To Herat and Cabul: A Story of the First Afghan War

by G. A. Henty

"Good heavens!" Angus exclaimed, "they must have taken the house. The troops cannot have arrived in time, or we should have heard sharp volleys. This is maddening."

"Well, sir," Azim said philosophically, "if we had not been carried off we should have been in the house when they attacked it, and should have shared the fate of the others, whatever it may be."

"That is true enough," Angus agreed; "still, I ought to have been there. Ah!" he broke off suddenly, "they have not taken either your sword or mine, or my pistols"—for although not in military uniform the civilians generally carried swords, a necessary precaution when the whole native population always went about armed; and Angus in addition carried pistols also concealed in his dress. "It is extraordinary that they should not have disarmed us."

"I do not think that they intended to do us harm," Azim said; "they could have cut our throats had they chosen to do so, when they brought us here, without fear of discovery. Why should they leave us our swords and provide a good meal for us if they intended to murder us afterwards?"

"That is so, Azim, and it makes the affair more incomprehensible. I tried to get at my pistols as they carried me along, but they held my arms too tightly for me to do so. It seems to me possible that this is the work of someone who was aware of the intended attack, and who doubted whether the troops would not enter the city and slaughter many of the inhabitants, and so thought that by producing us at the right moment he would not only clear himself, from any charge of taking part in the affair, but would earn a reward for having saved our lives. I certainly have no friend in the city who would be likely to seize me for any other object. Of course, I was in communication with most of the important persons here, but it has been simply in an official way."

"Whoever it is must have been watching you for some days, master, if, as you thought, he has been following you whenever you went out."

"I can have no doubt on that subject now, Azim," and Angus sat thinking for some time. "I think," he said suddenly, "it must be Sadut Khan; if so, we are safe. We know that he was with the Ameer, and rode with him when he defeated our cavalry, and it has been reported that he has since returned to his tribe, though we have no certain information about it. It is possible that, knowing we were about to be attacked by the whole force of the tribesmen, he has borne his promise in mind, and has employed men to watch me and take steps, if necessary, to secure my safety. That certainly would explain what before it seemed impossible to understand."

The noise in the town still continued. At one time there was sound of heavy musketry firing.

"The troops have entered the city," Angus exclaimed; "there will be hard fighting, for in the narrow streets an armed mob can offer a desperate resistance even to the best troops. But in the end they will put down this tumult, and if Sir Alexander has been murdered, exact a heavy penalty for his death."