New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31

Armstrong; and then as the Pathan opeyeu. nc
continued uncoDcctnedly, have you e'e' "'
In RcshatY 49,, A..
The havdar replied that he had. and that,
moreover, he ha'. kinsmen living tnear az r ,n.
present time TIL. was news Indeed, anu Atm
strongs eyes could hardly prevent HASH, W.
he went on quite coolly, And in how short a
time could a strong man. knowing the mum IL,
tains 20 from here to Re5nat ana return
The havlldar paused ere replying, ana stridins
TO tho opcn window. gazed eagerly forth AT tne
great range OF the Hindoo-K oosh, when piochcu
the northern extremity Of the valley lheii, as
though satisfied with his inspection, ne rep.ieu'
by the favor OF God. in such a season as thls,
while the snow lies high on the summitS' anu
r. good weather, n mamie paused anu
looked his officer I'm the eyes such as you or l.
sahb. who is not afraid OF the mountains, cou'u
go to Reshat and return In hye Gays 1u. sui sui
as those"-and he jerked ms neau snna 10y
at the Chardaghi levy In the barracK-squaie pc
low-"woud be fifteen days on the journey.
Five days, ard to-day was the l'th! Ihere
might yet be time; but Armstrong ce,raye trn No
emotion as he went quietly on, "And IRON
Rcshat to Dit. how long Tor party P'opao'
of mounted men, -
prise; but he. too betrayed none, as ne slowly
answered: THAT, Captain Sahib, l cannot
truthfuly say, for do not know the path, nor
can say whether IT be practicable Tor mou"'eu
men. but not less than four days
Armstrong; mind was quickly maze up anu
suddenly hating and looking Daoud Shan
straight in the eyes he said Havii ,h ro ao'
mon service. 1t has come to my ears tnat an
agent OF the Russian sirkar goes from heS 3,
to Dit within the week to STIR up tne h''o aT
against US Now, this / must prevent at al
hazards: and if such a man as YOU WholiI
I have trusted with this secret, were 10 70
to Reehat and return within five days bringing
me accurate knowledge OF MS route' H"S"N ~
able to do So
The Pathan's eyes flashed for a moment, ana
then drawing himself together. he answered
proudly: Captain Sahib. you did me a great
service once and that have ! not forgotten
ard much honor do you do me now IN speaKIns
to me thus. and this also will remember Inns
much only can | say, that If by the FAVOR OF
God | am able to &c. 70 Reshat otner IMAM by
the usual path. within five days you shall Know
your hearts desire. and that without the KNOW
edge of my other man Then WIN i Suu' eit
change Of manner he asked deferentlaily II
| the Captain Sahib would get him the furlough
leave from the Lieutenant Sahib while ne went
to change his uniform" and within hair an houi
he had left the fort disguised that IL WOULD
have puzZcd even one Of his comrades 10 nave
| recognized in the dirty. unkempt tribesman the
smart, well-set-up havdar OF 'he Nha'uas"
! Rifles.
The fifth morning after his departure came
| without any news of him, and Armstrong, de-
spite his belief in the man. was beginning 10
/ feel a little anxious; but toward evening Daoud
Shah returned, 4 little thin and hne-drawn
| about the face, as Z. man might well be VINO
! for the best part Of week had been almost IN
| oessantly travelling over the worst parts OF the
| Uindoo- Koosh but otherwise showing no signs
| Of fatigue.
Well, havildar. what news?' asked Arm
/ strong in his usual unconctrneu
though his heart was thrObbing violently, as the
man sprang to attention at his approach.
MY news is this, sahb" he answered. i
have been to Reshat. and by the favor Of God
have found out this For the last year there
has been Russian officer going and coming be-
tween Resha; and the north. But three days
since he came again. and though he would fam
keep ii secret. yet it was known in the bazaar
that he rides to Dit with but four Of an escort.
Turcomans be they, not Russians, as dark as
Afrd but not so strong. Five days must
he be on the road, on which horses travel slower
than men. but on the NTH day II is believed, nut
this | cannot say for certain he meets certain
Of the tribesmen at the bridge over the Pash-
kend River, who lead him to a durbar at Dit.
Moreover, the man who guides him is of my
blood and he will lead him so that on tomorrow
evening he will pass along the hollow path
which is but three miles from the ruined tower
where the sahib slept last month when he went
/ to look for hex
Armstrong nodded to show he remembered
the place. and then asked if Daoud Shah had
seen the Russian officer.
II did, sahib." was his reply; he is OF your
height and shape, but older, and Of weak vision,
wearing blue chashmaks" (srectacles).
Good; you have done we'll very well. havil-
dar" said Armstrong, approvingly, and this
service neither the srkar nor will easily for
get. Say nothing 10 any man Of where you
have been and go and get food and rest; but
first tell the Lieutenant Sahib | would speak
with him"
Ten minutes later the Lieutenant Sahb-a
sandy haired smooth faced English ad-was
IiSte ming, wholly delighted ana hat lncredulOuS,
to certain instructions from the political officer
Indeed ne could not repress chuckle Of ecstatic
admiration when Armstrong dismissed him with
the final injunction, Then you quite understand
that if | have not returned by Thursday morn
ing. or If you have not received message in
writing from me by the same date. you will
send this cipher telegram TO Colonel Braidwood
at Peshawur'; and before sunrise of the next
morning Armstrong, accompanied by DaOud
Shah and little band Of twelve picked men,
all specially selected by the havildar, and clad
alike in mufti-Afghan multi. be it understood
had Left the fort. and already many