The Pulaskian., 1918-02-15
CHAPTER vI-continued.

4
 Ihwas not long journey, nor a very sl0w one, for there was nothing to block the way except occasional men win flags, who guarded culverts and little bridges. It was low tide under the Himalayas. The flood that was draining India of her armed men had left Jamrud high and dry with a little nondescript force stranded there, as 1t were, under British major and some native officers. Browning over Jamrud were the lean "Hills,'' peopled by the f1ercest fighting men on earth. and the clouds that hung over the Khy- ber's course were an accent to the sav- 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 B smile that would have melted snow on the distant peaks if he had only looked the other way.
 Welcome, King sahib P he laughed, with the air of skilled fencer who adnires another, better one. T shall know better another time and let you keep in front of me! I trust you had a 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 paying now like wolves to be free, and they surged out, Nike wolves from a cage, to clamor round the Rangar, paving him and struggling to be the first to ask him questions.
 May, ye mountain people; nayw he laughed. q, too, am from the plains What do know of your families or of your friends? Am to be torn to pieces to make a meal?
 At that Ismail interfered, with the aid of an ash pick handle, chance found beside the track. Laughing as If the whole thing was the greatest joke imaginable, Rewa Gunga fell into stride beside King and led him away in theadirection of some tents.
 "She is up the pass ahead of us," he announced. "She was in the deuce of'a hurry, can assure you. She want y were too jolly well urgent, and we shall have our bally work cut out to catch her, you can bet! But I have everything ready-tents and beds and stores-eyerything!"
 King looked over his shoulder to make sure that Ismail was bringing the little leather bag along.
 "So have l." he said quietly.
 T have horses said Rewa Gunga, ~and mules and"
 How did she travel up the Khy- ber?' King asked him, and the Rangar spared him a curious sidewise glance.
 The Hills are her escort, King sa- nib. She is mistress in the 'Hills.' There isn't a murdering ruffian who would not lie down and let her walk on himi She rode away alone on thoroughbred mare and she jolly well left me the mares double on which to follow her. Come and look"
 Not far from where the tents had been pitched in cluster a string or horses whinnied at a picket rope King saw the two good horses ready for himself, and ten mules beside them that would have done credit to any outfit. But at the end of the line, paw ing at the trampled grass, was black mare that made his eyes open wide. Once in hundred years or so vice. roy's cup or Derby is won by an anil nal that can stand and look and move as that mare did.
 Never saw anything better" King admitted ungrudgingly.
 There is only one mare like this one," laughed the Rangar. "She has her."
 "What1l you take for this oneY King asked him. "Name your price Y
 'The maEe is hers. You must asK her. Who knows? She is generous. There is nobody on earth more gen. erous than she when she cares to pc. See what you wear on your wrist!s
 'That is loan," said King, uncover ing the bracelet. "I shall give It DacK to her when we meet"
 "See what she says when you meet laughed the Rangar, taking cigarette from his jeweled case with an air ana smiling as he lighted 1t. There IS your tent, sahib."
 With a nod of dismissal, King walked over to inspect the bandoDast, and finding it much more extravasant than he would have dreamed of provid- -ung for himself. hANt one of nis DiacA