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 TO HERAT AND CABUL
 
 ANGUS AND POTTINOER WATCHING THE FIGHT FROM 
 THE WALLS OF HERAT. 
 
 Frontispiece.
 
 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 A STORY OF 
 
 THE FIRST AFGHAN WAR 
 
 BY 
 
 G. A. HENTY 
 
 Author of " With Buller in Natal " " At the Point of the Bayonet ' 
 "The Bravest of the Brave " " Won by the Sword " <fec. 
 
 WITH EIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHARLES M. SHELDON 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 1901
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1901, BY 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 
 Publithed .September, 1801 
 
 THE CAXTON PRKSS 
 NEW YORK.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 In the military history of this country there is no darker 
 page than the destruction of a considerable British force in 
 the terrible defiles between Cabul and Jellalabad in January, 
 1842. Of all the wars in which our troops have taken part 
 never was one entered upon so recklessly or so unjustifiably. 
 The ruler of Afghanistan, Dost Mahomed, was sincerely 
 anxious for our friendship. He was alarmed at the menac- 
 ing attitude of Russia, which, in conjunction with Persia, 
 was threatening his dominions and intriguing with the 
 princes at Candahar. 'Our commissioner at Cabul, Mr. 
 Burnes, was convinced of the Ameer's honesty of intention, 
 and protested most strongly against the course taken by the 
 Indian government, who determined upon setting up a dis- 
 credited prince, who had for many years been a fugitive in 
 India, in place of Dost Mahomed. 
 
 In spite of his remonstrances, the war was undertaken. 
 Nothing could have been worse than the arrangements for 
 it, and the troops suffered terribly from thirst and want of 
 
 Xj transport. However, they reached Cabul with comparatively 
 
 little fighting. Dost Mahomed fled, and the puppet Shah 
 
 J Soojah was set up in his place; but he was only kept there 
 
 ^ by British bayonets, and for two years he was so protected. 
 
 Gradually, however, the British force was withdrawn, until 
 
 V only some five thousand troops remained to support him. 
 
 ^ Well led, they would have been amply sufficient for the pur- 
 
 pose, for though the Afghan tribesmen were dangerous 
 i among their mountains, they could not for a moment have
 
 Vi PREFACE 
 
 stood against them in the open field. Unhappily the general 
 was old and infirm, incapable of decision of any kind, and 
 in his imbecile bands the troops, who in October could have 
 met the whole forces of Afghanistan in fight, were kept in- 
 active, while the Afghans pillaged the stores with the pro- 
 visions for the winter, and insulted and bearded them in 
 every way. Thus a fine body of fighting men were reduced 
 to such depths of discontent and shame that when the un- 
 worthy order for retreat before their exulting enemy was 
 given they had lost all confidence in themselves or their offi- 
 cers, and, weakened by hunger and hampered by an enor- 
 mous train of camp followers, they went as sheep to the 
 slaughter in the trap the Afghans had prepared for them. 
 It would almost seem that their fate was a punishment for 
 the injustice of the war. Misfortunes have befallen our 
 arms, but never one so dark and disgraceful as this. The 
 shame of the disaster was redeemed only by the heroic garri- 
 son of Jellalabad, which, although but one-fourth of the 
 strength of that at Cabul, sallied out after a noble defence 
 and routed the army which Dost Mahomed's son Akbar had 
 assembled for their destruction.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAP. PAGE 
 
 I. ALONE IN THB WORLD 1 
 
 II. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 19 
 
 III. THE SIEGE OP HERAT 36 
 
 IV. A STURDY DEFENCE 54 
 
 V. IN CANDAHAR 72 
 
 VI. AN ESCAPE 89 
 
 VII. IN THE SERVICE 108 
 
 VIII. THE ADVANCE ..... 126 
 
 IX. JOST IN TIME 144 
 
 X. A MISSION 161 
 
 XI. A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 180 
 
 XII. TROUBLES THICKEN 198 
 
 XIII. THE MURDER OF SIR A. BURNES 216 
 
 XIV. A SERIES OF BLUNDERS 232 
 
 XV. A DOOMED ARMY 249 
 
 XVI. ANNIHILATION OF THE ARMY 267 
 
 XVII. JELLALABAD 286 
 
 XVIII. THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 301 
 
 XIX. THE BRITISH CAPTIVES . . 321
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 ANGUS AND POTTINGER WATCHING THE FIGHT PROM THM 
 
 WALLS OF HERAT Frontispiece 
 
 PAGE 
 ' ' A MAN WALKING JUST IN FRONT OF HIM . . . WAS KNOCKED 
 
 DOWN " 26 
 
 AZIM SURPRISES THE SPY 96 
 
 " HB TOOK DOWN THE PROP, AND THRUST IT SUDDENLY WITH 
 
 ALL HIS FORCE THROUGH THE HOLE " 150 
 
 " THERE, LYING CLOSE UNDER A ROCK, WAS A YOUNG AFGHAN " 166 
 " As THEY PASSED THE CORNER . . . SOME MEN SPRANG ON 
 
 THEM" 218 
 
 "ANGUS WAS HALF-MAD WITH GRIEF AND WITH FURY THAT 
 
 HE WAS NOT IN HIS PLACE AMONG THE TROOPS " . . . . 272 
 ANGUS SHOWS HIS GOODS TO THE PRISONERS . 330 
 
 MAP OF AFGHANISTAN AND NORTH-WEST FRONTIER OF INDIA 50
 
 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 CHAPTEK I 
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 
 
 ON the 20th of September, 1837, a lad was standing 
 before Mr. M'Neill, the British minister at the Per- 
 sian court. Both looked grave, for the interview was 
 an important one. The former felt that it was the turn- 
 ing-point of his life, the opening of a fresh career, the 
 introduction to a service in which he might gain honour- 
 able distinction and credit. To the British minister it was 
 of scarcely less importance, for the interests of Great Britain 
 were gravely involved in the success of the mission that he 
 was now entrusting to this young clerk in the employment 
 of the embassy. It was nothing less than thwarting the 
 designs of Persia, aided and instigated by Russia, to cap- 
 ture Herat and to conquer at least the western portion of 
 Afghanistan, the alliance of the princes of Candahar having 
 already been secured. 
 
 Angus Campbell was now about sixteen years old. His 
 father was a trader, who had for twelve years been settled 
 in Tabriz, carrying on business on his own account in some 
 branches of trade, and as agent for a Scotch firm in others. 
 The boy had been left with some relations in Scotland until 
 he was twelve years old, when his parents had paid a short
 
 2 TO HERAT AND CABUI* 
 
 visit to their friends in Scotland, and had brought him 
 back with them. The change of life was not an agreeable 
 one to him. In the eight years that had elapsed since he 
 had last seen his parents, he had, of course, almost for- 
 gotten them, and it would be some time before any real 
 affection for them would spring up. It was the companion- 
 ship of his school-fellows that he missed rather than that of 
 his aunt, a strict woman, who made no allowance whatever 
 for a boy's restlessness and love of fun, and who was con- 
 tinually shocked by the complaints made by members of 
 her chapel as to the conduct of the boys at Dr. Murray's. 
 
 It was the principal school in the little town. The teach- 
 ing was good, the application of the rod frequent, but neither 
 teaching nor thrashing availed to soften the manners of 
 the healthy and somewhat riotous lads, who once out of school 
 threw themselves with all their hearts into their favourite 
 diversions, among which the most conspicuous were fishing 
 in forbidden parts of the river, bird-nesting in woods which 
 were kept strictly private and guarded by keepers, playing 
 hare-and-hounds across the fields of the crustiest of farmers, 
 and above all engaging in desperate battles with the boys of 
 other schools. In all these pastimes Angus Campbell took 
 aa large a share as his age entitled him to, and the state 
 of his clothes and his face when he returned home was a 
 source of continual amazement and irritation to his aunt. 
 
 She had even endeavoured to arrange for a deputation 
 to wait upon Dr. Murray with a list of grievances suffered 
 by the townspeople, such as broken windows, the yells and 
 shouts of conflict, and the destruction of the boys' garments 
 caused by the various fights, and to propose that the hours 
 of play should be shortened, and that some sort of super- 
 vision should be exercised at all times over the boys. How- 
 ever, although there were many who agreed with her that 
 the present state of things was disgraceful, nothing came
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 
 
 of the movement; for the fathers, remembering their own 
 boyhood, were to a man against the idea. 
 
 " We did just the same in our young days," they said, 
 " and are none the worse for it now. Lads cannot be like 
 lassies, and we don't want them to be even if they could; 
 if you were to speak to the doctor, he would just laugh in 
 your faces, and would tell you that he kept a school for 
 boys and not for girls. If you have complaints to make 
 against any of his scholars, make them, and he will punish 
 the lads as they deserve. His boys are no worse than 
 others, and he does not wish to see them better. If they 
 do some mischief occasionally, it is because they are in 
 good health and in good spirits, and a lad of that kind is 
 far more likely to turn out well than one who spends all 
 his spare time in poring over his books." 
 
 As the doctor's opinions on these subjects were known 
 to all the town, Miss Campbell's proposal came to nothing. 
 She would herself have gone to him to complain of the 
 doings of her nephew, but there was a strong feeling in 
 the town that while all things connected with the school 
 were under the doctor's charge, parents should take other 
 matters into their own hands, and maintain discipline by 
 the use of the tawse in their own dwellings, and that 
 they had no right to trouble Dr. Murray about private 
 delinquencies. 
 
 He had, indeed, sufficient on his hands, for although no 
 actual supervision was maintained when the lads were once 
 dismissed from school, there were bounds set beyond which 
 they were not allowed to go, and when they were caught upon 
 any of their frequent forays beyond these limits, he had to 
 adjudicate and punish the offenders. But it was not often 
 that this happened; for while the boys considered it not only 
 justifiable but meritorious to break bounds, they looked upon 
 anyone caught in the act of showing a want of craft and
 
 4 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 of judgment, and so, having good legs and lungs, they were 
 generally able to outdistance their pursuers. 
 
 Thus, then, when his parents returned to Scotland they 
 found Angus a healthy, active, and high-spirited boy, some- 
 what rough in manners, but straightforward and honourable, 
 for it was a tradition in the school that no boy should ever 
 try to screen himself by a lie. When questioned by his 
 father, he acknowledged that he would like to stay at school 
 for a few years longer. 
 
 "And I should like you to do so too, Angus; but it is 
 a long, long journey, and a difficult one, from Tabriz to 
 Scotland, and it may be many years before I return home 
 again. It is a journey that it is impossible for a boy to 
 make alone. But this is not the only reason why I wish 
 to take you back. I want to train you to help me in my 
 business, and until you speak Persian fluently you will be 
 of no use whatever to me. At your age you will pick it 
 up rapidly, far more rapidly than you could if you did not 
 begin till you were seventeen or eighteen. We will gener- 
 ally speak to you in Persian, and you will have many 
 opportunities for practising it. In two years you ought to 
 speak it like a native. Arabic will also be very useful to 
 you. I have constant communications with India, with 
 Turkey, and with Herat. I buy goods from all these 
 countries; and sell Persian products to them. In Afghan- 
 istan, indeed, Persian is spoken generally by the trading 
 and upper classes ; but Arabic is essential to trade with Con- 
 stantinople and Smyrna, with Bokhara and the Turkomans; 
 and it is our chief medium of communication with India 
 traders, who, although speaking several distinct languages, 
 all have more or less knowledge of Arabic. It has 
 been a great privation to your mother and myself to be 
 so many years without you. We have no other children, 
 and it would be a great joy and comfort to our lives, as
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 5 
 
 well as a great assistance to me in my business, to have 
 you with me." 
 
 "I understand, Father," the boy said; "I did not think 
 of these things before. I am sure I should be very glad 
 to be able to help you, and I won't say another word about 
 being 1 sorry to leave all my friends." 
 
 "It is quite natural that you should be sorry, Angus; 
 it would be strange indeed if you were not. However, I 
 don't think you will dislike the life out there when you 
 get accustomed to it. We will certainly do our best to 
 make you happy." 
 
 So Angus had returned with them, and soon settled down 
 to his new life. Devoting himself earnestly to acquiring 
 the language, at the end of six months he came to speak 
 it fairly, and before he had been out a year could have 
 passed as a Persian lad; at the same time he had made 
 considerable progress in Arabic. His father had then dressed 
 him in Persian fashion. There was a good deal of ill- 
 feeling among the lower class against foreigners, and the 
 pugnacity that had been fostered in Angus at school had 
 frequent opportunities of displaying itself; for, in spite of 
 good resolutions to the contrary, he was often goaded into 
 fury by the taunts and abuse with which the boys assailed 
 him when he went out alone, and had thrown himself upon 
 them, and used his fists with such effect that he had some- 
 times put to flight half a dozen lads of his own age. But 
 in Persian costume he could move about the streets un- 
 noticed; and although he did not like the change at first, 
 he acknowledged that it was useful, for his father pointed 
 out to him that it was essential that nothing should take place 
 that could add to the dislike with which foreigners were 
 regarded. Already several angry complaints had been made 
 by neighbours of the state in which their sons had come 
 home after an encounter with him.
 
 6 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 Nearly four years after Angus arrived at Tabriz the plag 
 made its appearance in Persia. It spread rapidly, ai 
 Tabriz was one of the cities which suffered most severely. On 
 evening Mr. Campbell returned home from a visit to a 
 customer and complained of feeling unwell. The next morn- 
 ing it was too evident that he had caught the infection. 
 Before nightfall his wife also sickened. Twenty-four hours 
 later both were dead. Mr. Campbell had a long talk with his 
 son as soon as the disease manifested itself in the case of 
 his wife. 
 
 " Angus," he said, " you must prepare for the worst. The 
 cases of recovery are few indeed. The servants have already 
 fled, and even did I wish you to leave us, I know that it 
 would be too late now. God's will be done, my boy, and I 
 can only hope that you may be spared. However that is in 
 His hands. You have been my assistant now for the past 
 three years, and know how matters stand. I have no debts. 
 The books will show you how much is due to me from the 
 house at home and how much by my agent at Bombay. The 
 stock of goods in the warehouse is worth a considerable 
 sum. I am unable to think very clearly now, or to advise 
 you what to do should you be left alone; but it is clear to 
 me that you are too young yet to manage the business, and it 
 is not likely that the firm would entrust their affairs to a 
 lad of your age. I should say, therefore, that you had best 
 dispose of all the goods; the books will show you their prices. 
 As for yourself, I will give you no advice. It will be open to 
 you to return to England or to go to Bombay, and I have 
 no doubt my agent there will obtain employment for you, 
 especially as you will have money to embark in any business 
 you may go into. But do not invest a penny until you 
 become of age ; you will by that time be able to judge wisely 
 whether the business you are in is that in which you can 
 best employ your mind.
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 7 
 
 " Whatever you do, do not remain in Tabriz. As is always 
 he case in times of plague or famine, there is sedition and 
 trouble, and foreigners become the object of hatred, for the 
 poor people have some sort of superstitious idea that they are 
 responsible for the scourge. The best thing you can do is 
 to consult our Armenian friend, who is also our vice-consul; 
 he will view matters more clearly than I can do at present. 
 Put your trust always in God, my boy. My own opinion is 
 that you had better remain in the East. Your knowledge of 
 languages would be absolutely useless to you at home, and 
 you could only hope to obtain a place in a counting-house." 
 
 " I will do as you tell me, father," Angus said, trying to 
 speak steadily. " I will try always to be what you would 
 wish me." 
 
 His grief was terrible when his mother expired two or 
 three hours after his father. He roused himself, however, to 
 see to the simple preparations for their funeral, and late 
 that evening buried them in the garden behind the house. 
 
 The next day as he was sitting alone he heard a tumult 
 in the street. Looking out, he saw that several houses, 
 which he knew belonged to foreign traders, were in flames, 
 and a mob of maddened men were rushing down the street 
 towards his house. Resistance would have been madness. 
 He ran to the safe, seized the bag containing the cash, and 
 had just time to run out at the back of the house and 
 escape by the gate in the garden when the rioters burst in. 
 
 For a few minutes they were engaged in the work of 
 pillage. Shawls from Cashmere, native embroidered silks, 
 costly goods from India, Turkish, Persian, Turkoman, and 
 Heratee carpets, and British goods of all kinds were scram- 
 bled and fought for. When the house was sacked from 
 top to bottom it was set on fire, and as a volumne of emoke 
 rose from it, Angus turned away from the spot where from 
 a distance he had been watching the scene, and made hia
 
 8 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 way to the house of the Armenian merchant. The loss of 
 the house and the contents of the warehouse affected him 
 little although he knew that it had cost him more than 
 half his inheritance but this was as nothing to what he 
 had so recently suffered. 
 
 The vice-consul had been an intimate friend of the family. 
 On approaching his house Angus stood some distance from 
 the door and called. A servant looked out. " Will you 
 tell Izaac effendi that I desire greatly to speak to him ? " 
 
 The Armenian quickly came to the door. " My poor lad," 
 he said, " I grieve deeply for you. I heard of your losses, 
 and the news has just been brought in of the burning of 
 the house and magazine. But why do you stand so far 
 
 " Because I would not bring contagion near you, effendi. 
 I came to tell you what had happened, and to say that I 
 shall buy some food and go out into the country, and there 
 remain until I die of the plague or can be sure that I have 
 escaped contagion." 
 
 "You will come in here at once," the Armenian said. 
 " Does not one in the street run against persons who may 
 be affected. Many of my compatriots have come here to 
 ask my advice, and some of them have stricken friends in 
 their houses. Since I came to reside here I have four times 
 seen the plague raging, and each time it has passed me 
 over. Whether it is the will of God that .1 should thus 
 be spared I know not, but I am in His hands. Come in, 
 lad, I will take no denial. Shall I desert my friends when 
 they most need comfort and aid? What is my friendship 
 worth if I should, now in your hour of need, turn my back 
 upon you ? Come in, I pray you." 
 
 Seeing that the old man was thoroughly in earnest, Angus, 
 too greatly touched by his kindness even to speak, silently 
 entered the house.
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 9 
 
 " I will take you through at once to the pavilion in the 
 garden," the merchant said. " Although I have no fear my- 
 self, there are my servants and clerks. 'Tis like enough 
 that some of them may be stricken, for they, like all of us, 
 are liable to be smitten when they go into the streets, and 
 should this be so they might blame me for your presence 
 here; therefore 'tis best that you should for three or four 
 days live in the pavilion; I will bring you out cushions and 
 pillows. But I do not think that you will be attacked; had 
 .you taken the plague you would probably have shown symp- 
 toms of it ere now. Keep your thoughts from dwelling on 
 it. I will bring you out some books; try to fix your mind 
 on them and abstain as much as possible from dwelling on 
 the past. I will bring your food out to you, and we will 
 talk together to-morrow, there is much that you will have 
 to consider." 
 
 " What are you thinking of doing ? " his host asked him 
 when he came in to see him on the morning after his arrival. 
 
 " I have been trying to think, but I cannot decide on 
 anything. I do not wish to go back to Scotland. I have 
 an aunt living there, but she would not welcome me warmly. 
 Besides, if I were to do so, I do not see how I could earn 
 my living; for my knowledge of Persian and Arabic would be 
 of no use to me. If I had been ten years older the firm for 
 whom my father was agent might have appointed me in his 
 place, but of course I am a great deal too young for that. 
 They acted as his agents also, and bought for him the goods 
 in which he dealt outside their business ; and he told me when 
 he was taken suddenly ill that they had about a thousand 
 pounds of his money in their hands. That would be of no 
 use to me now, and I should very much prefer not to touch 
 it until I am old enough to set up in trade." 
 
 " The position is certainly a grave one, Angus. I agree 
 with you that it would be better for you on all accounts to
 
 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 nain out here, at any rate for a time. Your father had 
 respondents also in Bombay, had he not? ' 
 'Yes, he made purchases of Persian goods for a house 
 ;re; but he did not do much for them, as the trade is 
 ncipally in the hands of the Parsees." 
 ' There is one thing that you might do," the Armenian 
 d, after thinking for some time. "I have heard that 
 Mr. M'Neill is on his way to Teheran as British minister 
 >re. You might be able to obtain a post in his Embassy. 
 >u can write both Persian and Arabic, and might be use- 
 l in many ways. It would not be necessary for you to 
 c a large salary, but, however small, it might lead the 
 y to better things. At present there is much political 
 turbance. The Shah is meditating an attack upon Herat, 
 d has already given orders for an army to be collected, 
 rtainly the British government will feel jealous of any 
 >vement that would extend the power of Persia farther 
 yards Afghanistan, especially as they are, I hear, about 
 take steps to interfere in that country by placing a rival 
 Dost Mahomed on the throne. Then, too, it is no secret 
 it Russia is encouraging the Shah, and it is probable that 
 issian influence will become predominant in Persia. The 
 nquest of Herat would matter little to England were it 
 Persia alone, for Persia is powerless to damage India; 
 t with Persia acting as the tool of Russia, which some 
 y or other will assuredly swallow her up, the matter is 
 ry much more serious. This being so, there can be little 
 >ubt that the new British minister will be charged with 
 mission to counteract the designs of Russia as much as 
 issible, and might be glad to take into his employment 
 le who knows the language well and could gather news 
 r him in the guise of a native for there are so many 
 alects spoken in different parts of the country that any 
 iperfection of speech would pass unnoticed."
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 1 
 
 "I think that would be an excellent plan, sir, if it coul 
 be carried out." 
 
 " I will give you a letter stating the circumstances, speai 
 ing of the esteem in which your father was held, and voucl] 
 ing for your character. If you decide to take this course, 
 think it would be well for you to leave at once, for fror 
 what I hear of the new minister's course you would the: 
 arrive at Teheran within two or three days of his gettin 
 there, and might have a better chance, therefore, of obtain 
 ing a post in his office. As to the money you speak of, i 
 seems to me that, as your country is a long way off, it woul 
 be better if it could be sent to the house with which you 
 father had dealings at Bombay, since there are constant! 
 vessels sailing thither from ports in the Persian Gulf; an 
 whether you saw an opportunity for doing a trade with Indij 
 or thought of going there yourself, it would be an advantag 
 to have your money ready to your hand. You must alread 
 know a good deal of trade matters, having, as I knov 
 worked as your father's assistant for the past two year: 
 At any rate a year or two at Teheran in the service of th 
 British minister would be an advantage to you in man 
 respects. There is a caravan starting to-morrow, that i 
 why I suggested that you should leave at once. A merchar 
 who travels with it is a friend of mine, and I can recon 
 mend you to his care, but it would certainly be best fc 
 you to travel as a native." 
 
 " I thank you, sir, very heartily, and shall certainly d 
 as you advise me, for as an English lad going alone wit 
 a caravan I could scarcely hope to escape trouble with came' 
 drivers and others. If I fail to obtain employment at th 
 Embassy, I shall probably travel down with a caravan t 
 Bushire, and take ship to Bombay. I have plenty of mone 
 to do that, for the expense of travelling with a caravan i 
 very small nothing is needed except for food and the pas
 
 12 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 sage in a native craft would not be more than a pound or 
 two. I have nearly two hundred, so that I could live for a 
 long time in Bombay if I failed to obtain employment there. 
 When it is gone, I could at least enlist in one of the British 
 regiments." 
 
 "It is a poor trade soldiering, lad, though in your case 
 it might not do you harm for a few years, especially if 
 you turned your attention to learning some of the Indian 
 languages. With such knowledge you should certainly have 
 no difficulty in making your way with the little capital you 
 will receive from home." 
 
 And so it was settled, and Angus travelled to Teheran. 
 The journey did him good. He had bought a donkey, and 
 trotting along by the side of the merchant to whom his 
 friend had introduced him, the novelty of the life, the 
 strangeness of passing as a native among the travellers, and 
 the conversation of the Persian merchant kept him from 
 brooding over his sorrows. He felt that, suddenly thrown as 
 he was upon his own resources, and compelled to think and 
 act for himself, when but a fortnight before he had others 
 to think and care for him, he must bear himself like a man. 
 It was only at night, when rolled in a blanket he prepared 
 to sleep, that he gave way and lay for hours weeping over 
 his loss. 
 
 The merchant, who had been much pleased with his con- 
 versation, and had made many enquiries as to the ways of 
 his countrymen, and to whom he had told his plans, invited 
 Angus to take up his abode with him at a khan until he 
 found whether he could obtain employment at the British 
 minister's. Issuing into the town, after having seen his 
 animals attended to and his goods stowed away, the merchant 
 went to see some friends, and on his return told Angus that 
 the new British minister had arrived two days before. The 
 next morning Angus went to the envoy's, and sent in the
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 13 
 
 letter with which the Armenian had furnished him, together 
 with the translation which he had made and the vice-consul 
 had signed and stamped. He had not waited many minutes 
 when one of the attendants came to him and led him in 
 to the minister's room. 
 
 " You are Mr. Campbell, the young gentleman of whom 
 our vice-consul at Tabriz writes to me ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " It is a sad story that he has told me, and I would will- 
 ingly do anything in my power for a young countryman 
 thus left so sadly and suddenly on his own resources in a 
 foreign land. He tells me that you speak Arabic as well 
 as Persian, and have some acquaintance with Armenian 
 colloquially, though you cannot write it as you can the two 
 former languages. Do you know any other language at 
 all?" 
 
 "I know some Kurdish. One of my father's porters was 
 a Kurd, and I was able to get on fairly with him." 
 
 " He tells me that it is your wish to obtain employment 
 of some sort with me, as at present you are not old enough 
 to enter upon trade for yourself, and that you do not wish 
 to return to Scotland." 
 
 " No, sir. I have been away for four years, and were I 
 to go back I should lose the advantage that I have gained in 
 learning these Eastern languages." 
 
 " Quite right ; very sensibly decided," the minister said. 
 " And I suppose that you know something of trade ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, my father took much pains in instructing me, 
 and for the past two years I have acted as his assistant, and 
 have learned the value of most articles of trade." 
 
 The minister nodded. 
 
 "Very good; it will doubtless be of value to you here- 
 after. However, I can at present utilize your services here. 
 I have with me my secretary, and I have the dragoman
 
 14 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 employed by my predecessor, who speaks half a dozen lan- 
 guages ; but in many ways a sharp young fellow like yourself, 
 able if necessary to mix with the people as one of them- 
 selves, and to gather me information as to popular opinion, 
 and who can read and write Persian fluently, would be a 
 welcome addition to my staff. Of course I cannot offer you 
 high pay, as I have an allowance for the expenses of my 
 office upon the same scale as that of my predecessor." 
 
 " The pay is quite a secondary matter with me, sir. Even 
 if there were no pay, I should be glad to accept a temporary 
 post under you, as it would be a great advantage to me after- 
 wards to have been employed by you, and I should at least 
 have time to decide what to do next." 
 
 "I will thfck the matter over," the minister said; "at 
 any rate there will be a room assigned to you in the house, 
 and for the present thirty shillings a week for your living. 
 You had better continue to wear your Persian attire. Have 
 you European clothes with you ? " 
 
 " No, sir, everything was burnt." 
 
 The next day Angus was installed in a small room next 
 to that of the secretary, and set to work translating Persian 
 proclamations, edicts, and other matters. A fortnight later 
 the minister decided that he should be dressed as a European 
 when in the house, and a tailor was sent for and ordered 
 to make him clothes of the same style as a suit of the 
 secretary's, which was given him to use as a pattern. The 
 minister nodded approvingly when he entered the little 
 office on the day when Angus first wore his new suit. His 
 work was now changed, and while visitors of distinction were 
 ushered in directly to the minister, and others of less im- 
 portance were first interviewed by the secretary, people 
 coming in with complaints or petitions were shown in to 
 Angus, who took down what they had to say, and then 
 dismissed them to call the next day for an answer. He was
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 15 
 
 amused at the general impression prevailing among these 
 people that if the British minister could be induced to take 
 up their cases he could obtain justice and redress for them, 
 and how evidently they disbelieved his assurances that a 
 foreign official could not interfere in such matters. 
 
 Six months passed, the Shah had started with his army 
 towards Herat, and the evidences that Russia was at the 
 bottom of the movement, and that he was acting in accord- 
 ance with her advice, became stronger and stronger. Angus 
 stood high in the minister's good opinion, from the steadi- 
 ness with which he worked, the tact and good temper that 
 he showed with the natives he interviewed, and the willing- 
 ness with which he would, after the office was closed, work 
 until late at night at his translations. Sometimes he changed 
 his attire again, and slightly darkening his face, and tucking 
 away his light hair, would go out into the streets, mingle 
 with the crowd in busy quarters, and listen to the talk. 
 From the fact that the expedition against Herat was seldom 
 spoken of, he gathered that the war was not popular except 
 among the trading 1 class, who thought that the possession of 
 Herat would lead to a large increase of trade with Afghan- 
 istan, and even through Candahar to Northern India. It 
 was, however, but seldom that he went on these expeditions, 
 for it was certain that any private arrangement that had 
 been made between the Shah and Russia would be known 
 only to two of the former's principal officers. 
 
 One evening Mr. M'Neill summoned him to his own apart- 
 ment, and said : " I have obtained information from a source 
 I can rely upon that Russia is encouraging the Shah, and 
 that there are other Russian officers besides their accredited 
 envoy in the Shah's camp. Mr. Corbould started half an hour 
 ago, and will carry the news himself to London; it is too 
 important to be trusted to other hands. I have no doubt 
 whatever that orders will be sent to me at once to mediate
 
 16 TO HERAT AND CAEUL 
 
 between the parties, and to put a certain amount of pressure 
 upon the Shah. Herat is considered the key of Afghanistan, 
 and although we could do nothing to assist its defenders, even 
 were a force to start at once from Bombay, I fancy that I 
 should be authorized to say to the Shah that England would 
 greatly resent the town being permanently occupied ; and that 
 she might even go so far as to blockade the ports on the 
 Persian Gulf, and so put a^stop to the whole trade of Persia 
 with India. The great question, of course, is how long Herat 
 can hold out against the Persians. The place has the repu- 
 tation of being strong, but I hear that the fortifications 
 are much dilapidated. The Afghans are likely to fight well 
 up to a certain point, but they might, and probably would, 
 get disheartened after a time. I am anxious to assure them 
 that if they will but hold out, England will do all in her 
 power to induce the Persians to give up the siege. The 
 messenger I send must at once be altogether trustworthy, 
 must be able to make his way through the country as a 
 native, and must have a sufficient knowledge of Arabic to 
 make himself understood there, although this is less impor- 
 tant, as there must be many traders in the town who under- 
 stand Persian." 
 
 " If you would entrust me with the message, sir, I would 
 gladly undertake to carry it to Herat." 
 
 " That was my purpose in sending for you, Mr. Campbell. 
 I have the greatest confidence in you, and as your Persian 
 is good enough to pass in Teheran, it is certainly good enough 
 for the country districts. But it is not only because I should 
 trust you thoroughly, and have every faith in your being able 
 to carry out the mission, but also because I thought that 
 it would be of great utility to you to be engaged in the 
 performance of such a mission. If Herat defends itself suc- 
 cessfully until relieved either by Afghan troops, or as a 
 result of our diplomacy, it will undoubtedly be a feather in 
 
 (M807)
 
 ALONE IN THE WORLD 17 
 
 the cap of the gentleman I select to undertake the commission 
 of encouraging the Pleratees to hold out; and, with my report 
 of the valuable services that you have rendered here, might 
 obtain for you a better position in the diplomatic service than 
 I can offer you, or some post in India where your knowledge 
 of Persian and Arabic would be valuable." 
 
 " I thank you very much indeed, sir. The change to an 
 active life would not only be very pleasant to me, but I can 
 quite understand that if good comes of it I might benefit 
 greatly. Would you wish me to return as soon as I have 
 delivered your message ? " 
 
 " No, I think it would be better for you to remain there. 
 I myself will shortly join the Shah in his camp; the office 
 here will be closed." 
 
 On the following day Angus started. The back of his 
 head having been shaved, his hair was completely covered 
 by his turban. He wore wide Turkish trousers, a loosely 
 fitting blue embroidered vest, and a long kaftan thickly 
 padded and falling below his knees, a coloured sash, with 
 two long-barrelled pistols, and a curved sword. His attire 
 was that of a Persian trader. He rode on a camel, which, 
 although not a handsome animal to look at, was of good 
 blood and fast. Slung over his shoulder was a long match- 
 lock; he carried behind him a great bale of goods. Accom- 
 panying him was a Persian boy, whose father was a door- 
 keeper at the mission; the boy himself was a hanger-on 
 there. He was a bright-faced lad of some fifteen years old, 
 who ran messages, and made himself generally useful. Be- 
 tween him and Angus a sort of friendship had sprung up, 
 and of an evening when the latter went out he often took 
 the boy with him, his shrewdness and chatter being a relief 
 after a long day's work in the office. 
 
 Azim had accepted with delight Angus's proposal that he 
 should accompany him, as his attendant, on a journey that 
 
 (M807) B
 
 18 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 he was about to make. The matter was settled in a few 
 minutes, a donkey purchased for him, suitable clothes for 
 travel, and a couple of Kurd blankets. Angus himself had 
 a large fur-lined coat reaching to his feet, and four blankets, 
 two of which were of very large size and capable of being 
 made into a tent, for he knew that the khans and the houses 
 in the villages swarmed with insects, and was determined 
 that, unless circumstances prevented it, he would always 
 encamp in the open air. Azim's camel carried, in addition 
 to a bale of goods, two water-skins, a sufficient supply of 
 flour for the journey, a bag of ground coffee, and another 
 of sugar; meat would always be procurable. 
 
 It was a long journey, but Angus enjoyed it. The road 
 was a frequented one, for a considerable trade was carried 
 on between Herat and Persia, and traders frequently passed 
 along. Azim turned out a bright and intelligent companion, 
 and no suspicion was anywhere entertained that Angus was 
 aught but what he seemed. Some little surprise, however, 
 was occasionally expressed that he should be making 1 the 
 journey at a time when the Persian army was marching 
 against Herat. To such remarks he always replied that he 
 should probably stay there but a few days, and hoped to be 
 well on the road to Candahar before the army arrived at 
 Herat. He was certain that he should arrive in time, for 
 the army with its huge baggage train had already taken 
 nearly six months in accomplishing a journey that he had 
 performed in little over as many weeks.
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 19 
 
 CHAPTER H 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 
 
 WHEN near the frontier Angus sold the camels. He 
 had already parted with all the goods that he had 
 carried, and he now bought peasant dresses, such as those 
 worn by the Afghan cultivators, for himself and Azim. It 
 was but some seventy miles on to Herat, but the Persian 
 army was on the direct road, having just laid siege to Ghor- 
 ian, and it was necessary to make a detour to avoid both 
 the plundering parties of the Persians and the Afghan horse- 
 men who would be hovering round the enemy's camp. Be- 
 fore crossing the frontier he purchased sufficient food to 
 last for four days, as it would be dangerous to enter any 
 place where they might be accosted, as their ignorance of 
 the language would seem to prove that they were Persian 
 spies. 
 
 Both carried swords and long knives, as a protection 
 rather from the attacks of village dogs than from trouble 
 with men. As it was now November and the weatHer was 
 becoming cold at night, they were glad of the long coats 
 lined with sheep-skin. The country through which they were 
 passing was fertile, and when on the afternoon of the third 
 day they came in sight of Herat, even Azim was struck 
 with the richness and fertility of the country. It was well 
 watered by several small streams; fortified villages were 
 scattered here and there over the plain. Round these were 
 gardens, orchards, and vineyards, the intervening spaces 
 being in summer covered by wide expanses of corn. As 
 they neared the city they saw that numbers of people from 
 the villages were making their way towards it, many with 
 bullock waggons carrying stores of grain and household
 
 20 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 goods, while women and men were alike loaded. They en- 
 tered the gate of the city unquestioned and unnoticed in the 
 crowd of horse and footmen, cattle, bullock-carts, sheep, and 
 goats. 
 
 Striking as was the appearance of the town without, inside 
 everything showed signs of neglect and poverty. Herat con- 
 tained some forty-five thousand inhabitants; the majority of 
 these were Persian Sheeahs. Once the capital of the great 
 empire of Tamerlane, it had greatly fallen from its former 
 splendour, its decline having been rapid since its capture 
 from the Persians by the Afghans in 1715. It had been 
 retaken by the Persians, and recaptured by the Afghans, 
 under whose savage rule its prosperity had greatly diminished. 
 It was still an important trading centre, being situated on 
 the one great thoroughfare between India and Russia, and 
 being celebrated for the beauty of its carpets and for the 
 temper of its sword-blades. Its trade was principally in the 
 hands of Hindoos, who numbered no fewer than a thousand, 
 some of whom were traders, while others were occupied in 
 the various branches of work to which they had been ac- 
 customed in India. There were several families of Ar- 
 menians and a few Jews. 
 
 The city had for years suffered under the horrible tyranny 
 of Shah Kamran, now an old and feeble man, and of his 
 wuzeer or minister, Yar Mahomed Khan, who held the post 
 of governor of the city. Under these men neither life nor 
 property was respected ; men and women were seized and sold 
 into slavery ijnder the smallest pretext, often without any 
 attempt whatever to justify the action. Armed bands of 
 ruffians broke into the houses and plundered at their will, 
 and the peaceful portion of the population were in a state 
 of utter misery and despair. 
 
 On entering the gate, Angus proceeded along the bazaar, 
 an arched street about a mile long, which extended from
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 21 
 
 one side of the city to the other. This was crossed at right 
 angles by another bazaar of equal length, and the city, which 
 was built in the form of a square, was thus divided into four 
 quarters. Round the wall was a wide ditch, which was at 
 all times kept full of water from springs rising in the town. 
 
 When he had proceeded some distance, Angus heard two 
 traders in one of the shops speaking in Armenian. He at 
 once entered. " Effendi," he said in that language, " I am 
 a stranger here and but newly arrived. Can you tell me 
 where I can procure a lodging ? " 
 
 The two men looked in surprise at this Afghan peasant 
 who addressed them in their own tongue, and one of them, 
 after a moment's hesitation, bade him come into his private 
 apartment behind the shop. 
 
 " Who are you ? " he said ; " and how come you to speak 
 our language ? " 
 
 " I learned it in conversation with some of your people 
 in Tabriz, and especially from one who was the British vice- 
 consul there. I also speak Persian and Arabic." 
 
 The trader's surprise increased as Angus spoke. " But 
 who are you, then, who have travelled so far, and how is it 
 that having learned so many languages you are now here as 
 a peasant ? " 
 
 " It is a disguise," Angus said. " My father was a British 
 merchant at Tabriz, and I myself am in the service of the 
 British minister at Teheran, and am the bearer of a letter 
 from him to Shah Kamran." 
 
 " You are young indeed, my son, to be engaged on so 
 difficult and dangerous a mission. Surely I can find you a 
 lodging. All trade is at a stand-still now, and we Armenians 
 suffer like the rest. My brother, whom you saw in the shop, 
 is a weaver of carpets; but none will buy carpets now. He 
 has a house larger than his needs, and would, I am sure, gladly 
 take you in."
 
 22 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 He called his brother in from the front, and explained to 
 him who this strange visitor was and what he wanted. 
 
 "I have money," Angus said, "and am prepared to pay 
 well for my accommodation. I have a servant with me, he 
 is the son of a door-keeper at the embassy, and is altogether 
 faithful and trustworthy. Unfortunately, I do not speak 
 the Afghan tongue." 
 
 " That will matter little in the town ; the majority of the 
 people still speak Persian, although they may know Pushtoo. 
 It is the same with many of the fugitives who have come 
 in from the plain. You will have difficulty in seeing the 
 prince. He is old and feeble, and for the greater part of 
 his time he is drunk. Everything is therefore in the hands 
 of the wuzeer, who is one of the worst of men cruel, 
 avaricious, and unscrupulous. We have had many tyrants, 
 but he is the worst; and I can assure you that the success 
 of the Persians would fill all but the Afghan portion of the 
 population with the deepest joy. It will be necessary for 
 you to see him first before you see Shah Kamran. The 
 hour is getting late, and I shall close my shop shortly. If 
 you will go round with my brother to his house I will join 
 you there presently. We all love and respect the English. 
 They have always been our good friends, and glad indeed 
 should we be were they masters here as they are in India; 
 for I have been there, and know how just is their rule 
 how they oppress no one, and will not suffer others to do 
 so. This would be a happy city indeed if your people were 
 our masters." 
 
 A short walk brought Angus and Azim to the house of 
 the carpet-weaver. It was of some size, but bore a neglected 
 and poverty-stricken aspect, which was not belied by its 
 appearance when they entered. The doors stood open, and 
 it could be seen that looms stood idle now in all the rooms. 
 The man led the way upstairs, and unlocking a door there
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 23 
 
 entered the family apartments. The contrast between these 
 and the floor below was great indeed. Afghan carpets 
 covered the passages and floors, well-stuffed divans ran 
 round the rooms, and although there were no signs of 
 wealth, everything pointed to comfort. The Armenian led 
 them into a room, where his wife and two daughters were 
 seated. They rose in some surprise at seeing him enter 
 accompanied by an Afghan peasant. Azim had remained 
 in the passage without. 
 
 "Do not be surprised," the trader said; "this person is 
 not what he looks, but is an English effendi, the bearer of 
 a letter from his minister at Teheran to Shah Kamran. He 
 is going to do us the honour to lodgte here for a time. He 
 speaks our language as well as Persian." 
 
 " He is welcome," his wife said courteously ; " and indeed 
 his presence here will afford us a protection which we shall 
 need more than ever when the passions of the people are 
 excited by the siege." 
 
 "As you are accustomed to our ways," the husband said, 
 " you will not be surprised at my bringing you in here or 
 at seeing the women unveiled. As a rule, everywhere in 
 the East we adopt the customs of the country so far that 
 our women veil when they go out, and my wife and daughters 
 would do the same here if they were to walk through the 
 streets. But my daughters have not left the house since 
 they were children; my wife has not done so since we took 
 up our abode here twenty-three years ago." 
 
 Angus uttered an exclamation of surprise. 
 
 " You would not be astonished if you knew the lawless- 
 ness that prevails here. No young woman can venture 
 safely into the streets, for as soon as a report that she was 
 good-looking reached Kamran she would be seized and car- 
 ried off to his harem even in broad daylight. No respectable 
 woman would think of going out save with an armed escort."
 
 24 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 "That is indeed a terrible state of things." 
 
 "We are accustomed to it now, effendi, and at any rate 
 we are not molested here. I make a present now and then 
 to Yar Mahomed Khan and also to his principal officer, and 
 I am let alone by them. My brother does the same. They 
 know that I am a carpet-weaver employing eight or ten 
 men, and as they believe I could not be squeezed to any 
 large amount, they are satisfied to let us go on. So as long 
 as we keep quietly at home we are not molested, and we 
 both intend ere long to move from here to Teheran or 
 Tabriz. We have only been waiting until we can manage 
 to get away with our belongings without attracting notice. 
 We have done very well since we came here, for trade has 
 been good. My brother buys up the products of many 
 other looms, and we have both made good profits, . 
 but we take care that we do not keep more money than 
 is necessary here. Now I will show you the room that 
 will be at your disposal. You will, I hope, join us at our 
 family meals, so that we shall not have to cook for you 
 separately." 
 
 " Certainly, it would be very much more pleasant for 
 me." 
 
 The terms were arranged without difficulty, for the Ar- 
 menian felt that it might be a great protection for them to 
 have an Englishman in the house. The merchant then ar- 
 ranged to obtain a dress for Angus similar to that worn 
 by himself and his brother. This was brought in on the 
 following morning. Having put it on, Angus went out ac- 
 companied by Azim. He decided to wait for a day or two 
 before seeing the wuzeer, so as to ascertain the state of 
 things in the town and the preparations for defence. He 
 was going through one of the narrow streets when a loaded 
 camel came along behind him, its paniers nearly touching 
 the houses on each side. Its rider did not give the usual
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 25 
 
 shout of warning, and Angus had but just time to jump 
 into a doorway when it brushed past him, the Afghan 
 driver grinning maliciously at so nearly upsetting one whom 
 he regarded as a Sheeah trader. A man walking just in 
 front of him, who was not quick enough to get out of the 
 camel's way, was knocked down. As he got up Angus to 
 his astonishment heard him mutter angrily, " Confound 
 you! I wish I had you outside this town, I would give you 
 a lesson you would not forget ! " Astonished to find another 
 Englishman here in Afghan costume, Angus stepped up to 
 him and said, " I did not expect to find an Englishman here, 
 sir." 
 
 The other turned sharply round. " I am as surprised as 
 you can be, sir! But we had better not be speaking English 
 here. I am lodging within fifty yards of this, if you will 
 follow me I will take you there, and we can then introduce 
 ourselves properly." 
 
 In three minutes they were in the room occupied by the 
 stranger. "As host I will inlroduce myself first," he said 
 with a smile. " My name is Eldred Pottinger ; I have been 
 travelling through Afghanistan on an unofficial mission to 
 explore and report on the country to my uncle, Colonel Pot- 
 tinger, Resident in Scinde. Happening to arrive here at the 
 present crisis, and thinking that I might be useful if the 
 city is besieged, I have declared myself to the wuzeer, and 
 although I still retain my disguise there are many who know 
 that I am an Englishman." 
 
 " My name is Angus Campbell, Mr. Pottinger. I am in 
 the employment of the British minister at Teheran, and am 
 the bearer of a letter from him to Shah Kamran encourag- 
 ing him to maintain the defence of the city as long as pos- 
 sible, and holding out hopes that the British government, 
 which would view the attack upon Herat with grave dissatis- 
 faction, will endeavour to mediate between him and the Shah,
 
 26 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 and may even take measures to put pressure upon the latter 
 to withdraw his forces." 
 
 " That is very satisfactory. Of course I have had no 
 shadow of authority to speak in that way, and could only 
 assure him generally that he would have the good will of the 
 English, and that as an English officer I would on my own 
 part put any military skill that I possess at his service, and, 
 being myself an artillery officer, might be of considerable 
 assistance to him in the management and working of the 
 guns. But your letter will place me in a more favourable 
 position. What are your instructions? Are you going to 
 return to the embassy or remain here ? " 
 
 "Mr. M'Neill left it to myself. He will join the Shah's 
 army, as the Kussian ambassador is also with it. As he takes 
 the dragoman of the legation down with him, he has no abso- 
 lute occasion for my services. From what I have seen of the 
 place so far, though I only arrived yesterday, it does not seem 
 to me possible that these mud walls can withstand a batter- 
 ing fire. The place will therefore very likely be taken in a 
 few days; and as I should not care about being in a town 
 sacked by Persian troops, I had intended to leave it as soon 
 as I delivered my letter." 
 
 " There is no doubt about the weakness of the place ; a 
 European army would carry it in three days. But the Per- 
 sians have never been remarkable for their courage, while 
 the Afghans are undoubtedly a fighting 1 people. I think it 
 is quite possible that the siege may last for months. You 
 know the dilatory way in which these Eastern people go to 
 work. Of course I can give no opinion whatever as to what 
 would be your best course. It would depend upon so many 
 things your position at the embassy, your chances of promo- 
 tion there, and other matters of which I am altogether igno- 
 rant. I suppose you speak Persian well ? " 
 
 " Yes, and also Arabic, and I can get on in Armenian and
 
 A MAN WALKING JUST IN FRONT OF HIM .... WAS 
 KNOCKED DOWN.
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 27 
 
 Kurdish. As to my position, it is scarcely an official one. 
 I am the son of a Scottish trader who for twelve years 
 carried on business at Tabriz. He and my mother were 
 carried off eight months ago by an outbreak of plague, and 
 his house and store were burned in some street riots. I 
 consulted the British vice-consul there, an Armenian who 
 was a friend of my father, and we agreed that from my 
 knowledge of languages I ought to be able to get on better 
 in the East than at home, where it would be of no use to me. 
 I had acted as my father's assistant for the last two years 
 of his life, and had therefore acquired a knowledge of trad- 
 ing; and I have a small capital with which, when I get older, 
 I can either enter into business myself or join someone al- 
 ready established. I was very glad to obtain this place in the 
 embassy as a temporary employment until I could see my 
 way, for although Mr. M'Neill kindly took me on as an extra 
 assistant, of course his successor, whoever he may be, may 
 not want me." 
 
 " I think you have done very wisely. How old are you 
 now ? " 
 
 " I am a few months over sixteen." 
 
 " You are young indeed," Pottinger laughed, " to be en- 
 gaged in political affairs. Well, I should say that if the 
 Afghans really mean to fight, as I believe they will, they 
 can hold the town for some time, and you will therefore be 
 able to learn their language, which would be invaluable to 
 you if you go in for commerce, or in fact whatever you do 
 out here. Things are in a disturbed state in Afghanistan, 
 and I should be surprised if the Indian Government does not 
 interfere there before long; and in that case anyone ac- 
 quainted with Pushtoo and with Arabic and Persian will 
 have no difficulty in finding employment with the army, and 
 through my uncle I might be able to put you in the way of it. 
 And now about your mission.
 
 28 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 " The wuzeer for some reason or other I own I don't see 
 why has been exceedingly civil to me. On my arrival I 
 sent to say that I was a stranger and a traveller, and that, 
 should it be pleasing to him, I would wait upon him. He 
 sent down at once to say that he would see me the next day. 
 Of course on occasions of this sort it is usual to make a pres- 
 ent. The only thing that I could give him was a brace of 
 detonating pistols. He had never seen any but flint-locks 
 before, and accepted them graciously. Finding that I was 
 a British artillery officer, he at once asked my opinion on a 
 variety of matters, and took me round the walls with him, 
 consulting me as to how they had best be strengthened, and 
 so on. 
 
 "I will go up and see him presently, and tell him that 
 you have arrived and are the bearer of a letter from our 
 minister to Shah Kamran. I shall of course mention that 
 you have come in disguise, and that you have therefore 
 been unable to bring the customary presents, and I shall 
 point out to him that you possess the confidence of the 
 British minister. I shall say that for that reason I have 
 persuaded you to remain here during the siege, and that I 
 am sure you will act with me, and moreover will endeavour 
 to keep M'Neill well informed of everything going on here, 
 and will continually urge him to impress upon the British 
 government the importance of the position and the necessity 
 for interfering to prevent it from falling into the hands of 
 the Persians. As to its importance there is no doubt, espe- 
 cially as Russia appears to be making Persia a cat's-paw in 
 the matter. That is why I feel that while fighting for these 
 Heratees who between ourselves seem to me to be unmiti- 
 gated ruffians I am merely fighting for England, for it is 
 of the utmost importance that the gate of India should not 
 be in the hands of Persia, especially if, as you say, Russian 
 influence is dominant at Teheran."
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 29 
 
 "I am sure I shall be delighted if you will accept me as 
 your assistant, though I don't see at present what possible 
 service I can, be." 
 
 "You will be of use. There will be no end of things to 
 see about." Then he burst out laughing. " It does seem 
 absurd, doesn't it, that we two, I a young lieutenant and 
 you a lad not yet seventeen, should be proposing to take a 
 prominent part in the defence of a city like this against an 
 army commanded by the Shah of Persia in person." 
 
 Angus joined in the laugh. " It is not ridiculous for you," 
 he said, " because as an artillery officer you must know a 
 great deal more about the defence of towns than these 
 Afghans can do; but it certainly is absurd my having any- 
 thing to do in it." 
 
 Pottinger went with Angus to the house of the Armenian 
 in order that he might know where to find him. Leav- 
 ing him there he went up to the citadel, which stood on 
 rising ground at one corner of the town. He returned 
 in an hour, and said that the wuzeer would receive him 
 at once. 
 
 " He is a good deal impressed," he went on, " with the 
 fact that our minister should have sent a messenger here 
 with the letter. At first he did not see why England should 
 be interested in the matter, and I had to explain to him 
 about the Russian intrigue in Persia, and that there was no 
 doubt that sooner or later they would invade India, and that 
 this would be rendered comparatively easy by Herat being 
 in the hands of their friends the Persians. He enquired of 
 me what rank you held. I told him that you were a member 
 of the embassy, acting as assistant-secretary to the minister, 
 and, as was evident by his entrusting you with so important 
 a despatch, were deep in his confidence." 
 
 On arriving at the citadel they were at once conducted to 
 the apartment of the wuzeer. Yar Mahomed rose from his
 
 30 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 seat and greeted them politely. Angus walked forward, 
 bowed, and delivered his letter. 
 
 " You speak Persian, your excellency ? " the minister said. 
 
 Angus had difficulty in restraining a smile at his new 
 dignity, but said gravely: "Yes, your highness, I speak it 
 and Arabic." 
 
 " You journeyed here comfortably, I hope ? " 
 
 "Yes; there were a few adventures on the way, but not 
 more than I had expected." 
 
 Yar Mahomed opened and read the letter. 
 
 " You are aware of its contents ? " he asked. 
 
 "Yes, I learned them by heart before I left Teheran, in 
 case I should be robbed of the letter on the way." 
 
 The wuzeer sat in thought for a minute. 
 
 " But how," he said doubtfully, " can your country, which 
 is, as I hear, very far distant, exercise any influence with the 
 Shah? Surely you could not send an army all that dis- 
 tance ? " 
 
 "'Not from England, your highness; but we could send a 
 fleet that could shut up all the ports in the Persian Gulf, 
 and we could send troops from India to occupy those places, 
 and so destroy all their trade. Moreover, we could put a 
 stop to all trade passing by land through this town to Scinde, 
 and send a great army by sea and invade Persia, and, as our 
 soldiers are much better than the Persians, might even take 
 Tabriz and Teheran. The Shah knows that they have done 
 great things in India, and will see how they might bring 
 ruin on Persia." 
 
 "Yes, what your minister says is true; but will he do this 
 at once?" 
 
 " That I cannot say," Angus replied. " At first, no doubt, 
 the government of England would say, 'Herat is very far 
 off; it will fall before we can do anything.' But if they find 
 that it holds out bravely, they will say, ' We must help these
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 31 
 
 people who are fighting so well.' There is another thing. 
 It is said that there are already some Russian officers with 
 the Shah's army. The English are very jealous of the Rus- 
 sians, and when they come to understand that it is Russia 
 who has sent the Shah to capture Herat their anger will 
 speedily be roused, and they will bid their minister say to the 
 Shah, ' If you continue to fight against Herat, we shall send 
 our ships and our army against you.' The Shah knows that 
 we have conquered in India people far more warlike than 
 the Persians, and he will say to himself, ' Why should I run 
 the risk of losing my kingdom merely to please the Russians, 
 who are really much more dangerous neighbours than the 
 English?'" 
 
 " The words of your excellency are wise," the wuzeer said. 
 " You will see that we shall hold out for months, or even for 
 years if necessary. I can understand now why the British 
 minister has confidence in you though you look so young. 
 How many years has your excellency ? " 
 
 " I am not yet thirty," Angus said calmly. 
 
 The wuzeer looked surprised. 
 
 " It is because your face is smooth that you look so young. 
 We Afghans wear our beards; I see that you do not, for even 
 this brave officer, who has come to fight for us, has no hair 
 on his face. He has told me that you will stay here, and 
 assist with your advice." 
 
 " So far as I am able to do so, I will ; but I am not greatly 
 skilled in such matters. Still, I will assist him so far as I 
 can." 
 
 " It is good," the Afghan said. 
 
 " It would be better, your highness, that it should not be 
 known that I am an agent of the British minister; though 
 of course you can, if you find it necessary, cheer your soldiers 
 by telling them if they fight bravely and well the British 
 minister will try and mediate between you and the Shah, and
 
 32 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 to persuade him to draw off his army. But were the Shah 
 to know that the British minister has an agent here, he 
 would be wroth with him, and might not listen so willingly 
 to his representations. Let it then, I beg you, be supposed 
 that, like Mr. Pottinger, I am but an English traveller, who, 
 chancing to be here, is willing to do all that he can to aid in 
 the defence of the town against the Persians." 
 
 " Your words are good ; so let it be. Where are you dwell- 
 ing now ? " 
 
 "At the house of the Armenian carpet-weaver Kajar. 
 The times being bad, his looms are at a stand-still, and he 
 was glad to let me an apartment." 
 
 " He is a good man," the wuzeer said, " a good man and 
 honest, but not rich." 
 
 Angus felt that the last words were rather a question than 
 an assertion, and he said: 
 
 "Surely no. His rooms are very simple, but they are 
 clean, and if a traveller can but find a clean lodging, he 
 cares not how poor it is." 
 
 " Shall you be sending a message to the minister ? " 
 
 " I shall endeavour to do so by a servant lad I have brought 
 with me. I will tell him that his mind may be at ease, for 
 Herat can hold out." 
 
 "The Persians are cowards!" the wuzeer said angrily. 
 "My horsemen have been round them for many days, but 
 they give them no chance. They keep together like a flock 
 of sheep, with their guns and their infantry, instead of rid- 
 ing out bravely to bring in plunder and fight with their 
 enemies when they meet them." 
 
 Then turning to Pottinger he went on: 
 
 " I have sent out, as you advised me, to cut down all the* 
 trees within half a mile of the town, so that the Persians 
 will have no shelter from our guns; and as all the granaries 
 are emptied for miles round, they will have a long way to
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 33 
 
 go to get food. A number of men are also at work at the place 
 where, as you showed me, the wall was rotten; and others are 
 clearing out the ditch, and making the bank steeper where 
 it has slipped down, so that if they should be so mad as to 
 rush forward and try to cross the moat, they will not be able 
 to climb up." 
 
 " That is important, Wuzeer, and still more so is it that 
 the little wall at the foot of the mount of earth that sur- 
 rounds the city wall should be repaired. That is of the 
 greatest importance. They may manage to fill up the moat 
 and cross it, but as long as the lower wall stands they cannot 
 climb up, even if a breach was made in the main wall." 
 
 " I will go round now with you," the wuzeer said, " and 
 we will see where the worst places are." 
 
 Angus accompanied them, and found that Pottinger's 
 statement as to the weakness of the fortifications was well 
 founded. From a distance the wall had looked imposing, 
 for it was of considerable height and great thickness, but it 
 was entirely constructed of dried mud, and heavy guns could 
 effect a breach anywhere in the course of a day or two. It 
 was evident that if the place was to hold out, it must depend 
 upon the bravery of its troops and not upon the strength of 
 its walls. 
 
 For the next week the work went on incessantly. Every 
 able-bodied man in the town was employed in the repairs 
 of the wall and in cutting down trees, while the work of 
 destroying grain and all kinds of necessaries which could not 
 be brought into the town was performed by the troops. These 
 were all Afghans, were in regular pay, and formed the fight- 
 ing army of the ruler of Herat. Their discipline was at all 
 times very lax, and the permission to destroy and burn, which 
 naturally included looting everything of value for their own 
 benefit, rendered them even less amenable to discipline than 
 before. 
 
 (M 807)
 
 34 TO HERAT AND CABTTL 
 
 Eldred Pottinger, as far as he could venture, tried to in- 
 duce the wuzeer to have the work executed in a more regular 
 manner and under strict supervision by officers told off for 
 the purpose, but Yar Mahomed viewed the matter with in- 
 difference. 
 
 " What does it matter," he said, " whether the soldiers take 
 things or not ? It would be all the same to the owners whether 
 they have them, or whether they are destroyed, or fall into 
 the hands of the Persians. In a few days the enemy will be 
 here, and it would be foolish to cause dissatisfaction among 
 the soldiers over a matter of no consequence whatever." 
 
 The country, indeed, was now deserted by all its inhabit- 
 ants. Immense stores of food had been brought into the city, 
 every unoccupied piece of ground between the city walls was 
 crowded with cattle, sheep, and horses, and there was no fear 
 that famine would for a very long period be a serious 
 trouble to the besieged. Eldred Pottinger's time was princi- 
 pally occupied in seeing to the repair of the guns and their 
 carriages. Without any definite rank having been given to 
 him, it was understood that all his orders had the support of 
 the wuzeer, and were to be obeyed as if they came directly 
 from him, and that the young man with him was also an 
 Englishman of some importance, and possessed similar 
 powers. 
 
 While Pottinger looked chiefly after the military work 
 performed by the Afghans who had come into the town, 
 Angus superintended that upon which the Sheeahs were en- 
 gaged. These Persian-speaking people carried out his in- 
 structions cheerfully, because they were given in their own 
 language, and were not accompanied by the contemptuous 
 haughtiness and animosity which would have characterized 
 the orders of an Afghan, the hostility between the two great 
 religious sects of Islam being even greater than that enter- 
 tained by both against the infidel.
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 35 
 
 Pottinger had now taken up his abode at the house of 
 Kajar, where there were several apartments unoccupied. As 
 he did not speak Armenian, and knew but little Persian, 
 Angus and he arranged to have a mess of their own, engag- 
 ing a man recommended to them by the Armenian as a good 
 cook. This had been rendered the more necessary, as the 
 trader with whom Angus had first spoken had also moved 
 with his wife to his brother's house. 
 
 He had taken this step because he foresaw that as the siege 
 went on the position of the Sheeahs would become more and 
 more unbearable, and that the protection the presence of the 
 two Englishmen could afford would be most valuable. In- 
 deed Kajar, as soon as he saw that Angus had been favour- 
 ably received by the wuzeer, had himself suggested that Pot- 
 tinger might also be offered accommodation at his house. 
 
 " There need be no further talk of payment, effendi, be- 
 tween us. Your presence here will be of vastly greater im- 
 portance than any money you could give us. No one can 
 say what will happen here. It is not only our property, but 
 our lives which will be at stake; but with you as inmates 
 here, no one would dare interfere with us, and we all regard 
 the fact that you should almost accidentally have been 
 brought here as a special blessing that has been sent from 
 heaven to us." 
 
 The young Englishmen thus strangely thrown together 
 soon became fast friends, and it was pleasant indeed to them 
 to enjoy their evenings together, after each had been en- 
 gaged during the whole day at the duties they had under- 
 taken. A couple of hours, however, were always spent by 
 them, each in his own room. Pottinger engaged the services 
 of a mollah, or priest of the Sheeah sect, to give him lessons 
 in Persian, while Angus worked at Pushtoo with Kajar, who 
 spoke the Afghan language perfectly.
 
 36 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 CHAPTER m 
 
 THE SIEGE OF HERAT 
 
 ON 22nd of November, a fortnight after Angus arrived 
 at Herat, the Persian army took up its position on the 
 plain to the north-west of the city. The inhabitants crowded 
 the walls to watch the advancing host the Afghan portion 
 of the population with scowling faces and muttered impreca- 
 tions, the Sheeahs prudently abstaining from all demonstra- 
 tions of their feelings, but filled with hopes of deliverance 
 from their tyrants. Pottinger learned that the Afghan horse 
 were going to make a sortie, and he and Angus went together 
 to the north-west angle of the wall. 
 
 " A good deal will depend upon this first fight," Pottinger 
 said. " If the Persians easily repulse the assault, it will 
 cause a deep depression among the Afghans. If, on the other 
 hand, the Heratees obtain a fair amount of success, it will 
 BO encourage them that they will not fear another time to 
 encounter the enemy, and will fight strongly when the walls 
 are attacked." 
 
 In a short time the Afghan horse were seen pouring out 
 of the western gate. There was but small attempt at any- 
 thing like military order. It was a mob of horsemen; in- 
 dividually splendid riders, and for skirmishing purposes un- 
 surpassed, but, as Pottinger remarked to his companion, quite 
 unfit to stand against a charge of regular cavalry equally 
 endowed with courage. Keeping near the city wall until 
 facing the Persian position, where a regiment of cavalry 
 were hastily mounting, they wheeled round and rode against 
 the enemy with loud shouts. The Persians rode to meet them, 
 but were unable to withstand the impetuosity of the charge, 
 and, amidst the exulting shouts of the Afghans on the wall,
 
 THE SIEGE OP HERAT 37 
 
 wheeled round and fled in disorder. The Afghans then 
 turning, flung themselves upon a strong body of infantry 
 that was advancing against them in good order. These, 
 however, stood firm, emptying many saddles by a heavy 
 volley they poured in when the Afghans were close, and 
 presenting so steady a line of bayonets that the horsemen 
 recoiled. 
 
 As they did so, the Persian artillery opened upon the 
 Afghans, who retired until near the wall, and then dismounted 
 and opened fire with their long matchlocks upon the Persian 
 gunners. Pottinger ran at once to a couple of guns close to 
 where they were standing 1 , and under his directions the 
 Afghans in charge of them at once replied to the Persian 
 guns. A number of the Afghan footmen ran out from the 
 gate on that side, and, joining the dismounted men, kept up 
 a hot fire, while those on the wall also joined in the conflict. 
 As the Persian guns could effect little against the infantry 
 lying in shelter, they were now directed against the wall, 
 causing a rapid dispersal of the peaceable portion of the spec- 
 tators. The effect of their fire showed at once the rottenness 
 of the fortifications. Although but light guns, they knocked 
 down portions of the parapet, which crumbled as if it had 
 been made of rotten timber. Pottinger shook his head as he 
 and Angus walked along to watch the effect of the fire. " If 
 a six-pound shot can effect such damage as this, it is clear 
 that when they get their siege guns to work a few hours will 
 effect a breach in the wall itself." 
 
 On their side the Persians also sent out skirmishers. 
 These pushed forward to a point where they could take the 
 Afghans in flank, and cause them to retire nearer to the 
 walls. The fighting was continued until dark, when the Per- 
 sians drew off, and the Afghans retired into the city. No 
 material advantage had been gained by either side, but the 
 Heratees were well content with the result. They had shown 
 
 t~f\f\r*
 
 38 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 themselves superior to the Persian cavalry, and had main- 
 tained themselves against the infantry. 
 
 The Persians lost no time, and during the night pushed 
 forward and occupied all the gardens and enclosures on the 
 west of the city, and placed a strong force among the ruins 
 of a village there. In the morning they began to advance 
 against the wall. The Afghans sallied out horse and foot; 
 the cavalry, unable to act in such broken ground, moved 
 round, and hanging on the flanks of the Persian camp, con- 
 tinually threatened an attack. The infantry, taking advan- 
 tage of every wall and bush, maintained a heavy fire upon 
 the enemy. The artillery on both sides opened fire, but at 
 the end of the day neither party had gained any advantage. 
 
 The Afghans brought in the heads of several whom they 
 had killed, and a few prisoners. The heads were placed on 
 pikes and exhibited on the walls. The prisoners were bartered 
 as slaves in exchange for horses to the Turkomans, of whom 
 a considerable party were encamped at a short distance from 
 the walls. 
 
 " It is horrible and disgusting," Pottinger said to his com- 
 panion that evening as they sat together, "this custom of 
 cutting off heads, but as it is, I believe, universal in the 
 East, it would be worse than useless to protest against it. 
 It is the custom always to reward a soldier for bringing in 
 a head as a proof of his valour, though, in fact, it is no proof, 
 as he may simply, as he advances, cut it from the body of a 
 man shot by someone else. Putting aside the brutality, it 
 operates badly, for instead of following up an advantage 
 hotly, the men stop to collect these miserable trophies, and 
 so give time to an enemy to escape or rally. I have read in 
 the accounts of the campaigns of the Turkish conquerors 
 that the heads were always brought in to the general and 
 piled before his tent, and that each soldier was rewarded ac- 
 cording to the number he brought in, and I fancy it was the
 
 THE SIEGE OP HEEAT 39 
 
 same thing with Mohammedan conquerors in India. Well, 
 I am afraid that we shall see a number of things that will 
 disgust us before the siege is over. If I were fighting solely 
 for the Heratees, I should certainly retire if they continue 
 these barbarities. But I have no interest whatever in them; 
 in fact, I see that the greater portion of the population would 
 be benefited by living under the Persian rule. I go into this 
 matter solely because it is one I consider of vital interest to 
 England, and therefore, as an Englishman I am willing to do 
 my utmost to keep, not the Persians, but the Russians from 
 seizing this place." 
 
 Angus had now completely caught the enthusiasm of the 
 young artilleryman. He was perhaps less horrified than his 
 companion, for he had seen so much of Eastern modes of 
 punishment, that he had learned to regard them with less 
 horror than that felt by Europeans unaccustomed to Oriental 
 methods. 
 
 " I have been accustomed to look on at acts of brutality," 
 he said, " for from the time when I first came out, my father 
 always impressed upon me that we were strangers in this 
 part of the world, and must be very cautious not to show 
 any aversion to its customs. It would lead us into endless 
 trouble if we were to show in any way that what to them 
 seems only natural, was to us revolting; and though I have 
 often been tempted to interfere when I have seen some act 
 of brutality, I have always followed my father's instructions, 
 and walked away without showing any anger or disgust. I 
 agree with you that it is horrid, but it is not like seeing 
 living men tortured; at least, when one is dead it can make 
 no great difference if one is buried with a head or without 
 one." 
 
 Pottinger laughed. " That is certainly one way of looking 
 at it, and I can understand that as the custom has prevailed 
 among these peoples for centuries they can scarcely under-
 
 40 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 stand our feelings of abhorrence and indignation. However, 
 I am determined that, whatever I do or feel, I will keep my 
 mouth shut, and not say a word that would anger the wuzeer 
 and shake my influence with him. At present he is well dis- 
 posed towards me, and I have been of real assistance to him. 
 When things become critical I may be of vital service. From 
 what Kajar says there is a strong suspicion that he is not 
 personally brave, which I can quite believe, as very few 
 thorough-paced brutes are. Now old Shah Kamran is, I 
 must own, an exception ; an absolutely greater scoundrel than 
 he has proved himself to be probably never existed, but he is 
 known to have been in his earlier days as brave as a lion. 
 If he had been some twenty years younger I should have 
 stronger hopes of eventual success than I have now. Per- 
 sonal bravery in a general is of no extraordinary advantage 
 in a European army, where he is not expected to lead men 
 into battle, but with irregular troops like these Heratees it 
 is of vital importance. They will follow their leader any- 
 where, but if he sends them into danger while he himself 
 remains at a distance, they lose their enthusiasm directly, 
 and are half thrashed before the battle begins." 
 
 "Do you not think that Kamran will be able at any im- 
 portant moment to come forward and show himself among 
 the defenders of the breach? I hear that only a month or 
 so ago he returned from a campaign." 
 
 "I am afraid not. I have seen him twice, and although 
 it cannot be said that he is an imbecile, he is next door to it. 
 He understands what is going on, but his nerves are utterly 
 shattered by drink; he is in what may be termed the lachry- 
 mose condition of drunkenness. He works himself into a 
 state of childish passion; sometimes he raves, then he whim- 
 pers. Certainly his appearance would have no inspiring effect 
 upon these rough Afghan soldiers. They want a man who 
 would rush sword in hand at their head, call upon them to
 
 THE SIEGE OF HERAT 41 
 
 follow him, and then dash into the middle of the foe, and the 
 miserable old man could scarcely hold a sword in his shaking 
 hand." 
 
 " Well, at any rate, the Afghans have fought bravely yes- 
 terday and to-day." 
 
 "Excellently; but it is the work they are accustomed to. 
 An Afghan battle consists of two sets of men snugly hidden 
 away among the rocks, firing away at each other until one 
 side loses a few men and then retires. So they were quite 
 at home at their skirmishing work, and certainly more than 
 a match for the same number of Persians. What they will 
 do when an attack on a breach is made by a column remains 
 to be seen." 
 
 Night and day the Heratees worked at their defences, while 
 the Persians raised batteries and fortified their camp against 
 sudden attacks. After four or five days of comparative quiet 
 a heavy cannonade broke out. Artillery played upon the 
 walls, mortars threw shell into the town, and rockets whizzed 
 overhead. For a time the consternation in the city was pro- 
 digious; the rockets especially, which were altogether new to 
 them, appalled the inhabitants, who, as night came on, gath- 
 ered on the roofs of their houses and watched with affright 
 the sharp trains of light, and shuddered at the sound of the 
 fiery missiles. The sound of lamentation, the cries of fear, 
 and the prayers to Allah resounded over the city; but the 
 panic abated somewhat when it was found that comparatively 
 little injury was effected. But while the peaceful inhabitants 
 wailed and prayed, the troops and the men who had come in 
 from the Afghan villages laboured steadily and silently at 
 the work of repairing the damages effected by the fire of 
 the Persian batteries. 
 
 But little could be done to the face of the wall, but the 
 crumbling parapets and earth dug up from open spaces were 
 used to construct a fresh wall behind the old one at points
 
 42 TO HEBAT AND CABDL 
 
 against which the Persian guns played most fiercely, so that 
 when a breach was formed the assailants would find an un- 
 looked-for obstacle to their entrance into the town. This 
 work was directed by Pottinger, who took but little rest, re- 
 maining constantly at his post, and only snatching an hour's 
 sleep now and then. Angus assisted to the best of his power, 
 always taking his place when his comrade could no longer 
 battle against sleep, and seeing that everything went on well. 
 The Afghans yielded a willing obedience to the orders of these 
 young strangers. They saw the utility of the work upon 
 which they were engaged, and laboured well and steadily. 
 The Persian artillery were, fortunately for the besieged, badly 
 commanded. Instead of concentrating their fire upon one 
 spot, in which case a breach would have been effected in a 
 few hours, each gunner directed his aim as he thought best, 
 and the shot which, if poured upon a single point, would have 
 brought down the crumbling wall, effected no material dam- 
 age, scattered as it was over a face a mile in length. 
 
 It was all the less effective, inasmuch as the artillerymen 
 generally aimed at the parapet of the wall instead of the 
 solid portion below it. It was a delight to them to see a por- 
 tion of the parapet knocked down by their shot, whereas when 
 the wall itself was hit comparatively small show was made. 
 Many of the shot flew high and passed over the town into 
 the fields beyond it, and at the end of four days' almost con- 
 tinuous firing, Herat was stronger and more capable of re- 
 sistance than it was when the Persians first appeared before 
 the walls. The absence of any tangible result evidently 
 lowered the spirits of the besiegers, while it proportionately 
 raised those of the defenders. Moreover, the immense ex- 
 penditure of projectiles by the Persians showed the Shah and 
 his generals that, large as was the store of ammunition they 
 had brought with them, it might prove insufficient, and the 
 labour and time which would be entailed in renewing the
 
 THE SIEGE OF HERAT 43 
 
 supply from the magazines at the capital would be enormous. 
 Consequently the fire became irregular, sometimes for an hour 
 or two all the batteries would play, while at other times only 
 a few guns would be discharged in the course of an hour. 
 
 The shells that were thrown into the city did much more 
 damage than the round shot of the batteries. Many houses 
 were almost destroyed by them, and whole families killed. 
 These, however, were for the most part peaceable Sheeahs, 
 and the matter in no way affected the defenders of the wall, 
 whose spirits rose daily as they perceived that the Persian 
 artillery was by no means so formidable as they had antici- 
 pated. The Persians made no attempt to blockade the city, 
 evidently fearing the sorties the defenders made, and con- 
 fined their operations to that side of the city before which 
 they were encamped. This was a great advantage to the 
 besieged. Three out of the five gates of the city stood 
 open, communications were maintained with the surround- 
 ing country, the cattle and other animals went out to 
 graze, and firewood and other commodities passed freely into 
 the town. 
 
 Throughout December the Persians were harassed by 
 nightly attacks. The working parties in their entrenchments 
 were driven out, tools carried off, the workmen killed, and 
 the work performed during the day destroyed, the assailants 
 retiring before heavy masses of infantry could be brought 
 up to repel them. Upon many days scarce a shot was fired, 
 then for a few hours there would be a lively cannonade, but 
 of the same scattered and wasteful fashion as before. 
 
 On December 26th all the Persian prisoners who had been 
 captured in the sorties were sent off for sale to the frontier 
 of the Turkoman country. The Shah retaliated by putting 
 to death in various cruel manners the Afghan prisoners who 
 had fallen into his hands. Two days later a mine was sprung 
 and a breach effected in the wall. The Persians advanced to
 
 44 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 storm it, but were met with the greatest resolution by the 
 Heratees, who repulsed them with considerable loss, their 
 leader being severely wounded, and a deserter from Herat, a 
 man of high military reputation among the Afghans, killed 
 a fact that caused almost as much joy to the defenders as 
 the repulse of the assault. The success, however, of the mine, 
 and the knowledge that the Persians were engaged in driving 
 several tunnels towards the wall, caused a considerable feel- 
 ing of uneasiness. Nevertheless, the 30th, which was the day 
 of the termination of the long Mohammedan fast, was cele- 
 brated with the usual rejoicings, which the besieged were en- 
 abled to take part in without fear of an attack, as the day 
 was being celebrated with similar festivities in the Persian 
 camp. 
 
 Shah Kamran went with his family in procession to the 
 principal mosque, and after the conclusion of the prayers 
 usual to the occasion, observed the custom of scattering sweet- 
 meats to be scrambled for by the priests. To their disap- 
 pointment, however, he did not follow this up by inviting 
 them to a banquet, but sent extra provisions to the troops 
 and the workers on the walls. There was now a pause in 
 active operations for more than three weeks. The Persians 
 laboured at their mines, but either from ignorance of their 
 work, or on account of the water flowing from the moat into 
 their galleries, no damage resulted. The Heratees counter- 
 mined under the advice of Pottinger, but beyond proving 
 that the Persian galleries were not being driven where they 
 expected, nothing came of it. But on the 26th of January 
 the Afghans determined to give battle to the Persians in the 
 open. Again the whole population gathered on the walls, and 
 the two young Englishmen were also there. 
 
 " The wuzeer asked me this morning whether I would go 
 out with them," Pottinger said to Angus, " but I replied that, 
 although acquainted with artillery and siege operations, I did
 
 THE SIEGE OF HERAT 45 
 
 not know enough of the Afghan way of fighting to accept 
 even a small command in the field. I am useful here," he 
 went on, " and I should be of no use whatever outside. The 
 Afghans have their own ideas as to when to advance and when 
 to retreat; besides, it might offend some of the leaders were 
 I, a stranger, to interfere in any way. There is no jealousy 
 of me at present, at least I think not. They know nothing 
 of sieges, and there is no one who holds any special post in 
 connection with the fortifications. No one therefore feels 
 superseded. In the next place, the work is for the most part 
 carried out by labourers, who get paid for their services, and 
 not by the troops, and it is nothing to them whether they get 
 their orders from an Englishman or an Afghan. In an at- 
 tack on a breach I should certainly fight; in the first place, 
 because I consider it -my duty, and in the second, because, if 
 the Persians get inside the walls, you may be sure that there 
 will be something like a general massacre." 
 
 The Afghan cavalry and infantry poured out from the 
 gate, and spread themselves over the open country to the east 
 of the Persian camp. The men on foot took possession of a 
 village, and established themselves in its houses and the gar- 
 dens surrounding it. From the wall a view could be obtained 
 of the movements in the enemy's camp. The vedettes had 
 fallen back as soon as the Afghans issued out, drums were 
 beaten and horns sounded, the troops ran hastily together, 
 and their general, Mahomed Khan, could be seen galloping 
 about issuing orders. Presently a strong column moved out. 
 It was headed by cavalry; and as soon as these made their 
 appearance the Afghan horse galloped across the plain, while 
 the crowd on the walls burst into shouts of encouragement, 
 although the troops were too far off to hear them. 
 
 "It is a pretty sight, Angus, but about as unlike modern 
 warfare as could well be. European cavalry seeing a mob 
 of horsemen coming down upon them in such disorder would
 
 46 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 ride at them, and no irregular horse could withstand the im- 
 pact of a well-disciplined and compact cavalry charge. 
 There, the Persians are forming line; but there is no smart- 
 ness about it, it is done in a half-hearted sort of way, as if 
 they did not like the business before them. There, they are 
 off; but they are too slow, they won't be fairly in a gallop 
 before the Afghans are upon them." 
 
 For a minute or two the contending bodies were mixed in 
 a confused mass, then the shouts of the spectators rose high 
 as the Persians could be seen flying towards their infantry 
 hotly pursued by the Afghans. Then came the rattle of mus- 
 ketry, the quick reports of cannon, as the infantry and artil- 
 lery covered the retreat of their cavalry. Presently the Hera- 
 tee horse were seen retiring from the village in which the 
 struggle had taken place; another body, which had not yet 
 been engaged, instead of riding forward to support them, 
 also, turned, and for a time all rode off, while the Persian 
 cavalry were reinforced from the camp and pursued them. 
 The Heratees soon recovered themselves and again charged, 
 but again the leading squadrons were badly supported by those 
 behind. These were under another leader, who was probably 
 influenced by jealousy or by tribal hostility, and the Persian 
 horse, well supported by their infantry, gradually gained the 
 advantage, their own infantry coming to the support. The 
 Afghan footmen also advanced, and the fight was maintained 
 during the whole day. 
 
 " It is like playing at war," Pottinger said irritably ; " ex- 
 cept in that first charge they have never really come to 
 blows. It is skirmishing rather than fighting. Here there 
 are some ten or twelve thousand men, taking both sides, 
 cavalry, infantry, and a few guns. I don't think that when 
 our men come in again it will be found that they have lost 
 a hundred, and I don't suppose the Persians have lost much 
 more. It is a fair field for fighting, and between two Euro-
 
 THE SIEGE OF HERAT 47 
 
 pean forces of the same strength a long day's battle would 
 probably have caused three or four thousand casualties. One 
 would think that neither party was in earnest. Certainly 
 the Heratees are, though I don't suppose the Persian soldiers 
 have any particular personal interest in the matter." 
 
 The action was altogether indecisive, and at the end of the 
 day the Persians held no ground beyond the village where 
 their infantry first opened fire, while the Heratees had gained 
 nothing by their sortie. When the Afghans re-entered the 
 walls it was found that Pottinger's estimate as to the amount 
 of loss was very near the truth; there were between twenty- 
 five and thirty killed, and some four times as many wounded, 
 more or less seriously. They of course claimed a victory, and 
 were highly satisfied with their own doings, but the opera- 
 tions only tended to show that neither party had any eager- 
 ness for real fighting. 
 
