Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-01-05
CHAPTER xIx-continued.


King nodded again, for a nod is less
committal than a word; and the nod
was enough to start the mullah off
again.
II saw the Sleeper and his bride be-
fore she knew of either! 1t was who
let her into Khinjan! 1t was / who
told the men she Is the Heart of the
Hills come to lifel She tricked me
But this is no hour for bearing grudges.
She has a plan and am ninGed to
help"
King lay still and booked up at him,
sure that treachery was the ultimate
end of any plan the mullah Muhap4.
mad Amin had. India has been saved
by the treachery of her enemies more
often than ruined by false friends. So
has the world, for that mater.
"a jihad when the right hour comes
Will raise the tTssass," the mullah
growled. "She aSd thou, as the Sleep
or and his IaSse, could work wonders
But who esA trust her? She stole that
heaS9l She stole all the ammunitionl
Does she surely love thee?"
King nodded again, for modesty
could not help him at that juncture.
Love and boastfulness go together in
the Hills"
"She shall have thee back, then, at a
pricel''
King did NOT answer. His brown eyes
watched tie mullah's. and he drew his
breath IN little jerks, lest by breath
ing aloud he should miss one word of
what was coming.
"She shall have thee back against
Khinjan and the ammunition! She
ard thou shall have India, but l shall
be the power behind you! have men
in Khinjan! l have as many as she
On the day march there will be a re-
volt within. She would better agree
20 terms ~
King lay looking at him, like a pris-
oner on the rack undergoing examina-
ton. He did not answer.
write thou a letter. Since she loves
thee, state thine own case to her. Tell
her that hold thee hostage, and that
Khin1an is mine already for little
fighting. In month she cannot pick
out my men from among her own. Her
position is undermined. Tell her that
Tell her that If she obeys she shall
nave India and be queen. If she dis
Obeys, she shall die in the Cavern of
Earth's Drink I"
She is a proud woman, mullah," an
swered King. Threats to such as
she-2"
The mullah mumbled and strobe
back and forth three times between
hings bed and the fire, with his fists
knotted together behind him and his
mead bent, as Napoleon used to walk.
when he stood beside the bed again ar
last It was with his mind made up, as
his clenched fists and his eyes indi-
Gated.
Make thine own terms with herl I"
he growled. write the letter and
send it! l hold thee; she holds kim
Jan and the ammunition. am between
her and India. So be it. She shall
starVe in there! She shall lie in there
until the war is over and take what
terms are offered her in the end Write
thlne own letter. State the case, and
bid her answer!
very WELL" said King. He began
10 see now definitely how India was to
De saved. 1t was none of his business
TO plan yet, but to help others plans
destroy themselves ard 20 sow such
seed in the broken ground as might
pear fruit in time.
The mullah left him, to squat and
gaze into the fire, and mutter, and King
lay still. After a while the mullah went
TO the mouth of the cave, to stand and
stare out at the camp where the thou
SAND fires were dying fitfully and wood
smoke purged the air of human nasti-
ness. The stars looked down on him,
ana he seemed to try to read them,
standing with fists knotted together at
ais back.
And a. he sto2d so, six other null
1ahs came to kan gas began to argue
win him in low tones, he browbeatipg
ihem all with furious words Kissed be-
S"een half-closed teeth. They were
whispering still when King fell asleep.
IL was courage, not carelessness, that
let MIN sleep-courage and a great
nope born of the mullab's perplexity.