Evening star., 1934-07-08
CHAPTER VII.

ure Diana could not tell.
"You are very beautiful, Shireen
Bibi!" she murmured, using the wife
ly title. More beautiful than any
girl have ever seenl . 1t Is true!
If you love him, surely and indeed he
cannot love anotherl"
II said I hated you" said Shireen,
tucking the riding whip under slen-
der arm. But now l pity you! /
thought you loved him and that you
were proud he had carried you away
as he has carried away 1870 other
women"
Slowly Diana rose to her knees,
looking up into the beautiful eyes of
this strange girl.
"Of truth you know what love Is,
Lady Shireen," she exclaimed. her
very heart in her voice. Also you
know-none better-that you would
rather die than yield yourself to any
other. In the name Of Allah, then,
help me! If you tell him"
He will kill you'll" Shireen smiled
and nodded slowly. yes, he would
kill you. And 1 should see you killed.
I might help him to kill you" The
tip of small, pink tongue moistened
the corners of her lips-cat-wise. A
shudder ran through Diana.
Then you will not help me?"
For some moments Shireen re-
manned silent, looking down at her.
her head tilted critically.
Yes, I will help you'll" she said.
nonchalantly. tucking the rose more
firmly behind her ear.
"How?" exclaimed Diana, catching
at one of the girls hands.
IT will give you poison before he
loves you!" answered the child slowly.
Because your hair is red to me, and
he has not a red woman!"
Diana smiled through irrepreSsible
tears.
Il would kiss your feet for the CIV
ing of it, Shireenl" she responded
@ravely.
Her SubmiSSiveneSS seemed to touch
some hidden chord in the little bar
barians heart, and. reaching out, she
took Diana's other hand in hers.
BE not afraid! Until We reach the
Palace of the Mirror. in three days
from today, he will not speak to you.
I am here!" The determined little
chin tilted proudly. Before he sends
for you, Gulbudun and 1 will have
thought of plan"
rs Gulbudun your ayah?" queried
Diana. deft fingers ordering her curls.
A trill of laughter like a peal of
silver bells answered her question.
"Gulbudun is even younger than
T." explained Shireen, still amused by
the thought of her dearest friend
being a gray-haired woman. You,
too, will love her. What is your
name-what does your lover call you,
] mean?"
Dbl" The voice was very low.
Shireen clapped her hands.
Then I, too, will call you Di,'
and you may call me 'Shireen'!' she
exclaimed impetuously.
Diana smiled at the childish eager
ness Of it.
Where is this Palace of the Mir
Tor, Shireen?" she questioned cau-
tiously, once more awake to her
danger
The girl regarded her solemnly.
81 do not know No one. save my
lord and his slrdars, knows that. Not
even Il" She shook her head Wig
orously. once asked Khoon, the
Mongol. to whom my lord has spoken
it-and he told upon mel" She pursed
her small mouth and pretended to
spit.
Why do they call it the Palace
of the Mirrcr?'" asked Diana, in her
heart afraid at the description Of the
place.
Because the mirror is in It, Of
course!" laughed Shireen But the
Yelled Man (she shuddered and low
cred her voice. will let no one see
1t. My lord says y man can even
know what is happening in Inglistan
II he looks into it,"
You live there?"
Yes. I am happy tool NY lord
comes to see me. and I have Gulbudun
and Dilkoosh, my pet deer. Only one
thing do not like"
What is that?" asked Diana, spur
ring herself to take an interest in
what the girl was saying. The men
ton of the Yelled Man had escaped
her
'Shiv'-my lords tigress" answered
Shireen, her eyes glittering. I'VE hate
each other, Shiv and Il"
A whistle blew shrilly and the girl
Sose
Horses were hastily bitted. bundles
elung on saddles, fires kicked out.
Some one started to sing a plaintive
frontier love song in a ringing bari
tone. 1t all seemed like an evil dream,
from which before long she would
surely wake
AS she walked unsteadily over to
her horse she saw that FiroZ was
roping sack filled with tiny black
lentlls to the back of her saddle. She
stood Stroking the animals soft nose,
watching the lad with haggard eyes.
VIII 1t not be too heavy for the
beast?" she asked quietly. She could
zee The Cobra was watching her.
For the first time the young Hill
man smiled, the horse between him
and The Cobra
1T will become lighter" he said
In a low voice. Mine is carrying two
such"
Once again the cavalcade was on
the move, a rear guard staying be-
hind to hold the pass in case of pur-
suit.
The next day. about noon, the lead
ing horsemen turned aside from the
narrow track and made straight for
the precipitouS cllffSide. Diana Won
dered. Save for a few superficial fis-
sures thousand feet up, its smooth
surface was unbroken. AS its foot
Jay number of huge boulders. A
dozen men went up to the largest of
these, and, driving their heels into the
ground, thrust against it with their
backs, chanting in unison as each
mighty effort was made.
Slowly the rock yielded, turning on
the smooth, embedded surface of an
other. flatter one, and revealing the
opening Of a tunnel some feet
in height. From the inner side Of the
concealing boulder projected number
of iron loops, evidently used for pull
ing the rock back to its original posi-
tion.
Their task completed, and wiping
the sweat from their foreheadS, the IL
looking toward the Cobla As he
h ri AZ OH I,is