Adventure Magazine Cover — page 126: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_ Adventure lil . FTES the wisdom of God that no -man can know the fate in store for him. It was our fate that we should not see the black cloud of peril ris- ing over Khanjut, or the toils of the snare that closed about Shirzad Mir. My men gambled and ate and were hap- py thinking of insulting things to say to the Uzbek patrols that sometimes neared our walls. And I, also, would have been happy, but for Krishna Taya. I could not linger, yet I whispered a word of caution to Bihor Jan as I rode off with Shirzad Mir to meet with our foes. If the Rajput had not been with Jani Beg, we would not have gone. But the Rajput was a man of his word, as was Shirzad Mir. I was proud of my lord as he cantered to meet the other two. Jani Beg, who was there first, thought to impose a hardship on my lord by dismounting and sitting upon his cloak. Thus he hoped to make Shirzad Mir approach him on foot as an inferior in rank. Raja Man Singh, im- patient of such pettishness, kept to his horse. But my master saw through the artifice. He cantered straight up to the sitting Uz- bek and he did not dismount. He reined in his horse only when its hoofs were fair upon the silk cloak of Jani Beg. In spite of himself the Uzbek drew back and scowled. I turned my head to hide a smile and I saw the Rajput’s beard twitch. He and Shirzad Mir greeted each other briefly. Jani Beg was made to look ridiculous, squatting beneath our horses’ legs, so he rose and mounted, and I saw the pulse in his forehead beating. I, being inferior in rank, made the salaam from the saddle, which is not customary, yet I followed the example of Shirzad Mir and he cast me an approving glance. “We have come, Shirzad Mir,” said Raja Man Singh, “‘to arrange certain terms be- tween the Uzbeks and the rebels. Jani Beg desires to treat for the ransom of his son.” The Uzbek chieftain looked darkly at the general of the Mogul. He would have liked better to play with words, but the Rajput was impatient. “We—” Jani Beg waved his lean hand toward the Rajput— “will offer you a con- tinuation of the truce you desire if yous will -said slowly. observed shrewdly, news to the Englishman’s ears. release Said Afzel and “his personal fol- lowers.” Again Shirzad Mir smiled. “Is the truce of our seeking, Jani Beg? Nay, you have chosen it. For my part, I shall not rest from fighting until Badak- shan is free from invaders.” “Then you will continue to rebel against the Mogul?” “Nay. Badakshan is part of the Mogul empire. I fight only with Uzbeks.” “Yet I and my men are serving the Mogul. And you see Raja Man Singh.” Shirzad Mir did not smile this time. “Let the Rajput give heed to this,” he “Lies have been spoken against me in court, and I have taken up the sword of vengeance against the author of those lies. My quarrel is not with the Mogul. When the fighting is ended, he shall receive my allegiance.” They were bold words, spoken by an outlawed chieftain with only a handful of hillmen opposed to the Uzbek army, which possessed powder and artillery and was strengthened by a force of the invincible Rajput cavalry.’ I held my head high with pride and listened keenly. Jani Beg be- gan to speak words of another color. “You have an ally, Shirzad Mir,” he “‘a ferang. You owe him much. Tell him, as ransom for my son, I will procure his pardon from Jah- -angir, who is at Kahbul, and also an audi- ence with Jahangir. Thus he may obtain the trade rights he seeks for England.” Truly, the guile of the Uzbek was great. If Shirzad Mir should refuse this offer, it must offend Sir Weyand. Should my mas- ter keep the offer secret from the ferang, Jani Beg would find means_of getting the Yet both Shirzad Mir and I knew that it would not do to give up Said Afzel for a promise of Jani Beg. Shirzad Mir fingered his beard thought- fully. Then he turned to the elegant figure of the Rajput. “Do you also pledge your word, Raja Man Singh,” he asked courteously, “that this privilege will be granted the ferang and that he will not be harmed?” Jani Beg had spoken cleverly. He knew that we could ill afford to lose the services , of Sir Weyand, but the Rajput cherished the righteousness of his spoken pledge as a woman guards her honor. oe ~ . -s S en KL ge aera, = 5) oe ey tae ee