uld they wage war against other
Christians?"

Heideck saw that it would be impossible to explain these things, that
were beyond his own comprehension, to the dark-skinned lad. And only a
few hours of the night still remaining for sleep, he despatched him to
bed.

The first rays of the sun had begun to quiver over the wide plain when
the forward march commenced. Heideck, already before dawn of day, was
in the saddle, and found time to exchange a few words with Colonel Baird
before setting out.

The Colonel occupied that day a position of great importance and
responsibility. He commanded a brigade, consisting of two English and
one sepoy regiments, the lancers, and a battery. In addition, he was in
command of the auxiliaries sent by the Maharajah of Chanidigot, and led
by Prince Tasatat, consisting of one thousand infantry, five hundred
cavalry, and one battery. The Prince rode out magnificently attired and
armed; the hilt and scabbard of his sword sparkled with precious stones,
and a cockade of valuable diamonds flashed from his turban. The bridling
and caparison of his mount, a splendid chestnut, represented alone a
small fortune. His troops were also splendidly equipped, and displayed
great confidence. The horsemen carried long pikes, like the English
lancers, and wore red turbans, striped with blue. But many had been
obliged to enter the lines of infantry in spite of their heavy boots,
since a great number of horses, of the Mohammedan as well as the English
cavalry, had died in consequence of bad fodder and over-exertion.

The movement of the British army was rather complicated. The English
forces were massed in two divisions between Shah Dara and the park
of Shalimar. The first comprised the Indian troops, officered by
Englishmen; the second the English regiments. In this way seventy-five
thousand Indians were to be prevented from running away. Should the
first division be compelled to fall back, it would be checked by the
twenty-five thousand English. The advance march was commenced in such
fashion that the right half of the line of battle, sweeping far round to
the right, executed a left wheel, and in this way lengthened the front
by about one-third; this was done in order to fill up the gap caused in
the centre. The second division was pushed forward into the first, and
now formed the centre of the line of battle. At the same time a new
second division was formed by leaving in reserve troops of the advancing