and again they made the
attempt,--each time the greater number who were climbing up being
destroyed, till the foot of the hill and every ledge wide enough to form
a resting-place were strewn with the dead and the dying. The old rajah
stormed and swore, and ordered some of the cavalry to dismount and try
if they could not do better. Burnett, on hearing the command, assured
the rajah that they would certainly be destroyed as easily as the
infantry, and suggested that a party should be sent round to take the
fort in the rear.

"If you will lead it, I will consent," said the rajah; and Burnett
consented on the condition that the lives of the brave villagers might
be spared should they yield.

Reginald wished to accompany his friend, but the rajah begged him to
remain by his side. "I want your advice and assistance. I much suspect
the faithfulness of some of my officers; for they, finding t