Page:In times of peril.djvu/314

 Then the guns ceased their fire, and the infantry with a wild cheer burst into the garden of the Shah Nujeeff, and filled the mosque and garden with the corpses of their defenders. The loss of the naval brigade in this gallant affair was not heavy, and Dick Warrener escaped untouched.

Evening was approaching now, and the troops bivouacked for the night. The Ninetieth, and that portion of the Fifty-third not engaged in the assault of the Secunderbagh and Shah Nujeeff, were now to have their turn as leaders of the attack.

The next point to be carried was the messhouse, a very strong position, situated on an eminence, with flanking towers, a loopholed mud wall, and a ditch. The naval guns began the fray, and the heavy shot soon effected a breach in the wall. The defenders of the post were annoyed, too, by a mortar battery in an advanced post of the British force in the Residency—for the space between the garrison and the relieving force was rapidly lessening. The word was given, and the Ninetieth, Fifty-third and Sikhs dashed forward, surmounted all obstacles, and carried the position with the bayonet; and the Observatory, which stood behind it, was soon afterward most gallantly carried by a Sikh Regiment.

In the meantime the garrison of the Residency was not idle. On the day of the arrival of the British at Dil Koosha, flag-signals from the towers of that palace had established communication with the Residency, and it was arranged that as soon as the relieving forces obtained possession of the Secunderbagh the troops of the garrison should begin to fight their way to meet them.

Delighted at taking the offensive after their long siege, Havelock's troops on the 16th attacked the enemy with fury, and carried two strong buildings known as Hern