On the British left, the Afghans sheltered behind a massive stone sangar and poured in a mighty, if largely ineffective fire. From the right, a so-far hidden Afghan force on an isolated knoll opened up, catching the leading British and Indian troops in a crossfire.
“Fix bayonets, lads,” a Seaforth sergeant ordered. “We"ll mince the bastards.”
“Not yet, Seaforths,” an officer countermanded the sergeant"s order. “I won"t lose men unnecessarily.”
The mountain guns swung into action, firing at the knoll. The first salvo was too high, and then the gunners found the range and shells exploded on the Afghan positions.
“I wouldn"t fancy being under that lot,” Hancock said.
“Nor I,” Morriston agreed. He thought of himself as an old soldier now, with the makings of a moustache on his upper lip.
