Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1917-11-22

the tents began to fall and the women
labored to roll them. The men began
firing their rifles, and within the hour
enough ammunition had been squan-
dered to have fought good-sized Skin
mish; but the mullah did not mind.
for he had Khinjan caves In. view, and
none knew better than he what vast
store OF cartridges and dynamite was
piled In there. He let them waste:,.
Watching his opportunity, King
slipped down the ramp and into the
crowd, while the mulah was busy with
personal belongings In the cave. King
left his own belongings to the fates. or
to any thief who should care to steal
them. He was safe from the mullah
In the midst Of his nearly eighty men,
who half believed him Q sending from
the skies.
eve see! We see!" they yelled and
dane around him. 49,;
Before ever the mullah gave an or
Ger they got under way and started
climbing the steep valley wall. The
mul'ah on his brown mule thrust for
ward, trying to get in the lead. and
King and hi men hung back, to,keep
at Il distance from HIN. Two os three
miles along the top of the escarpment
ihr T',-d crr, '-cr To,l thI.' '.e
wanted me Aahlri to be beside' hun.
E9t X =. n'"r treated the messenger
- Jrrl 3D.. >. Ind sent him packing.
IBID the mulah hunt himself an
other hakim! Be thou his haNm!
Stay, We will give thee a lesson in
how to use a knlfa!"
The man ran, lest they carry out
their threat for men Joke grinily' In the
Hills" ~
lsmail came and held Kings stirrup.
stridng beside him with the easy hill
man gait 80.
cart thou my man at last?' King
asked him, but Ismail laughed and
shook his head.
81 am her man."
"Where is she?" King asked.
"Nay, who am that should known
"But she sent thee?"
"Aye, she sent me"
$40 what purpose?"
ITO her purpose" the Afrdl an
swered. and King could not get another
word out of him. He fell behind
But out of the corner Of his eye, and
once or twice by looking back DELHI
erately, King saw that Ismall was
taking the members of his new band
one by one and whispering to them.
What he said was mystery, but rs
they talked each man looked at King.
And the mere they talked the better
pleased they seemed. And as the day
wore on the more deferential they
grew. BY midday II King wanted to
diSmount there were three at least to
hold his stirrup and ten to help him
mount again.
-Four thousand men with women and
children and baggage do not move SO
swiftly as one man or dozen, espe-
c!ally in the Hills" where discipline
Is reckoned beneath proud mans
honor. There were many miles to 90
before Khinjan when night fell and
TIE mullah babe them camp. He babe
them camp because they would have
done II otherwise In any case.
When the evening meal was eaten,
and sentries had been set at every van
tage point, there came another order
from the mullah. The women and
children were to be left In camp next
dawn and TO remain there until sent
Tor. There was murmurlng mt Tia
around the camp, and especially among
Kings contingent. But King laughed.
I'll is good.' lie said. -
"Whyi How ss?" they asked him.
IBID your women make for the Khy-
bei soon after the mullah marches to-
morrow. Bid them travel down the
Khyber until we and they meet!"
But"
"Please yourselves, sahfbs!" The
haklm's air was one Of supremest in
difference. AS for me. / leave no
women behind me In the mountains.
am content"
They murmured a while. but they
gave the orders TO their women. and
King watched the women nod.
Even,as Yasmlni had tested him and
tried him before tempting him at last,
she must be watching him now. for
even the East repeats itself. She had
sent Ismall for that purpose. It was
likely that her course would depend on
his. II he failed, she was done with
him. II he succeeded In establishing q
strong position Of his own. she would
yield. With or without Ismail's aid.
with or without his enmity. he must
control his eighty men and give tho
slip to the mullah, and he went at once
about the best way TO do both.
1--WE will so now" he said quietly.
'That sentry In yondcr shadow has
his back turned. He has overeaten.
We will rush him and put good running
between us and the mullah."
Surprised into obedience. and too de-
lighted ut the prospect Of action to
wonder why they should obey hakim
so. they slung on their bandoliers aud
made ready. lsmai brought up Kings
horse and he mounted. And then at
Kings word all eighty made a sudden
swoop on the drowsy sentry and took
him unawarcs. They tossed him over
the cliff, too startled TO scream an
alarm; and though scntrles on either
hand heard them aud shouted. they
were gone like wlnd.blown ghosts OF