Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-15

wood order, built four square, with no
windows, and there were some rude
attempts at cultivation. The crops,
however, were not high enough to afford
cover and the hill itself was so barren
that an escaping prisoner would stand
very little chance.
WE made our way up steep, zig
gag path, at the top of which was
rather larger house, with burr, or
fortified tower. at one corner. This
burr was some 20 or 30 feet high,
strongly built of rough stone, and had
loopholes around the top. A few men
armed with rifles could hold this tower
for considerable time and would also
have commanding view over the sur
rounding country.
guessed rightly that the burr was
to be my prison.
AS our party stumbled up the path
we were met by crowd Of villagers,
who stared curiously ct the Sahib pris-
looted Service rifles, some with ancient
Sniders and an uglier-looking lot I
have never seen.
Only one man carried no weapon.
gathered from his venerable appearance
| that he was the local mullah (priest)
And to him my ransom card was
| handed. He read 1t with some diffi-
Guilty and proceeded to explain the pur-
port Of 1t to my captors. Then, without
| m1se ado, was flung into the burr and
a sentry posted outside.
| Evidently thu ransom card had had
some effect, for after time was
| given chapatu "a species of baked
biscuit made of flour and rancid but
aP1 nd tfzNI 1f a.
occupied myself in bandaging my
ankle and specializing as to whether I
| was to be shot next morning or kept for
| ransom.
With the first rays of daylight the
door of the tower was flung open and a
man walked In whom I recognized as
| the flerce-looking individual who had
relieved me Of my revolver. He came
| toward me and produced long knife.
This he proceeded to show me- rubbing
his thumb along the edge to indicate
| that it was very sharp. Then he de-
! liberately drew 1t across his throat,
pointing to me rs he did so. and his
face lit up with an expression of fiend-
ish delight. After this pleasant little
pantomime he. went out and shut the
door behind him.
| I was left to myself for the rest of
LIE As4t, NO 1tlDEE IOOQ WAS NkDuSAt,
and the heat inside the burr. which was
unventilated except for loopholes was
intense. The long, weary hoars dragged
| slowly by, and ! fell to counting the
stones on the opposite wall for the sake
| Of occupation.
Toward nightfail ! IVES given some
rice and told might walk up and down
| outside the burr for q short time I
accepted this offer gratefully, and was
glad to find that my ankle had much
| improved.
Armed sentries were posted st each
| end Of the fiat space where ] walked,
and the entire population Of the village
assembled to watch me- My fierce
| looking acquaintance again produced
his knife, as did several others, and
they all grinned ecstatieally as they
showed me the weapons.
| \
| THAT night a familiar whir of en-
gines announced the approach OF
our airplanes. but could not fiatter
| myself that they had come on my &C.
| count. They were evidently locating
the village with q view to subsequent
! bombing operations, for they new right
overhead, circled. and then returned
whence they came.
Their advent created something of q
| panic, and heard scampering foot
steps outside as the villagers ran to
take eOver