Evening star., 1934-08-05
CHAPTER xxxy.


bus limpins diaappearance be-
n hind projecting wing Of the
boulder. thHe 10 think out a
plan Of action. lie sat binding up
the flesh wound itI his thigh Sud
denly he felt thiE, cold air blowing
on his neck
Iln1bu grinned eeStaticaily. That
chill draught on this hot morning told
him there was a csmceaied opening
the entrance 10 a cave or passage
behind the great stone and that the
boulder used 70 conceal IL must GER
tainiy be movesbie.
Setting his broad back 10 II. his
feet against the cliiH, and exerting all
hts strength. he Strengthened his body
" inches till his muscles and joints
Acked with the strain
Slowly the rock yielded, turning
IN It's smooth base. One inch--2--4--
8 inches. Then Il stuck. and no
further efforts Of his could bulge It.
The blood drumming in his ears, he
fied 70 force his way through the
opening he had achieved: but his
:lothes caught in the rough surface of
he stone and held him back.
Rapidly he tore of his upper gar
aents, pushing them, together with
lis rife. into the tunnel beyond.
hen. inch by inch. he squeezed his
lay between cliff and boulder.
Safely inside, he sat down, the
sauzzle of the rife pointed at the
IarTow opening.
Il What he expected happened about
H. llea @A
darkened the ground outside, and q
hillman's head appeared.
Limbbu's rife leapt to his shoulder
Musingly he propped the body
against the boulder, pondering how
the dead man could best be made
messenger. Then an idea came. Tear
ing a leaf from a small notebook,
he painfully scribbled a message.
Folding It, he placed it between the
front teeth OF the corpse, winding
the deadman's puggr to keep the
mouth firmly closed.
Limbu's plan was now clear He
would enlist under the Cobra's banner.
Two days later the little Gurkhas
message reached Col. Houghton, fore
stalling a devastating slaughter of his
men by mountain guns.
A House Divided.
Under a fig tree behind the house
of Ali the gunSmith sat q ring of
10 men discussing plans for the forth
coming battle with Col. Houghton's
force, which was now at the foot Of
the pass leading TO the Palace Of
the Mirror.
"Allahi 1t should be a good fight!"
said one of them, his lean face lit by
the glow in the earthenware bowl Of
the kalyon.
YEA" added another discontent-
eddy. though q man cover his
shoulder blades with his shield, the
Shrapnel can still bite his liver-and
1t is a bad death
"All must diei" said a tall, red
bearded hillman sententiously, tight
ening the folds Of his green turban.
He was a Haji-one who had made the
pilgrimage to Mecca.
They say the sipahis Of the Inglis
Army are paid rupee day,"r umbled
one they called the mullah.
I'VE are badly armed" complained
his fellow.
Those who are badly armed are
also badly paidg" grated harsh voice
from the entrance to the courtyard.
A low "Wahl" rumbled round the
circle as a tall, cowled form in black
came up to them. THE yelled mani"
some one exclaimed.
''Ye spoke of gold. say We shall
have goldl But first I have order to
give vel" said the rasping voice behind
the mask.
I'VE are Alan Khan's men," inter-
jected the mullah.
Thou speakest of paradise" null
lahl Maybe thou wilt soon enter it
or some other placei" The cold threat
in the tones evidently struck a chill
into the mullah. who remained silent.
LAS shoes are tested upon the feet,
so are men tested in fighting time
Ye have fought well; but as ye say, ye
have been ill-paid"
1T is true word" muttered one or
two voices.
why put ye not your grievances
to the Cobra?" questioned the veiled
man.
There are those whose ears hear
not" grumbled Baba.
Are We afraid of him, them"
HE has much power, and a mighty
sword-arm," cut in the youngest of
the circle
Yea, power from a power against
which no sword can avail-my power"
Thou speakeSt q true word,
master" continued the youngest of
the sirdarS. But I, for one, would
not cross him. His anger shoulders
not as a hillman's anger shoulders
like dung fire. It blasts"
Mine alsol" said the yelled man
quietly. But come not to listen to
the squeakings of frightened mice. I
come to speak to leaders of fighting
men. Harken! 1t is given to me to
foresee many things, as We know"
The yelled mans tones were lower
than they had ever heard them.
we know it!" rumbled the listen
Ing circle, remembering the all-seeing
eye Of the mirror in the tower.
1T may be written that Allah will
call the Khan from amongst We. II
that comes IN naSS ha not