 On the 7th of February Pottinger said : " I have received 
 permission to go into the Persian camp to-morrow. Kamran 
 has given me a message on his part to the Persian king. It 
 is an appeal to him to retire. He says that when Khorassan 
 was in rebellion he refused the entreaties of its chief to aid 
 them, although at that time he could have raised ten thou- 
 sand horsemen, and might, with the rebels of Khorassan, have 
 marched to Teheran. He had sent one of his highest officers 
 to congratulate the Shah on his succession, and now the latter 
 is without provocation marching against him. He prays him 
 therefore to retire, to aid him with guns and men to recover 
 the dominions he has lost in Afghanistan, and if he be suc- 
 cessful he will hand over Herat to him. Yar Mahomed has 
 also given me a message to the Persian minister, just the 
 sort of message I should have expected from him. He de- 
 clares that he is devoted to the Shah and to him, but that he 
 is bound to stand by his master. That whatever might be his 
 own wish, the Afghans would never surrender the city, and
 
 48 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 that he dare not propose such a thing to them, but that he 
 shall ever remain the faithful servant of the Shah and of 
 the minister whom he regards as his father. I will take you 
 with me if you wish, but that must be a matter for your own 
 consideration." 
 
 " I should, of course, like to go," Angus said, " but I do not 
 know that it would be wise for me to do so. Mr. M'Neill 
 may be in the Persian camp. It is not probable that I should 
 be recognized, still there must be many officials there who 
 came frequently to see him at the embassy, and who would 
 know me. Should one of these declare that I was a member 
 of the mission, it might create a very bad impression against 
 M'Neill, as it would seem that he was in secret communica- 
 tion with Kamran." 
 
 " That is just what I was thinking," Pottinger said, " and 
 I must say that I agree with you. It certainly would be 
 awkward for him if it were known that one of his suite was 
 in Herat. Yes, I think it would be better that you should 
 not go. We shall certainly be the centre of curiosity while 
 we are in the camp, and there would be no possibility of pri- 
 vate communications between you and M'Neill. But should 
 I see him have you any message for him? I think we have 
 agreed that when this business is over it will be much better 
 for you to go with me back to India than to return to Tehe- 
 ran." 
 
 " Yes, I have quite settled that," Angus said. " With the 
 kind offer you have made to present me to your uncle I should 
 think that the prospect of my obtaining advancement there 
 is very much greater than it is in Persia, where I might be 
 left altogether in the lurch if M'Neill were recalled. I shall 
 be obliged, therefore, if you will tell him of my intention, 
 and thank him for me very heartily for his kindness. He 
 will, I am sure, approve of the step, for he has several times 
 told me that he was sorry he could see no chance of my ob-
 
 THE SIEGE OF HERAT 49 
 
 taining more than a clerkship at the mission, and advised me 
 on no account to think of remaining there if I could see my 
 way to doing better for myself." 
 
 " I will be sure to give M'Neill the message if I see him 
 but I don't expect to be long in the camp. I am charged 
 with such a ridiculous message that there is no likelihood of 
 any discussion taking place. The minister will, of course, 
 scoff at Yar Mahomed's declarations of respect for the Shah 
 and affection for himself, and the Shah, after taking the 
 trouble to collect an army and come here himself, is not 
 likely to retire at the request of Kamran. My real hope in 
 going is that I may find a British officer with the Persians. 
 There is almost certain to be one, as the Russians have, it 
 is said, several. Through him I may send messages to friends 
 at home and to my uncle in Scinde. They must all begin to 
 feel anxious about me." 
 
 Angus saw his companion ride out the next morning with 
 some anxiety as to his reception, but with no particular re- 
 gret that he did not accompany him. He had often been in 
 the encampments of the Persian troops before the army left 
 Teheran, and there would therefore be nothing new to him 
 in the scene. Pottinger as usual wore the dress of an Afghan 
 of some standing, and was accompanied only by one mounted 
 attendant and a runner to hold his horse. A small party of 
 Afghans rode with him for some distance beyond the walls, 
 and then, shouting good wishes for his return in safety, left 
 him. Angus continued to watch the men at their work for 
 two or three hours, and then took his place on the walls again 
 and watched for his comrade's return. It was not, however, 
 till the 10th that he came back to Herat. 
 
 On the previous day he was prevented from returning by 
 a violent storm which raged from morning till night, and 
 considerable anxiety was felt in the town. That he had gone 
 on a mission from Kamran was generally known, but none 
 
 (M 807) D
 
 60 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 save the Shah and his wuzeer were aware of its nature. Angus 
 was much alarmed, as he thought it too probable that his 
 friend had been shot by the Persian outposts as soon as he 
 arrived among them, for there was nothing to show that he 
 came as an envoy. He was therefore greatly relieved when 
 a native brought the news to him that the Englishman was 
 returning. As the news spread it caused great excitement. 
 When Pottinger rode in at the gate a great crowd had as- 
 sembled there, and all thronged round him asking for infor- 
 mation. He replied that they must enquire of the wuzeer, 
 who alone could deliver it. As he saw Angus in the crowd 
 he shouted to him, " As I expected, nothing has come of it ; 
 meet me at the house." 
 
 An hour later Pottinger arrived there. " I was getting very 
 anxious about you," Angus said, " and was beginning to fear 
 that you had been shot by the Persian outposts." 
 
 "I was a little uncomfortable myself, and I kept a good 
 look-out, as you may suppose. The roads led through those 
 ruined villages, and at any moment I might have a bullet 
 whizzing about my ears. Presently I saw some Persian sol- 
 diers running towards the road, and I told my man to take 
 off his turban and wave it to show that our intentions were 
 peaceable. When they perceived this they came straggling 
 up. I told them that I was an English officer, and the bearer 
 of messages to the Shah and his minister. They seemed de- 
 lighted, chiefly perhaps from the fact of my being an English- 
 man, but also because they hoped that I had come with an 
 offer of surrender. However, they shouted ' Welcome, wel- 
 come I the English were always friends of the Shah.' The 
 officer who commanded the picket turned out to be a major 
 who had served under Major Hart, and who knew all the 
 English officers who had of late years been in Persia. He 
 took me to the major-general commanding the attack, who 
 turned out to be a Russian in the Persian service command-
 
 THE SIEGE OF HERAT 51 
 
 ing a corps of Eussians men who had left their own country 
 for doubtless good reasons. At any rate, he received me cour- 
 teously. We had tea, and smoked a pipe together, and he 
 then sent me on with an escort to the Persian camp. 
 
 " The news that someone had come in from Herat to ar- 
 range terms for its submission having preceded me, almost 
 the whole camp came out to see me, and if my escort had 
 not used their iron ramrods most vigorously upon the heads 
 and shoulders of the crowd I should never have got through. 
 When I reached the minister's tent he received me gra- 
 ciously, but we did not enter into business; it was necessary 
 that the Shah should first decide whether he would receive 
 me. 
 
 " I had learned from the Russian general that Colonel 
 Stoddart was in camp. As it was known before I left India 
 that he would accompany the Persians I had letters for him, 
 and received permission to go to his tent to deliver them. His 
 astonishment at finding that I was a British officer was, as 
 you may imagine, great. However, I had but little time to 
 talk, for in a few minutes a message came that I was to go 
 back at once to the minister, or, as he is called there as well 
 as here, the wuzeer. Stoddart accompanied me. The Per- 
 sian asked me what were the messages that, as he had been 
 informed, Kamran and Yar Mahomed had sent to the Shah 
 and himself. I told him that I could only deliver Kamran's 
 message to the Shah, and that I thought his own message 
 had better be given him privately. 
 
 " The wuzeer, who is a bilious and excitable little man, 
 sent everyone out from the tent but Stoddart and myself, and 
 I then delivered the message. We had a long discussion. The 
 wuzeer declared that the English themselves had put down 
 Herat as forming part of the Persian dominions in the map 
 that Burnes had made. I said that I thought not. He pro- 
 duced the map to convince me, but to the little man's intense
 
 62 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 disgust he f ound that he was altogether wrong. He then ap- 
 pealed to Stoddart. The latter, as our military representa- 
 tive at the Shah's court, replied diplomatically that he had 
 no instructions on the subject, and would refer the case to 
 the envoy at Teheran. (M'Neill, by the by, has not yet 
 reached the camp.) Stoddart said that he was not aware that 
 the Persian government had annexed Herat, as its ruler had, 
 both with the British government and the late Shah, been 
 acknowledged as sovereign in Afghanistan; so, as I expected, 
 nothing came of the interview. We went back to Stoddart's 
 tent, and shortly afterwards were sent for by the Shah. He 
 received us with courtesy, and I delivered Kamran's message. 
 
 " The Shah replied, speaking with dignity and calmness, 
 and stating his complaints against Kamran, that he had per- 
 mitted his soldiers constantly to make incursions into Per- 
 sian dominions, robbing and slaying, and carrying off Persian 
 subjects to sell as slaves; then gradually warming up as he 
 recited a number of such forays and depredations, he de- 
 nounced Kamran as a treacherous liar, and said that he would 
 not rest satisfied until he had planted a Persian garrison in 
 the city of Herat. Of course there was nothing more to be 
 said. We were formally, though courteously, dismissed, and 
 I went back with Stoddart to his tent, where I remained till 
 this morning. I was by no means sorry that the tremendous 
 storm yesterday afforded an excuse for stopping, and I en- 
 joyed my day of quiet talk with Stoddart immensely. 
 
 "He thinks that if the Persians do but make an attack 
 with all their strength the town must be taken, in which I 
 entirely agree with him. He said, however, that, as the 
 slackness of their fire for some time past has shown, the Per- 
 sians are heartily sick of the business, and if the Shah had 
 some really good excuse for retiring he would gladly do so. 
 I said that the best excuse would be some strong action on 
 the part of our government. He replied that he had himself
 
 THE SIEGE OF HERAT 53 
 
 urged this upon M'Neill, and that the enVoy had already writ- 
 ten urgently home in that sense. Of course I told him of your 
 being there. He had already heard from M'Neill that he 
 had sent you here to encourage Kamran to hold out. He 
 asked a good deal about you, and quite agreed with me that 
 with your knowledge of languages and I told him that in the 
 three months during which you had been here you had already 
 learned enough Pushtoo to converse in it freely you would 
 be sure to get an appointment in India, as it was extremely 
 probable that an army would shortly be sent into Afghan- 
 istan to support Shah Soojah against Dost Mahomed, espe- 
 cially as the latter had received Vickovich, an aide-de-camp 
 to the governor of Orenburg, as an envoy at Cabul. 
 
 " Of course I had heard about the intention of supporting 
 Dost Mahomed before I started. I know that my uncle and 
 Mr. Burnes, who is our agent at Cabul, are both strongly 
 opposed to this. Dost Mahomed has always defeated Shah 
 Soojah, he is firmly established on his throne, and Burnes 
 believes that he is very well disposed towards us. However, 
 that is not our affair; but if there should be such an expedi- 
 tion it much increases your chance of obtaining an official 
 post. I took the opportunity to write to my uncle and to 
 send my report to the Indian government, and in both cases 
 I stated that I had received the most valuable assistance from 
 a young gentleman who was temporarily attached to the 
 mission at Teheran, and who, speaking as he did, Persian, 
 Pushtoo, and Arabic, would, I considered, be of great service 
 should any difficulties arise with Afghanistan. I said that 
 I had seized the opportunity of recommending you, as it 
 was possible that I myself might fall in the defence of 
 Herat." 
 
 "It was awfully kind of you, Pottinger, and I am ex- 
 tremely obliged to you." 
 
 "I felt that I was acting in the interest of the Indian
 
 54 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 government as well as of yourself. The siege may last for 
 another month yet, and by the end of that time you will be 
 able to pass as easily as an Afghan as you now can as a 
 Persian, and may be invaluable; for as we have as yet had 
 very little contact with Afghanistan there are not, I should 
 say, half a dozen officers in our service who can speak 
 Pushtoo probably not one who could do so well enough to 
 pass as a native. I myself knew but little of it when I 
 started, so my disguise was that of a Cutch horse-dealer, 
 and I passed through Afghanistan as a native of India. 
 Even now I do not speak Pushtoo as well as you do, having 
 devoted myself to Persian, while you have been working 
 at Afghan. For your sake I hope that the siege may last 
 for some time yet, as it may be a great advantage to you 
 when you apply for an official post to be able to say that you 
 can pass anywhere as a native." 
 
 CHAPTEE IV 
 
 A STURDY DEFENCE 
 
 POTTINGER'S belief that the Shah was anxious to bring 
 the war to a conclusion was confirmed by the arrival 
 of the major he had met when going into the Persian camp, 
 with instructions from the Russian general, endorsed by the 
 minister, to endeavour to persuade the Afghans to consent 
 to the terms offered by the Shah. It was better, he urged, 
 for them to settle their differences among themselves than 
 to employ mediation. He warned them that as the English 
 had come to India under the pretence of trading, and had 
 finally conquered the whole country, they should on no 
 account be trusted. He assured them that the Shah had
 
 A STUBDT DEFENCE 65 
 
 no desire to interfere in the internal administration of 
 Herat, the present movement was not an expedition against 
 Herat but against Hindostan, and that all true Moham- 
 medans should join the Shah's army, and that he would lead 
 them to the conquest and plunder of all India and Turkes- 
 tan. 
 
 Pottinger was sent for privately, and consulted by the 
 Kamran and the wuzeer as to what answer should be sent. 
 His advice was taken, and the next day the envoy returned 
 to his camp with vague assurances of regard, and the sug- 
 gestion that if the Persians were really inclined for peace, 
 the best proof that they could give of the sincerity of their 
 inclination would be the retirement of the besieging force. 
 There was much excitement in the city when the proposals 
 brought by the Persian officer became known, and many of 
 the older men began to argue that it did not matter much 
 whether Kamran was called prince or king, or whether the 
 supremacy of the Persian Shah was or was not acknowl- 
 edged in Herat, as long as no Persian garrison was placed 
 in the city. The wuzeer, however, remained firm. He de- 
 clared that he had no confidence in the Persians, that he 
 desired to be guided by the advice and be aided by the 
 mediation of the English, and that if the Shah would place 
 the conduct of negotiations in the hands of Colonel Stoddart, 
 he on his part would trust everything to Lieutenant Pot- 
 tinger, and would accept whatever was decided upon by the 
 two English officers. 
 
 " That was his own decision, and not mine," Pottinger 
 said, when he returned from an interview with the wuzeer. 
 " There is no doubt that, ruffian as he is in many respects, 
 he is a clever man. You see, he shifts all the responsibility 
 for the continuance of the war off his shoulders on to those 
 of the Persians, for their refusal to accept the decision of the 
 British officer in their camp will convince the Afghans that
 
 56 TO HERAT AND CABITL 
 
 the Persians will be satisfied with nothing but their de- 
 struction." 
 
 Two days later the Persian officer returned to Herat with 
 a letter stating that the Shah had no desire to possess 
 himself of the town, but only claimed that his sovereignty 
 should be acknowledged. The answer was the same as before. 
 Kamran was willing to do all that was required if the 
 Persian army would but retire. The negotiations were car- 
 ried on for a day or two longer, but though both parties 
 desired peace, the one would not surrender, the other would 
 not retire and acknowledge failure. Hostilities, therefore, 
 continued without intermission, and a fortnight later the 
 Persians gained possession of a fortified place three hundred 
 yards from the north-east angle of the wall. The Afghans 
 stationed there had made but a poor resistance, and upon 
 entering the town their faces were smeared with mud, and 
 they were sent through the city accompanied by a crier 
 who proclaimed their cowardice. 
 
 A month passed without any incident of importance, and 
 at the end of that time M'Neill arrived at the Persian 
 camp. Every effort had been made to hinder him on his 
 way from Teheran, and he was at first coldly received. A 
 week later he had an audience with the Shah, and stated to 
 him that the attack upon Herat was an obvious violation 
 of the treaty between Great Britain and Herat, and the 
 British government would therefore be justified in taking 
 active measures to enforce its terms. The Shah upon this 
 consented to accept the British mediation. 
 
 Three days later, however, the Persians made a serious 
 attack. Some new batteries opened against the ramparts 
 near the great mosque. Their fire was this time concentrated, 
 and the wall crumbled so rapidly that by the evening a 
 practicable breach had been made. The Afghans, however, 
 did not lose heart, declaring that they trusted to themselves,
 
 A STUEDY DEFENCE 57 
 
 and not to their walls, to defend the city. They had, indeed, 
 gained an advantage in the middle of the day. They blew 
 in a mine that had been carried almost up to the wall, and 
 taking advantage of the alarm caused by the explosion rushed 
 out and furiously attacked the besiegers, carrying the trenches 
 for some distance before a strong Persian force came up and 
 drove them back again. So heavy a fire was then opened 
 from the trenches on the musketeers on the walls, that these 
 were completely overpowered, and were unable to show a 
 head above the parapets. As evening came on the Persians 
 shouted that an English officer wished to enter the town, 
 but the wuzeer shouted back that no one would be allowed 
 to enter at that hour. The next day Major Todd, who was 
 attached to the embassy, entered the town. He was in full 
 regimentals, and his appearance excited the most lively ad- 
 miration of the populace. He announced that the Shah was 
 ready to accept the mediation of the British government. 
 He was received with the greatest courtesy by Shah Kamran, 
 who after the interview took a cloak from his own shoulders 
 and sent it by the wuzeer to Major Todd, who returned to 
 the Persian camp with the assurance of Kamran's desire to 
 accept the mediation of the British minister. 
 
 But though apparently both parties had at last arrived 
 at an understanding, that evening the aspect of affairs 
 became more warlike than ever. The Persian trenches were 
 filled with men, the bodies of horse and foot on the line 
 of investment were strengthened, and there were all ap- 
 pearances that an assault would be made that evening; and 
 the Afghan chiefs were called together and each had his post 
 assigned to him. But scarcely had they separated when Mr. 
 M'Neill himself arrived. He was conducted at once to 
 Kamran's palace, and the greater part of the night was 
 spent in discussion. It was nearly dawn when the minister 
 accompanied Pottinger to the latter's residence. As he had
 
 58 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 arranged when he arrived that he would sleep at Pottinger's, 
 a room had been prepared for him, Angus sat up for several 
 hours, but then feeling sure that the minister would at once 
 retire to bed on his return, had lain down. When he awoke 
 it was half-past six, and dressing hastily he went into the 
 sitting-room that he shared with Pottinger, and to his sur- 
 prise found Mr. M'Neill writing there. The minister greeted 
 him cordially. 
 
 " I heard all about you from Colonel Stoddart, and approve 
 highly of your remaining here to give Pottinger what aid 
 you can during the siege. I also think that you have done 
 very wisely in determining, as Pottinger told Stoddart you 
 had done, to go to India. I myself will write to the English 
 government saying what you have done, how intelligently you 
 carried on your work at the mission, and recommending you 
 for an appointment on the northern frontier either with the 
 army or the resident at Scinde, or perhaps better still, with 
 Mr. Burnes at Cabul." 
 
 At this moment Pottinger entered the room, and he was 
 as surprised as Angus had been at seeing the minister at 
 work after only a couple of hours in bed. There was another 
 meeting with Kamran, who placed himself entirely in the 
 hands of the British envoy, and said that he would gladly 
 consent to any terms agreed upon by him. At the conclusion of 
 the meeting Mr. M'Neill returned at once to the Persian camp. 
 
 To the disappointment of all, Major Todd rode in two 
 days later with the surprising news that the Shah had 
 entirely changed his attitude, and absolutely refused to 
 submit the dispute to British arbitration, and that unless 
 the whole people of Herat acknowledged themselves his sub- 
 jects, he would take possession of the city by force of 
 arms. This sudden change was the result of the arrival of 
 the Russian representative, Count Symonwich, on the morn- 
 ing of the day of M'Neill's visit to the city. The Russian
 
 A STUEDY DEFENCE 59 
 
 party at once became ascendant. He himself took the con- 
 duct of the operations of the siege, the officers with him 
 taught the Persian soldiers how to construct batteries, and 
 Russian money was freely distributed among them. Pot- 
 tinger's task of explaining to Kamran the news brought by 
 Major Todd was an unpleasant one; but the old man took 
 the news quietly, and said that he never expected anything 
 else, for the Persians had always been noted for their treach- 
 ery and want of faith. The news, however, caused great dis- 
 couragement in the town, and it was determined at a meet- 
 ing of the chiefs that they would send to the Russian am- 
 bassador and place themselves under the protection of his 
 master. Meeting after meeting was held, at all of which 
 Pottinger was present. Sometimes he was received and 
 listened to with respect, and other times he was treated with 
 marked discourtesy. 
 
 The influence of Mr. M'Neill at the Persian court de- 
 clined rapidly, while that of the Russians became supreme. 
 For some months past he had failed to obtain any satisfac- 
 tion for matters of serious complaint. As far back as 
 October a courier bearing despatches from Colonel Stoddart 
 to him at Teheran had been seized by a Russian officer, 
 stripped and imprisoned by the Persians, and his despatches 
 taken from him. The British resident in the Persian Gulf 
 had been grossly insulted by the governor of Bushire, and 
 the Persian government had continued to evade its obliga- 
 tions under the commercial treaty between the two nations. 
 So marked was the indignity with which M'Neill was now 
 treated in the Persian camp, that on the 7th of June he left 
 it with Colonel Stoddart and all his suite and attendants, a 
 step equivalent to a rupture of the relations between Great 
 Britain and Persia. 
 
 In the meantime the pressure of famine and sickness 
 became more and more intense in Herat. The city was alto-
 
 60 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 gether without drainage, and the stench from the bodies of 
 those who had died or been killed, and of the dead animals, 
 was dreadful. But although much depressed, the courage of 
 the Afghans still sustained them, and when on the 13th of 
 June the Persians surprised the outer works, they held the 
 connecting passage and defended it until assistance came, 
 when the garrison poured out, rushed down the slope, and 
 dislodged the assailants with much slaughter. Another at- 
 tempt on the same day at a fresh point was equally unsuccess- 
 ful, and the storming party were twice repulsed. Pottinger 
 was now armed with an authority that he had not before pos- 
 sessed, for he had been appointed by M'Neill British envoy 
 at Herat. The news of the departure of the embassy, and 
 Pottinger's assurances that this was a prelude to war be- 
 tween England and Persia, had but little effect. It was 
 certain that the city could not possibly hold out many weeks, 
 and it might be months before the arrival of a British fleet 
 and army could influence the Persians. 
 
 Happily, however, Lord Auckland, Governor-General of 
 India, had not waited for instructions from home, but at 
 the news of the investment of Herat, and the outrage upon 
 our resident in the Persian Gulf, had begun to take steps 
 early in the spring; and on the 4th of June two transports 
 and some vessels of war left Bombay harbour with detach- 
 ments of two British regiments and a marine battalion, and 
 on the 19th anchored off the island of Karrack in the Persian 
 Gulf. 
 
 Upon the 24th of June Herat went through the most 
 terrible experience of the siege. At daybreak a heavy fire 
 opened from the Persian batteries on all four sides of the 
 city. It ceased suddenly after a time. Pottinger, who 
 was at breakfast, exclaimed to Angus, as he leapt up from 
 his seat : " They are going to assault ; the batteries have 
 done their work. Quick, to the wall ! "
 
 A STURDY DEFENCE 61 
 
 Warning the soldiers they came upon as they ran, they 
 made their way to the wall. Just as they arrived there 
 another gun was fired, and at the signal the batteries on all 
 sides again hroke into life. A storm of rockets carried 
 dismay into the town, the mortars dropped their shells 
 into it, and most conclusive of all, a rattle of musketry broke 
 out, growing every moment in power. Against five points 
 was the assault directed. That on the gate of Candahar 
 was repulsed, and the enemy chased back to their trenches. 
 That upon the south-west angle was but a feint, and was 
 never pushed home against the western gate. The Russian 
 regiment under Sampson, and a strong force under a Persian 
 officer, pressed up to the breach; but the Persian was killed 
 and Sampson carried off wounded, and the troops fled after 
 suffering immense loss. The attack on the north-western 
 face was similarly repulsed, but the fifth contest was des- 
 perate. The storming party gained the fausse hraye. The 
 Afghans defending it fought desperately, and all fell at 
 their post. The storming party rushed up the slope. The 
 officers and leading men were mown down by a heavy musketry 
 fire, but after a fierce struggle the upper fausse braye was 
 carried, and some of the assailants gained the head of the 
 breach. 
 
 But now the Afghan reserves were brought up, and the 
 Persians on the breach were driven back. Again and again, 
 the Persians fighting this time with desperate courage, 
 struggled to effect a lodgment, only to be repulsed, and fell 
 back in confusion on their comrades behind. For a long 
 time the issue was doubtful ; a desperate hand-to-hand conflict 
 raged, the assailants and defenders swayed up and down the 
 breach, which was covered with corpses and slippery with blood. 
 
 Yar Mahomed arrived almost at the same time as Pot- 
 tinger and Angus, for these, before coming here, had seen 
 that all was going well at the other points attacked.
 
 62 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 They had observed as they came along men leaving the 
 breach by twos and threes under pretence of assisting 
 wounded comrades, and Pottinger saw to his dismay that 
 the men were losing heart. As they came to the breach 
 they found other soldiers coming up. The wuzeer was 
 sitting down close by. Pottinger ran up to him. "You 
 must encourage your men, wuzeer; go forward and join 
 them, or all will be lost." 
 
 The Afghan scarcely seemed to hear what he said. " You 
 must come," Pottinger repeated loudly ; " there is no time to 
 be lost." Then he turned to Angus : " Do what you can," he 
 said. "I must rouse the wuzeer; evidently his nerves have 
 suddenly given way." 
 
 Glad at last to be free to join in the struggle, Angus drew 
 his sword and ran down, thrusting back those who were 
 mounting, and pushed his way forward to the front, shouting 
 in Pushtoo: "Fight, men! fight for your faith, your wives, 
 and your children! Everything is going on well elsewhere. 
 Are you alone going to fail?" 
 
 The bearded Afghans, astonished at seeing this young 
 Englishman rushing forward in advance of them, followed 
 him, and again the Persians were beaten back. But although 
 the Afghans in front had been animated by the lad's example, 
 those behind were still dropping off. The wuzeer, aroused 
 by the vigorous exhortations of Pottinger, had risen up and 
 neared the breach. The Persians were renewing their attack, 
 and the wuzeer called upon his men to fight. The fugitives 
 paused irresolute. The wuzeer's heart failed him again, and 
 he turned back, his action still further discouraging the men. 
 Pottinger, in the most vehement language, exhorted him to 
 set an example. Again he turned and advanced, but again 
 shrank back. Pottinger now instead of entreating reviled 
 and threatened him, called him opprobrious names, and at 
 last, seizing him by his arm, dragged him forward to the
 
 A STURDY DEFENCE 63 
 
 breach. This astounding treatment maddened the Afghan. 
 He shouted to the soldiers to fight, and as they continued to 
 fall back, seized a large staff, and, rushing like a madman 
 upon the soldiers, drove them forward again with a shower 
 of heavy blows, while Pottinger sword in hand seconded him. 
 Cooped up as they were, and seeing no other outlet of escape, 
 many of them leapt wildly down over the parapet, rushed 
 down the slope, and fell upon the Persian stonners. Believ- 
 ing that great reinforcements must have arrived, these were 
 seized by a panic, abandoned their position, and fled. 
 
 Herat was saved entirely by the energy and courage of 
 the young English lieutenant. Pottinger's first question 
 was as to his companion. He had, while urging the wuzeer 
 to advance, caught sight of him fighting desperately in the 
 midst of the Persians, and he at once made his way down 
 to that spot. He was not long in discovering Angus, who 
 was lying insensible, bleeding from a number of sabre 
 wounds. Calling four Afghans, he ordered him to be carried 
 on to the wall. There he bandaged his wounds, and then had 
 him placed on a stretcher and carried to their lodging, taking 
 on himself to send an order to the wuzeer's own medical 
 attendant to go there at once and attend to his wounds. Then 
 he turned his attention to the wuzeer. The mind of the 
 minister had been almost unhinged by the terrible events, 
 and he was still wandering about in a confused and be- 
 wildered way. Several of the other chiefs were similarly 
 affected, and were unable for days afterwards to perform 
 their usual duties. 
 
 The soldiers themselves, instead of being excited over 
 their victory, were as gloomy and depressed as if they had 
 suffered a defeat. The peril had been so great, the city had 
 been so nearly lost, that there was a general feeling that 
 another such attack would be successful. Their confidence" 
 hitherto had rested upon the wuzeer, and on the conviction
 
 64 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 that their courage was infinitely greater than that of the 
 Persians, and they had found that the Persians could now 
 fight as well and stoutly as they themselves. They were 
 humiliated by knowing that it was to a young English officer 
 they owed it that the Persians had failed in their object, and 
 that another young Englishman, scarce more than a boy, had 
 led their best and bravest into the thick of the fray, and had 
 himself penetrated beyond them into the midst of the Per- 
 sians and had fallen there. None appreciate bravery more 
 than do the Afghans. It was not so much that Pottinger 
 had exposed himself recklessly to the shower of bullets with 
 which the Persians in their trenches swept the spot where 
 he was standing with the wuzeer, but that he should have 
 ventured to abuse, revile, and even forcibly drag their dreaded 
 leader forward astounded them. 
 
 All Herat felt that it was he who had saved the city, and 
 the fame of the deed spread through the country round, 
 and men when they came in sought him out and kissed 
 his .hand with enthusiasm. A deep gloom, however, hung 
 over the city. Even the work of repairing the damaged 
 fortifications was carried on apathetically. They had re- 
 pulsed the Persians, but it was felt that nothing but a 
 miracle could enable them to withstand another such 
 assault. Food was all but exhausted, the treasury was empty, 
 the inhabitants could not be fed, the soldiers could not 
 be paid. But an equal amount of depression was felt in 
 the Persian camp. Five assaults had all failed, and some 
 eighteen hundred of their best troops had fallen. The 
 loss of officers had been enormous; the Russian general, 
 Berowski, had been killed, and two of the principal Persian 
 generals. Another Russian general, Sampson, and two 
 pashas had been wounded, and almost all the field officers of 
 the regiments engaged in the attack were hors de combat. 
 
 Pottinger's position was a very painful one. The need
 
 A STURDY DEFENCE 65 
 
 for money to pay the troops was absolute, and the wuzeer, 
 when he had recovered from the effects of his scare, in- 
 stituted a reign of terror even more terrible than anything 
 the wretched inhabitants had ever before felt. The soldiers 
 went from house to house, and all suspected of possessing 
 money were seized and tortured. Even ladies of rank were 
 so treated, and the very inmates of Kamran's zenana were 
 threatened and had to contribute their jewels. Pottinger 
 felt that it was solely owing to his influence that the city 
 had so long held out, and as he went through the streets 
 starving men reproached him as the author of their suffer- 
 ings. He did all that he could, but that was little. Men 
 of all ranks came to him imploring his aid and protection. 
 Some he was able to save, but for others he could do nothing. 
 Never was a young soldier placed in so terrible a dilemma. 
 As a man he was agonized by the sufferings he saw round 
 him sufferings he could at once bring to an end by advising 
 the wuzeer to surrender: as a soldier and an Englishman, he 
 felt that it was his duty to hold out to the bitter end. 
 
 His position became still more difficult when, a fortnight 
 after the assault, the Persians again opened negotiations, 
 demanding, however, as a first step that he should be ex- 
 pelled from the city. Pottinger declared that no thought 
 of personal safety should persuade him to stand in the way 
 of any arrangement conducive to the safety of Herat and 
 the welfare of his country, and that if these could be gained 
 by his departure he would willingly leave the town. But 
 Yar Mahomed was undecided. He felt that the dismissal 
 of the man who had saved Herat would be a stain on his 
 character, and, moreover, that the Persians having obtained 
 his dismissal, would become still more exorbitant in their 
 demands. He had long expected the arrival of a relieving 
 force of Turkomans, and Pottinger was convinced that ere 
 long the intervention of England would compel the Persians 
 (M 807) H
 
 66 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 to fall back. The bombardment of the city had not been 
 renewed since the repulse of the attack, and the Persians 
 relied now solely upon famine to reduce it, and maintained 
 a strict blockade. 
 
 In order to mitigate the horrors he saw around him, Pot- 
 tinger undertook that all who voluntarily brought in their 
 money should be reimbursed at his recommendation by the 
 British government. This brought some money in, though 
 slowly, and July passed. Then a deserter from the Persian 
 camp brought in news that there was a report that a great 
 British army had landed in the Persian Gulf, had taken 
 Bushire, and was advancing. This report had fortunately 
 enormously magnified the strength of the British expedition, 
 and the news gave fresh life to the defenders of Herat. The 
 Persians again opened negotiations, waiving the question of 
 the expulsion of Pottinger, but the wuzeer was less inclined 
 than before to yield to the Persian demands. 
 
 M'Neill was on his way to the frontier when he was 
 informed of the arrival of the British expedition to the 
 Persian Gulf, and at the same time received instructions 
 from the Foreign Office in anticipation of the refusal of the 
 Shah to retire from before Herat. Fortified by these in- 
 structions, he despatched Colonel Stoddart to the Persian 
 camp with a message to the Shah. He arrived there on the 
 llth of August, and on the next day had an interview with 
 the Shah, who welcomed him with cordiality, and listened 
 to the message from the British government. 
 
 "It means, then," he said, "that if I do not leave Herat 
 there will be war ? " 
 
 " It all depends upon your Majesty's answer," Stoddart re- 
 plied. 
 
 Two days later Stoddart was again summoned to the 
 royal presence. " We consent," the Shah said, " to the whole 
 of the demands from the British government. We will not
 
 A STURDY DEFENCE 67 
 
 go to war. Were it not for the sake of their friendship, we 
 should not return from before Herat. Had we known that 
 by our coming here we should risk the loss of their friend- 
 ship, we certainly should not have come at all." 
 
 In reply, Colonel Stoddart said he thanked God that his 
 Majesty had taken so wise a view of the real interests of 
 Persia. But as he left the audience, he hinted to the 
 Persian minister that although the Shah's answer was very 
 satisfactory, it would be more satisfactory still to see it at 
 once reduced to practice. Although rumours reached the 
 city that the Persians were about to leave, it was not for 
 another week that the rumours became a certainty. An 
 effort was made to induce the wuzeer to make some con- 
 cessions that would give a better grace to the withdrawal of 
 the Shah. Some of the conditions suggested were refused 
 by Pottinger's advice; but on the 4th of September the 
 Persian prisoners in the town were sent into camp, and on 
 the 9th the Persian army began their march back to 
 Teheran. 
 
 It was time indeed that they did so, for they had but 
 three or four days' supply of forage remaining, and their 
 flour and grain were almost all exhausted. Their failure 
 to capture so weakly fortified a place was, in Pottinger's 
 opinion, due to the fact that there was no union of effort. 
 The commanders of the various sections of the army acted 
 independently, and except when, under the command of the 
 Russians, they made a simultaneous attack, they never acted 
 in concert with each other. It was his opinion that the 
 Shah might have carried the city by assault the very first 
 day that he reached Herat. He declared that the Persians 
 were equally as brave as and far better soldiers than the 
 Afghans, and that they had an ample supply of artillery to 
 capture a strong fortress if properly employed. 
 
 For a week after the struggle of the 24th of June Angus
 
 68 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 Campbell lay between life and death. He had lost a great 
 quantity of blood, and when first carried to his room his 
 Armenian friends believed him to be dead. Pottinger, who 
 had hurried back as soon as he saw that there was no 
 chance of a renewal of the assault, went to Kamran's and 
 obtained some spirits, and with the aid of these the action 
 of the heart, which had before been so slight that the pulse 
 could not be felt, was stimulated, and respiration grew 
 stronger. Kamran's doctor had already declared that none 
 of the wounds were in themselves dangerous, but that he 
 despaired of the patient recovering. Pottinger, however, 
 by no means despaired; he procured some fresh meat, and 
 ordered a servant to make the strongest broth possible, and 
 to pour a spoonful between the patient's lips every few 
 minutes. Angus was wrapped in warm blankets, and a 
 large bottle of hot water placed against his feet. The 
 wounds had already been carefully dressed and bandaged 
 by the surgeon, for although almost entirely ignorant as to 
 the use of drugs, Afghan doctors had abundant practice in 
 the treatment of wounds. 
 
 Pottinger remained two or three hours, and then, seeing 
 that Angus was breathing regularly though feebly, and that 
 the pulse could now be felt at the wrist, hurried off to see 
 that the work of repairing the breach had been taken in 
 hand, Kajar's wife undertaking to look after the patient. 
 For a week the issue of the struggle was doubtful; then the 
 improvement, although slow, was distinct, and day by day 
 some slight advance was made. The ladies of Kamran's 
 zenana were much interested in the young Englishman, and 
 frequently sent down presents of fruit and perfumes. Both 
 were welcome. The air of Herat was very unfavourable to 
 wounds, but a little scent sprinkled on a muslin curtain 
 drawn across the window to some extent neutralized the 
 terrible stenches of the town, and a handkerchief steeped
 
 A STURDY DEFENCE 69 
 
 in water to Which a little of the perfume had been added, 
 was laid lightly over the bandages. 
 
 In three weeks Angus was able to sit up for a time, and 
 a week later he walked across the room. His progress was 
 now more rapid, and by the end of July he was able to sit 
 a donkey as far as the city wall, where he could breathe a 
 purer air than that of the city, and by the end of August 
 he could walk freely about the town. But he was listless 
 and without energy. It was now certain that in a very 
 short time the Persians would draw off. 
 
 " You must be out of this as soon as you can, Angus," 
 Pottinger said to him one evening 1 . " What you want is 
 some mountain air. You will never get better as long 
 as you remain in this pestilential atmosphere. It is enough 
 to kill a healthy dog, and I only wonder that the whole 
 population has not been swept away. When M'Neill was 
 here, he told me that if our people interfered and Herat 
 was saved he should appoint me officially as the British 
 resident envoy. He said that he was sure the British 
 government would send money and do all that was possible 
 to alleviate the misery that has been suffered by the inhabit- 
 ants; and although I would infinitely rather have other 
 employment, it seems to me that it is clearly my duty to 
 stay here. It is largely owing to me that these poor people 
 have suffered for ten months the horrors of the siege, and 
 the least I can do is to help them now, for if I did not 
 you may be sure that any money sent by England would 
 simply remain in the coffers of Kamran and the wuzeer. It 
 is said, and I quite believe it, that a large proportion of the 
 money wrung by torture from these wretched people has been 
 retained by Yar Mahomed. It is therefore absolutely neces- 
 sary, if the people are to be fed, their houses rebuilt, and 
 matters tided over till trade recovers, that a British officer 
 be here to receive and superintend the distribution of British
 
 70 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 money. But the very day the gate is open you had better 
 be off. You speak Afghan now perfectly, and I am glad to 
 see that Azim has picked it up too. He is a capital fellow, 
 and has watched over you since you have been ill as if 
 you had been his father. The question is, do you feel 
 strong enough to travel through the mountains? If not, 
 there is nothing for it but for you to return to Teherau 
 and stay there till your strength is restored." 
 
 Angus shook his head. " I don't think that I could stand 
 the journey across the plains," he said, "nor that I should 
 pick up much at Teheran, while I believe that in the hills 
 I should soon get braced up. There is nothing really the 
 matter with me now, except that I feel lazy. If there had 
 been fighting going on, and there was something I must do, 
 I should soon shake it off; but what with the sight of the 
 misery of the people here, and the stinks, and the heat, I 
 feel myself that I am making no progress. I believe I shall 
 be a different man as soon as I am once out of this place 
 and on my way to the hills. It will soon be getting cold up 
 there, and in a fortnight I shall be fit for anything." 
 
 "I think you are right, Angus; I would give a good 
 deal myself for a few hours in the fresh mountain air. I 
 do think that you are strong enough to travel quietly. Of 
 course you will have to do so, as I did, in disguise; and 
 indeed this will be much more necessary now than it was 
 a year ago. It is well known that the chiefs at Candahar 
 have been long negotiating with Persia, and have offered 
 to place themselves under the Shah's protection, and that, 
 encouraged and pushed on by Russia, they have meditated 
 an invasion of India. The news of the failure here will no 
 doubt moderate their ardour, but from all that has been 
 learned from Afghans who have come into the town during 
 the siege, there is throughout the whole country a feeling 
 of deep excitement at the prospect of another Mohammedan
 
 A STUEDY DEFENCE 71 
 
 invasion of India, and a conviction that the whole country 
 would rise and join the Persians were they to advance to 
 Candahar. 
 
 " The Afghans consider that Eussian influence really 
 means Persian influence, whereas we know that it is just 
 the other way, and that Russia only uses Persia as her 
 cat's-paw. As for the Persians, we know now what they 
 are worth, and that a British division would be sufficient 
 to smash them up. But the Afghans don't know that. They 
 believe that Persia is the Persia of old, and that with her 
 aid they could assuredly drive the British out of India. 
 This being the state of feeling 1 , your chance of getting 
 through were it discovered that you were British would be 
 small indeed. You must pass as a Persian who, having long 
 traded with Herat, has learnt the Afghan language. It would 
 be a natural story that, finding that Herat is ruined, and 
 that there can be no trade between it and Persia for a long 
 time, you are travelling south with the intention of fixing 
 yourself at Candahar, and of trading between that town and 
 India on the one side and Persia on the other. You can ac- 
 count for your not having merchandise with you by saying 
 that owing to the presence of the Persian army, and marau- 
 ders from Herat, and the general disturbance of the country, 
 it would not have been safe to travel with merchandise." 
 
 "I will certainly carry out your plan," Angus said. "I 
 don't think there will be any difficulty in getting through. 
 But I do wish that you were coming with me." 
 
 " I hope it will not be very long before I follow you, 
 for I think there will be some stirring work there soon." 
 
 Angus was well provided with money. He had received 
 from Mr. M'Neill a sum that would not only cover all the 
 expenses of his journey to Herat, but would enable him 
 either to return to Teheran or proceed to India, as circum- 
 stances might determine. In addition to this, he had received
 
 72 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 a year's salary in recognition of the risk he incurred. He 
 had this sum still in his possession. The money he had 
 brought from Tabriz he had left at the embassy, Mr. M'Neill 
 promising to send an order for the amount should he write 
 for it from India. 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 IN CANDAHAR 
 
 ON the 15th of September Angus started, after a tearful 
 farewell from his Armenian friends. Their gratitude 
 to him and Pottinger was unbounded. The presence and 
 influence of their two English guests had preserved them 
 from the rapacity and cruelty of the wuzeer, while all other 
 merchants and traders in the town had been maltreated and 
 robbed, and in many cases had died under the tortures 
 inflicted to wring from them treasures it was believed they 
 possessed. Kajar and his brother and their families alone 
 enjoyed an immunity from persecution. Both had de- 
 termined that they would leave Herat, and taking with them 
 their workmen, establish themselves at Teheran or Tabriz, 
 where the profit of their work might be less, but they would 
 at least be able to enjoy it in security, such as could never be 
 hoped for as long as Yar Mahomed was the virtual ruler of 
 Herat. 
 
 The period that had elapsed since Angus left Teheran had 
 changed him much. He was no longer a boy, for he had 
 been doing man's work. He was now nearly eighteen years 
 old, and had attained his full height of nearly six feet. His 
 illness had pulled him down much, and sharpened his features, 
 and except for his lighter colour, he really more closely 
 resembled an Afghan than the Persian trader he was dressed
 
 IN CANDAHAB 73 
 
 to represent. The pallor caused by his illness had been suc- 
 ceeded by a deep tan, caused by his passing so many hours 
 daily in the sun during his convalescence. 
 
 " I am glad to be out of Herat," Azim said, as he looked 
 back at the walls. 
 
 " So am I, Azim. I thought at one time that I was never 
 coming out at all." 
 
 "It is a very bad place, master. In Persia the governors 
 squeeze the people a bit, and sometimes there is much 
 grumbling, but the worst of them are very much better 
 than Yar Mahomed, who is a son of Sheitan, whom may 
 Allah confound." 
 
 " He is a scoundrel," Angus agreed heartily. " I wonder 
 myself that the people of Herat have not long since risen 
 and torn him to pieces. I know that if I had been a merchant 
 there I should have tried to stir them up to do it." 
 
 Azim shook his head. " They cannot trust each other, 
 effendi. There are many who would like to do as you have 
 said, but there are many who cannot trust their own neigh- 
 bours." 
 
 "Then I would do it myself. Look how many old men 
 were tortured to death; some of them must have had sons. 
 Had my father been so tortured I would have lain in wait 
 for the wuzeer day after day in some empty house there 
 are plenty of them in one of the streets by which he usually 
 went from his palace to the walls and as he rode past I 
 would have put a bullet in his head. I would then have 
 escaped from the back of the house if possible. No one 
 would have seen who had fired the shot, and I should have 
 been safe if once away. If I were overtaken I would put a 
 pistol to my head, so as to avoid being tortured to death. 
 I cannot understand thirty or forty thousand people con- 
 tinuing to support the rule of a tyrant, when one bold man 
 could put an end to it."
 
 74 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 Once on his way Angus felt new life in his veins, and in 
 a week he had entirely shaken off the feeling of lassitude 
 that had oppressed him in the poisoned air of Herat, and 
 felt equal to any ordinary exertion. As he had expected, 
 he met with no difficulties whatever on his way, for on the 
 road between Herat and Candahar the Afghans were ac- 
 customed to see Persian traders passing, and no suspicion 
 whatever was felt that Angus and his attendant were other 
 than they represented themselves to be. The journey was 
 a long one, but Angus did not hurry. It was pleasant to him, 
 after being for a year cooped up in the besieged city, to 
 travel quietly in the fresh mountain air. The scenery was 
 all new to him, and though Azim felt the cold a good deal, 
 Angus enjoyed it immensely. He made short stages, and 
 never exceeded twenty miles a day, and often, when he 
 arrived at a village which offered fair accommodation, he 
 was content to stay when only fourteen or fifteen had been 
 traversed. As this was the great high-road of trade there 
 were khans in almost every village, and there was no diffi- 
 culty in purchasing the necessaries of life. Everywhere the 
 talk was of war. 
 
 Once beyond the territory over which Shah Mahomed 
 ruled, the news that the Persians had failed to take Herat 
 and had retired had excited regret. It had been regarded 
 as certain that the place would fall, and all had anticipated 
 the march of a Persian and Russian army to Candahar, to 
 be followed by a grand invasion of India. The mountain- 
 eers had felt sure that the army would gladly pay whatever 
 was demanded for permission to pass unmolested; that they 
 would be ready to pay high prices for provisions and the 
 hire of transport animals, so that they would enrich them- 
 selves in the first place, and then have a chance of sharing 
 in the plunder of India, and the destruction of the infidels. 
 Angus was appealed to by all with whom he conversed to
 
 IN CANDAHAR 75 
 
 explain how it was that the Shah with his great army had 
 failed to take Herat. He was eagerly questioned, too, with 
 regard to Kussia, a country of which they had heard many 
 strange rumours. Were they very strong ? were they really in 
 alliance with Persia? were they infidels? if so, how was it 
 that the Shah was friendly with them? 
 
 To the first of these questions Angus could only reply 
 that, not having been in the Persian camp, he was unable 
 to give them information. There were certainly Russian 
 generals and officers leading the Persians at the siege of 
 Herat. They were infidels, and neighbours of the Persians. 
 For himself, he thought that while no doubt the Shah wished 
 to be at peace with such powerful neighbours, he would be 
 wise not to trust them very far. He could not really wish 
 for them to become more powerful, and if they aided him, 
 it could only be for their own objects. As a peaceful man he 
 himself only desired to trade, and left these matters to 
 wiser heads. But at the same time he knew that Russia 
 was constantly extending its dominions at the expense of 
 its neighbours; and that, as it was a Christian country, it 
 certainly could not be thinking of invading India for the 
 benefit of the Mohammedans of that country, or those of 
 Afghanistan certainly not those of Persia. Whatever the 
 Shah and the military officers might think, the trading classes 
 were uneasy at the influence that Russia was gaining, and 
 apprehensive of the growing power and proximity of a 
 neighbour possessed of such immense forces, and of ambitious 
 views. 
 
 Two months after leaving Herat Angus entered Candahar. 
 The journey had been wholly without any incident of im- 
 portance. The appearance of Candahar somewhat resembled 
 that of Herat. Situated in a fertile plain, with a range of 
 craggy hills at no great distance, and surrounded by a wall, 
 it was incapable of offering any prolonged resistance to the
 
 76 TO HERAT AND CABTJL 
 
 attack of a European force provided with siege artillery. 
 The town was a comparatively modern one, being founded 
 in 1754 on the site of an ancient city. It was built on a 
 regular plan, the streets all crossing each other at right 
 angles. Like Herat, it had four principal streets meeting in 
 the centre, each of these 150 feet wide, and lined with shops. 
 Streams of water ran down almost every street. 
 
 The town made a very favourable impression on Angus 
 after the ruin and dirt of Herat. As a Persian he felt at 
 home here, for Persian inscriptions and names met his eye 
 everywhere, as throughout Afghanistan the whole of the 
 trade is carried on by Persians or by natives of India, the 
 Afghans themselves deeming the profession of arms the only 
 one honourable. The upper classes among them all habitually 
 spoke Persian; which language was generally employed in 
 writing and in all official communications. Anglos put up 
 at a khan which he learned was frequented by traders passing 
 through the city, and soon made the acquaintance of several 
 merchants lodging there. From them he learned much more 
 of the state of affairs than he had gathered in the Afghan 
 villages he had passed through on the journey. The English 
 were, it was said, gathering a great army in Scinde with 
 the intention of placing Shah Soojah on the throne of Afghan- 
 istan instead of Dost Mahomed. 
 
 Of all the blunders that have been committed from the 
 time of our first arrival in India, none is comparable, in 
 point of injustice, hopeless blundering, or misfortune, to 
 the policy thus inaugurated in Afghanistan. Shah Soojah 
 was the head of the Dooranee tribe, and had been over- 
 thrown by the Barukzyes, who had gradually attained a 
 power which the Dooranee monarch was unable to withstand. 
 The four princes of that tribe divided the kingdom between 
 themselves, and after waging many wars against each other 
 Dost Mahomed, the youngest of the four brothers, became
 
 IN OANDAHAB 77 
 
 ruler of Cabul. During these wars Peshawur had been cap- 
 tured by the great Sikh ruler, Runjeet Sing. In 1834 Shah 
 Soojah made an effort to recover his kingdom, but was de- 
 feated, and again became a fugitive in British India. 
 
 Dost Mahomed, alarmed at the preparations made by the 
 Sikhs for still further dismembering his country, and by 
 the fact that his two brothers, who were Lords of Candahar, 
 might at any moment take advantage of his troubles with 
 the Sikhs to throw off his authority altogether, was anxious 
 to enter into an alliance with the British, all the more so as 
 he had learned of the ever-increasing influence of Russia in 
 Persia. Lord Auckland sent Captain Burnes to Cabul; 
 nominally his purpose was to arrange for a larger commercial 
 intercourse between the two countries. He was received 
 with great honour in Cabul, but he had come altogether un- 
 provided with the customary presents, and Dost Mahomed 
 reasonably felt this as a studied slight. Nevertheless he 
 exerted himself to the utmost to obtain the alliance of the 
 British. But Burnes had no authority whatever to treat 
 with him, and could give him no assurances that aid would 
 be forthcoming if, on the fall of Herat, which was con- 
 sidered certain, the Persians and Russians, aided by the 
 Candahar chiefs, who were known to be in correspondence 
 with them, were to invade his territory. Nor could he obtain 
 any promise that the British would use their influence with 
 Runjeet Sing to restore Peshawur. 
 
 Burnes saw how sincere was the desire of the Ameer for 
 a close friendship with England, and wrote strongly to Lord 
 Auckland in favour of an alliance with him. He pointed 
 out that Dost Mahomed was firmly seated at Cabul, where 
 he had reigned for ten years, that Shah Soojah had no 
 adherents, and even if placed on the throne could not main- 
 tain himself there. Colonel Pottinger, the resident in 
 Scinde, also gave the same advice, but Lord Auckland paid
 
 78 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 no attention whatever to their representations. A weak man, 
 he was guided chiefly by Mr. MacNaghten, his secretary, 
 a comparatively young man, with great ambition and an un- 
 bounded belief in himself, but, as events proved, with few of 
 the qualities required in a man placed in a highly responsible 
 and difficult position in India. Burnes was instructed to 
 insist upon the Ameer's binding himself to make no alliances 
 whatever without the consent of England, and at the same 
 time he was to refuse to give any pledges in return for such 
 a concession. 
 
 A more preposterous demand was never made upon an 
 independent sovereign. For a long time the Ameer strove 
 in vain to obtain some sort of conditions, and at length, 
 finding this hopeless, he threw himself into the arms of the 
 Russian agent, whom he had hitherto treated with great 
 coldness. Burnes's position became intolerable, and he was 
 recalled; and Lord Auckland at once prepared to place 
 Shah Soojah on the throne by force. Runjeet Sing was 
 asked to join in the undertaking, and at a great durbar 
 held in the Punjaub, the conditions were arranged, under 
 which Shah Soojah was to pay a large amount to Runjeet 
 as well as to the British for the aid they were to give him. 
 As if it was not enough to have united all Afghanistan 
 against us, the people of Scinde, who had hitherto been on 
 good terms with us, were treated as if they were enemies. 
 They were ordered to furnish provisions and carriage for the 
 army, and to pay large sums of money, although they had, 
 by the terms of a treaty with us, been guaranteed against 
 any claim whatever for money or services. It would seem, 
 indeed, that Lord Auckland and Mr. MacNaghten had 
 neglected no step whatever that could ensure the failure of 
 their enterprise. When, after the war, the papers relating 
 to the policy that had occasioned it were published in the 
 form of a blue-book, it is significant that the passages in the
 
 IN CANDAAB 79 
 
 letters of Burnes and Pottinger remonstrating against the 
 course proposed by Lord Auckland were suppressed, dis- 
 honesty being thus added to the terrible blunders of the 
 weakest and most obstinate of the governor-generals of India 
 blunders that caused not only the utter destruction of a 
 British army, but led to an almost equally unjust war for 
 the conquest of Scinde. 
 
 As far as Angus could learn the Candahar princes were 
 making no preparations whatever to take part in the war. 
 The general idea was that they would gladly see Dost 
 Mahomed overthrown and Shah Soojah placed on the throne, 
 feeling certain that the latter would not be able to retain 
 his position, and that they would have a far better chance of 
 becoming masters of the whole of Afghanistan then than 
 they could have so long" as their brother remained on the 
 throne. Three days after his arrival an officer from the 
 palace called upon Angus and requested him to accompany 
 him there, as the princes wished to question him as to the 
 reasons for the Persians retiring from before Herat. On 
 arriving at the palace he was shown into a small chamber, 
 where Kihur-el-Khan, with two of his brothers, was sitting. 
 
 " I have heard that you have arrived here, and that you 
 passed by Herat just as your Shah had left with his army." 
 
 " That is so, Prince," Angus said, bowing deeply. 
 
 "You have come hither for purposes of trade? From 
 what city do you come ? " 
 
 "From Tabriz. I represent one of the largest merchants 
 there." And he mentioned the name of a well-known trader. 
 " When I left it was considered certain that Herat would 
 speedily be captured, and that the Shah would move forward 
 here, having, it was said, entered into an alliance with you. 
 ' Therefore,' my patron said to me, ' go you to Candahar. 
 Doubtless, in future, trade with Northern India will go by 
 that route instead of by sea, and Candahar will be a mighty
 
 80 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 centre of trade. Therefore go and see for yourself what are 
 the prospects, and the price at which goods can be carried 
 from the present frontier to that city and thence into Scinde. 
 Find out for me whether there are any hindrances to trade 
 along the road, what are the charges for permission to travel 
 through the passes held by various tribes, and the disposition 
 of the people towards traders.' " 
 
 " How was it that you did not turn back when you found 
 that your army was retiring without having captured Herat ? " 
 
 " I thought it best still to go on as I had come so far," 
 Angus replied. " The Shah, it is true, was retiring, but he 
 might return in the spring; and I could not doubt that with 
 your powerful friendship he would the next time succeed, 
 and the information that I should gain would enable my 
 patron to send off without delay a large caravan of merchan- 
 dise if he found it expedient to do so." 
 
 " Were you in the Persian camp ? " 
 
 "No, your highness. An army when it is retiring is 
 best avoided by peaceful men. When all goes well the 
 camp officers see that traders are not meddled with by the 
 soldiers, but when things are not going favourably and 
 there is discontent in camp, discipline is relaxed, and it is 
 useless for those who are robbed or maltreated to make 
 complaints." 
 
 " That is no doubt true, but doubtless you heard a good 
 deal from those who have been in the camp. How did men 
 say it was that they failed to capture Herat, which is but a 
 weak town ? " 
 
 " Some say one thing and some another, your highness. 
 Some declare that had it not been for a British officer who 
 happened to be there the place would have fallen in a very 
 short time. Others say that it could have been taken easily 
 had all the Persian generals been of one mind, but that
 
 IN CANDAHAB 81 
 
 each acted for himself, and that only once did all attack at 
 the same time." 
 
 The Prince nodded. He had seen very many times the 
 evil of divided counsels, and knew how necessary it was 
 that there should be a strong leader who could make him- 
 self obeyed by all. ' 
 
 " And what do people say about the Russians ? We know 
 that they had officers there. We hear that they are a great 
 people, and are good friends with Persians." 
 
 " Opinions are divided, Prince. There are those who be- 
 lieve that their friendship will indeed be a great advantage 
 to Persia. There are others, especially among the trading 
 class, who think otherwise, and believe that Russia is too 
 strong to be a real friend, and that it would be far better 
 to maintain a close alliance with England, which would sup- 
 port them against Russia, and which lies so far away across 
 the seas that it could gain nothing by meddling in her affairs 
 or taking her territory." 
 
 " But it is reported that it is the English who have now 
 interfered and have saved Herat, and are sending a fleet and 
 an army to compel Persia to desist." 
 
 " That is what was reported and generally believed, Prince, 
 but I cannot say how truly; I merely heard the common 
 talk on the way." 
 
 " But why should England have interfered ? What does 
 it matter to them whether Herat belongs to Persia or to the 
 Suddozye, Prince Kamran." 
 
 " According to the opinion of the traders in Tabriz, Eng- 
 land would not have cared at all had Persia been strong and 
 been fighting only for the conquest of Herat, but it was 
 known that England regards with great jealousy the ap- 
 proach of Russia to India, and considers that as Persia was 
 certainly acting under the influence of Russia, it was the 
 
 (M807) F
 
 82 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 latter who would be the real masters of Herat, and not the 
 Persians. Then, too, it was said though we know that 
 rumour often lies that Russia and Persia had many friends 
 in Afghanistan, and that the conquest of Herat would only 
 be the first step to further advances south." 
 
 Kihur-el-Khan frowned. Such an undertaking had cer- 
 tainly been made by him and his brothers, but the retreat 
 of the Persians from Herat at the dictation of the English, 
 and the fact that the latter were now gathering an army 
 with the avowed purpose of placing Shah Soojah on the 
 throne of Afghanistan, gravely altered the position. They 
 had no love for their brother, and had a British force ad- 
 vanced through the Khyber passes to Cabul, and placed Shah 
 Soojah on the throne, they would certainly have rendered no 
 assistance to Dost Mahomed, for they felt sure that Soojah 
 would not be able to maintain himself, and saw that there 
 was a good chance that in the confusion which would prevail, 
 they themselves might obtain the mastery of Cabul. But 
 as the English army was evidently intending to advance 
 through the Bolan Pass, it would probably in the first place 
 march on Candahar, and they themselves would, in conse- 
 quence of their intrigues with Persia and Russia, be regarded 
 as enemies. He was therefore silent for a minute or two, 
 and then said: "If the Shah has retired because he is afraid 
 of the English, he will not venture to send another army to 
 aid us against them." 
 
 " I do not think that he could do so. His army suffered 
 very heavily." 
 
 " I hear that you speak the language of our country. How 
 is that ? " the Afghan asked suddenly. 
 
 " I do not speak it well, your highness," replied Angus, 
 who had thought is possible that this question might be asked 
 him. "Having known for some time that I should make 
 this journey hither, I studied for a time with a slave who
 
 IN CANDAHAB 83 
 
 had been bought by a merchant of my employer's acquaint- 
 ance, who had himself bought him from the Turkomans in 
 a journey that he made in their country. But I speak it 
 only well enough to make my way through the country, and 
 to obtain such necessaries as may be required on the journey, 
 and to converse in some fashion with such travellers as I 
 might meet on the road or in the khans." 
 
 "It was reported to me that you spoke so that all could 
 understand you," he said. " It was this that seemed strange 
 to me that you, a Persian, should speak Pushtoo. I will 
 speak to you further another day." 
 
 As Angus returned to the khan, he felt that he was an 
 object of suspicion. Up to the point when the Prince had 
 sharply and suddenly asked how he came to speak Pushtoo, 
 his bland manner had led him to believe that he had been 
 simply desirous of obtaining the last news from the frontier. 
 But this showed him unmistakably that the Prince had 
 learned something which had excited his suspicions that he 
 was there either as an emissary from Kamran, or of Russia 
 or Persia, desirous of ascertaining the position of affairs at 
 Candahar, the forces at the disposal of the princes, and the 
 feeling among the people in general with reference to a 
 protectorate, or occupation by one or other of those powers. 
 Angus knew the naturally suspicious character of Eastern 
 princes. In Persia no one ever ventured to discuss any public 
 affairs openly. In Herat, hated as Kamran and Yar Ma- 
 homed were, no one dared breathe a word of aught but 
 adulation, for the slightest suspicion of disloyalty sufficed 
 to bring about the ruin and death of the unfortunate man 
 on whom it fell. 
 
 The last words of the Prince were in fact a sentence of 
 imprisonment to the city for an indefinite time. The Prince 
 might not send for him again for months. But the mere 
 intimation that he would do so was sufficient. He could not
 
 84 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 continue his journey without running the risk of being 
 pursued and brought back again, in which case he might 
 first be tortured to extract any secret he might possess, and 
 then be put to death. He might, for aught he knew, be 
 already spied upon, and everything that he said or did 
 reported. Consequently, when he reached the khan, he took 
 care to evince no appearance of thoughtfulness or uneasi- 
 ness, but chatted with the traders there upon commercial 
 matters, respecting the advantages of Cabul and Candahar as 
 trading centres, the amount of the taxes laid upon goods in 
 the two cities, and other topics that would naturally be of 
 interest to a merchant intending to establish himself in 
 Afghanistan. 
 
 He was under no uneasiness as to Azim. He had instructed 
 him carefully in the account he should give of himself, the 
 city from which he came, the merchants whose agent he was, 
 the route he had followed, and other similar matters, so 
 that their stories should correspond in all respects. When 
 all had lain down for the night, Angus was able to think over 
 quietly what was to be done. As to remaining where he 
 was, it was clearly out of the question. For aught he knew, 
 the British force said to be gathering to advance on Cabul 
 might be months before it was put in motion, or the expedi- 
 tion might be abandoned altogether. Even if the advance 
 was made, it might not pass through Candahar, and he might 
 be detained in that city for an indefinite time. It was evi- 
 dent, therefore, that he must somehow escape. The question 
 was how this could be managed. What disguise could he 
 adopt, and how could he evade the vigilance of those who 
 were watching him? The matter was rendered all the more 
 difficult by the fact that there were practically but two roads 
 open to him, that through the Kojak Pass to Quettah, and 
 that to the north-east through Kelat-i-Ghilzye and Ghuznee 
 to Cabul. If he moved off either of these regular lines of
 
 IN CANDAHAB 85 
 
 traffic he would be unable to give any reason for his diver- 
 gence, and in any case would be subject to plunder. Even 
 on these roads it was only as a travelling merchant he would 
 be respected, and as a travelling merchant he would be 
 quickly overtaken by the Prince's followers. 
 
 Think as he would, no plan occurred to him, and he at 
 last went to sleep determining to consult Azim, in whose 
 sharpness he had much faith. In the morning, accordingly, 
 as soon as he was up, he sauntered across the yard to where 
 the boy was watching the horses feed, and preventing other 
 less fortunate animals from robbing them. 
 
 "Azim," he said, "the Princes have their suspicions of 
 me, and have as much as ordered me not to leave the town; 
 try and think over some manner in which we may get away, 
 and if overtaken may not be recognized. I do not wish to 
 talk with you now, because for aught we know a spy may be 
 at present watching us, but at mid-day I will come out and 
 speak to you again. In the meantime think it over. Now, 
 when the horses have done feeding, take your basket, go 
 into the bazaar, and buy food for our dinner, so that any- 
 one who may be watching us may suppose that I have merely 
 been giving you orders what to purchase." 
 
 He then went out into the town, and spent the morning 
 looking into the shops, and asking questions as to the prices 
 of the goods, so that he might appear to be ascertaining 
 what profits would be made. He also went to several shops 
 which happened to be untenanted, asked the rent, and made 
 enquiries about the accommodation. At dinner-time he went 
 over to where Azim was squatting, attending to two earth- 
 enware pots that were simmering over a small charcoal fire, 
 which he was fanning to keep it going. 
 
 " I can think of nothing, master." 
 
 " Then to-night, Azim, after everyone is asleep, get up 
 quietly and go round to the ba.ck of the khan. I will join
 
 86 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 you there, and we will talk it over together. Do not be sur- 
 prised if I keep you waiting some time. Some of these 
 people may sit up late talking. I cannot move till all are 
 asleep. It is quite possible that someone who is lodging 
 at the khan may be watching us." 
 
 It was indeed late before the talk ceased and all lay down 
 to sleep. Angus waited for another hour and then got up 
 quietly and went out. Two minutes later he joined Azim. 
 
 " Well, lad, have you thought of any plan yet ? " 
 
 " Nothing, master ; unless we leave our animals and goods 
 behind us." 
 
 " That we could do," Angus said. " I can get rid of the 
 goods to-morrow. Why leave the animals?' 
 
 "Because, sir, they will be looking for a man with a fair 
 complexion, and a boy, mounted on horses." 
 
 " That is so ; but if we left the horses behind us and 
 walked it would be just as bad." 
 
 " I did not think of walking, master. I thought that per- 
 haps you might buy a camel and go on that." 
 
 " That would be better certainly, Azim. We might both 
 darken our faces, and in my Afghan dress might make our 
 way easily enough, if it were not that we should be hotly 
 pursued, and then a man and boy, however they were dressed, 
 or however they were travelling, would be sure to be closely 
 examined. I have it ! " he said after a pause. " You might 
 go as a woman; well wrapped up, little more than your eyes 
 would be seen. You might ride on the camel, and I might 
 lead it. In that way we might pass as natives of some village 
 among the hills. The first difficulty, however, is how to buy 
 a camel. I have my Afghan dress, and, if I were sure that 
 I was not watched, could get to some quiet spot, change my 
 Persian dress for it, and go boldly into a shop and buy a 
 woman's clothes for you; I could then go down into the 
 quarter where the tribesmen encamp and buy a camel. But
 
 IN OANDAHAB 87 
 
 if I were caught doing so, it would be almost proof positive 
 that I was going to try to leave the city, and in that case 
 I should no doubt be arrested and thrown into prison at 
 once." 
 
 "We might steal one," Azim suggested. "There are 
 many always grazing outside the wall while their masters 
 are here doing their business." 
 
 u Yes, but they have not saddles. However, I will think it 
 over, Azim. Your idea about having a camel has certainly 
 shown me a way in which we can get away if it is managed 
 well, and I ought to be able to find some plan by which we 
 can carry it out. It is of no use talking any longer over it, 
 there is no hurry for a day or two; and the longer I appear 
 to be really engaged in looking for a place of business, the 
 more careless the watch may become." 
 
 Angus did not go to sleep that night, but thinking the 
 situation over in every way decided that the first step to be 
 taken was to ascertain for certain whether they were watched. 
 If they were not, the matter would be comparatively easy, 
 but if his every movement were followed, he could see no 
 way out of the difficulty. When he paid his usual visit to 
 Azim in the morning, he said : " I want to find out if I am 
 followed. I will walk straight along this street towards the 
 southern gate. When I get to the last turning to the left, 
 I will turn up it; then I shall be out of the crowd. Do you 
 keep a good long way behind me. I shall go on for some dis- 
 tance, and then mount the wall and walk along there, looking 
 over the country. I want you to observe if any man follows 
 me. You must be so far off that even if he looks round he 
 will not recognize you. I don't want you to find out this 
 time who he is, we can do that later on ; I only want to know 
 if I am followed. Each time I turn a corner he is likely to 
 look round before he turns, eo when you see him getting" near 
 a corner that I have turned, hide yourself if you can."
 
 88 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 " I understand, master." 
 
 Accordingly, when half an hour later Angus came out, 
 the lad waited for a time, and then followed him. His master 
 was out of sight, and Azim walked quickly till he saw him 
 looking as usual into one of the shops, and then dropped 
 behind again and followed slowly until Angus turned off the 
 street that he had named. Azim walked still more slowly, 
 and on reaching the corner saw him a considerable distance 
 ahead. There were but a few people about, for beyond the 
 four principal streets were many large open spaces dotted 
 here and there with ruined walls of houses that had stood 
 there at the time when the city was far more populous than it 
 was at present. Angus was walking at a steady pace, as if 
 he had some definite object in view, and of the various people 
 in sight only one, who was about half way between him and 
 Azim, was walking at anything like the same rate. A hun- 
 dred yards farther Angus turned to the right. Azim kept 
 on until he saw the man he was watching was close to that 
 point; he then stepped aside into an empty piece of ground 
 between two houses. Half a minute later he looked out; the 
 man was no longer visible. He walked on fast until he 
 reached the corner, and saw the man again turn off after 
 Angus. They were near the wall now, and the boy went 
 forward with greater caution than before. When he got to 
 . where he had last seen his master, he caught sight of him 
 on the wall some fifty yards away. The man who had been 
 following him had stopped at a low wall, and over it was 
 watching Angus furtively. That settled the point, and Azim 
 at once returned to the khan. It was an hour later before 
 Angus came in. He did not pay any attention to Azim, but 
 went in and engaged in talk as usual with some of the occu- 
 pants. It was an hour before he came out to the yard. 
 
 "Well, lad?" he asked. 
 
 " You were watched, master. A man followed you ail the
 
 AN ESCAPE 89 
 
 way, and hid behind a wall to watch you when you went on 
 the wall. I thought at the time that I might have crept up 
 to him and stabbed him if I had wanted to, but of course I 
 would not without your orders." 
 
 " No, that would not have done at all till we are ready to 
 go; and I don't like stabbing anyhow. Still, I will think it 
 over. Come round again to the same meeting-place to-night; 
 by that time I shall have decided what to do. 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 AN ESCAPE 
 
 44T THINK, Azim," Angus said, when they met that night 
 A " you must buy some clothes for yourself. You may 
 be pretty sure that no one is watching you. You must not get 
 them at any shop in the main street, because there are always 
 passers-by who stop and listen to the bargains made ; but there 
 are some by-streets where there are a few shops. Of course 
 you will go into a Persian's. If you give a fair price not 
 too high, you know, so as to seem too anxious to buy I don't 
 suppose he will trouble much what you may want them for. 
 You must make out some likely story say, for example, that 
 your master keeps a sharp look-out over you, and that you 
 want to be able to go out sometimes in such a dress that he 
 would not know you if he met you. I don't know that that 
 is a good excuse, but I am unable to think of a better one. 
 All you will want will be a long white robe coming over the 
 head and down to the eye-brows, and falling to the feet; and 
 a white cloth coming across the face below the eyes, and fall- 
 ing down over the throat. There is no occasion to buy other 
 garments. A rug torn asunder and wrapped round the waist,
 
 90 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 falling to the feet, so as to fill up the outside robe, is all that 
 will be required. But the more I think of it, Azim, the 
 greater appears the difficulty about the camel; indeed, now 
 that we have ascertained about this spy, it seems to me hardly 
 possible to make a start without being pursued at once." 
 
 Azim nodded approvingly. " That is just what I think, 
 master. But I could put a knife into him, and then all 
 trouble would be over." 
 
 " I don't like the idea of killing the man, Azim." 
 
 " You killed many men at Herat." 
 
 " That was in battle, which is a very different thing from 
 stabbing a man to enable us to get away." 
 
 Azim shook his head. This was quite beyond him. " He 
 is fighting against you now, master. If the princes find out 
 that you are English they will put you in a dungeon and 
 most likely kill you, and kill me too, so as to shut my mouth. 
 This man is paid to act as a spy on you. Why not kill him? 
 Thousands of people were killed or died at Herat. I cannot 
 understand why one man should not be killed, when we can 
 perhaps get free away if he is dead." 
 
 " If he found us escaping and attacked us, we could kill 
 him, Azim, but it is not an Englishman's way to kill men, 
 except in fight." 
 
 Azim shook his head. To his mind this was very foolish. 
 
 " Perhaps we might make him prisoner, Azim." 
 
 " Where could we put him in prison ? " Azim enquired, 
 with his eyes wide open in surprise. 
 
 " I don't mean in a prison, Azim, I mean in some empty 
 house or some out-of-the-way place; we might tie his arms 
 and legs and gag him." 
 
 Azim's eyes twinkled. "I see, master, you do not like to 
 use a knife. Good, we can bind and hide him. Perhaps no 
 one would come for a long time, may be a year, and, finding
 
 AN ESCAPE 91 
 
 only a skeleton, would not bother about him. He would just 
 say it was some fellow killed by robbers." 
 
 " No, no, Azim," Angus said in a tone of horror. " I 
 never thought of such a thing. No doubt someone would 
 come along and let him out." 
 
 " Someone might come, master. He might come a few 
 minutes after we had gone, then they would catch us at 
 once. If someone did not come in an hour, why should he 
 come in a week or a month ? " 
 
 Angus was silent. " No, Azim, you don't quite under- 
 stand me. I meant that he should be gagged and bound after 
 dark, and then be left in some place a little distance from 
 the road, where he would not be seen till morning. Then 
 the first person who came along would turn aside and look at 
 him, and he would be loosed, but we should have got twelve 
 hours' start." 
 
 " That would be a good plan, master. But how should 
 we get the camel ? " 
 
 " In that case we should make a start without it, for we 
 might ride fifty miles, perhaps a good deal more than that, 
 before it would be discovered that we had gone. We could 
 do that in our present dress, and then I could put on my 
 Afghan clothes and go into a village off the road and say 
 that the horses were tired and that I wanted to go on, and 
 so buy a camel." 
 
 Azim shook his head. " Anyone who wanted to go on fast, 
 master, would not buy a camel." 
 
 Angus uttered an exclamation of disgust, and Azim struck 
 another blow at his plan by saying, " How would you get the 
 horses out, master? The gates are shut at dark. You could 
 not tie up the spy till after the gates were shut, and in the 
 morning he might be found, and we should be caught as we 
 went out."
 
 92 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 " I am getting altogether stupid," Angus said. " Of course 
 you are right; the horses could not be sent out beforehand, 
 for if the spy saw them going out he would at once inform 
 his employers, and I should be arrested. Ah, I have an idea ! 
 That trader from Scinde, who arrived here yesterday, was 
 saying that as he intended to stay here for some time he 
 would sell his horses if he could get a fair price for them. I 
 might say that I would buy two of them, as they are better 
 than mine, and as I wanted to travel fast, I would give him 
 my two and some money for them. I dare say he would be 
 willing to do that, as our horses would sell more easily than 
 his. One can always sell a poor horse, while one might have 
 to wait some time before finding a purchaser for a good one. 
 I don't suppose really there is much difference in value be- 
 tween his and mine, and he would think he was making a 
 good bargain. I should say that for certain reasons, which 
 it would not be necessary to explain to him, it must be a 
 part of the bargain that he should deliver them outside the 
 city, and that one of his men should take them out during 
 the day and wait for us at a spot we could agree upon." 
 
 " That would be a capital plan, master." 
 
 " Then we will carry it out, Azim." 
 
 " Shall I get the woman's dress ? " 
 
 "Yes, you may as well do that. We may want all sorts 
 of disguises before we get down. We need not talk any 
 longer now; at any rate we certainly shall not try the plan 
 to-morrow. We must not appear in any hurry with the 
 trader, and there are several things we shall have to talk 
 over when I have struck a bargain with him." 
 
 The next night Angus was able to inform his follower 
 that he had made his arrangements with the Scinde trader. 
 " I am to buy his horses," he said, " and he will deliver them 
 in the way I want. Without saying it, he evidently under- 
 stood that I wanted to get quietly out of the city to escape
 
 AN ESCAPE 93 
 
 some trouble. He asked a very reasonable price, but he 
 would have nothing to do with my horses. He said that if 
 there should be any trouble about my leaving, the change of 
 horses might be noticed. If he said he had bought them of 
 me, and sold me two of his, he might get into trouble too. 
 However, I afterwards talked to one of the other merchants, 
 who was going away in a day or two, and told him that I 
 might be kept here for a considerable time, and should 
 therefore be glad to get rid of my horses. He said he would 
 be glad to buy them, as he was taking down a number of 
 Heratee carpets and other things. So we struck a bargain 
 at once, and he paid me the money and I gave him the 
 receipt. 
 
 " I said that you would continue to look after the horses 
 as usual until we started, so that matter is quite apanged. 
 The Scinde man will keep the horses I have bought with 
 his others till he sends them out through the gate. When 
 he does so, he will put our saddles on them. Now for our 
 plans to-morrow. I shall go out as usual in the morning; 
 the spy will of course follow me. While I am away make 
 up our rugs and disguises and fasten them upon the saddles, 
 and take these to the new horses, so that the trader's servant 
 will put them on with the saddles and take them out with 
 the horses before sunset. He is to stop at those three palm- 
 trees that grow by the roadside a quarter of a mile out of 
 the town. Even if the spy is looking on as they go out of 
 the yard, he will have no idea that I have anything to do with 
 the horses. 
 
 " When you have seen to that, you will buy twenty yards 
 of rope for us to get down over the wall. I shall start at 
 about four o'clock. I shall go exactly the same way as I 
 did the last time you followed me. It is a very lonely part 
 there. He is sure to watch me very closely, as he will wonder 
 why I choose that way for my walks. I shall stay there
 
 94 TO HEBAT AND OABUL 
 
 for a bit, and shall lean over the wall as if I were calculating 
 its depth and intended to make my escape there. He is sure 
 to be intent on watching my movements, and will get up as 
 close as he can. Then is your time to steal up. Do you 
 think that you can do it without his hearing you? If not, 
 I should think that a better plan will be for you to hide 
 close to the way we shall come back. I shall not return till 
 it is beginning to get dark, and he will probably keep closer 
 to me than he would going, so as to better watch my move- 
 ments. When he comes along you will spring out and knock 
 him down, and I will, as you shout, run back to your assist- 
 ance." 
 
 " I shall not want any assistance, master," Azim said con- 
 fidently. "I am sure I am quite as strong as he is, and as 
 I shall take him by surprise I shall have no difficulty in 
 managing him." 
 
 "Don't use your sword, Azim." 
 
 " No, master, I will get a thick stick." 
 
 " Of course you will bring the rope with you, Azim ; the 
 twenty yards will be ample to spare a length to tie him up 
 with, and to reach to the ground from the top of the wall. 
 You may as well put enough food for a couple of days in 
 the saddle-bags, and a supply of grain for the horses, then 
 we shall not have to stop to buy anything." 
 
 The day passed quietly. Azim bought the heaviest staff 
 that he could find, and brought it back and stowed it away 
 during his master's absence, as he did not think that the 
 latter would approve of its weight. He considered his mas- 
 ter's objection to his stabbing the spy to be a weakness 
 which he was quite unable to understand. At four o'clock 
 Angus started, and a few minutes later the trader's servant 
 led the two horses he had bought through the streets and 
 out at the southern gate. Azim waited till he saw him go, 
 as there was no occasion for him to follow the spy closely,
 
 AN ESCAPE 95 
 
 and indeed it had been arranged that he should not do so, 
 lest the spy should this time notice him and perhaps take 
 alarm. He therefore strolled leisurely along until he neared 
 the spot where Angus was standing on the wall. The spy 
 had taken up his post nearer to him than before, and was 
 evidently watching narrowly what he was doing. As he 
 might turn round suddenly, Azim seated himself behind a 
 ruined hut within a couple of yards of the road, and there 
 patiently waited until, as darkness fell, Angus came along. 
 
 " I am here, master," Azim said. 
 
 " Take care of yourself," Angus replied without stopping 1 ; 
 "he will probably have pistols, and certainly a knife." 
 
 " All right, master." 
 
 Azim stood up now grasping the heavy staff firmly in 
 both hands. Listening intently he heard a minute later a 
 soft footstep, and the spy passed him keeping his eye fixedly 
 on the figure ahead of him. Azim sprang out, and swinging 
 his staff round his head, brought it with all his strength 
 against the back of the man's head, just below his turban. 
 He fell without a sound. 
 
 " He is down, master," the lad cried. 
 
 Angus, who had been listening for the sound of a struggle 
 and had heard the blow, came running back. 
 
 "Why, it was almost like the sound of a pistol," he said, 
 as he saw the motionless figure. 
 
 " Yes, master, I was obliged to hit him hard, because, as 
 you said, he might have pistols." 
 
 " You have stunned him," Angus went on, going up to the 
 prostrate figure. " Now, cut off a length of that rope and 
 we will tie him up securely." 
 
 He tied the man's legs, and then turned him over. The 
 inertness of the body struck him, and he placed his ear over 
 his heart. "He is dead," he said. "He is not breathing, 
 and his heart is not beating. You have hit him too hard."
 
 96 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 "Well, I did hit him hard, master. It is a misfortune, 
 but perhaps it is all for the best. Undoubtedly it was Allah's 
 will that he should die." 
 
 "Well, it cannot be helped," Angus said, "and undoubt- 
 edly it will make it safer for us. Well, let us move on." 
 
