Her captain was one of the most popular, as well as one of the most energetic officers in the service; and was to become as popular, with future generations, as the brightest of all writers of sea stories.
However, the day was not favourable for an excursion on the water.
Stanley therefore went back to his room where, divesting himself of his jacket, he sat down at the open window, and read up a batch of the last newspapers, from England, that had been lent him by Colonel Adair.
At five o'clock Meinik came in, to say that his horse was at the general's door.

Stanley hastily put on his jacket and cloak, and sallied out.

The general came down in a few minutes, followed by Tollemache and, mounting, they rode to the pagoda.
Here Sir Archibald had a talk with the colonel of the 89th, and the officer commanding the battery of the Madras Artillery.

Both were of opinion that their force was amply sufficient to resist any attack.

The only approach to it from the forest was a long road between two swamps which, a short distance away, had become lakes since the wet weather set in.
"Had they taken us by surprise," the colonel said, "some of them might have got across, before we were quite ready for them, and might have given us some trouble but, as we shall be prepared, I don't think that any of them will reach the foot of this hill and, if they did, none of them would reach this terrace.