294 REMINISCENCES OF 



heard them close behind us. We found ourselves 

 alone with the mule driver ; he said he had no orders ; 

 we told him to take us in the direction of our army. 

 We followed the west wall, and then below the north 

 for nearly ten miles, the soldiers looking down upon 

 us. The mule driver advised us to keep our heads 

 under cover. At last we arrived at a road leading 

 away from the north gate, and after following it for 

 a mile we saw the joyful sight of a red coat. We 

 jumped out, and then learnt the other carts contained 

 the old Sikh and French officers. We were soon 

 within our lines and were free. 



" We have since learnt that the positive order 

 from the Emperor for our execution arrived half an 

 hour after we were released." 



