Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/525

Rh weapon of his enemy in his left hand, he dealt him with his right a cut from his own sabre, which cleft his skull from the crown to the eyebrows. The Mahomedan once shouted 'Ue Ullah!' (O God!) and never spoke or moved again."

As soon as the storming-party had well entered the centre square, the enemy made a general rush, some for the citadel, some for the houses, from which those who gained possession of them kept up an annoying fire on the British force below. Her Majesty's 13th and 17th regiments then moved to the attack of the citadel, which was the residence of the governor. There the female members of the principal families had been collected; and there, too, was the magazine and granary. A strong resistance was expected; but none was offered. The 17th, on arriving at the gates, forced its way in, followed close by the 13th; and, while those below were watching for the effects of the heavy fire which it was anticipated would be poured on the assailants, the feeling of anxiety was suddenly exchanged for that of gratified astonishment, by the display of the colours of the two regiments on the top of the upper fort.

The garrison, in fact, had abandoned their guns, and fled in all directions: casting themselves down, in some instances, from immense heights, in the hope of effecting their escape; but the firing from the houses was kept up for some time after the capture of the citadel. Some fanatical Affghans, who had succeeded in picking off men from the parties employed in clearing the streets, obstinately refused quarter; and, when escape was impossible, voluntarily rushed on death, consoled by reflecting that they died fighting the battle of the faith, with the well-aimed shots which had sent so many infidels to their eternal home still ringing in their ears. The reserve, under Sir Willoughby Cotton, which had entered immediately after the storming-party, succeeded in clearing many of the houses which had afforded shelter to combatants of this description.