1 SKIRMISHING. 403
2 sufficiently close to be unpleasant and disagree-
3 able. One hit me on the bridle arm, impress-
4 ing me for the moment with the, notion that
5 some one had struck me severely with a stick,
6 and angrily turning round to chastise the sup-
7 posed offender, I was as instantaneously en-
8 lightened as to the true cause of the contusion
9 Thad received. Soon after opening our fire,
10 that of the enemy in front ceased, but a couple
11 of jazaelchis, who had ensconced themselves
12 in some hidden position overlooking our left
13 flank, annoyed usa good deal; and as they
14 were beyond the range of our grenadiers’ mus-
15 kets, I was obliged to send to Mackeson fora
16 few of his riflemen to dislodge them. The
17 half dozen that he ordered for the purpose
18 were, however, unable to effect this desirable
19 object, and in spite of their new opponents;
20 the fellows still kept blazing at us.
21 ‘Nothing was now-to be heard on all sides
22 but the roar of musketry, momentarily drowned
23 by the louder reports of a zumboor, a mortar,
24 or a howitzer, the discharges from whieh were
25 re-echoed from the narrow chasms of the Pass.