pottinger's belief that the shah was anxious to bring the war to a conclusion was confirmed by the arrival of the major he had met when going into the persian camp, with instructions from the russian general, endorsed by the minister, to endeavour to persuade the afghans to consent to the terms offered by the shah. it was better, he urged, for them to settle their differences among themselves than to employ mediation. he warned them that as the english had come to india under the pretence of trading, and had finally conquered the whole country, they should on no account be trusted. he assured them that the shah had[pg 55] no desire to interfere in the internal administration of herat, the present movement was not an expedition against herat but against hindostan, and that all true mohammedans should join the shah's army, and that he would lead them to the conquest and plunder of all india and turkestan.
pottinger was sent for privately, and consulted by the kamran and the wuzeer as to what answer should be sent. his advice was taken, and the next day the envoy returned to his camp with vague assurances of regard, and the suggestion that if the persians were really inclined for peace, the best proof that they could give of the sincerity of their inclination would be the retirement of the besieging force. there was much excitement in the city when the proposals brought by the persian officer became known, and many of the older men began to argue that it did not matter much whether kamran was called prince or king, or whether the supremacy of the persian shah was or was not acknowledged in herat, as long as no persian garrison was placed in the city. the wuzeer, however, remained firm. he declared that he had no confidence in the persians, that he desired to be guided by the advice and be aided by the mediation of the english, and that if the shah would place the conduct of negotiations in the hands of colonel stoddart, he on his part would trust everything to lieutenant pottinger, and would accept whatever was decided upon by the two english officers.
"that was his own decision, and not mine," pottinger said, when he returned from an interview with the wuzeer. "there is no doubt that, ruffian as he is in many respects, he is a clever man. you see, he shifts all the responsibility for the continuance of the war off his shoulders on to those of the persians, for their refusal to accept the decision of the british officer in their camp will convince the afghans that[pg 56] the persians will be satisfied with nothing but their destruction."
two days later the persian officer returned to herat with a letter stating that the shah had no desire to possess himself of the town, but only claimed that his sovereignty should be acknowledged. the answer was the same as before. kamran was willing to do all that was required if the persian army would but retire. the negotiations were carried on for a day or two longer, but though both parties desired peace, the one would not surrender, the other would not retire and acknowledge failure. hostilities, therefore, continued without intermission, and a fortnight later the persians gained possession of a fortified place three hundred yards from the north-east angle of the wall. the afghans stationed there had made but a poor resistance, and upon entering the town their faces were smeared with mud, and they were sent through the city accompanied by a crier who proclaimed their cowardice.
a month passed without any incident of importance, and at the end of that time m'neill arrived at the persian camp. every effort had been made to hinder him on his way from teheran, and he was at first coldly received. a week later he had an audience with the shah, and stated to him that the attack upon herat was an obvious violation of the treaty between great britain and herat, and the british government would therefore be justified in taking active measures to enforce its terms. the shah upon this consented to accept the british mediation.
three days later, however, the persians made a serious attack. some new batteries opened against the ramparts near the great mosque. their fire was this time concentrated, and the wall crumbled so rapidly that by the evening a practicable breach had been made. the afghans, however, did not lose heart, declaring that they trusted to themselves,[pg 57] and not to their walls, to defend the city. they had, indeed, gained an advantage in the middle of the day. they blew in a mine that had been carried almost up to the wall, and taking advantage of the alarm caused by the explosion rushed out and furiously attacked the besiegers, carrying the trenches for some distance before a strong persian force came up and drove them back again. so heavy a fire was then opened from the trenches on the musketeers on the walls, that these were completely overpowered, and were unable to show a head above the parapets. as evening came on the persians shouted that an english officer wished to enter the town, but the wuzeer shouted back that no one would be allowed to enter at that hour. the next day major todd, who was attached to the embassy, entered the town. he was in full regimentals, and his appearance excited the most lively admiration of the populace. he announced that the shah was ready to accept the mediation of the british government. he was received with the greatest courtesy by shah kamran, who after the interview took a cloak from his own shoulders and sent it by the wuzeer to major todd, who returned to the persian camp with the assurance of kamran's desire to accept the mediation of the british minister.
