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 ADVENTURE

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ADVENTURE md-ciasa Volume 66

May 1st, 1928 ssmsmsm ’• 1879- Number 4
 ADVENTURE

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 ADVENTURE

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 ADVENTURE

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 ADVENTURE

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 1928 for May 1st Anthony M. Rud
Vol. LXVI No. 4 EDITOR

Coincidence.Arthur O. Friel i
A Novelette of the Upper Orinoco
Frobisher’s Gold Rush. Donald A. Cadzow 4i
Bug Eye Among the Soo. Alan LeMay 42-
Letters of a Wandering Partner
The Little Things. Norman R. Raine 51
A Story of the Sea
Shock Troops. Leonard H. Nason 60
Powder River.James Stevens 61
A Humorous Story of a Teller of Tall Tales
Buzzards.W. C. Tuttle 70
Conclusion of a Two-Part Novel of Hashknife and Sleepy
For Valour. Frank Richardson Pierce 116
A Story of a Man Who Sought Glory
Ko-Bo The Crocodile. Lyman Bryson ii8
A Story of Indo-China
Sea Magic . Kenneth Payson Kempton 146
A Story of the Grand Banks Fishermen
Adventure’s Abyssinian Expedition Gordon MacCreagh 156
Notes Along the Trail
The Robber Barons of Nankan Pass William Ashley Anderson 169
The Telltale Mustache. H. P. S. Greene 171
A Story of the War Flyers

The Camp-Fire 181 Ask Adventure 187 Trail Ahead 191

Cover Design by Charles Durant Headings by Walter DeMaris

Moore, Chairman of the Board; S. R. Latshaw, President; Levin Rank, Secretary and Treasurer; Anthony M. Rud, Editor. Entered as
Second Class Matter, October 1, igio, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Additional entry at-
Chicago, Illinois. Yearly subscription $4.00 in advance. Single copy, Twenty-five Cents, in Canada Thirty Cents. Foreign
postage, $a.oo additional. Canadian postage, 7? cents. Trade Mark Registered: Copyright, iga8, by The Butterick Publishing
Company in the United States and Great Britain.
 A Complete Novelette of a

PROLOGUE

H OMBRE, I hate that

word!” erupted Sixto
Scott.
As I stared, he continued:
“Yes, I mean the word ‘coin¬
cidence’ that just dropped off
your tongue. Why? Well,
maybe because I know a smart
fool down in Ciudad Bolivar
who always uses it when I
spin some yarn of odd things
that have happened up this
Orinoco. Or maybe it’s be¬
cause I don’t believe that
things usually called ‘coinci¬
dence’ are mere chance. No,
sir! I’ve seen too many things
come about — things which
looked accidental, and couldn’t
be logically connected as cause
and effect, but yet had a direct
bearing on one another—to
dismiss them with that lazy
explanation.”
I frowned, a trifle ruffled by
his blunt attack on the casual
word which had ended a short
tale of mine; more irritated by
Coincidence
the conclusion of his unex¬
pected retort. As my scowl deepened, that fixes up such matters at the end.
he asserted: Now don’t get sore. I didn’t mean you.
“That’s what I said. Lazy! And it’s I’m talking about the world in general.
what I mean, too. It’s the explanation What little I’ve seen of that world' in
of a man too lazy to use his brains and general has convinced me that it’s popu¬
figure the thing out—or too conceited to lated mostly by know-it-alls. Maybe
confess that he hasn’t brains enough to that’s one of the reasons why I like to
explain it any other way, or too obstinate live among the Guahibo Indians, who
to admit the existence of an unseen power don’t think they know ev erything, rather
Bandit of the Orinoco Jungles

big trader well enough by this

time to understand that no
affront was intended. We had
cruised together for days and
had long passed the point
where we felt the necessity
for continual diplomacy of
speech.
Now we lolled on the sun-
beaten deckand gazed absently
elsewhere, each thinking. My
eyes rested temporarily on the
swart, stocky Guahibos who
formed his crew: aborigines of
the untamed Vichada country
wherein my huge companion
made his home. Sixto, narrow
lidded in the hot glare, con¬
templated the eastern shore
of the wide river, where a
yellowish palm hut showed in¬
distinctly against the eternal
green of trees. After a minute
or two my gaze followed his,
to note that little house sub¬
consciously and then travel
along the featureless bank.
“Well, there’s something in
the last part of what you
said,” I conceded. “There are
plenty of know-it-alls in the
than among town folks who believe world, sure enough. Too many. But,
they’ve learned all there is.” to get back to the real point, have
A silence ensued. As guest aboard his you the nerve to claim that each and
piragua—a guest picked up off the river- every coincidence is worked out before¬
bank, worn out by an arduous exploring hand by that unseen power you ’men¬
trip into the harsh Guayana mountains tioned?”
—I should be showing little appreciation “Oh, no.” Sixto chuckled, with his
of hospitality by taking offense at his usual good humor. “That would cover
momentary heat. Moreover, I knew the too much territory. There are things
 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

that just happen, of course. For instance, CHAPTER I

you happened to use that word and stir
me up just as we’re passing Babilla MATANZA
Flaca, and that’s a coincidence in itself;
but I don’t believe anybody, seen or
unseen, arranged to have you do it. It
O VER there at Babilla Flaca once
j lived eight people named Carasquel:
wasn’t worth arranging. But on the father and mother, their five sons, and
other hand, amigo, a thing once came their one daughter, named Margarita, or
about right over yonder that certainly Rita for short. And away up at San
looked as if it had been worked out be¬ Fernando de Atabapo lived Tomas Funes,
forehand—and not by any mortal mind, the hellion whose army of cutthroats ter¬
either. I’ll tell you about it, and you rorized the whole upper Orinoco for eight
can form your own judgment. But first years. And at Atures, where the rapids
take another look at Babilla Flaca— and the Territorio de Amazonas both
what there is of it—before it fades out. begin, was Funes’ first garrison; first, I
You’ll have to squint hard to see it even mean, on the way upstream. And in
now.” charge of that garrison, for some time,
I squinted. So tiny and insignificant was one Sergeant Matanza. Probably
was the settlement that it appeared un¬ that wasn’t his real name—quite a few
worthy of a name—even of the con¬ of the Funes men had left their original
temptuously descriptive one it bore: Lank names behind them somewhere—but it
Flank. Obviously it was a spot so poor served well enough. It means “massacre”,
that its few inhabitants could not coax among other things; and it fitted him, as
from its parched soil enough sustenance you’ll see before I finish.
to round out their lean bodies. But for Well, there are your dramatis personae.
the Orinocan penchant for attaching That’s the right term, isn’t it? I thought
some apt appellation to every sitio, it so. Living among Indians a few years,
would have gone undesignated; for it was a chap forgets most of his college educa¬
no town, nor even a hamlet—no, not tion.
even a house of mud; only a crude shelter Matanza was the first one of the lot
constructed from poles and fronds, the whom I met. I was coming down with
abode of utter poverty. For a minute or my usual cargo of Indian hammocks to
two it remained visible; then some inter¬ sell at Bolivar and, of course, had to move
vening tree blotted it out. After a bored my stuff overland around the rapids—and
glance along the monotonous line of clay past the Funes garrison. That garrison
and trees stretching on northward, I was not so big as it had been, because
looked again at Sixto. Funes had gotten his grip so firmly fixed
Any sort of tale would be a welcome on the upper river that a small force
relief from the monotony of the journey— under a sargento now could hold the out¬
and I knew Sixto enjoyed fame as a post secure enough. And the sargento
story teller. was Matanza.
Under the shadow of his palm strip He was a pale fellow, very thin, and
sombrero, his deep brown eyes still dwelt probably dyspeptic; his men said he ate
on the inscrutable tree line, as if seeing hardly enough to keep a bird alive. When
there far more than I. After a time he I first saw him I was surprised by his frail
lifted a big sunbrowned hand to run it appearance. The Funes gang in general
thoughtfully across his blackbearded were hard eggs, and a garrison commander
jaw; cast a perfunctory look aloft to had to be harder, and usually looked it.
assure himself that the dingy sail was And when a boss bandit’s name indicates
drawing well; altered the position of that he is a wholesale killer you naturally
his gigantic frame on the hot deck, and look for a great brawny brute—something
spoke in reminiscent tone. like me, perhaps. So this chap seemed
 COINCIDENCE

a misfit—that is, at first sight. But after stone. And the eyes gave me a sort of
looking at him a second time and hearing chill, as if a rifle had been suddenly
his voice and observing his motions you’d pressed against my forehead. No, I
realize that he was more dangerous than wasn’t scared; I don’t scare easily. But
you’d thought him. I didn’t feel like laughing, either.
I had heard his name before we met, “Are you Matanza?” I asked.
but nothing else about him. The corporal Probably my voice sounded incred¬
in charge at Salvajito, the upper end of ulous, and maybe a bit contemptuous.
the portage, was feeling glum and grumpy His eyes hardened still more.
about something when I landed there. “I am Sergeant Matanza, commandant
He told me who was commandant now, of Atures,” he shot back at me. “What
and that was all. The driver of the bul¬ do you want, Scott?”
lock carts, a thick headed peon, was dumb I stared again. He knew who I was,
as a fish. So I proceeded, as usual, to though I had never seen him before, or
Atures, where headquarters were; then the sentry either. Both of them were
walked over to the mud house where the new there since my last trip. After look¬
commandant always lived, and where all ing from one to the other and back, I
travelers had to give an account of them¬ said:
selves—and, if they carried anything “Nothing at all. It happens to be the
worth taking, to submit to more or less custom to stop here for inspection of
robbery. In my own case this call was cargoes and report of news. Aside from
usually just a formality, because it was that,” I ended, warming up a bit, “I
well known that I was a Colombian, not have no interest in this place or in any¬
a Venezuelan, and that I seldom brought body connected with it.”
down anything but hammocks, not worth That wasn’t a wise remark, perhaps.
taking from me. But the call had to be But I’m not very diplomatic, especially
made. So I made it. when my temper begins to slip; and some¬
A couple of soldiers were lounging at times it takes very little to start it
the door, talking; a lanky one and a slipping. It slipped considerably farther
stocky one. They looked like ordinary in the next few seconds.
privates, one with a rifle and one without Those cold eyes of Matanza’s bored
any visible weapons, I concluded that clear into the back of my brain. And
the heavy fellow with the gun was the then says he, with a grin as thin as the
usual headquarters sentry and the other edge of a knife:
just some camarada of his, off duty; also “I know the custom. I know you, and
that the discipline here was not so strict all about you. I know your cargo is
as it had been, or that the commandant nothing but hammocks and your news is
was away somewhere. On my previous nothing but Indian gossip. You can take
trip through there, when a captain was both down the river, and the sooner the
in charge, the sentry had been stiff as a better. Vaya/”
tree and no loafer had been allowed to With that he turned a shoulder to me
talk to him while he was on post. and resumed talking to the sentry, as if
“Where is the commandant?” I asked I had vanished from the place. And I
the man with the gun, ignoring the lanky stood there taking one more stare. How
fellow. in the devil’s name had he learned who
“Here!” snapped the thin-face. “What I was before I appeared there, and how
do you want?” did he know that I was not trying to
I stared. I looked him up and down smuggle through some gold, or something
and almost laughed. But when I saw else worth seizing, in one of my sacks?
his eyes again I didn’t latigh. They were And where did he get those contemptuous
hard as gun muzzles; and his voice had airs of his? He could have been no more
sounded like the scrape of a machete on a insolent if he had been commander of the
 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

whole Funes army, instead of sargento of a bit and look irregular. He must have
a far outpost. sent some man overland by a short route,
I felt like giving him a swift lift off the while I was traveling the winding cart
ground on the toes of my alpargatas, and road, to report me at headquarters. And
for a second I came near doing it. But there at headquarters, as likely as not,
just then the heavy chap caught my eye, was some garrison book in which the
giving me a look of warning as plain as a names of regular river travelers were kept,
yell; and I realized that I’d only make along with various notations about them.
myself a fool—not to say a corpse—by Old Man Funes, who used to be a river
acting hot headed. So I turned to go my trader before he seized control of the
way. Before I had taken a step, though, Territory, was fond of keeping books on
I stopped short. everything, and probably made his com¬
Matanza, talking in a bored way, sud¬ mandants do likewise. Anyway, this
denly snatched the sentry’s gun and man Matanza had some means of knowing
fired. The thing took place so swiftly who and what I was, and what I was
that he was handing back the rifle before carrying, before he saw me. So he could
I knew just what he had done. The shot afford to be supercilious when I arrived.
startled me, of course; and my first He knew my bags held nothing worth the
thought was that he had let go at my effort of inspecting.
back—though that was absurd, for I’d As for his insolent attitude, the reason
have been too dead to think of anything for that probably lay in the fact that he
in that case. As I spun around I saw him was only a sargento, and a poor specimen
looking at something a little way off. of physical manhood besides. Knowing
“That cursed carrier of fleas will leave he was inferior, he tried to balance things
no more of them here,” he said very by acting superior. People do that, you
casually. “As I was saying, soldier, know. Because he was of low rank, he
those women of San Carlos are—” put on more arrogance than if he had
He went on talking as if nothing had been higher up; and because he was half
happened. Then I saw, a few yards off, a my size, he was twice as nasty to me as
dog lying dead on the ground, shot behind if he had been big. And probably the
the shoulder. It was a female, and heavy same rule held good with everything he
with pups. Matanza had massacred did. Because he was skinny and un¬
mother and babies with one bullet. healthy and generally unimpressive in
The heavy fellow chuckled. I looked appearance, he was far more cruel and
at him, his boss, the dog, and several men dangerous than if he had been well built
who had popped out of other houses to and good looking. At least, that was how
learn what the shot meant. Matanza I figured it out. And I was all the more
ignored me and every one else, and after convinced of this by his shooting of the
a few calls and laughs from the other men dog.
everything was quiet. Vultures dropped That, I felt, had been done to impress
to lunch on the dog meat. And I started me; to make me feel that he was both
my cargo on its way to the lower post hard and dangerous. If that was his
and walked along with it, thinking things object, he had succeeded. The speed and
over as I went. sureness of that shot proved him a bad
The loose discipline at Atures didn’t risk to monkey with. And his casual way
mean inefficiency, I could see. Matanza of murdering that little mother showed
had his own system and, though it might him to be as cold blooded as a caiman—a
look slack, it worked. That corporal over crocodile. Yes, he was a hard egg, and
at Salvajito, I remembered, had kept he wanted people to know it. That was
dose watch on the loading of the carts, how he had risen to the command of a
and had punched a few of the sacks with Funes garrison, no doubt. Funes liked
his fist—sacks which happened to bulge ’em hard.
 COINCIDENCE

But that was nothing to me, now that “I thought so,” says I. “Don’t worry;
I was again on my way, with my cargo I won’t repeat what you say. I have no
unmolested. So I soon shoved Matanza love for Matanza. It would not hurt my
into the back of my head and plodded feelings at all if he met with some accident
along to the lower port, Zamuro. There, during my absence—and if I found you,
as at Salvajito, I found a corporal’s guard. for instance, in charge of Atures on my
And there I met one of the brothers return.”
Carasquel. He smiled a little, and his eyes shone
as if the idea pleased him. But then he
CHAPTER II turned solemn.
“The appointment of a commandant is
“the life of a dog or a man—” always in the hands of El Coronel Funes,”
he reminded me. “And make no mistake,
T HE corporal at Zamuro was more
agreeable than the one at Salvajito
amigo, this Matanza is a hard one. The
life of a dog, a flea, or a man is all the
and much more good natured than the same to him, Even a trader must mind
sargento at Atures. Things were dull at his words. Have care!”
the post, and he was glad to see a new “I’m not so big a fool as I look,” says
face. Before long he invited me into the I. “But why do you say ‘even a trader’?
guard house and produced a jug of caballo Is a trader sacred now?”
bianco—white rum, you know, with a “Almost,” he admitted. “You traders
stiff kick—and, while my Indian boys always bring the latest news from down
loaded cargo aboard my piragua, we the river, as well as the other things we
gave the bottle due attention. After a need. Without you we should be in a
while I said: bad way; this Amazonas country pro¬
“Your commandant, Matanza, is a duces nothing but rubber and hammocks
fearless fellow, and very cool. I saw him and such stuff; and, as you know, all mail
take several lives today without showing and gossip travels on your boats. So,
the least excitement.” unless the Coronel has reason to suspect
He stared, open mouthed. Then says you of plotting against him, you traders
he: are safer than ordinary people. But there
“Ajol Did the men mutiny? And did is always a way for a commandant to
he really fight them—or shoot them in explain a killing to the Coronel. And
the back as they went away?” Matanza lives by killing.”
I snickered. That last question had With that he shut his mouth tight.
confirmed my own impression of Ma¬ I knocked a few mosquitoes off my face,
tanza. poured another drink for myself, looked
“No, nothing like that happened,” I out through the door, saw that my boat
told him. “He killed a dog, full of pups— was almost loaded, and lifted the cup.
and of fleas, maybe. She was only about “Salud/” I said, and drank it off. He
fifty feet away, walking along without took another swig from the jug. “I must
noticing him, and he attacked her most be going. Is there anything I can do for
valiantly, with a rifle. It was a brave you on my way down the river?”
deed.” “Nothing,” he replied, “unless you will
His mouth hung open a second longer. stop at Babilla Flaca and tell my people
Then he howled with laughter, thumping that we are well.”
the table with a fist. “Where is that?” I asked. “And who
“Oral That is more like it,” he gurgled, are your people?”
when he got his breath. “That is the “It is about fifteen leagues down on
kind of desperado Matanza is.” the east shore,” he explained. “My
Then he stopped short, looking at me family is named Carasquel. I am Marcos
warily. I grinned. Carasquel. Two of my brothers are here
 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

with me. Tell my father and the others tions—and her tongue and temper, as 1
that we are well and strong, and that we soon learned.
get plenty to eat.” a The old man, too feeble to move far,
“Bien.” said I. stood leaning against a doorpost as I
Then I looked at him a little more at¬ approached. The boys stood near, staring
tentively. Those last words seemed dully. The girl and her mother were just
rather odd. Why shouldn’t he have inside the door, watching me with some
enough to eat, and why was the fact that anxiety; they knew nothing about me,
he fed well worth reporting at home? One and I looked pretty rough in my river
might think that he had not been ac¬ clothes. I took them all in at one slow
customed to much food before going to look, and then spoke to the man.
Zamuro. Then I dropped the thought “Burn’ dia’,” said I. “I am Sixto
and walked down to the boat. Scott, from the Rio Vichada, bound to
After I was out on the river, though, I Bolivar. Your son, Marcos, asked me to
thought of him again, and of some other tell you that he and his brothers are well
things. He was a decent looking fellow, and strong.”
that Marcos; much more honest eyed than “Ah-h-h,” said Carasquel, in a soft
most of the Funes gang. But that Babilla drawling tone of relief. “That is good1,
Flaca, if it was fifteen leagues downstream very good. Come in and sit. I can not
from Zamuro, was not in the Funes terri¬ offer you coffee; I have none, but—”
tory, so there would seem to be only one “I can’t stop,” I refused. “The breeze
reason for the Carasquel brothers to join is too good this morning to be wasted,
the up-river bandits—that is, that they and I have nothing more to say. So,
had committed some crime which made adios.” •' •
their own section too hot for them. If “But wait,” he begged. “You can stay
they had been Amazonas men, they a few little minutes, surely; and I do not
might have been forced into the gang often hear from my boys. Did they send
against their will; that sort of thing often no other word?”
took place. But Funes made it his rule “Only that they had plenty to eat,”
to let the down-river people alone—at I remembered.
least, as long as they kept out of his land Then I glanced at the different faces,
and his affairs; so it was unlikely that the and saw different expressions.
Carasquels had been compelled to become Father Carasquel looked a little sad,
soldados of his. No, they must have gone as if wishing his boys could have eaten
to him because they chose to. And one well at home. The mother seemed pleased,
reason why they might make that choice and made a low murmuring sound. The
was because they would be reasonably girl looked wistful; then, seeing me watch¬
sure of enough to eat. ing her, bit her lip and tossed her head.
That idea stayed with me until I reached The older boy scowled in a sour way, and
Babilla Flaca. And then I became sure the younger one looked hungry.
that it was right. “That is very good,” the old man re¬
When I went ashore I found there five peated, slowly. “Very good.” Then he
people. They were the father and the gazed at the ground and sighed.
mother, both old and sickly; two boys, The older boy spoke up, in a heavy,
and the girl, Rita. One of the boys was growling tone.
well grown—about eighteen, perhaps— ’“Did they send us something to eat?”
and the other about ten. Both of them “No, of course not, I said. “They—”
were thin, looking undernourished and ’ *’“No, of course not!” he broke in, his
rather slow witted. The girl was thin, voice ugly. ■ “As long as their own bellies
too, hut seemed stronger, bodily and are full they care nothing about ours.”
mentally, than her brothers. Her black “Vicente! Shut your mouth!” the
eyes were quick, and so were her mo¬ girl rebuked him, her eyes snapping.
 COINCIDENCE

“Shut your own!” he snarled, turning of beef out of the Territory and any one
toward her, “Or I will shut it for you! should report it to Matanza—as some¬
Those pigs of brothers of ours, if they body would—there might be serious trou¬
cared anything about us, would send us ble for him. Funes is not in the habit of
one good meal—one in a lifetime!—when giving away anything, and—”
this man was to stop here and—” There I stopped, not caring to add
“Vicente!” barked the old man. that Funes ordered men decapitated at
He stood up straight now, gripping hard the slightest provocation. That wouldn’t
on a stout stick he used for a cane; and sound well to the mother. But Father
his eyes were sharp as knives. And Carasquel nodded and looked very sober.
Vicente, after one look at him, shut up Nobody said anything for a minute or
tight, looking sullen, but a little scared, two. I took a look around and saw that
too. But not the girl. everything looked frightfully poor. Those
“Pigs?” she scolded. “You are the people barely existed; that was all. It
pig, always thinking of your own belly— was no wonder that Marcos and his
and too lazy to go out and feed it! Marcos brothers—those with enough energy to
and Juan and Marcelo are men, willing move—had gone to Funes. Even Vicente,
to face danger, but you— Bah!” the lazy one, looked ready to go to any
I grinned. She was a handsome little place where food was plentiful. And it
thing and, now that her temper was alive, was easy to see that the rest of them,
most interesting. Spirited, loyal and except, perhaps, the mother—a dull look¬
proud she was. Though ragged and un¬ ing woman who never said a word—had
derfed, she stood like a princess, full of more respect for the boys who had gone
scorn for the fellow who had sneered at than for those who stayed. Or, rather,
his brothers and grumbled about lack of more than they had for Vicente. The
food before a stranger. The two of them youngster was too young to get into the
glared at each other, and she would have up-river army, but he looked like a likely
said a good bit more if her father had recruit in future. He resembled his sister
not shut her off. a good deal, and he glowered at his big
“Rita! That will do!” says he, as cold brother as if he would like to thrash him
and dignified as if he were owner of a if he were strong enough.
ten-thousand-acre hacienda. “Well,” said I, “I must be going. But
Afterward, thinking it over, I felt that I may stop on my way back.”
he must have been, at some time in his “Do so,” Carasquel invited. “And I
life, much higher in the social scale; he thank you, senor, for delaying your voy¬
had the manner, when he was roused, of age to deliver this message.”
a man once accustomed to better things; “Es nada,” says I. “It is nothing.
and you can’t always tell, along this rough Adios.”
old river, what a man has been before he And I walked back toward the piragua.
came here. Anyway, he was still master At the top of the bank I paused a few
of his family when he wished to be. Rita, seconds to look back. The boys had fol¬
the little spitfire, held her tongue after lowed me, to stare at my Indians; but
that. So did the others, until I spoke the father and the daughter stood side
again. by side in the doorway, the man seeming
“As I was saying,” says I, looking at to lean on the girl. Once more I thought
Vicente, “they can hardly send you food, that she was a handsome little thing. And
because every bite they eat belongs to then, somehow, I thought of Matanza.
Funes and has to be accounted for. “Maybe it’s just as well for you, little
Marcos is corporal in charge at Zamuro, lady,” I said to myself, “that you’re not
but he is under command of a sargento where that crocodile can see you.”
named Matanza, who is an unfeeling Then I dropped down the bank, board¬
beast; and if he should send even an ounce ed ship and blew out for Bolivar.
10 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

CHAPTER III girl Rita revived the quarrel their father

had stopped. Vicente £ound fault with

T “never come back.”

HOUGHTS are queer things.

Sometimes they come to you for
his brothers at Atures, as before, and Rita
defended them, giving Vicente a hot
dressing down in the meantime. To her,
no good reason and seem to have the young men up at Zamuro were heroes;
no sense; and yet later on they may prove they were in an army, and probably she
to be both reasonable and sensible—after pictured them as doing all sorts of ro¬
something has happened. mantic and desperate deeds. As a matter
For instance, there was no cause for of fact, there was very little to do there
me to think of Matanza when I was glanc¬ at that time, and no fighting at all; noth¬
ing back at Rita, nor to feel that danger ing but garrison routine and watchfulness
would come to her, or to any one else, if against possible government troops from
he should see her. He was not likely to down the river—who never came.
go outside Amazonas, unless ordered to There was a killing now and then, of
do so' by Funes; a commandant was ex¬ course, when some poor wretch suspected
pected to stick at his post, and if he left of hostility to Funes, or trying to escape
it without urgent reason he might find from the Territory, was caught and be¬
himself a head shorter when the Coronel headed; but that was no more dangerous
learned of it. So there was not much than butchering a sheep. However, Rita,
chance that he would ever see that girl. being proud and imaginative, and having
Even if he should, there was very little only a hazy notion of what went on up
reason to suppose that he would molest there, thought her soldado brothers were
her; she lived down here, where Funes in the thick of a battle most of the time,
did not allow crimes by his men; and, probably. And the lacing she gave that
besides, Matanza seemed too cold blooded lazy lout of a stay-at-home Vicente must
and unfeeling to be susceptible to women. have been good. Anyway, it brought
His only desire, apparently, was to be three results:
known as a hard, emotionless killer, dead¬ First, Vicente tried to carry out his
ly as a snake or a caimdn. threat to shut her mouth for her. Second,
But even a snake or a crocodile takes she knocked him almost senseless, grab¬
fancy to the females of his species; bing her father’s stick for the purpose and
otherwise there would be no reproduction, splitting it over his head. She was a
as the cientificos say. And girls are not capable young thing, that girl. Third,
always wise enough to stay where they Vicente thought it over a few days and
are safe. And so that unreasonable then decided to join the Funes army.
thought of mine turned out to be a pre¬ Probably the fact that they were eating
monition, or something of the kind. For well, while he was not, was what made
Matanza did meet Rita, and his cold him plunge. He was not the kind to be
blood warmed up—and better blood than moved by much else. When he announced
his was spilled in consequence. his decision, his father said nothing to
It all started while I was breezing along hold him back. The old man was quite
down toward Bolivar. Or, maybe, it ill—he died a few months later—and took
started while I was there at Babilla Flaca, little interest in what the others did.
delivering my message. I’ve sometimes Besides, Vicente was not of much use
thought that I started it; that if I had around the place; most of the work was
neglected to keep my promise to Marcos done by Rita and the youngest boy, called
and had come straight along without Pepito; so his departure would be no loss
stopping at that hut, things might have to the family. In fact, the younger folks
turned out much differently. But I’m not were glad to be rid of him, and when he
sure. Anyway, this is what came about: left home they helped him on his way.
After I went, the boy Vicente and the All three of them departed in a canoe.
 COINCIDENCE 11

There was no other means of reaching Now, as it happened, the Sargento

Zamuro; no piraguas happened to come Matanza had decided to walk over to
past, and piraguas usually don’t carry Zamuro that morning on a tour of in¬
passengers free, anyway. So Vicente went spection. He did this now and then, at
in the family dugout, and Rita and Pepito no regular interval, with no announce¬
went with him to fetch it back home. ment. Whenever he happened to feel like
Both of them wished to see their brothers, it—at midnight, or at daybreak, or at
too, and, maybe, to get one square meal noon or any other time—he would make
while visiting them. They thought they a trip to Zamuro or Salvajito, trying to
were safe enough, with three brothers at catch the guards there napping. This
Zamuro to receive them—one of whom time he found all as it should be at
was in command at the port—and a Zamuro, except that the corporal was
fourth going as recruit. And they were entertaining newcomers at an irregular
right. No harm came from that trip; at meal. He walked in on them just as they
least, not then. were beginning to eat.
When they paddled in at the Zamuro “What is this?” he snapped, looking at
port the sentry on watch happened to be the corporal.
one of their brothers. So they were made “A family party, sargento,” says Marcos
welcome at once. Marcos came down to calmly. “My brother Vicente, here, has
the waterside on the run, and the third come to join the army; so we are cele¬
brother as well: and the rest of the guard, brating. Willyou not have a bitewith us?”
learning that this handsome girl was sister Matanza looked sneeringly at Vicente
of their corporal, stood off and kept their and spat on the floor; then glanced at the
mouths shut, though they kept using boy Pepito, who peered straight back at
their eyes. Any good looking woman who him without a blink.
came into the Amazonas territory took a “I would rather have that one,” he
long chance, unless she was related to jeered, moving his chin at the youngster.
somebody in authority. But Marcos and “He has twice the brains of this clod.
his brothers must have proved themselves And —”
unsafe to meddle with before then, for There he stopped, his eyes fastening on
nobody even winked at Rita. Rita. She, too, was looking him straight
After the first greetings were over in the face, like Pepito. And Matanza
Marcos put another man on post, reliev¬ stood a minute without another word,
ing his brother; and the six Carasquels staring at her. Then he said, in a rather
went to the garrison house, where Vicente odd tone:
was quickly made a soldado in due form. “I will eat with you, cabo. I find my¬
Then Marcos said: self hungry after the walk. Your chair,
“I order you, my brothers in service, recruit!”
and you, Rita and Pepito, to accompany Vicente sat still, scowling at him; too
me at dinner. Those who bring in a dull to comprehend, or too greedy to
recruit are entitled to a good meal.” leave the food in front of him. Matanza’s
“Does the recruit also eat?” demanded lips twisted, and his hands shot to Vi¬
Vicente. cente’s neck. While the new man tried
“Shut up! Speak when you are spoken ^uselessly to break away, Matanza choked
to!” ordered Marcos. “You are in the him blue faced, then flung him out of the
service now, and I have already ordered chair to the floor.
you to eat with me. That is enough.” “You need discipline, dog, and you
While this sank into Vicente’s head the have come to the right place to get it!”
others laughed at him. Then Marcos Matanza grinned. “Now get out, and
summoned the cook and commanded him wait at the rear. You can eat the scraps,
to make u good meal at once, though it if there are any, when we are through.
was not yet the usual time. Move!"
12 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

