The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-06-17

continued rapidly beside the gray
bitches, not particularly heedful of di-
rection. They jumped over the inter-
secting arms OF irrigation, and at mo-
ments caught the low gurgle Of spring
water. 1t occurred to Con that his
borrowed eastern garments were very
practical. The firm, broad sash and
twisted breeches gave support as he
cleared the bitches, the sandals were
snug and %curiously satisfactory. He
was not so SUI that he was wholly Il
western person. He no longer mar
veled at his blouse, with it's inner pock-
cts and folds.
Once he thought that an advance
guard of the pursuers had overtaken
them. They stopped short to listen,
but heard nothing. March was uneasy.
Con, who felt that there was nothing
further to be lost, was almost indiffer-
ent. He could not think his way clear.
what they had done to March's guard,
but n crime more or less in the. eyes
of Tau Kuan did not matter now.
There came the sense of some one be-
hind them, but there was no sound in
the pale breath of the bitches. Con
noted a low shape like a dog, across
the nearest ditch. Quickly u second
Joined it. Two figures hurtled out of
the gloom and landed ut the white
mans feet. They were the hunched
and deformed little men of the sand
hills. Il dozen or more, and they broke
into talking. Their arms We're like
metal bands upon Lexington. The
gong had reached them and brought
them up out of their warrens. 1t
seemed they We're animated by curios-
ily and a natural malice more than by
the idea Of reward.
Struggle was %unavailing. These
miners had terrible arms, despite
bodies that We're s%hrunken and gro
tesque. March was speaking in native
dialect. Lexington was borne off his
feet, lifted over the last ditch, and
then deftly stretched face downward
upon the sand. March IA pleading.
The hills We're near.
Con did not understand the appeal
March was making, but was surprised
ut the force of it. They were listening,
reluctant, like some blind evil turned
aside for a moment. March went on
feryently.
Points of light were low toward the
city, the torches coming out. 1T
seemed that the gray-haired mans ar
gument had an effect. FOR Lexington
was picked up IS before, and carried.
In the confusion he saw that they
were not going in the direction of the
city. The bones of their shoulders hurt
his back. He was unable to turn.
Forty PAGES of this and they paused.
March repeated his phrases. Leving-
ton was allowed to stand upon his
feet, but his hands were held. Then
the group ran with him up the hill.
"What did you say?" inquired Con.
II reminded them that they have no
more love for the city than we, and
that our enemy is their enemy"
"What made you think Of that?"
'"They are slaves, worse"
IL Noo III Nv 90 IL "OA
let 90 Cons wrists, and he pitched feet
first into perfect blackness. The fall
was giddy; then Il scramble down an
incline Of loose earth. Choking with
the dust, he could not guess to what
depth he was sliding. Something
came down upon his head, and this
was Andrew March.
You asked them to take us in?"
eyes. 1t occurred to ME that they
do not love their masters. l referred
to that, and promised everything I
could think of, if they would not turn
us over to the horsemen."
The center of the world gave forth q
speck of light that was u torch. The
party that had come up at the sum-
mons of the distant gong was close
about the white men again at the base
of the shaft, which seemed endlessly
large; and other torches We're coming
nearer out of b%lackness. Still it was
not clear to Con why the miners did
not take them to the city. The hover
ing figures in the cavern seemed half
afraid, half spiteful. March was doing
his hest in Chinese.
The torches threw a serried glare
on the rock walls of the underground
passage. 1t was low but very wide.
In another chamber, to which the pris-
Oners were led, the root was higher,
Of ragged sandstone, and the floor had
been swept. Here was the settlement
of workers, every one deformed below
the shoulders.
Out Of the red-lighted press of these
came a figure but slightly more erect
than his fellows. He was dark Of skin,
but his eyes were full and did not
slant or pinch. His barred throat was
significant Of strength and poisc, from
no mean ancestry, but his knees locked
and jointed pitifully, as from some
calamitOuS accident.
"Friend," he said in n low voice.
1t was music to hear the English
word.
The miners were waving torches of
bitumen over their large heads. The
length and agility of their arms was