Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/94

90 jungle. A circuitous route was taken, with the view of attacking the weakest face of the parallelogram; and on halting we knew that it would not be long before Sir J. Littler would come up with his 5000 men and twenty-four guns.

At this moment, as the Governor-General and his staff were sharing the provisions which they had brought in their saddle-bags and holsters. Sir Hugh Gough rode up and exclaimed: 'Sir Henry, if we attack at once I promise you a splendid victory!' There was a small grove of trees some fifty yards off, to which the two generals at once retired; what there took place was for many years known only to a few, to whom it was communicated in confidence. After a long lapse of years, these incidents may now be made public. Sir Hugh proceeded to repeat his proposals, which the Governor-General in the most positive manner declined to entertain. At last, wearied out by the reiteration, he calmly observed: 'Then, Sir Hugh, I must exercise my civil powers as Governor-General, and forbid the attack until Littler's force has come up.' Such powers had never before been exercised by any Governor-General in the field. Once, in an Indian debate in the House of Lords, Lord Albemarle alluded to the fact without mentioning names, but it passed unnoticed. I mention the incident because I was an eye-witness of the scene, much speculation being rife among our staff as to the probable result of the interview under the little grove of trees.

Littler had left his camp standing, to disarm sus-