All day long
the garrison had remained at their posts. It was hoped they would now
get a little rest. But at 1 o'clock the attack was renewed on the north-
east corner. Again the enemy brought up scaling ladders and charged with
desperate ferocity. They were shot down.
Meanwhile every spare moment was devoted to improving the cover of the
garrison. Captain Baker applied himself to this task, and used every
expedient. Logs, sand bags, stones, boxes filled with earth were piled
upon the walls. It is due to these precautions that the loss of life was
no larger.
Continuous firing occupied the 28th, and at 5.30 P.M. the enemy again
assaulted. As in previous attacks, they at first advanced by twos and
threes, making little dashes over the open ground, for bits of natural
cover, and for the stone sungars they had built all round the fort under
cover of darkness. Some of these were within 200 yards of the wall. As
they advanced the fire became intense. Then the main rush was delivered.
In a great semi-circle round the face of the fort held by the cavalry,
and displaying nearly 200 standards whose gay colours were
representative of every tribe on the border, they charged right up to
the walls.
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