Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 7, 1928 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

64 way they did reach shore, a dark beach where flower perfume was stiflingly sweet and heavy. Basil was hauled to a verdant couch, and both men rubbed warmth again into his flesh and pumped his arms until the lungs took up their task and the laboring heart was eased of its bat- tle for life. From the pockets of his trousers the hunchback drew a flask of cognac and held it to Basil’s lips, then he cursed. “Small wonder he almost sank. Pis- tols still belted to his body, waterlogged and useless.” “Tl clean them, come morning,” said Butts, and, pillowing the boy’s head on his arm, he slept. Dawn came in pearl light flowing over the hills. Songs of birds wakened them. The sun touched their faces with hot fingers of light. They had crept deep into jungle fringing the shores, and peering between the branches they saw Le Diable Noir floating on water so clear that she seemed held aloft on air. There had evidently been no search for the runaway men, and Basil judged it was because De Banana dared not let it be known that his carelessness had loosed an Englishman or two on the island; nor would he be likely to report to Henri Christophe the truth about Basil Trelawney. No doubt the baron was uneasy at Basil’s disappearance. But there was the all-important business of unload- ing the guns. Basil pondered long on the way he should take to get the prom- ised gold for his father. He still clung to that determination to be paid in full for the guns of Trelawney. Gefondo had dived into the thickets and returned with fruit; ripe pine- apples oozing juice, large avocados, and smaller fruit strange to both Eng- lishmen. They ate ravenously, and if the meal lacked solidity they were at least full stomached. Then Basil’ rue- fully regarded his gray satin waistcoat now spoiled with sea water. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Tm scarce presentable to visit a king,” he said. ““ Where can I buy gar- ments fitting such a visit of cere- mony ?”’ “A coffin shop would serve appro- priately,” sneered the hunchback. “ It would save time to leap back into the sea now. You'll never see the court of Henri Christophe, young master.” “Oh, yes, I will, and demand from him the money due my father for his guns. Let’s find a garment shop in the town.” But Gefondo paid him no more at- tention than a child would get. He climbed a tall tree with the lithe agility of a monkey, and from its branches looked abroad, then dropped lightly to earth. ““T see a trail that we shall follow.” Gefondo led the way, and the others followed with difficulty because much of it was traversed on low hanging tree branches to escape the lush tangle of vines that were matted like webs, and the darting streaks of shining green snakes hurling themselves at the intruders. “Fer de lance,’ Gefondo said grim- ly when once he jerked his leg from a coiled serpent. ‘“‘ They are certain death. And those centipedes and scor- pions cause death. Some of these creep- ers are also poisonous, and a man needs to watch carefully.” “It’s like a painted hell,” said Jack Butts, sweat streaming down his face. The air was hot and moist. It was some time before they reached the trail Gefondo had seen, a faint dividing line in the green jungle creepers, trodden but not worn down by feet which had passed before them. There were toe- marks of men in soft places. Where the trail branched two ways, they halted, undecided which way to turn. Night was not far distant. Basil was already irritated by the rasp of sea-. salt and sweat on his arm-pits and thighs, and they had found nothing to drink, although fruit served to moisten their lips and throats. 4A - EOPMIC MOO KS (E@)