ng would inevitably be
righted.

The villagers, it is said, after long discussion of his merits under
the vine trees, where they gathered of an evening, came to the
conclusion that "the good Mohammedans" of olden days must have been
"just like Nikalseyn," and emphatically approved him as every inch a
_hakim_.

Of Nicholson's methods in dealing with his turbulent subjects Mr. S.
Thorburn, who served in the same district some years afterwards, tells
this story. The locale, he believes, was Rawal Pindi. A reward of a
hundred rupees had been offered for the capture of a noted freebooter,
whose whereabouts were well known, but whose reputation had deterred
anyone from arresting him. On taking his seat in his court-house one
day Nicholson demanded to know whether the man had been caught. The
officers of justice shook their heads.

"Double the reward at once," said Nicholson. This was done, but
without any result. The same afternoon he inquired again it the fellow
had been caught, and received the same answer, "Not yet, my lord." The
timorous officials added the suggestion that a very strong force of
police would be necessary, as the man was surrounded by his kinsmen.

"Very well, then," said Nicholson, "saddle my horse."

A few minutes later he rode off alone to the village in which the
outlaw was sheltering, though, as a matter of fact, the latter walked
about openly in little fear of capture. Almost the first person
Nicholson met was the very man he had come to find. At his order to
surrender the desperado rushed upon him with drawn sword. Nicholson
calmly awaited the attack, and with a sweeping stroke of his own sword
cut the man down. Then, riding back to his court, he commanded that
the body should be brought in, and the head cut off and placed on his
table.

It was a gruesome thing to do, perhaps, but it must be remembered that
it was necessary to strike terror into the hearts of other evil-doers,
to whom the free-booter in question had been something of a hero.
Every Malik[1] who came into court recognised the features of the dead
man's head as it rested by Nicholson's elbow, and understood that the
same fate would befall him did he venture on a like course.

A more pleasing anecdote is that which tells of how Nicholson settled a
complicated land dispute. One Alladad Khan was accused of having
seized the inheritance of his orphan nephew, to whom he had acted as
guardian during the boy's minority.