Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

50 an interminable argument as to disposition of rifles and ammunition, which it was fin- ally agreed should be locked up in Om- mony’s store room. Then the servants had to be sent for and carefully persuaded that the Moplah guard about to be set over them would guarantee their safety, and would not molest them, in Ommony’s temporary absence. Last, but not least, there were the white flag terms to be discussed, and the exact conditions of the safe conduct, which it was agreed in any event were contingent on the soldiers’ good behavior. One way and another, it was dawn before the white flag party left Ommony’s bungalow and plunged into the gloom along a jungle fire-lane. CHAPTER XII “Mahommed Babar wanis a cavalry saber.” mullah’s servant came into the mosque and changed the bandage on King’s head as an excuse for listening to deliberations from which he would normally have been excluded. In theory the mosque is absolutely democratic, but in practise there are tyrannies and sharp distinctions that a man must understand before he can cope with Moslem politics. If the mullah had been there in person his servant would undoubtedly have been excluded. But the mullah, of nécessity, was playing for his own hand. Having-advised the vil- lage elders to oppose the claims and the temperate methods of Mahommed Babar, he could ill afford to continue to advise them in their hour of defeat. the village he had seen them driven forth by the Northerner, and had divined, with professional insight into local politics, that jealousy among themselves had practically made Mahommed Babar a gift of the leader- ship. So he sent the servant to change the bandage on King’s head, King being another Northerner and therefore very likely des- tined to «be the first one’s ally. And as for himself he took the obvious course—en- tered the house and the room assigned to Mahommed Babar’s use, and waited. His servant came first, reported that King’s head was a great deal better, and gave an almost phonographic account of Mahommed Babar’s final victory in the On his way down. Adventure mosque; so that when the Northerner him- self arrived, striding down-street with the peculiarly even motion of a man long used to spurs, and entered the house with his handsome head bowed gloomily, the mullah was well posted. “Are you rested? Have you bathed? Permit my servant to trim your honor’s beard and nails,” the mullah suggested, rising and bowing. Mahommed Babar stroked his beard and eyed the mullah for a moment in critical silence, well aware of the man’s unstable friendship—equally aware of the mullah’s possible importance as an ally, if wisely managed. Nothing for nothing is the universal law of politics, with its practical opposite quid pro quo. In the East there are symbols, still continuing, that have their counterpart in Western decorations and honorary titles. “Bring me a saber,” said Mahommed Babar. “A cavalry saber, clean and sharp, the heavier the better.” The mullah understood. He was ac- cepted. Subject to Mahommed Babar’s overriding authority, his influence was likely to be greater than ever. An orthodox leader of rebellion—rare, but oh how wise! The mullah bowed, and almost visibly be- gan to plan small indignities for his political . rivals. “What became of the Northerner whose head was injured when the scouts surprized him in the night?” demanded Mahommed Babar. “Your honor refers to Sirdar Mahommed Akbar Khan?” “Tf that is his name. him?” “He has been in the mosque all morning.”’ Mahommed Babar started almost im- perceptibly. ; “Unconscious?” “No. [had his head dressed. He recovers. He is anxious to speak with your honor.” Mahommed Babar began to pace the room, chin forward and hands behind him, to and fro, to and fro, wrestling with in- decision. ‘There were moments when his fine teeth and hard eyes gleamed with an iron resolve, followed almost immediatély by a different interpretation of the same impulse. Once or twice he stood, and held his dark beard in both hands as if about to What became of tear it in the Eastern expression of dis- tracted grief. Gomichbooks (E(0)