Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

804 their backs and blistered their hands for nothing!” Her hand was still in his. He tured toward Rer, half appealingly. “If they de- cide to hold you as a hostage,” he told her, “until your order on the Sabra skipper brings whatever you’ve left in the schooner’s strong box, don’t be surprised.” ‘You mean ransom.” ‘““T mention it as a possibility. The im- mediate future is veiled. Almost anything is likely to happen.” She gave a strange little laugh. ‘“ Well,” she observed, ‘‘I came out with the idea of having an unusual experience, and it cer- tainly seems that I’m having it!” Once more they were silent, only watch- ing and waiting. Now and then, as the torches were moved slightly and flared up, their light glinted on the metal of the rifles which were laying thickly between those high, black, ironwood shafts, scores of them, ready to hand. That invading host was prepared against any sudden attack. ‘I’m so glad they didn’t burn more than one house,” Marcia observed. ‘ This one won’t be such a terrible loss, even if it is the head man’s. But if all had gone—” ‘Don’t thank Barker,” Lansdell replied half humorously. ‘“ Thank kind Fate that not a breath of wind was blowing through the kampong. And if all this mining doesn’t pan out well, we may still see things happen in the burning line.” ‘I see. Out of revenge.” What happened next was the unexpected. At the center of the toiling figures, one of them suddenly straightened with a shrill cry, tossing down the implement in his hands and throwing up his arms. And in the instant that followed, with answering cries and a clanging of falling picks and shovels, the other workers leaped to the side of that first one, the torch bearers crowding with them. ‘“‘ Gold!” exclaimed Lansdell. He sprang up, drawing Marcia to her feet. ‘“ By Heavens, I never dreained they'd ever find any!” The shrilling and the hubbub were so great that, in the forest behind them and to their left, they could hear the swishing of branches, as if drowsy birds, or staring ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. monkeys, had become frightened and were taking themselves to more distant trees. And Goboh was grumbling to himself, and shifting from side to side impatiently as he watched toward that cluster of men who seemed to have gone crazv at the sight of a find. Yet he dared not stir, for now two white-clad figures were running in the direction of the torches from under the nearest house. Amid a mixture of Malay and English, these two forced their way into the center of the shrieking boatmen, and Wray and Barker, laughing and shout- ing with the others, looked down on the first gold-filled jar which had been found. Close on the arrival of the white men. there was more running, and the clamor was added to, also, as those Malays who had been stationed as sentinels in the dark- ness on every side came bounding forward into the uncertain light, hungry for a sight of the fabled dust and utterly forgetful of orders and danger. Now was Lansdell's chance to get away into the forest and join some party of vil- lage women, who would help him hide Marcia until all trouble was past. Still holding that small hand in his own left, he pushed down the catch of his pistol— then turned his head a little, trving to locate Goboh. On the site of the head man's house the wild shouting and jabbering and dancing was still going on, while the torches smoked as they were jerked about. Above the tur- moil, Barker was trying to make himself heard, cursing and gesticulating as he urged his men to set to work once more. The noise of that triumphing was great enough to drown a pistol shot. And Barker’s hands were full. But Lansdell could not see the man who had been on guard. He spoke his name, knowing that he could not make himself heard. He stretched out the hand holding the automatic next, meaning to fire as the muzzle touched the body of the brown man. He found nothing within arm's reach. Then he dropped to a knee, peering to see if it were possible to make out the figure of the Malay against the sky. As he sank, he came down upon the foot of a man who was evidently stretched upon the ground. Conn lDOOlK