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Rh for help Pollock could only assure them of his firm intention to advance at the earliest possible moment for their relief.

Meanwhile, ever since the 12th of November, 1841, Sale's brigade had been doing soldierly service inside Jalálábád. The defences of that place, which lies midway between Pesháwar and Kábul, were found to be in utter disrepair; and close around them were garden-houses, enclosed fields, mosques, and ruined forts. Broadfoot and his sappers were soon at work repairing and improving the defences with the tools which his foresight had brought away from Kábul. Supplies were got in from across the Kábul river, and a well-timed sally drove the Afgháns to a respectful distance. A second sortie, led by Dennie on the 1st of December, freed the garrison for many weeks from further molestation. The troops were in good heart, and, thanks to Broadfoot's energy, the long line of ramparts and bastions was made strong enough to defy all attacks from an enemy who had few if any guns.

On the 8th of January Sale received Elphinstone's orders to evacuate Jalálábád, orders which he and Macgregor at once declined to obey. But towards the end of January, when the Kábul disasters had been followed by Wild's reverses in the Kháibar, the spirits of many in Sale's garrison began to droop. On the 27th Sale held a council of war — a jackdaw