1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

69
A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
charge of such an one as you, but it was Kismet. I judged you as I
would naturally judge your father’s son.”
“You do me a great wrong,” the other replied moodily. “I have had no
emissaries here. I use my common sense and judgement, and I know
what the result of this war must be. Our arms cannot possibly be
victorious. Unless we surrender or the fairly easy terms the Ameer now
offers, we are a doomed nation, and after all, what does he require of
us, this Ameer? That we pay him taxes so that he may make roads for
our caravans and traders, and may provide us with soldiers to protect
them. It seems to me that it is an arrangement that would suit many of
us well.”
“The traders, perhaps,” Ghulam Hossain replied scornfully, “but we
are not a race of traders. We are a race of farmers, of free
mountaineers, and we owe allegiance to no man.”
He paused, waiting for a reply, but Mohamed Jan vouchsafed none.
“Are you willing to join our band four days hence and go and meet the
enemy under Ferad Shah on the frontier? We are not going to attack,
only to wait the news of events that we hope are even now taking place
elsewhere, but we wish to be prepared to attack his rear should any
move in other quarters compel him to draw off his men.”
“Ah, you have men with both brain and forethought at work,” Mohamed
Jan said, showing more interest than he had hitherto done. “If that is
so, we may yet prove victorious. What is your plan of action? If it
seems feasible and I see any chance of success I ma y join you. What I
disapprove of is useless slaughter in a forlorn cause.”
Ghu lam Hossain scanned him narrowly. He was not a suspicious, but he
was a cautious man.
“I am sorry I cannot reveal our plan of action to you. Its success
depends on the secrecy with which it is carried out. Should any one
betray it to the enem y some of the most valuable lives in our country
would be sacrificed – the lives of men who hold freedom to be the first
essential of a noble race.”
“You do not encourage me,” Mohamed Jan replied. “I would willingly
risk all in a cause which held the smallest chances of success. What I
object to is exposing ourselves, our wives, our children and our
property to the certaint y of death or confiscation. We may be badly off
as subjects of Afghanistan, our freedom gone, but we shall be infinitely
worse off as slaves.”
“Your arguments do more credit to your common sense than to your
patriotism,” Ghulam Hossain replied, more harshly than he was wont to
speak. “I can see my daughter will be safe with you. The Ameer
promises safet y to those who do not oppose his arms, but I do not care