Falcon Seven

Available at alibris.com
( 4.5/5.0 ★ | 345 downloads )
-- Click the link to download --

https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=*C/UgjGtUZ8&offerid=1494105.26
539780312364328&type=15&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alibris.com%2Fsearch%2
Fbooks%2Fisbn%2F9780312364328
Falcon Seven

ISBN: 9780312364328
Category: Media > Books
File Fomat: PDF, EPUB, DOC...
File Details: 16.9 MB
Language: English
Website: alibris.com
Short description: Good Size: 6x1x9;

DOWNLOAD: https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=*C/UgjGtUZ8&
offerid=1494105.26539780312364328&type=15&murl=http%3A%2F%2F
www.alibris.com%2Fsearch%2Fbooks%2Fisbn%2F9780312364328
 Falcon Seven

• Click the link: https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=*C/UgjGtUZ8&offerid=1494105.2653978031236432

8&type=15&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alibris.com%2Fsearch%2Fbooks%2Fisbn%2F9780312364328 to do
latest version of Falcon Seven in multiple formats such as PDF, EPUB, and more.

• Don’t miss the chance to explore our extensive collection of high-quality resources, books, and guides on
our website. Visit us regularly to stay updated with new titles and gain access to even more valuable
materials.
.
"Do not be surprised," the trader said; "this person is not what he
looks, but is an English effendi, the bearer of a letter from his
minister at Teheran to Shah Kamran. He is going to do us the honour
to lodge here for a time. He speaks our language as well as Persian."
"He is welcome," his wife said courteously; "and indeed his presence
here will afford us a protection which we shall need more than ever
when the passions of the people are excited by the siege."
"As you are accustomed to our ways," the husband said, "you will
not be surprised at my bringing you in here or at seeing the women
unveiled. As a rule, everywhere in the East we adopt the customs of
the country so far that our women veil when they go out, and my
wife and daughters would do the same here if they were to walk
through the streets. But my daughters have not left the house since
they were children; my wife has not done so since we took up our
abode here twenty-three years ago."
Angus uttered an exclamation of surprise.
"You would not be astonished if you knew the lawlessness that
prevails here. No young woman can venture safely into the streets,
for as soon as a report that she was good-looking reached Kamran
she would be seized and carried off to his harem even in broad
daylight. No respectable woman would think of going out save with
an armed escort."
"That is indeed a terrible state of things."
"We are accustomed to it now, effendi, and at any rate we are not
molested here. I make a present now and then to Yar Mahomed
Khan and also to his principal officer, and I am let alone by them. My
brother does the same. They know that I am a carpet-weaver
employing eight or ten men, and as they believe I could not be
squeezed to any large amount, they are satisfied to let us go on. So
as long as we keep quietly at home we are not molested, and we
both intend ere long to move from here to Teheran or Tabriz. We
have only been waiting until we can manage to get away with our
belongings without attracting notice. We have done very well since
we came here, for trade has been good. My brother buys up the
products of many other looms, and we have both made good profits,
but we take care that we do not keep more money than is necessary
here. Now I will show you the room that will be at your disposal. You
will, I hope, join us at our family meals, so that we shall not have to
cook for you separately."
"Certainly, it would be very much more pleasant for me."
The terms were arranged without difficulty, for the Armenian felt
that it might be a great protection for them to have an Englishman
in the house. The merchant then arranged to obtain a dress for
Angus similar to that worn by himself and his brother. This was
brought in on the following morning. Having put it on, Angus went
out accompanied by Azim. He decided to wait for a day or two
before seeing the wuzeer, so as to ascertain the state of things in
the town and the preparations for defence. He was going through
one of the narrow streets when a loaded camel came along behind
him, its paniers nearly touching the houses on each side. Its rider
did not give the usual shout of warning, and Angus had but just time
to jump into a doorway when it brushed past him, the Afghan driver
grinning maliciously at so nearly upsetting one whom he regarded as
a Sheeah trader. A man walking just in front of him, who was not
quick enough to get out of the camel's way, was knocked down. As
he got up Angus to his astonishment heard him mutter angrily,
"Confound you! I wish I had you outside this town, I would give you
a lesson you would not forget!" Astonished to find another
Englishman here in Afghan costume, Angus stepped up to him and
said, "I did not expect to find an Englishman here, sir."
The other turned sharply round. "I am as surprised as you can be,
sir! But we had better not be speaking English here. I am lodging
within fifty yards of this, if you will follow me I will take you there,
and we can then introduce ourselves properly."
In three minutes they were in the room occupied by the stranger.
"As host I will introduce myself first," he said with a smile. "My name
is Eldred Pottinger; I have been travelling through Afghanistan on an
unofficial mission to explore and report on the country to my uncle,
Colonel Pottinger, Resident in Scinde. Happening to arrive here at
the present crisis, and thinking that I might be useful if the city is
besieged, I have declared myself to the wuzeer, and although I still
retain my disguise there are many who know that I am an
Englishman."
