Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/271

Rh The duel between Maude's guns and those of the rebels had raged for some time. The enemy had all the advantage of fighting under cover, and they had made deadly havoc with Maude's gunners. One after another these had fallen, their places being supplied from the infantry behind them. So great was the pressure that Maude and his Lieutenant, Maitland, were doing the work themselves. At the end of half-an-hour Maude recognised that he was making no impression. Then he called out to young Havelock that he could not fight his guns much longer, and begged him to 'do something.' Havelock rode at once to Neill and suggested that he should charge the bridge. But Neill, feeling himself hampered by the presence of Outram, with his brigade, declared that in his absence he could not take the responsibility; that Outram must turn up soon. Tytler then attempted to persuade him to give the order, but with the same result.

Meanwhile, nothing had been heard of Outram and the 5th. The position was critical. Maude could not hold on much longer. A charge alone could remedy the position. Recognising this, young Havelock, full of ardour, despairing of overcoming in any other way the obstinacy of Neill, attempted a ruse. Riding to the rear a short distance, he suddenly turned his horse, and galloping back, rode up to Neill and, saluting him, said, as though the order had come from his father, 'You are to carry the bridge, sir.' Neill gave the order, directing Havelock and Tytler to form up the men. At the word Arnold dashed forward with his handful on to the bridge, and made for the barricade. Young Havelock and Tytler were by his side in a moment. Then the hurricane opened. Arnold fell, shot through both thighs. Tytler's horse was killed, and he himself shot through the groin. Of the twenty-eight men who had dashed forward, Have-