New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-02-08
CHAPTER xxUU.

CHAPTER XXlII.
They reached the Khyber famishet
and were fed at All Masjid fort, afte
King had given a certain password ant
had whispered to the officer command
ing. But he did not change into Eu
ropean clothes yet, and none of his fol
lowing suspected him Of being an Eng
lishman.
"A Hangar on n black mare has gOn'
down the pass ahead of you in II hur
ry,". they told him at Ali Masjid. "Ht
had two men with him and fOot
enough. Only stopped long enough tt
make his business known"
what did he say his business isY
asked King.
"He gave a sign and said n wore
that satisfied us on that point!"
"Oh" said King. Can you sigma
down the pass7"
Surely"
"COurtenay at Jamrud?"
Yes. In charge there and growing
tired of doing nothing"
Signal down and ask him to have
that bath ready for me that l spoke
about. Goodby."
So he left Ali Masjid at the head OF
a motley procession that grew noisier
and more confident every hour. Ismail
began to grow more lively and to have
a good many orders to fling to the rest.
"YOu mourn like n dog" King told
him. Three bowls and a whine and
n little sulking-and then forgetful-
ness ="
ISmail looked nasty at that but did
not answer, although he seemed to
have a hot word ready. And thence
forward he hung his head more, and at
least tried to seem bereaved. But his
manner was unconvincing none the
less, and King found it food for
thought.
The ex-sOldiers and would-be soldiers
marched in four behind him, growing
hourly more like drilled men, and talk
ing, with each stride that brought
them nearer India. more as men do
who have al interest in law and or.
der. Behind them tramped the wom-
en- from Khinjan, carrying their ba-
bies and their husbands loads; and
behind them again were the other
women. who had been told they would
be o%vertaken In the Khyher, but who
had actually had to run themselves
raw-fOoted In order to catch up.
Down the Khyber have come con-
querors, a dozen conquering kings. and
as many beaten armies; but surely no
stranger host than this ever trudged
between the echoing walls. The very
eagles screamed at them. Signals pre-
coded them, and Courtenay himself
rode up the pass to greet them. At
Jamrud they were given food and their
rifles were taken away from them and
a guard was set to watch them. But
the guard only consisted of two men,
both of whom were Pathans, and they
assured them that. ridiculous though it
sounded, the British were actually
willing to forgive their enemies and
to pardon all deserters who applied for
pardon on condition of good faith In
the future.
That they prayed to Allah like little
children lost and found. The women
crooned love-songs to their babies over
the clear fires and the men talked
and talked-and talked until the stars
grew big as moons to weary eyes and
they slept at last. to dream of khaki
nntfnrmG nnd EornnI cohth, ,-Lz Ivna-y
neither fear o favor and who said
things that were so. 1t Is a mad world
to n Himalayan hillman where men
In authority tell truth unadorned with
out shame and without consideration
Il mao, mad world, and perhaps too X
otic to be wholesome, but pleasant
while the dream lasts.
Over In the fort COurtenay placed
n bath ut Kings disposal and lent him
clean clothes and a razor. But he was
not very cordial. ..
Tel me all the war news!" said
King, splashlng in the tub. And Cour-
tenay told him, passing him another
OF soap when the first was fin
shed. After all, there was not much
o tell-butchery In Belgium-Huns
Ind guns-and the everlastingly glori-
stand that saved Paris and France
md Europe. d. i
According to the cables our men are
the records one better. I think
hats ALL" said Courtenay.
Then why the ,.stiffness7" asked
King. "Why am 1 talked, to at the
end Of a tube, so to speak?' "a.
you're under arrest!" said, Courte-
nay.
THE deuce 1 aml"t4a e az ..t4'
I'm taking care of you myself to
the Necessity Of putting a sem
Try on guard over you"
Good OF you, I'm sure. What's. it
III about7' -
II don't mind telling you, but I'd
-ather you'd wait. The minute you
we're sighted word was wired down to
headquarters, and the general. himself
will be up here by train any minute"
very werl,"" said King Got q. ci-
,ar? Got a black onea. Blacker- the
He vas out of his bath and remem-
,ered that minute that he had not
'moked a cigar since leaving India.
Naked, shaved, with some of the stain
'emoved, he did not look like a man In
rouble as he filed his lungs with the