"My name is Angus Campbell, Mr. Pottinger. I am in the employment
of the British minister at Teheran, and am the bearer of a letter from
him to Shah Kamran encouraging him to maintain the defence of the
city as long as possible, and holding out hopes that the British
government, which would view the attack upon Herat with grave
dissatisfaction, will endeavour to mediate between him and the
Shah, and may even take measures to put pressure upon the latter
to withdraw his forces."
"That is very satisfactory. Of course I have had no shadow of
authority to speak in that way, and could only assure him generally
that he would have the good will of the English, and that as an
English officer I would on my own part put any military skill that I
possess at his service, and, being myself an artillery officer, might be
of considerable assistance to him in the management and working of
the guns. But your letter will place me in a more favourable position.
What are your instructions? Are you going to return to the embassy
or remain here?"
"Mr. M'Neill left it to myself. He will join the Shah's army, as the
Russian ambassador is also with it. As he takes the dragoman of the
legation down with him, he has no absolute occasion for my
services. From what I have seen of the place so far, though I only
arrived yesterday, it does not seem to me possible that these mud
walls can withstand a battering fire. The place will therefore very
likely be taken in a few days; and as I should not care about being
in a town sacked by Persian troops, I had intended to leave it as
soon as I delivered my letter."
"There is no doubt about the weakness of the place; a European
army would carry it in three days. But the Persians have never been
remarkable for their courage, while the Afghans are undoubtedly a
fighting people. I think it is quite possible that the siege may last for
months. You know the dilatory way in which these Eastern people go
to work. Of course I can give no opinion whatever as to what would
be your best course. It would depend upon so many things—your
position at the embassy, your chances of promotion there, and other
matters of which I am altogether ignorant. I suppose you speak
Persian well?"

A MAN WALKING JUST IN FRONT OF HIM ... WAS KNOCKED DOWN.

"Yes, and also Arabic, and I can get on in Armenian and Kurdish. As
to my position, it is scarcely an official one. I am the son of a
Scottish trader who for twelve years carried on business at Tabriz.
He and my mother were carried off eight months ago by an
outbreak of plague, and his house and store were burned in some
street riots. I consulted the British vice-consul there, an Armenian
who was a friend of my father, and we agreed that from my
knowledge of languages I ought to be able to get on better in the
East than at home, where it would be of no use to me. I had acted
as my father's assistant for the last two years of his life, and had
therefore acquired a knowledge of trading; and I have a small
capital with which, when I get older, I can either enter into business
myself or join someone already established. I was very glad to
obtain this place in the embassy as a temporary employment until I
could see my way, for although Mr. M'Neill kindly took me on as an
extra assistant, of course his successor, whoever he may be, may
not want me."
"I think you have done very wisely. How old are you now?"
"I am a few months over sixteen."
"You are young indeed," Pottinger laughed, "to be engaged in
political affairs. Well, I should say that if the Afghans really mean to
fight, as I believe they will, they can hold the town for some time,
and you will therefore be able to learn their language, which would
be invaluable to you if you go in for commerce, or in fact whatever
you do out here. Things are in a disturbed state in Afghanistan, and
I should be surprised if the Indian Government does not interfere
there before long; and in that case anyone acquainted with Pushtoo
and with Arabic and Persian will have no difficulty in finding
employment with the army, and through my uncle I might be able to
put you in the way of it. And now about your mission.
"The wuzeer for some reason or other—I own I don't see why—has
been exceedingly civil to me. On my arrival I sent to say that I was a
stranger and a traveller, and that, should it be pleasing to him, I
would wait upon him. He sent down at once to say that he would
see me the next day. Of course on occasions of this sort it is usual to
make a present. The only thing that I could give him was a brace of
detonating pistols. He had never seen any but flint-locks before, and
accepted them graciously. Finding that I was a British artillery officer,
he at once asked my opinion on a variety of matters, and took me
round the walls with him, consulting me as to how they had best be
strengthened, and so on.
"I will go up and see him presently, and tell him that you have
arrived and are the bearer of a letter from our minister to Shah
Kamran. I shall of course mention that you have come in disguise,
and that you have therefore been unable to bring the customary
presents, and I shall point out to him that you possess the
confidence of the British minister. I shall say that for that reason I
have persuaded you to remain here during the siege, and that I am
sure you will act with me, and moreover will endeavour to keep
M'Neill well informed of everything going on here, and will
continually urge him to impress upon the British government the
importance of the position and the necessity for interfering to
prevent it from falling into the hands of the Persians. As to its
importance there is no doubt, especially as Russia appears to be
making Persia a cat's-paw in the matter. That is why I feel that while
fighting for these Heratees—who between ourselves seem to me to
be unmitigated ruffians—I am merely fighting for England, for it is of
the utmost importance that the gate of India should not be in the
hands of Persia, especially if, as you say, Russian influence is
dominant at Teheran."
