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MARCHING SANDS
MARCHING SANDS
BY HAROLD LAMB D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK : LONDON : 1920 COPYRIGHT, 1920, D. APPLETON AND COMPANY Copyright, 1919, by Frank A. Munsey Company CONTENTS I. The Lost People II. Legends III. Delabar Discourses IV. Warning V. Intruders VI. Mirai Khan VII. The Door Is Guarded VIII. Delabar Leaves IX. The Liu Sha X. The Mem-Sahib Speaks XI. Sir Lionel XII. A Message from the Centuries XIII. The Desert XIV. Traces in the Sand XV. A Last Camp XVI. Gr
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CHAPTER I THE LOST PEOPLE
CHAPTER I THE LOST PEOPLE
"You want me to fail." It was neither question nor statement. It came in a level voice, the words dropping slowly from the lips of the man in the chair as if he weighed each one. He might have been speaking aloud to himself, as he sat staring directly in front of him, powerful hands crossed placidly over his knees. He was a man that other men would look at twice, and a woman might glance at once—and remember. Yet there was nothing remarkable about him, except perhaps a singular depth of chest th
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CHAPTER II LEGENDS
CHAPTER II LEGENDS
That evening a few men were gathered in Van Schaick's private office at the building of the American Exploration Society. One was a celebrated anthropologist, another a historian who had come that day from Washington. A financier whose name figured in the newspapers was a third. And a European orientologist. To these men, Van Schaick introduced Gray, explaining briefly what had passed in their interview. "Captain Gray," he concluded, "wishes proof of what we know. If he can be convinced that the
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CHAPTER III DELABAR DISCOURSES
CHAPTER III DELABAR DISCOURSES
Gray had meant what he said about his new job. Van Schaick pleaded for haste, but the army officer knew from experience the danger of omitting some important item from his outfit, and went ahead with characteristic thoroughness. He assembled his personal kit in New York, with the rifles, medicines and ammunition that he needed. Also a good pair of field glasses and the maps that Van Schaick furnished. Balch made him a present of twenty pounds of fine smoking tobacco which was gratefully received
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CHAPTER IV WARNING
CHAPTER IV WARNING
The news of McCann's loss, so important to the officer, Delabar passed over with a shrug. Gray wondered briefly why a man obviously inclined to nervousness should ignore the fact that they were without the services of a trustworthy attendant. Later, he came to realize that the scientist considered that McCann's presence would have been no aid to him, that rifles and men who knew how to use them would play no part in meeting the hostile forces surrounding the territory of the Wusun. From that mom
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CHAPTER V INTRUDERS
CHAPTER V INTRUDERS
It was a hot night. Gray, naked except for shirt and socks, lay under the mosquito netting and wished that he had brought double the amount of insect powder he had. Across the room Delabar had subsided into fitful snores. The night was not quiet. In the courtyard of the hotel some Chinese servants were at their perpetual gambling, their shrill voices coming up through the shutters. On the further side of the street a guitar twanged monotonously. Somewhere, a dog yelped. The warm odors of the pla
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CHAPTER VI MIRAI KHAN
CHAPTER VI MIRAI KHAN
Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain. In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia. It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior. Beyond Liangchowfu are the highlands of Central Asia. In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans
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CHAPTER VII THE DOOR IS GUARDED
CHAPTER VII THE DOOR IS GUARDED
A subdued glow appeared above Gray's head, as the narrow stairs twisted. The glow grew stronger, and he caught the buzz of voices. Cautiously he climbed to the head of the steps and peered into the chamber from which came the light. He saw a peculiar room. It was empty of all furniture except a teakwood chair. The light came through a large aperture in the floor. An ebony railing, gilded and inlaid, ran around this square of light. The voices grew louder. It was clear to Gray that they were in s
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CHAPTER VIII DELABAR LEAVES
CHAPTER VIII DELABAR LEAVES
Gray stooped and felt the dead man's face. It was still quite warm. The priest could not have killed himself more than a few minutes ago. Probably Delabar, in his drunken wandering, had put his foot across the threshold. With a tightening of the lips, Gray straightened and surveyed the inn. It was empty and dark except for a lantern with a crimson shade that hung over the door. Either the people of the place had seen the dead Buddhist and fled to spread the news, or they had given the room a wid
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CHAPTER IX THE LIU SHA
CHAPTER IX THE LIU SHA
