1 THE WAR WITH THE BRITISH. 177
2 accompanied by threats of their vengeance. Their conduct
3 had such an effect on the mind of Her Highness, that she
4 began to fear they would march back upon Lahore and put
5 her and her son to death. She therefore stationed strong
6 guards at every gate of the city, with strict orders to prevent
7 the ingress of any Seik bearing arms.
8 She also sent orders to Teja Sing to use every exertion
9 to keep his men together, and to prevent them from return-
10 ing to Lahore in a body. Further, to divert their attention
11 from their designs of vengeance on her and her advisers, she
12 caused a report to be spread that Runjoor Sing had crossed
13 the Sutlej, and captured and burnt the town and cantonments
14 of Loodiana, that chief being in reality quietly encamped
15 near Philoor all the time. However, the rumour reached
16 the army at Hurree-ka-puttun, accompanied by a message
17 from the Ranee, in which she contrasted their cowardice and
18 inactivity with the good conduct of Runjoor Sing and his force,
19 a taunt by which Her Highness hoped to inspire the troops
20 with a determination to cross the river immediately and to
21 attack the British. It had not, however, its expected effect.
22 At this time Rajah Lall Sing returned to the camp, but
23 took care to keep the river betwixt himself and the Khalsa,
24 who, he believed and probably with truth, would have mur-
25 dered him had he trusted himself in their hands.
26 The army meanwhile was not idle. Two European eno-ineers,
27 Signor Hurbon, a Spaniard, and Monsr. Mouton, a French-
28 man, were called to the camp to advise and assist in strenothen-
29 ing it against an assault from the British. By them a field-
30 work of great strength was designed on the left bank of the
31 Sutlej, at the head of the bridge of boats. On this work
32 the whole army laboured night and day, with great dilio-ence
33 and assiduity, and it was not long ere what seemed an almost
34 impregnable tete du pont was completed.