Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

O4 Adventure sting-rays, furiously struggling to. drive their gangrenous tail-barbs into the hard- wood shafts. The disgusting things were hurled ashore, where machete-men cut them to ee en the water was declared safe, the five plunged in; the men garbed only in breeches, the girl in her short tanga. A quick swim—with eyes ever open for some vindictive denizen of tropic waters which might have been overlooked—and they emerged refreshed. The last fierce rays of the sinking sun dried their wet garments in a trice. . Then the warriors took their dip and were out again. In the twilight were born the night fires, and to that of José came men bearing good-sized fish which they had ex- pertly speared farther down the lagoon. While these delicacies were cooking, the Americans glanced again down the long line of shelters, before which the slim lances stood erect like deadly sprouts from the erstwhile empty sand. They contemplated the little fires spotting the half-gloom, the squatting or moving figures of fighters, the fleet of canoes resting on the water like un- couth river-beasts patiently awaiting the next day’s move. “Yeah, this here sure feels like the real thing, [ll tell the world,’ approved Tim. “A reg’lar gang o’ he-gorillas, campin’ like doughboys, not hangin’ up in hammicks like navy gobs. Come on, looey, le’s go inspect quarters: see how these guys have got things laid out. Nop Ye’re gittin’ fat and lazy. Aw wal, here’s Noony, all dressed up—got her nightie on and everything. I’d rather walk with her anyways. Come on, Noony—vamos—anda conmigo—looka da soldades—you know. Savvy?” But Nuné laughed at him and sank grace- fully beside José, awaiting her share of the savory fish. Tim snorted, reddened, and sauntered away alone, pursued by the de- risive laughter of José. When the meal was ready he had vanished somewhere among the huts, and a messenger sent to find him returned with the information that he was eating with a sergento and several other warriors. vee IN THE thin light of the young moon, Aillu strode soft-footed to the royal fire and squatted awhile with and José, conferring about future Curac plans. When the pair arose and departed they were grinning. José, catching the inquiring gaze of the Americans, returned it as if weighing something in his mind. After a moment he glanced about in search of Tim. Finding him still gone, he laughed shortly and arose. “Our friend Tim grows restless,” he com- mented. ‘Soon we may show him some- thing of interest. Buenos noches.” He stepped toward the shelter which he and McKay were to share between them. ‘““What’s up?” called Knowlton. José gave no sign of having heard. Reaching his leaf-tent, he squatted, frogged his way inside, and was still. Knowlton frowned. “Tf don’t like that,” he muttered. heard.” McKay nodded, glancing cornerwise at him. Both smoked a minute; finished their cigarets; shoved the coals into the sand. “Look here, Rod,” Knowlton went on, speaking low. “I’m wondering. Does it strike you that things aren’t quite so open and above-board as they might be?”’ “Vou mean 2 McKay moved his head toward José. “Uh-huh.” “How so?” “Well, we’re sort of trailing along in the dark — taking our friend yonder on faith. He hasn’t let us in on his plans since we started. I always like to have a look at what I’m going to do before I do it. You understand.” Another nod, and a silent pause. “And another thing,” Knowlton went on, as if thinking aloud. ‘‘We’re here te get Dave—safe. Friend J. is out to get Dave— safe or otherwise. His main idea is to smash Dave’s outfit. We three come in very handily as smashers. That’s all right —as long as we don’t slip into the position of subordinates and allow ourselves to be used as such. When a fellow begins to as- sume that [Il trail along with my eyes shut I begin to smell around a little, no matter who he is.” Once more McKay nodded, digging a thumb absently into the sand. Their value as gun-fighters was self-evident. So was the fact that the José of today was a man accustomed to commanding the services of others and to subordinating every ether consideration to the development of his little kingdom. These worldly-wise vet- erans were no strangers to the changes “‘He COMICLOOCKS. CGO