. a J fles — — ———— ———— Synopsis.—At the hemnning « jihad or holy war. hillmen and takes them north with brother at Ali Masjid fort. ff the world war Cgpt. Athelstan Ismail, an Afridi, be tor. He rescues some of Yasminl's him, tricking the Rangar into going He meets his CHAPTER VIilii—Continued. wm— The packs were laid on the ground, and the mules shook themselves, while came closer, to sit in a ring and watch. King dug a flashlight out of bne of the packs, gave it to Ismall to hold, sat on the other pack and began to write on a memorandum pad. was a minute before he could persuade Ismail that the flashlight was harm- fess, and another minute before he could get him to hold it still. Then, however, he wrote swiftly. In the Khyber, a mile below you. Dear Old Man—I would like to run in and see you, but circumstances don't permit. Several people sent your their regards by me. Herewith go two mules and thelr packs. Make any use of the XI can draw on . would like to have a talk with you before taking the rather desperate step I ing or leaving All Masjid down the pass without making your iIn- tention known? It is growing misty now, ft ought to be easy. My men will tel gou where I am and show you the way Why not destroy this letter?—Athelstan He folded the note and stuck a post- age stamp on it In lien of a seal. Then he examined the packs with the ald of the flashlight, sorted them and ordered two of the mules reloaded. “You three!” he ordered then. Take Take this chit, you. Give it to the sahib in command there.” “To hear is to obey!” said the near- est man. They took the mules’ leading reins and before they had paces were swallowed in the mist that had begun to flow southeastward. The FeOone sO pering of jackals. Ismall came nearer and squatted at King's feet. Darya-Khan came closer too. King had tied the reins of the two horses and the mule together in a knot and was sit- ing on the pack. Solemn, almost motionless, squatted on their hunkers, they looked like two great vultures watching an animal die, They sat in silence for five minutes Then suddenly the two hillmen shud dered, although King did not bat fh eyelid. Din burst into being. A volley ripped out of the night and thundered down the pass, “How-utt! Hukkums dar?” came the insolent challenge half a minute after it—the proof positive that All Masjid's guards neither slept nor were afraid. A weird wall answered the chal lenge, and there began a tossing to and fro of words, that was prelude to a shouted invitation: “Ud-vance-frrrennen-orsss-werrul one and native levies advance distortion to the point of art; but the language sounds no less good in the chilly gloom of a Khyber night. balf an hour. Then a man's foot- steps—a booted, leather-heeled man, striding carelessly. Not far behind him was the softer noise of sandals, The man began to whistle “Annie Laurie” “Charles? That you?’ called King. “That you, old man?” A man In khaki stepped into the moonlight. He was so nearly the im- Athelstan strode to meet him. Their walk was the same. Angle for angle, fine for liné, they might have been one and his shadow, except for three gWrters of an inch of stature. “Glad to see you, old man,” Athelstan, “Sure, old chap!” sald Charles; and they shook hands, “What's the desperate proposal?” asked the younger, “I'll tell you when we are alone.” His brother noddeéd and stood a step aside. The three who had taken the note to the fort came closer-—partly to call attention to themselves, partly to claim credit, partly because the outer silence frightened them. They elbowed Ismail and Darya Khan, and one of them recelved a savage blow in the stomach by way of retort from Ismail Before that spark could start an ex- plosion Athelstan interfered. “Ismail! Take two men. Go down the pass cut of earshot, and keep watch! Come back when I whistle thus--but no sooner I" sald o ¥ Fl He put fingers between his teeth and { blew until the night shrilled back at { him, Ismall seized the leather bag and | started to obey. “Leave that bag. Leave it, I say!” “But some man may steal it, sahib, | How shall a thlef know there is no money in It? “Leave it and go!" Ismail departed, grumbling, | King turned on Darya Khan. { “Take the remRining men and go up { the pass!” he ordered. *“Stand out of earshot and keep watch. Come when i 1 whistle !