H A P T E R XVIIL 



Small parties of Ragobah's army that had been dispersed in dif- 

 ferent districts, or had not been able to keep up with the main 

 body on their forced march to effect the junction, occasionally 

 dropped in at Ginnich and Darah: some we had reason to suppose 

 fell into the enemy's hands, and many were lost in fording the 

 Sabermatty. So completely intimidated were his principal gene- 

 rals after their defeat on the plains of Arras, that they refused to 

 make any movement towards joining our army unless the com- 

 mander in chief sent an envoy personally to announce his arrival, 

 and future intentions, and to assure them of the English friendship 

 and protection. He accordingly dispatched a German gentle- 

 man, then a volunteer in our camp, with an intelligent native 

 officer in the sepoy corps, of integrity and attachment to the de- 

 feated generals, at the Copperwange hills. Knowing we were sur- 

 rounded by spies, and fearful of treachery, the envoys with only 

 one attendant were secretly sent off at midnight, with a promise of 

 promotion if they succeeded in the hazardous enterprize of passing 

 the enemy's posts. After many extraordinary adventures and sin- 

 gular escapes, they succeeded in their mission, but the faithful 

 German fell a sacrifice to the fatigue and hardship of the under- 



