Evening star., 1934-07-12
CHAPTER xI.

A stout. bearded man strobe beside
him humming a lurid frontier love-
tong.
For Allah's sake stay thy beast
and bid IL kneei that may sit as be-
comes q mani" begged Gray feebly.
HIS head felt on the point Of bursting;
the pain was ezcruciating. The Eng
hShman was on the point Of bursting
blood vessel. Quickly the man
spoke to the animal which at once
came 10 a standstill
Give help. brotherl" he called
ahead Of him. The Ksfir is Ill And
he Is too big 10 handle alone!"
Between them they stroye to lift
Gray. But his weight was too great
for their united strength. and their
hands slipping, he tumbled on 70 the
ground like a sack Of meal thrown
from a cart.
A groan escaped his lips as he tried
20 sit up.
Get ready thy rife, brother!" NUT
tered the camel man cautiously. If
ne try 70 escape, shoot him in the
bellyl It is good against running,
that"
And drawing a long knife from
his waistband. with two quick. up
ward cuts he freed Collins hands and
feet.
Il will surely remember thee, o
brotherl" said Gray, thanking him.
and looking about him as he spoke.
They we're in a wild gorge among
the hills. The sun was setting, and
a short distance away a small party
of hillmen were sitting in their sad
dies. Colin, with an effort, turned
his throbbing head. The sound OF q
horses hoofs reached his ears.
1t was Khoon. the dwarf.
Silently the Mongol drew rein.
who cut thy bonds7' he asked
after a pause, a cold glitter in his
eyes.
How should I know" demurred
Gray, Struggling aching shoulders.
said / not, that. until / ordered
otherwise, he was TO remain on the
beasts back?" demanded the Mon
Rol. scrutinizing the faces of the
escort, his own yellow countenance
as inscrutable as ever.
Without a doubt thou saidSt I'll"
cut in Gray. But a dead horse
carries no rider'l To hand over a
dead body to thy master had surely
not been good for theel"
The .rnpassiveness of Khoon's face
underwent no change. But the stout
tsh mans eyes had Joy in them. he
seemed to be a favorite with the es-
cort. whose looks were increasingly
lowering; for hillman do not take
kindly to any commander but hill
manor sahib.
Get upl" ordered the dwarf.
Colin tried to stand. but fell.
set the kaflr on the animal
shouted Khoon to the stoutish man.
The camel man looked distaste-
fully at Gray. Here was an oppor-
tunity TO act a comedy which might
help to put matters right on his own
account
Il care not to handle him!" he
muttered sullenly,
The flicker of a smile passed across
Gray's drawn face.
Nor I to be handled by thee, o
son Of a pig" he retorted, backing
up the mans attempt to eXculpate
himself. Both he and the escort real
ized that the camel drivers life was
in the balance. They knew Khoon,
With the help of three of the hill
men he thrust Gray on to the Gamers
back roughly. But even this brought
small relief to Colin. Thirst tortured
him. In a fainting moment he heard
Khoons voice.
IT will give thee a horse if thou
eesirest it'll" he said, looking up at
Gray
"Thy priceP" queried the English
man huskily. This hellish thirst
made speaking dificult and was
driving him to desperation.
For q book-you know which,"
st have It not" retorted Gray, who
felt he might faint at any moment.
'sIt is in your head. Tell me what
is written in it. Then you shall have
water and resti"
Gray's heart leaped. Why not pre-
tend to reveal the cipher TO the
Mongol? His price, for the present.
could be what he had been offered:
Water, rest. and horse He
would be found out later, Of course
Still, let the future take care OF
itself
Give me water so that I may
speak," he said whisperingly.
In five minutes" answered
some one.
Then, impenetrable darkness .
He was lying beside a small water
fall now. Evidently he must have
drunk deeply without knowing it, for
his thirst was gone A short distance
away, cooking their evening meal,
crouched armed men, sitting native
wise on their launches Some
thing was sizzling in a pan.
Mad fancies came to him. He must
ride on at once to save Diana Lind
say
"Sher singh!" he said loudly, call
ing his aid.
Are you stu mad?" queried
Khoon's voice You are a prisoner
Gray turned his head.
The Mongol was sitting opposite
him on the other side of the road, 6
formleSs blotch in the darkness,
What was in the book?' demanded
the dwarf harShly.
Much. It must be written" fenced
Gray.
You shall write it-for mel
Colin noticed the involuntary pause
For whom else, them" he asked
There are others-who could helE
thee less"
Gray began TO repent of his de-
ciSion to deceive this man-enemN
though he was. After all, the Mon
sol had taken a prisoner in way
that was not unfamiliar in YaniStan
and. so far. he had made him suffel
infinitely less than the customs of hill
warfare warranted. Unthinkaolt
horrors might, Of course, be in stor'
for him-they almost certainly were
But somehow, this idea Of lying--
Il cannot tell you" he declaret
firmly. You know the value VI
sahibS set upon loyalty"
For a moment Khoon was silent
Then: IF thine own safety means S
little. perhaps that Of the resident
daughter means more TO theel' n
Sneered
AT the Mongols remark. q wav