1 MACKESON’S SKIRMISH. 391
2 was nowhere to be seen; but in half an hour he
3 joined us, the deep chasms in the hills having
4 caused him to ‘make several detours, which
5 lengthened his journey considerably. Rattray,
6 too, was descried winding along the bed of the
7 stream, and a messenger was despatched with
8 directions for him to halt and form the camp
9 on a piece of level ground a little in advance,
10 but far below where we stood. We could gain
11 no tidings of Lieutenant Mackeson, and were
12 wondering where he could be, when a man
13 arrived and hastily requested that some assist-
14 ance might be sent to him, as he had been
15 driven back by a strong force of Khaibaris.
16 This, from what we could learn, was consequent
17 on the cowardice of a party of Nujeebs, who had
18 accompanied his band of Multanis, and with
19 whom he had at first succeeded in chasing the
20 foe from one post to another, even to occupying
21 a height on the opposite side of the Pass, when
22 the Afredis, receiving reinforcements, made
23 a bold sally, which struck such terror into the
24 Sikh troops that they fled at once. Maekgson,
25 however, retained his advantage as long as he