Adventure Magazine Cover — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

The Temple of the Ten joined them at the fire. “Are you- quite sure, Sheng Wu, that you found no indica- tion of Kilgore and Day? You. haven’t lied for the sake of lending us hope?” “They were not there,” answered the son of Han. ‘Nor was there any sign of them.” “Then they are alive, and we shall go back to find them,” said Sir Fandi Singh, his voice ringing more firm. “But how?” questioned Severn. “One must have supplies, camels, men, money ad The white teeth of the Rajput flashed in the shadows. Sheng Wu smiled blandly. “T think,” said the latter, “that we shall find Shansi bankers in Urga. And any Shansi banker in China will honor the check of Sir Fandi Singh in any amount.” “They had better,” said the Rajput Severn struggled for readjustment. He had not known that the Rajput was wealthy _—had never thought about it, in fact. Presently he nodded, for his heart was with the two men who had vanished sO completely. “Good,” he said. ‘Then we shall gO. I’m sorry you were so frank to own your fear of that place, Sheng Wu. You're a fine leader, and these Manchus certainly respect you—and both Fandi and I owe you a lot. LI wish you would go back with us; but there’s no use asking you, I suppose.” Sheng Wu had been very frank, indeed, in expressing his fedr of that place. Now he produced his long tobacco-pipe, stuffed black tobacco into the tiny steel bowl, lighted it at the fire and smoked until the few puffs were gone. Then he-smiled. “Well,” he observed, “I do rather wish you fellows would ask me, you know!” There was an- instant of silence; then the voice of Sir Fandi Singh rang out like a trumpet. - « “By the sin of the sack of Chitor—we three are men! Then it’s settled.” And Severn nodded, almost happily. CHAPTER IX _ THE CAPTIVES © nadine weeks after the conquering yet conquered caravan of Sheng Wu had turned its face toward Urga, a party of five Mongol horsemen came riding through the defile to the lake of singing fishes—the lake 155 presided over by the mysterious Esrun. These five had a companion, a captive, whose wrists were firmly bound behind his back. This captive had suffered a horrible fate. Over his body to the waist had been loosely bound a fresh hide, in which had been cut three holes; two, to permit the passage of his arms, the third, opposite his mouth, to permit his eating and drinking The sun had dried and shriveled this Skin } until it had become, as it were; an outer epidermis. Beneath it the unfortunate man was blind, deaf, insensible to any out- ward change. Sometimes a wretched vic- tim has been known to be sewn into a fresh skin and left in the desert sun until the shrinking skin killed him. This captive, however, had not been granted so merciful a fate. These six riders came in silence. They were filthy with all the dirt of unwashed Mongols, yet certain of them possessed gray or blue eyes, and on one the hair was decidedly tawny. They were members of the Darkan tribe which Sheng Wu _ had scattered afar. ened of this place; they rode in fear, their eyes searching grass and lake and crags with swift glances. Yet they rode on toward the lake, not pausing until they drew rein at the shore. There, as one man, they watched their horses. ‘These sturdy Mongol ponies had “no fear, but sniffed the water, strained eagerly toward it. ‘The five riders glanced at one another, exchanged a quick nod of . satisfaction and dismounted. The captive,” who perceived nothing of what passed around him, remained’ in his saddle as his mount leaned down to the water. Nor did his captors pay him any regard. Heedless of their beasts, likewise, the five Mongols seated themselves on the bank, produeed dirty pipes of various kinds, and . smoked. At length one of them spoke. He did not address his comrades. Instead, Obviously they were fright he looked out at the lake and spoke to the ‘ invisible Esrun. “We have obeyed your ‘orders, sabliene ancestor!” He checked himself abruptly, upon his brutish face an expression of intense aston- ishment, while he stared at the lake. After a moment he turned to his companions. “Esrun commands us to make our re- port without Seen. Can any of you do this?” = = = CoOmichook (E@)