New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-12-14
CHAPTER VIlI-Continued.

The pack; were laid IN the ground
and HE mules shook themselves, wlil'
the iacknls that haunt the khyheI
calne closer. to sit In Il ring ant
watch. King dug II ilashlight out OF
one of the packs, CAV it to lsmnil tt
hold. sat on the other pack and begaT
to write on Il memorandum pad. II
WAS a minute before he could persuade
I>,uail that the tlashlight was harm
less. and another minute before lt
could get him To hold il still. Then
however, he wrote swiftly.
In the Khybcr. a mile below YOU.
Dear Old Mani would like to run In
and see you. but circumstances don'l
I"rmit. Several people sent your their
regards by me. Herewith 90 two mules
and their packs. Make any us" of the
mules you like. but store the loads where
] can draw on them in case of need. !
would like to have a talk with you before
taking the rather desperate step ! in
tend, but ! don't want to be seen enter
ing or leaving Ali Masjid. Can you come
down the pass without making your in
tention known? 1t Is growing misty now.
It ought to be easy. My men will tell
you where | am and show you the way.
why ~ u'oti'S ''io
He folded the note and stuck II post
age stamp on it in lieu of Il seal. Then
he examined the packs with the aid of
the nashlight, sorted them and ordered
two of the mules reloaded.
You three. ;" he ordered then. Take
the loaded mules into Ali Masjid fort.
Take this chit. you. Civ" it to the
sallib in command there"
"TO hear is to obey - said the near
est man. They took the mules leading
rrins and before they had gone ten
PAGES were swallowed in the mist that
had begun to flow southeastward. The
night grew still, except for tn" whim-
pering of jucknls.
Ismail came nearer and suuattcd at
Kings feet. Darya Khan came closer
too King had tied the reinS of the
two horses and the one remaining
mule together IL IL knot and was sit
ting on the pack. Solemn. limos
~motionless, squatted on their hunkcrs,
they looked like W. great vultures
watching m animal die.
They sat In silence Tor five minutes.
Then suddenly the two hiilnlcn Shud-
dered. although King did not bat IN
eyelid. Din burst into being. A vOlley
ripped out Of the night and Numbered
down the pass.
"How-utt! IIukkums dar?" came
the insOlent challenge half Il minute
1.-THE proof positive that Ali
Masjid's guards neither slept nor were
A weird wall answered the chal-
and there began II tossing to and
fro of words, that was prelude to a
invitation:
:"
English can be as weirdly distorted
Is wire, or any other supple medium,
md native levieS advance distortion to
he point of art but the language
sounds no less good in the chilly gloom
# II Khyber night.
Followed another wait, this time of
.tcps-a booted. leather-heelcd man.
'triding carelessly. Not far behind him
vas the softer noise of sandals. The
nan began to whistle "Annie Laurie"
Charles? That you?" called King.
THAT you. old MANI"
4 man In khaki stepped into the
moonlight. He was so nearly the i'm
go of Athelstan King that Ismail and
'arya Khan stood up and stared.
ltluclStan strobe to meet him. Their
walk was the same. Angle for angle, ,
me for line. they might have been one !
and his shadow, except for three
~uarters of an inch of stature.
Glad to see you, old man," said
.ihelstan. }
sure, old chap" said Charles; and
ley shook hands. +,
What's the desperate p~roposal?' !,
>ked the younger. =
I'll tell you when we are alone" 7
His brother nodded and stood q step :.
side. The three who had taken the
ote to the fort came clOser-partly to
Ill attention to themselves, partly to y
aim credit, partly because the outer =
lence frightened them. They elbOwed /,
mail and Darya Khan, and one of :,
EN- received a savage blow i'm the Il
omach by way of retOrt from Ismail. :,
that spark could start an ex- n
osiOn Athelstan interfered. :,
'Ismail! Take two men. Go down a
Ie pass out of earshot, and keep :,
Come back when I whistle "
Ius-but no sOOner!" g
He put fingers between. his teeth and Il
ew until the night shrilled back at a
m. Ismail seized the leather bag and 9,
arted to obey.
Leave that bag. Leave 1t, 1 say I" N
But some nan may steal it, sahib. 81
wv shall a thief know there is no :,
oney In it?" ~
Leave il and CO."
1smail departed, grumbling, and n,
ing turned on Darya Khan. 81
Take the remaining men and 20 up n,
e pass!" he ordered. "Stand out Of hi
rshot and keep watch. Come when in
!" n,
But this one has a bellyache where