Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 14, 1928 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

216 Italian goblets and jugs of silver inlaid with gems. , Couches ranged along the walls were piled high with cushions of red and blue, the royal colors. A great chair stood at the head of the table and was draped with the same colors. Servi- tors appeared at once with salvers con- taining roast fowls and whole legs of sheep and pork. The music of horns and flutes began with the rhythmic throb of tom-toms. It was the first time Basil had heard the pulsing fervor of the drums of Haiti. He felt it warming his blood like wine, as if whips of sound lashed his flesh and fired him with an over- whelming desire to dance. Emperor Christophe was scarcely seated, and Basil still waited for an opportunity to find himself a chair or be ordered elsewhere, when to the wild- er beating of tom-toms and more stren- uous melodies of the wind instruments a company of men marched in. They were clad in gold-laced uni- forms of every hue, wearing decora- tions of jewels and hats with high cockades. They bowed to the emperor and seated themselves. Then an officer of lesser rank called the roll, and Basil heard many strange sounding titles. He recognized his enemy of Le Diable Noir, the Baron de Banana, as one of those placed nearest the emper- or’s chair; but the baron took no notice of the cloaked young figure standing along one wall. Manners at that board were crude. They ate rapidly, greedily, and talked in a tongue Basil did not understand, a mixture of French, Spanish, and na- tive words, uncouth and guttural. The excitement seemed to have spoiled the appetite of Christophe, and he talked more industriously than he ate. In his conversation, directed to his closest neighbors, Basil caught the name of Grand Pré, Limonade, Frére Mathieu. He was certain the emperor discussed that news imparted by his queen. When their appetites were somewhat ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. appeased, each man rose and gave a report, for the most part of pleasant news. Basil, who had spent the day running through the jungle, then ex- perienced the joy of reunion with Vio- lette, and danced for his life, was feel- ing his legs sag under him when Chris- tophe gave the signal to rise, and his eyes fell on Trelawney. He motioned him toward the table, but Basil bowed from the waist and remained where he stood. However, the whole company was eying him, and De Banana caught up a sheep shank from a platter and tossed it. He was too drunk from recent pota- tions to aim straight, and it fell some distance from young Trelawney, who picked it up and tossed it back. “A wise cur buries a bone so he may find it again to gnaw,” he cried. Emperor Christophe laughed up- roariously and his mirth led the others to loud shrieks of merriment. “ Sir Fool, we’ve let you stand alone too long. Come, drink our health!” “Your health, majesty, is the only health which matters,” said Trelaw- ney, and bowed again. But he came near the emperor’s chair and took a goblet filled by a servitor. “ Brave wine, to a brave man,” he cried in all honesty. No man could doubt the courage of Henri Christophe. In view of their strange meeting, Basil knew the em- peror had been gracious toward him. He could have enjoyed this adventure if it had not been for his great fear for Violette and a feeling of repug- nance in acting as an entertainer by compulsion for a black man. It was like fencing with unbuttoned foils and no ill will. How soon the emperor’s indiffer- ence might turn to animosity when De Banana gained an audience in private Basil did not know. But it seemed to him that if a half-breed of such craven spirits as De Banana could command a place at court, he by his own wits might effect the rescue of Violette, - (EOPMIE OOOL<S (E@)