"I am sure I shall be delighted if you will accept me as your
assistant, though I don't see at present what possible service I can
be."
"You will be of use. There will be no end of things to see about."
Then he burst out laughing. "It does seem absurd, doesn't it, that
we two, I a young lieutenant and you a lad not yet seventeen,
should be proposing to take a prominent part in the defence of a city
like this against an army commanded by the Shah of Persia in
person."
Angus joined in the laugh. "It is not ridiculous for you," he said,
"because as an artillery officer you must know a great deal more
about the defence of towns than these Afghans can do; but it
certainly is absurd my having anything to do in it."
Pottinger went with Angus to the house of the Armenian in order
that he might know where to find him. Leaving him there he went
up to the citadel, which stood on rising ground at one corner of the
town. He returned in an hour, and said that the wuzeer would
receive him at once.
"He is a good deal impressed," he went on, "with the fact that our
minister should have sent a messenger here with the letter. At first
he did not see why England should be interested in the matter, and I
had to explain to him about the Russian intrigue in Persia, and that
there was no doubt that sooner or later they would invade India,
and that this would be rendered comparatively easy by Herat being
in the hands of their friends the Persians. He enquired of me what
rank you held. I told him that you were a member of the embassy,
acting as assistant-secretary to the minister, and, as was evident by
his entrusting you with so important a despatch, were deep in his
confidence."
On arriving at the citadel they were at once conducted to the
apartment of the wuzeer. Yar Mahomed rose from his seat and
greeted them politely. Angus walked forward, bowed, and delivered
his letter.
"You speak Persian, your excellency?" the minister said. Angus had
difficulty in restraining a smile at his new dignity, but said gravely:
"Yes, your highness, I speak it and Arabic."
"You journeyed here comfortably, I hope?"
"Yes; there were a few adventures on the way, but not more than I
had expected."
Yar Mahomed opened and read the letter.
"You are aware of its contents?" he asked.
"Yes, I learned them by heart before I left Teheran, in case I should
be robbed of the letter on the way."
The wuzeer sat in thought for a minute.
"But how," he said doubtfully, "can your country, which is, as I hear,
very far distant, exercise any influence with the Shah? Surely you
could not send an army all that distance?"
"Not from England, your highness; but we could send a fleet that
could shut up all the ports in the Persian Gulf, and we could send
troops from India to occupy those places, and so destroy all their
trade. Moreover, we could put a stop to all trade passing by land
through this town to Scinde, and send a great army by sea and
invade Persia, and, as our soldiers are much better than the
Persians, might even take Tabriz and Teheran. The Shah knows that
they have done great things in India, and will see how they might
bring ruin on Persia."
"Yes, what your minister says is true; but will he do this at once?"
"That I cannot say," Angus replied. "At first, no doubt, the
government of England would say, 'Herat is very far off; it will fall
before we can do anything.' But if they find that it holds out bravely,
they will say, 'We must help these people who are fighting so well.'
There is another thing. It is said that there are already some Russian
officers with the Shah's army. The English are very jealous of the
Russians, and when they come to understand that it is Russia who
has sent the Shah to capture Herat their anger will speedily be
roused, and they will bid their minister say to the Shah, 'If you
continue to fight against Herat, we shall send our ships and our
army against you.' The Shah knows that we have conquered in India
people far more warlike than the Persians, and he will say to himself,
'Why should I run the risk of losing my kingdom merely to please the
Russians, who are really much more dangerous neighbours than the
English?'"
"The words of your excellency are wise," the wuzeer said. "You will
see that we shall hold out for months, or even for years if necessary.
I can understand now why the British minister has confidence in you
though you look so young. How many years has your excellency?"
"I am not yet thirty," Angus said calmly.
The wuzeer looked surprised.
"It is because your face is smooth that you look so young. We
Afghans wear our beards; I see that you do not, for even this brave
officer, who has come to fight for us, has no hair on his face. He has
told me that you will stay here, and assist with your advice."
"So far as I am able to do so, I will; but I am not greatly skilled in
such matters. Still, I will assist him so far as I can."
"It is good," the Afghan said.
"It would be better, your highness, that it should not be known that
I am an agent of the British minister; though of course you can, if
you find it necessary, cheer your soldiers by telling them if they fight
bravely and well the British minister will try and mediate between
you and the Shah, and to persuade him to draw off his army. But
were the Shah to know that the British minister has an agent here,
he would be wroth with him, and might not listen so willingly to his
representations. Let it then, I beg you, be supposed that, like Mr.
Pottinger, I am but an English traveller, who, chancing to be here, is
willing to do all that he can to aid in the defence of the town against
the Persians."
"Your words are good; so let it be. Where are you dwelling now?"
"At the house of the Armenian carpet-weaver Kajar. The times being
bad, his looms are at a stand-still, and he was glad to let me an
apartment."