 " Do you go on, master, and I will take his clothes off and 
 drag him into this hut. He may lie there for months before 
 anyone comes along and looks in." 
 
 " Very well, I will walk on to the wall ; don't be long." 
 
 Five minutes later Azim rejoined him carrying a bundle. 
 
 " We do not want to be bothered with the clothes," Angus 
 said. 
 
 " No, master ; but if we left them there, they might be 
 found to-morrow morning. Someone might recognize the 
 man by them, so I thought it would be better to carry them 
 away with us for a few miles, and then throw them in some 
 bushes. I have got his pistols and knife. He was well paid, 
 master; he had ten gold pieces in his sash here they are." 
 
 " Put them in your own pocket, Azim. I do not want to 
 have anything to do with them; they are your spoil." 
 
 Azim, who had no compunction in the matter, at once put 
 the little bag into his sash. The rope was now fastened to the 
 battlement, and they slid down. The wall was about forty 
 feet high, and unprovided with a moat. They started at once 
 for the place where the horses were to be waiting for them ; 
 a quarter of an hour's brisk walk took them there. Angus 
 made a present to the man in charge of them, who, while they 
 were tightening the girths, at once wrapped himself in the 
 blanket he had brought out and lay down to sleep till morn- 
 ing. 
 
 "We need not press the horses," Angus said as they rode 
 off. " We shall certainly have twelve hours' start, and I hope 
 twenty-four. It all depends on how often the man reports 
 to his employer, who is no doubt an official at the palace.
 
 AZIM SURPRISES THE SPY.
 
 AN ESCAPE 97 
 
 Probably he goes once a day, though, as there has been noth- 
 ing 1 suspicious about our movements and no signs of any in- 
 tention of leaving, he may have been ordered to go only 
 every two or three days unless he has news to give. Of 
 course in that case we are all right; but if he reports every 
 evening, how long a start we shall get depends entirely upon 
 what sort of a man the official is. In any case, he would 
 hardly give a thought to his spy not coming in this evening, 
 but would suppose that I had been out till late. When he 
 does not appear in the morning, if the official is of a sus- 
 picious nature he will enquire for the man, and when he is 
 not found will send down to the khan to see if he is there, 
 and to ascertain if things are going on as usual. 
 
 " When the news is brought him that the man is not there, 
 and that we have been out all night, he will become alarmed. 
 He will go himself and question the traders there, and will 
 doubtless ascertain that I have sold our horses. I don't sup- 
 pose he will hear that we have bought others. The trader 
 will see that there is going to be trouble about it, and is 
 likely to hold his tongue and tell his servant to be silent on 
 the subject; and as the official could have no reason for 
 imagining that we should sell our horses and buy others, he 
 will conclude that we have made our escape over the wall on 
 foot. That is the report which he will probably make to the 
 Prince, and we may safely calculate that it will be afternoon 
 before parties of horse are sent off in pursuit by the Herat, 
 Ghuznee, and Quettah roads, and will probably be instructed 
 to enquire for two young Persians on foot. They will lose 
 time by stopping at every village to make enquiries, and 
 after going forty or fifty miles will begin to feel sure that 
 we have not come along that road, but have gone by one of 
 the others, or perhaps hidden up in some village at a distance 
 from the road. 
 
 " They may have instructions to go as far as Quettah; but 
 
 (M807) O
 
 98 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 suppose they get thirty miles before sunset and they cer- 
 tainly won't get farther than that, as they will have to make 
 enquiries, and will probably halt as soon as it gets dark, 
 we shall have a start of nearly sixty miles before morning, 
 and will hide up and go on as soon as it is dark, and shall 
 be another thirty or forty before they start next day; so we 
 shall then be some sixty miles ahead of them and within from 
 twenty to thirty from Quettah. We will skirt round the 
 town without going into it, and then make down the Bolan 
 Pass. I don't think there is the least chance of any pursuit 
 being kept up beyond Quettah, and we can travel at our own 
 pace down the pass. We shall have to lay in a good stock 
 of provisions at the last village we pass before beginning to 
 descend, and must travel at night, for otherwise we may be 
 plundered by the tribesmen, who have the worst possible 
 reputation." 
 
 " How long is the pass, master ? " 
 
 " Fifty-five miles long, Mr. Pottinger told me. He says 
 that it is a frightful place. A river runs through it, and in 
 the wet season anyone caught in it would be drowned, for 
 in some places the sides are perpendicular, and the channel 
 is only sixty or seventy feet wide. There are caves along 
 there in which the tribesmen hide, and rush out and plunder, 
 and often kill, travellers. We must get through in two 
 nights, and must be extremely careful where we stop for the 
 day, choosing some place where we can hide ourselves and 
 our horses." 
 
 "Well, master," Azim said after a pause, "if it is the 
 will of Allah that we are to get through, we shall; if not, 
 not." 
 
 "That is it, Azim. I do not think that there is much 
 fear of our lives. We know that travellers do use that pass. 
 I believe they generally pay so much to one of the chiefs 
 of the tribesmen, and we will do the same if, on arriving
 
 AN ESCAPE 99 
 
 at the top of the pass, we find that we can arrange it. We 
 shall want money to take us from Dadur across the plain 
 to the Indus. It is a barren and desolate country, and we 
 shall have to buy some supplies at Dadur. Coming down 
 without merchandise, the tribesmen will make sure that we 
 have money, as we should naturally have sold the goods we 
 brought from Persia at Candahar, and must intend buying 
 a fresh stock in India. Therefore, you may be sure, that if 
 captured we should be stripped of every penny we have 
 about us." 
 
 They rode for eight hours, and reckoned that they had 
 made some fifty miles. They gave the horses a good feed 
 and lay down until daylight, for they were now at the foot 
 of the Kojuk, a gorge so steep and difficult that it could not 
 be passed at night. Just as they were starting, three tribes- 
 men rode up, and in the name of the local chief demanded 
 two gold tomauns, one for each horse and rider, as tribute 
 for a free passage. As the money was paid without ques- 
 tion, they rode off without giving further trouble. The 
 passage was long and difficult, and in many cases they had 
 to lead their horses. Once through, they allowed the animals 
 another hour's rest and a feed, and then mounting, rode on 
 briskly again. A few miles farther on they halted in a 
 clump of trees, and slept until nightfall, and then rode an- 
 other twenty miles. As speed was of less consequence than 
 keeping their horses in fair condition, they turned off at a 
 little stream, followed it for half a mile up, and then halted 
 in a dip through which it ran. Here there was good grass 
 for the horses. They remained for the rest of that day, and 
 until within three hours of daybreak next morning. As 
 Angus had calculated, they saw at sunrise the mud fort and 
 town of Quettah standing 1 on its rocky eminence. They made 
 a detour, and came down upon the road again round the 
 town, and then rode briskly down the Shawl valley. The
 
 100 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 country refund Was rich and fertile, and dotted with villages, 
 orchards, and vineyards. They stopped late in the afternoon 
 at a village near the entrance to the pass. Two armed men 
 came out from a hut as they drew up. The leader said, " Our 
 chief is master of the pass, travellers find it wise to pay for 
 right of passage." 
 
 " That we are ready to do," Angus said. " But does your 
 chief guarantee that we shall go unmolested down to 
 Dadur?" 
 
 " The chief cannot guarantee that, he can only guarantee 
 you from hurt or damage from his people. He is lord of 
 the eastern side of the pass, but there are others men of no 
 account, and who own no chief among the mountains to the 
 west. They sometimes waylay travellers. Our chief pun- 
 ishes them when he can do so ; but it is seldom that he is able 
 to catch them. He does all that he can, for he wishes well 
 to traders and others who pass along, for when ill happens 
 to them others are afraid to pass, and he loses his tribute. 
 When a large caravan comes up, and is able to pay hand- 
 somely, he furnishes an escort of twenty men or more; but 
 he will not send less than twenty, for a smaller party might 
 not be able to defend the caravan, and he would suffer loss 
 of honour from failing to give protection to those to whom 
 he guaranteed it." 
 
 " We cannot afford to pay for an escort of twenty men, 
 and have but little to be robbed of, for you see we carry no 
 merchandise, having disposed of what we bought at Herat 
 and Candahar, and sent the proceeds by sure hands back 
 to Persia." 
 
 As their attire gave no signs of their being men of sub- 
 stance, the tribesman said: "In that case you will only 
 have to pay one tomaun each; that is the price for a man 
 and horse, and the same for each camel- or horse-load of 
 goods ; that is the regular toll,"
 
 AN ESCAPE 101 
 
 " That we can pay. As to the brigands you speak of, 
 we must take our chance." 
 
 He handed the money to the man, who in return gave him 
 a little white-and-red flag, which he was to show should he 
 encounter any of his tribesmen. They stopped here all day, 
 and purchased food for their journey. 
 
 " I should think it would be a very good thing, Azim," 
 Angus said in the afternoon, "if we could engage a guide. 
 We might break our necks making our way down here in 
 the dark. I will speak to those two fellows. I suppose they 
 are on duty here, and cannot go themselves, but there may 
 be others of the tribe in the village; or, if not, some of the 
 people here may be accustomed to going down the pass with 
 caravans." 
 
 Angus went to the hut occupied by the two tribesmen and 
 called them out. " We are intending to travel at night," 
 he said, after offering them a packet of tobacco. " In that 
 way we may escape being seen by these brigands," 
 
 "It will be almost impossible for you to go at night 
 quite impossible without a guide." 
 
 " That is what we came to you about. Are there any of 
 your tribe who would act as a guide for us? How long 
 would it take us ? " 
 
 " It would take you four nights' journey. You could do 
 it in two stages if your horses are sure-footed and you 
 travelled in the day, but at night it would take four at least. 
 How much would you be willing to pay ? " 
 
 " How much would be charged ? " Angus said quietly. 
 
 " You should have two men," the man answered, " two 
 men who know the pass well. Yakoob and I could go with 
 you. We have been here six days, and two others will come 
 to take our places and collect tolls to-morrow, so we shall be 
 free. We know every foot of the pass, having travelled up 
 and down it scores of times. We cannot guarantee your
 
 102 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 safety, but you would have a better chance with us than 
 with others. We will take you into Dadur. We do not 
 promise to fight ; when twenty attack four, fighting is foolish. 
 We have our horses; there are parts where the pass opens 
 out and the bottom is level." 
 
 " Well, how much would you charge ? " 
 
 The two men talked together in an undertone, and then 
 the one who had before spoken turned again to Angus. 
 " We would take you for three gold pieces each." 
 
 "It is a large sum," Angus said; "but as I hear in the 
 village that it is not safe to go unless with a large caravan, 
 and that it might be three weeks or a month before a suffi- 
 ciently large number of travellers arrive, we will pay you 
 that." 
 
 "It is a bargain, then," the man said. "We had best 
 start at four o'clock; the descent here is very steep, and it 
 is not overlooked from the hills to the west. Therefore, we 
 can go down there by daylight, and then rest our horses for 
 an hour and move forward again when it is quite dark. You 
 had better buy four black blankets, to cut up and tie round 
 the horses' feet, so that when we are passing the bad points, 
 where the brigands generally lurk, no noise will be made in 
 climbing over the boulders or slipping on smooth rocks. It 
 will be necessary, of course, to get food for us all and for the 
 horses." 
 
 "I will buy that to-morrow," Angus said. "I suppose it 
 would be of no use taking torches ? " 
 
 " You might take some," the man said. " In some places 
 the rocks are so steep that no one could look down from 
 above, and at these points there are no caves where the 
 thieves would be hiding, and we should certainly get on a 
 good deal faster with torches." 
 
 " I will take some then. Have you ever been through by 
 night before?"
 
 AN ESCAPE 103 
 
 The man shook his head. "We have not. It is seldom 
 attempted; but it is because you are willing to travel so 
 that we are ready to accompany you, for the brigands would 
 expect no one at that time, and will most likely be asleep." 
 
 "Then, if we are attacked we must be taken prisoners?" 
 
 "No," the man said; "there are many places where the 
 hills can be ascended by men who know them. Should 
 we be attacked near one of these spots we must leave our 
 horses and fly; that is what we should do, and what I should 
 advise you to do also. A man's life is worth more than a 
 horse and saddle. Of course in the daytime there would be 
 no escape in that way, for they would bring us down with 
 their matchlocks; but at night we could elude them, and if 
 they did follow us we could defend ourselves, taking shelter 
 and shooting them as they came up." 
 
 " Well, it is a satisfaction, anyhow," Angus said, " that 
 there would be a chance for us. Our horses are good beasts, 
 but we value our lives more." 
 
 " I think they are honest fellows," he went on after telling 
 Azim the substance of his conversation with the tribesmen. 
 " They say that the Afghans have a treacherous disposition, 
 but I believe these men can be trusted to keep their engage- 
 ments. They did not exaggerate the difficulties of the jour- 
 ney as some would have done, nor did they pretend that they 
 would join in a hopeless fight. In fact, although of course 
 the actual difficulties of the journey would be very much 
 greater in the dark than in daylight, they evidently con- 
 sidered that the danger from the other tribesmen would be 
 by no means great." 
 
 It was, however, a terrible journey, and Augus felt that 
 without the guidance of the tribesmen it would have been 
 an impossible one. They knew exactly where the river was 
 fordable, and on which side the pass was most free from 
 great boulders and obstruction, and where torches could be
 
 104 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 safely used. But at times progress was terribly slow, their 
 horses having to pick their way among rocks and boulders, 
 and taking 1 more than an hour to cover a mile. At other 
 times they were able to go at a brisk walk, and even break 
 into a trot. Whenever they neared spots where the caves 
 frequented by the robbers were situated, the horses' feet were 
 muffled, and they were led with the greatest care. It was 
 indeed comparatively seldom that the riders mounted; where 
 it was dangerous to have torches, they walked along by the 
 side of their horses, allowing the animals to pick their own 
 way, which they were able to do better than they could have 
 done if led. 
 
 The horses Angus had bought having made the ascent of 
 the pass were to some extent accustomed to the work, and 
 not having to carry the weight of the riders were able, save 
 in exceptional places, to get along more easily than Angus 
 and Azim were able to do. Both of these had many falls, 
 and would have had many more had not their guides at such 
 times stood close beside them and rendered them assistance, 
 often warning them of obstacles of which they themselves 
 were unable to make out the faintest outline. 
 
 Several times they saw the glow of fires burning in the 
 caverns. At such points the strictest silence was observed. 
 They had purchased Afghan shoes at the village, and round 
 these had wound strips of thick woollen stuff like felt, so 
 that their steps were as noiseless as those of the horses. The 
 stirrups were fastened over the animals' backs so as to avoid 
 contact with rocks; and any slight sound that might be made 
 was to a great extent drowned by the murmur and rattle of 
 the rapid stream. 
 
 The long halts during the daytime were made at points, 
 carefully chosen by the guides, at the foot of precipitous 
 rocks. Fragments that had fallen from above formed a 
 bank at a short distance from the foot, the greater part of
 
 AN ESCAPE 105 
 
 the rocks having bounded outwards with the impetus of their 
 fall. Between the bank and the cliff there was a depression 
 partly filled with splinters of rock. It was, however, con- 
 siderably lower than the bank, and the men and horses sta- 
 tioned in it were hid alike from observation from above and 
 from the eye of those passing along the valley. Here they 
 slept on beds composed of their saddles and rugs laid on 
 the rough stones, their guides by turn keeping watch. As a 
 whole they got on faster than the guides had anticipated, 
 and: were fairly down at the mouth of the pass at daybreak 
 on the fourth morning after their start. Here the tribesmen 
 received their pay, Angus adding another pound to the 
 amount agreed on, for the care and assistance given. They 
 waited two days at Dadur to allow their horses rest. Here 
 they were fortunate in finding two men well acquainted with 
 the road. They had so far guided a party who were proceed- 
 ing up the pass to Quettah, and as they were now returning, 
 were glad enough to accept the offer of a couple of pounds to 
 act as guides across the desert. In accordance with their 
 advice two rough ponies were bought to carry water-skins 
 and provisions, while smaller skins were to be taken on their 
 own horses, as the country to be traversed was for a con- 
 siderable distance a waterless desert. Even this part of the 
 journey would not be accomplished without danger, for the 
 Belooches of the district were to a man plunderers, and cared 
 nothing for the authority of the Khan of Khelat. The dis- 
 tance from Dadur to Shikarpore is nearly a hundred and 
 fifty miles across a flat and dreary country, almost unpopu- 
 lated; but as they were unencumbered by baggage, and car- 
 ried sufficient water for their wants and those of their horses, 
 it was performed in seven days. At Rojhan they came upon 
 Captain Thompson, who was in command of a party which 
 had gone forward to examine the state of the water-supply, 
 and if necessary to sink more wells. He was surprised when
 
 106 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 a young Persian trader addressed him in English, and in- 
 formed him that he had just come through from Herat. This 
 was quite enough to assure a warm welcome, and the officer 
 put him up for the night in his own tent and made him in 
 all respects comfortable. 
 
 After hearing something of the siege of Herat, and of 
 his journey, he asked anxiously as to the water-supply in the 
 villages on the way to Dadur. On hearing that few of them 
 were much better supplied than Rojhan he threw up his 
 hands in despair. 
 
 " Two or three thousand natives ought to have been en- 
 gaged," he said, " and a couple of hundred set to work to 
 dig deep wells in these villages. A hundred wells would be 
 little enough for the army, its horses and baggage animals, 
 and its native followers. Even when they are dug the water 
 runs into them slowly. I have sent down my report from 
 here. There are only three wells, one of which Sir Alexander 
 Burnes sank when he was here a week ago ; the others contain 
 such bad water as to be quite unfit for human use. I am 
 really frightened at the thought of what will take place be- 
 fore the army gets to Dadur. However, I hear that they will 
 not advance for another month, and that some very energetic 
 steps will be made to secure a water-supply before they come 
 along." 
 
 On the following day Angus passed several working par- 
 ties who were engaged under the superintendence of Major 
 Leech, assistant to Sir Alexander Burnes for Captain 
 Burnes had been knighted as a reward for his services in 
 Cabul. With the exception of these parties they scarcely 
 encountered a human being on the way down, except in the 
 miserable little villages which were situated where the soil 
 permitted the cultivation of a scanty crop, which was for the 
 most part cut when green and sold to passing travellers. 
 Angus was heartily glad when Shikarpore came in sight. He
 
 AN ESCAPE 107 
 
 had learned from Captain Thompson that Shah Soojah had 
 arrived there with a native army which he had raised, that 
 the Bengal army under General Cotton, which had marched 
 down by the Indus, was expected to arrive there in a day or 
 two, and that the Bombay army under Sir John Keane was 
 but a few days behind. 
 
 Upon entering the town he was glad to see British uni- 
 forms in the street, and addressing in English the first offi- 
 cer he met, he found that the division of General Cotton 
 had arrived two days before. 
 
 "I have just come from Herat," Angus said. "I left 
 there after the siege was raised. I have some despatches 
 from Lieutenant Pottinger, which should be given either to 
 Colonel Pottinger or to Sir Alexander Burnes." 
 
 "Burnes is here. I think that Colonel Pottinger is at 
 Sukkar, he was there a few days ago; you will find Burnes 
 at the head-quarters. He is the political officer and so forth 
 of the army; but Macnaghten is envoy and commissioner to 
 Soojah, and generally at the head of all political business." 
 
 The army was encamped round the town, and Angus had 
 no difficulty in finding the quarters of Sir Alexander Burnes. 
 Dismounting a short distance away, he left Azim to look 
 after the horses and went towards the tent. He was stopped 
 by a sentry, who on learning that he wished to see Sir 
 Alexander, called an attendant. The latter, coming up, took 
 Angus's name in, and reappearing at the entrance almost 
 immediately, signed to him to enter.
 
 108 TO HEBAT AND OABUL 
 
 CHAPTER VH 
 
 IN THE SERVICE 
 
 AM glad to see you, Mr. Campbell," Sir Alexander 
 
 "I 
 
 Pottinger was asking me only three or four days ago to keep 
 a look-out for you. He had received a letter from his nephew 
 saying that you were going to travel down via Candahar, and 
 that he was afraid that you would not manage to get through. 
 I myself received a letter from Lieutenant Pottinger speak- 
 ing very highly of services that you had rendered, and I 
 understand that both he and Mr. M'Neill, our minister in 
 Persia, spoke very favourably of you in their despatches to 
 the Governor-general. How have you got through ? " 
 
 " I had very little difficulty, sir, except that I was detained 
 at Candahar, and had to effect my escape secretly." And he 
 gave a short account of his journey, and the manner in which 
 he had escaped from Candahar and avoided recapture. 
 
 "You managed it very cleverly, Mr. Campbell. I will 
 take you in at once to Macnaghten, who is supreme here, 
 for Shah Soojah is at present little more than a puppet. I 
 have no doubt that he will be very glad to learn what is the 
 feeling throughout the country as to Shah Soojah. I may 
 tell you in confidence that I am convinced that a terrible 
 blunder has been made in taking up his cause. I was, as 
 you no doubt know, several months at Cabul, and I am 
 convinced that Dost Mahomed was sincere in his desire for 
 our friendship, and that he can support himself against his 
 brothers at Candahar, who have, as we know, been intrigu- 
 ing with Persia and Russia. I have all along urged the 
 Indian Government to give him warm support and to enter
 
 IN THE SERVICE 109 
 
 into a firm alliance with him. However, the Governor- 
 general and his advisers have taken the other view, and I 
 have only to do my best to carry out their orders, although 
 I have strongly represented my own opinion. 
 
 " I do not think that Government has any idea of the 
 difficulties to be encountered. So far as fighting goes there 
 is no doubt whatever that the Afghans cannot stand against 
 us, but the operation of feeding the troops and animals will 
 be a troublesome one indeed. The heat will increase every 
 day, and even the march up to Quettah will present enor- 
 mous difficulties, as you who have just descended the pass 
 will readily understand; but the great problem will not be 
 how to place Shah Soojah on the throne but how to main- 
 tain him there. I tell you this because Macnaghten, who 
 really knows nothing 1 of the matter, is extremely sanguine. 
 I warn you that it will be as well that you should not express 
 any strong opinion against the enterprise. It is determined 
 upon, and will be carried out, and without in any way shak- 
 ing his opinion you would only set him against you and 
 might seriously injure your own prospects. As it is, he has 
 much to irritate him. There have already been serious 
 troubles with the Ameers of Scinde, who have been treated 
 in a very high-handed manner instead of being conciliated 
 in every possible way. This alone has vastly added to the 
 difficulty, by rendering it almost impossible to obtain car- 
 riage or provisions. 
 
 " Then he differs greatly from General Cotton, who, since 
 his arrival here two days ago, has shown himself an officer 
 who has an immense opinion of his own dignity. As general 
 in command he declines to take any orders, or indeed to 
 listen to any advice, from Macnaghten. This is certainly not 
 Macnaghten's fault, who, although, as I consider, mistaken 
 in his opinions, is very conciliating in his manner, and would 
 willingly avoid all friction, which can but be disadvantageous
 
 110 TO HERAT AND CABTJL 
 
 to the enterprise on which he has set his heart. Cotton's 
 transport is really insufficient for his own army; Shah Soo- 
 jah has hardly any transport at all. Cotton cares not in the 
 slightest about the Shah or the Shah's army, and, to say the 
 truth, they are of no great value. 
 
 "Macnaghten, however, attaches, and reasonably from his 
 point of view, great importance to the fact that Shah Soojah 
 should appear as arriving to claim his throne as an inde- 
 pendent prince with his own army, supported by his allies 
 the British, and not as a mere puppet forced upon the Afghans 
 by British bayonets; and he is therefore most anxious that 
 he and his force should occupy as prominent a position as 
 possible. It is as well for me to give you these hints as to the 
 situation before you see Macnaghten, and to warn you against 
 speaking to him strongly of any hostile opinions as to Shah 
 Soojah's chances that you may have gathered on your jour- 
 ney. When a man has an open mind it is well to give him 
 both sides of the case, but when he has pledged his reputa- 
 tion and thrown himself heart and soul into one side of the 
 case it is worse than useless to endeavour to turn him, espe- 
 cially when the die is cast and the day for drawing back is 
 past. If my opinion, gathered from nine months' residence 
 in Cabul and almost daily interviews with Dost Mahomed, 
 has been altogether unheeded, certainly yours, gathered in 
 a passing trip through the country, would have no effect 
 whatever beyond setting 1 him against you." 
 
 " Thank you, sir, I will be careful ; and indeed my opinion 
 would in any case be of little value. I certainly conversed 
 a good deal with the natives on my way from Herat to 
 Candahar, but at that city I spoke only to Persian mer- 
 chants, and had no intercourse whatever on my way down, 
 except with my guides in the Bolan passes." 
 
 "Well we will call on him now," Sir Alexander Burnes 
 said, taking his cap.
 
 IK THE SERVICE 111 
 
 Mr. Macnaghten's tent was next to his own, and he at 
 once took Angus in with him. 
 
 "I have come, Mr. Macnaghten, to introduce to you Mr. 
 Angus Campbell, who has just come down through Candahar 
 from Herat. His name was, I know, very favourably men- 
 tioned both by Lieutenant Pottinger and Mr. M'Neill. He 
 has brought down letters of introduction to me and Colonel 
 Pottinger." 
 
 " I know your name well, sir," Macnaghten said. " Mr. 
 M'Neill told us that you had been in his service, and had 
 gone to Herat on a mission to induce Shah Kamran to hold 
 out to the last, and that when the siege was raised you had 
 started from there with the intention of journeying down 
 through Afghanistan into Scinde, in hopes of obtaining em- 
 ployment in some capacity where your knowledge of Persian 
 and Arabic would be of service. I also understand, by Lieu- 
 tenant Pottinger's last despatch, that you have learned Push- 
 too. The Gdvernor-general was very favourably impressed 
 with these reports, and authorized me to employ you at once 
 as one of the junior assistants. I should think, Sir Alexan- 
 der, that you can employ Mr. Campbell to greater advantage 
 than I can, as the work of making the arrangements for the 
 advance of the army is in your hands." 
 
 "I shall be very glad of an addition to my staff, for as 
 we get on I foresee that the three officers who now assist me 
 will be altogether insufficient; and the high terms in which 
 Mr. M'Neill and Lieutenant Pottinger have written about 
 him, and the fact that he has been able to travel about the 
 country unsuspected, shows his fitness for such work." 
 
 " You must understand, Mr. Campbell," Macnaghten said, 
 " I cannot guarantee that the position will be a permanent 
 one, as all such appointments in the service must be con- 
 firmed by the Court of Directors; but I shall at once ac- 
 quaint Lord Auckland of your arrival here and of your
 
 112 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 nomination, and I have no doubt that he will himself con- 
 firm it so far as this expedition continues, and will strongly 
 recommend the Court of Directors that your appointment to 
 the service shall be a permanent one, in view of your excep- 
 tional knowledge of Persian and Pushtoo." 
 
 "I thank you very much indeed, sir, and will do my best 
 to merit your good opinion." 
 
 As Angus left the tent with Sir Alexander Burnes he 
 said : " I am indeed obliged to you, sir. I had hoped that 
 I might obtain an appointment of some sort, but I never 
 hoped for one like this. It is the work, too, of all others that 
 I should like, and you may rely on me to carry out your 
 orders to the full extent of my power." 
 
 " I have no doubt you will, Mr. Campbell. I am glad to 
 have one of my officers speak Pushtoo, for although both in 
 Scinde and Afghanistan Persian is the language most 
 spoken by the upper classes, it is of no use with the peasants. 
 In the work of digging wells, bargaining for fodder for the 
 horses, and so forth, Pushtoo will be very useful, for al- 
 though it differs from the language of the Belooches, it ia 
 near enough for them to understand it; and, of course, when 
 we are once through the Bolan it is the language of all the 
 countrymen." 
 
 " May I ask what dress it will be proper for me to wear ? " 
 
 "As it is a civil appointment you will not wear uniform, 
 but either the ordinary civilian dress, or, if you like, a dress 
 of oriental character. I generally dress so, and it certainly 
 has its advantages, and favourably predisposes chiefs you 
 may have to visit. A British uniform they understand, but 
 a purely civilian dress is too simple for them, and does not 
 convey any sense of importance." 
 
 " Very well, sir ; I am glad that you have decided so. I 
 have no civilian clothes with me, and should find it very 
 difficult, if not impossible, to get them here."
 
 IN THE SERVICE 113 
 
 "Your appointment will be a thousand rupees a month, 
 so long as the campaign lasts; after that it would, of course, 
 depend upon the future employment you might have. If 
 you would like to draw a month's pay in advance you can 
 do so." 
 
 "No, thank you, sir; I am fairly provided with money." 
 
 " I have four officers employed on similar duty, Mr. Camp- 
 bell, I will introduce you to them at once; and you will, of 
 course, mess with our party." 
 
 Major Leech, the chief assistant, was away on duty, but 
 the other three officers were at once sent for. " Captain 
 Jones, Captain Arbuthnot, and Lieutenant Macgregor, I 
 wish to introduce to you Mr. Campbell, whom I have just 
 appointed as one of my political assistants. He has distin- 
 guished himself greatly under Lieutenant Pottinger through- 
 out the siege of Herat, and was previously an assistant to 
 Mr. M'Neill, our ambassador at the court of Persia. He 
 speaks Persian, Arabic, and Pushtoo, and has been specially 
 recommended to the Governor-general by Mr. M'Neill and 
 Pottinger. He has now made his way from Herat through 
 Candahar, and the fact that he has done so safely shows 
 that he knows how to use these languages to advantage." 
 
 As Lieutenant Pottinger's gallant defence of Herat was 
 the theme of general admiration throughout India, Angus 
 could not have had a better introduction, and he was warmly 
 received by the three officers, who at once took him away 
 with them. 
 
 " You will share my tent with me," Lieutenant Macgregor 
 said. " I am alone at present. You have a horse, of course, 
 and a servant, I suppose ? " 
 
 " I have a very fair horse, and an excellent servant, who 
 is a young fellow, a Persian, the son of a doorkeeper at the 
 embassy. He was with me through the siege, and I found 
 him invaluable. He is a strong fellow, and has plenty of 
 
 (M 807) H
 
 114 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 courage and shrewdness; I should never have got away out 
 of Candahar had it not been for his assistance. 
 
 " Sir Alexander has advised me to get an Eastern dress, 
 as I cannot wear uniform; and I must see about that at 
 once, for this Persian dress would in any case have been 
 out of place, and my journey down the Bolan has ruined it 
 altogether. But in the first place, I shall be obliged if you 
 will tell me where my two horses are to be put up." 
 
 "Your horse will be picketed with ours in our tents; our 
 servants' horses are in the line behind them. Is that your 
 man over there with the two horses? I will send an orderly 
 to tell him to take them over and picket them. Now, I 
 suppose you want something to eat? We had tiffin an hour 
 ago, but the servants can get something for you." 
 
 " Thank you ; I will go down into the town. I had some- 
 thing before mounting this morning 1 , and I own I should 
 not care about going into the mess-tent till I have got some- 
 thing to wear a little more respectable than these clothes." 
 
 " Oh, that is nonsense. Besides, you need not go into 
 the mess-tent. I will order them to warm something up at 
 once, and to bring it into my tent. We are all wanting to 
 hear more about Herat. The official despatches only give us 
 bare facts." 
 
 For the next two hours Angus was fully occupied in re- 
 lating his experiences of the siege to the three officers; after 
 that he went down with Azim to the town. There he bought 
 for himself a dress such as would be worn by a native of 
 some rank a white turban, a blue tunic opening at the 
 breast and showing a white cambric shirt, several white 
 robes, and loose white linen trousers tightened in at the 
 ankle. He bought a good supply of under-linen and a couple 
 of pairs of native riding-boots. For Azim be bought clothes 
 appropriate to a retainer of a Mohammedan gentleman. As 
 he was unable to procure a camp bed of European make, he
 
 IN THE SEBVICE 115 
 
 bought a native charpoy, which could be taken to pieces and 
 conveniently carried. He had found that his fellow-officers 
 had each three native servants a butler or body servant, a 
 syce for their riding horses, and a man who looked after and 
 led on the line of march two baggage animals. He had no 
 difficulty in engaging a syce, and let the question of the 
 baggage animals stand over until next day. 
 
 Azim would, of course, act as his personal servant. The 
 lad, who had during the past year become imbued with the 
 spirit of adventure, was delighted to hear that his master 
 was to accompany the army. He had, during his stay in 
 Herat, picked up the language, and could converse in it as 
 fluently as Angus himself was able to do; and although he 
 had no pleasant recollections of the journey from Candahar, 
 he felt sure that it would be a very different affair when 
 accompanying a British army. He expressed as much to his 
 master, who said: 
 
 " I should not make so sure of that, Azim. We had no 
 great difficulty in obtaining provisions for ourselves, but it 
 will be a very different thing with an army of thousands of 
 men, with an even larger number of camp followers and 
 five or six thousand camels. Except just round one of those 
 little villages, we did not see a blade of grass from the time 
 we left the Shawl valley, and how the animals will exist till 
 we get up to Quettah I have no idea. Once there no doubt 
 we shall do fairly well, but we shall have a very bad time on 
 the journey, unless I am mistaken. If I had the manage- 
 ment of affairs, I should send off at once the whole of the 
 camels with a sufficient escort as far as Dadur. There they 
 should leave the provisions and forage they took up, and 
 return here to accompany the army with a further supply. 
 No doubt it would cause a month's delay, but it would be 
 better to do that than to lose half our baggage animals and 
 to risk famine for the troops."
 
 116 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 "I believe," Captain Arbuthnot said when Angus joined 
 the others, "that ten days' supply are ready at Dadur, and 
 twenty days' supply at Quettah." 
 
 " Certainly there were no supplies at Dadur when I came 
 through, but I know nothing about Quettah," Angus said; 
 " still I think that if any supplies of consequence had been 
 collected there I should have heard about it from the men 
 who guided us through the pass." 
 
 " There were no troops there, then ? " 
 
 "No, not the slightest sign of them, nor did we pass any 
 on the march down from Candahar; but of course the Khan 
 of Khelat may have collected a great force of Belooches, and 
 if he did so, he would naturally keep them at Khelat until 
 he heard that the army was approaching, as it would be an 
 immense deal of trouble to victual them in the pass." 
 
 " I know that Mr. Macnaghten received news which in- 
 duced him to believe that a large force would be likely to 
 march down from Candahar, and that the attitude of the 
 princes was altogether hostile. It is on account of that news 
 that we are going to advance in two or three days' time, 
 instead of waiting for another three weeks for a larger 
 stock of supplies to be collected. It was but ten days ago 
 that the commissary-general sent off four thousand camels 
 to bring up supplies from the rear. However, they will be 
 useful for the Bombay column which is coming up, as it is 
 arranged that we shall collect transport and supplies for them. 
 
 " Therefore the decision has been taken to march at once, 
 so that we can ascend the pass before the enemy send a 
 sufficient force to hold it against us. No doubt the report 
 that we were not going to leave here for another three weeks 
 has been sent up to Candahar. The Prince is sure to have 
 agents and spies here. We ought to be at the foot of the 
 Bolan before it is known in Candahar that we have started.
 
 IN THE SERVICE 117 
 
 As to Khelat, the Khan has sent in assurances of his friend- 
 ship, and I expect he will make himself safe by assuming 
 neutrality; but the Belooches are a warlike people, and born 
 plunderers, and his authority is very slight, except in Khelat 
 and the district near it. We are sure to have trouble with 
 the mountaineers, but beyond having to protect the convoy 
 strongly, I do not suppose we shall have serious fighting with 
 them. I expect that we shall be sent off to-morrow or next 
 day to Khelat and Quettah, perhaps one of us may even 
 go to Candahar. I know that Mr. Macnaghten thinks that 
 possibly the princes may not take an active part on Dost 
 Mahomed's side. Everyone knows that they have no great 
 love for their brother; which is not surprising, for he, who 
 is the youngest of the family, has managed to secure the 
 sovereignty. Besides, they would see that if they took up 
 arms in his favour the whole brunt of the fighting would 
 fall upon them, for Cabul could render them no real assist- 
 ance. They are very shifty gentlemen, and though they 
 may make a show of force at first, it would probably be 
 only for the purpose of securing advantageous terms for 
 themselves." 
 
 " I saw them when I was at Candahar," Angus said, 
 "and they, or at least one of them, questioned me closely; 
 but supposing me to be a Persian just arrived from Herat, 
 he naturally said nothing about a British invasion. His 
 great anxiety was to know what the intentions and power 
 of Russia and Persia were. No doubt the plans that were 
 formed were entirely disconcerted by the Shah's retreat from 
 before Herat. I saw no signs whatever of any gatherings 
 of the Afghans, nor was the subject ever alluded to in 
 the conversations I had with traders at the place where I 
 lodged." 
 
 At this moment a native officer came in and said that
 
 118 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 Sir Alexander desired to see Captains Arbuthnot and Jones. 
 As they buckled on their swords the latter said : " You have 
 told us about Herat, Mr. Campbell, and this evening I hope 
 you will tell us about your journey down." 
 
 When the officers returned Angus found that Arbuthnot 
 was not mistaken as to the probable work they would have 
 to perform, for he was to accompany Major Todd the next 
 morning with an escort of cavalry for Khelat. They were 
 to see the Khan and arrange with him for supplies to be 
 sent to Dadur. Captain Jones was to remain there to see 
 that his promises were carried out, and Arbuthnot, unless 
 he learned that a force from Candahar had arrived at 
 Quettah, was to go on there and see to the collection of 
 grain and cattle. 
 
 "A squadron of cavalry is going forward to-morrow 
 morning, Campbell. Four hundred labourers are going with 
 it, and you are to be in special charge of half of them. Of 
 course, they will have eight or ten headmen, but they will 
 want looking after all the same. They are to dig wells at 
 Burshoree; the other half, under you, Macgregor, are to do 
 the same thing at Meerpoor. It is a thousand pities it 
 was not done before, for the army is to begin its advance 
 the day after to-morrow. However, you will gain a couple 
 of days on them, and that is something. If you meet Major 
 Leech, who is at work improving the roads, you will, of 
 course, report yourself to him, and he will doubtless be able 
 to advise you as to the best place for the wells." 
 
 Angus heard the news with much satisfaction. In the 
 first place it meant active work, and in the second it would 
 save him from the slow and toilsome march of the army, 
 which would, he felt sure, be accompanied with enormous 
 hardship. The four officers dined together. Sir A. Burnes 
 was not present, as he was dining with General Cotton and 
 Mr. Macnaghten. After dinner Angus related his adven-
 
 IN THE SERVICE 119 
 
 ture at Candahar; how he evaded pursuit, and his passage 
 through the pass. He had hardly finished when he was sent 
 for to the general's tent. 
 
 " I have just been telling General Cotton, Mr. Campbell," 
 said Mr. Macnaghten, " that you arrived this morning from 
 Candahar. He wishes to learn as much as you can tell 
 him of the state of the pass at present, and of the 
 country between Dadur and this place. I told him that 
 I had not been able to find time to question you on these 
 points." 
 
 " In the first place," the general said, " what is the state 
 of the Bolan?" 
 
 "As I only travelled during the night I cannot tell you 
 very much about it. The river is not high, and there is 
 no difficulty whatever on that score. The ground is generally 
 extremely rough, and covered not only with rounded boul- 
 ders, but by rocks that will prove very trying to the feet 
 of the animals. We bandaged very thickly the hoofs of 
 our horses to deaden the sound, and so saved them from 
 being lamed, which they othewise would certainly have been. 
 The bandages were of felt, and these were completely cut 
 to pieces the first night. After that we cut up one of the 
 water-skins I had with me, and we covered the felt with 
 the leather, but even this was cut to pieces, and had to 
 be renewed the next night. Although this is the general 
 character of the pass, there are places at which, by skirting 
 the foot of the hills at points where the pass opens out 
 and the hills are not precipitous, although everywhere steep 
 it is possible for mounted men to go along at a fast 
 walk, the stones being much smaller, and like, I should 
 think, what I have heard of a sea-beach, though I never 
 saw one, at least that I can remember." 
 
 " Still, there were no insurmountable difficulties, Mr. 
 Campbell?"
 
 120 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 "No, sir, though there were places where certainly not 
 more than two laden camels could pass abreast." 
 
 "Well, next as to the country between this place and 
 Dadur. We know about it as far as the edge of Beloochee 
 Desert; what is it beyond that? Did you suffer from want 
 of water?" 
 
 " No, sir, at the villages where we stoppped there was 
 always water; but there were, as far as I saw, but a few 
 small wells, which would seem to me very insufficient for 
 the supply of an army and its train." 
 
 " Well, we are going to dig more wells," Mr. Macnaghten 
 said rather impatiently. "If the water will run into three 
 or four wells it would run into fifty. Now, about forage?" 
 
 " There were small patches of cultivation round each of 
 the villages; at Bhag more than elsewhere, as it lies nearer 
 to the foot of the hills; but at Meerpoor, Burshoree, and 
 Rojhan I should not say there were more than twenty or 
 thirty acres of cultivated land. At Bhag I was strongly 
 advised to take the road at the foot of the hills to Dun- 
 deaver down to Larkhanna, and from there to follow the 
 Indus up to Sukkar; but the guides said that I should be 
 more likely to be troubled by the Beloochees along that 
 route, and as it was also twice as far I took the straight 
 way here." 
 
 " Thank you. We will not detain you any longer, Mr. 
 Campbell, and we are obliged for the information that you 
 have given us." 
 
 Angus bowed and retired. He felt that Mr. Macnaghten 
 was vexed that he could not report better upon the chances 
 of obtaining sufficient supplies of forage and water. But 
 he felt that it was clearly better that he should give, in the 
 plainest terms, the true state of affairs, for when, as he was 
 sure would be the case, there was immense suffering of men
 
 IN THE SERVICE 121 
 
 and animals, the blame would fall upon him if he had given 
 a more hopeful account than the facts warranted. 
 
 Sir A. Burnes sent for him on leaving the general's tent. 
 
 " You did quite right in not giving a rose-coloured descrip- 
 tion of the state of things along the line of march, Mr. 
 Campbell. Of course neither Mr. Macnaghten nor General 
 Cotton liked it. Neither of them, in fact, has the slightest 
 idea of the troubles ahead of them, and both were inclined 
 to view me as a pessimist. However, it will not matter to 
 you very greatly whether Macnaghten is pleased with you or 
 not, because your reports will be sent in to me. This 
 sort of work will not last very long. I have only under- 
 taken it because Major Garden, General Cotton's quarter- 
 master-general, has been taken ill. Major Craikie, the ad- 
 jutant-general, will go forward with me the day after to- 
 morrow to superintend matters generally. I hope by that 
 time to have a thousand more men for well-digging. Major 
 Leech has gone to Sebee to cut a dam there on the river 
 Naree, which it is hoped will fill the small water-courses 
 and greatly assist us. I have more fear about forage than 
 water. You can dig wells and cut dams, but you can't 
 get a crop to grow at a day's notice. However, we must hope 
 for the best." 
 
 The next morning at three o'clock Angus and Lieutenant 
 Macgregor started with the laborours and an escort of fifty 
 native cavalry. 
 
 " I am very glad to be off, Campbell," Macgregor said. 
 " It has been disheartening work for some time. Some- 
 how or other nothing has gone smoothly since we started. 
 Of course I am only a sub, but certainly it seems to me 
 that so far there has been an enormous amount of un- 
 necessary friction, and that the chiefs have not gone the 
 right way to work. I don't believe myself in this Shah
 
 122 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 whom we are going to force upon the Afghans. Dost Ma- 
 homed is worth a dozen of him, and no one who knows 
 anything of the affairs of Afghanistan is able to under- 
 stand why Lord Auckland and Macnaghten and the rest 
 of them should ever have conceived the idea of supplant- 
 ing a man who has shown himself really desirous of our 
 alliance and friendship, and. who undoubtedly possesses the 
 support of a majority of his countrymen, by one who 
 has never shown any talent, who has no party whatever 
 in Afghanistan, and is a member of a discredited and fallen 
 family. 
 
 " Still, that is their affair ; but matters have been com- 
 plicated by the manner in which the Emirs of Scinde have 
 been treated. Instead of regarding them, as they have 
 always shown themselves, as friendly to us, we have gone 
 out of our way to render them hostile, by the manner in 
 which we have, in absolute contradiction of the terms of 
 their treaty with us, compelled them to furnish carriage, 
 provisions, and money. Had they been a conquered country 
 we could not have carried matters with a higher hand. It 
 will be sure to lead to trouble some day, and certainly 
 adds immensely to our difficulties. Now, the very fact that, 
 in the days when he was for a short time ruler in Afghan- 
 istan, Soojah advanced all sorts of preposterous claims of 
 suzerainty over a large portion of Scinde, was in itself a 
 reason why, if we took the absurd step of placing him on 
 the throne of Cabul, we should have advanced from Peshawur 
 through Jellalabad direct, instead of taking this roundabout 
 journey through Scinde. Of course there would have been 
 great difficulties in the Khyber, and we should have had 
 to encounter fierce opposition from the hill-tribesmen, but 
 that will have to be met in any case. And after installing 
 Soojah at Cabul, we could have gradually extended his 
 power or ours, for of course he would be but a puppet in
 
 IN THE SERVICE 123 
 
 our hands through Ghuznee to Candahar. Of course you 
 won't hear any talk like this among the officers of the 
 Bombay or Bengal army. They know and care nothing 
 about the matter. It is just among 1 the men who have been 
 employed here in the north, and who know something about 
 it, that there is any doubt as to the wisdom of the affair. 
 I know Burnes considers that the whole thing is a mistake. 
 Colonel Pottinger, who, as our resident in Scinde, knows 
 a great deal about the Afghans, says little, but I know 
 that he disapproves of it ; and so, I think, do all of us juniors, 
 who have worked either under him, or with Burnes, or 
 up in the Punjaub, and have, of course, always taken an 
 interest in the affairs of Afghanistan, especially since Russian 
 influence has become so preponderant in Persia. Well, we 
 can only hope for the best, and do our best in our own 
 little way. Thank goodness, whatever comes of it, we have 
 no responsibility in the affair." 
 
 " I really know very little about it," Angus said ; " but 
 I do know that it will be a terrible business getting the 
 army to Quettah, and that directly it was determined to 
 come this way arrangements should have been made to dig 
 sufficient wells to ensure a supply of water at every watering- 
 place, and to collect stores of forage and grain. I really 
 don't see how it is to be done now. From all that I could 
 hear as I came down, there will be a lot of trouble with the 
 Beloochees." 
 
 The difficulties of the advance had already been felt. 
 Great numbers of camels had died between Sukkar and 
 Shikarpore, and those that accompanied the party of well- 
 diggers were enfeebled, and looked as if they had accom- 
 plished a long forced march instead of the strong and fresh 
 animals one would expect to see setting out on such an 
 enterprise. The first halting'-place was Jagan. The next 
 day they started at the same early hour and proceeded to
 
 124 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 Janeedera. Here they had passed beyond the boundary of 
 the Scinde Ameers, and had entered the territory over which 
 the Khan of Khelat held nominal authority. At this place 
 there was a small mud fort, outside of which straw had 
 been collected for the use of the cavalry, and to guard 
 this a small party of Shah Soojah's troops had been posted. 
 These, however, had been attacked and driven off by a 
 Beloochee band, and the straw carried away. However, 
 there was sufficient water in the wells for the men and 
 animals. 
 
 The next day's march was a long one, but at Rojhan a 
 certain amount of forage had been collected, and there 
 was a fair supply of water. The country so far had been 
 barren, with occasional bushes, but beyond Rojhan they had 
 nothing but an absolutely flat surface of sand, without a 
 blade of grass or a bush to break the level expanse; across 
 this desert the party toiled on for twenty-seven miles. A 
 little water was carried by the camels, but this supply was 
 soon exhausted, and with parched lips and throats the men 
 plodded on, knowing that until the end of the journey no 
 water could be obtained. Scarce a word was spoken during 
 the painful journey. Passing over the ground as he came 
 down at a canter, Angus had thought but little of it; he 
 had done it in less than four hours, and there was no 
 trouble from the dust. It was very different now. It was 
 fourteen hours from the time of starting before they reached 
 Burshoree, the mounted men having to accommodate their 
 pace to that of the labourers, and the dust rose in dense 
 clouds. 
 
 A part of the cavalry rode ahead, the rest some half a 
 mile behind the main body of the footmen. But before 
 half the journey was done these began to straggle, and the 
 dust had no time to settle before the horsemen came along. 
 Fully half the labourers, indeed, threw themselves down on
 
 IN THE SERVICE 125 
 
 the sand incapable of going farther, and lay there until the 
 cool evening air revived them, and it was long after mid- 
 night before many of them reached Burshoree. Here a 
 considerable number of wells had already been dug by the 
 party under Major Leech. The water was muddy, and 
 trickled in but slowly. Still it was water, and men and 
 horses drank it eagerly as fast as it could be brought up in 
 buckets and emptied into troughs which had been erected. 
 Although the village a mere collection of native huts, 
 surrounded by a wall as a protection against the plundering 
 Beloochees offered a most uninviting prospect, Angus was 
 well pleased that he had arrived at the end of his journey, 
 and had not, like Macgregor, another day's march to per- 
 form. The latter started as usual at three o'clock, and an 
 hour later Angus, with some difficulty, roused his two hun- 
 dred weary men and set them to work, promising them that 
 if they laboured hard he would allow them to rest during 
 the heat of the day. Cheered by the promise, the labourers 
 set to work under their headmen. Each of these had 
 charge of twenty workmen; these were divided into two 
 gangs and worked wells close together. Angus had nothing 
 to do save to exercise a sort of general superintendence. 
 The soil became much more firm a few feet below the sur- 
 face, and as the sides stood satisfactorily it was not neces- 
 sary to make the wells of any great depth. It was found 
 that four men only could be employed on each, two working 
 in the bottom and the others bringing up the earth with 
 buckets and ropes, consequently, the number of the wells 
 was largely increased. After three days of prodigious toil, 
 water was reached in the majority of the wells, and by the 
 end of the fourth day fifty had been added to those already 
 dug. The liquid, however, oozed in but slowly, and when 
 a well was emptied it was two or three hours before water 
 could again be drawn from it; thus although the amount
 
 126 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 that could be obtained altogether was considerable, it was 
 still wholly insufficient for the supply of an army. Five- 
 and-twenty of the native cavalry were kept constantly on 
 the alert, for parties of plundering Beloochees hovered 
 round, and several of the well-diggers who, in spite of orders, 
 ventured to wander some distance away were robbed and 
 killed. 
 
 The next morning General Thackwell, with a body of 
 cavalry, a small force of infantry, and some irregular horse, 
 rode into the place. He brought with him an order from 
 Sir A. Burnes for Angus to accompany him. The well- 
 diggers were to remain there and continue their work. The 
 general had intended to stop there for two or three days, 
 but finding that no forage could be procured, he started 
 the next morning early an>d rode through Meerpoor to 
 Oostar, a distance of twenty-seven miles, where, as had 
 been reported by Major Leech, there was a small reservoir 
 of water, and a store of straw and grass had been collected. 
 Angus stopped for an hour at Meerpoor and had a talk with 
 Macgregor, whose men had also accomplished a great deal 
 of work, and who bewailed his fate at having to remain 
 there instead of going forward with General Thackwell. 
 
 CHAPTER vrn 
 
 THE ADVANCE 
 
 THE cutting of the dam of the Naree did not afford so 
 much aid as had been hoped for, for the thirsty soil 
 absorbed the water almost as fast as it poured out, and 
 it was not until many days later that it began to fill the 
 little irrigation canals at the villages through which the
 
 THE ADVANCE 127 
 
 army passed. After resting two days at Oostar, the force 
 proceeded to Bhag, a town of some size. Here water was 
 found in abundance, and grain in considerable quantities, 
 and also a supply of carrots, which were eagerly purchased 
 by the officers for the use of their horses. At the various 
 places where they halted Angus acted as interpreter, and 
 rode out with a small body of cavalry to villages at which 
 they learned a certain amount of forage could be obtained. 
 
 At Bhag, to his great satisfaction, Sir Alexander Burnes 
 joined the party. He had paid a visit to the Khan of 
 Khelat, and obtained from him stringent orders to the head- 
 men of villages and others to do all in their power to 
 aid the army. The inhabitants were all to be set to work 
 to dig the holes, for which they would receive payments 
 from the British. The Khan also promised to despatch to 
 Dadur what supplies he could gather, but explained that 
 unfortunately there was a much greater difficulty than usual 
 in collecting provisions, as the previous season had been 
 a very bad one, and in many parts of the country the 
 villagers had not been able to gather sufficient for their own 
 needs. As Angus had heard the same at Candahar, at the 
 village near Quettah, and from his guide, there could be no 
 doubt that this excuse was a genuine one, and indeed the 
 officers who had been engaged in Scinde and in the country 
 bordering the Indus affirmed that the supplies obtainable 
 there were also vastly smaller than had been anticipated. 
 
 Throughout the next week Angus was continually em- 
 ployed in riding among the towns in the khanate, inter- 
 viewing headmen, and expediting the despatch of convoys. 
 He was always accompanied by a troop of cavalry, for 
 plundering parties of Beloochees were making their way 
 on all sides towards the line followed by the army, where 
 they murdered stragglers, captured lagging camels, and 
 were so bold that they ventured close to the outskirts of
 
 128 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 the villages occupied by the British camps, robbed the 
 natives of the moneys paid them for forage or grain, and 
 rendered it necessary that every convoy should be protected 
 by a considerable escort. After a week of this work, Angus 
 received orders to join the force that was gathering at 
 Dadur. During the last two days' march the difficulties 
 with regard to water had disappeared. The villages had all 
 been situated on the Bolan river, and little irrigation canals 
 enabled the cultivation of a considerable tract of country to 
 be carried on, which supplied forage in sufficient quantity 
 for the first division of the army which came along. 
 
 Dadur, a town of some four thousand inhabitants, stands 
 on the eastern branch of the Bolan river, whose banks were 
 fringed with high reeds and groves of dwarf trees. The 
 country round was well cultivated, and the fields were cov- 
 ered with young crops of wheat and barley. Close to the 
 town were gardens, and the whole presented an agreeable 
 appearance to the troops, who had for nearly three weeks 
 been painfully making their way across country which, even 
 at its best points, was little more than a sandy desert. Here 
 Angus again met Sir Alexander Burnes, who had been 
 making the greatest efforts to accumulate supplies at the 
 town. His success, however, had been very small, nor had 
 Major Leech, who was also at Dadur, been more fortunate. 
 It had been reckoned that twenty days' supplies for the 
 whole army would have been accumulated there, but not 
 more than sufficient for two or three days had been gathered, 
 and General Cotton, on arriving there with the Bengal 
 army, decided that it was necessary for at least a portion of 
 the army to advance without delay. 
 
 Sir Alexander Burnes started at once with Major Cureton 
 of the 16th Lancers, with a troop of that regiment, three 
 companies of the Native Infantry, and a strong party of
 
 THE ADVANCE 129 
 
 sappers and miners, to survey the pass up to Quettah. 
 Major Leech was sent to Khelet to maintain a strong 
 pressure upon the Khan, and it was still hoped that stores 
 might be collected by the time the Bombay army came 
 along. The report sent down was satisfactory inasmuch as 
 the physical difficulties of the journey were concerned. In 
 spite of the fact that heavy rains had fallen, the river had 
 not risen sufficiently to interfere seriously with the passage 
 of troops and animals, and on the 16th of March the 
 Horse Artillery, 2nd Light Cavalry, the 13th Regiment of 
 the line, and the 48th Native Infantry, started early in the 
 morning, forded by torchlight the Bolan river, and at eight 
 o'clock pitched their camp in the valley, where they were 
 to rest for the day. 
 
 The road had so far offered no difficulties, except that 
 the river had to be forded no fewer than eight times. The 
 baggage animals which started at midnight had already 
 arrived, but the tents were pitched with some difficulty 
 owing to the rocky nature of the ground, which necessitated 
 the use of iron tent-pegs instead of the wooden ones previ- 
 ously used. Fortunately, owing to the pause that had been 
 made by the advance parties at Dadur, and the abundance 
 of succulent food they had obtained there, the animals had 
 recovered to a large extent from their previous fatigues 
 and hardships, and the journey through the pass was accom- 
 plished with less loss and suffering than had occurred dur- 
 ing the march from Sukkar. Vast numbers of animals, how- 
 ever, died, and the troops, who had started full of life 
 and strength, were sadly changed, many of them being 
 utterly worn out and a mere shadow of their former selves. 
 The rumour that had precipitated the march by three 
 weeks, upset all the transport arrangements, and caused so 
 vast an amount of suffering, proved to be false no for- 
 
 (M807) I
 
 130 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 ward movement had been made by the Candahar princes, 
 and except for some little trouble with the marauding vil- 
 lagers, the march was entirely unopposed. 
 
 Once in the Shawl valley the fatigues of the army were 
 over for the time, but in spite of the efforts of Sir A. 
 Burnes and his assistants, only a very small amount of food 
 and forage had been collected in readiness for them. So 
 small indeed was the supply that it was necessary to place 
 both the troops and native followers on reduced rations of 
 flour, rice, and ghee. Meat, however, was plentiful. The 
 proceedings of the Khan of Khelat were not of a character 
 to inspire confidence in him. While protesting strongly his 
 friendship for us, he told our officers frankly that he was 
 certain Shah Soojah would not retain his position for a day 
 after the British troops marched away; that the whole feel- 
 ing of the country was against him, and that although, had 
 he advanced with only a native army raised by himself, he 
 might have been accepted, the people would never submit 
 to a sovereign thrust upon them by British bayonets. 
 
 Opinions differed much as to his sincerity. Those who 
 doubted it pointed to the fact, that although he was said 
 to have large stores of provisions at Khelat, he had scarcely 
 sold any to our troops, and had failed in all his promises 
 in that direction. On the other hand, Sir A. Burnes main- 
 tained that the stores of provisions spoken of did not exist; 
 and that in any case, having no belief in the possibility of 
 Shah Soojah maintaining himself, it was but natural that 
 he should hang back until he saw how matters went, for if 
 he were to give any active aid to the British he would be 
 considered a traitor by his countrymen, and would imperil 
 his khanate and his life when our protection was withdrawn 
 from him. The question was never satisfactorily cleared 
 up. Some of those who took part in the proceedings and 
 wrote on the subject regarded him as a very ill-used man ?
 
 THE ADVANCE 131 
 
 while others considered the measures afterwards taken 
 against him as being fully justified by his conduct. 
 
 As it was absolutely necessary that food should be ob- 
 tained, parties were sent into the villages and a rigorous 
 search instituted, and in this way a considerable quantity 
 of hidden grain was discovered. This was taken and paid 
 for at the market price. In Quettah itself one very large 
 store was found and taken up for the use of the army. 
 
 The climate was pleasant, and in spite of reduced rations 
 the men benefited by the halt, which was not without its 
 excitement, for large bands of plunderers hovered round, at- 
 tacks were frequently made upon parties going out with 
 camels to graze, and expeditions to punish the villages to 
 which the marauders belonged were undertaken. At length 
 General Sir John Keane, who was in command of the whole 
 expedition, arrived at Quettah, to the satisfaction of the 
 army, for it was thought that some decision must now be 
 arrived at. It was evident to all that, unless something 
 were done, famine would ere long stare them in the face. 
 The European troops could indeed exist upon meat, but the 
 native troops and camp followers, the greater portion of 
 whom were not meat-eaters, were already in sore distress, 
 the supply of grain and rice barely sufficing to keep life 
 together. The hope was justified. As soon as the general 
 arrived the heads of the departments were assembled and 
 arrangements were made for an advance. The greater por- 
 tion of the Bombay army arrived soon after their com- 
 mander, and although the men were still weakened by priva- 
 tion the army was in most respects perfectly capable of 
 carrying out the work successfully. There was, however, 
 one serious drawback which threatened to destroy their 
 efficiency: the horses of the cavalry and artillery and the 
 animals of the transport were so weakened by want of grain 
 and hay that they were altogether unfit for hard work.
 
 132 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 It was upon the 7th of April that the army moved for- 
 ward, seven weeks having elapsed since they started from 
 Shikarpore. The march to Candahar was long and painful, 
 several passes had to be traversed, food became more and 
 more scarce, and hundreds of animals died daily. Beloochee 
 plunderers during the first portion of the journey, and 
 Afghan raiders during the second, hung along the line of 
 march, murdering all who straggled, capturing camels, at 
 times even threatening an attack in force. They were able 
 to do this, as our cavalry horses were so broken down that 
 they could scarcely proceed beyond a walk. The Candahar 
 princes with a large following came out to give battle; but 
 Hajee Khan Kakur, one of the leading chiefs, had been 
 bribed by our political officers, and deserting, came into 
 our camp with a large body of followers, and this so dis- 
 heartened the princes, and excited so much fear among them 
 of further treachery, that they withdrew at once to Canda- 
 har, and a few hours after their arrival there took the 
 northern road. After immense suffering from want of water 
 and food, the army entered the city on the 26th of April, 
 Shah Soojah having gone on with Hajee Kakur and made a 
 formal entry into the town two days previously. 
 
 Angus had had little to do during the march from Quet- 
 tah. The chances of obtaining forage or food at the deserted 
 villages near the line of march were so small that Sir 
 John Keane decided that it would be useless to endeavour 
 to obtain anything there, especially as an officer leaving 
 the main body had to be accompanied by a strong escort 
 to protect him from the bands of marauders, and it was 
 deemed inadvisable to give the horses any work that could 
 be avoided. Angus's own animal, being" accustomed to the 
 country, suffered less than those from the plains, and in 
 order to spare it as much as possible, and keep it in such 
 a condition that it would be fit for work were he ordered
 
 THE ADVANCE 133 
 
 to make any expedition, he generally walked by its side 
 the greater part of the day, preferring this, indeed, to 
 sitting on horseback and moving at the snail's pace neces- 
 sitated by the difficulties of the road and the slow progress 
 of the weakened animals of the baggage train. Among 
 these the mortality had been terrible, and one writer esti- 
 mated that no fewer than thirty thousand transport animals 
 died on the road between Sukkar and Candahar. 
 
 Shah Soojah had at first established himself in his camp 
 outside the city, but two days after the arrival of the army 
 he took up his abode at the palace. He was accompanied 
 by his own officials and by Macnaghten and Burnes and 
 their assistants. 
 
 " What are you smiling at, Campbell ? " Lieutenant Mac- 
 gregor, who had been his companion and tent-fellow since 
 they left Dadur, asked as they rode together into the city. 
 
 " I am thinking of the difference between my position 
 in this procession, and the fact that I am going to take 
 up my quarters in the palace, and the position I occupied 
 when I was last here a pretended trader, suspected and 
 watched, and obliged to escape by night." 
 
 " Yes, it is a change, certainly," Macgregor said, " and 
 one for the better, though, after what we have gone through 
 and all we may have to go through before we leave this 
 wretched country, I don't think it would be safe to assert 
 that it is less dangerous now than it was then. From the 
 time we left Shikarpore till we arrived here three days ago, 
 we have never had a decent meal, we have practically never 
 had enough to eat, we have suffered horribly from thirst, we 
 have never dared to ride a hundred yards beyond the column 
 or camp; we have lived, in fact, dogs' lives not the life of 
 a respectable dog in England, but of a starving cur in an 
 Indian bazaar. We don't know much about the future; I 
 don't suppose we shall suffer from hunger and thirst as we
 
 134 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 have done, but our dangers of other kinds will certainly not 
 be abated. Everything looks smooth enough here. I don't 
 think there is any enthusiasm at all for Soojah, but there 
 is no doubt that the princes were hated, and the people 
 heartily glad to be rid of them. I fancy that we shall not 
 have much difficulty in reaching Cabul. They say Ghuznee 
 is a strong place, but we have taken scores of places in 
 India that the natives considered impregnable. Still, con- 
 sidering the way in which these marauding Afghans hover 
 round us, I think we shall have a very uncomfortable time 
 of it." 
 
 As the soldiers were not at first allowed to enter the 
 city, the merchants there speedily established a temporary 
 bazaar outside the w'alls. Here vendors of rose-water, of 
 sherbet, and of a drink concocted of the juice of fruits, 
 took up their stalls. People from the country round brought 
 in loads of lucerne, wheat, barley, wood, and chopped straw. 
 Other merchants displayed posteens, pelisses made of sheep- 
 skins, with the wool inside and embroidered outside with 
 blue, red, and yellow thread; fowls, sheep, onions, milk, to- 
 bacco, and spices were also on sale, and before long the 
 horse-dealers of Herat brought down large numbers of good 
 animals, which were eagerly bought up by officers who had 
 lost their chargers. As soon as the soldiers were allowed tq 
 enter the town they poured into it. Wheaten cakes, cooked 
 meat, and mulberries tempted their appetite, and a littlq 
 later plums and apricots were brought in in great pro- 
 fusion. 
 
 The scenes in the streets were very amusing. The British 
 soldiers and Sepoys with their large variety of uniforms 
 mingled with the people of the town and country round. 
 Some of these wore long cloaks of chintz or woollen cloth, 
 with large turbans; their hair, beards, and moustaches being 
 allowed to grow very long, and the beards being dyed red.
 
 THE ADVANCE 135 
 
 Others were closely shaven, and dressed in jackets and 
 trousers of blue linen, and tunics of brown cloth with long 
 hanging sleeves, their heads being protected by skull-caps of 
 various colours. 
 
 With May the heat, which already had been great, be- 
 came even more oppressive. Water was abundant, but the 
 troops and camp followers were still on short rations of 
 food. The price of grain was enormously high, and there 
 was no chance of the magazines being replenished until the 
 fields were ripe for harvest. 
 
 It was not until nearly three weeks after possession was 
 taken of the capital that a force was despatched under 
 Brigadier Sale in pursuit of the princes a grievous mis- 
 take; for Shah Soojah had entered Candahar on the day they 
 left, and as they were greatly encumbered by their baggage 
 train, the ladies of the harems, and a host of camp followers, 
 they might easily have been overtaken; whereas, after their 
 escape, they became the centre of intrigues against the 
 Ameer. 
 
 In June the harvest ripened, large quantities of grain 
 were bought up by the commissariat, and preparations began 
 for the advance to Cabul. Candahar was quiet and apathetic. 
 So far no signs were visible of any enthusiasm for their 
 new ruler among the people. Not only did none of the 
 neighbouring chiefs come in to pay their allegiance, but 
 the Shah's orders were everywhere disregarded. Marauding 
 bands harassed and sometimes attacked convoys coming up; 
 and even close to the city it was dangerous for the soldiers 
 to move many hundred yards beyond the limits of their 
 camps. The health of the troops was far from good. The 
 plains of Candahar, fertile as they are, are unhealthy, as 
 water can be found everywhere six or seven feet below the 
 surface. The native troops suffered comparatively little, but 
 the European soldiers were attacked by dysentery, jaun-
 
 136 TO HEEAT AND CABUL 
 
 dice, and fever, and large numbers were carried off by these 
 diseases. 
 
 At the end of June the necessary amount of grain was 
 accumulated by the arrival of a large caravan from Mool- 
 tan. The army was now to cut itself entirely free from its 
 former lines of supplies, and would have to depend solely, 
 upon the country for food, as the ever-increasing boldness 
 of the Beloochees in the Bolan Pass, and of the Afghan 
 marauders between Quettah and Candahar, had made it im- 
 possible for convoys, unless very strongly guarded, to make 
 their way up. 
 
 The advance began at two o'clock on the morning of the 
 28th, and four hours later, after passing through a fertile 
 district, the troops encamped at the village of Killa Azim. 
 Here they obtained barley for their animals, and peasants 
 from other villages brought in an abundance of chopped 
 straw for the camels. At midnight the trumpet sounded, 
 and an hour later the army moved forward again as far as 
 Kheil. Four days' further march brought them to Kelat-i- 
 Ghilzye, the chief town of the Ghilzye tribes. Two or three 
 hundred of their horsemen galloped away as the troops ap- 
 proached. 
 
 Marching ten miles a day, the army followed the valley 
 of the Turnak, which afforded an ample supply of water for 
 all their needs. The country was mountainous and deso- 
 late, the dreariness being only broken by small villages with 
 their orchards and patches of cultivated ground. Grain was 
 brought in in abundance. The force was now far above the 
 plain, the heat ceased to be oppressive even in the middle of 
 the day, and the mornings and evenings were delightfully 
 cool. Nevertheless, the number of sick increased, owing to 
 the bad quality of the flour and the absence of vegetables. 
 The country now became more thickly populated, little vil- 
 lages, with the fortified dwellings of their chiefs, being
 
 THE ADVANCE 137 
 
 thickly scattered about. The hostile tribesmen followed the 
 march on both flanks, and many skirmishes took place; on 
 one occasion the Ghilzye marauders made an attack on the 
 line of march, but were driven off with heavy loss. On the 
 17th a nephew of the Ameer rode in with fifteen followers. 
 He had gone to Ghuznee with his brother to aid in its 
 defence, but suspicions being entertained by Mohummed 
 Hyder, the governor, of their fidelity, his brother was seized 
 and put to death, and he himself only escaped a similar 
 fate by flight. 
 
 As they approached Ghuznee, Sir Alexander Burnes said 
 to Angus : " Mr. Campbell, I shall be glad if you will resume 
 your Afghan costume and ride to-morrow at daybreak with 
 a party of six of Hajee Khan Kakur's men, and ascertain 
 whether the enemy are in strength outside the fortress and 
 intend to oppose our approach. If they do, we shall leave 
 the baggage here under a strong guard and proceed to attack 
 them. If they retire into the fortress, we shall advance as 
 we have been doing, for possibly the siege may last some 
 time, and it would be as well to take our ammunition and 
 stores with us. Will you undertake that mission? I do not 
 wish you, of course, to approach the enemy very closely. 
 They will naturally take you for a party coming to join 
 them, and will pay no attention to you. Half a mile will 
 be near enough for you to go to the fortress. The disguise 
 is only necessary because they too may have parties out, and 
 should any come suddenly upon you, you would pass without 
 suspicion or question; and indeed should you be stopped, 
 your knowledge of the language is quite good enough to 
 pass in any case. I have requested Hajee Khan to choose 
 well-mounted men. We shall remain here to-morrow, and 
 the general will send out a troop of cavalry to meet you on 
 your return half-way between this and Ghuznee, so that 
 should you be pursued, you will know that you will meet
 
 138 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 with succour before going many miles. The fortress itself 
 is some twelve miles from this camp." 
 
 "I will undertake it willingly, Sir Alexander." 
 
 Accordingly on the following morning Angus set out. 
 Azim asked leave to accompany him, but he refused. 
 
 " Your horse is not a very fast one," he said. " It is a 
 good beast, but we may have to ride for our lives, and you 
 would soon be left behind. It is not a dangerous expedi- 
 tion, but in a country like this there is always the pos- 
 sibility of a surprise.' 
 
 After riding for two miles the fortress of Ghuznee was 
 seen. It was situated on a high rock and surrounded by 
 a wall of great height and strength, and was regarded by the 
 Afghans as absolutely impregnable. As they approached, 
 and could make out the strength of the fortifications, it 
 seemed to Angus that, except by famine, it would be next 
 to impossible to capture it. The general had left the few 
 heavy cannon he had brought with him at Candahar because 
 of the extreme difficulty of getting transport, and the light 
 field-pieces could make but small impression indeed on these 
 massive walls. When he approached within a mile he halted. 
 There were no signs of any Afghan force in front of it. It 
 was, of course, possible that they might sally out when they 
 saw the army approaching, but at present there was nothing 
 to show that they meant to do so. He was about to turn, 
 when he was suddenly seized from behind, and in a moment 
 his hands were bound tightly to his side by the sashes of 
 two of his escort. The Afghans burst into a shout of tri- 
 umph. 
 
 " Infidel dog," one said, " did you think because Hajee 
 Khan Kakur is a traitor that all his men are also. You 
 came to see Ghuznee. You shall see the inside as well as 
 the outside.'
 
 THE ADVANCE 139 
 
 Angus was brave, but a shudder ran through him as he 
 thought of the fate that awaited him. The Afghans never 
 spared those who fell into their hands, and fortunate were 
 those who were speedily killed, for in many cases they were 
 tortured before they were done to death. It had never oc- 
 curred to him to doubt for a moment the good faith of 
 the men who accompanied him; and yet, now he thought 
 over it, such a possibility should have been foreseen, since 
 there was no reason why the men should be traitors to their 
 race, although for the moment they had obeyed their com- 
 mander's orders and ridden with him into the British camp. 
 They might even have remained faithful to him had not 
 this opportunity of rejoining their countrymen presented 
 itself. Even in the midst of his own deadly peril he was 
 glad to think that, by his refusal to allow Azim to accom- 
 pany him, he had saved him from the fate that awaited 
 himself. 
 
 He knew well that no entreaties would avail to soften 
 the heart of the Afghan commander, and determined that, 
 whatever came, he would maintain a firm countenance and 
 meet his fate bravely. The gate of the fortress stood open. 
 The men as they entered said a few words to the guards 
 stationed there. 
 
 " We were forced," they said, " to accompany the traitor 
 Hajee Khan Kakur to the camp of the infidel, but we have 
 taken the first opportunity to desert, and have brought with 
 us this man, who is one of their officers, as a prisoner." 
 
 " Why trouble to bring him as a prisoner ? " 
 
 " We thought that Mohummed Hyder would like to ques- 
 tion him, and are bringing him here to show that we are 
 true men." 
 
 Climbing a steep road, they entered a great courtyard. 
 Here they dismounted, and their leader, a sub-officer, went
 
 140 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 forward to the governor's house, followed by two others, 
 between whom Angus walked. The leader entered, the others 
 remained outside until he returned. 
 
 "Follow me with the captive," he said, "Mohummed 
 Hyder will speak to him." 
 
 A minute later Angus stood before the governor. He 
 was seated on a divan, and several other chiefs of impor- 
 tance were standing or sitting round. 
 
 " They tell me," the governor said, " that you can speak 
 our tongue ? " 
 
 "I can do so," Angus said quietly. 
 
 " Where did you learn it ? " 
 
 "In Herat, where I fought during the siege, against the 
 Persians." 
 
 " And now you come hither as a spy ? " 
 
 " Not as a spy. I came here only to view the fortress 
 from a distance." 
 
 "Is it true that the kafirs are bringing no big guns with 
 them?" 
 
 As the governor was doubtless well informed as to the 
 strength of the British army and the number of its guns, 
 Angus felt that there could be no harm in answering the 
 question. 
 
 " They are not," he said. 
 
 "How do they intend to take Ghuznee? Will they fly 
 over the walls or burrow through the rock?" the governor 
 said scoffingly. " Are they madmen, who think they can 
 tear down the walls of Ghuznee with their finger-nails ? " 
 
 " I know nothing of the plans of the general," Angus 
 replied. " But the British have taken many strong places 
 in India when it seemed that it could not be done." 
 
 " They will not take Ghuznee. When the first shot is 
 fired at its walls we will throw over to them your head and 
 your limbs, to show that we despise them and mock their
 
 THE ADVANCE 141 
 
 foolish effort. Take him away, Yakoob. Do you see him 
 safely bestowed." 
 
 Angus was led to a cell in one of the turrets on the 
 wall. His weapons had been taken from him when he was 
 first captured, and when he reached the prison his arms 
 were unbound by the leader of the band, who carried off 
 the sashes to the men to whom they belonged. A massive 
 door was closed behind them, and Angus heard two heavy 
 bolts shot a proof that the tower was often used as a 
 prison. Listening, he heard another door at the foot of 
 the turret closed and bolted. The window was a mere 
 loophole, but it commanded a view of the road by which he 
 had been brought up. The cell was circular in shape, and 
 some ten feet in diameter; it was absolutely bare. Angus 
 stood for some little time looking through the loophole. It 
 was three feet wide on the inner side, but narrowed to six 
 inches at the outlet; the wall was more than two feet thick, 
 and of solid stone. 
 
 "It is evident that there is no possibility of escape," he 
 said aloud as he turned away from the loophole. " Even 
 if I could widen the hole so to be able to creep through, 
 there is a fall of a hundred feet or so; and there is nothing 
 of which a rope could be made. I have my knife," he said, 
 "fortunately they did not think of looking in my pockets; 
 but though it has a good long blade, and I might at the end 
 sell my life as dearly as possible, and force them to kill 
 me, it can be of no earthly use here, for there is nothing 
 to cut except that rough plank in the corner, which was, I 
 suppose, brought up for some purpose or other and for- 
 gotten." 
 
 The day passed slowly. No one came near him until, just 
 as the sun was setting, two soldiers came in bringing a jug 
 of water and some bread. Angus had little sleep that night. 
 He dozed off occasionally, but the hardness of the stone
 
 142 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 floor and the cold speedily roused him, and he was glad 
 indeed when daylight returned and the sun shone out. An 
 hour later, when looking from his prison window, he per- 
 ceived a party of horsemen. Long before he could dis- 
 tinguish their figures he made sure that they were British 
 troops, from the fact that two or three rode ahead, and the 
 rest, evidently an escort, in a close body behind them. 
 They approached within musket-shot. As soon as they did 
 so a fire of matchlocks broke out from the walls. They 
 drew off a little, and then turned and rode off. There was 
 no doubt that they were a reconnoitring party, who had 
 ridden forward to ascertain the best spot for an attack. 
 
 Two hours later three regiments of infantry came up, 
 followed by a battery. The object of their approach was to 
 discover whether Ghuznee was held in force, for reports had 
 reached the camp that the greater portion of the garrison 
 had retired. It answered its purpose, for the guns of the 
 fortress opened fire, and for an hour there was an exchange 
 of shot between them and the battery. The object of the 
 reconnaissance being fulfilled, the British returned to their 
 camp. Not until five o'clock was any further movement 
 perceptible; then Angus saw a long dark line ascending 
 the pass. On reaching its head the column made a wide 
 detour, so as to keep beyond the range of the guns of the 
 fortress, and then entered a rocky and difficult country to 
 the east. As he knew that the gates had all been walled 
 up with masonry with the exception of that through which 
 the road from Cabul entered it, he had no doubt that it was 
 intended to encamp on that side, thus cutting off the fortress 
 from relief by the army assembled under another of the 
 Ameer's sons, and at the same time preventing the flight of 
 the garrison. As long as it was light the column was still 
 passing on a long line of baggage waggons and native 
 followers, guarded by bodies of troops against any sortie
 
 THE ADVANCE 143 
 
 that might be made. During the night occasional shots 
 were fired from the fortress, and at various points of the 
 plain and on the surrounding hills fires raised gave indica- 
 tions of gatherings of tribesmen. 
 
 It had indeed been a painful and difficult march. Several 
 streams and water-courses swollen by rain had had to be 
 crossed, but with enormous exertions the whole force was 
 established, and on the following morning tents were erected 
 along the position chosen. Sir John Keane, accompanied 
 by General Cotton, ascended the heights, took a survey of 
 the fortress, and decided upon the plan of attack. At two 
 o'clock in the afternoon a body of Afghan horse suddenly 
 attacked the camp in the rear, but were beaten off by our 
 own cavalry. Angus heard the outburst of firing, and con- 
 cluded that the governor would ere long carry out his 
 threat. He had no idea what the commander-in-chief's plan 
 was, but he felt certain that the attack when made would 
 be sudden and sharp, and would be in the nature of a 
 surprise, for in no other way did it seem possible that a 
 force, however strong, could without artillery capture the 
 place. In that case there was just a posibility that in the 
 excitement of the moment his existence would be forgotten. 
 
 " At any rate," he said to himself, " I will do what I 
 can to defer the moment of my execution. I don't suppose 
 it will be of the smallest use, but as I have nothing else 
 to do, I will cut some wedges, and as soon as the attack 
 begins in earnest I will jam them in round the door." 
 
 For the rest of the day he occupied himself in cutting 
 strips of wood off the plank and fashioning wedges, of 
 which he made about four dozen, the work sufficing to keep 
 his thoughts from dwelling upon his probable fate. He 
 concealed all these in his clothes; then he cut off a stout 
 piece of plank and fashioned it into the form of a short 
 thick bat, with which to drive the wedges into their place.
 
 144 TO HEKAT AND OABUL 
 
 Then he laid the plank in its place again, with the freshly- 
 cut side against the wall, swept up the chips, and threw 
 them out of the loophole. He thought it probable that Sir 
 John Keane would attack without any delay, as it was all- 
 important to capture the citadel before the relieving army 
 from Cabul and the forces of three or four great chiefs 
 which were also in the neighbourhood could join hands and 
 attack him in the rear, while the powerful garrison sallied 
 out and fell upon him in front. 
 
 CHAPTEE IX 
 
 JUST IN TIME 
 
 THE plan of the British general for the capture of Ghuz- 
 nee was a bold one. He knew that his little guns 
 could make no impression upon the walls, and that it would 
 take weeks before it would be possible to effect a breach. 
 His idea was to blow in the gate and to pour his troops 
 in through the opening. His plans were admirably laid. 
 At midnight six companies of infantry established them- 
 selves in the gardens to the right and left of the spot 
 where the assaulting column were to take up their position, 
 ready to advance as soon as the gate was blown in. Two 
 hours later three companies of a native regiment made a 
 detour and took up a position to the north of the fortress. 
 The field artillery took up their post on a height. At three 
 o'clock in the morning the infantry on the north opened a 
 musketry fire. At the same moment the artillery on the 
 hills began a brisk cannonade, while a camel battery directed 
 its fire against the walls. The guns of the fortress at once 
 replied, and the walla were fringed with the musketry fire.
 
 JUST IK TIME 145 
 
 It was still an hour to daylight when Captain Thompson, 
 of the Royal Engineers, with a party of his men, crept 
 forward to the gate, carrying with them nine hundred pounds 
 of gunpowder in twelve sacks. 
 
