Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/345

Book IX. courage, by shouting, the din of instruments, and a strong fire of their matchlocks, which, with the surprize, panic-struck the Coffres: they ran back in the path, and were immediately followed by numbers of the enemy issuing from the thickets on the left. There was no time to enquire the cause. Captain Smith immediately led on the Europeans, who soon drove the enemy back into the wood, who did not escape through the barrier of thorns before the wall. Both were now attentively examined; and, whilst some endeavoured to tear up the hedge in front, others tried to get round the flanks of it into the wood; but none succeeded, and several were wounded. The fieldpiece was then advanced, and fired until all its ammunition was expended, without taking any effect on the parapet, or intimidating the enemy, whose matchlocks had wounded five of the six artillery-men serving the gun, and more of the other Europeans, who likewise had expended most of their cartridges. It was now seven o'clock, and began to grow dark, when all the blacks, whether Coffres, Sepoys, or Lascars, took advantage of this protection, and slunk away back into the path, out of the reach of danger, excepting Mahomed Issoof, one servant of Captain Smith's, and one Tindal, or Corporal of the Lascars. A supply of ammunition had been sent for from the skirt of the wood as soon as the troops came to the wall; but from the distance it could not be expected for some time. During which, Captain Smith ordered the Europeans to fire their muskets now and then against the parapet, as well to convince the enemy that they were determined not to relinquish the attack, as to divert the chance of their discovering the party with Ramanaig, whose arrival, too long delayed, had for some time created much doubt and anxiety. At eight o'clock more ammunition came up, when the firing of the field-piece and musketry renewed again with great vivacity, and was equally returned by the enemy. Soon after, firing was heard in the rear of the wall, and the sound of Ding Mahomed echoed from every part of the wood; this is the successful shout of the Sepoys, and signifies the faith of their Prophet. They were already in the path, advancing at full pace; the troops of the rampart were flying, and met their fire; after which all resistance ceased;