The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1918-03-29
CHAPTER XVII.


east Africa" said King.
"And English warships watch the
Persian gulf and all the seas from In
dia to Aden?"
King nodded. =
"Have the English any ships that
dive under water, in these waters?"
II think not. I'm not sure, but j
think not"
"The grenades you have seen, and
the rifles and cartridges were sent by
the Germans to Oar es Salaam, to
suppress a rising of African natives.
Does it begin to grow clear to you, my
friend?"
He smiled as well as nodded this
time.
"Muhammad Amin used to wait with
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
I know not how long-with the Eng
fish watching the seas as on land lean
wolves comb the valleys"
"What were the terms of the Ger
man bargain?' 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 thousand cartridges would
mean not only hundred dead English
men, but ten times that number busily
engaged. Why bargain when there
was no need? A rifle is what 1t is.
The Hills are the .Hillsp 2"
"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. I 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 from?"
She laughed, as a mother laughs at
a child's 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
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 it. And know where the Sleeper
dug his gold"
They sat in silence for 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 it is wiser to think than
to talk, even when a woman is near
who can read thoughts that are not
guarded.
"Athelstan!" she said at last. "It
sounds like kings namei What was
the Sleeper's name? Was there such
name in Rome?"
"No," he said.
.What does it meant" she asked
him.
'Slow of resolution 20
She clapped her hands.
"Another sign!" she laughed. "rhe
gods love me! There always is a sign
when I need onel Slow of resolution,
art thou? will speed thy resolution,
well-beloved! You were quick to
change from King, of the Khyber Rifle
regiment, to Kurram Khan. Change
now into my warrior-my dear lord
my King again!"
She rose, with arms outstretched to
him. All her dancers art, her I'M
tanned poetry, her witchery, were ex-
pressed in a movement. Her eyes melt
ed as they met his. And since he stood
up, too, for manners sake, they were
eye to eye again-almost lip to lip.
Her sweet breath was in his nostrils.
In another moment she was in his
arms, clinging to him, kissing him.
And II any man has felt on his lips
the kiss of all the scented glamour of
the East, let him tell what Kings SEN
sations were. Let Caesar, who was
kissed by Cleopatra, come to life and
talk of it!
Kings arm is strong, and he did not
stand like an idol. His head might
swim, but she, too, tasted the delirium
of human passion loosed and given for
a mad, swift minute. If his heart
swelled to bursting, so must hers have
done.
Il have needed you'll" she whispered.
Il have been all alonei I have needed
you'll"
Then her lips sought his again, and
neither spoke.
Neither knew how long it was before
she began to understand that he. not
she, was winning. The human answer
to her appeal was full. He gave her
all she asked of admiration, kiss for
kiss. And then-her arms did not
cling so tightly, although his strong
right arm was like a stanchion. Be
ca11ca no knou thof he MT 81, = ~...