The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-03-22
CHAPTER XVII.

there were pens and ink and paper.
| CHAPTER xvii.
"You know where is Oar es Sa-
laam" asked Yasmini.
east Africa" said King.
sand English warships watch the
Persian gulf and all the seas from In
dia to Aden"
King nodded. u.
slave the English any ships that
dive under water, in these waters?"
II think not. I'm not sure, but ]
think not"
'The grenades you have seen, and
the rifles and cartridges were sent by
the Germans to Oar es Salaam, to
suppress rising Of African natives.
Does 1t begin to grow clear to you, my
friend?"
He smiled as well as nodded this
time.
"Muhammad Amin used to wait with
a hundred women at a certain place
on the seashore. What he found on
the beach there he made the women
carry on their heads to Khinjan. So
they worked. he and the Germans, for
know not how long-with the Eng
lish watching the seas as on land lean
wolves comb the valleys"
"What were the terms Of the Ger
man bargain2" King asked her, "What
stipulations did they maker"
with the tribes? None! They
were too wise. A jihad was decided
on in Germany's good time; and when
that time should come ten rifles in the
Hills and a thousand cartridges would
mean not only a hundred dead English
men, but ten times that number busily
engaged. Why bargain when there
was no need? A rifle is what it is.
The Hills are the 'Hills?"
"Tell me about your lamp oil, then"
he said. "You burn enough oil in
Khinjan caves to light Bombay That
does not come in by submarine. The
sirkar knows how much Of everything
goes up the Khyber. have seen the
printed lists myself-a few hundred
cans Of kerosene-a few score gallons
Of vegetable oil, and all bound for far
Their north. There isn't enough oil
pressed among the Hills to keep these
caves going for day. Where does it
all come fromr
She laughed, as mother laughs at
a chllds questions, finding delicious
enjoyment in instructing him.
"There are three villages, not two
days march from Khabul, where men
have lived for centuries by pressing
1 oil for Khinjan caves" she said. "The
Sleeper fetched his oil thence. The
Sleeper left gold in here. Those who
kept the Sleeper's secret paid for the
oil In gold. No Afghan troubled why
oil was needed. so long as gold paid
for 1t. And know where the Sleeper
dug his goldi"
They sat in silence for a long while
after that, she looking at the table,
with Its ink and pens and paper, and
he thinking. with hands clasped round
one knee; for 1t is wiser to think than
to talk, even when q woman is near
who can read thoughts that are not
guarded.
"Athelstanp she said at last. att
sounds like kings namel What was
the Sleeper's name? Was there such
name in RomeT"
"No." he said.
"What does It mean?" she asked
him.
| aSlovv of raaolutfor 90
She clapped her hands.
another signl" she laughed. "The
gods love mel There always is>a sign
when need onel Slow of resolution,
art thouf I win speed thy resolution,
well-belovedI You were quick to
change from King. Of the Khyber Rife
regiment, to Kurram Khan. Change
now into my warrior-my dear lord
my King agalnt'
She rose. with arms outstretched to
him. All her dancers art, her un-
tanned poetry, her witehery, were ex-
pressed In q movement. Her eyes melt
ed as they met his. And since he stood
up' too. for manners sake. they were
eye 70 eye agaIn--almost lip to lip.
Her sweet breath was In his nostrils.
Ia another moment she was In his
arms. elinging TO him. kissing him.
And n any nan has felt on his lips
the hiss Of all the scented glamour Of
the East, bet hlm tell what Kings SEN
saiiens we're. Let Caesar. who was
kissed BY Cleopatra. come to life and
talk 81 lei
king's arm IL strong. and be did not
stand IKE al Idol ms head might
swim. bat she. too. tasted the deiIFium
sf hamaa passion l0osed and given for
a mad. s~tft minute. II his heart
swsliea 10 burseing. 90 must hers have
done.
= have needed yea r she whispered.
y haEe beea al aionsi have needed
FoaFT