Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 edition. Excerpt: ... Lieutenant Grant to advance, and the latter was to retire on Palel on the first convenient opportunity. The history of this letter was that the old cook who, as already stated, had been sent to Tammu, had, on his return to Manipur, shown it to the Regent, who had read the letter, and seeing a good opportunity of ridding himself of Colonel Howlett's force, had sent it out to Thobal. With these distinct orders before him Lieutenant Grant had no option but to seize the first convenient opportunity to retrace his steps. He had beaten the enemy three times, and though they were in the villages in his rear, they were too disorganised to do him much harm. That evening there was a tremendous thunderstorm, of the kind which comes when the monsoons break in this part of the country. Getting his men together, he set out in pouring rain at 7 P. M. The night being pitch dark, the movement was of the slowest, as the column had to wait for each flash of lightning to see their way. It took two hours to do the first half-mile, but the sepoys toiled on, passing within a few yards of their sleeping enemies, who could not hear them in the storm. Not a shot was fired at themLieutenant Grant thought his men would greet the relieving party, when they met, with loud shouts of welcome, but with all the pride of successful soldiers they took everything as a matter of course. The actual meeting was curious enough in its way. The young soldier was stumbling along through the mud, almost dead-beat and half asleep from fatigue, when a sepoy immediately in front of him stopped and remarked, in quite an ordinary tone of voice--" Guard aya, Sahib." Lieutenant Grant asked--" What guard ? that over the baggage, or what guard?" "From Palel " was the response. Lieutenant...