The Brigand of Kandahar

Lieutenant Case is court-martialed for cowardice after a routine sortie goes wrong and a fellow officer is captured. The garrison condemns him, he is dishonorably discharged, and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. The scandal tests loyalties within the Bengal Lancers.

With help from local tribesmen, Case escapes his imprisonment and flees into the mountains on the frontier. He soon falls into the hands of Eli Khan, the brigand leader. The escape marks the start of a dangerous bargain between a British officer and a tribal warlord.

Case and Khan strike a deal: Khan grants sanctuary and a chance for vengeance, while Case agrees to train the brigands to storm the British fort. Case struggles with balancing his British upbringing and brutal coercion, insisting civilians must not be harmed. The alliance deepens as both men weigh loyalty against survival.

Eli Khan's sister Ratina watches the proceedings with a wary eye as Case contends with his new role. The brigands torture prisoners, including the captured British officer, testing Case's resolve. Ratina's quiet presence foreshadows a personal conflict that could undermine the alliance.

James Marriott, a roving British newspaper correspondent, reaches the fort after hearing of Case's court-martial. He interviews Elsa, who dismisses him, and Colonel Drewe begins raiding villages to locate Eli Khan. The fort braces for news that could spark action.

Drewe's men raid the surrounding villages to draw out information. The raiding party is ambushed; Marriott is captured along with others and brought before Case, who warns them not to escape or be killed. Case's moral ambiguity deepens as he weighs the captives' fate.

During captivity, Case endures the suffering of a maimed former comrade and can no longer bear it, leading him to shoot the wounded man. Marriott is allowed to deliver a message back to the fort, confirming the civilians' safety if evacuations proceed. The act intensifies Case's enigmatic reputation.

Colonel Drewe, persuaded by Marriott's testimony, evacuates civilians with a small escort. Ratina senses something amiss and overrules Case, ambushing the evacuees when they pause to rest. Marriott is knocked unconscious in the fighting.

Elsa is captured again and brought back to the cave, claimed by Khan as his prize. Ratina is jealous of the attention given to Elsa and watches Case's every move. The power struggle over Elsa intensifies as Khan asserts his dominance.

Khan reports that British reinforcements are on the way and orders an attack for the next day. Ratina boasts of Elsa's fate, while Case tries to maintain control and protect civilians. The pressure builds toward a climactic assault.

Case throttles Eli Khan during a confrontation, and the brigand leader dies, his body carried away. Ratina witnesses the fall and Case's rise to leadership of the Ghilzi. The personal and political stakes of the conflict are now centered on Case.

With Khan gone, the brigands ride toward the fort and prepare for an assault the next day. The defenders brace for a brutal clash, setting mortars and a reverse-slope defense in place. Ratina's influence remains, but Case maintains a wary and focused resolve.

The brigands are met by heavy fire as mortars, grenadiers, and a Bengal Lancer cavalry break their momentum. The assault stalls, and the British forces retaliate with a powerful counterattack. Case is wounded in the fighting, signaling the turning point of the battle.

Case flees toward a cave on a retainer's horse, pursued by Drewe and a squad. He confronts Drewe in a short revolver duel, while Ratina appears to aid him by firing on the British. Both Case and Ratina are mortally wounded in the exchange, and they reach out and touch hands.

The scene cuts back to the fort where Marriott is interviewed about his forthcoming article. He condemns Drewe's racist treatment of Case and hints at the survivors' perspectives—brave soldiers, not the color of their skin. British reinforcements arrive as the Bugle signals the end of the day.