The Pulaskian., 1918-02-22

He put fingers between his teeth and blew until the night shrilled back at him. Ismail seized the leather bag and started to obey.
 Leave that bag. Leave 1t, say i'
 "But some man may steal 1t, sahib. How shall a thief know there is no money in it?'
 "Leave it and gol'
 Ismail departed, grumbling, and King turned on Darya Khan.
 s"Take the remaining men and go up the pass!" he ordered. "Stand out of earshot and keep watch. Come when l whistle!"
 "But this one has bellyache where Ismail smote himl Can a man with a bellyache stand guard? His moaning will betray both him and mel" ob- jected 'Lord of the Rivers"
 "Take him and go!" commanded King.
 "But-"
 King was careful now not to show his bracelet. But there was something in his eye and in his attitude-a subtle, suggestive something-or-other about him-that was rather more con- vincing than a pistol or a stick. Darya Khan thrust his rifles end into the hurt mans stomach for encouragement and started off in the mist.
 "Come and ache out of the sahibs' sight," he snarled. In a minute King and his brother stood unseen, unheard in the shadow by a patch of silver moonlight. Athel- stan sat down on the mules pack.
 "Well?" said the younger. "Tell me. shall have to hurry. You see I'm in charge back there. They saw me come out, but hope to teach lem lesson going back"
 Athelstan nodded. "Good!" he said.
 sT've a rowing commission. Pm or dered to enter Khinjan caves"
 His brother whistled. "Tall order "What'S your plan?" Haven't one-yet. Know more when I'm nearer Khinjan. You can help no end"
 "How? Name itw q shall go in disguise. Nobody can | put the stain on as well as you. But tell me something first. Any news of a holy war yet?" His brother nodded. "Plenty of talk about one to come," he said. "We keep hearing of that lashkar that we can't locate, under mullah whose name seems to change with the day of the week. And there are everlasting tales about the Heart of the Hills /" "No explanation of 'em?" Athelstan asked him.
 "None! Not a thing!"
 "D'you know of Yasmini?" "Heard of her, of course," said his brother.
 Has she come up the pass?
 His brother laughed. "No, neither she nor coach and four" q have heard she's up the pass ahead of me-" said Athelstan. "She hasn't passed Ali Masjid!' said his brother, and Athelstan nodded. 'Are the Turks in the show yetT' asked Charles.
 "Not yet. But I know they're ex- pected in."
 "You bet they're expected inl" The young man grinned from ear to ear. "They're working both tides under to prepare the tribes for 1t. They fatter themselves they can set alight holy war that will put Timour Hang to shame. You should hear my jezailch1es talk at night when they think I'm not listeningw
 sThe jezailchies'll stand though" said Athelstan. "Stake my life on it!" said his brother. "They'l stick to the last man !" q can't tell you," said Athelstan, "why we're not attacking brother Turk before he's ready. But my job is to help make the holy war seem unpront- able to the tribes, so that they'll let the Turk down hard when he calls on lem. Every day that can point to forts held strongly in the Khyber IS a day in my favor. There are sure to be raids. In fact, the more the merrier, provided they're spasmodic. We must keep lem separated-keep lem swarm ing too fast-while I SOW other seeds among 'em." His brother nodded. Sowing seeds was almost that family's hereditary lob. Athelstan continued:
 "Hang on to Ali Mastd like leech, old mani The day one raiding lash kar gets command of the Khyber's throat. the others'll all believe they've won the game. Nothingn stop 'eml