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68 long delay the General sent to order him to proceed, not to the parade grounds of the mutinous regiments, which were close by, but to a gaol at a distance of some miles. The services of this gallant regiment were thus rendered unavailable at the time and at the place when and where they were most required. The night had well set in when General Hewitt, Brigadier Wilson, the 60th Rifles, the artillery, and the officers of the mutinous regiments reached the general parade ground. Across that ground the troops deployed into line, and joined by the Carabineers, who fortunately had lost their way and had returned, marched in the full expectation of meeting the revolted sipáhís. But these had disappeared, and no one knew whither they had gone. Believing that they had moved round to attack the quarters of the Europeans, the Brigadier, Archdale Wilson, advised the General to return for the protection of the women, the children, and the barracks. The General assented, and gave the necessary orders. On their way back the soldiers had some evidence of the damage already done by the mutineers. Lurid shoots of flame showed that many of the European bungalows were blazing. Some unarmed plunderers were seen, but no sipáhís. Where were they? Captain Rosser of the Carabineers offered, if he were permitted, to lead a squadron of his regiment and some H. A. guns along the Dehlí road, to ascertain if they had taken that route. The suggestion was not accepted, and subsequently the authorities denied that it had ever been made. It would seem that the officers in high places were sadly wanting in that spirit of enterprise and audacity which constitute the essential element of a good soldier. They would hazard nothing, not even the lives of a reconnoitring party. Contenting himself with establishing a few pickets, the General bivouacked his force