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The fact is； that when the campaign commenced in 1803； the ladies
of the army all congregated to this place； where they were left； as
it was supposed； in safety。 I might； like Homer； relate the names
and qualities of all。 I may at least mention SOME whose memory is
still most dear to me。 There was
〃Mrs。 Major…General Bulcher； wife of Bulcher of the infantry。
〃Miss Bulcher。
〃Miss BELINDA BULCHER （whose name I beg the printer to place in
large capitals。）
〃Mrs。 Colonel Vandegobbleschroy。
〃Mrs。 Major Macan and the four Misses Macan。
〃The Honorable Mrs。 Burgoo； Mrs。 Flix； Hicks； Wicks； and many more
too numerous to mention。 The flower of our camp was； however；
collected there； and the last words of Lord Lake to me； as I left
him； were； 'Gahagan； I commit those women to your charge。 Guard
them with your life； watch over them with your honor； defend them
with the matchless power of your indomitable arm。'
〃Futtyghur is； as I have said； a European station； and the pretty
air of the bungalows； amid the clustering topes of mango…trees； has
often ere this excited the admiration of the tourist and sketcher。
On the brow of a hillthe Burrumpooter river rolls majestically at
its base； and no spot； in a word； can be conceived more exquisitely
arranged； both by art and nature； as a favorite residence of the
British fair。 Mrs。 Bulcher； Mrs。 Vandegobbleschroy； and the other
married ladies above mentioned； had each of them delightful
bungalows and gardens in the place； and between one cottage and
another my time passed as delightfully as can the hours of any man
who is away from his darling occupation of war。
〃I was the commandant of the fort。 It is a little insignificant
pettah； defended simply by a couple of gabions； a very ordinary
counterscarp； and a bomb…proof embrasure。 On the top of this my
flag was planted； and the small garrison of forty men only were
comfortably barracked off in the case…mates within。 A surgeon and
two chaplains （there were besides three reverend gentlemen of
amateur missions； who lived in the town；） completed； as I may say；
the garrison of our little fortalice； which I was left to defend
and to command。
〃On the night of the first of November； in the year 1804； I had
invited Mrs。 Major…General Bulcher and her daughters； Mrs。
Vandegobbleschroy； and； indeed； all the ladies in the cantonment；
to a little festival in honor of the recovery of my health； of the
commencement of the shooting season； and indeed as a farewell
visit； for it was my intention to take dawk the very next morning
and return to my regiment。 The three amateur missionaries whom I
have mentioned； and some ladies in the cantonment of very rigid
religious principles； refused to appear at my little party。 They
had better never have been born than have done as they did： as you
shall hear。
〃We had been dancing merrily all night； and the supper （chiefly of
the delicate condor； the luscious adjutant； and other birds of a
similar kind； which I had shot in the course of the day） had been
duly feted by every lady and gentleman present； when I took an
opportunity to retire on the ramparts； with the interesting and
lovely Belinda Bulcher。 I was occupied； as the French say； in
conter…ing fleurettes to this sweet young creature； when； all of a
sudden； a rocket was seen whizzing through the air； and a strong
light was visible in the valley below the little fort。
〃'What； fireworks！ Captain Gahagan；' said Belinda； 'this is too
gallant。'
〃'Indeed； my dear Miss Bulcher；' said I； 'they are fireworks of
which I have no idea： perhaps our friends the missionaries'
〃'Look； look！' said Belinda； trembling； and clutching tightly hold
of my arm： 'what do I see？ yesnoyes！ it isOUR BUNGALOW IS IN
FLAMES！'
〃It was true； the spacious bungalow occupied by Mrs。 Major…General
was at that moment seen a prey to the devouring elementanother
and another succeeded itseven bungalows； before I could almost
ejaculate the name of Jack Robinson； were seen blazing brightly in
the black midnight air！
〃I seized my night…glass； and looking towards the spot where the
conflagration raged； what was my astonishment to see thousands of
black forms dancing round the fires； whilst by their lights I could
observe columns after columns of Indian horse； arriving and taking
up their ground in the very middle of the open square or tank；
