Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

affairs is great, «Your Ms most of this chief,” Barlow commented, for was new to him. Sahib, we Pindaris ride “Yes, Captain north, and east, and south, and west; We the eagles of the air, are almost as free as claiming that our home is where our ceok- pots are. We do not trust to ramparts such as Fort Chitor where = — of cooped and slain—-such as the Kajpu have “Be three times in the three famed sacks of Chitor—but also, sahib, this is all ad The chief halted anci swept an arm in an encompassing embrace of the tent-studded plain. “ We are not a nation to muster an army, because now the cannon that belch forth a shower of death mow horsemen down like ripened grain. It was the dead chief’s am- bition, but it is wrong.’ Barlow was struck . the wise logic of this tall, wide-browed warrior—it was wrong. Massed together, Pindaris and Bundoolas, assailed by the trained hordes of Mahrattas, with their French and Portu- guese gunners and officers, would be slaughtered like sheep. And against the war-trained line regiments of the British foot soldiers, they “would meet the same fate. “You are right, Chief Kassim,” Barlow declared. “ Even if you cut in with the win- ning side, especially Sindhia, he would turn on you and devour you and your people.” “Yes, sakib. The trade of a Pindari, if I may call it so, has been that of loot in this land that has always been a land of strife for possession. I rode with Chitu as a jamadar when we swept through the Nizam’s territory and put cities under a tribute of many lakhs, but that was a force of five thousand only, and we swooped the land like a great flock of hawks. But even at that Chitu, a wonderful chief, was killed by wild animals in the jungle when he was fleeing from disaster, almost alone.” _ They were now close to the palace, and as they entered, just within the great hall, ; im said: “ There will be nothing to _ Say on thy part, Captain Sahib; the offi- tei ‘eg come even now to the audience and 3 a CASTE. eo, assurance to take back to the E by chance the others have put g dence in me, even more in @ of diy macy than they had in the d ad le may Allah rest his soul!” ee And to the audience 3 had sat oft—two long rows of minor a at their head on a raised dais the ® raja, a Sessodia, one of the “ Ch the Sun,” as the flaming yellow g resi 2m sun above the dais attested—now ¢ z ame : By twos and threes the wild-eyed, w. riders of the desert. They were " boned, steel-muscled, tall, sole men, their eyes set deep in skin ' from the scorch of sun on the “ite of the desert. And their eyes bene the black brows were like a falcon’s, Pt adie r like those of birds of prey- -_ a > air freedom, of self-reliance, of independe was in every look, in the firm stride, and erect set of the shoul were men to swear by, or to fear; veri men. And somehow one Sharp foo k 0 : praisement, and one and all would he sworn by Allah that the said in 1 he of an Afghan was a man. BEeer As each one entered he strode t othe 3 ter of the room, drew himself er ! the heavy curtain beyond 1 ci | dead chief, and raising a hand tob in a deep voice: “Salaam, Amir E and may the peace of Allah” De UDO! spirit.” =3 som “Now, brothers,” Kassim said, whe curtain entrance had ceased to e tht to one side, “we will say what is t said. One will stand guard = i for this is a matter for the office He took from his waist the 8 and unlocked the iron box, b the paper that Barlow had ¢ holding it aloft, said: “ This is dl of brotherhood from the pe | ye all agreed that it is ¢ people?” “In the name of Allah ¥ @ sonorous chorus peal “ And are ye agreed © the Englay, that we rid people, or ride not at all a eS ; - a ne, —. ee Been & Y‘comicbooks.com