Edwards was a pucca Englishman, He had a scout at every point and the news sdon reached him that the Vaishnavi had thrown Lindlay off his horse and herself rode off. As soon as he heard this, Edwards said : M An imp of Satan ! Strike the tents. 5 ' Instantly there was a great noise of hammers falling on the tent-posts. Like an Elysian city built of clouds, the city of canvas disappeared in a moment. Luggages were thrown on carts, men rode off or walked on foot. Hindus and Mussulmans, Madrassees and English, marched solemnly on with guns oh their shoulders. Mahendra, on the other hand, was on the way to the fair with the whole host of the Children. That afternoon he was thinking of encamping his forces as the day was drawing to a close. The Vaishnavas had no camps ; they spread their humble beddings under trees and slept on it, living on churnmnrita and making up the deficit by dreaming sweets dreams. Close by was a place fit for encamp- ment. It was a big garden full of mango, jack-fruit, tamarind and babla trees. Mahendra chose this place for encampment. Beside it was a mound that was rather steep. Mahendra thought that on the mound there would be better site for the purpose and thought he would reconnoitre the spot himself. He therefore sprang on a horse and slowly rode up
