Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/576

552 met by the destructive fire of the enemy, securely perched on the high ground. The straitened pass soon became literally choked with dead and dying; and here the last remains of the native infantry disappeared. Many fell; the rest, throwing away their arms and accoutrements, fled for life. Finally the enemy rushed down, sword in hand, and commenced a general massacre, capturing the public treasure, with the remnant of baggage which up to this point had been preserved. A part of the advance succeeded in getting through the pass, which is not above fifty yards in length, and proceeded to Kubber-i-Jubhar, where they halted for their comrades. While anxiously looking out for them, a straggler from time to time arrived, bearing heavy news; another and another appeared, and in this manner all that escaped the fury of the enemy joined: the direful truth that, with these miserable exceptions, the two missing columns had been cut off and destroyed, at length becoming apparent beyond the possibility of question.

The British force now consisted of seventy men of her Majesty's 44th regiment, a hundred and fifty cavalry troopers, and about fifty horse artillerymen, with one twelve-pound howitzer. Such was its strength as to combatants; but the number of camp-followers was still large. Even reduced as they were to this pitiful handful, on observing a body of cavalry in their rear, they determined to bring their solitary gun into position, and make a last effort for existence. It proved, however, to be Akbar Khan, who approached with another of his insidious propositions, to the effect that the remainder of the British force should be disarmed and placed under his protection, when he would guarantee their safety, and that of all the European officers, to Jellalabad. To this proposition the General would not assent, and once more "Forward!" was the word.

The troops resumed their fearful march: the remnant of the camp-followers, with several wounded officers, went a-head. For five miles the main body saw no enemy; all