"Exactly--that I will do neither," replied the Dooranee, with a mocking laugh. "Then, by the hand of the Prophet, there perhaps come those who may deprive you of all you possess!" exclaimed the young Toorkoman, with fierce triumph, as he pointed suddenly along the road that led towards the Akrobat Pass. The sun, now in the west, was shedding a lovely golden light along the brilliantly green slopes of the mighty mountains, whose snow-capped peaks stood up sharply defined, cold and white, against the deep, pure blue of the sky. The barren and desolate Akrobat Pass, overhung by rocks of slate and limestone, yawned like a dark fissure between the masses of the impending hills, and out of it a cloud of white dust was now seen to roll, spreading like mist, and increasing in magnitude like the vapour released by the fisherman in the Arabian story from the vase of yellow copper on the seashore. On and on it came--onward and downward into the plain where the Bameean river winds, and where the silent city of the Colossi towers upon its rock-hewn hill. Bright points began to flash and gleam ever and and anon out of this coming cloud of dust--points that could not be mistaken by a soldier's eye,--and speedily the whole advancing mass assumed the undoubted aspect of a great body of armed horsemen, whose tall spears shone like stars, as they came on at full speed from the mountains! "Hazarees--wild Hazarees or Eimauks--by Allah!" exclaimed the Toorkoman, gathering his reins in his hands; "a chupao--an attack on you, Saleh Mohammed! Now look to your damsels and spoil, for you will be looted of every kusira!"* * An Afghan coin, worth about .083 of a penny, English. With a shout of exultation and defiance, he wheeled round his horse, and galloped away towards the wood and river. The Arab Hadji, Osman, declared these newcomers to be some Usbec cavalry, whom he had seen but yesterday encamped by the side of the river Balkh. "Kosh gelding! Usbecs, Toorkomans, or Hazarees,--let them come and welcome; they shall not find us unprepared!" exclaimed Saleh Mohammed through his clenched teeth, while his black eyes shot fire, and he rushed away for his weapons, and, by all the horrible din that his Hindostanee drummers and buglers could make, summoned his quaint-looking followers to arms; for, in that lawless land, he knew not whose swords might be uplifted against them now, as the downfall of Ackbar would encourage all to make spoil of his adherents. Even in the kingdom of Afghanistan there were bitter quarrels, and the tribes were all divided against each other now.