Part 24 (1/2)
Presently a Kurdish chief ca down, for all the world as one of our Indianhis horse from rock to rock as if he and the beast were one I rode to Ranjoor Singh's side, to protect hi
”Whence are ye?” said the Kurd ”And whither? And ill ye?” They are inquisitive people, and they always sees first
”I have told you already, I ride froistan, [Footnote: Europe] and I seek Wassh
”No more may reach Wassmuss unless they have the money with theo we let by the last party of men who carried only talk Noant only money!”
”Who was ever helped by ih
”Nay,” said the Kurd, ”we are a patient folk! We have waited eighteen days for sight of this gold for Wasso, so Wasshteen more Until it co Ranjoor Singh very closely indeed, and I saw that he saw daylight, as it were, through darkness
”Yet no gold shall coether, and shall have reached an agreereement?” said the Kurd ”Ye have old in safety and without fear!”
”Without fear?” said Ranjoor Singh ”Then who are ye?”
”We,” said the Kurd, ”are the escort, to bring the gold in safety through theothers?” asked Ranjoor Singh, and I saw the Kurd wince ”Gold is gold!” he went on ”Who art thou to let by an opportunity?”
”Speak plain words,” said the Kurd
”Here?” said Ranjoor Singh ”Here in this defile, where ht come on us from the rear at any minute?”
”That they can not do,” the Kurd answered, ”for my men watch froh, ”I will speak no plain words here”
The Kurd looked long at hi sleeve of his tunic and turned about ”Coh followed hih, without one word spoken or order given The Kurd led straight up the defile for a little way, then sharp to the right and uphill along a path that wound areat boulders, until at last we halted, pack-h cliff at the rear and on three sides by gigantic rocks that fringed it,a natural fort
The Kurd'sout fro in the shadow of a great boulder in theto the horses that stood tethered in a long line under the cliff at the rear The chief drove away those who lay in the shadow of the boulder in the h and h called up the other daffadars, and we all sat facing the Kurd, with Abraham a little to one side between him and us, to act interpreter That was the first tih had taken so n, although unable to ignore a twinge of jealousy
”Now?” said the Kurd ”Speak plain words!”
”You have not yet offered us food,” said Ranjoor Singh
The Kurd stared hard at hiood reason,” he answered ”By our law, he who eats our bread can not be treated as an enemy If I feed you, how can I let my men attack you afterward?”
”You could not,” said Ranjoor Singh ”We, too, have a law, that he e have eaten salt is not eneether, then, for I have a plan”
”A plan?” said the Kurd ”What ood plan,” said Ranjoor Singh
”And on the strength of an empty boast am I to eat bread and salt with you?” the Kurd asked
”If you wish to hear the plan,” said Ranjoor Singh ”To ; however, lettie or confuse hier ere silent; yet I doubt whether his was greater than h's plan was? Nay, that Kurd was no great fool He was in the dark He saiftly enough when explanations came