Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-02-22

of an eye T. say the unforgiving Hills"
eff one of US should go back into
his camp now he would be tort lred.
Be sure of that"
Breathing deeply in the darkness,
they nodded, as if the dark had eyes.
Ismails chin drove fraction deeper
into his shoulder.
"NOw We know-for all men know
that the entrance into Khinjan caves is
free to any man who can tell lie
without fiinching. 1t is the way out
again that is not free. How many men
do We know that have entered and
never returned?"
They all nodded again. It was COM
mon knowledge that Khinjan was
very graveyard Of the presumptuous.
"She has set 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 caves?' he
retorted. whence came I? am her
man, sent to help trap the mullahi
would have trapped all Of you, but for
being weary of these Hills and wish
full to go back to India and be par
doned! That is who am! That is
how / know
Their breath came and went sibi-
lantly, and the darkness was alive with
the excitement they thought them
selves too warrior-like to utter.
"But what will she do then?" asked
somebody.
King searched his memory, and in
a moment there came back to him a
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 ate salt
to be true to the salt? She gave the
Khyber jezailchis leave to fight against
her. Be sure, whatever she does, she
will stand between no man and his
pardonr
''But will she lead jihad? We win
not fight against herv
"Nay," said King, drawing his breath
In. Ismail's chin felt like a knife
against his collar bone, and Ismail's
iron fingers clutched his arm. It was
time to give his hostage to Dame For
tune. "She will go down into India
and use her influence in the matter Of
the pardons ]"
X ST believe thou art very great liar
indeedl' said the man who lacked part
Of his nose. 1.-THE Pathan went, and
he did not come back. What proof
have wei"
aye have mer' said King. III ]
show you no proof, how can escape
your"
They all grunted agreement as to
that. King used his elbow to hit Is
mail in the ribs. He did not dare
speak to him: but now was the time
for Ismail to carry information to her,
supposing that to be his job. And after
a minute Ismail rolled into a 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 Yasmini
would know of It within an hour or
tive, and before dawn in any event
he began to feel like player in game
Of chess who fOresees his opponent
mate in so many moves.
If Yasmini were to let the mullah
and his men into the caves and to join
forces with him in there, he would at
least have time to hurry back to India
with his eighty men and give warning.
He might have time to call up the Khy-
Der iezailchis and blockade the caves
before the hive could swarm, and he
chuckled to think Of the hope Of that.
On the other hand, If there was to
be battle royal between Yasmini and
the mullah he would be there to watch
it and to comfort India with the news.
SNOW we will go on again, In order
to be close to Khinjan at break Of day."
he said, and they all got up and obeyed
him as if his word had been law to
them for years. OF all Of them he was
the only man in doubt-he who seemed
most confident Of all.
They swung along into the darkness
under low-hung stars, trailing behind
Kings horse, with only half dozen Of
them hundred yards or so ahead as
an advance guard, and all Of them ex-
pecting to see Khinjan loom above each
next valley, for distances and darkness
are deceptive in the "Hills," even to
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 to ride up close before he
recognized the Orakzai Pathan.
"Salaam!' u said the fellow with q
grin. 81 bring one hundred and
eleventh
AS he spoke graveyard shadows rose
out Of the darkness around and leaned
on rifles.
''Be We men all ex-soldiers Of the
raj?" King asked them.
"Ayei" they growled In chorus.
'Who gave you leave to Gomez" King
asked.
"None! He told us Of the pardons
n