His journey was a difficult one, for the road was deserted, the post-horses had been carried off, and the district was full of marauders. It was not, then, till the afternoon of the 11th that he and his party reached Jhúsí, a village on the high bank overlooking the junction of the Jamnah and the Ganges, and the point where the road from Banáras passed over the bridge of boats then maintained across the former river. But Neill found the bridge partially destroyed, and the further end of it occupied by the rebels. He noticed that Daryáganj, a suburb of Allahábád, which commanded that further end, was also in their possession. He knew, too, that his men were worn out by fatigue. But the great aim of Neill's life was to conquer difficulties. Descending the Ganges, he espied and hailed a fisherman pursuing his craft in a solitary boat. He bought the man, and was about to trust 'Cæsar and his fortunes' to the frail canoe when the English guard on duty on the ramparts of the fort of Allahábád recognised his men. Boats were then sent over in sufficient numbers.
Neill entered the fort. He was aware that the task before him was a heavy one; that to restore order the means at his disposal were scanty. In his journey from Banáras he had noticed that the entire country along the Ganges was in a state of anarchy. He now found the fort invested: the troops who mainly formed the garrison — the Sikhs of the same regiment he had laid his hand upon at Banáras — coaxed into the appearance of subordination: confusion and disorder in every department: an unchecked enemy without, vacillation ruling within.
He immediately assumed command. Notwithstanding his fatigue, and the exhaustion consequent upon it, he did not sleep until he had arranged his plans for the morrow. The day of the 12th had scarcely dawned when he opened fire from the fort on the suburb of Daryáganj, held by a large
