As soon, therefore, as the troops had been packed away in the boats, they were taken in tow by two steamers, and at once taken up the river.

Officers and men were alike in the highest spirits at finding themselves in so short a time after their arrival already on the way to the front, and their excitement was added to by the fact that it was still doubtful whether they would arrive in time to join the column.

Cramped as the men were in the crowded boats, there was no murmuring as day after day, and night after night, they continued their course up the river.
At Patna they learned that the Commander in Chief was still at Cawnpore, and the same welcome news was obtained at Allahabad; but at the latter place they learned that the news of his having gone forward was hourly expected.
They reached Cawnpore on the morning of the 11th, and learned that the column had left on the 9th, but was halting at Buntara.

Not a moment was lost.

Each man received six days' provisions from the commissariat stores, and two hours after landing the regiment was on the march and arrived late at night at Buntara, being received with hearty cheers by the troops assembled there.
They learned that they were to go forward on the following morning.
Weary, but in high spirits at finding that they had arrived in time, the regiment lighted its fires and bivouacked.
"This has been a close shave indeed, Mallett," one of the other captains said, as a party of them sat round a fire.