 The movement was altogether unobserved by the gar- 
 rison, who had been taken completely by surprise by the 
 sudden fire. The night had been exceptionally favourable 
 for the attempt. The wind blew so strongly that the tramp 
 of the columns and the sound of the wheels of the guns 
 failed to reach the ears of the sentries on the walls. When 
 the fire broke out the Afghans at once burned numbers of 
 blue lights to endeavour to obtain a clear view of the 
 attacking force; but the light failed to pierce the darkness, 
 and the fireworks burned but fitfully owing to the force of 
 the gale. They therefore distributed themselves along the 
 whole circuit of walls instead of concentrating upon the 
 point where the attack was about to take place. 
 
 The Engineers had done their work admirably. They 
 crept silently along the causeway which afforded a passage 
 across the moat, and then up the steep ascent which led 
 to the gate, unnoticed by those who manned the loopholes. 
 Two minutes sufficed to place the sacks in position. The 
 fuse was then fired, and the party ran back to such cover 
 as they could find. At this moment the Afghans lit a large 
 and brilliant blue light immediately over the gate, but 
 before they could obtain any idea of what was passing below 
 the explosion took place. The gate was blown to pieces, and 
 masses of masonry and fractured beams fell into the passage 
 beyond. Then a bugle was sounded by the Engineers, and 
 the storming party rushed down and crept into the dark, 
 blocked-up passage. Here they were fiercely opposed. The 
 Afghans had rallied almost instantly from their first sur- 
 prise, and rushed down to defend the passage. A desperate 
 struggle took place in the dark, but British valour was tri- 
 
 (M897) K
 
 146 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 umphant, and the four companies of the 2nd and 17th Regi- 
 ments fought their way into the interior of the fortress. 
 
 Had they been at once supported by the column behind 
 them, commanded by Brigadier-general Sale, the capture of 
 Ghuznee would have been comparatively bloodless; but as 
 he was advancing he met one of the Engineer officers, who 
 had been terribly bruised and injured by the explosion. 
 Upon being questioned, the latter said that the gate had been 
 blown in, but that the passage was blocked with the ruins. 
 As in that case it would have been madness to advance, 
 the general ordered the retreat to be sounded. The call was 
 heard by the leading companies, but not obeyed. Instead 
 of the troops retreating, they halted irresolutely, rather 
 than carry out an order the most unwelcome that can be 
 given to British soldiers. Fortunately another Engineer 
 officer soon came along and assured the brigadier that, al- 
 though the passage was greatly blocked, the storming party 
 had made their way through; whereupon the column at once 
 rushed forward. The delay, however, had given the garrison 
 time to rally, and large numbers had run down from the 
 wall to take part in the fight. Many, however, despairing 
 of successful resistance now that their assailants had won 
 their way into the town, allowed the storming party to pass 
 and then attempted to escape through the gateway. But as 
 they did so, General Sale with the head of his column arrived, 
 and another desperate fight took place among the ruins of 
 the gate. 
 
 The general himself was cut down, and his assailant en- 
 deavoured to complete his work. Sale succeeded in grasp- 
 ing his sword hand, but, weakened by his wound, must have 
 been overpowered had not an officer run up and severely 
 wounded the Afghan. The struggle continued, but the gen- 
 eral managed to gain his feet and cut down his assailant. 
 
 The column was a long time in passing over the heap of
 
 JUST IN TIME 147 
 
 ruins, now further encumbered by wounded and dead. As 
 soon as they had entered, the reserve, who had been suffering 
 from the fire of the Afghans still on the walls, followed 
 them, and while General Sale's division ascended the steep 
 path that led to the citadel, which rose far above the rest 
 of the fortress, the reserve began the work of clearing out 
 the Afghans from the houses. Large numbers of Afghans 
 had taken refuge here as the troops entered, and these, rush- 
 ing out, flung themselves upon the troops with the fury of 
 despair. Many of these who had first entered, exhausted by 
 their exertions, were with the wounded sitting in the court- 
 yard at the foot of the citadel. Upon these the fanatics 
 rushed, cutting and slashing with their keen tulwars alike 
 at the soldiers who started to their feet, the wounded on the 
 ground, and their own horses, who, mad with terror, were 
 galloping wildly over the courtyard. A series of desperate 
 hand-to-hand conflicts were waged until the last of the 
 Afghans were shot or bayoneted. The walls were cleared 
 with little difficulty, but many soldiers were shot as they 
 passed through the narrow streets of the native town. All 
 resistance ceased at a quarter past five. Thus in two hours 
 and a quarter after the first shot was fired, a fortress deemed 
 impregnable and garrisoned by three thousand five hundred 
 men was captured. 
 
 Ghuznee had been provisioned for six months, and so 
 certain was Mohummed Hyder of the ability of the place to 
 hold out that he had brought with him all the ladies of his 
 zenana. In spite of the desperate nature of the fighting 1 , 
 not one of the Afghans who surrendered was injured, nor 
 was the slightest insult offered to the ladies of the zenana 
 or the women in the native town. The troops who had 
 ascended to the citadel found the gates open, the Afghan 
 prince having lost all hope as soon as he found the lower 
 fortress in possession of the British. He was found hiding
 
 148 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 in disguise, and was brought before Shah Soojah. The 
 latter magnanimously said to him : " What has been has 
 been; you have deserved evil at my hands, but you have 
 this day behaved like a brave man. I forgive thee the 
 past; go in peace." The young prince was then handed over 
 to Sir Alexander Burnes for safe custody. 
 
 The success had been cheaply purchased. Only seventeen 
 non-commissioned officers and privates had been killed, and 
 eighteen officers and a hundred and forty-seven men wounded. 
 Of the Afghans, five hundred and fourteen bodies were 
 buried next day; more than a hundred fugitives were killed 
 outside the walls; upwards of a thousand horses, a great 
 number of camels and mules, vast quantities of provisions, 
 ammunition, and arms fell into the hands of the conquerors, 
 together with more than fifteen hundred prisoners. Over a 
 thousand made their escape. 
 
 At the first outburst of firing Angus had -sprung to his 
 feet; as the fight increased in fury he was certain that a 
 night attack was in progress, and he at once proceeded to 
 drive in the wedges he had prepared. Just as he had com- 
 pleted this he heard the dull roar of the explosion, followed 
 by loud and excited shouts, but the noise of the gale pre- 
 vented him from catching the words. He had no doubt, 
 however, that either the gate had been blown in or that a 
 mine had been driven into the wall, and that the explosion 
 of an immense charge of powder had effected a breach. 
 Then came the sound of a heavy and continuous rattle of 
 musketry. The cannon of the fortress opened fire, while 
 those of the besiegers answered. By the occasional fall of 
 masses of masonry, and the screams of women, he had no 
 doubt that the British artillery were now directing their 
 fire against the citadel, in order to add to the confusion 
 among the defenders of the fortress.
 
 HE TOOK DOWN THE PROP, AND THRUST IT SUDDENLY 
 WITH ALL HIS FORCE THROUGH THE HOLE.
 
 JUST IN TIME 149 
 
 Presently he heard a rush of feet up the staircase, then the 
 bolts of the door were pulled back, and a yell of rage and 
 surprise arose as the door did not yield to the push against 
 it. The staircase was a very narrow one, and but one 
 person could mount at a time. As it terminated at the 
 door, one man only could use his strength against it, and 
 Angus felt perfectly sure that it would need a much greater 
 pressure than this to force it open. He had already propped 
 the plank against it, and stood with his foot at the lower 
 end to prevent it from slipping. The man next to the door, 
 finding that it did not yield, began to hammer with the 
 hilt of his sword, but soon desisted, finding that his blows 
 did not even shake it. There was a confused sound of talk- 
 ing, and then silence for a few minutes; then there was a 
 renewed noise, and a heavy blow was struck at the door. 
 Evidently a large block of wood had been brought up; but 
 this did not greatly alarm Angus. The staircase was a cir- 
 cular one, and at most but two men could work the batter- 
 ing-ram, which on account of the confined space was neces- 
 sarily short. 
 
 This proving unsucessful, there was again silence. After 
 an interval came blows of a sharper sound, an axe of some 
 sort was being used. During the lulls of the wind the sounds 
 of the struggle below could be plainly heard, and as it 
 was now dawn Angus could have seen what was going on 
 had not the loophole been on the opposite side, but from 
 the sharpness of the sound he had no doubt that the firing 
 was in the courtyard, and that his countrymen had effected 
 an entrance. The chopping went on regularly. The door 
 was thick and strong, and it was half an hour before the 
 edge of the axe first showed through it; another five minutes 
 and a hole a foot wide appeared some four feet from the 
 ground, At this rate it would be some time before an
 
 150 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 opening large enough for a man to pass through could be 
 made. He took down the prop, and thrust it suddenly with 
 all his force through the hole, striking the man who was 
 wielding the axe full in the face. 
 
 There was a terrible cry, mingled with yells of rage from 
 the others. Presently a pistol was thrust through the hole 
 and fired; he had expected this, and had stood back. Again 
 and again shots were fired. It was evident that there was 
 an unwillingness on the part of his assailants to try the 
 axe again. Presently he heard a shout from below. The 
 words came up distinctly, " Mohummed Hyder's orders are 
 that the attack is to cease," and Angus felt that he was saved. 
 The prince, indeed, seeing that all was lost, had sent an 
 officer in great haste to put a stop to the attack on his 
 prisoner's cell. He no longer thought of carrying out his 
 former intentions. The British army was not after all an 
 impotent enemy to be insulted, but a victorious one to be 
 appeased, and as soon as he was informed of the attack 
 on his prisoner's cell he had sent off to put a stop to it. It 
 had not been made by his orders, but was the act of the 
 soldiers on the wall near it, who, seeing that the British 
 had entered, had determined to take vengeance upon the 
 captive. 
 
 A few minutes later Angus heard the triumphant cheers 
 of the troops as they poured in through the open gate of 
 the citadel. 
 
 It was another hour before the contest in the courtyard 
 below and on the walls of the fortress came to an end. 
 Shortly afterwards he heard steps approaching, and through 
 the hole in the door saw a British officer coming up the 
 stair; behind him was Azim. 
 
 "I am glad indeed to see you, Campbell," the officer said, 
 as he caught sight of his face. " We had all given you up as 
 dead when we found that none of your escort came back;
 
 JUST IN TIME 151 
 
 but your boy, on questioning the prisoners, found out tbat 
 you were confined here, and came at once to tell me. I 
 see by the state of the door that you have been standing a 
 siege. Are you uninjured?" 
 
 "Yes, my rascally troops seized me suddenly and brought 
 me here. I will tell you about it as soon as I have unfas- 
 tened the door." 
 
 " It is the first time I ever heard of a prison door having 
 bolts on the inside." 
 
 " They are not bolts, as you will see directly." 
 
 It took some minutes to get all the wedges out. Mac- 
 gregor then entered and shook Angus warmly by the hand, 
 while Azim threw himself on his knees, and seizing his 
 master's hand kissed it again and again, tears of joy stream- 
 ing down his cheeks. 
 
 "Where in the world did you get these wedges?" Mac- 
 gregor asked. 
 
 " I cut them out of this plank. It took me all day 
 yesterday to make them and this mallet. How the plank 
 came here I don't know, but it certainly saved my life." 
 
 " That and your wits, Campbell. It was a capital idea, 
 first-rate. I see there is blood on the staircase." 
 
 " The plank came in useful again. I used it as a batter- 
 ing-ram on the fellow who was chopping, and as I caught 
 him full in the face, the blood is accounted for. As you see 
 by the opposite wall, they fired a few shots through the hole 
 afterwards, but of course I took good care to be out of the 
 line of fire." 
 
 " Well, come along. Sir Alexander has been asking about 
 you, but could get no information, and it might have been 
 some time before you were set free had it not been for your 
 boy." 
 
 On going down into the body of the citadel, Angus was 
 most warmly greeted by Sir Alexander Burnes and the other
 
 162 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 officers who knew him, for all supposed that he had been 
 murdered. He explained to. his chief why his life had been 
 spared. 
 
 " You had a narrow escape indeed," the latter said, " for 
 I have no doubt whatever that the Afghan would have 
 carried out his threat had we attacked in a regular way. It 
 is quite in accordance with their barbarous customs. But 
 I certainly wonder that they did not kill you when we 
 entered the fortress." 
 
 Macgregor then told the manner in which Angus had 
 converted his little cell into a fort, and had resisted suc- 
 cessfully the attacks made upon it. 
 
 "A very narrow escape indeed, Mr. Campbell," Sir Alex- 
 ander Burnes said. " It was fortunate indeed that that 
 piece of wood had been left in the cell; but the idea of 
 cutting wedges from it and fastening the door would not 
 have occurred to everyone. It was a most happy thought, 
 and certainly was the means of saving your life. It was a 
 treacherous business indeed of Hajee Khan Kakur, for I 
 have no doubt that he was the concocter of the plot. He 
 has given us the strongest grounds for suspicion ever since 
 we left Candahar, and has continually been making excuses 
 for lagging behind. We have strong reason for believing 
 that if we had failed here, he would at once have turned 
 against us." 
 
 " I do not think he knew of this, sir. When I was seized, 
 the trooper said. 'Do you think that because our chief is a 
 traitor we are traitors too?" 
 
 " These fellows are very crafty, Mr. Campbell, and Hajee 
 has a special reputation that way, having before now turned 
 traitor in spite of promises and vows. He may very well 
 have instructed one of his men to say this, in order that if, 
 contrary to all probability, you ever rejoined the army, he
 
 JUST IN TIME 153 
 
 himself might be shielded by your repeating this speech. 
 We have never put any trust in him since he joined us, 
 though of course it was politic to seem to do so, as other 
 chiefs might follow his example. He was questioned very 
 sharply as to the orders he had given his men when you 
 did not return that afternoon. Of course he swore by the 
 Prophet that he had chosen men in whom he had the 
 greatest confidence, which was, I have no doubt, true. How- 
 ever, as it was possible that you and they might have fallen 
 into an ambush, the matter was dropped for the time. But 
 our suspicions gained ground when, as we came up here, 
 no signs of a fight were discovered, no bodies either of men 
 or horses, and I intended to reopen the matter as soon as 
 things were a little settled down. Well, I can assure you I 
 am heartily glad to see you back again safe and sound, and 
 I shall not fail to report the matter to Sir John Keane, and 
 tell him how cleverly you escaped the fate intended for 
 you." 
 
 The army remained for a week at Ghuznee while prepara- 
 tions were being made for converting the fortress into a 
 base from which further operations could be carried on. It 
 was thought well to pause, so that the full effects of the 
 disaster might be felt throughout the country before the ad- 
 vance began again. The fall of Ghuznee had indeed entirely 
 disarranged the plan of campaign that had been decided 
 upon by Dost Mahomed. The fortress had been provisioned 
 for six months, and it was confidently believed that it could 
 resist all attacks for that time. With the approach of 
 winter, the position of a besieging army would be desperate. 
 The cold would be intense, they would be surrounded on all 
 sides by swarms of fierce tribesmen, would be unable to 
 obtain provisions in the country round, and must either 
 retire through the passes they had ascended, to Candahar,
 
 154 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 or be forced by famine to surrender. In the former case, 
 the disaster that afterwards occurred in endeavouring to 
 retire from Cabul would probably have befallen them. 
 
 This plan was entirely brought to naught by the fall of 
 Ghuznee, and six days later the brother of Dost Mahomed 
 arrived in camp with an offer from the Ameer to surrender 
 the government to Shah Soojah, on condition that he him- 
 self should, as the head of the Barukzyes, fill the hereditary 
 office of wuzeer, or prime minister. As this would have 
 placed the whole power of the state in his hands, the offer 
 was refused, and on the 31st of July the army resumed its 
 march. After three days' march, they learned that the Kuz- 
 zilbashes had mutinied. This body of troops were of Persian 
 descent, and had for very many years formed an important 
 part of the military power of Cabul, and held a position 
 similar to that of the Janizaries of Constantinople and the 
 Mamelukes of Egypt. Under but very slight control, they 
 were constantly causing trouble by their insolence and ex- 
 actions, and they now showed that they entertained no feel- 
 ing either of loyalty or gratitude towards the dynasty which 
 they served. 
 
 In spite of the exhortations of the Ameer, they insisted 
 upon his granting them a discharge from his service, and 
 as it was evident that the news from Ghuznee had so much 
 dispirited the whole army that no reliance whatever could 
 be placed on their fidelity, the unfortunate monarch was 
 obliged to allow the Kuzzilbashes to disband, and the rest 
 of the army to disperse, and to take to the mountains as 
 a fugitive, accompanied only by a small party of personal 
 followers. A force was at once sent in pursuit of him; but 
 as the following of the traitor, Hajee Khan, formed the 
 principal part of this force, the double-faced chief, who 
 desired to make himself safe whatever turn affairs might 
 take, so contrived that Dost Mahomed and his party were
 
 JUST IN TIME 155 
 
 not overtaken. In the meantime the main force marched 
 forward to Cabul wholly unopposed. Twenty-two guns were 
 found abandoned at the spot where the Ameer's army had 
 dispersed. These, placed in a strong defile, and supported 
 by a large force of tribesmen, might have long resisted our 
 advance had the Kuzzilbashes and other Afghan horsemen 
 swept round on our rear, and although British valour might 
 have finally succeeded, it could only have been after a terrible 
 struggle. But now the Ameer was a fugitive, the guns were 
 in our hands, the Kuzzilbashes and native tribesmen had 
 come in to salute their new ruler, and nothing remained but 
 to enter the capital in triumph. 
 
 The entry took place on the 7th of August. The cere- 
 mony was an imposing one. Shah Soojah, after an exile 
 of thirty years, rode at the head of the cortege, on a white 
 charger with golden trappings. He wore a jewelled coronet, 
 his arms and garments were ornamented with precious stones, 
 and his waist encircled with a broad girdle of gold en- 
 crusted with rubies and emeralds. Accompanying him were 
 the commander-in-chief, and Mr. Macnaghten and Sir Alex- 
 ander Burnes, who were in full diplomatic dress. Two of 
 the Shah's sons and a few of the principal chiefs rode be- 
 hind him with a number of staff officers in full uniform. 
 Following him came the army that had performed so long 
 and difficult a march to place him on his throne. The sur- 
 rounding country traversed was rich and fertile in the ex- 
 treme, and almost covered with orchards of peaches and 
 other fruits; under these crops of all sorts grew luxuriantly. 
 On the eminences commanding the plain immense numbers 
 of tribesmen assembled to witness the martial display. 
 
 On entering the city, the victors found the inhabitants 
 clustered in the streets through which they passed to the 
 royal residence in the Bala Hissar, a great citadel situated 
 on a hill commanding the town, and so strongly fortified that
 
 156 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 it would have been difficult to capture it unless by the 
 aid of a regular siege train. The aspect of the inhabitants 
 was perfectly peaceful; there were no shouts or exclama- 
 tions of enthusiasm, but it was evident from the expression 
 of satisfaction on their faces that the majority were well 
 satisfied with the termination of the rule of the Barukzyes, 
 whose exactions had pressed heavily upon them. 
 
 Dost Mahomed himself was popular. He was affable and 
 kindly in disposition; his decisions on all matters brought 
 before him were just and fair; he was accessible to all 
 having complaints to bring before him; and had he possessed 
 a body of trustworthy infantry to overawe the marauding 
 Kuzzilbashes and the semi-independent chiefs, there can be 
 no doubt that his rule would have been a wise and beneficial 
 one. Shah Soojah was the reverse of his rival. Haughty 
 and arrogant, he regarded and treated with contempt his 
 new subjects, seldom granted audience, or troubled himself 
 in any way with their affairs, rarely went abroad, and re- 
 mained in almost constant seclusion in his palace. 
 
 The shops of Cabul excited the admiration of the officers 
 and men of the British force. Probably nowhere else in 
 the world could such a display of fruit have been collected. 
 Here were piles of peaches equal to the finest product of 
 English hothouses, grapes of five varieties, rosy apples, 
 juicy pears, several delicious kinds of melons, almonds, 
 pistachio nuts, walnuts, quinces, cherries, and red and white 
 mulberries, and vegetables of all kinds. The butchers' shops 
 were cleanly and well arranged; there were public ovens, 
 in which loaves, and the cakes of which the Afghans are 
 extremely fond, were baking when the force entered. In 
 the potters' shops were jars and drinking vessels of all 
 kinds; Afghan, Persian, and Russian cloths, cloaks, furs of 
 many kinds, sets of china and Dresden porcelain in the 
 shops of the wealthier traders; and behind these open shops
 
 JUST IN TIME 157 
 
 were inner apartments with very fine and costly shawls, 
 silks, precious stones, valuable carpets, and tea imported 
 by way of Bokhara. Conspicuous were the shops of manu- 
 facturers of swords and daggers, and makers of scabbards 
 and belts, shields and chain armour, and even of book- 
 binders, who manufactured covers for manuscript copies of 
 Persian poems and stories. Unfortunately for the moral of 
 the army, there were also manufactories of spirits. Since 
 leaving Candahar no spirit rations had been served out, and 
 the troops had greatly benefited in health during their ardu- 
 ous work by the privation, but the power to purchase vile 
 spirits at a very low price now tempted many into drinking 
 to intoxication, and lowered at once their health and dis- 
 cipline. 
 
 Mr. Macnaghten and his staff had a fine building in the 
 Bala Hissar allotted to them. Sir Alexander Burnes with 
 his assistants occupied a house in the city. The position of 
 Burnes was an unsatisfactory one. He had a right to 
 expect that after his previous residence in Cabul he would 
 be appointed British resident there, and he had only ac- 
 cepted a secondary position upon the understanding that 
 Macnaghten's appointment was a temporary one. He had 
 on the way up rendered much valuable assistance, but he 
 had no strictly defined duties. His opinion was seldom 
 asked, and if given, was wholly disregarded. For this he 
 was himself somewhat to blame. His temperament was a 
 changeable one. At times he was full of enthusiasm and 
 saw everything in the rosiest light; at other times he was 
 depressed and despondent, and came to be regarded as a 
 prophet of evil. Having no serious work to occupy his mind, 
 he worried over trifles, exaggerated the importance of the 
 bazaar rumours, and was often filled with the gloomiest 
 anticipations. 
 
 The war had been undertaken altogether in opposition to
 
 158 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 his advice. He had been most favourably impressed with 
 Dost Mahomed, and his remonstrances against the attempt 
 to force Shah Soojah on the Afghans had been so strong and 
 persistent, that the home government, in defending them- 
 selves from the public indignation excited by subsequent 
 disaster, even went the length of suppressing some of his 
 despatches and garbling others, after he was no longer alive 
 to proclaim the falsification. 
 
 Once at Cabul, his opportunities for doing useful service 
 came to an end. Macnaghten, who was always sanguine to 
 an extent that, in the light of subsequent events, seemed 
 to border on insanity, was all-powerful with the new Ameer. 
 The expression of any opinion which ran counter to his own 
 was in the highest degree distasteful to him, and it was 
 only in negotiations for the supply of the troops, and with 
 the petty chiefs, that Burnes and his staff found any em- 
 ployment. 
 
 Although Pushtoo was the language of the country-people 
 who came in with goods, the inhabitants of Cabul almost 
 universally spoke Persian, and Angus Campbell and Azim 
 found themselves quite at home among them. 
 
 On the 3rd of September, a force under Colonel Wade, 
 which had advanced through the Khyber Pass, arrived at 
 Cabul. It was a mixed body composed principally of 
 Pathans and Sikhs. It had met with comparatively small 
 resistance, but had rendered valuable service, as a large force 
 had been detached from Dost Mahomed's army to oppose 
 its advance, and thus greatly weakened the army with which 
 the Ameer had intended to meet the British advance from 
 Candahar. The Afghan force had been recalled in haste 
 after the news of the fall of Ghuznee, but had not arrived 
 until after the disbandment of the Ameer's army and his 
 flight to the Bamian Pass, when it had also broken up, and 
 Wade was therefore able to reach Cabul without opposition.
 
 JUST IN TIME 159 
 
 It was now necessary to decide what should be done with 
 the army of occupation. Macnaghten was pressing by a 
 constant succession of letters that large reinforcements 
 should be sent up in order to win back for Shah Soojah the 
 territories that had once formed part of the Afghan empire. 
 He urged that in order to check Russian aggression an army 
 should not only occupy Herat, but should extend its opera- 
 tions until it became paramount at Bokhara; while, on the 
 other hand, Peshawur and the territory wrested from Afghan- 
 istan by the Sikhs should be reconquered, and the Sikh 
 nation, which was becoming more and more hostile to us, 
 should be brought into subjection. But fortunately Lord 
 Auckland, now freed from the pernicious influence of Mac- 
 naghten and surrounded by discreet counsellors, was by no 
 means disposed to turn a favourable ear to these fantastic 
 projects. The cost of the army of occupation was a heavy 
 drain on the revenue of India, and so far from any assist- 
 ance being rendered by Afghanistan, Shah Soojah was con- 
 stantly clamouring for subsidies to enable him to maintain 
 his position. The absence of so many troops was also much 
 felt in India, for they were greatly needed on the frontiers 
 of the Beloochees as well as those of the Sikhs. Macnaghten 
 had so persistently asserted that Shah Soojah was personally 
 popular with the Afghans, that it was decided that only a 
 comparatively small force was needed to uphold his author- 
 ity in case Dost Mahomed should make an effort to recover 
 his throne, and orders were given that the greater portion 
 of the Bombay army should march down through the Kojuk 
 and Bolan Passes, and most of the Bengal troops through 
 the Khyber, leaving some six regiments, with a proportion 
 of artillery, at Cabul, with garrisons at Ghuznee, Candahar, 
 Quettah, and Jellalabad. 
 
 Macnaghten in vain remonstrated and entreated. It was 
 settled that the movement should begin at the end of Sep-
 
 160 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 tember, so that the troops could regain the plains before 
 winter set in in earnest. September passed quietly. The 
 climate at this time was perfect, and the troops enjoyed the 
 rest, with the abundance of fruit and vegetables. There 
 were reviews and races. Shah Soojah established an order 
 of knighthood, and held a grand durbar, at which the princi- 
 pal officers were invested, with great ceremony, with the 
 insignia of the new order. On the 18th of the month the 
 Bombay column started on its march, but news having been 
 brought down from the force that had occupied the Bamian 
 Pass, that Dost Mahomed was collecting a formidable army, 
 the authorities were induced to maintain a great portion 
 of the Bengal force round Cabul. Great difficulties arose 
 with reference to provisioning these troops through the 
 winter. There was abundant accommodation for them in the 
 Bala Hissar and its citadel, but Shah Soojah strongly ob- 
 jected to the presence of a large body of troops there. Mac- 
 naghten, with his usual weakness, gave way. 
 
 On the 15th of October Sir John Keane, with that portion 
 of the Bengal force that was to return, set out. The Ameer 
 left two days later, to spend the winter in the more genial 
 climate of Jellalabad, and Macnaghten accompanied him. 
 Sanguine as he was, he could not help feeling uneasy at 
 the situation. The British occupation had greatly benefited 
 the merchants and traders, the farmers and cultivators of 
 Cabul, but it had seriously injured the poorer portion of 
 the community. The natural result of so large an army, well 
 supplied with money, being stationed in the city, was to 
 raise the price of all articles of consumption prodigiously, 
 and to cause wide-spread discontent. The exactions of the 
 native tax-collectors pressed heavily upon all the tribesmen. 
 The British officers, by the terms of the treaty with Shah 
 Soojah, were unable to interefere in any way with the in- 
 ternal affairs of the country; but when the natives revolted
 
 A MISSION 161 
 
 against the unjust exactions it was they who were called 
 upon to suppress them, consequently the infidel supporters 
 of the Ameer became more and more hated by the people, 
 and it was soon dangerous for them to go beyond the limits 
 of their camps. The Ameer himself resented the state of 
 subjection in which he considered that he was held, though 
 he could not dispense with British bayonets and British 
 money. Macnaghten left behind him experienced adminis- 
 trators. Burnes, Conolly, Leech, Todd, and Lord had all 
 long acquaintance with the country, and if anyone could, 
 under such circumstances, have reconciled the country to 
 foreign occupation, they would have done so. 
 
 CHAPTEK X 
 
 A MISSION 
 
 iT WISH that we had trustworthy news of what Dost 
 -i- Mahomed is doing," Sir Alexander Burnes said one 
 morning when he and his assistants were talking over the 
 work for the day. " Of course one hears from the Hindoo 
 merchants what rumours are circulating, but these are so 
 contradictory that they are not to be relied upon. One 
 day it is said that Dost has retired to Bokhara, another 
 that he has already gathered a formidable force. It is 
 certain that if he does not recross the Bamian soon he will 
 not give us any trouble till the spring, for I doubt whether 
 even the Afghans, hardy as they are, could traverse the 
 passes when winter has fairly set in. Still, it would be 
 very useful to us to obtain some sort of inkling as to what 
 his movements and intentions are. He may intend to make 
 a bold stroke to recover his kingdom, he may wait until 
 
 (M807) L
 
 162 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 there is a popular rising here. In the first case, our force 
 here must be maintained at the present strength, and it 
 would be well to warn Lord Auckland as soon as possible 
 that next spring its strength must be increased rather than 
 diminished. If, on the other hand, Dost depends upon a 
 rising here rather than upon any force he may himself 
 gather, there will be no occasion for more troops than we 
 have, for these should suffice to crush any tribal rising." 
 
 " I should be happy to undertake the mission if you 
 would confide it to me, sir," Angus said. " I travelled as 
 a Persian without exciting suspicion, and I can do the same 
 again. I might obtain a couple of horse-loads of Indian 
 silk and cashmere goods, and travel as a Persian trader who 
 has been settled here, but who, fearing that fresh dis- 
 turbances might occur, had decided to make a trip himself 
 to Bokhara with a view of establishing himself there. I 
 see all trade is at present at a stand-still, as the northern 
 traders dare not venture down here. The fact that I can 
 also speak Pushtoo will, of course, be an advantage, and 
 would seem to show that I had, as I gave out, resided here 
 for some time." 
 
 "It would be a dangerous enterprise, Mr. Campbell." 
 
 " There would be a certain amount of danger in it, sir, 
 but not, it seems to me, excessive not more than I met in 
 my journey from Herat. There is danger, as you have 
 frequently said, even here; and at any rate, I am ready to 
 take all risks if you think that the mission would be of 
 utility." 
 
 " That it would certainly be, and I admit that no one 
 would be more likely to carry it to a successful conclusion, 
 but I fear that it would be impossible for you to return 
 before the spring." 
 
 "I do not think that I could return across the moun- 
 tains, but I might dispose of my goods to the Turkomans.
 
 A MISSION 163 
 
 From what we hear, Dost Mahomed is either at Balkh or 
 Kunduz, or possibly Tashkurgan, half-way between them. 
 Balkh would, of course, be more convenient, for it is but 
 a couple of days' journey to Kilif, on the other side of the 
 Oxus. There I might dispose of my goods, and buy carpets 
 and shawls of Bokhara; and then travel across the plains 
 to Herat; thence, by the trade route, to Candahar; and so 
 back through Ghuznee. That would, of course, be a long 
 journey, but there would be no very lofty passes to traverse. 
 I need hardly say that I should not enter Herat, as I might 
 be recognized there; but there would be no fear of recogni- 
 tion elsewhere. As my servant is really a Persian, and 
 has also picked up Pushtoo, he would greatly aid me in 
 preserving my disguise. At any rate, I would rather be 
 doing something than remaining here idle through the 
 winter." 
 
 " Then I accept your offer, Mr. Campbell. The informa- 
 tion you would give as to the feeling of the people on the 
 other side of the mountains would be invaluable. I will 
 myself question one or two of the Hindoo merchants as to 
 the goods that are generally sent to Bokhara. I know, of 
 course, that the bulk of that trade with India is carried on 
 through Candahar and Herat, but it would be natural that 
 a trader residing here and wishing to leave should prefer 
 the direct route, however toilsome it might be. I should 
 say easy loads for three animals would be sufficient, and as 
 the merchandise would be of light materials, a considerable 
 value could be carried by three horses. You will need a 
 fourth for a small stock of provisions, for you will have to 
 depend on yourselves until you are on the other side of the 
 passes. You will require two men to look after the four 
 horses. I will obtain two soldiers from one of the Pathan 
 regiments. It would be dangerous for you to hire a man 
 in the city; I will get a couple of men of approved fidelity.
 
 164 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 They will, of course, be in native dres3, and will pass as 
 peasants hired for the journey by you. Four of you, well 
 armed, should be able to give a good account of yourselves 
 if you should fall in with any small party of freebooters, 
 though that is more likely to happen on your return journey 
 than on your way across the hills." 
 
 " Thank you, sir." 
 
 "Well, to-day is Monday; it will take two or three days 
 to make all the preparations and get the sort of men you 
 require. Would you be ready to start on Thursday ? " 
 
 " Certainly, sir. As far as I and my man are concerned, 
 we should be ready to start at a moment's notice, as there 
 will be no difficulty in buying the clothes we require." 
 
 " Very well, then, it shall be settled for Thursday. I 
 know I need not tell you to warn your servant to maintain 
 absolute secrecy as to the fact that you are leaving the 
 town." 
 
 Azim was greatly pleased when Angus told him of the 
 intended expedition, for, having few duties to perform, he 
 had found the time hang heavily on his hands, and was 
 glad to hear that he was not to spend the long winter at 
 Cabul. He purchased in the bazaars all the garments for 
 his master and himself high boots lined with fur, and 
 cloaks of thick cloth similarly lined, and Afghan hats of 
 black lamb's wool. 
 
 On Wednesday evening Sir Alexander Burnes said to 
 Angus: "It is just as well that you did not make your 
 start this morning, for there has been a sharp skirmish on 
 the road ten miles off between a squadron of our cavalry 
 and a party of Afghan horse. I hear the fellows fought 
 well, but were driven off with considerable loss. I have 
 seen the two men who have been selected to accompany you, 
 they have both been some time in our service. Their colonel 
 spoke highly to me of them. I explained to them the nature
 
 THERE, LYING CLOSE UNDER A ROCK, WAS A 
 YOUNG AFGHAN.
 
 A MISSION 165 
 
 of the duty on which they were going, and gave them the 
 option of declining it, but said that if they carried it through 
 successfully they would on their return receive a present 
 of six months' pay and would at once be promoted. They 
 accepted without hesitation, and I feel certain that you can 
 rely upon them. They were recruited from the border tribes, 
 which have ever held themselves independent of the Afghan 
 factions, and have no sympathy whatever either with the Kuz- 
 zilbashes or Soojah himself, and care not a snap who rules 
 over Afghanistan. If questioned, their story will be that 
 they came up as camp followers with Colonel Wade's force, 
 and that on arriving at Cabul their work with the army 
 was at an end, and they took service with the Persian trader. 
 All the goods and packs have been marked in Persian char- 
 acters, with the prices they would fetch in Persia, and those 
 at which they would probably sell at Bokhara; so that you 
 will know how to carry on your trading without exciting 
 suspicion either by asking too little or by demanding an 
 unusual price. Each man will lead two horses, and I have 
 provided rough ponies for them to ride. I think you will 
 find that no detail has been neglected. I have had a thou- 
 sand rupees sewn up in the saddle of your horse. I sent 
 for one of the cavalry saddlers, and your man showed him 
 which was your saddle. Another five hundred are sewn in 
 the saddle of your servant in case of mishap. Here is a 
 letter to Lieutenant Mackenzie, who commands the troop 
 of horse artillery which is at Bamian with the Ameer's 
 Ghoorka regiment. You may be questioned there, so with- 
 out giving him any details I have simply requested him to 
 allow the bearer and his party to pass on without question 
 or interference." 
 
 The start was not made from the house of Sir Alexander 
 Burnes, but from that of the Hindoo merchant from whom 
 goods had been purchased. As there was nothing unusual in
 
 166 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 a trader starting with some horse-loads of merchandise, 
 no attention was attracted, and the party crossed the plain 
 four miles farther up, and skirted the foot of the mountains 
 until they reached the gorge through which the track for 
 it could not be called a road led over the mountains to 
 Bamian. They had decided to camp here, but they found 
 that it was the scene of the previous day's combat. Dead 
 horses and men were scattered about, and it was evident 
 that the Afghans had been lying in ambush here, aware 
 that at times parties of our cavalry rode some distance up 
 the pass. They determined to go half a mile farther up 
 the gorge, as there was no danger of disturbance by the 
 Afghans, who, after their defeat on the previous day, were 
 not likely to be in the neighbourhood. 
 
 After proceeding a quarter of a mile Angus, who was 
 riding ahead, suddenly stopped his horse, hearing a deep 
 groan. As the ground was strewn with rocks on either side 
 of the track, he concluded at once that some poor fellow 
 had crawled away to die, unnoticed by our cavalry return- 
 ing from pursuit. Knowing what tortures he must be suffer- 
 ing from thirst he dismounted, and filling a pannikin from 
 one of the skins, he bade Azim bring some fruit, and then 
 made his way to the spot from which the sound proceeded. 
 There, lying close under a rock, was a young Afghan, whose 
 clothes showed that he was a chief of some rank. His eyes 
 were closed, his face pallid and drawn, his lips black and 
 cracked with thirst. Angus knelt beside him, and poured 
 a few drops of water between his lips. This he repeated 
 again and again. 
 
 The wounded man opened his eyes with a deep exclamation 
 of thankfulness. Then his face darkened, and he said: 
 "You meant kindly, good friend, but you have done me a 
 cruel service. The worst had passed; I had sunk into un-
 
 A MISSION 167 
 
 consciousness, and should have passed into Paradise with- 
 out more pain." 
 
 " Where are you wounded ? " Angus asked. " Perhaps we 
 can do something for you." 
 
 The Afghan slightly shook his head. "Nothing can be 
 done for me," he said. " I have a musket-ball in my shoulder, 
 and my right leg is broken above the knee." 
 
 "At any rate we can make you comfortable. We were 
 going to camp a short way ahead, but we will now do so 
 here." 
 
 " May Allah bless you, but it would be better to leave me 
 to die at once." 
 
 "That I cannot do. Now, have a good drink of water, 
 and then I will cut a melon into pieces for you to suck 
 while we are preparing our camp." 
 
 The horses' loads were removed and the animals turned 
 loose to graze on the grass growing among the rocks. Then 
 the tent was erected and the Afghan carried into the shade 
 of a high rock close by. By this time he was able to speak 
 more strongly, and said : " You are Persian, I see, by your 
 dress. How comes it that you have entered this lonely 
 gorge with your pack-horses and your goods ? " 
 
 " We are going to make our road to Bokhara. There are 
 rumours of disaffection in Cabul, and if there is fighting 
 the houses of the traders will be looted. Therefore I re- 
 solved to leave while I could, and am taking my Indian 
 goods for sale there." 
 
 "It will be a terrible journey," the young chief said. 
 " There is already snow in the upper passes. I wish you 
 success. I shall think of your kindness as I lie here, and 
 pray Allah to protect you. Before you go I pray you to 
 carry me down to the edge of this stream, so that I may 
 drink when I wilL"
 
 168 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 "We will certainly do that, and give you a supply of 
 fruit if we can do no better. Now we must look and see 
 to your wounds. I can at least bandage them, and make 
 you somewhat easier." 
 
 To his surprise Angus found no wounds in the leg. " I 
 see no bullet mark," he said. 
 
 " No, the leg was broken in my fall. My men had 
 fought well, but the Feringees were too strong for them, 
 and we fled. I was riding in their rear, when a shot struck 
 me in the shoulder. I fell from my horse, and when I 
 found that my leg was broken I felt my end was at hand; 
 but I heard no more shots nor any further sound of galloping 
 horses, and I knew that by Allah's mercy they had ceased 
 their pursuit. My horse had g'alloped on after the others, 
 and my men might not notice that I had fallen until they 
 had gone some distance, when they would probably conclude 
 that I had been killed. I managed to crawl out of the road 
 to the shelter of that rock where you found me, as the 
 infidels might come up in the morning, and I would rather 
 die quietly there than be shot down." 
 
 " They would not have injured you," Angus said. " They 
 kill many in battle, but it is a rule with them never to 
 touch an injured man; and had they come along they would 
 have taken you back to their camp and have done all they 
 could for you." 
 
 " I have heard that they were strange in that respect ; 
 but I did not think of it my only wish was to die quietly 
 and alone. I tried several times to crawl to the stream, 
 but the agony was so great that I could not do it." 
 
 Angus while he was speaking was feeling the limb. " The 
 first thing to do," he said, " is to bring the ends of the bone 
 together; the operation will be painful, but it will greatly 
 relieve your sufferings."
 
 A MISSION 169 
 
 " Do as you will, stranger ; Allah has sent you to my side, 
 and what you do must be right." 
 
 " In the first place, I must prepare some splints to keep it 
 in its place." 
 
 Leaving the Afghan, Angus searched among the bushes 
 until he found a shrub which was thick enough for the pur- 
 pose. He and Azim with their knives cut this down near the 
 root, and then divided it into lengths, split each of these 
 and smoothed the pieces until they were perfectly even. 
 He then tore off several long strips of cloth to form bandages, 
 and calling to the two men, he returned to the wounded 
 Afghan. The patient was lifted into another position, where 
 he could place his left foot against a rock. 
 
 l< Now, chief," Angus said, " you must with that leg pre- 
 vent yourself from being pulled forward; my servant will 
 hold you round the body, so as to aid you; the other two 
 men will take hold of your right leg and pull it, while as 
 soon as it is sufficiently stretched I shall press the broken 
 ends into their position. I am afraid that the pain will be 
 very severe, but you will be much easier afterwards. At 
 present the ends of the bones are tearing your flesh." 
 
 "An Afghan can bear pain," the chief said quietly; "do 
 as you will." 
 
 "Now," Angus said to the soldiers, "take a firm hold 
 above the ankle, and draw as steadily and quietly as you 
 can, but with all your strength." 
 
 The resistance of the muscles was so great that it was 
 only by exercising their utmost power that the men got 
 them to yield. At last Angus felt the end of the bone on 
 which he was pressing suddenly slip into its place. Then 
 for the first time he looked round. No sound had escaped 
 the Afghan's lips, but the agony had been so intense that he 
 had fainted.
 
 170 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 " Now, give me a long bandage, Azim ; you need not hold 
 him any longer. Double up a cloak or something and lift 
 him and put it under him, so that I can pass the bandage 
 round and round." 
 
 First a wad of thick material soaked in water was placed 
 round the leg at the point qf the fracture, and then band- 
 age was added to bandage, until the limb down to the knee 
 was surrounded by a casing half an inch thick; then the 
 splints were applied, some reaching only down to the knee, 
 others to the ankle. These were held in their place by the 
 three assistants, while Angus again firmly bandaged them. 
 The operation being completed, he dashed some water on the 
 Afghan's face. The latter soon opened his eyes. 
 
 " It is all over, chief ; the bones are in their place again, and 
 if all goes well, in time the ends may knit firmly together." 
 
 " It is easier already," the chief said gratefully. " I no 
 longer feel as if an evil spirit from Eblis were torturing me 
 with a hot iron." 
 
 " I will now see to your shoulder. The wound has ceased 
 bleeding; therefore I shall but sponge it with cold water and 
 put a bandage on in case it should break out afresh." 
 
 This was soon done. Some cloths soaked in water were 
 laid over the bandage, then some more fruit was given to 
 the wounded man, and he was left in the shade, and the men 
 set about cooking a meal. Angus from time to time went 
 across to see him, and had the satisfaction in the evening of 
 finding that he had fallen asleep. 
 
 " Now, Azim," he said when he returned, " the next thing 
 to do is to settle what is to be done with him." 
 
 "I have been wondering that ever since we found him, 
 master." 
 
 " There is a choice of two things : one is that I mount 
 my horse, ride back to Cabul, report having found a wounded 
 man, and ask that a party with a stretcher may be sent
 
 A MISSION 171 
 
 out to fetch him in early in the morning; the other is to 
 take him on with us." 
 
 Azim looked in surprise. "That would be very difficult, 
 master." 
 
 "No doubt it would be difficult, but I think it might be 
 done. There is no doubt that from his dress and appear- 
 ance, and from the fact that he speaks excellent Persian, 
 he is a chief of considerable standing. In that case his 
 friendship might be invaluable to us, both on our way down 
 to the frontier, and possibly in the future, which Sir Alex- 
 ander Burnes regards as very threatening. It would be worth 
 while, therefore, to make some sacrifice to carry him down 
 to his friends. I would not do it if I thought the journey 
 would harm him, but I believe the cold air of the mountains 
 would be vastly better for him than the heat of the plains 
 round Cabul. He may suffer somewhat from jolting, but I 
 think that we can obviate that if we cut two strong poles 
 about fifteen feet long, attach them to the pack-saddles of 
 two horses, and by securely fastening a blanket between 
 them make a hammock, in which he can ride comfortably. 
 The poles would be elastic enough to save sudden jolts; we 
 can only go at a foot's pace in these passes, and these native 
 horses are so sure-footed that I think the chance of any 
 accident is extremely slight. The horses are but lightly 
 weighted, and as the provisions are consumed we can move 
 a portion of the weight they carry to the one who takes our 
 food." 
 
 " Yes, that would be a good plan, master." 
 " Another advantage of it would be," Angus went on, 
 " that whereas he would chafe at being in a hospital in care 
 of the people he hates, his spirits would naturally rise as he 
 felt that he was returning to his friends, and this would 
 hasten his recovery. However, I will put the question to 
 him in the morning. If he decides upon being kept in ca^np,
 
 172 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 I will send you back with a letter to Sir Alexander Burnes 
 for stretcher-bearers, and you will easily overtake us at our 
 camping-place to-morrow evening." 
 
 In the morning the young chief was better than Angus 
 had even hoped for. Once or twice during the night fresh 
 water had been poured gently over the bandages on the 
 wounded shoulder. Like all people living chiefly in the open 
 air, accustomed to climbing, and to hard exercise, the Af- 
 ghans suffer less from wounds than Europeans do. Abstemious 
 in their habits, comparatively small meat-eaters, lithe and 
 sinewy in their figures, they speedily recover from wounds 
 unless of a mortal nature. Angus found that the chief's 
 forehead and hands were cool, and there were no signs of 
 fever setting in. 
 
 " I have been thinking over what would be best for you, 
 and decided to leave the choice to yourself. I am acquainted 
 with Burnes Sahib, and if I send my servant with a letter 
 I know that he will at once send out a party to carry you 
 into hospital, where you will be well cared for." 
 
 " I would rather die than accept kindness at their hands,'' 
 the Afghan said firmly. 
 
 "In that case there seems no other course but for me to 
 construct a litter between two of my pack-horses, and to 
 carry you over the mountains to Kundur." 
 
 " And would you thus burden yourself with a stranger ? " 
 the Afghan asked in a tone of great surprise. 
 
 " Certainly I would for a wounded stranger," Angus said ; 
 " but I do not think that there will be any great trouble, 
 and I will try to make the journey as easy for you as 
 possible." He then explained how he intended to carry him. 
 The face of the wounded man lit up. He had permitted 
 Angus to set his limb because he believed it was destiny 
 that had sent him to his aid. He felt sure that the man 
 who had taken such trouble with him would leave a store of
 
 A. MISSION 173 
 
 provisions within his reach, and that possibly some of the 
 natives might come along and carry him to their village, 
 and so tend him until his strength was restored. It was 
 but a faint hope, for now that winter was approaching the 
 men from the upper villages would have come down into 
 the plain, and the chances were but slight that any would 
 enter the gorge. His hope rested chiefly in the belief that, 
 as he had been so unexpectedly saved from death, his final 
 deliverance would also be effected; but that this kind trader 
 should offer to carry him up the passes had never entered 
 his mind, and his pale cheek flushed with pleasure. 
 
 " Certainly I will go with you if you will take me," he 
 said joyfully ; " nobly indeed do you carry out the precept 
 of the Prophet, to be compassionate to all those who need 
 it." 
 
 " Let us say no more about it, chief. It will be a pleasure 
 to me to see you grow stronger, and I doubt not that the 
 mountain air will benefit you greatly, and I shall have my 
 reward in seeing you regaining your strength. We have 
 meat with us, but it will be better for you to take fruit and 
 a little bread." 
 
 Two soldiers were sent out, and presently returned with 
 poles of the desired length and thickness. Breakfast was 
 then eaten. Afterwards the poles, a long blanket having 
 been firmly lashed between them, were securely fastened 
 against the horses' flanks under their burdens. In this way 
 a hammock was formed in which, while the body and legs 
 were below the level of the poles, the head was somewhat 
 above them. A cloak was rolled up to make a pillow, and 
 the chief was then gently lifted and laid in it. 
 
 They started at daybreak, rested in the shade for three 
 or four hours in the middle of the day, and then continued 
 their journey till late in the evening. After two days' travel 
 the halt was no longer necessary, for they were now far
 
 174 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 above the level of the plain. The air was fresh during the 
 day, and at night all were glad to cover themselves with 
 their long coats lined with sheep-skin. 
 
 Angus had made no attempt to discover the position of 
 the ball in the shoulder of the wounded chief. Even if he 
 found it, he had neither the instruments nor the skill neces- 
 sary for its removal. The only thing he could do was to 
 keep the cloths bathed with cold water to prevent inflamma- 
 tion setting in. 
 
 The track they were following sometimes disappeared alto- 
 gether, and Angus often congratulated himself upon having 
 the young chief with him, for the latter had twice before 
 crossed the mountains, and was able to tell him which line 
 to take. The day's journey varied much in length, being 
 from fifteen to twenty-five miles, according as they found 
 a suitable halting-place. They always camped where there 
 was water, emptying the skins and filling them afresh as 
 often as possible. At times the ground was covered with 
 snow. This they thawed in a pot over a fire of brushwood, 
 of which they were careful to gather some at every oppor- 
 tunity on the day's march. 
 
 The chief and Angus occupied the little tent, while Azim 
 slept with the two soldiers in a shelter composed of blankets. 
 Every day there was a visible improvement in the state of 
 the wounded man; the cool air acted as a tonic to his 
 system. The first two or three days his arm pained him 
 a good deal, though he had never once complained of it. 
 It was kept bound to his side, and by means of splints and 
 bandages the shoulder was held in its natural position; more 
 than this Angus had not attempted. He believed that the 
 shoulder was broken, but even of this he was not sure, and 
 could only hope that the bone would knit together itself. 
 One day, however, in reply to his questions the Afghan ad- 
 mitted that he felt a burning pain just over the left shoulder,
 
 A MISSION 175 
 
 and feeling, Angus perceived a hard substance apparently 
 but a short distance under the skin. 
 
 "There is no doubt that this is the ball," he said. "A 
 surgeon would cut down upon it, and get it out easily 
 enough." 
 
 " Then why do you not do it ? you seem very skilful." 
 
 " I have had no practice," he said. " My father was a 
 trader of Tabriz. He was a good man and very much re- 
 spected. The poor often came to him in cases of accidents, 
 and I have many a time seen him bandage broken limbs, 
 that is why I was able to do it; but of bullet wounds I 
 know nothing." 
 
 " Take my dagger and cut down to it at once ; the pain 
 of a cut is nothing. Cut fearlessly and deeply, so that you 
 can take hold of the ball with your fingers." 
 
 After some hesitation Angus agreed to do so, for, by the 
 pain it was causing, the bullet might set up inflammation. 
 
 " It is a mere nothing," the Afghan said. " I have fre- 
 quently cut out bullets from my tribesmen." 
 
 The chief's dagger was as keen as a razor, and seeing 
 that his patient really wished it, Angus performed the opera- 
 tion. He had to cut three times before he could manage 
 to get hold of the bullet. The Afghan himself did not once 
 flinch. 
 
 " That is well," he said, when the ball was extracted. 
 " Now, bring the edges together again, put a piece of wet 
 rag over them, and then tie a bandage tightly round me; 
 by the end of a week there will be nothing but a scar re- 
 maining." 
 
 Two days later they arrived at Bamian. As they entered 
 the little town a native officer of a Ghoorka regiment came 
 out and demanded their business. For the first time Angus 
 was unable to give an answer in the language in which 
 he was addressed. Knowing, however, the purport of the
 
 176 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 question, he showed his letter to Lieutenant Mackenzie. 
 The native was unable to read English, but called to an 
 English artilleryman, who at once came up. On seeing 
 the letter he motioned to the pretended trader to follow 
 him, and conducted him to the house where Lieutenant 
 Mackenzie lodged. 
 
 " There is a man outside who has a letter for you, sir," 
 he said saluting. 
 
 "An Englishman?' 
 
 " No, sir, one of these traders, I think. He has some 
 horses with packs, and he has a wounded or dead man in a 
 litter." 
 
 " Show him in." 
 
 Angus on entering said in Persian, " My orders are to 
 deliver this letter to you when alone, sir." 
 
 The lieutenant signed to two orderlies, to whom he had 
 at the time been giving orders, and Angus then went on in 
 English : " You do not remember me, Lieutenant Mackenzie. 
 I am Angus Campbell, on the staff of Sir Alexander Burnes.'' 
 
 " Oh, yes, I remember you now," the officer said, rising 
 and shaking him by the hand. " Of course we have met 
 many times, but in that Persian dress I did not know you 
 again. I suppose you have come to see how we are getting 
 on?" 
 
 "No. I am on a mission across the mountains to see 
 what Dost Mahomed is really doing there, as you will see 
 by this letter." 
 
 The officer glanced through it. " I see you do not want 
 the natives here there are not many of them to be asking 
 any questions. Let me see. We are pretty closely packed, 
 as you may imagine. I could give you a room here, but 
 that would hardly do." 
 
 "No, it would not do at all," Angus said. "It would 
 appear strange indeed to the natives if you were to so
 
 A MISSION 177 
 
 honour a travelling merchant. I can do very well without 
 a room, for I have a tent that I have used on my journey. 
 All I wish is that you give an order that we shall not be 
 in any way interfered with." 
 
 " That I can do easily enough, and will put a sentry over 
 your encampment with orders that no one is to enter into 
 conversation with your followers." 
 
 " Thank you ; that is just what I desire." 
 
 "I hear that one of your men is ill, can anything be 
 done for him? We have a doctor with us, and you could 
 leave the man in hospital, and he could either make his 
 way back when cured, or follow you though I doubt 
 whether that would be possible, as the passes will soon be 
 completely blocked with snow. As soon as we are sure 
 of this we shall return to Cabul, so we are looking forward 
 eagerly, as you may imagine, for the news that they have 
 become impassable." 
 
 " Thank you. The man met with an accident by falling 
 from his horse, but I doctored him as well as I could, and 
 I think in another day or two he will be able to sit a horse; 
 and as he knows the passes, I must keep him with me, for 
 already the paths are in many cases obliterated by snow, 
 and I should fare badly indeed without him." 
 
 " Yes, I see that. How long are you going to stay here ? " 
 
 " I shall start again the day after to-morrow. It is most 
 important that I should push on, for the passes may be 
 closed any day. I will give the horses and men one day's 
 rest, that is all that I can afford now. I will say good-bye, 
 for it would not do for you to be seen speaking to me again." 
 
 "No, I suppose it would not do for you to come here, 
 but I will after dark to-night come down and have a 
 chat with you. I have had no news from Cabul for the 
 last fortnight. There would be no harm in that, would 
 there?" 
 
 (M 807) H
 
 178 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 "No; I should be very glad if you would come in that 
 way." 
 
 Half an hour later the tents were erected, and two sen- 
 tries were placed near them to warn off all intruders. An- 
 gus went into the little town, and made some purchases 
 from three small traders who had remained there, and had 
 been well rewarded for doing so by the prices they obtained 
 from the troops for their stores. Lieutenant Mackenzie, on 
 his arrival, had ordered them to send all the liquor they 
 had to his quarters, telling them that unless they agreed to 
 this they would not be allowed to remain, and promising 
 that the liquor should be returned to them when the troops 
 left. Their stores were almost exhausted, but Angus was 
 able to purchase some rice, a pot of ghee, and a sack of 
 grain for the horses. At eight o'clock Mackenzie came 
 down. Sadut Khan had been apprised of the intended visit, 
 and had willingly consented to be carried for the time into 
 the other tent, so that Angus had his to himself. 
 
 " It is a snug little tent," Mackenzie said when he entered 
 it ; " not much head room, but that is of no consequence, as 
 it is only a place for sleeping in. I am ashamed to come 
 empty-handed, but I only brought a couple of bottles of 
 spirits with me, and they are both empty long ago. I can't 
 drink this beastly native stuff. And besides, the room in 
 which I stored all there was in the place when I got here 
 is locked up. I made the traders put their seals to it so 
 that there could be no dispute about the quantities when I 
 handed them over." 
 
 "Thank you," Angus said; "I don't touch spirits. What- 
 ever may be the case in other places, I am convinced that 
 men are better off without them in a country like this. 
 Certainly they are best avoided in hot weather; and I think 
 even in the cold weather coffee is infinitely better, and I 
 have brought a good store of that with me. Now, make
 
 A MISSION 179 
 
 yourself as comfortable as you can. Fill your pipe from 
 that jar, it is the best Persian tobacco. Then when the coffee 
 comes in I will give you the news from Cabul." 
 
 A large jug of coffee, with two silver horns which Angus 
 had bought before starting, was soon brought in, and then 
 Angus told what had happened at Cabul since the last 
 letter Mackenzie had received. 
 
 " Then- you don't think things are going on well ? " Mac- 
 kenzie said when he had concluded. 
 
 " No, there is much disaffection among the lower class in 
 the city. The tribesmen are restless and discontented. It 
 was a great mistake to allow Shah Soojah the entire control 
 of all civilian matters; the consequence is that the people 
 are grievously oppressed by the tax-gatherers. The Ameer 
 himself is impatient at the slightest attempt to control him. 
 He renders himself intensely unpopular by hardly ever ap- 
 pearing in public, by his refusal to grant audiences, and 
 by his haughtiness and arrogance to those whom he does 
 admit to his presence. I am certain that he could not main- 
 tain himself for a day if we were to march away, and I 
 don't see how we can leave him to his fate. Altogether the 
 situation is very difficult, and I am afraid it will end badly. 
 They want a strong man at the head of affairs. I do not 
 think that Macnaghten is a strong man. Keane is a good 
 soldier, but it is said that he will return to England in the 
 spring." 
 
 " And how about Burnes ? " 
 
 " Burnes is my chief," Angus said with a smile ; " but I 
 can say this, I believe that if he were in Macnaghten's 
 place things would go on better. At present, however, he 
 has no authority of any kind. He differs from Macnaghten 
 on almost every point, and any advice he gives is almost 
 contemptuously neglected." 
 
 " It is a queer state of affairs," Mackenzie said. " How-
 
 180 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 ever, I suppose we shall get out all right in the end. It is 
 a way we have. We generally make a muddle in the begin- 
 ning, but our fighting power has pulled us through. Well, 
 I will be going now; it is eleven o'clock. I think that it 
 would be better that I should not come again to-morrOw." 
 
 " I think so too. If the Afghans here entertained the 
 smallest suspicion that you were visiting me, they would 
 feel sure that I was not the trader I pretended to be, and 
 would find means of sending a message across the moun- 
 tains, which would result in the failure of my mission and 
 my own certain death." 
 
 After a hearty farewell, and an expression of the best 
 wishes for the success of his mission, Mackenzie said good- 
 bye and left the tent. The Afghan chief was carried back 
 into it, and in a few minutes all in the little camp were 
 asleep. 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 
 
 ANGUS made every effort to secure the services of a 
 native well acquainted with the passes as guide, but 
 was altogether unsuccessful. The difficulties were, they de- 
 clared, insurmountable, the danger overwhelming. 
 
 " I must see what I can do," Sadut Khan said, when An- 
 gus informed him that the natives were all of opinion that 
 the snow was too heavy and the danger too great for the 
 pass to be attempted. " We stayed here for some days, when 
 I crossed the hills with Dost Mahomed. There is a petty 
 chief living in a village two miles away; if he is still there,
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 181 
 
 I think he would accompany you. Whether or not, I am 
 certain he would not divulge the secret of my being here 
 to anyone." 
 
 " I will go myself to see him," Angus said. " I hope in- 
 deed he will accompany us, for if not, I fear that our journey 
 has come to an end, as the offers I have made would have 
 tempted any of the natives here to go with me if they had 
 thought it possible. Shall I mention your name to him ? " 
 
 " Say to him only that a chief of the Momunds, whom he 
 knew here three months ago, desires to speak to him." 
 
 Angus at once mounted his horse and rode to the foot of 
 the hill upon which the village with the tower of its chief 
 was perched. Then fastening the bridle to a stunted shrub, 
 he made his way up the steep ascent on foot. The place 
 did not contain more than a dozen houses. As he passed 
 through these, natives wrapped in sheep-skin jackets came 
 to the door and gazed at him with angry scowls. As he 
 reached the door of the tower four armed men came out. 
 
 " What would you here, stranger ? " one of them said. 
 
 "I would speak a few words with your chief." 
 
 "He does not want either to buy or to sell," the man 
 said shortly. , 
 
 " I do not seek to sell," Angus said. " I have a message 
 of importance to him." 
 
 One of them went into the tower, and returning in a 
 minute, motioned to Angus to follow him. The chief, a 
 tall and powerful man of middle age, was seated on the 
 floor of a room in the upper story of the tower. Near him 
 was a large earthenware pan, in which a charcoal fire was 
 burning. 
 
 " Why come you here, Persian ? " he said, " and what 
 message can one like you bear to me ? " 
 
 Angus repeated the message that Sadut Khan had given 
 him. The chief rose to his feet suddenly. " You lie ! " he
 
 182 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 said fiercely, "he is dead. The news came to us a week 
 since." 
 
 " Nevertheless, he gave me that message ; and if you will 
 come with me to Bamian you will see for yourself that he 
 is not dead, though it is true that he has heen sorely hurt." 
 
 " I go not into Bamian," the chief said. " I have not put 
 foot in the town since the accursed infidels came there. 
 They have held no communication with me, nor I with 
 them. This may be a trick to lure me there and make me 
 prisoner." 
 
 " If they had desired to do so," Angus said quietly, " they 
 would have sent a hundred men with a gun or two, and 
 not a mere trader. Besides, how could they have told that 
 a Momund chief had been here with Dost Mahomed when 
 he passed through ? " 
 
 " Many could have told you that," the chief said, " seeing 
 that, next to the Ameer himself, he was the most observed 
 of the party." 
 
 " Well, chief, if you will not go, I have nothing to do but 
 to return and inform him that you refuse to come and see 
 him." 
 
 "How can he be there, in the midst of the enemy, unless 
 indeed he is a prisoner ? " 
 
 " He is not a prisoner ; he lies in my tent. You can see 
 him without entering Bamian, for my camp is outside the 
 town. What motive, chief, could I have in deceiving you ? " 
 
 " I will go," the chief said suddenly. " It shall not be said 
 that I refused to answer such a call, however improbable 
 it might seem." 
 
 He threw on a cloak lined with sheep-skins, and telling 
 his men that unless something befell him he would be back 
 by noon, he led the way down the hill. Angus mounted 
 his horse when he reached it and rode beside him. For 
 some distance the Afghan did not speak.
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 183 
 
 " Do you know the name of this chief ? " he asked abruptly 
 when half the distance had been traversed. 
 
 "It is Sadut Khan, the fighting chief of the Momunds, 
 and a nephew by marriage of the Ameer." 
 
 The Afghan had not expected this reply. 
 
 " You must be in his confidence indeed, Persian, or he 
 would not thus have disclosed himself when in the midst 
 of those who would hail his capture as one of the most 
 valuable prizes." 
 
 "He has, as you say, faith in me," Angus said quietly, 
 " and will, doubtless, when you see him, give you his reason 
 for that trust in me." 
 
 "Your story must be true, and I believe it; forgive 
 me for at first doubting it. But having heard that the 
 chief had been killed, I thought this was a plot of some 
 kind." 
 
 "It was natural that you r^.ould not believe me," Angus 
 said. "You could scarce cre&Ji that he was alive, and, what 
 was still more strange, that he should be in a town occupied 
 by the English, and yet not be a prisoner." 
 
 " This is a fortunate day for me, indeed," the Afghan 
 said. " There is no chief whose name is more honoured 
 in the country than that of Sadut Khan. He is as brave as 
 a lion, good to his people, and faithful to Dost Mahomed, 
 when so many have fallen away from him. The Ameer re- 
 gards him as if he were a favourite son, and it will gladden 
 his heart indeed, and lessen his troubles, when he learns that 
 he is still alive." 
 
 Avoiding the town they went straight to Sadut. Angus 
 dismounted and led the way to his little white tent, and, 
 raising the flap, said to the chief, "He is here; enter." 
 
 The Afghan did so; and thinking it best to leave them 
 together for a time, Angus strolled away and saw that his 
 horse was, as usual, well wrapped up in a thick felt blanket.
 
 184 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 It was half an hour before the chief made his appearance 
 at the entrance to the tent and looked round. 
 
 Angus at once spoke to him. 
 
 "My friend," said the chief, "I again ask your pardon 
 for doubting you for a moment. Allah will surely bless 
 you for the good work you have done. Sadut Khan has 
 told me all, and it passes my understanding why a stranger 
 should have cumbered himself with a wounded man of whom 
 he knew nothing." 
 
 " Does not the Koran bid us succour the afflicted ? " 
 
 " That is true, my friend, but there are surely limits. One 
 will do great thing's for a friend, one may do something 
 for a stranger, but to hinder one's journey and cumber one's 
 self with a wounded stranger is surely more than can be 
 expected of us." 
 
 Angus now entered the tent. 
 
 " My trust in the chief was not misplaced," Sadut Khan 
 said. " He will act as our guide across the mountains, 
 though he doubts whether it will be possible to cross the 
 passes. If it is the will of Allah, Persian, that we should 
 not, we can but die." 
 
 "That is so," Angus said; "but the passes may not be 
 as badly blocked as we expect." 
 
 " We can hardly hope that," the chief replied, shaking his 
 head. " The last party that came over reported that they 
 had never known it so bad. This was a week ago, and since 
 then the sky has always been dull to the north, and it has 
 surely been snowing there. However, to-day it is lighter, 
 .md maybe no more snow will fall for a time. We had 
 best lose not an hour in starting. I shall take four of my 
 men with me. We have no horses, but that matters not at 
 all, for the passage will have to be made on foot. Let us 
 move to-morrow at daybreak, and travel as far as we can 
 before it is dark."
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 185 
 
 When the arrangements were all settled, Angus went into 
 the village and bought some more grain, cheese, and other 
 food, also a store of extra blankets, and two other native 
 tents; these were to be packed on his horse and Azim's. 
 Among other things he bought two native lamps for each 
 tent, and a good supply of oil, a roll of flannel for tearing 
 into strips for winding round the feet and legs, and he 
 was then satisfied that he had done all in his power to render 
 the enterprise a success. Before daybreak next morning 
 Hassan, the Afghan chief, arrived with four of his followers, 
 all strong and sinewy men. The animals were speedily 
 packed; Sadut's litter was placed between two of the horses 
 which were more lightly loaded than the others, and they 
 set out just as daylight was spreading over the sky. 
 
 The speed with which the start was effected was in itself 
 a sign that all felt the gravity of the task before them. 
 Angus had the evening before explained to the two soldiers 
 that the journey before them was one of tremendous diffi- 
 culty, and offered to leave them in charge of Lieutenant 
 Mackenzie till spring, when they could return to Cabul and 
 rejoin their regiment; but they would not hear of it. 
 
 " We are both mountain men," one said, " and if others 
 can get through we can. At any rate, we will risk any- 
 thing rather than return with blackened faces and say that 
 we had feared to follow our officer." 
 
 The morning was bitterly cold, but the sky was clear. 
 
 " We shall do well to-day," Hassan said to Angus, " and 
 the horses are fresh. As for to-morrow, who can say ? " 
 
 The snow was knee-deep when they got beyond the village. 
 The ascent began almost at once and was heavy work both 
 for men and horses. 
 
 They continued their journey till it was too dark to go 
 farther, then they halted in a ravine which afforded some 
 shelter from the piercing wind. All set to work to clear
 
 186 TO HERAT AND CABCL 
 
 away the snow where the tents were to be pitched, but 
 before raising these the horses were attended to. Blankets 
 were girded round them from the ears to the tail, and they 
 were picketed touching each other for mutual warmth. A 
 supply of corn was then laid down before each on some 
 square pieces of felt placed on the snow. When the tents 
 were pitched the lamps were lighted and the flaps closed, 
 then snow was scraped up outside until the canvas was cov- 
 ered nearly to the top. In spite of the intense cold all were 
 thoroughly warmed by their hard work before they turned 
 in. Angus took Azim into his tent, the rest divided them- 
 selves among the other two. At other times it would have 
 been unpleasant to be so closely packed, but in such weather 
 it was an advantage. 
 
 Before setting to work to pile the snow against the tents 
 a brass kettle filled with water had been suspended from 
 the ridge-pole over the lamps, and the water was almost 
 boiling by the time the work was finished, and in a few 
 minutes coffee was made. The frozen carcasses of four 
 sheep had been brought, as well as a large quantity of 
 meat that had been cooked on the previous day. Some 
 slices of the latter were thawed over the lamp and eaten with 
 bread that had been purchased at Bamian. But few words 
 were spoken after the meal was finished, their fatigue and 
 the warmth of the tent rendering it difficult for them to 
 keep awake. In a few minutes all were sound asleep. The 
 next day's march was even more arduous. Sadut had given 
 up his litter and again mounted his horse, as it was found 
 impossible for the two animals linked together by the ham- 
 mock to make their way up the steep place. The work was 
 toilsome in the extreme, but all worked cheerfully. 
 
 Hassan and his four men laboured with the greatest vigour, 
 carrying burdens to places which horses when laden could 
 cot have climbed, hauling the animals out of deep drifts
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 187 
 
 into which they frequently fell, carrying Sadut Khan in 
 his litter at points where the ascent was so steep that, crip- 
 pled as he still was by his injured leg, he could not have 
 retained his seat in the saddle. The party worked in almost 
 complete silence, but with a stern determination and energy 
 which showed their consciousness that every moment was of 
 importance. Twelve miles were the result of as many hours 
 of labour. No signs of a track had been visible since they 
 left Bamian, and Angus felt how absolutely impossible it 
 would have been to cross the pass had it not been for the 
 intimate knowledge of Hassan and his followers; even these 
 were sometimes at fault. None of them had ever passed 
 over the mountains when so deeply covered with snow, and 
 consultations constantly took place between them as to the 
 line to be followed. When they arrived at their halting- 
 place for the night, Hassan told Angus and the Momund 
 chief that they were now within two hundred feet of the 
 top of the pass. 
 
 " To-morrow's work will be the most dangerous ; the north 
 wind sweeps across the plateau with terrible force. More- 
 over, I do not like the look of the sky this evening. We 
 have been fortunate so far, but I think that there will be a 
 change." 
 
 " It is well, indeed," Sadut said as they ate their supper, 
 " that we crossed the highest pass before the snow began 
 in earnest; we certainly could not have supported that 
 journey had we been ten days later. We have got through 
 the hardest part of the work, and everything now depends 
 upon the weather. May Allah grant that there be no more 
 snow. The pass to-morrow is but twelve miles across, and 
 if all goes well we shall begin to descend on the 1 following 
 morning. If the snow holds off we shall be able to do that 
 distance easily, for it is almost a level plain that we have to 
 traverse. Parts of it will be nearly clear of snow, which
 
 188 TO HEEAT AND CABUL 
 
 the fierce blasts sweep away as fast as it falls, while in 
 other places the surface will be hard enough to walk on, 
 the snow being pressed firmly together by the weight of 
 the wind." 
 
 They were on foot again next morning even earlier than 
 usual. All were aware of the importance of haste. The 
 tents were pulled down and loaded with the greatest rapidity. 
 The cold was intense, and but few words were spoken until 
 they reached the summit of the ascent, by which time the 
 effort of climbing had restored the heat that had been lost 
 as soon as they left their warm tents. The sky was cloud- 
 less, and Angus felt hopeful that the day's journey would 
 be accomplished with comparative ease. He noticed, how- 
 ever, that there was an anxious look on the faces of the five 
 tribesmen, who, although they were travelling more rapidly 
 than they had done since they left Bamian, were constantly 
 urging horses and men to press forward at a greater speed. 
 Angus had expected that they would have to face very strong 
 wind, but scarce a breath was blowing. 
 
 As Sadut had predicted, the rock was in many places com- 
 pletely bare. The fields of snqw were so hard that, instead 
 of struggling knee-deep as before, they now seldom sank 
 over their feet, and sometimes left scarcely a track upon 
 the surface. The hills on either side stood up clear and 
 hard, and the silence was almost oppressive. They were, 
 they calculated, half-way across the pass three hours after 
 leaving their camp, when Hassan, who was walking beside 
 Angus and Sadut, stopped suddenly and pointed to the 
 sky. Looking up Angus saw two or three little wisps of 
 vapour passing overhead with extraordinary speed. 
 
 " The storm ! " Hassan exclaimed. " See, others are com- 
 ing; it will soon be upon us. We can go no farther, but 
 must prepare to meet it instantly or we shall be over- 
 whelmed."
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 189 
 
 Knowing that Hassan would not have spoken thus unless 
 from the direst necessity, Angus at once ordered a halt. 
 The plateau was perfectly flat, and nowhere could any 
 shelter be obtained, and they were now on an expanse of 
 hard snow. Urged by the shouts and exclamations of Has- 
 san all hastened to unload the animals. As soon as this 
 was done, Angus ordered the tents to be pitched. 
 
 " It is useless," Hassan said, " they would be blown down 
 in an instant. Let them lie open on the snow. Let each 
 man take his two blankets and keep them by him in readi- 
 ness, find when the storm begins let him wrap himself up 
 in these, and then let those who are tent-fellows lie down 
 together on one side of the tent, pull the other over them, 
 and roll themselves in it. I and my men will be the last 
 to take shelter, and we will pile the sacks and saddles over 
 the ends to keep them down. But first put all the extra 
 blankets over the horses and fasten them over their heads, 
 and let them hang down well behind. They will turn their 
 backs to the wind. Make all those that are accustomed to lie 
 down do so. Range the others close to them." 
 
 Ten minutes of hard work and all was ready. Then they 
 had time to look round. The sky was hidden from view 
 by masses of black clouds streaming along. The men took 
 their places on their tents and wrapped their blankets round 
 in readiness. 
 
 " Lie down at once ! " Hassan ordered. " It will be upon 
 us almost immediately." 
 
 The men did so. Hassan and his followers pulled the felt 
 covering over them, pushing the edge of the upper side under 
 them as far as possible. Then they piled baggage and 
 saddles on the ends. Angus, with Azim and Sadut, re- 
 mained standing till the last. Hassan ran up to them with 
 his men. 
 
 " Quick ! " he said, " the storm will be upon us imme- 
 diately."
 
 190 TO HERAT AND CABTJL 
 
 Glancing ahead as he lay down, Angus saw What looked 
 like a white mist in the distance, and knew that it must be 
 enow swept up by the force of the wind. Half a minute 
 and they were tucked up in the thick felt; this was weighted 
 at both ends. 
 
 " Allah preserve you ! " Hassan shouted, then all was 
 silent. A minute later the storm struck them with such 
 force that they felt as if pressed down by a heavy weight. 
 Had they been inclined to speak they could not have heard 
 each other, so loud was the howl of the wind. Wrapped 
 up in their sheep-skin posteens and blankets, they did not 
 feel the cold. For some time Angus lay and wondered 
 how long this would last. Presently he fell asleep, the 
 warmth, after the bitterly cold air outside, overpowering 
 even the thought of danger. He was lying between Sadut 
 and Azim, who, like himself, lay without moving. Indeed, 
 movement would have been difficult, so tightly was the tent 
 wrapped round them. He slept for many hours vaguely 
 conscious of the roar and fury of the gale. When he awoke 
 at last it was with a sense of suffocation, a heavy weight 
 seemed to press upon him, and the sound of the storm had 
 ceased. 
 
 "Are you awake?" he asked the others, but he had to 
 shake them before he obtained an answer. 
 
 " Something must be done," he wert on, as soon as they 
 were capable of understanding him. " We shall be suffocated 
 if we don't let some air in." 
 
 " That is true," Sadut said. " The snow is evidently piled 
 up round us. We must let air in, or we shall perish." 
 
 But in spite of their efforts they found it impossible to 
 move forward to get to the end of the rolL 
 
 " We must cut our way out ; it is our only chance," Angus 
 said, and turning on to his back, he managed to get out 
 his long Afghan knife, and* cut a slit three feet long in
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 191 
 
 the felt. As he did so, the snow came pouring in through 
 the opening. 
 
 " Do you both put your hands under my shoulders," he 
 said, " and help me to sit up." 
 
 It was not until he had cut a transverse slit so as to allow 
 the hole to open wider that he was able to do so. 
 
 " The snow is not packed very hard," he said, as he 
 pressed it aside. " It can't be very deep, for I can see light." 
 
 It was not long before he was on his feet, and had pushed 
 the snow sufficiently back to enable his companions to get 
 out also. The feeling of suffocation was already relieved, as 
 a sufficient amount of air made its way through the snow, 
 and after five minutes' hard work they clambered out. The 
 gale was still blowing, though not so violently as at first, 
 the snow still falling thickly. Two white mounds marked 
 the position of the other tents, elsewhere a wide expanse of 
 level snow was seen. It was evident that, as it drifted, it 
 had first heaped itself against the tent. More had settled 
 beyond it, and so gradually mounds had risen until they 
 were seven or eight feet high. 
 
 " We must rescue the others at once," Angus said. 
 
 On the windward side the snow was so hard that their 
 hands made no impression upon it, but on the sheltered 
 side it was lighter, and working with their hands they were 
 soon able to clear it away ^own to the end of the tent 
 beneath which Hassan and three of his followers were lying. 
 It was not, like the others, closed there, as its occupants had 
 been unable to place weights on it after they had rolled 
 themselves up. As soon as they had cleared the snow and 
 opened the felt out a little, Sadut called 
 
 " Are you awake, Hassan ? " 
 
 " I am awake," he replied, " but am bound down hand 
 and foot." 
 
 They cleared the snow off until they saw a foot. Taking
 
 192 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 hold of this together they pulled and gradually drew one 
 of the men out. The other three were extricated more 
 easily. They found that these had not suffered so much 
 from a sense of suffocation as the first party had done, as, 
 the ends of the roll being open, a certain amount of air 
 had found its way through the snow. Half an hour's hard 
 work sufficed to rescue the occupants of the other tent. The 
 three were unconscious, but the cold blast speedily brought 
 them round. 
 
 " What is to be done next ? " Angus asked Hassan. 
 
 " The gale is still far too severe for us to move," the 
 latter answered. " We had best clear away the snow over 
 the tents, and then take to them again." 
 
 After two hours' work the tents were cleared. The men 
 had worked from above, throwing out the snow over the 
 sides of the mound, so that when they had finished the 
 tents lay at the bottoms of sloping holes. A meal was then 
 eaten, and lifting the upper covering of felt they lay down 
 again and closed it over them. The sun was in the east, 
 and they knew that some fifteen hours had elapsed since 
 the gale had struck them. A mound of snow had marked 
 where the horses were lying. They did not interfere with 
 these, for Hassan said that the horses, would be able to 
 breathe through the snow, and probably the heat of their 
 bodies had melted it immediately round them, and they 
 would be much warmer than if the snow were cleared off. 
 Before turning in Hassan and his men managed to erect 
 the tent of their leaders. Lying as it did in a crater of 
 snow, it was sheltered from the force of the wind. Holes 
 were made with a dagger on each side of the slit that Angus 
 had cut, and the edges tied together by a strip of leather. 
 A couple of lamps and oil were taken from the sack in 
 which they were carried, and also the bag of corn, and the 
 little party after filling their vessels with snow and hang-
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 193 
 
 ing them over the lamps, and closing the entrance to the 
 tent, soon felt comfortable again. 
 
 "It has been a narrow escape," Sadut said. "Had it 
 not been for your thinking of cutting the tent, and so 
 enabling us to make our way out, the whole caravan would 
 assuredly have perished. Now, we have only an imprison- 
 ment for another day or two at most, and can then proceed 
 on our journey." 
 
 The next morning the gale had ceased, though the snow 
 continued to fall. By mid-day the sky cleared, and all' 
 issuing out from their shelters prepared for a start. It took 
 them an hour's work to extricate the horses; one of these, 
 a weakly animal, had died, the others appeared uninjured 
 by their imprisonment. All the vessels in the camp had 
 been used for melting snow, and a drink of warm water with 
 some flour stirred into it was given to each of the animals, 
 and an extra feed of corn. As soon as they had eaten this, 
 the baggage was packed on their backs, and the party moved 
 forward. It was heavy work. The snow that had fallen since 
 the force of the wind had abated was soft, and the animals 
 sank fetlock-deep in it. But after three hours' travelling, 
 they reached the end of the pass and began to descend. Two 
 hours later they halted at a spot where a wall of rock afforded 
 shelter against the wind from the north. 
 
 " Allah be praised that we have reached this point ! " 
 Hassan said. "Now the worst is over. I can see that we 
 shall have another storm before* an hour is past, they gen- 
 erally follow each other when they once begin. But here we 
 are safe, and it was for this that I said ' No ' when you 
 proposed that we should halt at the mouth of the pass." 
 
 The tents were soon erected, great stones being placed 
 on the lower edge to steady them against the gusts of wind. 
 Then a diligent search was made for wood, and enough 
 bushes were found to make a good fire. Strips of meat 
 
 (M807) N
 
 194 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 from one of the frozen sheep were cooked, the kettles were 
 boiled, cakes of flour and ghee were baked, and the travellers 
 made a hearty meal. The horses were each given half 
 a bucket of warm water, thickened with flour, and a double 
 feed of grain. Then all sat round the fire smoking and 
 talking until it burned low, when, in spite of their sheep- 
 skin coats, the bitter cold soon made itself felt. They had 
 scarcely turned into their tents when the storm, as Hassan 
 had predicted, burst. Except for an occasional gust they felt 
 it but little, and slept soundly until morning, when they 
 found that light snow had eddied down, and was lying two 
 feet deep. The day was spent in cooking and attending 
 to their own wants and those of the horses. 
 
