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

blue siren light that had started the
race. lie suspected that there were
many torches placed at intervals.
His own horse developed a speed
and stamina. he had not suspected. ant
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 breathless gallop
ing he almost made a race Of 1t, keep
Ing the Hangar either within sight OF
sound.
But then the mare swerved sud
denly behind a bowlder and was gone
He spurred round the same great rock
Il minute later, and was faced by q
blank wall of shale that brought his
horse up all standing. 1t led steep w
for a thousand feet to the skyline,
There was not so much as n goat.
track to show in which direction the
mare had gone, nor Il sound of any
kind to guide him.
lie %dismOunted and stumbled about
WI Acot iot uDout tSh IhitiutVo WIN
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 to shout.
After some thought he mounted and
began to hunt the way back, remem
bering turns and twists with a gift
for direction that natives might well
have envied him. He found his way
back to the foot of the road at a
trOt, where ninety-nine men out of al
most any hundred would have been
lost hopelessly; and close to the road
he overlook Darya Khan, hugging his
rifle and staring about like Il scorpion
at bay.
did you expect that blue light, and
this g%alloping away?" he asked.
"Nay, sallib; l knew nothing Of 1t /!
! was told to lead the way to kim
jam"
"COme on, then"
On the level road above King stared
about him and felt In his pockets for
Il fresh cherOOt. He struck a match
and watched it to be sure his hand
did not shake before he spoke. A
man must command himself before
trying it on others.
"Where are the others?" he asked,
when he was certain of himself.
"GOne" doomed Ismail.
King took a dozen pulls ut the
cheroot and stared about again. In
the middle of the road stood his sec
Ond horse, and three mules with his
baggage, including the unmarked
medicine chest. Close to them we're
three men, making the party now only
six all told, including Darya Khan.
himself and Ismail.
Gone whitherY Ismail's voice was
eloquent of shocked surprise. "They
followed! Was 1t then thy baggage
on the other mules? Were they thy
men? They led the mules and went"
"WhO ordered them? Z"
"Allah! Need the night be ordered
to follow the dayT
"And thouY"
81 am thy man! She babe me be
thy mani"
"And these?"
"Try them !"
King b%ethought him of his wrist,
that vas heavy with the weight of
gold on it. He drew back his sleeve
and held it up.
May God be with thee" doomed
all five men at once, and the Khyber
night gave back their voices, like the
echoing of a well.
King took his reins and mounted.
what now?" asked Ismail, picking
up the leather bag that he regarded
as his own particular charge.
Forward" said King. "Come
along"
He began to set a fairly fast pace.
leading the spare horse and
the others towing the mules along.
Except foI King, who was modern
and out of the picture. they looked
Ike Old Testament patriarchs. hur-
lying out of Egypt, as depicted in the
Illustrated Bibles of q generation ago
Ill leaning forward-each man carry
ng n staff-and none looking to the
light or left.
"Forward?' growled Ismail. with
his man 1t is ever 'forwardr L.
there neither rest nor fear? Has she
bewitched him? Hal! Ye lazy ones!
lio! Sons of slOth! Urge the mules
Beat the led horse! I"
So In weird, wan moonlight, King
ed them forward, straight up the
narrowing gorge, between cliffs that
seemed to fray the very bosom of the
sky. He smoked a cigar and stared
1t the view, as If he were off to the
Mountains for a months sport with
shikarris whom he knew.
Nobody could have looked at him and
he was no enjoying himself.
THAT man." mumbled Ismail be-
lind him, sis not as other sahibs |
Ia.