The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
4 STORY IIHOU Ut EyD.
The Mystery or Two Beings who Crossed
the Narrator's Path.
Fom the United serric. Maga-tne.

Fror the United Serrice Md0n-fne.
1t was on the cd of January. 1879, that Gen.
Roberts left Hazar Pr Ziarat to subdue the
Khost district, an unsophisticated country
where the revenue had hitherto been collected
in copper, and, up to this date, the semblance OF
the rupee had not been known.
Hazar Pr Ziarat tthe shrine of a thousand
saints-literall old mem was hardly even a VIII
lage; and only the day preceding some six or seven
had been added to the nun Der of saints, rs a batch
OF murderous marsuders had been executed;
and. dying In the faith. shouting the fatmah, and
ssHP9w os tnfGel h iife' aSe sRat eo P1ssy N had dhd d6u S-
less rendered their graves sancttfied eround.
and SO added 70 the Ziarat-in these parts q holy
grove, generally Of olive. to fell which is desc
Grafton.
AS the Tenth Hussars spread cheerily into
order covering the advance, their bright pouch
belt buckles the last glitter left after even stir
sunlight as they threaded among the camel
thorn sprinkled over the plain. the writer
siyfr & m tsH. e.s sas s Of eaSslr 1H sn4 , ta sS9y0s :
long train Of some 300 empty camels ordered to
the advance base etc TO Il III up With b lsgpPiiss. Ny
the kurrum River. and ! soon lost sight of the
force moving on Matoqn. and finished the day's
January the incidents befell which I now seek
TO n~arrate.
brought before me a Pathan prisoner. sayings
Here is a man who has been caught concealing
his arms: II has been ordered by Gen. Roberts
that all such shall be- dispatched. May we kill
him.
NOW, TINS was u laru saying.
The young man appeared by his neadgear to
be aWaziri, a not unfriendly tribe. which. how
Ills only arm was the long Afehan knife. neces.
sary Tor his own protection. perhaps. and in the
cold weather i appeared not unnatural that he
scarf. worn somewhat after the fashion of q
plaid. His face was handsome. open, and f~ar-
less: but such was the mien of all Arghans-
often seen on the most cold -blooded fends.
/ could not. however, though determined TO
fulfil the spirit OF instructions, at once hand
him over to the bayonet, and saying, oh. his
knife II. only for harmless use or protection.'",f
coated with fairly fresh blood,
For a moment | could have handed him over
TO death, but reason told me that this was no
additional evidence OF murder. He might have
slain u goat or sheep, he might have met an en-
less. Finally, with some misgiyings as 10 whether
! was strictly obeying orders, and amid the
sc2wis ana murmurs OF the 9lxhs, VINO we're
man back his knife. and sent him on his way:
He left gracefully and courteously, showing
gait one single sign OF guilt or fear, and soon his
erect Inquire was lost to my view over the brow
some hours OF march followed, and the care
OF massing the long, unwieldy line OF camels 10
| the next pass. a precaution necessary TO enabls
my rear guard to be within hail, in case OF attack
on so tempting and easy a prey. fully absorbed
me. and drove the preceding incident clean
from my head.
girl running beside my horse and holding up to
me a silver ring set with a turquoise. This
seemed To me n very unusual act rom n MUS
suiman and a Pathan, where seclusinn is 70
strictly the rule, and | had no idea as 10 the
meaning she wished TO convey, my Iushtoo be-
ing unequal to tho dialect she spoke, and, in-
deed. sCAnty enough at a.! times. However, see
ing that was meant to take the ring, | did SO,
the girl about - showing that she meantI
should take IL from her. Even then she made
no effort 70 leave, and 20, imagining perhaps that
she wanted money for some purpose, ! offered
her a few rupees, which she refused petulantly.
turned TO, the Hindu .owars who rode oe-
hind me and asked what II all meant, but they
only lAughtS! uUuiea~autly, as II TO say, " hat
can A Mu.,uIman and 4 woman mean except
what +. - 50 that. angry at their
scorn ana possible misconceptions. | flung the
yirI lRrk her ring. and lade her tegun-. She
LEFT muttcrlug. and apparently still anxious to
explain: hut a troop Of AorseInCE now appeared
on the plain, and, whirlIng their long lances
ronnd tl.eir heads. Can'ercd shouting toward US.
The sikh infantry closed their hle1 and pre-
parrd IN receive them. and | went forward 70
Tecounuttvr them more closely.
They tUrued ont to be a friendly "jirgAh,' or
dsputatinU, seeking Gen, Roberts: bur this
fresh incident drove the last again from my
thoughts, aud later on | concluded my march
without further Detailing.
IL was not TIL weeks after that ! thought OF
connecting the act of tne girl with a possible
wish to express gratitude for the husband or
lover who had such a narrow escape at my
hands. BUt | ueI rr hearl any further eXplaha-
tinU, u dld those who knew best the Afghan
character fhink this Interpretation nllSely one.
suppose shall never kHow more ~ the two
hrtncs NLo, on that day "uly. literally crossed
my natl.