Mirai Khan agreed with Gray that it would be useless to stay where they were until dark. They had no food. In spite of the risk of discovery, they must go forward. "If we sleep," the hunter agreed, "we will waken with empty bellies and our strength will be less than now. The time will come when we shall need meat; and there is none here. To the west, we may see a village or shoot a gazelle." Without further delay they unhitched the mules, packing the small remainder of Gray's outfit—a tent, and
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CHAPTER X THE MEM-SAHIB SPEAKS
CHAPTER X THE MEM-SAHIB SPEAKS
It was nearly a week later, on the border of the Gobi, that Gray and Mirai Khan sighted the caravan. The day was rainy. During a space when the rain thinned, the Kirghiz pointed out a group of yurts surrounded by camels and ponies a mile away. Gray scanned the encampment through his glasses, and made out that the caravan numbered a good many men, and that the yurts were being put up for the night. The rain began again, and cut off his view. It was then late afternoon. Both men were tired. They h
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CHAPTER XI SIR LIONEL
CHAPTER XI SIR LIONEL
When Gray returned to the yurt , he found the table set with silver and china containing a substantial amount of curried rice, mutton and tea. This reminded him that he was ravenous, since he had not eaten for twenty-four hours. He did not notice that the girl's hair appeared adjusted more to a nicety, or that she had exchanged the shawl for the jacket of her dress. "You like your tea strong?" she asked politely. In spite of his hunger, Gray felt awkward as he ate sparingly of the food under her
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CHAPTER XII A MESSAGE FROM THE CENTURIES
CHAPTER XII A MESSAGE FROM THE CENTURIES
In his snug quarters Gray slept well for the first time in many nights, feeling the reaction from the constant watchfulness he and Mirai Khan had been forced to exercise. When he turned out in the morning the sun was well up, and the men were breaking camp under the direction of Ram Singh who greeted him coldly. When he inquired for Miss Hastings he found that she had gone on to join her uncle, on a camel with a single attendant. He was forced to ride with the caravan, after sending Mirai Khan b
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CHAPTER XIII THE DESERT
CHAPTER XIII THE DESERT
The next day Gray dispatched Mirai Khan to the amban's yamen to try to hire the necessary camels. He thought it better not to go himself. Without the consent of the Chinese official nothing could be done, as the amban would expect a liberal commission on every transaction in Ansichow. Also the official had a dozen ill-armed and ill-minded soldiery in the town barracks—enough to enforce his authority on Gray, although the Hastings' party was numerous enough to be independent of the Chinese. Gray
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CHAPTER XIV TRACES IN THE SAND
CHAPTER XIV TRACES IN THE SAND
It was monotonous work climbing the dunes that rose to meet them out of the ocean of sand. Added to this was the feeling of isolation, which is never so great as in the wastes of Central Asia. There were no birds or game to be met with. Only once did they hit on water. This was at their third camp, and the camel tracks showed that the Hastings had visited the oasis. Owing to the high altitude, the exertion affected Gray; but he made the best of this necessary evil and pressed ahead. On the fourt
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CHAPTER XV A LAST CAMP
CHAPTER XV A LAST CAMP
Gray had no means of knowing who the newcomers were, but experience had taught him the value of an armed front when dealing with an unknown element. And Sir Lionel's story had excited his gravest fears. Under the American's brisk directions the Mohammedans unloaded the animals and tied them near the well. The stores they carried to the outer bushes. Mirai Khan primed his breechloader resignedly. "Said I not the wild camel tracks were a warning?" he muttered in his beard. "Likewise it is written
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CHAPTER XVI GRAY CARRIES ON
CHAPTER XVI GRAY CARRIES ON
As his friend had predicted, Gray was able to watch his compass by moonlight, within an hour. It was a clear night. The stars were out in force with a trace of the white wisp clouds that hang above a dry, elevated plateau. Sir Lionel was out of the game, and with him the Kirghiz hunters. Gray was alone for the first time since his visit to Van Schaick the evening that he had contracted to find the Wusun. He smiled grimly as he thought how matters had changed. Here he was at the gate of the Wusun
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CHAPTER XVII THE YELLOW ROBE
CHAPTER XVII THE YELLOW ROBE
The man on the sand was silent, staring up at Gray in blank amazement. It was Delabar, thinner and more careworn than before. Shaven, all the lines of his face stood out, giving him the appearance of a skull over which yellow skin was stretched taut—a skull set with two smoldering, haggard eyes. "Speak up, man," growled Gray. "And remember what I said about giving the alarm. I don't know if this costume is a masquerade or not, but—I can't afford to take chances this time." Delabar did not meet h
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CHAPTER XVIII BASSALOR DANEK
CHAPTER XVIII BASSALOR DANEK
