Adventure Magazine Cover — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

116 tear them out like the savages and devour them to make medicine. You are a foul, cowardly half-breed, more red than white.” “T have the blood of kings in my veins!”’ he shouted in the words he had used on board ship. I laughed in his face, and Ta-wan-ne-ars joined in. Murray stormed in vain. I heaped ridicule upon his claims until cynical amusement appeared in de Veulle’s eyes, for the man’s conceit was fantastic. “My mother was a Home of—’” he as- serted finally. ‘“T dislike to speak ill of any woman,” I cut him off; ‘“‘and certes I could weep for the grief of her who conceived you, whatever she was. But I make no doubt she was some Huron squaw.”’ His face went dead white. “I was pleaded with overlong to spare you,” he said in accents so cold that the words fell like icicles breaking from the rocks. “Iam glad I resisted.” “You were never tempted to yield,’ I assured him. “T shall give orders now that your tor- ments be the most ingenious our savages can devise,” he returned. “T doubt it not,” I said. “You will die in much agony,” he con- tinued placidly. ‘‘Nobody will ever know of your taunts. And I—” his vanity flared up again “T shall die a marquis and a duke.” “And a convicted criminal,” I added. He murmured something to de Veulle and walked away, the savages moving from his path as if he were death in person, for indeed they feared him, more even than they feared Black Robe and their own ac- cursed priests. He was the master of all. “SO YOU are to be chief torturer, monsieur le chevalier?”’ I remarked to ® de Veulle. “Even so,” he agreed. “There could not be a fitter,” I said sym- pathetically. “T thank you for your appreciation,” he replied. “Yes,” I reflected aloud, ‘‘unless it be at small-swords or in fair fight with any wea- pon, you should make a fair executioner. *Twas an excellent butcher was spoiled in the modeling of you.” But de Veulle refused to be annoyed. “Keep up your spirits by all means,” he Adventure said—and in sober truth, I talked as much for that as to plague my enemies. “You will need them anon. I have instructed the savages to give you the long torment. You will be still alive this time tomorrow. Think of it! Your Iroquois friend knows what that means—an eyeless, bloody wreck of a man, begging to be slain! Ah, well, you would blunder in my way.” “T thought it was Murray’s way,” I answered. “Tis all one. And after all, as you must know, Murray is no more than a pawn in our plans.” “He would enjoy hearing you say so.”’ “He never will—and you will not be able to tell him when next you see, or rather, hear him.” He beckoned to the Cahnuaga chief. “Let loose your people,” he ordered, and stepped back. The Cahnuaga put his hand to his mouth, and the high-pitched, soaring notes of the war-whoop resounded through the air. And as if one directing center ani- mated them all the thousands of savages closed in on us, yelling and _ shrieking, weapons menacing, feet pounding the measures of some clumsy dance. They swirled round and round us, those who could get nearest dashing up to the stakes to mock at us or threaten us with words and weapons. Nobody touched us, but the strain of constantly expecting physical assault was nerve-racking. Ta- wan-ne-ars smiled serenely at them all, and when he could make himself heard, returned their threats. This continued for along time. Twilight was at hand before they dropped back, and a select band of young warriors began to exhibit their skill with bow and arrow, knife and tomahawk. Arrows were shot between our arms and bodies; tomahawks hurtled into the posts beside our ears; knives were hurled from the far side of the open space, so closely aimed that their points shaved our naked ribs. Once in a while we were scratched; the handle of a tomahawk, poorly thrown, raised a bump on my forehead. And de Veulle, squatting on the ground with a knot of chiefs, ap- plauded the show. It went onandon. New forms of mental torture were constantly devised. Darkness closed down, and the fires beside -the stakes were lighted. I was in a daze. I CORNICGLOO© SS (C@