Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 19, 1924 — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

626 poons. When you are gone, I will put out, paddle straight to the point, and give you the iron harpoon. The Indians will never know. Then, my big boy—” Her voice faltered. She leaned toward him weakly. He rove one of his great arms about her, drew her tight. Then he kissed her. V. Gray figures flitted here and there along the beach. Upshore, a fire gleamed. Gravely the old men of the council passed the elk bone spear from hand to hand, then dispatched a young brave to carry the spear to the giant white man who stood upon the beach alongside a frail, skin covered canoe. The brave took a look in the canoe to satisfy himself that the white man had-no gear or weapon, then handed over the spear. Dode thrust off the canoe, climbed in, and with a powerful swirling stroke of the paddle shot the frail craft out into the dark- ness. Swiftly the young brave returned to the fire. “Yah-ka klatawa,’ he said. ‘‘ He . is gone.” | From the darkness, Ya-ada appeared, and elbowed her way through the throng. One withered hand she held above the flames. In her grasp were three hairs from a human head. Her thin lips moved as she uttered her heathen incantation. Then she dropped the hairs into the flames where they writhed an instant and dissolved into nothingness. “¢ Now he will surely die,” said Ya-ada. Down the beach a distance, Olo waited. When she heard the sound of the dipping paddle, she turned, flew down the shore. A distance beyond the border of the village, a canoe lay drawn up in the shelter of some brush. In the bottom of this canoe lay the rusted old harpoon. Olo laid hold of the canoe and started to shove it toward the water. Just as its prow touched the water, three Indians sprang from hiding, laid ungentle, brutal hands upon the girl and dragged her fighting like a_ wildcat toward the fire where the council were still gathered. In amongst the redly silhouetted figures they thrust her. “It is as we said,” de- clared one of the braves. “ We were watch- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, ing. We saw her place the iron spear in the canoe. She would have gone to his aid but for our watchfulness. Guttural words passed the lips of the council. Finally Toltoem spoke. “For this act of treachery, white girl, you shall be punished. The old women of the village shall paint your face black, the color of lies, treachery. You shall be taken away to the hills of deep snow. There, under guard, you shall stay until the next season of the killing of a whale. If you try to escape, a spear thrust shall set you free.” Many hands laid hold of the wretched girl. She was dragged into a nearby cabin, the door slammed shut and propped in place. As sign and symbol of her perfidy, the iron harpoon that had been found in her canoe was thrust into the sand before the cabin door. An hour passed. Then came three old members of the tribe. The prop was knocked from the door. The old women entered. One seized the girl, while the others made ready to daub her fair face with the hideous black pigment. But the spirit of the girl endured. Fierce- ly she fought her tormentors. At last a brave was summoned to assist. While the Indian held her, the old women again made ready to apply the paint of shame, while half a dozen other Indians looked on from the doorway, uttering abusive words. Still Olo fought her captors. Once she broke away and ran from the cabin. But the red brim of the sun was now shining over the Straits. A hundred Indians wit- nessed her flight, and half as many joined in the chase. Back to the cabin they dragged her. One daub of the black pigment a wrinkled, haggish Klootchman had smeared upon Olo’s cheek, when a vast body hurled itself among the Indians clustered about the door. Then a great hand possessed itself of the harpoon that was sticking in the earth. The harpoon swung itself in dizzy circles. Presently what Indians remained before the cabin, lay stretched about the ground. The remainder were in full flight. Dode Bradbury thrust an angry, red face through the door. A sweep of his hand, and the brave, and the three Klootchmen oO Eomichdoo S (S@) |