The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-16

Royal Regiment Of Cuirassiers, which
formed part Of the British forces in
Afghanistan, was split up-part being
stationed at Lundi Kotal, part at Jel-
lalabad, and part at Caubool itself.
Somehow or other the Cuirassiers
did not seem to care much about the
country Of the ameer, and were accus-
toned to look back to the delights OF
Indian life and society, very much as
old people look back to the days of
their youth.
The men hated it and Of the
officers, why, those at Caubool envied
their comrades at Jellalabad, because
they were few marches nearer to In
dia and civilization; while those quar-
tered outside the Fort at Jellalabad
envied their fellows at Lundi Kotal,
because that delectable spot was so
many miles nearer to Peshawur and
the Kyber Pass; and the officers of
the Royal Regiment of Cuirassiers,
then lying at Lundi Kotal, were thor
oughly sick of the place, and would
have welcomed any change Of quar-
ters, whether it took them backward
or forward.
1t was not altogether bad kind of
place-they admitted that; but it was
cool, and in a fairly pleasant situa-
ton, with nothing much to complain
Of except the sand-fies, which, as
Scott remarked to Stephen Slingsby,
whose tent adjoined his, were the very
devil.
And there were frequent excite
ments attending the intercourse be-
tween the occupants of the British
camp and the gentry of the surround
ing neighborhood. For instance, one
night the Shinwarries CHANGED to go
a-raiding shade too near the British
outposts, and the sentries promptly
had a shot at them and ''potted"
brace.
The following morning these mas
cradles were traced by their blood to
the village whence they came, and
detachment Of troopers was sent out,
and their houses burned over their
heads "a course Of action which
might be just in the abstract, but was
undeniably hard in the reality.
Next day the Shinwarries took their
revenge, and lay in wait for camel
party returning from water; they
sliced the drivers neatly in halves and
took entire charge of the camels-
nine Of them.
Naturally enough, the officer in
command Of the British camp could
not stand this kind Of conduct; there
fore seco nd party Of retributive re-
venge went out, several towers were
blown up, and goodly number Of
crops were confscatod.
But would the war-loving Afghans
quietly submit to that? Not bit Of
it! When morning light rose again
upon the British camp, it was found
that all the pipes and drinking
troughs which supplied the camp
with water had beeen smasbed-a
proceeding which left the command
ing officer no alternative but to seize
the leaders of the Shinwarries, who
were fogged, and made to pay several
thousand rupees by way Of indemnity.
Of course all these little interchan-
ges Of attentions were tc certain ex-
tent exciting; yet they became weari-
some in time, and, moreover, big,
bronzed Britons grew weary of wag-
ing unequal war against unequal
tribes.
1T is a beastly hole!' exclaimed
Scott to Slingsby one day. Il vote
we try and get ten days leave to go
up to Jellalabad, and look up the fel-
lows there. don't believe we shall
ever get any further than this-we
shall just dawdle on here until the war
is over. and then be sent back to In
dia to receive a medal we have done
nothing to earn
Yes! 1t would be great fun to go
on as far as Jellalabad," answered
Slingsby willingly enough. They
say it's no end of jolly place. sup
pose we should have to go by the
post-tonga?"
"Yes; no use taking it out of our
own gees" Scott answered. II shall
apply for the leave at once"
$50 shall l, though l don't believe
l shall get it, said the other.
However, the two officers did OBJ
tain the ssked-for leave, partly be-
cause the commanding officer wanted
to send some important letters on to
relative of his at Jellalabad, and this
would give him a good chance of send
ing them in greater security than by
post-tonga, which had only native
driver and a couple Of Gezaliekis for
escort. So, on a fined clear April
morning, Scott (the senior subaltern
but one) and Slingsby "a lad barely
twenty, of under a years service)
found themselves iu the post-tonga or
mail-cart, which ran from Lundi Kha-
ma to Jellalabad.
The journey did not begin auspi-
ciously. The tonga was minus its
awning, and the early start caused the
two officers to miss their breakfast