1 82 PATNA DURING THE MUTINY. 



missioner to entrust his orders of recall to me for delivery, and 

 then, when no one was looking, slyly flung them all into the 

 Ganges. 



For the gallant Sir Vincent Eyre, with whom subsequently I 

 became intimate, advanced with his usual intrepidity and skill, 

 followed by his men, who had no intention of turning their backs 

 on the enemy ; and the mutineer host, after the cannons had played 

 upon them for a short time, dispersed like a mist before the rising 

 sun, and the heroes shut up in the Arrah house were saved. 



Directly I heard of this victory, it seemed to fit in so very nicely 

 with the natural course of events, that I felt quite astonished at my 

 ever having supposed it could be otherwise. It really appeared 

 ridiculous to think that the three thousand Sepoys would stand 

 against one hundred and fifty Englishmen ; for although they had 

 shot down the loth, they must have got it pretty warm themselves ; 

 and although they had been drilled by English officers ; who was 

 going to lead them against such a veteran as Eyre ? In fact, I now 

 felt inclined to say, as Jack Spraggon said to Lord Scamperdale, 

 " There, I knew how it would all turn out ! " 



Jack Spraggon was one of those clever gentlemen who knew 

 exactly what would happen, after the event occurred. 



The Lieutenant-Governor and Lord Canning at Calcutta, four 

 hundred miles from Patna, when they heard of Eyre's victory and 

 the recall order synchronously, were naturally on all fours with Jack 

 Spraggon and myself — in my later illuminated state — and were 

 astonished how anyone in his senses, could have imagined that 

 things could possibly turn out otherwise than they did. In fact, 

 they could make nothing of it. At last a bright idea occurred. 

 The recall, of course, was due to panic ; and a man who could 

 perform a treacherous act and subsequently be panic-struck, was 

 clearly not fit to rule over so large a province. Consequently Mr. 

 Tayler was deposed, and Mr. Justice Samuels was sent from 

 Calcutta to reign at Patna in his stead. 



But by this time our Patna crisis was over. Eyre had sent the 



