The Story of the Guides

ly memory of the rough brave fellows who, under a sprinkling of English officers,

born and bred to the sword, who had faced death a hundred times from childhood upwards, and who had thus instinctively learnt to be alert, brave, and self-reliant. To these hardy warri

, and I don't for the life of me know which of you to give it to. Come along down to the rifle-range, and shoot it off amongst yourselves; the best shot gets the vacancy." And off they would go to the range, with all their friends and relations to the fifth generation, and all the partisans in the corps of each competitor: shooting for the King's Prize at Bisley is a flat

the air, while most of his friends did likewise, embracing and congratulating him in the intervals. Without taking a seat amongst the Scribes and Pharisees, it is perhaps permissible to notice that such a scene as this is in curious contras

ighting caste. His argument was one which still holds good. It is not in reason to expect the classes which for hundreds of years have been hewers of wood and drawers of water, and for hundreds of years have been accustomed to

in India is a l

d so gallantly did he behave in action at Delhi, calmly carrying water to the wounded and dying under the most tremendous fire, that the soldiers themselves said: "This man is the bravest of the brave, for without arms or protection of any sort he is in the foremost line; if any one deserves the star for valour this man does." And so the highest distinction open to an Indian soldier was bestowed on Juma the bhisti; and further, the soldiers petitioned

us nature and love of adventure could not brook a life of sedentary ease, and therefore, like many a spirited young blood, both before and since, he "took to the road." In his case the step was taken, if not actually with the sanction and blessing of his Church, at any rate with its unof

hem all a touch of humour, and sometimes of almost boyish fun, accompanied often by the rough courtesies of the gentlem

d sufficient cause was now an outlaw, with a price on his head of no less than two thousand rupees. Many a time and o

" exclaimed Lumsden. "I'll send for him." A polite note was accordingly written inviting Dilāwur Khan to come into the Guides' camp, at any time and place that fitted in with his other, and doubtless more important, engagements, "to talk matters over." At the same time a free passport was sent which would allow of his reaching the camp unmolested. It spe

over." After compliments, as the Eastern saying is, Lumsden with much heartiness, and in that f

what do you suppose I shall do with you when I do catch you? Why, hang you as high as Haman,-a gentleman whose history appears in our Good Book. Now, that's a poor ending for a fine soldier like you, and I'll make you an offer, take it or leave it. I'll enlist you, a

ard. He, an outlaw, with a price on his head, his sins forgiven, enlisted in the Guides, with the prospect of becoming a native officer! "No, no," he exclaimed, "that won't do"; and, still shaking with laughter, ros

to his surprise, one day six weeks later, who should walk calmly into his camp, without passpo

e began, "and I have come to enlist, and

ability. "I thought you were a sensible fell

ndition to make," solemn

den, thinking that he was going

I must be let off doing the goose-step. I really can't stand

. The goose-step is one of the foundations of the British Empire. If a king came into the a

ts of Yusafzai, which notable chiefs rode many a mile to see, was the dreaded Dilāwur, the terror of the Bo

on for was to learn your tricks and strategy, and how British troops were trained, and how they made their bandobust[1] for war. Directly I had learnt these things I had intended walking off whence I came, to use my knowledge against my enemies. Bu

inding; any system or mode of reg

ing the Indus, which there was very deep and rapid, in the ferry-boat. Being over-heavily loaded, the boat, when it felt the strong current, appeared in great danger of filling and sinking. Then the Mahomedans on board with one accord set up loud lamentations, and began to call upon their saints to succour them. "Oh Ali! Oh Hosein! Oh Káka Sahib! save us," they cried. Whereupon Dilāwur, not to be outdone, in his turn commenced yelling and shouting vociferously

ll of zeal and thirsting for knowledge, who artlessly introduced so debatable a subject, that the assembly was thrown into an uproar; and lest worse things might happen unto him, the worthy, but too enquiring, subadar was hustled hastily forth, and requested in future to stick to soldiering, and to avoid bringing his infernal questions to cause discord amongst the chosen of the Prophet. As Dilāwur afterwa

t place. He served also in the many skirmishes which occurred on the frontier during the next twelve years, getting what he had bargained for on joining, pl

ment of the service. With him went a comrade, Ahmed Jan, also of the Guides. The two set forth together, and after many hardships and adventures had reached the territory of the Mehtar of Chitral, and were nearing the completion of their task. Seated one day under a tree, making their midday halt and chatting with som

en eventually they were brought before him, that chieftain, addressing Dilāwur, asked, "Who are you and whenc

ar; "you are Subadar Dilāwur of the

one time a subadar of the Guides, but I have bee

e Mehtar, "that you are in the secret

t I am a mullah, and not an ignorant one, be pleased to call together all your mo

e Government," replied the Mehtar, "I will give yo

eed on my way. On my arrival at the ziarat[1] of the Káka Sahib near Nowshera I wi

rat, ce

Feringhis. For the Pathan saying is: "First comes one Englishman, as a traveller or for shikar;[2] then come two and make a map; then comes an army and takes the country. It is better therefore to kill the first Englishman." Dilāwur w

ikar,

ts in Peshawur. The reply received was evidently not in favour of extreme measures for the strong arm of the British was notoriously far-reaching, and serious tro

they struggled on, through the ever deepening snow and ever increasing cold. Dilāwur Khan's comrade, Ahmed Jan, was the first to die; and then, on the fourth night, the brave old soldier himself gave out, and as he was dying he called to him one of the

r who knew no fear. The serene and majestic silence of the mountain is given to him whose