but though apparently both parties had at last arrived at an understanding, that evening the aspect of affairs became more warlike than ever. the persian trenches were filled with men, the bodies of horse and foot on the line of investment were strengthened, and there were all appearances that an assault would be made that evening; and the afghan chiefs were called together and each had his post assigned to him. but scarcely had they separated when mr. m'neill himself arrived. he was conducted at once to kamran's palace, and the greater part of the night was spent in discussion. it was nearly dawn when the minister accompanied pottinger to the latter's residence. as he had[pg 58] arranged when he arrived that he would sleep at pottinger's, a room had been prepared for him, angus sat up for several hours, but then feeling sure that the minister would at once retire to bed on his return, had lain down. when he awoke it was half-past six, and dressing hastily he went into the sitting-room that he shared with pottinger, and to his surprise found mr. m'neill writing there. the minister greeted him cordially.
"i heard all about you from colonel stoddart, and approve highly of your remaining here to give pottinger what aid you can during the siege. i also think that you have done very wisely in determining, as pottinger told stoddart you had done, to go to india. i myself will write to the english government saying what you have done, how intelligently you carried on your work at the mission, and recommending you for an appointment on the northern frontier either with the army or the resident at scinde, or perhaps better still, with mr. burnes at cabul."
at this moment pottinger entered the room, and he was as surprised as angus had been at seeing the minister at work after only a couple of hours in bed. there was another meeting with kamran, who placed himself entirely in the hands of the british envoy, and said that he would gladly consent to any terms agreed upon by him. at the conclusion of the meeting mr. m'neill returned at once to the persian camp.
to the disappointment of all, major todd rode in two days later with the surprising news that the shah had entirely changed his attitude, and absolutely refused to submit the dispute to british arbitration, and that unless the whole people of herat acknowledged themselves his subjects, he would take possession of the city by force of arms. this sudden change was the result of the arrival of the russian representative, count symonwich, on the morning of the day of m'neill's visit to the city. the russian[pg 59] party at once became ascendant. he himself took the conduct of the operations of the siege, the officers with him taught the persian soldiers how to construct batteries, and russian money was freely distributed among them. pottinger's task of explaining to kamran the news brought by major todd was an unpleasant one; but the old man took the news quietly, and said that he never expected anything else, for the persians had always been noted for their treachery and want of faith. the news, however, caused great discouragement in the town, and it was determined at a meeting of the chiefs that they would send to the russian ambassador and place themselves under the protection of his master. meeting after meeting was held, at all of which pottinger was present. sometimes he was received and listened to with respect, and other times he was treated with marked discourtesy.
the influence of mr. m'neill at the persian court declined rapidly, while that of the russians became supreme. for some months past he had failed to obtain any satisfaction for matters of serious complaint. as far back as october a courier bearing despatches from colonel stoddart to him at teheran had been seized by a russian officer, stripped and imprisoned by the persians, and his despatches taken from him. the british resident in the persian gulf had been grossly insulted by the governor of bushire, and the persian government had continued to evade its obligations under the commercial treaty between the two nations. so marked was the indignity with which m'neill was now treated in the persian camp, that on the 7th of june he left it with colonel stoddart and all his suite and attendants, a step equivalent to a rupture of the relations between great britain and persia.
in the meantime the pressure of famine and sickness became more and more intense in herat. the city was alto[pg 60]gether without drainage, and the stench from the bodies of those who had died or been killed, and of the dead animals, was dreadful. but although much depressed, the courage of the afghans still sustained them, and when on the 13th of june the persians surprised the outer works, they held the connecting passage and defended it until assistance came, when the garrison poured out, rushed down the slope, and dislodged the assailants with much slaughter. another attempt on the same day at a fresh point was equally unsuccessful, and the storming party were twice repulsed. pottinger was now armed with an authority that he had not before possessed, for he had been appointed by m'neill british envoy at herat. the news of the departure of the embassy, and pottinger's assurances that this was a prelude to war between england and persia, had but little effect. it was certain that the city could not possibly hold out many weeks, and it might be months before the arrival of a british fleet and army could influence the persians.
happily, however, lord auckland, governor-general of india, had not waited for instructions from home, but at the news of the investment of herat, and the outrage upon our resident in the persian gulf, had begun to take steps early in the spring; and on the 4th of june two transports and some vessels of war left bombay harbour with detachments of two british regiments and a marine battalion, and on the 19th anchored off the island of karrack in the persian gulf.
upon the 24th of june herat went through the most terrible experience of the siege. at daybreak a heavy fire opened from the persian batteries on all four sides of the city. it ceased suddenly after a time. pottinger, who was at breakfast, exclaimed to angus, as he leapt up from his seat: "they are going to assault; the batteries have done their work. quick, to the wall!"
