Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

876 of shouting broke loose, and a commotion off to one side showed where the offender was standing, _ Mercer wheeled toward me, his face white with anger. “Who did that—did you see him? Which one was it?” The king began to speak, as if nothing had occurred, and an instant later several more stones whistled past us. The commo- tion in the crowd grew more violent, but it was evident that a great majority of the people were against this demonstration. “Tt is better we go inside,” Miela said quietly. The king was shouting down to his guards now, but they stood apathetically by, taking no part. Another stone hurtied past us, striking the tower and falling at our feet. The king abruptly ceased his shouting and left the balcony. As he passed me and I glanced into his frightened face I felt a sudden sense of pity for this gentle, kindly old man, so well-meaning, but so utterly ineffective as a ruler, I was about to pull Miela back into the room when a girl flew up to the balcony railing. As she balanced herself upon it I saw it was Anina. She said something to Miela, who turned swiftly to me. “She is right, my husband. We must not leave the matter like this. They can have no confidence in you—-our women most of all—if you do not do something now. A sign of your strength now would make them respect you—perhaps one of those who threw the stones you could pun- ish.” ‘I knew she was right. Most of the crowd was with us. If we retreated now, those against us would grow bolder—our appear- ance on the street might at any time be dangerous. But if now we proved ourselves superior in strength, the popular sentiment in our favor would be just that much stronger. At least, that is the way it seemed to me. I did not need to ask Mercer’s opinion, for at Miela’s words he immediately said: ‘ That’s my idea. Just give me a chance at them.” He leaned over the balcony. “ How are ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, we going to get down there? It’s too far to drop.” Miela spoke to Anina, and they both flew away. In a moment they were back with two other girls. All four clung to the out- side of the balcony railing, and formed a - cross with their joined hands. Into this _ little seat of their arms I clambered. My weight was too great for them to have lifted me up, but they fluttered safely with me to the ground, landing in a heap among the people, who had cleared a space to receive us. As soon as J was upon my feet the girls flew back for Mercer, and in a moment more he was beside me. | “Tf we only knew who threw those © stones,” I said. I stood erect, and my greater height en- — abled me to see over the heads of the people | easily. Miela iaid her hand on my arm. “One of them I know. His name is - Baar, a bad character. He has caused much trouble in the past.” She then told me hastily that she and Anina would fly up and seek him out. Mer- cer and I were to follow them through the ~ crowd on the ground, The throng was pushing close about us now, although those nearest us tried to keep — away as best they could. Miela and Anina flew up over our heads, and, side by side, Mercer and I started off. The people struggled back before our advance, striving — to make a path for us. At times the press of those behind made it impossible for them to give us room. We did not hesitate, but sheved our way forward, elbowing them. away roughly. Suddenly, some twenty feet ahead of us, I saw Miela and Anina come to the ground, and in a moment more we were with them again. The crowd was less dense here, and about us there was a considerable open space. Miela pointed out a man leaning against the trunk of a palm tree near by and glaring a us malevolently. . “That is he,” she said quietly. “Ay bad man—this Baar—whom many woul like to see punished.” Mercer jumped forward, but I swept hi back with my arm. ConniclookxX