The Broken Road

evening to take a particular turn. Ever afterwards, during this one hour of the twenty-four, it swerved regularly into the same channel. The restaurants

dvantage-not a point was omitted, although every point had been debated yesterday or the day before. To-night t

e last time I was in London I took out to supper-none of the coryphées you boys are so proud of bein

exclaimed a

replied co

d Major Dewes, and the Politica

me to have. I saw something which it was well for me to see. I wished-I wish now-

ds descended into that well quite distinctly, but faintly, as if they were made at a distance in the dark, open country. The six men seated about the table paid no heed to those sounds; they had had them in their ears too long. And f

f the Sikhs bro

ked, as an orderly o

said the Political Officer. "Thi

he siege had cut its scars upon the fort's rough walls of mud and projecting beams. But nowhere w

where amongst the snow-passes in the south a second force would be surely advancing from Nowshera, probably short of rations, certainly short of baggage, that it might march the lighter. When one of those two forces deployed across the valley and the gates of the fort were again thrown open to the air the weeks of endurance would exact their toll. But that time was not yet come. Meanwhile the six men held on ch

h longer now. The Sirkar don't leave its servants in the lurch. That's what thes

Infantry, had been shot through the thigh in

ad luck. It must have been a stray bullet which slipped throu

looked upwards through the open roof to the clea

at?" asked o

n a cry, and it sounded strangely solitary, strangely sad, as it floated through the still air. There was the East in that cry trembling out of the infinite darkness above their heads. But the

e ended a Sikh orderly appeared at the entrance of a passag

who claims that he co

ar Na

the morning and he shall be admitted. Tell him that if he does not go back at once the sentin

t out from the courtya

es, saying that the man

n resumed their meal, an

lowing garments into the

g that you will value it more than all that he has"; and carefully unfolding a napkin, he laid with reverence upon the table a little red cardboard box. The mere look

upon the words Luffe alone did not join. He leaned his forehead upon his hand and sat

offer our congratulat

l receive me

Heaven. The moment was one of which the perfect enjoyment was not to be marred by any speech. Only a grunt of satisfaction or a deep sigh of pleasure was now and then to be heard, as the smoke curled upwards from the litt

s bad.

med that ill-health was not all to blame. He had the look of one who had forgotten his company. He was withdrawn amongst his own speculation

d the three other officers got up and went about their business. Dr. Bodley, the surgeon, alone remained seated. He waited until the tramp of his companions' feet had died away, and

is chair. It should be mentioned, perhaps, that he not only doctored and operated on the sick and wounded, but he kept th

will have happened. Either the relieving force will be here, or-yes, decidedly something will have happened."

and so far as three sides were concerned was securely placed. For on three the low precipitous cliffs overhung the

re of light above it, which struck up from the fire which the insurgents had lit behind the walls of

which had not existed yesterday. Moreover, the almond trees in the garden just outside the western wall were i

ing. Even if the fortress fell, even if every man within perished by the sword-why, as Lynes had said, the Sirkar does not forget its servants. The relieving force might march in too late, but it would march in. Me

ant waited for him at the bottom of a broad staircase in a room given up to lumber. A broken bicycle caught Luffe's eye. On the ledge of a window stood a photo

to England, that he may learn your wisdom, and so return to rule over his kingdom. Much good will come of it." Luffe had expected the words. The young Khan had a passion for things English. The bicycle and the camera were signs

when he had taken out to supper a reigning queen of comic opera. The recollection of that evening remained with him when he ascended once more to the roof of the fort

Quite clearly they could hear the spades at work, very ne

Luffe in a whisper, "an

ll made of pinewood chips and straw, packed into a covering of canvas, was brought on to the roof and saturated with kerosene oil. "Are you ready?" said Luffe; "then now!" Upon the word the fireball was lit and thrown fa

ffe. "Choose you

torn by the rattle of musketry, and afa

e his orders was still the thought, "All this is nothing. The one fateful thing is the birth of a son to the Khan of Chiltistan." The little engagement lasted for about half an hour. The insurgents then drew back fro

looking upwards to Luffe, who stood above him; "a very sm

d away and walked back again across the roof. The new sangar would not be built th

through the darkness, almost beneath his feet, once more the cry

a sentinel. But the voice rose again, claiming admission to the

fe to the sentinel, and

m Wafadar Naz

my life b

of Sahib

im thinks it good for you to know"; and t

He listened, but he could hear no whispering voices. He

ut if there be more than one the

uard of Sikhs with their rifles loaded and bayonets fixed. A few lanterns threw a dim light u

fles were raised to the shoulder, with

way, and a tall man, clad in white flowing robes, with a deeply pock-marked face and a hooked nose, walked majestically in

led the way through the rabbit-warren of