The guns, with Captain Forrester's troop as escort, dashed forward to hold the defile; while the main body, divided into two divisions--one to follow the guns, the other to reach the plain above by a nearer pass--started forward into action.
The cavalry, meanwhile, with Major Atherton at their head, were already engaged in a hot scrimmage.
Following their usual tactics, the Afghans, after exchanging shots at the entrance of the pass, had turned tail and dashed through the defile, with the English at their heels.

Then, suddenly turning as they reached the plain beyond, they faced round on their pursuers, not yet clear of the rocky gorge.

In the present instance, however, when within about a hundred yards of the head of the column, they wheeled round again, and once more bolted into the open.
A stern chase ensued over the rough broken ground, the enemy now and then making a show of halting, but as often giving way and tempting the cavalry farther out into the plain.
The Afghans numbered only about two hundred horsemen, but it was quite evident from their tactics that they had a much larger body in reserve, and Major Atherton was decidedly perplexed as to what he should do.

For if he pursued them too far, he might be cut off from his own men; if, on the other hand, he made a dash and rode them down before they could get clear, he might cut them off from their main body, and so clip the enemy's wings.
The enemy settled the question for him.

Just as he was looking round for the first sign of Forrester and the guns in the pass, the plain suddenly swarmed with Afghans.