 For two days they were prisoners, then the gale abated, 
 and they continued their journey, and late that evening 
 arrived at the village of Choi. Here they were received 
 with hospitality by the natives, who were astounded that 
 in such weather the caravan should have made its way over 
 the pass. Resting here for two days, they travelled to Kala 
 Sarkari. Sadut now took the lead, for the chief of the vil- 
 lage seeing three horses loaded with merchandise demanded 
 toll; but, Sadut announcing himself as a nephew of Dost 
 Mahomed, and saying that the whole party were under his 
 protection, the threatening attitude that the inhabitants 
 began to assume was at once calmed. Four days' travel, with 
 halts at small villages, took them to Balkh. Here, on de- 
 claring himself, Sadut was received with great honour, and 
 was entertained at the governor's house, where Dost Ma- 
 homed was lying ill. No attention was bestowed upon Has- 
 san and his followers, who walked behind him, and were 
 reported as having been the means of his safety. Angus with 
 his party kept some little distance in the rear and took up 
 their quarters at a khan unnoticed, but when Sadut was 
 seen to call early the next morning upon the Persian trader
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY 195 
 
 and remain with him for a considerable time, it was under- 
 stood that they were under his protection, and no enquiries 
 were made by the authorities of the town. 
 
 On the third day Sadut said to Angus: "I regret that 
 the Ameer is ill. Had it not been for that he would have 
 received you. I told him of the services you have ren- 
 dered me, and that but for you a few hours would have 
 ended my life. He said that he would like to see so noble 
 a man, and to give him a fitting testimonial of gratitude for 
 the service done to his sister's son. He requested me to 
 bring you to him as soon as he is able to rise from his couch; 
 and when he enters Cabul in triumph, as he assuredly will 
 do ere long, he hopes that you will establish yourself there. 
 I can promise you that your business shall nourish." 
 
 "I thank you heartily, Khan, for having spoken to the 
 Ameer about me," Angus said gravely, " but I cannot re- 
 ceive a present from Dost Mahomed. I have intended many 
 times to tell you more about myself, and I feel that I must 
 do so now. You are my friend, and I cannot remain in a 
 false position with you. As long as we were travelling to- 
 gether, no harm was done; it mattered not to you who 
 was the man who had aided you in your extremity. But 
 the case is different now. You were then a sorely wounded 
 man, who needed what aid I could give you; now you 
 are a close relation of Dost Mahomed, and a powerful 
 Afghan chief, so the case is changed. Dost Mahomed, and 
 no doubt yourself, know what is passing in Cabul by means 
 of your friends there, who see all that is going on. The 
 English general, on the other hand, knows nothing of what 
 is passing beyond the ground patrolled by his cavalry. 
 
 " It was important for him to learn what was passing on 
 this side of the mountains, and he selected me, an officer 
 in his army, on account of my knowledge of Persian and 
 Pushtoo, to cross the mountains and ascertain what prospect
 
 196 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 there was of Dost Mahomed's returning with an army to 
 Cabul in the spring. I confide my secret to you as to a 
 friend. You can see that it would be impossible for me 
 to accept presents from Dost Mahomed in my character 
 of a Persian merchant, and for the same reason I should 
 abstain from questioning you, or even allowing you to give 
 me any information as to the military preparations going 
 on. To do so would be to take an unfair advantage of the 
 chances that enabled me to be of service." 
 
 Angus had thought the matter over, and knew that while 
 such work as he was engaged in would, if discovered, cost 
 him his life, it would be regarded by the Afghans as a 
 legitimate means of obtaining information; and although 
 if caught he would be killed as an enemy, his action would 
 be regarded as showing that he was a man of great bravery 
 thus to place himself in the power of an enemy. This 
 was the view, indeed, in which Sadut Khan regarded it. 
 
 " You have done well to tell me," he said gravely. " It 
 was truly the act of a brave man not only to risk dis- 
 covery here, but to undertake the terrible adventure of 
 crossing the passes when winter had fairly set in, in order 
 to obtain information for your general. Still more do I 
 wonder that you should have burdened yourself with the 
 care of an enemy, one who was fighting against your people. 
 It was wonderful on the part of a Persian trader, it is 
 far more so on the part of one against whom I was fight- 
 ing, who is not of my religion, who was engaged upon an 
 enterprise of such a nature, and to whom speed was a 
 matter of the greatest importance. Had it not been for 
 the slow pace at which you travelled with me, you might 
 have crossed all the passes before they were blocked. I 
 shall fight against your people as before, but I shall respect 
 them now I see that although our religions differ, there are 
 good things in their beliefs as in ours, and that even the
 
 A DiNGEBOUS JOURNEY 197 
 
 Koran has no lessons in charity and kindliness stronger than 
 those that you have learned from the teaching of your own 
 religion. 
 
 " What I thought wonderful on the part of a Persian 
 merchant is still more marvellous on the part of an English 
 officer, who could have no possible interest in saving a 
 dying man; and who, indeed, might have gained credit by 
 delivering him into the hands <jf his countrymen, since so 
 long as I was a prisoner in their hands, I should be a 
 hostage for the quiet behaviour of my people. You can 
 do no harm to us by your enquiries here; it is known by 
 all on this side of the mountains that the Ameer will in 
 the spring endeavour to turn out the usurper; it is known 
 already to every sheik from Candahar to Jellalabad. Whether 
 he will come with ten thousand or twenty thousand men 
 matters little; when he appears, all Afghanistan will rise. 
 Your generals might have been sure that it would be so 
 without sending to make enquiries. I cannot tell you with 
 what force we shall come. It will not be a great army; 
 even in summer a large force could scarcely traverse the 
 passes. It is not on the force that he will take from here 
 that Dost Mahomed relies; it is on the host he will gather 
 round him when he crosses the mountains. We have learned 
 that the disaffection to Soojah is everywhere on the increase. 
 There were many who did not love the Barukzyes, but they 
 know now that things are worse instead of better since the 
 change, for the man has made himself hated by his arro- 
 gance, his contempt for the people in general, and the ex- 
 tortion exercised by his tax-gatherers. 
 
 " There is no secret in all this, your own officers must 
 know it. What you will not learn, for the decision will 
 not be made until the spring, is the line by which the 
 Ameer will advance. There are many passes by which he 
 may then cross; or he may go round by Herat, and gather
 
 198 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 forces as lie advances. Or again, he might go east, and 
 crossing by the passes there, come down through Chitral to 
 Jellalabad." 
 
 " That I can well understand, Khan. Of course I have 
 already learned that there is no doubt that Dost Mahomed 
 is preparing to cross the passes in the spring, and that he 
 is sure of the support of the tribesmen on this side of the 
 mountains." 
 
 " He could gather a very large army if he chose," Sadut 
 said, "but the difficulty of transporting food for so large 
 a body would be very great, I think that ten thousand 
 men will be the utmost he could move with. I am doing 
 no harm in telling you this, because you would soon learn 
 it in the town, and it is certain that your people could 
 not prevent his passing the Hindoo Koosh, since he has 
 so many routes to choose from. His force is not like your 
 army, which, moving with great trains of baggage, cannon, 
 and ammunition, could only cross by one or two passes; 
 we can move wherever our horses can climb. And now I 
 will leave you, for I have some business to attend to; but 
 I will return this evening." 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 TROUBLES THICKEN 
 
 ANGUS saw that as he could not hope to obtain further 
 information, however long he might stay, and as he had 
 fulfilled the main object of his mission by discovering that 
 Dost Mahomed would not be content with remaining master 
 of the northern province, but would certainly advance in 
 the spring, he could do no good by remaining any longer.
 
 TROUBLES THICKEN 199 
 
 The information that he could give would enable Macnagh- 
 ten and Burnes to show the Indian government that their 
 intention of withdrawing more troops in the early spring 
 would be disastrous; and it was with this special object in 
 view that he had been sent. He had on the two previous 
 days sold a portion of his goods, but had held out for the 
 prices with which they were marked. He was now more 
 willing to bargain, as he wished to travel in future as lightly 
 as possible. Accordingly, before nightfall he had disposed of 
 nearly half the stock with which he had started; but he had 
 at the same time purchased a certain amount of goods from 
 Turkestan, as these would be more appropriate as merchan- 
 dise when he started from Balkh for Herat. Sadut came 
 again in the evening. 
 
 " My friend," he said, " I have been thinking over your 
 position. Doubtless you might stay here for some time 
 without its being suspected that you were other than you 
 seemed to be, but a chance word from one of your men might 
 betray you, and as you have really learned all that there 
 is to learn, it seems to me that there is no use in your tarry- 
 ing, any longer here. It is true that Dost Mahomed, for my 
 sake, would protect you, even were you discovered. Still, 
 you know the nature of our people, and were it rumoured 
 that you were an infidel, you might be torn to pieces before 
 either the Ameer or myself knew aught about it." 
 
 " I have come to the same conclusion. If I thought I 
 could gain anything by remaining I should do so, whatever 
 the risk; but as it would be useless to stay, I intend to leave 
 to-morrow. I have a long journey to make via Herat; the 
 sooner I am off the better. My men are now packing up my 
 goods and preparing for a start at daylight." 
 
 " I felt so sure that this would be your course that I have 
 brought with me an order from the Ameer to the governor 
 and headmen of all towns and villages through which you
 
 200 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 may pass, enjoining them to give you good treatment, as he 
 holds you in high esteem for having rendered most valuable 
 services to me." 
 
 " I thank you very heartily," Angus replied. " This will 
 greatly facilitate my journey and save me from all small 
 annoyances. I trust that we shall meet again." 
 
 " I hope so indeed. Never shall I f orget the debt of grati- 
 tude that I owe you. Perhaps some day I may be able to 
 repay that debt to a small extent. Remember, that in case 
 of need you may rely upon me to the utmost. At any rate, 
 you must not refuse to accept this; it is a present from Dost 
 Mahomed, not to an English officer, but to a Persian mer- 
 chant who has saved the life of his sister's son. He talks 
 continually while with me of the nobility of your action, 
 and when I told him that you were going he had his turban 
 brought and took out this gem, which was its chief ornament, 
 and bade me hand it you in remembrance of the deed. I 
 told him you had said that you would receive no present for 
 a simple act of humanity. More I could not tell him with- 
 out revealing your secret, though I know that it would be 
 safe with him. You cannot refuse to take this. As for my- 
 self, I am here an exile far away from my own people, and 
 have but this to give you as a token of my love. It is my 
 signet ring. If you send it to me I will go through fire and 
 water to come to you. My tribesmen will all recognize it, 
 and will do anything in their power for its possessor." 
 
 Angus saw that, offered as it was, he should greatly hurt 
 the Afghan's feelings if he refused the immense ruby sur- 
 rounded by diamonds that Dost Mahomed had sent him. 
 
 " I will not refuse the gift of the Ameer so given to me, 
 and shall cherish it as my most valued possession and the 
 gift of a man whom I for one, and I may say most British 
 officers, consider to be very badly treated by us. I know 
 from Sir Alexander Burnes that Dost Mahomed was most
 
 TBOUBLES THICKEN 201 
 
 anxious for our alliance. Shah Soojah is as unpopular 
 among us as among his own. people. Of course, as soldiers, 
 it is not our business to concern ourselves with politics; that 
 is a matter for the government only. Still we cannot but 
 have our feelings, and I am sure that should the fortune of 
 war ever place Dost Mahomed in our hands he would receive 
 honourable treatment. Your gift I shall prize as highly, as 
 a token of our warm friendship, and trust that the time may 
 never come when I have to put its virtue to the test, though 
 I well know that I could in necessity rely upon any help 
 that you might be able to give me." 
 
 After talking for some time of the best route to follow, 
 Sadut Khan took an affectionate leave, and Angus started 
 the next morning with his party. Before setting out he 
 bestowed handsome gifts upon Hassan and his followers, 
 whom he had learned to like greatly for the devotion they 
 had shown to Sadut and the energy and courage with which 
 they had worked during the journey. Travelling from 
 twenty to five-and-twenty miles a day, with occasional halts, 
 he reached Cabul after two months of travel. His journey 
 had been greatly facilitated by the order that he carried 
 from Dost Mahomed. He had not entered Herat, as it was 
 probable that he would be recognized there. Avoiding the 
 city, he travelled by the same route as before to Girishk, 
 and then took a road running a few miles north of Candahar 
 and falling into the main road at Kelat-i-Ghilzye. 
 
 His first step was to see Sir Alexander Burnes and to 
 report to him that assuredly Dost Mahomed would come 
 south with a considerable force as soon as the passes were 
 opened. His following would not itself be very formidable, 
 but he relied upon being joined by all the tribesmen south 
 of the hills. 
 
 " Your news is most opportune," the agent said, " and can 
 hardly fail to induce the Governor-general to alter his deter-
 
 202 TO HERAT AND CABUL' 
 
 mination to withdraw the greater part of our force in the 
 spring. Already we have not a man too many for contingen- 
 cies that may arise. Now, tell me about your journey. The 
 winter get in so severely directly you left us that I have been 
 seriously uneasy about you. I had only one message from 
 Mackenzie after you had left, it was brought by a native; 
 and he told me that you had passed through, but that the 
 weather had changed for the worse the day after you started, 
 and the universal opinion among the natives was that you 
 and your party had perished." 
 
 Angus gave an account of his journey. He had thought 
 over the question whether it would be wise to mention the 
 episode of the wounded Afghan, but he concluded that it 
 would be better to do so, as Mackenzie, when he rejoined 
 the force, might casually mention that he had a sick man 
 with him; and he therefore told the whole story as it hap- 
 pened. 
 
 " I admire your humanity, Mr. Campbell, though it seems 
 almost quixotic to burden yourself with a wounded man. 
 But, as you say, it was evident that if you could manage to 
 carry him through he might be of great service to you. 
 Undoubtedly he would have been a valuable prisoner to have 
 in our hands, but his gratitude to you may prove valuable 
 to us, for the Momunds are a powerful tribe, and your con- 
 duct to him cannot but have inspired him with a better feel- 
 ing towards us than he has hitherto shown." 
 
 " He may have less animosity, sir, but I fear that he will 
 still be found fighting against us. On the way he spoke 
 many times of his determination to continue the struggle 
 until Afghanistan was free from the infidel; I am convinced 
 that his indignation at the treatment of Dost Mahomed, and 
 his fanaticism are so strong that no private matter is likely 
 to shake them." 
 
 The winter passed quietly, and the attention of Burnes
 
 TROUBLES THICKEN 203 
 
 and Macnaghten was turned rather towards the frontier 
 than to the state of things round Cabul. Yar Mahomed, 
 virtual ruler of Herat, although he was receiving large sums 
 of money from us, was known to be intriguing with Persia, 
 and trying to form an alliance with the Shah to expel the 
 British from Afghanistan. Russia had sent an expedition 
 against Khiva, and the conquest of this little state would 
 bring her more closely to the frontier of Afghanistan. Dost 
 Mahomed, however, had gone on a visit to the Ameer of 
 Bokhara, and had been detained for the present by that 
 treacherous ruler; thus for a time the prospect of an invasion 
 on his part was greatly diminished. 
 
 In the spring Macnaghten and Shah Soojah returned to 
 Cabul. The former continued to ignore the warnings of 
 Sir A. Burnes, as to the ever-growing hostility of the Afghans 
 to the British and the man they had forced upon them. 
 His advice and that of Burnes had been so far followed that 
 the force at Cabul had not been diminished; but, not con- 
 tent with this, Macnaghten continued to urge on the Indian 
 government the necessity of sending a great force to occupy 
 Herat and another to cross the mountains and thwart the 
 projects of the Russians by carrying our arms into Bokhara. 
 Moreover, he was continually applying for money to meet 
 the expenses of Shah Soojah's government. As if the drain 
 that these demands would entail upon the Indian treasury 
 and upon the Indian army were not sufficient, he insisted 
 upon the necessity of conquering the Punjaub, where, since 
 the death of Runjeet Sing, the attitude of the population 
 had been increasingly hostile. 
 
 It is difficult to understand how any perfectly sane man 
 could have made such propositions. It would have needed 
 the whole army of India to carry them out, to say nothing 
 of an enormous outlay of money. Although the Governor- 
 general and his council firmly declined to enter upon the
 
 204 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 wild schemes proposed to them,- Macnaghten did not cease 
 to send them lengthy communications urging" the absolute 
 necessity of his advice being followed. 
 
 As the summer came on there were everywhere signs of 
 unrest. In April the Ghilzyes cut the communications near 
 Candahar, but were defeated by a small body of troops sent 
 from that city. The Beloochees, whose country had been 
 annexed, were bitterly hostile, and convoys were cut off. 
 Candahar was invested by them, Quettah besieged, and Khe- 
 lat captured. With the exception of Macnaghten himself, 
 there was scarcely an officer in the army but was conscious 
 of the tempest that was gathering round them. Shah Soojah 
 was as unpopular among them as among the native popula- 
 tion. Macnaghten was almost as unpopular as the Shah. 
 Everyone knew that it was his influence that had first in- 
 duced Lord Auckland to enter upon this war, and the levity 
 with which he replied to every warning, and the manner in 
 which he deferred to Shah Soojah in every respect, and al- 
 lowed him to drive the tribesmen to despair by the greed of 
 the tax-gatherers, incensed the officers of the army to the 
 utmost. 
 
 In the spring the little garrison of Bamian were on the 
 point of being reinforced by a Sepoy battalion when Dr. 
 Lord, who had been sent as political officer, received informa- 
 tion that led him to believe that Jubbar Khan, one of Dost 
 Mahomed's brothers, who was in charge of Dost's family at 
 Khooloom, was ready to come in. One of his sons had already 
 done so, and Lord thought that by sending" forward a force 
 to the fortress of Badjah he would quicken Jubbar Khan's 
 movements. It had the desired effect, and Jubbar Khan 
 came into Bamian bringing with him Dost Mahomed's family 
 and a large party of retainers. This, however, in no way 
 improved the position of the little party at Badjah, for the 
 natives in the vicinity exhibited the greatest hostility. The
 
 TROUBLES THICKEN 205 
 
 officer in command sent a detachment under Sergeant Doug- 
 las to escort another officer to Badjah. The party was, how- 
 ever, attacked, and although they made a gallant resistance, 
 they would have been destroyed had not two companies of 
 Ghoorkas arrived on the spot and beat off the enemy. 
 
 In August the startling news arrived that Dost Mahomed 
 had escaped from Bokhara. He was received with open arms 
 by the governor of Khooloom and a large force speedily 
 gathered round him. Early in September he advanced upon 
 Bamian with eight thousand men. Badjah was attacked, 
 and although the Ghoorka regiment kept back the assailants, 
 it was evident that so advanced a post could not be held, 
 and the force retreated, leaving all their baggage behind 
 them. A regiment of Afghan infantry had been raised and 
 were stationed at Bamian, but on hearing of Dost Mahomed's 
 approach they deserted to a man, most of them joining the 
 enemy. Even Macnaghten could no longer shut his eyes to 
 the serious nature of the position. Cabul was full of Sikh 
 emissaries, who were stirring up the population to revolt, 
 promising them that the Sikh nation would join in driving 
 out the infidel. Reinforcements under Colonel Dennie 
 reached Bamian on the 14th of September, and on the 17th 
 Dost Mahomed with his army approached the place. Ignor- 
 ant that the whole force was upon him, Dennie sent Macken- 
 zie with two guns and four companies of native infantry 
 and some four hundred Afghan horse, and himself followed 
 with four more companies in support. 
 
 On joining the advanced party, he found that the whole 
 of Dost Mahomed's force was in front of him. In spite of 
 the enormous disparity of numbers, he determined to attack; 
 a wise resolution, for although in our Indian wars the na- 
 tives often fought bravely when they attacked us, they sel- 
 dom offered a vigorous opposition when we took the offensive. 
 Mackenzie's two guns opened fire with shrapnel, which had
 
 206 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 a terrible effect upon the dense masses of the enemy. These 
 were unable to withstand the fire, and soon began to fall 
 back. Mackenzie followed them, and again opened fire. 
 Before long, Dost Mahomed's levies broke and fled; and 
 Dennie launched the Afghan horsemen in pursuit. These 
 cut down great numbers of the enemy, and dispersed them 
 in all directions. The effect of this signal defeat was at 
 once apparent. The Governor of Khooloom entered into ne- 
 gotiations without delay, and pledged himself not to harbour 
 or assist Dost Mahomed; the country south of Khooloom 
 was divided, he taking half, while the southern portion came 
 under the authority of Shah Soojah. 
 
 The victory caused great satisfaction in Cabul, but this 
 feeling was short-lived. Dost Mahomed after his defeat went 
 to Kohistan, where there was great discontent among the 
 chiefs, some of whom were already in revolt. General Sale 
 sent a force from Jellalabad, which attacked a fortified 
 position held by them, but the assault was repulsed with 
 heavy loss. It was about to be renewed, when the Kohis- 
 tanees evacuated the fort and fled. The fact, however, that 
 our troops had met with a repulse had a great effect upon 
 the minds of the natives. For the first time the Afghans 
 had successfully withstood an attack by British soldiers. 
 
 Throughout the month of October Dost Mahomed was 
 busy, and at one time approached within forty miles of 
 Cabul, when guns were hastily mounted on the citadel to 
 overawe the town, and orders sent to the force at Bamian 
 to return at once. Dost, however, moved no nearer. Sir 
 Robert Sale was pursuing 1 him, and it was not until the 
 27th that he moved down again towards Cabul, and on the 
 29th the greater part of the force there marched out to 
 give him battle. 
 
 On the 2nd of November the two armies came face to 
 face in the valley of Purwandurrah. The Ameer at once
 
 TROUBLES THICKEN 207 
 
 moved from the village to the neighbouring heights, and 
 the British cavalry galloped to outflank the Afghan horse. 
 These were comparatively few in number, but headed by 
 Dost Mahomed himself, they advanced steadily to meet the 
 Indian cavalry. Gallantly as Indian troops have fought on 
 numberless fields, on this occasion they disgraced themselves 
 utterly. Turning rein as the Afghans approached, they 
 galloped away in headlong flight, pursued by the Afghans 
 until within range of the British guns. Their officers in 
 vain attempted to arrest their flight, charging alone into the 
 midst of the enemy. Two of them were killed when sur- 
 rounded by enemies, Dr. Lord was shot, and the other two 
 cut their way through their assailants and reached the British 
 line covered with wounds. No more disgraceful affair has 
 taken place in the story of our wars in India than this rout 
 of Indian cavalry by a third of their number of wild horse- 
 men. 
 
 But even yet the affair might have been retrieved had 
 an officer like Dennie been in command; had the guns 
 opened and the infantry advanced it might still have been 
 a repetition of the victory of Bamian. But Sir A. Burnes 
 was in authority, and, easily discouraged, as was his nature, 
 he gave no orders, but sent off word to Macnaghten that 
 there was nothing for it but to fall back to Cabul. Sud- 
 denly, however, the position was changed by Dost Mahomed 
 himself. As he rode back after the victorious charge he 
 thought over his position. His imprisonment at Bokhara 
 had not broken his spirit, but it had affected him by show- 
 ing him that the Mohammedans of Central Asia could not 
 be trusted to work together or to unite to beat back the ever- 
 advancing wave of infidel aggression by the British on the 
 south, and the Russians on the west. But more than this, 
 the defection of his brother at Khooloom, and the surrender 
 by him of his family, had convinced him that it would be
 
 208 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 vain for him to continue to struggle to regain the throne 
 that he had lost. The Kohistanees had risen before he 
 joined them, and he had the satisfaction of showing that 
 his bravery was in no way shaken by his misfortune, and of 
 gaining a success of a most striking description. Now at 
 least he could lay down his sword with honour. Accordingly, 
 without telling anyone of his intention, he rode off the 
 field with a single attendant, and on the following day 
 reached Cabul and rode to the British Embassy. 
 
 As he approached it he saw Macnaghten returning from 
 his evening ride. His attendant galloped forward and asked 
 if the gentleman was the British envoy, and on Macnaghten 
 saying that he was so, he then returned to his master; and 
 Dost Mahomed riding forward, dismounted, saluted the en- 
 voy, and handed him his sword, saying that he had come 
 to surrender and to place himself under his protection. 
 Macnaghten returned it to him, and told him to remount, 
 and they rode together into the residency, Dost Mahomed 
 asking eagerly for news of his family, of whom he had not 
 heard since their surrender. Being assured that they were 
 well and were honourably treated, he was greatly relieved. 
 A tent was pitched for him, and he wrote at once to hig 
 son, begging him to follow his example. He conversed freely 
 with Macnaghten, gave him the history of his wanderings 
 and adventures, and assured him that there was no occasion 
 to place a guard over him, as his mind had quite been made 
 up before he came in, and nothing short of force would 
 compel him to leave. His only anxiety was that he should 
 not be sent to England, and on Macnaghten assuring him 
 that this would not be the case, and that an ample main- 
 tenance would be assigned to him in India, he became per- 
 fectly contented and calm. 
 
 As a result of his letter, three days later his eldest son, 
 Mahomed Afzul, came into camp and surrendered. Dost
 
 TROUBLES THICKEN 209 
 
 remained two days at Cabul, where he was visited by many 
 of the British officers, all of whom were impressed most 
 strongly by him, comparing him very favourably with the 
 man for whom we had dethroned him. Macnaghten wrote 
 most warmly in his favour to the Governor-general, urging 
 that he should be received with honour and a handsome pen- 
 sion assigned to him. He was sent down to India with a 
 strong escort, where he was kindly received by the Viceroy, 
 who settled upon him a pension of two lacs of rupees, equiva- 
 lent to 20,000. 
 
 Unfortunately, just at the time that the ex- Ameer re- 
 turned to Cabul a European regiment, a battery of horse 
 artillery, and a regiment of native infantry were recalled 
 to India, and with them went Sir Willoughby Cotton, and 
 the command for the time being remained in the hands of 
 Sir Eobert Sale. 
 
 Angus Campbell had not accompanied Sir A. Burnes 
 when he left Cabul with the force which marched out to 
 encounter Dost Mahomed, but had been left in charge of 
 the office at Cabul. He was now his chief's first civil 
 assistant, his temporary appointment to the civil service 
 having been approved and confirmed by the Court of Di- 
 rectors at home in consequence of the very warm report in 
 his favour sent by Eldred Pottinger and Mr. M'Neill. Sir 
 A. Burnes, too, had in his letters spoken several times of his 
 energy and usefulness, and on his return from his expedi- 
 tion through the passes, both Burnes and Macnaghten had 
 reported most highly both of his volunteering 1 to undertake 
 so dangerous a mission, and of the manner in which he had 
 carried it out. In return the directors had sent out an 
 order for his promotion to a higher grade, and had ordered 
 that a present of 1000 should be given him in token of 
 their recognition of his conduct. 
 
 "Your foot is well on the ladder now," Sir A. Burnes 
 (M 807) O
 
 210 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 had said on acquainting him with the decision of the board. 
 "You will now have your name on their books as one of 
 the most promising of the younger officers of the Company, 
 and you may be sure that they will keep their eye upon 
 you. Macnaghten will shortly return to England, and I 
 have long been promised the succession to his post. I shall 
 certainly request, and no doubt my wishes will be acceded 
 to in such a matter, that you should hold the position of 
 my chief assistant. As such you will have many opportuni- 
 ties of doing good service, as you will naturally proceed on 
 missions to the chiefs of neighbouring peoples, and will so 
 qualify yourself for some important post in the future." 
 
 Macnaghten, indeed, was extremely anxious to leave. 
 Bodily and mentally he had suffered from the strain and 
 anxiety. He had been promised a high post in India, prob- 
 ably the succession to the governorship of Bombay, but it 
 was considered advisable that he should remain at his present 
 post till the country was more settled. The winter passed 
 quietly. With the submission of Dost Mahomed and his 
 sons there was now no rival to Shah Soojah, no head round 
 whom those discontented with the Ameer's rule could rally. 
 He was the less unwilling 1 to remain, as he thought that an 
 era of peace had now begun, and that his anxieties were at 
 an end. He was soon, however, undeceived. On Shah Soo- 
 jah's first arrival in India he had naturally looked to the 
 Dooranees for aid against the Barukzyes, who had so long 
 oppressed them, and had made many promises of remission of 
 taxation as an incentive to their zeal. These promises had 
 so far been kept, that no taxes whatever had been exacted 
 from the Dooranees; but in view of the absolute necessity 
 of raising an income for the expenses of the government, 
 and for the personal expenditure of the Ameer and his 
 favourites, it became necessary that all should contribute 
 to some extent to the revenue.
 
 TROUBLES THICKEN 211 
 
 Although this tax was but a tithe of that which they 
 had paid under Barukzye rule, the Dooranees of the district 
 of the north-west of Candahar rose in rebellion, and General 
 Nott marched out from that city and defeated them in a 
 pitched battle. For a time the movement was crushed, but 
 the discontent remained. This was rendered more formid- 
 able by the fact that the Heratees had taken up so offensive 
 an attitude that our mission there had been withdrawn, and 
 proofs were obtained that its ruler was fomenting the dis- 
 content in the western province, and was encouraging the 
 disaffected by promising them assistance. 
 
 In May more serious trouble arose, this time with the 
 Ghilzyes. It had been determined to restore the dismantled 
 fort of Kelat-i-Ghilzye. The tribesmen viewed the work 
 with hostility, and assembled in larger numbers, and Nott 
 sent a force against them under Colonel Winder, with four 
 hundred British troops, a Sepoy battalion, a battery of horse 
 artillery, and a small body of cavalry. The Ghilzyes ad- 
 vanced to the attack in great force. The battle was long 
 and desperate, but the volleys of grape from the guns, and 
 the steady fire from the infantry, at last turned the scale, 
 and after five hours' fighting the Ghilzyes retired. The Door- 
 anees were again in arms, and three thousand men were as- 
 sembled under their chief at Girishk. A small force, under 
 Colonel Woodburn, marched out against them and defeated 
 them, but having no cavalry on which he could rely, he 
 could not prevent the rebels from retiring in fair order. 
 Major Eawlinson, the political officer at Candahar, again 
 warned Macnaghten that the situation in western Afghanis- 
 tan was extremely threatening, but was answered that this 
 was an unwarrantable view of our- position, and that there 
 were "enough difficulties, and enough of croakers, without 
 adding to the number needlessly." 
 
 But Eawlinson was perfectly right, and Macnaghten was
 
 212 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 living in a fool's paradise. The defeated chief of the Door- 
 anees was joined by another, and in August a force of eight 
 hundred cavalry, of whom some were regulars, three hundred 
 and fifty infantry, and four guns, under Captain Griffin, 
 met the insurgents. They were strongly posted in a suc- 
 cession of walled gardens and small forts, but the fire of the 
 guns and infantry drove them from the enclosure, and the 
 cavalry then charged them with great effect and scattered 
 them in all directions. Another defeat was inflicted upon 
 the Ghilzyes in the same month. For the moment all was 
 quiet again; the only drawback to Macnaghten's satisfac- 
 tion was that Akbar Khan, Dost Mahomed's favourite son, 
 was still in the north, and was reported to be gathering 
 troops somewhere near Khooloom. In September Macnagh- 
 ten received news of his appointment to the governorship 
 of Bombay, and began his preparations for leaving Cabul, 
 and Burnes looked forward to receiving at last the appoint- 
 ment for which he had so long waited. His position had been 
 in every respect irksome. His views differed from those of 
 Macnaghten; he saw the dangers of the position which Mac- 
 naghten refused to recognize. The reports he addressed to 
 the envoy were generally returned with a few lines in pencil 
 of contemptuous dissent; but he believed that with power 
 to act in his hands he should be able to remedy the blunders 
 that had been made, and to restore peace and contentment 
 in Afghanistan. 
 
 The troops were now commanded by General Elphinstone, 
 who had succeeded Cotton. He was a brave old officer, but 
 almost incapacitated by infirmities. He obtained the post 
 simply as senior officer, and was wholly unfitted for com- 
 mand in such a critical time and in such a position. Prob- 
 ably had it not been for the assurances of Macnaghten that 
 all was going on well, and that the trifling risings had 
 been crushed without difficulty, Lord Auckland would have
 
 TBOUBLES THICKEN 213 
 
 yielded to the opinion of Ms military advisers and appointed 
 General Nott. Had he done so the greatest disaster that 
 ever fell upon the British army might have been avoided. 
 
 Nothing could be worse than the position in which the 
 British camp and mission were established. They were on 
 low ground, commanded on every side by hills, and sur- 
 rounded by forts and villages. They were nearly a mile in 
 extent, defended only by so contemptible a ditch and ram- 
 part, that an English officer for a bet rode a pony across 
 them. The commissariat compound was near the canton- 
 ment, and occupied an extensive space with the buildings 
 and huts for the officers. It, too, had a rampart, but this 
 was even less formidable than that which surrounded the 
 camp. 
 
 Things had now settled down. Many of the officers had 
 sent for their wives and children, and Lady Macnaghten, 
 Lady Sale, and others were established in comfortable 
 houses. The climate was exhilarating, the officers amused 
 themselves with cricket, horse-racing, fishing, and shooting, 
 and lived as if they had been at a hill station in India, 
 instead of in a mountainous country surrounded by bitter 
 foes. October came in quietly, though Pottinger, who was 
 now in Kohistan, sent unfavourable reports of things there. 
 But these were as usual pooh-poohed by Macnaghten. The 
 latter's troubles with the Indian government, however, 
 continued unabated. The expenses of the occupation of 
 Afghanistan, amounting to a million and a quarter a year, 
 were a terrible drain upon the revenues of India, and it 
 had become necessary to raise a loan to meet the outlay, 
 and the question of a withdrawal from Afghanistan was 
 being seriously discussed. 
 
 None of the good results that had been looked for had 
 been achieved, nor did it appear likely that the situation 
 would improve; for it was evident to all unbiassed observers
 
 214 TO HEBAT AND CABDL 
 
 that the Ameer was upheld solely by British bayonets, and 
 that when these were withdrawn the whole fabric we had 
 built up at so enormous an expense would collapse. The 
 uneasiness of the Indian government was increased by the 
 fact that a change of ministry was imminent at home, and 
 that the Conservatives, who had always opposed the invasion 
 of Afghanistan, would at once take steps for the withdrawal 
 of the troops from the country; and the investigation which 
 would be made into the whole affair would create intense 
 dissatisfaction in England, and lead to the recall of the 
 Indian politicians responsible for it. The news stirred Mac- 
 naghten to fury; but he saw that it was necessary to make 
 retrenchments, and accordingly he largely cut down the 
 subsidies paid to the chiefs. The consequence was, that the 
 leaders of the whole of the powerful tribes, including those 
 round Cabul, the Kohistanees, Ghilzyes, and Momunds, at 
 once entered into a hostile federation against the British. 
 
 Sale's brigade, that was about to start on its way to 
 India, was ordered to attack the Ghilzyes at Jellalabad, and 
 on the 9th Colonel Monteith was sent with a Sepoy regiment, 
 a squadron of cavalry, and a party of sappers and miners, 
 to keep the passes clear. The force was, however, attacked 
 at the first halting-place, and Sir Robert Sale marched with 
 the 13th Regiment to clear the pass from his end. Joined 
 by Monteith's force, he succeeded in driving the natives 
 from their heights, the Sepoys and the British soldiers 
 vying with each other in climbing the almost inaccessible 
 crags. The 13th retired down the valley, and Monteith en- 
 camped in the Khoord Cabul pass. He was attacked at 
 night, the enemy being aided by the treachery of the Afghan 
 horsemen, who admitted them within their lines. They 
 were, however, beaten off, and Monteith was joined by Sale 
 on the following day. Negotiations were then opened with
 
 TBOUBLES THICKEN 215 
 
 the Ghilzyes; terms were made, but broken by the treacher- 
 ous tribesmen a few hours after they had been signed. 
 
 On his way back to Jellalabad Sale was attacked more 
 than once in great force, and with difficulty cut his way 
 down. Macnaghten, who had determined to leave on the 
 1st of October, but had postponed his departure for a short 
 time, wrote on that day that he hoped the business just 
 reported was the expiring effort of the rebels. 
 
 Angus had remained with Burnes at Cabul. The latter 
 was much depressed by the occurrences that had taken place. 
 He had greatly disapproved of Macnaghten's wholesale cut- 
 ting down of the subsidies of the chiefs. 
 
 " How unfortunate am I ! " he said many times to Angus. 
 " Had Macnaghten gone but two months earlier, this would 
 never have happened. It has been money alone that has 
 kept the tribesmen quiet, and the very worst form of re- 
 trenchment has been chosen. Had he gone I should have 
 acted in a very different way. In the first place, I should 
 have told the Ameer frankly that the troubles were solely 
 caused by the rapacity of the men he had appointed to 
 receive the taxes. These must be dismissed, and honest and 
 faithful ones appointed in their place. It is the abominable 
 tyranny with which the taxes of which I believe but a 
 small portion ever get into the treasury are collected that 
 has brought about the trouble. With proper administration 
 the revenue could be doubled, and the taxation would press 
 much more lightly upon the people than it does at present. 
 Now the evil is done, and I shall have to take over the ad- 
 ministration when everything points to a terrible catastrophe, 
 with which my name will ever be associated."
 
 216 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 CHAPTEK xm 
 
 THE MURDER OP SIR A. BURNES 
 
 OCTOBER passed quietly, and Macnaghten arranged to 
 leave on the 2nd of November. Burnes had received 
 several warnings as to the formidable nature of the con- 
 federacy of the chiefs. Mohun Lai, the principal moonshee, 
 who had been down to Sale's camp, told him that if the 
 conspiracy was not crushed in its infancy it would become 
 too strong to be suppressed. Burnes replied that he had 
 no power at present, but that as soon as Macnaghten left 
 he would conciliate the chiefs by raising their allowances 
 to the former point. On the 1st of November Mohun Lai 
 again expressed his opinion of the danger. Burnes replied 
 that he feared the time was coming when the British would 
 have to leave the country. He was in one of his moods of 
 depression, but from this he recovered in the evening, and 
 congratulated Macnaghten upon leaving when everything 
 was quiet. 
 
 At the very time he was speaking the hostile chiefs were 
 assembled together, and were discussing the methods that 
 were to be taken to overthrow the British power. They 
 determined that the first step was to forge a document in 
 the Ameer's name, ordering all the people to rise, and at 
 the same time to spread a report that it was the intention 
 to seize all the principal chiefs and send them prisoners to 
 England. It was singular that they should not have waited 
 a few days, for the Indian government had sent peremptory 
 orders that the whole force at Cabul, with the exception of 
 a single brigade, should return with Macnaghten to India. 
 
 The chiefs decided that as a first step a tumult should
 
 THE MURDER OF SIR A. BURNES 217 
 
 arise in the city, and this they at once set about exciting. 
 They had no idea that it would succeed, and none of them 
 ventured to take any part in it, as it was only intended to 
 excite the passions of the rahble of the city. Early the 
 next morning a friendly Afghan brought Burnes news that 
 the residency was about to be attacked. He did not believe 
 the intelligence, as the city had of late been as quiet as 
 usual ; but on sending out some of his servants into the street 
 they reported that there was certainly an unusual stir and 
 excitement. He wrote to Macnaghten saying so, but stating 
 that he did not think the matter at all serious, although at 
 the same time he requested that a military guard should 
 be sent to him in order to overawe any disaffected persons. 
 
 Angus had gone out early with Azim. The latter had 
 for some days past spent his time in the city, and each 
 evening had returned with the rumours he had gathered. 
 The talk in the lower quarters was all of the understanding 
 at which the chiefs had arrived, and the general opinion 
 was that in a few days these would pour down with all 
 their forces and annihilate the infidels. 
 
 Angus himself noticed the sullen expression on the faces 
 of the lower class and the manner in which they scowled at 
 him as he passed, and quite agreed with his follower that the 
 troubles he had long foreseen were about to come to a head. 
 When in the streets, too, he had an uneasy consciousness 
 that he was being followed. Several times he turned sharply 
 round, but in the throng of natives in the streets he could 
 recognize no face that he knew. This morning the feeling 
 was particularly strong, although, as he had often done be- 
 fore, he assured himself that it was pure fancy on his part. 
 
 " I am not conscious of feeling nervous," he said to Azim, 
 " but I must be getting so. It has been a very anxious 
 time all the year, and I suppose that without my knowing 
 it it must have told upon me. However, I will turn down
 
 218 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 this quiet street, and if anyone is following us we shall 
 certainly detect him." 
 
 A hundred yards down another lane crossed the one he 
 had taken. Azim had looked several times, but no one 
 else turned down the lane, which was entirely deserted. 
 As they passed the corner of the next lane some men sud- 
 denly sprang upon them. Cloths were thrown over their 
 heads, and in spite of their struggles they were lifted up 
 and carried along rapidly. In a couple of minutes they 
 stopped. Angus heard a door open. They were borne along 
 what he thought was a passage, thrust into a room, and a 
 door was slammed to and locked behind them. They tore 
 off their mufflers and looked around. It was a room of no 
 great size, with strongly-barred windows. There were cush- 
 ions on a divan that ran along one side. On a low table 
 in the middle of the room were two cold chickens, a pile 
 of fruit, a large jar of water, and two bottles of native 
 wine. 
 
 " What on earth does this mean ? " Angus said, " and why 
 have we been carried off ? " 
 
 Azim did not attempt to reply. 
 
 " We are prisoners, that is certain," Angus went on ; " but 
 it would certainly look as if they meant to make us com- 
 fortable, and the room must have been prepared in readi- 
 ness for our reception. I see no hope of getting away; the 
 windows are very strongly barred, and," he continued as he 
 walked across and looked out, " this little yard is surrounded 
 by houses without windows on the ground floor, and with 
 no door that I can see. I suppose there is one below us; 
 anyhow, if we could get through these bars we should be 
 no nearer liberty, for at best we could only re-enter the 
 house, and possibly the door is fastened on the inside. There 
 are certainly men in the house ; I heard voices in the passage 
 just now, and no doubt one of the fellows is stationed there.
 
 1 '_ 
 
 AS THEY PASSED THE CORNER . . 
 ON THEM. 
 
 SOME MEN SPRANG
 
 THE MURDER OF SIR A. BURNES 219 
 
 The only reason I can imagine for their carrying us off is 
 that we are to be kept as hostages. Of course I am known 
 to be Burnes's chief civilian assistant, and they might think 
 that if I were in their hands he would be willing to make 
 some concessions to get me back again. It is of no use 
 worrying over it; we are not so badly off as we were in that 
 snow-storm in the pass. The best thing we can do for the 
 present is to make a meal, for we did not take anything 
 before we started." 
 
 They had just finished their breakfast when the sound of 
 musketry was plainly heard. 
 
 " There is fighting going on," Angus exclaimed. " What 
 can it mean? There are no troops in the city except the 
 native guards at our house and the treasury next door. It 
 is either a fight between two factions in the city, or they 
 are attacking our place. It is maddening being fastened 
 up here just at this moment. The news brought by that 
 Afghan this morning that we were to be attacked must be 
 true, though Sir Alexander altogether disbelieved it. He 
 was in one of his happiest humours this morning, as to-day 
 he was to obtain the goal of his hopes and to be the resident 
 political officer, with all power in his hands. When he is 
 in that mood he disbelieves all unpleasant tidings, while in 
 his fits of depression he gives credit to every rumour that 
 reaches his ear. Still, the house should be able to hold 
 out ag'ainst a mob until help arrives from the camp; but 
 whether or not, my place should be by his side whatever 
 comes of it." 
 
 "If there is really a rising in the town, sir, we are 
 certainly safer here than we should be in the streets, or 
 even in the house." 
 
 "That may be," Angus said impatiently, "but my duty 
 is to be there." He paced restlessly up and down the room. 
 
 Presently Azim said: "I can't think how the men who
 
 220 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 seized us knew that we were coining along. It was quite 
 by chance that you turned down the lane." 
 
 " They must have been close to us when we did so," 
 Angus said, " and must at once have run round by another 
 lane and posted themselves at the corner where we were 
 seized. We were not walking fast, and there would have 
 been time for them to get there before us if they had run. 
 But why should they have taken this trouble? and why 
 should they have prepared this place beforehand for our 
 reception? It beats me altogether." 
 
 After the firing had continued for a few minutes it ceased; 
 then they could hear a confused roar of shouting. 
 
 " Good heavens ! " Angus exclaimed, " they must have 
 taken the house. The troops cannot have arrived in time, 
 or we should have heard sharp volleys. This is madden- 
 ing." 
 
 "Well, sir," Azim said philosophically, "if we had not 
 been carried off we should have been in the house when 
 they attacked it, and should have shared the fate of the 
 others, whatever it may be." 
 
 " That is true enough," Angus agreed ; " still, I ought to 
 have been there. Ah ! " he broke off suddenly, " they have 
 not taken either your sword or mine, or my pistols" for 
 although not in military uniform the civilians generally car- 
 ried swords, a necessary precaution when the whole native 
 population always went about armed; and Angus in addi- 
 tion carried pistols also concealed in his dress. "It is 
 extraordinary that they should not have disarmed us." 
 
 " I do not think that they intended to do us harm," 
 Azim said ; " they could have cut our throats had they 
 chosen to do so, when they brought us here, without fear 
 of discovery. Why should they leave us our swords and 
 provide a good meal for us if they intended to murder us 
 afterwards ? "
 
 THE MURDER OP SIR A. BURNES 221 
 
 " That is so, Azim, and it makes the aftair more incom- 
 prehensible. I tried to get at my pistols as they carried 
 me along, but they held my arms too tightly for me to do 
 so. It seems to me possible that this is the work of some- 
 one who was aware of the intended attack, and who doubted 
 whether the troops would not enter the city and slaughter 
 many of the inhabitants, and so thought that by producing 
 us at the right moment he would not only clear himself, 
 from any charge of taking part in the affair, but would earn 
 a reward for having saved our lives. I certainly have no 
 friend in the city who would be likely to seize me for any 
 other object. Of course, I was in communication with most 
 of the important persons here, but it has been simply in an 
 official way." 
 
 " Whoever it is must have been watching you for some 
 days, master, if, as you thought, he has been following you 
 whenever you went out." 
 
 " I can have no doubt on that subject now, Azim," and 
 Angus sat thinking for some time. " I think," he said 
 suddenly, " it must be Sadut Khan ; if so, we are safe. We 
 know that he was with the Ameer, and rode with him when 
 he defeated our cavalry, and it has been reported that he 
 has since returned to his tribe, though we have no certain 
 information about it. It is possible that, knowing" we were 
 about to be attacked by the whole force of the tribesmen, 
 he has borne his promise in mind, and has employed men 
 to watch me and take steps, if necessary, to secure my safety. 
 That certainly would explain what before it seemed im- 
 possible to understand." 
 
 The noise in the town still continued. At one time there 
 was sound of heavy musketry firing. 
 
 " The troops have entered the city," Angus exclaimed ; 
 "there will be hard fighting, for in the narrow streets an 
 armed mob can offer a desperate resistance even to the best
 
 222 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 troops. But in the end they will put down this tumult, 
 and if Sir Alexander has been murdered, exact a heavy 
 penalty for his death." 
 
 In half an hour the firing gradually abated, and the 
 musket shots came more faintly through the air. " Our 
 men are falling back, Azim, there can be little doubt about 
 that by the sound. There cannot be any great number of 
 troops engaged. What on earth can Macnaghten and Elphin- 
 stone be doing?" 
 
 The roar of shouting in the streets became louder, and 
 there was an occasional sound of firearms. " It is quite 
 evident that the mob are in entire possession of the city, 
 Azim. They are looting the traders' quarter, and probably 
 murdering all the whites who have taken up their residence 
 there." 
 
 These fears were fully justified. The houses of Sir Alex- 
 ander Burnes and Captain Johnson, the paymaster of the 
 Ameer's troops, adjoined each other. Johnson had, fortu- 
 nately for himself, slept that night in the camp. Sir Alex- 
 ander had with him his brother, Lieutenant Burnes, and 
 Lieutenant Broadfoot, his military secretary, who had just 
 arrived. Curiously enough, it was the anniversary of the 
 disastrous fight at Purwandurrah, in which fight Broad- 
 foot's eldest brother had been killed. Soon after Angus 
 had gone out the Ameer's minister arrived and repeated the 
 warning already given by the friendly Afghan. Burnes 
 could no longer doubt that there was danger, but he refused 
 to leave his house, saying that as soon as the news that 
 there was a tumult reached the camp, the troops would be 
 at once despatched to put it down. He, however, wrote 
 urgently to Macnaghten for support, and sent messengers 
 to the most powerful native chief in the town begging him 
 to calm the people, and assure them that all grievances 
 should be redressed.
 
 THE MUEDEB OF SIB A. BUBNES 223 
 
 One of the messengers was killed on the way, the other 
 managed to return to the house desperately wounded. The 
 gathering in the street increased every moment. Burnes 
 with the two officers went out on to a balcony, and from 
 thence harangued the mob. His voice was drowned by 
 yells and curses, weapons were brandished, and an attack 
 was made on the doors of both houses. Part of the mob 
 were fanatics, who thought only of slaying the infidels, but 
 a still larger party were animated solely by a desire to 
 share in the sack of the Ameer's treasury next door. The 
 native guards both of Sir Alexander and the treasury opened 
 fire, and for a time maintained themselves with the greatest 
 bravery. Of the English officers, Broadfoot was the first 
 to fall, shot through the heart. The position became more 
 and more desperate. A party of the insurgents had set fire 
 to the stables and forced their way into the garden. Burnes 
 was still attempting to lull the fury of the crowd. Long 
 ere this troops should have arrived to his rescue, but there 
 were no signs that they were approaching. At last, seeing 
 that all was lost, he disguised himself and went out into the 
 garden with a man who had sworn by the Koran to convey 
 him and his brother safely into camp. No sooner, however, 
 did they issue out than the traitor shouted : " This is 
 Burnes." 
 
 The mob rushed upon the brothers and hewed them to 
 pieces. The defenders of the two houses fought bravely 
 to the last, but were finally slaughtered to a man. 
 
 Sir Alexander Burnes owed his death to the faults of 
 others rather than his own. Having been previously at 
 Cabul as the British agent, and speaking the language per- 
 fectly, it was to him the people made their complaints, to 
 him they looked for redress. They knew nothing of Mac- 
 naghten. When they found their condition growing from 
 bad to worse, their taxes increasing, their trade at a stand-
 
 224 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 still, food extremely dear, and employment wanting, it was 
 on Burnes that they laid the blame; and yet he was all the 
 time endeavouring, but in vain, to persuade Macnaghten 
 that it was absolutely necessary to compel the Ameer to 
 abandon a course that was exasperating for people of all 
 classes, from the most powerful chiefs to the poorest in- 
 habitants of the city. Burnes was unquestionably a man 
 of great ability, and had he been in Macnaghten's place with 
 full power and responsibility, things would probably have 
 turned out differently. 
 
 The expedition from the first was a gigantic blunder, 
 undertaken in the teeth of his remonstrances. In any case 
 it was doomed to failure. It was impossible that we could 
 maintain on the throne a man hated by the whole of his 
 subjects a race of fighting men, jealous to the last degree 
 of their independence, and able to take full advantage of 
 the natural strength of the country. But under the ad- 
 ministration of an officer at once firm and resolute, and 
 anxious to conciliate them in every way, the British force 
 might have remained until the Indian government could no 
 longer support the expense of the occupation, and could 
 then have withdrawn quietly with the puppet who had proved 
 himself so utterly incapable of conciliating the people upou 
 whom we had thrust him. 
 
 The great fault in the character of Burnes was instability 
 his alternate fits of sanguine hopefulness and deep de- 
 pression, and his readiness to believe what suited his mood 
 of the moment. These characteristics were no doubt height- 
 ened by the unfortunate position in which he found himself. 
 lie had had every reason to expect that in view of his previ- 
 ous residence in Cabul and his knowledge of the character 
 of the people, he would have the post of political officer of 
 the Afghan capital, and he only accepted a secondary posi- 
 tion upon the understanding that Macnaghten's appointment
 
 THE MUBDEB OF SIB A. BUBNES 225 
 
 was a temporary one, and that he would succeed him. When, 
 however, months and years elapsed, and he was still without 
 any recognized position whatever, when his advice was never 
 adopted and his opinions contemptuously set aside by a man 
 infinitely his inferior, he naturally came to take the worst 
 view of things, and his fits of depression became more fre- 
 quent. At last he fell, not because his house was isolated, 
 for it could have held out until aid had come, but because 
 the three men whose duty it was to rescue him Macnaghten, 
 the Ameer, and Elphinstone were alike vacillating, undeter- 
 mined, and incompetent. 
 
 The Ameer was the only one of these three to take any 
 steps. When he heard of the riot he sent down a regiment 
 of Hindoostanee troops to rescue Burnes. Instead, how- 
 ever, of marching outside the town to the end of the street 
 in which Burnes's house was situated, they entered the city 
 by the nearest gate, and tried to make their way through 
 a maze of narrow lanes. Their advance was desperately 
 opposed. From every house and roof a fire of musketry 
 was kept up, and, after losing two hundred of their number, 
 they fled in utter confusion to the shelter of the citadel. 
 Elphinstone in his report says that he received the news at 
 half -past seven that the town was in a ferment, and shortly 
 after the envoy came and told him that it was in a state 
 of insurrection, but that he did not think much of it, and 
 expected the revolt would shortly subside. Macnaghten sug- 
 gested that Brigadier Shelton's force should proceed to the 
 Bala Hissar to operate as might seem expedient, while the 
 remaining force was concentrated in the cantonment, and 
 assistance if possible sent to Sir Alexander Burnes. 
 
 It was not, however, until between nine and ten that 
 Shelton received his orders; and almost directly afterwards 
 another note arrived telling him not to move, as the Ameer 
 had objected. To this Shelton replied that in an insurrec- 
 
 (M807) P
 
 226 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 tion of the city there was no time for indecision, and recom- 
 mended the general at once to resolve upon what measures 
 he would adopt. He was then told to march immediately 
 to the Bala Hissar, where he would receive further instruc- 
 tions from Macnaghten. Just as he was marching off, a 
 note came from this officer telling him to halt for further 
 orders. He sent an engineer to ask the reason for this order, 
 but the officer was cut down by an Afghan while dismount- 
 ing just outside the square where the Ameer was sitting. 
 Soon after this the military secretary himself came with 
 orders for him to enter the citadel. When he arrived there, 
 the Ameer asked him who sent him and what he came there 
 for, and he was forbidden to enter the town. All that he 
 could do was to cover the retreat of the Ameer's Hindoostanea 
 troops. In consequence of all these delays, it was twelve 
 o'clock before Shelton moved into the Bala Hissar, by which 
 time Burnes and his friends had been murdered and the riot 
 had spread. Houses were burned, shops sacked, and the 
 families of several British officers massacred. 
 
 It is certain that had the slightest energy been shown, 
 and had a small body of troops been despatched when 
 Burnes's first request for help arrived, the riot would have 
 been nipped in the bud, for all accounts agree that for a 
 considerable time not more than three hundred men took 
 part in the attack, and even when Shelton urged the neces- 
 sity for prompt measures Burnes might have been saved. 
 Except in the case of the rising at Meerut in the Indian 
 Mutiny, never did such disastrous effects result from the 
 incompetence of a British general. 
 
 The day passed slowly to Angus. It was maddening to 
 be helpless when great events were happening. Until it 
 became quite dark no one came near them, but at seven 
 o'clock they heard the bolt of the door withdrawn, and a
 
 THE MUBDEB OF SIB A. BUBNES 227 
 
 man entered with a torch, by whose light they at once rec- 
 ognized Hassan, their guide over the passes. 
 
 " You here, Hassan ! " Angus exclaimed. " I had always 
 thought of you as back again in your tower near Bamian. 
 Is it you who has thus made us prisoners ? " 
 
 " We Were sorry to use force, effendi, but there was no 
 other way. Sadut Khan charged us to look after your 
 safety, and we have kept you in sight for some days. He 
 was living in this house in disguise. He was absent yester- 
 day evening to take part in the conference with the other 
 chiefs, and did not return until after midnight. Then he 
 said, ' There will be a tumult in the city to-morrow, Has- 
 san, and probably the house of the officer Burnes will be 
 attacked. What will come of it I do not know. I myself 
 and the other chiefs are leaving at once, so that if things 
 go badly we can disavow any connection with the affair. 
 The young officer, my friend, is, as you know, at Burnes's 
 house. He must be rescued. Prepare this room for him. 
 If he leaves the house before the attack begins, you must 
 seize him and carry him in here. If his servant is with 
 him, bring him also; he too must be saved. He waited on 
 me kindly, and did all in his power for me. If he should 
 not leave the house, then you and your followers must join 
 the mob and keep together, forcing yourselves to the front, 
 so that you will be the first to enter the house. Take long 
 cloaks to throw round them, and get them out, even at the 
 cost of your lives.' 
 
 " I told him that it should be done. You saved his life, 
 and you also saved ours, for we should have been suffocated 
 in the snow-storm had you not cut your way out and come 
 to our rescue. So it has been done. We were glad indeed 
 when we saw you come out. Had you not turned down 
 that lane, I should have come up and accosted you, and,
 
 228 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 telling you that I had an important message to deliver to 
 you, should have asked you to come with me to a quiet spot, 
 where I might deliver it safely. As it was, directly you 
 turned down, we ran round, and, as you know, captured you 
 without noise and without being observed by you. You will, 
 I trust, pardon me for having laid hands on you; but I had 
 orders from the Khan, who told me that I should have to 
 use force, as he was sure you would not, however great the 
 danger, he persuaded to leave Burnes." 
 
 "What has happened?" 
 
 " The Englishman and two others with him have been 
 killed. One of the Ameer's regiments entered the town, but 
 was driven back. There is looting going on everywhere. 
 Many have been killed, and many houses burnt." 
 
 " But what is our army doing ? " 
 
 " Nothing. There is a force at the Bala Hissar, the rest 
 are under arms in their camp." 
 
 " It seems impossible ! " Angus exclaimed. " However," 
 he went on, stifling his indignation for the time, " I have to 
 thank you deeply, Hassan, you and Sadut Khan, for having 
 saved our lives. Assuredly you took the only way to do 
 so; for had you only told me of the danger that threatened 
 Sir Alexander Burnes, I should have returned to warn him 
 and share his fate, whatever it might be. As it was, I 
 cannot blame myself that I was absent. I thank you with 
 all my heart. Pray tell the Khan when you see him that I 
 am deeply grateful to him. He has nobly redeemed his 
 promise, and I hope some day to thank him in person." 
 
 " Now, sahib, we will start at once," Hassan said. " I 
 have clothes for you to put over your own, and there is no 
 fear of our being suspected. We will take you to within 
 shot of your camp." 
 
 He called out, and his four men entered, bringing with 
 them Afghan disguises. When these were put on, they sallied
 
 THE MURDER OF SIR A. BURNES 229 
 
 out at once. The five men were fully armed, and long 
 Afghan guns were given to Angus and Azim. The streets 
 were full of people, for the most part in a state of wild 
 excitement, though the better class looked grave at the pros- 
 pect of the retribution that would probably fall upon the 
 city, perhaps to-morrow or certainly in a day or two. None 
 paid any attention to the group, who differed in no respect 
 from the majority of those around them. Issuing from one 
 of the gates, they made their way to the cantonments. When 
 within a few hundred yards the Afghans stopped. After a 
 hearty farewell and renewed thanks, Angus and Azim left 
 them. They had taken off their disguises, and offered them 
 to Hassan to carry back, but he said, "You had best keep 
 them; you may want them again. There is no saying what 
 may happen." And they accordingly carried them with them. 
 
 In a short time they were challenged by a sentry, and 
 halted till the latter had called a sergeant and four men. 
 Then they went forward. Angus was recognized at once, 
 as he was known by sight to everyone in the camp. In a 
 short time they met an officer, who told them the news of 
 the massacre of Burnes, his brother, and Broadfoot, and 
 their guard, which was already known, as one man had 
 escaped the general slaughter, and had, after hiding for 
 some hours, come into the camp. Angus went at once to 
 Macnaghten's house and sent in his name. The envoy came 
 out into the hall. " I am glad to see that you have escaped, 
 Mr. Campbell. I thought that all had perished, though your 
 name is not -specially mentioned as among the victims." 
 
 " I was not in the house, sir," Angus replied. " Sir Alex- 
 ander Burnos had sent me out to gather information, and I 
 and my servant were suddenly seized and carried into a 
 house, where we were kept as prisoners all day. After it was 
 dark we made our escape, having obtained disguises from a 
 friendly Afghan."
 
 230 TO HEKAT AND OABUL 
 
 " Well, I am glad," Macnaghten said ; " but you must 
 excuse me now, for the general is here, and we are holding 
 a council. You had better for to-night take up your quarters 
 in poor Burnes's tent. I shall have time to attend to mat- 
 ters to-morrow." 
 
 Although Burnes had his residence in the city, he had a 
 large tent not far from the envoy's house. This he occupied 
 when he had business in camp, and it was here that he re- 
 ceived natives who brought him news, or who had grievances 
 that they wished to report to him. Here Angus lay down 
 for the night, with a deep feeling of thankfulness that his 
 life had been spared, mingled with a foreboding that the 
 troubles had only begun, and that there was yet much peril 
 in store before the army were safely out of Afghanistan. 
 
 In the morning Angus again went up to the envoy's. " I 
 have been thinking, Mr. Campbell," Macnaghten said when 
 he entered, " as far as I have been able to think on any one 
 subject, how your services can be best utilized temporarily. 
 I think that, if you would not mind, you might be attached 
 to the commissariat, and assist Captain Boyd and Captain 
 Johnson." 
 
 "I will gladly do so, sir," Angus said. "I will take up 
 the work at once." 
 
 " Anticipating your consent, I have already written a 
 letter for you to take to those officers." 
 
 Glad to have work before him, Angus went at once to 
 the commissariat camp. The two officers were at breakfast. 
 Both rose and congratulated him heartily on his escape. 
 " How on earth did you manage it ? " 
 
 He gave as brief an account as he had done to j3ir William 
 Macnaghten, and then handed them the letter he had re- 
 ceived from the envoy. " That is good news," Captain John- 
 son said heartily. " We shall be glad indeed to have your 
 aid. I will have a tent pitched for you at once by the side
 
 THE MURDER OF SIR A. BURNES 231 
 
 of ours. Of course you have not breakfasted. Sit down 
 with us. What do you think of the state of affairs? You 
 know a good deal more than we do of the disposition of the 
 Afghan chiefs." 
 
 " I think things look very bad," Angus said gravely. " After 
 what seems to me the imbecility shown yesterday, to which 
 the death of my chief is due, it is impossible to feel any- 
 thing" like confidence in the general." 
 
 " That is the universal feeling in camp," Captain John- 
 son said. " If we had Sale here I believe everything would 
 go right, but poor Elphinstone is only fit for a snug arm- 
 chair in a comfortable club. He is no more able to cope 
 with a crisis like this than an old woman would be. In 
 fact, for choice I would take the average old woman. 
 
 " Orders have been given for an attack upon the town to- 
 day, but it is more than likely that it will be counter- 
 manded. If Elphinstone can make up his mind to throw his 
 whole force, with the exception of a strong camp guard, 
 against the city, we should certainly carry it. No doubt 
 there might be a considerable loss of life, but that could not 
 be helped. It would certainly be successful. Then I should 
 say we ought to turn the whole of the Afghan population 
 out of the town, move all our provisions and stores there, 
 and settle down for the winter. We could beat off any attack 
 that the Afghans could make against us. As it is, we are 
 terribly anxious about the stores. You know that I originally 
 established all the magazines for the Ameer's army in the 
 Bala Hissar. Then Macnaghten came up with the Ameer 
 from Jellalabad, and he told me that the Ameer objected to 
 the magazines being 1 there. That was quite enough for 
 Macnaghten. He always gives in to the Ameer's wishes, 
 however ridiculous. So we had to leave the storehouses I 
 had built and move out bag and baggage. 
 
 "The only place that I could get was the camel sheds
 
 232 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 half-way between this and the town, and unless a strong 
 garrison is sent down there the Afghans are certain to take 
 possession of them. But Boyd's stores are even more im- 
 portant. They are within four hundred yards of the de- 
 fences of the camp, and contain all our grain, our hospital 
 stores, our wine and beer, our sugar, and everything else. 
 And if his stores and mine are both lost, we shall have 
 starvation staring us in the face at the end of a week. Just 
 look out over the plain. Since daylight there has been a 
 steady stream of men from the hills, and from all the villages 
 round, flocking into the city; they have heard of the capture 
 of my treasury, and are eager to share in the looting. If 
 they succeed in capturing the stores and provisions, God 
 help us all." 
 
 CHAPTEE XIV 
 
 A SERIES OP BLUNDERS 
 
 NUMEROUS as had been the blunders, and great the 
 mismanagement up to the 2nd of November, matters 
 might yet have been retrieved had the conduct of affairs been 
 in resolute and energetic hands. Macnaghten was personally 
 a brave and fearless man. Had he at last felt the necessity 
 for strong measures, an attack upon the city would certainly 
 have been attended with success. Now that the first burst 
 of hate and passion had passed, the inhabitants were filled 
 with apprehension at the punishment that would fall upon 
 them, and none doubted that the British army would at 
 once attack the town. The army itself expected this, and, 
 furious at the treacherous massacre of Sir Alexander Burnes 
 and his comrades, were burning for the order to attack. 
 The troops were under arms early, but no orders were
 
 A SERIES OF BLUNDERS 233 
 
 issued for a forward movement. Some hours later the 35th 
 regiment of Native Infantry, with two mountain guns, came 
 in from Khoord Cabul, having brushed aside the opposi- 
 tion it had met with on its march. With this valuable addi- 
 tion to the fighting strength in the camp all opposition 
 could have been easily overcome, and yet until three o'clock 
 in the afternoon nothing whatever was done. By this time 
 what could have been effected with comparative ease in the 
 early morning had become a far more difficult operation. 
 Vast numbers of the tribesmen had been pouring into the 
 city since daybreak, and the two miles of plain between 
 the camp and the city, which earlier in the day could have 
 been traversed without a shot being fired, were now covered 
 by a host of fierce enemies; and yet, after wasting so many 
 valuable hours, the general, instead of throwing the whole 
 of the force in the cantonments, and that of Brigadier Shel- 
 ton at the Bala Hissar, against the city, sent only three 
 companies of infantry and two guns to the attack. 
 
 Naturally this handful of men failed; and it was well 
 for them that they did not penetrate into the city, for 
 had they done so they would assuredly have been over- 
 whelmed before they had gone fifty yards. However, the 
 officer in command, seeing the impossibility of the task set 
 him, withdrew his detachment in good order. The result 
 of the day's operation, if it could be so called, was dis- 
 astrous, the troops, who had until then been eager to be led 
 against the enemy, and confident of success, were irritated 
 and dispirited, and lost all confidence in their commander; 
 while, on the other hand, the Afghans were jubilant over 
 what they considered the cowardice of the enemy. The 
 next day the misfortune invited by the passive attitude of 
 our troops happened. Only eighty men were in charge of 
 the commissariat fort. The little party were commanded 
 by Lieutenant Warren. Early in the day a threatening
 
 234 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 force of the enemy approached, and Warren sent a messenger 
 urgently asking for reinforcements. 
 
 But the Afghans had already occupied an old fort that 
 commanded the road between the camp and the commis- 
 sariat fort. Considering the enormous importance of the 
 stores, an overwhelming 1 force should have been sent out to 
 drive off the assailants, and to occupy the fort in such 
 strength that it could be held against any assault. Instead 
 of doing this, two companies only of the 44th Regiment 
 were sent. The two captains in command were killed by 
 the fire from the Afghan fort, other officers were wounded, 
 and the men fell so fast that the officer who was senior in 
 command, seeing the impossibility of reaching the store, 
 drew them off. Then an order was issued which was prac- 
 tically the death-warrant of the army by General Elphip- 
 stone, for a party of cavalry to go out and bring in the 
 little garrison. This party suffered even more severely than 
 the preceding one. From every wall, building, and orchard 
 a storm of musketry broke out, and the troopers, after suf- 
 fering great loss, again retired. The news that the general 
 intended to abandon the store struck dismay into the officers 
 of the commissariat. Captain Boyd hurried to head-quarters, 
 and urged the general to send a force that would sweep away 
 all opposition, and to hold the fort at all hazards. The gen- 
 eral promised to send a reinforcement, but no relief was sent. 
 
 As night was coming on, Captain Boyd and Captain John- 
 son again went to the general and pointed out in the strong- 
 est language the result that would follow the abandonment 
 of the stores. The unhappy old man hesitated, but on a 
 letter being brought in from Lieutenant Warren saying that 
 the enemy were mining the walls, and some of the Sepoys, 
 seeing their position was desperate, were deserting, he prom- 
 ised that a strong detachment should be send at two o'clock 
 in the morning to storm the Afghan fort and relieve the
 
 A SERIES OF BLUNDERS 235 
 
 guard at the commissariat stores. Orders were accordingly 
 issued, but these were presently countermanded, and it was 
 decided that the force should not move until daylight. 
 
 By that time it was too late. Warren had repulsed an 
 attack on the walls, but seeing that the enemy were pre- 
 paring to fire the gate and renew the attack, he retired 
 through a passage that had on the previous day been dug 
 under the wall, and reached the camp in safety. But this 
 was not the only disaster that happened that day. Captain 
 Johnson's store of provisions for the use of the Ameer'3 
 troops, on the outskirts of the city, was also attacked. Cap- 
 tain Mackenzie, who was in command of the little garrison 
 there, defended his post throughout the day with the greatest 
 gallantry; but water was scarce, and ammunition failing, 
 and large numbers of women and children were in the fort, 
 with great quantities of baggage. Urgent letters were sent 
 asking for reinforcements, but no reinforcements came. Had 
 they arrived the situation would have been saved. The Kuz- 
 zilbashes were ready to side with the British. Several of 
 their commanders were with Mackenzie, but when they saw 
 that no help was sent, they refused to join a cause that 
 seemed to them lost. All night the fighting went on, and 
 all next day, until his men were utterly worn out, and the 
 ammunition exhausted. No more could be done, and when 
 night came on, he moved out of the fort and fought his way 
 to the cantonments a brilliant action, which showed what 
 could be accomplished by a mere handful of men well led. 
 
 While Mackenzie was thus fighting for the stores under 
 his charge, the troops in the cantonments were condemned 
 to see crowds of Afghans looting the stores within four 
 hundred yards of our camp, carrying off the supplies that 
 had been garnered for their subsistence through the winter, 
 and this without a man being set in motion or a gun brought 
 to bear upon the plunderers.
 
 236 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 Furious at the imbecility of their leaders, the soldiers 
 clamoured to be led against the enemy. Unable to resist 
 the demand, the general ordered the 37th Native Infantry 
 to move out; but instead of being led straight against the 
 enemy, the officer in command hesitated and halted, and 
 soon fell back with the indignant Sepoys. 
 
 General Elphinstone was already talking of making terms 
 with the enemy, and seemed to despair of victory when no 
 attempt had been made to gain a success. On the 6th, how- 
 ever, a party of the 37th were again sent out under Major 
 Griffiths. Again it was seen what could be done by an ener- 
 getic officer. The Afghan fort was stormed, the enemy were 
 driven out, and were routed by a party of horse, who dashed 
 at them gallantly. The troops could be no longer restrained, 
 and cavalry, infantry, and artillery poured out; but there 
 was no general plan, and the consequence was, that although 
 desultory fighting went on all day, nothing was accomplished. 
 Had any general plan of operation been laid down, and a 
 combined action fought, the enemy would have been utterly 
 unable to withstand our troops, worked up to fury as these 
 were by the disgraceful inaction that had been forced upon 
 them. In the meantime, starvation would have already stared 
 the troops in the face had not Captains Boyd and Johnson, 
 aided by Angus and other officers of their department, gone 
 out to the native villages and succeeded in purchasing a 
 certain amount of grain. But already the troops were on 
 half rations, and even these scanty supplies could not long 
 be available. 
 
 The general, while his troops were out fighting, wrote to 
 Macnaghten, urging that negotiations should be opened 
 with the enemy, and saying, " Our case is not yet desperate, 
 but it is becoming so very fast." 
 
 Macnaghten himself was conscious of this, conscious that, 
 under such leading, the situation was fast becoming desper-
 
 A SERIES OF BLUNDERS 237 
 
 ate, and he employed the moonshee, Mohun Lai, who was 
 still in Cabul under the protection of the Kuzzilbash chief, 
 to endeavour to bribe the chiefs of the Ghilzyes. Two lacs 
 of rupees were offered. The chiefs gave a favourable reply, 
 and then Macnaghten, with his usual instability, was seized 
 with a suspicion that they were not sincere, and abruptly 
 broke off the negotiations, thereby mortally offending the 
 Ghikye chiefs. 
 
 Fresh danger was threatening in another direction. Ma- 
 homed Akbar Khan, the second son of Dost Mahomed, was 
 on his way with a force from the north, and had already 
 advanced as far as Bamian. Mohun Lai suggested that an 
 emissary should be sent to offer him a large allowance if he 
 would join the British. His suggestion was carried out, and 
 money was spent in other quarters lavishly. 
 
 But it was now too late. A quarter of the sum would, 
 a fortnight earlier, have sufficed to satisfy the demands of 
 all the chiefs of the tribesmen. Now that success had en- 
 couraged the assailants of our force, and the whole popula- 
 tion had taken up arms against us, inspired alike by fan- 
 aticism and hatred and thirsting for blood, it was doubtful 
 whether even the chiefs could restrain them had they chosen 
 to do so. 
 
 In their letters and journals the officers still spoke with 
 kindness and respect of their unfortunate general. He had 
 been a brave and able soldier, but age and terrible infirmi- 
 ties had rendered him altogether incapacitated for action. 
 He had for months been suffering from gout, and had almost 
 lost the use of his limbs. Only once or twice, after his ar- 
 rival to assume the command, had he been able to sit on 
 horseback; for the most part he was wholly unable to walk. 
 Sometimes he was confined altogether to his couch; at others 
 he was able to be taken out in a palanquin. His mind was 
 also enfeebled by suffering. On the very day of the first
 
 238 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 outbreak he had been a little better, and had mounted his 
 horse; but he had suffered a very severe fall, and was car- 
 ried back to his quarters. 
 
 It was altogether inexcusable that Lord Auckland, against 
 the advice of the commander-in-chief and the remonstrances 
 of his other military advisers, should have appointed such 
 a man to a command which, beyond all others in India, de- 
 manded the greatest amount of energy and activity. There 
 were many men who might have been worthily selected, men 
 with a knowledge of the political conditions of Afghanistan, 
 of the feelings of the people, of their language and of their 
 country. 
 
 General Elphinstone knew nothing of these things, and 
 depended entirely upon the advice of others. Had he relied 
 solely upon that of Macnaghten, things might have gone 
 differently, but he asked advice from all around him, and 
 took the last that was offered, only to change his mind again 
 when he heard the opinion of a fresh counsellor. He was 
 himself conscious that the position was too onerous for him, 
 and sent down a medical certificate of his incapacity for 
 action, and requested to be relieved. The request had been 
 granted, and he was to have returned to India with Mac- 
 naghten, but unhappily no other officer had been appointed 
 to succeed him. It is upon Lord Auckland, rather than upon 
 the unfortunate officer, who, in the teeth of the advice of 
 his counsellors and of all common sense, was thrust into a 
 position for which he was wholly unsuited, that the blame 
 of the catastrophe of Cabul should be laid. 
 
 Macnaghten, in hopes that Brig'adier Shelton, a brave 
 officer, but hot-tempered and obstinate, would be able to influ- 
 ence the general and to put an end to the deplorable indecision 
 that paralysed the army, persuaded Elphinstone to send for 
 him to come in from the Bala Hissar to the camp and bring 
 in with him a regiment of the Ameer's troops. He came
 
 A SERIES OF BLUNDERS 239 
 
 into the cantonment of the 9th, and his arrival was hailed 
 with the greatest satisfaction, as it was believed that at last 
 something would be done. Unfortunately, however, Shelton's 
 energy and the general's weakness were as oil on water. No 
 two men were less calculated to pull together. Shelton en- 
 forced his arguments with a vehemence that seemed to the 
 general insubordinate in the extreme; while the brigadier, 
 on the other hand, was unable to make allowance for the 
 physical and mental weakness of the general, and was mad- 
 dened by the manner in which orders that had but an hour 
 before been issued were countermanded. 
 
 On the morning of the 10th the enemy mustered in great 
 force, and occupying a small fort within musket-shot of 
 the defences, opened a galling fire. Macnaghten only ob- 
 tained the general's consent to a party going out to capture 
 the fort by telling him that unless he gave the order he 
 should himself take the responsibility of doing so, for that at 
 any risk the fort must be captured. Thereupon Shelton was 
 instructed to take two thousand men and attack it. When 
 they were on the point of starting Elphinstone counter- 
 manded the orders. Shelton, in a fury, laid the case before 
 the envoy, who was as eager as himself, and the general was 
 again persuaded to give the order and the force advanced. 
 
 It was intended to blow open the gate with powder, but 
 by some accident only a wicket by the side of the main 
 entrance was blown in. Led by Colonel Mackrell the storm- 
 ing party, consisting of two companies of Europeans and 
 four of native infantry, advanced. They could with diffi- 
 culty make their way through the narrow entrance, for they 
 were exposed as they did so to a heavy musketry fire, but 
 two officers and a few soldiers pushed through, and the 
 garrison, believing that the whole column was following 
 them, fled through the opposite gate. But unhappily they 
 were not followed. A body of Afghan cavalry threatened
 
 240 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 to attack the storming party outside, and these, native and 
 British alike, were seized with an unaccountable panic and 
 fled. In vain their officers endeavoured to arrest their flight. 
 The events of the previous week had terribly demoralized 
 them. Shelton set them a noble example by remaining on 
 horseback alone, and at last shamed them into returning. 
 Again the Afghan horse approached, and again they fled. 
 Again Shelton's expostulations and example brought them 
 back. The guns in the cantonments drove the Afghans off, 
 and Shelton led his men up to the capture of the fort. 
 
 In the meantime the handful of men who had entered the 
 fort had been engaged in a desperate struggle for life. The 
 Afghans, discovering how small was the number of their as- 
 sailants, re-entered the fort and fell upon them in over- 
 whelming numbers. When Shelton's force entered, Colonel 
 Mackrell had fallen mortally wounded, and was carried into 
 the cantonments to die. Lieutenant Bird, with two Sepoys, 
 were the sole survivors. They had, when the enemy poured 
 in, taken possession of a stable and barricaded themselves 
 there, and had successfully repulsed every attack. When 
 they were rescued their ammunition was almost exhausted, 
 but they were uninjured, and no fewer than thirty dead 
 Afghans lying in front of the stable bore mute testimony 
 to the steadiness and accuracy of their aim. 
 
 Several small forts were abandoned by the enemy, and a 
 quantity of grain was found in them, but as no measures 
 were taken to convey it into the camp, it was lost again 
 when the troops retired. Desultory fighting went on all the 
 afternoon without any decisive results, and the next two or 
 three days passed quietly. 
 
 In the meantime the moonshee was making every effort 
 to bring over some of the chiefs to our side. Macnaghten 
 was sending off letter after letter to the political officer with 
 Sale, urging the necessity for an instant advance of the force
 
 A SERIES OF BLUNDERS 241 
 
 at Jellalabad. On the 13th the enemy occupied a hill within 
 range of the cantonment, and planting two guns there 
 opened a steady fire. Macnaghten spent hours in endeavour- 
 ing to persuade the general and brigadier of the absolute 
 necessity for driving the enemy off the hill, but without suc- 
 cess, and it was not until he took the responsibility upon 
 himself that a detachment under Shelton was ordered to be 
 sent. It was then four o'clock in the afternoon. The troops 
 advanced in three columns, and the infantry rushed forward 
 with such impetuosity that the two guns with them could not 
 arrive in time to herald their attack. The detachment 
 poured in a volley within ten yards' distance, but they were 
 unsteady from their exertions in mounting the hill, and their 
 fire took no effect. A minute later the Afghan cavalry 
 charged down upon them. The attack was unexpected, the 
 men in confusion, and the Afghans rode through and through 
 the ranks. The British troops retreated down the slope, 
 where they re-formed behind the reserve; the guns opened 
 fire with great effect, and the infantry ag'ain marched up 
 the hill. 
 
 Our cavalry now came into action and drove the enemy 
 before them. The infantry carried the height, and the 
 enemy fled, abandoning their guns. It was now getting 
 dark. A party of the Ameer's infantry removed one of the 
 guns; but the Afghan marksmen were keeping up a heavy 
 musketry fire, and the troops, British as well as Sepoys, were 
 so demoralized that they refused to advance and carry off 
 the other. It was therefore spiked and rolled down the hill, 
 while the smaller gun was brought by the Ameer's troops 
 into the cantonment. The enemy, now strongly reinforced, 
 attempted to intercept the retreat, but were beaten off. 
 
 On the 15th Major Pottinger and another officer came in 
 wounded, and reported that the Ghoorka regiment that had 
 been retiring from Kohistan had been entirely destroyed. 
 
 (M807) Q
 
 242 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 They defended themselves courageously against overwhelm- 
 ing forces, and held the barracks they occupied until mad- 
 dened by thirst; then they rushed to a stream, where the 
 enemy fell upon them and cut them to pieces, the two 
 mounted officers alone escaping after innumerable dangers. 
 On the 17th Macnaghten heard that there was no hope what- 
 ever of assistance from Sale, who was himself surrounded 
 with difficulties. He now urged that the force should all 
 retire to the Bala Hissar, behind whose strong walls they 
 could have maintained themselves. But Shelton vehemently 
 opposed the step, which would have saved the army from 
 destruction, urging that the abandonment of the canton- 
 ments would be an acknowledgment of defeat. 
 
