dreadful suspense succeeded; for though Mr. Davis could not quit his post for a moment to look out, the two women assured him the insurgents still surrounded the house, and it was a natural suggestion that they might be preparing the means of ascent on the outside. At length one of the women, venturing to look over the parapet wall, was shot through the arm by one of many who appeared like a guard stationed to prevent escape.

They could now only remain where they were, casting anxious looks for the cavalry from General Erskine's camp, which, though Mr. Davis doubted not it would hasten to his relief, he knew could not arrive for some time, not more than an hour having yet elapsed since the attack began. He maintained, however, that they must be at hand, for the sake of encouraging those whom he had to protect.

In about half an hour from this time, he again heard the noise of many persons ascending the stair in haste, and when by the sound they seemed near the top, he suddenly threw aside the cover, and was on the point of driving the spear into the head of the foremost, when most fortunately he recognised the

white beard and withered face of an old native servant. The poor fellow, thinking himself endangered by this unexpected reception, roared out who he was, and that he had saved the piece of plate which he held up towards Mr. Davis, adding that Vizier Ali's force had all retired. Others behind in like manner held up different articles they had brought with them, to confirm his assertion; but Mr. Davis still hesitated for a moment to let them come up, for fear of treachery, not knowing but that they might have been tempted to save their own lives by consenting to be the means of putting him off his guard.

Presently, however, seeing the native officer of his police and some sepoys, with their muskets, enter the room, whose presence with their arms was alone sufficient to convince him that the enemy had retired, Mr. Davis gladly admitted this reinforcement to his post; and at length finding, on a muster, that he had fifteen men with their firelocks, bayonets, and fifteen rounds each, besides the cutwal, with some of his police, he considered the danger as over; for though intelligence was now brought from the town by a police peon that Vizier Ali

intended to renew his attack on the house, Mr. Davis had already found the roof of it perfectly defensible, and that those opposed to him understood better how to assassinate than to fight.*

He posted the soldiers, and instructed them as to the best mode of defence in case of attack, and they seemed steady and attentive to his directions. The sound of Vizier Ali's drum was presently heard from the town, and parties could be distinguished in motion about the suburbs, where some places belonging to Europeans were on fire. on fire. Intelligence was

brought in that numbers of the inhabitants were joining the insurgents, but none of them yet approached the house.

About eleven o'clock an advanced party of cavalry appearing in view, every fear was dispelled from this little garrison. Major Pigot and Captain Shubrick, by whom it was brought on with admirable celerity, proceeded first over the bridge to Mr. Cherry's house. After finding all was over, they next galloped to Mr.

* For Lord Valentia's account, see Appendix D. There is also a succinct, but correct, statement in Thornton's History of the British Empire in India. 1843.

Davis's assistance.

They there agreed that until the infantry arrived this small force would be best occupied by taking post in front of the house, within view of which, towards the town, great numbers were now beginning to assemble.

Whether these were mere spectators, or collected for a hostile purpose, remained uncertain, until some of the nearest of them began setting fire to a building attached to the police department. General Erskine, who by this time had joined with the remainder of the cavalry, sent out a few troopers to drive off these depredators, and one of the men, unfortunately falling from his horse, was set upon and left for dead by a part of the armed. multitude, who by this proceeding evinced that they were of Vizier Ali's party. The cavalry were soon after fired at by some who, emboldened by their success over the trooper, came near enough for their shot to reach the verandah; and had not the column of infantry at this juncture come up, the party there assembled might have been much annoyed by the assailants.

The troops, while forming in line, were some

of them wounded by matchlocks or musket shot from a wood in their front, where Vizier Ali was said to be in person; but on the first fire from a field-piece he and his adherents withdrew towards Mahdoo Doss's garden, where it was thought a desperate resistance might be expected. General Erskine with the utmost promptitude pursued this column, leaving Mr. Davis a guard of a company of men, and from the verandah, where most of the European inhabitants were now assembled, they could see the smoke and hear the report of the firing which in due time succeeded.

At the first interval of breathing time the astonished assembly of English inhabitants of the neighbourhood felt and acknowledged that the hour and half during which Mr. Davis single-handed had kept the assassins at bay in their fruitless attack, had been the means of enabling some to conceal themselves, and others to take refuge in General Erskine's camp. The unfortunate victims to Vizier Ali's barbarous treachery, among the British, were five in number; for, in addition to Mr. Cherry, Captain Conway, and Mr. Evans, they had met Mr. Robert Graham, a young civilian, on