The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

THE BADMASHES OF THE “BLOODY BORDER.” “You're in charge, of course,” Andy agreed, with envious eyes. “ But I jolly well know what I’d do. [Td sack his old castle and raze it to the ground and hang him above his own gate.” “Diplomacy first, Mr. Nugent. When will you learn this? I shall start at daybreak, and so kindly see that I have an escort of a havildar and ten sepoys to go with me to Wano.” “Very good, sir!” Andy shrugged his shoulders and bade his chief good night. | Just as the sun rose guiltily above the crests of the towering hills, the politi- cal and his small escort of Sikhs sallied forth from Fort Apozai and headed. down the narrow road toward Wano. Andy watched them until they were out of sight. A shght chuckle of amusement at his side made him turn swiftly on his heel to see who was so’ amused. The subadar was watching the departing official with a humorous twinkle in his old eyes. “‘ Salaam, sahib!’’ he greeted Andy, as he saluted stiffly. ‘‘ There goes a fool’s errand, and I have tidings from my spies in the hills that you should know. We must act swiftly if we would save yonder civilian from an evil fate.” The old man chuckled again, and came closer to Andy: “What is wrong now, subadar?” Andy asked, with keen interest in his tone. “These hillsmen are like cackling hens and can’t keep a secret. Word has come to me that Sher Afzal will send a party of twenty of his robbers to am- bush an expected bunmiah at the mouth of the Aghzhmanda. To-morrow they will leave Wano to be:in waiting; and yonder party will fall into the trap. The badmashes will not turn up their noses at the gifts of Allah, and twelve good rifles and ammunition to go with them are too great a prize to be allowed to go begging. They will fall upon the party and capture them, if they do not murder them.” “By gad! subadar,’ Andy exclaimed, ‘ 645 “we'd better send a man to warn the political and tell him to turn back.” Gurdit Singh saluted respectfully. “Nay, sahib, let the work go on. I have a plan to beat them at their own game and give them a lesson they will never forget. Have I the permission of the Presence to unfold my plan?” “Fire away, subadar! If it seems good to me, we will carry it out, for you know the hills better than I do.” “Huzoor, let you and I and twenty men hasten across the hills, by a path which a guide I have can show us, and so come down on the flank of the am- bushers. Stealthily creeping into posi- tion, as close to them as we can without being seen or heard, we can take a hand in the game. So shall izzgat come to you, to me and to the regiment—and the raj be saved ignominy.” — Andy’s face brightened. ‘“ You are sure, subadar, the path you know will lead us there in time to prevent murder being done?” he asked eagerly. « “Of a certainty, for even I myself know this tribal path. Our men can march as quickly as the hillsmen,” the old soldier asserted proudly. “Tt the latter can cover fifty miles across the mountains in twelve hours—as they've often done—so can our Sikhs, Hugzoor,” “Then we'll do it, subadar.” Andy tapped the butt of his revolver, with- out which no man in the hill-country is ever parted sleeping or waking. “ Go, quickly, and select the best men, and in five minutes I shall be ready to lead you.” = Within ten minutes Andy, the suba- dar and twenty picked sepoys, all marksmen and veterans of the border wars, had hastened out of the gate of the fort and were scrambling down the hillside into the valley. Then up the rocky face of the oppo- site peaks they climbed, carefully tak- ing advantage of every bit of cover so as to hide their movements from any of the watchers upon the hills, who might be posted to keep tab on the go- ings and comings at Apozai. COMicdoo S CO@