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 Hindustani. “’T was well that you heard and quickly obeyed my whisper to offer resistance, for so we have deceived the malefactors who beheld us into the belief that you also are an enemy of the house.”

“The sahib’s praise is sweet as the honey of Kashmir,” responded Azimoolah, gravely. “Is it the Heaven-born’s will that I should go out and slay these dealers in iniquity?”

The commission entrusted to him, however, held promise of no such luxury. On the contrary, Azimoolah received strict injunction to avoid violence except in the last extremity—in self-defence or to prevent entry into the house. The duty laid down for him was to patrol the grounds, and instantly apprise the General of any action on the part of the two trespassers that pointed to a renewal of aggressiveness that night.

“I shall remain in this room till daybreak; if anything occurs, make the signal outside,” were the General’s final instructions as he loosed his human watch-dog on to the terrace, after putting out the lights to conceal the opening of the window. Then, having carefully closed it, he sat himself down in the dark, and presently slumbered, secure in the knowl-