found a number of large wooden them to be allowed to do so. shovels, and cut a quantity of poles on which loads could be slung for carrying. Going in to breakfast, I reported that the problem of getting the guns along had been solved, at which Peterson said, "I knew he would do it!" which pleased me. I enlarged on the possibility of beating out a track for the sledges, and even of digging a path through the snow, and broached to Colonel Kelly the question of whether Gough and I and some men might go on to Teru and experiment in the deep snow, to which he assented. We left the same day, leaving the rest of our men to construct more sledges. I told Beynon,1 Colonel Kelly's staff officer, that if we did any good I would send back and ask him to send up the guns, &c., with a good supply of rations, as if there appeared to be any chance of success, I meant to have a dart at following Borradaile. It was still snowing when we reached Teru in the evening, where we found Borradaile snow-bound. Having explained my mission, we crowded our men into shelter on top of his. Finding Borradaile had not started, I was seized with the desire to ask him if his men might assist to get the guns along, but was relieved of the necessity by his own Indian officers, who came to him to say that the pioneer sepoys had preferred a request through It was a most sporting offer, as they were already heavily laden, and I blessed them inwardly! Borradaile hesitated, but eventually agreed to a trial, on the understanding that if it was found to be too much for his men, he would have to leave us to our own devices, as it was essential he should get over the pass with his men moderately fresh for a possible fight the other side. But it showed how keen the pioneers were to have the guns with them; they represented to the sepoys what during the Great War the heavy artillery did to the British troops in France; and when I heard the Soubadar Major make his request, I felt instinctively that the little guns were "Mother," and the determination was intensified that, if ever we got the opportunity, we gunners should prove ourselves worthy of the honour. Sitting at home in warmth and comfort, it is impossible to appreciate what this offer on the part of the men signified. The task before them was difficult enough already. Few, if any of them, had seen snow before, except in the far distance lying on the heights of the beautiful mountains fringing the horizon as seen from their villages in the Punjab, or on the high hills round Gilgit. They were all men of the plains. Even the hardened traveller will think twice before he essays to cross an expanse of any to cross 1 Now Major-General Sir William Beynon, K.C.I.E., C.B., D.S.O. thing up to 30 miles of snow, but the glare had already exposed to bitter blizzards and affected all those without glasses, at such an elevation without and eyes were causing much shelter anywhere. Here, in pain. The advanced guard of addition, the men had to carry the pioneers were to break their rifles and ammunition track, the yaks being driven and march in their heavy sheep- with them by natives; then skin coats; there was the pass followed the coolie transport, itself to be surmounted; and and the guns brought up the there was also the enemy to be rear. The mules got into difficonsidered, with the probability culties almost at once; the of a fight at the far end before yaks would go in single file, shelter could be obtained. each animal stepping in exactly the same holes as had been made by the preceding one; the sepoys and coolies would also follow in single file; the track was therefore a very narrow one, with many deep holes in snow that soon became feet deep. A note was written to Beynon, asking him on receipt of it to send the guns up to Teru, telling him Borradaile was still there, and saying we would make an attempt to get on, weather permitting; and also to the commandant, telling him to hustle all he knew to get off early the next morning and bring three days' reserve rations. As it was dark and still snowing hard the messengers did not leave Teru till 4 A.M. next morning. Borradaile gave us one company of 100 rifles to assist. Gough and I worked out loads and carrying parties with reliefs. The other company of pioneers were to do advanced guard, &c. We reckoned it was 15 miles or more to Langur at the foot of the pass (where there was no shelter), and at least another 10 on to Laspur, with an ascent to the pass of 2000 feet, and a similar descent the other side. Next morning the snow had ceased and the sky was clear; we started from Teru about noon as soon as the guns turned up. The men were in great heart at the prospect of another chance of getting on, The feet of the animals went through such track as had been made, and they floundered up to their shoulders, struggling violently, till I thought they would break their legs, and soon became exhausted. We attempted to lead them up the stream which flowed down nearly waist - deep between its snowy banks; but the bed was rocky, full of boulders and holes, and the water so cold that even the animals seemed to get numb after a minute or two, while the danger of frostbite for the men was great. The mules were therefore abandoned, and the sledges requisitioned, but these upset constantly on the uneven track, the loads disappeared into the soft snow, and had to be fished out with much labour. Eventually, all other means failing, the loads were slung on poles and we started to carry. The labour was very great. to get their gun along, but Gun and carriage loads each they could scarcely lift it. weighed 200 lb., and each Dhrm Singh then told them to ammunition box 125 lb. The help him get it on to his own heat in the sun was great, and shoulder, and with only one the glare intense. We strug- man behind to assist and steady gled slowly along, doing not him, he tried to struggle formore than one mile an hour, ward. He only got a few with the sweat streaming off paces and pitched into the us. The carrying parties could snow, but it was a great effort not keep on the rough, narrow, and a gallant one. I went up beaten track. Every few yards to try and relieve him. I was some one would step off it, no chicken and proud of my when he would tumble over, strength, but I went down like and load and bearers would be a child under the weight. precipitated into the soft snow. Every one, including the British officers, took their turn at carrying, but we soon got left far behind by the advanced guard company and the coolies, and Borradaile sent back late in the afternoon, and said he could not let his men continue with us, as they were getting completely used up. So Gough and I sent them on, and continued with our own men. Browning-Smith, the medical officer with the Pioneers, remained with us, bringing up the