Page 299 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

JOB CHARNOCK FOUNDS CALCUTTA 299

numbered only seventy, but it brought with it all the
vigour and dash of the West and a confidence in race which
had lost none of its pristine freshness.
The effect produced by the new arrivals on the garrison
was marvellous. Their wan faces glowed with a new hope
as they dragged their emaciated frames to the outside
of the fort to see their comrades from home marching
up from the boats in all the panoply of military state.
If it had been a division which had arrived instead
of a weak company a greater stir could not have been
created.
Charnock, witnessing the scene like the rest with a feel­
ing of intense gratification, was seized with a happy
thought. Why should this enthusiasm be allowed to eva­
porate ? Why not repeat the landing for the edification
of the enemy, as well as for their own satisfaction?
The idea was no sooner conceived than acted upon. By
his orders the men who had disembarked quietly dropped
by twos and threes back to the landing place, and when
they had all re-assembled there marched again to the fort
with flags flying and drums beating to the cheers of the gar­
rison, which were as lustily raised as on the first occasion.
This process again and again repeated kept the place for
the greater part of the day in a feverish state of animation.
The trick worked admirably. The Mogul commander,
deceived into the belief that the English garrison had been
strongly reinforced, a day or two later sent a flag of truce
to treat for peace. Charnock was naturally delighted to
accept the olive branch, and by June 10, 1687, terms had
been arranged which left the English free to march out
with all the honours of war.
It had been a wonderful fight. For three months this