Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-28
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By Louis Tracy SgA

up Of the rock You nearly killed me. too.
sahib. was there with the bazaar-born
whelps. BY the Prophets beard, It was a
Are they going away, then7"
mo, sahib. The dogs have been whipped
so sore that they snarl for revenge. They
say there Is no use in firing at YOU, but
they are resolved to kill you and the miss.
sahib, or carry her OF II she escapes the
assault"
What assault?"
Protector OF the poor, they are build.
Ing scaling ladders-four in all Soon after
dawn they intend TO rush your position
You may slay some. they say. but you can
not say three score Taung S'Ali has
promised gold tduk 10 every man who
survives IL they succeed. They have pulled
down your signal on the high rocks and
are using the poles for the ladders They
think you have a jddu, sahib, and they
want TO use your own work against you ."
This was serious news A combined at
tack might indeed be dangerous, though II
had the excellent feature that II IL failed
the Dyaks would certainly leave the island
But his sky sign destroyed That was bad
Had vessel CHANGED TO pass, the swinging
letters would surely have attracted atten-
ton. Now, even that faint hope was dis
PEELED.
''sahib. there is a worse thing to tell"
said Mir Jan.
Say on. then"
Before they place the ladders against
the cliff they will build fire of green
wood SO that the smoke will be blown by
the wind into your eyes This will help to
blind your aim. Otherwise, you never
miss"
That will assuredly be awkward Mir
Jan"
ut will. sahib Soul Of my father, II
we had but half troop with US"
ho4l
so intent on the conversation that they
were momentarily of their guard Iris was
more watchful.
She fancied there was a light rustling
amid the underground beneath the trees
on the right. And she could hiss too, II
So she hssed
jerks swarmed half way up the ladder.
Yes. Iris?" he said.
Il am not sure, but 1 imagine something
moved among the bushes behind the house"
"All right dear. l will keep a sharp
lookout. Can you hear us tallSing?"
Hardly. Will you be long7"
Another minute"
He descended and told Mir Jan what the
miss-sahib said. The native was about to
make search when jerks stopped him.
"Iiere"-he handed the man his revolver
II suppose you can use this?"
Mir Jan took II without a word, and
jerks felt that the incident atoned for
previous unworthy doubts of his dark
friends honesty. The Mahommedan eau
tiously examined the back of the house,
the neighboring shrubs and the open beach.
After a brief absence he reported all safe,
yet no man has ever been nearer death and
escaped 1t than he during that recon-
naissance. He, too, forgot that the Dyaks
were foxes, and foxes can lie close when
hounds are trifie stale.
Mir Jan returned the revolver.
"Sahib," he said with another salaam,
Il am disgraced man, but II you will take
me up there with you, 1 will fight by your
side until both my arms are hacked of l
am weary of these thieves. Ill chance threw
me into their company; will. have no more
of them. If you will not have me on the
rock, give me a gun. will hide among
the trees, and promise that some of them
shall die tonight before they find me- For
the honor Of the regiment. sahib, do not
refuse this thing. All ask is, If your
honor escapes, that you will write to Kurnal
I-shpence-sahib, and tell him the last act
of Mir Jan, nailS In B troop"
There was an intense pathos in the mans
words He made this self-sacrlhcing offer
with an utter absence OF any motive save
the old tradition of duty to the colors Here
was Anstruther-sahib of the Belgaum Rls-
sala, in dire peril Very well, then, Cor
poral Mir Jan, late of the Nineteenth
Bengal Lancers, must dare all to save him
jerks was profoundly moved. He re-
hected how best to utilize the services of
this willing volunteer without exposing him
to certain death In the manner suggested.
The native misinterpreted his silence
Il am not rascal, sahib," he exclaimed
proudly, II only killed a man because"
Listen, Mir Jan. You cannot well mend
what you have said. The Dyaks you are
sure, will not come before morning?"
They have carried the wounded to the
boats and are making the ladders. Such
was their talk when l left them"
"Will they not miss your"
They will miss the goatskin, sahib. il
was the last full one"
Mir Jan. do as I bid. and you shall