Adventure Magazine Cover — page 153: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

: The Temple green niche in this wall showed the position of the temple. “It’s a grassy spot watered by springs,” explained Kilgore. “They keep racing dromedaries and a few horses and sheep there—you’ll pick up the wall in a minute. Found it, have you? It’s walled, of course. Look to the right end of the green spot for the temple—a low tope. ‘The valley has been filled with sand since it was built, so that the dome is now almost below the level of the sands. Those rocky knuckles out in front have kept the sand from encroaching. In ancient times the temple had a view of the whole valley; now they can barely see this two-mile strip of sand—unless they have watchers posted on the hillside behind. They’re too lazy for that, I fancy. They trust to the Mongolian watchman at the southern end, the ce 3 we attended to at dawn. 9? Severn had picked up the temple, a mass of granite melting into the hill behind. It appeared deserted; but moving specks in the walled pasture indicated habitation. ‘In the scene was nothing startling: Every- thing was prosaic, drab, stark mountains and yellow sand, and this abode of man was es in its primitive ugliness. Only en one turned to view the marching pil- lars of whirling sand did the impression come of strangely sinister forces at work. Only when one looked to the far green peaks of the higher Khangais was this impression strengthened by the memory that some- where hereabouts had been the throne of Prester John, whence the Mongol blast had gone forth to burn half the world.* The three returned, joined the Sikhs again, and at sunset the evening meal was made ready; it was a good meal, finishing up the last of the rations. their last legs for lack of fodder, were given the last of the water. - “Tt’s a case of root hog or die!’’ exclaimed ‘Day cheerfully. over yonder behind a wall—and we have to get it. So. we'll probably get it.” “Exactly.” Kilgore produced a cherished English cigaret and lighted it. “Luxuries tomorrow—if we win! Those chaps bring in all sorts of stuff from the outside world. - Two to one we find a phonograph in the main temple hall! If they were not a lazy outfit, and if they had put their brains to *Ghenghis Khan was a minor chief, later son-in-law, of Prester Tol ohn, according to Marco Polo. these brutes lacked initiative. The horses, on “Everything we lack is ~ - Kilgore. of the Ten 143 work, they could have made this place the center of a Mongol horde which might sweep Asia! Tell you what, this place has an in- fluence that’s felt as far south as Tibet; but The mys- terious Esrun——”’ Kilgore checked himself and fell into si- lence. Now, as on one or two previous oc- casions, Severn was conscious of things left unsaid—hints at unguessed influence behind this expedition. The British ruled in Tibet. These Sikhs were ex-Indian army men. Kilgore’s invention of the machine gun had been given to China. Was this one of the numberless outflung protecting arms of the British Empire—not in any sense official, yet none the less with far-reaching political effect—which had been carried into distant places by adventurous men since the days of the East India Company? Severn could find no answer, except in his own imagina- tion. The speculation was interesting, but “You’re going to wait for some word from Fandi Singh?” he asked.. “No.” Kilgore shook his head. The man was perfectly poised as always, yet he was inwardly aflame with a nervous excite- ment. ‘We have enough men here to win or lose—and if we fail to surprize the ten” priests, we lose. If we win, Fandi joins us and we can hold the temple indefinitely against the tribe—until Sheng Wu arrives.” Once again Severn felt that singular un- easiness over the way in’ which Kilgore’s ultimate plans depended on the arrival] of Sheng Wu. his mind. The sun slipped away and was gone. In the valley the whirling sands had died down and the wind ceased. Rifles were cleaned and loaded. .The machine gun was not unpacked, as its chief value was for de- fense. When the long twilight was merging into night Kilgore gave the word to mount. To Severn this final two miles presented a choking tedium, for eagerness was dragging at his soul. No word was spoken; the orders had been given and understood beforehand. Presently the horses sniffed the green oasis ahead and their pace quickened. Mount- ing a sharp rise in the sand, a light appeared ahead—rather, a glow of soft radiance marking the low rounded dome of the temple. “Luminous paint in the tope,’”’ whispered But he thrust the thought from Come ahead!” 2 “A lot of tricks like this inside. Gomicbook (E@)