 On the 23rd of November the enemy again appeared on 
 the hill from which they had been driven, and a strong force 
 moved out against it. Strangely enough, however, they only 
 took one gun with them. The day was disgraceful as well 
 as disastrous, for the British force was signally defeated 
 and the gun was lost, and the troops re-entered the canton- 
 ment in headlong flight, hotly pursued by the Afghans till 
 they reached the protection of the earthworks. Their con- 
 duct showed how completely the imbecility and vacillation 
 of their commanders, -and the effect of the insufficient rations 
 on which they had to subsist, had destroyed the moral of the 
 troops. The men who a month before could have driven the 
 Afghans before them like sheep, were now unable to cope 
 with them even when in superior numbers. 
 
 On the 24th Elphinstone addressed a letter to Macnaghten 
 stating his opinion that their position could no longer be 
 maintained, and that he should at once enter into negotia- 
 tions with the enemy. He accordingly sent a message to the 
 insurgent chiefs inviting them to send in a deputation to 
 discuss the conditions of the treaty. Two of their leaders 
 came in, but as they demanded that the British should sur-
 
 A SERIES OF BLUNDERS 243 
 
 render at discretion, giving themselves up, with all their 
 arms, ammunition, and treasure, as prisoners of war, Mac- 
 naghten resolutely rejected the offered terms. 
 
 Angus had been constantly employed from the day he 
 reached the cantonments. His work was to go out with 
 small parties of the natives employed by the commissariat 
 to bring in the grain that Boyd and Johnson had purchased. 
 There was no slight risk in the work, for although the vil- 
 lagers were glad to sell their corn on good terms, the party 
 who fetched it ran the risk of being cut off by any band of 
 tribesmen they might encounter. 
 
 Of an evening he talked over the situation and prospects 
 with the two officers. Absorbed in work as they all were, 
 they were less influenced by the feeling of hopelessness than 
 those who had nothing to do but to rage over the trap into 
 which they had fallen through the incapacity of their lead- 
 ers. Still, they did not attempt to disguise from themselves 
 the magnitude of the danger. 
 
 " I have no faith in any treaty that could be made," Boyd 
 said. " An Afghan is only bound by his word as long as it 
 pays him to keep it. They will take Macnaghten's money, 
 and will promise that we shall be allowed to go down the 
 passes without molestation; but I am mistaken indeed if we 
 shall not be attacked the moment we enter them. If they do 
 so, few of us will ever get through. The men are weak now 
 from want of sufficient food. They are utterly dispirited and 
 demoralized, as is shown by their shameful flight yesterday. 
 Besides, they will be encumbered with a host of camp fol- 
 lowers, women, and children. I am still of opinion that our 
 only hope is to take refuge in the Bala Hissar, and Shelton's 
 vehement opposition has already put a stop to that. For 
 myself, I would rather that they attacked us here, even if 
 the attack meant our annihilation. It would be better to 
 die so than cooped up hopelessly in the passes. At best the
 
 244 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 march would be a terrible one. The cold is severe already, 
 and we hear that the snow is deep in the passes; not so deep 
 as to render them impracticable, but deep enough to render 
 the passage a terrible one." 
 
 " Of course we are bound to stay with the rest and do our 
 best to the end. Were it not for that, we three might escape. 
 We all speak the language well enough to pass as natives. 
 You, indeed, have already done so. However, of course that 
 is not to be thought of; indeed, it would probably amount to 
 the same thing in the end, for we could scarcely hope to 
 reach either Jellalabad or Candahar." 
 
 " No, it is not to be thought of, Johnson," his companion 
 said. " We have to do our duty to the last. I still hope 
 that the general may yet have an hour of inspiration and 
 deliver battle in good order. I believe that the troops would 
 fight well if they did but see that they were properly handled." 
 
 On the following day they learned that Akbar Khan had 
 arrived. He was greeted with great enthusiasm and much 
 firing of guns. Macnaghten had a faint hope that he would 
 side with us, as his father, mother, and brothers were in our 
 hands in India; but, on the other hand, he had every reason 
 for bitter animosity against the British, who had, without 
 any ground for complaint, invaded the country and de- 
 throned his father. The prince bore the reputation of being 1 
 frank, generous, and far brighter and more cheerful than 
 the majority of his countrymen; at the same time he was 
 passionate and impulsive, given to sudden bursts of anger. 
 The wrongs that he and his family had suffered were, in- 
 deed, at present predominant in his mind. For two years 
 he himself had been an exile from his country. His father, 
 who had tried so hard to gain the friendship of the British, 
 had been dethroned by them; and as it was notorious that 
 their captives were always honourably treated, he felt that 
 no action upon his part would recoil upon their heads.
 
 A SEEIES OF BLUNDERS 245 
 
 He himself was now the heir to the throne if he could 
 win it. He was extremely popular among the people, who 
 hailed his advent as giving them a leader whom they could 
 rely upon, under whom the chiefs of the tribesmen could 
 lay aside their mutual jealousy and animosity and join in 
 the effort to drive the foe for ever from their country. He 
 did not, however, at once assume the chief authority. The 
 Nawab Mahomed Zemaun Khan, a cousin of Dost Mahomed, 
 had been proclaimed Ameer by the tribesmen, and all orders 
 were sent forth in his name. He was a man of humane and 
 honourable nature, of polished manners, and affable address. 
 
 As soon as he learned the state of affairs, Akbar Khan 
 took immediate steps to prevent further supplies being taken 
 into camp. He burned the villages where grain had been 
 sold, and placed bands of men to attack any parties coming 
 out from the camp to purchase grain. Day after day passed, 
 messengers came and went between Macnaghten and the 
 Nawab, but nothing was done; the food supply dwindled; 
 only three days' rations remained in camp. 
 
 The supplies doled out were scarcely sufficient to keep life 
 together. The oxen and other baggage animals were in such 
 a state of starvation as to be wholly unfit for service. The 
 store of fuel had long been used up, some men died of cold, 
 and all suffered much. Macnaghten was still hopeful, and 
 early in December again urged a retirement, but in vain. 
 The enemy had now guns planted in several positions, and 
 kept up an almost constant cannonade on the camp. On the 8th 
 there were but three days' half rations left, and the general 
 informed Macnaghten by letter that it was absolutely neces- 
 sary to surrender upon the best terms that could be obtained; 
 and the three senior officers also signed the letter, saying 
 that they concurred in it. On the llth there was but one 
 day's food left for the fighting men, the camp followers were 
 Starving. Again and again Macnaghten urged that a force
 
 246 TO HEEAT AND CABUL 
 
 should sally out and at all costs bring in provisions, but the 
 general knew that the men could not be relied upon to fight. 
 The time had come when even Macnaghten saw that all hope 
 had gone save in surrender. He drew out the rough draft 
 of a treaty, and met the leading chiefs of the Afghans at 
 about a mile from the river. 
 
 By this treaty the British were to evacuate Afghanistan. 
 They were to be supplied with provisions for the journey, 
 Shah Soojah was to abdicate, and to have the option of 
 accompanying them; but if he did so, his wife and family 
 were to remain as hostages until Dost Mahomed and his 
 family were released. The troops at Jellalabad were also to 
 retire, as well as those at Ghuznee and Candahar. Four 
 British officers were to be left as hostages, to return to India 
 on the arrival of Dost Mahomed and his family on the 
 frontier. The conference lasted two hours, and its main 
 stipulations were agreed to. The meeting then broke up, 
 on the understanding that the British troops were to evacu- 
 ate the cantonments in three days, and that provisions should 
 in the meantime be sent in. The treaty was a humiliating 
 one, but Macnaghten was not to blame for it. When the 
 three military chiefs had declared that there was nothing 
 for it but surrender, he was forced to make the best arrange- 
 ment he could, and the terms of the treaty were as good as 
 could have been expected in the circumstances. 
 
 When the conference broke up Captain Trevor, one of 
 Macnaghten's staff, accompanied the chief to the city as a 
 hostage for the sincerity of the envoy. On the llth the 
 Bala Hissar was evacuated. Akbar Khan pledged himself 
 to conduct the garrison safely to the cantonments, and kept 
 his promise, succeeding in inducing the crowds of horsemen 
 who gathered round to let the little detachment pass. The 
 provisions, however, were not sent in as agreed, and the 
 chiefs refused to send them until the garrisons were with-
 
 A SERIES OP BLUNDERS 247 
 
 drawn from the forts they occupied round the cantonments. 
 The parties were each suspicious of the other's good faith. 
 On the 18th snow began to fall heavily. Macnaghten tried 
 desperately to win over some of the chiefs, lavishing money 
 among them. The Afghans made fresh demands, and de- 
 manded more hostages, and Lieutenants Conolly and Airey 
 were handed over to them. 
 
 On the 22nd Akbar Khan sent in fresh proposals, to the 
 effect that the British were to remain in Afghanistan till 
 the spring, and then to withdraw as if of their own free-will. 
 Shah Soojah was to remain as Ameer, and Akbar as his 
 minister. As a reward for these services Akbar was to re- 
 ceive an annuity of 40,000 and a bonus of 300,000. Mac- 
 naghten accepted the terms, and agreed to meet Akbar. The 
 offer was so strange that Elphinstone and others thought 
 that it was probably a plot. Macnaghten replied that he did 
 not think that it was so, but in any case he would go. After 
 breakfast he sent for the officers of his staff, Lawrence, Mac- 
 kenzie, and Trevor, who had returned, and begged them to 
 accompany him to the meeting. An hour later they set out 
 with a few horsemen. As they rode on Macnaghten admitted 
 to his officers that he was well aware that it was. a dangerous 
 enterprise, but that he was playing for a heavy stake and 
 the prize was worth the risk. " At all events," he said, " a 
 thousand deaths are preferable to the life I have of late been 
 leading." 
 
 The parties met at some hillocks six hundred yards from 
 the cantonments, where some horse-cloths had been spread 
 upon the snow by Akbar Khan's servants. Macnaghten pre- 
 sented to Akbar a splendid horse he had admired. They dis- 
 mounted, and Macnaghten took his place on the blankets. 
 Trevor, Mackenzie, and Lawrence sat behind him. Sud- 
 denly the envoy and his companions were violently seized 
 from behind. The three officers were dragged away, and
 
 248 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 each compelled to mount horses ridden by Afghan chiefs, 
 who rode off through the crowd. Trevor unfortunately 
 slipped from his insecure seat, and was instantly cut to 
 pieces, while the other two reached Mahomed Khan's fort 
 alive. In the meantime the envoy himself was struggling 
 desperately on the ground with Akbar Khan. Exasperated 
 by the resistance of his victim, whom he had only intended 
 to seize, the Afghan's passion blazed out, and drawing from 
 his girdle a pistol, which Macnaghten had given him the 
 day before, he shot him through the body. Instantly his 
 followers closed round and hacked him to pieces. 
 
 Thus died a gentleman who, in other circumstances, might 
 have made a great reputation for himself. Possessed of un- 
 usual talent, his course was marred by his propensity to 
 believe all that he wished, to disbelieve all that ran counter 
 to his own sanguine projects. During the last month of his 
 life he did all that man could do to avert a catastrophe, but 
 he had been unable to instil his spirit into any of the mili- 
 tary commanders, or to induce them to take the only course 
 to redeem the position, by giving battle to the foe that sur- 
 rounded them. He was the author of the ill-fated expedi- 
 tion to Afghanistan, he was its noblest victim. His peculiar 
 temperament was fatal to him. Even when there was no 
 longer any ground for hope he still continued to be sanguine. 
 He had all along believed in himself, and scoffed at the 
 warnings of men who knew the country and people of 
 Burnes, Rawlinson, Pottinger, and others. 
 
 He was thoroughly sincere; he was always able to con- 
 vince himself that what he believed must be true, and he 
 acted accordingly. He was not a strong man; had he been 
 so the course of events might have been altered. He deferred 
 in every way to Shah Soojah's wishes, however much these 
 might be opposed to his own judgment. He allowed him to 
 misgovern the country, to drive the natives to desperation
 
 A DOOMED ABMY 249 
 
 by the exactions of his tax-gatherers, and to excite the bitter- 
 est animosity of the chiefs by the arrogance with which he 
 treated them. A strong man would have put a stop to all 
 this would have intimated to the Ameer that he held the 
 throne solely by the assistance of British bayonets, and that 
 unless he followed British counsels he would at once yield 
 to the oft-repeated wishes of the Indian government and 
 order the retirement of the troops. 
 
 CHAPTEE XV 
 
 A DOOMED ARMY 
 
 EVEN the murder of the British envoy within sight of 
 the camp failed to arouse the military authorities from 
 their deadly lethargy. Sullenly the troops remained in their 
 cantonments. Not a man was put in motion to avenge the 
 deed or to redeem the h6nour of the army. The only idea 
 was to renew the negotiations that had been broken short 
 by the murder of their political chief. The commissariat 
 had nothing to do. Beleaguered as they were, it was im- 
 possible to collect provisions unless a strong force was sent 
 out, and the military authorities refused to allow a man to 
 be put in motion. They had no confidence in their soldiers, 
 and the soldiers had none in them. It was their leaders who 
 had made them what they were. Macnaghten in his wrath 
 had spoken of them as miserable cowards, but they were not 
 cowards. They had at first full confidence in themselves, 
 and if ordered would gladly have attacked the Afghan forces 
 in the open and have carried Cabul by storm. But kept in 
 enforced inactivity, while fort after fort was wrested from 
 them without an effort being made to relieve the garrisons,
 
 250 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 while the whole of their provisions for the winter were car- 
 ried off before their eyes by an enemy they despised, and 
 feeling that on the few occasions on which they were led 
 from their entrenchments there was neither plan nor order 
 no opportunity for showing their valour, none for engaging 
 in battle, they lost heart. Day by day they were exposed to 
 continual insults from their exultant foes, day by day ex- 
 posed to a heavy cannon and musketry fire, while the food 
 served out was insufficient to maintain their strength almost 
 insufficient to keep them alive. It is not wonderful that 
 their fighting powers were lost, and that they had become 
 little more than a rabble in uniform. 
 
 Angus had now no official duties to perform, and he spent 
 much of his time with his old friend Eldred Pottinger, now 
 a major, who, after Macnaghten's murder, took his place, 
 by right of seniority as well as of energy and talent, as 
 chief political officer. He had been employed in the west, 
 but had been sent to Cabul, and very shortly afterwards had 
 proceeded to Kohistan, returning almost the sole survivor 
 of the little force that was stationed there. His counsel 
 since then had always been for energetic measures, but his 
 voice, like that of Macnaghten, availed nothing. He had, 
 however, taken no prominent part in affairs, having been 
 confined to his bed by the wound he had received. He was 
 now recovering from it, and took up the work with the same 
 energy as he had displayed at Herat. As he said to Angus, 
 " It seems to be my fate to have to do with incapable men. 
 At Herat it was Yar Mahomed and Kamran, here it is Shel- 
 ton and Elphinstone. Elphinstone and Kamran have both 
 in their younger days been fighting men. Both are utterly 
 worn out bodily and mentally by disease and age. 
 
 " Shelton is a brave man, a hard fighter, but his temper 
 overmasters him. When in the field he shows personal gal- 
 lantry, but no military capacity whatever. At first he was
 
 A DOOMED ARMY 251 
 
 always in opposition to the general; he has given that up 
 as useless, and beyond always endeavouring to thwart his 
 chief when the latter was roused to momentary flashes of 
 energy by Macnaghten, he has sunk into a deep gloom, as 
 if he regarded it as absolutely hopeless to struggle further. 
 I would that any other than myself had been placed in the 
 position I now hold. The terms proposed to Macnaghten 
 were hard enough, they will be still harder, still more dis- 
 graceful, now. But however disgraceful they may be, they 
 will be accepted by the military leaders, and my name will 
 be associated with the most humiliating treaty a British 
 officer has ever been called upon to sign." 
 
 His previsions were correct. Negotiations were renewed 
 without the slightest allusion being made to the murder of 
 Macnaghten, and as if such an event had never happened. 
 While these were going on, little food was allowed to enter 
 camp enough to sustain life, but no more. At last the 
 terms were settled. The Afghan chiefs agreed to supply 
 provisions, and to send in baggage animals, upon payment 
 being made for them. Six officers were to be handed over 
 as hostages, all muskets and ordnance stores in the magazines, 
 all money in the treasury, and all goods and property be- 
 longing to Dost Mahomed, were to be surrendered, and Dost 
 himself and his family to be returned. No provision what- 
 ever was made for the safety of the man we had placed upon 
 the throne. Pottinger endeavoured in vain to obtain better 
 conditions. He received no support from the military chiefs ; 
 and even when at last he agreed to the terms, he did so with 
 little hope that they would be observed. 
 
 Warnings came from friends in the city that no depend- 
 ence whatever could be placed upon the chiefs, and that in 
 spite of all promises the force would certainly be attacked 
 on its way down through the passes. No step was taken by 
 the chiefs to send in either provisions or carriage animals,
 
 252 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 and the escort that was to accompany them did not make 
 its appearance. On the 5th of January the military authori- 
 ties determined to march out, contrary to the advice of Pot- 
 tinger, who argued that without carriage and provisions, and 
 without the protection of the chiefs as promised, the pros- 
 pects of four thousand troops and twelve thousand followers 
 being able to make their way down through the passes was 
 small indeed. 
 
 Angus had come to rely very much upon Azim for in- 
 formation as to what was passing outside the cantonment. 
 The latter had during the three years come to speak the 
 Afghan language perfectly, and in the attire of a peasant 
 often went out after dark, mixed with the insurgents, and 
 entered the city. He had each time he went out brought 
 back a less hopeful report than on the previous one, and 
 Angus was the more impressed since the young fellow was 
 generally cheery, and disposed to look on the bright side of 
 things, taking indeed comparatively little interest in what 
 was going on around him, having absolute confidence that 
 his master would find some way out of any difficulty that 
 might confront him. 
 
 " I quite agree with all you say, Azim, but I am powerless 
 to act in any way. If I were here as a private person I 
 should certainly disguise myself and endeavour to make my 
 way down to Candahar, but as an officer I must remain at 
 my post, come what may, and share the fate of the rest. 
 But if you are disposed to try and get down, I will not 
 throw any obstacle in your way, and will furnish you with 
 money sufficient to pay your way either back to Persia or 
 down into India, where, with your knowledge of languages, 
 you will have no difficulty in finding employment." 
 
 Azim laughed. " No, master, whatever comes, I will stay 
 with you. Just as you are in the employment of govern- 
 ment and cannot leave, so am I in your employment."
 
 A DOOMED ARMY 253 
 
 Angus did not attempt to push the matter further, for he 
 felt that it would be useless; and indeed, although he would 
 have done what he could to procure his follower's safety, 
 he felt that he would be a great loss to him in many ways. 
 They had been so long together, and had gone .through so 
 many dangers in companionship, that he regarded Azim as 
 a friend rather than as a servant. 
 
 "When you have been in the city, Azim, have you ever 
 seen our friend Sadut ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; I have heard that he has been in the city many 
 times, and that he was with the Afghan horsemen who 
 drove our people in, but I have not seen him. Should I 
 speak to him if I do so?" 
 
 "Yes, you might thank him in my name, and your own, 
 for having saved our lives the other day; but on no account 
 say anything to him about the future. I cannot make any 
 overtures for help to a man who, though a friend of my 
 own, is fighting against us. And indeed, however willing he 
 might be to aid me to the best of his power, he could not 
 do so. If we are really attacked in the pass, mixed up as 
 we shall be with the camp followers, we could not be found 
 in the crowd; and you may be sure that the tribesmen and 
 the Ghazee fanatics will be mad with bloodshed and hate, 
 and that even a chief would be unable to stand between them 
 and their victims. Even if he were to send a messenger to 
 me to say that he and his men would again save me, if I 
 would let him know in which part of the column I shall 
 ride, I should refuse to do so. It would be an act of 
 treachery on my part to others, weaker and less able to 
 take care of themselves than I am." 
 
 On the afternoon of the day when the force moved out 
 of the cantonments Eldred Pottinger sent for Angus. 
 
 "Are you ready to undertake a hazardous mission?" he 
 asked. " It is so hazardous that I would send no one upon
 
 254 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 it, were it not that I consider that those who stay here are 
 running as great a risk. After the murder of Burnes and 
 Macnaghten, I have not the smallest faith in the chiefs 
 keeping to their promises, and the manner in which they 
 have failed now to carry out the terms of the treaty heightens 
 my distrust in them. I do not believe that any of the 
 messengers that have been sent down of late have succeeded 
 in getting through; and indeed, until to-day it was im- 
 possible to say whether we should really start or not. The 
 messages sent down were necessarily vague, and were indeed 
 only requests for aid. I know, and no doubt Sale knows, 
 that it is as difficult for him to fight his way up the passes 
 as it is for us to make our way down ; but now that, in spite 
 of my advice, Elphinstone and Shelton and the other officers 
 have decided to wait no longer, but to start at once, a specific 
 message must be sent." 
 
 "I am ready to try to get through," Angus said. "I 
 have no doubt that while we have been negotiating here, 
 the tribesmen from all the country round have been gather- 
 ing in the passes. The only way would be for me to join 
 some party of men from the villages going that way. Once 
 fairly in the pass and among the tribesmen, I could leave 
 the party and mingle with others. Of course it would be 
 slow work going on afoot, but I should say that it would be 
 quite impossible on horseback." 
 
 " I have not much hope that the mission will be of any 
 real use, for Sale is himself besieged in Jellalabad. Still, 
 one must make an attempt. I shall enter in my journals 
 trusting that they will some day be recovered that as a 
 last hope I have accepted the offer of Mr. Angus Campbell 
 to carry a message to General Sale saying that we are start- 
 ing, and begging 1 him, if it be possible, to make a diversion 
 in our favour by advancing as far as he can to meet us. I 
 will not give you any written document. You are well
 
 A DOOMED ARMY 255 
 
 known to many of the officers who went down with Sale, 
 therefore no question can arise as to the message you bear 
 being a genuine one. If you were searched and any letter 
 found upon you, it would be your death-warrant. Still, I 
 believe if anyone could get through alive, you can." 
 
 " I will do my best anyhow," Angus said, " and I will 
 start as soon as it becomes dark. It is all easy enough as 
 far as Khoord Cabul, after that I shall keep a sharp look- 
 out; if I overtake any party of villagers I shall join them." 
 
 " I shall come and say good-bye to you before you start, 
 Campbell." 
 
 Angus returned at once to his tent. "You have my dis- 
 guise ready and your own, Azim ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir, I have both ready, and have two of their long 
 guns and some daggers and pistols." 
 
 " I have my own pistols, Azim." 
 
 "Yes, master, and it will be as well to take them; but 
 they would be seen directly if you had them in your girdle." 
 
 " No doubt they would, Azim, but there are a good many 
 English pistols among them now. There were three pairs 
 they got at Sir Alexander's house, and there have been several 
 officers killed since. I can give out that I took part in the 
 fight at Sir Alexander's and got these pistols as my share 
 of the plunder." 
 
 " Are you going anywhere, master ? " 
 
 " Yes, I am going to try to get down through the passes 
 to Jellalabad. We shall start as soon as it is dark. It will 
 be a terribly dangerous journey, but I hardly think it will 
 be more dangerous than going 1 down with the troops." 
 
 " What are we to take, master ? I will get it ready." 
 
 " There is not much that we can take. I will go down 
 to the store myself and get eight or ten pounds of ground 
 grain. There is not much of it, for the mills have all been 
 smashed, and we have had to serve the grain out whole;
 
 256 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 but I know that there are two or three sacks left in the 
 stores. There is no meat to be had, nor spirits not that I 
 would take spirits if I could get them, for if they were 
 found upon me it would excite suspicion at once. Another 
 thing, I must stain myself. My face and hands are nearly 
 as brown as those of the Afghans, but if we were searched 
 and they took our things off, they would see in an instant 
 that I was a white. I don't know how we are to get stain." 
 
 "I should think, master, that if we were to bake some 
 grain quite black, and then pound it and pour boiling 
 water over it so as to make it like very strong coffee, it 
 might do." 
 
 "A very good idea. Well, I shall not want you for the 
 next two hours. I shall go round and see some of my 
 friends and say good-bye to them. Mind, whatever you do 
 don't say a word to anyone about our leaving." 
 
 "I will be sure not to do that, master." 
 
 Azim went out to a little tent of thick native blanket a 
 few yards from that of his master. There he sat looking 
 through the entrance until he saw his master leave his tent. 
 Five minutes later he issued out in his Afghan dress, long 
 coat lined with sheep-skins, black lamb's-wool cap, high boots, 
 and sheep-skin breeches, and at once set off at a brisk walk. 
 There were at all times many Afghans in the camp, and 
 indeed many of the camp followers had, since the cold set 
 in, adopted the same dress; therefore no attention was paid 
 to him, and no questions were asked by the sentries as he 
 passed out at the gates. As soon as he got among the 
 gardens and enclosures he broke into a run, which he con- 
 tinued until he reached a village a mile and a half away, 
 and here he entered one of the cottages. 
 
 "Have you news for us?" one of the four men sitting 
 there said. 
 
 "Yes, and good news. My master starts as soon as it is
 
 A DOOMED AEMY 257 
 
 dark. He will be on foot, and he is going to try and make 
 bis way down through the passes." 
 
 "That is good news indeed," the Afghan said. "I was 
 afraid that we should never get a chance. Which road will 
 he go by?" 
 
 "I can't say exactly, but he is sure to leave by the 
 western gate. He would have more chance of getting away 
 unnoticed on that side. Of course we shall both be in our 
 Afghan dress." 
 
 "We will be on the look-out. I suppose that he will be 
 armed ? " 
 
 " Yes, he will carry one of your long guns and a brace of 
 pistols. You had best choose some spot where you can close 
 on him suddenly, for he would certainly fight till the last." 
 
 " We will be careful," the man said. " I don't want to 
 get a pistol ball in my body. We shall follow at a distance 
 until we find a convenient spot." 
 
 " He is sure to keep along at the foot of the hill so as 
 to avoid your people on the plain." 
 
 " It will suit us best also, as we shall not have far to carry 
 him." 
 
 "Mind, you must make a struggle when you seize me as 
 if I was violently resisting. Then, when we start you must 
 order me to walk, and threaten to blow out my brains if I 
 try to escape. My master can learn the truth afterwards. 
 If he were to know it now, he would be furious with me; 
 but in a few days, when fighting is going on in the passes, 
 and a great disaster occurs, he will thank me for having 
 prevented him from throwing away his life, especially as 
 he knows perfectly well that the English in Jellalabad could 
 not come out to assist those here." 
 
 When Angus returned to the tent he found Azim busy 
 roasting the grain. The Afghan costume had been laid 
 aside.
 
 258 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 " Everything is ready, master. The grain is nearly done, 
 and it won't take me long to pound it up. I got a few 
 sticks down at the stores and the kettle is just boiling." 
 
 " Then as soon as it is ready I will stain myself, but I 
 sha'n't put on the Afghan dress until the last thing. Have 
 you cooked some of the flour ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir, I have made four cakes. They are caking in 
 the ashes now. I thought perhaps you would eat one before 
 we started, and we can carry the others for to-morrow." 
 
 " I wish, Azim," Angus said, " that there was some chance 
 of this journey being useful, but I feel convinced that no 
 good can come of it. The moonshee has sent in a report 
 that confirms the rumours we heard. There can be no doubt 
 that General Sale is strongly beleaguered in Jellalabad, and 
 will have all his work to do to hold the place, and therefore 
 it will be absolutely impossible for him to fight his way up 
 the pass." 
 
 "Then why should you go, master?" 
 
 " Because I have been asked to go as a forlorn hope ; and 
 also because, however great the risk I may run, I do not 
 think that it is greater than it would be if I went down 
 with the army. We have no baggage animals. We have 
 food for only three days more, and it will only last that 
 time by cutting down the rations still further. The unfor- 
 tunate camp followers are for the most part without warm 
 clothing of any sort, and will die by thousands. As to the 
 troops, I have no doubt that most of them will fight when 
 they know that unless they cut their way through they are 
 doomed, but their chance of victory is small. Here in the 
 open plain they might even now, if well led and worked up 
 to enthusiasm by a stirring speech, thrash the Afghans, 
 numerous as these may be; but pent up in the passes, under 
 a fire from every hillside by a foe they cannot reach for in 
 their present weak state they could never scale the moun-
 
 A DOOMED AKMY 259 
 
 tains I believe it will be a massacre rather than a fight. 
 At any rate, if we are to be killed, I would rather be shot 
 as a spy than go through such awful scenes as there will be 
 before a bullet finishes me." 
 
 "I don't want to die at all, master; but if it be the will 
 of Allah, so be it. But, as you say, I would rather be killed 
 straight off than struggle on through the snows in the passes 
 and get killed in the end." 
 
 As soon as it became dusk, Angus and his follower put 
 on their disguises. A few minutes later Eldred Pottinger 
 came in. 
 
 " Well, as far as looks go you will pass anywhere, Camp- 
 bell, and certainly as regards language there is no fear of 
 your being suspected. The real difficulty will be in ex- 
 plaining where you came from. Every village has sent its 
 contingent of fighting men, and if it happened that you 
 met anyone from the place you pretended to come from, 
 the consequences would be very awkward." 
 
 " I intend to give out that I have come down from 
 Arcab, which is a little village to the south of Ghuznee. I 
 went out there once with a detachment to buy some cattle. 
 It is hardly likely that any of the men from that place 
 would have come here, for they would naturally join the 
 bands that are threatening our garrison there. Of course 
 I can invent some story to account for my not doing the 
 same." 
 
 Pottinger nodded. "Well, Campbell, I hope that you 
 will get well through it. As I told you, I have not a shadow 
 of hope that Sale will be able to lend a hand to us. Still, 
 although it is but one in a thousand chances, I feel that it 
 ought to be attempted; and in your case I say honestly that 
 I consider there is no greater risk in your going down by 
 yourself, and having your own wits to depend upon, than in 
 going down with the army if one can call this broken and
 
 260 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 dispirited soldiery an army for in that case the bravest and 
 clearest head would share the fate, whatever that may be, 
 of the dullest and most cowardly." 
 
 " I quite see that, and agree with you that nothing can 
 be slighter than the chances of the army getting down safely. 
 Be assured that whatever happens, so far from blaming you, 
 I shall consider that you did the best for me by sending 
 me on this mission." 
 
 " I will walk with you to the gate," Pottinger said. " In 
 the daytime there is no check upon anyone passing in or 
 out, but at night the sentries are on the alert, and as you 
 are both armed, you would certainly be stopped." 
 
 A minute was spent in packing their scanty stores into 
 the pockets of their coats, then they started for the gate. 
 Here Pottinger, after seeing them through, shook hands 
 cordially not only with Angus but with Azim, whom he 
 had learned to like and value for the devotion he showed 
 to his master in Herat. They proceeded on their way with- 
 out meeting any parties of Afghans until they neared the 
 foot of the hill, then, as they were passing" along a path 
 through an orchard, a party of men suddenly sprang out 
 upon them, and they were thrown down on their faces before 
 either had time to offer any resistance. Angus, indeed, had 
 repressed the natural impulse to try to draw one of his 
 pistols. Resistance would have meant death, and it seemed 
 to him that these could only be plunderers. 
 
 " What are you doing, fools ? " he exclaimed. " Do you 
 not see that we are friends?" 
 
 No answer was given. His captors were binding his hands 
 tightly to his side; then before raising him they muffled his 
 head in a blanket. He was then lifted to his feet. He 
 heard the men say to Azim that he was to accompany them, 
 and that if he attempted escape he would at once be shot. 
 A man on each side of him put his hands on his shoulder,
 
 A DOOMED ARMY 261 
 
 and one said: "You are to walk quietly with us; escape is 
 impossible, and it were well for you not to attempt it." 
 
 Angus indeed felt that escape was out of the question. 
 He was unable to conjecture into whose hands he had fallen. 
 They were not bent upon plunder, for had they been so, 
 they would have taken his arms, searched him, and prob- 
 ably cut his throat afterwards. It seemed impossible to him 
 that they could know he was a British officer, and the only 
 conceivable explanation he could think of was that men had 
 been scattered all round the cantonment to prevent anyone 
 from leaving, or going out with messages to one or other of 
 the chiefs, and that they had seen him and Azim come out, 
 had followed and seized them, and were now taking them 
 to some chief to be questioned as to why they were in the 
 British camp after dark, and for what purpose they had left. 
 Certainly the affair reminded him of his friendly capture 
 at Cabul; but it seemed to him altogether impossible that 
 Sadut could have learned that he was about to start on a 
 mission, or that had he even learned it, he could have known 
 that he and Azim would have followed the road on which 
 they had been captured. He soon found that the path they 
 were following was an upward one, and as it became steeper 
 and steeper, he was sure that he was being taken into the 
 hills. 
 
 Once or twice he addressed his captors, but received no 
 answer. He walked, as far as he could tell, for two hours. 
 At last there was a pause. He heard a door open, and. 
 felt that he was being taken into a hut. Then for the 
 first time the pistols and knives were taken from his sash. 
 His captors, after addressing a few whispered words to 
 some men who were already in the hut, retired, closing the 
 door behind them and piling heavy stones against it. The 
 blanket was then taken off his head. A bright fire was 
 burning in the hut, which he saw was some fifteen feet
 
 262 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 square. Four men, armed to the teeth, were standing by 
 the fire. There was no door save the one by which they 
 had been brought in, and it was evident that the hut con- 
 sisted only of this room. 
 
 "You are unhurt, I hope," he said to Azim. 
 
 "Yes. I was knocked down before I had time to think 
 of doing anything." 
 
 "Do you know where they have brought us?" 
 
 "No. They threw a cloth over my head." 
 
 " How could this have happened, Azim ? I cannot under- 
 stand it at all." 
 
 "No more can I, sir." 
 
 "When we started to fight against the infidels we never 
 thought that we should be attacked by our own country- 
 men. It seems to me that there must be some mistake." 
 Then he turned to the Afghans. "Why are we brought 
 here ? What harm have we done ? " 
 
 " That I know not," the man said. " You must have 
 done something, or our comrades would not have brought 
 you here. That is their business." 
 
 " It seems to me," Angus said angrily, " it is our business 
 too. Our tribe are not at war with any others, and it is a 
 new thing that Afghans should attack each other when all 
 are uniting to fight the strangers." 
 
 "I know nothing about it. I only know that our com- 
 rades brought you here, and left us to look after you. 
 There are plenty of traitors among the men who have taken 
 the infidel's gold. They will all be reckoned with when we 
 have finished with the white men. Well, they did not tell 
 us to keep you bound, and we will take off the cords if you 
 swear by the faith that you will make no attempt to escape." 
 
 Angus hesitated. It seemed to him that if two of the 
 four men slept he and Azim could, if unbound, snatch at 
 their weapons, and at least make a fight for it; that chance 
 would be gone if he gave his word.
 
 A DOOMED AEMY 263 
 
 "No," he said; "I will make no bargain with men who 
 have deprived me of my liberty." 
 
 "Well, just as you like," the other said, seating himself 
 by the fire, " it makes no matter to us." 
 
 " We may as well sit down too," Angus said, and advanc- 
 ing near the fire he sat down by the side of the Afghans. 
 Azim did the same. 
 
 " Where did you say you came from ? " the man who had 
 been the spokesman of the party asked. Angus briefly 
 named the village he had before decided upon, and then 
 sat looking silently at the fire. He saw that his chance of 
 being able to discover at present any plan for escape was 
 very small. Presently one of the men said, "Let us have 
 supper," and rising he went to a corner of the hut, where 
 the carcass of a sheep was hanging from the rafters. He 
 cut off a leg, divided this into slices, which he spitted on 
 a ramrod, and then put it over the fire. In the meantime 
 another had unceremoniously placed the four cakes that were 
 taken from the captives in the embers to warm up. When 
 the meat was done, the leader said to Angus: "We do not 
 wish to starve you. We will untie the hands of one of you, 
 and let him eat; when he has done, we will fasten him up 
 again, and let the other eat in the same way." 
 
 This was done. When they were again securely bound 
 Angus said in Pushtoo : " You may as well lie down now, 
 friend. Perhaps in the morning the men who have taken 
 us will find out that they have made a mistake and will let 
 us go, with apologies for having treated friends so roughly." 
 They lay down close together, but Angus was afraid even 
 to whisper to his follower, lest it should excite the suspicion 
 of their guard. For an hour he remained watchful, then 
 he saw two of the Afghans lie down, but the other two 
 lighted their pipes, and were evidently going to keep watch. 
 He had tried quietly once or twice to see if the cords that 
 bound him could be loosened, but he found that although
 
 264 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 they had not been tied unpleasantly tight, they were securely 
 fastened, and did not yield in the slightest to his efforts. 
 He therefore gave up the idea of trying to free himself from 
 them; and indeed, even if the guards should all sleep, the 
 prospect was hopeless, for from the noise made in rolling the 
 rocks against the door, it was certain that this could not 
 be opened without waking the sleepers. It would therefore 
 be necessary as a preliminary to kill all of them, and even 
 then he might not be able to break open the door. At any 
 rate, there was nothing to do at present. After trying in 
 vain to discover an explanation of their capture he fell 
 asleep. He woke several times in the night, but found that 
 two men were always on guard. The next morning he heard 
 the stones removed from the door, but no one entered. The 
 Afghans breakfasted, and this time permitted their captives 
 to share the meal with them. From time to time one or 
 other of the Afghans went to the door and looked out, and 
 at two o'clock one of them said, " The infidels are mov- 
 ing." 
 
 The others went out. "Have you thought of any way 
 of escape?" Angus whispered in Persian to his follower. 
 
 " I can think of nothing," Azim murmured. 
 
 As there seemed no obstacle to their going out Angus 
 joined his captors. He could see on the snow which covered 
 the plain below, the dark masses of the troops surrounded 
 by a host of camp followers, while beyond these hovered 
 hordes of Afghans. From time to time horsemen rode in, 
 evidently delivered some message, and then went off again. 
 
 The departure of the troops had been fatally delayed. 
 It was ordered to begin at eight o'clock in the morning, 
 and at that hour they stood to their arms. The day was 
 clear and bright, and although four miles from the camp, 
 Angus could clearly see what was going on. Although it 
 was now two in the afternoon, only a portion of the troops
 
 A DOOMED ABMY 265 
 
 had left the camp, and it was not till six o'clock, when 
 night had already fallen, that the rear-guard left it. 
 
 Already confusion had set in; the ranks of the soldiers 
 were broken up by the terrified camp followers, and pre- 
 sented the appearance of a vast mob rather than an or- 
 ganized army. Had they started at the hour fixed they 
 might have reached Khoord Cabul in safety, but the loss of 
 time was fatal. Only six miles were accomplished, and it 
 was two o'clock in the morning before the whole gathered, 
 when it was seen that their numbers were already dimin- 
 ished. The wretched camp followers, accustomed to the 
 heat of the plains of India, and thinly clad, were the first 
 to succumb. Hundreds, especially of women and children, 
 sat down in the snow and were frozen to death. Already 
 the Afghans were hanging on the flanks, and sometimes 
 making rushes and cutting down many of the unresisting 
 multitude. 
 
 Soon after two o'clock a native came up to the hut and 
 delivered an order to the Afghans, who at once cut up the 
 remainder of the sheep, and divided it between them. Then 
 their leader said, " We are to move." The ropes that bound 
 the prisoners were loosened. One end was tied round the 
 wrist of each captive, the other being wound round the 
 waist of an Afghan, allowing a slack of a yard and a half. 
 As soon as this was done the party moved off. They de- 
 scended the hill for some distance, and then followed the 
 lower slopes in the direction in which the army was moving. 
 They kept on till long after midnight, and then halted at a 
 deserted hut. Far behind them they could see the flames 
 of the burning cantonments, which had been fired by the 
 Afghans as soon as they had removed everything of the slight- 
 est value. In the morning Angus saw that their halting- 
 place was high up above the entrance of the Khoord Cabul 
 Pass. There was as yet no sign of the army, but in the
 
 266 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 afternoon it was seen approaching in a confused mass. The 
 night had been a dreadful one; soldiers and camp followers, 
 horses and baggage and cattle were huddled in a confused 
 mass. No warm clothes had been served out to the follow- 
 ers, and hundreds were frozen to death during the night, 
 while others were so badly frost-bitten that they were unable 
 to walk. 
 
 As soon as the troops started again the Afghan horsemen 
 attacked the rear, seizing the baggage, capturing the guns, 
 and cutting down all they encountered. At noon Akbar 
 Khan, with six hundred horsemen, rode up. Pottinger sent 
 Captain Skinner with six horsemen to communicate with 
 him. Akbar said that he had been sent out by the Nawab 
 to protect them from the attacks of the Ghazees. His in- 
 structions were to demand other hostages as security for the 
 evacuation of Jellalabad, and to arrest the progress of the 
 force, supplying it in the meantime with everything it re- 
 quired, until news of the evacuation of Jellalabad by Sale 
 was received. The troops, however, did not halt until they 
 reached the entrance of the Cabul Pass. The night was 
 even more dreadful than the preceding day had been. The 
 Sepoys burned their caps and accoutrements to obtain a 
 little warmth, and numbers were frozen to death. At day- 
 break the crowd of soldiers and camp followers began to 
 push forward, their only thought now being how to escape 
 death. 
 
 Akbar Khan spent some hours in negotiations. Four more 
 hostages were demanded; Pottinger volunteered to be one of 
 them, Captain Lawrence had been specially named, and Pot- 
 tinger chose Mackenzie as the third. It was agreed that the 
 force should move down through the Khoord Cabul Pass 
 to Tezeen, there to await tidings of the evacuation of Jellala- 
 bad.
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE AEMY 267 
 
 CHAPTEE XVI 
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE ARMY 
 
 IN terrible confusion the crowd of fugitives they were 
 now nothing more all entered the terrible pass. The 
 Ghilzyes at once commenced their attack. In vain did Akbar 
 Khan and his chiefs endeavour to restrain the fanatics. 
 From the hillsides, from every rocky crag they opened a 
 murderous fire. That day three thousand men fell, either 
 from the musket fire or from the knives of the Afghans. 
 The dooly-bearers had all deserted on the first day, the 
 greater portion of the camels and ponies had been captured. 
 So far the ladies had escaped; they all rode next to the 
 advanced guard, as this was considered the safest point, for 
 the soldiers here maintained some sort of order, and the 
 Afghans, therefore, devoted their attention to the helpless 
 crowd in the rear. Again the column halted in the snow. 
 
 In the morning the camp followers made another rush 
 ahead, but the troops, who were ordered to march at ten 
 o'clock, did not move, for in spite of all the remonstrances 
 of the officers, the general countermanded the order, believ- 
 ing that Akbar Khan would send in provisions and troops 
 to protect them. Another terrible night was passed, and 
 then Captain Skinner rode into camp with a new proposal 
 from Akbar Khan, namely, that all the English ladies of 
 the force should be placed under his charge, and that they 
 might be accompanied by their husbands. Pottinger remem- 
 bering that Akbar Khan's family were in the hands of the 
 British, and believing that he was sincere in his wish to 
 save the ladies and children from destruction, sanctioned 
 the proposal. Elphinstone at once accepted it. It was the 
 choice of two evils. On the one hand Akbar Khan had
 
 268 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 proved faithless, and on the other certain death awaited the 
 ladies. They were insufficiently olad, had scarcely tasted 
 food since they left Cabul, and had passed three terrible 
 nights in the snow. Undoubtedly it was the wiser course 
 to trust them to Akbar Khan. Accordingly a party of Afghan 
 horse rode in, and Lady Macnaghten, Lady Sale, and ten 
 other ladies, some twenty children, and eight officers rode 
 away under their escort. 
 
 The next morning the survivors started. The Sepoys had 
 already lost the greater portion of their numbers; the re- 
 mainder threw away their guns, which they could no longer 
 use owing 1 to their hands being frost-bitten, and joined the 
 disorganized rabble in front. They were attacked in a nar- 
 row gorge, and the pass was soon choked with dead and 
 dying. Not a single Sepoy survived. Of the sixteen thou- 
 sand men, soldiers and camp followers, that had left Cabul 
 four days before, not more than a quarter were now alive. 
 Akbar Khan watched the slaughter that was going on, de- 
 claring that he was powerless to restrain the Ghilzyes, whom 
 even their own chiefs could not control. He advised that 
 the remnant of the British army should lay down their 
 arms and place themselves under his protection. The general 
 very properly refused the offer, for Akbar Khan had already 
 acknowledged that he was incapable of restraining the tribes- 
 men. 
 
 The march was continued. The rear-guard was com- 
 manded by Shelton, and nobly they did their work, repuls- 
 ing several attacks of the enemy, and giving time for those 
 ahead to pursue their way. Before daybreak they started 
 again in hopes that they might reach Jugduluk that day. 
 Despair gave the soldiers strength, and they moved off 
 quietly in order to obtain a start of the camp followers, 
 who paralysed their action. The latter, however, were soon 
 on their feet, and as usual endeavoured to push on ahead
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE ARMY 269 
 
 of the troops. For some miles the retreat was uninterrupted, 
 but presently a heavy fire opened on the rear-guard. The 
 camp followers then rushed in a tumultuous crowd past the 
 troops, and when, a little later, the head of the column was 
 attacked, they again fled to the rear, not only hampering the 
 movements of the soldiers, but carrying many of them away 
 by the impetus of their rush. Steadily until day broke the 
 Afghan marksmen maintained their fire. Soon afterwards 
 the advanced guard reached a village ten miles from Jugdu- 
 luk, and halting only till the rear-guard came up again 
 pushed forward. Shelton, with a handful of the rear-guard, 
 kept the Afghans at bay, and covered the retreat until all 
 arrived in Jugduluk, where they took their post behind some 
 ruined walls. There was, however, little rest for them; the 
 Afghans, in ever-increasing numbers, posted themselves on 
 the heights and opened a terrible fire. Three bullocks were 
 found among the camp followers; these were instantly killed 
 and served out to the famishing soldiers, who devoured them 
 raw. Again Akbar's party approached, and Captain Skinner 
 went out to remonstrate with him for permitting the con- 
 tinued attacks, but the Afghan prince declared himself in- 
 capable of repressing his men, as his orders were disre- 
 garded. 
 
 A handful of the 44th Regiment issued out and made 
 a gallant rush at the enemy and drove them back, but as 
 the main body did not follow their example, they again 
 retired behind the ruined walls. All night long and through 
 the next day the force remained at Jugduluk. Akbar Khan 
 sent in a message inviting the general, Shelton, and Captain 
 Johnson to a conference, and promised to send in provisions. 
 This promise he as usual broke, and insisted on retaining 
 the three officers as hostages. 
 
 The conference was resumed the next morning. Akbar 
 now seemed in earnest in his desire to put a stop to the
 
 270 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 slaughter; but the petty chiefs of the tribes' between Jug 1 * 
 duluk and Jellalabad were now present, and these would 
 listen neither to his entreaties nor commands, nor to the 
 offer of large sums of money. They thirsted for blood, and 
 were determined to extirpate the infidels. Mahomed Shah 
 Khan, to whose daughter Akbar was married, then came 
 forward and asked whether the British would pay two lacs 
 of rupees for safe-conduct to Jellalabad. The general agreed 
 to this, and it seemed that at last the safety of the survivors 
 was ensured. At eight o'clock in the evening the survivors, 
 who now numbered but a hundred and twenty of the 44th 
 and twenty-five artillerymen, again set forth. No provisions 
 had been sent in during the two days' halt, and all were 
 terribly reduced by famine. The Afghans rushed down 
 among the camp followers, killing them unresistingly. The 
 soldiers, however, held together, and, bayonet in hand, drove 
 off their assailants until they reached the Jugduluk Pass. 
 They struggled up the narrow and terribly steep ascent 
 until when near the summit they came upon a barricade 
 composed of bushes and branches of trees. Here the column 
 was thrown into great confusion, the camp followers crowd- 
 ing upon the soldiers. The latter fought with desperation, 
 while the Afghans massacred the unresisting 1 camp followers. 
 Twelve officers fell here. Their number was large in pro- 
 portion to that of the men. They had been no better clothed, 
 and had suffered equally from cold and hunger; but they 
 did not give way to the depression that during the first two 
 marches had reigned among the troops. They were upheld, 
 too, by the feeling of responsibility, and the necessity of 
 keeping up an appearance of cheerfulness and hopefulness 
 in order to encourage the men. After desperate fighting 
 some twenty officers and twenty-five soldiers managed to 
 break their way through the barricade, and at daybreak
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE ABMY 271 
 
 reached Gundamuck. There were but two rounds of ammu- 
 nition remaining in the men's pouches. Most of them were 
 already wounded, but they were resolute not to lay dow.'i 
 their arms, and when called upon to do so they refused. 
 Then the mob of Afghans rushed down upon them. One 
 officer and a few privates were taken prisoners, but seven 
 officers succeeded in cutting their way through, and being 
 mounted, left the Afghans behind them, and reached Futteh- 
 bad, but sixteen miles from Jellalabad. Here, however, they 
 were attacked by the peasantry. Two were cut down at 
 once; the others rode off, but were pursued and overtaken. 
 Four of them were killed, and one only, Dr. Brydon, reached 
 Jellalabad alive, the sole survivor of four thousand five hun- 
 dred fighting men and twelve thousand camp followers, with 
 the exception only of those who had been taken over by Akbar 
 as hostages. 
 
 This, the greatest disaster that ever befell a British army, 
 was due to the vacillation and weakness that had character- 
 ized every action since the murder of Sir Alexander Burnes. 
 Had the force pressed forward at once on the morning 
 when it left its cantonment, the greater portion would prob- 
 ably have reached Jellalabad, but two days had been lost 
 before the army reached Khoord Cabul Pass, about ten 
 miles from the city. There were fresh halts, fresh delays, 
 fresh futile negotiations again and again, and during the 
 time thus thrown away the enemy from all the mountains 
 round were gathering in the passes to oppose them, and 
 building the fatal barricade in the pass of Jugduluk. Had 
 the force pushed forward with only an occasional halt of a 
 few hours, they would not have been enfeebled by hunger. 
 By slaying the baggage animals an abundance of food could 
 have been obtained for all, the opposition they encountered 
 would have been comparatively feeble, and cold would have
 
 272 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 been their only formidable antagonist. Truly it seemed tbat 
 a curse had fallen upon the army ; that it was Divine retribu- 
 bution for a most unjust and iniquitous war. 
 
 Each day Angus and his followers had been taken along, 
 always being halted in positions whence they could see the 
 terrible tragedy that was being enacted. Angus was half 
 mad with grief and with fury that he was not in his place 
 among the troops. Azim in vain endeavoured to comfort 
 him, by pointing out that it was not his fault that he was 
 not there, but that he had been sent away from the army 
 by the order of his superior; and that even had he not been 
 taken prisoner, he would not be a sharer in what was going 
 on in the pass. 
 
 " That is true, Azim, but it is a poor consolation to me. 
 I feel sure that Pottinger foresaw what would happen, and 
 that it was as an act of friendship, in giving me a chance of 
 getting through safely, that he sent me down. It was no 
 doubt kindly meant, but I would a thousand times rather 
 have shared the fate of the rest." 
 
 " Well, master, for my part I own that I am glad we 
 are up here. I have no wish to be killed, especially as it 
 would do no good to anyone. Why should a man throw 
 away his life? Allah has given it to us, and we shall die 
 when our time comes. But it would be wicked to throw it 
 away uselessly." 
 
 "It is all very well to talk like that, Azim, when one is 
 in safety, but when one sees one's comrades being slaugh- 
 tered, a man would not be worthy of the name did he not 
 long to be with them and to die fighting by their side. In- 
 deed, we know not at present whether our lives are to be 
 saved. We know not into whose hands we have fallen, or 
 why we should thus be taken along to be spectators of this 
 massacre. The whole thing is bewildering to me." 
 
 They now generally conversed in Persian. Their guards,
 
 ANGUS WAS HALF MAD WITH GRIEF AND WITH FURY 
 THAT HE WAS NOT IN HIS PLACE AMONG THE TROOPS
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE AEMY 273 
 
 although keeping as strict a watch as ever on them, inter- 
 fered with them but little. Fortunately the worst scenes 
 took place at night, and were therefore hidden from those 
 on the hill, the incessant rattle of musketry alone telling 
 of the relentless pursuit. On the night of the 12th the 
 roar of fire had been louder than ever. At last it ceased 
 suddenly. Angus and his guards alike remained awake, 
 Angus listening in agony to the sounds of the combat, the 
 Afghans talking together in low tones. 
 
 " What do you think has happened ? " he asked them 
 when some minutes had passed without the sound of a shot 
 being heard. 
 
 "Either Akbar Khan has succeeded in persuading the 
 Ghilzye chiefs to spare what few there are left of the infidels, 
 or the last man has been slain." 
 
 Angus felt that the latter was by far the more probable 
 solution, and throwing himself down on the ground he 
 burst into tears. The eight days of mental suffering had 
 shaken him terribly, and now, feeling tha his worst fears 
 had been realized, he broke down altogether. Before day- 
 break his captors moved some distance farther up into the 
 mountains, and by the cautious manner in which they made 
 their way, often pausing to look back and round, Angus 
 concluded that they were desirous of avoiding all contact 
 with their countrymen. He had indeed before observed 
 how careful they were to avoid the Afghans scattered on 
 the hillside, and he now concluded that they must be taking* 
 him to the tower of the chief, to be dealt with as he might 
 direct, either shot at once or held by him as a hostage, 
 for whose delivery he might obtain a handsome sum should 
 the British again advance up the passes. 
 
 All day they travelled among the hills. At last they came 
 upon a large village. There were no men about, doubtless 
 all had gone to take part in the fray. The women came out 
 
 (U807) S
 
 274 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 and eagerly questioned them as to the fighting on the night 
 before. 
 
 "We know nothing," the leader said. "We believe that 
 the last of the infidels has fallen, but we know nothing for 
 certain." 
 
 Without pausing they took the two prisoners, whose ap- 
 pearance had created no surprise, as they were taken for 
 natives, to the chief's tower, a much larger building than the 
 abodes of most of the petty chiefs. Standing upon a crag 
 of rock, it overlooked the village; entrance was only obtain- 
 able by a ladder leading to a door some thirty feet above 
 the rock. Their coming had been observed. An old man 
 stood at the door. 
 
 "So you are back, Suffyd?" 
 
 " Yes, as you see. Has the chief returned ? " 
 
 "No; it is two weeks since we saw him last. He started 
 then with all the fighting men from here and the other 
 villages; but I expect it will not be long before he returns, 
 for, from what we have heard, the work must be nearly done." 
 
 The party ascended the ladder, and the leader spoke a 
 word or two with the old man, who looked greatly sur- 
 prised. The captives were taken into a room, which by its 
 furnishing was evidently one of the chief's private apart- 
 ments. 
 
 "You are free to move about the house," the leader said, 
 " but you must not leave it." 
 
 In a few minutes a woman entered, bringing a dish of 
 boiled grain with portions of mutton in it. She gave the 
 usual Afghan salutation. She was followed by another 
 woman with a jug of water, two mugs, and a bottle. These 
 were placed on a low table, and then without another word 
 they left the room. A minute later they returned with a 
 large earthenware dish full of burning charcoal. 
 
 " This is a good beginning, Azim," Angus said, his spirits
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE ABMY 275 
 
 rising at the sight of the hot food; for although they had 
 not been actually starved, they had been on extremely short 
 rations when their supply of flour was exhausted, their cap- 
 tors being, like themselves, reduced to a handful of unground 
 grain each day. " This does not look as if they meant to 
 cut our throats. Evidently our Afghan is acting under 
 orders. Those orders must have been that we were to be well 
 treated." 
 
 They ate a hearty meal ; then Angus said : 
 
 " See what there is in that bottle, Azim." 
 
 The cork had already been taken out, and Azim poured 
 some of the liquor into a tin, and handed it to his master. 
 The latter smelt it. 
 
 " It is Afghan spirits," he said, " the same as they sell in 
 the bazaars in Cabul." 
 
 He filled it up with water, and drank it off. 
 
 " Now, Azim, do you do the same." 
 
 Azim, who was not a very strict Mohammedan, and had 
 more than once tasted the forbidden drink at Cabul, needed 
 no pressing. 
 
 "Well, master," he said, as he put the cup down, "after 
 all this is better than lying dead and frozen down in the 
 pass." 
 
 Angus, warmed with the good meal and by the draught 
 that he had taken, could not disagree with his follower. 
 
 " I begin to think that you are right, Azim, though I 
 did not believe so yesterday. It is certain that had I joined 
 my countrymen I should have perished with them, and as- 
 suredly I have been saved from eight days of awful suffer- 
 ing and from death if, indeed, we are saved from death." 
 
 "I think we can feel certain of that, master. This is 
 not the way the Afghans treat a man whose throat they 
 intend to cut. They certainly do not make a pillau for 
 him, or provide him with a bottle of spirits."
 
 276 . TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 "Do you know, I have been thinking, Azim," Angus said 
 after a short silence, "that if it had been possible for 
 Sadut Khan to know that we intended to leave camp in 
 disguise, this might be his work again. But he could not 
 have known it. No one but you and I, and Major Pot- 
 tinger, and the three or four officers to whom I said good- 
 bye, knew anything about it. Besides, he would have sent 
 the men who captured us before, and who knew us by sight. 
 And even supposing, which seems to be impossible, that this 
 was his doing, why not have sent us here straight, instead 
 of taking eight days to do a journey that could have been 
 made easily in two, and forcing me to witness the awful 
 scenes in the passes ? It is all most extraordinary.' 
 
 " However, there is no question, sir, that whoever our 
 captor may be, he has been the means of saving our 
 lives." 
 
 " There can be no doubt of that, Azim ; and though I 
 may not feel that at present, I shall in the future be very 
 grateful to him. Even if he were to have us shot directly 
 he comes here, I should still be grateful, for it would be 
 a sudden death and not a lingering one, as it has been to 
 those below. Well, it is of no use puzzling ourselves over 
 the matter. I suppose we shall learn how it all came 
 about when the chief, whoever he be, returns here. In the 
 meantime we are certainly a great deal better off than we 
 have been for the past two months in cantonments." 
 
 " That we are, master. To begin with, I am warm for 
 the first time since the winter set in; and in the next place, 
 I have had a good meal, and do not feel that I could 
 grumble at anything. As to your mission, you said your- 
 self that nothing could come of it, even if you succeeded 
 in getting through, so that in that respect nothing has 
 been lost by our journey being so suddenly brought to an 
 end."
 
 ANNIHILATION OP THE ABMY 277 
 
 The next day some of the men who had been away with 
 their chief returned, and the old man in charge told Angus 
 that only one man out of all who had started from Cabul had 
 reached Jellalabad, but that several officers had been taken 
 as hostages, including the two generals, Major Pottinger 
 and Captain Johnson, and two others; also, that all the 
 ladies and children, and the ladies' husbands, had accepted 
 the protection of Akbar. 
 
 It was a relief, indeed, to Angus to find that his friends 
 Pottinger and Johnson had been saved, and as Captain Boyd 
 was one of the married officers, he also must have escaped 
 the massacre. As to the fate of Elphinstone and Shelton 
 he was indifferent, it was to them that the misfortune that 
 had befallen the army was largely due; but the thought 
 that his three greatest friends had escaped gave him much 
 pleasure. With these exceptions, that but one man out of 
 sixteen thousand five hundred should have escaped was ap- 
 palling. That the loss had been terrible he was well aware, 
 but he was hardly prepared for the total annihilation of 
 the force. 
 
 Another two days passed. They continued to be well fed 
 and treated, and the women who waited upon them seemed 
 to regard them as guests rather than as captives, talking 
 freely with them, and only being silent when Angus en- 
 deavoured to find out the name of their chief. It was evi- 
 dent that on this point they had orders to keep silent. On 
 the third day they heard a stir in the village, and shouts of 
 acclamation and welcome. The room in which they were 
 confined was at the back of the house, and they were there- 
 fore unable to obtain a view of what was passing. 
 
 " We shall learn our fate now, Azim," Angus said. 
 
 "I have no fear of its being a bad one, master. We 
 cannot doubt that orders were given that we should be well 
 treated. If we are kept prisoners till the spring, for my;
 
 278 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 part I shall not grumble if they continue to treat us as well 
 as they have been doing." 
 
 They heard the sound of many footsteps and loud talk- 
 ing, then the door opened and Sadut Khan entered. He 
 advanced with both hands outstretched to Angus. 
 
 " My dear friend," he said, " how thankful I am that you 
 have been saved where so many have perished ! " 
 
 " And so it is you, chief, to whom I owe my life ? " Angus 
 said, returning the warm grasp of Sadut's hand. " I did 
 not thank you at first, for it seemed to me shameful that 
 an English officer should not share in the fate of his com- 
 rades." 
 
 Sadut smiled. "But in no case would you have shared 
 their fate. It is not from that I have saved you, but from 
 being killed on your way down. Knowing that the passes 
 were full of our people, I was sure that you must have 
 been taken and murdered. No story you could have told 
 would have availed you. You were not a Ghilzye, nor a 
 member of any of the tribes there, and you would assuredly 
 have been detected and killed had I not saved you." 
 
 " That is so, Sadut ; and although at first I was half-mad 
 at being unable to join my countrymen, I saw before the 
 end came that, had I done so, my life would have been 
 thrown away uselessly." 
 
 "Exactly; and that was why I ordered that you should 
 be enabled to see all that passed. From what I had seen 
 of you, I was sure that at first you would bitterly resent 
 being taken prisoner, and that even if you knew into 
 whose hands you had fallen you would resist; and it was 
 for that reason that I did not this time employ Hassan and 
 his followers to seize you, though all through your journey 
 they kept close at hand, to use my name and authority 
 should any party of tribesmen meet you not that I had 
 much fear of your detection had they done so. The men
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE AEMY 279 
 
 with you had orders that in case they did meet such a 
 party, they were to treat you both, not as captives, but 
 as forming part of their own band. Still, it was as well 
 that Hassan should be at hand in case of need." 
 
 "I thank you with all my heart, Sadut. I could not 
 have done so at first, but I can do so now; you have indeed 
 saved my life. A few days ago that seemed to me as nothing, 
 for I felt that I was dishonoured in looking on at the massa- 
 cre of my countrymen. I have had time to think it over 
 since, and I now know that the view I took was exaggerated. 
 Could I have joined them it was plainly my duty to have 
 done so, but if I was a prisoner no blame could attach to 
 me. Have you, chief, taken part in this terrible business ? " 
 
 " No. With twenty of my own horsemen I rode with 
 Akbar, who is my friend and relative, but I had no inten- 
 tion of drawing my sword against your people. I knew 
 that they had been promised protection, and I. thought that 
 Akbar and his force were going to escort them. His word 
 had been given, and I did not think he would withdraw it. 
 
 " I do not think it was his intention to do so. He could 
 have done much more than he did, but he could not have 
 saved the fugitives. The Nawab was alone among the 
 Afghan chiefs in the sincerity of his assurances. Akbar 
 had no influence with the Ghilzye chiefs, and even had he 
 influenced them they could not have restrained their tribes- 
 men and the Ghazees. The die was cast. It was Allah's will 
 that those who had invaded the country without any pre- 
 text, dethroned Dost Mahomed, who had eagerly sought their 
 alliance, and forced a man we all hated upon us, should 
 meet their fate. Over and over again we implored Akbar, 
 for the sake of his pledge and his word, to assist your people; 
 even if, in his efforts to do so, he fell, then his name would 
 go down as long as our nation existed as one who died in 
 defence of his oath and his honour. He was all along
 
 280 TO HEEAT AND CABUL 
 
 irresolute. At times he did his best short of attacking the* 
 Ghilzyes, at other times he held aloof altogether from the 
 scene. At any rate, I can feel that my honour is not 
 soiled. I was not one of those who signed the treaty, but I 
 have done my best to prevent that treaty from being violated. 
 Had your people sallied out from the cantonments and given 
 us battle, I should have fought against them. But even had 
 there been no treaty, I would not have taken part in the 
 massacre of men who were practically defenceless, and who 
 were in no way responsible for the crime of their govern- 
 ment." 
 
 "I am glad to hear you say so, chief. I should have 
 been grieved indeed had you taken part in so treacherous 
 and terrible a massacre. But how did you learn that I was 
 going to try to make my way down to Jellalabad? That I 
 have never been able to understand." 
 
 "I kept a watch over you the whole time, my friend. 
 Either Hassan, or one of his men who knew you, was 
 always in the camp, dressed as one of the camp followers." 
 
 " But even then I cannot imagine how he could have 
 told that I was going. I knew it myself but a few hours 
 before I started, and only Major Pottinger and three or 
 four of my friends were aware of it." 
 
 " My watch was a good one," the chief said, " and when 
 two Afghans issued from your tent you may be sure the 
 news was quickly brought to the men who had for some 
 days been lying in readiness, and who were prepared to re- 
 peat the adventure in the city." 
 
 Suddenly, to the astonishment of Angus, Azim threw him- 
 self on his knees. " Master ! " he exclaimed, " you can kill 
 me, but I own that it was I who betrayed you. I had met 
 Hassan in the camp, and he told me that assuredly no white 
 man would escape alive, that it was settled that all should
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE ABMY 281 
 
 be attacked and slain in the passes. He said that Sadut 
 Khan had resolved to save you, but that to do this with 
 certainty it would be necessary that he should be informed 
 as to your movements, and where you would ride when the 
 army started. He said that unless I helped them it might 
 be impossible to save you. Then I agreed to do so, and 
 met him or one of his men every day. As soon as you 
 had left the tent after telling me of your expedition, I ran 
 to the spot where I knew I should find Hassan, and told 
 him that we were going alone. He said at once that it 
 would be certain death were you to try to go down the pass, 
 and that you must be carried off as soon as you had left 
 the camp. I knew well that you would be greatly angered, 
 and that if you suspected me you would kill me for my 
 treachery; but that was nothing compared to your life, and 
 so I turned traitor to you, and am willing now that you 
 should order me to be taken out and beheaded." 
 
 Angus held out his hand to his faithful follower. " I 
 should have been angry at first grieved and angry too, but 
 I cannot be angry now. You did what you believed to be 
 best for me, and I acknowledge that it has turned out so. 
 Your treachery was but an act of fidelity, and undoubtedly 
 was the means of saving my life. You did wrong, but it 
 was with the best intentions. You ought to have confided 
 in me." 
 
 "But I knew that if I did so you would not have con- 
 sented." 
 
 " That is true enough ; still, I was the best judge of what 
 was consistent with my honour. However, next to Sadut 
 Khan I owe you my life, and it would be but poor gratitude 
 were I to reproach you. Let us say no more about it. I 
 shall remember always that you saved my life, and shall 
 forget that you somewhat betrayed my trust. I have for
 
 282 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 four years past regarded you as my friend rather than as 
 my servant, and I shall esteem you even more so in the 
 future." 
 
 Azim retired with tears of joy in his eyes. Sadut and 
 Angus had a long talk together. As if by mutual consent, 
 the subject of the late events was avoided, and the con- 
 versation was upon their journey across the Bamian and 
 Sadut's doings since that time. 
 
 "I stayed at Khooloom until the governor, whom we 
 had trusted implicitly, handed over Dost Mahomed's family 
 and mine to your people. I happened to be away at the time, 
 and on my return two days later was warned by Hassan of 
 what had taken place. When Dost returned from captivity 
 among the Turkomans, of course I joined him and accom- 
 panied him to Kohistan, and fought by his side in the 
 battle of Purwandurrah. The Ameer had said no word even 
 to me of his intention to surrender, and I was thunder-struck 
 when I heard that he had given himself up. I remained 
 there, and took part in the attack on the Ghoorlca regiment 
 at Charekar. After that I returned home. My fortress, as 
 you know, lies far to the west among the Momunds. This 
 place does not belong to me, but to the husband of a sister of 
 mine. She is at present at my place with her husband, who 
 is ill; and as I wished to be nearer to the scene of action, 
 he begged me to use his fort as a residence. I desired to 
 hold myself aloof from the negotiations, as I knew that 
 most of the chiefs were open at any moment to betray the 
 cause for British gold. Still, I was often down in the city, 
 where I own the house to which you were taken. I no longer 
 hated your people as infidels your kindness to me showed 
 me that there was goodness in your religion as well as in 
 mine but I was still ready to fight against them as the 
 invaders of my country." 
 
 " And now, chief, what do you propose to do with me ? "
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE ARMY 283 
 
 "That is for you to decide, my friend. I know what 
 you will say, but, though I may regret it deeply, I shall 
 certainly offer no opposition. You are my guest, and it 
 is not for me to dictate to you. I should be happy if you 
 would stay with me till these troubles have passed, but 
 I place myself wholly at your disposal, whatever you may 
 decide upon." 
 
 " Thank you, indeed. It is clear to me that if it is in my 
 power I should immediately rejoin our forces." 
 
 "I was sure that that would be your wish, and I will 
 send you down with a strong escort to Peshawur." 
 
 " I would rather join Sale at Jellalabad." 
 
 Sadut Khan shook his head. " In that case," he said, 
 " I shall have rescued you in vain. Sale's force is already 
 besieged, and it will be but a repetition of Cabul. By orders 
 of Akbar Khan, the Ghilzye chiefs have all risen. The town 
 is practically without fortifications, though I hear that the 
 white soldiers have been labouring hard to put the place 
 in a state of defence. But if the army at Cabul could not 
 withstand us, still less will Sale's force, which is only a 
 third of its strength, hold Jellalabad." 
 
 " You forget, chief, that they are commanded by a man, 
 and not by an utterly incapable person. They are not dis- 
 pirited by forced inaction or want of food. I do not say 
 that Jellalabad may not be taken, but I feel sure that it 
 will offer a sturdy resistance, and the news of what has 
 happened in the passes will only fill the soldiers with fury. 
 At any rate, Sale's is the only force that remains of the 
 army to which I was attached, and it is there that it is 
 my duty, with your permission, to go. I am sure that 
 were you in my place that would also be your decision." 
 
 " So be it," Sadut said after a long pause. " Were you 
 to go to Peshawur you might meet your death there also, 
 as doubtless a force will endeavour to relieve Jellalabad,
 
 284 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 and in that case you would certainly go with them. They 
 will never force their way through the Khyber Pass. From 
 what I hear the Sepoys at Peshawur are almost in a state 
 of mutiny. The Sikhs have sapped their loyalty, and have 
 assured them that they will never be able to force the 
 pass; and when they do move forward they cannot be de- 
 pended upon to stand by the British troops so that your 
 danger may be as great one way as another. However, Jel- 
 lalabad is your choice and not mine. The citadel there 
 is strong, and when the town is captured, as it certainly 
 will be soon, the troops can retire there, and may hold out 
 until they make terms and are allowed to return to India." 
 
 " I do not think they will make terms, Sadut. They 
 have had a terrible lesson as to the manner in which 
 treaties are respected by the greater portion of your chiefs, 
 and are not likely to trust again to any promises, but will 
 hold out until they have fired their last cartridge." 
 
 " They cannot hope to defend themselves," Sadut said 
 positively. "Akbar Khan will himself head the army." 
 
 " I do not think, Sadut, that you know yet what a British 
 soldier can do when well led. There has been no great battle 
 fought since we entered Afghanistan, and you must not 
 judge them by the small fights that took place round Cabul ; 
 the soldiers there had lost heart and confidence in their com- 
 mander. It will be a very different thing when you meet 
 them confident in themselves and in their leaders. Believe 
 me, your hosts, however large, do not frighten them. You 
 know how they have overcome many of the best fighting races 
 in India, and that in the teeth of odds as great as can be 
 brought against them here. I say not a word against the 
 courage of your people, but they want discipline and train- 
 ing, and even a "host of men fighting each for himself, cannot 
 withstand the charge of well-disciplined soldiers."
 
 ANNIHILATION OF THE ARMY 285 
 
 " Why did they not come up the passes, then, to aid their 
 friends." 
 
 "Because they were deficient in carriage, they were in a 
 country altogether hostile to them, they had many sick, and 
 must have left a strong force to guard them. There may 
 have been other reasons of which I know not, but these are 
 sufficient. For a force to enter these passes without animak 
 to carry their food and their wounded would have been 
 madness. And I believe that Sale has not more than twelve 
 hundred bayonets, a force sufficient to do wonders in the 
 plains, but which could hardly fight their way up the passes 
 against thousands of good marksmen, as the Afghans as- 
 suredly are, armed with guns which carry much farther than 
 their own, and firing in safety behind inaccessible rocks. 
 But whether Jellalabad can resist all attacks, as I believe, 
 or whether the place falls, is a matter which does not affect 
 my resolution. It is my duty to be there, and if you will 
 afford me means of getting there I will assuredly go." 
 
 " We will start to-morrow, then, and the sooner we are off 
 the better. The news of what has happened in the passes 
 will spread like flame through the country, and every fight- 
 ing man will turn out to complete the work. There is a 
 pathway from here which goes straight down to Gundamuck. 
 I will ride with you with half a dozen of my followers; there 
 are plenty of ponies on the hills. Certainly no questions 
 will be asked, no suspicions can arise. When we get near 
 Jellalabad we shall see how you can best enter. I will ride 
 round the place with you. As I am a friend of Akbar's, it 
 will be supposed that I am examining the place to see where 
 an attack had best be made. There are many orchards and 
 small villages round. When we are as near the town as we 
 can get, you can slip from your horse as we go through an 
 orchard. Keep under cover in the gardens until close to the
 
 286 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 walls. When you get within musket-shot you can tie a white 
 cloth to your gun, and you will then be safe." 
 
 This plan was carried out, and two days later, after a 
 grateful parting from his preserver, Angus stood at the edge 
 of the moat opposite one of the gates. 
 
 CHAPTEK 
 
 JELLALABAD 
 
 A SENTRY had already sent down word that two Afghans 
 -T\_ had approached carrying a white flag, and an officer 
 appeared on the wall. 
 
 " What do you want ? " he asked. 
 
 "We want to come in, Thompson. I am Angus Camp- 
 bell, and have escaped almost by a miracle." 
 
 There was a shout of pleasure, and a minute later the 
 gate was opened, and Thompson ran out and warmly shook 
 Angus by the hand. 
 
 " I am delighted to see you," he said. " We all thought 
 you among the slain in the passes. What an awful time 
 it has been since we left Cabul on our way, as we believed, 
 to India! We can scarcely believe the terrible news even 
 now. We have learnt but little from Brydon, who was, he 
 thought, the only survivor, except the hostages who, he tells 
 us, were given over a few days before the end came. He was 
 desperately wounded, and could scarce sit his horse when 
 he arrived, and has been too ill to give us any details." 
 
 " I can give very little, for I was not with the army. I 
 started the evening before they left camp, on a mission from 
 Pottinger to Sir Robert Sale. Pottinger did not think that 
 any help could possibly come, but at the same time he thought
 
 JELLALABAD 287 
 
 it right to make one more effort to communicate with your 
 general, and to tell him that they were on the point of 
 starting. I had g'one but a short distance when I was cap- 
 tured. Fortunately the men who took me were followers of 
 Sadut Khan. I was taken to his fort. He was absent at 
 the time; when he returned he at once gave me my liberty, 
 and escorted me to within a quarter of a mile of the wall, 
 as a return for a service I had rendered him two years ago." 
 
 u That was a piece of luck indeed. Then you saw nothing 
 of it?" 
 
 " Yes, I saw a great deal. My captors were, I suppose, 
 anxious to see what was going on, and we followed the course 
 of the army, keeping on the hill; and, except for the fighting 
 at night, I saw almost the whole of the tragedy." 
 
 While they were talking they were approaching the head- 
 quarters of the general. Angus was well known to Sir 
 Robert, to whom he had often carried messages and notes 
 from Burnes or Macnaghten. When their first greeting was 
 over, he repeated the story he had told Captain Thompson. 
 He thought it best to say no word of his escape being the 
 result of a preconcerted plan on the part of Sadut Khan, 
 as he felt that some might suspect that he was privy to the 
 scheme, and had taken advantage of the friendship of the 
 Momund chief to make his escape. 
 
 " I am not so surprised as I might otherwise have been," 
 the general said, " since I received a letter from Pottinger 
 yesterday. Akbar had allowed him to send it down, think- 
 ing that the information that Elphinstone, Shelton, Law- 
 rence, Mackenzie, and Pottinger himself were all right might 
 induce us to submit to terms. He said, ' I trust that bef oro 
 this you will have heard that we are about to start from Mr. 
 Angus Campbell, who nobly accepted the desperate mission 
 of penetrating through the passes and bringing you word 
 of our intention. Should he have arrived safely, I beg to
 
 288 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 recommend him most strongly to the authorities for accept- 
 ing the mission, which seemed almost a hopeless one. He 
 has rendered great service during the time the troops have 
 been in cantonments, by aiding the commissariat officers in 
 bringing in grain.' As you had not arrived we naturally 
 feared that you had been murdered on your way down. I 
 am glad indeed that you have escaped. You will now, of 
 course, give your assistance to Macgregor, our political 
 officer." 
 
 " If he cannot utilize my services, sir, and he can have 
 but little political work to do now, I shall be glad if you 
 will attach me to one of the regiments where you think I 
 may be most useful." 
 
 "You had better talk it over with Macgregor first. You 
 know him, of course; and if he does not want you, I will 
 attach you to my own staff. With your knowledge of the 
 Afghan language, your services might be invaluable in ob- 
 taining information; or, should we make a sortie and we 
 have already made one with effect I should be glad, if you 
 wish it, to attach you either to the infantry or cavalry, which- 
 ever you prefer. Now that you have told us about yourself, 
 please give us any details you can of what you saw of the 
 fighting?" 
 
 "It can hardly be said that there was any fighting, sir; 
 until the last day the troops were so completely surrounded, 
 and I may say overwhelmed by the camp followers, that they 
 were practically unable to use their arms. General Shelton 
 with the rear-guard fought nobly, and covered the retreat 
 into Jugduluk, until the time when he was enticed with the 
 general into Akbar's camp, and there held as a hostage. 
 By what I heard, the handful of men left, only about a 
 hundred and fifty all told, fought desperately to break their 
 way through a barricade with which the Afghans had blocked 
 the top of the pass. Only ten officers succeeded in breaking
 
 TRTT.AT.ABAT) 289 
 
 through, and of these all but one were killed on the road. 
 All the soldiers died fighting at the barricade, and many 
 officers. The last Sepoy had fallen two days before." 
 
 "It has been a bad business," General Sale said, "bad 
 not only in its terrible result, but in the manner in which 
 affairs were conducted. We here received with astonishment 
 the news that four thousand five hundred British troops 
 were cooped up by a horde of Afghans without one single 
 attempt being made to bring on a battle in the open. Officers 
 and men alike were astounded when Pottinger's first letter 
 arrived, saying that negotiations were continued after the 
 murder of Macnaghten. However, all this is a matter for 
 future investigation. And now a personal question. Can 
 you tell me how it was that my wife, Lady Macnaghten, 
 and the other ladies, escaped uninjured? I only know from 
 Pottinger that the ladies and children were handed over to 
 the protection of Akbar, and that those who had husbands 
 were also accompanied by them." 
 
 " The ladies were always kept close behind the advanced 
 guard, sir. As these showed an unbroken front, the Afghans 
 allowed them to pass without opposition, falling upon the 
 confused mass behind them." 
 
 " Do you think that Akbar was a sharer in this treacherous 
 attack?" 
 
 "I think his conduct was doubtful in the extreme, sir. 
 He certainly did try more than once to persuade the Ghilyze 
 chiefs to allow the survivors to pass on unmolested, but by 
 that time the passions of the Afghans were absolutely be- 
 yond control. I myself have great doubts whether he would 
 have interfered had he not been well aware that his inter- 
 ference would be useless. But this is only my opinion, based 
 upon the facts, that in the first place he himself shot Mac- 
 naghten, whom he had invited to a conference; in the second 
 place, he took no step whatever to carry out the condition 
 
 (M 807) T
 
 290 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 to supply baggage animals and provisions; and lastly, be- 
 cause I know that long before the column set out on its 
 march, he sent out orders to the Ghilzye chiefs to attack 
 you." 
 
 " The case certainly looks very black against him," the 
 general said ; " but at least we may hope that, as his family 
 are in our hands in India, he will protect the hostages." 
 
 "I hope, sir, that he will hand them over to the Nawab, 
 who appears to me to be a thoroughly honest man. Un- 
 doubtedly he did his best to persuade the chiefs to agree 
 to the treaty with us. He certainly did send in some pro- 
 visions to the camp, and generally we formed a high opinion 
 of his kindness of heart. Your fortifications are stronger 
 than I expected to find them, from what I have heard, sir." 
 
 " Yes, the men have worked incessantly at them ever since 
 we came here. The mud walls can scarcely be said to have 
 existed when we marched in. There was no parapet, the 
 ditch was filled in with rubbish, and the walls had so crum- 
 bled away that carts could cross over them at almost every 
 point. Fortunately the men were in good heart, and all, 
 Europeans and Sepoys, have worked with an energy beyond 
 praise. The moat has been cleared out and filled with water, 
 the walls have been scarped, and a parapet twelve feet high 
 erected. The bastions have been put in order; and though, 
 had we been seriously attacked at first, we must have retired 
 to the citadel, we are now ready to withstand any assault.''" 
 
 Angus next went to Macgregor, who received him most 
 warmly. 
 
 " I am glad indeed to see you, Campbell. Pottinger men- 
 tioned you in his reports as doing invaluable service with 
 Boyd and Johnson. You will not find much in our line here. 
 When the sword is once drawn, there is nothing for us to 
 do until it becomes a question of our dictating terms, a con- 
 tingency not likely to arise for some time."
 
 .TFVLT.AT.ATUr> 291 
 
 "Had you hard fighting to get here?" Angus asked. 
 
