Nor all your Piety nor Wit, shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,    -- Omar Khayyam, The Rubaiyat ......................... Part Three of New Year's Action at ..Point Wytouki

Crumpudding assesses the situation from behind the Dipshires, as the natives at the wall maintain a steady fire.

The lancers turn to the left and form line abreast. Dusk is gathering, and the infantry don't seem to be making much progress. Perhaps it is time for a Bold Move.

The Highlanders hurry forward to form up for the assault, slowed by their open order deployment.

The Sikhs prepare to guard the Scots' rear from any further threat from the dhow.

As the dhow comes about, it fires the bow chaser at the Sikhs, with little effect. The Sikhs splinter the hull strakes with rifle rounds as they drop back inland to cover, fearing the power of the broadside guns which will soon have them in their field of fire.

The Dipshires, at the water's edge, crouch in close order to maximize their firepower. Rifle bullets spatter against the fort's rock walls, and one or two turbanned riflemen at the wall pitch backward behind their embrasures; but the native rifles in the tower take aim for the flashes in the reeds along shore.

As the troopers begin to fall to the rifle fire, the fort's gun belches a huge ball of flame in the gathering twilight, sending a spray of balls thudding through the reeds into the British troopers. Capt. Crumpudding topples as his horse collapses under him and the solidly-packed riflemen fall like ninepins.

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