The L'Anse sentinel., 1918-03-02
CHAPTER xix-contInued.

--12-
King nodded again, for nod Is less
committal than a word; and tina nod
was enough to start the mullah on
again.
II saw the Sleeper and his bride be-
fore she knew Of either 1t was who
let her into Khinjani 1t was ! who
told the men she is the Heart Of the
Hills come to life! She tricked me !
But this is no hour for bearing grudges.
She has plan and am minded to
help"
King Lag still and booked up at him,
sure that treachery was the ultimate
end of any plan the mullah Muhasa.
mad Amin had. India has been s~ved
by the treachery of her enemie7 more
often than ruined by false friends. SO
has the world, for that rDnIer.
"A jihad when the right hour comes
Will raise the tI.s.<s." the mullah
growled. "She Rad thou, as the Sleep
er and his mste, could work wonders.
But who can trust her? She stole that
hea6l She stole all the ammunition
Does she surely love thee7"
King nodded again, for modesty
could not help him at that juncture.
Love and boastfulness 60 together In
the "Hllls."
'She shall have thee back, then, at
pricel"
King did not answer. His brown eyes
watched the 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
Kh!njan and the ammunition! She
nnd thou shall have India. but l shall
be the power behind youi have men
In Khinjani / have as many as she |
On the day march there will be re-
volt within. She would better agree
to termsl"
King lay looking at him. like pris-
oner on the rack undergoing examina-
tion. He did not answer.
"Write thou letter. Since she loves
thee. state thine own case to her. Tell
her that hold thee hostage, and that
Khinjan is mine already for little
fghting. In a month she cannot pick
out my men from among her own. Her
position Is undermined. Tell her that.
Tell her thnt If she obeys she shall
have India and be queen. If she dis
Dbeys, she shall die In the Cavern Of
Earth's Drink"
"She is a proud woman, mullah," an
swered King. "Threats to such as
she-w
The mullah mumbled and strode
back and forth three times between
Kings bed and the fire, with his fists
knotted together behind him and his
head bent. as Napoleon used to walk.
When he stood beside the bed again at
last 1t was with his mind made up, as
: his clenched fists and his eyes indl-
GATED.
""Make thine own terms with her |"
ne growled. "Write the letter and
send II l hold thee; she holds Khin-
Jan and the ammunition. 1 am between
her and India. So be 1t. She shall
starve In therei She shall lie In there
until the war is over and take what
terms are offered her In the end Write
thine own letter! State the case, and
bid her answerw
"yery WELL" said King. He began
TO see now definitely how India was to
be saved. 1t was none of his business
to plan yet, but to help others plans
destroy themselves and to SOW such
seed In the broken ground as might
bear fruit In time.
The mullah left him, to squat and
gaze into the fire, and mutter, and King
lay still. After while the mullah went
to the mouth Of the cave, to stand and
stare out ut 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,
and he seemed to try to read them,
standing with fists knotted together Mt
his back.
And a. he sto>d so, six other null
tahe came to hv.n sul began to argue
with him In low tones, he browbeating
them all with furious words Kissed be-
tween halt-closed teeth. They were
whispering still when King fell asleep.
II was courage. not carelessness. that
let him sleep-courage and great
hor 90 thA .,,,II ~ ~