222 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



front they had posted their guns masked in the jungle, and 

 no sooner had their own cavalry swept through them, than 

 they opened in our faces, accompanied by a sharp fire of mus- 

 ketry. Sir William Gordon gave the word, "Threes left," and 

 we passed within fifty yards of the muzzles of the guns. When 

 clear of their front we retired to the other end of the open 

 ground, where we halted. How we escaped being severely cut 

 up was a miracle. Neither man nor horse was touched, and. 

 we could only suppose that the guns had been laid for a 

 longer range, and, owing to our sudden onset, the enemy had 

 not had time to depress them. The infantry had probably 

 contented themselves with blazing in the air. Long after we 

 had halted, the round shot continued to fly over our heads, 

 but no damage was done, and we quietly awaited the arrival 

 of the General, with our own guns and infantry. These at 

 length came up. The men had marched fast, and a brief space 

 was allowed them to take breath. Meanwhile the enemy had 

 again got their guns on the road, and were once more in retreat. 

 We followed, a portion of the infantry skirmishing in front 

 to the right and left, and the remainder in column with the 

 guns and cavalry. At length we reached the confines of the 

 hard stony soil, over which we had marched since we left 

 Eajghur, and before us lay a wide expanse of cultivated ground. 

 But on this side of the cultivation was a stream, with soft 

 boggy banks ; and as we came in sight of it we saw the guns 

 of the enemy below us, struggling through the mud. Our own 

 were then ordered to the front, and after a few rounds, the 

 enemy fled, leaving their guns as they lay. The cavalry was 

 again pushed forward ; and, having crossed the stream, swept 

 through a small village and out into the open country. Haif- 

 a-mile ahead, we saw the rebels in flight, a dense mass of 

 horse and foot mixed up together. 



