“They’re coming closer, sir!” Deblin said.
Jack unholstered his revolver and took a deep breath. “Fire!” he shouted. “Reload and withdraw ten paces!”
Side by side, the 113th and the Sikhs gradually approached the British camp. A Sikh crumpled without a sound as an Afghan bullet found him, and another shouted the Sikh warcry, “Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akaal!”
Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akaal“Come on, you Paythan bastards!” a private of the 113th responded. “Cry Havelock!”
Jack started. The 113th had used that warcry during the Indian Mutiny, when General Henry Havelock led them in a series of victories over terrible odds. Jack had not heard it used in years.
The Afghans rushed again, ghazis in white and regulars who wore uniforms very similar to the sepoys. The Sikhs and 113th met them with co
