Part 12 (1/2)
It seemed there was no word in Pashtu that could express their willingness
”We be very, very weary for our Hills!” explained the nearestanswered ”And ye all owe Ali!”
”Uh-h-h-h-h!”
But he knew better than to browbeat them on that account just then, for the men of the North are easier led than driven-up to a certain point Yet it is no bad plan to rein with
”Will ye obeyhis hand on Isain as for any other reason
”Aye! If we fail, Allah do hed ”Ye shall leave this place as my prisoners Here ye have no friends Here ye must obey But hen ye come to your 'Hills' at last? Can one man hold thirty men prisoners then? In the 'Hills' will ye still obey me?”
They answered hiain, threw his right hand in the air
”Allah witness that ill obey!”
”Ah-h-h!” said King ”I have heard Hillmen swear by Allah many a time! Many a time!”
The answer to that was unexpected Isold bracelet to his lips!
In turn, every one of them filed by, knelt reverently and kissed the bracelet!
”Saw ye ever a Hillman do that before?” asked Ismail ”They will obey thee! Have no fear!”
”Kutch dar nahin hai!” King answered ”There is no such thing as fear!” and Is as Aladdin ; ”be ye true ht to be collected first?” he asked, and Ished
”No ave theleanings! They stand in what they own!”
”Then, co his back confidently on thirty savages whom Saunders, for instance, would have preferred to drive in front of hi them handcuffed But when he is not pressed for ti's method
”Each lock has a key, but so has been chosen for many ticklish errands in his tireat iron door into di led them and presentlystones, like night-birds waiting for a ood ones apiece-and food for a week's journey!” he told the astonished Saunders; and he spoke so decidedly that the other ument died stillborn ”While you attend to that forexplanations You look full of news What do you know?”
”I've telephoned all the other stations, andsmiled at him
”If I leave by train d'you suppose she'll hear of it?”
”You bet! Bet your boots! Man alive-if she's interested in you by so er end-”she knows your next twoof your past half-dozen! I crossed her bows once and thought I had her at a disadvantage She laughed at ht of it! You've never h? Never seen her eyes? You've a treat in store for you-and a h you out of countenance the very first time you meet? Co answered, glancing at his watch ”Will you see about their rations, please, and the blankets? Thanks!”