Page:History of the French in India.djvu/222

200 THE FIRST STRUGGLE IN THE KARNATIK. chap, and made as though they would attack the rear-guard. _ ' , The attitude of the French, however, shook their resolu- 1746. tion, and they contented themselves with hovering about in the vicinity, dashing at stragglers, and forcing the troops who composed the rear-guard to constant forma- tions. Uneasy at this, and fearing to be overtaken by night before he should reach the Dutch settlement of Sadras, ten miles further on, Paradis at once altered his order of marching. Sending the coolies in front of the troops he covered them with the body that had formed his advanced-guard, and with it hastened on to that place. The rear-guard, meanwhile, had the task assigned it of proceeding at a more leisurely pace, so as to engage the attention of the enemy. This manoeuvre answered all his expectations. The first detachment with the coolies reached Sadras without the loss of a man, whilst of the second, only twelve men were cap- tured, and these more from a disposition to loiter than from the fault of the commander. Arriving at Sadras, Paradis halted until he should receive further rein- forcements. On the arrival of these he marched with- out molestation to join the main encampment of the French army at Ariakupum, a mile and a half south- west of Pondichery. Here he arrived on December 17. Mafauz Khan having found it impossible to gain any material advantage over the French troops, had de- sisted from his attempts after the arrival of the French at Sadras. The junction of Paradis completed all the prepara- tions of Dupleix. With a force of about 900 Euro- peans, 600 natives, 100 Africans, six field-pieces and six mortars, he was, it appeared, absolutely master of the coast. The English garrison of Fort St. David numbered but 200 Europeans and half the number of natives. The French, too, had all the inspiration of recent victory. The success of the intended expedition seemed certain, far more certain in fact than the success