Chapter 3 Summary

While on his way back to the British forces with his valuable information, McCandless and his Indian escort run into a force of Tippoo's cavalry. At first escape looks possible, but then a larger force of enemy cavalry arrive and a fight ensues. The Indian escort loses all but one man, known as the Havildar, and McCandless urges him to escape. McCandless's horse had been seriously wounded, so he shoots it dead in a mercy killing. Facing the enemy cavalry, he prepares to do battle using his Scottish sword, known as a claymore. However, he is grossly outnumbered and reluctantly gives up his sword to an enemy cavalry officer.

Sharpe prepares for his court-martial, but his case looks hopeless. He would have to prove that an officer and an ensign were both lying about Hakeswill being attacked unprovoked, and even if he could...