dized Afrídís and turbulent Sikh allies, 'What between Sikhs, Afrídís, and grain-bags,' said Lawrence, 'I never was so bothered.' At last, in the first week of June, he induced a strong Sikh contingent to march with Pollock's sanction to Jalálábad[1].
For some weeks past the secret orders which Pollock would fain have concealed from his own officers, which tied Clerk's tongue at his interview with the Sikh Minister, had become the talk of every station, if not every bazaar, in India. An indiscreet officer on Nicolls's staff had blurted out the truth by letter to a friend in Pollock's camp, and very soon from all parts of India arose a bitter outcry against the 'cowardly counsels' to which Lord Ellenborough had given so ready an ear. Meanwhile both from Downing Street and the India House came strong injunctions to vindicate the national honour and to rescue every prisoner from Afghán hands. Thus urged and goaded from every quarter, the Governor-General at last made up his wavering mind to the safe but selfish policy of letting Nott and Pollock take their own way forward at their own virtual risk. His letters of the 4th of July to the two commanders betrayed the skill of a master in the art of verbal self-defence. His own opinions, he declared, had undergone no change. The order for withdrawal still held good; but Nott was allowed to choose between retiring into Sind by way of Quetta, and retiring to Pesháwar by way of Ghazní and Kábul. Pollock for his part was empowered to advance in
- ↑ Edwardes.
