"Thou and I are two men!" answered King. "Allah gave thee qualities
I lack. He gave thee the strength of a bull and a mountain goat
in one, and her for a mistress. To me he gave other qualities. I
shall see the Caves. I am not afraid."

"Aye! He gave thee other gifts indeed! But listen! How many
Indian servants of the British Raj have set out to see the Caves?
Many, many--aye, very many! Again and again the sirkar sent its
loyal ones. Did any return? Not one! Some were crucified before
they reached the place. One died slowly on the very rock whereon
we sit, with his eyelids missing and his eyes turned to the sun!
Some entered Khinjan, and the women of the place made sport with them.
Those would rather have been crucified outside had they but known.
Some, having got by Khinjan, entered the Caves. None ever came out
again!"
"Then, what is my case to thee?" King asked him "If I can not
come out again and there is a secret then the secret will be kept,
and what is the trouble?"

"I love thee," the Afridi answered simply. "Thou art a man after
mine own heart. Turn! Go back before it is too late!"

King shook his head.

"Be warned!"

Ismail reached out a hairy-backed hand that shook with half-
suppressed emotion.