At about nine o’clock the next evening the guide said that they were now within half a mile of the village, and they accordingly halted.  The men were ordered to keep silence, and to lie down and sleep as soon as they had eaten their supper; while Mallett, accompanied by the two officers of the native troops and the guide, made his way towards the village.

It was found to be larger than had been anticipated.  On three sides cultivated fields extended to the foot of the strong wall that surrounded it, while on the fourth there was rough broken ground covered with scrub and brushes.

“How far does this extend?” Captain Mallett asked the guide.

“About half a mile, and then joins a big jungle, sahib.”

“This is the side they will try to escape by; therefore, Mr. Herbert, you will lead your men round here with four scaling ladders.  You will post them along at the foot of the wall, and when you hear the explosion of the powder bag or an outburst of musketry firing, you will scale the wall and advance to meet me, keeping as wide a front as possible, so as to prevent fugitives from passing you and getting out here.  The cavalry will cut off those who make across the open country.  I would give a good deal to know how many of these fellows are inside.  Four hundred was the number first reported.  They may, of course, have already moved away, and on the other hand they may have been joined by others.  They were said to have some guns with them, but these will be of little use in the streets of the village, and we shall probably capture them before they have time to fire a single round.”

At three o’clock the troops stood to their arms, and moved noiselessly off towards the positions assigned to them.  Captain Mallett led his own company to within four hundred yards of the wall, and then sent Marshall forward with two men to fix the powder bag and fuse to the gate.  When they had done this they were to remain quietly there until warned that the company was about to advance; then they were to light the fuse, which was cut to burn two minutes, to retire round the angle of the wall, and join the company as it came up.  The troops lay down, for the ground was level, and there was no spot behind which they could conceal themselves, and impatiently watched the sky until the first gleam of light appeared.  Another ten minutes elapsed.  The dawn was spreading fast, and a man was sent forward to Lieutenant Marshall to say that the company was getting in motion.

As soon as the messenger was seen to reach the gates, Mallett gave the word.  The men sprang to their feet.

“Don’t double, men.  We shall be there in time, and it is no use getting out of breath and spoiling your shooting.”

They were within a hundred yards of the gate, when they heard a shout from the village, and as they pressed on, shot after shot rang out from the wall.  A moment later there was a heavy explosion, and as the smoke cleared off, the gate was seen to be destroyed.