 "No fighting at all. As we marched down from Gunda- 
 muck, the natives all supposed that we were on our way to 
 Peshawur, and when we suddenly turned and marched to- 
 wards the city, it was too late for them to think of resistance, 
 and they simply bolted on one side of the town as we marched 
 in on the other. We were bitterly disappointed when we 
 saw the state of the walls, and it was a question for some 
 time whether we should not content ourselves with holding 
 the citadel only. But it was at last determined, for a time 
 at least, to hold the town, as our retirement to the citadel 
 would look like weakness. Another consideration was, that 
 once in the citadel we should be shut up entirely, for, as you 
 see, it stands in the middle of the town, and with the streets 
 crowded with the enemy, there would be no getting out to 
 obtain provisions. 
 
 " The result has proved the wisdom of the step we took. 
 The walls are now strong enough to be obstinately defended, 
 and from their extent we have been able to sally out at one 
 gate or another and bring in provisions. We had but two 
 days' food when we arrived here; now we have succeeded in 
 gathering in a sufficient quantity to keep the troops on half 
 rations for two months, and I hope that before it is finished 
 we shall be relieved from Peshawur. We gave the natives 
 a handsome thrashing on the day before we got in here. 
 They attacked us in great force, trying especially to carry 
 off our baggage, but the infantry repulsed them splendidly. 
 However, they came on to renew the attack. The cavalry 
 were placed in ambush, and the troops, after at first advanc- 
 ing, suddenly wheeled round and went off at the double. 
 The enemy, believing that they had achieved a great victory, 
 rushed after them. As soon as they reached an open space, 
 the cavalry fell upon them. For months they had been in- 
 active, being of no use among the hills. Now was their
 
 292 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 chance, and in a moment they were in the thick of the 
 Afghans. They made terrible havoc among them, and thus 
 it was that we were able to enter the town without further 
 trouble. The next day, the 13th of November, Broadfoot 
 was appointed garrison engineer. He had a small corps of 
 sappers with him, and they soon set to work. 
 
 " On the morning of the 16th, the enemy were thick in 
 the gardens round the town, the principal body being on 
 the hillside. It was resolved to give them another lesson. 
 They were, as could be seen from the highest point in the 
 city, some five thousand strong, and Colonel Monteith of the 
 35th Bengal Infantry, took out eleven hundred men at day- 
 break. The advance was covered by the guns which had 
 been mounted on the walls, and their shrapnel soon drove 
 the enemy into the open. The infantry pressed forward 
 and scattered them, and the cavalry completed their rout. 
 It was this defeat that so cowed them for a time, that I 
 was able to fetch in grain, sheep, firewood, and other neces- 
 saries. I may mention that I took upon myself, as soon as 
 we came in here, the post of commissariat officer. It was 
 not until the end of the month that they again mustered in 
 force sufficient to attack us; they contented themselves with 
 hovering round and keeping up a desultory fire. 
 
 " On the 1st of December, however, they gathered in great 
 numbers, and seemed to threaten an attack. Colonel Dennie 
 commanded this time, and he took out the greater portion 
 of the garrison and a couple of guns. It was noon when he 
 sallied out. Abbot's guns commenced the action by pouring 
 a tremendous fire of grape into the thick mass. They fled 
 in wild confusion; the cavalry cut them up terribly, and the 
 infantry overtook and bayoneted many of them. It could 
 scarcely be called a fight. The day was won directly the 
 guns opened fire, and we did not lose a single man. Since 
 that time they have not ventured to attack us.
 
 JELLALABAD 293 
 
 " News came day after day of the terrible mess at Cabul. 
 The news was kept as far as possible from the troops, so as 
 not to discourage them; but, of course, since Brydon came 
 in, the truth of the terrible massacre had to be told. I am 
 happy to say that, although filling them with wrath and 
 indignation, it has in no way abated their spirit. During 
 the six weeks' rest we have had since the battle of the 1st of 
 December, we have, as you see, really done wonders in the 
 way of fortification, and consider that we are in a position 
 to repulse any attack however formidable." 
 
 " When do you expect that a relief column will arrive from 
 Peshawur ? " 
 
 " That is a grave question which I cannot answer. Our 
 last news was that Brigadier-general Wyld was on the point 
 of advancing 1 , but from the tone in which he wrote he had 
 evidently no great hope of success. His four Sepoy regi- 
 ments had been corrupted by the Sikhs, who, having them- 
 selves a great repugnance to enter the passes, had endeav- 
 oured, and successfully, to inspire the Sepoys with the same 
 feeling. The Sikhs, who were to co-operate with him, were 
 themselves in a state of open mutiny, and threatened to kill 
 General Avitable if he interfered with them. He intended, 
 however, to advance, as the case was so urgent, but with 
 little hope of success. He was without cavalry, and had but 
 two guns on Sikh carriages, which would probably break 
 down after a few rounds had been fired. It was the letter of 
 a brave man surrounded with difficulties, but ready to at- 
 tempt almost the impossible to bring aid to us. I fear, how- 
 ever, that there is little chance of our relief until reinforce- 
 ments from India reach Peshawur." 
 
 This opinion was justified when, on the 28th, news was 
 brought that the movement had failed. On the 15th Colonel 
 Moseley had started under cover of night with the 53rd and 
 64th native regiments to occupy the fortress of Ali Musjid,
 
 294 TO HEKAT AND CABUL 
 
 which had been held by a small corps of men of one of the 
 native tribes under Mr. Mackeson. They had been true to 
 their salt, and had resisted every attack of the Afridis. 
 Moseley's force arrived there at daybreak, and met with but 
 little opposition on the way. But it was discovered that, 
 owing to some blunder, only fifty supply bullocks had been 
 sent on instead of three hundred and fifty that should have 
 accompanied the force. Therefore, instead of having a 
 month's provisions, they had but enough for a few days. 
 Brigadier Wyld started on the morning of the 19th to re- 
 lieve them, but on the preceding day the Sikh troops refused 
 to enter the pass and marched back to Peshawur. Neverthe- 
 less, Wyld determined to press forward with the two native 
 regiments. As soon, however, as the enemy attacked them the 
 Sepoys at the head of the column wavered and opened an 
 aimless fire. 
 
 In vain the Brigadier and the officers endeavoured to per- 
 suade them to advance. They would not move forward, nor 
 would the rest of the troops advance to their assistance. 
 The two guns broke down after a round or two, and what 
 little spirit remained among the Sepoys evaporated at once, 
 and the column had to fall back. One of the guns was spiked 
 and left behind, the Sepoys refusing to make any effort to 
 bring it off. The Brigadier, who with several of our officers 
 was wounded, saw that it was impossible to persevere, and the 
 force fell back beyond the pass. Moseley could obtain no 
 news, and was unaware of the repulse of the relieving column. 
 Although the troops were on half rations supplies were nearly 
 exhausted. The water was bad, and numbers of the Sepoys 
 fell ill, and on the 23rd he determined to evacuate the fort- 
 ress. Two officers volunteered to hold it, but the Sepoys 
 would not support them, and the former native garrison had 
 lost heart; so, on the 24th, the force marched out. The 
 Afridis mustered strongly to oppose the retreat. The Sepoys,
 
 .TETJ.AT.ATtAT) 295 
 
 animated now by the hope of safety, fought well. Two 
 British officers were killed, most of the baggage lost, and 
 some of the sick and wounded had to be abandoned, but the 
 main body got through safely. 
 
 Such was the news that was brought by a native in our 
 pay, together with a letter from Brigadier Wyld saying that 
 it would be impossible to renew the attempt until reinforce- 
 ments of at least one British regiment with some guns ar- 
 rived. But the news that help was still far distant in no 
 way discouraged the garrison of Jellalabad, who redoubled 
 their efforts to strengthen the fortifications and to prepare 
 by their own unaided efforts for the worst. 
 
 At Peshawur Wyld's repulse bore the natural consequences. 
 The discontent among the Sepoy's increased, many deserted, 
 and expressions of determination never to enter the pass 
 again were common among them. Sickness broke out, and 
 when on the 25th of February General Pollock, who had 
 been selected to command the force gathered there, and in- 
 vested with full authority on all other matters, arrived, he 
 found a thousand men in hospital; a week later the number 
 was increased to eighteen hundred. 
 
 No better man than Pollock could have been chosen. He 
 possessed at once great firmness, kindness of heart, and a 
 manner calculated to inspire confidence. He declared to 
 the central 'authorities at once that, even with the brigade 
 which had come up with him, to advance up the pass would 
 be to court another defeat. The four Sepoy regiments that 
 had been engaged could, in their present state, not be counted 
 on for service, and the force at his disposal was therefore 
 no greater than that which Wyld had lost. He set to work 
 in the first place to restore confidence. It was a difficult 
 task. Many even among the officers had become affected 
 with the spirit of defection, and did not hesitate to express 
 their opinion that an advance through the Khyber Pass would
 
 296 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 involve a repetition of the Cabul disaster. The new Sepoy 
 regiments were at once visited by emissaries from those of 
 Wyld's brigade and from the Sikhs, who endeavoured in 
 every way to persuade them also to refuse to enter the pass, 
 and succeeded in the case of the 26th native regiment, who 
 joined the four other battalions in refusing to advance. On 
 the day after his arrival General Pollock visited all the 
 hospitals, enquired into the ailments of the sick, and talked 
 encouragingly to them. Then he went to the Sepoy regi- 
 ments, enquired into the cause of their discontent, and ex- 
 horted them to return to their duty, and not to bring dis- 
 grace upon regiments that had so many times in the past 
 proved their courage and loyalty. 
 
 His task was a hard and difficult one, but his method of 
 mildness and firmness combined gradually restored their 
 spirits and discipline; and the knowledge that reinforce- 
 ments were on their way, with a good proportion of Euro- 
 pean troops, including cavalry and artillery, greatly aided 
 his efforts. Still, until these reinforcements arrived, Pol- 
 lock could do nothing but reply to the urgent letters of Sale 
 and Macgregor by pointing out his inability to move. 
 
 On the 19th of February Angus was with Macgregor on 
 the walls of Jellalabad. The men were as usual working 
 hard and steadily, grateful in the thought that their long 
 labour had borne its fruits, and that in a few days they 
 would be able to lay by their picks and shovels, the work 
 that they had been set to do having been accomplished. 
 
 "Another week," Captain Havelock, who was acting as 
 Persian interpreter to Macgregor, said to Angus, " and the 
 whole work which Broadfoot traced out will be finished. In 
 one respect I am sorry that it should be so, for there is 
 nothing like active work for keeping men's spirits up and 
 preventing them from feeling the effects of idleness. I 
 think " and he stopped abruptly. There was a sudden
 
 JELLALABAD 297 
 
 tremor of the earth and a deep sound like thunder, then 
 they were both thrown off their feet. The walls, the houses, 
 the whole city, swayed and shook. Then came the crash of 
 falling houses, wild shouts of alarm and pain; the earth 
 crumbled beneath them, and they rolled down together into 
 the moat. On finding that they were unhurt they scrambled 
 up the slope of earth. A terrible sight presented itself. A 
 third of the buildings in the town had fallen. But this was 
 not the worst. Several of the bastions had been destroyed ; 
 almost all the parapets were thrown down; several great 
 breaches were made in the wall, one of them eighty feet in. 
 length; and the moat had in many places been filled up 
 with the debris of the wall and parapet. The soldiers were 
 extricating themselves or helping their comrades from the 
 earth that had almost overwhelmed them; others were stand- 
 ing gazing with a dazed air at the destruction that had been 
 wrought. 
 
 "We had better go to head-quarters," Havelock said, 
 " and see what has happened there." 
 
 They made their way with difficulty through the ruins 
 that blocked the streets. The movements of the earth still 
 continued, and they had all they could do to keep their feet. 
 On reaching head-quarters they found to their satisfaction 
 that all was safe. The general and Macgregor had both 
 been occupied in writing despatches to Peshawur, and had 
 rushed out into the little courtyard of the house. The offices 
 round it fell in ruins at their feet, but the dwelling-house, 
 although it swayed to and fro, did not fall. Enquiries were 
 at once set on foot, when it was found that no lives had 
 been lost among the garrison, although two natives had been 
 killed by the fall of their houses. 
 
 No time was lost. The whole of the garrison were told 
 off into working parties, and in half an hour were diligently 
 at work repairing the wall at the most important points.
 
 298 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 They worked until late at night, by which time the breaches 
 were scarped, the rubbish all cleared away, and the ditches 
 dug out again, while a parapet of gabions was erected along 
 the great breach. A parapet was erected on the remains -of 
 the bastion which flanked the approach to the Cabul gate, 
 that had been entirely ruined, a trench had been dug, and 
 a temporary parapet raised on every bastion round the place. 
 Never, probably, was so much work accomplished by an equal 
 number of men in the same time. Day after day the work 
 was continued, until by the end of the month the parapets 
 were restored, the breaches built up, the rampart increased 
 in thickness, every battery re-established, and the gates en- 
 trenched; and yet the troops were in hourly anxiety that 
 their work might be again destroyed, for during the month 
 succeeding the great earthquake fully a hundred shocks 
 were felt. 
 
 So extraordinary was the vigour with which the repairs 
 had been accomplished, that when Akbar Khan moved down 
 with his forces early in March and saw the formidable de- 
 fences, he and his followers were unable to understand it, 
 and declared that the preservation of Jellalabad from de- 
 struction must have been the result of witchcraft, for no 
 other town or village had escaped. While at work the garri- 
 son had been in constant expectation of attack, for Akbar's 
 army lay but a few miles from the town. But the success 
 of the two sorties had shown the Afghan leader that he had 
 very different foes to deal with from the dispirited force 
 that had been annihilated in the passes. Here were men 
 ready to work and to fight, while those at Cabul had done 
 neither; and he resolved to attempt to starve them out, 
 hoping for the same success as had attended a similar step 
 at Cabul. He kept on, therefore, drawing in more closely, 
 harassing the foraging parties, and having occasional skir-
 
 JELLALABAD 299 
 
 mishes with the bodies of cavalry sent out to protect the 
 grass-cutters. 
 
 On the night of the 10th the enemy threw up sangars, 
 small defences of earth or stone, at many points round the 
 town, and from behind them opened a brisk fire. There 
 was a report that behind these shelters they were mining 
 towards the walls, and a strong party of infantry and cav- 
 alry, with two hundred of Broadfoot's sappers, commanded 
 by Colonel Dennie, were sent out. As they poured out 
 through the gate, Akbar advanced with his forces; but the 
 guns on the ramparts received them with a heavy fire, and 
 although they came on several times as if prepared to give 
 battle, they eventually drew back, unable to withstand the 
 storm of shot and shrapnel. The working parties of sappers 
 set to work to destroy the sangars, and in doing so discovered 
 that there was no foundation for the report that the enemy 
 were mining. When the work was done, the troops began 
 to fall back to the town, as ammunition was beginning to 
 run short. On seeing their retirement the Afghans again 
 advanced; but on our troops halting and facing them, they 
 at once turned and fled, having lost considerably by our 
 artillery and musketry fire. Dennie's force sustained no loss 
 in killed, but Broadfoot was wounded, and the loss of his 
 services as engineer was serious. 
 
 Time passed quietly. The whole of the ground had been 
 cleared of trees, houses, and walls for some distance round 
 the town, and the Afghans were no longer able to crawl up 
 under shelter and keep up a galling fire on our men. Early 
 in April a messenger brought in news that Pollock had now 
 received his reinforcements, and would advance in a day or 
 two, the Sepoys having recovered their health and spirits. 
 His force had been joined by the 9th Foot, the 3rd Dragoons, 
 nine guns, and the 1st Native Cavalry.
 
 300 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 On the 5th these started from Jumrood. Brigadier Wyld 
 commanded the advance guard, General M'Caskill the rear. 
 Two columns of infantry were to scale the height on either 
 side of the pass, Major Davis in command of that on the 
 right, Colonel Moseley of that on the left. At three o'clock 
 in the morning they started. The heights on either side and 
 the pass were crowded with the enemy, who were always 
 well informed of the British movements by the natives in 
 the town. They expected that the force would all move along 
 the road, and anticipated an easy success. The two flanking 
 parties moved off so quietly in the dim light of the morning 
 that they were not perceived by the enemy until they began 
 to scale the heights. Then a lively combat began, and the 
 Afghans learned for the first time that even among their own 
 hills the British could beat them. 
 
 The difficulties of the ascent were great, but the moral of 
 the Sepoys was now completely restored, and they stormed 
 the heights on either side with great gallantry, driving the 
 Afghans before them. While this was going on, the main 
 column in the valley had cleared away a formidable barri- 
 cade that had been erected at the mouth of the pass, and 
 which could not have been destroyed without much loss had 
 the Afghans maintained their position on the hills. Pollock 
 now advanced, and the Afghans, who had assembled in large 
 numbers at the mouth of the pass, bewildered at finding 
 themselves outflanked, fell back, and the column with its 
 great convoy of animals moved forward. 
 
 The number of draught animals was very large, although 
 the baggage of the advancing force had been cut down to 
 the narrowest dimensions, in order that provisions and am- 
 munition for the garrison at Jellalabad might be taken on. 
 The march occupied the greater part of the day. The heat 
 was great, and the troops suffered from thirst; but animated 
 by their success, they thought little of this, and before night-
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 301 
 
 fall bivouacked round All Musjid, whose garrison had 
 evacuated the place when they saw that the day had gone 
 against them. All night long the Afghans kept up a fire 
 from among the hills, but did not attempt an attack. The 
 Sikhs had joined the main body, as the general, doubtful 
 as to their fidelity, had sent them by another pass. The 
 general's estimate of them was not a mistaken one. They 
 were left to occupy All Musjid and guard the pass, but 
 shortly after the army had moved on they quitted the posi- 
 tion and marched away, seizing some of the baggage animals 
 on their way up, and, throwing their loads on the- ground, 
 employing them to carry their own baggage. 
 
 The crushing and altogether unexpected defeat that the 
 tribesmen had suffered had its effect. They had found them- 
 selves beaten at their own g'ame and withdrew at once to 
 their fastnesses, and Pollock's force marched on without 
 meeting with any serious opposition. 
 
 CHAPTER XVHI 
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 
 
 THE garrison of Jellalabad found themselves pressed for 
 provisions at the end of March, and on the 1st of April 
 made a gallant sortie, and swept into the town a flock of 
 five hundred sheep and goats. On the 5th Macgregor's spies 
 brought in news from Akbar's camp that it was reported 
 there that Pollock had been beaten with great loss in the 
 Khyber Pass, and on the following morning Akbar's guns 
 fired a royal salute in honour of the supposed victory. Sale, 
 now confident of the fighting powers of his men, determined 
 to make a great effort to break up the blockade ; as if Pollock
 
 302 TO HERAT AND CABtTL 
 
 had really been defeated it would be some time before relief 
 could come to them, and they could not hope again to make 
 such a capture as that which they had effected on the 1st. A 
 council of war was held, and action was decided upon, as 
 success would not only free them from all apprehensions of 
 being starved out, but would effect a diversion in favour of 
 Pollock. 
 
 The force was but a small one for the enterprise which 
 they moved out to undertake. The centre column, consist- 
 ing of the 13th Regiment, mustering five hundred bayonets, 
 was under the command of Colonel Dennie; the right, con- 
 sisting of some three hundred and fifty men of the two na- 
 tive regiments and a detachment of sappers, was commanded 
 by Captain Havelock; the left column was about the same 
 strength, under Lieutenant-colonel Monteith; the light field 
 battery and a small cavalry force were to support them. 
 They advanced from the city at daylight on the 7th. Akbar 
 Khan drew up his force, six thousand strong, before his camp, 
 his right resting on a fort, and his left on the Cabul river. 
 Havelock's column commenced the fight by attacking the 
 enemy's left, while Dennie advanced to the assault of the fort, 
 which was vigorously defended. Dennie himself fell mor- 
 tally wounded by an Afghan ball, but his men captured the 
 place in gallant style. A general attack now took place on 
 Akbar's camp. The artillery advanced at a gallop, and 
 poured their fire into the Afghan centre, the 13th and Colonel 
 Monteith's column pierced their right, while Havelock drove 
 back their left from the support afforded by the river. 
 
 The Afghans fought sturdily, their musketry keeping up 
 a heavy fire, and large bodies of horse again and again 
 threatened Havelock's column, while three guns from a hidden 
 battery opened fire. The struggle, however, was a short 
 one. Their cannon were taken, every position he.ld by 
 them was captured, and by seven o'clock they were in full
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 303 
 
 retreat. Two cavalry standards were taken, four guns lost 
 by the Cabul and Gundamuck forces were recaptured, a 
 vast quantity of ordnance stores destroyed, and the whole 
 of the enemy's tents burnt. The loss of the Afghans had been 
 heavy, and several chiefs were among the fallen. The loss 
 of the victors was small indeed. Colonel Dennie and ten 
 Sepoys were killed, three officers and some fifty men wounded. 
 A day or two later Pollock's force reached Jellalabad, and 
 the joy of both parties was great. 
 
 Indeed, no stronger contrast can be found than that be- 
 tween the leading and conduct of the force at Cabul and 
 that at Jellalabad. The one showed the British leader and 
 the British soldier at their worst, the other the British com- 
 mander and men at their best. It may be confidently affirmed 
 that had Sale been in the place of Elphinstone, with full 
 power of action, the fight in the passes would never have 
 taken place, and within three days of the murder of Burnes 
 the Afghan host would have been a mob of fugitives, and 
 Cabul would have been in our hands. The British soldier 
 is always best in the attack. He is ready and eager to fight 
 against any odds, but when kept in a state of inaction, under 
 a commander in whom he has lost all confidence, he speedily 
 deteriorates. Happily there are few examples in our military 
 history such as those of Cabul and Walcheren, where the 
 British soldier has been placed in such a position. 
 
 While Pollock was forcing the Khyber Pass the reign of 
 Shah Soojah came to a sudden end. After the departure of 
 the British no hostility was shown towards him by the 
 Afghans, and he continued at the Bala Hissar in the position 
 of nominal sovereign of Afghanistan the Nawab having will- 
 ingly resigned the difficult and dangerous post and accepted 
 that of wuzeer. He himself had his troubles. Most restless 
 and dangerous of these Afghan leaders was Aneen-oollah- 
 Khan, who had played fast and loose with the British while
 
 304 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 secretly working against them. He demanded the surrender 
 to him of the hostages. The Nawab steadily refused, and 
 as threats of force were used against him, raised a body of 
 three thousand men for their protection. These, however, 
 were corrupted by Aneen, but the Nawab remained faithful 
 to his trust. On the 4th of April Shah Soojah left the 
 Bala Hissar with his retinue to go down to join Akbar Khan. 
 An ambush was laid for him by one of the sons of the 
 Nawab. These poured in a volley, and Shah Soojah fell 
 dead, shot through the head. The Nawab was filled with 
 horror at the deed, and swore an oath never again to see 
 his son beneath his roof or suffer him to be named in his 
 presence. 
 
 While Jellalabad was being besieged, the situation at Can- 
 dahar had been precarious. Ghuznee had been captured by 
 the tribesmen after a gallant defence, and its garrison had 
 been massacred. Kelat-i-Ghilzye was besieged, and without 
 hope of succour. Candahar was surrounded by the insur- 
 gent Dooranees, but these had been twice defeated by General 
 Nott. During one of these expeditions the city was in im- 
 minent danger, for the enemy, gradually retiring, drew the 
 sortie-party a considerable distance from the walls, and then 
 at night slipped away and attacked the place. One of the 
 gates was destroyed by fire, and for many hours the issue 
 of the contest was doubtful. At last, however, the assailants 
 were beaten off with very heavy loss. A force marching up 
 to the relief of the town, under General England, being very 
 badly handled, were opposed on their way up from Quettah, 
 and fell back and remained there until Nott sent a peremp- 
 tory order for them to advance again. 
 
 He himself marched to meet them, and on the united 
 force arriving at Candahar, the town was placed beyond 
 all risk of capture. Nott was preparing to march on Cabul,
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 305 
 
 while Pollock advanced on Jellalabad; but, to the stupefac- 
 tion and disappointment of all, an order arrived from Cal- 
 cutta for the abandonment of Candahar and the return of 
 the force to India. There had been a change of governors. 
 Lord Ellenborough had succeeded Lord Auckland, and imme- 
 diately set to work to overthrow the whole policy of his 
 predecessor. Similar orders were sent to Pollock. The latter, 
 however, mindful of the honour of his country, and the 
 safety of the hostages and ladies, replied that, being almost 
 without carriage, it would be impossible for him to retire 
 at once, thus gaining time, which he utilized by entering 
 into negotiations with Akbar Khan for the release of their 
 prisoners. 
 
 Both generals wisely kept the order they had received a 
 secret from the troops, who would have been profoundly dis- 
 heartened. However, no secret had been made as to the 
 orders issued in Calcutta, and the news soon spread all 
 over India, and reached Pollock's camp, that the army was 
 to be withdrawn. Pollock did his best to throw doubts upon 
 the truth of the reports by marking out a new camp two 
 miles in advance, and arranging with the natives to bring 
 in supplies there, so as to give grounds for a belief that, 
 so far from leaving the town, he was preparing for an 
 advance. In the meantime he had written an urgent letter 
 pointing out the evils and difficulties of an immediate with- 
 drawal, and the immense advantage that would arise by 
 striking a heavy blow before retiring, and so to some extent 
 retrieving the reputation of the British army. 
 
 The letter had its influence, and the governor wrote: 
 
 It would be desirable undoubtedly, before finally quitting 
 Afghanistan, that you should have an opportunity of striking 
 a blow at the enemy, and since circumstances seem to com- 
 
 (M 807) D
 
 306 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 pel you to remain there till October, the governor-general ear- 
 nestly hopes that you will be able to draw the enemy into a 
 position in which you may strike such a blow effectually. 
 
 This was good news. Every effort was being made to 
 collect carriage cattle in Hindostan for the purpose of the 
 withdrawal, and Pollock determined to turn these to account. 
 If there was carriage enough to enable him to fall back 
 upon Peshawur, there would be carriage enough for him 1 
 to advance on Cabul. In the meantime negotiations were 
 going on for the release of the captives. The married families 
 had, on the day of their arrival at Akbar's camp, been placed 
 in a small fort with Pottinger, Lawrence, and Mackenzie. 
 Two days later they were taken down to Jugduluk, where 
 they found General Elphinstone, Brigadier Shelton, and Cap- 
 tain Johnson, and thence travelled down to a fort, the prop- 
 erty of the father of Akbar's wife. The party consisted of 
 nine ladies, twenty officers and fourteen children; seventeen 
 European soldiers, two women and a child were confined in 
 another part of the fort. 
 
 Here they remained three months. Two more officers were 
 brought in, and a month after their arrival two other sur- 
 vivors, Major Griffiths and Captain Souter, were added to 
 the party. On the day after Akbar's defeat they were hastily 
 taken away and carried to Tezeen, and thence to a place 
 called Zanda, far up in the hills. General Elphinstone had 
 been bed-ridden for some weeks, and was left behind at 
 Tezeen, where he died. Akbar Khan sent in his remains to 
 Jellalabad. Civil war was raging in Cabul. Shah Soojah's 
 second son had succeeded him, but he was altogether without 
 power. Some of the chiefs supported him, others opposed; 
 but finally the Bala Hissar was stormed by Akbar, who was 
 now the most powerful chief in Afghanistan. Pollock was 
 still harassed by letters from Lord Ellenborough insisting
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 307 
 
 upon his retiring; but public opinion throughout India was 
 so opposed to a course that would bring the deepest disgrace 
 upon the British power, that at last, in August, he wrote to 
 Nott saying that he must withdraw his force from Afghanis- 
 tan, but that if he chose he might take the route through 
 Ghuznee and Cabul. He similarly issued his orders for Pol- 
 lock to retire, but added that "you will be at liberty to first 
 march to Cabul to meet Nott." 
 
 Both had been preparing for the movement. Pollock had 
 sent several expeditions against hostile tribesmen, and had 
 recovered one of the captured guns. On the 20th of August 
 he left Jellalabad with eight thousand troops, and on the 
 23rd reached Gundamuck. The next day the village was 
 cleared of a strong body of the enemy. While concentrating 
 his troops there and waiting intelligence from Nott, the 
 British force remained at Gundamuck till the 7th of Sep- 
 tember. On the 1st, Futteh Jung, who had succeeded his 
 father, rode into camp. Akbar Khan had stripped him of all 
 power and all his wealth, and imprisoned him in the Bala 
 Hissar, from which he had now escaped, and with much 
 difficulty made his way to Pollock's camp to seek the pro- 
 tection of the British government. On the 7th the first 
 division of the army, under the command of Sale, moved 
 forward; the second division, under General M'Caskill, 
 marched on the following day. Sale found the hills com- 
 manding the roads through the Jugduluk Pass occupied by 
 large bodies of the enemy, who opened a heavy fire. The 
 guns replied, and the infantry then in three columns dashed 
 up the hills and drove the Ghilzyes from them. 
 
 One strong body had taken refuge at an apparently in- 
 accessible point, but the British storming party scaled the 
 height, and the enemy fled without waiting for the assault 
 at close quarters. Thus on the hills where the Afghans had 
 massacred Elphinstone's troops they were now taught that,
 
 308 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 if well led, the British soldier could defeat them in a posi- 
 tion they had deemed impregnable. At Tezeen the second 
 division joined the first. The force halted for a day, and 
 the Afghans, believing that this betokened indecision, mus- 
 tered their forces for a final engagement. Akbar had, as 
 he had threatened to do if they advanced, sent off the 
 captives to the Bamian Pass, with the intention of selling 
 them as slaves to the Turkomans. 
 
 On the 13th the two armies were face to face. The valley 
 of Tezeen was commanded on all sides by lofty hills, and 
 these now swarmed with men. The enemy's horse entered 
 the valley, but the British squadrons charged them, drove 
 them in headlong flight, and cut down many. The infantry 
 climbed the hills on both sides under a terrible fire from 
 the Afghan guns. To these they made no reply, well know- 
 ing that their muskets were no match for the long fire- 
 arms of the enemy. As soon, however, as they reached the 
 summit, they fixed bayonets and charged with a mighty cheer. 
 Only a few of the enemy stood their ground, and fell, the 
 rest fled. All day firing was kept up, until at last the 
 enemy occupying the highest ridges were, in spite of a 
 sturdy resistance, driven off, fairly beaten on their own 
 ground and in their own style of warfare. 
 
 Our troops fought with extraordinary bravery. They were 
 animated by a desire to wipe out the disgrace that had 
 fallen on our arms, and were maddened by the sight of the 
 numerous skeletons of their comrades in the Jugduluk. Ak- 
 bar Khan saw that all was up, and fled, while the tribesmen 
 scattered to their homes, and the army marched forward 
 without opposition to Cabul. 
 
 In the meantime, Nott had been busy. On the 29th of 
 May he inflicted a decisive defeat upon the Dooranees out- 
 side the walls of Candahar. On the 7th of August the army 
 evacuated that city, and on the 27th arrived at Mookoor.
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 309 
 
 Up to this point no opposition whatever had been offered. 
 The inhabitants had been friendly, and supplies were ob- 
 tained without difficulty. But the Afghan governor of Ghuz- 
 nee had raised all the country, and had taken up a very 
 strong position near the source of the Turnuck. 
 
 On the 28th the forces met. The position of the enemy 
 was unknown, as a thick mist covered the country. The 
 cavalry rode forward to reconnoitre, cut up a party of 
 Afghan infantry in the plain, and pursuing them hotly 
 came upon hills crowded by the enemy, who opened a heavy 
 fire. They fell back in an orderly manner, when a body 
 of the enemy's horse appeared on the hill above them. A 
 squadron of native cavalry charged them, but were cut up 
 by the fire of a body of Afghan foot who had hitherto been 
 hidden. The enemy's horse poured down, and the troopers, 
 already suffering from the infantry fire, turned and fled. 
 The panic spread, and the whole of the cavalry were soon 
 in flight. Two British officers had been killed and three 
 wounded, and fifty-six men disabled. Nott, on hearing the 
 loss, marched out with his infantry, but on reaching the 
 scene of the fight found that the enemy had retired. 
 
 On the afternoon of the next day Nott, marching for- 
 ward, came upon a fort held by the enemy. Our artillery 
 opened upon it with little effect. The Afghan army, some 
 ten thousand strong, had been watching us, and now opened 
 an artillery fire from the heights, and its foot men moved 
 forward to the attack; but as they neared us our infantry 
 charged with a cheer and they broke and fled. Two of their 
 guns, and their tents, magazines, and stores were captured. 
 On the 5th of September Nott encamped before Ghuznee, 
 and began to prepare for the assault. The enemy, however, 
 were in no humour for fighting; the greater portion of the 
 tribesmen had scattered to their homes after their defeat. 
 The garrison lost heart altogether and evacuated the city,
 
 310 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 and the governor set off with a few followers for Cabul. The 
 next morning the British entered the town without firing 
 a shot. On the following day, however, the governor returned 
 with a large number of the tribesmen who had just arrived, 
 and on the 14th Nott attacked them. A hard battle was 
 fought, but it was indecisive. On the following morning the 
 enemy disappeared; they had received the news of the defeat 
 of Akbar at Tezeen. The column, however, was again har- 
 assed when the troops advanced, but they cleared the way 
 in good style. The tribesmen here had been actively engaged 
 in the Cabul insurrection, and twenty-six of their forts were 
 burned as punishment. On the 17th the army encamped 
 four miles from the city, and learned that Pollock had occu- 
 pied Cabul two days previously. 
 
 Angus Campbell had taken no part in the operations of 
 that advance. On the 26th of August news had arrived at 
 Gundamuck by a messenger from the moonshee, Mohun 
 Lai, who had throughout kept the force at Jellalabad well 
 supplied with news of what was passing at Cabul; he now 
 sent to say that on the previous day Akbar had despatched 
 all the captives under an escort of three hundred horse to 
 Bamian, and that they were to be taken on to Khooloom, 
 and there handed over to the governor. Once there, it was 
 certain that they would remain in captivity among the 
 tribes until death released them. As soon as he heard the 
 news Angus went to Macgregor. 
 
 " I am going to ask," he said, " if you will allow me to 
 go on an expedition on my own account. I was thinking 
 that it was just possible that the captives might be over- 
 taken. It is probable that they will halt some time at 
 Bamian, and certainly we could come up to them there. 
 With so many women and children it will be impossible 
 for the convoy to move fast, and they may stay at Bamian 
 until the result of our operations here are known. You
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 311 
 
 have already promised me that the part taken by Sadut 
 Khan shall be forgiven, seeing that he did his best to 
 persuade Akbar to give protection to the retreating army, 
 and also because he showed great kindness to me when I 
 was in his hands. If you can obtain permission from the 
 general I will start at once in disguise for his fort in the 
 mountain. I cannot but think that he will aid me, and 
 I might, with four of his followers, who have come from 
 Bamian, and are personally well known to me, succeed in 
 some way in rescuing at least a few of the captives. Eldrecl 
 Pottinger, Captain Boyd, and Captain Johnson are all dear 
 friends of mine, and I would willingly run any risk in the 
 endeavour to save them. Possibly, if we overtake the party, 
 we may in some way cause a delay which would enable any 
 rescue party sent off when you reach Cabul to get up in 
 time." 
 
 " It is a brave offer, Campbell, but the enterprise seems 
 to me an almost desperate one. However, I don't think 
 that I should be justified in refusing it, and I am sure that 
 if anyone could succeed, you will do so. When will you 
 start?" 
 
 " In ten minutes, sir, if you will furnish me with an 
 authority to offer a bribe to the officer in command of their 
 escort." 
 
 " I will go and see the general at once. He is well 
 aware, from the report that I have made, of the kindness 
 Sadut showed you, and of his efforts to save our army. I 
 have no doubt that the chief has fought against us in the 
 last battle, but that was only natural. I feel sure that above 
 all things Pollock would embrace any offer that promises 
 the slightest chance of rescuing the hostages, but the risk 
 would be terrible, Campbell." 
 
 " Of course there would be risk," Angus agreed, " but I 
 do not see how it would be exceptionally great. I have
 
 312 TO HEEAT AND CABUL 
 
 journeyed as an Afghan two or three times already with- 
 out detection, and I could just as well do so again. At 
 any rate, I am willing to undertake the enterprise. It 
 would, of course, be useful for me to take a considerable 
 sum of money to win over the guard; still more useful if 
 the general would authorize me to offer terms that would 
 tempt the cupidity of the commander, as we have always 
 found that the Afghans are ready to do almost anything 
 for bribes." 
 
 " I will take you at once with me to the general. He is 
 well acquainted with the services you rendered Pottinger 
 at Herat, and have rendered the army ever since it began 
 its march from the Indus, and he knows the favourable 
 report that has been sent in by Pottinger and Burnes." 
 
 Angus had, indeed, been introduced by Sir Robert Sale 
 to General Pollock on his arrival at Cabul. On reaching 
 his tent they found him for the .moment unoccupied. He 
 listened gravely to Macgregor's statement of the offer that 
 Angus had made. 
 
 "It is a noble proposal, Mr. Campbell," he said, in his 
 usual kindly and courteous way, " but the risk seems to 
 me terrible, and should anything happen to you, the ser- 
 vice would be deprived of one of its most promising and 
 meritorious officers. At the same time, there seems a fair 
 possibility that you may succeed in rescuing one or more 
 of the captives. Of course it would be quite out of the 
 question that any of the ladies could escape. There would 
 be a hot pursuit, and only horsemen well mounted could 
 hope to get off. However, I do not feel justified in refusing 
 any offer that affords a shadow of hope of saving such men 
 as Pottinger, and will do all that Mr. Macgregor suggests 
 to facilitate your operations. You will doubtless pass 
 through Cabul, and I will at once write a letter to Mohun 
 Lai, requesting him to give you authority, in his name as
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 313 
 
 well as mine, for payment to the leader of the prisoners' 
 escort of any sum in reason. At present native opinion 
 is strong that we shall not be able to force the passes, 
 and the name of the moonshee may have greater effect 
 than any promise on my part; but at the same time, until 
 you can get into communication with the captives and 
 learn something of the officer and his disposition, it would 
 be madness to attempt to bribe him. The difficulties of 
 the journey appear to me to be great, but not insuperable. 
 The real difficulty will only begin when you overtake the 
 captives' escort." 
 
 "I feel that, sir, but I rely greatly upon the men I hope 
 to obtain from Sadut. Although not of his tribe, they have 
 attached themselves most strongly to him. They are strong, 
 resolute men, and as one of them was a petty chief near 
 Bamian, he may be able to gather a few others to aid me. 
 I shall, of course, be very glad to have authority to offer 
 a bribe to the officer in command of the party, but I rely 
 chiefly upon these men and my own efforts, at any rate 
 as far as Pottinger is concerned. Captains Boyd and John- 
 son can hardly leave their families. Possibly, by the aid 
 of these men, I may be able to collect a sufficient number 
 of fighting men to make a sudden attack upon the escort, 
 and to carry off all the captives to some hiding-place among 
 the hills, and there keep them until you send on a force 
 to bring them in. Of course I must be entirely guided by 
 circumstances, but it is impossible for me to have any 
 fixed plan until I see how matters stand." 
 
 * I can quite see that, Mr. Campbell, and that, greatly 
 as you may desire to rescue the whole party, it is Eldred 
 Pottinger who is the first object of your expedition." 
 
 * That is so, colonel. He was most kind to me in Herat, 
 and it is to him I owe my present position; therefore he 
 is my first object. If I can free him it will be a great step
 
 314 TO HEBAT AND OABUL 
 
 gained towards rescuing the others. I feel sure that he 
 would not think for a moment of leaving his companions 
 to their fate. But his name as the defender of Herat is 
 known to every Afghan, and he would be able to bring 
 a great influence to bear upon the tribesmen round Bamian, 
 whose interests must lie quite as much with Herat as with 
 Cabul." 
 
 The general nodded approvingly. 
 
 " I see that you have thought matters over well. If you 
 will call here again in half an hour the letter for the moon- 
 shee shall be ready for you, and a thousand pounds in gold. 
 
 At the appointed time Angus called upon the general, and 
 received the money and letter; then returning to his own 
 tent, he rode out with Azim. When fairly away from the 
 camp they dismounted and put on their Afghan disguises. 
 They had brought an orderly with them, who took back 
 the clothes they had discarded and Angus's sword to Mac- 
 gregor's tent, he having undertaken to have ihem brought 
 up to Cabul with his own baggage. They had no difficulty 
 as to the way, as the path they had followed with Sadut 
 had come down close to Gundamuck. They had little fear 
 of being interfered with on the road. The Afghans would 
 have gathered in the passes, and should they meet any they 
 would only have to say that their village near Gundamuck 
 had been burnt by the British, and they were now on their 
 way to join Sadut and fight under his orders. 
 
 Although they saw several parties in the distance making 
 their way towards the pass, they did not encounter any 
 within speaking distance, and just at sunset reached Sadut's 
 fort. 
 
 They had passed through the village unnoticed. Tribes- 
 men were frequently coming and going, and there was 
 nothing to distinguish them from others. They dismounted 
 in front of the fort. A man was sitting at the top of a
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 315 
 
 ladder, and Angus held up his hand to him, and Hassan 
 for it was the man who had twice captured him at once 
 waved his hand in welcome, and stood up. 
 
 "You have come willingly this time," he said with a 
 smile, as Angus reached him. " Of course you wish to see 
 Sadut Khan. He is within. It is lucky that you have 
 arrived to-day, for to-morrow he sets out." 
 
 Sadut greeted him with pleasure mingled with surprise. 
 
 " I did not expect to see you here, my friend." 
 
 " No, I suppose not, chief ; but I am on a mission with 
 which I am sure you will sympathize, and in which I hope 
 you will aid me, so far as to spare me Hassan and his four 
 men." 
 
 " What is its nature ? " the chief asked. " I know that 
 you would not come and offer me English money to abstain 
 from fighting again." 
 
 "I should not think of such a thing, Sadut. I know 
 that you are a fair and open enemy, and I think the better 
 of you for fighting for your country. I may say that 
 General Pollock has been informed of your kindness to me, 
 and that you did your utmost to make Akbar keep his 
 word to grant protection to the retiring army, and I can 
 assure you that, in any event, no harm will happen to you 
 or yours. I will tell you what I have come for. Do you 
 know that all the hostages, ladies and children, have been 
 sent away by Akbar from Cabul, that they are to be taken 
 over the Bamian Pass to Khooloom, and handed over to the 
 governor there, and that, doubtless, they will be sold as 
 slaves to the Turkomans ? " 
 
 "I had not heard it," Sadut said angrily. "It is a dis- 
 grace to us. They were delivered up trusting to our word 
 and -honour, and it is a foul deed of Akbar to harm them 
 in any way after taking 1 his oath for their protection. It is 
 infamous ! infamous ! " and he walked up and down the
 
 316 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 room in nerce indignation. "What should we say," he 
 burst out, " if the families of Dost Mahomed and Akbar 
 himself were to be sold by your people as slaves to some 
 barbarous race? Could we complain if, when the news of 
 this treatment of the hostages becomes known in India, 
 Dost Mahomed's family should be treated in a similar 
 way ? " Then he stopped abruptly. " What is it that you 
 have come to ask of me? The thing is done, and cannot 
 be undone. Akbar and I are ill friends now, for I have 
 bearded him in the council and denounced his conduct. 
 Certainly I have no influence that could assist you. I am 
 an Afghan, and am pledged to join the force that will 
 oppose the march of your troops up the passes, and I am 
 a man of my word. But even were I free to help you, I 
 could be of little assistance. I have here not more than 
 thirty or forty fighting men, and I doubt if even these 
 would obey me on such an enterprise. I might ride to my 
 own fort and summon the Momunds, whom I have so far 
 kept quiet; but the enterprise would be a desperate one, we 
 should set all the other tribes against us, and they would 
 not risk destruction merely for the sake of rescuing a few 
 white men and women. Their sympathies are all with the 
 tribes round Cabul, and they share in their hatred of the 
 infidel invaders. It would be as much as I could do to 
 keep them quiet, and certainly I should fail if I called upon 
 them to embark on such an enterprise." 
 
 "I have no intention of asking it of you, chief. I am 
 going myself to see what can be done to save my friends, 
 and have come to ask you to allow Hassan and his men to 
 go with me. They are from Bamian, and at Bamian it is 
 likely that the captives will be kept for some time. I should, 
 of course, pay them well for their aid." 
 
 " You can take them," the chief said at once. " They 
 are good men and faithful to me, and I rely upon them
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 317 
 
 as I could not do on any of my own tribesmen. I will 
 call them in at once." 
 
 Hassan and his four men entered the room a minute 
 later. 
 
 "Hassan," Sadut said, "you and your men have proved 
 yourselves true and faithful followers from the day when 
 you left your homes to carry me over the passes, although 
 you all thought that there was no hope of our getting 
 through. You have fought by my side in Kohistan; you 
 twice at my orders carried off my friend here. He ap- 
 preciates the service you did him, and is in sore need of 
 five men upon whom he can rely to the utmost. He has 
 come to ask me to let you go with him. A sore disgrace 
 has fallen upon our nation. Akbar Khan has sent the men 
 who placed themselves in his hands as hostages, and the 
 women whom he swore to protect, over the Hindoo Koosh 
 to be sold as slaves to the Usbegs. My word has been 
 given to fight against the army of Gundamuck if it at- 
 tempts to ascend the passes, and I at least will keep faith. 
 This British officer is going to attempt to free some of the 
 captives. How he will do so I know not, but my best 
 wishes will go with him. He thinks it likely that the 
 escort of the prisoners will halt for some little time at 
 Bamian, and you more than any others might therefore 
 be able to help. I do not order you to go, but I ask you 
 to do so. It is a good work, and concerns the honour of 
 every Afghan." 
 
 "And moreover," Angus said, "I will pay a thousand 
 rupees to you, and five hundred to each of your followers. 
 I will hand them over to you at once, and if we are success- 
 ful I will pay you as much more." 
 
 The sum was a huge one in their eyes. It would suffice 
 to settle them in comfort for the rest of their lives. Hassan 
 looked at his men, and saw by the expression of their
 
 318 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 faces that they were more than willing to accept the offer, 
 He held out his hand to Angus, "We are your servants,"" 
 he said, " and will serve you truly, and if needs be, lay 
 down our lives for you, not only for the sake of the money 
 you offer us, hut because Sadut Khan has told us that for 
 the honour of the nation these people ought to be released. 
 We have been comrades in danger before, and were nigh 
 dead when you rescued us when buried in the snow. I 
 see not how this enterprise can be carried out; but we 
 will do what you tell us, and men cannot do more. When 
 do we start?" 
 
 " Every hour is of consequence," Angus replied. " Can 
 you find your way across the mountains in the dark? if so, 
 we will start at once." 
 
 " I certainly can find the way." 
 
 " You must all have a meal first," Sadut said. " Besides, 
 you will need horses. They shall be brought in and got 
 ready for you in an hour. See that the English officer's 
 horses have a good feed, and that his servant eats with you. 
 The food will be ready in half an hour." 
 
 No time was lost, and in an hour and a half after the 
 arrival of Angus at the fort the party set out. Fortunately 
 the moon was nearly full, and Hassan had so frequently 
 gone down to Cabul from the fort that he had no difficulty 
 whatever in following the track. This in many places was 
 so steep that all had to dismount and lead their horses 
 down. However, they reached Cabul an hour before sun- 
 rise, and all lay down in an empty hut for three or four 
 hours' sleep. 
 
 Then Angus, with Hassan and three of his men, entered 
 the town, leaving Azim and the other man to look after 
 the horses. As there were numbers of tribesmen in the 
 streets, they attracted no attention whatever. Proceeding
 
 THE ADVANCE ON CABUL 319 
 
 to the house of the moonshee, Angus enquired if Mohun 
 Lai was in. 
 
 "He is busy. He does not grant audiences till ten 
 o'clock." 
 
 Angus moved away and returned at half-past nine. Al- 
 ready five or six persons were waiting to see the moon- 
 shee, and by ten the number had considerably increased. 
 It was eleven before Angus's turn arrived. The moonshee 
 was alone. Angus took out his letter and handed it to 
 him. He knew Mohun Lai well, having often taken com- 
 munications to him from Burnes. 
 
 The Afghan read the letter, and looked up in surprise. 
 
 "You are well disguised indeed, sahib," he said, rising, 
 " for, often as I have seen you before, I did not recognize 
 you in the slightest, but thought it was, as usual, an Afghan 
 peasant with complaints to make against plunderers. So 
 you have undertaken the dangerous mission of endeavour- 
 ing to rescue some of the prisoners. Truly you English 
 have courage thus to thrust yourself into the midst of 
 enemies, and on such a mission. However, I will do what I 
 can to help you. I do not say that it is altogether hope- 
 less, for I know my man; the commander of the escort is 
 Saleh Mahomed. He is an adventurer, and has served under 
 many masters. He was at one time a subaltern in one of 
 your native regiments, but deserted with his men to Dost 
 Mahomed just before the fight at Bamian. Such a man 
 might be bought over, but not cheaply." 
 
 " General Pollock said he left the sum to be offered to 
 him entirely to you." 
 
 Mohun Lai thought for some time, and then said: 
 
 " I should say that a pension of a thousand rupees a 
 month, and a present of thirty thousand would tempt him 
 as much as a larger sum.. It would, I think, be best foe
 
 320 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 you to disguise yourself now as a Cashmerian. You know 
 Syud Moorteza ? " 
 
 " I know him well," Angus said ; " he helped Captain John- 
 son to collect grain from the villages." 
 
 " It would be as well for you to use his name. As an 
 Afghan, Saleh might doubt you. Altogether, it would be 
 more likely that a man who may be considered a neutral 
 should be employed on such a mission, and the offer to sell 
 goods would make an opening. Of course you could take 
 the dress you now wear with you in case of necessity. It 
 would be too dangerous for me to give you a letter, for if 
 Saleh, when you opened the subject to him, at once ordered 
 you to be arrested, it would certainly be found on you, 
 and would cost me my life. You will require to take a 
 small escort with you, or you might be robbed at the first 
 place you come to." 
 
 " I have five men with me," Angus replied. " They come 
 from Bamian; one of them is a petty chief there, and might, 
 if I find that Saleh cannot be approached, persuade or bribe 
 some of the people there to aid." 
 
 "I fear you would not succeed in that way. Saleh had, 
 I believe, two hundred and fifty men with him. I suppose 
 you will start at once ? " 
 
 " Our horses are outside the town, and we shall mount as 
 soon as I return to them." 
 
 " I wish you good fortune. There are many Afghans who 
 feel deeply the disgrace Akbar has brought upon himself, 
 and upon all of us, by breaking his plighted word." 
 
 Taking leave of the moonshee, Angus joined his com- 
 panions, and after having bought in the bazaar a costume 
 suitable for a trader from Cashmere, and two bales of goods 
 from that country, left the city.
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 321 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 
 
 " "TTTHY are you going as a Cashmerian ? " Hassan asked. 
 T T "I thought that you were going in the disguise 
 that you now have on." 
 
 " I had intended to, Hassan ; but Mohun Lai suggested that 
 as a trader I should have more chance of going among the 
 escort than as an Afghan, and I see that this would be so. 
 And, moreover, as Afghans can enter into fellowship with 
 the men of the escort better than I can, and as you come 
 from Bamian, no doubt would arise as to the truth of your 
 story, namely that, having been absent for more than two 
 years from home, you were anxious to get home, and that 
 as this trader had offered you money to serve as his escort 
 it was a good opportunity for you to return." 
 
 Hassan nodded. " That makes a good story of it, cer- 
 tainly." 
 
 The change of disguise was made, two ponies were pur- 
 chased to carry the bales of goods and provisions for the 
 journey, and they then started. In buying his goods Angus 
 had only purchased two costly shawls, which he intended 
 as a present for Saleh, or, if he failed with him, for one of 
 the officers under him. With this exception, the bales were 
 filled with trifles such as might tempt the soldiers, and with 
 stuffs which would, he was sure, be very welcome to the 
 ladies, who must, naturally, be in a sore plight for garments, 
 as what baggage they had started with must have been lost 
 in the passes, and they could have had little opportunity of 
 replenishing their wardrobe during their captivity. 
 
 They travelled rapidly, halting only for a few hours when 
 (H807) x
 
 322 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 it was necessary to give their horses a rest. As the ladies 
 were carried in litters, and there was no reason why they 
 should be hurried on their journey, Angus knew that he 
 must be gaining fast upon the captives and their escort, 
 and indeed he reached Bamian only a few hours after 
 them. 
 
 He put up at a little khan, while Hassan and his men 
 went off to their village to see the families from whom they 
 had been so long separated. Hassan found his wife in un- 
 disturbed possession of the little fort, and there was great 
 joy in the village when it was found that he and his men 
 had returned with funds that would enable them to pass 
 the coming winter in comfort, and largely to increase their 
 stock of animals. That evening two or three sheep were 
 killed, and a general feast was held in honour of the return 
 of the chief and his followers. As nothing was talked of in 
 the little town but the arrival of the British captives, Angus 
 had no difficulty in learning that these had been lodged in a 
 little fort close to the place. He did not attempt to open his 
 bales of goods, although several of the people came to him to 
 ask him to do so, for so few traders had visited the place since 
 the troubles began, that the stores had long been empty. 
 There had, too, been a good deal of plundering since the 
 British force there had retired. Angus was obliged to explain 
 that he had only brought a few trifles with him, as his pur- 
 pose was to buy Turkoman carpets and other goods at Khoo- 
 loom, and that he had sold off almost all the stock he had 
 brought from Cashmere at Cabul. 
 
 Leaving Azim at the khan to see that his goods were not 
 stolen, he strolled out. The place was full of the men of 
 the escort, who showed much discontent on finding that 
 neither fruit nor any other of the little luxuries to which 
 they were accustomed could be bought at Bamian. Angus 
 had no difficulty in entering into conversation with some of
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 323 
 
 them. He had brought with him a considerable quantity 
 of good tobacco, and when he produced a pouch and invited 
 them to fill their pipes he at once won their good-will. 
 
 " How quickly have you come from Cabul ? Was there 
 any news when you left there ? " 
 
 " We have travelled fast," he said. " You have had three 
 days' start of us, and I arrived here this afternoon. No, 
 there was no news. They say that the infidels are halting 
 at Gundamuck. The chiefs are gathering in the passes with 
 all their forces, but have not yet moved." 
 
 " I should have thought that they would have had enough 
 of our passes; they will meet with the same fate as those 
 who tried to go down them." 
 
 " It should be so," Angus replied. " Who can withstand 
 your people when they are fighting among your own hills? 
 You must have travelled slowly, since we gained three days 
 upon you." 
 
 " We made very short journeys," the man said. " You 
 see, we were encumbered with these women and children, 
 for whom it must have been rough work, for the nights are 
 already cold. I shall be glad when we get to Khooloom 
 and hand them over to the governor there. But I will say 
 for them that they have borne up bravely. I can tell you 
 that we are all disgusted at having to be making this 
 journey with them instead of taking our share of the spoil 
 that will be gathered in the passes." 
 
 " Yes, it must be annoying to brave men to be thus wast- 
 ing their time when great things are being done, to say 
 nothing of losing their share of the booty to be gathered, 
 Have you a good commander ? " 
 
 " Yes, we have no cause to grumble on that account. Saleh 
 Mahomed is a bold soldier and a cheerful fellow, is not 
 unduly harsh, and as long as we keep our arms in good 
 order, and obey his orders, he asks no questions when one
 
 324 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 of us comes in with a sheep fastened to his saddle. But 
 there has been no chance of getting anything to help out 
 our rations, for the two or three little villages we have 
 passed since we left the valley are for the most part deserted. 
 There are women there, but the men have not yet come 
 down from the hills with the flocks, and none of us have 
 tasted meat since we started. Saleh Mahomed is a man who 
 has travelled much and seen many things. He was an officer 
 in the English army, but he would not fight against us, and 
 two years ago, when Dost Mahomed with his army came 
 here, he went over to him with his company of Sepoys. He 
 was not a chief, but was a tribesman near the frontier. 
 There are many of them, they say, in the service of the 
 infidels; and he had done well for himself." 
 
 "I suppose the captive women must be in want of warm 
 clothes. I have not a large stock of goods, but among 
 them are several warm robes, which I would sell cheaply to 
 them, for I wish to clear away my remaining stock, as I 
 intend to buy Turkoman carpets at Khooloom and Balkh; 
 and besides these I have some stuff which doubtless the 
 women here would buy to make garments for the children. 
 Think you that Saleh would let me traffic with them?" 
 
 " That I could not say ; but if you have anything in your 
 pack that would please him he might perhaps let you do so. 
 You seem a good fellow, if you like I will take you to him 
 to-morrow morning." 
 
 " Thank you for your offer. When I meet you I will have 
 a pound of good tobacco, which I shall beg you to accept/' 
 
 "I will be here. I shall be one of the guards to-night 
 round the fort, but shall be free in the morning." 
 
 " Does Saleh Mahomed sleep there ? " 
 
 " No, it is a miserable and dirty place. He lodges at the 
 house of the headman there." 
 
 Early in the morning Hassan came down to the khan.
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 325 
 
 " Now, sahib, you have only to tell us what you want us to 
 do, and you can rely upon us." 
 
 " For the present there is nothing. I am going to see 
 Saleh Mahomed this morning, and try to get permission to 
 sell some of my goods to the captives. I may then be able 
 to learn something of his disposition towards them, and how 
 he behaved to them during the journey. It is important 
 that I should know this before giving him the message from 
 the moonshee." 
 
 " It would be well to do so, master ; but from what I hear 
 the moonshee has been negotiating with many of the chiefs, 
 who are willing enough to take his money, but who do not 
 carry out their part of the bargain. However, I have not 
 heard that any of them have denounced him. He is always 
 considered to be the chief agent of the English, but as he 
 spends English gold freely, and as it is well to have some 
 one in Cabul through whom negotiations could be entered 
 into with them, no one interferes with him." 
 
 " The only thing that you can do for the present is to go 
 round among your friends, talk to them about the captives, 
 and say that it is a disgrace that they should be sent as 
 captives among the Usbegs after having received promises 
 of protection, and having willingly submitted themselves as 
 hostages. Of course you will do it carefully; but if you can 
 create a feeling in their favour, and make them afterwards 
 win over a portion of the escort, something might be done. 
 Of course you can say, and truly, that Sadut Khan, Dost 
 Mahomed's nephew by marriage, is most indignant at this 
 breach of faith, and that you believe that many other chiefs 
 share his feeling." 
 
 " I will set about it at once. The tribesmen here have 
 not the same animosity against the English as those at 
 Cabul. The English troops wHen they were here behaved 
 well; they took no man's goods without payment, and the
 
 326 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 tribesmen got better prices for their sheep and cattle than 
 they had ever got before. They care little who rules at 
 Cabul, and it is nothing to them whether it is the Baruk- 
 zyes or a Dooranee." 
 
 The next morning Angus met the Afghan soldier. " Here 
 is the tobacco I promised you; it is good stuff." 
 
 "If it is like that you gave me yesterday, I shall be very 
 content. Now, come with me to Saleh; he is a good fellow 
 if you find him in the humour." The officer was alone when 
 they entered. " Saleh Mahomed," the soldier said, " this is 
 a trader from Cashmere, Syud Moorteza; he will tell you 
 his business. He seems to be a good fellow, and has some 
 excellent tobacco." 
 
 Having thus introduced Angus he left the room. 
 
 "What is it that you want with me?" Saleh asked in 
 Persian. Angus replied in the same language, "I am a 
 trader, my lord, and wish to get rid of some of the wares 
 I am carrying. They are but few, as I am going north to 
 purchase and not to sell. I would willingly rid myself of 
 a part of them. Among them are warm dresses and stuffs. 
 I am told that the persons in your charge are but thinly 
 clad, and I doubt not that they would willingly buy these 
 goods of me." 
 
 The Afghan laughed. " They would willingly have them, 
 no doubt; but as to buying, they are altogether without 
 money. Those who were in charge of them saw to that 
 before they were handed over to me." 
 
 "I should not mind that, my lord. I have had dealings 
 with Englishmen who have come up to Cashmere, and they 
 generally take a store of shawls and other things back with 
 them to India. We always find that they are true to their 
 word, and we take their orders as willingly as gold more 
 so, indeed, because the shroffs in India take them anywhere, 
 and it saves our having to send money there for the pur-
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 327 
 
 chase of goods in India. Thus, then, if they gave me orders 
 on their people at Calcutta or Bombay, I would more will- 
 ingly accept them than gold, which is a dangerous commodity 
 to carry." 
 
 " But you say that you are going to purchase goods." 
 
 " That is so, my lord, but I do not carry money to do so. 
 I pay for them with orders upon a merchant at Herat to 
 whom I am well-known, and who acts as my agent, and 
 buys for me such goods as I require from Persia. I have 
 not come empty-handed to you, my lord. It is right that if 
 you do me the favour of allowing me to trade with your 
 prisoners, you should share in the benefit. I have with me 
 here a cashmere shawl. I do not say that it is worthy of 
 your acceptance, but it is handsome and of the best wool, 
 and will make a warm girdle." 
 
 Saleh was fond of finery. "Let me look at it," he said. 
 
 Angus undid the parcel and held the shawl up, and closely 
 watched the Afghan as he examined it. He saw that he 
 was pleased with it. However, the chief said, " I say not 
 that it is not a good shawl, but it is not of the best quality. 
 I have been at Srinagar." 
 
 " 'Tis not of the best, my lord I would not try to de- 
 ceive one like yourself but it is the best I have, and I can 
 hardly hope to make more than its value from these people." 
 
 "It is worth about two hundred rupees," Saleh said. 
 
 "Your lordship is not to be deceived, that is the very 
 sum I gave for it; but it is worth much more here." 
 
 " You seem to be an honest man," Saleh said, throwing 
 the shawl down on the divan from which he had risen. " And 
 in truth I should be well content that the prisoners were 
 better supplied with garments in the cold weather that is 
 setting in. I am ordered to conduct them safely to KTioo- 
 loom, but nought was said against my providing them with 
 such comforts on the way as they could obtain. To-day I
 
 328 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 am busy; I have to see that the men are well quartered and 
 fed. To-morrow if you come here with your goods I will 
 myself take you to the place where they are confined; but 
 mind that no word is said to them save concerning your 
 merchandise." 
 
 "What words should I say, my lord? But doubtless one 
 of your men will be present and see that I confine myself 
 to my business." 
 
 "Then come at this hour to-morrow." 
 
 Angus bowed deeply and then left, delighted that he had 
 obtained permission to see the captives. 
 
 That day the prisoners were taken to another fort, Saleh 
 being moved by their complaints of the dirt and want of 
 accommodation in the little fort in which they were crowded. 
 The place was but a little better than the one they had left, 
 but there was somewhat more room. 
 
 Hassan came to Angus in the evening. " I have seen 
 many of my friends," he said, " and have spoken as you 
 told me. They are indignant. I told them that Dost Ma- 
 homed and his family, and that of Akbar, are honourably 
 treated in India, and are allowed a large income by the gov- 
 ernment there, and live with every comfort and luxury, and 
 it is a disgrace to our nation that such treatment should 
 be meted out to the officers who are hostages, and the ladies 
 and their families. I do not say that they will be disposed 
 to hazard their own safety by taking any active measures, 
 but if the soldiers were to show any disposition favourable 
 to the captives, they would assuredly take no hostile steps 
 against them." 
 
 " I have strong hopes that I may succeed with Saleh. He 
 has taken a bribe from me to permit me to sell goods to 
 the prisoners, and he may be willing to take a vastly greater 
 one to release them." 
 
 " My men have been going about among the soldiers, sahib.
 
 THE BBITISH CAPTIVES 329 
 
 They are discontented at this journey they have taken, and 
 at the prospect of a still farther one, and if their com- 
 mander gave them the order to return, they would not, I 
 think, hesitate to obey." 
 
 "Let your men continue at that work, but let them be 
 careful not to appear to be too warmly interested. Let 
 them avoid at present all mention of captives, and simply 
 inflame the men's minds by talking of the hardships of their 
 being sent on such a journey when so much booty is likely 
 to be picked up in the passes. It is not likely that if Saleh 
 orders them to proceed on their journey they will refuse 
 to do so, but if he learns from his officers that the men 
 would gladly obey him if he ordered them to return, it may 
 help him to decide to accept the offer I have to make him. 
 I shall put off doing so till the last moment, because at any 
 time news may come that Pollock and Nott are both beat- 
 ing back all opposition and advancing on Cabul, and in 
 that case he may see that his interest lies in siding with 
 them rather than with Akbar." 
 
 In the morning Angus rode with Saleh to the fort, Azim 
 following with the pony carrying the bales of goods. Two 
 men stood as sentries on the platform on the top of the 
 plain, half a dozen others were posted round it. The officer 
 in charge came out. 
 
 " Have you anything to report, Suleiman ? " 
 
 " No, captain, except that the prisoners complain that this 
 place is little better than the last they were confined in." 
 
 " They are particular, these ladies and gentlemen," Saleh 
 said with a laugh. " The place might be better, no doubt, 
 but they will be lucky if they do not find themselves very 
 much worse lodged when they get among the Usbegs." 
 
 " Major Pottinger was asking, captain, that a few blankets 
 should be given them for the use of the women and chil- 
 dren."
 
 330 TO HEBAT AND CABUL 
 
 " We will see about it. However, this trader here has 
 some warm robes to sell, and they may just as -well pay for 
 the things themselves as that I should put my hand into 
 my pocket, for my instructions said nothing about buying 
 things of this sort for them; and from the manner in 
 which Prince Akbar gave me my orders, I should say that 
 the more they suffered the better he would be pleased. How- 
 ever, I am sorry for them, and have given permission to this 
 Cashmerian to see them and try to sell his goods to them." 
 
 The officer looked doubtful. " I do not think there is a 
 rupee among them." 
 
 " No, but the trader has faith that if they give him notes 
 for his goods, their people will assuredly cash them." 
 
 " He must be a very confiding fellow," the officer said. 
 
 " No ; by what he says the shroffs of all the large cities 
 in India are always ready to take the notes of English 
 officers, and that he himself has done so in Cashmere. 
 
 "At any rate you can take him up to their apartments, 
 but remain in the room while he bargains with them. I 
 do not mind his carrying on his trade, but see that he in 
 no way communicates with them save in the matter of his 
 business." 
 
 Saleh went up with Angus, followed by the officer and 
 Azim, who was assisted by the soldiers to carry up the 
 goods. A sentry was sitting before the door at the top of 
 the stairs with his musket across his knee. As Saleh came 
 up, he rose and took a key hanging on a nail on the wall 
 beside him and opened the door. 
 
 "I hear that you are still not content with your lodging, 
 Captain Johnson," Saleh said as he entered. " Well, what 
 would you have ? These towers are all alike, and do not 
 come up to our ideas of comfort in Cabul; and as glass is 
 scarcely known in Bamian, no doubt you feel it cold at 
 night."
 
 ANGUS SHOWS HIS GOODS TO THE PRISONERS.
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 331 
 
 " If we had a few blankets to hang across the windows 
 the ladies would not feel it so much, Saleh." 
 
 " That is so ; and as I am anxious that they should not, 
 while under my charge, feel greater discomfort than neces- 
 sary, I have permitted this trader, Syud Moorteza, to enter. 
 He has, he tells me, some warm robes and other things 
 which he is ready to sell, and as I told him that before you 
 came' into my charge all your money had been taken away, 
 he is ready to take your notes upon a banker at Calcutta 
 or Bombay in payment." 
 
 Captain Johnson knew the Cashmerian, as he had ren- 
 dered invaluable assistance in obtaining grain. Angus, who 
 was acquainted with him, had the more willingly adopted 
 his name because the man was 'about his own height and 
 build, and there was even some resemblance in feature. Cap- 
 tain Johnson therefore looked with interest at the trader, 
 who was standing a little behind Saleh. For a moment he 
 seemed puzzled but Angus had his hand on his chin and 
 suddenly moved two fingers across his lips and very slightly 
 shook his head. Johnson understood the gesture, and re- 
 plied to Saleh: "The man is right; he may be sure that 
 whatever happens to us our friends will see that he is paid 
 for any goods we may buy of him. We will write a letter 
 in Persian, which you can read to our friends, saying that 
 this man has trusted us and that our orders are to be hon- 
 oured." 
 
 The ladies, who were in the next room, were called in. 
 The Afghan commander, who had nothing to do, remained 
 with his officer, being interested in the contents of the 
 trader's bales. Azim opened them, and spread the articles 
 out on the floor for inspection. Angus was greatly con- 
 cerned at the appearance of the ladies, to all of whom he 
 was known. His disguise, however, had so completely 
 changed his appearance that none of them recognized him.
 
 332 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 His face was darkened, his eyebrows and hair had been 
 stained black, and by the assistance of some false hair the 
 latter was arranged in the fashion worn by the man he 
 represented. Syud Moorteza was of the Hindoo religion, 
 and Angus had imitated his caste marks on the forehead, 
 which alone greatly altered his appearance. But the ladies 
 scarcely looked at him. Their delight at seeing the warm 
 robes and woollen cloths was great indeed. Here was a 
 prospect that their sufferings from cold would be alleviated, 
 and that their children could now be warmly clad. 
 
 Among the smaller articles in his bale Angus included 
 a good supply of needles and thread, buttons, and other 
 small necessaries. The ladies saw at once that from the 
 soft woolen cloths they would be able to make an abund- 
 ance of warm clothing for the children. Angus expatiated 
 after the manner of a trader on the quality of his goods. 
 Holding up a warm robe to Captain Johnson, he said: 
 " This would suit you, my lord ; it will keep you warm in 
 the coldest night." 
 
 " You have not more than enough for the ladies," Captain 
 Johnson said. " If there is anything over after they have 
 made their purchases, we shall be glad to take the rest of 
 your cloth. We can wind it round us." 
 
 " But feel the quality of this robe, my lord," Angus 
 urged, with a wink that was understood by the officer, who 
 at once took hold of it. As he did so Angus slipped a note, 
 which he had folded to the smallest possible dimensions, into 
 his hands. 
 
 "Yes, it is good material," he said quietly; "but, as I 
 have just said, these must be for the ladies." And he 
 turned away as if unwilling to be tempted, and presently 
 sauntered into the next room. In order to keep up his 
 character Angus asked fully five times the proper value for 
 his goods. But the captives had no thought of bargain-
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 333 
 
 ing; for these goods would be of the greatest comfort to 
 themselves and their children, as coverings for the night, 
 and as wraps during the passage of the passes, for in addi- 
 tion to the clothes and cloth, there were silk mufflers for the 
 neck, and warm jackets lined with astrakhan fur. Nor were 
 the needles and thread less prized. Their clothes and those 
 of the children were in rags, and they would be most useful 
 for mending, as well as the making of new clothes. Some 
 of them almost cried with joy at the thought of the comfort 
 that this would be to their little ones. 
 
 In a few minutes the greater portion of the contents of 
 the bales was disposed of. " The best way," Pottinger said, 
 " will be for Lawrence, Mackenzie, and myself, as the three 
 political officers, to give this man an order signed by the 
 three of us on our agent at Calcutta, and I will write an 
 open letter to accompany it, authorizing any British officer 
 or banker to cash the note when it is presented, and to send 
 it on to my agent. The man has done us an inestimable 
 service, and it will facilitate his getting the money. Where 
 are you thinking of cashing this ? " he asked. 
 
 "At Herat." 
 
 " Then I will also give you a note to a trader there. He 
 has a shop in the great bazaar, and is a friend of mine. He 
 has relations with business men in India, and will, I am 
 sure, cash it for you at once should you desire cash, or will 
 furnish you in exchange with bills on some merchant in 
 Candahar." He then mentioned the trader's name. 
 
 " That will suit me well," Angus said. " I know the 
 man by name, having been myself at Herat. He is of good 
 repute, and I am sure that he or any other merchant having 
 dealings in India would gladly cash the order, as it would 
 be far safer to send than money." 
 
 It was not until the purchases had all been made that 
 Captain Johnson re-entered the room, came and stood by
 
 334 TO HERAT AND OABUL 
 
 Angus, asking a few questions as to the goods; when the 
 two Afghans were looking another way he passed a note 
 into the pretended merchant's hand. Presently he said: 
 " But we have no pen and ink to write this order ? " 
 
 "I have them, sahib," Angus said, taking an ink-bottle 
 and pen, such as were always carried by traders, from his 
 pocket, together with several sheets of paper. The price of 
 all the goods was added up; then Pottinger wrote an order 
 for the amount, which was signed by himself, Lawrence, 
 and Mackenzie. Then Johnson took Pottinger aside as if 
 to discuss the terms of the letters. 
 
 " That man is not Syud Moorteza at all," he said. " Don't 
 turn round and look at him. He has given me a note, and 
 I am answering it. Who do you think it is ? " 
 
 ' I have been a little puzzled, not by his face, but by his 
 voice. I have it now it is Angus Campbell." 
 
 " You have guessed right. He has come up by himself 
 through the passes to try and overtake us. He bears a 
 message from Mohun Lai to Saleh, saying that he shall be 
 given a pension of a thousand rupees a month and a present 
 of thirty thousand if he will hand over the captives to the 
 British general when he reaches Cabuh He has asked my 
 opinion as to whether it would be safe to make the proposi- 
 tion to the man, or whether he had better wait until news 
 comes that Pollock has defeated Akbar in the passes. I 
 have told him that I have already sounded Saleh, and that 
 though he passed the matter off, I believe he is open to 
 take a bribe if he hears that Nott and Pollock are making 
 their way up. He says that if bad news comes and I 
 think it would then be useless to approach Saleh he will 
 make an attempt with some men he has with him to effect 
 your escape, and also mine, and that of Mackenzie and 
 Lawrence. Boyd, of course, would not leave his wife and
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 335 
 
 family, and it would be impossible to take the women and 
 children with us." 
 
 " Campbell is a splendid fellow ! " Pottinger said. " He 
 behaved wonderfully well at Herat, and I was sure that in 
 time he would make a very fine officer. It is a noble thing 1 , 
 his undertaking such a tremendous risk." 
 
 The letters were now written and handed to Angus. Saleh, 
 however, took them from his hands and read them, and then 
 handed them back, after assuring himself that there was 
 nothing written but what had been agreed upon. Then he 
 and the officer went downstairs with Angus and Azim, the 
 latter carrying easily enough the one small bale that sufficed 
 for the goods unsold. 
 
 "You have made a nice sum out of this," Saleh said. 
 
 " I have had a long journey with my goods," Angus replied 
 humbly ; " but they were well contented, and paid without 
 bargaining the prices I asked. I feel, my lord, that I am 
 greatly indebted to you for the opportunity. I have not 
 money with me we traders never carry cash, and I shall 
 have to wait many months before I receive the price of 
 the goods nevertheless, my lord, I will willingly give you 
 in token of my gratitude another shawl equal to the last; 
 I have brought with me only two. And you can select any 
 goods you like from those remaining. There are many silk 
 things among them, for they only bought such as were 
 needed for wear." 
 
 Saleh was well satisfied, and telling Angus that he might 
 call round in the evening with some of the silk embroidered 
 scarfs, he allowed him to return to the camp. Two days 
 passed, and then a horseman rode in with the news that 
 Akbar had been defeated at Tezeen, but would fight an- 
 other battle, and, as he was . being joined by many chiefs, 
 would doubtless overthrow the infidels. The news spread
 
 336 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 rapidly and caused much excitement in the camp, which 
 was heightened by the fact that the man said that there 
 was a report that Ghuznee had been captured by the British 
 force that was marching from Candahar. 
 
 Angus went in the evening and requested a private inter- 
 view with Saleh. As Johnson had told him in his note, 
 the Afghan had already been revolving in his mind whether 
 he could not do better for himself by halting at Bamiaa 
 until he knew how affairs would turn out at Cabul. John- 
 son, who had become very intimate with him on the journey, 
 had said casually that the British government would as- 
 suredly pay a large sum for the return of the captives. He 
 had taken no notice of the remark at the time, but had 
 thought a good deal of it. He knew that money had been 
 lavishly spent among the chiefs, and it seemed to him that 
 he too might have a share in the golden flood. 
 
 He was a shrewd man as well as an unscrupulous one. 
 He had three times before deserted his employers when better 
 offers had been made to him, and it seemed to him that 
 he had it now in his power to procure a sum that would 
 make him rich for life. He had been told by his sub-officers 
 that there was a growing disaffection among the men, that 
 many of them openly grumbled at the prospect of the journey 
 to Khooloom, and that some of the Bamian petty chiefs had 
 been going among them, and, they believed, stirring up 
 a feeling against the journey. He had from the first enter- 
 tained some suspicion of this Cashmerian trader. Why 
 should he not have bought a larger store of Indian goods 
 to exchange with the Turkomans? 
 
 His doubt as to the best course to pursue had been 
 heightened at the news that he had received that afternoon. 
 What would happen if the British again settled down at 
 Cabul? They would doubtless send a force to endeavour 
 to rescue the captives. And although he might be at Khoo-
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 337 
 
 loom before they did so, his situation would then be a most 
 unpleasant one. Akbar, as a fugitive, could no longer pay 
 him and his troops; they would, of course, leave him, and 
 he would not dare to return to Cabul. He was thinking 
 over these matters when Angus was ushered in. The latter 
 had already decided that he would for the present maintain 
 the character that he had assumed. If Saleh knew that he 
 was a British officer he would assuredly, if he remained 
 faithful to his charge, arrest him also; but as merely the 
 agent of Mohun Lai, one of the most influential men in 
 Cabul, the Afghan would probably allow him to depart un- 
 harmed, even if he refused the offered bribe. 
 
 " I have not come to you this evening to talk of mer- 
 chandise, Saleh Mahomed," Angus began. "I have come 
 upon a more important matter. As you know, the troops 
 from Jellalabad have defeated Akbar, and are making their 
 way up through the passes. They will defeat him again if 
 he fights them. The troops from Candahar have reached 
 Ghuznee, and assuredly there is no force that can arrest 
 their progress to Cabul. I have only waited for this to speak 
 openly to you. I am sent here by Mohun Lai. He author- 
 izes me to promise you, in his name and that of General 
 Pollock, a pension of a thousand rupees a month, and a gift 
 of thirty thousand rupees, if you will hold the prisoners here 
 until a British force arrives to carry them back to Cabul.'' 
 
 The Afghan showed no surprise. " I suspected," he said, 
 " all along that you had come here for some other motive 
 than trade. What guarantee does Mohun Lai offer that 
 these terms shall be fulfilled ? " 
 
 "It would not have been safe for him to have entrusted 
 such a message to paper," Angus said, " but he gives you 
 his word." 
 
 " Words are no guarantee," Saleh said, " especially the 
 word of a chief." 
 
 (M807) *
 
 338 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 "I would suggest, Saleh Mahomed, that you have it in 
 your power to obtain a guarantee that even you will ac- 
 knowledge to be a binding one. You have in your hands 
 three men whose names are known throughout Afghanistan 
 and through India as those of men of honour. You have 
 Major Pottinger, Captain Lawrence, and Mr. Mackenzie, 
 all men whose word would be accepted unhesitatingly to 
 whatever promise they might make. They and the other 
 officers would, I am sure, give you a written guarantee that 
 the offer made by Mohun Lai shall be confirmed and carried 
 out by the government of India." 
 
 " What should I do with money without employment ? " 
 
 "If you desire employment, I have no doubt that you 
 would be granted, in addition to the money payment, the 
 command of a native regiment raised among the Pathans 
 of the lower hills." 
 
 " I will think the matter over," the Afghan said, and 
 with a wave of the hand dismissed Angus. But the latter 
 had seen, by the expression of Saleh's face when he men- 
 tioned the terms, that these were far higher than he had 
 himself ever thought of, and he had no doubt whatever that 
 they would be accepted. The first thing in the morning 
 lie received a message from Saleh Mahomed requesting him 
 to accompany him to the tower. The Afghan, beyond the 
 usual salute, was silent during the ride. On dismounting 
 Saleh told him to follow him. On entering the prisoners' 
 apartments the officer said: "You are aware that Prince 
 Akbar's orders are that I am to take you to Khooloom. I 
 had certainly intended to do so, but I have received news 
 that leads me to doubt whether he may be in a position to 
 support you if I carry out the orders. Yesterday after- 
 noon I heard that he had been defeated at Tezeen. He 
 will fight again with a stronger force than before, still the 
 issue is doubtful. I may tell you that the messenger also
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 339 
 
 brought to the fort news that the force from Candahar had 
 taken Ghuznee." 
 
 An exclamation of joy broke from the prisoners. 
 
 " Another thing has happened," the Afghan went on. 
 " This trader last night informed me that he really came 
 here on a mission from Mohan. Lai. He promises me, in 
 General Pollock's name, that if I release you and carry 
 you to Cabul I shall be granted a pension of a thousand 
 rupees a month and thirty thousand as a present. I know 
 nothing of General Pollock, and have no great faith in 
 Mohun Lai, but seeing that Akbar may be even now a 
 fugitive and your two armies in Cabul, if you gentlemen 
 will swear by your God to make good to me what Syud 
 Moorteza states he is authorized to offer, I will hand you 
 over to your own people." 
 
 The offer was joyfully accepted. Angus was requested 
 by Saleh to draw out a bond to that effect in Persian, and 
 this was signed by Pottinger, Lawrence, Johnson, and Mac- 
 kenzie. Another agreement was then drawn up by Johnson, 
 by which all the officers bound themselves to pay as many 
 months' pay and allowances, in accordance with their rank, 
 as should be necessary to carry out the terms of the agree- 
 ment, thus satisfying Saleh that, should the English general 
 refuse to ratify the first agreement, he would receive the 
 money from them. To this all the prisoners and the ladies 
 signed their names, Brigadier Shelton heading the list ; while 
 Lady Macnaghten and Mrs. Sturt, who were widows, bound 
 themselves in a codicil to pay such sums as might be de- 
 manded from them by Major Pottinger and Captains Law- 
 rence and Johnson. 
 
