Adventure Magazine Cover — page 85: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

said Afzel’s Elephant 71 “You have not wit to see farther than your horse’s ears. Let the Ferang speak!” “Tt is better to be mad than calm at.-this time when caution will gain us nothing, excellency,” said Sir Weyand respectfully. ““Here is a noble chance. Said Afzel does not yet know you have escaped. He will not be watchful of danger. His caravan may be numerous but it is made up for the most part of women and eunuchs. More- over, in the narrow ravine they must extend their line of march. We can choose our place of attack = “And they will dig our graves there,” I said. Shirzad Mir frowned at me. “And we will have the advantage of surprize,’ continued the Ferang. “Jani Beg will hardly think to send reinforce- ments to his son because he knows that Said Afzel is well attended. We will have time to gain the narrow point of the pass just before dark—the best time to strike.”’ “How can three horsemen ride against camels and an elephant in a ravine?” I asked, for I was not to be silenced. Shirzad Mir was foolhardy of his life and it was plain to me he liked well the words of Sir Weyand. “We will not ride against them, Abdul Dost. If you had thought, you would re- member that we could stand on the ridge above the caravan trail, where our arrows will command Said Afzel’s men.” It was true I had not thought of that, in my concern for Shirzad Mir. It angered me—a mansabdar of the army—to be corrected by a foreign merchant, and I was silent fora space. Not so the Tiger Lord. “Hai—that was well said!’ he cried. “Such a plan warms my heart. Now if we had the strong sons of Iskander Khan—” he broke off with a glance at the mourning Kirghiz. ‘What men and slaves are with the caravane”’ “T heard at Kabul,” replied the Ferang, settling his tall body against the tent, “that Said Afzel was a courtier and a gallant—fond of music, toys, verses and the Indian dancing girls. He is bringing a throng of such with him, also several camel loads of treasure as gift from the Mogul. What do we care for eunuchs and Ethiopian slaves?”’ “Said Afzel has at least seven Pathans with him,” I reminded him. “They are good fighters.” “Are you an old nurse, Abdul Dost?” cried my master in great anger. ‘Speak again, and I will set you to tend swine!” He turned to the Ferang. ‘Said Afzel is truly called ‘the dreamer,’ Sir Weyand. He is the most elegant in dress and can recite verses as well as his boon companion Kasim Kirlas, the professional courtier. It is true that he travels with cumberous baggage—unlike his father—and is usually stupefied with bhang and opium. I would risk much to set hand on his jewels.” “We would risk much,” nodded the Ferang bluntly, as was his custom; “espe- cially as there is one of the big Indian ele- phants in the caravan.” ‘An elephant!” Shirzad Mir clapped his stout hands and laughed. ‘‘Hai—an ele- phant. That would be Most Alast from the stables of Jahangir. I heard it said at Khanjut when I was prisoner. Verily, the star of our good fortune is in the ~ ascendant.”’ ? I thought the madness that had come upon Sir Weyand had bitten my lord, for he laughed again and fell to talking in low tones to the other. I strained my ears but could not hear. Being angry and perhaps a little jealous, I withdrew slightly to show them I did not care what they said. Once Shirzad Mir called to Iskander Khan. “Have you a great cauldron?” he asked. The Khirghiz pointed to the ashes of the fire, where a pot stood, large enough to boil a sheep whole. “Will you give it me?” Iskander Khan made a sign to show that all he had was Shirzad Mir’s for the asking. Once more the two talked together, and I saw them glance at me and laugh. Then Iskander Khan lifted up his white head. “Vou will need a good horse, Shirzad Mir,” he said slowly. ‘““The one you have isa sorry pony. Ina thicket yonder I have Abdul Dost’s horse, also an Arab stallion that has carried me for five years. I will fetch it for you so that you may mount as is fitting for a king.” The eyes of the Tiger Lord softened. “Thrice happy is the man who has a . faithful friend,’ he said and with his own hand helped the aged Kirghiz to rise. Before the two left the tent to go for the horses, he spoke quickly to Sir Weyand. The Ferang rose and stretched his big Gomichooks: co al 5