Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

Stel LEAT 76 ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY.. happened, Governor General Paradou, the revenge of an outraged France will be hor- rible. We will bring the remains—if any— of the settlers to the cruiser, and we will shell the island fore and aft. We will blow it out of the sea!” “Spoken! We will blow it to thundera- tion!” declared Paradou. Luckily a native proa was seen to ap- proach, crossing the lagoon and daring the exit from it. It neared the cruiser, and the flag of France was seen to be flying from the proa. It drew alongside, and a white man clambered aboard. He embraced Paradou, his keen intelligence seeming to recognize by Paradou’s uniform that he was probably the new governor general. He saluted the captain. “Me, I am Duperron,” he said, “ factor and inhabitant, acting governor general. You are—” “Paradou, governor general, in fact,” said Paradou. ‘““ As I supposed,” said Duperron. ‘“ And for your coming | thank the blessed stars of fate. This task has been almost too much for me, my governor general. You see how I look?” He looked like a beach-comber who had been dragged through a garbage pile. “You should see me when I look other- wise,” went on Duperron. ‘“ No sleep for three months, for instance. My garments, if you will believe me, not off my limbs for three months! Worry! .Distress! For I am not, for instance, a warrior. I am not a strategist. Kakaua—” “Ts it arms?”’ “What to expect, with the brave La Besse in his grave under a palm tree? You can imagine him, that Kakaua? That demon? That murderer? That unyielding harrier of. this island? You can picture him, that battle chief who has been in arms day and night for thirty years, with La Besse deceased, and you, my Paradou, not yet arrived? Would he miss the oppor- tunity? Swell chance!” ‘“T shall attend to that,” said Paradou. “Has the rascal been, then, bothersome?” “ Conceive!”? answered Duperron. “‘ You are aware of the relentless fury of that sav- age? Multiply his rages by ten thousand and you have his present rage. Conceive that he had sworn personally to annihilate this dear La Besse, and this La Besse ex- pires without his assistance! Imagine me, a civilian, obliged to conduct the combat with that terrible Kakaua!” “T arrive to a pretty pickle,” observed Paradou. “Ah, but perhaps his rage may now abate somewhat,” said Duperron. “ He will now have you to annihilate, my dear governor general.” ‘“ Permit me to suggest,” interrupted the ~ captain, ‘“‘ that I proceed to shell the entire island, including all sides of the mountain, and teach this Kakaua something.” Duperron threw up his hands in horror. “And with our faithful native troops scattered over that same mountain?” he cried. “That’s where they are, is it?” asked Paradou with relief. “ But certainly!” said Duperron. “ We must hold this Kakaua in check. My heart is rent, my governor, that your island has not been able to receive you in a fitting manner, but—you understand!” ‘** And the inhabitants?” “In hiding, as it were,” explained Du- perron. ‘ But when you, my brave gover- nor, set foot on your island—” ‘They haven’t gone away? haven’t gone to some other island?” ‘“‘ Comparatively, so to speak, few,” said Duperron. “ The old men and the wom- en—”’ ‘And the girls?” Duperron glanced at Paradou’s face. “IT can assure you,” he said, “ that the number of young females has not been se- riously depleted, my governor.” ‘* Perhaps, then,” said Paradou, ‘“‘ we had better have just a suspicion of brandy, and then go ashore.” They IV. THE boats of the cruiser and the gun- boats, with the proa at their head, made a very respectable parade as they crossed the lagoon, but as they neared the sandy beach, Paradou, in the foremost boat with Du- perron and the captain, was less and less favorably impressed by the appearance of COMMICGLOOOKS (E@)