1 178 THE WAR WITH THE BRITISH.
2 Thus the opposing armies lay watching' each other for many
3 days, ere the preparations of the British for the attack were
4 completed. In the interval, the battle of Aliwal was fought,
5 where Runjoor Sing was routed with great slaughter by a
6 detachment of the enemy's force which had been sent to
7 the relief of Loodiana. The news of this reverse created
8 a panic among the Seiks, both in Court and in camp. The
9 troops, notwithstanding their strong position and superior
10 numbers, lost all heart and regarded themselves as doomed
11 to defeat and slaughter. They had no confidence in their
12 leaders, and their only hope of safety lay in the promise of
13 Goolaub Sing to place himself at their head. This chief had,
14 on the first out-break of hostilities, been summoned from
15 Jummoo, whence he had come with no great alacrity. He
16 made, however, a great show and many promises of assistance,
17 which were never to be realised. At length he reached
18 Lahore, with about three thousand men and large quantities
19 of supplies j but though his troops were sent forward to join the
20 army, he himself remained at the capital, on various pretences,
21 for some time. He was now surrounded by about five hun-
22 dred Punches, who spoke of making him Wuzeer, and of
23 carrying him to the camp to lead the army against the
24 British. He, however, evaded compliance with their wishes,
25 making them satisfied for a while longer with promises and
26 professions. He would, he said, shortly proceed to take the
27 command of the army on the banks of the Sutlej, and he
28 urged the necessity of abstaining from an attack upon the
29 British until he should have placed himself at the head of the
30 troops.
31 But, as possibly may have been anticipated by the saga-
32 cious chief of Jummoo, ere his time for taking the command
33 arrived, the British had acquired strength sufficient to become
34 the attacking party instead of waiting to be attacked. Goo-