e, with the
intention of opposing Abdul-Rahman, and again reseating Yakoob on
the throne. He had also preached a holy war against the British.

"I fear that the trouble is serious," General Burrows said. "The
troops Ayoub is bringing with him have not yet met us in the field.
The population on the road is wild and fanatical, in the extreme;
and will, no doubt, join him to a man. On the other hand, the
troops of the Wali are not to be depended upon, and the brunt of
the fighting is sure to fall upon us."

Three days later, the order was issued by General Primrose that the
66th Regiment, the Bombay Grenadiers, and Jacob's Rifles; together
with the 3rd Scinde Horse and 3rd Bombay Cavalry, with a battery of
artillery; were to move out with the Wali's army towards Girishk,
on the river Helmund, which formed the boundary between the
province of Candahar and that of Herat.

After the long period of inactivity at Candahar, Will was delighted
at the thought of taking part in an expedition, with his regiment;
but when they reached the Helmund life was, for some time,
exceedingly monotonous. The news of Ayoub's advance greatly excited
the population--who had been further worked up by agents, widely
distributed through the country; and by the exhortations of the
Mollahs and Ghazis. Consequently, rambling at any distance from the
camp was forbidden; and the shooting parties, which had been one of
the great resources of their life at Candahar, were peremptorily
put an end to.

Colonel Ripon had accompanied the force, as the Wali's adviser.
Both he and Will had recovered completely from their wounds. When
the regiment first marched, indeed, the surgeon had strongly
recommended Will to remain behind, until his wound had completely
healed; but the young officer had so strongly begged to be allowed
to accompany the regiment that the surgeon had consented. His
colonel had, for a time, relieved him from all duty, and he rode in
rear of the regiment; but within a fortnight of their arrival at
the Helmund, he was able to lay aside his sling, and to take his
turn of regular duty.

The officers did all that they could to make existence tolerable,
on the sandy shores of the Helmund. They got up foot races and
athletic sports for the men, played cricket on the sands, and
indulged in a bath--twice a day--in the river. Will often spent the
evening in Colonel Ripon's tent. A warm friendship had arisen
between the two officers, and each day