One of my favorite true stories about derring do adventures concerning ancient treasures stems from a trip to the British Museum about 30 years ago.
Several cases displayed the “Golden Treasures of Afghanistan” on loan from a Major Hedley-Smythe (ret.)with a flyer about how the golden treasures happened to be in the possession of the redoubtable Major.
It seems he crept up on a camp in a remote section of the Road through the Khyber pass one night and found some robbers around the campfire. He knew they were robbers because their bound victims, merchants from a caravan, were lying nearby.
The Major charged the robbers, firing his .45 caliber Webley (also on display) and drove them off.
He then released the merchants who were so thankful to him for saving their lives that they insisted that he take all the gold and jewels that the robbers had relieved them of. it would have been discourteous to turn them down so the Major tripped off the next day with the loot ...er...presents and the thanks of his new friends ringing in his ears.
Rule Britannia and the British Raj!
Interesting story, thanks.
Thanks.