Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

WHAT FEAR Is. 227 came here—one European and one kullah. They were hungry, sirs, and I gave them food; rather, they took it.. They asked me how to get to Kettoree, and I said by water boat, but the European laughed like rain booming in a cistern and said he would go by land. I smiled then, sirs, for I knew he must be mad—that is a journey that no man has taken. Especially now that the monsoon is about to break.” The mate knew enough of the language to follow Tony Dagon. “ But they went?” he said. “Yes, sirs, they took my water-bottle and what food there was, and the sword of my father who fought for King The- baw.” “ Damnation!” growled the mate, look- ing out toward the green wall of jungle. “ And superdamnation! Mr. Downs, let your men get a bit of food, and we will follow. They can’t get far without much food. There is a hundred pounds for them, I am sure.” “JT don’t know,” back his wilting sun helmet. whether these men will go or not. country in there.” He stepped to the door and spoke to the said Downs, pushing ‘““T don’t know It’s bad men, who were squatting in the lane out-— side. After listening a moment one of them broke into a string of quick chatter that the mate could not follow. ‘“ He says,” said Downs, ‘‘ that his village needs him and that the grandmother of his friend is dying, and the third has a son about to appear in. this world, and that they must get back home. The real reason is, of course, that they are afraid.” 3 ‘“ There is a goo three Psunes in it for each of them.” Downs tried them again, tit received the same quick answer and a SSes toward a low padauk tree. ‘“He says the padauk tree is about to bloom,” said Downs. ‘“ You know it blos- soms three times in six weeks at this time, and when the third crop of bloom comes out the monsoon breaks within a few hours. That tree is already in bud, and it has bloomed twice.” ‘“Damned, dirty, skunking -cowards!” burst out the mate. ‘ Show me the yellow or black man who has any real backbone, and I will make you a present of my cer-. tificate!” ‘“ Begging your pardon,” said the police officer mildly, “the Burmese are no cowards.” ‘Then why won’t they go with me?” “ Afraid, and I jolly well don’t blame them. Fiity miles across uncharted jungle, all of which will be under water within two days. It is fifty to Kettoree across coun- try, and two hundred by water, but d know of no one who has ever gone by land. Snakes, tigers, bees, a wild elephant or two, the whole animal issue is in there, in addi-. tion to a few wild Chins probably, and some cholera.” “Then I shall bally well go myself!” ‘Those blokes are: shouted the mate. wanted for mutiny, and a yard-arm service is what they will get. “Then why not leave him?” said Downs calmly. ‘“ Leave him to the tender mercies of the country. Have you ever heard of a dusky hamadryad? Pretty name, isn’t it? It’s a snake as big as a python, fierce as a boa, and, according to rumor, as poison- ous aS a cobra. Bringing the men back would be a favor. Patrol the coast, and the chances are nine out of ten that they will be driven back when the rain comes. Trial by jury and a term in jail—” ‘‘ Perhaps hangirig,” cut in the mate. ‘Even that will be a boon to what they will go through. At any rate,” he finished, as he looked out of the door, “my escort has decided for itself. I shall not see those chaps for a month now.” The mate stood looking at the jungle that reached out with its greedy arms into the burned-over patch that made Tony Dagon’s back yard. — ‘“T suppose you are right,” he said Bringing - finally. ‘Yes, you are right. them back would be a favor.” He threw a contemptuous look at Tony Dagon and his spelling book, and stumped out, followed by the police officer. Tony Dagon sat with eyes on his book until the sound of footsteps died away, and then turned his face upward to the soiled ceiling cloth. DOOK I’d like to pay that. white one for this eye of mine!” | (©