left behind. She must have some good reason for wishing to be
first up the Khyber, and he was very sorry indeed she had slipped
away. It might be only jealousy, yet why should she be jealous?
It might be fear--yet why should she be afraid?

It was the next remark of the Rangar's that set him entirely on
his guard, and thenceforward whoever could have read his thoughts
would have been more than human. Perhaps it is the most dominant
characteristic of the British race that it will not defend itself
until it must. He had known of that thought-reading trick ever
since his ayah (native nurse) taught him to lisp Hindustanee;
just as surely he knew that its impudent, repeated use was intended
to sap his belief in himself. There is not much to choose between
the native impudence that dares intrude on a man's thoughts, and
the insolence that understands it, and is rather too proud to care.

"I'll bet you a hundred dibs," said the Rangar, "that she jolly
well didn't fancy your being on the scene ahead of her! I'll bet
you she decided to be there first and get control of the situation!
Take me? You'd lose if you did! She's slippery, and quick, and
like all Women, she's jealous!"

The Rangar's eyes were on his, but King was not to be caught again.
It is quite easy to think behind a fence, so to speak, if one gives
attention to it.

"She will be busy presently fooling those Afridis," he continued,
waving his cigarette. "She has fooled them always, to the limit
of their bally bent. They all believe she is their best friend
in the world--oh, dear Yes, you bet they do! And so she is--so