nd ball from one of their long
ginjalls. The corn-fields, the crops of which were then in a state of
maturity, looked silvery bright, and it was a great relief to the eye
that had been intensely watching in dreary darkness. Lighted torches, or
fires, could be seen on the distant hills, and those in the intermediate
space were, no doubt, indications to the fort, of our approach.

We halted on the banks of a sweet crystal brook, and drank of its
renovating stream. In about an hour we resumed our march on a tolerably
good road, but crossed by little rippling rills almost every half-mile,
which kept our feet continually damp and cold. We passed through many
rice-fields, and the country seemed fertile and cheerful, but not a man,
or even a solitary hut, could we discover. We at last saw a light,
apparently about a mile ahead of us. As we advanced, the light still
appeared in the same situation. Sometimes we imagined that it was borne
by some of the flying enemy, who had good reasons for keeping that
distance ahead of us; but we soon discovered the fallacious light to be
nothing more than the _ignis fatuus_ on its midnight rambles. Shortly
afterwards we came to a small village, consisting of about twenty huts;
but nothing was to be found here except a few Pariah dogs, and some
wandering cattle. Here we halted for the night, and handed round
biscuits and grog to those who had not had the precaution to provide
themselves with some refreshment. On similar occasions I had formerly
been negligent, and had often suffered the pangs of hunger through my
own neglect; but this evening, foreseeing, from the nature of the
country, that our supplies could not reach us, I had provided myself
with a whole bottle of brandy and a considerable quantity of biscuit,
which went freely round. The morning was very chilly, and we had no
covering; but, notwithstanding this, the weary bodies of the men soon
sank to sleep. My favourite mare had a blanket, which I would not
deprive her of, as she would not drink brandy. Her portion of biscuit
she had. When I awoke, what was my astonishment to see my groom wrapped
up in my mare's blanket, and snoring like a pig, while the poor mare
stood shrivelled up, and looking almost frozen to death. At this piece
of consummate impudence on the part of the groom, I lost my temper,
which nothing could restore but the satisfaction of giving the fellow a
good horsewhipping. Besides this, I made him forfeit one rupee of h