Evening star., 1934-07-09

Khaisa" (The faith is the faith.
Enslishman and hillman were
locked In a struggle that could only
end with the death of one of them.
In falling, Gray-who was by far the
heavier and more powerful of the
two-had hit the nerve Of his arm
on stone, and for the moment pain
rendered the limb useless. Wriggling
like an eel, the hillrnan freed his left
hand and drew his stabbing knife,
fastening his teeth in his enerys
shoulder as he did so. The pain
turned the Englishman sick, and only
by a superhuman effort was he able
to keep his man under him.
PUT thy head on one side, sahibl"
a voice shouted hoarsely.
Exerting all his strength, Gray
forced his head sideways, and the
warm barrel OF Lee Enfield, topped
with nine inches Of steel, slid by Ills
neck
There was a sickening "crick" as
the bayonet pierced the Ghazis wind
pipe
Great work." exclaimed Gray,
rising to his knees. THE government
shall surely hear of thy bravery"
But the man did not reply He was
lying on his face with bullet through
his heart.
The duh roar of an explosion
caused Gray to blink his eyes, strange
" moist. and look downward. A dun-
colored cloud of dust was rolling slow
ly up the ravine.
The enemy had blown up the road.
Further progress was blocked!
The bronze bees of death" were
humming on all sides and sinister
gray splaShes flashed out on the rocks
as the leaden bullets from the enenly's
matchlocks struck them. Flinging
himself on his stomach. he took out
his notebook and scribbled a message.
Who would carry it to Risaldar
Eher Singh?
Squirming himself around he glanced
downward. In a fold in the ground
crouched Khoon. the dwarf, his yel-
low face inpassive and his beady
black eyes staring straight at him.
"Khoonl"
The Mongol jerked his massive chin
interroEatively.
Garry this chit to Risaldar Sher
Singh sahibl Quick"
The man glanced down the hill
side to where young Sikh was knot
ting blood-stained puttee round his
thigh.
The sahib needs thee, o SIKH" he
called.
Gray swore angrily and was about
70 repeat hts order when it struck
him that. after all. the guide was
right. The sowar was wounded and
ought 70 60 down in any case.
Rising to his feet he ran down to
him-reached him amid another hail
storm of soft-noSed bullets-and fell
Fat on his face.
Can you carry this order down to
Risaldar Sher Singh?"
"Ha. sahibl"
steadying himself with his rife.
the wounded man started his slow
climb downward.
We win. o Khoon!" said Gray
over his shoulder as he climbed
upward. followed by the dwarf,
Khoon grunted. He had shsdowed
Gray ever since the action started
and was evidently fearless
Gray realized that the enemy might
at any moment try 70 get around his
flank by working along the tops Of
the hills, and the orders he had just
sent down to Sher Singh were that
could spare.
Once more his glasses focused the
scene
Firing was still brisk but with a
tendency to diminish. But suddenly
q crashing fire opened on his left
front
A body of the enemy was trying to
head them of
Hastily he sized up the situation.
His men could hold them. The only
non commissioned officer near was a
young lance-duffadsr.
Rapid d-independent' TOO yards "
snapped Gray And then finished
giving his orners TO the N, c. o.
"I 90 to the hilltop to reconnoiter.
"Accha Sahib."
When Gray had reached his obJec-
tive not 9 single enemy was 10 be
seen and the firing had died down
TO an occasional deSultory sputter
Still. until this crest-hne was held
by his own men. there was danger
He sat down thankfully His
struggle with the Chan and the
stiff climb had given him q raslnG
thirst. No water was TO be had-ht
knew that. and reaching out his hsnc
he plucked a few blades from q tuf'
of grass to chew them as he wrote
But they we're more bitter than HI
had expected and he spat them cut
Here is vsterl'
Gray turned and met q pair OF ma
Esnant black eyes. Khoon was hold