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in their long wait in thetrenches； the redcoats and sepoys had bee gods of war。 They gave death with impunity as they followed a war…maddened Scotsman down an enemy wall that was sticky with blood。 Baird would have his city or else he would die in its dust。
Appah Rao's cushoons defended the south…western corner of the city and Appah Rao watched appalled as the hugely tall Scotsman hacked his way towards him。 He watched the torrent of redcoats swarming behind the giant； and he heard their shouts and he watched their victims fall off the ramparts。 The brigade that defended that stretch of wall was being killed man by man； and those that lived were giving way and some were running ratiier than face the horror； and Appah Rao's men were next for the slaughter。
But to die for what？ he wondered。 The city was gone and the Tippoo's dynasty was doomed。 Appah Rao knew his men were watching him； waiting for the order that would hurl them into battle； but instead the General turned to his second…in…mand。 'When were the men last paid？' he asked。
The officer frowned； puzzled by the question； but at last managed an answer。 'Three months at least； sahib。 Four； I think。'
'Tell them there will be a pay parade this afternoon。'
'Sahib？' The second…in…mand gaped up at Appah Rao。
The General raised his voice so that as many of his men as possible could hear him。 'The pay is overdue； so this afternoon we shall have a pay parade in the encampment。 Men shouldn't fight without pay。' He ostentatiously sheathed his sword and walked calmly down from the ramparts。 Here； at the Mysore Gate； there was no ditch between the inner and outer walls； and Rao airily strode through the inner gate。 For a second his men watched him； then first in ones and twos； and afterwards in a rush； they followed。 One instant the wall was crammed with men； the next it was emptying so that Baird； cutting his furious way through the last of the westwall's guards； suddenly saw that the city was his。 He howled again； this time in victory。 His butcher's sword was red with blood； his right sleeve soaked with it。 A redcoat； perhaps forgetting that the Scotsman was a general； slapped his back and Baird hugged the man for pure joy。
The Tippoo still fought and still thought he could win； but on the northern wall； just twenty yards beyond the north…west bastion； a single cross…wall joined the inner and outer ramparts。 The cross…wall served as a buttress for the old outer wall； and at one time it had been intended to thicken the buttressing cross…wall； then make the space it contained into an even larger bastion； but the work had never been done and now the wall； its coping just eight inches across； offered itself as a perilously narrow bridge to the redcoats and sepoys who were trapped by the Tippoo's fire。 If they could cross that bridge they could assault the inner wall and scour its defenders from the deadly parapet。 One man tried to cross and was shot down。 He wailed as he fell into the ditch。 A moment later another man dashed across and reached halfway before a musket ball shattered his lower leg。 He dropped his own musket and fell onto the wall's coping； cursing as he tried to keep his balance； then a second shot tipped him over the side。 For a second or two he managed to cling to the top of the wall； shuddering as pain shook his body； then he too dropped。
The Tippoo's men on the outer wall cheered and edged forward to drive the enemy away from the buttressing cross…wall； but a rush of sepoys checked their progress。 A new musket duel broke out； Indian against Indian； a torrent of fire in which the Tippoo somehow survived like a charmed being。 The sepoys fired volley after volley； came forward； died； and more men came to take their places。
The Light pany of the Ring's iath regiment followed the sepoys。 Captain Goodall； their mander； eyed the narrow buttress。 It led directly to the inner wall which was heavywith defenders； but it was also a bridge to victory。 'Death or glory！' Goodall shouted the cliche； but it was a truism too at that moment； and then he stepped out onto the narrow coping and fired his pistol into the lingering powder smoke that obscured the far end of the wall。 'e on！' he called； then ran along the top of the wall； miraculously keeping his footing。 He jumped onto the inner wall's parapet and slashed down with his sword。 A man fired up at him； but Goodall's Sergeant； ing hard behind； had unceremoniously shoved his Captain out of the way and Goodall fell down onto the inner wall's firestep and the bullet missed him。 The Sergeant was next across the parapet； then a line of screaming men followed as Goodall fought his way eastwards。 The fire from the inner wall； which had been gutting the attackers； began to falter； and suddenly a rush of redcoats； who had been crouching for shelter from the inner wall's musketry； ran eastwards along the outer wall towards the Tippoo。 Others crossed the makeshift bridge to reinforce the lath's Light pany。
The Tippoo saw the enemy revive。 They were like a beast that had been wounded； but not killed； and the beast had life in it yet。 Too much life； and the Tippoo understood that his night's troublesome dreams had been right after all。 The turbid oil pot had told the truth。 This day the city would fall； and with it his throne and his palace and his seraglio with its six hundred women； but the disaster did not mean the dynasty was dead。 There were great forts in Mysore's northern hills and if he could reach one of those fastnesses then he could still fight on against these devils in red who were stealing his capital。
