Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-11-02
CHAPTER vI-contlnued.

'
-
II was not n long journey. nor very
slow one, for there was nothing to
block the way except occasional men
with flags. who guarded culverts and
little bridges. II was low tide under
the Himalayas. The flood that was
draining India Of her armed men had
left Jamrud high and dry with little
nondescript force stranded there, ms
Il we're. under a British major and
some native officers. Frownlng over
Jamrud were the lean "Hllls," peopled
by the fiercest fighting men on earth,
and the clouds that hung over the Khy-
ber's course were an accent to the saw
agery.
But King smiled merrily as he
jumped out Of the train, and Rewa
Gunga. who was there to meet him.
advanced with Outstretched hand and
a smile that would have melted snow
on the distant peaks If he had only
looked the other way.
"Welcome. King sahib r. he laughed.
with the air Of a skilled fencer who
admires another, better one. II shall
know better another time and let you
keep in front Of me! trust you had
a comfortable journeyr
Thanks" said King. shaking hands
with him. and then turning away to un-
lock the carriage doors that held his
prisoners in. They were baying now
like wolves to be free, and they surged
out. like wolves from a cage, to clamor
round the Rangar. paving him and
struggling to be the first to ask him
questions.
NAY. ye mountain people; nayl" he
laughed. II. too am from the plains
What do know Of your families or
Of your friends7 Am 1 to be torn to
pieces 10 make a meal?"
At that Ismnil interfered, with the
aid of an ash pick handle, chance
found beside the track. Laughing as
n the whole thing was the greatest
Joke imaginable, Rewa Gunga fell into
stride beside King and led him away in
the direction Of some tents.
"She is up the pass ahead of u.s." he
announced. "She was in the deuce
Of n hurry. can assure you. She want
ed to wait and meet you, but matters
were too jolly well urgent, and we
shall have our bally work cut out to
catch her, you can betl But have
everything ready--tents and beds and
stores-everything
King looked over his shoulder to
make sure that Ismail was bringing
the little leather bag along.
$50 have l." he said quietly.
81 have horses said Rewa GunRa.
"and mules and"
How did she travel up the Khy-
berT King asked him, and the Rangar
spared him n curious sidewise glance.
"The Hills are her escort, King sa-
hib. She Is mistress in the Hills
There isn't a numbering rufHan who
y would not lie down and let her walk
on him She rode away alone on a
thoroughbred mare and she jolly well
left me the mares double on which to
follow her. Come and look"
Not far from where the tents had
been pitched in a cluster string OF
horses whinnied at picket rope. King
saw the two good horses ready for
himself, and ten mules beside them
that would have done credit to any
outfit. But at the end of the line, paw
ing at the trampled grass. was black
mare that made his eyes open wide
Once in a hundred years or so a vice
roy's cup or a Derby is won by an ami
NAL that can stand and look and mov'
MS that mare did.
"Never suw anything BETTER" KIM
admitted ungrudgingly.
There is only one mare like thi
one" laughed the Rangnr. "She ha
her"
"Whntll you take for this one7
King asked him. "Name your price
"The mare is hers. You must as
her. Who knows? She is generous
There is nobody on earth more ger
erous than she when she cares to b'
See what you wear on your wrist ~
THAT Is a. loan," said King, uncover
ing the bracelet. 81 shall give 1t bac
20 her when we meet"
"See what she says when you meet
laughed the Rangar, taking a cigarett
from his jeweled case with an air an
smiling as he lighted 1t. "There
your tent, sahlb."
with a nod Of dismissal, Kir
walked over to inspect the bandobas
and finding It much more extravagal
than he would have dreamed Of provi
ing for himself, he lit one Of his blaC
sheroots, and with hands clasped
hind him stroled over to the fort
Interview Courtenay, the officer cor
manding.
Il so happened that Courtenay HI
gone up the pass that morning with
shotgun after quail. He came ba,
into view, followed by his little te
man escort just MS King neared d
fort, and King timed his approach
as to meer him. The men Of L
escort were heavily burdened; he cou
see that from distance.
'1Icllor" he snid by the fort ga
cheerily, after he had saluted and t
salute had been returned
"oh. hello, Klngl Glad to see W
Heard you we're coming, of cour
Anything can do?"
"Tcll me anything you know" 50
King, Offering him cheroot, which I
other accepted. AS he bit off the e
they stood facing each other, so Il
King could see the oncoming csc,
and what IL carried. Courtenay re
his eyes.
"5'Nso Of my men ~ ne said. "Fou
'cm 10 the pass. Gazi work, thil
They were cut ull to pieces. Their
q big lashknr gathering somewhere
tho fillls. c;.f II might have been dc
rv ttplr skirmlshcrs, but | dnu't thl