Here the ordinary routine of the day was going on.  It was eight o’clock, and Cavignari, just returned from his morning ride, had not yet bathed or changed for breakfast.  Hamilton and Kelly had been out to see that the grass-cutters were at their work on waste land, and not interfering with private rights, and were now probably strolling down the line of troop-horses seeing to their feeding and grooming.  Jenkyns was doubtless within, reading or writing, and waiting for breakfast.  The cavalrymen were about amongst their horses, and the infantry either on guard or taking their ease.  On this peaceful scene suddenly burst a torrent of infuriated, half-savage soldiery, yelling for Cavignari, yelling for money, shouting curses and threats.  At first they acted like mere Yahoos; they hustled and mobbed the Guides, shouting with rough humour, “Well, if we can’t get money we’ll get something,” and then began untying horses to lead them away, stealing saddlery, swords, or anything that lay about.  Then came a shot and silence; then another and another, five or six in all, by whom fired no one knows; and then the battle began,—­four British officers and some seventy of the Guides, against countless thousands!

Nor was the vantage of position with the British, for they could not possibly have been more unfavourably situated for defence.  The Residency consisted of a collection of mud and plaster buildings, of which the principal was the abode of the British officers.  The others included the rows of huts that formed the barracks of the escort, servants’ houses, and stables; outside, and enclosed by mud walls, were spaces in which were picketed the horses of the cavalry, and which formed courtyards to the Residency and men’s barracks.  Residential quarters of this description, given time to loop-hole and barricade them, would form fairly good defensive cover, except against artillery; but unprepared for defence they are mere death-traps.  To add to the untenable nature of the position the Residency was completely commanded from several directions, and especially from a high flat-roofed house only eighty yards distant.  The roofs of the Residency buildings were also flat, but made untenable by these commanding positions, except in one small portion where a low parapet, such as is often found on Eastern roofs, gave some slight protection.

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.