The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-12

going to say that l could manage things
better than the colonel, but 1 know that
If 1 had a free hand I could crown this
expedition with glorious success inside
of three days"
He turned slowly over on his side as
he spoke and knocked the ashes from his
pipe Then he assumed a sitting posture
and clasped his hands around his knees.
His friend Hudson pulled his helmet a
little further over his eyes, settled HIM
self more comfortably on his back and
smiled up al the hot sky towards which
he pulled the blue tobacco smoke
No, resumed Goodwin. u don't think
the old man has gripped the right the
Dry
Go and tell MIN so" said Hudson,
quietly and see how he takes it. III
hang around and listen"
Without going So far as to make a
complete ass of myself 1 shall seize the
earliest opportunity of putting into prac-
tice a theory which has been revolving in
my brain since we've been lying here. If
/ can do that, / can pull through in the
army even better than if I'd managed to
enter Sandhurst"
You remember the mellow advice 10
those about TO marry?"
Yes; but I shall, all the same"
Then the result Of your stubbornness
be upon your own head. l suppose you
want me TO listen?"
Not unless you're willing to hear"
'Oh, go on; l can stand lot just now,
and there's nothing better doing"
Nelr, the matter is just like this-its
necessary to explain it, because you
, haven't made a study Of these things"
The consideration Of foreign politics
and the probable designs of an unfriendly
power on India is not allowed for in my
remuneration as a humble member Of the
British line. My superiors, I know. ex-
pect a lot from me as a private soldier,
but even in their widest moments they
courd not expect that Why the author
Of The Soldiers Pocketbook' himself
couldn't reasonably"
Really, Hudson interrupted Good
win, you run off the subject in the most
unhappy way. I can't understand why
you should
Because the army isn't going to be
for me what It is for you. This is just
juniIet. and I've pretty we'll had enough
OF it. As the son of a baronet, even a
poor and obscure one who will shortly
Gene into his own. this game of playing
the ranKer and wearing shoddy khaki,
and an alias, doesn't suit. Now. you're
different. You're one of a long line of
fighting officers, and naturally you want
to shove ahead as fast as possible. see
ing that you couldn't work Sandhurst.
Pardon my dissertation. Fire away with
your notion. or wild dream, or whatever
it is. III promise TO listen, and not say
anything until I'm asked.
well. them said Goodwin, TN go at
once to the fountain head of the mis-
chief-the mullah. You know as we'll as
1 do that We of the First Dukes are here
for the purpose of putting down another
little rising in the hills-another piece
of mischief caused by what? A mullah.
a fakir. a priest. madman-call him
what you like. To that and that alone
do our wise men at Simla attribute this
disorder"
"At the risk of being thought wise
man also, agree with them" said Hud-
son. forgetting his promise in the temp
tation to have sly hit at his best friend.
But In the face of all these govern
ors and counselors OF India" contfn-
tinUed Goodwin, serenely. II hold fixed
belief that this is no mere jehad, and
that this mullah who is leading the
trIbesmen and goading them on is no
ordinary fanatic who believes that he is
invincible and that British bullets can
not harm him. He is not a Pathan. not
a mullah. not man who crafty goes
to war IN the sure and certain hope Of
blessed awakening in paradise. And yet
he Is iustigating a warlike race to wage
q conflict against the English people, He
is not what he ought to be. What,
therefore. is he?
Give it up" said Hudson, simply. II
didn't come out here to worry and har-
ass my brain by questions that you.
ought to put O. E. D. after"
What would you say If 1 told you
that he is the secret agent of an I'M
friendly power? That his avowed OBJ
ject Is to urge the tribe to crush the Brit
ish force and secure the mastery of the
pass? That, having got the pass in its
grip. the power intends to push ahead g
little more, and slowly, stealthily, delib-
erately, resistlessly, work through our
into he TRY n
the empire? What would you say to
that?"
eff rude, rot: but not wishing to hurt
your feelings, as an old school and col
lege chum, I'm kinder, and, to put it
mildly. suggest that you're mixing India
up with China"
Believe me-" continued Goodwin, more
earnestly. I'm all right on this subject.
I've made hobby Of studying it, and
you know I've made one or two visits
to the tribesmen themselves.
YES; and queer way of spending
your leave. I've thought it"
1T was patriotism that did it,
but you missed some noble sport. If
you'd gone with me, as 1 wished you
would have come across the noblest man
eater"
Pardon me, but I must hold you to
your promise not TO interrupt"
Sorry" muttered Hudson, somewhat
severe dissertation on imperial and In
dian politics, for which he freely admit
ted he had neither taste nor head.
''You needn't be dismal-Tm putting
you on to a thing that will make as good
sport as anything you've come across
even out here"
I'm all attention. answered Hudson,
obviously; and. as the most comfortable
way of getting through the recital he
went over. in his minds eye, the Incl
dents of the famous tiger hunt in which
he had, not very long before, taken so
great a part.
He was recalled from his, wanderings
b. hearing Goodwin say, and having
told you of the man and his mission, I
want to tell you a all costs m going
to Checkmate him. I'm going to come
face to face with him, by hook or crook.
and he's either coming back to camp with
me, or m going to stay UP In the hills
a good deal longer than the First Dukes
will be quarteTed here"
Hudson forgot his tiger hunt. He
looked squarely at his friend. Don't
talk rubbish" he said, rather testify
Gospel" returned Goodwin, very
quietly. "A simple, well thought-out
scheme"
you'll never get permission to CO."
I'm not going TO ask for it." said
Goodwin, briefly.
You're going to bolt?" exclaimed Hud-
SON
How sensitive you're becoming al az
once IN the interests Of the SERVICE" said
Goodwin, with assumed sarcasm. ''You
didn't talk like that a minute or two
since
That's different wasn't thinking