Page:The Earl of Auckland.djvu/98

92 was already plotting against his new friends, when the fall of Ghazní arrested his purpose. He would wait, and see how the wind blew.

The story of that keen but futile chase has been well told by Sir George Lawrence, who took an active part in it. Outram's little force set off in the lightest marching order on the evening of August 3. Three days later two more officers with a few score troopers joined in the chase. For six days and nights, with short intervals of rest, the hunters rode on over rough and hilly ground, past scattered villages, up the steep pass over the Hindu Kush, as far as Bámián, heedless of the excuses repeatedly urged by their treacherous guide for delaying or abandoning a dangerous and fruitless chase. The Afgháns of the party were badly mounted, and could not or would not keep up with the rest. 'We have to obey our orders,' said Outram, in reply to the Hájjí's remonstrances, 'and if your men fail us at the critical moment, you will have to answer to Sháh Shujá with your life.' At Bámián they learned that Dost Muhammad with 2,000 horsemen and his son Akbar Khán, had fled beyond Saigán and found asylum with the Walí of Kúlum across the Balkh frontier.

After three days' rest at Bámián, Outram's party turned their faces towards Kábul, where Keane's army was already quartered. On the 7th of August Sháh Shujá-ul-Mulk, glittering with jewels and mounted on a white charger, had been escorted in triumph