140 A PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE
to know gold from tinsel. 1 shall wait." He mentioned
to Gandhiji an incident of non-co-operation days in the
North-West Frontier Province which reads like a little
epic of non-violence. At Charsadda the Khudal Khidmat-
gars had organized a public meeting. Before long
the military arrived on the scene and ordered them to
disperse, which they refused to do. A lathi charge
was then ordered and was followed by the order to open
fire. But all that had little effect. The people refused to
budge and remained sitting unperturbed. The military
were taken aback. They were not prepared for such.
calm determination on the part of the fiery Pathan. They
stopped firing after the first few rounds. A big crowd
had formed round them. His nephew Saadulla Khan was
there. " What is it you want ? " the officer commanding
asked him. " Nothing/' replied Saadulla, Dr. Khan
Saheb's son. " Allow us to depart. Give us way," fumbled
out the military officer. And they passed out unhurt,
through the vast mass of people.