alley, marched back towards Cabul and, coming across
the scene of the late action, brought in the bodies of the dead
officers. The guns had already been carried off for, as the enemy
advanced, Colonel Macgregor--collecting a handful of lancers and
artillery men--worked round to their rear and--dispersing a small
body of the enemy, who had lingered at a village near the
guns--succeeded in extricating the cannon from the swamp, and
carried them off to Sherpur.

From the signal post established above Bala-Hissar, an order was
flashed to General Baker--who was many miles away--to inform him of
what had occurred, and to order him to march back, with all speed.
Late that evening he arrived, with his column; and the British
force was again united.

The next day, 560 men of Macpherson's brigade--composed of portions
of the 67th, the 72nd, the 3rd Sikhs, and 5th Ghoorkas--were sent
out to attack the enemy; who had established themselves upon a
lofty peak, south of Cabul. The Afghans occupied the crest in
strength and, hidden behind the hill, had 5000 or 6000 men lying in
wait, to attack the assailing party in the rear as they pressed
upwards.

The position was, however, too strong to be carried. After several
hours of fighting, the little British force had driven the Afghans
from the lower part of the hill; but were unable to mount towards
the crest, for ammunition was running short, and the enemy were too
strongly posted. General Roberts therefore ordered Macpherson to
hold the ground which he had gained, until next morning, when more
troops would be sent.

At eight o'clock in the morning, accordingly, General Baker moved
out from Sherpur, with a strong force, and attacked the enemy's
position in flank; while Macpherson continued his advance in front.
The Afghans fought desperately, and clung to their position until
the British were close up; when a desperate hand-to-hand struggle
took place, and the British became masters of the position.

While the fighting had been going on, great masses of the enemy had
come down from the end of the valley, and threatened the road
between Sherpur and Cabul. The 9th Lancers made a magnificent
charge among them, broke them, and drove them back. Several other
brilliant charges were made, and the plain was kept clear of the
enemy. Captain Butson, however--who commanded--was killed, and two
other officers wounded.

With each hour that passed the position grew more serious, as
immense b