Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-02-09


"Kurram Is good. Kurram | am !
Kurram Khan is my name hencefor'
ward Kurram Khan the dakitarF
"But where is the sahib who came
from the fort to talk9" asked the man
whose stomach ached yet from Ismai
and Darya Khan's attentions to 1t.
"Gonew announced King. HE went
with the other one"
"Went whittier? Did any see him
GOT"
'Ts 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.
Gwen his other clothes have gone y
murmured one man, he who had poked
about among the packs.
"And now, Ismail, Darya Khan, ye
two dunderheads !--ye bellies without
brains !--wheE was there ever daki-
tara hakim, who had not two assist
ants at the least? Have We never seen,
We inder-than-bats-how one man
holds a patient while his boils are
lanced and yet another makes the hot
iron ready2"
"Ayel Ayel"
They had both seen that often.
"Then, what are YER
They gaped at him. Were they to
work wonders too? We're they to be
part ard parcel Of the miracle2 Watch
ing them, King saw understanding
dawn behind Ismail's eyes and knew
he was winning more than mere adj
mirer. He knew 1t might be days yet,
might be weeks before the truth was
out but II 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 nc
crime or need or Islander can efface. II
the feuds are to be avoided Hike The
devil, the friendships are worth hay
ing.
"There is another thing We might
do" he suggested, "if ye two growr
men are afraid to see q boil slit open
| Always there are timid patients wht
hang back and refuse to drink thu
medicines. There should be one oil
two among the crowd who will come
forward and swallow the draughti
eagerly, in proof that no harm results
Be We two they"
Ismail spat savagely.
"Nayl Bismillahl Nay, nayl
will hold them who have boils. slttlnl
firmly on their bellies--so--or between
their oulders--thus-whe the boili
are behind Nay, | will drink M
draughts I am man, not a cess
pool !"
"And I viii study how to heat ho
irons !" said Darya Khan, with grin
conviction. at is likely that, having
worked for a blacksmith once, l may
learn quickly Phaughghgh / have
tasted medaceen have drunk Apsir
saats Epson salts)."
He spat, too, in a very fury of remi
niscence.
"Good |" said King. "Henceforward
then, am Kurram Khan. the daliltar
and We two are my assistants, Ismail tc
hold the men with boils, and Darya
Khan to heat the irons-both of We Ia
be my men and support me with
words when need bew
"Ayep said ISmall, quick to think
of details, "and these others shall be
the tastersl"
1--WE will not drink the medicines y
announced the man who had a stom'
ach ache. NAY, nay"
But Ismail hit him with the back OF
his hand in the stomach again and
danced away, hugglng himself and
shouting "Hee-yee-yeei' until the
jackals Joined him In disconnected
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 Hangar? Why be Raj
put. sahihi She loves us hillmen bet
terri
do J. look like a hillman Of the
'Hills?" asked King.
"Eay, not now But he who can work
one miracle can work another. Change
thy skin once more and be true
Hillman -
"Ayel" King laughed "And fall heir
to a blood-feud with every second man
| chance upon Better be = converted
Hindu anu " iespised by some than
have cousins IN the Hills Is that
clear, thou oafp
"Ayel Thou art more cunning than
ary man ever met"
rhe great Afridi began to rub the
tips of his fingers through his straggly
beard In a way that might mean any
thing, and King seemed to draw con-
siderable satisfaction from ii, as IL 1t
were a sign language that lust then he
needed a friend, and he certainly did
not propose to refuse such a useful
one.
"And," he added, as If it were an