The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-11-09


Khan. Name me a village the first
name you can think of-quick !"
"Kurram," said Ismail, at hazard.
"Kurram is good. Kurram l am
Kurram Khan is my name hencefor-
ward, Kurram Khan the dakitar
"But where is the sahib who came
from the fort TO talk?' asked the man
whose stomach ached yet from lsmai' |
and Darya Khans attentions to 1t.
"Gonew announced King "He went
with the other One!"
"Went whittier? Did any see him
go?'
'Is that thy AFFAIR."" asked King, and
the man collapsed. 1t is not considered
wise to the north of Jamrud to argue
with a wizard or even with man VINO
ONLY claims to be one. This was a
man who had changed his very nature
almost under their eyes.
even his other clothes have gone!
murmured one man, he who had poked
about among the packs.
"And now, Ismail, Darya Khan, We
TWO uuuutIutuuS = bNhANb ''NA-'NN
brains when was there ever dakl-
tara hakim, who had not two assist
ants at the least? Have We never seen,
We er-than-bats-how one man
holds "a patient while his boils are
lanced. and yet another makes the hot
iron readyW
"Aye! Aye!"
They had both seen that often.
"Then, what are ye?"
They gaped at him. Were they to
work wonders too? Were they TO be
part and parcel of the miracle? Watch
ing them, King saw understanding
dawn behind Ismail's eyes and knew
| he was winning more than mere ad-
| mirer. He knew it might be days yet,
might be weeks before the truth was
out. but it seemed to him that Ismail
was at heart his friend. And there
are no friendships stronger than those
| formed in the Khyber and beyond-no
more loyal partnerships. The Hills
are the home of contrasts, Of blood
feuds that last until the last-but-one
man dies, and of friendships that no
crime or need or slander can efface. If
| the feuds are to be avoided like the
| devil, the friendships are worth hav-
ing.
"There is another thing We might
do" he suggested, ''if ye two grown
men are afraid to see a boil slit open.
Always there are timid patients who
hang back and refuse to drink the
medicines. There should be one or
two among the crowd who will come
forward and swallow the draughts
eagerly, in proof that no harm results.
Be We two they"
Ismail spat savagely.
"Nay! Bismillah! Nay, nay! I
will hold them who have boils, sitting
firmly on their bellies-so-or between
their houlders-thus-whe the boils
are behind! Nay, / will drink no
draughts! I am a man, not a cess
pool"
"And I will study how to heat hot
irons! said Darya Khan, with grim
conviction. at is likely that, having
worked for q blacksmith once, I may
learn quickly! Phaughghgh I have
tasted medaceen! l have drunk Apsin
saats Epson salts)."
He spat, too, in very fury of remi-
niscence.
"Good!" said King. "Henceforward,
then, 1 am Kurram Khan, the dakitar,
and We two are my assistants, Ismail to
hold the men with boils, and Darya
Khan to heat the irons-both of We to
be my men and support me with
words when need bel"
"Aye" said Ismail, quick to think
Of details, land these others shall be
the tasters"
"We will not drink the medicines ~
announced the man who had stom-
ach ache. NAY, nayw
But Ismail hit him with the back OF
his hand in the stomach again and
danced away, hugging himself and
shouting ''Hee-yee-yee" until the
jackals Joined him in discontented
chorus and the Khyber pass became
full of weird bowling. Then suddenly
the old Afridi thought of something
else and came back to thrust his face
close to Kings.
"Why be Rangar? Why be Raj
put, sahib? She loves US hillmen bet
teri"
"Do i look like a hillman of the
'Hills'?" asked King.
NAY, not now. But he who can worl
one miracle can work another. Change
thy skin once more and be a true
Hillmanw
"Aycw King laughed. "And fall he'll
to hIood-feud with every second maj
/ chance upon! Better be converted
! Hindu and be despised by some thar
: have cousins in the Hills! Is tha
clear, thou oaf?"
r "Aye! Thou art more cunning thar
, any man l ever met"
I The great Afridi began to rub tn
a tips of his fingers through his straggl,
q beard In a way that might mean any
!. thing, and King seemed to draw con
siderable satisfaction from II, as II 1
, were sign language that Just then h
!. needed a friend, and he certainly di
y not propose to refuse such a usefu
one.