Page:History of the French in India.djvu/347

THE SURPRISE OF SAMIAVERAM. 323 gates, succeeded, by means of the deserters who formed chap. a part of it, in persuading the English sipahis on guard VIL there that they had been sent by Major Lawrence to 1752. reinforce Clive, and they thus obtained entrance into the very heart of the English camp before the presence of an enemy was suspected there, and whilst Clive was still sleeping. Yet sleeping though he was, the presence of that one man on the side of the English alone made the difference between victory and defeat. Had he been the leader of the French none can doubt but that the latter would have that night crushed their enemies in their camp, and have recovered all the results that had been so wilfully thrown away. But Clive was the leader of those opposed to them, and never did he vindicate so completely his title to be a leader of men, a prince amongst his people, as on that eventful night. Never did anyone under such circumstances display a presence of mind more perfect, a courage more brilliant and ready. The circumstances were almost marvellous. The English force at Samiaveram occupied two pagodas, about a quarter of a mile distant from one another; round these were encamped the natives. Now, the French force had advanced through the natives, and had penetrated to the lesser pagoda, in an open shed close to which Clive was sleeping in his palanquin. Here, being challenged, they fired volleys into each of these places, one of them narrowly missing Clive, and most effectually awakening him. They then moved on, occupied the larger pagoda, and drew up their sipahis in front of it, — these keeping up an incessant fire in the supposed direction of the enemy. Meanwhile, Clive, on the first alarm, had run to the greater pagoda, and marched up 200 of his Europeans to see what could have caused the disturbance, still considering it a false alarm of his own sipahis, and never dreaming of an enemy. Approaching close to the lesser pagoda he went among the French sipahis, still believing them to y 2