The record-union., 1897-03-28
Forward, men of the Childazais;

rush, when a single word like pistol
shot rang across the pass.
"'Stop,'
Il recognized the Buns familiar
tones, but could not locate them for
some seconds
Look, men of Childazair he went
on, the drum has indeed been beaten,
but it was for the victory of the Sir
car
AT this astounding statement every
eye was truned upon him. He stood ON
the swaying bridge of twigs. the torch
held by Durda Khan at his back maxi
ing patch of light about him. The
tearing wind of the gully had carried
away his cap, and his tow-colored head
was very much in evidence
He lies, my brothers! Has not the
drum spoken from the tower of Child
azai? The powers of the air are with
u.s. shouted the Pr, in return.
Nay, Childazais, believe not such
foolish speech. The powers of the air
have given the drum to the Great
Queen that she may reign over you in
peace forever Beholdn
He stopped and raised a bulky OBJ
ject in his arms. The light shone fun
upon it, and l perceived it was a large
drum, around which ran flash of red
spaIkles as it was raised.
"A groan of mingled dismay and
bafiled purpose rose from the tribesmen.
1t was clear they recognized their fet-
sh. The wholesthrong swayed. growl-
ing, then paused. In the momentary
hush I heard a swapping of breech
actions.
'The Bun raised the drum higher
against his breast.
'Shootn he said, calmly.
THE high hammered guns We're held
on the cock, but none fired.
The Bun took advantage of the hes
itation.
Your Pr has deceived YOU he
cried. Behold" said he, the drum
beats that the people of the mountains
may go down to harry the lowlands'
And he knew not that the drum beat
on the towers of Kalt for us
THE Pir's face was a sight to watch.
To say that it had been beaten by his
own orders at Childazai would have
been to give himself away; the only
course left open to him was to throw
suspicion on the genuineness of the ar
ticie This he proceeded to do but the
Bun merely bade the tribe send to see
II their drum were still in it's old place
There was long pause. The frail
bridge sWayed in the breeze, and l did
not envy the Bun his position
If any man Shoots he added sig
nlflcantly, / Will fall into the river with
your drum, and then the Childazais
must be forever accursed. Is it not so?
Eternal night and storm will ravage
the mountains, and We will die in the
dark. The spirit of the drum will tor
ment you and wipe out the great tribe
OF the Childazai as a man wipes away
crawling fly on wet day
Then it was that put the wrong end
of my cisa1 into my mouth. | had not
given the Bun credit for so much inn
agination.
The Pr saw things were going
against him and he made a bold stroke.
Besides, in his case, familiarity with
the drum had bred contempt, no doubt.
Shoot, he yelled; I will charm
away the curses, and the powers of the
air Will give their people of the Child
azais another drum
But the tribeSmen are a conservative
race, and this proposal was not received
with favor. The older men gathered
into group and consulted.
What would you have us do. sa.-
hib?' asked an old head man at last:
for of course the Rajah did not care to
appear too prominently in so risky an
affair.
Give up the Pr and the Raiah.' re-
piled the Bun: and after that [ Will
carry your drum into the fort in safety.
Then the tribe will bring me their arms.
and leave them in my care until the
Government gives orders. If these
things be faithfully done, then will [,
in three days, return to you your drum
unharmed. Choose now, oh Childa-
zais!'
Il was pleased with the Bun. He was
developing qualities.
after good deal of parlevine this
was arranged, and before the sun rose
over the mountains the Buns demands
were complied with to his entire salts
faction. The Rajah and the Pr were
safely immured in the fort, and an as
sorted pile of weapons-mat ex-
press rifles, French and Russan-made
guns, jezails, tulwars, and so OMEN
by the eastern gate.
Rather a job lot commented the
Bun, as he looked them over. Yet some
of these chaps are very pretty shots;
the thought of it made me feel queerish
out on that bridge.
Meanwhile 1 examined the drum. AS
far as appearances went, it was a fraud
"a ramshackle, weather beaten fraud
and 1 remarked that the issues of life
and death occasionally hang on shaky
pegs.
How the mischief did you secure the
thing?" L asked.
'Burda Khan, he answered shortly.
after this he ate an indecently
hearty breakfast, during which he made
only one remark, to the effect that it
was jolly good plan to have hostage
or two, and that he rather thought
things would now straighten them
selves out a bit on the hills. Which
they did. That's the story
The Major dropped back into his
chair, and silence fell upon u.s.
Presently Plaistow said:
"Of course, that young man got pro-
notion"
We'll" returned the Major, with some
hesitation, Il am inclined to think that
he did"
You should have made it your busi-
ness to see to it." exclaimed Plaistow.
"a lot can be done through the papers,"
The Major laughed oddly.
''A lot was done through the papers.
They got hold of some version of the
affair and the bowling faction at bo,,,o