[pg 61]
warning the soldiers they came upon as they ran, they made their way to the wall. just as they arrived there another gun was fired, and at the signal the batteries on all sides again broke into life. a storm of rockets carried dismay into the town, the mortars dropped their shells into it, and most conclusive of all, a rattle of musketry broke out, growing every moment in power. against five points was the assault directed. that on the gate of candahar was repulsed, and the enemy chased back to their trenches. that upon the south-west angle was but a feint, and was never pushed home against the western gate. the russian regiment under sampson, and a strong force under a persian officer, pressed up to the breach; but the persian was killed and sampson carried off wounded, and the troops fled after suffering immense loss. the attack on the north-western face was similarly repulsed, but the fifth contest was desperate. the storming party gained the fausse braye. the afghans defending it fought desperately, and all fell at their post. the storming party rushed up the slope. the officers and leading men were mown down by a heavy musketry fire, but after a fierce struggle the upper fausse braye was carried, and some of the assailants gained the head of the breach.
but now the afghan reserves were brought up, and the persians on the breach were driven back. again and again, the persians fighting this time with desperate courage, struggled to effect a lodgment, only to be repulsed, and fell back in confusion on their comrades behind. for a long time the issue was doubtful; a desperate hand-to-hand conflict raged, the assailants and defenders swayed up and down the breach, which was covered with corpses and slippery with blood.
yar mahomed arrived almost at the same time as pottinger and angus, for these, before coming here, had seen that all was going well at the other points attacked.
[pg 62]
they had observed as they came along men leaving the breach by twos and threes under pretence of assisting wounded comrades, and pottinger saw to his dismay that the men were losing heart. as they came to the breach they found other soldiers coming up. the wuzeer was sitting down close by. pottinger ran up to him. "you must encourage your men, wuzeer; go forward and join them, or all will be lost."
the afghan scarcely seemed to hear what he said. "you must come," pottinger repeated loudly; "there is no time to be lost." then he turned to angus: "do what you can," he said. "i must rouse the wuzeer; evidently his nerves have suddenly given way."
glad at last to be free to join in the struggle, angus drew his sword and ran down, thrusting back those who were mounting, and pushed his way forward to the front, shouting in pushtoo: "fight, men! fight for your faith, your wives, and your children! everything is going on well elsewhere. are you alone going to fail?"
the bearded afghans, astonished at seeing this young englishman rushing forward in advance of them, followed him, and again the persians were beaten back. but although the afghans in front had been animated by the lad's example, those behind were still dropping off. the wuzeer, aroused by the vigorous exhortations of pottinger, had risen up and neared the breach. the persians were renewing their attack, and the wuzeer called upon his men to fight. the fugitives paused irresolute. the wuzeer's heart failed him again, and he turned back, his action still further discouraging the men. pottinger, in the most vehement language, exhorted him to set an example. again he turned and advanced, but again shrank back. pottinger now instead of entreating reviled and threatened him, called him opprobrious names, and at last, seizing him by his arm, dragged him forward to the[pg 63] breach. this astounding treatment maddened the afghan. he shouted to the soldiers to fight, and as they continued to fall back, seized a large staff, and, rushing like a madman upon the soldiers, drove them forward again with a shower of heavy blows, while pottinger sword in hand seconded him. cooped up as they were, and seeing no other outlet of escape, many of them leapt wildly down over the parapet, rushed down the slope, and fell upon the persian stormers. believing that great reinforcements must have arrived, these were seized by a panic, abandoned their position, and fled.
