With a sigh of relief Futteh Ali Shah followed his example.
"Shall we ride back together ?" said Ralston, pleasantly.

And as on the way out he had made no mention of any trouble between the landowner and himself, so he did not refer to it by a single word on his way back.
But close to the city their ways parted and Futteh Ali Shah, as he took his leave, said hesitatingly, "If this story goes abroad, your Excellency--this story of how we walked together towards Jamrud--there will be much laughter and ridicule." The fear of ridicule--there was the weak point of the Afridi, as Ralston very well knew.

To be laughed at--Futteh Ali Shah, who was wont to lord it among his friends, writhed under the mere possibility.

And how they would laugh in and round about Peshawur! A fine figure he would cut as he rode through the streets with every ragged bystander jeering at the man who was walked into docility and submission by his Excellency the Chief Commissioner.
"My life would be intolerable," he said, "were the story to get about." Ralston shrugged his shoulders.
"But why should it get about ?" "I do not know, but it surely will.

It may be that the trees have ears and eyes and a mouth to speak." He edged a little nearer to the Commissioner.