Part 57 (2/2)

”Signal down and ask him to have that bath ready for me that I spoke about Good-by”

So he left Ali Masjid at the head of a rew noisier andto his stirrup, but began to growto the rest

”Youtold hietfulness!”

Ish he see his head more, and at least tried to see none the less, and King found it food for thought

The ex-soldiers and would-be soldiershourly , with each stride that brought them nearer India, more as men do who have an interest in law and order Behind the their babies and their husbands loads; and behind theain were the other women, who had been told they would be overtaken in the Khyber, but who had actually had to run themselves raw-footed in order to catch up

Down the Khyber have cos, and as er host than this ever trudged between the echoing walls The very eagles screamed at theht pardons began to grow sheepish They began to reht after all be a trickster, and to realize how much too friendly-how almost intian to cluster round hi him lead, and by the time they met the farthest outposts up the Khyber they were as nervous as raw recruits and ready to turn and bolt at a word-for no one can be more timid than your Hillman when he is not sure of hiround

Signals preceded thereet the his disguise; and he chose to keep the Hillmen in doubt yet as to their eventual reception But one of the could completely unman him), shouted to knohether it was true that pardons had been offered for deserters, and Courtenay nodded They were less timid after that Some of them pulled medals out and pinned theiven food and their rifles were taken away frouard only consisted of two men, both of ere Pathans, and they assured theh it sounded, the British were actually willing to forgive their enemies and to pardon all deserters who applied for pardon on condition of good faith in the future

That night they prayed to Allah like little children lost and found The wos to their babies over the clear fires and theas moons to weary eyes and they slept at last, to dream of khaki uniforms and karnel sahibs who knew neither fear nor favor and who said things that were so It is a mad world to the Himalayan Hillman where men in authority tell truth unadorned without shame and without consideration-a mad, mad world, and perhaps too exotic to be wholesome, but pleasant while the dream lasts

Over in the fort Courtenay placed a bath at King's disposal and lent him clean clothes and a razor But he was not very cordial

”Tellin the tub And Courtenay told hi him another cake of soap when the first was finished After all there was not uns-and the everlastingly glorious stand that saved Paris and France and Europe

”According to the cables ourthe records one better I think that's all,” said Courtenay

”Then why the stuffiness?” asked King ”Why am I talked to at the end of a tube, so to speak?”

”You're under arrest!” said Courtenay

”The deuce I a care of you uard over you”

”Good of you, I' you, but I'd rather you'd wait The hted ired down to headquarters, and the general himself will be up here by train any ar? Got a black one? Blacker the better!”

He was out of his bath and rear since leaving India Naked, shaved, with some of the stain removed, he did not look like a s with the saltpeterish seneral caet dressed but burst into the bathroom and shook hands with hiatling gun) while King was getting on his trousers, divining each answer after the third word and waving the rest aside

”And why a the ewise

”Oh, yes, of course Try the case here as well as anywhere What does this eneral produced a letter that snized He spread it out on a table, and King read It was Yasmini's letter that she had sent down the Khyber to make India too hot to hold him