CONCLUSION. 349 



though he had passed his whole life at the desk, 

 afterwards recruiting and commanding the corps of 

 Guides ; and, lastly, taking part in the operations 

 before Delhi, volunteering for every enterprise in 

 which life could be hazarded or glory could be won. 

 He crowded into the brief space of eleven eventful 

 years the services and adventures of a long life. He 

 died when his reward was assured, obtaining only 

 that reward which he most coveted — the conscious- 

 ness of duty done, and the assurance of enduring 

 military renown." 



"There was not a man before Delhi who did 

 not know Hodson," remarked the writer of some 

 excellent papers in ' Blackwood's Magazine ' ; 

 "always active, always cheery, it did one's heart 

 good to look at his face when all felt how critical 

 was our position. Ask any soldier who was the 

 bravest man before Delhi, who most in the saddle, 

 who foremost ? and nine out of ten in the infantry 

 will tell you Hodson, in the artillery as many will 

 name Tombs. 



" I once heard one of the Fusiliers say, ' When- 

 ever I sees Captain Hodson go out, I always prays 

 for him, for he is sure to be in danger.' Yet it 

 was not only in the field that Hodson was to be 

 valued, his head was as active as his hand was 

 strong, and I feel sure, when we who knew him 

 heard of his death, not one but felt that there was 

 a vacancy indeed in our ranks." 



"Major Hodson," wrote the 'Times,' "has been 

 from the very beginning of this war fighting every- 

 where and against any odds with all the spirit 

 of a paladin of old. His most remarkable exploit, 

 the capture of the King of Delhi and his two sons. 



