I.M.S. Whilst
the Gurkhas were striving to effect an entrance, the Pioneer companies
deployed on the flanks came under a heavy fire from the jong. We had
three men hit. One fell on a bit of very exposed ground, and was
gallantly dragged under cover by Colonel Brander and Captain Minogue,
Staff officer.

It was soon evident that the Gurkhas would never get in without
explosives. Accordingly, Lieutenant Gurdon, 32nd Pioneers, was sent to
join them with a box of guncotton. Gurdon speedily blew a hole through
the wall, and the Gurkhas dashed in yelling. The Tibetans on the roof
could easily at this time have jumped off and escaped towards the jong.
But they chose a braver part. They slid down into the middle of the
courtyard, and, drawing their swords, awaited the Gurkha onset. I must
not describe the pitiful struggle that followed. The Tibetans--about
fifty in number--herded themselves together as if to meet a bayonet
charge, but our troops, rushing through the door, extended themselves
along the edges of the courtyard, and emptied their magazines into the
mob. Within a minute all the fifty were either dead or mortally wounded.

The house was hereafter held by a company of Gurkhas all through the
bombardment, and proved a great thorn in the side of the enemy; for the
Gurkhas often used to sally out at night and ambuscade parties of men
and convoys on the Shigatze road.

CHAPTER X

GYANTSE--_continued_

[BY HENRY NEWMAN]

On the afternoon of the day on which the house was taken we were
provided with a new excitement--continuous firing was heard to the rear
of the post about a mile away. Captain Ottley galloped out with his
mounted infantry, and was only just in time to save a party of his men
who were coming up from Kangma with the letter-bags. These Sikhs--eight
in number--were riding along the edge of the river, when they were met
by a fusillade from a number of the enemy concealed amongst sedges on
the opposite bank. Before the Sikhs could take cover, one man was
killed, three wounded, and seven out of the eight horses shot down. The
remaining men showed rare courage. They carried their wounded comrades
under cover of a ditch, untied and brought to the same place the
letter-bags, and then lay down and returned the fire of the enemy. The
Tibetans, however, were beginning to creep round, and the ammunition of
the Sikhs was running low, when Captain Ottley dashed up to the rescue.
Without waiting to conside