332 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



breach whilst the guns were making it practicable, 

 and waiting for the moment when I could send the 

 word for the troops to advance, when your husband 

 suddenly stood beside me and said laughingly, ' I 

 am come to take care of you.' The signal was 

 given for the troops to advance, and we watched 

 their progress and entry into the building. All 

 serious opposition soon ceased, and we followed 

 through the breach into the palace. None of the 

 enemy remained except a few parties shut up in 

 houses, whom our troops were despatching. Your 

 poor husband, Captain Taylor,^ and I were together 

 then. I got separated from them in the crowd, 

 and proceeded to push on our advantage. When 

 I returned General Lugard told me that both your 

 husband and Taylor were wounded, and that he was 

 earnestly asking for me. 



"I went immediately to Banks's house and found 

 him in a dooly, not suffering much pain. His 

 wound had been dressed, and he had all necessary 

 attendance. I was obliged to leave him to go to 

 the commander - in - chief, but then returned and 

 remained with him till the approach of morning 

 obliged me to return to my duties." 



How Hodson came to meet the fatal bullet which 

 cut short his brilliant career may best be told in 

 the words of Mr Forbes - Mitchell, who had just 

 borne his part in the storming of the Begam's 

 palace : — 



" By this time we were broken up in small 

 parties in a series of separate fights all over the 

 different detached buildings of the palace. Captain 

 M'Donald being dead, the men who had been on 



1 Now General Sir Alexander Taylor, K.C.B. 



