“I am afraid that my letter, with the enclosure,
assuring him that I will in time pay the amount due,
will harden his heart,” Marshall laughed.
“I am much obliged all the same, but I don’t
think that it will be of any use.”
However, on leaving him, Mallett went downstairs,
borrowed some ink from the quartermaster, and wrote
to his solicitor, enclosing a cheque for 300 pounds,
with instructions to see the money lender.
“You will find that he will be glad enough to
hand over young Marshall’s bills for four fifty
for that amount,” he said. “He has
already had fifteen pounds, which is a fair interest
for the three hundred for the time the lad has had
it. He will know well enough that if Marshall
dies he will lose every penny, and that at any rate
he will have to wait many years before he can get it.
I have no doubt that he would jump at an offer of
a couple of hundred, but it is just as well that the
young fellow should feel the obligation for some time,
and as the man did lend him the money it would be
unfair that he should be an absolute loser.”
The next morning three days’ rations were served
out to the troops, and the advance begun; the movement
being directed against the Secunderbagh, a large garden
surrounded by a very high and strong wall loopholed
for musketry. To reach it a village, fortified
and strongly held, had first to be carried. The
attack was led by Brigadier Hope’s brigade,
of which the regiment formed part. As they approached
the village, so heavy a musketry fire was opened upon
them that the order to advance was changed and the
leading regiment moved forward in skirmishing order.
The horse artillery and heavy field guns were brought
up, and poured a tremendous fire into the village,
driving the defenders from their post on the walls.
As soon as this was accomplished, the infantry rushed
forward and stormed the village, the enemy opposing
a stout resistance, occupying the houses and fighting
to the last. The main body of them, however,
fled to the Secunderbagh. The 4th Sikhs had been
ordered to lead the attack, while the British infantry
of the brigade were to cover the operation. The
men were, however, too excited and too eager to get
at the enemy to remain inactive, and on leaving the
village dashed forward side by side with the Sikhs
and attacked the wall. There was a small breach
in this, and many of the men rushed through it before
the enemy, taken by surprise, could offer a serious
resistance. The entrance was, however, so narrow
that very few men could pass in, and while a furious
fight was raging inside, the rest of the troops tried
in vain to find some means of entering.
There were two barred windows, one on each side of
the gate, and some of the troopers creeping under
these raised their shakos on their bayonets.
The defenders fired a heavy volley into them, and
the soldiers, leaping to their feet, sprang at the
bars and pulled them down by main force, before the
defenders had time to reload. Then they leaped
down inside, others followed them, the gates were
opened, and the main body of troops poured in.
