in position was held by the
sepoys, with the two six-pounders. As the Burmese advanced, a sharp
fire was opened upon them; but they availed themselves of every
irregularity of the ground, and of cover of all kinds, and threw up
shelter banks with such rapidity that the fire was, by no means, so
effective as had been expected.

During the day news came that the left wing of the 23rd Native
Infantry had left Chittagong on the 13th and, as it should arrive
the next day, Captain Noton determined to hold his ground; though
the Burmese continued to press forward, and a good many men, as
well as two or three officers, had been wounded by their fire. At
nightfall, a consultation was held. The reinforcements were
expected in the morning and, although the native levies had shown
signs of insubordination, and evidently could not be relied upon to
make a stand, if the Burmese attacked in earnest, it was resolved
to retain the position.

During the night, the Burmese pushed forward their trenches. A
heavy fire was maintained on both sides during the day, but it was
with considerable difficulty that the officers in command of the
levies kept the men from bolting.

"Things look very black," Captain Pringle said to Stanley, when the
firing died away, at nightfall. "Reinforcements should have been
here, today. It is scandalous that they should not have been pushed
forward, at once, when we asked for them. Still more so that, when
they once started, they should not have come on with the greatest
possible speed. I doubt whether we shall be able to hold these
cowardly curs together till tomorrow. If they bolt, the sepoys will
be sure to do so, too; in fact, their position would be altogether
untenable, for the Burmese could march round this flank and take
them in rear.

"I wish to Heaven we had two or three companies of white troops, to
cover a retreat. There would be no fear of the sepoys yielding to a
panic, if they had British troops with them; but when they are
outnumbered, as they are now, one can hardly blame them if they
lose heart, when the enemy are ten times their strength, and will
be twenty to one against them, if our fellows here bolt."

The next morning, the Burmese had pushed up their trenches to
within twelve paces of the British lines, and a tremendous fire was
opened. At nine o' clock, in spite of the efforts of their officers
to keep them steady, the native levies bolted; and the officers
with them dashed across