Nightfall comes quickly after sunset on the Gobi plain. Waiting until the shadows concealed their movements, Gray and Delabar started toward the city of Sungan. The moon was not yet up. By keeping within the bushes that grew thickly hereabouts, Delabar was able to escape observation from a chance passerby. The man was plainly frightened; but Gray allowed him no opportunity to bolt. "You'll stay with me until I see Mary Hastings," he whispered warningly. A plan was forming in the American's mind—
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CHAPTER XIX CONCERNING A CITY
CHAPTER XIX CONCERNING A CITY
Contrary to general belief, a man does not sleep heavily after two days and nights of wakefulness. Gray had been without sleep for that time, but he was alert, although very tired. Continuous activity of the nervous system is not stilled at once. As soon as Wu Fang Chien left the hall of the Wusun, the American had asked to be permitted to see Mary Hastings. His request was refused by Bassalor Danek. The woman, said the Gur-Khan, was under his protection and could not be seen until daylight. Gra
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CHAPTER XX THE TALISMAN
CHAPTER XX THE TALISMAN
"Poor Uncle Lionel," she said sadly, "he never knew that—the Wusun were here, as he had thought they would be." "He will have full credit for his achievement when you and I get back home, out of Sungan, Miss Hastings." She looked at him, dumbly grateful. Gone was all the petulance, the spirit of mockery now. But her native heritage of resolution had not forsaken her. "Thank you for that, Captain Gray. I—I was foolish in disregarding your warning. I was unjust—because I wanted Uncle Singh to be f
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CHAPTER XXI MARY MAKES A REQUEST
CHAPTER XXI MARY MAKES A REQUEST
The cross was jade, in the shape of the medieval emblem—the Greek cross. Before it burned a candle. Gray stared at it silently while Timur limped forward and trimmed the wick of the candle. "We do not remember the faith of our fathers," the old Wusun said sadly. "But we have kept the talisman. It is not as strong as the bronze Buddha of Wu Fang Chien. We will not give it up, although he has asked to buy it. Truly, no man should part with what was precious in the sight of his fathers." Thoughts c
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CHAPTER XXII THE ANSWER
CHAPTER XXII THE ANSWER
Mary laughed a little unsteadily. Surely it was a strange miracle that her gold cross had worked. She did not think it luck. In her woman soul there was no thought of fate. God's care had shielded the life of the man she loved. Timur was speaking. "Bassalor Danek is well content," she heard. "Beforetimes, he was warmed by the sight of your fairness. But now it is verily a thing assured. Gela, the Kha-Khan, son of my son, commander of the tumani , has conceived love for you. Bassalor Danek has gr
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CHAPTER XXIII THE CHALLENGE
CHAPTER XXIII THE CHALLENGE
He slept little. The fate destined for Mary had come as a complete surprise. It was not strange, he reflected, that Gela should want her for a wife. Nor that Bassalor Danek should approve the marriage. He might have foreseen something of the kind. No wonder the Gur-Khan had taken excellent care of the girl, when she was marked for the bride of his grandson. Gray swore fluently, and vainly. The calmness with which the Wusun had put him aside was irksome. He wished that he had claimed to be the hu
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CHAPTER XXIV A STAGE IS SET
CHAPTER XXIV A STAGE IS SET
"Ho!" cried the voice of Garluk. "It is come." Others caught up the words. "It is come. Gela is ready. One must die!" "One must die," echoed Garluk, "or give way to the other." A quick glance upward showed Gray that Bassalor Danek was leaning forward in his chair. Mary was watching tensely from the group of women. Gray had little time to think. The man who now confronted him was a more formidable adversary than those he had knocked aside. Gela stood, poised easily, his bare sword swinging in a k
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CHAPTER XXV RIFLE AGAINST ARROW
CHAPTER XXV RIFLE AGAINST ARROW
What happened now came swiftly and with little warning. Bassalor Danek, once the die was cast, ceded his authority to Gela. The traditional leadership of the Wusun was the Kha Khan's in time of war. Now, for the first time in generations they were to resist the authority of their gaolers. Gray remembers clearly that Bassalor Danek bade them a solemn farewell standing in his white robe at the foot of the daïs. Then the Gur-Khan, who was impressed with the importance of the occasion, raised his ha
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CHAPTER XXVI THE BRONZE CIRCLET
CHAPTER XXVI THE BRONZE CIRCLET
The girl gave a quick cry. It was answered by a shout from Gela. One of the Chinese fired. The man who was supporting Timur dropped to the ground with a moan, hands clasped to his stomach. Both Gela and Gray sprang forward at the same time. Wu Fang Chien caught sight of them and lifted his rifle. His followers shot wildly, doing no damage in the uncertain light. The mandarin, Gray thought swiftly as he ran, had rallied some of the fugitives at the camp. Possibly he had guessed Gray's intention t
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