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264 FUENCH INDIA AT ITS ZENITH. chap. But it did not stop Bussy. Following the fugitives _ ^—s to the entrance of the town, he applied a petard to the 1750. principal gate and blew it in. He at once rushed for- ward, sword in hand, followed by his men, and engaged in a desperate hand to hand contest with the defenders. Nothing, however, could resist French gallantry. Be- fore nightfall the place was their own, and it was occupied during the night by the remainder of the force under d'Auteuil. The situation of the victors was, nevertheless, still one of great danger. We have already stated that the town of Jinji lies at the base of three high ranges, the summits of which were strongly fortified. From these summits there poured in now an incessant fire on the French in Jinji. Small arms, grape, round shot, and rockets were used with all the vigour of which the garrison were capable. For some time Bussy replied by a fire from his mortars, keeping his men under cover. But no sooner had the moon gone down than he moved out three detachments of picked troops, all Frenchmen, to escalade the ascents to the three citadels at the same time. The way was steep; redoubt after redoubt hindered the progress of the assailants ; a terrific fire rained upon them from all sides ; but no obstacle was too great to be overcome by Bussy and his comrades. The storming of one redoubt filled them with the greater determination to attempt the conquest of another ; their onward progress gave them fresh animating power, whilst the defenders after each loss became more and more discouraged. At last, mounting higher and higher, they came to the citadels. These too, just as day broke on the horizon, fell into their hands, and the victors could gaze and wonder at the almost insuperable difficulties which they nevertheless had surmounted. It was indeed a wonderful achievement, great in itself, and calculated by its effect upon the people of (Southern India to be much greater. They were no