Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-10-03

When he halted at last and lis
mounted and sat down and the stgag.
giers caught up. painting. they held a
council Of war all together. with Is
mail sitting at Kings back and leaning
a chin on his shoulder In order to hear
better. Bone pressed on bone, and the
place grew numb; King shook him of
q dozen times; but ench time Isinail
set his chin back on the same spot, a.
dog will that listens to his master.
Yet he insisted he was her man, and
not Kings.
"Now, ye men Of the Hills" said
King. 'listen to me who am political
offender with reward for capture
offered" That was gem of title.
II fired their imaginations. II know
things that no soldier would find out
In a thousand years. and will tell
you some OF what know"
Now he had to be careful. II he
were to invent too much they might
denounce him az traitor to the
Hills" In general. II he were to tell
them too little they would lose in
terest and might very well desert him
| mt the first pinch. He must feel for
the middle way and upset no preju-
dIces.
"She has discovered that this mul-
inh Muhammad Amin Ii no true mus
lin, but an unbelieving dog Of for
eigner from Farangistan! She has
| discovered that he plans to make him
self an emperor In these hills, and to
sell hillmen into slavery" Might as
well serve the mullnh up hot while
about 1t! Beyond any doubt not much
more than mile away the mullah was
getting even by condemning the lot Of
them to death. IAN eye for the risk
OF an eye I" say the unforgiving Hills"
III one Of us should 20 back into
his camp now he would be tortured.
Be sure Of that"
Breathing deeply In the darkness.
they nodded. as Ii the dark had eyes.
Ismails chin drove a fraction deeper
into his shoulder.
"N0w ye know--for all men know
that the entrance into Khinjan caves is
free to. any man who can tell a lie
without finching. 1t II the why out
again that Is not free. How many men
| do We know that have entered and
never returned?'
They all nodded again. 1t was COM
mon knowledge that KhinJan was a
very graveyard Of the presumptuous.
"She has set trap for the mullah.
She will let him and all his men enter
and will never let them out again !"
| "How knowest thou2" This from
two men. one on either hand.
WAS l never In KhinJan caves?" he
retortcd. "Whence came II l am her
man, sent to help trap the mullah I
would have trapped all Of you. but for
being weary Of these Hills and wish.
full to SO back to India and be par-
toned That Is who am! That Ia
how know
| Their breath came and went sibi-
lantly, and the darkness was alive with
the excitement they thought them
selves too warrior-like tn utter.
| "But what will she do thcnf" asked
somebody.
King searched his memory, and In
a moment there came bnck to him a
picture Of the hurrying jexaiichi he
had held up In the Khyber pass. and
recollection Of the mans words.
'know We not" he said, shat long
rgo she gave leave to all who ate salt
to be true to the salt? She give the
| Ehvhar ia.ai Ichto lna&,., t. N.,h, .,.,at,,st
her, he sure, whatever she does. she
will stand between no man and his
partlon!"
'But will she lead n jihad? We will
not fight against her!"
May" said King, drawing his breath
In. ismail's chin felt like knife
against his collar bone. and Is,nail's
iron fingers cIutched his arm. 1t was
time to give his hostage to Dame For
tune. ''she will go down into India
ind use her influence In the matter Of
the pardons!"
II believe thou art a very great liar
indeed!' said the man who lacked part
Of his nose. 1.-THE pathan went, and
he did not come back. What proof
have we?"
''fe have mel" said King. 'If l
show you no proof, how can l escape
your"
They all gruntcd agreement ms to
that King used his elbow to hit Is
NATL In the ribs. He did not dare
speak 10 him: hut now was the time
for Ismail to carry information to her.
surprising that to be his job. And after
Il minute Ismail relied into u shadow
and was gone. King gave him twenty
minutes start. letting his men rest
heir legs and exercise their tongues
Now that he was out of the mullah's
clnIches-and he suspected Yasmini
would know of 1t within I'm hour or
TIVE, and before dawn In any event.
he began Ia feel like Il player In Il game
Of chess who foresees his opponent
mate In so many moves
Ii faSmini We're TO let the mullah
and his men into the caves and to join
forces with him in there. he would at
least have time to hurry back tn India