The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-01-29

child?'
Il would have hurt them, had they
not snatched away my knife" answered
the Afgbanne, proudly, as she pointed
TO the blood drops that had fallen from
her assailant's wound. "The daughter
of Akbar Khan knows how to defend
herself "
"Akbar Khan echoed st. Clair,
recalling with q sense of vague un easi-
ness for which he could not himself &C.
count, the name of the terrible chief
whose influence among the hill tribes
was only second to that Of the Ameer
himself. "But how came you here,
then, when your father is far away in
the south p"
"I came-to vista friend of my
fathers, said the girl with q momentary
hesitation which did not escape her
| questioner.
"She's lying, the little fox |! " thought
he p" but it's no business of mine"
81 was going back" she continued,
"to the friends who are waiting for me
in yonder village, but found the city
gates shut"
"If that is your only difficulty" said
the captain, I" it is soon mended. Come
with me-"
A few minutes brought them to the
eastern gate, and two words to the SEN
try sufficed to open it.
AS the girl passed through the deep,
shadowy archway, she looked wistfully
back to her preserver, and paused for q
moment as if about to speak.
But the words, whatever they were,
died on her lips, and st. Clair strolled
back to his quarters, with a half-smile
upon bis face at the thoughts of ro-
nance which the sentimental subalterns
would have rejoiced in falling to the lot
pof an "old stager like himself.
Little did he dream that upon this
seeming trivial occurrence hung not
merely his own life, but that of every
man in the English army.
CHAP. H.-aATHERINa OF THE vULTUREs.
Sixteen days had passed since Captain
st. Clair's adventure, and jthe night OF
the 9th of November found him slowly
pacing the street where it had occurred.
As he stood musing, hidden by The
shadow of a projecting corner, two At
ghans came slowly up the deserted
street.
Just as they passed him, he heard one
say to the other
can is well, then: for the hill tribes
are with us TO a man if Akbar Khan but
lift his finger"
Z" 1t is said that the khan would have
held back" rejoined the other, "for he
Knew that the Feringhees (Europeans)
are strong; but when he heard that
fhese dogs (may Allah consume them y
| had insulted his own daughter, Guleyaz,
when she came hither in the last moon
with his message to the chiefs of the
| city, he swore that not man of the Un-
believers should escaped and he will
keep his oath !"
And the speakers voice was lost in
the distance.
st. Clair's heart grew chill within
him as he listened. His worst sus-
picions were now fully confirmed, and
the benumbing sense of secret treacheIy
| (of all things the most abhorrent to
brave man) oppressed him like a
nightmare.
Scarcely knowing what he did, lie
stepped forth as if to follow the two
conspirators, and found himself face to
face with Guleyaz herself
There Sue stood in the ghostly twi-
light-calm and beautiful as ever, but
with q sembre light in her large dark
eyes, such as one gees in those of the
hungry tiger, when, after a long and
weary circuit through the jungle, he
sees the deer which he has been track
ing fairly within reach at last.
"Feringhee," she said, taking his
hand, "you showed me kindness once,
and an Afghan never forgets either good
or evil. Death is waiting for the Eng
lish host, and have come to save you
ere it be too late"
I" 1t is you, then, who have betrayed
us ?" said Herbert, with an intensity Of
scorn which no words can convey.
The taunt struck home. In an in
slant the tender, clinging woman sprang
up into an offended queen.
Betrayed r. echoed she fercely.
"Is it treachery to aid my own race
against its enemies Why did the
Feringhees come hither to waste our
valleys and burn our homesT Why
have they taken our own king from us,
and set up in his stead a dog unworthy
to tie TN Afghan's sandals But woe to
them Before the full moon shall
have spent her light, the dogs shall lick
the blood of every Feringhee in Cabul |"
Herbert shrank back appalled,, so
Fbideously changed was that beautiful
face by the sudden tempest of passion.
But this movement of aversion checked
her rage in mid-curreut, and the warm,
womanly heart beneath asserted itself
once more.
"Do not be angry with me-" she
whispered, pleadingly "no one shall
harm you while live. Hear me-the
English are many and mighty, but what
avails the tigers strength when he is
once in the toils9 Every leaf on yon-
der hills is an Afghan warrior, every
twig loaded rifle. Escape if you can
1 will guide you out of the city, and bid
my friends keep you safe till all is over.
Why should you perish in vain p
AS she spoke, there came over hel
| hearer,s nnhla faca q emile of grand ant