The Pulaskian., 1918-02-22

new name be? Give ye me a name Khan is a title of respect. Since I wish for respect, I will call myself Khan. Name me a village the first name you can think of-Quicki r
 "Kurram," said Ismail, at a hazard.
 ''Kurram is good. Kurram I am Kurram Khan Is my name hencefor- ward! Kurram Khan the dakitar l"
 "But where Is the sahib who came from the fort to talk ?" asked the man whose stomach ached yet from Ismail and Darya Khan's attentions to 1t.
 "Gone!' announced King. "He went with the other onel"
 "Went whither? Did any see him goY
 'Is that thy affair."" 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 gonel P murmured one man, he who had poked about among the packs.
 "And now, Ismail, Darya Khan, ye two dunderheads i-ye bellies without brains when was there ever daki- tara hakim, who had not two assist ants at the least? Have ye never seen, ye er-than-bats-how one man holds a patient while his boils are lanced, and yet another makes the hot iron readyY
 "Ayei 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 l the feuds are to be avoided like the devil, the friendships are worth hav- ing.
 'There is another thing ye might do," he suggested, If ye 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 ye two they!" Ismail spat savagely. s'Nay! Bismillah! Nay, nayi I will hold them who have boils, sitting firmly on their bellies-so-or between their shoulders-thus-whe the boils are behindl Nay, I will drink no draughts! I am a man, not a cess pooll"
 "And I will study how to heat hot irons !" said Darya Khan, with grim conviction. 'Tt is likely that, having worked for blacksmith once, may learn quicklyi Phaughghgh! I have tasted medaceen! have drunk Apsin saats (Epsom salts)." He spat, too, in very fury of remi- niscence.
 "Goodp' said King. "Henceforward, then, am Kurram Khan, the dakitar. and ye two are my assistants, Ismail to hold the men with boils, and Darya Khan to heat the irons-both of ye to be my men and support me with words when need bel" "Ayel" said Ismail, quick to think of details, land these others shall be the tasters"
 we will not drink the medicinesi" announced the man who had a stom- ach ache. May, nay." But Ismail hit him with the back of his hand in the stomach again and danced away, hugging himself and shouting 'sHee-yee-yeel" 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 a Raj put, sahib? She loves us hillmen bet ter!''
 Do I look like hillman of the Hills'?" asked King.
 May, not now. But he who can work one miracle can work another. Change thy skin once more and be true HillmanI"
 "Aye" King laughed. "And fall heir to blood-feud with every second man chance uponl Better be a converted Hindu and be despised by some than have cousins in the sHills'l Is that clear, thou oaf?''
 "Ayel Thou art more cunning than any man I ever metl" The great Afridi began to rub the tips of his fingers through his straggly heard in wav fhat might mean any,