Vicente moved, without delay or pro¬ alive, and twice lucky to have a whole
test. He had learned who was boss; and jaw to eat with, and three times luckier
the boss now had a hand closed on the to be allowed to eat. Hereafter, when
hilt of his machete and was watching him the sargento speaks, you jump! And now,
like a cat. He got through the doorway sister, you had better be going. And
as fast as he could, and slunk behind the guard your tongue.”
house. “Bah!” retorted Rita. “Any one of
Matanza spat after him, then swag¬ you could tie that wretch into a knot with
gered into the vacant chair and looked one hand, and —”
again at Rita. Maybe he had thought “Be silent!” Marcos commanded, so
she would be vastly impressed by his sternly that she obeyed. “Have you no
bold, strong manly ways. Instead, he sense? Juan, take a look outside.”
found her glaring at him. Juan stepped quietly to the door.
She hadn’t much liking or respect for Matanza was not in sight. But a couple
Vicente, but it was plain that she had of men a little way off were looking toward
much less for this bullying sargento. She the house, as if they saw somebody near
held her tongue, knowing better than to one of the side walls. Juan made a sign
use it against the commander of all her to his brothers, and all but Vicente—busy
brothers; but those hot black eyes of hers as a pig at his food—scowled at Rita.
spoke her opinion clearly enough. Prob¬ Marcos began talking of something else.
ably, too, her temper made her all the pret- Soon afterward he led Rita and Pepito
tier, just as it had when I saw her there at back down to the port.
home. At any rate, Matanza said hardly “Make haste home,” he advised them.
anything after that, but kept looking at In a whisper he added, “And never come
her while the meal went on. The only back here!”
looks he got in return were full of dislike. Then he pushed them into their dugout
When all had finished, the sargento and shoved it clear.
walked to the door and called: Rita, with a short “Adios” began
“Recruit! Come here!” paddling at once and kept her eyes on the
Vicente came around from the rear, currents. But Pepito, who had done no
walking slowly and looking scared. Then talking but watched and listened to
said Matanza, in a mild way: everything, looked back as the canoe
“Come in, and eat well. When I drew out. And, beside a bush near the
threatened to feed you scraps I was only edge, he saw Matanza.
teaching you your place. You are in the The sargento, with “the face of a turtle
army now. When a superior speaks you and the body of a lizard,” was not at all
must obey instantly. Remember that, mild looking now. His narrow eyes were
and you will be well treated. Now sit.” ugly, and his hard mouth more so, and
Vicente grinned and lost no time in his bony hands were hooked over his
obeying. Marcos and his soldier brothers weapon belt. He made no move and said
glanced at one another in astonishment; no word; but he looked, as Pepito told
they had never heard Matanza speak so me later, “like the very devil himself’;
amiably. The sargento looked once more so evil and cruel that the boy, who had
at Rita, who also showed surprise. Therj been thinking he would like to be a
he stepped out and walked away. soldier and have plenty to eat, decided
“Who is that beast, with the face of a he would rather starve all his life than
turtle and the body of a lizard?” Rita be in the power of any such man.
asked then. “And why do you let him—” For a few seconds Pepito stared at him.
“Ssssh!” Marcos warned her, jerking Then he put all the strength of his one
his head toward the open door. “He is meal at Zamuro into his paddle strokes,
the commandant here, and a hard one. and went away from Funes ground and
Vicente, you fool, you are lucky to be Funes men as fast as he could.
 COINCIDENCE 13

CHAPTER IV He looked at his boy and his girl, and

when Rita asked just what he meant he
“we have given four men.” gave no answer. Of course, it was clear
that those two were needed at home to
W HETHER Matanza had overheard
what Rita said about him, or
do the work which the sickly old folks
could not do. But, even so, the remark
whether some other thing had put that was a little odd. I’ve sometimes wonder¬
ugly look on his face, is more than I can ed whether the old man, ill and near his
tell you. I had to get some of this story death, caught a glimpse of things which
from other people—the boy Pepito, for had not yet come about.
one—because I was elsewhere when some So the two youngsters continued their
of its events came about. At any rate, usual drudgery of trying to grow food
the boy never forgot that parting look at from poor soil—and maybe, with one less
the sargento. And when they had gone mouth to feed, got a little more to eat.
a few miles down the river he told his And up at Zamuro the four brothers at¬
sister all about it. tended to the usual routine; they were
“I am going to obey Marcos and stay kept there because, being down-river peo¬
away from there,” he added. “That man ple, they were likely to recognize new¬
is worse than a lizard, as you called him; comers from below and be able to detect
he is a poison snake.” any spies trying to sneak in under as¬
“He is a puffed up lizard who thinks sumed names. And over at Atures the
himself a dragon,” the girl scoffed. “If commandant Matanza followed his usual
a real man should walk toward him he course and continued to satisfy Funes
would scuttle into a hole like any other that he was the man for the place. And
lizard.” as long as a commandant did that, he
“A snake,” Pepito insisted. “And I could do almost anything else he liked.
will never gfPftear him again. Nor will I One of the things the sargento liked to
let you.” do was to “make a soldier” of Vicente
At that Rita burst out laughing and Carasquel. And he did a good job; at
turned to look at him. To be told what least, in making him obedient. Just what
she could or could not do by that small methods he used, I don’t know; but they
brother was something new. But after worked. The other Carasquel boys were
watching him a few seconds she grew faithful to their salt, and Marcos was
sober. particularly good at his work—else he
“Thou art becoming a man, Pepito,” would not have been given the command
she said. “Yes, thou art the only man at Zamuro. But they had some brains
left to our home, except our poor father. in their heads and considerable decency
Bien. I promise that I will never go in their hearts, and there were some
near thy snake-lizard. He sickens my things they wouldn’t do.
stomach. Now let us paddle.” Vicente was not troubled in that way.
So they paddled on home. When they He was just a walking belly. So he made
arrived they told their parents all they a perfect soldier—from the Funes and
had seen and heard; and the father lay Matanza standpoint. He would do any¬
in his hammock saying nothing, but look¬ thing whatever, in or out of line of duty,
ing troubled. The mother, on the other that he was told by Matanza to do. If
hand, asked every detail about the rpeal he had any brains he never used them to
Vicente had eaten and thought of nothing think with. If he had any heart he never
beyond that. She was that kind of let it bother him. He was utterly under
woman. ' t the thumb of his commandant.
Finally Father Carasquel said: Now, just what was going on in Ma-
“Bien. We have given four men to tanza’s mind at the time is more than
Funes. We will give nothing more.” I know, of course; but I can guess. He
14 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

must have kept thinking of Rita, and there—and allowed Vicente to go along
wishing more and more that he could get with them. More than that, he ordered
her. If he had overheard what she called the corporal in charge of the expedition
him there at Zamuro—as seems probable to stop at Vicente’s home, on the way
—he must have known that she despised back, and wait while the fellow visited his
him. But that fact wouldn’t discourage family.
him. On the contrary, it would gnaw at So the piraguas appeared at Babilla
his vanity and make him determined to Flaca, with slabs of fresh beef spread all
master her, to force her to realize that over the decks, drying in the sun; more
he was a bold bad man who must be meat than the hungry Carasquels had
feared. Quite likely he was angered at seen in all their lives. And Vicente swag¬
himself for having been so mild with gered ashore with machete hanging at his
Vicente in her sight, and that was one hip and rifle under his arm and sombrero
reason why he deviled Vicente into abject cocked on one side of his head, acting as
submission after she went; then he de¬ bold and tough as any of the hard eggs
cided to break her spirit as well. Or he had seen at Atures; a decidedly dif¬
perhaps he just desired her for herself. ferent looking hombre from the shiftless
At any rate, he began making moves to lout who had gone away from home. And
bring her within his reach. with him went the corporal, friendly as a
The quickest and most direct way, brother—yes, more so. The rest of the
naturally, would have been to go down¬ gang stayed aboard ship, as per orders,
river with a few armed men and capture and behaved themselves.
her. But that couldn’t be done without Pepito, up at the top of the bank,
Funes hearing of it; and Funes, as I’ve watched the vessels come in and saw the
said before, would resent that sort of beef. But Rita never laid eyes on that
thing pronto. Not that Funes cared any¬ bait. She was in the house, with her
thing about the down-river folks, but he mother, while her father stood guard in
didn’t want to give the governor of the doorway, clutching his stick—too
another state, with federal soldiers at weak to attack any one, but standing as
command, any excuse for attacking him. straight and looking as fierce as he could.
Funes, you see, desired to get himself When he saw that only two men came,
recognized by President Gomez as the and that one of them was Vicente, he
legitimate governor of Amazonas, and so, relaxed a bit; and as soon as his son said
though he killed to left and right inside the corporal was his “very good friend”
his own territory, he made great show of he made way and returned to his ham¬
scrupulous regard for law and order out¬ mock. Then the family talked, while the
side it. Naturally it followed that his corporal watched and listened and put
men had to be careful of what they did in his own words at the right time.
north of Amazonas. Of course, any one “I have done well,” Vicente boasted,
from the north who entered Amazonas after a while. “My friend, the corporal
took the same risks as the people already here, who knows men, says he has never
there. On their own soil the Funes gang seen a new soldier improve so fast.”
could get away with murder, and did. “St, si, it is true,” the corporal grinned.
It was Matanza’s task, then, to induce “And the commandant, Matanza—a very
Rita to return to Funes ground. And, shrewd one, that one—he says the same.
probably having heard that food was All the men of the Carasquel family are
always scant at the Carasquel house, he good soldiers.”
made use of that knowledge in baiting his Father Carasquel looked pleased at
trap. Before long he sent a couple of that, but a little puzzled, too, as he gazed
piraguas down to the Apure section to at Vicente. Probably he could not get
load up with beef—the Funes outfit used used to the idea that this worthless loafer
to buy meat from the cattle rustlers down had so quickly earned the respect of the
 COINCIDENCE 15

hard hombres up yonder. Rita, too, look¬ up spoke Pepito, who had said nothing
ed a bit incredulous. up to this time.
“And the senorita of the Carasquels,” “If the sargento likes us so well, give
says the corporal smoothly, “also is re¬ us some of that beef. Then we all can eat
membered most vividly by the com¬ well without traveling.”
mandant. I know him well, and I know Vicente stared at him, scowling. The
he is not easily impressed. But the corporal frowned, too. But he was quick
beauty of the senorita cannot be forgotten, in answering.
even by so stem a man.” “We can not do that,” he said. “That
“Humph! That lizard!” said Rita. beef is for El Coronel, and every pound
The corporal looked disconcerted, and of it must be delivered.”
Vicente scowled. The father watched “Shut your mouth, Pepito!” growled
them both. Then he asked: Vicente. “Or I’ll shut it for you!”
“Why doesn’t Marcos come to see “No, you won’t,” Rita contradicted
us?” him. “Try it, and I’ll take the stick to
“He is needed at Zamuro,” the corporal you, as I have done before now!”
explained quickly, before Vicente could Vicente sat and glared, but looked a bit
give a wrong answer. “It is an important alarmed. The corporal laughed out loud.
post, and he can not be spared at present. ’Twas enough to make any man snort—
Perhaps later—” the sight of that boaster, armed with a
He stopped there. The old man nodded gun and a machete and trying to be tough,
and asked nothing further. Then the but afraid of a girl’s threat. Before he
mother spoke, giving just the opening could say anything Rita went on:
that was needed. “Pepito is right. If Marcos or that
“Are you fed well, son?” so important commandant wishes us to
“Si, si, of a truth!” Vicente told her, eat well, let them send us the food, or give
patting her belly. “Not even the Coronel it to us while it is here. We do not need
Funes himself feeds better than we do. to go to Zamuro to eat; we have done it
Did not Rita and Pepito tell you about here since we were born, and we can do
our meal at Zamuro? That was a poor it much longer. As for me, I do not want
one, because we were not expected and any. food from Sargento Turtle-Face, and
it was made in haste. But our usual you can tell him so.”
meals are much better. We have —” The corporal opened his mouth and shut
There he named all sorts of good food. it, saying nothing more. His guns were
“And that reminds me: Marcos said you, spiked, and he knew it. But Vicente was
Rita, should come back and have a better not so quick of understanding, and now
dinner with us—many of them, if you like. he blundered, as might be expected. He
You can ride on the ship with me, and left his bad temper slip.
you will be perfectly safe. I will protect “You’re a fool!” he yelled, jumping up.
you on the way. And at Zamuro are our “And don’t you talk to me like that! I
brothers. And the commandant, Sar- am a soldado, and I can shoot you dead!
gento Matanza, likes you. So you shall And I will, too, if I hear anything more
have the very best.’’ from you! Now you get on that boat
He gabbled it off like a parrot. Ma¬ and—”
tanza had drilled him in that speech, no “Vicente!” shouted Father Carasquel.
doubt. But Rita and Pepito and their Vicente swung around toward him, and
father all looked at him with suspicion. went dumb. The old man had risen again
They knew something unknown to either from his hammock and stood boring a
Vicente or Matanza—that Marcos had hole in him with his eyes. And Vicente
told the girl never to come back. The flinched. He was big enough and strong
mother, too, knew that; but, being slow enough to knock the sick old fellow down
minded, she only sat and stared. Then —perhaps to knock him dead—with one
16 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

punch of the fist. But he never thought river he gave him a cursing that raised
of that, probably. Carasquel had made blisters on his hide, and there’s little
his boys respect and fear him; and they doubt that he reported the whole matter
still did. to Matanza afterward. But he executed
“You forget yourself,’’ the father said, a very strategic retreat.
sternly. “What talk is this of shooting Pepito followed the pair of them back
your own sister? And how dare you try to the shore, and took one last look at
to give commands in this house? Who do the meat strewn over the planks. Rita
you think you are? The master of this might have gone with him, but her father
house is I, and no man else; and if you ordered her to remain in the house until
think you or any other Funes soldado—or the Funes men had gone, and she obeyed.
Funes himself—can take the mastery of Both the old man and his youngest son
it out of my hands you are mistaken. I smelled a trap hidden behind that beef.
have thrashed better men than you before Probably the girl did, too; but she would
now, and I can do it again.” have gone to look at it, and at the men
He glanced at the corporal when he with it, unless told to stay behind; she
said that, and the corporal said nothing wasn’t timid. As it was, the piraguas
at all. It was a bold, brave speech for hoisted sail and slid away up-stream with
any man to make under the circum¬ only a boy watching them go.
stances. There were two armed men in And, though that boy felt suddenly
the hut, and more of them waiting on the hungry after they had gone—hungry for
ships, and all of them conscienceless; and, meat, and for a gun, and for a life of ad¬
although the old fellow probably knew he venture and association with grown men,
could dominate Vicente, he couldn’t be instead of monotonous labor for two sick
sure of the rest of them. But he had the old folks and a girl—in spite of that, he
pride and the courage to defy the whole was not sorry to stay behind. Ever since
Funes army, and probably the corporal the name of Matanza had first been
respected him for it. Anyhow, he just spoken, he had felt as if that cruel
stood silent. And the old man went on: mouthed commandant were hidden some¬
“You may be on your way back to where close at hand; and now that the
Zamuro, Vicente, as soon as you like. Tell ships had departed it seemed that a coiled
Marcos and the others that whenever snake had left Babilla Flaca with them.
they can come home to visit us we shall And, true enough, one had. But a
be glad to see them. Until then they will snake which has gone from a place doesn’t
not see us—any of us. Neither Rita nor always stay gone. Sometimes it comes
Pepito wishes to travel up the river again; back—worse than when it went.
and even if they did wish it, I would not
allow them to do so. As for you—before CHAPTER V
you come here again, try to learn better
manners. Now I give you adios.” “if we wish to shoot a heron—”
He motioned toward the river. And
Vicente, after staring at him a few sec¬ W HILE this was taking place at
Babilla Flaca, I was creeping along
onds, slunk out like a kicked dog. The
corporal, acting rather embarrassed, as if the river at my usual gait, coming back
he had not expected Vicente to speak as from Bolivar, where I had done my usual
he had, went through the usual formula of business and had a bit of pleasure. And
leavetaking and walked after him. He I was bringing back with me some things
was a smooth one, that corporal. Since which—although I didn’t know it then—
Vicente had blundered, he let him carry were to be left at the Carasquel home.
all the blame, giving no indication that When I say I didn’t know it, I mean that
the thing had been cooked up beforehand. I didn’t expect to leave so much. The
Probably when he had Vicente out on the only thing I meant to put ashore there
 COINCIDENCE 17

■ was a small bottle. And there was really no I made no answer to that. I simply
logical reason for me to do even that much. sat and stared. The thought of Matanza
The Carasquels were nothing to me, of being pleased by any of his men, and par¬
course; just chance acquaintances, like ticularly by such a clumsy recruit as
many others I’ve made along this twisty Vicente must be, astonished me. The old
old river. But there was something I man looked me steadily in the eye. Then
liked about the old man, and while I was he asked—
in town I thought of him and wondered “Do you know that Matanza?”
what I could do for him. He and his “Slightly. And as well as I wish to.”
family needed quite a number of things, “Ah,” he said. “Tell me what you
but he was too proud to take much from know about him.”
a comparative stranger; and I’m not so I didn’t, of course. That is, I didn’t
soft as to be over generous, anyway. But tell of the cold blooded shooting of thf
there’s one thing which is usually good up mother dog, and of what it showed the
here and doesn’t offend any one if it is man to be. With four boys under the
given in the right way. That is quinine. power of that brute, the old man would
So, while I was buying a few medicinal not have felt any easier for that sort of
things which cannot be had from my talk. Instead, I said:
Indians, I got a brown bottle of quinine “I know very little about him. But I
pills fo'- the old man. And when I reached know I don’t like him; and when I don’t
this section again I steered over to Babilla like a man, the less I see of him the better
Flaca to give them to him—and thereby for both of us.”
steered myself into this matter of co¬ He sat waiting for me to go on, but 7
incidence and Matanza. kept still. After a minute or so he noddec
I found everything quiet and dull at as if I had said much. And perhaps I
the place; even more so than usual, for had. My face and eyes may have told
the children were at work somewhere back him more than my tongue.
on the little plantation, out of sight from “Rita and Pepito did not like him,
the port, and only the parents were in either,” he remarked.
the house. The father met me courteous¬ “What? Have they seen him?” I ex¬
ly, asked for the news from down-river, claimed. “Where?”
and listened with interest while I told it. “At Zamuro.”
Then says I: And he told me how they had gone with
“And how go matters above here? Vicente and met Matanza. He left out a
Have you heard of anything new since I good deal, but gave me the principal
passed down?” facts. Then he mentioned that Vicente
“Nothing,” he said, looking out in an had brought Rita an invitation to return
absent way. “Since Vicente went back to Zamuro for another visit. That was
we have had no word.” all he said on that point. But right there
“Vicente went back?” I echoed. “Back i began to smell a large and dirty rat.
where?” “She has not gone back there?” I ques¬
“Ah, you did not know,” he remem¬ tioned, looking around for her.
bered. “Vicente has joined his brothers “No. And she will not,” he assured
with Funes. He has made us one visit me. “She and Pepito are at work outside.
since then.” They will not go voyaging again.”
“Oh,” says I, somewhat surprised. “Buenol” said I.
“And how does he like the service?” Then I smoked a cigarrillo and thought
“Very well,” he said, slowly. “He awhile. After that I looked around the
seems very well satisfied. And the hut once more.
corporal who came with him said the “Have you a gun?” I asked.
commandant, one Matanza, was much “None that will shoot,” he confessed.
pleased with him.” “There is an old escopela, but it is good
18 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

for nothing except making a show of arms With them I set down the bottle of
if necessary. The springs broke a long quinine, saying nothing about it; in fact,
time ago, and I have not been able to get I put it behind the powder can, where it
others.” would be found later on. The old man
“You ought to have a good one,” I looked at the gun with shining eyes, giving
told him. no attention to the other stuff. And he
“I know it.” He nodded. “But—” made no pretense of refusing.
Then he shrugged and left the rest unsaid. “You are most kind, senor,” he thanked
The rest was, of course, “Where am I to me. “And, if the gun is useless to you, I
get it?” shall be glad to borrow it. It shall be
I answered that question for him. well cared for.”
Down in the hold of my piragua was a “And put to good use, I hope,” I added,
small shotgun, reasonably good, which I with a grin. “By the way, this bag here
had picked up for almost nothing in is filled with large shot—as large as small
Bolivar. To be truthful, it had cost me bullets; big enough to kill anything that
nothing at all; I got it from another trader walks on two legs.”
who had a bad run of luck in a little “I see.” He nodded again. “We shall
gambling game and lacked the money to use that if we wish to shoot a heron.”
square himself at the end. A lot of “Exactly,” says I. And we smiled at
powder and shot went with it, and some each other.
of the shot was heavy. And the whole After that we talked a little more freely,
outfit was practically useless to me. I though neither of us said all that was in
shoot nothing but big game, and then I our minds. Speaking slowly and saving
use a rifle All the small stuff I eat is breath seemed to be a habit of his; and
killed by my Indians, with their arrows I myself don’t always say all I think.
and darts and traps. But what he told me was enough to make
I had taken the gun and the ammunition me see plainly the rat I had been smelling.
partly because I thought I might amuse And, although I make it my habit to let
myself by trying to hit some birds with things alone which don’t concern me—
it on the way home, and more because I it’s quite bad for one’s health, to do other¬
make any man who loses a gamble pay wise in this region— I decided to mix into
up; lie would do the same to me, and if this matter to the extent of dropping a
I didn’t do it to him he would tell every¬ few quiet words where they might cause
body I was soft, and that’s not a good my dear friend Matanza to stub his toe later
reputation to'have down here. But now, on, if he should make any further moves.
thinking about Rita and Matanza and “Well,” said I, rising to go, “I shall
the Funes gang and poor old Carasquel, soon see Marcos again, unless he has been
I felt that the gun might be needed some¬ transferred since I came down. And, if
time at Babilla Flaca. So I went to the you would like to have me do so, I’ll ex¬
ship and got it. plain to him'why Rita doesn’t accept his
“Here,” I said, when I came back, “is invitation to come again to Zamuro.”
a gun which is of no use to me, and which “Perhaps that would be well,” he con¬
I shall be glad to lend you until I come sented, with a thin smile. “It is just
down again. And here are powder and possible that he may not altogether under¬
shot and caps. There is no ramrod, but stand the matter.”
your boy can soon make one. Perhaps “Right.” I walked out, nodding an
Pepito, or you yourself, can shoot a adios to the senora, who had sat all this
monkey now and then for meat—or kill time without once speaking. “And may
a snake, if a bad one should crawl in here. good fortune be with all of you until we
One never knows.” meet again.”
And I laid the whole equipment on the “And with you, senor,” he called. “And
battered boards that served as a table. I thank you for—”
 COINCIDENCE 19

“It’s nothing,” I interrupted. we passed him. Marcos either failed to

Then I went to the piragua. observe it or ignored the fellow. We went
Once, on my way to the water, I looked on inside.
back, as on my other departure. The sun I laid the list of my stuff before him,
was swinging low and shining into the but he shoved it back without examina¬
house. Outside everything was as peace¬ tion.
ful as it had been when I arrived; the “I do not want to look at that,” he
children still were out of sight, and noth¬ refused. “Show it to the commandant.”
ing else moved. Inside, though, there was “Bien,” said I. “Then let us look at
a slight change. The old man was not this.”
leaning idly in the doorway, but had And I worked the cork out of the
moved to the table; and there he was bottle.
carefully examining the gun that could “Con mucho gusto,” he agreed, smiling
kill anything on two legs. a little.
So we took generous samples, lit
cigarriUos and sat down.
CHAPTER VI
“How goes everything?” I asked then.
“that bloody beast at atures” “Well,” he said.
But his eyes hardened again, and he
HEN I went ashore again—at looked out of the doorway—toward
Zamuro—I noticed a change in Atures.
Marcos Carasquel. Glancing that way, I saw that one of
His manner was not so easy and good the pair who resembled him was standing
humored as when I had last seen him. on guard, watching outward.
His greeting to me was curt and cool, his “Your brother?” I asked.
eyes a bit hard, his attitude rather stiff; “Yes. Juan.”
and when he gave an order to a soldado “Where is Vicente?”
his voice was more sharp and snappish His lips tightened a little.
than seemed necessary. It was easy to “At Atures,” he explained. “What is
see that his temper had not improved dur¬ the news from below?”
ing my absence. I suspected that he was I gave him the river gossip, which
not getting on well with Matanza. amounted to little. Then I told him that
As usual, I left the work of unloading I had called twice at his home, finding all
my supplies to my crew, who were well well. And, in a casual way, I added:
used to it; and, with the regular certified “Rita did not think best to accept your
list from the Bolivar customs house in invitation to return here. Neither did
one hand and a bottle of good Maracaibo your father.”
in the other, I walked up to the guard He sat staring, the smoke of his cigaret
house with the corporal. As we stepped rising straight from the tip until he took
along I glanced about, looking for Vicente, a sudden puff.
but did not see him. Two other men, “What?” he demanded. “My invita¬
standing together near the house, re¬ tion? What invitation?”
sembled Marcos enough to make me judge “The one you sent by Vicente,” says
them to be his other brothers, Juan and I, “to come back and eat well. Have you
Marcelo. forgotten?”
I noticed that they, too, had rather For a minute he sat very still, his eyes
grim expressions, and that they stood seeming to shrink to pin-points. Then he
well away from other Funes men. It said, in the tone that makes one think of
looked as if the Carasquel boys were not the edge of a knife:
well liked by the rest of the guard at the “Si. I have completely forgotten it.
moment. In face, one sour faced mestizo Tell me about it.”
slid a wicked look at the corporal when So I told him what I knew. And his
20 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

face grew darker and darker. When I His brothers gave me a quick look and
finished he sprang up, slammed his cigaret a short nod; then turned to watch outside
to the floor and paced around the table, again. They all felt now that I would not
swearing like a pirate. He cursed Vicente, carry tales to Matanza.
he damned Matanza, and he added to “And I think I also forgot to say that
Matanza’s name every hard word in the there is no chance of Rita ever coming
Spanish language. By the time he stopped back here,” I added. “She despises
for breath it was quite clear that during my Matanza. And your father would not
absence he had grown to hate Matanza let her come even if she wished to. So
most bitterly, and that my news of this no harm is done. Let that poor fool over
attempt to trick his sister was all that at Atures choke himself with his own con¬
was needed to put him into a killing rage. ceit. He can do no harm. You know as
Then he wheeled toward the door, well as I that he can not leave his post—”
where Juan had turned about to look at “Unless he deserts,” muttered Marcos.
us and listen. Marcelo, too, was standing “More than one commander has done
there now. And both of those boys looked that.”
savage as blood hungry tigres. “That was why I left the gun,” I said.
“Juan!” panted Marcos. “You have “If he does anything of that kind he will
heard? You heard what the Senor Scott meet a warm welcome.”
said?” He made a short sound, which might
“St. I heard,” Juan replied, in a grat¬ mean nothing at all or a good deal, and
ing tone. “And I think it is time for a scowled at the table. Quite likely he was
bad accident to happen to that bloody thinking that his father would not have
beast at Atures. He is the one behind to do any shooting; that he himself would
this thing, and—” do it, if Matanza should ever start down
“That is the truth!” Marcelo broke in. the river—and, maybe, even if he did not.
“Vicente, the slimy worm that he is, But he kept his thoughts inside his head.
never had a brain in his head and never And after that very little was said.
will have. He is a crawling sucker of At length I stood up, pocketed my
offal, nothing else, and it was the filthy cargo list and slid the bottle again toward
beast who owns him who put the words Marcos. He took a long gulp. I followed
into his mouth. But let me fasten my his example—but cut the drink short.
hands on the foul idiot, and I will gut As my head tilted back and my eyes
him! And that putrid Matanza—por lifted, a vague shadow seemed to move
Dios, we have already stood more than on the under side of the palm thatch. I
enough from him, and now we will—” lowered the bottle quickly and glanced
“SUencio/” barked Marcos, suddenly around. The room had a small rear door,
remembering his position and recovering and the door stood partly open, and
some sense. “What talk is this? You beyond it was sunlight. I stared at it a
fool, stop yelling!” few seconds, then stepped to it and looked
All three glared at one another, but out. Nobody was there. The place be¬
there was no more loud talk. Juan turned hind was a cook shed, open at the sides,
quickly and looked around outside. Mar¬ with the slanting sun shining in. Looking
celo set his teeth and was dumb. Marcos to right and left, I saw nobody at either
looked suddenly at me, with eyes narrow. side. So I turned back.
I grinned. Marcos was close behind me, and he,
“I neglected to mention,” said I, “that too, glanced out. Then he looked oddly
I left with your father a gun, with plenty at me. I shrugged.
of ammunition, for use in case any snake “I thought something moved,” I said.
should come from—well, from Atures.” “Nobody but the cook comes there,”
“Bueno!" he exclaimed, and he gripped he said. “And he is never there except
my hand hard. when he is needed.”
 COINCIDENCE 21

With that he turned back impatiently ferrying and reloading into a new cart at
into the room. I followed, and decided to the Rio Catanapo, before reaching Atures,
keep on going. There was little use in uses up more time. So it was quite late
staying longer, as everything necessary in the day when we walked into the
had been said and my few supplies must pueblo of the garrison and I turned to the
be out of the ship by then. So I corked house of Matanza.
the bottle and moved to the main door. I hated the necessity of talking again
“Hasta luego,” I said. “I shall be back to that skinny sneak. But it was un¬
in a few months. Until then, good luck avoidable; and I had resolved to go
to you—and bad luck to your enemies!” through with it sensibly. No matter how
Marcos grunted, and the other two insolent and irritating he might be, I
made no sound. They had become very would hold my temper, be cool and civil,
quiet, and all of them were watchful. conclude the matter as soon as possible,
No other man was standing near, but and forget him as quickly thereafter as I
they all seemed suspicious. could. Even if he should shoot a dozen
Marcos, with a hand near his revolver, dogs—or a dozen men—in my sight, that
walked only a few steps with me toward was not my concern; I was a trader, and
the bull cart, which now was nearly ready would mind my own business—mind it
for me. Then he wheeled about, scowled better than I had been doing of late. The
toward the house and muttered an order. Carasquels and their affairs were all be¬
His brothers, with rifles ready, parted and hind me and were nothing to me anyway.
strode around opposite corners. After a From now on I would attend strictly to
couple of minutes they appeared again at the welfare of Sixto Scott. It was in that
the door, having met at the rear and frame of mind that I went to speak to
come through. the commandant—ready to meet his con¬
“Nothing,” said Juan. temptible conceit without resentment.
I walked to the cart, leaving the three The fellow astonished me. I found him,
of them standing there and looking as not loafing at the door, but sitting in a
ominous as thunder clouds. businesslike way at the commandant’s
In a few more minutes the bullocks desk; and when I stood before him he
began hauling the load toward Atures, gave me no sneering gaze nor nasty words.
and I and my men walked after it. As Instead, he smiled thinly and nodded.
we went, I felt that Marcos might have “You have made a good trip, Scott, I
made two mistakes—first, in cursing see,” he said, glancing at an open record
Matanza so recklessly and, second, in book at his elbow. “It is less than six
losing a few minutes before reassuring weeks since you went down. What do
himself that no listener had been lurking you bring back?”
close. True, I had seen nobody at the “Personal supplies, as usual,” I told
rear, and the brothers on guard had pro¬ him quietly. “Here is the customs house
tected the front. But the memory of that list.”
half seen shadow bothered me. I wished I laid it on the desk and eyed him while
I could know just what had made it. he went through it. This was a different
Before long I found out. reception than I had expected. I knew
he disliked me, and he knew I had no
love for him; so there was much more
CHAPTER VII
reason for him to be disagreeable now
“get up, prisoner!” than when we had first met. Yet he was

