The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-01-29
THE VALLEY OF DEA1H.
A Tale of the Lnst Afghan War.

CHAPTER IAN AsIATIo BEAUTY.
Evening in Aighanistan, on fine
Iaber day in 1871 the city of Cabul
.he outspread in all the beauty of its
sHntlcss gardens and many colored
f1wers beneath the sunset glory, the
massive tomb of Baber, the Mogul,
BANDING ont like giant sentinel against
the crimson sky the red light fading
slowly over the wide green plain around,
Nd0tted with white villages, and framed
in u ring of purple hills f; the little river
dancing and sparkling amid its cluster
ing trees, and here and there along the
ondless ranks of wooden houses feWH
luEbaned figures gliding forth to enjoy
the refreshing coolness of the coming
n|ght.
But the peaceful scene harmonizes i'll
with the stalwart figures in white
frocks that come tramping along the
main street-showing the light hair and
clear blue eyes of the Englishman be-
Hi.le the lank, wiry frame and dark, lean
Visage of the Sepoy-heeding as little
the ferce looks darted at them from
either side as the CLEAN cast On their
bayonets by the setting sun.
Afghanistan has been invaded and
tverrun. The great Ameer, Dost Mo-
A8mmed himself, is on his way to Pesh-
Nug as prisoner, and sixteen thousand
Ioops hold Cabul in the name of Shah
ofah. the new king, whom British
yonets have forced upon the "men OF
HE mountain"
But the invaders, flushed with their
eAsv victory. and ill.restrained by their
oommander, are already beginning to
lose their discipline.
An experienced leader would augur
mischief from the sounds of boisterous
merriment echoing on every side, and
to and fro, as unlike as possible to wary
soldiers in the heart of an enemy's coun-
try.
at the corner of the principal streets
three or four of the loudest brawlers had
halted and spread themselves out as if
10 stop some one who wished to pass.
"Holloa, Bill - cried a rough voice;
g sere's a prize. Who'll bid for share ?"
ssShare and share alike, as good COM
rades ought" |" shouted second, with a
coarse laugh. Lets have look at
the little baggage"
And, 80 speaking, he tore away the
vail of the slight figure which his COM
rade had seized, revealing the face OF a
young native girl OF sixteen.
The next moment the aggressor started
back with howl of pain, as the small
knife, which is every Afghan woman's
ineeparable companion, gashed his ex-
bended hand from side to side. But the
frail weapon was instantly wrested from
her, while half dozen strong hands
seized the struggling form in their brutal
grasp.
Just at that critical moment blow,
which the late Senator Morrissey him.
self might have applauded, sent the
foremost assailant sprawling on his
back, while the others recoiled right
and left before the shock of tall figure
that came bursting in among them, scat
toring them in all directions.
snow, then / who the deuce are you,
shown in where you amt wanted ?"
erowled one of the soldiers, pugna-
ciously.
Nhe new conner deigned no reply, but
silently threw back his cloak, display
ing TO the startled group the uniform of
line officer, aAd the badge of their
5wn regiment.
Shy lingo p muttered the challenger,
With look OF disiHay,. there's pretty
Job" ~
You call youreelzes Englishmen p
cried the officer, in a voice almost mar
iieulate with passion. els. this how you
keep up the honor of the old flag
You shall hear of.this tomorrow morn
lpg, be assured of that Be off with
oni" a4
The cFestfallen brawlers skunk awoy
iihout a word.
Then the rescued girl took her pro.
ttor's hand in both her own, and
sssed it lightly to her forehead, with
almost royal dignity, which, in one
earcely beyond the years of childhood
astonished even the unimaginatiye Eng
lishman.
Though voted model officer by hii
superiors, and an insensible brute by
the ladies OF the PeshaWur garrison
Captain 81. Clair was not yet so thor
oughly "pipe-clay" as to have lost hit
appreciation of feminine charms; am
no could not but own that this yonn(
beauty of the wilderness, with the fir,
of her Afghan blood in her deep, las
trous eyes, and the supple grace of til,
Oriental in every line of her perfec
figure, made such a picture as he haC
seldom seen.