Adventure Tales #1 by John Gregory Betancourt

Author:John Gregory Betancourt [Betancourt, John Gregory]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Short Stories, Adventure, Fiction
Published: 2011-04-13T23:00:00+00:00

Page 76

"Did I say that? Nay, Kent Sahib is free to ride hence."

Gerald glanced over the plateau behind the tower, where a cluster of huts, fronting the pasture that nestled against a sheer wall of rock rising overhead a thousand feet or so. There was no way out of the domain of Jehan Khan except by the shrine and the trail up which they had come. This was guarded.

Even if they could overcome or steal by the guards they could not hope to escape, with Ethel lame. And they had no horses. Gerald perceived at once that flight was useless.

He reflected that Jehan Khan had not promised thatKent would reach the border alive. The Pathan's acceptance of the money might mean anything--dullingKent 's suspicions, for one. And his tale of a moment ago merely signified that he was so sure of his vengeance that he could afford to make known to the two white men the cause of it.

The vengeance would be all the sweeter, Gerald knew, ifKent was aware of its coming. No bribe could alter the Pathan's purpose. The political agent was doomed as surely as if a Christian court had sentenced him to be hanged.

And Ethel?Gerald went hot, then cold. Alone, the two men might have made a fight of it. Now that was impossible. If she and her husband were to be saved it must be done another way.

"Let the woman and Kent Sahib go unharmed," offered Gerald, "and let thy vengeance be upon me. I will remain. I am the friend of the man. Thou art a bazaar-bom thief and a murderer."

Jehan Khan laughed deep in his throat. "A brave man thou, but a fool. The beauty of the woman holds thee--not I. I have seen it."

"Then," cried the Daktar Sahib, "why didst thou summon me here?"

A direct question, that, and useless.

"Perhaps, Sahib, to witness what is to come to pass this day."

"And that?"

From below the tower came the low voices of men at prayer. Gerald heard theAllah-Akbar chant that is the dawn prayer of the Moslems.

"God is great," echoed Jehan Khan sententiously and that was all he would say. Gerald went to the door of the guest room.

Ethel came to the door and closed it behind her. She had heard his step.

"My husband is asleep," she said. "But I could not sleep. What did Jehan Khan say?"

Instinct told her that Gerald was not assured of their safety. He put aside her question by leading her to an embrasure in the tower wall overlooking the gorge. Sunlight flooded in on her, and the rarefied air brought a flush to her cheeks. The never-ceasing wind whipped strands of brown hair about her forehead.

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