C ROSSING the long Atures portage

is slow work, as you know. Bullocks
treating me in a friendly fashion and ex¬
amining my list as a commandant should,
instead of dismissing me contemptuously
never travel fast, even when they have as before. It seemed that he had learned
little to haul. And the job of unloading, something about the duties of his position
22 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

in my absence, or else that he must have Atures commandant’s responsibilities to

been in an ugly mood at our last meeting. see that none were. Whenever Funes felt
Perhaps both were true. more apprehensive than usual, everything
He studied the list with care; more care bound up-stream was inspected rigidly.
than seemed really necessary, unless he “And,” says Matanza, “it is now too
was a slow reader. Once I thought his late in the day for you to depart from
mind was not on the words at all, for he Salvajito, even if I should pass you at
smiled again, and there certainly was once. So you will stay here tonight; I
nothing amusing on that dull list—unless shall inspect your cargo when the air is
it might be the case of rum I was taking cooler; and at sunrise your cart will be
home. Yet he saw what was there, for loaded and ready to go.”
he made a note or two in the book before I could not quarrel with that plan,
he slid the list back to me. Then he either, although I had intended to sleep
leaned back and grinned. His teeth were that night at Salvajito and shove off in
long and irregular, as well as considerably the cool of the morning. It all was regular
decayed, and looked unpleasant behind enough; and a few hours made little
his pale lips. But one could hardly expect difference to me. So I folded up my
a really pleasant look on a face like his. paper, gave him a formal assent and good
“Nothing contraband there,” he said. night, and walked out. marveling at the
“And you picked up nothing else on your improvement in his manner.
way up from Bolivar?” The sentry at the door, who had taken
“Nothing butmosquito bites,” I denied. my rifle from me when I went in, gave
“You are welcome to those,” he it back as I passed out, and faced forward
chuckled. “And what news have you?” again as if I did not exist. He was a new
I gave it to him—the same unimportant man there—at least, new to me—and stiff
hearsay I had related to Marcos Caras- as a post. I strolled back to the cart,
quel. Naturally, I said nothing about where my Guahibos waited, and told my
my stop at Babilla Flaca or my talk with head man to take out our hammocks.
the Carasquel boys at Zamuro. He Then we all went to the house where we
listened in a half attentive wayv with his usually stayed when compelled to stay at
eyes on the opposite wall; and once or Atures, and hung our bed.4 in an open shed
twice he smiled as if seeing something beside it. As usual, the owner, old
that pleased him, although only the mud Tolomeo Otero, invited me to sleep inside
partition was in sight. When I ended my his thick walls; but, as usual, I refused.
talk he continued to stare at nothing that I like the open air, and I always stick by
I could see. Suddenly he came to himself my men._ Indians, you know, are not wel¬
and scowled at the desk, collecting his come in the houses of these Orinoco people-
thoughts. For the time I had forgotten Vicente
“Bien,” he said. “All is peaceful, it Carasquel, who, according to Marcos, was
seems. As for your supplies, I must have stationed now at Atures. After a while,
them all inspected and make sure that though, I remembered him and looked
they conform with your paper. There is around. He was nowhere in sight.
an order—” he turned a thumb toward Other men, soldiers off duty, loitered not
a long envelope at his right—“that far away, but none spoke; and I had
everything passing through must be ex¬ not enough interest in, Vicente to ask
amined and found correct.” where he was. As I was looking at the
That was easily understood. Old Man others, though, I noticed one face that
Funes, you know, was always in fear that "seemed familiar; that of a mestizo who
somebody would start a revolt or assassi¬ stood half hidden behind a taller man and
nate him—as many men wished to do. who, when he saw me gazing at him,
So he wished no guns or ammunition moved still farther out of sight. White I
smuggled through; and it was one of the was wondering where I had seen him be-
 COINCIDENCE 23

fore and whether he was trying to avoid been grinning at when he stared at the
my eye or had changed his position with¬ wall; but I didn’t care. I thought again
out thinking—as a man often does—one of the Carasquel boys, and half regretted
of my Guahibos spoke to me, calling my telling them the news which might start
attention to some trivial thing or other. a bloody row later on; but it was too late
When I looked again at the mestizo he to waste regrets on that, and it might
was walking away, and all I saw was his •eventually prove a good move; a man
back. So I forgot him—for a while. never can see far ahead or be sure whether
Matanza himself soon came out, but he’s right or wrong.
did not approach my sleeping place. He I thought a little too, about that
stood a few minutes at his door, looking mestizo who had avoided my eye, and
toward me; and, though he was some dis¬ wondered again, sleepily, who he was. If
tance away and the light was failing, it I had stayed awake longer and meditated
seemed to me that I could detect a mock¬ more on that point I might have suddenly
ing grin on his mouth and a devil in his seen the answer to several questions.
eyes. But then he called a command, and But just about then I lost track of every¬
a couple of peons began unloading my thing and fell sound asleep.
cart, while he turned and stepped back" The next thing I knew was that some¬
into his house. The peons carried the thing hard had punched me. I sat up in
first packages in after him and came out one jump—but moved no farther. A
for others. He himself remained inside. yard away was the thing that had jolted
And I did the only thing I could do—loafed me: a rifle muzzle, now pointing at my
and hoped nothing of importance to me stomach. Behind it was a hard faced and
would be seized. hard eyed corporal, and behind him were
The Atures commandant, you know, several soldados, all with guns ready. My
always had the opportunity and the own gun was gone from the hammock.
power to take anything he liked from the “Get up, prisoner!” snarled the fellow
overland shipments, as long as he touched who had waked me. “Get up and walk!”
nothing destined to Funes. Thus far,
though, none of the commandants at
CHAPTER VIII
Atures had ever plundered my stuff to any
extent. Usually a little rum or quinine, “show it to me, here and now !”
or something of that kind, was all they
took; and almost any federal governor, in 1 LOOKED around. Gray dawn, damp
the same sort of place, would have grafted and chilly, was on the place. My
more than that. There was no particular Guahibos, standing, were huddled to¬
reason to suppose that Matanza would do gether, powerless before the guns. We
worse, especially when he was in such an were caught cold.
unusually good humor. And even if he “What is this?” I demanded.
did, there was nothing that could be done “You will soon learn,” the corporal
about it. So, as night shut down, I made growled. “Move!”
ready for a good rest and an early start “To where?”
in the morning. “To the car cel."
My Guahibos, observing that I was un¬ I scowled. I’d never yet been in a
concerned, went to sleep as calmly as if jail—least of all a Funes jail—and the
at home in their own huts. I lay for a idea angered me. I stood up, though,
time dozing, hearing a few town sounds feeling for my poniard as I rose. That
now and then—a voice or two, a rough weapon was gone, too. But at the move¬
laugh, a bark of a dog—but nothing ment of my hand the corporal’s face
worth listening to. I wondered, in a tightened.
vague way, what had made Matanza so “Have care!” he warned. “Or I will
good tempered today, and what he had blow your guts out.”
24 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

“Have care yourself, timid one,” I The corporal and all his men walked
sneered. “Or I may sneeze and scare you behind me and, maybe, made a great
to death.” show of readiness as we marched along,
Two of the men snickered at that. The though hardly any one was out to watch
situation was a bit ridiculous—half a them at that hour. The fellow took his
dozen gunmen covering a disarmed trader little job very seriously. But I paid no
and a few unarmed Indians, and the more attention to him. I was wondering
corporal acting as if he thought me what it was all about.
dangerous. But that corporal saw noth¬ I knew, of course, that I had done a
ing funny in it; my taunt and those thing or two that might make Matanza
snickers maddened him so that he came my enemy, such as leaving the gun a*
near shooting me than and there. He Babilla Flaca and stirring up the Caras-
hissed through his teeth: quels against him at Zamuro. But it
“Sangre de Cristo! Start your feet, or seemed hardly likely that he had learned
stop walking forever!” so .soon of those things; and I had a right
“Stop spitting on your chin,” says I. to do them, anyway, whether he liked
“You drool like an idiot. And tell me them or not; I was no slave or soldier of
by whose order this is done. It’s not by his. And I stood well with the Funes
yours. You’re nobody.” gang in general, as I never mixed into
The look he gave me was poisonous. any anti-Funes plot; so there could be no
But he answered my demand. order out against me from Funes himself
“The commandant himself orders it!” —unless somebody had lied about me.
he snarled. Funes was more than half mad, and al¬
“Oh, he does, does he? I think you ways ready to believe that anybody and
are a liar,” I told him, “and I will go to everybody was conspiring against him;
headquarters and ask him. Now get out and many a man was beheaded up there
of the way, before I step on you.” because of some informer’s lies.
And I started forward. He gave way Still, I was a Colombian, living not
promptly, still keeping the gun on me. only outside Amazonas but outside Ven¬
But he said: ezuela; and, as I’ve said before, Funes
“He is at the carcel, you big fool. He was always careful not to overstep his
waits there for you.” bounds. Furthermore, I was a trader*
I eyed him closely, looked across at the and Marcos had said a trader was “almost
headquarters, saw nobody there but a sacred”. And the goods I was bringing
sentry and glanced at the men behind the through were all as per invoice, with no
corporal. One of them nodded and moved contraband, so there could be nothing
his head toward the jail, which was not against me on that score.
in sight from where I stood. Evidently This all went through my head as I
the corporal was telling the truth. walked, and the only reason I could see
“Pues,” said I, “in that case I will go for my sudden capture and march to jail
there pronto. I want to know what he was sneaky spite of Matanza, who might
means by this. And while I am gone let be feeling mean that morning. And if he
nobody molest these boys of mine.” thought I would submit tamely to im¬
“Bah!” he sneered. “Who cares what prisonment for any such cause he had
happens to Indios?” 'Something to learn.
“I do, and you are likely to, if you’re The carcel was down behind the rest of
not careful toward them,” I promised. the village, so I had to take quite a num¬
Then I told the Guahibos to wait there ber of steps before reaching it; and at
for me. They looked doleful and quite every step I warmed up more, physically
doubtful of seeing me again—the chances and mentally. When it came into sight
did not seem very good—but they said I saw several men standing there as if on
nothing. I started for the jail. guard—although the thick «walled pen
 COINCIDENCE 25

needed no guarding—and, as I drew near, was heavy. Matanza was the only one,
I found Matanza himself leaning against except myself, who knew what was in
a corner and smoking a cigarriUo. On that case. He was the only one who had
his lank face was the same grin, in his examined it, the only one who had read
eyes the same devil’s light, that had been my list. And this accusation of his was
there when he looked at me across the spoken for the ears of the soldados, who
plaza at nightfall. would believe every word of it and, if I
“Buen’ dia\ Senor Smuggler!” he call¬ should be shot or starv ed to death, would
ed. “Welcome to our prison!” afterward tell all other Funes men ....
I stared at him. “Si. Scott tried to smuggle through
“Smuggler?” I repeated. “Smuggler of cartridges for use against El Coronel, but
what?” Matanza was too sharp for him.”
He laughed mockingly. Then Funes, hearing this tale through
“Of cartridges. You idiot, did you his various spy routes, would be likely to
think you could get them past me?” believe the report of his commandant
He took another puff of smoke and blew and commend him—maybe promote him
it out in that insulting way that’s the —for detecting my treachery. So that
same as spitting on a man. I had been would be the end of it, and of me too.
peevish before. Now I got mad. I took a look around, and saw that
“What in hell do you mean, you mis- there was no chance for me to escape.
born son of a diseased caimdn?” I ex¬ In fact, I knew it before I looked. There
ploded. “Have you lost the few traces were a dozen men, behind and before me,
of brains you were born with? Those with repeating rifles. And even if I were
cartridges are for my own gun—for use one of those story book supermen who
in hunting. Do you expect a man to live can slap a dozen gunmen to death with
on the Vichada without a supply of one hand, I should still have the rest of
bullets?” the Atures garrison to demolish, and the
His face contracted when I called him one at Salvajito after it, before I could
that contemptuous name, and his right go on up-river.
hand moved toward his revolver. But No, there wasn’t a chance. If it had
as I went on he grinned again, nastily. been merely a matter of fists, or even of
“A poor excuse, Scott,” he jeered. “I knives, I might have been fool enough to
do not mean the few boxes on your list. try it; I could have used my weight in
I mean the case—the whole large case—of that sort of brawl. But to go against .44
cartridges listed as’canned food; enough bullets—no, thank you! Not without a
cartridges to last one man for five years, gun in my own hand, anyway. I know
hunting every day. You braying burro, what a man looks like after he has met
you thought you could carry them one of those slugs; I’ve looked at more
through, did you? You would like to than one corpse, after firing the ball that
see our Coronel killed, would you? Ass! killed him. And there were at least a
You have something to learn about the hundred of those heavy hunks of lead
brains of Sergeant Matanza! And until around me.
you are ready to tell who is buying those But I wasn’t ready to go into the coop
bullets from you, you will rot inside these yet. I had one shot left on my tongue,
walls—without food or drink.” and I let it go.
My heat went out of me in no time. I “You’re loco,” I snapped at him.
saw his game, or thought I did. There “There’s no case of cartridges in my lot.
was a case of canned food in my lot—cans The only cases I have are one of rum and
of sweets and other tidbits, very welcome one of canned food, and you know it!
to the palate of any white man at times And I defy you to produce any such box
as a change from the crude stuff of the as you’re talking about. Show it to me,
wilderness—and, like all tinned goods, it here and now!”
 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

He grinned again, as if I had played and try to break his skinny neck before
into his hands. And I soon found that I somebody could shoot me—I’d rather be
had. shot quickly than starve slowly in a
“Bien.” he said. “Tobal, put before filthy prison—I saw something about one
this innocent sehor the case he asks for.” of those men that checked me a moment.
A man came from behind the others, He was a mestizo; the same mestizo
carrying a box—the same box in which who had dodged my eye at sundown.
my tinned food had been packed. In it More than that, he was the mestizo whom
were the same cans. But every can now I had noticed at Zamuro—the one who
was open at the top. And in every can had looked so wickedly at Marcos Caras-
was packed .44 bullets! quel when we walked to the guard house.
For a few seconds I gaped like an idiot. I recognized him now. And in his snaky
The men standing around all moved eyes was the same look he had given
closer, taking a quick look. Then they Marcos.
grinned, snickered, chuckled and laughed Looking at him, I saw again the vague
loud. If there had been any doubt in shadow that had moved in the room of
their minds about my attempt to smug¬ Marcos’s house; and somehow I felt that
gle, there was none now. The sight of I knew the reason for Matanza’s grins
the bullets in those opened tins was last night, and that something hideous
convincing. was hanging over me now. That mestizo
It almost convinced me, too, until my was a spy, and he had heard all that was
brain began to work. I had ordered those said inside the Zamuro house, and ....
supplies from a Bolivar merchant, and of Then something hit me. Matanza was
course I had not looked at them; a man watching me, of course, and probably my
doesn’t open a can until he intends to use face looked dangerous; and, having no
the contents. I had not even opened the intention of getting hurt, he must have
box in which they were packed. Now it given some signal to the corporal behind
looked for a moment as if something had me. At any rate, about a tenth of a sec¬
gone wrong; as if cartridges meant for ond before I reached the point of jumping
some revolutionist had been smuggled at somebody and doing some damage, my
into Venezuela in food cans, and some head blew up and I fell a hundred miles
ignorant clerk, filling my order, had put into nowhere.
those cans into my case. But then I saw
through the mystery. The cartridges had CHAPTER IX
been planted there by Matanza. “will they kill us?”
With my supplies in his house all night,
it had been easy for him to open the tins,
dump all the contents into gourds for his
1 WOKE up in jail, with a vile headache
and a worse temper. As soon as I
own use, and pack a lot of garrison cart¬ looked around and realized where I was,
ridges into the emptied containers. The I swore furiously. But then, looking
fellow was clever. He had made the again, I forgot my head and my heat and
evidence against me complete, so far as everything else while I stared at my
his own witnesses were concerned; and fellow prisoners. I was not alone in the
they were the only ones whose word place. There were others—four others.
would count. In fact, there were no other The jail was a one room pen, divided
witnesses anywhere. into two cells by strong bars of heavy
I looked at him, and he blew more wood midway. I was in one of those
smoke at me, in that same spitting way. cells—the one farthest from the door. On
I looked at his men, and saw only the the other side of the bars, scowling at me,
merciless grins a condemned smuggler were the Carasquel brothers.
might expect to find. And then, just as All four of them were there, from Mar¬
I was getting ready to jump at Matanza cos to Vicente. And three of them glared
 COINCIDENCE 27

at me as if aching to kill me. If the cell cooler. “But it does not apply to me. If
gate between us had not been chained anyone has spied and reported on you, it
and padlocked, they might have at¬ must be a certain mestizo whom I saw at
tempted it. The fourth, Vicente, was Zamuro yesterday and here last night,
scowling too, but in a vacant way; he was and again this morning. He has a scar
bruised and bloody and seemed sick with on his nose.”
fear. They shot quick looks at one another.
“The devil!” I exclaimed. “What does “Mendez!” said Juan. “Chepe Men¬
this mean?” dez! He was missing at supper time.
“You know well enough, you slimy And the snake hates us all. You remem¬
spy!” snarled Marcelo, the one who had ber, Marcos, you flogged him for inso¬
talked so violently yesterday. “You put lence, and since then he has made
us here! And, por Dios, if I can once get trouble.”
my hands on your lying throat—” “He wishes to become corporal in my
“Stop right there!” I got up off the place,” Marcos said grimly. “And now
floor and stepped straight to him. “What he probably will.”
in hell do you mean by that?” They all looked soberly toward the shut
He shot his arms between the bars and door, as if something bad waited outside.
clamped his hands on my throat, as he Watching their faces, I felt a bit chilly.
had threatened to do; and his grip was We all were quiet for a minute. Then I
wicked. But I grabbed his wrists and said:
forced them away, twisting until the “We are a pack of fools, to stand here
bones crackled. He groaned and squirmed calling names and trying to fight through
in spite of himself. Then I threw his the bars. If you men still wish to think
hands back hard against the bars. They I have played informer, you are welcome
dropped as if numb. Probably they were. to do so. But what I have really done is
“Easier said than done, my cockerel,” this ...”
I told him. “Now tell me what you mean I told them everything that had come
by calling me spy, or I’ll tear out a bar within my knowledge since leaving them.
or two and come through at you.” By the time I finished, they believed me.
“You—you—” he gulped, almost cry¬ Their faces showed it.
ing with helpless rage. For the moment “And that’s all I know,” I ended.
he could say nothing more. “Now let’s hear your side of it.”
Then up spoke Marcos, hard and cold— It was Marcos who answered. First
“You told Matanza what we said yes¬ he apologized for having doubted me.
terday—” But, he said, the evidence had been
“You’re a liar!” I contradicted. . “Why, against me. I was the only man known
you damned idiot, would I be here now to have come overland who had heard
if I were a spy ? Here in this pen, knocked what was said inside his guard house.
out and accused of smuggling cartridges? The mestizo Mendez had been missed,
Not much! I’d be Matanza’s best amigo, but he had a habit of going away alone to
and—” sulk and, besides, was not believed to
“More than one tool of Matanza has have enough brains or daring to play spy.
found himself here,” Marcos interrupted. Furthermore, Matanza himself had given
His hard eyes slid toward Vicente. And them reason to think I was the informer.
Vicente cringed as if expecting a kick. He had caught them by surprise—the
His movement, his expression, and his three Zamuro boys, I mean—in the mid¬
battered condition made it quite plain dle of the night, when nobody but a lone
that his own brothers—or Marcos, at sentry was awake. That sentry had, of
any rate—had given him the beating from course, recognized the sargento and let
which he now was suffering. him pass. So Marcos and Juan and
“That may be,” I said, growing a bit Marcelo had known nothing until they
 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

were roused to find soldados from Atures fore—just what, I never learned—and
standing beside their hammocks, ready to most of the men were ready to believe
shoot, and Matanza leering at them from anything bad of the Carasquels, and were
a safe distance. They were caught cold, glad to see them caught. Maybe Marcos
without a chance to reach a gun—not had favored his brothers, and the rest
even Marcos, who always slept with a had grown jealous. Anyway, nobody
revolver belted on. That revolver was stood by them now.
gone when he reached for it, and two Marcos swore again at Matanza, and
rifle muzzles were against his ribs. As for Juan and Marcelo cursed with him, but
Juan and- Marcelo, they were ordinary that only made Matanza grin and con¬
privates, without revolvers; and their demned them further before the rest.
rifles and machetes were out of reach. Then, with guns against their backs, the
Marcos had made matters worse—if three were marched out. And, angry as
possible—by showing his hate for Ma¬ they were, they had sense enough to go,
tanza. After one look around, he had instead of committing suicide by trying
blazed out at the sargento, calling him to kill Matanza. He was out of their
every name that came to his tongue, and reach, and one word from him would have
daring him to come over and face him, sent bullets through their hearts. So they
man to man, with bare hands or cold were marched overland and jailed, while
steel. The sudden sight of that cruel face, I was peacefully asleep.
he told me, had knocked all sense out of After confining them and giving them a
his head; he had hated his commandant sarcastic farewell that was not likely to
for some time, and had gone to sleep make them rest well, Matanza had left
thinking of what he would like to do to them. They had heard no more until
him, and this sort of awakening had morning, when vague voices sounded
caught him in the same mood. It was outside the thick walls, and then I was
not until he swore out his temper that he dragged in, senseless.
thought of demanding the reason for the “Here is a most loyal friend of yours,”
raid. Matanza mocked them, while several men
“Ho! Hear the innocent!” sneered covered them with guns, “who never
Matanza. “Cra, he wants to know what betrays simple soldiers who talk too much.
this means! After proving to all the Ah, no, he never does. But lest you
world that the charges are true, he asks should make a mistake and smother him
the reason for his arrest! Then hear, with kisses, I shall put him into that
imbecile. You are charged with in¬ other cell.”
subordination and conspiracy to over¬ And he had me thrown into the farther
throw the Coronel—beginning here by end of the pen and the gate locked. Then,
assassinating me, the commandant of as he backed away from the open door,
Atures, and going from here up the river he added:
to kill the great commander of all of us! “I do not wish you to be lonely, so I
You talked of it today, here in this house, give you one of your own blood for com¬
and thought, in your conceit, that I pany. Have a sweet reunion, brothers
should not hear. Thick headed fool, learn all! I go now to eat breakfast. When I
now that Sergeant Matanza has long have finished I shall return and reward
ears! Your words traveled straight to me you for your faithful service!”
at Atures. And now you, traitor, and With that he ran a thumb along the
your brother traitors will travel the same edge of his machete, grinning like a devil.
road. Vaya!” Then a couple of men threw Vicente head
Most of that speech was for the ears of first into the place and slammed the door.
the aroused privates of the outpost; and Marcos stopped talking at that point,
it convinced them at once. There had turning his eyes on Vicente; and they
been some trouble there, as I said be¬ stabbed like knives. Vicente cringed
 COINCIDENCE 29

again, and slunk farther away from all of en bars between us were made from morn,
them. Marcelo growled something and or some similar timber, almost as strong
swung toward him. But Juan gripped as steel; and the one door was probably of
his shoulder and, though he jerked the same sort of wood. With nothing but
angrily away, he did nothing more. fingernails and muscles as tools, a man
“Well,” said I, “that accounts for all could spend a score of years trying to
of us—except you, Vicente. What did work himself out of that prison. And no
you do that brought you here with us prisoner of Funes—or of Matanza—ever
jail birds?” had any other tools, nor ever lived so
He stared dully at me, licked his bloody long.
lips, and shuddered. Time dragged away. We all sat or
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” he mut¬ squatted on the stones, dumbly waiting.
tered. “I have done nothing—I don’t Then suddenly a chain rattled, a lock
know, I don’t know!” Then, shaking all clicked harshly, and the door squeaked
over, “0 Cristo! Will they kill us?” open.
Nobody answered. His brothers turned Outside stood at least a dozen soldados,
away from him in disgust. He cowered fully armed, quiet, but looking expectant¬
still farther back into a corner, twisting ly toward us captives. Into the doorway
his fingers and whimpering. And then now stepped Matanza, carrying in his
for a while the place was quiet. There right hand a bare machete, in his left a
was nothing more to be said. We all lighted cigarrillo. He stood there for
stood there waiting, looking often at the some time—at least, it seemed so—with¬
door. out speaking. A corner of his mean mouth
drooped in a fixed sneer. Deliberately he
CHAPTER X drew several puffs from his cigaret and
blew them out. Then, tossing the butt
“traitors, come out!” inside, he spoke.

I N the wall at my end of the prison

was a window; a tiijy thing, less than
“Traitors, come out!”
Nobody moved. Marcos and Juan and
Marcelo stood pale and rigid, looking at
a foot square, and barred. After a while him. Vicente shrank into his corner until
I stepped to it and peered out. Nothing he seemed only a huddle of dingy clothes.
was in sight, except a large sarrapia tree “There are no traitors here,” finally
near by and the woods farther away. growled Marcos.
I tried the bars, though it was useless “Ho! So?” Matanza’s voice was like a
to think of escape through that hole. The snake’s hiss. “Then I must call you by
opening was no wider than my head; the name, eh? Bien. Marcos and Juan and
wall was two feet thick, and solid as Marcelo Carasquel, march out! And
Stone; and the bars, I quickly learned, Vicente Carasquel also!”
were iron, and immovable. But I yanked After a second of hesitation, the three
at them a few times; I felt the need of older brothers walked stiffly to the door
some violent action. The only result was and out, Matanza backing away before
a sharpening of my headache, which had them. Vicente cowered where he was.
grown dull. “Vicente Carasquel!” snapped Ma¬
“There is no way out,” said Marcos in tanza. Then, to one of the men, “Go
a dry tone. “This carcel was built to inside, you, and kick that dog out here!”
hold men, and built well. We examined The fellow grinned and swaggered in.
everything last night.” But Vicente did not wait to be kicked.
I made no answer, and we were quiet With a sort of gasping grunt he dodged
again. As he said, the place was strongly away from the soldado and ran out into
constructed. The floor was of heavy the sun.
stones, the walls of hard clay. The wood¬ “So here we are, my pretty ones!”
30 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

Matanza mocked the four. “Loyal The soldados obeyed, but very slowly.
brothers, loyal to one another and to the Several of them moved forward and
Coronel and to your commandant—” grasped the two Carasquels, but it was
“Enough of that!” Marcos snapped out. plain that they were in no haste to stop
“Get it over with, you caimdnt” the punishment of the informer, and that
His voice was strained, but hard and they did not try hard to drag off the
defiant. He knew what was coming; punishers. Suddenly Mendez screamed
knew there was no hope of evading it. horribly. Matanza swore and began beat¬
He had seen it done with other men. ing his men with the flat of his machete.
Matanza’s face tightened. At that they took firmer holds, and soon
“So you are in haste?” he said savage¬ hauled Marcos and Marcelo clear of their
ly. “You shall not wait long. Go to the victim.
sarrapia behind the jail!” They might as well have let them finish
With no word of reply, the brothers the job. As a soldier, Mendez was all
walked slowly out of my sight, Vicente, through. The Carasquels had not had
last, moving as if about to collapse. The time to kill him outright with bare hands,
soldados slouched after them. The door but they had done the next best thing—
banged shut, and the clatter of the big gouged both eyes out of his head.
lock sounded outside. I was alone. For a few seconds he writhed and yelp¬
The thump of that door seemed to wake ed on the ground. Then he got to hands
me out of a daze. I yelled. Nobody heard. and knees and went lurching along with
I shook the padlocked gate, shoved at no knowledge of where he was going. His
it with all my weight. It did not yield. blind course happened to take him
So then I sprang to the window. straight toward Matanza. And Matanza
There near the sarrapia tree were more stood watching him coldly. When the
men of the garrison, two of them holding fellow was within arm’s length, the
coils of chiquechique rope. One, standing sargento did a queer thing; queer, because
elose to the trunk, was grinning in a most it was almost merciful. He stepped aside,
evil way as he watched the Carasquels swung up his machete, and chopped down
approach. He was that mestizo, Mendez, on the back of the sightless man’s neck.
who had sneaked overland ahead of me The spy’s head rolled on the ground.
to talk away the lives of better men. Now His body gave a jerk, flopped forward,
he was plainly enjoying the success of his twitched, and lay still.
spy work. But in less than a minute he “Now,” said Matanza, languidly, “we
found it not so pleasant. shall not have to feed the useless animal.”
Marcos came into my sight, with Mar- He slid two fingers along his wet blade,
celo and Juan a pace behind, all walking snapped them carelessly downward, wiped
with steps short and stiff and faces set. them on his trousers. Then he turned his
A yard from Mendez, Marcos halted and eyes to the hot faced Carasquel boys. At
stood a second, glaring at him. The that moment I found my voice.
mestizo grinned all the more nastily. “Good work, Matanza!” I called.
Then he lost that grin for good. “That mongrel was a sneaking liar, and de¬
With a hoarse grunt Marcos sprang on served just what he got. Anything he told
him, knocking him down and falling with you about Marcos and Marcelo and Juan
him. Before they hit the ground Marcelo was a malicious lie. He wanted to be
jumped in. The spy gave a yell of fear corporal at Zamuro. Don’t make a fool
and pain. Then the three of them were of yourself by sacrificing the men he lied
on the dirt, clutching and striking and about!”
tearing savagely. “Tie them up,” said Matanza, in the
“Stop that!” Matanza yelled, running same bored way, as if he did not hear me
forward. “Break them, you men! Pull at all. “You, brothers Carasquel, take
them away!” your places.”
 COINCIDENCE 31

