Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

3 = Stes ee s . ¥ ~ to-morrow. 632 has told the people my wonder-workings are but cunning tricks. And so, in some part, they are. But all tricks are not evil. If by tricks I make a man believe that I am the mouthpiece of the spirits, will not that man believe me when I say that he will be cured from the sickness that troubles him? ' And, believing that, will not the sickness be. cured? “This faith Hampton would destroy. So—though the people regard him with rev- erence—it may be that the spirits would have him die. Au-a! That he shall—and And you, Nyorka, you shall be the instrument of the Great Spirits. So shall you pay your debt to me. “Come!”’ Picking up the two baskets, first putting the cover on the one containing the snakes, Tomasi led the way out of the hut, and Smithers wonderingly followed. The moon had risen and her silver rays touched the bush around with a magic wand, Near-by objects stood out with star- tling distinctness — yet everything seemed unreal; grotesque. Just beyond the shadow of the hut To- masi paused and carefully placed the bas- kets on the ground, From one of them—not ‘the one he had opened in the hut—he took a large gourd. With some difficulty he re- moved the stopper and poured a little of the syrup-like substance it contained on his sandals. That done, he quickly replaced the stopper. A sweet, pungent odor—sick- ening in its intensity—seemed to fill all the air about. The basket containing the snakes quiv- ered as they thrashed about as though pro- voked to intense rage. ‘* And now,” said Tomasi, ‘‘ you shall see what few men—what no white men—have seen. When I give the word do you take off the cover of the other basket. Nay,” ‘he added impatiently as le noted Smithers’s look of fear, ‘‘ there shall come no harm to -you so long as you keep the basket between yourself and me when you remove the lid. You will obey?” Smithers nodded assent. With incredible speed for one so old, Tomasi ran across the open clearing about the store, through the ashes of a dying fire, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. until he came-to the edge of the bush, two hundred yards away. “Now,” he shouted, and Smithers, tak-. ing up a knob-kerrie, cautiously lifted the lid of the basket with it. Like sprinters starting from the mark at the pistol shot, three black. dealers of death shot from the basket and, in long undulat- ing curves, followed swiftly in the path tak- en by Tomasi.. The red hot embers of the fire did not check them, or turn them from their course. ‘As one in a. dream, half-hypnotized, Smithers watched them come almost within striking distance of the witch-doctor and. then he saw Tomasi kick the sandals from his feet and leap swiftly to one side. The three mambas swerved as one and a. moment. later were striking viciously at the sandals. And, now as he watched, Smithers saw other snakes hastening toward the sandals; harmless grass snakes, and a spitting ring- hals; puffed adders and a small python. Soon a tangled squirming mass thrashed in. the dust about the sandals; sibilant hisses sounded above all the night cries. Anon the mass disentangled; one by one: the reptiles vanished into the bush and when all had gone Tomasi picked up his sandals—the scent had now evaporated: from them—and returned to where Smith-. ers was standing as one stricken speech- less. “Well!” chuckled Tomasi, “ does, that not show you a way?” “It is a work. of evil spirits, Tomasi,” Smithers said hoarsely. ‘‘ But, yes—that way is sure.” “Sure indeed,” echoed Tomasi. heed then: With the coming of the morn- ing sun you will set out alone to meet the’ man Hampton, taking with you some of this: ointment which I will give you. In some. way—and it is not for me to tell you that. way—put some of the ointment upon the white man Hampton. My servants—you saw them yonder—will do the rest. “Is it understood?” “Aye, Tomasi.”” Smithers’s teeth chat- tered like castanets. “ But it is a fearful death.” “But sure, O Nyorka, and no man will COPMICLOOOKS * Pay- (E@)