The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

646 Like mountain sheep they clambered up the almost precipitous side until they reached the summit. called a brief halt to let his men regain their wind and also to search the hills for signs of any of the Waziri outposts. But his glasses revealed no sign of human life. A lonely chikor with drab body and brilliant head showed sil- houetted for a moment against the mo- notonous peaks; a few black or brown birds soared high above them, and at their coming a little seesee bird flew hastily away—of other signs of life there were none. Andy gave the word to march and they set off at a quick pace across the boulder-strewn crest in the direction of Kajari Kach. There was no time to be lost if they were to reach the ambush in time to be of effective as- sistance in preventing the massacre and looting of the political and his escort. No word was spoken, but all eyes were skinned to search every inch of: the hill-country where an enemy might lurk in hiding, and each man held his rifle ready for instant use. Hour after hour they continued on their way. To their left they could finally make out the white walls of Wano, and each man silently mur- mured a threat of vengeance against its proud and bloodthirsty ruler. They headed more to the right, so as to give it the widest possible berth. The castle fort stood jauntily perched upon the topmost peak_of a glistening, snow-decked crag and showed clear to the-naked eyes for many miles. From its lofty walls the country for many miles round about it could be watched, and they, knowing sentries were on its walls day and night to give timely warning of the approach of danger, crept doubled up so as to avoid being seen. Their khaki uniforms made them almost invisible at such a distance— but Andy was taking no chances. Toward sunset they came to the ridge above the road which winds Here Andy: THE ARGOSY. along the side of the mountain, fol- lowing the course of the Ag¢hzhmanda. It was here that the Waziri were sup- posed to be lying in wait for the bun- niahs, and it was here that the polit- ical and his escort would come at daybreak on his way to interview Sher Afzal at Wano. Carefully hiding his men among the boulders so as to watch the road and the hills, Andy prepared to wait the course of events. Night descended bleak and cold, and they shivered in their heavy woolen overcoats, but each heart burned warm and fierce for the fray. Silently they watched and listened. While half of the men dozed as they lay, the other half maintained a strict guard to: prevent being surprised. Andy and the subadar held whispered council during the dreary, watches of the night and finally agreed upon their plan of attack. Shortly before the coming of day Andy was awakened from a light sleep by a touch upon his arm. A _ sepoy had crawled on his belly like a snake to where Andy and the native officer were stretched out flat beneath the shelter of an immense boulder. “ Sahib! ” the man whispered glee- fully, “there are sounds of men ap- proaching—somewhat to our right. I hear their footsteps and light conver- sation.” Andy motioned to the man to return to his post and awaken the others in case of emergency, while he crawled silently over to a boulder which over- looked a native track leading to the road from Wano. Presently his listening ears caught the sounds of light footsteps coming down the path, and a few minutes later some twenty fierce-looking hills- men passed in single file before his watchful eyes. Each man carried a modern rifle— the gift of diplomacy and tact of the political officers, who thought it well to arm these heathen robbers, so that they might aid in maintaining order long COMicdoo S CO@