The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-03-01

showing, kicking and elbOWinS with
set purpose. Ismail forced way
through the already seated crowd and
drew King down into the cramped
space beside him, close enough to the
arena to be able to catch the guards
low laughter. But he was restless. He
wished to get nearer yet, only there
seemed no room anywhere in front.
Then guard threw his shield down
with clang and deliberately fired his
rifle at the roof. The ricochetting bull
let brought down a shower of splint-
cred stone and stalactite, and he
grinned as he watched the crowd dodge
to avoid it.
| different directions and raced for the
arena, each with curved sword in
either hand. The yelling changed back
into the chant, only louder than before,
and by that much more terrible. Gym
balls crashed. The music box resumed
its measured grinding of the 'Marseil-
laise." And the hundred began an
Afridi sword dance, than which there
is nothing wilder in all the world. Its
like can only be seen under the shadow
Of the "Hills."
Ismail seemed obsessed by the spirit
of hades let loose-drawn by 1t, rs by
magnet, although subsequent events
proved him not to have been altogether
without plan. He got up, with his
eyes fixed on the dance, and thrust
himself and King next to some Orak-
zai Pathans, elbowing savagely to right
and left to make room. And patience
proved scarce. The nearest man
reached for the ever-ready Pathau
knife, but paused in the instant that
his knife licked clear. From q swift
side glance at Kings face he changed
to full stare, his scowl slowly Civ
ing place to grin as he recognized
him.
"Allahl" He drove the long blade
back again.
swell met. hakim! See-the wound
heals inelyr T7
Barring his shoulder under the smelly
sheepskin coat, he lifted a bandage
gingerly to show the clean opening out
of which King had coaxed bullet the
day before. It looked wholesome and
ready to heal.
| "Name thy reward, hakiml We
Orakzai Pathans forget no favorsI"
(Now that boast was true one.)
King nodded more to himself than to
the other man. He needed, for In
stance, very much to know who was
planning jihad, and who "Bull-with.
aboard" might be; but it was not safe
to confide just yet in chance-made &C.
Quaintance. A very fair acquaintance
with some phases Of the East had
taught him that names such as Bull.
with-a-beard are often almost photo.
graphically descriptive. He rose to his
feet to look. A blind man can talk, but
1t takes trained eyes to gather informa-
| ton.
The din had increased, and It was
safe to stand up and stare, because all
eyes were on the madness in the mid.
die. There were plenty besides him
self who stood to get a better view
and he had to dodge from side to side
to see between them.
s'Tm not to doctor his men. There
fore it's fair guess that he and are
to be kept apart. Therefore he'll be as
far away from me now as possible
supposing he's here"
Reasoning along that line. he tried
to see the faces on the far side, but the
problem was to see over the dancers
heads. He succeeded presently, for
the Orakzai Pathan saw what he want.
ed, and in his anxiety to be agreeable
reached forward to pull back box
from between the ranks in front. Its
owners offered instant fight, but made
no further objection when they saw
who wanted 1t and why. King won
dered at their sudden change Of mind.
He found q man soon who was not
interested in the dancing, but who had
eyes and ears apparently for every.
thing and everybody else. He watched
him for ten minutes, until at last their
eyes met. Then he sat down and
kicked the box back TO Its owners. He
touched the Pathan's broad shoulder.
The man smiled and bent his turbaned
head to listen.
Opposite" said King, NEARLY ex-
actly opposite rows from the
front, counting the front row as one
there sits man with black beard.
whose shoulders are like bulls. As
he sits he hangs his head between
them. Lookl See! Tell me truly
what his name isr'
The Pathan got up and strobe for.
ward to stand on the box, kicking aside
the elbows that leaned on it and laugh
ing when the owners cursed him. He
stood on 1t and stared for Eve minutes,
counting deliberately three times over.
striking a finger on, the palm of his
hand to check himself.
'Bull-with-a-beardl" he announced
at last, dropping back into place beside
King. 'Muhammad Amin. The mullah
Muhammad Amin"
'An Afghan?" King asked.
4. T.. a