quite made up his mind as to the cause he should espouse, learning that Chandá Sáhib was approaching, declined every offer, however persuasive. Two days later, Chandá Sahib and D'Auteuil arrived. Towards them, likewise, the Governor showed himself equally inexorable. For a whole fortnight matters continued in this position, the English lying encamped in a grove about a mile and a-half to the south-west of the town, the French four miles to the north of it, both parties bidding against each other with the Governor, each afraid to attempt force lest the display of it should induce the Governor to summon his rival to his aid. De Gingen was the first to lose his patience. On the 19th, he made all his preparations to storm the place; marched on it at nightfall, gained the out-works, but failing in his main attack, deferred further proceedings till the morning. But his action had decided the Governor. Irritated by the attempt made to force his hand, and dreading the result of the renewed attack on the morrow, he despatched an invitation to D'Auteuil to enter the town. The Frenchman complied on the instant. When then, early the following morning, De Gingen led his men to the assault, he was received by a well-directed fire from behind the walls of the town, whilst another fire, scarcely loss formidable, poured upon his flank from the guns of the allied enemies, who had remained in the open. His men, panic-stricken by the cross-fire, so utterly unexpected, turned tail and fled; abandoning their native allies, and leaving one gun, several
