After those first few shots there seems to have been a pause, while the
mutinous troops rushed off to their camp to fetch arms and ammunition.
During this brief respite Cavignari sent a message to the Amir, who was
in his palace only a few hundred yards distant, informing him of the
unprovoked attack, and claiming the protection due to a guest of the
nation; while Hamilton hastily collected his men, and made such
dispositions for defence as were possible. Then above the dust and din
and rush of hurrying feet outside rose, clearer and stronger as hundreds
of throats joined the swelling sound, _Yar Charyar_, the war-cry
of the great Sunni sect of Mahomedans. They were coming in their
thousands frenzied with fanaticism, and thirsting deep for Christian
blood. On the other side, in calm and steadfast readiness, stood three
score and ten of the Guides, men of an alien race, and some even
brethren of the besiegers, but all filled with high resolve and stern
determination to stand by their British officers even unto death.
Sir Louis Cavignari, soldier when diplomacy ceased, was the first to
seize a rifle, and, lying prone on the flat exposed roof, with quick
precision, one after the other, shot dead four leaders of the assault.
But raked as he was from the higher positions, a splintered bullet hit
him in the forehead, and he had to be taken below to have his wound
dressed. Yet undaunted, when the first shock passed, he must have risen
again, for an eye-witness from a neighbouring house declares he saw four
sahibs charge out at the head of their men, and one of these must have
been Cavignari.
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