pound carronade. Again was the order given to bring the guns to the front. Whilst a detachment of men, armed with the Enfield, moved down the lateral ravines and opened a steady musketry fire, Maude, moving forward under the fire of the enemy, held his reply until he had placed his guns in positions whence they could envelop the intrenchment in a concentric fire. No sooner had these opened than the fire of the rebels ceased as if by magic. It transpired that the very first discharge from Maude's guns had smashed their sponge staffs, and having none in reserve they could no longer load their pieces. They made one desperate effort to blow up the bridge — an effort which failed — and then gave way. Simultaneously the Madras Fusiliers advanced, followed by the Highlanders, and rapidly crossing the bridge, caught the rebel gunners ere they could escape, and bayoneted them as they stood or ran. Maude followed with his guns, and pounded the enemy as they fled. Havelock pushed on for a mile beyond the bridge, and then halted for the night. The British loss in the two actions was about thirty men killed and wounded. The most regretable of these was that of Major Renaud, an excellent officer, always to be depended upon.
The soldiers bivouacked that night on the spot whence the last gun was fired at the retreating enemy. That evening Havelock received information that Náná Sáhib, at the head, it was said, of 7000 men of all arms, would oppose his entry into Kánhpur on the morrow. But other information, to the effect that there were still alive in that station some 200 women and children of British blood, who had escaped the massacre of the 27th of June, cheered him and his men. 'With God's help, men,' he exclaimed, 'we shall save them, or every man of us die in the attempt.' Such was his spirit, such, also, the spirit of the men he commanded.
