The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-02-15
King .What shall nv

name you can think of-quick ~
"Kurram," said Ismail, at hazard.
"Kurram is good. Kurram / ami
Kurram Khan is my name hencefoR-
wardl Kurram Khan the dakitar!"
'sBut where is the sahib who came
from the fort to talk?" asked the man
whose stomach ached yet from IsmaAi
and Darya Khan's attentions to it.
"Goner" announced King. HE went
with the other one!"
"Went whittier? Did any see him
GOT"
: ''Is that thy affair r. asked King, and
the man collapsed. It is not considered
wise to the north Of Jamrud to argue
with wizard, or even with man who
only claims to be one. This was a
man who had changed his very nature
almost under their eyes.
"Even his other clothes have gomez"
murmured one man, he who had poked'
about among the packs.
sand now, Ismail, Darya Khan. ye
two dunderheads I've bellies without
brains when was there ever a daki-
tara hakim, who had not two assist
ants at the least? Have We never seen.
We blinder-than-bats- one man
holds patient while his boils are
lanced. and yet another makes the hot
iron ready?"
"Ayel Aver
They had both seen that often.
"Then, what are YET"
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 adj
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 SANDER can efface. If
the feuds are to be avoided like the
devil, the friendships are worth hav-
ing.
'sThere is another thing We might
do" he suggested. ''if We two grown
men are afraid to see 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! Bismillahi Nay, nay! I
will hold them who have boils. sitting
firmly on their bellies so-or between
their shoulders-thus-when the boils
are behindl Nay, I will drink no
draughts! I am man, not cess
pool!"
"And / will study how to heat hot
irons!" said Darya Khan, with grim
conviction. SIT is likely that, having
worked for a blacksmith once, may
learn quickly! Phaughghgh! I have
tasted medaceenl ! have drunk Apsin
saats Epson salts)."
He spat, too, in very fury Of remi-
niscence.
"Goodw said King. "Henceforward,
then, 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 be-"
"Aye!" said Ismail, quick to think
Of details, "and these others shall be
the tasters !"
1--WE will not drink the medicines!"
announced the man who had stom-
ach ache. "Nay. nay"
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 discontinued
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 a Hangar? Why be Raj
put, sahib? She loves US hillmen bet
ter!'
do / look like hillman Of the
Hills'?" asked King.
NAY, not now. But he who can work
one miracle can work another. Change
thy skin once more and be true
Hillmanp
"Aye!" King laughed. "And fall heir
to a blood-feud with every second man
chance uponl Better be converted
Hindu and be despised by some than
have cousins in the Hills! Is that
clear, thou oaf?"
aye! Thou art more cunning than
any man ever metz
The great Afridi began to rub the
tips of his fingers through his straggly
beard in way that might mean any
thing, and King seemed to draw con-
siderable satisfaction from it, as If 1t