Part 25 (1/2)
”They said they are on their way to Khabul,” the Kurd continued, ”there to receivechiefs of the true condition of affairs”
”How shall they reach Afghanistan?” asked Ranjoor Singh ”Does a road through Persia lie open to them?”
”Nay,” said the Kurd ”Persia is like a nest of hornets But they are to receive an escort of us Kurds to take theh Persia We mountain Kurds are not afraid of Persians”
”Which Kurds are to provide the escort?” Ranjoor Singh asked him, and the Kurd shook his head
”Nay,” he said, ”that none can tell It is not yet agreed There is ss here on the border, raiding now and then, and pocketing the gold of this Wass a machine in a box to Khabul?”
”Nevertheless,” said Ranjoor Singh, ”I know of a leader and his men ill undertake the task”
”Who, then?” said the Kurd
”I and h; and I held s would burst ”Persia!” thought I ”Afghanistan!” thought I ”And what beyond?”
”Ye are not Kurds,” the chief answered, after he had considered a while ”Wassmuss said the escort must consist of three hundred Kurds or he will not pay”
”The payh ”You shall have all the gold of this next convoy, if you will ride back to Wassree that you and your uard this pass if I ride back?” the Kurd asked
”I!” said Ranjoor Singh ”I and old Leave uides and to keep peace between us and other Kurds aold will not come for another thirty days”
”He will not believe,” said the Kurd
”I will give you a letter,” said Ranjoor Singh
”He will not believe the letter,” said the Kurd
”What is that to thee, whether he believes it or not?” said Ranjoor Singh ”At least he will believe that Turks brought you the letter, and that you took it to hi written it?”
”Nay,” said the Kurd, nodding, ”I can not write, and he knows it”
”Do that, then,” said Ranjoor Singh ”Ride and agree to be escort for these Gerhanistan Leave uidewith your Gere to overtake you after dusk-perhaps at old, and you shall ride away I and my men will ride on as escort to the Germans”
”What if they object?” said the Kurd
”Who? The h
”Nay,” said the Kurd, ”Wass escort He is in difficulty over that There will be no objection froe of escorts?”
”We be over two hundred, and they thirty!” answered Ranjoor Singh, and the Kurd nodded
”After all,” he said, ”that is thy affair But how aold? Nay, I h shook his head