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Updated: May 5, 2025
"Opposite," said King, "nearly exactly opposite three rows back from the front, counting the front row as one there sits a man with his arm in a sling and a bandage over his eye." The Pathan nodded and touched his knife-hilt. "One-and-twenty men from him, counting him as one, sits a man with a big black beard, whose shoulders are like a bull's. As he sits he hangs his head between them thus."
It was a dark ill-smelling hole, but he ordered King into it and the Pathan after him on guard, after first seeing the women pile all their loads inside. Then he took the women away and went off muttering to himself, swaggering, swinging his right arm as he strode, in a way few natives do. "Let us hope he has forgotten these!" the Pathan grinned, touching the pile of rifles.
"Good!" The Pathan thumped him on the back so hard that his eyes watered. "We would have to use much caution," King advised him, when he was able to speak again. "Aye! If Bull-with-a-beard got wind of it be would have us crucified. And if she heard of it " He was silent. Apparently there were no words in his tongue that could compass his dread of her revenge.
I am not in possession of sufficient evidence to pronounce on the question of the Amir's complicity in the frontier risings. It is certain, that for many years the Afghan policy has consistently been to collect and preserve agents, who might be used in raising a revolt among the Pathan tribes. But the advantages which the Amir would derive from a quarrel with the British are not apparent.
That such an outrage, such a defilement of a holy place, could be contemplated came upon the worshippers with a shock. But the Pathan levy was seen to be moving towards the door to obey the order, and as he went the cries and threats rose with redoubled ardour.
Sikandar Khan took his glasses, and I took his handkerchief and some letters and a certain thing which I knew hung round his neck, and Sikandar Khan is witness that I wrapped them all in the handkerchief. Then we took an oath together, and lay still and mourned for Kurban Sahib. Sikandar Khan wept till daybreak even he, a Pathan, a Mohammedan!
With arms like the jaws of a vise he pinned the Mahsudi's to his side, and lifted him from off hs feet. The fellow screamed, and the Pathan shouted "Ho!" But he did no murder yet. He let his victim grow fully conscious of the fate in store for him, holding him so that his frantic kicks were squandered on thin air.
Shere Ali spoke again to his courtier, and the courtier stepped forward more bland than ever. "His Highness would like to know if his Excellency is still talking, and if so, why?" he said to the Pathan, who translated it. Linforth gave up the attempt to renew his friendship with Shere Ali. He must go back to Peshawur and tell Ralston that he had failed.
"Liar I may be, but I am one against many. Which of you would dare stand alone and lie to all the others? Nay, sahibs, I am a political offender, not a soldier!" They all laughed at that and seizing the moment when they were in a pliant mood the Orakzai Pathan proceeded to bring proposals to a head. "Are we agreed?" he asked. "Or have we waggled our beards all night long in vain?
The Pathan and the Boer have been their instructors in something more practical than those imperial grand manoeuvres where the all-highest played with his puppets in such a fashion that one of his Generals remarked that the chief practical difficulty of a campaign so conducted would be the disposal of the dead.
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