Crittenden record-press., 1917-10-25

""y not. lu IKE 10 see HIN. Haven't
seen the old chap In u donkeys age
How IL he?"
well two days ago." said Courte.
nay.
Here's wishing you luck r. said
Ming. ITS time to go. sir"
He rose, and Courtenay walked with
him to where his party waited In the
dark, chilled by the cold wind whls.
Ting down the Khyber. Rewa Gunga
sat, mounted, NJ their head, and close
to him his personal servant rode an.
other horse. Behind them were the
mules, and then In cluster. each
with n lond of some sort on his head.
were the thirty prisoners. and Ismail
took charge Of them oflicIously.
Darya Khan. the man who had
brought the letter down the pass. kept
close TO lsmall.
King mounted, aud Courtenay shook
hands; then he went 10 Rewa Gunga's
side and shook hands with him. too.
Forward March" King ordered.
and the little procession started.
"Oh, men OF the Hills ye look like
ghosts - Ike graveyard ghosts 7"
jeered Courtenay, as they oil filed
past him. aye look Ike dead men,
going to be judgedi"
Nobody answered. They strobe
behind the horses. with the swift. ST..
lent strides of men who are going
home to the "IIlls:" but even they.
born In the Hills" and knowing them
ny wolf.pack knows It's hunting
ground. were awed by the gloom Of
Khyber mouth ahead. Kings voice
was the first To break the silence, and
he did not speak until Courtenay was
out Of earshot. Then:
MEN Of the IIllsr" he called.
"kuch dar nahln hail"
"Nnhln hal Hah!" shouted Ismall.
$50 speaks mani Hear that, ye
moun,nln folk He says, There Is
no such thing as fcnrH"
In his place In the lead King whls.
tied softly to himself: but he drew an
automatic pistol from its place BE-.
meath his armplt and transferred II 10
reader position.
fenr or no fear, Khyber mouth Is
haunted after dark by the men whose
blood fcGds are too reeking raw to
let them dare go home ynd for whom
the British hangman very likely waits
mile or two farther south. II Is one
of the few places In the world where
a pistol II better than a thick stick.
Boulder, crng and loose rock
faded into gloom behind; In front on
both hnnds ragged hlllsides were be-
ginning To close in: and sle wind.
whose home Is In Allahs refuse heap.
whlstled AS II searched buslly among
the black rayines. Then presently
the shadow OF the thousand foot high
khyher walls began 10 cover them.
After n while Kings cheroot went
out. and he threw II away. A little
later Rewa Gunga threw away his
cigarette. After that. the verlest Ave
yenr-old among the Xakka Khels.
watching sleeplcss over the rim Of
some stone watch tower. could hive
taken oath that the Khyber's unbur-
led dead were prowllng In search OF
empty graves. Probably their un.
cnnny silence was their best protec.
iIon; but Rcwn Gunga chose 20 break
Il after n time.
King snhih'" he called softly, re-
peatIng II louder and more loudly un.
tll King heard him. SLOWLY! Not so
fast There are men among those
h"uldcrs, and 10 20 too fast is TO make
them think you are afraid To seem
afraid Is to Invite attack. Can we
defend ourselves with three firearms
between usr Look! What is thati"
They were ri the point where the
road begins to lead uphill westward.
leaving the bed of rny,ne aud ~.
c"ndlng 10 join the highway built by
British engineers. Below, 10 left and
right, wNs rlt.mouth gloom, shadows
amid shadows, full " ecrle whisper.
ings and King felt ne short hair on
his neck begin 20 rise He urged his
horse forward. The Rnngnr followed
him. close up, ani both horse aud
mare senscd excitement.
Look. sahlb"
After n second or two he caught
n glimpse of hiulsh flame that flashed
suddenly and died again. somewhere