noon
He thought it unsafe for us to go back to the Residency , in which I quite agreed with him , in view of the attitude of Sher Sing and his guards , so I decided that we should throw ourselves into the tomb of Rutton Sing outside the walls , and hold it till assistance arrived . Without Sudda Sookhee 's support we could never have got through the gate , and as it was , they fired at us with matchlocks from the walls . He took us straight to the tomb , and then hurried back to see how things were going at the Residency . Before noon we were joined by the rest of our escort , who had been turned out of the fort without ceremony , but allowed to march through the city unmolested . The native apothecary has done his best for poor Cowper and me . My hurts are merely scratches , but he is badly cut about , though quite cheerful . I need not ask you to relieve us as soon as possible , as you will know that Rutton Sing 's tomb is not a first-rate position for defence .