Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

38 pride. They are willing to slay the infidel and to circumcise the idolater, but they are backward in prayer and fasting, and in alms-giving less eager than these stones.” So for an hour they talked, eating chu- patties swallowed down with drafts of cows’ milk (for the plundered Hindu cows were lowing for relief, and thé villagers were not so unmindful of their mullah’s needs as: he chose to maintain. ) King’s art—his whole art—consists in being all things to all men, as that arch- strategist the apostle Paul advised, so as he talked the mullah warmed to hin, calling him “my son,” drinking in the absolutely simple proverbs that had fallen from the lips of Sidiki ben Suliman, deceased, won- dering at his broad humanity, chuckling at his shrewdness, more and more patronizing him and, as he patronized, delivering him- self bound and helpless into King’s net. King asked no questions. Whoever has watched a lawyer examine even a willing witness must know that direct interrogation is the surest way to get the facts confused. He was simply sympathetic; not so flatter- ing as friendly; willing to be waited on and accorded deference, but much more pleased to render service if that could be done with dignity. He owned the key that opens all doors in the world, and the oil that prevents the telltale squeak of hinges. “Your honor is acquainted. in the North. Do you know Mahommed Babar?” the mullah demanded at last. The really im- portant subject must come to the surface, as a cat knows when she camps near a mouse- hole. King was at least as cautious as a cat. “Who is he? What of him?” he coun- tered. “We came and worked for Ommon-ee, who is mad but has been blessed by Allah with compensating gifts. He ran away from Ommon-ee and came to us; and my servants brought me word last night that he sets himself up as a leader.” “What does he look like?’”’- King asked, avoiding the direct question. “T have not seen him. He advises one course, whereas I have all along insisted on the other. I say, raid and plunder. We have always done it—always. We have met defeat, because of dissention generally, but we have always kept the plunder, for our villages are inaccessible. Hindu women make good wives when their cursed super- stitions have been whipped out of them. Adventure The Moplah nation has grown to be a mil- lion strong because Allah has blessed us with the daughters of our enemies. I say, Raid in the name of Allah! This Mahom- med Babar from the North says otherwise. What doe’ your honor think?” “T think,’’ King answered. “Tn Allah’s name think quickly, then, for Ineed advice! It is not good that a stranger should upset my authority. If he has valu- able counsel for us, that is well, but he should address it to me first. Then with my approval it can be passed on by the elders.” “He lacks manners,” King agreed. “Your wisest course is to arrange for me to have private word with him. Meanwhile, if you think his advice is bad——” “It is the advice of an ape in the tree- tops!’’. . “vou may say there is another here from the North, whose advice may prove different.” “Excellent! Excellent! And you will say nothing without my sanction?” “T will discuss each syllable with you in advance!” @=se4q, KING entered the mosque and lay Saeee) down in the cool, clean interior. The mullah departed, blessing him. He had let enough time go by to preserve his dignity and now, with a wonderiul new ally in reserve, whom Allah must have sent for the express purpose of upholding traditional authority, he could afford to approach the raiders and highhandedly “demand to know.” Incidentally, of course, he would make a few inquiries as to the share of the loot that was due him, and would look the prisoners over—males first, of course, in the name of Allah, for likely converts. Females second, not quite so perfunctorily, in the name of prudence, since he had but two wives. And because some of them wished to avoid the mullah, whose prayers were doubtless excellent but whose appetite for percentages was insatiable; and because it was the custom; and because there was no- where else where men could talk at that time of day without being overheard by women (which is always inconvenient) gos- siping parties of two and three, with an eye for the mullah as they made a circuit of the house, began dropping in to the mosque and squatting face to face on kaskas mats. It was reasonable that King should lie comichooks (Eo)