Part 57 (1/2)
While the Rangar spoke there came three more earth tremors in swift succession, and a thunder out of Khinjan as if the very ”Hills” were coar suht over the top of Khinjan's upper riles ever perched, there burst a colue, that for a moment blotted out the sun It rose sheer upward, curved on itself, and fell in a e on to Khinjan and into Khinjan valley, hissing and roaring and thundering
Earth's Drink had been blocked by the explosion and had found a neay over the barrier before plunging down again into the bowels of the world The one sky-flung leap it h to blot out Khinjan forever, and what had been a dry mile-wideon the surface
The earth rocked The Hill to memorize all that had been Suddenly it flashed across his ar who had striven like a fiend to stab hi behind him, within a yard
He was up on his feet in a second and faced about The Rangar laughed
”So ends the 'Heart of the Hills!'” he said ”Think kindly of her, sahib She thought well enough of you!”
He laughed again and sprang on the blackcould speak or raise a hand to stop hi the precipice in the direction of the Khyber Pass and India Two of the men who had co collected his men and the women and children It was easy, for they were numb from what they had witnessed and dazed by fear In half an hour he had theo back and loot the ed a dozen o on!”
”He is afraid! The haki let the well that what had unnerved hi They would have no o back without him, and without at least a hundred others, than they would have dared go and hunt in the ruins of Khinjan
Even Is like a fledgling with his beard all new-sprouted on his jaw, and eyes wider than any bird's
”Why art thou here?” King asked him ”Had she no true men ould die with her?”
The Afridi scowled, but choked the answer back
”Art thouasked him But he shook his head
So they e that separates Khinjan fro called a halt, and eating alht of bringing food
They reached the Khyber faiven a certain password and had whispered to the officer coe into European clothes yet, and none of his following suspected hiar on a black one down the pass ahead of you in a hurry,” they told hih Only stopped long enough to make his business known”
”What did he say his business is?” asked King
”He gave a sign and said a word that satisfied us-on that point!”
”Oh!” said King ”Can you signal down the Pass?”
”Surely”
”Courtenay still at Ja nothing”