Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-19
CHAPTER WI.

81 think I envy you" said Courte-
nay.
They were seated in COurtenay's
tent, face to face across the low table,
with guttering lights between and Is
mail outside the tent handing plates
and things to Courtenay's servant in
side.
you're about the first who has adj
mitted it," said King.
Not far from them herd Of pack
camels grunted and dubbed after the
evening meal. The evening breeze
brought the smoke of dung fires down
to them, and an Afghan-one Of the
little crowd Of traders who had come
down with the camels three hours ago
sang 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 WARTS sport said
Courtenay. 1.-TWO battalions of Khy-
Der rifles, hired 10 hold the pass
against their own relations. Against
them couple of hundred thousand
tribesmen. very hungry for loot, armed
with up-to-date rifles, thanks to Russia
yesterday and Germany today, and all
perfectly well aware that n 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 mystery
thrown in to give it pquancy. |
haven't found out yet how Yasmni
! got up the pass without my knowl
edge. | thought it was trick
Didn't believe she'd gone. Yet all my
men swear they know she has gone
and not one of them will own to hay
ing seen her go! What d'you think OF
! that?'
For while, rs he ate Courtenay's
broiled quail, King did not answer
But the merry smile had left his eyes
! and he seemed for once to be letting
his mind dwell on conditions as they
concerned himself.
'How many men have you at the
fort?' he asked at last.
1.-TWO hundred--all natives"
Like 'em?"
whats the use of taliingT an
swered Courtenay. "You know what
1t means when men Of an alien race
stand up to you and grin when they
salute They're my own"
King nodded "Die with you, eh?
TO the last man." said Courtcnay
quietly with that conviction that can
only be arrived at in one way, and
that not the easiest.
I'D die alone" said King. It'll be
lonely in the Hills. Got any more
quail?'
And that was all he ever did say
on that subject, then or at any other
time
"What shall you do first after you
get up the pass? Cali on your brother
at Ali Masjid? He's likely to know
o lot by the time you get there"
"Not sure said King. "May and
may not. I'd like to see him. Haven't
seen the old chap in a donkeys age
How is he?"
"Well two days ago." said Courtc-
nay.
Here's wishing you luck!" said
King. 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 wills.
thing down the Khyber. Rewa Gunga
sat, mounted. at their head and close
J to him his personal servant rode an.
| other horse. Behind them were the
mules, and then in cluster, each
with load of some sort on his head
were the thirty prisoners, and lsmail
took charge Of them ofliciOusly
Darya Khan, the man who had
brought the, letter down the pass, kept
close to Ismall.
King mounted, and Courtcnay SHOOT;
| liuuuS liltu ut WILL W lttWd tuukd
side and shook hands with him, too.
Forward March," King ordered
and the little procession started.
"Oh, men of the Hills We look like
ghosts - like graveyard ghosts !"
jeered Courtenay, as they all filed
past him. eye look like dead men
going to be judgedw
Nobody answered. They strobe
behind the horses, with the swift, ST.
lent strides of men who are going
home to the Hills" but even they
born in the "Hills" and knowing them
as wolf-pack knows its 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 'ITlllsv" he called
"Kuch dar nahin halt"