"Go up and talk to the rajah about I tell you, Lake, these hills will never it,' I suggested. "The Bun laughed scornfully. "Rajah be hanged!' he scoffed. "The pir is head and shoulders the biggest man in this district. He holds the rajah and the headman in the hollow of his hand, especially as their desires jump with his admonitions.' "By the by,' I said, 'I forgot to mention a little incident which occurred on the way up. It has just struck me it may have some bearing on the present position. When we were crossing one of the lower passes we were overtaken by a gaunt hillman going all he knew in the teeth of the deadly cold wind without a rag upon him but his dhoti (waistcloth). I told my fellows to stop him if they could. They got round him, and asked him who he was and where he was going. He looked at me over their heads, and he had the burning eye of a fanatic. "The vultures are gathering," he said fiercely; "I go to the feast." With that he swung round on his heels and started up the pass "The words were scarcely out of my mouth when the Bun cut in, evidently much excited: "Why the dickens did you not tell me that before?' he exclaimed; 'we're in for it.' De clean or quiet until the pir has a bullet through him, or is lying by the heels inside the jail at Lahore. There's going to be trouble, and you'll be in for it. Though I don't believe these Childazais will budge until the drum beats. After that, daylight will find them on the lower hills.' ""They'll force the pass?' ""They'll try,' said the Bun, rubbing his head reflectively. 'What do you think should be done?' "I didn't see that I had any call to play Providence to the Bun, so I replied that we should keep the pass-he could be Horatius, and I would be the other two. "The Bun grinned with an effort. ""The Horatii hadn't to face matchlocks, which alters the case a bit,' he rejoined, and filled up a big pipe with dry Indian tobacco, which he smoked for a while in silence. "Look here, Lake,' he said, when he had apparently made up his mind to some course of action, 'as you are here, I'll leave you in command of the fort, and I'll go out and make a reconnoissance with Durda Khan.' "For some time I followed the Bun, as he moved about the fort, giving orders and making necessary arrangements. The latter included the preparation of some torches and fire-balls of resinous wood. 66 'You see,' he explained, 'we'll need some light to shoot by if they try to rush the pass. My word, we'll have them on the hop!' "After midnight he started with Durda Khan, who had the reputation of being an A1 cragsman, and he certainly looked, when got up for the expedition as desperate a cut-throat as you would care to trust your life to on a lonely road. "The long hours dragged by. The night was thick and stormy, and, on thinking over our situation in solitude, I decided that the lookout was not particularly hopeful. "Kalt was by no means a silent spot. The wind whistled and shrieked down the valleys, and the thunder of the water seemed to grow louder and more threatening as the night deepened, while every now and then a distant rattling roar told of some landslip or fall of stones in the nullahs around. "Suddenly, as I listened, in a lull of the storm a new sound arose. Two or three dull booming notes floated down the gorge, followed by a long reverber、 ating roll of drums. This was repeated three times, and the deep-mouthed din seemed to leap and crash across the chasms. It was the most inspiriting and warlike call to arms I have ever heard. "I had no need to be told what it was. The war-drum of the Childazais had spoken, and the revolt was fairly afoot. But where was the Bun? I began to be seriously uneasy about him. It is acknowledged that a little bloodshed heartens the beginning of a raid, and a decisive step, like the cold-blooded murder of an English officer, leaves small room for repentance, as the tribes well know, and is useful besides in deciding waverers. "From the ramparts nothing was visible in the darkness. The wind had lulled, only a chill breeze moaned like a sick child about the walls. Presently it carried to me a sinister intimation. From far away came the clear ring of steel, and a soft minor clatter as of wooden-hafted spears, and then a continuous hum. This ceased, and for a long time nothing but the voices of water, wind, and rock could be distinguished. "An hour and a half passed; still we waited and listened, till I heard the sharp, distinct fall of a single stone from the crest of cliff to the north. Instantly I gave the order to light up. "In a moment a flare of torches shone out over the terrace and pathway above the fort, making all clear as moonlight. "Not a living soul was to be seen, for all the hum of life which seemed to pervade the air. Then, from the dimmer shadows of the track a muffied hillman crossed the path where it widened to meet the terrace, as a weasel crosses a road. "I watched him till he disappeared, when a voice behind me said gently, "The pir.' "I turned quickly. It was the Bun, wet and bedraggled, but still the Bun, safe and sound. "My son, I did not expect you, I said, greatly relieved. 'Now that you have come, may I ask what you propose doing?' "Sending them home,' he answered quietly, as if that performance was the simplest thing in the world. 