A few seconds later, the troops burst through the opening.  Infantry bugles were sounding in the village, and there was a loud din of shouting, cries of alarm and orders.  From every house the mutineers rushed, musket in hand, but were shot down or bayoneted by the troops.  As the latter approached a large open space in the middle of the village a strong body of Sepoys advanced in good order to meet them, led by their native officers.

“Steady, men, steady,” Captain Mallett shouted.  “Form across the street.”

Quickly the men fell in, though several dropped as a volley flashed out from the Sepoy line.

“One volley and then charge,” Mallett shouted.  Some of the guns were already empty, but the rest poured in their fire, when the word was given, as regularly as if on parade.

“Level bayonets—­charge!” And with a loud cheer the soldiers sprang forward.  The Sepoys, well commanded though they were, wavered and broke; but the British were upon them before they could fly, and with shouts of “Cawnpore,” used their bayonets with deadly effect, driving the enemy before them.

As they came into the open, and the fugitives cleared away on either side, they saw a long line of men drawn up.  A moment later a flash of fire ran along it.

“Shoulder to shoulder, men,” Captain Mallett shouted.  “Give them the bayonet.”

With a hoarse roar of rage, for many of their comrades had fallen, the company rushed forward and burst through the line of mutineers as if it had been a sheet of paper.  Then they divided, and Captain Mallett with half the company turned to the right.  Marshall took the other wing to the left.

Encouraged by the smallness of the number of their assailants, the mutineers, cheered on by their officers, resisted stoutly.  A scattering fire opened upon the British from the houses round, and the shouts of the mutineers rose louder and louder, when a heavy volley was suddenly poured into them, and the Punjaubies rushed out from the street facing that by which the British had entered.  They bore to the right, and fell upon the body with which Marshall was engaged.

The Sepoys, taken wholly by surprise, at once lost heart.  Cheering loudly, the British attacked them with increased ardour, while the Punjaubies flung themselves into their midst.  In an instant, that flank of the Sepoys was scattered in headlong flight, hotly pursued by their foes.  There was no firing, for the muskets were all empty; but the bayonet did its work, and the open space and the streets leading from it were thickly strewn with dead.

The Sepoys attacked by Captain Mallett’s party, on the other hand, though shaken for a moment, stood firm; led by two or three native officers, who, fighting with the greatest bravery, exhorted their men to continue their resistance.

“Would you rather be hung than fight?” they shouted.  “They are but a handful; we are five to one against them.  Forward, men, and exterminate these Feringhees before the others can come back to their assistance.”