impelled  forward  by  the  pressure  from  the  rear.  There  was  no
retreating;  on  the  one  hand  was  the  impassable  ditch,  on  the
other  the  jungle — ^here  and  there  open,  and  with  paths  through
it  running  parallel  to  the  wall,  by  which  many  rapidly  advanced.
They  saw  nothing  of  the  defenders,  though  from  time  to  time  a
fatal  shot  struck  the  dense  mass,  and  one  of  their  number  fell
headlong  from  the  narrow  path,  or  sinking  down  wounded,  was
thrown  over  by  his  comrades.  The  thick  jungle  hid  the  de-
fenders of  the  wall,  who  retreated  as  the  others  advanced ;  for
they  were  as  yet  too  few  to  offer  any  resistance.  But  gradually
the  noise  of  the  shouting  and  firing  was  heard  along  the  line  of
wall,  and  its  defenders  hurried  along  to  the  right  to  meet  their
enemies,  judging  that  their  flank  had  been  turned,  and  that  there
was  little  hope  of  retaining  their  post  if  the  Sultaun's  army  should
succeed  in  advancing.  In  this  manner  parties  joined  together
and  gradually  succeeded  in  arresting  the  rapid  approach  of  their
enemies,  who  had  now  to  fight  for  every  foot  of  ground.  Tower
after  tower  was  desperately  disputed;  the  day  was  advancing,
many  of  the  men  were  already  exhausted  by  their  long  night
march,  and  to  stop  or  retreat  was  impossible.
'  At  this  rate  we  shall  never  reach  the  gate,'  cried  the  Sultaun,
who  had  entered  a  tower  which  had  just  been  taken,  and  where
Kasim  and  many  others  were  taking  breath  for  an  instant  ere
they  recommenced  their  advance.  '  We  shall  never  gain  the
gate — it  must  now  be  nearly  three  coss  from  us ; '  and  he  looked
from  one  to  the  other  of  those  assembled.
