Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

The Blond Spiders 3 Tanuka!”’ he called to a couple of native servants. ——!”’ said Sawyer booting the prone man in the ribs.”” He’s a stiff un all right!” “He’d dance a jig if you'd kiss him,” snapped the Australian, darting an ugly look at Sawyer. “‘Here,”’ he continued to the boys, “‘carry him on to my bed; and, Tanuka, get some hot water. U pesil 4 “What're you trying to give us?” began Sawyer, shooting his chin. But Plessons, ignoring him, had knelt down by the old man and taken off his hat. “My God!” muttered Bodiker. Then, stooping, he stared hard at the fellow’s face. The pupils of the eyes were inverted, and the sun-tanned skin, filthy with sweat and dirt, sagged upon the bony features and prominent nose. From the build of the frame he must have been a powerful man in health. “‘Gosh, he looks mighty bad, doesn’t he?”’ remarked Bodiker, rising with a curious smile on his lips. “TI’ll bet he never comes to.” Then quickly: “He hasn’t been able to say anything yet, has he, Plessons?”’ “Yus, rarver. Didn’t I tell yer, Mr. Bodiker?”’ Bodiker stared, apparently anxious. “Sung us ‘“Iwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!’ Don’t he look it? Here, I wonder what this is naow?”’ He indicated a swelling beneath the left eye which resembled a pustule. “And here’s another lumme, he’s as full of ’em as a donkey’s full of ticks!” “Plague?” queried Bodiker, moving back- ward accompanied by Sawyer “Plague me eye!’’ grumbled Plessons. He rose as two natives came and, picking up the inert body, made for the bell tent. “Say!” exclaimed Sawyer. “None of that! I ain’t goin’ to sleep in the tent wit’ that stiff. Maybe he’s got some kind of a plague like you said. Seen them guys in the Lazar——”’ “Sleep in the ruddy bush then!’’ snapped Plessons over his shoulder. “°S ’nough!”’ whispered Bodiker as Sawyer started truculently after them. ‘That isn’t the plague, man. Can’t be in the middle of Africa.” As Sawyer hesitated, grumbling, came a hail from Tony Westlake reentering the zareba. “Out of luck, Alick!” he called. “But say, who’s Plessons got there? Saw him coming in.” Bodiker explained briefi ay, and they both followed across to the bell tent, where Plessons had already stripped the old man. His body was in a pitiable state; more emaciated than his companion the negro, and literally covered as closely as the measles with angry-looking pustules, some suppurating and emitting a_ horrible stench. : “Poor said Tony sympathetically. “T wonder who he is and how on earth he got in this mess.” ‘““Maybe he had his safari cut up,” sug- gested Plessons, “‘and he’s bin wanderin’ abaht with no food but berries and such like.” ‘Think he’ll come round?” “Dunno. Got a of a temperature. Maybe it’s just fever. Ain’t blackwater anyhow. And them sores ain’t veld sores. Dunno what they are. The black fella’s got a lot too. Here, ol’ man, have a drap 1? o’ this?” With some difficulty Plessons forced some brandy through the patient’s teeth. “Oh, he’s a goner,” said Bodiker, watch- ing him intently. “Oh, I’ve seen fellows looking worse than that pull through,” returned Tony. ‘There, look!’’ At Plessons’ second attempt the eyelids fluttered and followed a faint choking cough as the raw spirit stung the throat. ‘“‘That’s the boy!”’ exclaimed Plessons and fell to massaging over the heart with hot water, soap and permanganate. Without remark Tony walked out and across to his own tent and presently came back with a small bottle of iodine; after dabbing some on the skinny forearm he stuck in a hypodermic needle. “Tf he’s got fever that should bring down the temperature a bit,’ he remarked. ——. wish I’d thought of the needle,” muttered Bodiker as if to himself and, bend- ing low, intently watched the face of the sick man, who indubitably was breathing regularly but faintly. ‘“You’d better go and ’ave chakula, Mr. Westlaike,” said Plessons. ‘‘I’ll look arter him, and if he comes to I'll give yer a shout.” “‘That’s a good idea,’ assented Tony. “But say, where’s the nigger you brought in with him?” “Told Tanuka ter give him some grub. Rummy go,” Plessons added. “Fella’s a ) CoMmiclboolk< A) (© =