Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-23


Beneath, so deep that eyes could not
guess how deep, yawned the stained
gorge of the underworld. many-colored.
smooth and wet.
And out of Il great, Jagged slit in the
side of the cliff, perhaps thousand
feet below them, there poured down
into thunderous dimness a waterfall
whose breadth seemed not less than
half a mile. 1t spouted seventy or
eighty yards before il began to curve,
and its din was like the voice Of all Gre
alton.
Ismail came and stood by King in
silence. taking his hand. rs little child
might. Presently ne stopped and
picked mp II stone and tossed it over.
Gone" he said simply. THAT down
there is Earth's Drink
"And this is the Heart of the Hills
men boast about?"
Nay! Ii is mott" snapped Ismail.
"Then, where"
But the Oneayed guide beckoncd i'm.
patiently, and King led the way after
him. staring as hakim or prisoner or
any man had right 10 do on first adj
mission to such wonders. Not to have
stared would have been TO proclaim
himself an idiot.
They soon began to pass the mouths
OF caves. Some were above the road.
now and then at crazy heights above
1t, reached by artificial steps hewn out
OK the stone. Others were below,
reached from the road by means of lad
ders. that trembed and swayed over
the dizzying waterfall. Most of the
caves were Inhabited for armed men
and sullen women came TO their en-
frances To stare.
Ears grow accustomed to the sound
of water sooner than to almost any
thing. 1t was not long before King $
ears could catch the patter of his mems
feet following, and the shod clink of
the mule. He could hear when lsmail
whispered:
BE brave, little hakim! She loves
fearless mem"
AT last the guide halted in the mid
die of short steep slope where the
path was less han six feet wide and Il
narrow cave mouth gave directly onto
II.
BE content to rest here" he said,
pointing.
"Thy cave" asked King.
"Nay. Gods am the caretuker"
The "ililiS" are very pius and po-
lite. between the acts of robbng and
shedding blood.
"Allah. theg, reward thee, brother I"
answered King. "Allah give sight 10
thy blind eye! Allah give thee chill
dren. Allah give thee peace, and TO
all thy house,
Tn" guide salaamed half-moclinGly,
lulf-Wondering at such eloquencc,
paused in the passage to point into
the side caves siat debouched to either
hand. turned on his heel and stalked
ont of the cavern. 1t was the last
King over saw of him.
King turned back and looked into
the other caveS--saW the weary horse
and mule fed. Watcred and bedded
down--took note of the running water
that rushed out Of Il rock assure and
g,lrgled out Of Sight down another one
examined the servants cave and saw
that they had been amply provided
With blankets. There was nothing lack
ing thai the most cXacting traveller
could have demanded at such a dis
lance from civilization. There was
more than The most eXacting would
have dared expect.
"Ismal !" he shouted, and jumped At
the rcVolNcr-cracklike echo of his voice.
lsmail came running.
make the men carry the mules
packs into this cave. You and Darya
Khan stay here and help mo open
them. Remember, ye are both assist
ants of Kurram Khan. the hakim ~
"Thcy viii laugh at us, They win
laugh at u.s." cucked Isnal, but he
hurried 70 obey. While King wondered
who would laugh.
Within IN hour delegation came
from no less Il person than Yasmini
herself, bearing her compliments. and
| hot food savory enough 10 make II
brass idols mouth water. by this time
King had his sets of surgical inetru-
nents and drugs and handages all laid
ont on one Of the beds ana covered
, from view by Il blanket.
1t was only one more proof of the
British almy's everlasting luck that
one of the men, who set the great brass
dish of food on the floor near King.
| had Il swollen cheek, and that he
should touch the swelling clnmsily rs
he lifted his hand 70 shake back n lock
Of greasy hair. There followed IN
oath like flint struck ON steel ten times
In rapid succession.
'poes II pain thee. brother?' asked
Kurram Khan the hakim.
"Are there devils in Tophet? Fire
and my veins are one !" ~ In
The man did not notice tic eager
ness bcumlng out OF Kings horn
trimmed spectacles, but lsnaii did; II
seemed, IN him time to proye. his vlr'
tues MS Hsslstunt. s.sscas.1ssgxs