The Tippoo retreated fast and his bodyguard went with him。 They left other men to defend the outer wall while they ran past the Sultan Battery to the ramp which led down to the Water Gate and there； at the foot of the ramp； the palace chamberlains had thought to have His Majesty's palanquin ready with its bearers。 One of the chamberlains； oblivious ofthe bullets hissing through the sky； bowed low to the Tippoo and invited His Majesty to take his proper place on the plump silk cushions beneath the palanquin's tiger…striped canopy。 The Tippoo turned and glanced up at the walls to see what progress the attackers were making。 There was fighting on both walls now； and the city was plainly doomed； but the defenders were still resisting stubbornly。 The Tippoo felt a pang at deserting them； but swore he would avenge them yet。 He rejected the palanquin。 It was a slow vehicle in which to make a retreat； while inside the city； just on the other side of the inner wall； he had stables filled with fine horses。 He would choose his swiftest horse； snatch up some gold to pay those men who stayed loyal； then flee through the city's unthreatened Bangalore Gate and from there turn north towards his great hill fortresses。
Above the Tippoo the city's last defenders retreated slowly。 The city was falling to the redcoats under a pall of smoke； and God had willed it； but God might yet permit the Tippoo to fight another day and so； rifle in hand； he headed for the inner Water Gate。
The palanquin was carried by eight men； two to each of its four long gilded handles。 When Sharpe first saw it； the clumsy vehicle was being hurried away from the palace by two robed chamberlains who lashed at the bearers with their tiger…headed staves。 For a second Sharpe thought the Tippoo must be inside the palanquin； but then he saw that the side curtains were looped back and that the cushions inside were empty。 He followed。
He could sense a panic inside the city now。 It had been quiet until a few moments ago； crouching like a beast not wanting to be noticed； but now the city somehow sensed that its doom had e。 Beggars huddled together for protection； a woman cried in a shuttered house and the stray dogs yelped piteously。 Small groups of the Tippoo's soldiers were fleeingin the streets； their bare feet pattering on the dried mud as they ran towards the Bangalore Gate where no enemy threatened。 The sound of battle was still intense； but the defence was fraying fast。
The chamberlains led the palanquin towards the Water Gate of the inner wall。 The gate lay close to the malodorous lake of sewage that so soured the air and some of the sewage； denied proper drains by the hastily constructed inner wall； had leaked into the Water Gate which was a brick…lined tunnel； fifty feet long； piercing the inner wall。 An officer stood guard at its inner doors； but； as the palanquin approached； he unbarred the big teak gates and dragged them open。 He shouted something as Sharpe followed the clumsy vehicle into the low tunnel； but Sharpe just shouted Colonel Gudin's name back and the officer was too confused to challenge him again。 Instead； once the palanquin and the European soldier had gone through the tunnel； he closed the doors then glanced nervously up to where a mist of smoke betrayed the attackers' progress on the wall above him。
Sharpe paused inside the tunnel while the palanquin went on ahead。 The tunnel's floor had sunk in places and the leaking sewage had gathered in those deep spots。 The place stank like an uncleaned barracks latrine。 The palanquin's bearers stumbled as they splashed through the pools； then the vehicle went into the sunlight beyond。 Sharpe could see soldiers out there in the space between the walls。 The soldiers wore tiger stripes and were watching anxiously westwards。 He had followed the palanquin instinctively； but now found himself in a bad place。 The tunnel's thick teak doors were shut behind him； the air was foul and choking and there was an enemy in front of him。 He crouched beside the damp wall； trying to decide what he should do。 He had four muskets； all but one loaded； but his spare cartridges were in the pocket of his red coat which； because it was still knotted round his neck； was hard to reach。 He stood； propped the musketsagainst the curved wall and pulled the jacket right side out and then shoved his arms into the tiger…torn sleeves。 He was a redcoat again。 He loaded the one empty musket； then crept towards the mouth of the tunnel。
And saw the Tippoo。
He saw the small gaudy man e running down the ramp from the outer walls。 The Tippoo； surrounded by his bodyguard and aides； stopped beside the palanquin。 Sharpe saw the Tippoo look back towards the fight； then shake his head； and immediately an aide broke away from the group and ran towards the tunnel where Sharpe waited。 The Tippoo gave one last glance westwards； then followed。
'Bloody hell；' Sharpe cursed。 The whole damned lot were ing for him； and he backed down the tunnel； cocked one of his muskets and dropped to one knee。
The aide ran into the tunnel； shouting for the gate to be opened。 Then he saw Sharpe in the gloom and his shout died away。 He dragged a pistol from a green sash at his waist； but too late。 Sharpe fired。 The spark of the powder in the pan was unnaturally bright in the tunnel； and the noise of the musket was magnified to a deafening crash； but through the sudden smoke Sharpe saw the aide flung backwards。 Sharpe seized a second loaded musket and just at that instant the door opened behind him。 He turned； snarling； and the officer guarding the gate saw the red coat and； without thinking； just slammed the heavy； nail…studded teak doors shut again。 Sharpe heard the locking bar being dropped into place。
The Tippoo's bodyguard ran towards the tunnel。 Sharpe fired his second musket。 He knew he could not fight them all； so now his best chance of surviving was to deter them from ing into the tunnel itself。 Then； blessedly； a roar of musketry announced that he had help and； with the third musket in his hand； he edged forward through the dense smoke to see that the Tippoo's bodyguard had been distracted by a new enemy。 Some British troops had found steps downto the space between the walls； and those troops were now attacking towards the Water Gate。 The bodyguard retreated from the new attackers； unmasking the tunnel's entrance； and Sharpe ran towards the daylight。 He crouched just inside the tunnel and saw that the Tippoo had been caught in the open。 On one side was the palanquin； with its dubious chance of a lumbering escape； and on the other was the threatened Water Gate which led through the inner wall to his horses。 His bodyguard was firing and reloading；