He moved his jaw toward the sarratfia, {Chuck!

tree. For a few seconds nobody obeyed ' “Three,” said Matanza.
him. All peered at him, observing his Then all was dead quiet. I opened my
expression. Then, as if accepting any eyes.
trivial order of routine duty, the brothers The three brothers still stood against
stepped over and stood stiff against the the tree. The ropes around chests and
trunk—all but Vicente, who seemed petri¬ foreheads still held them there. But the
fied, staring at the gory thing that had bodies were limp, the faces blank; and
been Mendez. Matanza glanced at him, between heads and bodies . . .
twitched his lips in a crooked smile, and Well, never mind.
let him stand there. To the soldados he Matanza was stepping toward Vicente,
made a sign with one finger. This time who was face down on the ground, shaking
they obeyed promptly. as if he had ague. The murderous
The men holding ropes walked quickly sargento was licking his lips, and his eyes
around the big trunk. They knew their were gleaming like those of a tigre. His
job; and in no time at all the three red steel swung up and hung in the air,
brothers were roped tightly to the tree. while every one watched without breath¬
One cable held all their bodies hard ing. Then it sank, very slowly, and came
against the bark, about a yard apart. The down to Matanza’s side.
other, drawn tight across their foreheads, “Get up!” snarled Matanza.
fastened their heads so that they could Vicente gave a shuddering jerk, stared
not duck nor dodge. And there they up at him, and scrambled to his knees.
stood like statues, eyes straight ahead, “Por amor de Dios, do not kill me!” he
hands clenched, every muscle braced for screamed, holding his hands over his
the end. neck. “I have been faithful—you know
I raved. I yelled that these men were I have been faithful—”
innocent of wrong, of conspiracy, of “Bah! Get up, dog!” 1
everything. I called Matanza murderer The machete moved a little. Vicente
and assassin and worse. I yanked at the staggered to his feet and stood swaying.
bars until my hands were too numb to “You are not so traitorous,” Matanza
hold them. It all did no good whatever. said then, grudgingly. “Or you have not
Men looked at me, but the sargento did been, thus far.”
not. He ran a thumb again along the “I never was—I never will be!” wailed
edge of his blade; stepped to one side of Vicente.
Marcos; placed his feet deliberately; “That is to be seen,” the sargento
swung the machete far out to his right— grated. “It is in my mind that all your
I shut my eyes. family is in conspiracy against the Coro-
Chuck! sounded something. nel. If not, it must be proved by examina¬
Ever heard a machete blade go through tion. I shall spare you just long enough
a man’s neck and bite into hard wood to let you go home and bring all your
behind it? Believe me, hombre, you don’t family here to be questioned. Then, if
want to! I am satisfied, you all shall live. But if
“One!” said Matanza’s voice,"cold, yet not—”
with devilish enjoyment. He rubbed his machete against the
A short silence. I didn’t look. coward’s leg, staining his clothes with the
Chuck! blood of his brothers. At the feel of it
“Two!” remarked Matanza. Vicente babbled:
Another short pause. Then, faint and “I will, I will, sargento! I will bring
choking, came another voice— w them all—si, si, I will do anything, any¬
“O Jesus, receive my soul!” thing, as I always have done. I will bring
That was the voice of Juan, who was Rita and Pepito—and padre and madre—
not quite so hard as Marcos or Marcelo. and you will be satisfied—”
32 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

“Then you live awhile longer,” Ma- Quickly I stood up, looked out, pulled
tanza cut him off. Turning, he ordered, in the loose ends of the cords. Nobody
“Loose the ropes!” was in sight. Nothing was tied to the
Men moved and swung machetes. The outer ends of the strings. I spoke, but
ropes sagged. At once the three bodies got no answer; so I knew nobody was
slid down and lay in a ghastly huddle, under the window or waiting near. There
and the heads dropped and rolled down was nothing to look at but the gloomy
a little slope. The head of Marcos stop¬ sarrapia tree, and I spent no time staring
ped almost against that of the eyeless at that. I had seen more than enough
Mendez; and there the two lay face to of it.
face, as if still hating each other. Squatting, I drank all the water and
At that I went as limp as the headless wished for more. I chewed a. little
things at the base of the tree. My knees cassava, too, but had no appetite for such
gave way, and I flopped down on the dry stuff. The water made me feel better,
stones and lay there. I had had no though; and a cigarrillo from my rubber
breakfast, you know, and had taken a smoke pouch helped still more. When I
nasty crack on the skull, and now I felt arose again and carefully worked the
sick all over. And I stayed down for bottle cord back outside—so that my un¬
quite a long time. known friend could draw out the bottle
for refilling, if he wished—I felt quite
CHAPTER XI cheerful.
j'My Guahibo boys probably had smug¬
“keep awake till moonbise.”
gled that water and food to me, I thought.
I T was quite late in the day when
I took enough interest in life to get
It looked like their work. And the jail
must be unguarded, or they could not
up and move around; and even then I have slipped that stuff through for me in
felt dull and listless. I had slept a good broad daylight—unless the sentry was a
deal, or lain in a sluggish doze that good fellow who looked the other way
amounted to sleep, except that it didn’t while they worked. With that thought
refresh me. The jail was stifling hot, and in mind, I called again, not too loudly.
foul smelling besides, so the air seemed But again there was no answer.
to stupefy me. And, with no hope of “Well,” says I to myself, “it’s not long
breaking out, and nothing to eat or till night now, and something may de¬
drink, I might as well lie there as try to velop after dark.”
do anything else. Then I stood there smoking and think¬
Finally, though, I grew so uncomfort¬ ing.
able that I had to move. The stones hurt Just what could develop in my favor
me, and a frightful thirst tormented me was hard to guess, unless it was another
still more. So I got to my feet and walked drink of river water. Even if my Guahibo
up and down a few times. Then I stepped boys should creep up and kill any Funes
to the window to breathe cleaner air. As man watching the jail—as they were quite
I stopped there, one foot touched some¬ capable of doing, in spite of his rifle—they
thing that clinked against the wall. still could not unlock the door; a sentry
It was a bottle; an old rum bottle, would hardly have the key on him. And
plugged with a tigljt roll of green leaf. until that door was unlocked, and the
Beside it was a leaf wrapped package, cell gate as well, I should have to stay
about a foot square and half as thick. where I was. On the other hand, if water
Stooping to investigate, I found that the and food should keep coming to me it
bottle held water, and the bundle was full would take Matanza much longer to
of cassava. To each of them was attached starve me than he expected.
a thin palm cord, which ran up over the Standing there and scowling again at
sill of the window. the sarrapia, I wondered what he really
 COINCIDENCE

meant to do with me. Everything indi¬ I stopped my thinking right there. It

cated that he was keeping his promise to would not do me or any one else any good
let me rot in jail. But that would get to torture myself with imagination.
him nothing but my cargo of personal Neither was it of any use to blame my¬
supplies, and the satisfaction of proving self—as I started to do—for bringing
his power and glutting the hate he seemed about the deaths of the three Carasquels
to have for me. If he hated me half as by talking to them at Zamuro. That was
much as I now hated him, that sort of not the cause of their executions, I felt
revenge might be worth his while. But sure; it was only the excuse for which
his taste plainly ran more to bloodshed, Matanza had been waiting. He must
to the massacre his name stood for, than have marked them for death some time
to slow starvation of an enemy. Perhaps, before that—probably after Vicente re¬
though, he planned to torture me a few ported the failure of his mission at
days with hunger and thirst and then Babilla Flaca—and been trying to goad
behead me against that tree yonder—and them into some word or act that would
the rest of the Carasquel family with me. enable him to cut them up. If I had not
After seeing what he had done that morn¬ come into the matter, he would have
ing, I could believe him capable of slaying found some other way to get them. And
man, woman, or child with no more com¬ now it was all over for them; they were
punction than Coronel Funes himself. out of his reach forever.
But did the fool really suppose that the I turned away from the window, sat
remaining Carasquels would leave Babilla down under it with my back against the
Flaca and come to him to be killed? wall, and tried to keep my mind blank
Evidently he did, or he would not have and go to sleep again. After awhile I
sent Vicente after them. He must be succeeded in dozing, and time went with¬
mad. Yet, the more I thought about it, out my knowing it. The next thing I
the more I began to see method in his realized was that something near me was
madness. making an odd tinkle.
Like Funes, he firmly believed in ruling Opening my eyes, I found the jail
by terror. And in Funes’s case that sort black. Night had come. The tinkling
of rule certainly worked well. When the noise came from the empty bottle. Some¬
tyrant ordered people to come they came, body outside was gently shaking the cord,
even though they knew he probably making the glass ring against the wall like
would kill them. So Matanza, working a dull, small bell.
on the same principle, believed that his “Holal” I called, starting up.
killing of the three strongest Carasquels The sound stopped. All was very
would terrify the weaker members of the quiet. Then a low voice said—
family into absolute subjection; that they “Scott?”
would come because they dared not stay “Sil”
away, if not for the sake of saving the “Keep awake until moonrise.”
life of Vicente. So he would get Rita into “I will,” I promised. “What news?”
his clutch. No answer. The bottle dropped on my
That, I felt, was his main motive in all foot. I called again. Nobody replied.
this bloody work: to get that girl, take Nothing could be seen in the darkness.
revenge for her contempt of him, degrade The man had gone.
her until she was less than nothing, and I picked up the bottle, hoping to find
so satisfy his hellish conceit and pride. more water in it. But it was empty. So
What he would do to the old folks and I sat again, smoked again, and wondered.
to the child Pepito would depend largely The man who had spoken was no
on his mood. But his probable treatment Guahibo. He spoke Spanish, not the
of Rita was plain enough in my mind, and Indian dialect. The voice was unfamiliar.
I squirmed as I thought of it. Whoever he was, he must be a friend.
34 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

He had known the bottle was there; so “Good,” I repeated. “You are, per¬
he must be the one who had put it there, haps, a friend of the Carasquels?”
or, at least, have allowed my men to do “I told you to ask no questions!” he
it. But what did he mean by this warn¬ growled.
ing? Was Matanza coming to kill me “Bien. I ask no more.”
secretly? That seemed unlikely; the I shut my mouth. He fumbled with a
sargento would much rather exhibit his key, found the hole, sprung the lock, step¬
deadliness in public than stab in the dark. ped to one side. I unwound the chain,
I was much mystified. taking care to make little noise. Then,
I got up again and felt along the sill, still suspicious of some trick, I threw the
thinking that a knife or a revolver might gate back hard and jumped for the door.
have been laid there for me to find. But In three bounds I was outside the jail.
nothing was there. I pulled at the cord, Nobody else was there. Behind me,
too; but its lightness proved that nothing the soldado laughed as if much amused by
was attached to it. So then I leaned my distrust. He came out, swung the
there breathing the night air, listening, door shut, locked it, carefully pocketed
and watching for the moon. the key, and faced me.
It was a long time in coming, but I “Vaya/” he grunted: and, after one
continued to stand, so that I should not more look at him, I went, marveling.
doze again. So far as I could hear, nobody So far as I could make out, he was no
came near. The only sounds that came friend of mine. But I could not see his
to me were from a distance. Then, at face. His sombrero was pulled low, and
last, the darkness thinned. The sarrapia under it I saw only a red handkerchief,
tree took shape, black and depressing in covering all below his hat hidden eyes.
the dimness. The light increased until I As for his size and shape, there were a
could see quite plainly. A little more dozen men like him thereabouts.
time passed. Then the lock clicked. “Keep near the trees,” he added. And
I swung around. The door slowly open¬ we walked away, heading southward, and
ed, squeaking a little. Into the opening traveling in the shadows until well away
came the black shape of a soldado, with from the town. Then I swung over to
rifle loose in one fist. He stepped inside, the cart road, where the footing was
came to the cell gate and paused. better. And from that time until we
“Ready?” he asked. drew near Salvajito I never paused, nor
“For what?” I replied. even looked back. My ears told me that
“To walk.” he was plodding along not far in the rear,
“Where?” so there was little sense in glancing around
“Salvajito.” at him; and, after the way he had laughed
I peered at him, making out nothing at my dash out of jail, I didn’t wish to
except that he was short and heavily built. seem nervous.
“Salvajito? Humph!” said I. “What's But when we had passed through the
your game?” savanna and nearly reached the woods at
“No game,” he denied. “Except this— Salvajito, I stopped and turned. He too
Matanza is at Zamuro. If you would get stopped, a few yards away.
on up the river, now is your time.” “Amigo,” said I, “I don’t know who
I could hardly believe that he was you are, and I ask no questions on that
setting me free. But, looking beyond point. But Sixto Scott pays his debts.
him, I saw nobody outside the door. I owe you a good deal. How can I make
“Good,” said I. “Open the gate.” it right with you?”
“One moment,” he said. “You will He answered as if he had been expecting
walk straight to Salvajito. Keep going. something of the kind.
Ask no questions. I shall be behind you “Some day I may remind you of this,”
all the way.” he said. “Until then you can pay best
 COINCIDENCE 35

by forgetting everything since you came but the case of fancy food and, as I later
ashore at Zamuro.” learned, the case of rum.
“Agreed,” I said. “And whenever you The Indians said they had been ordered
need a friend who will do as much for by some man—not Matanza—to load
you—or more—let me know.” those things into a cart, at headquarters,
“I will,” he promised. near sundown. Then the cart had been
I moved on. There was no more to be driven to Salvajito, where they had been
said just then. commanded to load my boat and wait on
We came to the guard house at Salva- it, not going ashore for any purpose. For
jito—the only house there—and I slowed a time they had been watched by an
up, expecting to be.challenge,d. But no armed man of the Salvajito outpost; but
sentry was in sight. a little after moonrise that watchman had
“Go on,” said the man behind me. withdrawn, and they had seen no other
“To the water.” man until I arrived.
So I did. And there, on my own That was all they knew—except that
piragua, were my Guahibo boys, silently Matanza, with several men, had gone
waiting. northward, toward Zamuro, before noon;
“Par Dios!” I exclaimed. “This is a and that the bottle of water and the
miracle!” cassava had been, as I suspected, brought
“Almost,” said my masked guard. to me by two of my boys. A Funes man
“Get aboard and get out. And take this had seen them do this, but had not inter¬
with you. It is yours. Adios!” fered. He was, they said, a short, heavy
And he laid the rifle on the ground man, with a big mustache.
and walked away, heading back to That description fitted the appearance
Atures. of the chap who had set me free, except
I stood there staring like an idiot until that I knew nothing of the mustache.
he was out of sight. Then I grabbed the But I have never learned whether he was
gun and walked fast across the plank to the same man. I’ve never seen my
the boat. The Indians hauled in the liberator since that night, not heard any¬
plank, picked up their poles and shoved thing from him or about him. Nor have
off. And under the pale moon we went I ever learned why he did it.
crawling away up the river, with never There was some reason for his action,
a shot nor a shout from behind us. of course. But I’m quite sure it was not
That part of the river is no place to friendship for me or for the Carasquels.
travel at night; full of rocks and all pole The fellow may possibly have liked all of
work. But we did travel it that night. us, may have wished to spite Matanza.
Those boys of mine are wizards at that That could explain his action in opening
sort of thing, and cat eyed besides. And the jail for me. But it could hardly ac¬
they poled along until moonset, near day¬ count for the loading of my goods at
break, when we drew up into a twisty headquarters in daylight, the cartage
creek and took some rest. Then I asked overland without interference, the con¬
my head man— venient absence of any guard to challenge
“Is anything to eat in the cabin?” us at Salvajito. To achieve all that, even
“Yes,” he said. “All is there.” in the absence of the sargento, would
I stared at him. Then I crawled in require strong authority—as strong as
under the palm roof and lit a match. And Matanza’s, or stronger. And, queer as it
there, true enough, was all my cargo. may seem, I am forced to believe that the
It was unbelievable. I had thought authority behind the mystery was that of
myself lucky to be free, with my gun and Matanza himself.
my crew and my boat, and had given no Perhaps, with his bloodthirst tempor¬
thought to the loss of my supplies. But arily slaked, he had thought about me
they were not lost. Nothing was gone with cool common sense and decided that
36 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

it would be wiser not to take my life also. who had visited Babiila Flaca before, and
Perhaps he doubted that Funes would four other men, all armed. What orders
be pleased by his maltreating a Colom¬ the soldados had, aside from guarding
bian of good repute, even though there Vicente, I don’t know. But when the
was apparent proof of smuggling; the landing was made they stayed on the
Coronel might feel that such a smuggler ship, and only the corporal went with
should have been brought to San Fer¬ Vicente to the house.
nando for him to deal with, and that the As it happened, the boy Pepito had
sargento was assuming too much authority seen the boat approach and had recog¬
—which was usually a fatal thing for any nized Vicente aboard. So his father had
subordinate to do. So he considered it not taken down my gun, which he kept
wisest to turn me loose. But, not wishing loaded and hidden on a shelf of canes
to give me whatever satisfaction I might overhead. It also happened that he had
get from a public release, he preferred to other visitors at the moment—three
let me sneak away in the night and left strong fellows from across the river, one
orders concerning me and my goods with of whom had recently become interested
the heavy chap, who attended to the in Rita. None of the callers had a gun,
matter in his absence. but all were wearing their machetes. And
The only other explanation I could in¬ there they all sat when Vicente and his
vent seemed very improbable, though not guarding corporal came in.
impossible: that the heavy fellow was Vicente was no such swaggering bluffer
Funes himself, who had made one of his now as on his other visit. He was un¬
sudden trips to Atures, found Matanza armed, and so weak from fear that his
gone, learned about me from the corporal feet dragged. And the minute he entered
left in charge and amused himself by the house he blurted out what Matanza
stealthily letting me out and guarding me had done to his brothers and why he was
overland. It would be a queer thing for there.
the savage Coronel to do; but he did many The family was stunned. Father Car¬
queer things, being, as I’ve said before, asquel sank back in his hammock and lay
at least half mad. I happen to know there looking at the roof. The mother
that Funes had a heavy build and a huge gave one moan and then went to slow,
mustache. The secrecy of my release, quiet weeping. Rita, for once, had no
the masking to hide his identity, the re¬ words; she sat staring and silent, as did
quest to forget, would be quite like him. Pepito. The three visitors scowled at
Whoever that fellow was, I kept my one another, at Vicente, and at' the
promise to him. When I reached Mai- corporal. The corporal scowled back at
pures I said nothing to the commandant them and stood with a hand near his
there about the events at Atures. I revolver, but said nothing. Nobody
passed on up-stream and into my Vichada spoke but Vicente.
wilderness as usual. And I heard nothing “You must go with me,” he kept in¬
more about Matanza or the Carasquels sisting, “and satisfy the commandant of
until months later, when I came out with our loyalty, or I too shall be killed! I
my next cargo of hammocks. shall be killed!”
Then I learned of one thing that did At length Father Carasquel sat up
not surprise me, and of another that did. again, looking at the corporal.
“Is this true?” he asked.
CHAPTER XII “True,” answered the corporal, short
and hard.
“i AM HEAD OF THIS FAMILY.”
The old man looked at his fear ridden
V ICENTE Carasquel went home on
the morning when his brothers were
son; then, slowly, at the rest of his family.
After that he sat straighter and grasped
killed. With him went the same corporal his stick, ready to rise.
 COINCIDENCE 37

“You know very well,” he said, speak¬ Funes’s standing orders against killing
ing again to the corporal, “that we who people outside Amazonas—at least, with¬
do not live in Amazonas do not owe any out a command from Funes himself. And,
allegiance to Funes, or any explanation whatever Matanza’s orders might have
of what we do. You also know well that been, Matanza was only a sargento. All
no son of mine who has joined Funes has of which gave the corporal something to
been false to his duty; and so does that think about. And while he was thinking
Matanza of whom you speak. You both Rita found her tongue.
know that this thing has been a filthy “No!” she cried, springing up and seiz¬
murder, nothing less. But since the ing her father. “You shall not go, padrel
life of another son of mine hangs in the None of us shall go! I know what that
balance, I will go to see that Matanza.” Matanza wants—and he won’t get it!
“Bien.” The corporal grinned. “And And it would be useless suicide for you
the others of your family go also.” to go, and you shall not!”
“No,” refused Carasquel. “A sick old She forced him back in the hammock.
woman, a girl, and a small boy shall go She was young and strong; he was too
to that bloody beast? No! I am the weak to resist; and, though he com¬
head of this family. I will speak for all manded her to let him up, she held him
of it.” there.
“That was not the order,” the corporal “But they will kill me!” screamed
growled. And Vicente wailed: Vicente. That was all he could think of.
“No, padre, that was not the order! “They will kill me, unless you—”
You all must go! If you and I alone go “Go and jump off the bank!” Rita
we are dead men!” screamed back. “You are no man—you
“Neither of us is of any use to the never were a man—you never will be a
world,” the old man coldly told him. man! If you have not enough courage to
“You and I alone go. I want some words fight for your life, or even to run from
with that Matanza before I die. The those who would kill you, go drown your¬
others stay at home.” self! You shall not drag our father to
Then up spoke one of the three from death with you!”
across the river—the one who liked Rita. Vicente sprang at her. But the chap
“And you too shall stay at home, Padre who had defied the corporal knocked
Carasquel! Why throw away the few him back. The other two west bank
years left you in order to save this—” men quietly drew their machetes. The
“Shut your mouth!” snarled the cor¬ corporal, watching all like a hawk, sized
poral. up the situation speedily. He had a head
The west side man sprang up, and his on him, and knew when the game was
two comrades with him, hands on ma¬ up.
chetes. He shrugged. Then he spoke sharply.
“Shut it for me, if you are man “Vicente! Return to the piragual”
enough!” he invited. “But let me talk to them!” screeched
They stood and glared. The corporal Vicente. “They will come—let me talk—”
fingered his revolver, but did not draw “You have already talked too much!”
it. There were three machetes to face, snapped the corporal. “Vagal”
and hard eyed hombres to use them, and And, after a terrified stare at him,
they were close. Vicente went. He staggered dumbly to
Down on the piragua he had four rifle¬ the piragua, while the corporal, keeping
men, and one yell would have brought an eye behind him, followed. And no*
them. But that would not save his own body except his father, too feeble to
life. And there were other considera¬ escape the grip of the determined girl
tions. Although those four gunmen could who held him down, said a word or lifted
have shot everybody present, there were a hand for the fellow who had joined the
 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

Funes army to eat and was now to find this time was to somebody in Bolivar.
the dessert bitter. And he entrusted it to no less a personage
The boat sailed away. Soon afterward than the Atures commandant, Matanza.
the wind died, and the ship had to anchor He wanted speedy delivery, of course.
a league up-stream and lie there all night. So Matanza went in a falca—a dugout,
Whether Vicente lacked courage to jump you know, with high gunwales of boards,
overboard before morning, or whether he much safer in the waves of this lower
was lashed to the mast to prevent it, I river than the ordinary deep riding curial.
don’t know. But he was still on board A sailing piragua would have been more
the next day, when the voyage ended at comfortable, naturally, but nowhere near
Zamuro. And there Matanza, who had so fast, as the east wind would have been
been waiting to welcome the rest-of the dead against it most of the way down.
Carasquels in his own way at the guard Matanza was so intent on speed that he
house where Marcos had been corporal, even dispensed with the low cabin in
wasted no more time on him. which the master of a falca usually takes
With his own hands the sargento tied shelter from the sun; for he knew this
the writhing poltroon to the nearest tree. would catch enough of the wind to slow
Then he set his feet carefully, swung his him down by several miles a day. With
machete out to the right, and— his boat stripped for action, and eight
Chuck! strong paddlers and a wide awake steers¬
man, he set out to cover those four
CHAPTER XIII hundred odd miles in record time. And,
what’s more, he did.
“we have waited a long time—”
Quite likely he wondered, as he slid
AFTER that time, Matanza let the along down here and looked at the huts
AA- surviving Carasquels alone. along shore, which one of them was named
He was convinced that none of them Babilla Flaca. He had never been there
would come to him, he knew it was himself, you know. And to a man out
hazardous to go to them, and so he on the river all those little places look
stopped his game where it was. May¬ alike. But if he thought of Rita and the
be he heard something from Coronel other Carasquels he asked no questions.
Funes that made him cautious, or maybe That conceited pride of his would prevent
not. But he sent no more boats nor men him from asking, even if he wanted to;
to Babilla Flaca. for any such inquiry would remind his
Time slid along, as it’s always doing. men that he had twice failed to make
And then came this thing which you, per¬ that family come to him, and a failure was
haps, might call “coincidence”. the last thing he would wish his men to
Matanza still stood well with Funes— remember. Besides, he may have known
at least, as far as duty was concerned. that Rita, the only one there in whom he
And it happened that the Coronel needed had had any real interest, was there no
to send a very secret special message, by longer.
a most trustworthy messenger, to an She had gone to live across the river
agent of his in Bolivar. Oh, yes, the old with the young fellow who had been
cutthroat had agents as far off as that, courting her and who could feed her well.
and much farther, too; from Caracas, on So the only people now at Babilla Flaca
the coast, to Manaos, on the Amazon. were the old man, no longer able to walk;
It was from Manaos that he got his arms and the old woman, not much better; and
and ammunition, paying with Venezuelan the boy Pepito, the only able bodied one
rubber. And as for Caracas, I’ve told of the three. Rita and her man often
you that he was always trying for official came across by canoe and brought food
recognition from President Gomez. How¬ to the old folks, but she was through with
ever, that doesn’t matter. His message living at that starved house. And quite
 COINCIDENCE 80

likely Matanza, hearing most of the river So they crawled along, fighting the
gossip brought up by travelers and beef river and roasting alive. The farther up¬
boats, had learned of this. stream they went, the worse the sun
Anyway, he kept his mouth shut and grew, because, above Caicara, the cooling
drove his men to Bolivar. And as soon wind was weakened by the mountains
as his business was done he got out of away at the east. And after turning
there and started back. ' Funes men were southward they had to paddle close under
not popular at Bolivar—or anywhere else, the east bank in order to get the advan¬
for that matter—and they knew it. And tage of the shore eddies, and there they
of course they had to go unarmed while got no breeze at all. By the time they
they were there, and an unarmed Funes reached this section, where we are now,
man within reach of a federal garrison the men were so worn down by heat and
would be about as comfortable as a tooth¬ labor that their tempers were murderous,
less snake near a herd of peccaries. So and they muttered to one another at
they didn’t linger. night, discussing the plan of knifing Ma¬
Coming back, they could not travel so tanza in his sleep. But there was no
fast, as they had to buck a strong current. chance of that. Matanza’s nerves were
Back in the hills the wet season had so raw from continuous daily exposure
started, and the river flow was growing that he didn’t sleep. He only dozed,
more powerful all the time. But down starting awake at the slightest movement
here the sky still was clear, and the sun or sound near him. Learning this, the
as fierce as ever. And Matanza, sitting men slept as much as they could by night
still in the open falca all day long, day and carried on grimly by day.
after day, got the full force of the sun. Then, about the middle of the forenoon
So did his paddlers, of course. But some¬ on a day hotter than ever, Matanza
how a man riding idle in a small boat cracked under the strain.
without shade seems to suffer more from “I am sick!” he suddenly groaned.
sun heat than if he worked. Maybe it’s “Put me ashore!”
because action makes. a chap sweat more The men stared at him. He was
healthily; I don’t know. Anyway, Ma¬ ghastly pale, his eyes were dull, and his
tanza got more of the burning breath of skinny body sagged as if his bones were
hell during that voyage than he had ever only gristle. They grunted, well enough
felt. pleased to see him suffer and hear him
Now that he was up-bound, with the admit weakness, and more pleased by the
wind astern, he could have carried a little chance to get ashore and rest in shade.
cabin to good advantage. It would have Then they looked for a landing place.
protected him and might have helped his “There is a port ahead, you damned
crew a bit by giving the wind something eyeless slugs!” he croaked. “Get there
to push against. But he gave no orders muy pronto!”
to make one. Probably his pride wouldn’t They got there at double time, as
let him. To put up a shelter for himself anxious to reach shelter as he. An old
now, while his men were paddling un¬ curial floated there, and a path went up
protected, would look like a confession the sloping shore, and at the top of it a
that he could not endure as much as they. boy stood staring at them. Matanza
And, to a man whose fixed ambition was crawled ashore at once, looked dully up
to appear harder and tougher than any at the boy, and, saying nothing, went
one under his command, that was im¬ staggering up the path. The boy gave
possible. Instead, he sneered and swore back, as if scared; then turned and ran.
at his soldados whenever they showed The crew, after tying their canoe,
signs of fatigue, calling them weaklings climbed after the sargento. But they
and worms and worse, and showing no went only to the top of the bank, turning
mercy to them or to himself. to the shade of a near tree. Matanza had
40 ARTHUR O. FRIEL

stopped there for a few seconds; but now And so they did. After plundering the
he went on. A little house stood a few body of everything worth taking, they
yards away, and he wanted to get inside dragged it to the water and pitched it in.
and lie in a hammock. Meanwhile Pepito hastily reloaded his
He walked to the door, putting a hand gun, and when they came back he stood
to the butt of his revolver as he stepped in the doorway, on guard. He would not
in. Then— let them come in to talk to his father.
Bang! He damned them, and he damned Funes,
Matanza fell backward and lay still. and ordered them to be gone. So, after
His face was blown off. bantering him a bit, they went back to
The paddlers, just dropping to rest, the tree and rested and talked it over
sprang up and stood staring. They saw until they felt like going. Then they
the boy, with shotgun still held tight to went.
his shoulder, come out and stand there, So that was the end of Matanza.
face hard as a stone, watching the dead Father Carasquel died, too, about a
man. Slowly he let the empty weapon month later, but with a smile on his face.
down. And, with a voice as hard as his His wife lived only a few weeks after him.
face, he called: Then Pepito crossed the river to stay;
“Padre! I hate killed the poison snake, and he’s there yet, living with Rita and
Matanza!” her man. Now' Babilla Flaca is nothing
Then the Funes men ran at him. He but an empty house and a name.
did not give back an inch.
“What does this mean, you little
EPILOGUE
devil?” one yelled.
“It means,” they boy snapped back at ELL, there you are, hmnbre.
him, “that this thing killed my four There’s a “coincidence” for you.
brothers and wanted to kill the rest of us. In all this long stretch of river, with
We have been waiting a long time for houses and huts and hovels scattered here
him to come. And—” and there, and other landing ports w'here
“Who are you?” another man inter¬ nobody lives, Matanza had to go ashore
rupted. at that one small spot where vengeance
“Pepito Carasquel!” said the boy, glar¬ wafted. Half a mile above it or below' it
ing at him. “Brother of Marcos and Juan he w ould have been safe from any penalty
and Marcelo Carasquel! And—” he hesi¬ for his murders of the Carasquels. But
tated, as if ashamed—“and of Vicente that was the place where he had to land.
Carasquel.” More than that, he had to do it at a
The men looked at one another, and moment when Pepito was idling there
at the bloody thing that had been their ready to recognize him, instead of w orking
commandant, and at the child who had back on the plantation: at a time, too,
killed him. There was a long silence, w hen he himself was so dull eyed that he
while they thought things over. failed to remember the boy and realize
“Cra!” one said then. “The nino is a where he was. If he had known he was
man! And he had a right to kill Matanza at Babilla Flaca he would have been more
four times over. And I am not sorry to alert, even if he had been twice as sick
have seen it done.” as he was.
“Nor I!” came a sudden chorus. “To It had to happen, too, that a loaded
hell with Matanza!” gun was there, waiting for him; and that
“Come, let us throw him into the river, I had felt generous enough to give that
where some caiman can take care of him,” gun to Padre Carasquel—and it’s de¬
added one of them. “I have done enough cidedly unusual for me to give things to
sweating for this misbegotten without anybody on short acquaintance. And,
burying him!’V furthermore, I had to win that gun gam-
 FROBISHER’S GOLD RUSH 41

ing at Bolivar, when I didn’t want the S IXTO stretched himself, stood up and
took a long, slow look from south to
thing.
Well, now, who or what was it that put north. Too lazy to arise, I sat where I
those various things together to finish was, but let my eyes drift along the same
Matanza? What was it that suddenly monotonous scene. Babilla Flaca had
broke his pride at that one place, com¬ long passed from sight. But, on either
pelled him to admit weakness before his shore, a few other huts of the same type
men, drove him into the muzzle of that had crept past while he talked; and two
heavy loaded gun? Coincidence? I or three more were dimly visible at far
don’t believe it, amigo. I’m not saying intervals. Only an expert eye could dis¬
what it was, but I dare you to look me tinguish one from another. And to the
in the eye and say at was just coincidence. eye of any man unacquainted with each
No, I’m not religious. But there is and half blind with solar fever ...
something, somewhere, that takes hold I said nothing more about coincidence.
of things and makes them work out. I said nothing at all. As Sixto had ad¬
Name it yourself. But don’t call it luck, vised, I thought-it over. And, though
or chance, or coincidence. It’s bigger five years have passed since then, I am
than that. Think it over. still thinking.

