Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-28
who are his witnessesT
Il" shouted Ismail iumpinp nm.

all. who rose from place not very far
behind where he had sat.
1smail followed him in hurry. like
man wading river with loose
clothes gathered in one arm and the
other arm ready in case of falling
Darya Khan did not go so fast. As he
forced his way forward man passed
him up the wooden box that King had
used to stand on; he seized il in both
hands with a grin and a jest and went
to stand behind King and Ismail, in
line with the lashless mulIah. facing
lasminl. Yasmini smiled AT them all
as If they We're actors in her comedy,
| and she well pleased with them.
look ye," howled the mullah.
Look ye and look we'll for this is to
be one of us!'
King felt ten thousand eyes burn
holes In his back. but the one pair of
eyes that Knocked him from the bridge
was more disconcerting.
"rurn, Kurram Khan! Turn that
all may see.''
Feeling like q man on a spit. he re-.
volved slowly. BY the time he had
turned once completely around he had
decided that Yasmni meant he should
be frightened, but not much hurt lust
yet. So he ceased altogether to feel
frightened and took care to look more
scared than ever.
speak, Kurram Khan" Yasmini
purrcd, smiling her loyellest. "Tell
them whom you slew"
King turned and faced the crowd
raising himself on the balls of his feet
To shout like a man facing thousands
ofgtroops on parade. He nearly gave
himself away, for habit had him I'm.
awares. A native hakim given the
stoutest lungs in all India, would not
have shouted in that way
"Capnitin Attleystan Kingw he
roared. And he nearly jumped out of
bis skin when his own voice came rat
ting back at him from the roof over
head.
. Yasmini chuckled rs a little rill will
sometimes chuckle among ferns. 1t was
devilish 1t seemed to say there were
traps not far ahead.
Where was he sain?" asked the
muIah.
I'm the Khyber pass" said King.
Now give proof :" said he mullah
swords at the gate-proof in the cav
ern. Without good proof, there is
only one way out of here!"
Proof" the crowd Numbered
proof ~ the roof echoed.
There was no need for Darya Khan
to whisper. Kings hands were behind
him, and he had seen what he had seen
and guessed what he had guessed while
he was turning to let the crowd l0ul,
at him, His fingers closed on human
hair
NAY, it is Shortl" Kissed Darya
Khan. Take the two ears or hold It
by the iawbone Hold it high in both
hands !"
King obeyed. without looking at the
thing, and Ismail turning to face the
crowd, rose on tlptoe and filed his
lungs for the effort of his life.
"Thc head of Cappitin Attleystan
King-infldel 49, kaflir British arrfi-
GER" he howled.
Good" the crowd beloved. Good
Throw 1T"
The crowds roar and the roofs
echoes combined in pandemonum.
Throw 1t to them, Kurram Khan!"
Yasm nj purred from the bridge end.
speaking as softly and as sweetly AS
IL she coaxed n child ut is the Gus
tom !"
"Throw 1t! Throw it" the crowd
Numbered.
He turned the CHASTITY thing until II
lay face-upward in his hands, and SO
at last he saw It, He caught his breath.
and only the horn-rimmed spectacles,
that he had cursed twice that night.
saved him from selfbetraya. The
cavern seemed to sway as he looked
into the dead face of his brother
Charles.
If Yasmini detected his nervousness
she gave no sign.
"Throw 1t Throw It! Throw il ~
The crowd was growing impatient.
Many men were standing, waving their
arms to draw attention to themselves.
Catching Yasmini's eyes, he knew It
hnd not entered her head that he might
dlsobey.
He looked past her toward the river.
There were no guards near enough 10
prevent what he intended; but he had
to bear In mind that the guards had
rifles, and If he acted too suddenly one
of them might shoot at him unbidden.
Holding the head before him with both
hands. he began to walk toward the
river, edging all the while little to-
ward the crowd MS If meaning to get
nearer before he threw. He reached the
river and stood there.
His next move made every savage
who watched him gasp because of Its