Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/593

Rh upon them by the way. There they were halted under an old fort, waiting for fresh orders. On the 11th Saleh Mahommed, who had charge of them, and was "a man that would do anything for money," signed an agreement with five of the British officers to make them over to the British general on condition of receiving 20,000 rupees, and an annuity for life of 1,000 rupees per month. Saleh then dismissed the escort, and changed the governor of the fort for one on whom he could rely. Dreading lest the Affghan army, even in its retreat, should take this direction, they made indefatigable efforts to put the stronghold in a state of defence, determined, as Lady Sale says, to hold out until the arrival of assistance, even though they should be reduced to eat the rats and mice, of which they had a grand stock in the old fort.

Fortunately, her ladyship was not reduced to banquet on such "small deer;" for General Pollock, immediately on arriving at Cabul, had made arrangements for the departure of 700 Kuzzilbash horse in search of them, accompanied by Sir Richmond Shakspeare, to whom he advanced ten thousand rupees; and soon after Sir Robert Sale followed with a corps of 2,000 men. The prisoners departed from Bameean on the 16th, and next day crossed the Kaloo mountain-range, 13,000 feet high, being little inferior to Mont Blanc. After descending, they were filled with joy by meeting with Sir Richmond and the Kuzzilbashes on the 17th, and on the 19th with General Sale. "It is impossible," says the heroic Lady Sale, in her simple but affecting language, "to express our feelings on Sale's approach. To my daughter and myself, happiness so long delayed as to be almost unexpected was actually painful, and accompanied by a choking sensation, which could not obtain the relief of tears. When we arrived where the infantry were posted, they cheered all the captives as they passed them; and the men of the 13th (Sir Robert Sale's regiment) pressed forward to welcome us individually. Most of the men had a little word of hearty