FROBISHERS GOLD RUSH

By Donald A. Cadzow

F robisher bay on the south¬

east coast of Baffin Island was
part of August, after several brushes with
the Eskimos, in one of which Frobisher
the scene of North America’s first was wounded by an arrow, two hundred
gold rush. tons of ore were loaded on the ships and
In the bark Gabriel, Frobisher explored sail was made for England.
the bay named after him in 1576. And The show of ore in London caused so
while so doing he collected tokens to carry¬ much excitement that by May 1578 a
back to England. Among these tokens fleet of fifteen vessels was ready to sail
was a live Eskimo and a piece of stone of for the goldfields. It was proposed to es¬
great weight. The Eskimo died soon after tablish a colony on an island in the
reaching England. The stone was acci¬ Countess of Warwick’s Sound near which
dently dropped into a fire, and upon being the ore was found.
recovered it presented an appearance In August the ships arrived at their
something like gold. Certain refiners of destination and the second colony on the
London said that the stone did contain North American continent took root, the
gold, and an expedition was quickly or¬ first being established just a few years be¬
ganized to obtain more of the precious fore at St. Augustine, Florida. The
metal. Baffin Island attempt at colonization was
On May 31st, 1577 Frobisher set sail not successful.
with three vessels and arrived in his bay Frobisher’s gold ore turned out to be
on the 19th of July. A very rich mine of iron pyrites and mica. And, like other
ore was soon discovered and twenty tons dreamers of new empires, Frobisher lan-
taken on board the vessels. By the latter quished in disgrace and died.
 BUG EYE among the Soo
LETTERS OF A WANDERING PARTNER
? ? ? ? ? becaus you
Erly Fall, was me be¬
1878. caus you aint,

D eer
Bug
an even if you
was that
woud not be a
Eye, good reeson.
See them An that is
qwesch in ware the goke
marks Bug cums in, see
Eye. I put the point
them in tem¬ Bug Eye.
porary, an I Wei any¬
wil rub them way Bug Eye
out an put in I cum down
the rite name to ware you
of this plase was in jale
as soon as I wen I herd
find out ware they was goin
I am at. I still to set fire to
do not noe it with you in
how I am it. An I resked
goin to get my own life
any mor let- aimin to get
ers frum me you out, ony
to you with- to find you
out noein By Alan LeMay had got ex-
sited an got
ware eether
1 of us is at, yerself out an
but I never escaiped. An
giv up hope Bug Eye, I wil think of a way. a angry mob chaised me backards an
Yesterdy I rote a leter telin you how forards an forced me to throe my satchel
cum I am lost in the Black Hills, but that of gold into sum crick sumwares an giv
leter is not in existunce any mor, it was me no peese until I didunt noe ware I
rote on berch bark an I had to use it to was or ware any plase else was neether.
make a fire. But anyway it told about An heer I am warever that is.
how I lernt you was in jale, an wy I was Finly I kiled a cow moose with a rok
delaid in cumin to get you out. It was an eet it, an the Injuns stole my horse
a good goke on you Bug Eye, bein in jale Wilbur, the 1 with the week legs. An
becaus they thout you was me. Speshully that is about al the news Bug Eye exsep
since I was a innisent man in the 1st last nite after I had rote you the leter I
plase Bug Eye. I do not dout you de¬ herd a Injun in the brush, an I rosh out
served to be in jale al rite al rite, but not an hung my hat on a bush, an then snoke
 BUG EYE AMONG THE SOO 43

qwitely around in back of the Injun an put up log bildings wen they start a town
wen he had shot a hole throo my hat I out heer Bug Eye. Wen they 1st started
jumped on him an took his powder an Peg Leg they sed this is the reel plase ware
lead away an tied him to a tree to think al the gold is at, we wil dig in heer an
it over. stay until rich. An then wen they found
I woud not menshun that Bug Eye, Hen crick they sed no we was rong, this
things like that is practicly a evryday is the reel plase, this time we hav made
ocurnse in this darn country, but I put no mistaik. But now ther is ony about
it down heer becaus I want you to noe I 6 fellers left in Peg Leg an 11 in Hen
am stil alive an kikin an hav a gun. An Crick an ony 1 sloon in eech plase an
if you are stil telin evry 1 you see that they are al the rest in Cheese Cloth I
you are goin to hit me with a ax, wy you gess, uperds of 600 fellers.
beter think beter of it, that is al I hav to You wil say wat is this country cumin
say. Peepul that taik atitoods like you to, soon it wil be al bilt up solid an no
taik tord yer pore pardner is lible to cum plase fer trapin. Don’t wery Bug Eye,
out much the werse fer ware. Reed that cum winter ther wil be plenty trapin rite
agen Bug Eye, an think it over very cairful. along the mane st. of Hen Crick, a feler
Yr. Obeedint Servint, told me he shot a bare in the Hen Crick
—Hank. post offis jest as he was leevin.
Frum now on the towns is goin to be
Cheese Cloth, bilt of flowr sacks so they can be mooved
Erly September, 1878. ware needed. An if you got any flowr
D EER Bug Eye,
Hallyloogy Bug Eye I hav reeched
sacks on you wy hang onto them, they is
werth mor than pelts.
sivilizashun at last, or anyway sumthin Nobudy has sed anythin to me about
that passes fer it, an I am a hapy man. bein the Hoozer Jint or robin the Ded-
This is the 1st time in a long wile that I wood Coach, I gess they hav desided to
am abel to say I am in sutch an sutch a let bygones be bygones, an it is a good
plase Bug Eye, a pertickler plase, an noe thing fer them. Persnly I stand redy an
fer sertin that I am speekin the' trooth. wilin to drop the hole afare if they wil do
I am in Cheese Cloth Bug Eye, that is the saim. But they had beter not start
ware I am, an I am proud to say so with shootin at me agen.
ful confidunts that this time I am rite. Yr. Obeedint Servint, —Hank.
You wil say ware the hel is Cheese
Cloth. It is on the Moose River Bug Eye PS Now that I noe ware I am Bug
an it is a new town that they hav jest Eye it is ony needful to find out ware you
started up becaus sumbudy thout. they arc, then we can hav our fite, it had befer
found sum gold in Moose River. You be to a finish this time. An wen you hav
must hav cum throo it last week Bug takun yer likin like a man we can get
Eye wen fleein fer yer life, it is about in back on a pardnership bassis agen. Sinse
line with ware you was heded wen last I left you on Elk Mownlin I hav not ben
seen. Ony you did not see it Bug Eye, mobed Inst without thinkin “I coud
it was not ther then, they ony put it up handel this beter if I had anuther feller
day befour yesterdy about noon, an even to help me.” I coud hav got me plenty
now they hav not got it finished, new pardnere Bug Eye, pardners like me is in
fellers keep cumin in an makin it biger. big demand. But I do not want any of
They cal the new town Cheese Cloth these littel short fellers, I want a life size
Bug Eye because that is wat it seems to feller, even if I hav to hav 1 that is mor
be made of. It is reely made of flowr than avrige homely. An you are the ony
sacks an even sum canvas, but you cant medjum size 7 foot feller I hav seen sense
tel the difrunce a littel ways off. They I left pa an the boys, back in Single Tree
hav lerned beter than to go to werk an Indianna. —Hank.
 ALAN LeMAY

Cheese Cloth, Blak Hills, al hel do you meen ware you say “Preech
Erly fall, 1878. in 2 Seux is hawks leg Mut Soze wiz
D EER Bug Eye,
I do not noe wat we woud do
Hee.” Wat in time is a Seuks Bug Eye
an ware does hawks legs cum in. I spose
without the Perkins boy, Bug Eye. He that last werd is wisky but that is about
shoed up this mornin with yer leter, al I can maik out. An I coudent even hav
an I hav hired him to taik you the got that much Bug Eye if I had not
anser. noen you.
In the 1st plase Bug Eye I am glad to 3lly Bug Eye. I am a determin man
see that you hav cum to yer senses an no an I think I noe wat you are drivin at,
longer aim to hit yer pore pardner (me) see if this is it. You hav notised that
with a ax. That was a foolish noshun at tradin with Injuns is much eesier ware
best Bug Eye, an I am glad to see you mishunaries hav ben in an made them
hav now overcum yer indigeschin an are mor peesabul. An you hav figgered out
in yer rite mind. that the best thing to trade Injuns is
I must say Bug Eye I do not noe wat wisky. So you hav started preechin to
'you meen wen you say you are perpared the Injuns ware you are, to make the
to fergiv al. I do not see ware they was rode cleer, an wen you hav them con¬
anythin to fergiv. I noe I was delaid verted you want I shoud bring the wisky
3 4 munths getin back to Elk Mowntin up ther an trade it fer evrythin the Injuns
with the grub, an I admit I was also de¬ hav got.
laid wen you was in jale in Peg Leg watin Bug Eye I sernly hope I hav misred.
to be hanged an holerin to be got out. That is the lowest down plan I hav ever
But I hav explaned the reesons fer that herd Bug Eye, wat kine of a scoundrel
befour Bug Eye, an anyway jest as I ex¬ hav you becum. In the 1st plase you are
pected you got along al rite on yer own setin up to be sumthin that you aint.
hook, as soon as you see I was not goin An in the 2st plase you are doin it in hope
to wate on you hand an foot. of profit, I am skandelized Bug Eye.
I sh’oud be the 1 to fergiv you Bug Eye Let me reepeet, skandelized. The 1st
fer shiftin al round the country an brakin prinsipul of mishunaries is that they are
yer werd, about stayin put til I cum. You sposed to help others without doin ther-
hav caused me no end of unneedless bother selves no good, or ther famlyes neether.
Bug Eye but I am a broad minded In the 3st plase you are ony fritterin
man as you ougt to noe frum long awy yer time, who ever herd of a Injun
expeerence an I wil leeve you off this havin to be converted in order to trade
time if you wil try to do beter frum wisky.
now on. An lastly Bug Eye if we are goin to
211y Bug Eye. I see ware you tel in trade wisky to the Injuns you are goin to
yer leter about sum wild skeem you hav cum down heer an help tote the wisky,
fer getin muney away frum the Injuns. wat kine of sucker do you think I am.
It is pritty hard to tel wat you are drivin We are not goin into any mor of these
at Bug Eye. You are about as long skeems ware I do al the werk an you eet
winded a feller as ever I see. 3 34s of the grub. It looks very much to
You mope around al winter long with¬ me Bug Eye as if al this mishunary talk
out nuthin to say, but leeve you get hold is aimed to get me mixed up, so that I
of a stub pensil an off you go, you are wil not notis that I am the 1 that is taikin
good fer al nite. An the spelin is a site al the chances. Sumtimes you almost
Bug Eye, a disgrase to yer home state. maik me mad Bug Eye, you lazy lumicks,
Sum of the things you rote dont meen you.
nuthin to me, or anybudy els eether, I bet —Yr. Respeckful and Obeedint
you woud not noe wat you was trine to Servint,
say yerself. Frinsance Bug Eye, wat in Hank.
 BUG EYE AMONG THE SOO 45

Cheese Cloth, Blak Hils, fer nuthin, sos they wil leeve you loose.
September 1878. It seems to me you must hav lost yer
EER Bug Eye, infloonce with the Soo Injuns Bug Eye,
I thout I woud die laffin at that wat went rong? You shoud never hav
Perkins boy Bug Eye. He cum galpin told them ther woud be plenty wisky as
into Cheese Cloth on foot, an I was ser- soon as they got religun. Wat kine of
prised to see he had made such good time mishunary argyment do you cal that Bug
frum heer to the Soo Injuns an back agen, Eye, I never herd the like. You mite
until I see wat condishun he was in. The hav noen it woud be ony too suxesful, an
varmints was hot on his trale, but ony that evry last 1 of them woud imedjutly
cot him jest Outside of the town. anser al rite I hav religun now ware is
He was a site Bug Eye, he was warin the wisky.
nuthin but a soot of underware, the Injuns I do not spose they was sprised to find
had took everthin els he had, an he was it was ony a goke on them Bug Eye, but
blubberin an holerin bludy merder the neether shoud you be serprised if they
Soo is upon us, run, run fer yer life. An tern around an play a few gokes on you
as he cum up befour the mane sloon he now, like they seem to be doin frum yer
stagered around an elapsed on his back, leter. I feel I shoud warn you that these
an he cum down on a sharp rok, an let Soo is mor than likely to cary this thing
out anuther yel an jumped up agen, an too far. You may think they hav done
looked around fer a beter plase to lite, an so alredy, but I am perpared to tel you
elapsed agen as soon as he had found a that they hav not even begun. Wen
good 1. they reely get to thinkin up noo stunts
Wei we caried him into a sloon Bug to put you throo Bug Eye you wil not be
Eye, he carrin on sumthin teribil, but ritin leters fer help. I hav noen them to
wen we had got sum wisky into him he pore cole oil on a fellers hare an set fire to
seemed to feel beter an set up an looked it, that is ther idee of a comickle site.
around. Direckly he saw me he sed Hay An the feller sed hisself that that was ony
giv me my muney heer is yer leter frum the beginin, an didunt giv any warnin of
Bug Eye. wat was cumin later.
I sed you wil hav to wate until the end Bug Eye sumtimes it seems to me I
of the munth, pay day is at the end of the spend al my time getin you out of sum
munth. He sed no I am qwitin now, perdiement you hav werked yer way into.
ware is my 8 dolars. Wei Bug Eye I did I wil tel you frankly Bug Eye I do not
not have 8 dolars, I did not even hav noe how you find so meny difrunt ways
1 dolar. A1 I coud do was tern around of getin in trubel, you are a jeenus I gess.
an wauk out in a dignyfied silence. An I Wel I wil cum an get you out this Inst
hav ben dodgin the Perkins boy around mor if you wil promus not to let it hapen
Cheese Cloth ever since. agen.
Now heer is wat I am drivin at Bug Yr. Obeedint Servnt.
Eye. —Hank.
I see in yer leter ware you are not getin
along very wel in the mishunary bizness. PS I hav borryed sum suplies off a
Last wk, you was goin to convert the sloon keeper on the strenth of yer sad
Soo Injuns an make tradin eesy, an you story Bug Eye. He sed I do not beleeve
wanted I shoud cum up an trade them it but any such good ly is werth grub-
wisky fer ther varus bulongins. You was stakin. I sed I wil not take the grub
goin to acomplish grate things you was, unless you beleeve my story. But he
an make us both rich men al over agen. was a hard man Bug Eye, he woud not
An now I see ware you hav changed giv 1 inch, an I had to giv in an take the
yer toon Bug Eye, you want I shoud grub anyway. It was very hoomilyatin
bring wisky up ther an giv it to the Injuns Bug Eye, an a good sample of wat I
46 ALAN LeMAY

hav to put up with with such a pardner. end is my gnees Bug Eye, I hav to dubbel
I hav found a Soo buck that noes of them up so that both ends of me wil not
you Bug Eye, but has not ben home sense stick out an be seen by the Injuns. I am
the Soo declared war on you, an he has sory that my gnees hav got to stik up, I
promused to take you this leter. Be per- noe it is a bad thing fer me an lible to be
pared Bug Eye, I wil try to effeck yer my undooin. But I cannot help it, I am
rescue about the middel of the week. makin them look jest as much like a rok
—Hank. as I can.
You wil say how cum Hank to get his-
PS S I am not very wel armed Bug self in such a darn lay out as that. Wel
Eye, but I wil werk it out sum way. I Bug Eye I crep heer last nite jest befour
meen no insult to you Bug Eye wen I say dark, thats how I got heer. An wen dark
that a wite man that cannot outsmart a cum the Soo mooved ther horses al up
Injun is not much of a wite man. We got behind me, an left them ther too, with
this country frum the Injuns didunt we? sum littel Injun boys to watch them nite
We shore did. an day. It is the 1st time I ever herd of
—Hank. Injuns wdtchin thare horses at nite,
mostly they are jest about as fool cairless
Rite up the hill frum as wite men Bug Eye. It makes me think

D ware you are at Bug Eye.

EER Bug Eye,
Bug Eye I hav never in al my life
that yer treetment of these Injuns has
made them suspishus of sumthin. How
meny times do I hav to tel you Bug Eye,
see such a darn sitchashun as this heer is. you shoud ougt to remember that the
I hav laid heer al last nite an al today Injuns is ony our red brothers. You wil
thinkin an Im darn if I can think of a be a hapier man wen you begin leevin the
plan. I gess the best thing to do wil be atchel handlin of Injuns to me. You are
to rite you this leter telin you egzackly much too slow on the triger Bug Eye, an
wat the lay out is as seen frum my herds yer onfrendly atitoods does not go good
eyes posishun. I dont noe how I am with pore shootin.
goin to get this leter to you, but it is a At 1st I thout that ther was ony 2
sinch that I can not get it to you befour Injun welps gardin the horses an I was
I hav rote it. So heer goes. goin to take 1 of them by the neck in
In the 1st plase, I am up the hill on eech hand an go find me a beter plase to
the north side of the crick frum the Soo save you frum. But they had garded
vilaje ware you are a prisoner Bug Eye. agenst that, ther was 3 of them. An I
You wil say how in hel can he be on the see at Inst that wile I was chokin 2 of
side of that hill ih broad daylite, ther is them the other 1 woud be holerin his hed
not enuf cover fer a skun jay berd. Wel off, you noe how a Injun brat can holer
Bug Eye you look up the hill tord the Bug Eye he can be herd 40ty mile off, an
flat plattoe ware the Soo are grazin thare I woud hav the hole Soo vilaje around my
horses, an at the top of the hill you wil eers. I am not afrade of them Bug Eye
see a wite hors. He had not mooved fer but I was feerful that they woud qwitely
more than 8teen hours, I gess he wil stay gnock you on the hed in the confushun.
ther long enuf to serve the perpose now. I hav not cum al the way frum Cheese
You draw a line frum ware the wite horse Cloth meerly to be disappointed, an find
is standin sleepin to ware the 3 Injun out at the last minit that you are a ded
boys is sittin sleepin (a imajinery line I men.
meen Bug Eye). In about the middle of So I hav laid heer ever sinse Bug Eye,
that line you wil see a littel ruff plase getin hongrier al the time an trine to
about 6 foot long, made up of long grass think of a plan. An if I don’t think of a
an short brush. That is ware I am Bug plan soon Bug Eye I am goin into acshun
Eye. That humpup in the grass neer 1 anyway, an mebby wip the entire tribe.
 BUG EYE AMONG THE SOO 47

But it woud be much beter Bug Eye it out now an feel much better an madder,
it seems like to me if wate a minit. those varmints want to watch wat they
I started to say Bug Eye it seems to me are doin.
it woud be beter if we woud go to werk An now I noe how I wil get these leters
an get wate a minit. to you Bug Eye. I wil speer them on the
Bug Eye ther is a darn spider down the Injun welps arrer, an throe it out in plane
back of my neck, an he takes a big bite site. An after he has got his walin fer
like a hot nale, ony itchier, an then crawls not bringin his arrer home he wil cum
about 2 inches an takes anuther bite, an out to look fer it an find it. An wen he
I hav tride skwirmin round on my back, sees this peese paper he wil run take it
an I hav tride pokin down with a stick, to his pa, an his pa wil run take it to a
an I hav tride skwashin him with my medisin man, an the medisin man wil see
hand, ony he is in the part of my back it is wite folks ritin an he wil run take it
ware I cannot reech. Wate a minit. An to you to find out wat it says. An you
he is getin werse al the time Bug Eye, want to say, Wei it is a majic leter sined
an I dont dast stand up or taik off my by 4 medisin bufloes an a cuppel of pole
shert, an if I skwerm too much them cats, an it says probly it is goin to rain.
Injun welps wil see my gnees gerkin an They shoud fal fer that 1, huh Bug Eye,
wil noe they are not rok, an ther wil be an if they dont it maiks no difrunce, you
hel to pay Bug Eye. I can not think or hav reseeved my leters anyway, that is
rite no mor Bug Eye owch wat the hel the mane idee. Now isunt that pritty
heer. My gosh how I suffer. smart Bug Eye.
—Hank. Now I hav ben thinkin wat you beter
do, an how you coud best signel me wat
Pritty neer dark, saim plase. lodje you are in, so I can cum an save
EER Bug Eye, you. It is a sinch you can put out nuthin
Hallyloogy Bug Eye I hav had a I can see becaus you are probly tied up,
narrer escaip an it has cleered my mind. an if you let out a yell or make sum other
I hav thout of a plan. Wile I was fitin noise I can heer, it wil probly be the deth
that darn spider 1 of them Injun welps of you, dont attempt nuthin foolish Bug
see the grass wiggel, I gess he thout it Eye. That cuts out site an heerin, I
was a chip munk or sumthin, an he upped gess we wil hav to go by smel. It is a
with his bow an arrer an let fly, an the tuff propizishun to track a man by smel
arrer cot me in the neck an stuck throo in a plase ware ther is so meny diffrunt
the skin, an hert most friteful. But it smels as ther is in a Injun vilaje, but
did not go into the holler part of my heer is wat you do Bug Eye.
neck, an a dam good thing it is fer both You keep werkin around until you get
of us. Wei the Injun welps begun jab- neer the. fire. Then you pertend to be
berin, I do not noe wat they was sayin, sleepin, an axidently rol in it an scorch
I do not understand the Soo langwidge, yer wiskers. Be shore an scorch them
but anyway I new they woud be cumin good, ther must be no mistake. The
after ther arrer. I was hopin they woud Injuns wil be unsuspishus, they wil think
be too, lazy but that was my ony hope. nobudy woud be as big a fool as to do
Shore enuff Bug Eye heer they cum, an that on perpose, not even if they hav got
I was getin reddy to give them the lesson to noe you pritty wel Bug Eye. An
of ther life an then brake an run fer it. probly they wil spare yer life until I cum
Sudinly a skwaw let out sum kind of becaus you are such a comickle feller.
woop down in the circel of teepees an the Cum about midnite I wil crawl down
3 Injun welps broke an run fer the lodges. the hil an go creepin frum lodje to lodje
I gess it was a call to dinner Bug Eye, ontil I find 1 that smels like scorch wisk¬
anyway the welp run home an left his ers. Then I wil qwitely pul the teepee
arrer stickin in my neck. I hav pulled down on ther heds, an in the confooshun
48 ALAN LeMAY

I wil cut you loose an we wil escaip. be hopin that they are not goin to hav
Mebby. Anyway we wil try it. If we sum form of entertanement. If they do,
fale we can stil try an wip the entire tribe. you are al too ap to be the sentral sorce
An falin that, I am good an glad I hav of amoosement Bug Eye, I woud not want
leeded a verchus life Bug Eye, I ony to be in yer shoos.
wisht that you coud say the saim. Now I see Injun bucks cumin out of the
Get reddy Bug Eye. difrunt lodjes al drest up. They sernly
Yr. Obeednt Servint, look pecooler Bug Eye, any 1 woud think*
—Hank. they was sum kind of wild men, they,
way they are got up. Thare goes 1 with*

D EER Bug Eye,

Saim plase, later.

Wei Bug Eye, yr. leters are watin

out a stitch on exsep a artyfishul tale
about 6 foot long. Sumtimes he leeves
it drag on the ground an sumtimes he
fer you on that arrer I got out of my neck, carys it in his hand. He beter look otit
but the Injun welp has not cum after it or he wil trip hisself up Bug Eye. He
yet. I am not worin, they are probly stil appeers to hav his fase paynted to reper-
walin him fer leevin his arer behind. sent ham an eggs, he is a shockin site, f
Yes I think I heer him holerin down in wil frankly admit I do not noe wat this
the teepees. It sernly is a crime the way meens.
Injuns wale ther offspring. An I sernly Now al the Injun bucks hav gone inside
hope they wil giv this 1 a walin he wil a big teepee on the far side of the circel
never ferget so long as he lives. Evry frum ware I am at. I gess I wil hav time
time he yels I say to myself, you woud fer a short nap.
shoot me in the neck with a arrer woud No I wont eether Bug Eye, sum thin
you, an then go off an leeve the arrer else is now goin on down thare ware you
stickin in my neck. I gess you are sory are at. A croud of skwaws is setin up a
now, leeve this be a lesson to you. Of tal post in the middel of the circel of
corse he does not noe wat he reely done teepees. They are also bringin no end of
or wat he is bein waled fer, but it does firewood an kindlin. This probly meens
me good to heer him yel jest the saim. they are goin to bild a big fire. Mebby
It looks like I got time to rite a few they are goin to bern you in effigy Bug
mor lines fer yet infermashun Bug Eye. Eye. At leest I hope it wil be in effigy,
Wen I see the Injun brat cumin after his tho I hav my very seerus douts.
arer I wil wad up wat I hav rote an throe Now 3 Injuns hav cum out of the mane
it out beside the arrer an the other leters, teepee, ware they al went in a little wile
so he wil find it an it wil get to you. I ago. I do not noe how to describe wat
wil set down heer watever I see goin on they are doin Bug Eye. At 1st I thout
own ther in the Soo vilaje ware you are they was dansin, then I thout they was
at, an wenever anythin hapens that seems fitin, now I think it is sum kind of reeligus
important I wil not ony put it down heer seremony. 1 of them is ternin hansprings,
but I wil explane to you wat it meens. I noe that much Bug Eye, but the rest of
I see ther is stil sum Injun brats watchin the pufformanse is a dark mistery. I
the horses. I wil hav to remane ware I woud not be serprised to lern that they
am. I woud hav broke an run fer beter hav ben drinkin.
cover wen the last outfit run to dinner, Now they hav went back into the lodje
but it was too daylite. Bug Eye.
Ther is a Injun drum beetin down ware 4 Injuns has cum out of the lodje an
you are Bug Eye. Probly you can heer stood on ther heds in a row like 1 man,
it, an are askin yerself wat does it al then solumly went back in the teepee.
meen. It meens that ther is sum kind of A Injun buck has flew out of the lodje
deviltry afoot, an I feer it points to no as if he had help, he lit forked end up in a
good fer you Bug Eye. You had beter heap, then he got to his hands an gnees
 BUG EYE AMONG THE SOO 49

an crole back into the lodje, a sobered an They are al out at last Bug Eye, it is a
umbled man. good thing, I could not hav stood much
Gosh Bug Eye, a terrific howl has went mor.
up frum that darn teepee, you coud see Nossir, heer cums 2 more. That is the
the teepee shake, an the bufloe hide sides last straw, Bug Eye, I giv it up. These
of the teepee swole out fer a minit like a last 2 seems to be trine to pul sumthin
bloon. I wil say freely I do not like the out of the lodje after them, I cannot see
look of this Bug Eye. Jest 1 howl, in wat it is yet. O, it is a Injun with hooge
korus of about 60 male voices, then deep boots on, they are struglin to pul him out
silence. Wat can it meen. feet 1st. I wil bet he was the Injun on
The skwaws that is bildin the fire does the bottom Bug Eye, an he has faynted
not seem to think it meens anythin, they frum the grate presher frum above. This
are jest goin on about ther bizness like has no speshul meenin so far as you are
such goins on was a reglar thing. But conserned Bug Eye, it is ony the natchel
dont take any false hopes frum that Bug result of such goins on, they shoud hav
Eye, a skwaw that does not mind her noen that they coud not get that many
own bizness is wide open fer a wack on Injuns in 1 tent without it bein fatal to
the side of the hed, an wel they noe it. sum.
Now they hav got the fire lit, it is a Wel they hav got him drug out at last,
woopin big 1 an makes everthin lite as an they are al standin aroun wile about 4
day. But they hav not lit the fire they of them asist him to his feet. It looks
hav laid around the pole in the middel like—
yet, I feer they are keepin that 1 fer sum WEL WAT THE—
onforchinut use.
Now all the Injun bucks are cumin out Betern Yi way back to Cheese Cloth,
of that teepee. They hav cooked up sum Day after the grate Battel.
deviltry Bug Eye or I am a Iyer. 1 Injun D EER Bug Eye,
Wel Bug Eye you hav done it
is bad enuff an 2 is werse, but you get a
bunch like that together an wat 1 dont now. I dont noe ware you are or how you
think of anuther 1 does, it takes a man of got thare, or whether you are alive or
grate fisikul endurance to upt up with ded, but 1 thing is sertin, an that is that
them at al. you hav spilled the beens this time. I
They are stil filin out of that teepee woud jest as soon be ded as be pardner
Bug Eye in a long endless line. My gosh to such a exsentrick feller, an if ever I
how did they al get in ther, I didunt think get you out of this fix I am goin strate
it woud hold them al. back to Singletree Indianna an leeve you
They are stil cumin Bug Eye, I never to yer fate.
see the beet of it, they must hav ben in Wel Bug Eye after I see al them Injuns
that teepee 5 deep. It is a wunder they cum pilin out of that teepee they drug
woud not smuther, wat coud be ther sumthin out after them, an I see it was a
perpose. hoomin form. An they got saim to his
Good gosh Bug Eye wat the hel heer, feet, an he rared up to his full hite, an I
they are stil cumin, I bet they was 1000 see it was you Bug Eye. I coud not see
Injun bucks in that teepee, I can hardly yer fase at that distunce, but I new the
beleeve my own eyes. Sumtimes I think Injuns were al littel short fellers, 6 foot
ther must hav ben a hooge pit dug under an under, an wen I see you towerin above
that teepee, an the Injuns stacked ther- them I sed thare is my pore pardner.
selfs in it like cordwood. Eether that or But pitcher my serprise Bug Eye. Tel
ther must hav ben a secrut tunnel leedin me 1 thing Bug Eye, how cum you to let
into it frum sum outside suply of Injuns them Injuns, wich is littel beter than
that we did not suspeck. Ther is sernly heethen savijes, how cum you to let them
sumthin rong heer. ^get you in such a disgustin condishun?
50 ALAN LeMAY