"He is a good man," the wuzeer said, "a good man and honest, but
not rich."
Angus felt that the last words were rather a question than an
assertion, and he said:
"Surely no. His rooms are very simple, but they are clean, and if a
traveller can but find a clean lodging, he cares not how poor it is."
"Shall you be sending a message to the minister?"
"I shall endeavour to do so by a servant lad I have brought with me.
I will tell him that his mind may be at ease, for Herat can hold out."
"The Persians are cowards!" the wuzeer said angrily. "My horsemen
have been round them for many days, but they give them no
chance. They keep together like a flock of sheep, with their guns
and their infantry, instead of riding out bravely to bring in plunder
and fight with their enemies when they meet them."
Then turning to Pottinger he went on:
"I have sent out, as you advised me, to cut down all the trees within
half a mile of the town, so that the Persians will have no shelter
from our guns; and as all the granaries are emptied for miles round,
they will have a long way to go to get food. A number of men are
also at work at the place where, as you showed me, the wall was
rotten; and others are clearing out the ditch, and making the bank
steeper where it has slipped down, so that if they should be so mad
as to rush forward and try to cross the moat, they will not be able to
climb up."
"That is important, Wuzeer, and still more so is it that the little wall
at the foot of the mount of earth that surrounds the city wall should
be repaired. That is of the greatest importance. They may manage
to fill up the moat and cross it, but as long as the lower wall stands
they cannot climb up, even if a breach was made in the main wall."
"I will go round now with you," the wuzeer said, "and we will see
where the worst places are."
Angus accompanied them, and found that Pottinger's statement as
to the weakness of the fortifications was well founded. From a
distance the wall had looked imposing, for it was of considerable
height and great thickness, but it was entirely constructed of dried
mud, and heavy guns could effect a breach anywhere in the course
of a day or two. It was evident that if the place was to hold out, it
must depend upon the bravery of its troops and not upon the
strength of its walls.
For the next week the work went on incessantly. Every able-bodied
man in the town was employed in the repairs of the wall and in
cutting down trees, while the work of destroying grain and all kinds
of necessaries which could not be brought into the town was
performed by the troops. These were all Afghans, were in regular
pay, and formed the fighting army of the ruler of Herat. Their
discipline was at all times very lax, and the permission to destroy
and burn, which naturally included looting everything of value for
their own benefit, rendered them even less amenable to discipline
than before.
Eldred Pottinger, as far as he could venture, tried to induce the
wuzeer to have the work executed in a more regular manner and
under strict supervision by officers told off for the purpose, but Yar
Mahomed viewed the matter with indifference.
"What does it matter," he said, "whether the soldiers take things or
not? It would be all the same to the owners whether they have
them, or whether they are destroyed, or fall into the hands of the
Persians. In a few days the enemy will be here, and it would be
foolish to cause dissatisfaction among the soldiers over a matter of
no consequence whatever."
The country, indeed, was now deserted by all its inhabitants.
Immense stores of food had been brought into the city, every
unoccupied piece of ground between the city walls was crowded
with cattle, sheep, and horses, and there was no fear that famine
would for a very long period be a serious trouble to the besieged.
Eldred Pottinger's time was principally occupied in seeing to the
repair of the guns and their carriages. Without any definite rank
having been given to him, it was understood that all his orders had
the support of the wuzeer, and were to be obeyed as if they came
directly from him, and that the young man with him was also an
Englishman of some importance, and possessed similar powers.
While Pottinger looked chiefly after the military work performed by
the Afghans who had come into the town, Angus superintended that
upon which the Sheeahs were engaged. These Persian-speaking
people carried out his instructions cheerfully, because they were
given in their own language, and were not accompanied by the
contemptuous haughtiness and animosity which would have
characterized the orders of an Afghan, the hostility between the two
great religious sects of Islam being even greater than that
entertained by both against the infidel.
Pottinger had now taken up his abode at the house of Kajar, where
there were several apartments unoccupied. As he did not speak
Armenian, and knew but little Persian, Angus and he arranged to
have a mess of their own, engaging a man recommended to them
by the Armenian as a good cook. This had been rendered the more
necessary, as the trader with whom Angus had first spoken had also
moved with his wife to his brother's house.
He had taken this step because he foresaw that as the siege went
on the position of the Sheeahs would become more and more
unbearable, and that the protection the presence of the two
Englishmen could afford would be most valuable. Indeed Kajar, as
soon as he saw that Angus had been favourably received by the
wuzeer, had himself suggested that Pottinger might also be offered
accommodation at his house.
"There need be no further talk of payment, effendi, between us.
Your presence here will be of vastly greater importance than any
money you could give us. No one can say what will happen here. It
is not only our property, but our lives which will be at stake; but with
you as inmates here, no one would dare interfere with us, and we all
regard the fact that you should almost accidentally have been
brought here as a special blessing that has been sent from heaven
to us."
