herton that his time was come, and signalled to the troops
still toiling up the pass what to expect when they got through.

That fight round the guns was the most desperate of the day. The
Afghans knew that to capture them as they stood, meant the certain
annihilation of the British troops as they defiled into the plain.
Forrester knew it, too.

Unlike Atherton, he had no protected sides. The enemy was all round
him. The little troop at his command was barely able to cover one side
of the square; and the gunners, obliged to fight hand to hand where they
stood, were powerless to advance a step. Every moment was golden.
Already a distant bugle-note announced that Atherton's horse had broken
loose, and were somewhere within reach--probably cutting their way
through the guns. And within a few minutes the head of the column
ascending the defile would also come upon the scene. Hold the guns till
then, and all might yet be safe.

So decided Captain Forrester, as with a cheery smile on his handsome
face he shouted to his men to hold out, and fought like a lion beside
the foremost gun.

The Afghans, baffled by the stubborn resistance, and aware of the danger
of delay, hurled themselves upon that devoted little bond with a fury
before which nothing could stand. Man after man dropped across his gun;
but still Forrester shouted to his men and swung his sabre. It was no
time for counting heads. He hardly knew whether, when he shouted,
thirty, or twenty, or only ten shouted back. All he knew was the enemy
had not got the guns yet, and that was sufficient!

A bugle! Five minutes more, and they might still laugh at the foe. The
bugle-note came from Atherton's men, who at the first sound of the gun
had vaulted with a cheer to their horses and dashed towards the sound.
Many a brave comrade they left behind them, and many more dropped right
and left as they cut their way forward. Atherton, at their head, peered
eagerly through the dust and smoke. All he could see was a surging mass
of human beings, in the midst of which it was impossible to discern
anything but the flash of sabres, and at one spot a few British helmets
among the turbans of the enemy. That was enough for Major Atherton.
Towards that spot he waved on his men, and ordered his bugler to sound a
rousing signal. The bugler obeyed, and fell at the major's side before
the note had well ceased! The struggle round the guns increased and
blackened. One after a