the end thereof I found him that I had followed so long and so tirelessly. I have brought him before the PrcseAce as I had given my word to do. And now the Presence would offer me money, even as any sahib! I am the sahib's friend. I have drunk water in the shadow of his house and he has blackened my face! What more is there to do? Will the sahib give me an anna to complete the insult?
"I crave permission to depart, oh Trowbridge sahib. Upon my valley lies the bloom of the peach orchards like henna on a maiden's flesh, the pleasant winds sweep through the mulberry trees, the streams riot with the white snow waters and I may be among men once more.
"I can go in peace. The fire within me will die slowly to cold ashes, for, Trowbridge sahib, my friend and my brother, thou shalt promise me that Kundoo shall pay to the British Raj for the crime he committed."
Long minutes Trowbridge sat motionless.
"Mahbub, oh my friend, I give you my word that I shall do all that I can. But what proof have I that Kundoo did indeed commit that murder? The ways of the white sahibs are not as the ways of the Afridi. Had I his own talk with which to confront him and confound the lies he will assuredly tell before the court—Mahbub, my friend and my brother! I talk to thee once more with naked heart as an own blood-brother. No other among those at this Thana could have done the deed that thou hast done. I shall not again offer thee money after the way of the Anglesi, but the finest mare or the fleetest stallion in all the bazars is thine and a Bokharan belt of finest workmanship. Nay! It is a gift of friendship I would offer thee!
"Yet, Mahbub, is my heart heavy. How may I confront Kundoo with his misdeed? How may I out of his own mouth make him confess to that which we both know? Canst thou show me a way?"
It was Mahbub's turn to pause, to consider, his chin bowed upon his breast. Trowbridge, watching him, felt a thrill of compassion for this Afghan who times innumerable had stood manfully at his side regardless of all odds. Between them lay, the ceremony of blood brotherhood.
Mentally he reviewed again that tireless, merciless chase. Like a mongoose after a cobra, Mahbub had trailed his quarry; against stupendous obstacles he had carried on, until he had brought the culprit in to the Thana. A six weeks' chase. And as if that were not enough, now he was asking the impossible of Mahbub once more. How could Mahbub, or any one else, force from the prisoner's lips the confession of guilt? The Afghan raised his head.
"Trowbridge sahib, it is an order?" he asked.
"Not so, Mahbub. I ask in the name of friendship. You have done well. I could not have asked of any man what you have done unbidden." Trowbridge's voice betrayed his sincerity.
"Then is my heart made fat and my eye glad," Mahbub exclaimed."An order is an order until one is strong enough to disobey. But the desire of a true friend—Holy Kurstad and the Blessed Imans! I will do what I can. First, I ask of the Protector that he awaken Kundoo." He smiled fleetingly. "That degraded Mussulman sleeps soundly yet. There was no other way to bring him before you. I but gave him bhang."
"It shall be done at once," Trowbridge responded. "And then?"
"Let none others come near his cell save myself, Bahadur—or Sunua Manji."
