On arrival at Chitral he and his companions were thrown into prison, there to await the Mehtar’s pleasure.  When eventually they were brought before him, that chieftain, addressing Dilawur, asked, “Who are you and whence come you?” “I am the Mullah Dilawur,” replied the prisoner, “on my way from Bokhara on a religious mission.”

“No, you are not,” replied the Mehtar; “you are Subadar Dilawur of the Guides, a heretic and an infidel.”

“Quite true,” answered Dilawur readily; “I was at one time a subadar of the Guides, but I have been many things in my time, and now I am a mullah.”

“I have reliable information,” said the Mehtar, “that you are in the secret employment of the British Government.”

“Go to,” laughed Dilawur, “what next?  I have a proposal to make.  If you doubt that I am a mullah, and not an ignorant one, be pleased to call together all your most learned priests and I will discuss doctrine with them, till all are convinced.”

“If you will confess and tell me the secrets of the Government,” replied the Mehtar, “I will give you a handsome present and take you into my service.”

“I have no secrets,” said Dilawur, “and I beg of your Highness to allow me to proceed on my way.  On my arrival at the ziarat[9] of the Kaka Sahib near Nowshera I will make a special offering on behalf of your Highness, and extol your generosity.”

  [9] Ziarat, cemetery.

But the Mehtar evidently had very straight information regarding Dilawur, and it was the custom of the land to kill all strangers who could not account for themselves, and more especially those who had any connection with the dreaded Feringhis.  For the Pathan saying is:  “First comes one Englishman, as a traveller or for shikar;[10] then come two and make a map; then comes an army and takes the country.  It is better therefore to kill the first Englishman.”  Dilawur was consequently sent back to prison, and a meeting of the mullahs decided that he should be stoned to death as an apostate.  “It must be the will of God,” said this brave man when the news was brought him, and prepared to meet his fate.

  [10] Shikar, sport.

But not yet was his time fulfilled.  For two months he and his travelling companions were kept in prison, probably to enable the Mehtar to correspond with his agents in Peshawur.  The reply received was evidently not in favour of extreme measures for the strong arm of the British was notoriously far-reaching, and serious trouble might ensue if the subadar were killed.  The Mehtar therefore decided to release the prisoners, and to give them such assistance as they needed in getting away.