seemed to bring them closer
together.

All this time, Ayoub's army was known to be approaching. It had
been delayed by want of transport, and by the difficult nature of
the country over which it had to pass. The guns, too--of which it
was reported to have a large number--had greatly hampered it but,
by the second week in July, it was near at hand.

For some time, the Wali's troops had been showing signs of
insubordination; and little doubt was entertained that they had
been tampered with, by Ayoub's emissaries. The question of
disarming them was several times discussed; but the Wali maintained
his faith that they would remain true to their salt, and the
British force was so small that it was deemed imprudent to take any
step to diminish their strength, by dispensing with the services of
a strong body of men who might, after all, be faithful at the
critical moment. Moreover, it was doubtful whether they would
submit to be disarmed, by a force so inferior to their own. Should
the attempt to disarm them succeed, they must either be escorted
back to Candahar, by a strong detachment of the British; or be
permitted to disperse, in which case they would assuredly swell the
advancing army of Ayoub.

One day Will arranged to start, the next morning at daybreak, for a
day's shooting with four other young officers--Hammond and
Fortescue of Jacob's Rifles, and Plater and Lowther of the
Grenadiers. The country round the camp had been already shot over,
so they were to go some miles out. Will's colonel--in giving him
leave off parade for the day--had asked him to endeavor to
ascertain, at any village he might enter, the state of the feeling
of the natives respecting Ayoub, and their disposition towards the
British; points on which a deplorable ignorance existed, in the
camp.

The party started before daybreak, putting their wiry little
tats--or native ponies--into a gallop, so as to reach the
spot--eight miles distant--where they were to begin to shoot as
early as possible; so as to get two or three hours' sport, before
the heat of the day really set in. After an hour's ride, they
overtook their servants; who had gone on ahead, with the guns and
luncheon. The sun was but just above the horizon, and the morning
air was cool and pleasant.

Dismounting, they handed over the ponies to the servants and,
taking the guns and ammunition, set out on foot. The servants were
to go on, with the ponies and lunch, to a village in the hill