"They have taken places in a few hours that seemed impregnable, but they cannot perform impossibilities.

Our walls are defended by forty thousand men and--although in the open field I do not say that you might not defeat us, seeing how your troops are disciplined, while with us each man fights for himself--when it is a question of holding a wall or defending a breach, I can trust my soldiers.

We are twice as numerous.

We have heavier guns, and more of them, than you have and, as I told you, the English will never get into Bhurtpoor." At seven o'clock in the evening, a deep and almost continuous roar of guns broke out.
"The assault has begun!" Harry exclaimed.

"We shall not see much, but we may get some idea as to how things are going from the lookout." It was too dark for the movements of troops to be seen, but the quick flashes of the guns on either side, and a play of flickering fire along the top of the wall showed that the storming party was approaching.