FROM UMBALA TO FATHIGARH. 293 



to Allahabad, and the Gwalior Contingent beaten. 

 "The commander-in-chief," he adds, "is at Cawn- 

 pore, and troops will be assembling there, enough 

 to put down all opposition and open the road to 

 Calcutta. We march to - morrow morning from 

 hence, leaving the impedimenta behind here until 

 we can ascertain that the road is clear : when it 

 is so, all will move on. We have fifteen guns, 

 mostly 9 - pounders, with our small but compact 

 force." 



On the 13th he writes from Jalali : "Your letter 

 enclosing our darling sister's found us lying in 

 the dust, with a pea-soup atmosphere of fine sand 

 all around, discussing hot tea and eggs, just as I 

 had returned from a reconnaissance to the front 

 in virtue of my being big eye and ear of the camp. 

 Apropos of the newspapers, Arthur Cocks [the Civil 

 Commissioner] tells me that the ' Friend of India ' 

 has apologised for its strictures on my conduct 

 in re the Shahzadas ; so let that satisfy you, for 

 nothing I could write, or my friends for me, could 

 ever be half so effectual as the ' Friend's ' voluntary 

 amende. I intended to have written much to-day, 

 but I was waked at 3 a.m., marched soon after, 

 and with the exception of the dusty breakfast 

 (cheered by my letters), I was in the saddle till 

 half-past 2 p.m. Then regimental business, washed 

 and dressed, then threw myself on my bed for 

 half an hour till dinner, after which we get to bed 

 as soon as we can, and up again at 3 a.m., so there 

 is not much time for what I want to do of private 

 matters. There's a history of a day in camp." 



On the morning of the 14th Seaton's column 

 reached Gangeri, about thirteen miles from Khas- 



