He brought an offer that, if the Afridis were allowed to carry off their dead and wounded, they would be content that the same tribute as of old should be paid; and to take oath that it should not, in the future, be increased.

The chief agreed to the terms, on condition that only twenty men should be allowed to pass the hedge, and that they should there hand over the dead to their companions.
On returning to his house, he made Lisle understand that, after the heavy loss they had inflicted on their assailants, there would forever be a blood feud between them; and that, in future, they would have to retire for the winter to some valley far away, and keep a constant watch until spring came again.

When Lisle had, with great difficulty, understood what the chief said, he nodded.
"I can understand that, chief," he said, "and I think you should keep a very strong guard, every night, till we move away." "Good man," the chief said, "you have fought by our side, and are no longer a prisoner but a friend.

When spring comes, you shall go back to your own people." It took some hours to remove the dead, of whom there were forty-three; and the badly wounded, who numbered twenty-two--but there was no doubt that many more had managed to crawl away.
Lisle now set to work to learn the language, in earnest.

A boy was told off by the chief to be his companion and, at the end of two months, Lisle was able to converse without difficulty.