the door, with orders to shoot them down at the first sign of movement.

The garrison in the castle itself had been alarmed by the shots; and
shouts were heard, and loud orders, and the sentries over the gate
discharged their muskets. There was little time given them to rally,
however; for Captain Kent, with four of his men, had, on leaping from the
cart, made straight across the drawbridge over the moat, for the gateway,
to which they attached the petards which they had brought with them. Then
they ran back to the main body, who stood awaiting the explosion. In a few
seconds it came, and then with a cheer the troops dashed across the
drawbridge, and in through the splintered gate. There was scarcely any
resistance. Taken utterly by surprise, and being numerically inferior to
their assailants--for nearly all the fighting men had gone out with their
lord--the frightened retainers tried to hide themselves rather than to
resist, and were speedily disarmed and gathered in the courtyard.

Major Warrener, informed by the bullock drivers of the quarter in which
the Europeans were confined, followed by a dozen men, made his way
straight to it, and had the delight of being greeted by the voices of his
countrymen and women. These were, as reported, three officers and five
ladies, all of whom were absolutely bewildered by the surprise and
suddenness of their rescue.

There was no time for explanation. The stables were ransacked and eight of
the rajah's best horses taken. Then, when all was ready for starting,
Major Warrener proceeded to the door of the women's apartments. Here, in
obedience to the order he had sent her, the wife of the talookdar, veiled
from head to foot, and surrounded by her attendants, stood to await the
orders of her captor.