herat was saved entirely by the energy and courage of the young english lieutenant. pottinger's first question was as to his companion. he had, while urging the wuzeer to advance, caught sight of him fighting desperately in the midst of the persians, and he at once made his way down to that spot. he was not long in discovering angus, who was lying insensible, bleeding from a number of sabre wounds. calling four afghans, he ordered him to be carried on to the wall. there he bandaged his wounds, and then had him placed on a stretcher and carried to their lodging, taking on himself to send an order to the wuzeer's own medical attendant to go there at once and attend to his wounds. then he turned his attention to the wuzeer. the mind of the minister had been almost unhinged by the terrible events, and he was still wandering about in a confused and bewildered way. several of the other chiefs were similarly affected, and were unable for days afterwards to perform their usual duties.
the soldiers themselves, instead of being excited over their victory, were as gloomy and depressed as if they had suffered a defeat. the peril had been so great, the city had been so nearly lost, that there was a general feeling that another such attack would be successful. their confidence hitherto had rested upon the wuzeer, and on the conviction[pg 64] that their courage was infinitely greater than that of the persians, and they had found that the persians could now fight as well and stoutly as they themselves. they were humiliated by knowing that it was to a young english officer they owed it that the persians had failed in their object, and that another young englishman, scarce more than a boy, had led their best and bravest into the thick of the fray, and had himself penetrated beyond them into the midst of the persians and had fallen there. none appreciate bravery more than do the afghans. it was not so much that pottinger had exposed himself recklessly to the shower of bullets with which the persians in their trenches swept the spot where he was standing with the wuzeer, but that he should have ventured to abuse, revile, and even forcibly drag their dreaded leader forward astounded them.
all herat felt that it was he who had saved the city, and the fame of the deed spread through the country round, and men when they came in sought him out and kissed his hand with enthusiasm. a deep gloom, however, hung over the city. even the work of repairing the damaged fortifications was carried on apathetically. they had repulsed the persians, but it was felt that nothing but a miracle could enable them to withstand another such assault. food was all but exhausted, the treasury was empty, the inhabitants could not be fed, the soldiers could not be paid. but an equal amount of depression was felt in the persian camp. five assaults had all failed, and some eighteen hundred of their best troops had fallen. the loss of officers had been enormous; the russian general, berowski, had been killed, and two of the principal persian generals. another russian general, sampson, and two pashas had been wounded, and almost all the field officers of the regiments engaged in the attack were hors de combat.
pottinger's position was a very painful one. the need[pg 65] for money to pay the troops was absolute, and the wuzeer, when he had recovered from the effects of his scare, instituted a reign of terror even more terrible than anything the wretched inhabitants had ever before felt. the soldiers went from house to house, and all suspected of possessing money were seized and tortured. even ladies of rank were so treated, and the very inmates of kamran's zenana were threatened and had to contribute their jewels. pottinger felt that it was solely owing to his influence that the city had so long held out, and as he went through the streets starving men reproached him as the author of their sufferings. he did all that he could, but that was little. men of all ranks came to him imploring his aid and protection. some he was able to save, but for others he could do nothing. never was a young soldier placed in so terrible a dilemma. as a man he was agonized by the sufferings he saw round him—sufferings he could at once bring to an end by advising the wuzeer to surrender: as a soldier and an englishman, he felt that it was his duty to hold out to the bitter end.
his position became still more difficult when, a fortnight after the assault, the persians again opened negotiations, demanding, however, as a first step that he should be expelled from the city. pottinger declared that no thought of personal safety should persuade him to stand in the way of any arrangement conducive to the safety of herat and the welfare of his country, and that if these could be gained by his departure he would willingly leave the town. but yar mahomed was undecided. he felt that the dismissal of the man who had saved herat would be a stain on his character, and, moreover, that the persians having obtained his dismissal, would become still more exorbitant in their demands. he had long expected the arrival of a relieving force of turkomans, and pottinger was convinced that ere long the intervention of england would compel the persians[pg 66] to fall back. the bombardment of the city had not been renewed since the repulse of the attack, and the persians relied now solely upon famine to reduce it, and maintained a strict blockade.
