Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-12

"The blessed Amir is far away, we who
eat his bread must keep guard for him.
Consider, / pray you, how easily that huge
fort might be taken II we were not faith
full and vigilAnt. The Khan and his
house. his family, and the enormous treas
ure YOU speak OF are IN our hands. II we
slept, brother, evil men might destroy
them all silently aud escape. When the
bugle sounded in the morning and the
crime was discovered they would have
six hours start. Ii is not wise TO tempt
men, brave and honest, who know by
what injustice, and fraud, and cruelty
this great sum had been collected. And
then YOU ask why 1t has been brought to-
gether by this means-tor what purpose?
know not: but if the Khan means
treachery to his Highness, IL behOoyes us
to look out. for we should all he the frat
victims. Therefore, brother, tell our
brave, honest comrades that | am not
their enemy but their friend; that the
observations / make continually are in
their interest; that l Will share their
fate. good or i'll, if they admit me TO conf
dence"
lit is well spoken, havildarl think l
will start homewards now. Thanks be to
Allahp
praised be His nsmev
They meant no profanity norhypocrisy
Between two invOcations OF the Merciful
God they had come to an understanding,
the purpOrt Of which was robbery and
murder. But He had nothing to do with
that. In all sincerity they gave to
heaven its due, and managed their
earthly concerns independently. Like
brothers the pair returned, for Lazar
had a new idea, and the slave passed I'M
mOlested.
That evening he saw change in the
! feeling of his battalion. When the lamps
shOne at nightfall, one after another of
| the leading spirits came up with grim,
friendly smile. The two WaZiri sergeants
asked him to cit with them, and time
passed merrily but nothing was hinted
of the project Lazar thought to be afOOt.
A month passed; then cautiously he
sounded the man whose life he had saved,
and cautiously il was answered that no
one knew him; that he kept his own Sc
| crets so closely, others we're tempted TO
follow his example. Lazar expected this
charge. Under sOlemnest oaths he told
his name and rank, and so much as he
thought proper of his story Ina few days
this confidence worked. But the plot
turned out 10 be formless thing, OF
which the end alone was distinctly shaped.
Lazar took it in hand and fixed the hour.
No blood should be split in the Governors
dwelling; but mutiny of a battalion ex-
acts the death of certain comrades who
cannot be trusted. If the Amir were not
reused to desperate measures, individU-
ais had a fair chance of escape.
For success in his private schemes La
Ear needed confederate outside the walls,
and he feared his raOther might have left
LalpOora, not hearing of him for such a
time. He exaggerated the maternal anx-
iety Of Patban dame. She was found at
her house, TRANQUILITY expecting his re-
turn, if living, laden with spoils. Even
in the Joy OF meeting she observed her
sons uniform, and asked an explanation
frownlngly. Lazar replied that he was
hunting down the Khan in vengeance for
mis- treachery; that he had persuaded his
comrades to rise on the following night.
1t was the way TO earn the fierce old
wOman's help. Still actuated by revenge
alone, Lazar proposed to carry of Nura-
deb, after sacSing her fathers house. This
also was approved, but without enthusi-
asm. The mother promised to do all that
was asked-to devote her means, to aban-
don her home. She would have given
life for the holy JOY of vengeance.
Before LazAr returned to quarters, all
was ready.
On the following night, when the sol
diers lounged in that dusty space be-
tween their caYerns and the Governors
D
them as usual, and stood a moment. She
was seen no more. Soon afterward the
lights in the garden psled, and those in
the dwelling were eXtinguished. Dis
guIsed as the slave, LazaT entered. His
first step was to seek the door cOmmuni-
eating with the house, and to assure him
self it was unlocked. Then, cautiously
and slowly, his sight and hearing strain
ed, q dagger in his grip, be stole toward
] "a w Tn nj
glimmered among the trees. IL proved to
be a platform, raised several steps, with
a balustrade round, and a roof supported
by columns. But IL was not tlat--nObody
could sleep there. In fact, by lamps
smoky glow he saw mosquito curtains
spread on the platform. Lazar creeped
round. looked at them from every point.
They were three, and which might be
Nuradeh's, if she were there, he had no
means of telling. II this were not ascer-
tanned, her life hung upon a chance. La
Ear crawled up the steps, and laid him
sell along, on rhe dark side OfOne curtain.
Not the falntest sound could be heard
within it; he lifted the edge-the mat lay
empty. But the breathing OF sleepers
reached HIS ear on either side. A new
thought struck him. Moving softly as a
snake he reached a lamp, and then, trust
ing to bis disguise, his wit, and the drOw-
nAHEoo VI EiAH hWAhtHNh ANhMyf hEul
over it and pulled the wick backward till
its flame hardly kept alive. Then he
stole down the Steps, and on the ground
beneath raised a long howl. With cry
the girls awOke, and each put out her
head,
'Ho, Kaziah - exclaimed voice that
made the listeners blood thrill. "Ihe
lamp is nearly out, and one Of your care
less girls has let a dog enter the garden
Light the lamp Instantly, and turn out
the unclean beast"
Lazar stayed to note the curtain from
which slave Issued grumbling, and has
tened of nOiselessly.
1t was past O'clock when he rejoined
his associates. Grand rounds had gone
by, and IN that garrison officers turned in
Immediately after. The Lalpoora gate
was held by the cOnspirators aud when
Lazar visited IL he found them ready for
their part-tO silence the few comrades
who were not allies, 10 pass their friends
through after the crime, and 10 follow; or,
IL the affair mlscarried, to defend the gate
like heroes against their couiederates.
Quietly the main body mustered. each
knowing his role and dauntess % fear or
pity. some were familiar with the house,
having worked there as carpenters, and
molders. and tallors. Twenty picked
men Lazar conducted 10 the door, and
left them, waiting signal; with three
others he led the way 10 the kiosk, where
all was still. One remained below, two