The National tribune., 1902-07-03
very own eyes. sWe are going over to
visit it in & few minutes
Forests eyes grew wide.

CstS grew "Iut
Visit the fort!'' he exclaimed.
The obvious surprise in his voice irri-
tated Violet Panes1 1t seemed to confirm
Fcnton's words Of The afternoon.
The Colonel is, going to take u.s." she
said CURLY. II i
oh. think there must be mistake. -
said Forrest. confidently. but at this mo
ment the man in question appeared at his
tent door. Fehton was speaking to him
| with evident eagerness. but Col. Mac
worth was frowniig. His last words We're
audible to all AROUND the little tea-table.
Thank you, Fenton," he said, dryiy.
~ on have done what you believe to be
your duty. But rs | don't share your
| views you must not be surprised if don
attend To your warnings. Give ME :: cup
of tea. my dear he said TO his wife as
| he dropped into chair. land then you
and Vi had better get your habits on. We
staIt almost Directly
| When the horses were brought round
Miss Nane made no objection to Fenton's
lifting her to her saddle. In fact. she
threw Il little additional c0rdiality into her
voice rs she thanked him to atone for her
ungTat ions words of the afternoon. Fen
tons hand was trembling as he smoothed
! her skirt into place. lie raised his eyes
qui' ky.
Must you go?" he asked. with sud
den impulse.
tx Ssl'Sl W u llbNu tltiiitu ltE SiHllt
''Of couIsa." she answered, as she drew
| tn" rcinS between her fingers. How very
extraordinary you are. OF course. | must
go,
Then take this" he said. eagerly. and
| drew Il small object from his pocket and
pressed it into her hand The girl looked
! down 70 recognize. with great surprise, II
neat little nickcl-platcd revolver.
| She stared at it. hcsitated, made as if
she would return it. and then her lips be-
gan t. move. Her brcthcrin-law' voice
| forcst:sIlcI her.
We are waiting. Violet" said Mac
worth. stffTiv. lie was under the impress
SION that FcEton was using discussions
vhIt II. rs his Superior officer. he resented.
Miss Eane started slightly ard FLUSHED.
She thrust the pistol into the breast of
her habit and her spur into her horses
flank. and cantnrcd after her sister: but
over her shoulder she threw look ut
"cntOn whioh WAS puzzled. anxiouS and il
little anrcaling. \ minute later the dust
WIS whirling mp behind her horses lIpcfs.
Til" thee trottsd slowly off into the
shadows that the sunset slnnted across
the rayiTe, while the escort of eight so
wars rode :, discreet 30 PAGES III the rear.
Fcnton watched the little cavaicAdc dwiu-
ttlc into the distance. reach the river aud
follow its banks to the walls of the fort.
Through his binoculars he could distin
IL
ont to do them due honor. and then lost
sight of Them within the darkress of the
arched gateway. lie turned with IL heavy
heart to detail sentries and pickpts for the
night. He drew them from the Guykhas.
1t is n silent-footed man indeed who can
rush Il Gurkha post.
Time passed. The glow of the sunset
raled and died. The dusk grew deeper.
Scntries Were changed. The canlp begin
to compose itself around the fires. yet no
sound Of the returning party was heard.
Fcntoh examined bis watch. They had
been gone elosf on a conple of hours.
He remcmbefed that siaeworth had put
the utmost limit Of their absence ut an
hour and half He began to walk NJ
and down. He strained his ears into the
night for the jingle of curb and accou-
torment but nothing broke the silence Of
the ravinc. II IN
Half an hour later he reused Forrest.
rIIt!v babe him take command. and or
dered the remaining 40 Sikhs to hnnt and
saddle. in another two minutes they were
crossing the plain 1T the gallon to finally
draw rein before The closed gates Of Fort
kGtal. There; ewaSI silence on the battle
mcIts save for the purr of the cream
white eddy round the river grating. Sud
denly through theldarEnrss came a chal-
lenge. foilowedr7so Fenion could have
Swoin-7rby Il grim chuclle.
re Nhheu biS morse IO.Wtru III front
of the troopers. codes
Tell the Colonel Sahib that await
him with eseolt." he called.
The reply came on the instant:
And he You, safiiit-and he yen For
two hours we have curbed his impa-
tiencc."
The fare of Il score Of torches b"ole
into the darkness of the towers above
him. \ hundred vilainous faces grinnpd
wickedly along the paraEot; Il hundred
voices rained filthy jests at the staring
soldiers. The hoarsc laughter of the Pa
thans rang into the desert echoes. Then
from the center of the group Il tall figure
rose to curse them into silence.
Cease. dogs." commanded AfruIlah
Khan. Let me have speech with this
iaegard who waits and is awaited"
He made 4 motion of his hand to I'M
seen followers behind
rs this your quest, soldicr!' he de-
mandcd.
An oath burst from Fcnton's lips. \
chorus Of vengeful curses rang down the
ranks of the Sikhs.
Bound and stark, dashed at elbow. wrist
and ankle. II figure was thrust forward
into the glare. The hopeless, tortured
eyes were eloquent of the despair the
gagged lips cOuld not utter. Fenton
saspcd i'll his rage and his establishment,
and .ifrulah Khan laughed grimly at the
sound. The Englishman pulled himself
together.
''Iathan dogr" he shouted. "as surely
as the river runs y0u shall be hanged from
your own hattlements if this man and his
following be not Immediately released and
hunblest apology made
And as surely as the moon shines upon
the river that runs, English jackal 10
apology shall be made and no release
shall be given till my terms are met
Hear them! Pile here beneath my walls
the cases Of rifles which you guard. and
by my life and by the Holy Prophets
beard | swear to give you the man and
his women unframed. Continue to chat
ter idle threats to me, and it will go i'll
with the memsahibs; and as for the
Colonel Sahib'-he licked his thick lips
and spoke slowly-"the Colonel Sahib
will deal With, with mine own hands"
Fenton gripped ut his saddle in the
agony of his indccision. To leave Mac
worth and the two women to the mercics
Of this unspeakabe scoundrel was I'M
thinkable. To betray his trust-and per-
haps unavaiIingly, for who could trust a
pathans word was not that unthinka-
bic, too! No, there was but one course
open III honor: to meet threats with
threats and force with force-to fling his
command at those battlements and COW
that grlnning fiend with the terrors of Il
vengeance that should be red indeed. To
this effect his answer went back:
Touch Il hair Of their heads, AfruIah
Khan, and by every shrine you hold holy
swear to that no man al foIIou-