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480

hailed and requested to be taken with the party.

An

He was

accordingly

he was taken up, he made himself useful in procuring boatmen for Nos. 1 and 2 boats near a village. After a little delay, which occurred in procuring boatmen, we again proceeded, and in a short time boats Nos. 1 and 2 passed the town of Ajodhya. This was between 8 and 9 A. M. boat No. 3 was observed to put in at Ajodhya, and No. 4 was lost sight of, having dropped far astern. Nos. 1 and 2 proceeded on, and after leaving Ajodhya about three miles in the After waiting two hours rear, put to, to await the arrival of Nos. 3 and 4. and seeing no signs of the boats coming, we again proceeded on for about taken into No.

1 boat.

hour or so

after



nine

Jcos (or

eighteen, miles)

down

stream,

when we observed what appeared

be scouts running along the right bank of the river, and giving notice of our approach. We then suspected all was not right that we had been On proceeding a little further we diiped and purposely led into danger. distinctly observed a regiment of mounted cavalry and another of infantry in a body at the narrowest part of the stream awaiting our approach. We had no alternative but to proceed on. When Nos. 1 and 2 boats arrived Sergeant Mathews, who opposite to them, they opened a brisk fire on us. was one of the rowers, was the first who fell, a ball having struck him at the back of the head. Another ball struck my hat and knocked it into the stream, sustaining no injury myself. Those in No. 1 boat, about a hundred yards behind, seeing our hazardous situation, put their boat to at a sandbank, entirely surrounded by water. We in No. 1 then put to also and went ashore, when Colonel Goldney requested us to lay down our arms and wait to see if we could come to terms with the mutineers, they directing their fire on us (Nos. 1 and 2) the whole time. Some boats with mutineers pushed off from the opposite shore and came towards us. When about the centre of the stream they opened fire on us. Colonel Goldney observing this, directed that those who could run should, without any further loss of time, endeavour to escape, remarking that there was not even the shadow of a chance of our meeting with mercy at their hands, and at the same time added that he was too old himself to run. We, now seven in number, including Tegh Ali Khan, took Colonel Goldney's advice, and hastened off, taking a direction across the country. I may here mention that from this period we remained in ignorance of the fate of Colonel Goldney and those of No. 2. to



" We now started and continued running, but did not do so long before meeting with an obstacle which precluded our further advance in the direction we marked out and this was the junction of two streams of considerable width. While at a stand-still, and deliberating as to pur future course, we saw a number of men coming towards us, whom we took for sepoys. All but Tegh Ali Khan and Sergeant Edwards jumped into the stream, and thought to escape by swimming to the opposite bank. After swimming a short distance, Tegh Ali Khan called us and told us to return, as they were only villagers. I, Lieutenant Ritchie, and Lieutenant Cautley returned but Lieutenant Currie and Lieutenant Parsons got too far into the stream, and in endeavouring to return were both drowned. I myself narrowly escaped, having twice gone down, but through the timely aid of one of the villagers was safely got out.



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