FIRST WEEKS OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI. 207 



were present hardly knew what to make of it, and 

 thought the creatures were mobbing me ; and so 

 they were, but for joy, not for mischief. All the 

 staff were witnesses of this." Colonel Becher, then 

 quartermaster-general, was heard to declare that 

 the greeting which the Guides gave their old com- 

 mander was quite enough to stultify all the reports 

 of his unpopularity with that corps. Such a greet- 

 ing, indeed, must speak for itself to every impartial 

 reader of these pages. 



Hardly had Hodson finished his hurried scrawl to 

 the wife he left behind him in the hills, when our 

 troops were suddenly called upon to meet an attack 

 from the mutineers against some of our outposts on 

 the ridge. Hodson himself commanded the troops 

 on the British right. Supporting the advance came 

 the gallant Guides, who followed their old leader 

 with a cheer, and "behaved with their usual pluck." 

 Quintin Battye, who commanded the Guide cavalry, 

 fell mortally wounded while leading his men, said 

 Daly, " like a hero." The whilom leader of the Guides 

 was much affected by the warmth of the reception 

 they had now given him twice in one day. " It has 

 produced a great sensation in camp, and had a good 

 effect on our native troojDS, insomuch that they are 

 more willing to obey their European officers when 

 they see their own countrymen's enthusiasm." 



On this occasion Hodson himself had a narrow 

 escape : " The sabre I thought such a g©od one 

 went the first blow, and the blade flew out of the 

 handle the second, the handle itself breaking in two. 

 I had to borrow a sword from a Horse Artilleryman 

 for the remainder of the day. The Jhind men with 

 me fought like excellent soldiers. The good general 



