All this time a terrible fire was maintained by the enemy against our men, showers of grape and musketry swept their lines, pots filled with gunpowder and other combustibles exploded among them, bales of cotton dipped in oil fell flaming in their midst.
For two hours the hopeless conflict was maintained.

Then the order was given to retire, and the men fell back; having lost, in killed and wounded, nine hundred and eighty-seven of their comrades.

Thus the four assaults had cost the army three thousand two hundred and three of its best soldiers.

The force was still further weakened by a large number of deaths from dysentery and fever, the result of the miasma rising from the marshes.
The camp was now shifted to drier ground, to the northeast of the town, the movement being harassed by the enemy's horse.

The rajah, who had been jubilant over his success, looked grave when the new encampment was fixed.
"They have not done with me, yet," he said to Harry.