The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-05-09
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voice was sharp and unexpected as I"
pistol crack, This was something tnn'
glble, that n man could tackle-a pef'
feet antidote for nerves.
The blue light continued on n hE.
zag course, ms II n man were runh'ns
among powders with an unusual sorl
OF torch: and as there was no answer
King drew his pistol, took abont thir'y
seconds aim and fired. lie hreu
strnight ut the blue light.
II vanished instantly. into measure
less black silence. :.
"Now you've Jolly well done u"
haven't you" the Hangar laueheu III
his ear. THAT was her blue hgn'-
Yasmlni's I"
II was n minute before King an
swered, for both animals were all ou'
frantic with their sense OF their riu'
ers' state OF mind IL needed horse
manship to get them back under con'
troll.
How do you know whose light u
wasf" King demanded, when the
horse and mare were head to heau
again.
ut was prearranged. She promised
me q signal at the point where l aih
to leave the track
King drove both spurs home, ana
set his unwilling horse to scramoling
downward at an angle he could not
guess, into blackness he could feel
trusting the animal to find a footing
where his own eyes could make out
nothing.
To his disgust he heard the Ran
gar Immediately. To his even greater
disgust the black mare overlook him.
And even then, with his own mount
stumbling and nearly pitching him
headforemost at each lurch, he was
forced TO admire the mares goatlike
agility, for she descended Into the
gorge In running leaps, never setting
a wrong foot. When he and his horse
reached the bottom at Inst he found
the Hangar waiting for him.
This way, sahib!"
The next he knew sparks from the
black mares heels were kicking up
In front OF him, and a wild ride had
begun such as he had never yet
dreamed Of. There was no catching
up, for the black mare could gallop
two to his horses one; but he set
his teeth and followed into solid
night, trusting ear, eye, guesswork
and the god of the secret service
men, who loves the reckless.
Once In every two minutes he
caught sight for n second OF the same
blue siren light that had started the
race. He suspected that there were
many torches placed at intervals.
His W horse developed a speed
and stamina he had not suspected, and
probably the Hangar did not dare ex.
tend the mare TO her limit In the
dark ut all events, for ten, perhaps
fifteen, minutes OF GREATNESS gallop.
ing he almost made a race Of il, keep.
ing the Hangar either within sight or
sound.
But then the mare swerved sud.
denly behind n bowlder and was gone.
He spurred round the same great rock
n minute later, and was faced by a
blank wall Of shale that brought his
horse up all standing. II led steep up
for q thousand feet 10 the skyline.
There was not SO much as Il goat.
track to show in which direction the
mare had gone, nor a sound Of any
kind to guide him.
He dlsmounted and stumbled about
on foot for about ten minutes with
his eyes two feet from the earth. ,ry.
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 bnck, rclncm.
bcring turns and twists with n gift
FOR direction That natives might well
nave envied him. He found his wav
back 10 the foot Of the road M a
trot, where ni~nety.nIne men out Of nj.
most any hundred would have been
lost hopelesSly and close 10 the rood
he overlook Darya Khan, hugginp his
rifle ana staring about like q scorplon
at bay.
Did you expect that blue light. md
TINS galloping away" he asked.
NAY, sahib; l knew nothing ~ #,
l was told 10 lead the way 10 Kiln.
jan"
Come on, then"
IN the level road above King storc5
about him and felt In his pockers r,r
n fresh chcroOt. He struck n m,,ch
ana watched It TO be sure his hort
dld not shake before he smoke
man must command himself hefor.
trying 1t on others.
"here are the othersi" he asked
when he was certain Of himself
Gone doomed Ismail.
King took a dozen pulls n, -,
cheroot and stared about again. I,
h middle Of the road stood hIe ,na
ohd horse, and three mules with ,is
baggage Including the unmo,Lo,
medicine chest. Close to them ,y.ro
three men, making the party now or,r
SIX all told, including Darya Khnn
himself and Ismail. 'un'
Gone whitherf" IsmaIrs yoIce wo.
eloquent OF shocked surprise. The
followed Was II then ,hy ~