"Salaam, Chief," Barlow said with a sweep of a hand to his forehead,
and Amir Khan from his seat in a black ebony chair inlaid with
pearl-shell and garnets, returned the salutation, asking: "And what
favour would Ayub Alli ask?"
"A petition such as your servant would make is but for the ears of Amir
Khan."
The black eyes of the Pindari, deep set under the shaggy eyebrows, hung
upon the speaker's face with the fierce watchful stab of a falcon's.
Barlow saw the distrust, the suspicion. He unslung from his waist his
heavy pistol, took the _tulwar_ from the wide brass-studded belt about
his waist, and tendered them to the orderly saying: "It is a message of
peace but also it is alone for the ears of Amir Khan."
The Pindari spoke to the orderly, "Go thou and wait below."
When he had disappeared the Pindari rose from the ebon-wood chair,
stretched his tall giant form, and laughed. "Thou art a seemly man,
Ayub Alli, but thinkst thou that Amir Khan would have fear that thou
sendst thy playthings by the orderly?"
"No, Chief, it was but proper.
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