Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-13
CHAPTER III.
BUX KHAN's FATE.

CHAPTER III.
BUX KIAN'S FATE.
Although it had been supposed that
Bux Khan's child had escaped unhurt
from the elephant, it soon proved that
he had in some way been injured in err
nally. From the day of Shaitan's out-
break and death the little fellow began
to pine away. Every day he grew
worse, till it was clear to everybody in
the place that lie was dying. The only
person who did not appear to be aware
how serious was the child's condition
seemed to be Bux Khan himself.
That he was anxious and dis
turLed was evident, for, for the first
time he began to neglect his duties.
He now never left the child day or
night. His master tried to induce him
TO let the khcddah doctor prescribe for
the boy; but Bux Khan respectfully
but firmly refused. He appeared to
have faith in certain nostrums and
drugs, which he himself administered
to the child. All that Eaton could do
was to excuse him from his duties, so
that he might always be with his too
surely dying child.
Most of the people in the kheddah
sympathized sincerely, and would
gladly have given what assistance and
comfort they could, but they knew Blx
khan's peculiar temper too well to care
to make any offer of help, or to cx-
press their sympathy. Consequently
lie was left alone with his child, his only
visitor being Captain Eaton, who fre-
Quently looked in to inquire how the
child was. At length the little fe<ow
became so i'll that Bux Khan, alarmed
at last, smothercd his jealous feelings
and procured the assistance Of two wo-
men. the wives Of mahouts. to help him
70 tend and nurse the child. But It was
too late. One evening as Eaton sat at
dinner his butler came in and reporte |
that the child was dead.
The Erglishman knew very well what
child was referred to; so, after dinner,
he repaired TO the hhcddah TO see if he
coald DO any thing or he of any assist
ancc. There was a dim light burning
in Bux khan's hut, and, looking in at
the door, Eaton saw the Afghan sitting
cross-legged on the floor with the body
Of the child on his lap. He was not
iondliDg it, but was sitting silent and
motionless, looking down on the little
dead face. There was an express
sion on the mans dark face which
made Captain Eaton hesitate to address
him. not from fear, but from respect
for strong mans agony. After look
ing on quietly for 4 few seconds he
stepped softly in and. touching the je-
madar gently on the shoulder, whs-
pered "Hux Khan, remember what IS
written. Verify, children are as the
flowers Of tie earth. Death as the hot
wind cometh, and they wither and die.
But they shall bloom again in the
PARADISE Of the faithful, saith the Mer-
cifl One"
Bux Khan did not look up or make
any reply, so the Captain went quietly
away.
That night. about two hours before
dawn. the watcher at the kheddah gate
saw the iemadar pass out, carrying his
dead child in his arms AM with a MAJ
took over his shoulder. Guessing what
he was about to do, the man followed
him. carefully keeping out Of sight.
Bux Khan strobe rapidly on till he
came to a mango tope about half mile
from the town. In the centre Of the
tope stood the ruined tomb OF Mo-
hammedan saint. Having laid the body
Of the child gently on the steps Of the
tomb, the Afghan, by the light Of the
stars, dug a deep grave at the
back of the tomb. Then the
watcher saw him take up the
body Of the child, and, with
out looking at its face or making any
demonstration Of affection or sorrow,
place it in the grave and shovel the
earth 1t. When the grave was filled
up he collected together a number OF
heavy stones and piled them on the
spot TO prevent the jackals from dig
ging up the body. While looking for
the stones B.x Khan approached near
to where the watcher was standing be-
hind a mango tree, and the man
crouched and trembled, for he knew
what to expect if the jemadar disco
vered him. Having buried his child,
Bux Khan stood for a few moments
silent over the grave, then turned slow
ly away and strobe back to the khed-
dab.
Next day the jemadar resumed his
work as if nothing had happened. 1t
was soon known throughout the khed-
dah what he had done with the child,
and so no questions were asked. At
first there was little in his appearance
or manner to show that he was much
affected at the loss Of his child. lie
went about his work much as usual,
quietly and silently. But at the end
of a week or two it became very
plain to Captain Eaton, who
was watching him anxiously,
that there was something very
wrong with him. He became gaunt
and haggard. Some Of the men re-
ported that he hardly ever slept, and
that he was accustomed 10 move rest
l,ssly about all night in his hut, or
walk up and down the elephant yard
mu,.ering TO himself. One mshout de-
elared that he had watched him walk
ing about one night, and overheard him