Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

888 one of the shore caves until nightfall, when I ascended to the castle. “There I found matters much as I im- agine you found them, Myles, a day or two later, except that the darling baby king, whom I had never seen alive, was lying dead, kicked unceremoniously into a corner, with the jeweled dagger of my brother stuck through its tiny chest. So I prepared the funeral bier as you found it, and left that note to let you know that Cupia still had aking. That is all.” “ But how did you get through the enemy lines so that you might join our army?” asked Cabot. “That would take too long to tell,” re- plied Toron, “ for we are anxious to hear your adventures. I had a most difficult time hiding in the hills and escaping from one danger only to fall into another. But luck was with me and I finally got through after several sangths of wandering. Now tell us your story.” So Cabot told of how he had been left for dead at the blockade on the outskirts of Kuana the evening of the assassination, how he had journeyed north with insufh- cient arms and no headset, how he had been captured and then had escaped in the re- lay station, how he had fallen into the trap of the ant-bear, how he had seized the ker- kool and reached L.ake Luno, how he had been burned out of the woods and washed away by the lost river, how he had fought the beasts of the dark in the Caves of Kar until the blue ape had rescued him, how the priests had nursed him back to health and finally how he had made his way through the forces of Yuri to safety and freedom. When the comparing of notes had ceased, the newcomer outlined what he had learned of the plans of the army of Yuri. “ Would that we could gain control of the air!” sighed Prince Toron, “ but, alas, we have not one single plane. Every day the enemy scouts fly over us, mapping our positions. In fact, the only thing which holds them at all in check is the large num- ber of whistling bees which infest this re- gion, and an occasional shot from our two anti-aircraft guns.” By this time the pink twilight had fallen ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. over the face of the planet and Cabot, tired but somewhat relieved, withdrew to the quarters prepared for him and tumbled into the rough cot which he found there. The next thing he knew, it was morning. He was awakened by an orderly appearing at his tent, to inform him that the com- manding gencral desired his presence for a trip of inspection along the front. So with some difficulty, he shaved, made him- self presentable, and reported at headquar- ters, where Hah was awaiting him with a few of his more immediate personal staff. A rough soldiers’ meal of green milk and alta was served, and then the party started on their reconnaissance. During the meal. and as they walked along, Hah sketched to his old friend and associate the events which had occurred since Myles and Buh Tedn with their loyal troops had left the mangool at Kuana on the evening of the assassination, to begin their long march northward. Hah had been instructed to hold the jail at all costs, as a rallying place for whatever loyalists might remain at the capital. Throughout the rest of that afternoon and all through the fol- lowing night, the forces in the mangool gradually augmented. By morning the jail was Jammed with supporters of the baby king. They even overflowed into all the sur- rounding blocks. But with the daylight came the inevit- able, nameiv, a few effective bombs from Fonnian fliers, which forced Hah Babbuh and his men out ‘into the open. Just as he and his immediate advisers were wondering what course to take, a messenger arrived fron). Kamel Barsarkar of Ktuth, stating that he was in control of the city and pledg- ing his allegiance to little Kew. Instantly Hah decided to take the road which runs southeastward from Kuana until it skirts the old pale which used to mark the boun- dary between Cupia and Formia. This road then curves northward again until it reaches the city of Ktuth. So thither Hah set out, and met with prac- tically no resistance, as Yuri and his ants were all engaged to the northward and were naturally expecting that Hah would make for Lake Luno. But the ant-men soon dis- covered the plans of the loval Cupians, and Conn GIOok