“Jack!” Elliot said, “ride ahead and see what"s happening!”
Jack spurred out of the Sherpur cantonment and headed for the now-increasing sound of gunfire. He had not far to go before a hatless sowar galloped towards him, wide-eyed with panic.
“Whoa now!” Jack grabbed hold of the reins of the sowar"s horse. “What"s the matter, sowar?”
The man was about seventeen, gasping for breath. Jack calmed him down with a few sharp words.
“Afghans, sahib,” the sowar said.
“Where, and how many? What"s happened?” Jack asked.
After a few moments and many questions, Jack managed to piece together what had happened. Baker had ordered General Massy to take a battery of artillery and three hundred cavalrymen to support Macpherson, and not to fight unsupported. Rather than taking the Kabul to Arghandah r
