’Ay, speak for the tribe in God’s name.  How those accursed fires wink!  Do the English send their troops on the wire—­or is this the work of the Bengali?’

As Khoda Dad Khan went down the hill he was delayed by an interview with a hard-pressed tribesman, which caused him to return hastily for something he had forgotten.  Then, handing himself over to the two troopers who had been chasing his friend, he claimed escort to Tallantire Sahib, then with Bullows at Jumala.  The Border was safe, and the time for reasons in writing had begun.

‘Thank Heaven!’ said Bullows, ’that the trouble came at once.  Of course we can never put down the reason in black and white, but all India will understand.  And it is better to have a sharp short outbreak than five years of impotent administration inside the Border.  It costs less.  Grish Chunder De has reported himself sick, and has been transferred to his own province without any sort of reprimand.  He was strong on not having taken over the district.’

‘Of course,’ said Tallantire bitterly.  ’Well, what am I supposed to have done that was wrong?’

’Oh, you will be told that you exceeded all your powers, and should have reported, and written, and advised for three weeks until the Khusru Kheyl could really come down in force.  But I don’t think the authorities will dare to make a fuss about it.  They’ve had their lesson.  Have you seen Curbar’s version of the affair?  He can’t write a report, but he can speak the truth.’

’What’s the use of the truth?  He’d much better tear up the report.  I’m sick and heartbroken over it all.  It was so utterly unnecessary—­except in that it rid us of that Babu.’

Entered unabashed Khoda Dad Khan, a stuffed forage-net in his hand, and the troopers behind him.

‘May you never be tired!’ said he cheerily.  ’Well, Sahibs, that was a good fight, and Naim Shah’s mother is in debt to you, Tallantire Sahib.  A clean cut, they tell me, through jaw, wadded coat, and deep into the collar-bone.  Well done!  But I speak for the tribe.  There has been a fault—­a great fault.  Thou knowest that I and mine, Tallantire Sahib, kept the oath we sware to Orde Sahib on the banks of the Indus.’

‘As an Afghan keeps his knife—­sharp on one side, blunt on the other,’ said Tallantire.

’The better swing in the blow, then.  But I speak God’s truth.  Only the Blind Mullah carried the young men on the tip of his tongue, and said that there was no more Border-law because a Bengali had been sent, and we need not fear the English at all.  So they came down to avenge that insult and get plunder.  Ye know what befell, and how far I helped.  Now five score of us are dead or wounded, and we are all shamed and sorry, and desire no further war.  Moreover, that ye may better listen to us, we have taken off the head of the Blind Mullah, whose evil counsels have led us to folly.  I bring it for proof,’—­and he heaved on the