turbulent outbreaks commenced in the
town. These regiments had not, like those of Cabul, suffered defeat at
our hands, and they taunted the Cabul people with cowardice. The
position of the Embassy became full of danger. Sir Louis Cavaignari, a
man of most extraordinary courage, was aware of the threatening danger,
but determined to remain at his post and do his duty. When told by the
native _rissaldar_ of one of our cavalry regiments, who was spending his
furlough at a village near Cabul, that the Afghan soldiers would be
likely to break into open mutiny, and that the danger was very real, he
replied quietly, "They can only kill the three or four of us here, and
our death will be avenged." It appears, however, that Cavaignari to the
last believed that the Ameer's authority would be sufficient to protect
the little British force.

On the night of the 2nd of September the Heratee troops attacked the
Embassy. The party were lodged in a wooden building in the Bala Hissar.
Although numbering but fifty fighting men, headed by four British
officers, the little band for hours held out heroically against
thousands of the enemy. These at last brought cannon to bear upon the
place. Yakoob Khan, in his palace close by, heard the roar of the
battle, but made no movement. Some of his councillors urged upon him to
call out the loyal regiments at Bala Hissar, and to suppress and punish
the mutiny. But the Ameer remained vacillating and sullen until the
terrible night was over, and the last of the defenders, after performing
prodigies of valour, and killing many more times than their own number
of the enemy, succumbed to the attack, the British officers rushing out
and dying sword in hand.

Twenty-four hours later, natives from Cabul brought the news over the
Shaturgurdan Pass into the Kuram Valley. Thence it was telegraphed to
Simla. The terrible news created a shock throughout all India. But no
time was lost in taking measures to avenge the massacre. On the 5th
orders were sent to Brigadier-General Massy, commanding at that time the
Kuram field forces, to move the 23rd Pioneers, the 5th Ghurkas, and
mountain train to the crest of the Shaturgurdan, and to intrench
themselves there. The 72nd Highlanders and 5th Punjaub Infantry
followed in a few days to secure the road between Ali Kheyl and the
pass. On the 13th, General Baker took command of the troops at the
Shaturgurdan, where the 23rd Pioneers and 5th Ghurkas had be