the slightest apprehension of being interfered with, I took my precautions, and, in fear of treachery, kept on shore my two Swedish guns.  At last, at seven in the morning, my boats started, having on board only the sick and helpless, and I set out by land with my two guns and the rest of my troop, at the head of which I put myself.”

This triumph of time and treachery was reported by Sheikh Faiz Ulla’s master, Kasim Ali, to Clive, on the 14th of February:[149]—­

“I before wrote you that I had sent forces to fight the French, that they had a fort and strong intrenchments, and that we had a battle with them.... ever since I wrote you last we have been fighting, my people have behaved well, and I make no doubt but you have heard it from other people.  God knows what pains and trouble I have taken in this affair.  The French being shut up in their fort and undergoing much fatigue by always fighting, and likewise being in want of provisions were obliged to run away in their boats by night, and went towards the Dinajpur country.

My people being always ready to fight followed them....  They can go no other way but through the Dinajpur country.  I have therefore wrote expressly to the Rajah to stop the passage.”

About this time, though Courtin does not mention it till later, he began to see what the inevitable end must be.  He could not cut his way through to join Law, and with the whole country in arms against him he was too weak to hold out for any length of time.  Accordingly he sent messengers secretly to Mr. Luke Scrafton, at Murshidabad.  It was Scrafton, as I have said above, who wrote to Courtin for assistance when the Nawab of Dacca wanted to take their Factory and imprison the English.  Courtin now wrote to him to save him from falling into the hands of the natives, and, on the 18th of February, Scrafton wrote to the Select Committee at Calcutta for the necessary permission.[150]

We now rejoin Courtin:—­

“What was my surprise, at the end of an hour and a half, to see that we were followed by a body of four or five hundred men, with two guns drawn by oxen.  I pretended not to notice, and continued my march, but at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, seeing this troop approach, within range of my pieces, I pointed them at the Moors, and put my force in a position of defence.  Their rascality followed its usual course, and they sent me word that I had nothing to fear, that they would not march so close to me any more, and that they followed me only to preserve the peace and to hinder my people, especially the stragglers, from committing any disorder.  I received this excuse for what it was worth, and pretended to be content with, it, seeing clearly that they were looking for an opportunity to surprise and destroy us.

“Several accidents happening to the boats of the rearguard prevented my troop and myself from rejoining the main body of the fleet