The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

644 “You speak like a wise man, the father of men, sahib,” Gurdit Singh chuckled delightedly. ‘ Yet, on the border, one must play the badiiashes as they play you, if you wish to win. Listen, sahib,” the old man came closer to Andy and spoke in soft ton€s, so none might overhear. “The badmashes are up to. their devil’s work once more. Only three days ago, my spies tell me, four bun- niahs, returning to,Jang from Mogul Kot, fell into an ambush of the Waziri midway on the road. They were killed and their money, rifles, camels, and stores looted. The following day two other bunmahs were set upon, killed, and robbed of their all. “A messenger reached me this eve- ning and reported that another powin- dah had just met with a like fate at their villainous hands. Truly the bad- mashes require their tails to be twisted. Things are stirring, Huzoor, on the border and there is work for us to do.” Andy whistled softly. “ By Jove!” he exclaimed, rubbing his hands to- gether. “ That jolly well looks as if diplomacy and tact had tamed the Waziris. What an almighty ass that political Johnny is, to be sure!”’ “Whose Khel is it that we must blame for these outrages, subadar?’’ he asked, with an eager light in his eyes, for he knew as well as the old soldier knew that arms must be used if order and law were to be maintained on the border. “The Washud Khel, Hugoor, of which that son of a pig, Sher Afzal, is sultan.” ““ He’s been at the bottom of all the deviltry on the border for the past two years, isn’t.it so?” “So my men tell me, sahib.” “All right, subadar, Till attend to this matter immediately.” The old soldier saluted stiffly, and there was a proud smile on his lips. He was a good judge of men, and could tell by the gleam in Andy’s eyes that it would go hard with Sher Afzal when he fell into the hands of the British. THE ARGOSY. Andy quickly thought over the situ- ation, after the native officer had with- drawn. If he had his way, he would lead a party of his men to Wano, where the robber chieftain ruled from his castellated tower on the lofty peaks of Kajari Kach above the mouth of the Aghzhtmanda River. By crafty night attack or open as- sault by day, he would storm the nest of the robbers, capture those who sur- rendered and kill those who resisted, but above all he would capture Sher Afzal alive and swing him high above his towers to.rot until his jangling bones were a perpetual reminder to the hillsmen of the far-reaching powers of the raj. But he knew that the political would never sanction such drastic measures. ~ . He wondered if the latter had heard of these new developments in the bor- der’s affairs and, anxious to ascertain this fact, hurried once more to the bungalow of the civilian official. Quietly and with keen relish, he told the story which his swbadar had just given him. The political listened at- tentively, with a frown on his face. For several minutes after the young soldier had finished his recital of the wrong-doings of Sher Afzal and his bloodthirsty followers there was si- lence, and then the political rose to his feet with anxious face, and began to walk up and down the room in hurried, jerky strides. Finally he swung round impatiently upon the soldier. “Tt’s too bad Sher Afzal has not profited by the lessons I have so care- fully explained to him,” the political remarked. <‘ I'll have to start out at daylight and proceed to Wano to ex- postulate with him and get him to give up the culprits and the loot.” “Do you think for a moment he will do it?” laughed Andy. “ He’ll blame all the raids and other matters down to his neighbors and calmly lie to your face.” “ Probably, but I shall try to bring him to a sense of what is due to the raj and get him to see reason.* COMicdoo S CO@