Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-10-24

Gus at seeing thelr prey escape lneul'
came rushing on like famished tigers,
led by a tall, handsome man on a
splendid black horse, whose dark face
was half buried in a huge black beard.
"By Jovel" cried the Major, catch
ing sight of him. That must be Kala
Dahl himself, and if l can knock him
over, ten to one we'll lick EN- yet
Here goesl'
And, Spurring his horse, he dashed
at the Hindoo leader, sword in hand,
but Just then his horse, struck by a
bullet, fell with him and crushed him
beneath it, and he remembered no
more.
When our hero recovered his senses
he found himself lying upon low
couch on what appeared to be the ter
race of a native hill fort, overlooking
the valley that had been the scene of
the fight, along which the first rays of
sunrise were just beginning to stream.
1t seemed that his captors must be
kindly disposed towards him, for his
wounded head and right arm had been
carefully bandaged, and food and
water placed within his reach, to which
he applied himself eagerly. But he
had not made much progress with his
meal when a curtain that hung at the
far end of the terrace was suddenly
thrown back, and forth from behind
it suddenly stepped the renowned
BLACK Beard" himself, in the full
dress of a mountain warrior. helmet
on head and sword by side.
But before the Major had time to
address him, Kala Dahl, with a very
curious smile on his bold, swarthy
face, held out lemon on the palm of
his extended left hand and made a
gesture with his right as if striking at
it with a sword.
Then the truth flashed upon Major
Parkhurst all in a moment.
"What" cried he, starting up. care
you the Rohilla swordsman of Meean
Meer?"
The Hindoo smiled gravely and
answered with an affirmative sign.
"And so you've got to be king,
then, since l saw you lqst-not such
bad promotion, after all, ," said Park
hurst, eyeing with soldier-like admira-
ton the fine athletic figure and gor-
geous dress of his enemy.
"And you, too, Sahib, seem to have
risen since we first met, " rejoined the
Black Beard chief, "and | see that
you know how to make your men fol-
low you. When they saw you 90
down in the midst Of rs last night they
turned back upon US like tigers, to try
and rescue you, and if there had been
half dozen more of them | believe
they'd have done it.
"Aye, they would follow me any
where, the brave fellowsl" said the
Major, with look of soldierly pride
on his firm, sun-browned features.
"Well, chief, Of course | know what
l have to expect, and l don't mean to
make any fuss about tits all the
fortune of war. I'll Just ask you to
grant me one favor, though; if it's all
the same to you. should prefer being
shot, for | don't take to the idea of
being strung up like dog.
The Hindoo leader looked doubt
fully at him for moment, as if hardly
understanding his meaning; and then
a reproachful frown darkened the
mountain chieftain'8 fine, expressive
countenance.
"Sahib," said he, with look and
tone of manly Indignation which
suited him extremely well, II see that
you English do not quite understand
US yet. We Paharris (mountaineers)
are soldiers, not murderers and we
never kill any manin cold blood unless
he has betrayed us or done US grieyous
wrong. But even were it otherwise,
you are the last man living whom |
would wish to harm"
"And why should you spare me
more than anyone else?" ask Park
hurst.
Because, answered the other, look
ing fxedly at him, ION that day at
Nicer you, an English officer, apollo
gized to me before all your companions
for having af'ronted me. and offered
me your hand as if l had been your
comrade. have never forgotten it
and never shall.
Indeed, it was quickly seen that he
had not for, as soon as the Major s
wounds allowed him to travel, Kala
Dahl sent him back unransomed to
the nearest British outposts; and this