8o SPORT AND TRAVEL 



the bridge which crosses the canal on the outskirts 

 of the city. This bridge being subjected to a heavy 

 fire by the natives, Neill did not think it advisable 

 to cross till the rear of the column had moved up 

 and the order had been given by the general in 

 command. The other officers were impatient, for a 

 reconnoitring party had reported that the bridge 

 might be carried, and fora moment there were mur- 

 murs of dissatisfaction. Then occurred one of those 

 episodes which add humor even to war. Young 

 Havelock, the general's aide-de-camp, spurred his 

 horse and dashed back over the road towards his 

 father's position. Halting at the first turn, however, 

 he waited for a few moments and then came gallop- 

 ing back to Neill. " You are to carry the bridge 

 at once, sir!" he said. The order was issued and 

 Colonel Tytler, Captain Willis, and Lieutenants 

 Havelock and Arnold immediately charged with a 

 dozen soldiers each of their respective regiments. 

 At the end of the bridge was a seven-foot earthwork 

 armed with six heavy rebel guns and protected by a 

 wide range of rebel musketry fire. Tytler and Willis 

 were wounded, and Arnold fell shot through both 

 thighs, while five men at his side had their right legs 

 shot off. In a minute Lieutenant Havelock and 

 Corporal Jacques were the only two unwounded men 

 on the bridge. Jacques continued firing and reload- 



