Adventure Magazine Cover — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

858 impossible—an unwounded, full-grown male lion to be delivered to them alive! The killing of a lion is child’s play compared with his capture unhurt. But Lobengula could not well refuse their demand. He called the Insukamena, a regiment of young warriors whose name signified “always ready,” to the royal kraal. These young warriors were a boastful lot of hot-blooded dandies always clamoring for war with the whites and believing them- selves invincible. : When they arrived before the King he received them with grand ceremony. The young warriors spread their shoulders with pride, and a cry of approval passed over the admiring onlookers. The King’s hand rose in a token of silence and, when all was still, he said in a smooth, deep voice: “Invincible Insukamena, we have at last found a deed worthy of your prowess. Your dauntless courage can save the country from its worst enemy. Are you ready?” ‘““We are, O King!” “Then we shall confer upon you the honor of obtaining the medicine for the Rainmakers, who will then save the land from burning up.” , ““They shall have a white man’s heart!” cried the induna of the Insukamena. ‘Not that is wanted,” said the King. “The Rainmakers must have a full-grown, live, male lion, unhurt and unscratched. Go to the Samabula forest and bring back our need!” This command took the enthusiasm out of the “Invincibles,” and the King, who hated pretense, showed his glistening teeth inasmile. There was nothing for the young warriors to do but thank their ruler and depart on the commission. Many endabas (councils) were held and every possible scheme by which the capture could be made without the destruction of half their number was suggested. Baits and traps were orally devised by the score, but to no avail, for the Matabele knew nothing of capturing live game. At last the chief was struck by a brilliant idea. ‘“‘We will capture the lion,” he cried, “without the slightest danger to one of us!” He then put his plan before them, and they cried in admiration: “‘ You are a great induna, worthy chief of the invincible In- sukamena!”? They took their shields and assegais, and with joyful hearts went to carry out the royal command. Adventure ON THE fringe of the Samabula forest were the kraals of many Ma- shonas, an enslaved and tributary people. The killing of a few thousand or of all of them was of no importance eco- nomically or politically to the Matabele, and was looked on as a suitable amusement for male children. So one night when a white moon lit the earth, the Insukamena, bedecked in their flowing ostrich-feather war-dress, emerged in silence from their kraal and sped like ghosts through the rock-topped kopjes that silhouetted like castle battlements against the silver sky. When morning came the Mashonas were horrified to see surrounding their kraal a wall of beplumed and savage-looking Mata- beles, whose name alone filled their peace- ful hearts with terror. “‘ More taxes?” cried an old chief. they never cease?”’ ‘““More taxes,’”’ answered the chief of the Insukamena, “‘but Death will be collector. “Will We are here to kill you.” “Yes! Here to kill you!’ echoed the warriors, raising the cruel assegais that glis- tened blindly in the early sunlight. Cries of wo rose in the kraal, men rushed hither and thither in frantic alarm, and the women threw their trembling bodies over their children to protect them in a last despairing effort from the blades of the Matabele. “O chief,’ cried the withered old head- man of the kraal, ‘finish us quickly so that our suffering shall be short!” “Poor filth that you are,’’ answered the chief, “‘our proud blades were made for warriors, not cringing slaves! ‘The iron tongues of the Insukamena disdain to taste your blood!”’ ‘“‘We are as brave as any, but unskilled in arms,” cried the old man. of cattle, not of conquest. Loving the arts of peace, we neglected those of war, and fell before the flying iron of the Matabele.”’ ‘Slave! Boastful slave!” cried the young chief. ‘‘We shall put your. courage to the test. We shall show you mercy if you make good your boast. You are as brave as any, you say; then do what such men as the Insukamena do as children; catch a full- grown, living lion unscratched and unhurt, and deliver him into our hands! If you fail, we will slaughter you to a man; if you suc- ceed, you shall be spared.” A cry of relief passed over the prostrate COmiclboolks ‘We are lovers’ CO