Page:History of the French in India.djvu/523

 SKILL AND GALLANTRY OF D'ARAMBURE. 497 when day dawned, the French had advanced but three C ^ AP - miles. *_ There remained now only one more mile of the defile. 1756. But with break of day the attacks of the enemy re- doubled in intensity. D'Arambure plied the two field- pieces he had with him, no less than the small arms of his Europeans, with unabated vigour, but the enemy rode right up to the muzzle of his guns, and attacked with unwonted daring. At last, as the sun rose, the French emerged from the defile into the plain. Then, forming up, they allowed a party of the Marathas to follow them, but no sooner had these appeared in sufficient numbers, than they opened out a heavy fire from all their pieces in the direction of the mouth of the defile. This had the effect of dispersing the greater part of the cavalry. Many, however, rode round to gain the river before the French, to dispute with them its passage. The little river runs in a deep ciift between two high banks, the further of which was occupied by the enemy. It was necessary, therefore, that Law should keep the nearer bank in his own pos- session, till with a part of his men he should have driven the enemy from that on the further side. It was arranged, accordingly, that whilst he crossed with the infantry, d'Arambure, with all the guns, should cover his passage and keep off the enemy, who were collecting in large bodies in the rear. This service was performed by d'Arambure with great skill and gallantry. From the eastern bank of the river he maintained a simultaneous fire on the enemy on the western bank, and on the enemy behind him. Having thus ensured Law's safe passage, he crossed his guns, one by one, still keeping up a fire on the enemy ; the guns as they crossed being placed in position on the other side to cover his final movement. In this manner he effected the passage in safety, the Marathas never daring to come very near him. The river crossed, the way was comparatively easy. Haidarabad was near, and the knowledge cheered the KK