in order to mitigate the horrors he saw around him, pottinger undertook that all who voluntarily brought in their money should be reimbursed at his recommendation by the british government. this brought some money in, though slowly, and july passed. then a deserter from the persian camp brought in news that there was a report that a great british army had landed in the persian gulf, had taken bushire, and was advancing. this report had fortunately enormously magnified the strength of the british expedition, and the news gave fresh life to the defenders of herat. the persians again opened negotiations, waiving the question of the expulsion of pottinger, but the wuzeer was less inclined than before to yield to the persian demands.
m'neill was on his way to the frontier when he was informed of the arrival of the british expedition to the persian gulf, and at the same time received instructions from the foreign office in anticipation of the refusal of the shah to retire from before herat. fortified by these instructions, he despatched colonel stoddart to the persian camp with a message to the shah. he arrived there on the 11th of august, and on the next day had an interview with the shah, who welcomed him with cordiality, and listened to the message from the british government.
"it means, then," he said, "that if i do not leave herat there will be war?"
"it all depends upon your majesty's answer," stoddart replied.
two days later stoddart was again summoned to the royal presence. "we consent," the shah said, "to the whole of the demands from the british government. we will not[pg 67] go to war. were it not for the sake of their friendship, we should not return from before herat. had we known that by our coming here we should risk the loss of their friendship, we certainly should not have come at all."
in reply, colonel stoddart said he thanked god that his majesty had taken so wise a view of the real interests of persia. but as he left the audience, he hinted to the persian minister that although the shah's answer was very satisfactory, it would be more satisfactory still to see it at once reduced to practice. although rumours reached the city that the persians were about to leave, it was not for another week that the rumours became a certainty. an effort was made to induce the wuzeer to make some concessions that would give a better grace to the withdrawal of the shah. some of the conditions suggested were refused by pottinger's advice; but on the 4th of september the persian prisoners in the town were sent into camp, and on the 9th the persian army began their march back to teheran.
it was time indeed that they did so, for they had but three or four days' supply of forage remaining, and their flour and grain were almost all exhausted. their failure to capture so weakly fortified a place was, in pottinger's opinion, due to the fact that there was no union of effort. the commanders of the various sections of the army acted independently, and except when, under the command of the russians, they made a simultaneous attack, they never acted in concert with each other. it was his opinion that the shah might have carried the city by assault the very first day that he reached herat. he declared that the persians were equally as brave as and far better soldiers than the afghans, and that they had an ample supply of artillery to capture a strong fortress if properly employed.
for a week after the struggle of the 24th of june angus[pg 68] campbell lay between life and death. he had lost a great quantity of blood, and when first carried to his room his armenian friends believed him to be dead. pottinger, who had hurried back as soon as he saw that there was no chance of a renewal of the assault, went to kamran's and obtained some spirits, and with the aid of these the action of the heart, which had before been so slight that the pulse could not be felt, was stimulated, and respiration grew stronger. kamran's doctor had already declared that none of the wounds were in themselves dangerous, but that he despaired of the patient recovering. pottinger, however, by no means despaired; he procured some fresh meat, and ordered a servant to make the strongest broth possible, and to pour a spoonful between the patient's lips every few minutes. angus was wrapped in warm blankets, and a large bottle of hot water placed against his feet. the wounds had already been carefully dressed and bandaged by the surgeon, for although almost entirely ignorant as to the use of drugs, afghan doctors had abundant practice in the treatment of wounds.
pottinger remained two or three hours, and then, seeing that angus was breathing regularly though feebly, and that the pulse could now be felt at the wrist, hurried off to see that the work of repairing the breach had been taken in hand, kajar's wife undertaking to look after the patient. for a week the issue of the struggle was doubtful; then the improvement, although slow, was distinct, and day by day some slight advance was made. the ladies of kamran's zenana were much interested in the young englishman, and frequently sent down presents of fruit and perfumes. both were welcome. the air of herat was very unfavourable to wounds, but a little scent sprinkled on a muslin curtain drawn across the window to some extent neutralized the terrible stenches of the town, and a handkerchief steeped[pg 69] in water to which a little of the perfume had been added, was laid lightly over the bandages.
in three weeks angus was able to sit up for a time, and a week later he walked across the room. his progress was now more rapid, and by the end of july he was able to sit on a donkey as far as the city wall, where he could breathe a purer air than that of the city, and by the end of august he could walk freely about the town. but he was listless and without energy. it was now certain that in a very short time the persians would draw off.
