the
advance, with whom were several ladies, who, seeing no other chance of
safety, galloped forwards, "running the gauntlet of the enemy's bullets,
which whizzed in hundreds about their ears, until they were fairly out
of the pass. Providentially the whole escaped, except Lady Sale, who was
slightly wounded in the arm." Several of Akber Khan's chief adherents
exerted themselves in vain to restrain the Giljyes; and as the crowd
moved onward into the thickest of the fire, the slaughter was fearful.
Another horse-artillery gun was abandoned, and the whole of its
artillerymen slain, and some of the children of the officers became
prisoners. It is supposed that 3000 souls perished in the pass, amongst
whom were many officers.

"On the force reaching Khoord-Cabul, snow began to fall, and
continued till morning. Only four small tents were saved, of
which one belonged to the General: two were devoted to the
ladies and children, and one was given up to the sick; but an
immense number of poor wounded wretches wandered about the camp
destitute of shelter, and perished during the night. Groans of
misery and distress assailed the ear from all quarters. We had
ascended to a still colder climate than we had left behind, and
we were without tents, fuel, or food: the snow was the only bed
for all, and of many, ere morning, it proved the
_winding-sheet_. It is only marvellous that any should have
survived that fearful night!

"_January 9th_.--Another morning dawned, awakening thousands to
increased misery; and many a wretched survivor cast looks of
envy at his comrades, who lay stretched beside him in the
quiet sleep of death. Daylight was the signal for a renewal of
that confusion which attended every movement of the force."

Many of the troops and followers moved without orders at 8 A.M., but
were recalled by the General, in consequence of an arrangement with
Akber Khan. "This delay, and prolongation of their sufferings in the
snow, of which one more march would have carried them clear, made a very
unfavourable impression on the minds of the native soldiery, who now,
for the first time, began very generally to entertain the idea of
deserting." And it is not to be wondered at, that the instinct of
self-preservation should have led them to falter in their fealty when
the condition of the whole army had become utterly hopeless.

Akber Khan now propo