New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-02-01
CHAPTER xIX-Continued.
II

II
King nodded again. for n nod is less
coinmittal than Il word and the nod
was enough to start the mlllah off
again.
II saw the Sleeper and his bride be-
fore Size knew # either. II was | who
let her into Khinjan. 1t was | who
told the men she is the Heart of the
Hills come to life. She tricked me .
Rui this Is no hour for bearing grudges.
She has II plan and | am minded to
help"
King lay Still and looked up at him,
sure that trcach"ry was the ultimate
end of any plan the mullah Muham-
mad Amin had. India has been saved
by the trcnchery of her enemies more
often than ruined by false friends. SO
has the world, for that matter.
"A jihad when the light hour comes
will raise the tribes the mullah
gr"wlcd. "She and thou. as the Sleep
er and his mate. could work wonders.
i;ut VIII" can trust her? She stole that
head, She stole all the ammunition.
Does she surely love thec?"
King nodded again, for modesty
could not help him at that iuncture.
Love and bonstfulncSs go together in
the Hills"
'She shall have thee back, then, at a
price!"
King did not answer. His brown eyes
watched the mullah'S. and he drew his
breath II little jerks. lest by breath
Ing aloud he should miss one word of
what was coming.
She Shall have thee back against
khIiijnn and the ammunition! She
and thou shall have India, but ! shall
he the power behind you. have men
In khinjan! | have as MANI as she
ON the day | march there will be n re-
volt within. She would better agree
to terms"
king lay looking at him, like n pris-
"Iier on the rack undergoing examina-
tion. He did not answer.
Write thou n letter. Since she loves
thee, state thine W case to her. Tell
her that | hold thee hostage, and that
htiinJan Is mine already for n little
hghtlng. In Il 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 shalt
nave India and be queen. If she dis
obeys, she Shall die in the Cavern of
Earth's Drink !"
she is a proud woman. mullah," an
swered King. Threats to such as
She"
The mullah mumbled and strobe
back and forth three times between
NIng's bed and the fire. with his fists
khotted together behind him and his
mead bent, rs Napoleon Used to walk.
hen he stood beside the bed again ut
last it was with his mind made up. as
his clenched fists and his eyes indi-
Gated.
Make thine own terms with her."
he grOwled. "Write the letter and
send 1t! l hold thee; she holds Khin.
Jan and the ammunition. | am between
her and India. So be it. She shall
in there! She shall lie in there
uhtli the war Is Over and take what
Terms are offered her in the end Write
thine own letter! State the case, and
bid her answer!'
very we'll" said King. He began
TO see now definitely how India was to
saved. 1t was none of his business 6
TO plan vet, but to help others plans l
themselves and to SOW such ,
seed in the broken ground rs might /
bear fruit in time. {
The mullah left him, TO squat and
gaze into the fire, and mutter, and King t
ay still. After II while the mullah went l
o the mouth of the cave, to stand and I
stare out at the camp where the thou !
SAND fires were dying titfully and wood
smoke purged the air of human nnsti- t
less. The stars looked down on him, Il
he seemed to try to read them, r
funding with fists knotted together at h
lis back. I
And a. he stood so, six other null :
abs came to him and began to argue \
with him in low tones, he b%rowbeating Ia
hem all with furious words Missed be- +
Ween half-closed teeth. They were g
still when King fell asleep.
| was courage, not ~carelessness, that y
vt him slecp-courage and Il great W
Iope born of the mullah's perplexity. i