No advantage had been gained, the men were losing confidence, and the position grew more and more desperate.

Clive saw that there was but one chance of victory.

The grove could not be carried in the front, but it was just possible that it might be open in the rear.
Choosing a sergeant who spoke the native language well, he bade him leave the party in the watercourse, and make his way round to the rear of the grove, and discover whether it was strongly guarded there or not.

In twenty minutes, the sergeant returned with the news that there was no strong force there.
Clive at once took two hundred of his English infantry, the men who had fought at Arcot, and quietly left the watercourse and made his way round towards the rear of the grove.

Before he had gone far the main body in the watercourse, surprised at the sudden withdrawal of the greater portion of the English force, and missing the presence of Clive himself, began to lose heart.