'Lake,' he added, ‘if anything should happen, you know, hold on, don't let 'em pass! I've sent a message to Gilgit.' "What's going to happen?' ""The Lord knows. It's touch and go,' he replied, and left me. "Meantime the Childazais had issued in crowding ranks from the narrow track, some dropping from the surrounding crags, till they filled the little terrace from end to end. Then they came to a dead stop, and contemplated the rusty muzzles of two old sevenpounders of obsolete mechanism and uncertain efficacy which faced them from the fort. On the other side was the clear drop of something like five hundred feet into the blackness, where the Somara foamed, full fed with melting snows, between her close-set precipices. "Go forward, my brothers!' called out a commanding voice. "The crowd sidled forward with the movement of a flock of sheep. From the fort no one spoke, but one of the gunners lit an additional torch, and stuck it through an embrasure into an iron ring outside. The strong blaze threw the rocking sea of fierce, upturned faces into sharp relief, while behind the scarred beetling heights shone wet and glistening. "Again the order was given to advance, but a muttering from the front answered that the path was shut. "A tall figure in a flowing choga raised itself on an outcropping ledge of rock. "My brothers, fear not! Go forward!' "Of course it was the pir, who, confident that we would not be the first to draw blood, showed himself without concern. go down to harry the lowlands." And he knew not that the drum beat on the towers of Kalt for us!' "The pir's face was a sight to watch. "Forward, men of the Childazais; To say that it had been beaten by his has not the drum beaten?' "The crowd gathered itself for a rush, when a single word like a pistol-shot rang across the pass. "Stop!' "I recognized the Bun's familiar tones, but could not locate them for some seconds. "Look, men of Childazai!' he went on, the drum has indeed been beaten, but it was for the victory of the Sircar.' "At this astounding statement every eye was turned upon him. He stood on the swaying bridge of twigs, the torch held by Durda Khan at his back making a patch of light about him. The tearing wind of the gully had carried away his cap, and his tow-colored head was very much in evidence. 'He lies, my brothers! Has not the drum spoken from the tower of Childazai? The powers of the air are with us.' shouted the pir, in return. "Nay, Childazais, believe not such foolish speech. The powers of the air have given the drum to the great queen, that she may reign over you in peace forever. Behold!' "He stooped and raised a bulky object in his arms. The light shone full upon it, and I perceived it was a large drum, around which ran a flash of red sparkles as it was raised. "A groan of mingled dismay and baffled purpose rose from the tribesmen. It was clear they recognized their fetish. The whole throng swayed, growling, then paused. In the momentary hush I heard a snapping of breechactions. own orders at Childazai would have been to give himself away; the only course left open to him was to throw suspicion on the genuineness of the article. This he proceeded to do, but the Bun merely bade the tribe send to see if their drum were still in its old place. "There was a long pause. The frail bridge swayed in the breeze, and I did not envy the Bun his position. "If any man shoots,' he added significantly, 'I will fall into the river with your drum, and then the Childazais must be forever accursed. Is it not so? Eternal night and storm will ravage the mountains, and ye will die in the dark. The spirit of the drum will torment you, and wipe out the great tribe of the Childazai as a man wipes away a crawling fly on a wet day. "Then it was that I put the wrong end of my cigar into my mouth. I had not given the Bun credit for so much imagination. "The pir saw things were going against him, and he made a bold stroke. Besides, in his case, familiarity with the drum had bred contempt, no doubt. "Shoot,' he yelled; 'I will charm away the curses, and the powers of the air will give their people of the Childazais another drum.' "But the tribesmen are a conservative race, and his proposal was not received with favor. The older men gathered into a group and consulted. ""What would you have us to do, sahib?' asked an old head-man at last; for of course the rajah did not care to "The Bun raised the drum higher appear too prominently in so risky an against his breast. "Shoot! he said calmly. affair. 'Give up the pir and the rajah,' re"The high-hammered guns were held plied the Bun; and after that I will on the cock, but none fired. carry your drum into the fort in safety. "The Bun took advantage of the hesi- Then the tribe will bring me their arms, tation. "Your pir has deceived you,' he cried. "Behold!" said he, "the drum beats that the people of the mountains may and leave them in my care until the government gives orders. If these things be faithfully done, then will I. in three days, return to you your drum unharmed. zais!' Choose now, oh Childa "Spent twelve months in Lahore jail, and then some one at home worked a “I was pleased with the Bun. He petition for his release." was developing qualities. "After a good deal of parleying this was arranged, and before the sun rose over the mountains the Bun's demands were complied with to his entire satisfaction. The rajah and the pir were safely immured in the fort, and an assorted pile of weapons-matchlocks, express rifles, French and Russianmade guns, jezails, tulwars, and so on -encumbered the ground floor of the tower by the eastern gate. "Rather a job lot,' commented the Bun, as he looked them over. 