Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-20
KENG.-:YG Tf1E
pEIES
.ARomat,ce Of Adventure
~ TALBOT T1UNDY

set his unwilling horse to scrainbling
downward at an angle he could not
guess. into blackness he could feel,
trusting the animal to find footing
where his own eyes could make out
nothing.
10 his disgust he heard the Ran
gar Immediately. TO his even greater
disgust the black mare overlook him.
And even then, with his own mount
stumbling aud nearly pitching him
headforrmost mt each llrch, he was
forced to admire the mares goatlike
agility. for she descended into the
gorge In running leaps never setting
Il wrong foot. When he and his horse
reached the bottom at last he found
the Hangar waiting for him.
This way, sahlb -
The next he knew sparks from the
black mares heels We're kicking up
in front of him. and wild ride had
begun such rs he hid never yet
dreamed of. There was no catching
up, for the black mare could gallop
two to his horses one; but he set
his teeth and followed into solid
night trusting ear, eye, guesswork
and the god of the secret service
men, who loves the reckless.
Once in every two minutes he
caught sight for second of the same
blue siren light that had started the
race. He suspected that there We're
many torches placed at intervals.
Ills own horse developed a speed
and stamina he had not suspected, and
probably the Hangar did not dare ex-
tend the mare to her limit in The
dark; at all events. for ten, perhaps
fifteen, minutes of GREATNESS gallop-
ing he almost made a race Of 1t, keep
Ing the Hangar either within sight or
sound.
But then the mare Swerved sud
denly behind a b0wlder and was gone
He spurred round the same great rock
Il minute later, and was faced by Il
blank wall of shale that brought his
horse up all standing. II led steep up
for Il thousand feet to the skyline.
There was not so much rs Il goat
track to show In which direction the
mare had gone. NOR Il sound Of any
kind to guide him.
He dismounted and stumbled about
on foot for about ten minutes with
his eyes two feet from the earth, try
Ing to find some trace Of hOof. Then
he listened with his ear TO the
ground. There was no result.
He knew better than 10 shout
After some thought he mounted and
began to hunt the way back, remem.
berIng turns and twists with gift
for direction that natives might well
have envied him. He found his way
back to the foot Of the road at Il
trot, where nlnety-nine men out Of al
most any hundred would have beer
lost hopelessly: and close to the roaf
he overlook Darya Khan, hugging his
rifle and staring about like q scorpion
ut bay.
"Dld you expect that blue light, ant
this galloping away?" he asked.
"Nay, sahib; l knew nothing of II
was told to lead the way to Kiln
JAM"
"Come on. then!'
On the level road above King stared
about him and felt in his pockets fo,
Il fresh cherOot. He struck mattel
and watched it to be sure his hant
did not shake before he spoke. A
man must command himself befor.
trying 1t on others.
"Where IRE the others?" he asked
when he was certain of himself.
"Gone!" doomed Ismail.
King took Il dozen pulls at thu
cheroot and stared about again. Ii
the middle of the road stood his see
ond horse, and three mules with hi,
baggage, including tho unmarked
medicine chest. Close to them wcr,
three men, making the party now onl,
six all told. including Darya Khan
himself and lsmail.
"Gone whitherY Ismall's voice VII,
eloquent Of shocked surprise. THE,
followed! Was 1t then thy baggage
on the other mules? Were they In,
men? They led the mules and went y
"Wh0 ordered them"
"AllQh. Need the night be ordered
to follow the day!'
"And thou?'
IL um thy mani She babe me b.
thy mani"
"And these?'
UI'rv thpn ~