New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-12-07
VII.

Il nm | envy your said COurte-
nay.
They were seated in C%Ourtenay's
tent, face to face across the low table,
with guttering lights between and Is.
mail outside the tent handing plates
and things to C~ourtenay's servant in
side.
"You're about the first who has ad-
mittod it," said King.
Not far from them a herd of pack
camcls grunted and bubbled after the
evening meal. The evening breeze
brought the smoke of dung fires down
TO them. and an A%fghan-one of the
little crowd of traders who had come
down with the camels three hours ago
sang a wailing song about his lady
love. Overhead the sky was like black
velvet. pierced with silver holes.
you see, you can't call our end of
this business war-it's sport" said
Courtenay. "TwO b~attaliOns of Khy-
Der rifles, hired to hold the pass
against their own relations. Against
them II couple Of hundred thousand
tribesmcn, very hungry for loot, armed
with up-to-date rifles, thanks to Russia
yesterday and Germany today, and all
perfectly well aware that a world war
is in progress. That's sport, you know
not the image and likeness of war
that Jorrocks called it, but the real
red root, And you've got a mystery
thrown in to give it %piquancy. |
haven't found out yet how Yasmini
got up the pass without my knowl-
edge. | thought it was a trick.
Didn't believe she'd gone. Yet all nv
men swear they know she has gone,
and not one of them will w to hlv.
ing seen her go. What d'you think of
thatt"
For a while, as he ate C%ourtenay's
hroilcd quail, King did not answer
But the merry smile had left his eyes
and he seemed for once IL be letting
his mind dwell on conditions as they
concerned himself.
"llow many men have you at the
he asked at last.
1.-Two h~undred-all natives"
Like 'em?"
Whats the use of talking?" an
Swercd Courtenay. You know what
it means when men of an alien race
up TO you and grin when they
They're my own"
King nodded. die with YOU. IN ~
ITO h last man," said COurtenay
quietly with that conviction that can
only be arrived at in one way, and
that not the easiest.
'Td die alone" said King. "ItIl be
in the Hills Got any more
And that was all he ever did saw
IN that subject, then or at any other
line.
What shall YOU do first after you
get up the pass? Call on YOUR brother
1t Ali Masjid? He's likely to know
l lot by the time you get there"
mot sure" said King. May and
nay not. I'd like to see him. Haven't
the old chap in a donkey's age.
low is he?"
well " days ago said Courte-
Heres wishing you luck - said
King. ITS time to go sir"
lie rose, and COurtenay walked with
to where his party waited in the
lark. chilled by the cold wind whis-
ling down the Khyber. Rewa Gunga
mounted. at their head, and close
o him his personal servant rode an
'ther horse. Behind them were the
mules, and then in n cluster. each
With a load of some sort on his head,
we're the thirty prisoners. and Ismail
oOk charge of them officiOuSly.
,arya Khan, the man who had
rought the letter down the pass. kept
to 1smail.
King mounted. and Courtenay shook
ands; then he went to Rewa Gunga's
lde and shook hands with him. too.
Forward. March! :" Ming ordered,
the little procession started.
'Oh. men of the Hills We look like
like graveyard ghostsi"
aered Courtenay. as they all filed |
him. aye LOOK like dead men. /
DING to be judgedI" |
Nobody answered. They strobe {
phind the horses. with the swift. 81 I
mt strides of men who are going I
ONE to the Hills" but even they, !
in the Hills" and knowing them 4
) a woif-pack knows its hunting a
round, were awed by the gloom of q
hyper mouth ahead. Kings voice
the first to break the silence, and {