Part 21 (1/2)
”Cheloh!” King called , because horses have an uncanny way of knowing how their riders really feel They ledat their bridles, pressed forward to have their heads aain there would sound the dull thu the attitude of men toward the lesser beasts
They trotted forward until the bed of the Khyber began to grow very narrow, and Ali Masjid Fort could not bedrew rein and dised had he ridden e in the Khyber after dark consists invariably of a volley at short range, with the mere words afterward, and the wise man takes precaution
”Off with the mules' packs!” he ordered, and theon the only rifle in the party, grinned like a post-office letter box
”Truly,” growled Is past expression of a different opinion, ”this lish aloud
”God forbid!”
”Then, off with the packs-and hurry!”
Isan to obey
”Thou! Lord of the Rivers! (For that is what Darya Khan uide), he answered ”Did she not send uide?”
”And before that ast thou?”
”Is that thy business?” he snarled, shi+fting his rifle-barrel to the other hand ”I am what she says I am! She used to call me 'Chikki'-the Lifter!-and I was! There are those ere a, shall any say she lies?”
”I say thou art unpacker of in!”
For answer the fellow grinned from ear to ear and thrust the rifle-barrel forward insolently King, with the movement of determination that a man makes when about to force conclusions, drew up his sleeves above the wrist At that instant the littered in the ht
”May God be with thee!” said ”Lord of the Rivers” at once And without another word he laid down his rifle and went to help off-load thestepped aside and cursed softly To a man who kno to enforce his own authority, it is worse than galling to be obeyed because he wears a woman's favor But for a vein of wisdom that underlay his pride he would have pocketed the bracelet there and then and have refused to wear it again But as he sweated his pride he overheard Isht thee obedience in another bat of the eye!”
”I obey her!” muttered Darya Khan
”I, too,” said Ishood to obey hily man to disobey!”
”I obey hirumbled Darya Khan
”Better for thee!” said Isround, and the mules shook themselves, while the jackals that haunt the Khyber caht out of one of the packs, gave it to Isan to write on a memorandum pad It was a ht was haret 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 circuards by o two mules and their packs Make any use of the mules you like, but store the loads where I can draw on them in case of need
I would like to have a talk with you before taking the rather desperate step I intend, but I don't want to be seen entering or leaving Ali Masjid Can you co your intention known?
It is growing ht to be easy My men will tell you where I am and show you the way Why not destroy this letter?