having to climb from rock to rock, and our regular formation being necessarily much broken. Foremost among the many there could be distinguished the gallant Colonel of the 92nd, who led on his men ten yards in front, steadily breasting the mountain, and with his gallant countrymen carrying each successive defence at the point of the bayonet, the enemy's standards dropping as their outworks fell. Nothing could withstand the impetuosity of the assault, and although many of the Pathans stood their ground well and fell at their posts, their gallantry was of no avail, and before many minutes had elapsed the village and its peak were in our hands. In the meantime the guns had been brought from the flanks to the front, and shelled the heights crowded with fugitives, while across the plain, sweeping along our former front, came Gough's pursuing squadrons, their fiery little horses covered with foam and the gay pennons of each lance red with the foeman's blood.

Our object was now gained; we had, with comparatively slight loss to ourselves, mastered the key of Ayub's position. We had drawn out a considerable portion of his force, he doubtless being under the impression that we were about to push home our attack. The Khan's principal camp we now knew was behind a ridge of hills between Mazra and Baba Wali, with canals and the Argandab in his rear. To attack him, General Roberts would have to turn his flank by occupying the village of Goondegaum and the adjoining hills, while Gough with his cavalry watched the Murcha Pass, and worked down past it to the Argandab to cut off the enemy's retreat. The Picket Hill was to be held with a strong force, while our 40-pounders engaged Ayub's guns on the Baba Wali Kotal. Our main body of three

brigades were to be massed in rear of Picket Hill, and deliver the real attack by clearing the gardens, storming the village of Gundi-Moola-Sahibdab in front, and then to work around the Pir Paimal Kotal and take the Baba Wali Kotal in rear and Ayub's position at Mazra in flank. All these memoranda, with a sketch of the ground we had worked over, were handed to General Roberts, who met us on our return at dusk, when we encamped, or rather bivouacked, for the night on a position covering the Karez Hill. To-morrow, then, we hope to win back all that was lost at Maiwand, and to inflict such a blow upon Ayub that he will no longer trouble us in this part of Afghanistan. I am just starting to attend the General on his nightly round, and will close my letter by hoping that next mail I may be able to tell you how the Queen's troops can fight when led by a commander they regard as we do our present chief.

CHAPTER VII.

THE VICTORY OF BABA WALI.

Kandahar, Sept. 5.

As I mentioned in my last, General Hugh Gough's admirable reconnaissance of the 31st had put us completely au fait with the position and distribution of the Sirdar Ayub's forces; and, pity it is to say, had the same use of his cavalry been made by General Burrows, in all probability Maiwand would have been a victory instead of defeat. The 'eyes and ears' of an army, as l'arme blanche has been termed, have peculiar opportunities for distinction in a country like Afghanistan, where the native horsemen opposed to us are so numerous, and, as a rule, so well handled. Of this fact no one can be better aware than General Roberts; and we have only to go back to his cautious, yet brilliant tactics, during the three days occupied in reconnoitring and capturing the Peiwar Kotal, to see what good use he can make of this arm of the service. The reconnaissance I have described showed that our enemy was posted in great strength behind the Baba Wali Kotal, that he had taken up a strong position on the Pir Paimal ridge, extending about a mile and a half south-west of the Baba Wali, and that his camp at Mazra was strongly entrenched.

I do not think that many of our officers thought of sleep on the night of the 31st. I know that neither Sir Frederick nor any of his staff took any rest save what

could be obtained stretched in a cloak in front of a camp fire. With our men it was different, and our General is too old a soldier to allow a talkative and noisy camp in front of an enemy's position. Nothing could be more picturesque than our encampment. For more than half a mile along our extended lines of occupation our tents, crowning the heights or studding the plains, showed the Afghans what manner of array the Feringhi could put into the field. As the night came on, as the moon rose, silvering the tall palms and the mangoe groves in the valley, and as, one by one, each bright star appeared, the bark of the wild dog and the ghastly howl of the jackal, the half-whispered challenge of the sentry, and the scream of some wandering night bird, met the ear, and came to us more distinctly as the hum of human voices died away in our camp.

Orders had been sent round during the evening that the officers commanding brigades, together with our principal staff officers, should meet at the General-inChief's quarters at half-past five on the morning of the first. The Chief's état major was at the building in the Sapper Gardens, and at the appointed time came Sir Frederick and his A.D.C., Prettyman; Colonel Chapman, Chief of the Staff; Deputy-Surgeon-General Hanbury, Captain Straton, Signal Superintendent; Major Cowie, Commissary of Ordnance; Colonel Perkins; Colonel Hills, R.E.; Colonel Johnson, commanding R.A.; General Hugh Gough, commanding the Cavalry Brigade; Captain Brabazon, 10th Hussars, BrigadeMajor; commanding officers of the 9th Lancers, 3rd Bengal Cavalry, 3rd Punjaub Cavalry, 1st Central India Horse, 2nd Central India Horse; Major-General J. Ross, commanding Infantry Division; Captain Mansel,

A.D.C.; Brigadier - General Macpherson, V.C., C.B., commanding Ist Brigade; Captain Jarvis, BrigadeMajor; Brigadier-General Baker, C.B., commanding 2nd Brigade; Captain Farwell, Brigade-Major; BrigadierGeneral Macgregor, C.B., commanding 3rd Brigade; Captain Chalmer, 60th Rifles, Brigade-Major; and all the commanders of infantry corps.

While this somewhat large gathering was collecting, coffee, biscuits, cigars, and other refreshments, were handed round; men split up into groups, and conversation was carried on, as it were, in detachments. The scene reminded me of a hunting breakfast at a large country house, where 'coffee-house' gossip whiles away the impatient half-hour which intervenes between breakfast and the signal to horse,

As soon as all were reported present complete silence reigned, and Sir Frederick very briefly, but clearly, pointed out the day's programme; some officers taking notes, and others trusting to their memory. The last to arrive was General Primrose; but he had previously conferred with Sir Frederick, and had been all the morning engaged upon other duties.

'I have sent for you, gentlemen,' said our chief, 'not to call a council of war, which implies a difficulty or a doubt in regard to action, but to point out to you my plans for the attack I purpose making this morning. From the report made to me yesterday evening by my chief of the staff, Colonel Chapman, I find that Ayub's position is as follows:-Their camps are situated on the range of hills extending from the Argandab westerly to the Pir Paimal. To pass this ridge there are, as doubtless you may be aware, two openings from Kandaharthe Baba Wali and the Morcha The latter is the