The young Englishmen thus strangely thrown together soon became
fast friends, and it was pleasant indeed to them to enjoy their
evenings together, after each had been engaged during the whole
day at the duties they had undertaken. A couple of hours, however,
were always spent by them, each in his own room. Pottinger
engaged the services of a mollah, or priest of the Sheeah sect, to
give him lessons in Persian, while Angus worked at Pushtoo with
Kajar, who spoke the Afghan language perfectly.
 CHAPTER III
THE SIEGE OF HERAT

ON 22nd of November, a fortnight after Angus arrived at Herat, the

Persian army took up its position on the plain to the north-west of
the city. The inhabitants crowded the walls to watch the advancing
host—the Afghan portion of the population with scowling faces and
muttered imprecations, the Sheeahs prudently abstaining from all
demonstrations of their feelings, but filled with hopes of deliverance
from their tyrants. Pottinger learned that the Afghan horse were
going to make a sortie, and he and Angus went together to the
north-west angle of the wall.
"A good deal will depend upon this first fight," Pottinger said. "If the
Persians easily repulse the assault, it will cause a deep depression
among the Afghans. If, on the other hand, the Heratees obtain a fair
amount of success, it will so encourage them that they will not fear
another time to encounter the enemy, and will fight strongly when
the walls are attacked."
In a short time the Afghan horse were seen pouring out of the
western gate. There was but small attempt at anything like military
order. It was a mob of horsemen; individually splendid riders, and
for skirmishing purposes unsurpassed, but, as Pottinger remarked to
his companion, quite unfit to stand against a charge of regular
cavalry equally endowed with courage. Keeping near the city wall
until facing the Persian position, where a regiment of cavalry were
hastily mounting, they wheeled round and rode against the enemy
with loud shouts. The Persians rode to meet them, but were unable
to withstand the impetuosity of the charge, and, amidst the exulting
shouts of the Afghans on the wall, wheeled round and fled in
disorder. The Afghans then turning, flung themselves upon a strong
body of infantry that was advancing against them in good order.
These, however, stood firm, emptying many saddles by a heavy
volley they poured in when the Afghans were close, and presenting
so steady a line of bayonets that the horsemen recoiled.
As they did so, the Persian artillery opened upon the Afghans, who
retired until near the wall, and then dismounted and opened fire
with their long matchlocks upon the Persian gunners. Pottinger ran
at once to a couple of guns close to where they were standing, and
under his directions the Afghans in charge of them at once replied to
the Persian guns. A number of the Afghan footmen ran out from the
gate on that side, and, joining the dismounted men, kept up a hot
fire, while those on the wall also joined in the conflict. As the Persian
guns could effect little against the infantry lying in shelter, they were
now directed against the wall, causing a rapid dispersal of the
peaceable portion of the spectators. The effect of their fire showed
at once the rottenness of the fortifications. Although but light guns,
they knocked down portions of the parapet, which crumbled as if it
had been made of rotten timber. Pottinger shook his head as he and
Angus walked along to watch the effect of the fire. "If a six-pound
shot can effect such damage as this, it is clear that when they get
their siege guns to work a few hours will effect a breach in the wall
itself."
On their side the Persians also sent out skirmishers. These pushed
forward to a point where they could take the Afghans in flank, and
cause them to retire nearer to the walls. The fighting was continued
until dark, when the Persians drew off, and the Afghans retired into
the city. No material advantage had been gained by either side, but
the Heratees were well content with the result. They had shown
themselves superior to the Persian cavalry, and had maintained
themselves against the infantry.
The Persians lost no time, and during the night pushed forward and
occupied all the gardens and enclosures on the west of the city, and
placed a strong force among the ruins of a village there. In the
morning they began to advance against the wall. The Afghans sallied
out horse and foot; the cavalry, unable to act in such broken ground,
moved round, and hanging on the flanks of the Persian camp,
continually threatened an attack. The infantry, taking advantage of
every wall and bush, maintained a heavy fire upon the enemy. The
artillery on both sides opened fire, but at the end of the day neither
party had gained any advantage.
The Afghans brought in the heads of several whom they had killed,
and a few prisoners. The heads were placed on pikes and exhibited
on the walls. The prisoners were bartered as slaves in exchange for
horses to the Turkomans, of whom a considerable party were
encamped at a short distance from the walls.
"It is horrible and disgusting," Pottinger said to his companion that
evening as they sat together, "this custom of cutting off heads, but
as it is, I believe, universal in the East, it would be worse than
useless to protest against it. It is the custom always to reward a
soldier for bringing in a head as a proof of his valour, though, in fact,
it is no proof, as he may simply, as he advances, cut it from the body
of a man shot by someone else. Putting aside the brutality, it
operates badly, for instead of following up an advantage hotly, the
men stop to collect these miserable trophies, and so give time to an
enemy to escape or rally. I have read in the accounts of the
campaigns of the Turkish conquerors that the heads were always
brought in to the general and piled before his tent, and that each
soldier was rewarded according to the number he brought in, and I
fancy it was the same thing with Mohammedan conquerors in India.
