Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/432

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396
Pursuit of Tántiá Topí.

Gunah. Some of the fugitives succeeded in joining Tántiá.

That chief, after a rest of eight days at Sironj, to which place he had made his way through the jungles, had marched against Iságarh, taken thence the supplies he wanted, and had attempted the strong place of Chandérí. The Maráthá chief who held the fortress for Sindhiá was deaf alike to his promises and his threats, so Tántiá made for Migráulí. There he was encountered by Michel, completely defeated, and lost his guns. Then he fled to join Ráo Sáhib, nephew of Náná Sáhib, at Lalitpur. The two chiefs met only to separate. Then Ráo Sáhib was caught and beaten by Michel. The two chiefs met once again and resolved to cross the Narbadá. They conducted this operation with great skill, and though Tántiá's right wing was annihilated by Michel at Kurai, he escaped across the river, and caused an alarm which spread even to Bombay. There, pursued by a column under Sutherland, he crossed and recrossed the river, and was caught and attacked at Kargun, only to escape with the loss of the guns, with which he had been mysteriously re-supplied. He then took the bold step of marching on Barodah, arrived within fifty miles of it, when finding the pursuit too hot, he turned, recrossed the Narbadá, and reached Chota Udaipur. There Parkes caught him and beat him. Tántiá then fled to the Banswárá jungles. There his position was desperate, for the cordon around him was complete. But, bold as he was able, he broke out to march on Udaipur. Finding Rocke with a force in the way, he returned to the jungles; suddenly emerging thence, he baffled Rocke, and took his way toward Mandesar. Caught at Zírápur, he fled to Baród; was pursued thither by Somerset there and beaten; then, when his fortunes were desperate, was met by the rebel chief Mán