Talbot Mundy

“ However, we could see the glow of the fire; and at moments, when we wiped our eyes, we could see men, or perhaps women, going and coming.
“They carry the loads out,” said Narayan Singh. “They march tonight.”
No sign of Grim. No sign of Joan Angela. Nothing to show that either she or he was over there. Both, for aught we could prove, were lying dead in the ravine, and about all that we could do was to hope and hang on. Now and then the wind swept down the ravine with such force that it nearly blew us off the ledge, and at last I grew rebellious. ”

“ I said, “is that Kangra Khan may send reliable men to see who the new arrivals really are.”
“Slay them one by one as they come scouting!” the Hillman retorted, brandishing his knife.
“No,” I said. “You must go back to the cavern and tell Kangra Khan that his friends are here and waiting for him to come out.”
“He will not believe me.”
“Trust the Hajji to persuade him.”
“Aye. That is better. The Hajji might come forth, and return, and report favorably. A great fellow is that Hajji. He convinces men!” ”

“ After the third time a man in the cavern-mouth took a firebrand and waved it.
“Now, you fellows!” said King, and with that he gave Narayan Singh his sword and disappeared at once to manage his Waziris.
Then Grim, Narayan Singh and I laid our heads together for a last swift conference.
“They'll come down by a sort of ramp—rough going—that slants downward into the ravine from the right-hand end of the ledge as we face it,” said Grim. “Most of their loads are at the foot of the ramp already, with a few on guard. But there's a path one man can climb at a time, that joins the ramp half-way up. ”