Well, I am afraid that we shall see a number of things that will
disgust us before the siege is over. If I were fighting solely for the
Heratees, I should certainly retire if they continue these barbarities.
But I have no interest whatever in them; in fact, I see that the
greater portion of the population would be benefited by living under
the Persian rule. I go into this matter solely because it is one I
consider of vital interest to England, and therefore, as an
Englishman I am willing to do my utmost to keep, not the Persians,
but the Russians from seizing this place."
Angus had now completely caught the enthusiasm of the young
artilleryman. He was perhaps less horrified than his companion, for
he had seen so much of Eastern modes of punishment, that he had
learned to regard them with less horror than that felt by Europeans
unaccustomed to Oriental methods.
"I have been accustomed to look on at acts of brutality," he said,
"for from the time when I first came out, my father always
impressed upon me that we were strangers in this part of the world,
and must be very cautious not to show any aversion to its customs.
It would lead us into endless trouble if we were to show in any way
that what to them seems only natural, was to us revolting; and
though I have often been tempted to interfere when I have seen
some act of brutality, I have always followed my father's
instructions, and walked away without showing any anger or disgust.
I agree with you that it is horrid, but it is not like seeing living men
tortured; at least, when one is dead it can make no great difference
if one is buried with a head or without one."
Pottinger laughed. "That is certainly one way of looking at it, and I
can understand that as the custom has prevailed among these
peoples for centuries they can scarcely understand our feelings of
abhorrence and indignation. However, I am determined that,
whatever I do or feel, I will keep my mouth shut, and not say a word
that would anger the wuzeer and shake my influence with him. At
present he is well disposed towards me, and I have been of real
assistance to him. When things become critical I may be of vital
service. From what Kajar says there is a strong suspicion that he is
not personally brave, which I can quite believe, as very few
thorough-paced brutes are. Now old Shah Kamran is, I must own, an
exception; an absolutely greater scoundrel than he has proved
himself to be probably never existed, but he is known to have been
in his earlier days as brave as a lion. If he had been some twenty
years younger I should have stronger hopes of eventual success
than I have now. Personal bravery in a general is of no extraordinary
advantage in a European army, where he is not expected to lead
men into battle, but with irregular troops like these Heratees it is of
vital importance. They will follow their leader anywhere, but if he
sends them into danger while he himself remains at a distance, they
lose their enthusiasm directly, and are half thrashed before the
battle begins."
"Do you not think that Kamran will be able at any important moment
to come forward and show himself among the defenders of the
breach? I hear that only a month or so ago he returned from a
campaign."
"I am afraid not. I have seen him twice, and although it cannot be
said that he is an imbecile, he is next door to it. He understands
what is going on, but his nerves are utterly shattered by drink; he is
in what may be termed the lachrymose condition of drunkenness. He
works himself into a state of childish passion; sometimes he raves,
then he whimpers. Certainly his appearance would have no inspiring
effect upon these rough Afghan soldiers. They want a man who
would rush sword in hand at their head, call upon them to follow
him, and then dash into the middle of the foe, and the miserable old
man could scarcely hold a sword in his shaking hand."
"Well, at any rate, the Afghans have fought bravely yesterday and
to-day."
"Excellently; but it is the work they are accustomed to. An Afghan
battle consists of two sets of men snugly hidden away among the
rocks, firing away at each other until one side loses a few men and
then retires. So they were quite at home at their skirmishing work,
and certainly more than a match for the same number of Persians.
What they will do when an attack on a breach is made by a column
remains to be seen."
Night and day the Heratees worked at their defences, while the
Persians raised batteries and fortified their camp against sudden
attacks. After four or five days of comparative quiet a heavy
cannonade broke out. Artillery played upon the walls, mortars threw
shell into the town, and rockets whizzed overhead. For a time the
consternation in the city was prodigious; the rockets especially,
which were altogether new to them, appalled the inhabitants, who,
as night came on, gathered on the roofs of their houses and
watched with affright the sharp trains of light, and shuddered at the
sound of the fiery missiles. The sound of lamentation, the cries of
fear, and the prayers to Allah resounded over the city; but the panic
abated somewhat when it was found that comparatively little injury
was effected. But while the peaceful inhabitants wailed and prayed,
the troops and the men who had come in from the Afghan villages
laboured steadily and silently at the work of repairing the damages
effected by the fire of the Persian batteries.
