Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

WITHOUT FEAR. the little stream which wound coolly through the forest near by, they started again on their journey, “ think you not that it were wiser to remain close to the fort to do our hunting? If we slay a deer, and we have to carry it many miles, the flesh will be tainted in this close atmosphere.” “The game we are after is two-legged,” D’Albret replied, ‘ and we will leave our kill where we find it.” “Are we going to attack the Indians?” Rossignol asked in astonishment. D’Albret coldly regarded his servant. ‘“ Surely thou’rt not afraid?” he taunted him for the second time that day. Rossignol disregarded the insinuation. ‘And m’sieu’ expects to return alive to Biloxi?” he asked, regarding his master with incredulity. D’Albret laughed as he shook his head. ‘“‘T care not whether or no I return alive,” he calmly stated, “‘ but if thou carest to re- turn before we encounter the savages—” Rossignol drew himself erect, although the color had left his cheeks. ‘Wherever you go, master,” he replied, ‘““T go also. You gave me my life when you could easily have taken it. I would be the veriest craven were I to desert you when danger threatens. We will die to- gether if need be!” He looked about him at the silent forest.: “ But I doubt that we will encounter the savages,” he added. ‘‘ There seems to be no living thing in these woods save a stray rabbit and an occasional squirrel.” And, as if in refutation of his remark, his hat was at that moment suddenly whisked off his head and he looked down in amazement at it. Through the crown pro- truded the point and feathered tip of an arrow. CHAPTER X. THE WARRIORS OF POKASSET. HE two men instinctively threw them- selves flat upon the ground and cocked their loaded weapons and sprinkled powder in the priming cups while they glanced warily around to see from whence had come the arrow, 218 A sinister gleam of satisfaction blazed in D’Albret’s eyes as he looked about for some foeman upon whom to wreak his vengeance. In the excitement of the moment the ache that had filled his breast was stilled and a vast content settled upon him. No move- ment disturbed the calm serenity of his sur- roundings as his gaze darted from tree to tree from behind one of whose mighty boles had come the arrow. André reached over and pulled his hat toward him and he scowled ruefully at the two holes which now disfigured it. Hidden as he was by a fold in the ground from the direction in which had come the feathered missile his actions apparently passed un- noticed by the savage who had sought to kill him; but a sudden idea flashed through D’Albret’s brain and he whispered to André to raise his hat above his head on the end of his musket so that the savage, thinking it to adorn its owner’s head, might again shoot at it and in so doing expose his body and enable D’Albret to bring him down with a shot from his musket. Grumbling sullenly at what would con- stitute a fresh indignity to his treasured hat, Rossignol slowly raised the musket, and he swore long and violently as another arrow pierced it and tore the crown completely off. Even the stunning crash of D’Albret’s musket as it blazed in his ear failed to check his flow of words and it was only when his master arose to his feet and hur- riedly reloaded his musket, shouting mean- while to his servant to arise and fire at the man who had attacked them, that André jumped up with his loaded weapon and stared into the forest. Dodging from tree to tree he observed the brown-skinned figure of an Indian and he raised his musket to his shoulder and fired at the retreating savage. A small sap- ling alongside the running figure trembled and slowly bowed as the Indian passed it. Before either of the two white men could aim and fire again the Indian had disap- peared in the dense underbrush that lined the banks of the brook. With weapons held so that they could be raised instantly to their shoulders the Gas- cons rushed through the forest in the direc- tion taken by the Indian. Whether he had GOMIGIOO S (C@)