Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

Benefit of Doubt he used his influence against the murder of European prisoners. It was in that frame of mind that he approached his village near nightfall. The village was almost empty of inhabitants, excepting women and children, who, how- ever, were creating a prodigious disturbance at the foot of the hill, where the one street entered the jungle. He hurried down-hill to investigate, and was met by Ommony on pony-back, who knew him slightly, and whom he knew very well indeed by repu- tation. “You step down opportunely out of Allah’s lap,’ said Ommony by way of greeting. ‘Save these men’s lives, will you! This is a British officer. These are three of his men. The remainder were killed in the jungle, while marching behind me under flag of truce—a bad mistake! Now these idiots of women want to kill the rest of them.” “Where were you all going?” asked the mullah. “To Podanaram.” The mullah thumbed his beads in secret recognition of the wondrous ways of Allah, and launched forth a string of abuse that sent the women homeward. That left some half-dozen old men and cripples, and four or five armed youths who for one reason or another had not accompanied the raiders. The mullah gave Linkinyear and the three men into their charge. Ommony protested. The mullah excused himself, but was as adamant. He said it would cause a bad impression in the village if he acted other- wise, but invited Ommony, as a favored individual, to come to the mosque with him and talk the situation over. Ommony yielded the point temporarily, knowing from experience how vastly easier it is to conduct an argument without an audience. Linkinyear did his best to look cheerful, and encouraged his three remain- ing men by sitting down beside them, ignor- ing rank over their protests.. The mullah took Ommony’s stirrup uphill, and the four Moplahs who had been lent by the chiefs for an escort took to their heels incontinently. Ommony tied the pony to a tree outside the mosque, and a jung whom no one had noticed hitherto, came and sat in the dust beside the animal. The mullah led the way around the mosque and through a gap in the fence into the room whence King had cut his way out with a-saber. The door had not been repaired. _ smoked the whole of it. 61 “Tf your honor will be seated, I will find my servant.” \ Ommony raised no objection. Unless your host, in those parts, commits himself to some extent by supplying food and drink you have small chance of gaining your point. out a cigar—paused—lighted it—smoked— more than half-an-hour, yet it was not politic to arouse suspicion by betraying it. Meanwhile the mullah went into the mosque and sat there. He wanted time to think. He took off his turban and pressed his temples between both hands. Put on the turban again, and knelt in prayer. Laid his forehead on the mosque floor—then rose - and beat his forehead with his fists. Went out and found his servant, but suddenly changed his mind about what he had meant to say. Abused him roundly for looking like a fool, to the shame of his Creator, and then coaxed him, begging him to be discreet. Ordered him into the mosque. Ordered him out again angrily. Called him back. Made him squat down before him. Warned him how Allah is omnipresent—omniscient— knows, hears, sees all things and reads men’s hearts. Bound the servant to secrecy by half a score inviolable oaths—and then sent him downhill to tell the whole party who were standing guard over the prisoners to march all four of them away at once to Podanaram, and to bring him an answer. The answer came back in the shape of a protesting Moplah, who accompanied the servant and demanded to know whether they were to march through the jungle by night. Was the whole world crazy all at once? The mullah told the servant to say yes. The other refused indignantly, because of the danger. The mullah cursed him; then cursed and coaxed alternately; then coaxed —through the mosque door. They compro- mised. The prisoners were to be taken out of the village immediately, sleep wherever there was shelter. Hurry on to Podanaram at dawn. Praise Allah! not compromised himself. He could claim afterwards that he had sent the prisoners along, or that he had not. None had seen him talking through the mosque door, except the servant; he could beat him. He returned to Ommony, who was pacing the room restlessly—had to go out again, however, because he had forgotten in the excitement to tell his servant to bring food. GEomichbooks His host was gone ° He sat down on the bed and pulled ~ The mullah had . (E(0)