Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-10-05

and sent them baskets of vegetables,
and before very long found my pro-
duce grew in plenty, and more, on
the fine summer evenings, after the
heat of the day, when went across to
the garden and sat under the trees and
smoked my pipe, one or other OF
the Khans would drop in for a chat,
and in short time / reckoned many
friends among the supposed irreclaim-
able blackguards who owned the from
tie, villages.
Among them all there was none
with whom l got on better than a
grand old fellow named Mahomed
Aslim Khan, chief of village near
the fort. He was thorough gentle
man, had served in his younger days
under the Sikh generals, and was as
proud of his home and his scars as
any honorable man need be. Many
were the pleasant evenings we spent
together, for, as l have said, European
society was limited. and fine old fell
low like that a perfect godsend to q
lonely man.
Well, for time all went merry as a
marriage bell, till one unlucky day a
case arose regarding theft of cattle
from old Aslim Khan's village. The
thief was caught red-handed and tried
by native magistrate, and condemned
chiefly on the Khan's evidence. Af-
ter the trial. I met the old gentleman
casually and exchanged few sentences
with him. Not five minutes later
heard shot. Alarmed by the cries, 1
ran in the direction, and to my hor-
ror found my old friend weltering in
his blood. Inquiry soon showed that
the assassin was the thief condemned
that day. He had escaped from GUS
tody, armed himself somehow, and
before finally taking himself OF had
shot his accuser.
We always kept portion of the
cavalry escort in readiness tor emer-
gencies, and in less time than it takes
me to tell you, the assassin was being
followed by mounted party. My
horse was soon saddled, and /, too,
tried to follow, but unsuccessfully, as
they were too far ahead, and had to
sit at home and wait for news.
1t was late in the afternoon when
my search party returned, unsuccess-
full. They had ridden after the mur.
derer, and, being slightly better
mounted, were rapidly gaining on
him, when the way was barred by
broad, broken nullah, beyond which
lay village. The assassin knew the
ground, his pursuers did not. The
advantage enabled him to get clean
across the n1llah, while the cavalry
were looking for road for their
horses. He rode boldly into the viii
lage, from which, unluckily, all the
men happened to be absent, and find
ing an elderly woman munching
chupatti, snatched 1t from her hand,
ate 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 haggling,
second search party arrived from
Michni under command OF Euro
pean officer. Had the natives been
left to themselves they would prob
ably have secured their man,
but the officer, in wholesome
dread OF the authorities orders re-
garding frontier complications, said
he must withdraw, as they were out
of British territory, and sent both
parties home. Personally, think I
should have risked wigging, 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 bade me be of good cheer the
murderer would be caught. 1 said 1
hoped so.
Next day fine young Pathan, who
was sowar in the cavalry detachment
at the fort, came to me and asked for
long leave to visit his home. lgranted
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, 1 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 a 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 a smile eff pride
lit up his lace as he replied, with many
curses on the dead scoundrel,
that Aslim'l murderer had met his
deserts, and that lie himself had slain
him. Shocked as was, I asked for
particulars. He told me how with in
finite patience he had tracked the as
sasein from village to village as he fed