The news comes from the hills that these two tribes now represent a force of forty-seven thousand men, and that they are advancing on the Samana Hills, where the British have a number of small forts.
The tribesmen apparently intend to attack and demolish these forts.
Some brave fighting is being done in these hills. One of the forts was attacked by a body of Orakzais, one thousand strong. Its garrison consisted of twenty native soldiers, who defended themselves with wonderful heroism for a period of six hours.
One of these men whose duty it was to signal to the other forts remained at his post until the fort was captured. In spite of the bullets that were whistling around him, he continued sending his messages of warning until he was overcome by the enemy.
Another had been told off to defend the guard-room of the fort. He remained at his post, killing twenty of the enemy before he was shot down himself.
Of the whole garrison, but one man remained alive when the assault was over.
These heroes were not white men, but native subjects of Queen Victoria. They belonged to a people called the Sikhs, natives of the Punjaub, a northern province of Hindustan.
With such brave men as these loyal to their standard, the British should take heart about their future in India.
The expedition which is to be sent out to punish the rebellious tribes is being hurried forward with all possible speed.
The Ameer of Afghanistan has, it is said, become seriously alarmed over the advance of the British troops to the frontier. He is persuaded that England intends to invade Afghanistan, and take his country away from him.