Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

6 THE ARGOSY. tain passes. I also have a tale. Will the excellency be pleased to give some small pieces of silver—” The truth of the matter was that Jain Ali Beg had been questioned closely by native non-comissioned officers as to his possession of the rifle and other goods. He realized that if he did not tell a plausible story, he might be held, even arrested. This did not suit him, as he had planned to visit the bazaars of Srinagar and dispose of the remaining articles of John Donovan at profit to himself. He had been driven to journey south from Kashgar by fear. Jain Ali Beg had waited the two weeks. Not at the camp, as he promised John Donovan, but in a ravine some distance away, where he had watched patiently the site of the deserted camp through the tele- scope. If the white man had returned, the native would have fled with his speil. Because of fear of Dono-van Khan, Jain Ali Beg had lingered, feeling something of the impulse which leads criminals te seek again the scenes of their crimes. But when the white man did not reappear a greater fear had seized upon the Sart. He had made his way swiftly south, through the Himalaya passes. Nor had he lingered at Kashgar. Once free of the passes, however, and within the English lines, the Sart reflected upon his situation with satisfaction. He was wealthy now, and he had ne remorse for the abandonment of his master. To the Mohammedan mind crime is a negative quality. When all human actions are de- termined by fate, how is one man to be held responsible for his actions? Fraser-Carnie was too experienced to offer Jain Ali Beg any money, but the Sart, for reasons of his own connected with the freedom of his person and possession of Donovan’s goods, was anxious to show a clean slate. His master, a white man, he said, had disappeared. Fraser-Carnie was interested inasmuch as Rawul Singh had mentioned the rifle and other articles, and Jain Ali squatted on the floor of the bungalow to tell his story. He repeated, on the whole truthfully, what had taken place at the shore of Issyuk Kul; but added that he had waited faithfully at the camp, as he had promised John Donovan, and laid great em- phasis on the fact that his master had said that he was to keep the rifle and other things. _ The surgeon scanned the Sart keenly by the insufficient light from the lamp. Blue. eyes fathomed brown, and the native shifted his gaze. Fraser-Carnie leaned forward. “This caravan that your master fol- lowed,” he said slowly, ‘‘ you do not think it was an ordinary caravan?” Jain Ali Beg shook his head and stretched wide the fingers of both hands. “ Excellency—who am I to judge?”’ ‘“‘ Issyuk Kul is not one of the usual trade routes.” “The words of the excellency are as the pure pearls of truth. Nay, it is not wonted. Among the ignorant tribes, andthe low- caste Hindus who wander penniless there- by”—the Sart cast a vindictive glance at Rawul Singh who had not treated him with overconsideration—“ it is said that the car- avan is one of spirits.” Fraser-Carnie snorted and shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘ Because, excellency,” persisted Jain Ali Beg, ‘“‘ the caravan comes from a place that is not, and no man has seen where it goes. It is in my mind that the caravan is a thing accursed. No dogs follow it. H-—are there villages where the caravan goes? Nay, there are none. In the mists of dawn it is seen sometimes by the eastern end of Issyuk Kul.” “Sort of a Flying Dutchman, what?” meditated the surgeon. ‘ Well, no end of weird stories are told by the natives— “ But spirits cannot be seen,” he said aloud. | ‘“ Deno-van Khan saw them, and he fol- lowed. He did not come back.” Fraser-Carnie frowned. ‘‘ Who was your master?” he asked. Jain Ali Beg considered, stroking his beard. “In the bazaars of Bokhara, wherd bhang and opium are exchanged for Chinese silks, I met with Dono-van Khan. He was very drunk, and the bhikras—beggars— were clamorous, excellency. Dono-van Khan was alone and weaponless, but he cComiclbooks.com