'Yet some of these chaps are very pretty shots; the thought of it made me feel queerish out on that bridge.' "Meanwhile I examined the drum. As far as appearances went, it was a fraud-a ramshackle, weather-beaten fraud-and I remarked that the issues of life and death occasionally hang on shaky pegs. "How the mischief did you secure the thing? I asked. "'Durda Khan,' he answered shortly. "After this he ate an indecently hearty breakfast, during which he made only one remark, to the effect that it was a jolly good plan to have a hostage or two, and that he rather thought things would now straighten themselves out a bit in the hills. Which they did. That's the story." The major dropped back into his chair, and silence fell upon us. Presently Plaistow said: Plaistow moved uneasily in his chair. It seemed he had begun to regard release petitions in a new light. "As I said, certain people were down on the Bun, and said he had acted in a reprehensible and high-handed manner, and in the teeth of the racial and religious prejudices of the people." "He did extremely right!" ejaculated Plaistow. "The lad was a hero." The major smiled. "They championed the pir to some purpose. England's enemies can always find an English champion. The pir was let out, and at once he struck a bee-line for the hills. No doubt he felt he had a duty to fulfil. The howlers said that forgiveness had melted his heart, and foretold that he would make a typical ruler of a savage tribe. They were quite right, as it happened. He was peculiarly typical." I fancied that Plaistow's cheek looked very white in the moonlight. He was staring up at the dim bulk of the Tukti-Sulieman with its temple crown. Perhaps the devil prompted me to speak. "How so?" said I. "He arrived in the hills late in October," continued the major. "Early one November morning a search party found the Bun stiff and stark, beached on a pebbly bank of the Somara, a couple of miles below Kalt. There were four bullets in his body, each with a garnet core. They concluded, rather "Of course, that young man got pro- hastily, I fear, that this was the pir's motion?" "Well," returned the major, with some hesitation, "I am inclined to think that he did." "You should have made it your business to see to it," exclaimed Plaistow. "A lot can be done through the papers." The major laughed oddly. "A lot was done through the papers. They got hold of some version of the affair, and the howling faction at home were rather down on the Bun in consequence." "And the pir?" asked Plaistow. handiwork. At any rate. the government tried to bring the crime home to him, but failed to do so." "And is that the end?" I asked again. "Not quite. Subsequently Durda Khan asked for a month's leave to attend to certain urgent private affairs. During his absence the pir went out for a stroll one day, and has never come back yet." The snow, far away, and the water, at hand, glimmered under the waning moon. After a short interval, Plaistow went off to his tent without a word. Vennering and I remained smoking a little while longer. As we separated, Vennering spoke in a carefully lowered tone. "Shouldn't wonder if the name of the M.P. who headed that petition business for the pir wasn't Plaistow," he said. E. AND H. HERON. Then the major stretched himself, Siberian-Pacific Railway by the short said good-night, and left us. cut across Chinese Manchuria. Any way the Chinese were in a flutter in the fear of Russian aggression, and determined to do what they could to strengthen themselves in that direction by ordering a survey to be made for the extension of the North China Railway from Shanhaikwan, passing westwards of Moukden and onwards, via Kirin and Tsitsihar, towards the Russian frontier on the Amur. The publication of the agreement of the 8th of September sanctioning the construction of the Eastern Chinese Railway-i.e.. of the section of the Siberian-Pacific Railway, 1,280 miles in length, passing through Chinese Manchuria-shows that Russia has at length gained her way in this important matter. That the sanction of this project is considered in Russia as the prelude of the annexation of Chinese Manchuria is indicated by the paragraph which appeared in the Russian press on the return to Odessa, in November, of the Russian Special Mission which had been sent to inspect Manchuria. In referring to this paragraph, the correspondent of the Times stated that it may be taken as a wish which the government will no doubt some day make un fait accompli. The paragraph ran as follows: From The Nineteenth Century. FRANCE AND RUSSIA IN CHINA. Notwithstanding the assurances given by the Chinese Embassy at St. Petersburg that no such treaty has been executed, it is generally believed in this country and on the Continent that the so-called Cassini Convention exists, and that the terms closely resemble the reputed Russo-Chinese Secret Treaty, published by the North China Daily News on the 30th of October. In fact. the agreement of the 8th of September between the Chinese government and the Russo-Chinese Bank appears to indicate in its terms that the reputed treaty was as draft treaty forming the base of negotiations; and it is natural to infer that some such treaty, in an amended form, was executed before Count Cassini left Peking at the close of that month. The history of the Eastern Chinese Railway Agreement may be briefly stated as follows: In 1886 the late czar issued his famous edict: "Let a railway be built across Siberia in the shortest way possible." The shortest way to the port of Vladivostock, after leaving Stretinsk, passed through Chinese Manchuria, thus avoiding the great northern bend made by the Valley of the Amur. Russia marked the line in that direction on her maps, and determined in her usual dogged, plodding manner to have her way in the matter. In 1893, the year before the outbreak of the ChinoJapanese war, it was current Shanghai that Russia had obtained the consent of China to construct the in The only subject of conversation in railway which will be constructed through Manchuria at the present time is the part of that country. The Chinese are not only delighted with the idea, from which they expect great benefits both in commerce and agriculture, but openly state that they would be more than delighted if all Manchuria became Russian territory, and that the greater part of the inhabitants would in such a case cut off their pigtails, or, in other words, become Russian subjects. It is most unlikely that such a paragraph would have been allowed to circulate in the Russian press until the net had been drawn round China by a treaty leaving her practically at the mercy of Russia. In his statement, referred to last August by a correspondent of the Times, Li Hung declared that "he did not believe in the designs |