d Ghazis; the regular regiments having
been drawn up behind the Pir-Paimal Pass, by which they expected
our main attack to be made--a delusion which was kept up by our
heavy fire, from early morning, upon the Afghan guns on the summit
of the pass. When our troops appeared round the corner of the spur
upon their flank they lost heart at once; and for the most part,
throwing away their arms, joined the body of fugitives.

"It would have been hard work, sir," Will Gale said to Colonel
Ripon, as they rode forward in rear of the fighting brigade, "to
have taken this position with the Candahar force, alone."

"It could not have been done," Colonel Ripon replied, "but no one
would have dreamed of attempting it. The Afghans say that the force
which Roberts brought down, from Cabul, was so large that they
stood on the defensive; but they would have ventured to attack us,
had we sallied out and offered battle on the level plain, round the
city. Then, I have no doubt we could have beaten them.

"However, all is well that ends well. Roberts has come up in time,
and has completely defeated the enemy; still, it would have been
more satisfactory had we retrieved Maiwand, by thrashing him
single-handed.

"Well, I suppose this is the end of the Afghan war. We have beaten
Ayoub: I hope, so effectually that Abdul-Rahman will have no
difficulty in dealing with him, in future and, if he really means
the professions of friendship which he has made us, we may hope for
peace, for some time. Probably the next time we have to fight, in
this country, it will be against the Russians and Afghans, united.

"There are men in England who persist in shutting their eyes to the
certain consequences of the Russian advance towards the northern
frontier of Afghanistan; but the time will come when England will
have to rue, bitterly, the infatuation and folly of her rulers.
When that day arrives, she will have to make such an effort, to
hold her own, as she has never had to do since the days when she
stood, alone, in arms against Europe."

Upon the following day, Will paid a visit to his friends in the
Rangers.

"So you got through Maiwand safely!" the colonel said. "Upon my
word, I begin to think that you have a charmed life.

"I hear one of your captains died, last night. That gives you your
step, does it not?"

"Yes, sir."

"You are the luckiest young dog I ever heard of. You got your commission,
within a year of enlisting; and now, by an ext