Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

570 years thou hast tarried with my people also,” and he turned to Cardell. “‘ This jewel you hold—the Fire of Allah—is one | have long coveted!” “And it is the price of our free- dom?” put in Montgomery, his face grown suddenly old and stern. “Even so,” answered Abou Koi, leaning forward to grin at their dis- comfiture. ‘“‘ Moreover, thou shalt fetch the jewel.” And one fingerless stump was thrust forward from the siken purple robe toward Montgom- ery. “T have more knowledge of the des- ert, and can speak with thy people; it would be better to send me for the emerald,” said Cardell. ““] have spoken!” was the savage re- tort. ‘ This one,” indicating Montgom- ery, “ possesseth wisdom thou shalt never make thine own. He shall return with the Fire of Allah ere six moons have waned—ere the Moon of Rama- dan hath faded must these eyes of mine behold the jewel, or you who remain within my walls shall die! Khallas!— finished !” IV. DurNING and Cardell were removed immediately from the palace, leaving Montgomery behind, and were led by an escort of villainous Beri-Beri na- tives through the city, which was a honeycomb of crowded dens.’ Each cell had a narrow slit of a door, with a spy hole drilled through the wall near the doorjamb, so that passers-by could be peered on from within. Even by day, as the prisoners dis- covered later, these doors were locked and barred, each man’s hand against his neighbor. On and on they went through a maze of streets and alleys, many of them roofed over and dark as tunnels; and even the unroofed lanes were full of shadows, where an enemy might lurk to cut one’s throat. On and on they went while the inhabitants brushed against them at every turn, filthy, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. animal-like creatures, fit subjects of the leper rule. They emerged at last on a tiny courtyard, mounted an outside stair- way to a rooi, and stared blankly at the warren of flat-parapeted house tops around them. In their immediate vicinity was a confusion of jagged parapets impossible to scale, and on the roof tops was scattered all the odd refuse of the primitive homes of Zem- Zem. Broken pots, weedy dates, rags, old bones, fruit, and vegetables flung out where the hot sun would dry and bake them—it was the nearest approach to hygiene the inhabitants achieved. A last heavy door was unbarred, and the prisoners reached a gigantic square- cut pit, around which fortified walls towered up into the quivering air. “Will you look at that!” Durning’s voice rose in blank amazement. “ Is this the den of the Forty Thieves ?” The great pit was packed with earthen jars, the smallest big enough to conceal a giant, made of white, chalky clay, and with steps molded in their sides. ‘“ What the devil—” Durning began again. “It’s an old granary,” said Cardell. *“ Centuries old, by the look of it. My stars, what a genius of a man planned this city! Why, man, the place could stand a year’s siege and come out smiling. There’s plenty of water run- ning underground, too; I heard it as we came along.” ‘“D’you suppose they’re going to put us in pickle until Montgomery re- turns?” replied the other, looking un- easily at the colossal pots. One of their escort waved them to- ward a deep archway cut in the thick- ness of the wall, a couple of mats were flung down at their feet, a jar of water set on the floor, and a string of dates hung from a hook over their heads. Then the native withdrew, and the great bolts shot home outside the door of the courtyard. COPMIGLOOOKS (C@)