Page:History of the French in India.djvu/564

 THE LAST STRUGGLE FOR EMPIRE. Bourbon, who wore a uniform of that colour. It was not until he found himself a prisoner amongst them that he discovered them to be English. Bussy, who had fol- lowed him, returned, on noticing his misfortune, to the regiment of Lally, whilst the general, accompanied by his aide-de-camp and orderly officer, succeeded in gain- ing the scene of action. They found that the officers of the regiment of Lorraine had duly noticed the approach of a body of 500 men under Colonel Draper, supported by 150 under Major Brereton, with two guns, but, mistaking them, as d'Estaing afterwards did, for their own men, had made no dispositions to oppose them. They had only become aware of their error when the English guns opened on their left flank. Completely surprised, they had fallen into confusion, and, abandon- ing their guns, had sought refuge under cover of some houses that were near. Had the English then advanced the guns might have been carried off and the siege ended that very day. But their troops likewise fell into confusion amongst the houses, and their native buglers having run away, a part of the force became separated from the rest. Two officers of the regiment of Lorraine, Captains Guillermin and Secati, noticing this, rallied their men with great spirit, and advanced with fixed bayonets to support their guns. It was now the turn of the English to fall back. Their position was a dangerous one ; not only were they in the presence of a superior force, recovered from its surprise, but to regain the fort they had to cross the marshy plain and the small bridge of which we have spoken, and to which the regiment of Lally, burning for action, was nearer than they were. It will thus be seen that the fate of the English depended on the conduct of the officer of that regiment. There are some critical moments decisive of the fate and fortunes of individuals and nations ; moments which offer golden opportunities not to be flirted with, but to