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"Firdoos Gita Makâni always said: 'No retreat till there is no advance. Besides, see you, if we go down, the snow will be melting and give us no foothold. But at night the frost will hold on the pass. And it is but little farther to the next shelter; for, see you, I have come twice this way from Kandahâr; but never the other way back.
Firdoos Gita Makâni who knew all things under the sun had a favourite horse, that strained itself falling into a drift. They were for leaving it to die, but that did not suit Firdoos Gita Makâni, who was kind to all God's creatures.
If ever poor mortals were watched over by saints in Paradise, we were; and for my part if ever I get to Kâbul, my duty shall be paid to the tomb of Firdoos Gita Makâni on whom be peace." "Amen!" added her husband devoutly; "but for the memory of that good man we should not be here now." It was on the third day that leaving Meroo in charge for a few hours Foster-father and Roy set off to explore.
I saw him there one moment turning to tell us words of wisdom the next the snow bridge had given way beneath his feet and he was gone. We waited on the bank of the awful chasm for a long time, but there was no sound save the roaring of the stream below. Firdoos Gita Makâni, his master, had called him. Peace be with them both!"
"Faithful?" he asked in a low whisper. "What of him?" There was no answer at first; only Foster-father covered his face with his hands. At last he spoke gently. "He was faithful to death. He was going first, as ever, cheering us all with his sayings of Firdoos Gita Makâni.
"First you must know that Firdoos Gita Makâni, or Babar the brave, had to get back to Kâbul, because wicked men were waiting to be punished. Now, it was winter time, and none dreamed of travelling over the passes at that season. But Firdoos Gita Makâni was not one to hold back when a thing had to be done.
"Ohé," said she, "so that was it! Listen, Foster-father! these babes set the platter for Firdoos Gita Makâni on whom be peace! Is not that good omen for us all?" "Mayhap!" said Foster-father, clearing his throat cautiously, "and my heart is comforted also by the presence of Faithful, who was with the great king in his battle with snow and ice."
But for Firdoos Gita Makâni trampling a road I should never have thought of a tunnel!" Roy, however, was already hard at work improving on the idea by widening the way with Old Faithful's sword, being only let from doing more by Head-nurse's exclamation that the melting snow would flood the shed.
To pass from the cold and snow into such a village with its warm houses, to find plenty of good food as we did after days of hunger is an enjoyment that can only be understood by those who have suffered similar hardship, have endured such heavy distress." Old Faithful paused and sighed. "That is so like Firdoos Gita Makâni," he said.
But it was not the absence of the Khânzâda Khânum which made faces thoughtful at times. She, they knew, was at rest, and they laid flowers for her beside those they gathered in memory of Firdoos Gita Makâni on whom be peace! No! it was the knowledge that Roy could not remain with them.
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