Wy was you warin 4, 5 bufloe horns on That broke up the Injun party Bug
yer hed? Wy was yer wiskers shaved off Eye, an ther was wild confooshin. They
pritty neer up to the top of yer been? was moilin round down thare lookin fer
Wat was you doin with fethers in yer the weepins an trine to get orginized, an
nose Bug Eye, an wy did you hav a smal meentime I run around the hole valley in
base drum in 1 hand an a blowed up pig grate leeps, an no sooner had I got around
skin in the other? Above al Bug Eye, to the far side of the vilaje than thare
wy was you appeerin rite out thare in the they went, chargin up the hill tords the
open practicly stark nakid, with almost plase I had stampeded the horses frum,
no does on, an them you had on a skandel sum afoot, sum ahorseback.
an a disgrase Bug Eye? Alas Bug Eye I I wated ontil most of them was out,
seen al too cleer that you was under the then heer I cum, chargin into the vilaje,
infloonce of likker. an ther I seen you leenin agenst that pole
An the way you was carrin on Bug Eye. they was goin to bern you on probly,
I coud hardly beleeve my own eyes. pickin yer teeth with yer legs crossed, as
Leepin in the air an crackin yer heels. cam an cool as if you was 1000 miles away
Holerin bluddy merder. At 1st I thout an nuthin hapenin. I yelt Hay Bug Eye
they must hav put a hot skilit down the run fer yet life, an I gess you under-
back of yer shert, an I woud hav ben ony standed me, away you went. I did not
too glad to hav thout so Bug Eye, ony I reelize you woud take me so seerus,
saw that you did not hav any shert on, I took out after you but you was ganin
or pants neether. An heer you went evry jump, an I yelt Hay wate wate
cavortin an makin a fool of yerself, an ware are you goin an you paid no
the Injuns folerin along behind to see atenshun, an soon you was lost in the
wat you woud do next. brush.
I was shocked an paned Bug Eye, I giv I went back an stole a horse out of a
you my werd fer it. Even them pore teepee, it is a good runnin horse like the
ignernt savijes was shocked, not 1 of Injuns lets sleep with the famly, we are
them was laffin, they was meerly starin that much ahed anyway, but yer trale
in dum amazement. Littel do I blame was lost. An heer I hav been serchin
them, I hav never see such a revoltin ever sinse.
exybishun. Yr. Obeedint Servint,
An al the time Bug Eye I was hororficd —Hank.
to notis that you was getin closer an
doser to that tall pole with the kindlin PS Hallyloogy Bug Eye, I hav
bilt up around it, perfeckly onconshus of lerned indereckly frum a peeseful Injun
yer aprochin misforchin. An I see them that it is al a mistake. The feller I seen
Injuns was closin round in a circel, getin makin a munky out of hisself was the
reddy to land as soon as you showed sines reglar Injun medisin man, not my pore
of tuckerin out. It woud hav served you foolish pardner as I was led to spose. I
rite if I had let maters take ther natchel also lerned that you escaiped with yer
corse Bug Eye, but I coud not bring my¬ life Bug Eye befour I got thare even. I
self to do that. I sed, I wil save Bug Eye can almost fergiv you fer the troubbel
this Inst mor, if I hav to wip the entire you have caused me Bug Eye, I feel you
Soo nashun. hav ben punished enuff fer yer eevil ways.
I roled up my sleeves Bug Eye an heer Let this be a lesson to you Bug Eye. It is
I cum. The 1st thing I done was stam¬ my outstandin hope that wen I see you
pede the Soo horses, with yels an roks an agen I wil find you a changed man, an 1
1 thing another, an the Injun brats that whoo is trine to make up fer yer past mis¬
was watchin the horses or pertendin to, takes by leedin a beter life.
they yelled fit to die an went dashin down Yr. Obeedint Servant,
into the vilaje. —Hank.
 A Story of Heroism on a Hoodooed Ship

By NORMAN R. RAINE

W HEN the S. S. Bokhara stopped in

midocean for the eighth time in
pump casting again,” the chief replied.
“I tried shoring with a wedge, and a bit of
three days it pushed a notch high¬ soft rubber in the hole, but the shoring
er, a perceptible distance closer to break¬ keeps'working adrift.”
ing point, the nervous tension of her crew. His tone was on edge. Purposely, he
The Old Man, looking like a parson in omitted the customary “sir”. The Old
black wideawake hat and pongee coat, Man noticed and resented this. But he
carefully laid his paint brush on the gun¬ said nothing further; more effective, he
wale of the quarterboat and stood at the clucked, with his tongue, disapproving
head of the lower bridge ladder, waiting. sounds that quite definitely—and un¬
When the chief appeared, stumping justly—placed the blame upon the chiefs
thick legged over the alleyway door dumpy shoulders.
coaming, and buttoning his jacket on his It did not matter that the day was still,
way below, the Old Man hailed him in the sea a deep calm immensity, the
testy query. weather settled. That did not matter in
“It’s that damned corroded circulating the least. What did matter was that the
 NORMAN R. RAINE

Bokhara, fifty-four days eastbound, Bom¬ sleep, mate. It’s a bad ’abit. We gets to
bay for Panama, hung suspended, roiling learn things.”
idly on a blue mirror, an idle ship. For a Flanagan wheeled around on him. His
windbag, the length of the voyage would slack lips moved without sound, but his
have been nothing. For a steamer—even eyes were terrible.
a disreputable tramp like the Bokhara—it Belknap moved away from the threat¬
was heartbreaking. ened quarrel. A sense of futility, growing
Before the vessel stopped, the tap-tap of with every maddening delay, swept down
chipping hammers in the hands of the upon him. He longed to shout, “Shut
crew, forward, amidship, aft, accompanied up! Shut up!”—to beat them to silence,
the rhythmic pounding of the crankshaft to still for awhile that everlasting petti¬
and the beat of the screw. When she fogging clack of his shipmates’ tongues;
glided to rest, all activity ceased. The to be for one day alone, away from these
hands left their work to gaze over the vulgar men of an inferior caste, with
side. Only the doctor, rattling his pots in whom he had been cooped in sickening
the galley, broke the profound stillness. juxtaposition for ten weary months.
Flanagan, a great gaunt framed seaman If he were only an officer, now, but no;
with tired, monkeylike eyes and a pallor even amidship their sluggish progress and
that no sun could efface, edged up to his succession of tiny retarding mishaps had
working mate. He had a disconcerting raised a barrier of irascibility between
trick of glancing over his shoulder before deck officers and engineers; had poisoned
he spoke. He did it now. what habitually was good humored
“The ship’s hoodooed, Belknap, that’s raillery and joking abuse. Now, he heard
foot,” he murmured, and the pits darkened them at night in the saloon alleyway, on
under his cheek bones. “Look at the his way to lookout on the forecastle head.
breakdowns we’ve had. Held us back ten Pugnacious comment and acrimonious
days at least. Steerin’ chain breaks in reply. Sometimes almost blows. The
the Red Sea; trouble wi’ the feed pump whole ship was tainted with it.
valves day after day in the Indian Ocean;
stopped I don’t know how many times for
leaky boiler tubes; lost. Snuffley Wheeler
F LANAGAN and Sharpo still were
quarreling, when the boatswain, bow-
off Java—” legged and long of arm, his face beaten a
“Tuberculosis. Got it ashore,” Belk¬ hard red by the suns and winds of all the
nap discounted curtly. oceans, waddled out of the shadows of the
“I know. Don’t make no difference. fore peak. He roared:
You’re a landsman and a scholar. You “Come on, you longshore sojers! Think
don’t understand these things. But he you can work Tom Cox’s traverse every
died on the ship, didn’t he? Yes—well— time the old bucket squats? Lay to it,
then thii racket. If they wos engineers now!”
instead o’ ruddy tinsmiths . . .” An amiable enough man in normal
His mournful voice droned on in irritat¬ times, he surged among them, bullying
ing monotone. and pushing. They hung back sullenly,
“It’s uncanny, that’s wot. I mind a cursing him under their breaths. He
time I sailed out o’ Paramaribo in a Dutch shoved Belknap violently. The next
bark. The mate went off his bun one moment he was sitting on the deck, hold,
night, an’ murd—” ing his jaw while the man he had hustled
“You’re a bloomin’ liar, Flanagan! straddled him with thin legs, shrieking
You an’ ycr bloody minded yarns. You vituperation.
never seen Paramaribo,” another man “You pot bellied walrus! Keep your
interrupted cynically. “If it was the dirty hands off me, d’you hear? You
death cell you sailed out of, now—” He touch me again and I’ll knock your
laughed shortly. “Shouldn’t talk in your bloody lights out!!’
 THE LITTLE THINGS 53

The boatswain slowly regained his feet, to kick about. And you better make the
eyes gleaming redly. best of it. Dere’s no more fresh meat, and
“Fom’11 knock my—” diss is the last of the bread. I heard the
He did not finish but, advancing, steward tell the mate. You gets Liver¬
smashed the student with right and left pool pantiles und pickled mule from now
against a winch. He slipped to the deck on—und maype you’ll learn vot veevils
and lay there, elbow guarding his head is!” His shaggy head nodded por¬
against further punishment. The boat¬ tentously.
swain glared at him for an undecided The meal proceeded amid continual
moment or two, then walked aft. bickering, and grousing at the rancid
“Knock my lights out, will he, the nar¬ margerine, the flyclotted jam, the cock¬
row gutted little swab. I’ll l’arn him!” roaches that swarmed the place, sharing
The renewed clatter of the chipping meals and their beds, the rats that
hammers failed to give him solace. squeaked about the bunks at night.
It was a relief when they were done, and
AT TWO bells the Bokhara was under scattered out on deck for an evening
^ way again. Belknap, his face bearing smoke.
marks of the boatswain’s hands, staggered Belknap washed the dishes and piled
aft from the galley, laden with the fore¬ them in the rack. There was no hot
castle’s evening meal. He was sick for water, and grease lay in a thick rim
home, and the smell of the greasy food around the pan. Automatically he wiped
quickened his nostralgia so that his it with a piece of old newspaper which,
bruised lips trembled in spite of himself. it developed immediately, belonged to a
The sea, in its burnished copper smooth¬ shipmate who had not—so he said—read
ness, seemed to mock the turmoil of his it. Another argument, in which Belknap
spirit. He entered the evil smelling fore¬ retaliated in the language of his opponent.
castle and dumped his load on the table, They were dragging him down. The at¬
spread with graniteware cups and plates mosphere of the place was sulphuric.
and rude cutlery. Afterward he lay on his lumpy, straw filled
“That’s right, Peggy—spill ’arf the tea. paillasse, brooding dumbly, until the snor¬
We get so much of it,” some one growled ing of a sailor drove him out on deck.
with elaborate sarcasm. Belknap took Would this voyage never end?
his place amid disgusted comment.
“Scouse again! God blimey! And T~V4RK fell and bright stars flowed
prunes—and look at this lousy stuff!” ' across a luminous sky. The
Beers, a tousled A.B., with dirty shirt Bokhara, in a setting of rippling phos¬
open to his hairy chest and big sweating phorus, dipped and rolled to the deep
stomach, grabbed a piece of bread from breathing of the sea, and the masthead
the barge and broke it, exposing the brown light painted a faint patch of yellow on
discoloration of weevils. He flung it the spar as it wove ceaselessly across the
down, seized another, broke and discarded stupendous bowl of the night. Far down
that. Flanagan knocked his hands away in the stokehold the importunate bang of
as he reached again. a fireman’s shovel against a bunker bulk¬
“Jeez—we ain’t no ladies’ maids, but head signaled the trimmer for more coal.
for God’s sake scrub your filthy paws Belknap looked forward. The man on
afore ye handles the grub, mate,” he said. standby, making tea and toast for the
Beers turned on him, snarling, and a third mate, was a jumping shadow in the
fight seemed imminent ; but Most, a phleg¬ door of the lighted galley. The third
matic squarehead of herculean frame, mate, a black shape on the wing of the
interposed. bridge, leaned motionlessly his elbows on
“Shtop it!” he growled. “If you vos in the rail, his thoughts halfway across the
a windchammer you vould half someding world. A plume of smoke poured from
54 NORMAN R. RAINE

the tall funnel, making a broad smudge Flanagan and his shadows. “Poor devil,”
astern, then jetted white to the roar of he thought, but a swift change of mood
escaping steam. The chiefs voice shouted caused his throat to swell. Resentment
down the engine room grating. burned anew, “Why should I butt in?”
“You silly fool! What the hell are you he growled. “Let them murder each
blowing off for?” other if they like. There’s got to be some¬
The depths responded faintly. thing to break the spell.”
“What say? Can’t hear you—” A tiny puff of wind fanned his cheek,
After a time the roar ceased abruptly then died away. Lookout on such a night
and the sudden hush made articulate the at sea was a perfunctory job, and he
gentle swish of sea water running along leaned against the windlass, trying to
the rusty plates. Queer dot, a ship, with reconcile his experience with the anticipa¬
its freight of puny hopes and hates and tions of ten months ago, losing himself in
ambitions, crawling about the wet skin of thought. Disillusionment had come with
a planet! disconcerting swiftness. It began the
Four bells chimed on the bridge, was first night at sea with a drunken fight in
echoed on the forecastle head, and Belk¬ the forecastle and revealed to a mind
nap went forward to relieve the lookout. jaundiced with seasickness the guttersnipe
Flanagan, his broad angular frame characteristics of his mates.
stretched against the sky, started at his It was deepened by daily contact with
approach, then glanced nervously' over them; their obscenities, their filthy per¬
his shoulder. sonal habits, their degrading quarrels
“Gar! You startled me, mate,” he over the whacks of greasy, unpalatable
whispered. “Sa,v—d’y e notice anything food, their swinelike feeding. The Bok¬
near that starboard hawse pipe there?” hara was an old vessel, parsimoniously
Belknap did not trouble to conceal his ownedif nd illfound, and the grousing that
contempt. began on sailing day became perpetual.
“Imagining things again?” he grunted.
“No, but—” the man’s fear was real—
“sometimes I imagine the ghost o’ me
B ELKNAP’S first glimpse of the Lands
of Romance, Port Said, and a big
murderer creeping up over the bows.” City liner, blazing in the African sunlight ,
He lingered, as if glad of company, in with pink saronged IascarS on her decks,
the face of Belknap’s impatient non¬ surging past them in the Bitter Lakes,
sympathy. lent only a transitory thrill that later was
“That Sharpo—he didn’t mention me swallowed up amid the longshore filth of
to you, eh?” he resumed, softly. “Didn’t Arabian coast ports and the disreputable
say nothing about sleep talkin’ or the like shore adventures of his mates. Shore
o' that, per’aps? No? Well, I’ll be gettin’ leave to them meant only a chance to get
aft now." drunk, to lie in stewing native dens, and
He peered down into the gloom of the later to brag in foulest terms of their
forward well deck. unsavory conquests. The rough foremast
"Ought to have lights along here,” he jokes that sounded so comical when the
whined. “Man c’d break his leg ag'in voyage began had staled with repetition
them steam pipes. Too dark, that’s wot until they became unbearable.
it is. Man never knows what he might It was then that the personal little
meet in the dark.” habits and peculiarities of his shipmates
His heavy feet clanged down the began to get under his skin—such petty
ladder. things, things that ashore would not be
When he was gotre Belknap pondered. noticed, or would be passed off with a
“I suppose I should tip Sharpo off to laugh; the impinging of one unnaturally
leave him alone.” An inarticulate wave tender ego against another; tiny incon¬
of sympa thy laved him as he thought of sequences, how they galled and festered!
 THE LITTLE THINGS 55

How large they loomed, now, in the long, The action focused his thoughts and
hot delaying days and bickering nights! brought his attention to his job. Sweep¬
There was Empey, for instance—a ing the horizon, his eyes traveled the dim
mean, nasty little sweep. A sneak thief, line of sky and sea, then, intuitively it
with the soul of a rat. Flanagan the seemed, shot back to a point almost dead
haunted, with his gruesome yarns that ahead. There was a tiny red glow. He
went endlessly on, whether one listened or waited to make sure, then again ad¬
mot. Beers, unwashed, beastly, with a dressed the bridge.
tongue that smutted and besmirched “Light ho-hol”
everything it touched upon. Sharpo, the The watch officer leaned alertly
malingering half baked cynic and his forward.
eternal “bloomin’ liar”. Most, the “Can you make it out?”
squarehead, an old seaman, with his There was a pause.
aloof contempt for the forecastle and all “Looks like a vessel’s port light, sir.”
it contained, including Belknap. “All right.”
Snuffley Wheeler, the consumptive, The third mate leveled his night glasses,
■whose harsh cough through the long hot and Belknap’s eyes returned to the
night hours had cheated the watch below horizon. A passing ship always is of inter¬
of sleep and brought upon his head the est at sea. In the desolate reaches of the
searing blasphemy of his mates. He South Pacific it becomes almost an event.
would have starved in his bunk, Belknap This was the first the Bokhara had seen in
believed, had it not been for the grudging eighteen days.
ministrations of Most and himself. Death
mercifully had claimed him off the coast AGAIN a faint wind stirred, and the
of Java, and the forecastle deemed him -Cl- lookout became conscious that the
good riddance. still, warm, sea night carried on its gentle
Were these waterfront scum the pro¬ breath an impalpable threat. He felt
geny of the old sea breed? Perhaps, suddenly depressed; a lowering of the
though, the old sailing ship men were spirits beyond anything he had ever
different, for their job required courage, experienced.
whereas these men were day laborers in The bridge hailed him again.
steam, the sum of their nautical knowl¬ “See anything out of the ordinary about
edge a mediocre handling of a chipping that light, lookout?”
hammer and a paint brush—and they He stared ahead. Stars, black water
Svere cowards. They welshed in their flowing under the bows; he was uncertain.
quarreling as frankly as children, and “Seems a bit large, sir,” he ventured.
when they did fight they brought into Again—
action every foul tactic of the slums. “All right!”
Seadogs, these? Were they the props Presently the chartroom was flooded
upon which rested the centuries old with light and the Old Man in his pajamas
traditions of the sea? stepped out on to the bridge. The chief
Belknap must have dozed. engineer’s door slammed. Running feet
A voice that bellowed from the bridge clanged in the alleyway. A minute later
blasted him out of it, his wits adrift. i the chief and the mate appeared on the
“Lookout ahoy! What the hell are you bridge beside the Old Man.
doing up there? Why don’t you sound Ahead, the ruby spark of the stranger’s
the bell and report the lights?” light had grown, had acquired a nimbus of
The bell? The lights? Mechanically faint pink that alternately deepened and
he reached for the clapper lanyard and waned. As Belknap turned, his nostrils
pulled—two double taps and a single. caught and identified the cause of his
“Lights are bright,” he bawled resent¬ vague disquiet, and his heart contracted
fully. with quick terror.
 NORMAN R. RAINE

“Oh, Christ above!” he prayed, for over legs against the roll of the deck; and
the dark sea that blood red glare was the square, sturdy bulk, with deep chest under
light of a burning ship. a thin singlet, lent courage to the quaking

T HE GROUP on the bridge dissolved,

and cabin lights sprang up. The half
lookout. Incongruously, he recollected
that the boatswain had an anchor tat¬
tooed on the back of one gnarled fist. It
naked crew poured out of their forecastles comforted him.
to stare out over the side. The smoke was definite now, and a bit
The Old Man’s eyes were blue ice as he acrid. It cast a haze over the water. A
spoke to the chief. half hour passed, and gradually, upon the
“Get another knot on her, Mr. Chappe- black canvas of the night was painted the
low, if you have to blow her apart,” he blazing pyramid of a full rigged ship. The
said quietly. lurid glare of the flames stained with
The chiefs fat shoulders took on a scarlet the belching spirals of the thick
dignity strange to them as he trotted be¬ smoke pillar that rolled straight up,
low. But his black gang needed no driv¬ stabbed now and then by a spouting gey¬
ing word. Smoke poured in a troubled ser of fire. The crackling of the flames
flood from the funnel crown, and the thin was plainly audible, punctuated by heavy
shell of the Bokhara shook with ague un¬ explosions, and the burning canvas, break¬
der the wild pound of the laboring ing away from the yards, did a death
engines. dance in the rigging before being sucked
The chief, babbling long forgotten sup¬ skyward in the upward draft.
plications that nothing vital would fetch Awful and majestic destruction, in the
away before they were within range, midst of the hushed and waiting sea, and
padded unceasingly from stokehold to Belknap thrilled as the Bokhara swung in
engine room, through the^tunnel and back a wide curve, her racing crankshaft almost
again, feeling bearings, eying gauges, rocking the engines off their bed plates,
speaking a word of commendation here her wake a simitar of foam.
and there, showing a new side to his sweat¬
ing men. Thirty years at sea means “OWING out the boats. Mister,” the
something, and the chief was a simple O Old Man trumpeted, and the crew
soul. The deep unspoken brotherhood of jumped to it. Bells jangled in the tramp’s
seafaring men was calling, calling—and bowels, and she shivered to stillness. The
his heart was on the blazing ship. Old Man stepped to the break of the
Sharpo and Beers joined Belknap on lower bridge and addressed the crew,
the forecastle head, but the third mate clustered about the fidley. “There are
was a reasonable youth and did not notice. living souls aboard that craft, men,” he
Beers’ dirty bare feet tapped impatiently said, “I needn’t tell you more, eh?”
on the steel deck plates. His huge soft A husky fireman in grimy dungarees
body shook in sympathy jvith the tremor stepped forward.
of the driving vessel, and he patted the “Wot about us, sir,” he asked simply,
windlass as one would caress the neck of indicating with a jerk of his head his
a straining horse. mates of the black gang, gathered on the
“Good old gal,” he murmured, “you’ll bunker hatch. “We could man one of the
do it yet. Pore souls! The chief ain’t .boats—an’ we’re used to a bit of ’eat,” he
’arf pushin’ 'er, eh?” ended with grim humor.
The boatswain appeared, fastening his The Old Man nodded.
trousers. “Arrange that. Mister,” he told the
“Lay aft, lads,” he said, gruffness over- mate, and returned to the bridge, where
lying his anxiety. "There’ll be work for he hailed the lookout and told him to re¬
us afore long, or I’m a gonev.” port at the boats.
He stood, bracing his strong corded Belknap doubled aft.
 THE LITTLE THINGS 57

At the starboard boat, which had been add their transient glory to the starry sky.
lowered until it just cleared the water, a The sea about the boats hissed undera
violent quarrel raged. Flanagan, his shrapnel of dropping embers. Another
face murderous in the half light, faced detonation and .another. The foremast,
Sharpo with doubled fists. a colossal torch that awed them with its
“I pulled an oar afore you could blow incandescent grandeur, tottered crazily,
your nose prop’ly, you pup,” he snarled, then went over the side with a crash that
“an’ I’m going in this boat.” seemed to lift the boats out of the water.
“You’re a bloomin’ liar,’.’ Sharpo Shielding his eyes, the mate jumped to
screamed back. “I’m a member of ’er his feet, again seeking an opening. There
crew, an’ you can’t crowd me out!” was none. He leaned forward, shouting
The boatswain thrust between them. to make himself heard above the thunder
“I’ll bang your silly heads together, if of the flames.
you don’t hold your jaw,” he growled. “It's a boarding job, men. There are
“Get in the boat, the two o’ you. You no soft spots. She’s loaded with case oil
too, Belknap and Beers and Empey. and petrol, I judge, and she’s apt. to go
Most, you’ll go in the port boat with the up altogether any minute. But there is
black gang and the second mate. Come somebody alive on her poop so—ready
on, men! Look alive! This ain’t Hyde now!—give way together—put your backs
Park!” into it!"
The mate appeared with a first aid kit, The stout oars bent, there was a
jumped for the after falls and slid down. moment of shriveling menace, and the
The heavy whaleboat was lowered away, mate’s boat shot into comparative cover
her crew dropped in, and she cast off. under the overhang of the stem. Terror
“Out oars—give way!” pulled at Belknap’s self control. Another
Under the impetus of willing arms she terrific explosion racked the doomed
fairly leaped from the Bokhara's rusty vessel and he lost his nerve.
side. A minute later the other boat fell “We can’t do it—we can’t get aboard
in astern. Belknap was bowman and, there—we’ll all be killed!” he wailed.
seizing his boathook, he faced the wreck. “Let’s go back before it's too late!”
She was alight from stem to counter, but Empey, the Whitechapel sneak thief,
the full bodied violence of it seemed con¬ turned on his thwart and punched at him
centrated amidship. Evidently, when savagely.
she caught she had been lying becalmed “Shut your trap and get that boathook
with everything but skysails set, for as he out,” he snapped. “Here! Give it me!”
watched the remnants of her main royal He snatched it up and hooked it to the
went, in a soaring comet’s tail of fire. rudder post. Smoke bellied around them,
As the whaleboats raced over the flat suffocating, half blinding. Empey thrust
sea the heat became terrific, and the mate the boathook into Belknap’s flaccid hands.
, ordered way enough as he sought for a “How! ’Ang on to this. If you let go.
windward approach. They glided to rest, I’ll ruddy well kill you!” he promised
and the crews doused sea water over their venomously.
clothing, then turned to watch, under a
golden snow of blazing fragments that
they beat out with their hands. Every
B ELKNAP saw them rise from their
seats in a crimson haze, fantastic as
rope and burning spar was reflected on shadows in a nightmare, huge, then tiny
the glassy surface of the sea. There was in the flaring light. Like a cat. Flanagan
not a breath of wind, but the heart of the sprang for the rudder chains, reached out
furnace roared in a deep menacing under¬ to grasp an ov erhanging length of line,
tone like the voice of a ravening beast. chanced his weight on it and went up,
In quick succession three deafening hand over hand, followed by the mate,
explosions sent geysers of amber sparks to Sharpo and the rest. They crossed the
58 NORMAN R. RAINE

taffrail and were lost to sight. The sec¬ left the shelter of the overhand he was met
ond nfate’s boat bumped alongside, and full in the face by a blast of hell, but he
her crew followed suit. persevered, Flanagan keeping pace with
Coughing, retching, in clouds of heavy him along the poop and down the ladder
smoke shot through with' firebrands and to the main deck. Fire forced him back
gobs of burning oil, Belknap, in mortal to the poop. Across his wide shoulders
funk, crouched in the bow of the boat, was the charred and smoking body of a
flinching at every sound. Danger had man. He swayed, went to his knees, then
rammed home the fact that he was a lowered his burden over the side to the
coward—a poltroon without shame. He boat. “He’s alive,” he told Belknap.
was frantic with desire to cast loose and “Douse him with water.”
pull away from the floating holocaust that Flanagan disappeared, but in his place
at any moment might split into frightful came the mate, similarly laden, then
oblivion. Beers, then Sharpo, in quick succession.
At intervals faint shouts came through Again and again they came, queer, mis¬
the pandemonium, and the hurricane shapen silhouettes in the scarlet light,
roar of the flames sounded a new and more bringing their limp cargoes across the
solemn note. Explosions racked the ship deck and lowering away.
as if she were under shell fire, and after A broad tongue of fire shot across the
each one the air was filled with flying poop, lighting the scene with sanguinary
gouts of flame. The woodwork of the brilliance, and a warning shout went up.
whaleboat became too hot to touch; the The mizzenmast, the last to ignite, and
paint blistered and bubbled. Rubbing flaunting here and there a rag of blazing
one hand with the other ash dry palm he canvas, tottered, held, swayed, flamed up
discovered that the hair on the back was until sea and sky rang with its clamorous
singed and crisp. His bowels knotted in voice, then swung drunkenly, held by a
the terrific heat, and he panted hoarsely, single stay of wire rope. Its fall was a
swollen tongue trying vainly to moisten matter of seconds. The mate, a berserk
his cracking lips. What of his mates on demigod, with clothes afire, sent his deep
the burning ship? sea bellow through the tumult.
Physical distress boosted his fear to “Back to the boats, men!” he roared.
panic. To hell with the rest of them. They came, some at a shambling run,
They were doomed, anyway. No man others dragging themselves painfully
could survive that volcano, and why across the planks. They jumped for the
should he be sacrificed to a foolish tra¬ boats, splashing in the sea all about, with
dition that a man must stick by his hardly sufficient strength to cling to the
mates? gunwales until Belknap could drag them
He stood up, boathook poised, ready to aboard. They lay then, on the boat bot¬
push away, when through the ruddy murk tom, across the thwarts, over the still
above, Flanagan’s face, horribly seared bodies of the men they had saved, in
and blackened, shorn of brows and lashes tumbled heaps, too weary to grasp the
and his eyes blood red slits, projected itself oars, and weeping in the agony of their
over the side. burns.
“Quick!” he croaked. “Shove the
boat around to the break of the poop. f I "HE MATE was the last to leave.
We can’t reach her here. She’s too far A Deliberately he looked about before
under the stem. Move, man, for God’s he jumped, then landed in the stern
sake!” sheets.
Gripped by that stronger will, Belknap “Come on, lads,” he urged. “Break
pulled clumsily around, fumbling with his out the oars. She’s going up any second
boathook for holds on the vessel’s high now!”
quarter. As he rounded the stern and Suddenly he jerked to his feet, tiller
 THE LITTLE THINGS 59

held slack in his hands and counted. under his feet. Half crippled, wholly
“Here,” he yelled. “There’s two of reckless, he plunged forward.
our men missing!” “Sharpo! Sharpo—Flanagan!”
“Empey’s gone, sir,” one man said He tried to shout, but his voice was a
dully. “Fell into the ’old, ’e did.” whisper.
“Who is the other, then?” “Flanagan!”
The exhausted men roused themselves, A crimson mist enveloped him, but he
looking about with haggard, watery eyes. staggered on, trying to find the house.
“Where’s Sharpo?” some one asked. Fire licked about him and the cruel gases
“Sharpo! Shar-r-po— The mate’s bit deep into his throat. Vision dimmed,
voice rose to a harsh scream. but he battled with unconsciousness, arms
A shapeless moaning huddle in the waving in the smoke like the antennae of
bows raised itself. It was Flanagan, a dying beetle. The shock of an explosion
almost unrecognizable. His lips writhed threw him to his knees. He swayed,
in the glare. His face literally was making a last supreme effort to shout.
cooked. He surged to his feet, gazed “Flanaganf*
dazedly about him; then, as if shot from a Dimly his ears caught an answering
bow, he launched his gaunt body over the hail, and out of the mad swirl of smoke
rail of the burning ship. He poised, out¬ and flame and strangling gases reeled a
lined for a second against the spouting towering figure, supporting across his
mouth of the inferno, then disappeared in back the delirious blackened wreck that
a curtain of smoke: was Sharpo.
“He can’t make it! That mizzen— Belknap rocked to his feet, fear burned
Come back, you ruddy fool!” the mate away; he lurched forward, striving to
wailed. share the burden.
His words were drowned in a terrific “All right, shipmate,” Flanagan cawed.
explosion. The boat rocked with the con¬ “I can handle him. You grab me shirt
cussion. and lead the way to the boat. Me eyes is
“We’ve got to leave them! We’ve got burned out. I think I’m blind.”
to push off! Out oars!” The mate was
crying openly.
In every man is a latent spark that
B ELKNAP, in his bunk, rolled gingerly
on his side, lips wry with pain. With
can light him to undreamed of heights. bandaged hands he felt his face, his head.
Something snapped in Belknap’s brain. Bandaged too; great swathes of cotton,
“Wait!” he yelled. “Wait!” yellow tinged with healing ointment.
His soul rose triumphant above its poor Dully his ears caught the drone of voices
clay. They were his mates, those men— around the forecastle table. A strange
Flanagan and Sharpo and poor thieving accent—that would be one of the men
little Empey and those others whose they had saved—was telling for the
grimy feet he was not fit to lick. They hundredth time the story of the loss of
had risked all, suffered all, while he had the Albatross. Belknap caught frag¬
clung like a limpet to the safety of the ments.
boat. They-were his shipmates, a word “. . . .case oil, she was loaded with
whose meaning was beyond a landsman’s . . . New York for Batavia . . .eleven
ken; and, although his belly trembled of us left, thanks to you fellows . . .your
with dread, shame and a fierce jealous own poor guys ...”
yearning to prov e himself one of t^em Beers’ voice interrupted, weeded with
lashed him on. oaths.
How he gained the deck of the sailing “Aye—Most’s gone. There was a—
ship he never knew. In a trice he lost his man for you. Burned to a crisp, ’e was,
brows, his lashes, his hair. His eyeballs afore he give up; an’ a fireman, but ’e was
were seared. The doomed vessel quivered drowned jumpin’ for ’is boat; an’ Empey
 LEONARD H. NASON

—pore little swine! Tough on old Flan¬ never can tell about a man, and we’u
agan, ’im wots afraid o’ the dark, too. never have known if Sharpo hadn’t
But there’s a chance, they say. There’s played the silly ass and gone looking for
an Australian liner cornin’ up to take ’im booze in the cabin.”
off.” The forecastle shook with laughter that
From across the forecastle a feeble ceased abruptly as the throb of the
voice from one of the bunks made itself Bokhara's screw ceased. They listened.
heard. “’Elio,” the speaker resumed, “the
“Lucky for me Belknap followed me blinkin’ old cripple’s stopped again!”
aboard. If it hadn’t been for his shout A minute passed. The vessel shook,
you’d be sayin’. Tore Flanagan, he was a and again the beat of the screw took up
nice young feller! Didn’t think he had its steady work. From another bunk
it in him. But he had guts—plenty. We came a different voice, weak and languid,
was gettin’ damn’ well fed up wi’ his a shade more hollow, if possible, than the
dainty ways, too, like the forecastle wasn’t last.
good enough for him. Somebody’d have “You’re a bloomin’ liar, Flanagan,” it
give him a hidin’ before long. Well, you said. “She ain’t!”

