Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/366

332 Whilst this bloody scene was being enacted at the Sikandarábágh a detachment of the same brigade had captured the large building known as the Barracks, Captain Stewart of the 93d greatly distinguishing himself. Then Sir Colin made preparations to storm the Sháh Najaf, a massively built mosque in the direct road to the Residency, situated in a garden surrounded by very strong loopholed walls.

It was at the Sháh Najaf that the rebels had counted to stop the British advance. They almost succeeded. For three hours the front attack made no way. Worse still, the road along which the force had advanced became so jammed that retreat by it was impossible. All this time the troops were exposed to a deadly fire of heavy guns and musketry. From other points, too, heavy guns were brought to play upon the baffled soldiers of England. A shot from one of these blew up one of Peel's tumbrils. The men were falling fast. Even the bright face of William Peel became overclouded. Sir Colin sat on his white horse, exposed to the full fire of the enemy, his gaze bent on the Sháh Najaf, upon whose solid walls not even the heaviest guns could make an impression. As a last resource he collected the 93d about him, and told them that the Sháh Najaf must be taken, that he had not intended to employ them again that day, but that as the guns could not open a way they must make one. In carrying out this necessary work he would go with them himself.

But neither the dashing gunners of Middleton's battery, the daring of the Highlanders and the Sikhs, nor the persistent fire of the heavy guns of Peel, could effect the desired end. The Sháh Najaf baffled them all. The shades of evening were falling fast. Success seemed impossible. Then Adrian Hope, collecting about him some fifty men, stole silently and cautiously through the jungle to a portion of the wall on which, before the assault, a sergeant of his