"
Half-a-dozen Pindaris darted forward, and poised in waiting for the
command to bind to the fingers of the Bagree oil-soaked torches; but
Kassim moved them back, and stood, his brow wrinkled in pondering, his
black eyes sullenly fixed on the face of the Bagree. Then he said:
"What this dog knows is of more value to our whole people, considering
the message that has been brought, than his worthless life that is but
the life of a swine."
He took a turn pacing the marble floor, and with his eyes called a
jamadar to one side. "These thugs, when they cast themselves in the
protection of Kali, die like fanatics, and this one is but an animal.
Torture will not bring the truth. Mark you, Jamadar, I will make the
compact with him. Do not lead an objection, but trust me."
"But the dead Chief, Commander--?"
"Yes, because of him; he loved his people. And the knowledge that yon
dog has he would not have sacrificed."
"But is Amir Khan to be unavenged?" the jamadar queried.
"Allah will punish yonder infidel for the killing of one of the true
faith.
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