Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

900 mere animal, by which token you are not my king, unless you lay claim to being king of the beasts.” In reply, Yurl gave a few vicious swipes at Cabot’s pet woofus, which strained at its chain with rage. The earth-man went white. ‘“ Are you doing that to frighten me, or just for the fun of it?” he asked in a tense voice. “Not that it is any of your business,” answered the king, ‘‘ but, as a matter of fact, I am doing it merely because it gives me intense pleasure to demonstrate my power over these five fierce creatures, any one of which is a match for ten Cupians.”’ “Then stop it at once,” thundered Cabot, rising to his feet, ‘‘ or, by all that is holy, I'll risk my life to untie their chains.” Yurl saw that Myles meant it, and so desisted, but could not resist a parting shot: “So vou did stand up for your king after all! I thought I could get you to.” And he strode away, laughing. When Yuri had made his exit from the arena, Cabot walked over to his woofus, which, with foaming mouth and staring eyes, was still straining at its leash. Myles patted him on the back. It was the su- preme test. The woofus ceased his straining and rubbed against the man’s side. So they were still friends, and here was a friendship which would last. Night came, and no guards entered the dimly lighted stadium. Cabot’s huge pet slept with its head contentedly in his lap like a St. Bernard dog. As the earth-man stroked the sleek purple hide, he suddenly had an idea, and immediately put it into execution. He unstrapped and removed the collar from the neck of the beast. ‘“‘ You are free, my friend,” said he, “‘ and if you take your freedom, it will leave me free too.’’ . At his words, the woofus stirred, stood erect, shook itself, and then bounded cff silently into the darkness. And the captive, now a captive no longer, followed through the gap which the woofus had left vacant. In a few strides, he reached the parapet which divided the tiers of seats from the sands, and was just about to leap up and ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. grasp its edge, when a swift rushing form collided with him and sent him sprawling. Then great webbed paws were planted on his chest, and he saw the horrid head of a woofus leering down at him out of the half- darkness. Nearer and nearer came the dripping jaws to his face, until—finally—the crea- ture lapped his cheek. It was his own woofus, come back for him. And thereupon he abruptly changed his plans. All through that warm tropical night, Cabot, the earth-man, and this huge purple saurian of the planet Venus, ranged the Kuana stadium together, alone and in silence. Myles started teaching the beast to heel, to lie down, and to attack, at his command. And, as the first touch of pink diffused the eastern sky, the two returned to the charmed circle together, the collar was snapped again in its proper place, and Cabot switched off his headset and lay down in the center for a sleep. Night after night this performance was repeated, until the woofus was as letter- perfect as any dog ever trained. Then Myles started to teach the woofus to hate the other four, above which it towered now that it had regained its health. In fact he had never seen a larger or a more perfect specimen. Meanwhile Cabot’s hair and beard grew long and unkempt, and his toga became in- describably filthy. And every day came Yuri to gloat over him. But never again did he bring his whip, and the purple beasts, although they glared at him with the eyes of rage, did nothing further to evidence their intense hatred of him. One day Yuri brought Lilla. Her com- passion at her husband’s appearance was pitiful, but what could she do? ‘‘ My poor, poor dear, how are you?” she cried. “ Tine,” replied Myles, ‘ never felt bet- ter in my life. Please don’t worry about me. I know I look horribly. but I feel perfectly fit, and with a few more days of rest and wholesome food, I shall be able to wring the necks of at least four out of these five woofuses.” GIOok