"you must be out of this as soon as you can, angus," pottinger said to him one evening. "what you want is some mountain air. you will never get better as long as you remain in this pestilential atmosphere. it is enough to kill a healthy dog, and i only wonder that the whole population has not been swept away. when m'neill was here, he told me that if our people interfered and herat was saved he should appoint me officially as the british resident envoy. he said that he was sure the british government would send money and do all that was possible to alleviate the misery that has been suffered by the inhabitants; and although i would infinitely rather have other employment, it seems to me that it is clearly my duty to stay here. it is largely owing to me that these poor people have suffered for ten months the horrors of the siege, and the least i can do is to help them now, for if i did not you may be sure that any money sent by england would simply remain in the coffers of kamran and the wuzeer. it is said, and i quite believe it, that a large proportion of the money wrung by torture from these wretched people has been retained by yar mahomed. it is therefore absolutely necessary, if the people are to be fed, their houses rebuilt, and matters tided over till trade recovers, that a british officer be here to receive and superintend the distribution of british[pg 70] money. but the very day the gate is open you had better be off. you speak afghan now perfectly, and i am glad to see that azim has picked it up too. he is a capital fellow, and has watched over you since you have been ill as if you had been his father. the question is, do you feel strong enough to travel through the mountains? if not, there is nothing for it but for you to return to teheran and stay there till your strength is restored."
angus shook his head. "i don't think that i could stand the journey across the plains," he said, "nor that i should pick up much at teheran, while i believe that in the hills i should soon get braced up. there is nothing really the matter with me now, except that i feel lazy. if there had been fighting going on, and there was something i must do, i should soon shake it off; but what with the sight of the misery of the people here, and the stinks, and the heat, i feel myself that i am making no progress. i believe i shall be a different man as soon as i am once out of this place and on my way to the hills. it will soon be getting cold up there, and in a fortnight i shall be fit for anything."
"i think you are right, angus; i would give a good deal myself for a few hours in the fresh mountain air. i do think that you are strong enough to travel quietly. of course you will have to do so, as i did, in disguise; and indeed this will be much more necessary now than it was a year ago. it is well known that the chiefs at candahar have been long negotiating with persia, and have offered to place themselves under the shah's protection, and that, encouraged and pushed on by russia, they have meditated an invasion of india. the news of the failure here will no doubt moderate their ardour, but from all that has been learned from afghans who have come into the town during the siege, there is throughout the whole country a feeling of deep excitement at the prospect of another mohammedan[pg 71] invasion of india, and a conviction that the whole country would rise and join the persians were they to advance to candahar.
"the afghans consider that russian influence really means persian influence, whereas we know that it is just the other way, and that russia only uses persia as her cat's-paw. as for the persians, we know now what they are worth, and that a british division would be sufficient to smash them up. but the afghans don't know that. they believe that persia is the persia of old, and that with her aid they could assuredly drive the british out of india. this being the state of feeling, your chance of getting through were it discovered that you were british would be small indeed. you must pass as a persian who, having long traded with herat, has learnt the afghan language. it would be a natural story that, finding that herat is ruined, and that there can be no trade between it and persia for a long time, you are travelling south with the intention of fixing yourself at candahar, and of trading between that town and india on the one side and persia on the other. you can account for your not having merchandise with you by saying that owing to the presence of the persian army, and marauders from herat, and the general disturbance of the country, it would not have been safe to travel with merchandise."
"i will certainly carry out your plan," angus said. "i don't think there will be any difficulty in getting through. but i do wish that you were coming with me."
"i hope it will not be very long before i follow you, for i think there will be some stirring work there soon."
angus was well provided with money. he had received from mr. m'neill a sum that would not only cover all the expenses of his journey to herat, but would enable him either to return to teheran or proceed to india, as circumstances might determine. in addition to this, he had received[pg 72] a year's salary in recognition of the risk he incurred. he had this sum still in his possession. the money he had brought from tabriz he had left at the embassy, mr. m'neill promising to send an order for the amount should he write for it from india.
