The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-11-06

them the most eNtravagant rewards il
they succeeded. But the physicians,
however skilled they may have been at
curing internal diseases, were bunglers
at heating wounds. They shook their
heads gravely, and seemed to think the
case hopeless.
1t was then that the Grand Vizier,
Assud Kahn, bethought him of the En-
gliSh traders at Surat. He remem-
bered that the surgeons who came over
in the East lndiamen had wrought
some wonderful cures, and had ac-
quired high reputation for surgical
skill. He therefore suggested to his
master that an address should be sent
immediately to Surat, with orders to
travel day and night. and bring back
with the utmost speed an English sur
geon. 1t was a far cry from Delhi
to Surat. but the express had extraor-
binary powers to take what horses or
supplies he needed from whomsoever
he pleased on his journey; and by dint
|'of ttHge Hngsday and night as fast us
horses Gould carry him. it was just
possible that the English surgeon might
be brought to Delhi before it was too
! late.
The Hopewell East-Indiamen had
Just arrived at Surat from England,
when the Imperial express dashed into
the settlement The ships chief sur
geon, Gabriel Boughton, had gone
ashore. and was at the residence of the
Company factor when the Mogurs
messenger was announced. Without a
moments hesitation. Boughton offered
to return at once with the express.
The factor privately warned him that
should his skill fail, things might be
made very unpleasant for him at the
Mogufs court. But the young sur
geon had plenty of pluck and self-re-
lance: and beside, the thought of
having such patient as the favorite
daughter of the Great Mogul excited
his professional ambition. 1t would be
sheer madness to throw away such a
splendid chance of winning wealth and
distinction simply because there was
some risk attaching to it. And so,
without further parley, Gabriel Bough-
ton prepared to start for Delhi.
In less than two hours from the ar
rival of the messenger, the English sur
geon was riding at headlong speed on
the mission which was to make or mar
his fortunes. Weary. anxious and al
most exhausted. Gabriel Boughton
reached the Mogul's palace, and was
rejoiced to learn that he was not too
late. He was led at once to the apart
ments of the Padshah Begun, and
there he found Shah Jehan, who had
never left his daughters side. Hag-
gard. and worn. and wan from constant
Watching. sleepless anxiety and poign-
ant grief. the Great Mogul looked al
most as tit Il subject for the doctors skill
as his unhappy daughter. The mo-
ment he saw the face of the English
surgeon. he rushed to him, clutched
him by the arm, and in imploring ac-
cents besought him to cure his daugh-
ter. declaring ON his sacred oath that
whatever reward the surgeon might
ask should be granted him, were he but
successful. To have the richest and
most magnificent monarch IN the world
thus u suppliant almost at his feet
might we'll have shaken the strongest
nerves. But Gabriel BoughtOn was
calm and collected, and set about the
delicate and critical task before him in
that cool, business-like manner, which
was even then 4 marked characteristic
of English surgeons, and which served
more than anything else to inspire the
natives of India with confidence in
their skill.
BY his unwearying attention, his pa
tient care and skillful treatment. GA
briel Boughton succeeded in effecting
complete cure. Not only was the Pad
shah Begun restored to health, but her
beauty was little, if any at all, impaired
by the terrible injuries she had suffered.
The gratitude and joy of Shah .Jehan
knew no bounds. The Grand Vizier,
.Assud Khan. to whom Gabriel BOu@h-
ton owed his introduction to the I'M
perial court. was commissioned to in
form the fortunate surgeon that on a
certain day the Great Mogul would
grant him a special audience in state.
that he might then claim his reward,
and that whatever he might demand the
Emperor pledged himself to grant. The
Grand Vizier was obsequious in his man.
ner, knowing how polite it was to Sc
cure the good graces of a rising favor
lite. and even ventured to hint at a flu
ture so brilliant and dazzling that Ga
briefs brain went dizzy at the prospect.
Left to his own meditations, the surgeon
pondered deeply over his position. He
was young, he was good-looking. he was
ambitious. Here was father whose
heart was full of the most eXtravagant
and reverential thankfulness toward
him: here was daughter equally CRATE
full. and even more favorably disposed
toward him than her father. What was
to prevent him from asking her hand,
and becoming the most powerful and
influential parsonage at the court OF the
Great Mogul? To Western ideas, such
an inspiration might seem too audacious
and romantic to be entertained for a
moment; but in the East there were
plenty of precedents for such reward,
granted for services of great value
why should he not make this bold bid
for position and fortune?
The day appointed for the state audi
ence with the Great Mogul arrived.
Seated on his splendid throne, the high
heron plumes, clasped with diamonds,
adding majesty to his face, his dress
one blaze of brilliants, by his side, un-
yelled, the beautiful Padshah Begun,
around him his magnificent retinue of
mobiles, scarcely less gorgeously clad
than himself, Shah Jehan prepared to
receive the man who had done him a
service which, as he gazed lovingly at
the sweet face beside him, it seemed
that the whole of his imperial treasury
was hardly rich enough to repay. The
Englishman bowed low as he came into
the presence of the Emperor. Then
Shah Jehan beckoned him to come
nearer, took him by the hand, and,
looking significantly at the Padshah
Begun, babe. him name his reward.
There was breathless silence as the
young Englishman opened his lips. And
what was the price he claimed for his
services?- He asked for no private
emolument; he sought no selfish adj
vancement; he simply solicited that his
countrymen, the traders of the East
India Company, might have liberty to
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