The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-05-09
CHAPTER vI-Continued.

II was not a long journey, o a very
slow one, for there was nothing to
block the way except occasional men
with flags, who guarded culverts and
Httle bridges. II was low tide under
the Himalayas. The food that was
draining India OF her armed men had
left Jamrud high and dry with a little
nondescript force stranded there, as
II were, under a British major and
some native officers. Browning over
Jamrud were the lean Hills" peopled
by the fiercest fighting men on earth,
and the clouds that hung I've the Khy-
ber's course were m accent to the saw
agery.
But King smiled merrIly as he
Jumped out Of the train, and Rewa
Gunga. who was there TO meet him,
advanced with outstretched hand and
a smile that would have melted snow
on the distant peaks II he had only
looked the other way.
welcome, King sahib :" he laughed,
with the air Of u skilled fencer who
ndmires another, better one. II shall
know better another time and let you
keep In front Of me. I trust you had
q comfortable Journey"
Thanks" said King, shaking hands
with him, and then turning away to un.
lock the carriage doors that held his
prisoners in. They were baying now
like wolves TO be free, and they surged
out, like wolves from a cage, to clamor
round the Hangar, paving him and
struggling to be the first to ask him
questions.
"Nny, ye mountain people; nay !" he
laughed. ~, too, am from the plains
What do ! know OF your families or
Of your friends? Am I to be torn to
pieces TO make a mcalf"
At that Ismail iaterfered, with the
aid of an ash pick handle, chance
found beside the track. Laughing as
II the whole thing was the greatest
Joke imaginable, Rewa Gunga fell into
stride beside King and led him away In
the direction Of some tents.
"She is up the pass ahead OF U.s." he
she was In the deuce
NJ n hurry, I can assure you. She want.
ed 10 wait and meet you, but matters
we're too jolly well urgent, and we
shall have u baily work cut out 10
catch her, you can bet! But I have
everything ready--tents and beds and
stores-everythingl"
King looked over his shoulder 10
make sure that Isrnnll was bringing
the little leather bag along.
s have l." he said quietly.
u have horses said Rewa Gunga,
"and mules and"
"How did she travel up the Khy-
berf' King asked him, and the Rangar
spared him Il curious sidewise glance.
THE Hills are her escort, King sa-
hib. She is mistress in the Hills
There Isn't a numbering ruiflan who
would not lie down and let her walk
on him She rode away alone on a
thoroughbred mare md she Jolly well
left me the mares double on which to
follow her. Come and look"
Not far from where he tents had
been pitched In n cluster a string of
horses whinnied at a picket rope. King
saw the two good horses ready for
himself, and ten mules beside them
thar would have done credit 10 any
outfit. But at the end OF the line, paw
Ing at the trampled grass, was a black
mare that made his eyes open wide.
Once In a hundred yenrs or so a vice
roy's cup or a Derby is won by an ami
NAL that can stand and look and move
as that more did.
Never saw anything better" King
admitted ungrudgingly.
There IS only M mare like this
one" laughed the Hangar. "She has
her"
"Whatrl you take for this onef"
King asked him. "Name your price !"
THE mare Is hers. You must ask
her. Who knowsf She Is generous.
There Is nobody on earth more gen.
erous than she when she cares to be.
Bee what you wear on your wrist !"
That is a loan," said King, uncover
ing the bracelet. ~ shall give II back
10 her when we meet"
"See whit she snys when you meet !"
Iughed the Rnngnr, taking a cigarette
om his jeweled cnse with an air and
smiling as he lighted II. "There is
your tent, sahlb."
with n nod of dismissal. King
walked over 10 inspect the bandobast.
f"i finding II much more e%xtrayagnnt
" ould hnve dreamed OF provid.