With a wild rush they made for the gate-almost blocked with their dead-
scoured the little village, and soon discovered the hole through which the
besieged had escaped. Then with wild yells three thousand horsemen set off
in pursuit; but it was six o'clock now, and the fugitives had got seven
hours' start. The Rajah of Bithri's contingent took no part in the
pursuit. On issuing from his tent he had, after telling the news, briefly
given orders for his tents to be struck and for all his troops to return
at once to the castle, toward which he himself, accompanied by his
bodyguard, set out on his elephant of state.

Major Warrener and his troops had no fear of pursuit. New foes might be
met; but with horses fresh and in good condition, and six hours' start--
for they were confident that no pursuit could commence before daybreak at
the earliest--they felt safe, from the enemy who had just attacked them,
especially as these could not know the direction which they were pursuing,
and would believe that their aim would be to return with their rescued
friends to Delhi, instead of proceeding through the heart of Oude. The
party whom they had found at Bithri consisted of Mr. Hartford, a deputy
commissioner, with his wife and two daughters; of a Mrs. Pearson and her
sister, the former the wife of a district magistrate, who had been absent
on duty when the rising at the little station at which they lived took
place; and of Captain Harper and Lieutenant Jones, who were the officers
of the detachment there. The men, native cavalry, had ridden off without
injuring their officers, but the fanatical people of the place had killed
many of the residents and fired their bungalows. Some had escaped on
horseback or in carriages; and the present party, keeping together, had,
when near Bithri, been seized and brought in to the chief, who intended to
take them with him to Lucknow, when--an event of which he daily expected
news--the little body of English there were destroyed by the forces
gathering round them. The captives had heard what was doing, both at