The capture and defence of Arcot, and the battle of Arni, had brought them to regard the English as their final victors; and the signs of deep and even servile respect, which greeted the conquerors wherever they went, and which absolutely disgusted Charlie Marryat and his friend, were really sincere marks of the welcome to masters who seemed able and willing to maintain their rule over them.
With the news of the successes of Riza Sahib, all this changed.

The natives no longer bent to the ground, as the English passed them in the streets.

The country people, who had flocked in with their products to the markets, absented themselves altogether, and the whole population prepared to welcome the French as their new masters.
In the fort, the utmost vigilance was observed.

The garrison laboured to mend the breaches, and complete the preparations for defence.
Provisions were again stored up, and they awaited anxiously news from Clive.
That enterprising officer was at Fort Saint David, busy in making his preparations for a decisive campaign against the enemy round Trichinopoli, when the news of the rising reached him.

He was expecting a considerable number of fresh troops from England, as it was in January that the majority of the reinforcements despatched by the Company arrived in India; and Mr.Saunders had written to Calcutta, begging that a hundred men might be sent thence.