Page:History of the French in India.djvu/323

 THE SIEGE RAISED. 299 were pointed at the breach, that spare muskets were chap. loaded and in readiness, and that the small garrison VIL had, by the ability of its commander, been utilised so as 175^ to supply by the skilful disposition of the troops com- posing it the paucity of their numbers. Nevertheless, preceded by elephants to burst open the gates, the native troops of Raju Sahib advanced boldly to the attack. Unsupported as they were by the French con- tingent, which strangely kept aloof, they mounted the north-west breach, passed the first trench, and charged the English drawn up to receive them. They were, however, received with such a terrible and continuous fire, spare muskets lying handy for that purpose, that after vain efforts, in which they iost their gallant leader, a Muhammadan. they recoiled. The attack on the south-Avest. made by means of a raft thrown across the wet ditch, was equally unsuccessful, and at the end of an hour it became evident to Raju Sahib that his attack had failed. His loss amounted to 400 men, plain whilst gallantly attempting to storm a fortress defended mainly by Europeans, few indeed in number but strong in discipline, and commanded by a hem No greater proof indeed could be given of the means at the disposal of the defenders than this, that, although not exceeding 200, including sipahis, in number, they, besides serving five pieces of cannon, fired off during this hour's attack, not less than 12,000 musket cartridges ! * The following morning, Raju Sahib raised the siege, and retreated on Vellur, accompanied only by the French and the troops which had been sent from Trichinapalli, all the rest deserting him. Here we will leave him whilst we describe the effect of this repulse on the French leader himself. We have already stated that Dupleix had never regarded the attack upon Clive as aught but a very
 * Oiine.