Talbot Mundy

“ We sat there on the qui vive, listening to Grim's snores, and peering in turns around the rock that blocked two-thirds of the cave-mouth; and when we conversed at rare intervals it was more of the dreams than of how Grim came to be there. Narayan Singh you might say is a specialist in such matters, accepting as obvious facts what to the West would seem crazy theories.
“The dreams mean this, sahib,” he said after a while. “We shall rescue her. Nevertheless, whatever plan we make will be a bad one, leading only to more bloodshed; whereas the true plan will be unfolded by the Gods. ”

“ They will never get home. There are too many tribes on the watch, and no friends anywhere! And if they did reach home, they would find the Afridis waiting. Show me that Tooth of the Prophet, sahib. Bless me with it! I have in mind to loot a few Waziris before too many Pathans get the first pick!”
Grim thought a minute, then produced the “Prophet's Tooth.” It looked as if it had been in a rain-washed skull for centuries. He had it folded in a piece of paper, on which was some writing in Persian characters, and he held it carefully, giving Akbar bin Mahommed no more than a glimpse of it. ”

“ The wind began blowing half a hurricane, whistling into our cave and drowning out most other noises; but once in a while we heard sniping, and twice a yell reached us that told some one had hit the living mark, or missed.
Grim slept on. He can worry, too, but seldom when he has faced a situation and made up his mind on a course; so I judged by the calmness of his sleep that he had fully decided what to do and was characteristically storing up strength for the effort.
AFTER a while Narayan Singh crept out and climbed a crag, from which to get a better view of the locality. ”

“ Joan Angela nodded.
“Attempts to rescue me,” she said, “can only lead to more fighting, of which there has already been too much. Yet if I agree to pay the ransom, that will only lead to more kidnaping; and I do not choose to be responsible for that either.”
All this while, in the dream, some one—Akbar bin Mahommed, I suppose—was sitting in the cave-mouth keeping watch, but making no comment, as if the whole proceedings were entirely in order. Narayan Singh appeared particularly undisturbed, but even more than usually thoughtful. ”

“ Grim turned to me and spoke in Arabic, which might as well have been ancient Greek as far as Akbar bin Mahommed was concerned, although he could mouth a few Koran texts from memory.
“I don't care to meet Kangra Khan before dark,” he said. “That night when he first called on us the fire was between him and me, but even so he might recognize me, even with my teeth out. I have no plan, except to get word with Miss Leich, and if possible to discover what Kangra Khan intends. He may march tonight. As soon as it's dark you two go as close as you dare. ”

“ In the dream we were squatting down beside her.
“'I go,' said she, 'to the village belonging to these people; and there I think you will find me alive, if you should travel fast enough' And I said in my dream, 'We come, sahiba.' And she said, 'When?' I answered, 'Tonight.' And she said to me, 'That is wisest.' Then the sahib woke me with a blow across the jaw that tingles yet; and lo, Jimgrim was sitting there!”
I hove a great sigh of relief. Not both dreams could be right. My old nurse used to say dreams go by contraries, but even so, both dreams reversed would still remain opposites. ”

“ Being blind, we are unable to do right. Yet going forward, we can not set one foot wrong. We are but agents in these matters.”
I would like to believe him. It would take the worry out of nine-tenths of existence. ”

“ The first shot missed altogether, but announced the sniper's general whereabouts. The second chipped a piece of rock from close beside the Sikh's feet. The third chipped the rock again, a little to the left. The fourth shot was mine. I used Grim's rifle, and it proved to be a very good one.
Narayan Singh returned and squatted once more in the cave-mouth.
“There is smoke a mile away,” he announced, “but the wind blows and spreads it. It is hard to tell exactly whence it comes. It is the smoke of many men.”
I took a turn at scouting, selecting another crag, while Narayan Singh covered me. ”