FIRST WEEKS OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI. 211 



pickets needed to strengthen the advancing column 

 had not been withdrawn by the time appointed. 

 Day was already breaking, and with the waning 

 darkness waned every hope of a successful surprise. 



Hodson, of course, felt " much annoyed and dis- 

 appointed at our plan not having been carried out, 

 because I am confident it would have been successful. 

 The rebels were cowed, and perfectly ignorant of 

 any intention of so bold a stroke on our part as an 

 assault : the surprise would have done everything, 

 I am very vexed, though the general is most kind 

 and considerate in trying to soothe my disappoint- 

 ment." 



"As a scout Hodson's absolute contempt for 

 anything like danger or even risk," says General 

 Thomason, "was simply unique, and of this we 

 had a fair illustration only a few days after we 

 had occupied our position in front of Delhi. . . . 

 There had been pretty heavy fighting in the Sabzi 

 Mandi during the morning of the 12th, and when 

 we got our orders for the attack, Hodson proposed 

 to some six or eight of us Engineers that we should 

 go out and ' take a look round ' when towards sun- 

 set it became comparatively cool. 



"According to appointment we went, most of 

 us without arms and many without anything on 

 our heads. Hodson led the way, and, chatting 

 merrily, took us straight into the Sabzi Mandi. 

 As we went along the narrow street many of the 

 enemy, with muskets and cross - belts, put their 

 heads over parapets on the houses right and left 

 and bobbed down again. Both Champain, who was 

 to be my assistant field Engineer in the coming 

 attack, and Salkeld looked glum as we advanced 



