so full of
extravagant compliments, I suppose for the purpose of lulling
me to sleep. At length my attention was called off from what he
was saying, by observing that a number of men, armed to the
teeth, had gradually approached to the scene of conference, and
were drawing round in a sort of circle. This Lawrence and
myself pointed out to some of the chief men, who affected at
first to drive them off with whips; but Mahomed Akber observed,
that it was of no consequence, as they were in the secret. I
again resumed my conversation with Gholam Moyun-ood-deen, when
suddenly I heard Mahomed Akber call out, 'Begeer, begeer,'
(seize! seize!) and, turning round, I saw him grasp the Envoy's
left hand, with an expression in his face of the most
diabolical ferocity. I think it was Sultan Jan who laid hold of
the Envoy's right hand. They dragged him in a stooping posture
down the hillock; the only words I heard poor Sir William utter
being, 'Az barae Khooda' (for God's sake!) I saw his face,
however, and it was full of horror and astonishment. I did not
see what became of Trevor, but Lawrence was dragged past me by
several Affghans, whom I saw wrest his weapons from him. Up to
this moment I was so engrossed in observing what was taking
place, that I actually was not aware that my own right arm was
mastered, that my urbane friend held a pistol to my temple, and
that I was surrounded by a circle of Ghazees, with drawn swords
and cocked juzails. Resistance was in vain, so, listening to
the exhortations of Gholam Moyun-ood-deen, which were enforced
by the whistling of divers bullets over my head, I hurried
through the snow with him to the place where his horse was
standing, being despoiled _en route_ of my sabre, and narrowly
escaping divers attempts made on my life. As I mounted behind
my captor, now my energetic defender, the crowd increased
around us, the cries of 'Kill the Kafir' became more vehement,
and, although we hurried on at a fast canter, it was with the
utmost difficulty Gholam Moyun-ood-deen, although assisted by
one or two friends or followers, could ward off and avoid the
sword-cuts aimed at me, the rascals being afraid to fire lest
they should kill my conductor. Indeed he was obliged to wheel
his horse round once, and taking off his turb