medans, as they were quickly descending the sandy mound of the river, and at each fire, the brave Englishmen caused one of their enemies to lie for ever on that bed of sand. But, as wave after wave is seen to roll forward in a sea or a mighty river, so, row after row of Mahamedans were found to descend the bank of the river. Amyatt then shouted to his comrades,
"There is now absolutely no chance of our deliverence. Come, let us then lay down our lives in killing the heretics before us."
No sooner had Amyatt concluded, than a few of the Mahamedans leaped upon Amyatt's boat. The Englishmen, it seemed, were ready for it, and they let off their guns at the assailants all at once—they were blown off from the boat and scattered into the river in all directions. But more Mahamedans now got up on the boat, and others began to strike its bottom with heavy clubs and hammers. The boat soon gave way and water rushed into it with a great noise. Amyatt then said to his men,
"Why should we suffer ourselves to be drowned here like dumb helpless cattle? Let us go out and die like soldiers with sword in hand."
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