But little could be done to the face of the wall, but the crumbling
parapets and earth dug up from open spaces were used to construct
a fresh wall behind the old one at points against which the Persian
guns played most fiercely, so that when a breach was formed the
assailants would find an unlooked-for obstacle to their entrance into
the town. This work was directed by Pottinger, who took but little
rest, remaining constantly at his post, and only snatching an hour's
sleep now and then. Angus assisted to the best of his power, always
taking his place when his comrade could no longer battle against
sleep, and seeing that everything went on well. The Afghans yielded
a willing obedience to the orders of these young strangers. They saw
the utility of the work upon which they were engaged, and laboured
well and steadily. The Persian artillery were, fortunately for the
besieged, badly commanded. Instead of concentrating their fire
upon one spot, in which case a breach would have been effected in
a few hours, each gunner directed his aim as he thought best, and
the shot which, if poured upon a single point, would have brought
down the crumbling wall, effected no material damage, scattered as
it was over a face a mile in length.
It was all the less effective, inasmuch as the artillerymen generally
aimed at the parapet of the wall instead of the solid portion below it.
It was a delight to them to see a portion of the parapet knocked
down by their shot, whereas when the wall itself was hit
comparatively small show was made. Many of the shot flew high and
passed over the town into the fields beyond it, and at the end of
four days' almost continuous firing, Herat was stronger and more
capable of resistance than it was when the Persians first appeared
before the walls. The absence of any tangible result evidently
lowered the spirits of the besiegers, while it proportionately raised
those of the defenders. Moreover, the immense expenditure of
projectiles by the Persians showed the Shah and his generals that,
large as was the store of ammunition they had brought with them, it
might prove insufficient, and the labour and time which would be
entailed in renewing the supply from the magazines at the capital
would be enormous. Consequently the fire became irregular,
sometimes for an hour or two all the batteries would play, while at
other times only a few guns would be discharged in the course of an
hour.
The shells that were thrown into the city did much more damage
than the round shot of the batteries. Many houses were almost
destroyed by them, and whole families killed. These, however, were
for the most part peaceable Sheeahs, and the matter in no way
affected the defenders of the wall, whose spirits rose daily as they
perceived that the Persian artillery was by no means so formidable
as they had anticipated. The Persians made no attempt to blockade
the city, evidently fearing the sorties the defenders made, and
confined their operations to that side of the city before which they
were encamped. This was a great advantage to the besieged. Three
out of the five gates of the city stood open, communications were
maintained with the surrounding country, the cattle and other
animals went out to graze, and firewood and other commodities
passed freely into the town.
Throughout December the Persians were harassed by nightly
attacks. The working parties in their entrenchments were driven out,
tools carried off, the workmen killed, and the work performed during
the day destroyed, the assailants retiring before heavy masses of
infantry could be brought up to repel them. Upon many days scarce
a shot was fired, then for a few hours there would be a lively
cannonade, but of the same scattered and wasteful fashion as
before.
On December 26th all the Persian prisoners who had been captured
in the sorties were sent off for sale to the frontier of the Turkoman
country. The Shah retaliated by putting to death in various cruel
manners the Afghan prisoners who had fallen into his hands. Two
days later a mine was sprung and a breach effected in the wall. The
Persians advanced to storm it, but were met with the greatest
resolution by the Heratees, who repulsed them with considerable
loss, their leader being severely wounded, and a deserter from
Herat, a man of high military reputation among the Afghans, killed—
a fact that caused almost as much joy to the defenders as the
repulse of the assault. The success, however, of the mine, and the
knowledge that the Persians were engaged in driving several tunnels
towards the wall, caused a considerable feeling of uneasiness.
Nevertheless, the 30th, which was the day of the termination of the
long Mohammedan fast, was celebrated with the usual rejoicings,
which the besieged were enabled to take part in without fear of an
attack, as the day was being celebrated with similar festivities in the
Persian camp.
Shah Kamran went with his family in procession to the principal
mosque, and after the conclusion of the prayers usual to the
occasion, observed the custom of scattering sweetmeats to be
scrambled for by the priests. To their disappointment, however, he
did not follow this up by inviting them to a banquet, but sent extra
provisions to the troops and the workers on the walls. There was
now a pause in active operations for more than three weeks. The
Persians laboured at their mines, but either from ignorance of their
work, or on account of the water flowing from the moat into their
galleries, no damage resulted. The Heratees countermined under the
advice of Pottinger, but beyond proving that the Persian galleries
were not being driven where they expected, nothing came of it. But
on the 26th of January the Afghans determined to give battle to the
Persians in the open. Again the whole population gathered on the
walls, and the two young Englishmen were also there.
"The wuzeer asked me this morning whether I would go out with
them," Pottinger said to Angus, "but I replied that, although
acquainted with artillery and siege operations, I did not know
enough of the Afghan way of fighting to accept even a small
command in the field. I am useful here," he went on, "and I should
be of no use whatever outside. The Afghans have their own ideas as
to when to advance and when to retreat; besides, it might offend
some of the leaders were I, a stranger, to interfere in any way. There
is no jealousy of me at present, at least I think not. They know
nothing of sieges, and there is no one who holds any special post in
connection with the fortifications. No one therefore feels superseded.
