Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-09-05

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me to tell you, the assassin was beins
followed by mounted party. NJ,
horse was soon saddled, and I, too
tried to follow, but unsuccess fully, a
they we're too far ahead, and 1 had tt
sit at home and wait for news.
1t was late in the afternoon whel
my search party returned, unsuccess
full. They had ridden after the mur
derer. and. being slightly better
mounted, were rapidly gaining OF
him, when the way was barred by {
broad, broken nullah, beyond which
lay village. The assassin knew the
ground, his pursuers did not. Tn,
advantage enabled him to get clear
across the nullab, while the cavalry
were looking for road for theil
horses. He rode boldly into the vii
lage, from which, unluckily, all the
men happened to be absent, and find
ing all elderly woman munching {
chupatti, snatahed 1t from her hand,
ate u portion, and proclaimed that he
had eaten of their salt, and claimed
sanctuary. You know the Pathans.
By the time my party got across the
nullah he was securely hidden, and
while they were haggliug, a
second search party arrived from
Michni under command of a Euro.
pean officer. Had the natives been
left to themselves they would prob
ably have secured their man,
but the officer, in wholeso me
dread of the authorities orders re.
garding frontier complications, said
lie must withdraw, as they were out
of British territory, and sent both
parties home. Personally, I think
should have risked wiggiug, as the
Pathans were little like to object to
the capture OF British subject who
had murdered one of themselves. But
my subaltern ruled differently.
OF course We were disappointed,
but one or two Khans who were with
me babe me be of good cheer; the
murderer would be caught. l said l
hoped so.
Next day fine young Pathan, who
was sowar in the cavalry detachm ent
at the fort, came to me and asked for
long leave to visit his home. Igranted
it without hesitation, but that night, as
l rode past the spot near my garden
where his relatives had buried the
body of poor Mahomed Aslim Khan,
l saw that lamp was burning on the
new.made grave, and flowers were
strewn upon it; and happening to
meet one of the Khans, was told that
where public punishment had failed,
private vengeance would step in. The
young sowar, Afsul by name, had
taken up the vendetta, and Aslim's
murder would assuredly be avenged.
1t was SIX weeks later when. one
evening, my servant brought me news
that Afsul, the sowar, would like to be
admitted to my august presence. l
readily granted the permission, and in
he came. He was great swell. His
flowing, white garments were new and
spotless, his hair carefully dressed,
and his face clean shaved, except his
mustache. ! asked him what brought
him to see me, and smile eff pride
lit up his face as he replied, with muny
curses on the dead scoundrel,
that Aslim't murderer had met his
deserts, and that he himself had slain
him. Shocked as was, [ asked for
particulars. He told me how with in.
finite patience he had tracked the as
sassin from village to village as he fed
from the vengeance which was, he
knew full we'll, sure to follow. How
he had assumed disguise, and travelled
hard, often hungry and thirsty,
through the valleys, till at last, one
evening at sunset he had overtaken
his enemy. He had found him in a
quiet spot kneeling, with his face to.
ward Mecca, beside the shrine of some
forgotten saint, going punctiliously
through those devotions which no
pious Mussulman, however blood
stained his hands may be, ever
neglects. He described how he stood
watching him paying his last devo-
tions on earth, his own finger on the
trigger of his carbine, and how, as he
finished his devotions, he rose and
folded up the shawl he had used as
This was Afsul's opportunity.
Calling upon the assassin to turn, he
covered him with the carbine. and re-
Wiling him in all the expressive terms
of Pathan abuse, he then and there, as
the sun disappeared in the west, shot
his enemy like dog.
You know how hard it often is to fit
our English notions OF justice OH to
native customs. Personally, I should
have liked to let the boy, for he was
little more, 60 scot free. But the
of the frontier forts
dared not do so, and to Afsul's sur
prise I ordered him into custody. I
did so with great regret. After he
was securely locked up I sent for the
Tehsildar and asked if he was sale.
think the man guessed my anxiety,
for he said gravely, as an Oriental
will, even when he is making joke:
"Sahib, that young man is as safe
rs we can make him, but our prison is
U VoTy uhu Ouos Iucu SSCupcs .
"But Afsul won't?" I asked, Gag.
erly.
"These things, my lord" he an.
swered, "are in the hands of Provi-
dsnce. We must wait and ses''
Next morning the Tebsildar was
early at my house. As he
spoke I could not help thinking
that the suspicion of smile was lin
gering round his fat face.
"My lord" he said. joining his
hands and bowling to the ground, "a
miracle has happened. In the night
that young man broke his bonds and
I fear we shall not see him
again"
need not tell you how I held an in
luiry and censured all concerned. I
DO not think they minded much. None
Of them seemed to think was in earn
sst. However, there was no help for
it-Afsul had vanished.
That night rode away toward old
Aslim Khan's village. As approached
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