That the Dacoit and his band were still upon
the slopes of the Ghauts they knew, and were gradually narrowing
their circle, but there were so many rocks and hiding places that
the process of searching was a slow one, and the intelligence was
so important that the news was off at once to the colonel, who gave
orders for the police to surround the rock at daylight and to storm
it if possible. The garrison was so small that the police were
alone ample for the work, supposing that the natural difficulties
were not altogether insuperable.
"Just at daybreak there was a distant noise of men moving in the
jungle, and the Dacoit halfway down the path fired his gun. He was
answered by a shout and a volley. The Dacoits hurried out from the
chamber, and lay down on the edge, where, sheltered by a parapet,
they commanded the path. They paid no attention to me, and I kept
as far away as possible. The fire began--a quiet, steady fire,
a shot at a time and in strong contrast to the rattle kept up from
the surrounding jungle; but every shot must have told, as man after
man who strove to climb that steep path fell. It lasted only ten
minutes, and then all was quiet again.
"The attack had failed, as I knew it must do, for two men could
have held the place against an army; a quarter of an hour later
a gun from the crest above spoke out, and a round shot whistled
above our heads.
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