After a hearty farewell, and an expression of the best wishes for the success of his mission, Mackenzie said good-bye and left the tent. The Afghan chief was carried back into it, and in a few minutes all in the little camp were asleep.
A DANGEROUS JOURNEY
Angus made every effort to secure the services of a native well acquainted with the passes as guide, but was altogether unsuccessful. The difficulties were, they declared, insurmountable, the danger overwhelming.
"I must see what I can do," Sadut Khan said, when Angus informed him that the natives were all of opinion that the snow was too heavy and the danger too great for the pass to be attempted. "We stayed here for some days, when I crossed the hills with Dost Mahomed. There is a petty chief living in a village two miles away; if he is still there, I think he would accompany you. Whether or not, I am certain he would not divulge the secret of my being here to anyone."
"I will go myself to see him," Angus said. "I hope indeed he will accompany us, for if not, I fear that our journey has come to an end, as the offers I have made would have tempted any of the natives here to go with me if they had thought it possible. Shall I mention your name to him?"
"Say to him only that a chief of the Momunds, whom he knew here three months ago, desires to speak to him."
Angus at once mounted his horse and rode to the foot of the hill upon which the village with the tower of its chief was perched. Then fastening the bridle to a stunted shrub, he made his way up the steep ascent on foot. The place did not contain more than a dozen houses. As he passed through these, natives wrapped in sheep-skin jackets came to the door and gazed at him with angry scowls. As he reached the door of the tower four armed men came out.
"What would you here, stranger?" one of them said.