™ “But this one has a bellyache where Ismail smote him! Can a man with a | bellyache stand guard? His moaning i will betray both him and me!” jected “Lord of the Rivers” “Take him and go!” commanded King. “But—"" and ob- King was careful now not to show { his bracelet, iin his eye subtle, and in his attitnde— suggestive about him-—-that was rather more con- 1 off in the mist. ht!” he snarled, In a King 1 stood unseen, unheard minute in stan sat down on the mule's pack. “Well?” said the younger. [ shall have to hurry. charge back there. The yy out, but I hope to teach "em a lesson going back.” Athe You see I'm in Saw ne come “Good I” he sald, commission. I'm or- onves “Tall order! stan nodded, a roving y enter Khinjan His brother whistled. your plan? | “Haven't one—yet. Know { when I'm nearer Khinjan., You can i help no end.” | “How? iti" { “I shall go in disguise, +» gtain on as well first. “I've \ t dered fq i * » “What's more Name g as you. me iof a holy war yet? His brother nodded. something i “Plenty | can't locate, name seems to change with the day of the week. And there are everlasting tales about the ‘Heart of the Hills" “No explanation of "em?" Athcistan asked him. “None! Not a thing!” “D'you know of Yasmini?” “Heard of her, of course,” sald his { brother, | “Has she come up the pass? His brother laughed. “No, neither she nor a coach and four.” “I have heard she's up ahead of me," sald ‘Athelstan., “She hasn't passed Al Masjid!” said { his brother, and Athelstan nodded. “Are the Turks in the show yet?” asked Charles, “Not yet. But I know they're ex. | pected in.” “You bet they're expected in!" The young man grinned from ear to ear. | “They're working both tides under to { prepare the tribes for it. They flatter { themselves they can set alight a holy {war that will put Timour Ilang to | shame. You should hear my Jezailchies talk at night when they think I'm not listening 1” “The jJezallchles'll said Athelstan, “Stake my life on it!” said his brother. “They'll stick to the last man |” “I can’t tell you,” said Athelstan, “why we're not attacking brother Turk before he's ready. But my job is to heip make the holy war seem unprofit- able to the tribes, so that they'll let the Turk down hard when he calls on ‘em. Every day that I ean point to forts held strongly in the Khyber is a day in wy favor. There are sure to be raids: In fact, the more the merrier, provided they're spasmodic. We must keep ‘em separated-——keep ‘em swarin- ing too fast--while I sow other seeds among 'em.” His brother nodded. Sowing seeds wus almost that family's hereditary Job. Athelstan continued : “Hang on to All Masjid like a leech, old man! The day one ralding lash- kar gets command of the Khyber's throat, the others’ll all believe they've won the game, Nothing'll stop ‘em! ’ the pass 1 i stand though,” be Look out for traps, Smash ‘em on sight. But don't follow up too far!” “Sure,” sald Charles, “Help me with the stain now, will you?” With his flashlight burning as if its battery provided current by the week instead of by the minute, Athelstan dragged open the mule's pack and pro- duced a host of things. He propped a mirror against the pack and squatted in front of it. Then he passed a lit tle bottle to his brother, and Charles attended to the chin-strap mark that to .one hue, and Charles stepped back to look at It, “Won't need to wash yourself for a he sald. “The dirt won't show!” He sniffed at the bottle. “But that stain won't come off if you do wash-—never worry! You'll do finely® “Not yet, I won't!" sald Athelstan, picking up a little safety razor and be- ginning on his mustache, In a min ute he had his upper lip bare. Then his brother bent over him and rubbed in staln where the scrubby mustache had been, After that Athelstan unlocked the leather bag that had caused Ismail so much concern and shook out from it a pile of odds and ends at which his brother nodded with perfect under standing. The principal item was a piece of siik—forty or fifty yards of it-——that he proceeded to bind into a turban on his head, his brother lending him a guiding, understanding finger at every turn. When that done, the man who had sald he looked in the least like a British officer would have Hed. One after another he drew on native garments, picking them from the plle beside him. So, by rapid stages Le de veloped into a native hakim—by a converted Hindu, like Rewa was creed Cunga who practice ¥ or modern medicine, without a lic and with a very great deal of ndded superstition, trickery and guessv ork. “1 wouldn't trust you with a ha'pen- ny!” announced his brother when he “The part toa T.” “Well—take these into the Ie, His brother ca undle of discarded Europes: and tucked them under his arm. “Now, We've got » Khyber, and we can’t do it pell-mell into the first trap s Be a coward, if that's you care to give it. You needn't to hunt fort ught a clothes will you?” i t i nember, old man! te 3 ! i tell » you've got orders “How d'you know better?” “Never mind! I've been seconded to I'm your senior, and I'm Hit hard when you oid man, r crowd. fiz you orders. to, but for God's sake, “All right,” said his brother, “Then good-by, old man!” Athelstan!” ‘hey stood facing and shook hands, Where had been a man and his reflec. tion in the mist. there now seemed to be the same man and a native. Athel stan King had changed his very na- He stood like n native—moved like one; even his vojce was changed, as if--like the actor who dyed himself