round which the bungalows were built！
〃'Ho； warder！' shouted I （while the frightened and trembling
Belinda clung closer to my side； and pressed the stalwart arm that
encircled her waist）； 'down with the drawbridge！ see that your
masolgees' （small tumbrels which are used in place of large
artillery） 'be well loaded： you； sepoys； hasten and man the
ravelin！ you； choprasees； put out the lights in the embrasures！ we
shall have warm work of it to…night； or my name is not Goliah
Gahagan。'
〃The ladies； the guests （to the number of eighty…three）； the
sepoys； choprasees； masolgees； and so on； had all crowded on the
platform at the sound of my shouting； and dreadful was the
consternation； shrill the screaming； occasioned by my words。 The
men stood irresolute and mute with terror！ the women； trembling；
knew scarcely whither to fly for refuge。 'Who are yonder
ruffians？' said I。 A hundred voices yelped in replysome said the
Pindarees； some said the Mahrattas； some vowed it was Scindiah； and
others declared it was Holkarno one knew。
〃'Is there any one here；' said I； 'who will venture to reconnoitre
yonder troops？' There was a dead pause。
〃'A thousand tomauns to the man who will bring me news of yonder
army！' again I repeated。 Still a dead silence。 The fact was that
Scindiah and Holkar both were so notorious for their cruelty； that
no one dared venture to face the danger。 Oh for fifty of my brave
Abmednuggarees！' thought I。
〃'Gentlemen；' said I； 'I see ityou are cowardsnone of you dare
encounter the chance even of death。 It is an encouraging prospect：
know you not that the ruffian Holkar； if it be he； will with the
morrow's dawn beleaguer our little fort； and throw thousands of men
against our walls？ know you not that； if we are taken； there is no
quarter； no hope； death for usand worse than death for these
lovely ones assembled here？' Here the ladies shrieked and raised a
howl as I have heard the jackals on a summer's evening。 Belinda；
my dear Belinda！ flung both her arms round me； and sobbed on my
shoulder （or in my waistcoat…pocket rather； for the little witch
could reach no higher）。
〃'Captain Gahagan；' sobbed she； 'GOGOGOGGLEIAH！'
〃'My soul's adored！' replied I。
〃'Swear to me one thing。'
〃'I swear。'
〃'That ifthat ifthe nasty； horrid； odious black Mah…ra…a…a…attahs
take the fort； you will put me out of their power。'
〃I clasped the dear girl to my heart； and swore upon my sword that；
rather than she should incur the risk of dishonors she should
perish by my own hand。 This comforted her； and her mother； Mrs。
Major…General Bulcher； and her elder sister； who had not until now
known a word of our attachment； （indeed； but for these extraordinary
circumstances； it is probable that we ourselves should never have
discovered it；） were under these painful circumstances made aware of
my beloved Belinda's partiality for me。 Having communicated thus her
wish of self…destruction； I thought her example a touching and
excellent one； and proposed to all the ladies that they should
follow it； and that at the entry of the enemy into the fort； and at
a signal given by me； they should one and all make away with
themselves。 Fancy my disgust when； after making this proposition；
not one of the ladies chose to accede to it； and received it with
the same chilling denial that my former proposal to the garrison had
met with。
〃In the midst of this hurry and confusion； as if purposely to add
to it； a trumpet was heard at the gate of the fort； and one of the
sentinels came running to me； saying that a Mahratta soldier was
before the gate with a flag of truce！
〃I went down； rightly conjecturing； as it turned out； that the
party； whoever they might be； had no artillery； and received at the
point of my sword a scroll； of which the following is a
translation：
〃'TO GOLIAH GAHAGAN GUJPUTI。
〃'LORD OF ELEPHANTS； SIR；I have the honor to inform you that I
arrived before this place at eight o'clock P。M。 with ten thousand
cavalry under my orders。 I have burned； since my arrival；
seventeen bungalows in Furruckabad and Futtyghur； and have likewise
been under the painful necessity of putting to death three
clergymen （mollahs）； and seven English officers； whom I found in
the village； the women have been transferred to safe keeping in the
harems of my officers and myself。
〃'As I know your courage and talents； I shall be very happy if you
will surrender the fortr