became clear and starry, although there was no moon, and the dark masses of mountain, occupied by our enerny, were visible for many a mile. Waiting for us on those hills above were, our General knew, some thousands of Afghans thirsting for our blood. Few sounds were there in the night except the challenge of our sentries, the Highlanders, 'Wha gaes thar?' or the Sepoys, 'Woo-go-da?' as our chief and two of his staff go round. Then we heard the ripple of the waters, and saw in their reflections a myriad stars, reminding us of nights, perhaps less bright, but more dear, at home. Away in the distance were the occasional watch-fires of our men, for as our force was of such magnitude, it would have been idle and useless to have attempted to conceal our camps.

Our leading columns moved off quietly and unmolested at four a.m., and not until our rear guard approached the defile I have attempted to describe were we attacked. Our last brigade was scarcely clear of the pass when a heavy and rattling fire, although ill aimed, came from the concealed breastwork I have named. A dear young friend with whom I was riding cried out with all the ardour of a schoolboy, 'By George, the chief was right! There is a wasp's

nest here!

Our conversation was curtailed, as the General galloped up to find an officer to take a message. Fortunately I was chosen, and putting spurs into the old bay Arab, from whose saddle many a pig has been smitten, I galloped up the side of the kotal to give the General's order to young P- who held the picket.

Meanwhile our baggage was clear of the pass, and all we had to do was to keep these human vultures off

and give our mules and camels time enough to obtain protection from our columns. The rocks I have named on our flanks were held by some Highlanders and some native troops, chiefly chosen marksmen, and these had been until now unseen by the enemy. Our concealed foe, as I have said, had constructed a small breastwork on the rock to our right, but did not know that it was dominated by our detachments hidden higher among the tall crags. The Afghans, seeing our preparations for attack, gladly accepted the challenge. We had no sooner commenced to fire at them with our mountain guns, with shrapnel, common shell, and shot, than they rushed down the slopes of the hills, climbing, or rather jumping, over places which no one but a born cragsman could face; then they with loud cries dashed upon our pickets above. Our shrapnel fire had checked them from advancing direct upon us, and drove them on to the muzzles and bayonets of our concealed pickets. The latter, I must say, were attacked with the greatest determination, while two of the enemy's standards were carried in front by leaders who evidently did not belong to the village. All the efforts of our enemy to dislodge our pickets proved unavailing, and about an hour after the combat had begun a larger body of men, who had hitherto fired only an occasional shot, commenced to move upon us from their position, their jezail and matchlock men posting themselves most advantageously in the pine wood, and opening a fire upon us which, with better marksmen, would have been galling in the extreme. The steady mitraille, however, from our rifles, with which they they were received, rendered their gallant attempt abortive, and we drove them back up the hill, leaving the ground marked here

and there by a few dead men, who had fought bravely to the last, and who, doubtless, thought more of their faith than of their lives.

Of our reconnaissance to-day and preparations for to-morrow I would fain tell you, but I am sent for by a staff officer, and must close my bag, unless the mail be delayed. At all events, I may say that Gough this day has done good work. His news after his skirmish was important, and to the following effect:-The headquarters of Ayub are now at Mazra, where nearly all his best forces are with him. He has been endeavouring to break up the roads leading from Kandahar to his position with gunpowder, but, we hear, without much success. This afternoon, therefore, Gough went out with the 3rd Bengal Cavalry, 15th Sikhs, and a couple of mountain guns, and made a most successful reconnaissance towards the enemy on the Herat road. Of this, as I obtained permission to go, I will tell you tomorrow, if I 'keep the number of my watch,' for to-morrow we fight, as Ayub cannot escape, and, to do him justice, I do not think he would, flushed as he must be with the bloody records of Maiwand.

CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE BEFORE THE BATTLE.

Head-quarters Camp, Karez Hill, Night of 31st Aug. YESTERDAY afternoon General Roberts sent for Generals

Macpherson, Hugh Gough, Macgregor, and Colonel Chapman, chief of the staff, and explained to them his wish for a cavalry reconnaissance, and to utilise the same by clearing the low hills beyond our old canton

ments, as these were held by the enemy in force, and commanded our water supply in that direction. Indeed, the supply for the use of the garrison had already been cut off, and great was the rejoicing thereat by Ayub's people. At first it was thought only necessary to drive these fellows from the hills, whence they were occasionally dropping shells into our camp, but second considerations induced the General to make the reconnaissance in force, and, if necessary, convert it into a serious attack. The position of the enemy on the morning of the 31st was as follows:-His main camp was on the Baba Wali range and Kotal, standing on the right bank of the river, and extending about thirty miles from east to west, and at its topmost ridges not less than 5000 feet high. Its sides are for the most part steep, bare, and rugged, the higher summits being fringed with forests of fir, and in the winter capped with snow. There are, however, various small villages belonging to the tribes, amongst which the principal is called Gundi-Moola-Sahibdab. Here and there dense forests run down to the plains. The roads are few and bad-in fact, mere tracks for mules between the villages. To the north-west of the Baba Wali Kotal is a higher and more precipitous range, through which there is only one pass, called Murcha Kotal, and this lies almost due north of Kandahar. The mountain on the eastern side is very abrupt, and is divided by the Argandab, while all along its southern slopes lie the plains of Pir Paimal. The scenery from the crest of the Pir Paimal Kotal is very varied, and contains, in many respects, elements of grandeur. Το the south-west the vast plains of Kandahar stretch away in endless expanse—at least, such is the effect produced by the mists rising in the valleys. The Argandab, after

leaving the foot of the mountain, widens considerably in its southern course, and at certain seasons attains the proportions of a lake. Just before reaching the highest range of hills it joins the Helmund, flowing in the valley of that name, and then, passing along by many villages, it rushes through a narrow gorge, and is lost to sight. Whilst the chief characteristics of the southern view are those of a vast cultivated plain, watered by numerous rivers, and dotted here and there with peaceful villages, the aspect to the north is of an entirely different character. At the very foot of the northern slopes lies the sheltered narrow valley of Mazra, and here Ayub had made his head-quarters.

As many details had to be settled, our force did not parade as early as originally intended, but by ten a.m. the following troops were paraded :—3rd Bengal Cavalry, two mountain guns, the 15th Sikhs, and a few of Macpherson's Brigade. We moved quietly out of camp, the cavalry and guns bearing away under some low hills to our right, while Macpherson took his infantry steadily to the front. Our plan was to drive the enemy from the first range of low hills, which acted as a sort of glacis to the Pir Paimal range to the south-west of Kandahar, while Gough and Chapman took their handful of cavalry along the Herat road, in the hope of getting the enemy to show his strength in that direction. All turned out admirably. But little resistance was made at first to Macpherson, whose men did not fire more than twenty shots before the fellows placed as outlying pickets on the hills bolted in front of our men. At first they seemed inclined to make a stand; but when they saw Macpherson's well-known grey charger, and heard the ringing tones of his word of command, they would not