Sufder handed him his sword and, as the pursuers advanced towards them at a canter which speedily became a gallop, he took his place by the side of Sufder and, the latter giving the word, the band dashed forward to meet their opponents.
The combat was a short one.

Sufder's followers were all picked men, and were better mounted than Scindia's troopers.

These made special efforts to get at Harry, but the latter's skill with the sword enabled him to free himself from his most pressing opponents.
Sufder laid about him stoutly and, his men seconding him well, half their opponents were speedily struck to the ground; and the rest, turning their horses, fled at full speed.

Sufder's men would have followed, but he shouted to them to draw rein.
"Enough has been done, and well done," he said.

"If Scindia means war, nothing will be said about this fight; but if he does not, complaints will doubtless be laid against us, and it is better that we should be able to say that we fought only in self defence; and that, when the attack ceased, we allowed them to ride off unmolested, though we might easily enough have slain the whole of them." On arriving at the grove where the troop had halted, Harry at once resumed his own clothes; for although in his early days he had been accustomed to be slightly clad, he felt ill at ease riding almost naked.