THE SIEGE OF DELHI. 219 



had just been abandoned by a panic-stricken officer 

 from the Meerut garrison. He recovered the boats, 



and " found all quiet in spite of 's disgraceful 



flight." On the night of the 29th he rode off" again to 

 Bhagpat, accompanied by Shebbeare of the Guides. 

 " We worked like a couple of ' navvies,' passing the 

 two days and one night on the banks of the river 

 without shelter, and almost without food ; for we 

 had nothing but a couple of cJiupatties each, and a 

 small tin of soup and a little tea, which I fortunately 

 took with me." 



By the night of July 1 they succeeded in bring- 

 ing every boat safe into camp. In sending Hodson 

 forth upon the mission thus successfully accom- 

 plished, General Barnard had declared that he did 

 so " because I can trust your judgment quite as 

 much as your energy."^ 



In the first weeks of July the flow of reinforce- 

 ments from the Punjab had raised the eflective 

 strength of Barnard's little army to about 6600 men 

 of all arms. Several hundred recruits for Hodson's 

 new regiment were to reach him a few days later 

 from Lahore and Jagraon. Some of his officers 

 were already in camp — amongst them his second in 

 command, Lieutenant Charles M'Dowell of the 2nd 

 Bengal Fusiliers. " He is a gentleman," wrote 

 Hodson, " and only wants opportunity to become 

 a gallant soldier." M'Dowell had a lively wit, a 

 sunny sensitive nature, and a great soul encased in 

 a small frail-looking body. Himself a soldier's son, 

 he had already seen hard fighting at Chilianw^ala 

 and Gujarat, and had since come to know and 

 appreciate his future friend and leader. 



^ Hodson of Hodson's Horse. 



