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nquin'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； firing and reloading while the Tippoo seemed frozen with indecision。
A cheer sounded to Sharpe's left。 More muskets fired； then suddenly there were two redcoats taking cover in the inner tunnel。 One saw Sharpe and whirled round with a levelled musket。 'Whoa！' Sharpe shouted。 Tm on your bloody side！'
The man； wild…eyed and with his right cheek pitted by powder burns from the lock of his musket； turned back towards the enemy。 'What regiment？' he called to Sharpe。
'Havercakes。 You？'
'The Old Dozen。' The man fired； and immediately sidled back to begin reloading the musket。'It stinks in here；' he said； ramming a fresh bullet down his barrel。 More redcoats were occupying the Sultan Battery in the outer wall。 They had no British flag to show their conquest of the huge bastion and so they ran a red jacket up the flagpole。 The jacket had pale yellow facings； showing that it came from the King's I2th； a Suffolk regiment。 'That's ours！' the man beside Sharpe exulted； then seemed to gurgle。 His eyes opened wi