ked up when they heard this offer. A small tree with dark
green leaves stood close by, from which they tore some branches, and
quickly made out a rude litter. On to this they lifted my poor old
friend, and so carried him off, renewing his groans at every step.

I marched alongside till we caught up with the rear of the column.
Luckily we were not molested, for which I blessed the fog, though it
was now showing signs of lifting away. Our progress was here extremely
slow, the ground being broken up into a number of small rice-fields,
separated by mud walls or mounds of earth, over which the field-pieces
had to be lifted with infinite trouble, and in fact two of them were
abandoned altogether, the sailors being too exhausted to draw them
further. During this time I forbore to rejoin Colonel Clive, but used
my freedom as a volunteer to remain with the sailors bearing old
Muzzy, where I found my presence and encouragement very necessary to
induce them to persevere in their task. As it was I was obliged to
raise my offer to three hundred rupees before we had got to the high
road.

The fog gradually clearing, we beheld parties of the enemy's horse
from time to time, threatening us, but they were easily dispersed by a
few discharges of musketry, and gave us far less annoyance than the
impediments of the ground. At the end of another hour of this toilsome
work we at length arrived at the road, where we found a considerable
body of horse and foot posted in front of the bridge across the
Morattoe ditch into the Company's territories, to prevent our passing.

At the same time the fog finally broke, and disclosed another
numerous squadron coming down against our rear. The sailors at once
faced about to defend the artillery, and I took my place among them,
bidding the men with the litter press on towards the centre of the
column. The Moors rode up with great determination, notwithstanding
our fire, and one of them got near enough to me to aim a cut at my
helmet, which I only avoided by bending my head to one side. At the
same time I thrust my bayonet into his groin, and had the satisfaction
of seeing him reel and fall from his horse as it turned and galloped
off.

This charge being repulsed, we turned about again and rejoined our
comrades, who had quickly dislodged the force opposed to them in
front. The whole column then crossed the ditch, in broad daylight, and
marched without further mishap into the town, where we arrived abou