rear. Nothing remained to be done but to collect all the loads together, stack them in the snow, and mark the place with upright poles in case more snow fell, and get the men on to rest and food. I counted the men, and told the commandant to issue orders that no one stayed behind on any account, as I knew they would want to leave a guard with the guns. Gough I had already sent on, quite done up and suffering badly from his eyes. BrowningSmith and I with the commandant brought up the rear, and it was not till midnight that we struggled dead - beat into Langur with the last of the men. I again counted the men, and four were absent. I could never grasp how they had eluded me, but the commandant admitted that they had left a guard of a non-commissioned officer and three gunners with the guns. The men stuck to it splendidly, Dhrm Singh and Bulwan Singh being especially good. The sun went down on a waste of snow, darkness came on, and clouds gathered, and I thought we were in for another fall of snow. The pace got slower and slower, and by 9 P.M. I realised that the men were exhausted, and that if they were not to get frostbitten we must get them on into Langur and settled for the night. I saw one squad of three gunners trying bravely one, lest the enemy should '' It is true, Sahib, we left a guard. The men did not wish to leave their guns without arrive by night and find them forsaken!" It was useless to say anything more; but I was horribly afraid that next day we should find them all very badly frostbitten, as it was as bitterly cold by night as it was hot in the sun by day. I inspected all the men's feet and hands, had off all boots and socks, and all feet rubbed hard with snow. Any I was doubtful of I rubbed myself till sensation returned. We then put them all to bed packed close together in a circle, feet in the centre, half the blankets underneath and half on top. I had my reward the next morning in not having a single case of frost-bite, while there were a number among all the others. Borradaile said he must go on next morning. He left us a few coolies, and promised to send more back to meet us the day after. I told him we would get the loads into Langur the next day, and start up the pass the day following. This we did, spending another very hard day, and not getting done till after dark. Gough and the men most tired got a rest. We lightened the carriages by removing the axles, and arranged to leave all but one pair of ammunition boxes per gun at Langur. We burrowed into the snow, and gathered some birch twigs, broke up the sledges for firewood, and were able to give the men hot tea morning and evening. All feet were again rubbed hard with snow at night-time. It froze hard at night, and the morning of the 5th April was bitterly cold, with a biting wind whistling down from the pass. The men were roused out in the dark. I saw they got all they wanted of hot tea, and started off the gun and carriage loads a bit ahead of the others up the long ascent, followed a little later by the rest. The men were tired, but cheerful and very good. I encouraged them by telling them the coolies sent back by Borradaile would meet them, and we all felt that if we could only get to the top of the pass, we would get assistance; the going would commence to be downhill, and there would be shelter again for the night. The few coolies with us were promised 100 rupees backshish if we got over. Gough was very good, and though scarcely able to see, and in much pain, also cheered up his men for a last effort. Ten of them were told off as an advanced guard, while he and I came along in rear of all. Of Borradaile we had heard nothing, so hoped he had got over all right, and established himself in Laspur. We toiled and we sweated, but progress was again painfully slow. By 11 A.M. we thought we had reached the top of the ascent, but the men were very done, and the sun and glare horrible. The track was again a very bad one, and seemed to stretch for miles on the level in front of us; the pioneers had gone strictly in single file, and I could not get bottom in the snow with a five-feet stick. We found later I brought up the rear, dirty, we were crossing a large lake at the top of the pass. Gough and I did all we could to keep the men moving, yet by 1 P.M. it looked as if we would have to stack loads for another night; but just at the critical moment some men appeared in the distance, and turned out to be twenty-eight coolies sent back by Borradaile. They brought a note from him to say all was well in front, and some food for Gough and myself. They also had water for our men in water-skins, as they would not relieve their thirst with snow, imagining this would make them very ill. But to their great disappointment, the water had frozen solid in the skins. However, we felt much happier. The worst loads were handed over to the fresh men, and we started off again. unshaven, and scarcely able to open my eyes. Our arrival was a surprise, as we had been practically given up. The sepoys of the pioneers turned out quite spontaneously, and cheered us in. Oldham and other officers came up and congratulated Gough and myself, and an old Indian officer came up and said, "Ap ne barri behardri ki!" signifying, "You have done a big thing! Even Humayan salaamed, and said, “Barri achchi bat, Sahib, barri achchi bat!' meaning it was a very good business that the guns had been got over the pass. It delighted me to see how pleased every one was to see those two little guns again. The gunners of the Kashmir battery had established themselves, and there would be no longer any question of the guns At about 3 P.M. we suddenly being left behind, or being an came to the edge of the pass, encumbrance. The time for and saw before us the steep fighting was now approaching, descent to Laspur winding away and we were "mother" to the for two or three miles. Things little force. Any one who then went merrily. A short knows the Indian soldier will way down we came on a trickle understand what the two little of water in the sun, and a halt guns meant to the small adwas called for some much- vanced guard of 200 men needed drink and some food. thrown forward and isolated The men were awfully done up, in a snow-bound village, the and all of us were badly snow- pass behind them liable to be blind except the few with completely closed by snowglasses. But done up or snow- storms for a week at a time, blind, we took the guns and and the narrow precipitous valcarriages from the coolies before ley running away in front of entering Laspur, and carried Mastuj, with the certainty of them in ourselves. I think having to fight to get through there was not a man who was the defile. The determination not rather proud to do so. I and endurance displayed by know I felt this very much as the gunners in their efforts to |