The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-06-27
BY TALBOT MUNDY
copyrteh, BY the Roeh,.Msrrn Company

them to death. AN eye for the risk
Of an eyer say the u%nforGiylng Hills"
III one of us should go 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.
lsmails chin drove q fraction deeper
into his shoulder.
"Now We know-for all men know
that the entrance into khinjan caves IL
free to any nan who can tell Il lie
without illnching. II is the way out
again that is not free. How many men
do ye know that have entered and
never returnedf"
They all nodded again. II was com
mon knowledge that Khinjan vas n
very graveyard of the prcsumptuous.
"She has set II trap for the mullah.
She will let him and all his men enter
and will never let them out again ~
How knowest thou?" This from
two men. one on either hand.
WAS | never in Khinjan caves7' he
rctOrted. whence came |? | am her
man, sent to help traN the mullah! !
would have trapped all Of you, but for
being weary of these Hills and wish.
full to 60 back to India and be par
doned! That is who ! am! That Is
how l know -
Their breath came and went sibl-
lantly, and the darkness was alive with
the excitement they thought them
selves too warrior.like to utter.
But what will sGe do then?" asked
somebody.
King searched his memory, and In
Il there came back to him IA
picture OF the hurrying jezailchi he
had held up in the Khyber pass, and
recollection OF the mans words.
Know We not" he said, that long
ago she gave leave to all who ute salt
TO be true TO the salt? She gave he
khyber jezailchis leave to fight against
her. BE sure, whatever she does, she
will stand between no man and his
pardon,
But will she lead n jihad? We will
not fight against herr
"Nay," said King, drawing his breath
in. lSmail's chin felt like a knife
against his collar bone, and lsmail's
iron fingers clutChed his arm. 1t was
time to give his hostage to Dame For.
. tune. she will so down into India
and use her influence In the matter Of
the pardons.'
II believe thou art II very great liar
indeed :" said the man who lacked part
OF his nose. The Pathan went, and
he did not come back. What proof
have WEI"
aye have me - said King. III l
show you no proof. how can | escape
youT"
They all grunted agreement as TO
that. King used his elbow to hit Is.
mail In the ribs. He did not dare
speak 10 him but now was the time
for ISmail 10 carry information TO her,
supposing that to be his job. And after
Il minute lSmail rolled into II shadow
and was gone. King gave him twenty
minutes start, letting his men rest
their legs and exercise their tongues
Now that he was out of the mullah's
clutches-and he suspected laSmlni
would know Of II within an hour or
two, and before dawn in any event
he began TO feel like n player in n game
Of chess who roresecs his opponent
mate in so many moves.
II Yasmini were to let the mullah
and his men into the caves and 70 join
forces with him in there, he would ut
least have time 10 hurry back to India
with his eighty men and give warning.
He might have time 10 call up the Khy-
her i"2nilchis and blockade the caves
before the hive could swarm, and he
chucklcd 10 think Of the hope Of that.
On the other hand, If there was to
be Il battle royal between YaSmini and
the mullah, he would ne there to watch
II md TO comfort India with the news,
"Now We will 20 on again, in order
10 be close TO khinJan at break of day
he said, and they all got up and obcyed
him AS II his word had been law 10
!, them for years. OF all Of them he wa.
the only nan Ia d0uht-he who seemed
most confident Of all.
They swung along into the darkness
4, under low-hung stars, trailing behind
Kings horse, with only half a dozen OF
, them u hundred yards or so ahead as
an advance guard, and all Of them cx
pecting 10 see KhinJan loom above each
next valley, for distances and darkness
, are decentive In the Hills" even tC
!, trained eyes Suddenly the advance
, guard halted, but did not shoot. And
: as King caught up with them he saw
they were talking with someone.
. He had 10 ride up close before h,
: recognized the Orakzai Pathan.
. "Salaam !" said the fellow with
y grin. II bring n hundred anc
eleven !"
. Az he spoke graveyard shadows ros,
" out Of the darkness around and leaned
on rifles.
II ye men all ex-soldiers of tn,
rail-" King asked them.
y AYE" they growled In chorus.
"Who gave you leave TO Gomez" Kin
IL asked.
D. "Nonel He told US Of the pardon
20 and we camel"
IS AYE" said the 0rakzal Pathar
Ie drawing King aside. "But she CAV
. me leave to seek them out and temp