236 



CHAPTEK XV. 



BEFORE DELHI. AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1857. 



On August 4 the news of Havelock's victorious 

 entry into Cawnpore reached the camp before Delhi. 

 The destruction of Sir Hugh Wheeler and his 

 hapless garrison was also fully confirmed ; and 

 Havelock, in Hodson's words, " was too late to save 

 the unfortunate women and children, who were 

 massacred in their prison, before his arrival, by their 

 guards. Such fiends as these our arms have never 

 met with in any part of the world. May our 

 vengeance be as speedy as it will unquestionably 

 be sure ! " 



On the 6th Hod son had hardly returned from one 

 of his reconnaissances when he found himself ordered 

 on another expedition, from which he did not return 

 until three o'clock of the next morning. " Hodson 

 keeps an Argus-eye on the rear and left flank, and is 

 always ready for an adventurous ride. I am not 

 surprised at Gough liking him ; he has a rare gift of 

 brains, as well as of pluck. The uniform of his men, 

 khaki tunics, with a scarlet sash over the shoulder, 

 and turban, is very picturesque." ^ 



On the morning of August 8 Nicholson rode into 



1 Greathed's Letters. 



