'How these months were passed, and all we did, if detailed, would far exceed the limits of my story; suffice it, that we joined the "Army of Vengeance," as it was named—the army that again marched, but in triumph, up those terrible passes which were literally paved with whitening human remains and the bones of horses and other baggage animals—the army which drove the Afghan tribes like chaff before the wind, fought victoriously the battle of Tizeen, and raised a shout of triumph when it came again in sight of Cabul, when the standard of Ackbar Khan was trod in the bloody dust, and the flames of ruin enveloped the great Balahissar.
'This was on the 12th of October, just about a year from that night when I had seen Mabel Berriedale, in all her girlish beauty, at Lady Sale's, and we had the unlucky adventure with the pocket-book. Ages seemed to have elapsed since then!
'"I have news for you, gentlemen," said the white-haired Sir Robert Sale (whose services dated back to the wars against Tippoo Sahib), as he came hurriedly one morning into the place which we had improvised as a mess-bungalow, in the now ruined cantonments—"most welcome news," he added emphatically, as his voice broke and tears filled his eyes, "and doubly so to a husband and father, like me. Thanks to the courage, diplomacy, and daring of Sir Richmond Shakespeare, at the head of 600 Kuzzilbash Lancers, the whole of the ladies have been rescued, when en route to Toorkistan, and are now on their way to join us here."
'He fairly broke down as he said this, and covered his face with his handkerchief. A half cheer rose from the group in the bungalow, where there was not an eye unmoistened. Then Sir Robert looked up and said:
'"In a few minutes we shall march to meet them! There go the bugles of ours! See," he added, with a sparkling eye, "how the 13th are rushing to the muster-place, actually belting themselves as they come along!"
'Under Sir Robert's orders, in less than an hour we had left Cabul behind us. With the 13th Light Infantry he had the 3rd Light Dragoons (now Hussars), the first Bengal Cavalry, and a train of mountain guns, to keep any wandering horde in awe.
'Light were the hearts of the soldiers as they marched along. Cheerfully had they ever marched—to battle and siege, at Ghuzni, Jellalabad, and Cabul, but more cheerfully did they now depart on their errand of mercy and succour; and they marched with a rapidity I have never seen equalled, save in the advance on Lucknow.
'Vassal Holland was more hopeful than I was. Dreadful doubts suggested themselves to me from time to time. I might hear that Mabel Berriedale had died months ago; that she might have been abducted for the rarity of her beauty, and that an impenetrable veil obscured her fate! Ackbar was said to have appropriated one of the captives. Heavens, if it proved to be Mabel!
'Her figure came before me as I saw it last—the memory of her voice choked in tears, and the tremulous pressure of her hand, while the warning bugles blew, and it was too late to speak—too late to explain!
'Ere long a dark group appeared advancing, with glittering spears, out of a valley, as Sale's command attained the crest of a hill. It was Sir Richmond, with the ladies and the Lancers!