Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-08-15


more than four thousand men r.
said the mullah proudly.
"What are four thousand for q raid
into Indiar sneered King, greatly
daring.
"Wait and seer growled the mullah
but he seemed depressed.
He led the way downward, getting
on his horse and giving the reins to q
man. King copied him. and PARKWAY
sliding. part stumbling down they
found their way along the dry bed of
q water-course between two spurs Of a
hillside. until they stood at last In the
midst of a cluster Of q dozen sentries,
close to tamarisk to which mans
body hung spiked. That the man had
been spiked to II alive was suggested
BY the body's attitude.
Without word to the sentries the
multah led on down a lane through the
midst Of the camp, toward great
open cave at the far side. In which a
bonfire cast fitful light and shadow.
Watchers sitting by the thousand tents
yawned ut them, but took no particular
notice.
The mouth Of the cave was like a
lions, fringed with teeth. There were
men In II, ten or eleven Of them, all
armed, squatting round the fire.
Get out !" growled the mullah. But
they did not obey. They sat and stared
ut him.
slave ye tents3' the mullah asked,
In voice like thunder.
"AyeT But they did not 60 yet.
One 1T the men. he nearest the mul.
lah, got on his feet, but he had TO step
back q pace. for the mullah would not
give ground and their breath was In
each others faces.
"Whnre are the bombs? And the
rifesf And the many cartridgesf" he
demanded. ave have waited long, Mu.
hammad Amin. Where are they n0w7'
The others got up, to lend the ilrrs
nan encv0ragemeuL They leaned %
stii..s ana surrounded tho m,i!uh, H.
that King could only get a glimpse OF
him between them. They seemed In nc
mood to be treated cavalierly--in nc
mood to he argued with. And the mul.
lab did not argue.
we dogs!" he growled ut Them and
he strobe through them to the fire and
chose himself good thick burning
brand. "Ye sons Of nameIess mothers r
Then he charged them suddenly
beating them over head and face and
shoulders, driving them In front Of
him, utterly reckless Of their rifles
His own rife lay on the ground behind
him. and King kicked its stock clear
Of the fire.
"Oh. shall pray for you this night r
Muhammad Amin snarled. "What 4
curse shall beg for you! Oh, what
burning of the bowels We shall have
What sickness! What running of the
eyes! What s0resl What boilsl What
sleepless nights and faithless women
shall be yoursi What prayer will
pray to Allahl"
They scattered into outer gloom be-
fore his rage. and then came back ia
kneel to him and beg him withdraw his
curse. He kicked them IN they knelt
and drove them away again. Then,
allh0uetted In the cave mouth, with the
glow Of the fire before him. he stood
with folded arms and dared them
shoot. He lacked little In that min.
ute Of being a full-grown brute at buy.
King admired him, with reservations.
After five minutes Of angry contem.
plation Of the camp he turned on. q
c0ntemptuous heel and came back to
the fire. throwing on more fuel from a
great pile In n corner. There was an
iron pot In the emberM He seized q
stick and stirred the contents furious.
~. then set the pot between his knees
and ate like an animal. He passed the
pot to King when he had finished. but
fingers had passed too many times
through what was left In II and the
very thought Of eating the mess made
bis gorge rise; 80 King thanked him
and set the pot aside.
Then. "rhat Is thy placer" Muham-
mad Amin growled, pointing over his
shoulder TO ledge Of rock, like shelf
In the far wall. Hut though he was al
lowed to climb ap and lie down. he was
not allowed to sleep---nor did he want
to sleep-for more than an hour to
come.
The mullah came over from the IRE
again and stood beside him. glartng
like n great animal and grumbling In
his beard.
"Does she surely love theel" he
asked at last, and King nodded. be-
cause he knew he was ON the trail of
Information.
$50 thou art to ape the Sleeper In
his bronze mail, eh? Thou art to come
AlLL,.!.