"And who is your father, Sultána?"
"My father is a bold chief, a bara bahadar (great hero)," replied the girl proudly. "His foes all dread Assad Khan. When last he came back to the Eagle's Nest from a foray, I saw that two heads hung from his saddle-bow."
"You did not like to see those ghastly heads? you turned away?" said the English youth, his soul revolting from the idea of that beautiful child being connected with scenes of slaughter.
"Why should I turn away? Afghans like to see dead foes. I wish, when I'm old enough, that I could ride about and fight like the Turkystan women!"
"Now, Sultána, you say that your father is a chief. If we travellers came to his fort and asked for food and shelter, would he not give them?" asked Walter, who had almost finished his surgical task."
"Yes, Assad Khan would kill a sheep; he would feast the strangers; Afghans are kind to strangers," replied the girl.
"And your father would send them on their way in safety?" inquired Walter, who had a personal interest in the reply to the question.
"Yes, they would be safe, till they had gone a little distance," said Sultána, a smile rising to her rose-bud lips.
"And then?"
"Then, if they were rich, he would follow and loot them; if they fought—he would kill them."