SHOCK TROOPS
By Bernard H. Nason

I T WAS a frequent occurrence during

the operations of the A. E. F. to hear
participants that no good comes of reck¬
less bravery.
some regiment or division announce that A period comes then when most of the
they were shock troops. There was no units are composed of older men, returned
division that had had twenty-four hours wounded and those who have been in the
of front line service that did not lay claim war long enough to be very cautious of
to the title, except perhaps certain regular attacking anything that looks difficult.
divisions that had had all the shock taken It becomes imperative to have certain
out of them during the fighting of early units which can be depended upon to
summer. As a matter of fact, there were carry through an attack, and for this
no shock troops in the A. E. F. reason special regiments are formed, spe¬
The European armies were recruited in cially trained, specially fed, specially uni¬
a different manner from the American. formed, and used only as the spearhead
The German and French, in particular, of attacks, or to stop a particularly dan¬
took the entire male population of the gerous assault. These regiments are
nation from the age of nineteen to fifty formed of the few remaining young men
or so. Moreover, certain districts in both of a nation wasted by years of war.
-countries turn out men with better phy¬ The Americans, during the short time
sique than others. they were in the war, suffered no deterio¬
In nations that employ the universal ration of physique, morale or quality of
system of military training the best blood replacements. The American Army there¬
of the country, the flower of its youth, is fore had no necessity to form special units
already under arms at the outbreak of of shock troops. The average American
hostilities, and is the first to fall during division, run of the pen, was as good as
that period in all wars when there is a any shock unit of Europe and a lot better
great deal of galloping, charging, cheer¬ than most of them. But then, the Amer¬
ing, and dying heroic deaths. It takes icans had not been fighting for four
about six months of a war to convince the years.
Ifyou can't chuckle at this one—see a doctor!

JAMES STEVENS

author of “Paul Bunyan” offers

POWDER RIVER
From the Memoirs of Corporal Mattock, —th ever Sergeant Funke would give them a
Infantry Training Regiment, A. E. F.
rest in the bayonet period. It was pesky
HAT’S the greatest river in the hot August weather, and us corporals was
world?” satisfied to just stand and take1 a blow
“Powder River!” whenever “Rest” was commanded; but
“She’s a mile wide and a foot deep!” these rambunctious Montana men hadn’t
“Some river-r-r!” drilled enough yet to make it seem like
I just stood and stared at the Montana work, and they were always rearing to go.
drafted men as the hig one they called “I’m a lone wolf from the Bitter Root
Missoula Red bellowed out the question and it’s my time to howl!” bellowed
and the brag about the Montana river Missoula Red now.
they were all so proud of, and the others A gangling, bowlegged, stoop should¬
answered him back. ered, Indian looking soldier in the open
For six days, ever since the replace¬ rank opposite let out a “Wow-w-o-o-oo!”
ment draft come from Saguenay, they had at that.
been bawling and yelling that way when¬ Missoula Red “YYow-w-o-o-ooed!”
62 JAMES STEVENS

back at him, and blamed if they didn’t and holts, I’d often be caught, of course;
jump at one another, lunging with their and even though I’d tried to hint to the
scabbarded bayonets; and they kicked up fool, time and again, to go easy, as it
a fog of dust in what looked like a regular wasn’t real fighting, here the first thing
fight, as they rammed, slammed and I’d know my rifle would be tore out of my
guarded, the scabbards banging and hands, if it was disarming; or I’d hit the
grinding together. ground with all the wind knocked out of
“Hey, youse guys!” yelled Sergeant me, if it was hand to hand fighting.
Funke. “Back to the ranks with you.” But I could never get mad at Missoula
“Ain’t they hell raisers, though?” said Red. He’d help me up, cussing himself
Corporal Widdy to me, from our place for being so chuckle headed and beg me so
back in the file closers. politely to go ahead and show him the
“They are, for a fact,” I said, “and I science that I could never get mad at him.
can’t figger out why Johnny Hard don’t Not five minutes ago I had got a big
set on ’em.” bruise back behind my left leg when I
“Boy, that’s his meat.” went to demonstrate to Missoula Red and
“Well, Wid, you know I’m strong for found myself setting down hard on the
that rough stuff, too. But it makes it stacking swivel of my rifle. But I wasn’t
hard for us instructors to give ’em the real mad.
science.” “Corporal, I’m sorry as all get out,”
And it did, too. The Montana men Missoula Red had apologized. “I reckon
would get so wild in all the pointing, you might as well give me up. I simply
disarming and hand to hand fighting ex¬ ain’t got sense enough to pound sand in a
ercises that it was almost impossible to rat hole. Knockin’ you down thataway!
demonstrate to them the scientific motions Well, if I don’t learn the science this trip.
and holts; and the corporal instructors I’ll go to the sticks yonder and shoot
had to continually warn them or they myself!”
would have turned all the drill into what And he had gritted his teeth, buckled
was the same as regular fighting and down and done the bayonet fighting just
rasseling. right from then on. You simply couldn’t

O UR SERGEANT, Funke, had to

pick on me, of course, about twice to
get mad at Missoula Red.
He was bowlegged, and stooped, too, as
so many of the Montana men were.
every other bayonet corporal’s once for But he had wider shoulders and a bulgier
making demonstrations. Because we chest than the run, and he was more of a
were bitter rivals about Odile, and he had smart character. He had the kind of
played me a couple of dirty tricks by weather beaten, rusty red face and pale
winning a flock of francs from me in the gray eyes which hardly tells a man’s years,
payday crap game, and then buying her but we all suspicioned he was ’way over
a dress. He was contemptible, if a ser¬ the draft age. His bristly hair was a
geant ever was, and he kept on playing peculiar dark red, and it had a gray look
me dirty tricks. He was forever making around the roots that was getting stronger
me demonstrate disarming motions and all the time, like it was probably dyed.
hand to hand fighting holts to Missoula Yesterday Lieutenant Hute, our com¬
Red, because he knowed it would give me pany commander, who we all called
strains and bruises, for Missoula Red Johnny Hard, had asked him about it.
seemed like he would never Learn the “Sir,” said Missoula Red solemnly,
science. “I’m a-hopin’ the Lieutenant ain’t
I never went to demonstrate to him thinkin’ I lied about my age just to get
once but what he’d forget the science and drafted in this ter’ble war, as everybody
start fighting and rasseling; and with me calls it. Oh, no, sir! What’s a ailin’ my
busy showing the science of the motions hair, sir, is that I’m a nacheral born
 POWDER RIVER

coward; but while I scare bad, .1 scare most solemn expression on his weather
slow; and the gradual whitenin’ of my beaten face.
hair, sir, is a consequence of my ter’ble Johnny Hard called Company F to at¬
but slow scare over this war,” tention and formed us into platoons, for
“You go to hell," said Johnny Hard, now it was our turn to charge through the
and that was all. dummies. The leather scabbards were
pulled off the bayonets and stuck into
M ISSOULA RED was in my billet
squad, and he had taken quite a
the canvas sheaths that hung from our
cartridge belts. Above the rifles held at
liking to me right from the first, especially high port the blued steel of the bayonets
after he learned I was from a Kansas farm showed dull, but the filed edges and points
town, while most of our Company F non- flashed in the blazing sunshine. Out over
coms were Chicago men. Missoula Red the drill field it was like a crazy quilt of
said I seemed more Western to him. He O. D. patches, where the different com¬
declared that as a cow lover he couldn’t panies of replacement troops were drilling
abide packers or packers’ towns. I in their periods of bombing, musketry,
-figured it out that he never thought much automatic rifle and bayonet fighting.
of Chicago. We marched around the edges of the quilt
But he certainly was patriotic about to the rows of posts and beams where
Montana, calling it God’s country and the dummies swung. The last platoon
bragging about its history and geography. of Company E was charging through.
I got to admiring it myself after he’d “First Platoon—forward—double time
described some of its wonders and —ho!"
marvels. Missoula Red was quite a It was a mighty fine sight as each of our
ligure back in Montana. He was a grand¬ platoons charged, the sharp steel shining,
son of Buffalo Bill and a grand nephew the plunging, leaping Montana soldiers
of General Custer, he admitted one night; yowling and bawling “Powder River!”
and on his mother's side he was a de¬ as they slashed the prone dummies and
scendant of Michael Patrick O'Butte, the gutted the swinging ones.
Irishman who had founded the biggest It was a sight to see and a noise to hear,
city in the State. He hated to admit it, and it certainly did arouse my fighting
he said, for he was pretty worthless him¬ heart. I thought then I liked to be a
self and had never done much to live up bayonet instructor corporal better than
to his famous relations. But he had anything else in the world.
fought well enough in an Indian ruckus
once, so that the town of Missoula ^vas B UT AFTER the fine charge through
the dummies we had to form for
named after him.
Well, he told all this in such a serious the miserable deploying drill in which
modest way, and the other Montana men we would go into platoon columns, then
never disputed him, so I had never sus- section columns, then waves, just like we
picioned yet that he was about the worst were at the front. It was the most com¬
liar that ever lived. I never knowed it plicated drill imaginable, with such an in¬
till that big ignoramus of a Sergeant fernal puzzling lot of formations and
Funke, of all people, showed him up. And signals for them that it seemed like the
I never did learn just how much was drill could only have been invented to
truth and how much was lies in what torment corporals. I had never been able
Missoula Red told. quite to get the signals all straight in my
Some of it must have been so. Nobody head until the Montana replacement draft
could hardly think up such a -pile of lies. come in.
But I never suspicioned him now, as I Missoula Red had really been a help.
saw him standing in his place, the most He knowed the signals and formations by
innocent look in his pale gray eyes, the heart , and when t he squad would get itself
 JAMES STEVENS

tangled up I would let him straighten it tion. We all felt good about the way we’d
out, as he seemed to enjoy it. I let him come through the battle, though we were
for another reason, too, because it an¬ all a mess, with rubbish and ants inside
noyed that big ignoramus of a Sergeant our clothes and dust, burs and stickers all
Funke. Three or four times the sergeant over us.
had bawled out— “Well, General Custer, we licked ’em,”
“Hey, who’s corporal of that squad, I said to Missoula Red, “but where’s all
anyway?” your scalps?”
If anything could tickle me it was to I chuckled when I said it, for it seemed
annoy the sergeant, so I would allow like a pretty good crack; but it was lost
Missoula Red to enjoy himself untangling on Missoula Red. He was always so
the squad. He told me the reason he serious. It was his drawback.
knowed the deploying drill so well was “Oh, we never take scalps in Montana,”
because his grand uncle. General Custer, he said, with the soberest look in his palf
invented it, and he himself had learned it gray eyes. “It’s always whiskers. You
as a boy. When I found out what a liar know, the Injuns all used to wear whiskers
Missoula Red was I doubted if he had clean to their knees. When I was growed
learned it as a boy; I even didn’t expect into an Injun fighter, I started the idee of
that General Custer invented it, for the whiskerin’ them in turn for them a-scalp-
rumors in the A.E.F. was that the Frogs in’ us. And it put such a fear in ’em, you
did. Still, I let my good nature get the never see an Injun nowadays but what
best of me, like I usually did, and allowed he’s clean shaved.”
Missoula Red to go on enjoying himself. Well, I thought it was funny I’d never
heard before that Indians used to wear
T HIS afternoon the majors of the 1st
and 2nd Battalions had planned some
whiskers to their knees; and I half
doubted it now, until I decided he was
kind of sham battle. First Company F referring to only the Montana Indians. I
marched abreast of Company E in sec¬ was about to ask him, when we were
tion columns across the drill field to the brought to attention and formed into a
North woods; then our company deployed column of squads for the three mile march
in two waves, with a two platoon front; to our billet town of Houel.
and we scrambled through the brush, fell
prone, crawled on our bellies, up and 'T'HROUGH the sultry heat of the late
double times, fell prone again, and so on; A afternoon and the dust that fogged up
and the sergeants were sending scouts, from the rocky road we tramped on at a
automatic rifles and bomb squads ahead, mighty lick. The summer was getting on
runners back and making some of the rifle¬ and there were small stacks of hay around
men climb trees to’spy out the “enemy.” the farmhouses now. Young chickens,
It was Missoula Red who shinned up a pigs, geese and calves were showing their
tree without any orders and first spied summer’s growth. In the orchards and
them; and then I led my squad behind vineyards the fruit was beginning to
him to a clump of trees from where we ripen. The bean poles -were heavy with
“opened fire” on two of the “enemy’s” vines and the potato patches were covered
automatic rifle squads and a bomb squad. with green leaves and yellow white
• Then everybody laid prone and went to flowers. The grain had turned yellow.
“rapid firing,” and pretty soon we The far woods were dim in a heavy sum¬
“ceased firing” and just laid there while mer haze.
the two majors and the company officers This was just the old, level, beautiful,
inspected the lines. peaceful French country, but the sweat¬
Johnny Hard got a lot of praise from ing, marching soldiers yelled about
our major, and Sergeant Funke had to Powder River away back in the Montana
admit I’d led my squad into a good posi¬ Mountains.
 POWDER RIVER 65

“Galloping Company F” was a quarter little peetrified songs. And, besides—”

a mile ahead of the rest of the battalion “Corporal,” broke in Missoula Red,
when we got to Houel. Then it was the “let’s be on our way. Let us hence to the
rush of cleaning up and shaving, standing Red Bull Cafe and leave this unregener¬
retreat, eating mess, and the hour of ate Ananias to his sins. For I swear
noncoms’ school. Eight hours of drilling, he’s goin’ to begin to lie about Mon¬
two hours of hiking and an hour of study, tana. It’s his one failin’. And I
and a day of soldiering right was done. simply ain’t got no charity for it. I can’t
And then I just sprawled out in the bear to hear no lies about God’s country.”
shade of a billet, puffed on my corncob He took took my arm and we got up and
and enjoyed a little breeze that blowed walked down the street, leaving his
along as the sun went down. bunkie staring after us. I was beginning
I enjoyed everything fine until I hap¬ to get suspicious of Missoula Red; in fact,
pened to look over across the street and I had really been suspicious of him all
saw' Odile laughing like all get out with along. But I didn’t have anything else to
that big ignoramus of a Sergeant Funke. do in my spare time, on account of Odile
She was wearing a new shawl, and I was so being so fickle and Sergeant Funke being
disgusted to see about twenty francs more so contemptible, so I would let Missoula
of my crap money around that fickle Red run on, and amused myself by listen¬
woman’s neck that I would have got up ing to him. Now he went to telling me
and quit enjoying myself if Missoula Red about a hunting trip he’d taken once in
hadn’t come along. He set down and the wildest part of Montana.
went to telling me about Montana
geography.
He run on for awhile in his sober,
O NE EVENING when he was about
half starved he saw an elk feeding no
serious way, just sort of remarking about more than twenty-five yards away, it
some of the wonders he’d seen, like a creek locked like. He drawed down and fired
which was so strong with alum that the on the easy shot, without hardly aiming.
water would pucker the hoofs of a horse But the elk didn’t even raise its head. He
to the size of clothes pins whenever one took more careful aim the second time,
waded through it. And he told of a place but the elk just went on feeding. It was
called the Echo Mountain country, where the same way the third shot. By then
it took the echo so long to come back that Missoula Red was in a regular raging fury,
he could lay down in his blankets of a and he clubbed his rifle and charged, yell¬
night, yell, “Wake up, Missoula Red!” go ing—
to sleep, and eight hours later the echo “Well, you cussed deef critter, I’ll beat
would rouse him out with a “Wake up, you to death, if that’s the way you’re
Missoula Red!” determined to die!”
And he told of a country where every Suddenly he slammed into something so
blessed thing was turned to stone, even hard he was knocked back flat. He set
the grass, and some elk which looked like up and stared, but he couldn’t see a
they were pasturing on the grass, natural blamed thing, only the elk still feeding
as life. away. About flabbergasted, he went to
“And I’m tellin’ you there is peetrified feeling along, and it just about made him
birds’ nests in the peetrified trees, too, silly when he discovered he’d run into
and peetrified eggs which you can—” an invisible mountain. It was a mountain
“Yeah,” broke in his Indian looking of telescope glass, that’s what it was, and
bunkie, squatting in front of us. “Yeah, he’d been looking through it at the elk.
I rode through that country myself. And “And instead of the critter bein’ only
it’s not only like he says, but out on the twenty-five yards off,” said Missoula Red,
peetrified limbs of the peetrified trees as we stepped through the door of the
the peetrified birds are singin’ sweet Red Bull, “he was twenty-five miles.
 JAMES STEVENS

That’s our Montana glass mountain for “I can tell you. Sergeant,” said Mis¬
you.” soula Red, nodding shrewdly' “I tackled
I was marveling about it when we homesteadin’ them bourbon springs once
joined the Company F gang around the my own self and I—”
big table in the back room, and after I’d
had a few sups of vin roosh I went to re¬
peating the whole amazing story myself.
Y OUR miser’ble failure was one of the
first things I heard about,” said
Sergeant Funke came in before I was done Sergeant Funke, butting in like he always
and he listened with a sneer on his would. “Yeah, I’ll tell the cockeyed
ignorant face. Then, without never world you had a time, didn’t you? But
being asked, he butted in, set down, I—hell, I’m out of a smoke. Thanks,
poured himself a glass of wine, took a sup Karsak. Well, of course I had only
of it, set the glass down and gazed at it been scoutin’ about the country a short
with the fool solemn look of an owl, and while and was still forty miles from the
went to bragging on himself, like he springs, when |I found that all around it
usually did. He’d been everywhere and was simply lousy with wimpusses.
done everything, to hear him tell it. I “The wimpuss, gang, as maybe you
got the sneeringest look I could on my don’t know, lives in the hollow tops of the
face while we listened to him brag. Montana tub trees. There he hides till
“One time, gang, I took a trip to man or beast comes close underneath,
Montana myself,” said the sergeant. then down the wimpuss swoops. It’s a
“At the time I was head bartender for devilish kind of fowl, with the big
Woodbridge and Fitzgerald on Clark awkward size and the hard boiled dispo¬
St.” sition of a bearcat, the wings of a steer
I had to laugh to myself. To hear him hawk, and the ropy tail of a hokus. He’s
tell it, Sergeant Funke had never had to got a sharp mouth, and you can’t shoot a
work up to anything in his life. He’d al¬ wimpuss, for he snaps the bullets with his
ways been a head bartender. It was noth¬ teeth and eats ’em.
ing to brag about, anyway, and once I “The only way, gang, the wimpuss is;
had got a good laugh on him when he generally got the best of, is by temptin’
said he’d make a trip to my home town him with full cream cheese, for which he
of Clevisburg, Kansas, when the war [was has a crazy appetite. You take a piece of
over and give the girls there a treat for fresh full cream cheese and nail it tight to
once in their lives. a waterfall. It’s got to be nailed tight
“Yes, you would,” I came back at him. enough to make the wimpuss claw to get
“You’d get yourself a treat in jail. That’s it, so that he’ll be sure to wet his feet.
what happens to bartenders in Kansas.” “Wet feet always throws the wimpuss
Everybody laughed, and I had to into such a rage that he will forget his ap¬
chuckle myself, for it seemed like a pretty petite for even cream cheese and hunt for
good crack. But nothing could stop his a patch of grass to wipe his feet on. The
bragging. minute he lights on the grass and starts to
“Woodbridge and Fitzgerald prided wipin’ his feet you got to sneak up behind
theirselves on the finest mint julep north him and tie a noose in his ropy tail.
of Kentucky,” the sergeant went on, “Then you have him caught cold; for
“and they sent me out on a scoutin’ trip when a wimpuss flies back to his tub tree
to see if I could locate the bourbon after wipin’ his feet he always takes a look
springs supposed to be in what is now the back underneath to be sure he’s dried ’em
Glacier Park country. They was sup¬ good; and so he will catch his head
posed to bubble up in a ten mile patch of through the noose of his tail and choke
mint. Why nobody had never home¬ hisself to death.
steaded it I didn’t learn till I went to the “Of course, it’s plain to see that wim¬
country myself, and—” puss huntin’ is about the most dangerous
 POWDER RIVER 67

kind you can imagine. A wimpuss hunter he was in fun or not. I could have sworn
never lasts long, for sooner or later a wim¬ that Sergeant Funke had only been brag¬
puss will catch him tyin’ the noose in his ging a big lie about the wimpuss; it seemed
tail; then he will flip the noose around the ridiculous to believe there was such a
hunter’s neck, draw up on him, finish fowl; but I wasn’t sure, after looking at
wipin’ his feet, arid then fly up to his tub the serious face of Missoula Red. But I
tree with the hunter danglin’ behind. The still knowed that Sergeant Funke had
hollow tops of the Montana tub trees are never seen one.
full of the bones of men who tried to get “I must have tickled a dozen to death
famous huntin’ the wimpuss. in the first three days,” Missoula Red
“I give up the idea of homesteadin’ the went on, mournfully still, “and I got
bourbon springs when I learned all that, proud and stuckup on myself, a-thinkin’ I
of course, for there was only one other way was the greatest nacheral born wimpuss
to get the best of the wimpuss. That is to killer that ever was; but, oh, feller men,
make him laff hisself to death. The if I could have seen the end that was to
wimpuss is the hardest fowl alive to tickle, come of my pride!
but once he is tickled, he’s a gone wim¬ “Well, to make the sad story short, as
puss. Once, he starts to laffin’ he laffs till I hate to recollect the most woeful and
he dies. All that was needed, the Mon¬ ter’ble time I ever knowed, the fourth day
tana people told me, was to bring some¬ I struck the daddy of all the wimpusses,
thing into the wimpuss country that was one that it seemed I could never tickle.
funny enough to look at; then they’d all be “When this tremenjus wimpuss swooped
tickled to death; and the bourbon springs down on me, he never stopped to
could be homesteaded. look, set back on his hind legs, and then
“And now, gang, just take a real honest- suddenly light on his back, wavin’ his
to-God look at Missoula Red there, and paws in the air, beatin’ the ground with
then try to Agger why he never ruined all his steer hawk wings, whippin’ his ropy
the wimpusses! She’s too much for me, I hokus tail in curls over his belly, shakin’
admit. Gimme a match, somebody.” his sides while roars of laughter rolled out
Everybody went to laughing at Miss¬ of his shark mouth, like the other wim¬
oula Red, but I only showed my contempt pusses all had. No, sir! I stood and looked
for the sergeant. He didn’t fool me a my funniest; but this tough old daddy of
particle. I knowed he’d only heard that all the wimpusses only swooped down with
story from somebody else. I didn’t be¬ the glare of a mad buffalo bull, and he
lieve he’d ever been in Montana in his life. scowled as mean and vicious as a—as a
I was about to give Missoula Red the platoon sergeant.
wink, for I saw he was too innocent to “I did my best on him. I tried my
doubt anybody; but before I could he singin’. A flicker of a smile come over the
went to talking about the wimpusses him¬ wimpuss’s face, but it was only a flicker.
self, in the mournfulest, sighingest way Yes, [sir, I sung ‘In the Good Old Sum¬
imaginable. mertime’ my sentimental-est; but it only
made the wise old wimpuss feel the dan¬
“T DID make a good start at extermi- ger I was; and the next thing I konwed
1 natin’ the ter’ble pests,” said Mis¬ he’d lassed me with his ropy tail and I
soula Red. “I made a powerful good was danglin’ under him as he soared up
start, and then come what was the biggest to his tub tree,
and saddest tragedy of my life. I’ve “And there I was, dropped down among
never gone through anything like it before the bones of many another wimpuss
or since. And I’ll never get over it. No, hunter. I felt I was a goner as the wim¬
sir, I never will.” puss clutched me in his bearcat paws and
He was so serious and solemncholy that opened his shark mouth, but I made a
I stared at him, hardly knowing whether last mad attempt to tickle the wimpuss.
 JAMES STEVENS

