To give an instance of this magnetic influence,—­one day long after the Afghan War, Lord Roberts, then Commander-in-Chief in India, was passing the camp of the Guides, riding quietly along, when the sentry on the quarter-guard, an old soldier, recognised him in the distance, and shouting as in duty bound, “Guard, turn out!” added unofficially, but louder still, “Roberts Sahib is coming.”  The words spread like lightning down the long lines of horses and rows of tents; and with one accord each man dropped his work at the magic name and dashed to the head of the camp to see their old leader and friend:  it was no question of Commander-in-Chief, it was only their old comrade Roberts Sahib.  Need it be recorded that when his old soldiers heard that in the day of trouble Lord Roberts had gone to South Africa, they remarked with quiet confidence, “Ah! now all will be well.”

For the Guides, serving as part of the force under the command of the brave and chivalrous leader of light horse, Lt.-General Sir Sam Browne, K.C.B., V.C., the Afghan War opened with the operations resulting in the capture of the formidable fort of Ali Musjid, which bars the entrance to the far-famed Khyber Pass.  Sir Sam Browne was an old Colonel of the Guides, and to meet again in the field was the meeting of old comrades and friends.  Like Roberts, he knew how to use them, and how to get the best out of them; and the glowing words of his despatches show they served him well.

In the plan of operations for the capture of Ali Musjid one brigade was to attack in front, one in flank, and one by a wide detour through the mountains was to cut off the retreat.  In this operation it fell to the Guides to accompany General Tytler’s column, which was the one destined, after a long night march through the mountains, to drop down in rear of the fort.  The column was greatly delayed owing to the difficulty of the country, great mountains of eight thousand feet high intervening; but Jenkins with the Guides and 1st Sikhs pushed on, and by their timely arrival broke the back of the desperate resistance met by the frontal attack.  No Afghan or Pathan can stand the strain of being taken in rear; a sauve qui peut becomes at once the order of the day.  Most of the enemy fled through the mountains, but a regiment of regular infantry took the road through the pass and was captured by Jenkins and his men.  Next came a squadron of cavalry, and these bold fellows determined to make a dash for liberty.  Scattering therefore and riding at a break-neck gallop many got through, though many lay dead and wounded on the ground; and then, out of the cloud of dust and smoke might be seen, calmly riding at a foot’s pace, a solitary trooper.  A perfect hailstorm of bullets was falling about him, not the tiny bullets we now use, but great one ounce Snyder bullets, such as would knock over an elephant; but though nearly eight hundred rifles were in action, the serene horseman appeared not the least discomposed, and except for a defiant wave of his sword he rode quietly on.