Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

The King of No Man’s Land 89 “King? Si, I have made myself a king and built for myself a prison.” LATER Nuné told the men the story of her life; of how she had been stolen from her home by the Huambizas; of how a Spanish priest had in- structed her and of how, when he had been killed by the savages, she had gone from settlement to settle- ment, unafraid, her only protection the gold cross given to her by the priest. Further: she admitted that she loved a white man. “He is,” she said, ‘‘a leader of the Huambizas. He owns a gun and is a strong fighter. But he kills only men and will not shrink a head or carry off a woman. His eyes are green. in his hair is a white mark over the left ear. He is called Rana.” “‘Cripes!”’ muttered the Irishman. “It’s him— Dave Rand!” There was no doubt about it and, although the three friends were happy in the belief that their search was nearing an end, José was greatly dis- turbed. The Huambizas were his greatest enemies and, led by Rand, would pe doubly powerful and menacing Lo the peace of his people. “Rand must be made to see reason,” he said, “otherwise he will be killed. ’ ‘Who by?” demanded Tim. “If necessary—by me. Any man who joins the enemies of my people becomes my enemy. And a CHAPTER XV THE KING JESTS OR two days the expedition of the White Ones crawled on with the smooth speed of a great ser- pent. It twisted and wound, sliding downward, ever downward, along dim trails which writhed in curves and bends through the shadowy labyrinth. It started at the first light which would reveal the course to the expert eyes of the scouts; it halted to eat swiftly and sparingly about midday; it stopped again only when night approached. Then it drew its steel and at- tacked the forest, severing poles, shearing great plantain-leaves, clipping and splitting bush-ropes, and transforming them into shelters beneath which it might sleep un- disturbed by rain. In the deepening darkness bloomed many small fires, and with the pungent smoke blended the odor of broiling meat; for, though there was little time for hunting, more or less game was knocked over each day by the scouts up ahead, who allowed no movement below or aloft to escape their quick eyes and who planted an arrow in any luckless turkey or animal within easy range. They did not attempt to carry this game after killing it; they laid it beside the white man who joins the head-hunters is no more a white man. Before Rand are only two ends: Capture or death!” Hard on the discussion which followed came Lieutenant Montez, an agent of the Peruvian Government. Montez offered José complete pardon for the crimes which had sent him into exile, reinstatement and high honors on condition that he helped Peru checkmate Ecuador’s plan to sieze the region east of the Andes and north of the Amazon. It was a tempting offer but José’s answer was: “Say to your commander that I am king in my own land; that I will fight—not as a servant of Peru, but as king of a new nation; that I will re- main. king of my people and king of myself to the end.’ Indignant, swearing to make the Huambizas his alles, Montez was escorted to the borders of José’s kingdom by chosen warriors. And then José hurriedly prepared to make war on the Huambizas, realizing that the existence of his people depended on its successful outcome. The day of departure arrived. The guards doomed to remain at home watched the living stream of José’s warriors, headed by their king, Nuné and his three white friends, pour through the rocky gorge and into the wandering track; watched until the army vanished into the vast green sea of trees beyond. trail and passed on, leaving it to be picked up and transported by men behind. At night they coolly demanded—and received —from those men the choicest meats they had furnished that day. Through the night all slept peacefully, with fires smouldering to thin the mosqui- toes and to taunt any prowling tigres which might snarl hungrily in the surrounding bush. Serenely conscious of the facts that they still were in their own land and were too strong to be assailed by man or beast, they gave scant heed to the night noises. Least concerned of all was Nuné; and well she might be. After facing the prospect of making her way alone through the wilder- ness, she now found herself sleeping in the royal hut and protected from all danger by four very capable white men, while all about her rested scores of other formidable fighters. “Tt is not as you feared it would be, is it, girl?’ José twitted at the first night’s camp. “Instead of walking alone, you have more men than any woman of this land ever had before. Every Huambiza woman will envy you when you tell the tale.” “‘Nuné did not fear,” she denied. “Pi- atzo cares for his servant. Yet you are good men, and it is pleasant to walk with you.” COmMicloookSs.G© S|