could see over the ridge as the rear party came scrambling along.  I soon saw the cause of the yelling.  About a hundred yards in front of us was the grassy ridge, and across this the last of the enemy was bolting, and in a few minutes had disappeared amid the most appalling yells from the Levies.  That was the last our party saw of them, for we now found our path again blocked up by a precipice and again I had to send men above and below to find a practicable way.  I then called for a return of casualties, and found we had escaped scot free (I expect the enemy had too).  So thus ended our bloodless battle.

While a path was being looked for, Humayun and I sat down in a quiet corner and shared chupatties, and watched the fight below, which was just beginning.  First we saw the advance guard get on to the plain and extend, and presently they were joined by the main body, and the whole formed up for attack; then the firing line extended and the advance commenced.  Presently we saw the sangars open fire, answered by volleys from our men.  Then came a larger puff of smoke and a murmur from the men round me, as a shell pitched across the river and burst over a sangar.  It was as pretty a sight as one could wish for, and I felt as if I should have been in a stall at Drury Lane.  I could have stopped and watched the show with pleasure.  It was quite a treat to see how steadily the 32nd Pioneers worked across the plain; but just then the men below shouted that they had found a path, while I could see those above working their way on to the grassy slope.  These latter now shouted that there were no enemy left on the hill, so we chose the lower road, and gradually worked our way down, joining the grassy spur lower down—­only it wasn’t grassy here at all, but chiefly precipice.  We got down somehow, chiefly on all fours, but by the time we had reached the sangars, the enemy had bolted, and they were occupied by our men.  It had taken us nearly an hour to get down.  Here I came across Colonel Kelly, and after shaking hands, I looked at my watch and found it was just twelve, so I had made a good shot at the time of our meeting when we parted in the morning.

Now I will give you an account of the attack carried out by the main body.  It is the official account, so I can back its correctness.

The action at Chokalwat on the 9th April is thus described:  “On the morning of the ninth April I advanced to the attack of the enemy.  In the early morning Lieutenant Beynon, with the Hunza Levies, ascended the high hills on the left bank of the river to turn the right of the position and attack in rear.  The Punyal Levies were sent up the hills on the right bank to turn out the men above the stone shoots.

“I advanced in the following manner:—­

Half Coy. 32nd Pioneers, advanced guard. 
Kashmir Sappers and Miners —­
Half Company 32nd Pioneers |
Two guns 1st Kashmir Mountain |= Main Body
Battery, carried by coolies |
One Company 32nd Pioneers —­