The Drum

By: A.E.W. Mason

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The treacherous kingdom that lies between India and the Hindu Khush was marred by raids, blood feuds and a trade in slaves. When the Khan of Tokot invites the British Government to send a small mission to the region, Captain Frank Carruthers is considered the ideal candidate. Carruthers is made aware of the volatile atmosphere along the Kingdom’s borders. But he becomes intrigued by the legend of the Yudeni drum. According to local myth, the drum lies on the tower of the Khan’s fort and a phantom drummer can be heard beating a haunting rhythm. Disaster befalls all who see the ghostly beater. Captain Carruthers is unconvinced and determined to find out the truth behind the drum. The Author: Alfred Edward Wooley Mason was born in 1865. He was educated at Dulwich College before being sent up to Oxford University. Once his formal education was completed, Mason went on to become an actor. He began his writing career with historical fiction and then moved into the arena of politics, becoming a Liberal Member of Parliament for Coventry in 1906. But his love of writing carried on and Mason developed his style to incorporate detective fiction, introducing one of the earliest fictional detectives, Inspector Hanaud, the Gallic counterpart to Sherlock Holmes. His detective fiction contains material clues and spontaneity. Throughout the course of his life he produced over thirty titles.