Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/261

Rh the 28th of August a letter from Havelock informed them that he had no hope of being able to relieve them for five-and-twenty days. Much might happen in that period. One result of the letter was a diminution of the rations.

Eight days later the rebels made their fourth assault. They attacked two points simultaneously, but in vain. Again were they compelled to turn their backs. On this occasion the loyal sipáhís of the 13th N. I. behaved splendidly.

That these repeated failures dispirited the assailants was shown by the relaxation of their efforts on the morrow of their repulse. They never tried a grand assault after that of the 5th of September, but contented themselves with pouring in an unremitting fire of guns and musketry, with mining, with attempting surprises, and with assailing isolated points. But the labour of the garrison was by no means diminished. The season was the most unhealthy season of the year. Scarcely a day passed but some portion of one or other of the posts crumbled under the enemy's fire. Some idea of the incessant nature of that fire may be gathered from the fact that, on the 8th of September, 280 round-shot, varying in size from a twenty-four to a three-pounder, were gathered from the roof of the brigade mess-house alone.

On the 16th the messenger Angad was again sent out for news. He returned, on the night of the 22d, with information that help from outside would certainly arrive within a fortnight. The next day a smart cannonade was heard in the direction of Kánhpur. The following morning firing was again heard. That night a messenger who had gone out returned with the information that the relieving force was in the outskirts of the city. The next day it was clear that a tremendous struggle was going on within the city. When, about half-past one, people were