all over to act Othello he could do nothing by halves. “By, Charles!” Officers In thet force are not chosen for their clumsness, or inability to move silently by night. His footsteps died in the mist almost as quickly as his shadow, a minute the pass was silent as death again, and though Athelstan listened with trained ears, the only sound he could detect was of a jackal cracking n bone fifty or sixty yards away. “ood-by, CHAPTER IX. King repacked the loads, putting everything back carefully into the big leather envelopes and locking the empty handbag, after throwing in a few stones for Ismall's benefit. Then he went to sit in the moonlight, with his back to a great rock and waited there cross-legged to give his brother tine to make good a vetreat through the mist. When there was no more doubt that his own men, at all events had falled to detect the lleutenant, he put two fingers In his mouth and whistled, Almost at once he heard sandals come pattering from both directions As they emerged out of the mist he sat silent and still, It was Darya Khan who came first and stood gaping at him, but Ismail was a very close sec ond, and the other three were oily a little behind, For full two minutes after the man with the sore stomach had come they all stood holding one another's arms, astonished, Then “Our sahib-—King sahib-——where Is he?’ asked Ismall, “Gone I" Even King's volce was so completely changed that men who had been reared amid mitual suspicion could not recog: nize it “But there are his londs! There ls his mule!” “Here Is his bag!" Said Tsmall, . ing it. “It rattles not as formerly! There 18 more ig it than there was!” “His two horses and the mule are here,” sald Darya Khan, “Did I say he took them with him?" asked the hakim, who sat still with his back to a rock, “He went because I came! He left me here in charge! Should he not leave the wherewithal to make one comfortible. since I must do his work? Hah! What do I see? A man bent nearly double? ‘That means un beliyache! Who should have a belly- ache when I have potions, lotions, balms to heal all ills, maglie charms und talismans, big and little pills-—and at such a little price! So small a price! Show me the belly and pay your money! Forget not the money, for nothing Is free except alr, water and the Word of God! I have pald money for water before "and where is the mullah who will not take n fee? Nay, only alr costs nothing! For a rupee, then—for rupee | will heal the sore belly and forget to he ashamed for taking such a fee!” “Whither went the Nay show us proof!” objected Darya Khan; and Ismail stood back a pace to scratch his flowing beard and think, “The sahib left this with me!” sald King, and held up his wrist. The gold bracelet Rewa Gunga had given him gleamed in the pale moonlight, “May God be with thee I” boomed all five men together, King jumped to his feet so sudden- ly that all five gave way in of him, and Darya Khan brought his rifle to the port. “Hast thou never seen before?” he demanded, seizing Ismail by th now, one little sahib? front me “Nay, I never saw thee I” of it!” sald King. “What shall new name be? Give ye me a Khan is a title of respect, wish for respect, 1 will call myselt Khan, Name me a village the first name you can think of—quick I” “Kurram,” said Ismall, at a hazard. “Kurram is Kurram I am! Kurram Khan is my name hencefd®- ward! Kurram Khan the dakitar !™ “But where is the sahib who from the fort to talk? asked the man whose stomach ached yet from Ismes. and Darya Khan's attentions to it, “Gone I” announced King. with the other one!” “Went whither? go? my name! Bince 1 good, came Did any see the man collapsed, It is not considered wise to the north of Jumrud to argue with n wizard, or even with a man who only claims to be This man who had changed his very ns almost under their eyes. “Even his other clothes have gone!” murmured one man, he who had poked about among the packs, “And now, Ismail, Darya Khan, one, was 14s when was there ever a dakl- —ft hoki, who had not two assist- 3 w ’ brains far ants at the lea blinder-than-bats-—how patient while his bar tha , ind yet another makes the hot Have ye never soe one boils Ye iron ready?” “Ave! Aye!” They had both seen that often. “Then, what are ye?’ They gaped at him. Were they work wonders rork Were * er +] of the mira To07! the 3 ty part and parc ng them, ¥ King dawn behind Ismall’s » was winning mo 1 “Look again! He turned his head, to show his face | in profile, “Nay, 1 “Thou, then! The Thou!" They all denied thee! never saw Thou with the belly! si! ever sown | having S80 he stepped back until in his face and the pulled off oon | shone full the same time, “Now look!” “Ma'uzbillsh! (May God pre toed “Now ye know me? 11 yelled elf by the “Heoyoo-vopl” 4 olire ging hin ning to dance from side What said 17 elbows $ Ran fod ot this Is a ected things? Sale the leathe n cp magic In ’ i often und the magic grew 3 Heeo-yee-yee! Imok at him! s such | ‘cunning! Feel him! He Iz a good one—good ! Three of the others and | grinned, now that their first shork of | surprise had died away. The f« man poked among the packs, was little to see except teeth and the white of eyes, set In hairy faces in the mist, 3ut Ismail danced all by himself among the stones | of Khyber road and he looked like a | bearded ghoul out for an airing. “Hee-yee-yee! She smelt out one! Hee-yee-yee! This was shook It Smell " stood rth | There | gleaming | i | i a good | is a man | irer, He knew weeks vay h! Nay, nay firmly on their bellies their shoulders—thus—when behind! Nay, 1 will ain 4 man, the drink py LOS A are cess pool I" “And I will study how to heat said Darya Khan, with “It is likely that, worked for a blacksmith once, I learn quickly! Phaughghgh! frons I” grim saats (Epsom salts)” He spat, too, in a very fury of remi- nizcence. “Good I” sald King. “Henceforward, then, I am Kurram Kban, the dakitar, and ye two are my assistants, Ismail to hold the men with bolls, and Darsa Khan to heat the irogs—both of ye to be my men and support me with words when need be!” “Aye!” sald Ismail, quick to think of details, “and these others shall be the tasters I™ vA LEN TYING In a Few Minutes His Whole Face Was Darkened to One Hue, and Charles Stepped Back to Look at It after my heart! Hee-yee-yee! God preserve me to see the end of this! This one will show sport! Oh-yee-yee- yoo!” King watched the faces of the other four men. He saw them slowly waken to understanding of what Ismail meant by “worker of spells” and “magic in the bag” and kpew that he had even grenter hold on them now than Yas mini's bracelet gave him, “Ma'‘uzbillah 1” they murmured as Is mail's meaning dawned and they recog- nized a wagiclap In their midst, “May God protect us!” “May God protect ine! I have neod % “We will not drink the medicines” the man who had a stom- “Nay, nay!" But Ismail hit him with the back of in the stomach agaim and away, “Hee-yeeyee!” until the Jackals joined him in discontented chorus and the Khyber pass became full of weird howling. Then suddenly the old Afridi thought of something else and eame back to thrust his face close to King's. put, sahib? ter!” ‘Hills’'?" asked King one miracle can work another. Change Hillman “Aye!” King laughed. "And fall heir to n blood-feud with every second man I chance upon! Better be a converted Hindu and be despised by some than have cousins in the ‘Hills'! Is that clear, thou oaf?” . “Aye! Thou art more cunning thgn any man I ever met!" The great Afridi began to rub the tips of his fingers through his straggly heard In d way that might mean aay thing, and King scemed to draw con siderable satisfaction from it, as if it were a sign language that just then he nevded a friend and he certainly did not propose to refuse such a useful ole. ; “And,” he added, as If it were a ufterthought, instead of his chief refi« son, “if her special man Rewa Gung is 2 Rangar, and is known as a Ran- gar throughout the ‘Hills,’ shall I not the more likely win favor by being a Rangar too? If 1 wear her bracelet and at the same time am a Raagar, who will not trust me?” “True!” agreed Ismail. “True! Thou art a magician I But the moon was getting low and hour, for the great crags in the diss i | “Kurram Kahn Is My Name Hencefor. ward! Kurram Khan the Dakitar!™ off mor} ils. Tl:s r thicker. It was nd bring “Stolen nodded. * holes at the | me if I ride 1 “Aye!” said Ismail, hurryi “Now." he nnd swinging iato knows the way to Khinjan?” ple? oo Basa Hg thering the saddle, “Which of us does not?” “Ye all know Then ye all ara border thieves and worse! No horest man knows that road! Lead on, Darya Khan, thou Lord of Rivers! Forward march!” So Darya Khan led the way with hig rifle, and King's face glowed in cien- rette light not very far behind him nus he legged his horse up the narrow track that led porthward out of the Khyber bed. It would be 8 long time before he would dare smoke a cigar again, and his supply of cigareites was destined to dwindle down to nothing before that day. But he did not seem to mind. “Cheloh I” he called. "Forward, men of the mountains! Kuch dar nahin hai I" “Thy mother and the spirit of a fight it? of him, stepping out like na boy going to a picnic, “She will love thee! Allah! She will love thee! Allah! Allah ™ The thought seemed to appal him. For hours after that he climbed ahead in silence, Comes the big adventure for King—he arrives at the entrance to Kinjan caves and learns he must prove he has slain an Eng. lishman before the guard will admit him. (TO BE CONTINUED) Hailstorm Insurance in Germany. Hallstorm insurance is more exten. 45 years the German hall Insurance companies have collected the enormous sum of 1L144.790000 marks (mark 238 cents), in premiums, and have
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