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64 more adverse the better, with a determination to struggle for the triumph of the Khalsa at all costs.

Thirsting for revenge, they convened a General Assembly and Council, formed a still more compact and formidable confederation, and decided on their plan of campaign. Having assembled a force of 40,000 men, they captured the Pathan strongholds in their neighbourhood, marched to Sirhind, defeated the Afghan troops there, and destroyed that accursed city. They then partitioned out among themselves the country between the Sutlej and the Jumna. This brought back Ahmad Shah with his army; but they retired before him, as they knew they were no match in the open for the better armed Afghans with their artillery.

Sirhind being devastated by Pathan and Sikh alike, the Durrani king now adopted the policy of acknowledging the diplomatic Sikh chief of Patiala as his governor of that province. Disturbances having broken