In the next place, the work is for the most part carried out by
labourers, who get paid for their services, and not by the troops, and
it is nothing to them whether they get their orders from an
Englishman or an Afghan. In an attack on a breach I should certainly
fight; in the first place, because I consider it my duty, and in the
second, because, if the Persians get inside the walls, you may be
sure that there will be something like a general massacre."
The Afghan cavalry and infantry poured out from the gate, and
spread themselves over the open country to the east of the Persian
camp. The men on foot took possession of a village, and established
themselves in its houses and the gardens surrounding it. From the
wall a view could be obtained of the movements in the enemy's
camp. The vedettes had fallen back as soon as the Afghans issued
out, drums were beaten and horns sounded, the troops ran hastily
together, and their general, Mahomed Khan, could be seen galloping
about issuing orders. Presently a strong column moved out. It was
headed by cavalry; and as soon as these made their appearance the
Afghan horse galloped across the plain, while the crowd on the walls
burst into shouts of encouragement, although the troops were too
far off to hear them.
"It is a pretty sight, Angus, but about as unlike modern warfare as
could well be. European cavalry seeing a mob of horsemen coming
down upon them in such disorder would ride at them, and no
irregular horse could withstand the impact of a well-disciplined and
compact cavalry charge. There, the Persians are forming line; but
there is no smartness about it, it is done in a half-hearted sort of
way, as if they did not like the business before them. There, they are
off; but they are too slow, they won't be fairly in a gallop before the
Afghans are upon them."
For a minute or two the contending bodies were mixed in a confused
mass, then the shouts of the spectators rose high as the Persians
could be seen flying towards their infantry hotly pursued by the
Afghans. Then came the rattle of musketry, the quick reports of
cannon, as the infantry and artillery covered the retreat of their
cavalry. Presently the Heratee horse were seen retiring from the
village in which the struggle had taken place; another body, which
had not yet been engaged, instead of riding forward to support
them, also, turned, and for a time all rode off, while the Persian
cavalry were reinforced from the camp and pursued them. The
Heratees soon recovered themselves and again charged, but again
the leading squadrons were badly supported by those behind. These
were under another leader, who was probably influenced by jealousy
or by tribal hostility, and the Persian horse, well supported by their
infantry, gradually gained the advantage, their own infantry coming
to the support. The Afghan footmen also advanced, and the fight
was maintained during the whole day.
"It is like playing at war," Pottinger said irritably; "except in that first
charge they have never really come to blows. It is skirmishing rather
than fighting. Here there are some ten or twelve thousand men,
taking both sides, cavalry, infantry, and a few guns. I don't think that
when our men come in again it will be found that they have lost a
hundred, and I don't suppose the Persians have lost much more. It
is a fair field for fighting, and between two European forces of the
same strength a long day's battle would probably have caused three
or four thousand casualties. One would think that neither party was
in earnest. Certainly the Heratees are, though I don't suppose the
Persian soldiers have any particular personal interest in the matter."
The action was altogether indecisive, and at the end of the day the
Persians held no ground beyond the village where their infantry first
opened fire, while the Heratees had gained nothing by their sortie.
When the Afghans re-entered the walls it was found that Pottinger's
estimate as to the amount of loss was very near the truth; there
were between twenty-five and thirty killed, and some four times as
many wounded, more or less seriously. They of course claimed a
victory, and were highly satisfied with their own doings, but the
operations only tended to show that neither party had any
eagerness for real fighting.
On the 7th of February Pottinger said: "I have received permission to
go into the Persian camp to-morrow. Kamran has given me a
message on his part to the Persian king. It is an appeal to him to
retire. He says that when Khorassan was in rebellion he refused the
entreaties of its chief to aid them, although at that time he could
have raised ten thousand horsemen, and might, with the rebels of
Khorassan, have marched to Teheran. He had sent one of his highest
officers to congratulate the Shah on his succession, and now the
latter is without provocation marching against him. He prays him
therefore to retire, to aid him with guns and men to recover the
dominions he has lost in Afghanistan, and if he be successful he will
hand over Herat to him. Yar Mahomed has also given me a message
to the Persian minister, just the sort of message I should have
expected from him. He declares that he is devoted to the Shah and
to him, but that he is bound to stand by his master. That whatever
might be his own wish, the Afghans would never surrender the city,
and that he dare not propose such a thing to them, but that he shall
ever remain the faithful servant of the Shah and of the minister
whom he regards as his father. I will take you with me if you wish,
but that must be a matter for your own consideration."
"I should, of course, like to go," Angus said, "but I do not know that
it would be wise for me to do so. Mr. M'Neill may be in the Persian
camp. It is not probable that I should be recognized, still there must
be many officials there who came frequently to see him at the
embassy, and who would know me. Should one of these declare that
I was a member of the mission, it might create a very bad
impression against M'Neill, as it would seem that he was in secret
communication with Kamran."