From the top of the knoll there was an extended view of the valley, and I was able to point out the position of Mastuj, which was hidden by some rising ground, and also the general direction of the road.  About three miles ahead we could distinctly see a sangar filled with men on the left bank of the river.  That sangar was, as far as we could judge, on the right flank of the enemy’s line.  A few men could also be seen climbing a steep stone shoot on the right bank of the river, so evidently the enemy were going to try the effect of a stone avalanche as we went underneath.  A good deal of discussion went on as to whether the enemy’s main defence was on the left bank, in which case we should have to attack across the river, or on the right bank, in which case the present visible sangar was a flanking bastion.

At last someone suggested tea, so the meeting broke up.  Colonel Kelly and I stayed behind.  I asked Colonel Kelly for permission to take some of the Levies and have a cast forward.  I took the Hunza men and my shikaree, Faquir, as he could translate my orders to the Levies.  Off we trotted, and by the time the other officers were having tea, I was well up the hillside.  It was impossible to be rushed, as the ground was pretty bad, so I extended my men,—­when it comes to sniping, one man is a smaller target than two,—­and we skirmished up and forward, so as to bring us well above the enemy’s line.  In half an hour we were high enough to see all the valley below, and the enemy’s position was spread out like a map.  I sent the Levies on about a hundred yards, and then made them line a ridge, while I sat myself comfortably down and sketched the whole show.

With my glasses I could count the men in each sangar.  They were evidently cooking their evening meal, as thin columns of smoke rose from each sangar in the still evening air.  I could also make out the paths leading up the cliffs from the river, and saw men going down to fetch water.  I sat and watched long after I had got all the information I wanted, as I might perhaps get some useful tips that I had overlooked.  It was very peaceful sitting there, but presently the sun dropped behind the hills, and it got too chilly for comfort.  A whistle to the Levies and a wave of the hand brought them back, and we scrambled down the hill again, and were back in camp before dark.  Here I heard that the Punyal Levies had been sent for from Laspur to come along at once.

As soon as I had explained the enemy’s position to Colonel Kelly, orders were issued for the attack next day.  They were short and simple.  On the arrival of the Punyal Levies, they were to start, with a guide we had procured, to turn out the men above the stone shoot on the right bank of the river.  I, with the Hunza Levies, was to start at 6 A.M. and work through the hills to the right rear of the enemy’s position.  The main body would start at 9 A.M. and attack in front.  The baggage to remain in camp under a guard commanded by Sergt.  Reeves, Commissariat.  Then we had dinner and went to bed.