The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-02-15

i He put fingers between his teeth and
blew until the night shrilled back at
him. Ismail seized the leather bag and
started to obey.
"Leave that bag. Leave it, sayI'
"But some man may steal 1t, sahib.
How shall a thief know there is no
money In It'll"
'Leave it and got"
Ismail departed, grumbling, and
King turned on Darya Khan.
stake the remaining men and go up
the pass!" he ordered. "Stand out Of
earshot and keep watch. Come when
/ whistle!"
"But this one has bellyache where
\ Ismail smote him! Can man with
bellyache stand guard? His moaning
will betray both him and mel" OBJ
4 jected Lord of the Rivers
''Take him and go!" commanded
King.
"But-"
King was careful now not to show
his bracelet. But there was something
in his eye and in his attitude-a
subtle, suggestive something brother
about him-that was rather more con-
vincing than a pistol or stick. Darya
Khan thrust his rifles end into the hurt
mans stomach for encouragement and
started off in the mist.
"Come and ache out Of the sahibs'
/ sight I" he Snarled.
In a minute King and his brother
stood unseen, unheard in the shadow
by patch of silver moonlight. Athel-
stan sat down on the mules pack.
"Well?" said the younger. 'gTell me.
| I shall have to hurry. You see I'm in
charge back there. They saw me come
out, but l hope to teach 'em lesson
going back"
Athelstan nodded. "Good!" he said.
"I've a rowing commission. I'm or
dered to enter Khinjan caves"
His brother whistled. "Tall orderl
"What's your plan?"
"Haven't one-yet. Know more
when I'm nearer Khinjan. You can
help no end"
slow? Name it!'
IT shall go in disguise. Nobody can
put the stain on as well as you. But
tell me something first. Any news
Of holy war yet?"
| His brother nodded. "Plenty of
talk about one to come" he said. X"We
keep hearing Of that lashkar that we
can't locate, under mullah whose
name seems to change with the day Of
the week. And there are everlasting
tales about the Heart Of the Hills. !"
mo explanation of 'em?" Athelstan
asked him.
| None! Not 'thingl'
"D'you know of Yasmini"
Heard of her, of course" said his
brother.
! HAS she come up the pass7"
/ His brother laughed. "No. neither
she nor coach and four"
/ 81 have heard she's up the pass
ahead of me-" said Athelstan.
"She hasn't passed Ali Masjld!" said
his brother, and Athelstan nodded.
| "Are the Turks in the show YETI"
asked Charles.
| '.Not yet. But know they're ex'
pected In"
"You bet they're expected inl" The
young man grinned from ear to ear.
They're working both tides under to
prepare the tribes for 1t. They fiatter
themselves they can set alight a holy
war that will put Tim0ur Hang to
shame. You should hear my jezailchies
talk at night when they think I'm not
listeningw
'The jezailchies'll stand though"
said Athelstan.
stake my life on itw said his
brother. "They1l stick to the last man r.
II can't tell you," said Athelstan,
"why we're not attacking brother Turk
before he's ready. But my job is to
help make the holy war seem unprofit-
able to the tribes, so that they'll let
the Turk down hard when he calls on
'em. Every day that can point to
forts held strongly in the Khyber is a
day in my favor. There are sure to
be raids. In fact, the more the merrier,
provided they're spasmodic. We must
keep 'em separated-keep 'em swarm
ing too fast-while sow other seeds
among 'em."
His brother nodded. Sowing seeds
was almost that family's hereditary
job. Athelstan continued:
"Hang on to Ali Masjid like leech,
old mani The day one raiding LASH
kar gets command of the Khyber's
throat, the others'll all believe they've
won the game. Nothing'll stop emil