220 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



down on the road till dawn. We then became aware that 

 Tantia had moved, only a rear-guard of a few hundred horse 

 remaining on the ground. He had marched in an easterly 

 direction towards Beowra, on the trunk-road. We at once 

 descended to the river ; and, at the request of the General, 

 I rode into the fort to bring out the chief, and learn what I 

 could of the movements of the enemy. The gate of the fort 

 was reached by a stone slope about eighty yards in length. 

 I was accompanied by four troopers of the late Bhopal Con- 

 tingent ; and, on gaining admittance, I left two of them in 

 the gateway to secure a retreat if necessary, and rode on to 

 the chiefs house. The fort presented a singular appearance, 

 the streets being utterly deserted, save by a few old or de- 

 crepit individuals. The roadways and floors of the verandahs 

 on either side were covered with horse-litter and smoking 

 embers, and in all directions were strewed dinner-plates made 

 of the leaf of the kakra tree relics of the last night's feast. 

 The chief met me at the door of his house, and at once pro- 

 ceeded to detail the indignities to which he had been subjected 

 by his late unwelcome guests. His looks belied his state- 

 ments, and I have no doubt they had spent a very jovial 

 evening together. He accompanied me to the General, with 

 whom I left him. 



Our small body of horse, consisting of two squadrons of 

 native cavalry and one of the 17th Lancers, was ordered to 

 pursue, and my services as a political not being required 

 while Captain Hutchinson was in camp, I accompanied 

 them. The country over which the enemy had retreated 

 was similar to that on the west side of the river undulating 

 and stony, cut up with many small ravines and watercourses, 

 and covered with thorny scrub, through which the road wound 

 over the natural surface of the ground. Skirmishers were 



