Page:History of the French in India.djvu/216

 194 THE FIRST STRUGGLE IN THE KARNATIK. chap, mander. This was to march with the bulk of his force v ', to intercept and destroy that small detachment, before 1746. an opportunity should be afforded it of opening com- munications with the garrison of Madras. With this view he marched to St. Thome, and took up a position on the northern bank of the little river Adyar, which runs into the sea on its southern side, and which it would be necessary for Paradis to cross in order to com- municate with Madras. On the morning of November 4, Paradis came in sight of the host of the Nawwab, numbering nearly 10,000 men, posted on the north bank of the river, their position covered by guns. He had no guns, but he was a man of a stern and a resolute nature, prompt in his decisions, and losing no time in carrying them into effect. He was little startled by the sight before him. His orders were to open communication with Madras, and these he could not carry out by either halting or retreating. He therefore resolved to cut his way through the enemy. Without waiting to reconnoitre, he dashed into the river, which he knew to be fordable, scrambled up the bank in face of the enemy's guns, then halting to deliver one volley, ordered a charge. The effect was electric. The enemy at once gave way, and retreated in terrible confusion into the town, from behind the defences of which they attempted to offer a new resistance. But Paradis was not the man to leave half his work undone. He followed the enemy with vigour, and halted in front of the town, poured in volley after volley on the masses jumbled together in the crowded streets. These had but one thought — to escape. Their very numbers, however, impeded their movement in any direction, and it was not until after many of them had fallen, that they succeeded in extri- cating themselves from their position. Hardly had they accomplished this, however, when they found themselves assailed by another enemy. The garrison of