ifles rapidly grew, in spite of the
efforts of the officers to rally them. The Ghazis swept down upon
them; and the Rifles broke in confusion, and rushed among the
Bombay Grenadiers who--hitherto fighting steadily--also fell into
confusion, as the Rifles and Ghazis burst into their ranks.

"This is hot work," Will Gale said to his captain, when the enemy's
guns, on the heights on either side, began to play on the line of
the 66th with their flank fire.

"It is, indeed," the officer answered, "and the fire of the enemy,
from the edge of that ravine, is very trying. I wish to heaven the
general would move us farther back. He has made a hideous mistake
in fighting on such ground as this."

"It would be difficult to withdraw, now," Will said. "It would
shake the confidence of the men. I think, myself, that we ought to
advance, and drive the enemy before us, till we take up some really
defensible position; but I doubt if the Afghans would wait for
that. In all our history, a British charge against an Indian enemy
has always been successful, no matter how great the odds."

"It is a bad lookout," the captain said, as a shell burst close by
him, killing and wounding five or six men. "It is quite evident
that if we stay where we are we must, in time, be annihilated. Our
fellows will stand, no doubt; they are English soldiers, and well
officered. But how can one expect the two Indian regiments--with
only three or four white officers, each--to remain steady, under
such a fire as this, and with these desperate charges of Ghazis
upon them?"

Very steadily the 66th held their ground, in spite of a flanking
fire of artillery and musketry. Every time the enemy gathered at
the edge of the ravine, for a rush, the heavy fire of the company
on the flank--which was wheeled back at a right angle to the line,
so as to face them--drove them back to shelter again. The regiment
had suffered very heavily. Still, the officers felt that they could
endure, till nightfall.

Of victory, there was now no idea; for to conquer, men must act
and, here, they were only called upon to suffer. Presently a wild
tumult was heard to the left; and then the men of the scattered
native regiments burst, in a tumultuous mass, into the ranks of the
66th.

"Steady, men, steady!" shouted the officers.

But it was of no avail. All was in hopeless confusion. The
artillery fired, until the Ghazis were within a few yards of them;
then they hastily limbered up, a