 " You are no longer my prisoner, sahibs," Saleh said when 
 the two documents were handed to him, and he on his part 
 had given a bond to perform his share of the conditions. 
 " Now, I should like your counsel as to how I had best pro-
 
 340 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 ceed. I believe that my men will gladly obey me in this 
 matter, because they are discontented at being 1 sent so far 
 away, and I feel sure that a very slight inducement on your 
 part to them will settle the matter. If I could offer them 
 in your name a gratuity of four months' pay when we 
 arrive at Cabul, it would settle matters." 
 
 To this the officers willingly agreed. 
 
 " I have been thinking over the affair all night," he 
 went on. " Which, think you, would be best to travel 
 straight for Cabul when you hear that the British have 
 arrived there, or to wait here? I hear that many of the 
 petty chiefs in the neighbourhood are indignant that Akbar 
 Khan should have broken all the promises he made, and 
 have treated so badly those who placed themselves under 
 his protection, while at the same time his father, together 
 with his own family, are receiving most honourable treat- 
 ment in India. Doubtless you would rather go straight 
 down to Cabul, but we must remember that if defeated, 
 Akbar with a very large number of his followers may again 
 fly by this route and make for Khooloom, as he and Dost 
 Mahomed did when the British first marched to Cabul. 
 Should they meet us on our way down they would assuredly 
 attack us, and their numbers might be so great that we 
 should be overwhelmed. On the other hand, if we stay 
 here we can occupy the largest of these little forts and set 
 to work to strengthen it, and might then resist any force 
 Akbar could bring against us until 'the British troops arrive 
 to our assistance." 
 
 The officers were silent for a minute, and then Pottinger 
 said: "What do you think, Brigadier? This is a military 
 matter." 
 
 " I should say the last proposition is the safest," Shelton 
 replied. " We may be sure that the moment Pollock reaches 
 Cabul he will send off a body of cavalry to rescue us. Akba
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 341 
 
 would have at best only forty-eight hours' start, perhaps not 
 half that, and he would scarcely venture to stop here to under- 
 take a siege. He will certainly have no guns with him, and 
 the three hundred men of our escort, with ten or twelve of 
 us to lead them, could he trusted to withstand any hurried 
 assault he might make upon us." 
 
 The others all agreed that this would he the safest plan. 
 
 "Very well," Saleh said. "I will go now and harangue 
 my men, and in the meantime you can prepare to move. 
 I will select the largest and most defensible of these forts. 
 We will move quietly in there, and then I will summon the 
 Bamian chiefs, and proclaim that I have abandoned the 
 cause of Akbar, and now with my British allies summon 
 them to invite their men to join me, so that when an 
 English force arrives here they will be free from all moles- 
 tation, and will receive presents in accordance with the 
 number of men they furnish." 
 
 So saying he left the room, and the joy of the captives 
 broke out in general congratulations among the men, and 
 tears of joy from the women. Pottinger, Johnson, and 
 Boyd gathered round Angtis and poured forth their thanks 
 to him. Nothing had hitherto been said to the ladies as to 
 the real character of the supposed trader, for it was felt 
 that if this enterprise failed the disappointment would to 
 them be terrible. As soon as they learned who he was and 
 what he had done, they too crowded round, and Angus was 
 for a time quite confused with the expressions of gratitude 
 showered upon him. 
 
 " I see," Pottinger said, when the din of voices had quieted 
 down, " that you have not informed Saleh Mahomed of your 
 real character." 
 
 "I thought it better not to do so. I really came from 
 Mohun Lai, and if he thought I had not done so, he might 
 have doubted whether I had any authority to make such a
 
 342 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 proposal; therefore, I thought it would be well to keep up 
 my present character to the end." 
 
 " Perhaps it is hest so," Pottinger agreed. " These Afghans 
 are always suspicious, and a man who has several times be- 
 trayed his employers would be more suspicious than other 
 people. I quite agree with you that it is best you should 
 keep up your present character. I suppose Mohun Lai really 
 did give you the assurance about the ransom ? " 
 
 "Yes, General Pollock told me that he would give any 
 sum Mohun Lai might think it desirable to offer, and that 
 was the figure fixed upon as being high enough to tempt 
 Saleh, and yet not excessive for such a service. Besides, 
 he thought that he might ask more, in which case I should 
 of course have bargained with him." 
 
 "It is a sum that would tempt any Afghan chief," Pot- 
 tinger said, "and to a mere military adventurer like Saleh 
 would appear prodigious. Well, we will hear of your adven- 
 tures afterwards. He may return at any moment, and it 
 might put him out of humour if he found that we were not 
 ready. Not, indeed, that there is much to do. Even the 
 ladies will be able to pack up their scanty belongings in a few 
 minutes. There would, in fact, be nothing at all to pack 
 had it not been for the things they bought of you. The next 
 room is all in confusion, for every one of them is hard at 
 work making clothes for the children." 
 
 It was half an hour before Saleh Mahomed returned. 
 
 "All is well," he said; "the men did not hesitate for a 
 moment. They are delighted at the prospect of returning 
 to Cabul, and declare they will fight till the last if they are 
 attacked. I set them to work at once to clear out the largest 
 of the forts here. The chief, when I told him what it was 
 required for, refused his consent, so I at once turned him out, 
 and have appointed another favourable to us in his place. 
 We will move there at once."
 
 THE BEITISH CAPTIVES 343 
 
 The news infused fresh strength into the ladies, several of 
 whom were suffering from sickness, and all from long-con- 
 tinued anxiety and the hardships of the journey; they were 
 able to proceed on foot to the fort. Hassan was the first to 
 come in with ten followers to give in his adherence to the 
 new order of things. Many others followed the example; 
 and as Angus was able to supply money, strong parties were 
 soon at work throwing up entrenchments round the tower. 
 Pottinger, convinced that audacity was the best policy, at 
 once issued a proclamation calling upon the people of the 
 town and the chiefs of all the surrounding villages to come 
 in at once and pay their respects, and it was not long before 
 they began to arrive. 
 
 The next day still larger numbers were set to work, and 
 by evening the earthworks were so advanced that they were 
 in a position to offer a very strong resistance. Late that 
 evening a friendly chief brought in the news that General 
 Pollock was within a day's march of Cabul, that all resist- 
 ance had ceased, and that Akbar had fled no one knew 
 whither. 
 
 It was immediately decided that a start should be made 
 for Cabul on the following morning 1 . It was evident that 
 Akbar had not retired by that route had he done so he 
 would have arrived before the news of his flight and that 
 therefore the risk of meeting any strong force on the road 
 was very slight. They set out at eight o'clock in the morn- 
 ing. Horses had been procured for the whole party; the 
 officers took the children before them, the ladies rode. That 
 night all slept on the rocks within shelter, but at midnight 
 they were awakened by the arrival of a horseman. He 
 brought a letter from Sir Richmond Shakespere, General 
 Pollock's military secretary, saying that he was on the point 
 of starting with six hundred native horse for Bamian. 
 
 At daybreak the party- were astir again, pressing their
 
 344 TO HERAT AND CA.BUL 
 
 horses eagerly, their sufferings all forgotten in the hope of 
 speedily meeting their friends. At noon a cloud of dust wad 
 seen to rise from the road far ahead; then some straggling 
 horsemen were made out, and behind them a body of cavalry. 
 It was still possible that this might be a body of the enemy, 
 and preparations were at once made for defence. The drums 
 were beat, a line formed, and muskets loaded. Soon, how- 
 ever, it could be made out that an officer riding at the head 
 of the party was in British uniform, and in a few minutes 
 Shakespere rode up, followed by his men. The joy of the 
 meeting was almost beyond words. A few days before a hope- 
 less captivity among wild tribesmen seemed to be their cer- 
 tain lot; now they were among friends again. They learned 
 from Sir Richmond that General Sale himself was to set 
 out at the head of a brigade to support the advanced party. 
 
 The next morning they started again, and on the 20th met 
 Sale's column. That evening they passed near the camp of 
 the Candahar force, and the next day rode through Cabul 
 on their way to Pollock's camp, where their arrival excited 
 unbounded delight, for it had generally been felt that the 
 victories that they had won would be incomplete indeed un- 
 less their fellow countrymen and women had been rescued. 
 General Pollock thanked Angus publicly that evening for 
 the service that he had rendered, and the manner in which 
 he had carried out the perilous scheme he had volunteered 
 to perform, and he received innumerable congratulations 
 from all the officers with whom he had shared in the defence 
 of Jellalabad. 
 
 The army remained but a few days at Cabul, for the winter 
 was at hand. It was at first proposed to destroy the Bala 
 Hissar, but the idea was given up, as it was represented that 
 no ruler of Afghanistan would be able to maintain his posi- 
 tion unless he had that fortress to rely upon. Instead of 
 this the great bazaar, through which Macnaghten's body had
 
 THE BRITISH CAPTIVES 345 
 
 been carried in triumph, was destroyed, and in spite of the 
 efforts of their officers many of the troops entered the city 
 and punished the treachery of its inhabitants by sacking a 
 considerable portion of it. The united army then marched 
 down the passes and retired to India. Pollock's division 
 met with no resistance whatever; that of Nott, which fol- 
 lowed it, was more than once attacked by large bands of 
 plunderers. 
 
 The report that General Pollock had sent in to the Gover- 
 nor-general on the day the captives reached the camp gave 
 full credit to Angus for the courage and devotion that he 
 had shown, and stated that had he not succeeded in bringing 
 Saleh Mahomed over to our side, the latter would probably 
 have reached Khooloom with the captives before they could 
 have been overtaken, and in that case they might have been 
 sent far away on the approach of Sale's brigade and been 
 lost for ever to their friends. The consequence was that he 
 was at once appointed political officer to one of the Rajput 
 states. 
 
 Henceforth his promotion was rapid. Six years later he 
 went to England on three years' leave. On the ship on which 
 he sailed were four officers of his acquaintance, some of 
 whom were accompanied by their wives. From several of 
 these he received the most pressing invitations to stay with 
 them at their country houses. These he gladly accepted, for 
 except among military men who had returned home, he was 
 without friends. Feeling at a loss for employment after a 
 life of such activity as he had led, he threw up his leave at 
 the end of the year, and took back with him to India a wife, 
 the daughter of a colonel who had sailed with him from 
 India. 
 
 At the end of another ten years he returned home for good. 
 His pay had been large. He had laid by a considerable sum 
 before he first went home, and this he had placed in the handa
 
 346 TO HEKAT AND CABUL 
 
 of the firm to whom he had sent his money before leaving 
 Teheran for Herat. It had been well employed by them, 
 and at the age of forty he returned home with a considerable 
 fortune, besides a pension, after twenty-three years of serv- 
 ice. He had been reluctant to quit his work, but his wife's 
 health had suffered from the climate. His three children 
 had been sent home to her family, and he now bought a place 
 near her people. At first he felt altogether out of his ele- 
 ment, but he gradually fell into the ways of country life, 
 and no longer regretted that his work in India had come 
 to an end. 
 
 THE END.
 
 " Wherever English is spoken one imagines that Mr. Henty's 
 name is known. One cannot enter a schoolroom or look at a 
 boy's bookshelf without seeing half-a-dozen of his familiar 
 volumes. Mr. Henty is no doubt the most successful writer 
 for boys, and the one to whose new volumes they look forward 
 every Christmas with most pleasure." Review of Reviews. 
 
 A LIST OF BOOKS 
 FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 . By . 
 
 G. A. HENTY GORDON STABLES 
 
 G. M. FENN ROBERT LEIGHTON 
 
 S, BARING-GOULD HARRY COLLINGWOOD 
 
 KIRK MUNROE ROSA MULHOLLAND 
 
 F. FRANKFORT MOORE ALICE CORKRAN, ETC. 
 
 Published by 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 
 J53 to J57 Fifth Avenue jt <* New York
 
 G. A. HENTY'S NEW STORIES FOR 1901-1902 
 
 "His books have at once the solidity of history and the charm of 
 romance.' Journal of Education. 
 
 WITH ROBERTS TO PRETORIA 
 
 A Story of the Boer War. By G. A. HENTY. With 12 
 Illustrations. Si. 25 net. 
 
 The Boer War gives Mr. Henty an unexcelled opportunity for 
 thrilling story of present-day interest which the author could not fail to 
 take advantage of. Every boy reader will find this account of the ad- 
 ventures of the young hero most exciting, and, at the same time, a 
 wonderfully accurate description of Lord Roberts's campaign to Pretoria. 
 Boys have found history in the dress Mr. Henty gives it anything but 
 dull, and the present book is no exception to the rule. 
 
 AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET 
 
 A Story of the British Conquest of India. By G. A. HENTY. 
 Illustrated. 12mo, $1.25 net. 
 
 One hundred years ago the rule of the British in India was only partly 
 established. The powerful Mahrattas were unsubdued, and with their 
 skill in intrigue, and great military power, they were exceedingly danger- 
 ous. The story of ''At the Point of the Bayonet" begins with 
 the attempt to conquer this powerful people. Harry Lindsay, an 
 infant when his father and mother were killed, was saved by bis 
 Mahratta ayah, who carried him to her own people, and brought him up 
 as a native. She taught him as best she could, and. having told him his 
 parentage, sent him to Bombay to be educated. At sixteen he obtained 
 a commission in the English Army, and his knowledge of the Mahratta 
 tongue combined with his ability and bravery enabled him to render 
 great service in the Mahratta War, and carried hitn t through many 
 frightful perils by land and sea, to high rank. 
 
 TO HERAT AND CABUL 
 
 A Story of the First Afghan War. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 Illustrations. 12mo. $1.25 net. 
 
 The greatest defeat ever experienced by the British Army was that in 
 the Mountain Passes of Afghanistan. Angus Cameron, the hero of this 
 book, having been captured by the friendly Afghans, was compelled 
 to be a witness of the calamity. His whole story is an intensely interest- 
 ing one, from his boyhood in Persia ; his employment under the Govern- 
 ment at Herat ; through the defense of that town against the Persians ; 
 toCabul, where he shared in all the events which ended in the awful march 
 through the Passes, from which but one man escaped. Angus is always 
 at the point of danger, and whether in battle or in hazardous expeditions 
 shows how much a brave youth, full of resources, can do, even with *o 
 treacherous a foe. His dangers and adventures are thrilling, and his 
 escapes marvellous.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 G, A. HENTY'S POPULAR STORIES FOR BOYS. 
 
 NEW VOLUMES FOR 1900-1901. 
 
 Mr. Ilenty. the most popular writer of Books of Adventure in England, adds 
 three new volumes to his list this fall books that will delight thousands of 
 boys on this side who have become his ardent admirers. 
 
 WITH BULLER IN NATAL 
 
 Or, A Born Leader. By (I. A. HENTY. With 10 Illustrations 
 by W. RAINEY 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 The breaking out of the Boer War compelled Chris King, the hero 
 of the story, to flee with his mother from Johannesburg to the sea 
 coast. They were with many other Uitlanders, and all suffered much 
 from the Boers. Reaching a place of safety for their families, Chris 
 and twenty of his friends formed an independent company of scouts. 
 In this service they were with Gen. Yule at Glencoe, then in Lady- 
 smith, then with Buller. In each place they had many thrilling ad- 
 ventures. They were in great battles, and in lonely fights on the 
 Veldt; were taken prisoners and escaped; and they rendered most 
 valuable service to the English forces. The story is a most interesting 
 picture of the War in South Africa. 
 
 OUT WITH GARIBALDI 
 
 A Story of the Liberation of Italy. By G. A. HENTY. Witch 
 8 Illustrations by W. RAINEY, R. I. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 Garibaldi himself is the central figure of this brilliant story, and the 
 little-known history of the struggle for Italian freedom is told here in 
 the most thrilling way. From the time the hero, a young lad, son of 
 an English father and an Italian mother, joins Garibaldi's band of 
 1,000 men in the first descent upon Sicily, which was garrisoned by one 
 of the large Neapolitan armies, until the end, when all those armies 
 are beaten, and the two Sicilys are conquered, we follow with the 
 keenest interest the exciting adventures of the lad in scouting, in 
 battle, and in freeing those in prison for liberty's sake. 
 
 IN THE IRISH BRIGADE 
 
 By G. A. HENTY. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 Desmond Kennedy is a young Irish lad who left Ireland to join the 
 Irish Brigade in the service of Louis XIV. of France. In Paris he in- 
 curred the deadly hatred of a powerful courtier from whom he had 
 rescued a young girl who had been kidnapped, and his perils are of ab- 
 sorbing interest. Captured in an attempted Jacobite invasion of Scot- 
 land, he escaped in a most extraordinary manner. As aide-de-camp 
 to the Duke of Berwick he experienced thrilling adventures in Flan- 
 ders. Transferred to the Army in Spain, he was nearly assassinated, hut 
 escaped to return, when peace was declared, to his native land, having 
 received pardon and having recovered his estates. The story is filled 
 with adventure, and the interest never abates.
 
 HOOKS FOR YOJTNQ PEOPLE 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY. 
 
 "Surely Mr. Henty should understand boys' tastes better than any man 
 liring." The Times. 
 
 WON BY THE SWORD 
 
 A Tale of the Thirty Years' War. With 12 Illustrations by 
 CHARLES M. SHELDON, and 4 Plans. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 The scene of this story is laid in France, during the time of Richelieu, 
 of Mazarin and Anne of Austria. The hero, Hector Campbell, is the 
 orphaned son of a Scotch officer in the French Army. How he at- 
 tracted the notice of Marshal Turenne and of the Prince of Conde . 
 how he rose to the rank of Colonel ; how he finally had to leave France, 
 pursued by the deadly hatred of the Due de Beaufort all these and 
 much more the story tella with the most absorbing interest. 
 
 NO SURRENDER 
 
 The Story of the Revolt in La VendSe. With 8 Illustrations 
 by STANLEY L. WOOD. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 The revolt of La Vendee against the French Republic at the time of 
 the Revolution forms the groundwork of this absorbing story. Leigh 
 Stansfield, a young English lad, is drawn into the thickest of the con- 
 flict. Forming a company of boys as scouts for the Vende"an Army, 
 he greatly aids the peasants. He rescues his sister from the guillotine, 
 and finally, after many thrilling experiences, when the cause of La 
 Vende'e is lost, he escapes to England. 
 
 A ROVING COMMISSION 
 
 Or, Through the Black Insurrection at Hayti. With 12 Illus- 
 trations by WILLIAM RAINEY. 12ino, $1.50. 
 
 This is one of the most brilliant of Mr. Henty's books. A story of 
 the sea, with all its life and action, it is also full of thrilling adven- 
 tures on land. So it holds the keenest interest until the end. The 
 scene is a new one to Mr. Henty's readers, being laid at the time of tlic 
 Great Revolt of the Blacks, by which Hayti became independent. 
 Toussaint 1'Overture appears, and an admirable picture is given of him 
 and of his power. 
 
 AT ABOUKIR AND ACRE 
 
 A Story of Napoleon's Invasion of Egypt. With 8 full-page 
 Illustrations by WILLIAM RAINEY, and 3 Plans. 12mo, 
 $1.50. 
 
 The hero, having saved the life of the son of an Arab chief, is taken 
 into the tribe, has a part in the battle of the Pyramids and the revolt 
 at Cairo. He is an eye-witness of the famous naval battle of Aboukir, 
 and later is in the hardest of the defense of Acre.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 BYG. A, HENTY 
 
 " Mr. Henty is the king of story-tellers for boys." Sword and Trowel. 
 
 UNDER WELLINGTON'S COMMAND 
 
 A Tale of the Peninsular War. With 12 Illustrations by WAL 
 PAGET. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 The dashing hero of this book. Terence O'Connor, was the hero of 
 Mr. Henty's previous book, " With Moore at Corunna," to which this 
 is really a sequel. He is still at the head of the " Minho " Portuguese 
 regiment. Being detached on independent and guerilla duty with his 
 regiment, he renders invaluable service in gaining information and in 
 harassing the French. His command, being constantly on the edge of 
 the army, is engaged in frequent skirmishes and some most important 
 battles. 
 
 BOTH SIDES THE BORDER 
 
 A Tale of Hotspur and Glendower. With 12 full-page Illus- 
 trations by RALPH PEACOCK. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 This is a brilliant story of the stirring times of the beginning of the 
 Wars of the Roses, when the Scotch, under Douglas, and the Welsh, 
 under Owen Glendower, were attacking the English. The hero of the 
 book lived near the Scotch border, and saw many a hard fight there. 
 Entering the service of Lord Percy, he was sent to Wales, where he 
 was knighted, and where he was captured. Being released, he returned 
 home, and shared in the fatal battle of Shrewsbury. 
 
 ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S EVE 
 
 A Tale of the Huguenot Wars. By G. A. HENTY. With 12 
 full-page Illustrations by H. J. DRAPER, and a Map. 
 Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero, Philip Fletcher, has a French connection on his mother's 
 side. This induces him to cross the Channel in order to take a share 
 in the Huguenot wars. Naturally he sides with the Protestants, dis- 
 tinguishes himself in various battles, and receives rapid promotion for 
 the zeal pnd daring with which he carries out several secret missions. 
 
 REDSKIN AND COW-BOY 
 
 A Tale of the Western Plains. By G. A. HENTY. With 12 
 full-page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The central interest of this story is found in the many adventures of 
 an English lad, who seeks employment as a cow-boy on a cattle ranch. 
 His experiences during a " round-up " present in picturesque form the 
 toilsome, exciting, adventurous life of a cow-boy ; while the perils of a 
 frontier settlement are vividly set forth in an Indian raid.
 
 BOOKS FOR rOPNQ rBOPLtt 
 
 BY Q, A. HENTY 
 
 No country nor epoch of history Is there which Mr. Ilenty does not know, 
 ad what is really remarkable is that he always writes well and interestingly." 
 
 New York Times. 
 
 WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT 
 
 A Tale of the Seven Years' War. With 12 full -page Illustra- 
 tions. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 The hero of this story while still a youth entered the service of Fred- 
 erick the Great, and by a succession of fortunate circumstances and 
 perilous adventures, rose to the rank of colonel. Attached to the staff 
 of the king, he rendered distinguished services in many battles, in one 
 of which he saved the king's life. Twice captured and imprisoned, he 
 both times escaped from the Austrian fortresses. 
 
 A MARCH ON LONDON 
 
 A Story of Wat Tyler's Rising. With 8 full-page Illustra- 
 tions by W. H. MARGETSON. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 The story of Wat Tyler's Rebellion is but little known, but the hero 
 of this story passes through that perilous time and takes part in the 
 civil war in Flanders which followed soon after. Although young he is 
 thrown into many exciting and dangerous adventures, through which 
 he passes with great coolness and much credit. 
 
 WITH MOORE AT CORUNNA 
 
 A Story of the Peninsular War. With 12 full-page Illustra- 
 tions by WAL PAGET. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 Terence O'Connor is living with his widowed father, Captain O'Connor 
 of the Mayo Fusiliers, with the regiment at the time when the Penin- 
 sular war began. Upon the regiment being ordered to Spain, Terence 
 gets appointed as aid to one of the generals of a division. By his brav- 
 ery and great usefulness throughout the war, he is rewarded by a com- 
 mission as colonel in the Portuguese army and there rendered great 
 service. 
 
 ON THE IRRAWADDY 
 
 A Story of the First Burmese War. With 8 full-page Illus- 
 trations by W. H. OVEREND. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, 
 $1.50. 
 
 The hero, having an uncle, a trader on the Indian and Burmese rivers, 
 goes out to join him. Soon after, war is declared by Burmah against 
 England and he is drawn into it. He has many experiences and narrow 
 escapes in battles and in scouting. With half-a-dozen men he rescues 
 his cousin who had been taken prisoner, and in the flight they are be- 
 sieged in an old, ruined temple.
 
 BOOKS FOR rOVNC! PEOPLTS 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 
 "Boys like stirring adventures, and Mr. Henty Is a master of this method 
 oJ composition." New YorK Times. 
 
 AT AGINCOURT 
 
 A Tale of the "White Hoods of Paris. With 12 full-page 
 Illustrations by WALTEB PAQET. Crown 8vo, olivine 
 edges, $1.50. 
 
 The story begins in a grim feudal castle in Normandie. The times 
 were troublous, and soon the king compelled Lady Margaret de Villeroy 
 with her children to go to Paris as hostages. Guy Aylmer went with 
 her. Paris was turbulent. Soon the guild, of the butchers, adopting 
 white hoods as their uniform, seized the city, and besieged the house 
 where our hero and his charges lived. After desperate fighting, the 
 white hoods were beaten and our hero and his charges escaped from the 
 city, and from France. 
 
 WITH COCHRANE THE DAUNTLESS 
 
 A Tale of the Exploits of Lord Cochrane in South American 
 Waters. With 12 full -page Illustrations by W. H. 
 MARGETSON. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero of this story accompanies Cochrane as midshipman, and 
 serves in the war between Chili and Peru. He has many exciting 
 adventures in battles by sea and land, is taken prisoner and condemned 
 to death by the Inquisition, but escapes by a long and thrilling flight 
 across South America and down the Amazon, piloted by two faithful 
 Indians. 
 
 THE TIGER OF MYSORE 
 
 A Story of the War with Tippoo Saib. With 12 full-page 
 Illustrations by W. H. MARGETSON, and a Map. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 Dick Holland, whose father is supposed to be a captive of Tippoo Saib, 
 goes to India to help him to escape. He joins the army under Lord 
 Cornwallis, and takes part in the campaign against Tippoo. Afterwards 
 he assumes a disguise, enters Seringapatam, and at last he discovers his 
 father in the great stronghold of Savandroog. The hazardous rescue is 
 at length accomplished, and the young fellow's dangerous mission is 
 done. 
 
 THROUGH RUSSIAN SNOWS 
 
 A Story of Napoleon's Betreat from Moscow. With 8 full- 
 page Illustrations by W. H. OVEKEND, and 3 Maps. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero, Julian Wyatt, after several adventures with smugglers, by 
 whom he is handed over a prisoner to the French, regains his freedom 
 and joins Napoleon's army in the Russian campaign. When the terrible 
 retreat begins, Julian finds himself in the rear guard of the French army, 
 fighting desperately. Ultimately he escapes out of the general disaster, 
 and returns to England.
 
 BOOKS FOX TOVITQ 
 
 BY C. A. HENTY 
 
 "Here we have Mr. George Henty the Boys' Own Author." Punch* 
 
 A KNIGHT OF THE WHITE CROSS 
 
 A Tale of the Siege of Ehodes. With 12 full-page Illustra- 
 tions by RALPH PEACOCK, and a Plan. Crown 8vo, olivine 
 edges, 81.50. 
 
 Gervaise Tresham, the hero of this story, joins the Order of the 
 Knights of St. John, and proceeds to the stronghold of Rhodes. Sub- 
 sequently he is appointed commander of a war-galley, and in his first 
 voyage destroys a fleet of Moorish corsairs. During one of his cruises 
 the young knight is attacked on shore, captured after a desperate 
 struggle, and sold into slavery in Tripoli. He succeeds iu escaping, and 
 returns to Rhodes in time to take part in the defense of that fortress. 
 
 WULF THE SAXON 
 
 A Story of the Norman Conquest. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 12 full-page Illustrations by RALPH PEACOCK. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero is a young thane who wins the favor of Earl Harold and be- 
 comes one of his retinue. VVh^n Harold becomes King of England Wulf 
 assists in the Welsh wars, and takes part against the Norsemen at the 
 Battle of Stamford Bridge When William of Normandy invades Eng- 
 land, Waif is with the English host at Hastings, and stands by his king 
 to the last in the mighty struggle. 
 
 BERJC THE BRITON 
 
 A Story of the Roman Invasion. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 12 full-page Illustrations by W. PARKINSON. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50, 
 
 This story deals with the invasion of Britain by the Roman legionaries. 
 Beric, who is a boy-chief of a British tribe, takes a prominent part in 
 the insurrection under Boadicea; and after the defeat of that heroic 
 queen (in A. D. 62) he continues the struggle in the fen-country. Ulti- 
 mately Beric is defeated and carried captive to Rome, whre he is trained 
 in the exercise of arms in a school of gladiators. At length he returns 
 to Britain, where he becomes ruler of his own people. 
 
 WHEN LONDON BURNED 
 
 A Story of the Plague and the Fire. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 12 full-page Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero of this story was the son of a nobleman who had lost his 
 estates during the troublous times of the Commonwealth. Durinsj the 
 Great Plague and the Great Fiie, Cyril was prominent among those whf 
 brought help to the panic-stricken inhabitants.
 
 BOOKS fOH YOUXQ P&OPL& 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 
 Ask for Henty, and see that yon get him." Punch. 
 
 A Tale of the Nile Expedition. By G. A. HENTY. With 10 
 full-page Illustrations by JOHN SCHONBERG and J. NASH. 
 Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 In the record of recent British history there is no more captivating pa?e 
 for boys than the story of the Nile campaign, and the attempt to rescue 
 General Gordon. For, in the difficulties which the expedition encount- 
 ered, in the perils which it overpassed, and in its final tragic disappoint- 
 ments, are found all the excitements of romance, as well as the fascination 
 which belongs to real events. 
 
 BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE 
 
 A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 12 full-page Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The adventures of the son of a Scotch officer in French service. The 
 boy, brought up by a Glasgow bailie, is arrested for aiding a Jacobite 
 agent, escapes, is wrecked on the French coast, reaches Paris, and serves 
 with the French army at Dettingen. He kills his father's foe in a duel, 
 and escaping to the coast, shares the adventures of Prince Charlie, but 
 finally settles happily in Scotland. 
 
 UNDER DRAKE'S FLAG 
 
 A Tale of the Spanish Main. By G. A. HENTY. With 12 
 full-page Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 A story of the days when England and Spain struggled for the suprem- 
 acy of the sea. The heroes sail as lads with Drake in the Pacific expe- 
 dition, and in his great voyage of circumnavigation. The historical 
 portion of the story is absolutely to be relied upon, but this will perhaps 
 be less attractive than the great variety of exciting adventure through 
 which the young heroes pass in the course of their voyages. 
 
 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA 
 
 Or, The Winning of a Continent. By G. A. HENTY. With 12 
 full-page Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 Mr. Henty here gives an account of the struggle between Britain and 
 France for supremacy in the North American continent. The fall of 
 Quebec decided that the An<jlo-Saxon race should predominate in the 
 New World ; and that English and American commerce, the English 
 language, and English literature, should spread right round the globe.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 BY G. A HENTY 
 
 "Mr. Henty is one of the best of story-tellers for yonng people." Spectator. 
 
 BY PIKE AND DYKE 
 
 A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. By G. A. HENTY. 
 
 With 10 full-page Illustrations by MAYNARD BROWN, and 
 
 4 Maps. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 This story traces the adventures of an English boy in the household 
 of William the Silent. Edward Martin, the son of an English sea- 
 captain, enters the service of the Prince as a volunter, and is employed 
 by him in many dangerous and responsible missions, in the discharge 
 of which he passes through the great sieges of the time. 
 
 BY ENGLAND'S AID 
 
 Or, The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604). By G. A. 
 HENTY. With 10 full-page Illustrations by ALFRED 
 PEARSE, and 4 Maps. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 The story of two English lads who go to Holland as pages in the service 
 of one of " the fighting Veres." After many adventures by sea and 
 land, one of the lads finds himself on board a Spanish ship at the time 
 of the defeat of the Armada, and escapes, only to fall into the hands of 
 the Corsairs. He is successful in getting back to Spain, and regains 
 his native country after the capture of Cadiz. 
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES 
 
 A Story of Adventure in Colorado. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 8 full-page Illustrations by G. C. HINDLEY. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero, Tom Wade, goes to seek his uncle in Colorado, who is a 
 hunter and gold-digger, and he is discovered, after many dangers, out 
 on the plains with some comrades. Going in quest of a gold mine, the 
 litttle band is spied by Indians, chased across the Bad Lands, and 
 overwhelmed by a snowstorm in the mountains. 
 
 BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST 
 
 Or, With Cortez in Mexico. By G. A. HENTY. With 10 full- 
 page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY, and 2 Maps. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 With the Conquest of Mexico as the groundwork of his story. Mr. 
 Henty has interwoven the adventures of an English youth. He is 
 beset by many perils among the natives, but by a ruse he obtains the 
 protection of the Spaniards, and after the fall of Mexico he succeeds in 
 regaining his native shore, with a fortune and a charming Aztec bride. 
 
 THROUGH THE SIKH WAR 
 
 A Tale of the Conquest of the Punjaub. By G. A. HENTY. 
 
 With 12 full-page Illustrations by HAL HURST, and a 
 
 Map. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 Percy Groves, a spirited English lad, joins his uncle in the Punjaub, 
 where the natives are in a state of revolt. Percy joins the British 
 force as a volunteer, and takes a distinguished share in the famous 
 battles of the Punjaub.
 
 HOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 
 " No living writer of books for boys writes to better purpose than Mr. G. A.. 
 Henty." Philadelphia Pi-ess. 
 
 TRUE TO THE OLD FLAG 
 
 A Tale of the American War of Independence. By G. A. 
 HENTY. With 12 full-page Illustrations by GORDON 
 BROWNE. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 A graphic and vigorous story of the American Revolution, which 
 paints the scenes with great power, and does full justice to the pluck 
 and determination of the soldiers during the unfortunate struggle. 
 
 THE LION OF ST. MARK 
 
 A Tale of Venice in the Fourteenth Century. By G. A. 
 HENTY. With 10 full-page Illustrations by GORDON 
 BROWNE. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 A story of Venice at a period when her strength and splendor were 
 put to the severest tests. The hero displays a fine sense aud manliness 
 which carry him safely through an atmosphere of intrigue, crime, and 
 bloodshed. 
 
 THE LION OF THE NORTH 
 
 A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus and the Wars of Religion. 
 By G. A. HENTY. With 12 full-page illustrations by 
 JOHN SCHONBERQ. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 In this story Mr. Henty gives the history of the first part of the 
 Thirty Years' War. The issue had its importance, which has extended 
 to" the present day, as it established religious freedom in Germany. 
 The army of the chivalrous King of Sweden was largely composed of 
 Scotchmen, and among these was the hero of the story. 
 
 IN GREEK WATERS 
 
 A Story of the Grecian War of Independence (1821-1827). By 
 G. A. HENTY. With 12 full-page Illustrations by W. S. 
 STACEY, and a Map. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 Deals with the revolt of the Greeks in 1821 against Turkish op- 
 pression. Mr. Beveridge and his son Horace fit out a privateer, load 
 it with military stores, and set sail for Greece. They rescue the Chris- 
 tians, relieve the captive Greeks, and fight the Turkish war vessels. 
 
 WITH LEE IN VIRGINIA 
 
 A Story of the American Civil War. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 10 full-page Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE, and 6 
 Maps. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The story of a young Virginia planter, who serves under Lee and 
 Jackson through the most exciting events of the struggle. He has 
 many hairbreadth escapes, is several times wounded and twice taken 
 prisoner ; but his courage and readiness bring him sa/lv through all 
 difficulties.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUKQ PBOPLB 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 I "Mr. Henty'a books never fall to Interest boy readers." Academy. 
 
 WITH CLIVE IN INDIA 
 
 Or, The Beginnings of an Empire. By G. A. HETTY. With 
 12 full-page Illustrations by GOKDON BBOWNE, and a Map. 
 Grown 8vo, olivine edges, SI. 50. 
 
 The period between the landing of Olive in India and the close of his 
 career was eventful in the extreme. At its commencement the English 
 were traders existing on sufferance of the native princes; at its close they 
 were masters of Bengal and of the greater part of Southern India. The 
 author has given a full account of the events of that stirring time, while 
 he combines with his narrative a thrilling tale of daring and adventure. 
 
 THE YOUNG CARTHAGINIAN 
 
 A Story of the Times of Hannibal. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 12 full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND, B.I. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 There is no better field for romance- writers in the whole of history than 
 the momentous straggle between the Romans and Carthaginians for the 
 empire of the world. Mr. Henty has had the full advantage of much un- 
 exhausted picturesque and impressive material, and has thus been enabled 
 to form a striking historic background to as exciting a story of adventure 
 as the keenest appetite could wish. 
 
 FOR THE TEMPLE 
 
 A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. By G. A. HENTY. With 10 
 full-page Illustrations by S. J. SOIIOMON, and a colored 
 Map. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 Mr. Henty here weaves into the record of Josephns an admirable and 
 attractive story. The troubles in the district of Tiberias, the march of the 
 legions, the sieges of Jotapata, of Gamala, and of Jerusalem, form the 
 impressive setting to the figure of the lad who becomes the leader of a 
 guerrilla band of patriots, fights bravely for the Temple, and after a brief 
 term of slavery at Alexandria, returns to his Galilean home. 
 
 THROUGH THE FRAY 
 
 A Story of the Lnddite Biots. By G. A. HENTY. With 12 
 full-page Illustrations by H. M. PAGET. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The story is laid in Yorkshire at the commencement of the present cen- 
 tury, when the high price of food induced by the war and the introduction 
 of machinery drove the working-classes to desperation, and caused them 
 to band themselves in that wide-spread organization known as the Luddite 
 Society. There is an abundance of adventure in the tale, but its chief 
 interest lies in the character of the hero, and the manner in which he 
 it put on trial for his life, but at last cornea victorious ' ' through the fray. "
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 
 " The brightest of all the living writers whose office *, is to enchant the 
 boys." Christian Leader. 
 
 CAPTAIN BAYLEY'S HEIR 
 
 A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. By G. A. HENTY. 
 With 12 full-page Illustrations by H. M. PAGET. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 A frank, manly lad and his cousin are rivals in the heirship of a consider- 
 able property. The former falls into a trap laid by the latter, and while 
 under a false accusation of theft foolishly leaves England for America. 
 He works his passage before the mast, joins a small band of hunters, 
 ciosses a tract of country infested with Indians to the Calif ornian gold 
 diggings, and is successful both as digger and trader. 
 
 IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE 
 
 A Story of Wallace and Bruce. By G. A. HENTT. With 12 
 full-page Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 Relates the stirring tale of the Scottish War of Independence. The 
 hero of the tale fought under both Wallace and Bruce, and while the 
 strictest historical accuracy has been maintained with respect to public 
 events, the work is full of "hairbreadth 'scapes" and wild adventure. 
 
 A JACOBITE EXILE 
 
 Being the Adventures of a Young Englishman in the Service 
 of Charles XII. of Sweden. By G. A. HENTY. With 8 
 full-page Illustrations by PAUL HABDY, and a Map. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 Sir Marmaduke Cartairs, a Jacobite, is the victim of a conspiracy, and 
 he is denounced as a plotter against the life of King William. He flies to 
 Sweden, accompanied by his son Charlie. This youth joins the foreign 
 legion under Charles XII., and takes a distinguished part in several 
 famous campaigns against the Russians and Folea 
 
 CONDEMNED AS A NIHILIST 
 
 A Story of Escape from Siberia. By G. A. HENTY. With 8 
 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero of this story is an English boy resident in St. Petersburg. 
 Through two student friends he becomes innocently involved in various 
 political plots, resulting in his seizure by the Russian police and his exile 
 to Siberia. He ultimately escapes, and, after many exciting adventures, 
 he reaches Norway, and thence home, after a perilous journey which lasta 
 nearly two years.
 
 BOOKS FOR TOUKO PEOPLE 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 
 "Mr. Henty is one of our most successful writers of historical tales." 
 
 .Scotsman. 
 
 IN THE REIGN OF TERROR 
 
 The Adventures of a Westminster Boy. By G. A. HENTY. 
 With 8 full -page Illustrations by J. SCHONBEHG. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 Harry Sandwith, a Westminster boy, becomes a resident at the chateau 
 of a French marquis, and after various adventures accompanies the 
 family to Paris at the crisis of the Revolution. Imprisonment and death 
 reduce their number, and the hero finds himself beset by perils with the 
 three young daughters of the house in his charge. After hair-breadth 
 escapes they reach Nantes. There the girls are condemned to death in 
 the coffinships, but are saved by the unfailing courage of their boy- 
 protector. 
 
 ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND 
 
 A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. By G. A. HENTY. With 8 full- 
 page Illustrations by GOBDON BROWNE, Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 No portion of English history is more crowded with great events than 
 that of the reign of Edward III. Cressy and Poitiers ; the destruction of 
 the Spanish fleet ; the plague of the Black Death ; the Jacquerie rising; 
 these are treated by the author in ' ' St. George for England. " The hero of 
 the story, although of good family, begins life as a London apprentice, 
 but after countless adventures and perils becomes by valor and good 
 conduct the squire, and at last the trusted friend of the Black Prince. 
 
 A CHAPTER OF ADVENTURES 
 
 Or, Through the Bombardment of Alexandria. By G. A. 
 HENTY. With 6 full-page Illustrations by W. H. OVER- 
 END. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 A coast fishing lad, by an act of heroism, secures the interest of a ship- 
 owner, who places him as an apprentice on board one of his ships. In 
 company with two of his fellow-apprentices he is left behind, at Alex- 
 andria, in the hands of the revolted Egyptian troops, and is present 
 through the bombardment and the scenes of riot and blood-shed which 
 accompanied it. 
 
 HELD FAST FOR ENGLAND 
 
 A Tale of the Siege of Gibraltar. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 8 full-page Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 This story deals with one of the moat memorable sieges in history 
 the siege of Gibraltar in 1779-83 by the united forces of France and 
 Spain. With land forces, fleets, and floating batteries, the combined re- 
 sources of two great nations, this grim fortress was vainly besieged and 
 bombarded. The hero of the tale, an English lad resident in Gibraltar, 
 takps a brave and worthy part in the long defence, and it is through his 
 varied experiences that we learn with what bravery, resource, and te- 
 nacity the Rock was bld for England.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLB 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 
 " Among writers of stories of adventures for boys Mr. Henty stands In the 
 very first rank." Academy. 
 
 FOR NAME AND FAME 
 
 Or, Through Afghan Passes. By G. A, HENTY. With 8 full- 
 page Illustrations by GORDON BBOWNE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, SI. 50. 
 
 An intere sting story of the last war in Afghanistan. The hero, after 
 being wrecked and going through many stirring adventures among the 
 Malays, finds his way to Calcutta and enlists in a regiment proceeding to 
 join the army at the Afghan passes. He accompanies the force under 
 General Roberts to the Peiwar Kotal, is wounded, taken prisoner, carried 
 to Cabul, whence he is transferred to Candahar, and takes part in the 
 final defeat of the army of Ayoub Khan. 
 
 ORANGE AND GREEN 
 
 A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick. By G. A. HENTT. With 
 8 full-page Illustrations by GOBDON BBOWNE. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The record of two typical families the Davenants, who, having come 
 over with Strongbow, had allied themselves in feeling to the original in- 
 habitants ; and the Whitefoots, who had been placed by Cromwell over 
 certain domains of the Davenantg. In the children the spirit of conten- 
 tion has given place to friendship, and though they take opposite sides 
 in the struggle between James and William, their good-will and mutual 
 service are never interrupted, and in the end the Davenants come hap- 
 pily to their own again. 
 
 MAORI AND SETTLER 
 
 A Story of the New Zealand War. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 8 full-page Illustrations by ALFRED PEABSE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The Renshaws emigrate to New Zealand during the period of the war 
 with the natives. Wilfrid, a strong, self-reliant, courageous lad, is the 
 mainstay of the household. He has for his friend Mr. Atherton, a botan- 
 ist and naturalist of herculean strength and unfailing nerve and humor. 
 In the adventures among the Maoris, there are many breathless moments 
 in which the odds seem hopelessly against the party, but they succeed in 
 establishing themselves happily in one of the pleasant New Zealand 
 valleys. 
 
 A FINAL RECKONING 
 
 A Tale of Bush Life in Australia. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 8 full-page Illustrations by W. B. WOLLEN. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero, a young English lad. after rather a stormy boyhood, emi- 
 grates to Australia and gets employment as an officer in the mounted 
 police. A few years of active work on the frontier, where he has many a 
 brush with both natives and bush-rangers, gain him promotion to a cap- 
 taincy, and he eventually settles down to the peaceful life of a squatter.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUHO PEOPL-t 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 
 Mr. Henty'a books are welcome visitors In the borne circle." Daily News. 
 
 THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE 
 
 Or, With Peterborough in Spain. By G. A. HENTY. With 
 8 full-page Illustrations by H. M. PAGET. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 There are few great leaders whose lives and actions have so completely 
 fallen into oblivion as those of the Earl of Peterborough. This is largely 
 due to the fact that they were overshadowed by the glory and successes 
 of Marlborough. His career as General extended over little more than 
 a year, and yet, in that time, he showed a genius for warfare which has 
 never been surpassed. 
 
 THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN 
 
 Or, The Days of King Alfred. By G. A. HENTY. With 8 full- 
 page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND, B.I. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 In this story the author gives an account of the fierce struggle 
 between Saxon and Dane for supremacy in England, and presents a vivid 
 picture of the misery and ruin to which the country was reduced by the 
 ravages of the sea-wolves. The hero, a young Saxon thane, takes part in 
 all the battles fought by King Alfred. He is driven from his home, takes 
 to the sea, and resists the Danes on their own element, and being pursued 
 by them up the Seine, is present at the long and desperate siege of Paris. 
 
 FACING DEATH 
 
 Or, The Hero of the Vaughan Pit. A Tale of the Coal Mines. 
 By G. A. HENTY. With 8 full-page Illustrations by 
 GOBDON BKOWNE, Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 " Facing Death " is a story with a purpose. It is intended to show that 
 a lad who makes up his mind firmly and resolutely that he will rise in 
 life, and who is prepared to face toil and ridicule and hardship to carry 
 out his determination, is sure to succeed. The hero of the story is a 
 typical British boy, dogged, earnest, generous, and though "shamefaced" 
 to a degree, is ready to face death in the discharge of duty. 
 
 BY SHEER PLUCK 
 
 A Tale of the Ashanti War. By G. A. HENTY. With 8 full- 
 page Illustrations by GORDON BKOWNE. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The author has woven, in a tale of thrilling interest, all the details of 
 the Ashanti campaign, of which he was himself a witness. His hero, 
 after many exciting adventures in the interior, is detained a prisoner by 
 the king just before the outbreak of the war, but escapes, and accom- 
 panies the English expedition on their march to Coomsie.
 
 BOOKS FOR rOUFG PEOPLE 
 
 BY G. A. HENTY 
 
 propriety be caiied 
 
 THE CAT OF BUBASTES 
 
 A Story of Ancient Egypt. By G. A. HENTY. With 8 full- 
 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 A story which will give young readers an unsurpassed insight into the 
 customs of the Egyptian people. Amuba, a prince of the Rebu nation, ia 
 carried with his charioteer Jethro into slavery. They become inmates of 
 the house of Ameres, the Egyptian high-priest, and are happy in his 
 service until the priest's son accidentally kills the sacred cat of Bubaetes. 
 In an outburst of popular fury Ameres is killed, and it rests with Jethro 
 and Amuba to secure the escape of the high-priest's son and daughter. 
 
 ONE OF THE 28 
 
 A Tale of Waterloo. By G. A. HENTY. With 8 full-page Il- 
 lustrations by W. H. OVEKEND, and 2 Maps. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero of this story, Ralph Conway, has many varied and exciting 
 adventures. He enters the army, and after some rough service in Ire- 
 land takes part in the Waterloo campaign, from which he returns with 
 the loss of an arm, but with a substantial fortune. 
 
 STURDY AND STRONG 
 
 Or, How George Andrews made his Way. By G. A. HENTT. 
 With 4 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 The history of a hero of everyday life, whose love of truth, clothing 
 of modesty, and innate pluck, carry him, naturally, from poverty to af- 
 fluence. George Andrews is an example of character with nothing to 
 cavil at, and stands as a good instance of chivalry in domestic life. 
 
 TALES OF DARING AND DANGER 
 
 By G. A. HENTY. With 2 full-page Illustrations. Crown 
 8vo, 75 cents. 
 
 Containing five stories, varied in scene and character, but all w : ad- 
 venturous interest and telling of youthful heroism under dangerous and 
 trying circumstances on land and on sea. 
 
 YARNS ON THE BEACH 
 
 By G. A. HENTY. With 2 full-page Illustrations. Crown 
 8vo, 75 cents. 
 
 This book should find special favor among boys. The yarns are spun 
 by old sailors, and are admirably calculated to foster a manly spirit.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUtfG PEOPLE 
 
 DROLL DOINGS 
 
 Illustrated by HARRY B. NEILSON, with verses by the 
 COCKIOLLY BIRD. 4to, decorated boards. $3.00. 
 
 A new, original, and very amusing book of animal pictures in color. 
 
 BY CARTON MOORE PARK 
 
 A BOOK OF BIRDS 
 
 Profusely Illustrated with full-page plates, vignettes, cover 
 design, &c., &c. Demy 4to (13 inches by 10 inches). $2.00 
 
 No artist has caught more thoroughly the individualities of the bird 
 world, or has reproduced them with more lifelike vivacity and charm. 
 
 AN ALPHABET OF ANIMALS 
 
 With 26 full-page Plates, a large number of vignettes, and 
 cover design by CARTON MOORE PARK. Demy 4to (13 
 inches by 10 inches), $2.00. 
 
 A strikingly artistic alphabet book. Mr. Park's drawings are marked 
 by extraordinary boldness and vigor of treatment; but they display in 
 addition a rare appreciation of the subtler characteristics or the animai 
 world. Of these individual traits Mr. Park has an intuitive percep- 
 tion, and his pictures may almost be said to live upon the page. 
 
 BRIGHT AND ORIGINAL FAIRY TALES 
 
 THE PRINCESS OF HEARTS 
 
 ByoHEiLA E. BRAINE. With 70 illustrations by ALICE B. 
 WOODWARD, and Frontispiece in Colors. Square 8vo, 
 gilt edges, $2.00. 
 
 GO TELL THE KING THE SKY IS FALLING 
 
 By SHEILA E. BRAINE. With 85 Illustrations by ALICE B. 
 WOODWARD. Square crown 8vo, $1.75. 
 
 THE LITTLE BROWNS 
 
 By MABEL E. WOLTON. With 80 Illustrations by H. M. 
 BROCK, and a Colored Frontispiece. Square 8vo, gilt 
 edges, $2.00. 
 
 The little Browns are a delightful set of youngsters, more than 
 usually individual and self-reliant. During their parents' absence they 
 extend hospitality to a stranger, under the belief that he is their uncle 
 from Australia. The supposed uncle is really a burglar, and by their 
 courage and childish resource they outwit him. The Little Brvwns is 
 the work of a true child-lover.
 
 BOOKS FOR fOUNtf PBOPLS 
 
 BY PROFESSOR A, J. CHURCH 
 
 LORDS OF THE WORLD 
 
 A Story of the Fall of Carthage and Corinth. By Professor 
 A. J. CHURCH. With 12 full-page Illustrations by RALPH 
 PEACOCK. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, SI. 50. 
 
 The scene of this story centres in the destruction of Carthage by the 
 Romans. The young hero is captured by the Romans, but wearing the 
 dress of his twin sister, escapes death. Entering the army of Carthage 
 he is in the thick of the long conflict and passes through many thrilling 
 adventures. He is present at the final scene, and that awful catastrophe 
 is most vividly told. The story is full of valuable historical details and 
 the interest never flags. 
 
 TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO 
 
 Or, The Adventures of a Eoman Boy. By Professor A. J. 
 CHURCH. With 12 full-page Illustrations by ADRIEN 
 MARIE. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero is a young Roman who has a very chequered career, being 
 now a captive in the hands of Spartacns, again an officer on board a 
 vessel detailed for the suppression of the pirates, and anon a captive 
 once more, on a pirate ship. 
 
 BY S. BARING-GOULD 
 
 GRETTIR THE OUTLAW 
 
 A Story of Iceland. By S. BARING- GOULD. With 10 full- 
 page Illustrations by M. ZENO DIEMER, and a Colored 
 Map. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, SI -50. 
 No boy will be able to withstand the magic of such scenes as the fight 
 
 of Grettir with twelve bearserks, and the wrestle with Karr the Old in 
 
 the chamber of the dead. 
 
 BY F. FRANKFORT MOORE 
 
 HIGHWAYS AND HIGH SEAS 
 
 Cyril Harley's Adventures on Both. By F. FRANKFORT 
 MOORE. With 8 full-page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. 
 Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 The story belongs to a period when highways meant post-chaises, 
 
 coaches, and highwaymen, and when high teas meant privateers and 
 
 smugglers. 
 
 UNDER HATCHES 
 
 Or, Ned Woodthorpe's Adventures. ByF. FRANKFORT MOORE. 
 
 With 8 full-page Illustrations by A. FORESTIER. Crown 
 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 In rescuing another lad from drowning, Ned Woodthorpe is taken on 
 board a convict ship. After a series of exciting events the convicts and 
 crew obtain the mastery. Ultimately the ship is recaptured and Ned 
 and his friends escape from their troubles.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 CAPT. F. S. BRERETCN 
 
 WITH RIFLE AND BAYONET 
 
 A Story of the Boer War. With 8 Illustrations by WAL. 
 PAGET. Crown 8vo, olivine edges. $1.50. 
 
 Jack tomerten, the hero of With Rifle and Bayonet, is an English 
 boy who chances to be spending a vacation at the home of a school 
 friend in the Transvaa. just before the outbreak of the Boer war. Jack 
 is the first Uitlander tc find actual evidence that the Boers are import- 
 ing arms and ammunition in large quantities, but the Boers soon learn 
 that he has discovered their secret and from that time his life is in 
 constant danger. The account of his adventures and escapes during 
 this time and throughout the war makes one of the best war tales of 
 many years. 
 
 The story gives also the most interesting details of Transvaal his- 
 tory, who the Boers were, how they came to settle the Transvaal, and 
 the Government and customs that have arisen among them. 
 
 IN THE KING'S SERVICE 
 
 A Tale of Cromwell's Invasion of Ireland. With eight page 
 Illustrations by STANLEY L. WOOD. Crown 8vo, olivine 
 edges. $1.50. 
 
 Dick Granville is the eon of a Royalist who is driven from his home 
 in Cheshire and takes refuge at Caetle Driscoe, in Ireland. When the 
 Parliamentary army crosses to Ireland young Dick Granville and his 
 cousin join a body of Royalist horse. They take part in the defense of 
 Drogheda, only escaping from the slaughter there by a miracle, and 
 afterwards go through a series of thrilling adventures and narrow es- 
 capes In which Dick displays extraordinary skill and resource. 
 
 WITH SHIELD AND ASSEGAI 
 
 A Tale of the Zulu War. With 6 Illustrations by STANLEY 
 
 L. WOOD. Crown 8vo. $1.25. 
 
 Donald Stewart, the son of an English missionary in Zululand, when 
 at school in England, is wrongfully accused of theft. He runs away, 
 enlists in the British army, and is sent to Africa. There he learns that 
 his sister and a friend are in the hands of Cetewayo. Disguised as a 
 Zulu, he rescues the two girls ; and after the attack upon Ulundi, he 
 hears from a dying officer a confession of the theft of which he was ac- 
 cused. 
 
 FIGHTING THE MATABELE 
 
 By J. CHALMERS. With 6 Illustrations by STANLEY L. WOOD. 
 12mo. $1.25. 
 
 A STOUT ENGLISH BOWMAN 
 
 Being a Story of Chivalry in the Days of Henry III. By 
 EDGAR PICKERING. With 6 illustrations. Price, $1.25. 
 
 IN PRESS-GANG DAYS 
 
 By EDGAR PICKERING. With 6 full page Illustrations by W. 
 S. STACEY. Crown 8vo. $1.25.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNQ PEOPLR 
 
 BY ROBERT LEIGHTON 
 
 1 Mr. Lelghton'a place is in the front rank of writers of boys' books." 
 
 Standard 
 
 THE GOLDEN GALLEON 
 
 Illustrated, crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 This is a story of Queen Elizabeth's time, just after the defeat of the 
 Spanish Armada. Mr. Leighton introduces in his work the great sea- 
 fighters of Plymouth town Hawkins, Drake, Raleigh, and Richard 
 Grenville. 
 
 OLAF THE GLORIOUS 
 
 By EGBERT LEIGHTON. With 8 full-page Illustrations by 
 
 EALPH PEACOCK. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 This story of Olaf , King of Norway, opens with his being found living 
 as a bond-slave in Esthoma, and follows him through his romantic youth 
 in Russia. Then come his adventures as a Viking, his raids upon the 
 coasts of Scotland and England, and his conversion to Christianity. He 
 returns to Norway as king, and converts his people to the Christian 
 faith. 
 
 WRECK OF "THE GOLDEN FLEECE" 
 
 The Story of a North Sea Fisher-boy. By ROBERT LEIGHTON. 
 With 8 full-page Illustrations by FRANK BRANGWYN. 
 Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero is a parson's son who is apprenticed on board a Loweetoft 
 fishing lugger. The lad suffers many buffets from his shipmates, while 
 the storms and dangers which he braved are set forth with intense power. 
 
 THE THIRSTY SWORD 
 
 A Story of the Norse Invasion of Scotland (1262-63). By 
 EGBERT LEIGHTON. With 8 full-page Illustrations by 
 AiiFRED PEARSE, and a Map. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, 
 $1.50. 
 
 This story tells how Roderic MacAlpin, the sea-rover, came to the Isle 
 of Bute ; how he slew his brother in Rothesay Castle ; how the earl's 
 eldest son was likewise slain ; how young Kenric now became king of 
 Bute, and vowed vengeance against the slayer of his brother and father ; 
 and finally, how this vow was kept, when Kenrio and the murderous 
 sea-rover met at midnight and ended their feud in one last great fight. 
 
 THE PILOTS OF POMONA 
 
 A Story of the Orkney Islands. By EGBERT LEIGHTON. With 
 8 full-page Illustrations by JOHN LEIGHTON, and a Map. 
 Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 Halcro Ericson, the hero, happens upon many exciting adventures and 
 
 nardy experiences, through which he carries himself with quiet courage. 
 
 The story gives a vivid presentation of life in these far northern isianda.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUXQ PBOPLB 
 
 BY KIRK MUNROE 
 
 MIDSHIPMAN STUART 
 
 Or, the Last Cruise of the Essex. A Tale of the War of 
 1812. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.25 
 
 IN PIRATE WATERS 
 
 A Tale of the American Navy. Illustrated by I. W. 
 
 TABER. 12mo, $1.25. 
 
 The hero of the story becomes a midshipman In the navy just at 
 the time of the war with Tripoli His own wild adventures among 
 the Turks and his love romance are thoroughly interwoven with the 
 stirring history of that time. 
 
 THE "WHITE CONQUERORS" SERIES 
 
 WITH CROCKETT AND BOWIE 
 
 Or, Fighting for the Lone Star Flag. A Tale of Texas. 
 
 With 8 full-page Illustrations by VICTOR PR\RD. 
 
 Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 The story is of the Texas revolution in 1835. when American Texans 
 under Sam Houston, Bowie, Crockett and Travis, fought for relief 
 from the intolerable tyranny of the Mexican Santa Ana. The hero, 
 Rex Hardin, son of a Texan ranchman and graduate of an American 
 military school, takes a prominent part in the heroic defense of the 
 A lai'i'i, and the final triumph at San Jacinto. 
 
 THROUGH SWAMP AND GLADE 
 
 A Tale of the Seminole War. By KIRK MUNROE. With 8 
 full-page Illustrations by V. P^RARD. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 Coacoochee, the hero of the story, is the son of Philip the chieftain 
 of the Seminoles. He grows up to lead his tribe in the long struggle 
 which resulted in the Indians being driven from the north of Florida 
 down to the distant southern wilderness. 
 
 AT WAR WITH PONTIAC 
 
 Or, The Totem of the Bear. A Tale of Redcoat and Red- 
 skin. By KIRK MUNROE. With 8 full-page Illustra- 
 tions by J. FINNEMORE. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 A story when the shores of Lake Erie were held by hostile Indians. 
 The hero, Donald Hester, goes in search of his sister Edith, who has 
 been captured bv th Indians. Strange and terrible are his experi- 
 ences ; ror ne Is wounded, taken prisoner, condemned to be burned, but 
 Contrives to escape. In the end all things terminate happily. 
 
 THE WHITE CONQUERORS 
 
 A Tale of Toltec and Aztec. By KIRK MUNROE. With 8 
 
 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 This story deals with the Conquest of Mexico by Cortes and his 
 Spaniards, the "White Conquerors," who, after many deeds of valor, 
 pushed their way into the great Aztec kingdom and established thefr 
 power in the wondrous city where Montezuma reigned in splendor.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNQ PSOPLS 
 
 BY Drt. CORDON STABLES 
 
 COURAGE TRUE HEART 
 
 A Brilliant New Story of Danger and Daring on the Sea. By 
 GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M. Illustrated, crown 8vo, 
 
 A NAVAL CADET 
 
 A Story of Adventure by Sea. By GORDON STABLES, M.D., 
 C.M. Illustrated, crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 FOR LIFE AND LIBERTY 
 
 A Story of Battle by Land and Sea. By GORDON STABLES, 
 M.D., C.M. With 8 full-page Illustrations by SIDNEY 
 PAGET. 12mo, $1.50. 
 
 The story of an English boy who runs from home and joins the south- 
 ern army in the late Civil War. His chum enters the navy, and their 
 various adventures are set forth with great vigor and interest. 
 
 TO GREENLAND AND THE POLE 
 
 A Story of Adventure in the Arctic Regions. By GORDON 
 STABLES, M.D., C.M. With 8 full-page Illustrations by 
 G. C. HINDLEY, and a Map. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, 
 $1.50. 
 
 The author is himself an old Arctic voyager, and he deals with deer- 
 hunting in Norway, sealing in the Arctic Seas, bear-stalking on the 
 ice-floes, the hardships of a journey across Greenland, and a successful 
 voyage to the back of the North Pole. 
 
 WESTWARD WITH COLUMBUS 
 
 By GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M. With 8 full-page Illustra- 
 tions by ALFRED PEAKSE. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The hero of this story is Columbus himself. His career is traced from 
 boyhood onward through the many hazardous enterprises in which he 
 was at various times engaged. The narrative deals chiefly, however, 
 *vith the great naval venture which resulted in the discovery of the 
 American continent. 
 
 TWDCT SCHOOL AND COLLEGE 
 
 A Tale of Self-reliance. By GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M. 
 With 8 full-page Illustrations by W. PARKINSON. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50.
 
 BOOKS fvn rotnro PBOPLR 
 
 BY HARRY COLLINQWOOD 
 
 THE LOG OF A PRIVATEERSMAN 
 
 By HARRY COLLINGWOOD. With 12 full-page Illustrations by 
 W. BAINEY, B.I. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, 1.50. 
 
 In the war between Napoleon and the British, many privateers were 
 sent out from England to seize and destroy the French merchant vessels. 
 On one of these George Bowen went as second mate. Long distance 
 duels at sea, fights at close quarters, fierce boarding attacks, capture and 
 recapture, flight and pursuit, storm and wreck, fire at sea and days with- 
 out food or water in a small boat on the ocean, are some of the many 
 thrilling experiences our hero passed through. 
 
 THE LOG OF "THE FLYING FISH." 
 
 A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril and Adventure. By 
 HARRY COLLINGWOOD. With 12 full-page Illustrations by 
 GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 In this story the aim of the author has been, not only to interest and 
 amuse, but also to stimulate a taste for scientific study. 
 
 THE MISSING MERCHANTMAN. 
 
 By HARRY COLLINGWOOD. With 6 full-page Pictures by W. 
 H. OVEHEND. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 A fine Australian clipper is seized by the crew ; the passengers are 
 landed on one deserted island, the captain and a junior officer on another; 
 and the young hero of the story is kept on board to navigate the ship, 
 which the mutineers refit as a private vessel. After many adventures 
 Ned succeeded in carrying off the ship, and in picking up the captain 
 and the passengers. 
 
 THE CONGO ROVERS 
 
 A Tale of the Slave Squadron. By HARRY COLLINGWOOD. 
 
 With 8 full-page Illustrations by J. SCHONBERG. Crown 
 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 The scene of this thrilling tale is laid on the west coast of Africa 
 among the slavers. 
 
 THE ROVER'S SECRET 
 
 A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba. By HARRY 
 COLLTNGWOOD. With 6 full-page Illustrations by W. C. 
 SYMONS. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 The hero of " The Rover's Secret," a young officer of the British navy, 
 
 narrates his peculiar experiences in childhood and his subsequent perils 
 
 and achievements. 
 
 THE PIRATE ISLAND 
 
 A Story of the South Pacific. By HARRY COLLINGWOOD. 
 Illustrated by 8 full-page Pictures by C. J. STANILAND 
 and J. E. WELLS. Olivine edges. Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 This story details the adventures of a lad who was found in his infancy 
 on board a wreck, and is adopted by a fisherman. Going to sea, he 
 forms one of a party who. after being burned out of their ship, are 
 picked up by a pirate brig and taken to the "Pirate Island," where 
 they have many thrilling adventures.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNQ PEOPLE 
 
 BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN 
 
 " Mr. Fenn is in the front rank of writers for "boys." Liverpool Mercury. 
 
 DICK O' THE FENS 
 
 A Romance of the Great East Swamp. With 12 full-page 
 Illustrations by FRANK DADD. Crown 8vo, 1.50. 
 
 BROWNSMITH'S BOY 
 
 With 6 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 YUSSUF THE GUIDE 
 
 Being the Strange Story of Travels in Asia Minor. With 
 8 full page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 THE GOLDEN MAGNET 
 
 A Tale of the Land of the Incas. With 12 full-page Pic- 
 tures by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 NAT THE NATURALIST 
 
 A Boy's Adventures in the Eastern Seas. Illustrated by 8 
 full-page Pictures by GEORGE BROWNE. Crown 8vo, 
 oli vine edges, $1.50. 
 
 QUICKSILVER 
 
 Or, A Boy with no Skid to his Wheel. With 10 full-page 
 Illustrations by FRANK DADD. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 DEVON BOYS 
 
 A Tale of the North Shore. With 12 full-page Illustra- 
 tions by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKEN 
 
 Her Voyage to the Unknown Isle. With 8 full-page Illus- 
 trations. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 BUNYIP LAND 
 
 The Story of a Wild Journey in New Guinea. With 6 
 full-page Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 
 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 IN THE KING'S NAME 
 
 Or, The Cruise of the Kestrel. Illustrated by 12 full-page 
 Pictures by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 MENHARDOC 
 
 A Story of Cornish Nets and Mines. With 6 full-page 
 Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 PATIENCE WINS 
 
 Or War in the Works. With 6 full-page Illustrations. 
 Crown 8vo. $1.00.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUyO PEOPLE 
 
 STORIES OF ADVENTURE BY SEA AND LAND 
 
 PARIS AT BAY 
 
 A Story of the Siege and the Commune. By HERBERT 
 HAYENS. With 8 full-page Illustrations by STANLEY 
 L. WOOD. Crown 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 THE TURKISH AUTOMATON 
 
 A Tale of the Time of Catharine the Great of Russia. By 
 SHEILA E. BRAINE. With 6 full-page Illustrations by 
 WILLIAM RAINEY, R. I. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 A MYSTERY OF THE PACIFIC 
 
 By OLIPHANT SMEATON. With 8 Illustrations by WAL 
 PAOET. 12mo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 GOLD, GOLD, IN CARIBOO 
 
 A Story of Adventure in British Columbia. By CLIVE 
 PHILLIPPS-WOLLEY. With 6 full-page Illustrations by 
 G. C. HINDLEY. Crown 8vo, $1.25.- 
 
 HIS FIRST KANGAROO 
 
 An Australian Story for Boys. By ARTHUR FERRES. With 6 
 Illustrations by P. B. 8. SPENER. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 SOU'WESTER AND SWORD 
 
 By HUGH St. LEQER. With 6 full -page Illustrations by 
 HAL HURST. Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 WITH THE SEA KINGS 
 
 A Story of the Days of Lord Nelson. By F. H. WINDER. 
 With 6 full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. 
 Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 THE WIGWAM AND THE WAR-PATH 
 
 Stories of the Red Indians. By ASCOTT R. HOPE. Illustrated 
 
 by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 "Mr. Hope's ' Wigwam and War-path ' Is notably good ; It gives a 
 very vlrid picture of life among the Indians." Spectator. 
 
 THE SEVEN WISE SCHOLARS 
 
 By ASCOTT R. HOPE. Illustrated by GORDON BROWNE. Square 
 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 YOUNG TRAVELLERS' TALES 
 
 By ASCOTT R. HOPE. With 6 full-page Illustrations by H. J. 
 DRAPER. Crown 8vo, $1.25.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 STORIES OF ADVENTURE BY SEA AND LAND 
 
 WULFRIC THE WEAPON THANE 
 
 The Story of the Danish Conquest of East Anglia. By 
 CHARLES W. WHISTLER. With 6 Illustrations by W. H. 
 MARGETSON. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 A tale in which is set forth: How Wulfric saved the Danish warrior's 
 
 life ; how he fought in the Viking ship ; how he was accused falsely ; 
 
 how he joined King Eadmund, as his weapon-thane; how he fought 
 
 for the king ; and how he won the lady Osritha and brought her to TUB 
 
 home. 
 
 TOMMY THE ADVENTUROUS 
 
 The Story of a Brother and Sister. By S. E. CARTWBIGHT. 
 With 8 Illustrations. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 SILAS VERNEY 
 
 A Tale of the Time of Charles II. By EDGAR PICKERING. 
 With 6 full-page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. Crown 
 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 AN OCEAN OUTLAW 
 
 A Story of Adventure in the good ship Margaret. By HUGH 
 ST. LEGER. With 6 page Illustrations by WM. RAINEY, 
 R. I. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 This is a breezy sea-yarn in which the reader is made acquainted with 
 
 Jimmy Ducks, a tiptop sailor-man and a hero at cutlass work; and all 
 
 his cleverness was needed when he and his messmates came to tackle 
 
 the Ocean Outlaw. 
 
 THE LOSS OF JOHN HUMBLE 
 
 What Led to It, and what Came of It. By G. NORWAY. With 
 8 full-page Illustrations by JOHN SCHONBERG. Crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.50. 
 
 HAL HUNGERFORD 
 
 Or, The Strange Adventures of a Boy Emigrant. By J. R. 
 
 HUTCHINSON. With 4 full-page Illustrations by STANLEY 
 
 BERKELEY. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 " There is no question whatever as to the spirited manner in which 
 the story is told ; the death of the mate of the smuggler by the teeth 
 of the dog is especially effective." London Spectator. 
 
 SIR WALTER'S WARD 
 
 A Tale of the Crusades. By WILLIAM EVERARD. Illustrated 
 
 by WALTER PAGET. Crown 8vo, $1.25.. 
 " A highly fascinating work, dealing with a period which is always 
 iuggestive of romance and deeds of daring." Schoolmaster. 
 
 HUGH HERBERT'S INHERITANCE 
 
 By CAROLINE AUSTIN. With 6 full-page Illustrations by C. T. 
 
 GARLAND. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 " A story that teaches patience as well as courage in fighting the 
 battle* oflife." Daily Chronicle.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUXO PEOPLE 
 
 JONES THE MYSTERIOUS 
 
 By CHARLES EDWARDES. With 3 Illustrations by HAROLD 
 COPPING. 12mo, 75 cts. 
 
 A bright story of English schoolboy life, with mysterious happenings 
 to the hero, who has a secret and weird "power," bestowed upon him 
 by his East Indian bearer. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF GUTTA-PERCHA WILLIE 
 
 The Working Genius. By GEORGE MACDONALD. With 8 
 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES. New Edition. 12mo, 
 75 cts. 
 
 " Hallowe'en Ahoy! 
 
 Or, Lost on the Crozet Isl- 
 ands. By HUGH ST. LEGER. 
 With 6 page Illustrations. 
 Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 The Search for the Talisman 
 
 A Tale of Labrador. By 
 HENRY FRITH. Illustrated. 
 Crown 8vo, $1.35. 
 
 Famous Discoveries by Sea and 
 Land 
 
 Illustrated. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 From the Clyde to the Jordan 
 
 By HUGH CALLAN. With 30 
 Illustrations and a Map. 
 Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 Jack CXLanthorn 
 
 A Tale of Adventure. By 
 HENRY FRITH. Illustrated. 
 Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 Tales of Captivity and 
 
 By W. B. FORTESCUE. Illus- 
 trated. Crown 8vo, $1.00. 
 
 HISTORICAL STORIES 
 
 A Thane of Wessex 
 
 Being a Story of the Great 
 Viking Raids into Somerset. 
 By CHARLES W. WHISTLER. 
 Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 
 $1.25. 
 
 A Prisoner of War 
 
 A Story of the Time of 
 Napoleon Bonaparte. By 
 G. NORWAY. With 6 full- 
 page Illustrations by ROB- 
 ERT BARNES, A.R.W.S. 
 Crown 8vo, $1.25.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 SOME BOOKS FOR GIRLS 
 
 THE REIGN OF THE PRINCESS NASKA 
 
 By AMELIA HUTCHISON STIRLING. With 55 Illustrations 
 by PAUL HARDY. 12mo, $1.00. 
 
 THE WHISPERING WINDS 
 
 And che Tales that they Told. By MARY H. DEBENHAM. 
 With 25 Illustrations by PAUL HARDY. Crown 8vo, $1 .00. 
 
 v ' We wish the winds would tell us stories like these." 
 
 London Academy. 
 
 THINGS WILL TAKE A TURN 
 
 By BEATRICE HARRADEN, author of "Ships that Pass in the 
 Night." Illustrated. 12mo, $1.00. 
 
 It is the story of a sunny-hearted child, Rosebud, who assists her 
 grandfather in his dusty, second-hand bookshop. 
 
 NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY 
 
 Her Tricks and Troubles. By CLARA MULHOLLAND. Illus- 
 trated. Crown 8vo, 75 cents. 
 " This naughty child is positively delightful." Land and Water. 
 
 UNLUCKY 
 
 A Fragment of a Girl's Life. By CAROLINE AUSTIN. Illus- 
 trated. Crown 8vo, 75 cents. 
 A touching story of an unlucky girl at odds with her stepmother. 
 
 LAUGH AND LEARN 
 
 The Easiest Book of Nursery Lessons and Nursery Games. 
 By JENNETT HUMPHREYS. Charmingly Illustrated. Square 
 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 " One of the best books of the kind imaginable, full of practical teach- 
 ing in word and picture, and helping the little ones pleasantly along a 
 eight royal road to learning." Graphic. 
 
 ADVENTURES IN TOYLAND 
 
 By EDITH KING HAIL. With 8 Colored Plates and 72 
 other Illustrations by ALICE B. WOODWARD. Square 
 8vo, $2.00. 
 The story of what a little girl heard and saw in a toy shop.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 SOME BOOKS FOR CIRLS. 
 
 A NEWNHAM FRIENDSHIP 
 
 By ALICE or RONACH. With 6 Illustrations by HAROLD COP- 
 PING. Crown 8vo. $1.25. 
 
 In A Nevmham Friendship we have a description of life at Newnham 
 College. Carol Martin, a third-year student, befriends a " fresher," 
 Elspeth Macleod, a shy, sensitive Highland girl, who has worked her 
 way from a board school to college. The enmity of a fellow-student 
 and a mystery about some parodies cloud Elspeth's happiness for a 
 time. But the clouds clear. Men students play their part in the story, 
 and the closing chapters describe the work of some of the girls as 
 " social settlers " in the east of London. 
 
 THREE FAIR MAIDS 
 
 Or, The Burkes of Derrymore. By KATHARINE TYNAN. 
 With 12 Illustrations by G. D. HAMMOND. Crown 8vo, 
 olivine edges. $1.50. 
 
 A story of Irish country life. The three fair maids are the daughters 
 of an impoverished Irish lady. Their father had been disinherited by 
 his uncle for marrying against his wish. Sir Jasper's disinheritance 
 obliged them to give up their great house, Derrymore, but the family 
 is ultimately reconciled with Uncle Peter, who makes Elizabeth his 
 heiress. 
 
 QUEEN CHARLOTTE'S MAIDENS 
 
 By SARAH TYTLER, author of " Girl Neighbors." With 3 Il- 
 lustrations by PAUL HARDY. 12mo. 75 cts. 
 
 GIRL NEIGHBORS 
 
 Or, The Old Fashion and the New. BY SARAH TYTLER. 
 With 8 full-page Illustrations by C. T. GARLAND. Crown 
 8vo. $1.00. 
 
 " Oirl Neighbort is a pleasant comedy, not so much of errors as of 
 prejudices got rid of, very healthy, very agreeable, and very well 
 written." London Spectator. 
 
 THE HEIRESS OF COURTLEROY 
 
 By ANNE BEALE. With 8 page Illustrations by T. C. H. 
 CASTLE. Crown 8vo, cloth ; elegant, olivine edges. $1.50. 
 
 " Miss Anne Beale relates how the young 'Heiress of Courtleroy' 
 had such good influence over her uncle as to win him from his in- 
 tensely sem&h ways in regard to his tenants and others." London 
 Guardian.
 
 BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 SOME BOOKS FOR CIRLS 
 
 THE LADY ISOBEL 
 
 A Story for Girls. Ey ELIZA F. POLLAKD. With 4 Illustra- 
 tions by W. FULTON BROWN. 12mo, $1.00. 
 A Tale of the Scottish Covenanters. 
 
 A GIRL OF TO-DAY 
 
 By ELLINOR DAVENPORT ADAMS. With 6 page Illustra- 
 tions by GERTRUDE DEMAIN HAMMOND, R. I. Crown 
 
 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 The boys and girls of Woodend band themselves together, and that 
 they have plenty of fun is seen in the shopping expedition to purchase 
 stores for their society, and in the successful Christmas entertainment. 
 Max Brenton's fight with Joe Baker, the bully, shows that their work 
 has its serious side as well. 
 
 A DREADFUL MISTAKE 
 
 By GERALDINE MOCKLER. With 4 page Illustrations by 
 
 WILLIAM RAINEY, R. I. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 The mistake occurs at the very beginning of the book, gradually 
 rights itself during the course of the story, and at the end is found to 
 be the very best thing that could have happened. A very amusing 
 character is an eccentric aunt. 
 
 HER FRIEND AND MINE 
 
 A Story of Two Sisters. By FLORENCE COOMBE. With 3 
 Illustrations by WM. RAINEY. 12mo, $1.00. 
 
 THE EAGLE'S NEST 
 
 By S. E. CARTWRIGHT. With 3 Illustrations by WM. RAINEY. 
 12mo, $1.00. 
 
 MY FRIEND KATHLEEN 
 
 By JENNIE CHAPPELL. With 4 Illustrations by JOHN H. 
 BACON. 12mo, $1.00. 
 
 A DAUGHTER OF ERIN 
 
 By VIOLET G. FINNY. With 4 Illustrations. Price, $1.00. 
 
 Under False Colors 
 
 A Story from Two Girls' 
 Lives. By SARAH DOUDNEY. 
 With 6 full-page Illustra- 
 tions by G. G. KILBURNE. 
 Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 A story which has in it so strong 
 a dramatic element that it will at- 
 tract readers of all ages and of 
 either sex. 
 
 BY M. CORBET-SEYMOUR 
 A Girl's Kingdom 
 
 Illustrated. Crown 8 vo, $1.00. 
 Olive an<i her story will receive 
 welcome from all girls. 
 
 Dulcie King 
 
 A Story for Girls. Illustrated. 
 Crown 8vo, $1.00.
 
 BOOKS FOR TOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 SOME BOOKS FOR GIRLS 
 
 BY ALICE CORKRAN 
 Down the Snow Stairs 
 
 Or, From Good-night to Good- 
 morning. BY ALICE CORK- 
 RAN. With 60 character 
 Illustrations by GORDON 
 BROWNE. Square crown 
 8vo, olivine edges, $1.25. 
 " A gem of the first water, hear- 
 ing upon every one of its pages the 
 signet mark of genius. 
 All is told with such simplicity 
 and perfect naturalness that the 
 dream appears to be a solid reality. 
 It is indeed a little Pilgrim's 
 Progress. ' ' Christian Leader. 
 
 Margery Merton's Girlhood 
 
 By ALICE CORKRAN. With 6 
 full-page Illustrations by 
 GORDON BROWNE. Crown 
 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 The experience of an orphan 
 girl who in infancy is left by her 
 lather, an officer in India, to the 
 care of an elderly aunt residing 
 near Paris. 
 
 Joan's Adventures 
 
 At the North Pole and Else- 
 where. By ALICE CORKRAN. 
 Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 75 
 cts. 
 A beautiful dream-land story. 
 
 Adventures of Mrs. "Wishing- 
 to-Be 
 
 By ALICE CORKRAN. With 
 3 full-page Pictures in 
 colors. Crown 8vo, 75 cts. 
 
 BY MRS. R. H. READ 
 Dora; 
 
 Or, A Girl without a Home. 
 Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 
 $1.25. 
 
 Nell's School Days 
 
 A Story of Town and Country. 
 By H. P. GETHEN. With 4 
 Illustrations. Price, $1.00. 
 
 Violet Vereker's Vanity 
 
 By ANNIE E. ARMSTRONG. 
 With 6 Illustrations by G. 
 D. HAMMOND. Crown 8vo, 
 $1.25. 
 
 Three Bright Girls 
 
 A Story of Chance and Mis- 
 chance. By ANNIE E. ARM- 
 STRONG. With 6 full-page 
 Illustrations by W. PARK- 
 INSON. Crown 8vo, $1.25. 
 
 " Among many good stones for 
 girls this is undoubtedly one of 
 the very best." Teachers' Aid. 
 
 A Very Odd Girl 
 
 Life at the Gabled Farm. 
 
 By ANNIE E. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 With 6 full-page Illustra\ 
 
 tions by S. T. DADD. Crown 
 
 $1.25. 
 
 White Lilac 
 
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