So declared Ali Pakesh, aka "The Mad Mullah", as he gathered his Pathan tribesmen together.  Now was the time for the native hordes to descend on the hated foreigners - the British - and drive them out.  First from the Khyber Pass, and then from the Northwest Frontier itself!  The Pathans quickly gathered their arms and headed in the direction of the nearest British encampment. . .

Meanwhile, Captain William "Ben" Jenkins and his small command were preparing for the afternoon review at their small walled outpost at the mouth of the Khyber.  Present were two squadrons of British infantry, a unit of Sepoys, two machine guns, a heavy cannon and a light mountain gun manned by some loyal Gurkhas.  There was also a unit of Highlanders who had been dispatched up into the pass to escort the Reverend Buttersworth back from his small missionary.  It was a small force, but the troops were brave and well equipped.

 
British HQ had decided to bolster Captain Jenkin's force with a unit of Sepoy cavalry, an additional unit of British line troops, and a heavy cannon.  The reinforcement convoy had just about reached the outpost when the first Pathans were spotted by the Highlanders, who were helping the Reverend Buttersworth collect his belongings.  With the Reverend was the adventurous Lord Bumblethwaite, a enthusiast of big game hunting, who was in the area pursuing exotic game.

No sooner had the Pathans been spotted then a unit of native cavalry on fast ponies leapt to the charge, bolting towards the Highlanders!  The brave lads dashed for the cover of an old dilapidated wall and aimed their rifles at the quickly approaching tribal warriors. . .

When their sergeant gave the command, the Highlanders opened fire with a devastating volley that scythed down the Pathan cavalry like stalks of wheat!  Not to be outdone by commoners, Lord Bumblethwaite joined in with this high caliber hunting rifle, dropping two of the natives himself!
 
Although the Highlanders appeared to be holding their own for now, the reinforcement convoy was not having such good luck.  They fell under the deadly fire of the Pathan marksmen, armed with muzzle loading jezails, and in the matter of a minutes the convoy was forced to break formation and sprint for the safety of the compound, abandoning their heavy gun and supply wagon in the process!

 
Meanwhile, the defenders of the small compound were coming under heavy fire.  A native unit armed with modern rifles had slipped around the flank, and were causing casualties amongst the British and their Sepoys.  A sortie was quickly discussed, but was rejected by Captain Jenkins as suicidal because the Pathan snipers were supported by a unit of cavalry.

Things were beginning to look grim for the British.  With enemy making themselves known on all sides of the compound, and the Highlanders trapped in the hills, Captain Jenkins was seriously considering retreat.  If only he could take the wind out of the Pathans' sails. . .

Click here for the exciting conclusion. . .