h with dispatches. Pollock entered Cabul
triumphantly on the 16th of last month, and, better still, Lady Sale
has been rescued by Shakespear, and brought safe into the British camp,
together with the other hostages. _Te Deum laudamus!_

This should end the whole wretched business--this and the sack of the
city. I hope Pollock won't be squeamish, or truckle to the hysterical
party at home. The towns should be laid in ashes and the fields sown
with salt. Above all, the Residency and the Palace must come down. So
shall Burnes, McNaghten, and many another gallant fellow know that his
countrymen could avenge if they could not save him!

It is hard when others are gaining glory and experience to be stuck in
this miserable valley. I have been out of it completely, bar a few petty
skirmishes. However, we may see some service yet.

A jemidar of ours brought in a Hillman today, who says that the tribes
are massing in the Terada ravine, ten miles to the north of us, and
intend attacking the next convoy. We can't rely on information of this
sort, but there may prove to be some truth in it. Proposed to shoot our
informant, so as to prevent his playing the double traitor and reporting
our proceedings. Elliott demurred.

If you are making war you should throw no chance away. I hate
half-and-half measures. The Children of Israel seem to have been the
only people who ever carried war to its logical conclusion--except
Cromwell in Ireland. Made a compromise at last by which the man is to
be detained as a prisoner and executed if his information prove to be
false. I only hope we get a fair chance of showing what we can do.

No doubt these fellows at the Front will have C.B.'s and knighthoods
showering upon them thick and fast, while we poor devils, who have had
most of the responsibility and anxiety, will be passed over completely.
Elliott has a whitlow.

The last convoy left us a large packet of sauces, but as they forgot to
leave anything to eat with them, we have handed them over to the Sowars,
who drink them out of their pannikins as if they were liqueurs. We hear
that another large convoy may be expected from the plains in the course
of a day or two. Took nine to four on Cleopatra for the Calcutta Cup.

October 4.--The Hillmen really mean business this time, I think. We have
had two of our spies come in this morning with the same account about
the gathering in the Terada quarter. That old rascal Zemaun is at the
head of it, and