28G MAJOR W. HODSON. 



On the 29th Hodson was back again in Delhi, 

 "safe and well, but very tired." On his arrival 

 he went straight to call upon General Penny, who 

 had lately taken over the command from General 

 Wilson. General Penny at once granted him the 

 leave for which he had already applied, to visit 

 his wife for a few weeks at Umbala, whither she 

 had come down from Simla for the cold weather 

 just setting in. 



The hours that intervened before his departure 

 from Delhi were mainly spent in arranging for 

 the despatch of his regiment to Meerut. He was 

 feeling sadty in need of rest. " I have been over- 

 strained and over-laboured," he writes on October 

 30, " and I want repose. When I get our prize- 

 money I hope to realise Rs. 40,000, and if so, I shall 

 be able to pay all our debts, and a great burden 

 will be off my heart. I shall feel quite free and 

 young again in heart when all is clear." 



The passage just quoted furnishes of itself a 

 convincing answer to the charges of wholesale 

 plunder which Hodson's enemies have continually 

 brought against him. But calumny was soon to 

 find a fresh weapon of attack connected with the 

 incident which I have now to mention. 



Among the booty which Hodson had helped to 

 capture were some 1600 head of horned cattle. 

 He at once reported to Brigadier Showers the result 

 of his successful foray. " What in the world am 

 I to do with them ? " exclaimed the puzzled briga- 

 dier ; "it would take half my force to convoy them 

 back to Delhi." " Well, sir," replied Hodson, " will 

 you sell them to me and let me take my chance ? " 

 Never had the brigadier been more relieved, as he 



