226 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



distant, the same place from which we had marched to meet 

 the enemy at Sindwaho. At midnight we again marched, 

 and halted a few miles north of Kurai in the Saugor dis- 

 trict. The rebels were at that time encamped about six 

 miles south-west of us, and were much distressed by the 

 rapid moving to which they had been subjected. 



On the following morning (October 25th) we again 

 marched at about 2 A.M., and, taking a south-westerly course, 

 passed through Kurai. At daybreak, as we cleared the town, 

 we saw the rebels crossing our front. They straggled along 

 the track, without any attempt at order, and among the various 

 groups of horsemen could be seen the uniforms of many 

 regiments mixed in confusion. Advancing on them, we cut 

 their line in two. The leading portion went on its way 

 southwards, but those who had been on our right, as we 

 emerged from Kurai, turned back whence they came ; and 

 our cavalry, which was now broken into small detachments, 

 closely pursued them, slaying many. 



Marching in pursuit of the'leaders we came to Bagrode, 

 and here we lound that they had again been attacked by a 

 small cavalry force under Colonel Beecher. Several dead 

 bodies lay about in the fields close to our line of march, and 

 beasts and birds appeared to have profited by the occasion. 

 Wolves, jackals, and vultures, were to be seen standing about 

 in the fields, gorged and lazy. One wretch had fallen near a 

 furrow, and lay in the way of a cultivator engaged in plough- 

 ing. Beyond guiding his bullocks round the corpse as he 

 passed, he took no notice whatever, and the vultures, dis- 

 turbed for the moment, hopped slowly back to their hideous 

 banquet. 



Tantia had now gained the shelter of the hills in the 

 Vindyah range, north of Hoosungabad, and the tracks being 