I sung, I preached, I tried to look like I me, anyway, and made me pretty un¬
was runnin’ for office. I told the story comfortable. I was good and sore at
about the cowboy and the chambermaid, Missoula Red until he apologized.
and I even tried my imitation of a movie He apologized by telling me how he had
actor cowboy; and I performed so good sympathized with me about the dirty
that wimpusses in the tub trees all around tricks [that contemptible sergeant had
were tickled to death; and even this tough played on me, and he had only told that
old daddy of all the wimpusses let out one lie to show what a big liar the sergeant
chuckle. was in the first place. Well, he proved he
“But he looked away as he made it, was really my friend by getting Sergeant
and he was scowlin’ again as he looked Funke to play a gambling game with him
back. And now he drawed his tail tighter which he called stud poker, and he won
around me, he showed his shark teeth in all the sergeant’s francs.
a fearful snarl; and I knowed in my soul “Now, I done that for you, Corporal,”
that the one miser’ble small chuckle was Missoula Red said to me one night. “And
all I’d ever get out of him. The shark besides, I’ve found out how we can make
teeth come for my throat. Oh, wouldn’t that fickle Odile come your way again.”
he laff? His lips wrinkled up once—and I listened to him, for I had already let
I hoped—but no, he wouldn’t. He never my good nature get the best of me, allow¬
would laff. His tail and his paws squeezed ing him to go on enjoying himself with
me tighter. Closer to my throat come his my squad in the deploying drill. And
shark teeth. Closer and closer. One of this is the way he paid me back—
them pricked my skin. And then—” “I don’t s’pose, Corporal, you got that
Missoula Red paused to heave a hearty fine and delicate fowl, the snipe, in
sigh, and he stared so mournfully into his Kansas?” he asked me.
glass of vin roosh that he appeared about “Why, no, Missoula, we haven’t. Not
overcome. I didn’t know what to think, in my part of the State, anyway.”
but he was so solemn and serious, and I “So I figgered. The snipe is a scarce
just had to ask. So I said— fowl wherever you go. He appears to be
“Well, Missoula, how’d you get out of particularly scarce here in France. It’s
it?” a powerful shame, too, for if there is a
“Get out of it! Get out of it!” He spoke dish the Frogs is fond of, it’s snipe
and stared at me like I’d asked a fool fricassee. As a rule, they’re even crazier
question that absolutely amazed him. about it than they are over frog legs.
“Why, Corporal! Why—of course, that Well, Corporal, on account of my likin’
wimpuss killed and et me!” for you, I wormed it out of this rival of
your’n. Sergeant Funke, that Odile is
I JUST stared at him with my mouth simply nuts over snipe fricassee. I re¬
open till I noticed everybody around member I’d see a snipe t’other day,
was laughing their fool heads off; and lurkin’ in the woods east of town, and I
then without having to figure on it a bit I was about to tell the sergeant I’d help
suddenly knowed that Missoula Red was him snare it; but I said, ‘No, by all the
the biggest liar since Ananias. And I straw' tails and mavericks* I’m goin’ to be
told him so, right to his face. That didn’t loyal to my Vorporal.’ So I’ll help you
stop the laughing; and then I realized the snare this snipe, as I’m an expert at it,
gang thought I’d been taken in by Mis¬ and as I win all of the sergeant’s francs at
soula Red right along. stud poker, you’ll shorely beat his time.”
Of course, that wasn’t so. His stories
had interested me a lot, but, as I told the ELL, to show how a man like Mis¬
gang, I’d only led him along to get him to soula Red will impose on a body’s
show himself up, and he certainly had. good nature, he got me out into the woods
But the gang had to have their fun with that night, left me holding a sack with a
 POWDER RIVER

supply room lantern inside it, while he fill up some of the combat regiments
and his bunkie were supposed to be which had been shot to pieces. When I
chasing down the snipe. I waited a good got up to my billet Missoula Red and the
hour and a half, and by that time I had it other Montana men were yelling—
figured out that the infernal big Montana “What’s the greatest river in the
liar had imposed on my good nature world ?”
again. It was just another fool sell. “Powder River!”
I didn’t think I’d go back to my billet “She’s a mile wide and a foot deep!”
until everybody was about ready to go “Some river-r-r-r!”
to bed, so I stopped in at a 4th Platoon “I’m a lone wolf from the Bitter Root
billet, where a crap game was going. I and it’s my night to howl!”
got down to my last twenty franc note, “Wow-w-o-o-oo!”
and I was so sore at everything and my¬ I was picked for one of the convoy
self and everything else that I throwed corporals, and the last I saw of Missoula
the whole note on the blanket. And of Red was at the combat division head¬
course that ignoramus of a Sergeant quarters.
Funke had to lean over the ring of crap “S’long, Corporal,” he said solemnly,
shooters just as I was saying— as he shook hands. “I know I’ll never
“Somebody fade me so I can win Odile find another one I like to soldier under so
a new hat.” well. When it’s fini la gear and if you
And that contemptible sergeant had ever come to Montana, you just go to the
got twenty francs from somewhere, and governor and tell him you used to be a
he faded me, saying as he did: corporal over Missoula Red. Then
“Come, crap, dice, and I get Odile a new nothin’ll be too good for you.”
hat.” “But what if it’s a different governor?”
They didn’t come crap, but a fever; and I saio.
every time I would snap the bones out “Won’t make a speck of difference.
and say, “Come fever, dice,” the sergeant Nobody can be elected governor in
would have to butt in on my talking to Montana ’less he’s a friend of Missoula
them and say, “Come seven, dice, and I Red’s.”
get Odile a new hat.” With another solemn handshake he
Of course with him butting in that way swung away. I noticed that the gray had
they didn’t come fever but seven and I grown up into the red of his hair quite a
showed my contempt for the sergeant’s ways by now. It would have made him
butting in by throwing down the bones appear funny, if it hadn’t been for his
and leaving the billet without saying a naturally serious look.
word to him or anybody else. He dumb over the side of a motor
And so about all I had left was my truck and jammed himself into a pile of
corporal’s stripes. soldiers. As the truck jerked away he
But I was lucky enough not to get waved his rifle and yelled: “Let ’er
joshed about snipe hunting, for tattoo buck! Powder River!”
had no more than blowed when there was The train of trucks disappeared over a
an uproar of excitement through all the rise.
billets over the order for the replace¬ From away beyond it I could hear an
ments to be sent to the front tomorrow to eery rumble every once in a while.
Concluding

A New Mystery Novel of the West,

with Hashknife and Sleepy

Buzzards
By W. C. TUTTLE

R EX MORGAN sat on the porch of

>■ the nester’s cabin and listened to
before the murder of Peter Lane there had
been bad blood between the Morgans and
Hashknife Hartley on the subject of the Old Man Lane. Lane’s son had been sus¬
Black Horse range. pected of killing Peter Morgan’s cowhand,
Rex was a tenderfoot, come to the Ben Leach, who had been found, shot, by
Arizona cattle country to find the person the roadside. As nesters alongside the
who had sent his mother a check from powerful 6X6 of Peter Morgan, the Lanes
Mesa City before her death in California. had little prestige in the country. Old
On the way to Mesa City from Canon- Man Lane and his son denied their guilt,
ville the stagecoach suffered a runaway. but surrendered to avoid lynching.
Rex had ridden on for help and, in the Inside the Lane cabin Nan Lane was
darkness, he had beenj struck on the preparing a fresh bandage for Rex’s head.
head. He had awakened in the cabin of “How do you like this country?’1
Lane, the nester. grinned Sleepy Stevens, the merry part
Now, Lane had surrendered to the ner of the errant Hashknife.
sheriff, after Dave Morgan, the shiftless “I think I prefer civilization.”
owner of the Flying M, had accused him “You are seeing life in the rough.’1
of murdering Dave’s cousin Peter. As far Hashknife smiled.
as anyone knew, Rex was no kin of the “Seeing? Horned frawgs—as Bunty
Mesa City Morgans. Already Rex had Smith, the stage driver says—I’m living
accepted the hospitality of the Lanes, and it!”
 CHAPTER IX and they heard what he said about fixin’
one of the 6X6 outfit,” explained Lem.
INQUEST DAY “Me and Noah heard it; but they want

T HE FOLLOWING morning, shortly

after daylight, Lem Sheeley and
her testimony.”
Nan agreed to go, and while she was
getting ready, Hashknife took Lem aside
Joe Cave arrived at the ranch with and questioned him about the gun he
the hack from the 6X6 and a top buggy. found in the corral.
They were going to take Peter Morgan’s “Are you goin’ to offer that as evi¬
body to Canonville in the hack, and Lem dence?” asked Hashknife.
brought the top buggy to take Nan to the “I’m kinda stuck about that,” said
inquest—or rather the double inquest. Lem. “I hate to do it, and still I figure
This had been the date set for the in¬ I ought to, Hashknife. It’ll hang Lane
quest over the body of Ben Leach; so as sure as hell.”
they were going to hold one over Peter “They’ll have to catch him first.”
Morgan on the same day. Lem Sheely “Yeah, I know, but I’ll catch him. I
had appointed Joe Cave to. act as his wasn’t goin’ to do a thing until the coro¬
deputy while Noah Evans was out of ner’s jury decides, but if they say it was
commission. murder and names the murderer, what
“They know Nan was here at the ranch can I do? I’m jist an instrument, Hash¬
when her brother came from Mesa City knife.”
71
72 W. C. TUTTLE

“I know, Lem. How’s Noah this /TVHE TWO vehicles rolled away up the
mornin’?” A dusty road, leaving Hashknife and
“Crazy as a shepherd. The doctor was Rex together at the front porch. Sleepy
with him all night, and he says Noah’s had gone to the rear of the house to wash
got a fightin’ chance. That ride last his hands.
night didn’t do him a bit of good, and the “So that’s the opinion she has of me, is
doctor says we can’t take a chance on it?” queried Rex wearily. “Need some
shippin’ him to a hospital. one to look after me.”
“The folks down in Canonville want to “I don’t think she meant it exactly that
go right out and hang a rope on old man way,” smiled Hashknife.
Lane and his son. They figure one of ’em “Oh, I guess she’s right, as far as that
mistook Noah for somebody from the 6X6.’ ’ goes. Mr. Hartley, I guess I do need
Sleepy and Joe Cave were putting the some one to look after me. I don’t know
body into the hack, while Rex stood anything.”
against the side of the stable, watching “Uh-huh?” Hashknife considered Rex
them. gravely. “Morgan, if it was rainin’ real
“What do you think of that young hard right now, what would you do?”
Morgan?” asked Lem. “Why — er go in the house, I
Hashknife grinned slowly. suppose.”
“He’s so ignorant that he might do “I reckon you’ve got as much sense as
somethin’ smart. I figure he’s been the rest of us, but you lack in experience.”
raised in a hothouse, Lem. Still, he’s Sleepy came around the house and they
got a sense of humor, and he ain’t all fool. all sat down in the shade of the porch.
Just between me and you, he’s got some¬ Rex wanted to know what an inquest
thin’ on his mind.” meant, and Hashknife explained all about
“Mebbe it’s the wallop he got on the it.
head, Hashknife.” “And if that jury decides that Mr.
“Mebbe.” Morgan was killed by Mr. Lane, they
Nan had come out to the buggy, so the will hang Mr. Lane?”
two men sauntered toward the front of the “Well, not immediately,” said Hash¬
house. knife. “They will have to capture Mr.
“We’ll stay here at the ranch,” said Lane and give him a fair trial.”
Hashknife, as Nan held out her hand to “Have they any evidence that Mr.
him. Lane killed him?”
“Thank you,” she said simply. “Only that Lane hated Morgan and
“And when they put you on the wit¬ threatened to shoot any of his outfit that
ness stand,” said Hashknife slowly, “don’t might come over here, and the fact that
offer anythin’. If you don’t feel like an¬ the horse bearing the body of Morgan
swerin’ a question, jist say you don’t came from this direction. Of course,
know. The law never hung anybody for those are merely circumstantial. And
not rememberin’.” there’s the fact that the sheriff found
“That’s fine advice to a witness, right Peter Morgan’s gun in the corral down
in my presence,” grinned Lem, as he un¬ there.”
tied the horse. Hashknife was watching Rex closely
“I shall follow that advice,” said Nan when he propounded the last evidence,
firmly. “Goodby, Mr. Hartley. Take and he saw Rex change color quickly,
good care of Rex.” shutting his lips tightly. Rex did not look
“Can’t he take care of himself?” at Hashknife when Hashknife added—
growled Lem. “That last bit of evidence might hang
“I don’t think so, Lem. He needs him.”
somebody to look after him.” “I don’t know anything about it,” said
“He ort to get a keeper, or a nurse.” Rex slowly.
 BUZZARDS 73

“Of course not.” “And didn’t make it?” smiled Hash¬

“I didn’t see the gun.” knife.
“Prob’Iy not. The sheriff found it. “Oh, but I did! But when I was forced
He said that you fainted in the corral.” to stop, I threw out the anchor, and—”
“Oh, yes!” Rex tried to laugh. “We— “Uh-huh!” snorted Sleepy. “That’s
Miss Lane and—we heard a chicken what Bunty Smith said.”
crowing, and she made up a little poem “Threw out the anchor?” queried
about eggs for breakfast; so we went to Hashknife.
find the egg, you see. Yes, I fainted. “That is what one of the men called
Foolish thing to do, wasn’t it?” it. It is a heavy weight, which they have
“Mebbe not. But neither of you saw fastened to the horses, and when you
the gun, eh?” make a delivery you leave it on the
“Oh, no. We were excited and—” Rex ground. It prevents the horses from
stopped quickly. running away, don’t you see?”
“Excited over what?” asked Hash- Hashknife laughed softly.
'knife quickly. “I know what you mean, kid.”
Rex shut his lips tightly and looked “Well, when I threw it off, I believe it
away for several moments. Finally he wrapped around a pole. At any rate, we
sighed softly. stopped so suddenly that I entered a
“Eggs,” he said simply. store on the back of my neck, and by the
“Excited over eggs?” time I had recovered I had lost my
“Yes. Oh, it doesn’t require much to position.”
excite me.” “And that’s the only job you ever
“Uh-huh.” had?”

H ASHKNIFE and Sleepy exchanged

glances. Hashknife was sure that
“The only one.”
“How old are you, Morgan?”
“Twenty.”
Rex Morgan knew more than he was will¬ “Your folks have plenty of money?”
ing to tell. It was evident that this young “I didn’t have folks—just a mother.”
tenderfoot was protecting Nan Lane— “Yea-a-ah?” Hashknife leaned back,
and Hashknife admired him for it. resting his shoulders against the wall, and
“Do you intend to stay in this country?” began rolling a cigaret.
asked Sleepy. “What became of your father?” asked
“Do you mean always?” Rex shook his Sleepy.
head slowly. “No, I—well, I don’t really Rex shook his head.
know. Do you know, everything has “I never knew him. In fact, I never
been more or less like a dream since my heard his name mentioned.”
mother died. I have been jerked around And while Hashknife and Sleepy
so badly that I hardly know what to do lounged in the shade and listened closely,
next. I realize that I shouldn’t be here, Rex Morgan told them of his life. He did
sponging, I believe you’d call it, on the not condemn his mother for the way she
Lane family. But I just simply don’t had raised him.
know what to do.” “Mebbe she wanted you to be a
“Didn’t you ever have a job?” asked preacher,” suggested Sleepy. “Was she
Hashknife. very religious?”
Rex pursed his lips thoughtfully for a “No, not very. In fact, she seldom
moment. went to church.”
“Yes, I did. I believe it lasted less than “And you say that check was on the
an hour. Mr. Weed, a grocer, employed Mesa City bank?” asked Hashknife.
me as a driver for one of his delivery “Yes. That was why I came here, try¬
wagons, but I tried to outrun a fire de¬ ing to find out who sent her that money.
partment.” Perhaps they might tell me more.”
74 W. C. TUTTLE

“Did your mother ever mention Mesa “You went through a big gate?”
City?” wondered Hashknife.
“No.” “I was obliged to get off the horse to
open the gate.”
“1X7ELL, that’s shore a queer deal, “But there is no gate here.”
’ » Morgan. Even if you never find “That is the queer part of it.”
out anythin’, I think you came to the “Hm-m-m-m,” Hashknife grunted soft¬
right country. It’ll make a man out of ly as he rolled another cigaret. “Went
you. Get a job. Even if you don’t know through a big gate, eh? How was it
anythin’, take the job and leam. Make fastened?”
good out here. Folks are rough out here, “I don’t remember that it was fastened.”
but if you make good with them, they’ll “Uh-huh. But this was the house, eh?”
stand at your back until your belly caves “I suppose so. It was very dark that
in.” night, and I was unable to see more than
“I suppose you are right, Mr. Hartley.” the outline of the house.”
“Call me Hashknife.” “Are you shore you didn’t dream about
“Thank you.” that gate?”
“I’m Sleepy.” Rex frowned thoughtfully.
Rex turned his head and glanced at “Perhaps I did, Hashknife. As far as
Sleepy. that is concerned, I might have dreamed
“Why don’t you go in and lie down?” all of it. But if you do not think I was
asked Rex. struck on the head—look at it.”
Hashknife grunted so explosively that “I saw it,’’-grinned Hashknife. “That’s
he blew his cigaret out into the yard, no dream.”
while Sleepy slid down on his shoulders, “Well, that’s no more true than the rest
shaking with laughter. of it.”
“I don’t understand,” said Rex blankly. “You ain’t been to Mesa City yet, have
“That’s what made it so funny,” you? I mean, to make any investigations
choked Hashknife. “He meant that his about that check.”
nickname was Sleepy.” “No, I haven’t had a chance. But just
“Oh, I knew that; but I didn’t realize as soon as possible, I shall go over there.”
it at the time. I guess it did sound rather
like a joke.” CHAPTER X
“Rather,” chuckled Sleepy. “But
GUESTS BT NIGHT
don’t mind me; I’m just a bowlegged
puncher, tryin’ to get along in the world.”
“Morgan, you must have had quite an
I T WAS late in the afternoon when Nan
came home, accompanied by a man
experience the night you arrived here,” from the Canonville livery stable. Hash¬
said Hashknife. knife met her, and they walked from the
Rex grinned slowly. buggy to the house. She did not mention
“I surely did, Hashknife. I wonder the inquests, until Sleepy and Rex met
why that man struck me over the head.” them in the living room, and the four of
“Some of the folks,” said Hashknife them sat down together.
slowly, “seem to doubt that you got hit. “They asked the sheriff to arrest Walter
They think you fell off the horse and hit for shooting Ben Leach,” she said bravely.
your head on a rock.” “They say, because he took Ben’s horse
“I did not!” indignantly. “Not that I and gun, it don’t look like self-defense.
•ouldn’t have done such a thing. You But they say dad murdered Peter
see, I had never ridden a horse before. Morgan.”
But there is something that has bothered “Who testified?” asked Hashknife.
me, Hashknife. Just before I reached the “The boys of the 6X6 testified that
house I went through a big gate.” Peter Morgan’s body came on, roped to
 BUZZARDS 75

the saddle of his horse. That was all the cause we don’t hate a nester. Likewise,
testimony, except what was said about this here Ben Leach got his needin’s.
the fight dad had with Peter Morgan in Hunted for trouble and found it. Self-de¬
Mesa City, and that dad swore he’d kill fense, of course; but you never can con¬
them if they came here.” vince these natives that Lane didn’t bush¬
‘‘And that’s all the evidence they need¬ whack Leach. Of course, Lane made a
ed to name your dad as the murderer?” mistake in takin’ the horse and gun, but
“That was all. They didn’t ask me to he was drunk and mad.”
testify. Lem told them about Walter It was a long speech for Sleepy to make.
coming home from Mesa City drunk, and Hashknife lifted his brows in mock as¬
what he’said about fixing one of the 6X6 tonishment.
outfit. Lem tried to give his opinion of “You’re gettin’ kinda technical, ain’t
Ben Leach following Walter, but the you. Sleepy?”
coroner wouldn’t let him talk, and they “Well,” confessed Sleepy, “that’s the
almost had a fight.” way she looks to me. Whatsa use of stay¬
“And will the sheriff be obliged to cap¬ in’ around here any longer? We’ve got
ture your father and brother now?” asked to land a couple of jobs for the winter,
Rex. ain’t we?”
Nan nodded wearily. “Did we ever quit before the last dog
“I guess he will. Oh, I don’t know was hung?”
what to do. We haven’t any money to Sleepy shook his head gloomily. They
hire lawyers; nothing to fight with.” had been together for quite a number of
“The court will appoint a lawyer to de¬ years, these two drifting cowboys. Their
fend them,” said Hashknife. trails had led from the wide lands of Al¬
“To represent them,” corrected Nan berta to the Mexican Border, and no
quickly. “But of what value will he be matter where they were there was always
to us? It is merely a matter of form. a hill just beyond, which beckoned them
Oh, I know enough about the law to know
what it will mean. A cow town jury, sit¬ Sleepy had been christened David in
ting in judgment on a nester.” the little Idaho town where he was born,
“Well,” said the optimistic Sleepy, but it had soon been changed to his pres¬
“they ain’t got ’em in jail yet, Nan.” ent cognomen, because of the fact that,
“But they will have. Dad and Walter like a weasel, he seemed to sleep with
are not far away from here.” both eyes open.
“I’d like to have a talk with ’em, before He and Henry Hartley had met on the
the sheriff gets his hands on ’em,” said old ranch which gave Henry the name of
Hashknife. Hashknife, and together these two cow¬
“What for?” asked Nan. boys of the itching feet struck out for
“Oh, just to talk about things. I’d like themselves. The ranges were wide and
to get their version of things ahead of the there was plenty of demand for the
rest.” services of top hand cowboys, but they
did not stay long in any one place.
1 ATER that day Hashknife and Sleepy Fate had given Hashknife an analyt¬
ical mind. In a different environment he
talked things over from the .top pole
of the corral fence. might have been a famous detective, in¬
“I tell you it’s no puzzle,” declared stead of a drifting cowboy, a Nemesis of
Sleepy. “Old Man lane killed Pete range crooks, where, in most cases, the
Morgan, jist as sure as a Californian will six-shooter superseded the court of law.
lie about his climate. Of course, Pete had It seemed as if fate continually threw
no business bein’ here. He’d been warned them into troubled places, no matter
to stay away—and didn’t. If me and you which way they traveled, until even
was on a jury, we’d turn him loose—be¬ Sleepy, prone to argument, admitted that
76 W. C. TUTTLE

there was little use trying to dodge the sheriff found his gun in the corral.”
issue. Sleepy analyzed nothing. He was “Guns don’t fly.”
content to follow the lengthy Hashknife, “This ’n didn’t have any wings. Sleepy,
no matter where the trail led, and to be didja ever see a girl with more nerve than
ready for trouble at the finish. Nan Lane? By golly, she’s a dinger.
Their remuneration had been small. Wants to cry, but won’t. It’s a hell of a
In fact, they might have better been position for her to be in, don’tcha know
working at forty dollars a month, as far it? She’s up there in the kitchen, cookin’
as the financial end of their partnership up a meal for us, when down in her heart
was concerned. Two horses, riding rigs, she wants to lie down and cry her heart
clothes, guns and a few dollars were all out. If I ever get married, I hope I get
they ever had. her kind.”
“You can’t take anythin’ with you,” “One that won’t cry, Hashknife?”
Hashknife had often said, when Sleepy “Sure.”
remarked about their financial returns. “You never will, cowboy. Mebbe she
“The farther we go, the less chance we won’t cry from ordinary causes, but jist
have of livin’ to a ripe old age; so what let you put on a boiled collar and a white
good is the money? I’d rather give, while shirt, and she’ll cry.”
I’m alive, to see the happiness it brings. “Is it that bad?” sadly.
And if we had a lot of money, we wouldn’t “Worse than that, Hashknife. You
know what in the devil to spend it for.” look jist like a half broke Apaloosie, look¬
in’ over a whitewashed fence.”
ASHKNIFE debated Sleepy’s re¬ “I might get one with a sense of humor.
sume of the case. It was a reason¬ Sleepy.”
able decision and was probably the deci¬ “She’d have to have it, cowboy.”
sion of everybody who knew of the case; Rex was wandering around the yard,
but Hashknife withheld his opinion, be¬ like a lost pup, and finally joined them at
cause he refused to agree with the masses. the corral.
To Sleepy the case was closed; but to “I wish I knew what to do,” he said
Hashknife it was just beginning to open. sadly. “Nan is up there in the kitchen,
“They tell me that Paul Lane is a salty crying. I tried to solace her, but it didn’t
old jigger,” said Sleepy thoughtfully. seem to do much good. She’s afraid they
“It would be like him to kill a man and are going to hang her father, you know.
send him home on his own horse. I wish Perhaps I handled the situation badly,
I knew what Pete Morgan was doin’ over when I told her we’d both be orphans, if
here that night?” such a thing happened. And then I asked
“Evidently tryin’ to get Old Man Lane, her to marry me.”
Sleepy.” “You damn’ fool!” exploded Sleepy.
“Why?” “That ain’t no time to propose to a girl.”
‘There you are. He came alone. “I didn’t know. You see, I never pro¬
Why?” posed before.”
“Don’t ask me; I’m no mind reader.” “There’s a lot of things you don’t
“And still you think there’s nothin’ to know.”
the case?” “There’s a lot of things I want to
“I wasn’t figurin’ any reasons for the learn,” retorted Rex heatedly.
killin’.” “That’s a lot better,” grinned Hash¬
“There’s got to be a reason for the kill¬ knife. “Use a little profanity and less
in’, Sleepy. I want to know why Pete dictionary. Correct English is great; but
Morgan got up long before daylight, out here they think you’re crazy. You’ll
saddled his horse and came over here— forget how to talk it soon enough. As far
if he did come here. Of course, we’ve got as you marryin’ Nan Lane—I’d forget it,
no proof that he did, except that the Morgan.”
 BUZZARDS 77

“What would you support a wife on?” he left the house. She told him of the
asked Sleepy. shooting of Noah Evans, the double
“I’m sure I don’t know.” inquest, and the verdicts. Hashknife
“Well, you’re honest,” grinned Hash- watched the face of the old man during
knife. “I reckon you’re a good kid, Mor¬ her recital, and decided that Paul Lane
gan. You mean well enough. Now forget was a'tough old ranger. He did not flinch
the marriage stuff far awhile.” at the verdict, but his blue eyes clouded
‘The sheriff wants to marry her.” a trifle.
“Fine. Lem’s a good man, got a good He was not a big man, and age had
job.” sapped some of his vitality, but he was
“But I don’t think she loves him.” wiry, keen eyed, and the hands that
“No? Does she love you?” gripped the Winchester were muscular
“I never asked her.” and steady.
“A-a-aw, hell!” snorted Sleepy. “Let’s “Kinda looks as though they had the
go and help her cook supper, instead of deadwood on me and the kid,” he said
talking about her feelin’s.” bitterly. “We been hidin’ out in the
brush, wonderin’ what was goin' on; so I
I T WAS after supper that night when
Paul Lane came home. Rex was wash¬
took a chance. We got a look at you fel¬
lers today and wondered who you might
ing the dishes and Hashknife was wiping be. And we seen Nan come back in that
them, much against the wishes of Nan. buggy; so I decided that there had been an
“It’s the only thing I can do well,” inquest at Canonville.”
declared Rex. “I used to wash them for “Why don’t the both of you sneak down
my mother.” and give up to the sheriff?” asked Hash¬
Nan was in her room, and Sleepy was knife. “Looks like the only way out of
perched on the wood box, smoking a it. Lane.”
cigaret, when Paul Lane stepped in to the “And get hung for it, eh?”
kitchen, gun in hand. Rex was the only “Mebbe not. The law won’t hang you
one of the three who had ever seen him without a trial.”
before. Lane stopped just inside the door “Meanin’ that the 6X6 outfit will, eh?”
and looked at the men. “Might be more than them in on the
Rex stopped washing dishes and started deal. There’s always a pack of wolves,
to introduce the old man to Hashknife, you know.”
but the old man stopped him. “That’s right, Hartley. It shore makes
“Where’s Nan?” he demanded. it tough for Nan.”
“Here, dad.” “And she’s been mighty game,” said
Nan had stepped from her room, and Hashknife quickly.
now she crossed the kitchen to her father, “I’m not so game,” choked Nan. “I
who put one arm around her, but he still don’t know what to do, except to grin and
kept his eyes on Hashknife and Sleepy. bear it.”
“Who are these men?” he asked.
“Friends, dad—Mr. Hartley and Mr.
Stevens. You have met Mr. Morgan
T HEY moved to the living room,
leaving Rex to finish the rest of the
before.” dishes, and sat down together. Hash¬
“Yeah, I’ve met him. I’ve been knife wanted a chance to talk with Paul
around here quite a while, lookin’ ’em Lane, and this seemed like the opportune
over through the windows. I didn’t quite time, but before he could frame the open¬
figure out who they were, but it didn’t ing question the front doOr was flung
look to me as though an officer of the law violently open and three rifles were cov¬
would be washin’ dishes.” ering them through the doorway.
With as few words as possible she told The visitors were Dave Morgan, Red
him everything that had happened since Eller, Spike Cahill and Ed Jones.
78 W. C. TUTTLE

There was only one thing to do; the Hashknife backed against the wall,
three men in the room threw up their gun in hand and laughed at the expres¬
hands. It took Spike Cahill about ten sions on their faces, when they realized
seconds to collect their guns, and then that the shotgun was not loaded.
the captors relaxed. “You can’t get away with this,” gritted
“I reckon that about ends the deal,” Morgan, facing Hashknife. “We’ll show
growled Dave. “We been watchin’ for you how to tamper with things that don’t
you, Lane. Knowed you’d have to come concern you. And we’ll make that half
home, sooner or later.” witted, white faced kid wish he’d kept out
“Well,” said Lane coldly. “What now, of it.”
Morgan?” “I got away with it—my part of it,”
“A lot depends. Get a rope, Spike.” said Hashknife coldly. “I think that kid
“Just what’s the idea of a rope?” asked outsmarted you and saved you from
Hashknife. . ' lynchin’ a man tonight. And as far as you
“Keep your nose out of it,” growled doin’ anythin’ about it—cut your wolf
Morgan. “I’d advise you two to hightail loose.”
out of this country. About the time we “We were goin’ to take him to jail,”
tell folks about findin’ you here, hob- said Eller.
nobbin’ with a man wanted for murder, “You’re a liar!”
they might talk of more ropes.” Eller bristled angrily.
“Oh, is this man wanted for murder?” “You wouldn’t call me that, if I had a
“You know damn’ well he is! Wasn’t gun, you hatchet faced bum.”
that girl at the inquest? Don’t try to be “Step into the middle of the room,”
funny.” ordered Hashknife. “Right out here
Spike Cahill stepped in and flung out away from the rest. Watch ’em. Sleepy.”
the coils of his rope, preparatory to roping
Paul Lane
“What are you going to do?” asked
H ashknife stepped up to the bed,
picked up a six-shooter and walked
Nan. “Don’t put a rope on him. Dad back to Eller, who stared at him foolishly.
will go to jail peacefully.” With a flip of his wrist, Hashknife dropped
“Jail, eh?” Spike laughed softly. “You the gun into Eller’s empty holster and
think he will? After we exhibit him in stepped back about six feet and holstered
Mesa City? Guess agin, sister.” his own gun.
“You better put your hands up,” said a “It’s an even break, Eller,” he said
voice at the doorway to the kitchen, and coldly. “You’re a liar; a dirty, forked
the captors jerked around to see Rex tongue liar. You’ve got a gun in your
Morgan, holding the heavy, double holster, and I’m talkin’ to you straight.”
barrel shotgun against his shoulder, the Red Eller hesitated. Hashknife’s right
twin muzzles covering them. hand hung limply at his side, swaying
Dave Morgan’s hands jerked shoulder back and forth past his holster, but there
high, and the other three were quick to was nothing ibout his pose or expression
follow his lead. Even a tenderfoot could that would indicate'a quick draw. For
score a bull’s eye with a shotgun at fifteen several moments there was no sound, ex¬
feet cept the breathing of people. Then:
“Good, kid!” exclaimed Hashknife, “Don’t do it. Red,” whispered Spike.
while Dave Morgan swore bitterly, as he “It ain’t worth the chance.”
watched Sleepy gather up all the guns. Eller licked his lips and shook his head.
“You can take a rest with that gun “I pass,” he said softly. “Mebbe I did
now,” laughed Hashknife. lie. Hartley.”
“Well, I’m glad,” sighed Rex. “It is Swiftly Hashknife stepped over and re¬
very heavy, and I was afraid some one moved the gun.
might know it isn’t loaded.” “What’s next?” asked Morgan angrily.
 BUZZARDS 79

“Go home and try to mind your own might need an official reason for throwin’
business.” lead.”
“All right, but wait until we tell what “All right, Hartley. I’ll leave my rifle
happened.” and shells here, in case you need long
“Suits me, gents. Vamoose.” range.”
Hashknife and Sleepy followed them He shook hands with each of them,
out to their horses, where the four men kissed Nan and vanished down past the
mounted quickly. corral in the darkness.
“What about our guns?” asked Morgan. “I guess I better finish washing the
“One of you come back in daylight and dishes,” said Rex. “But I wish some of
get ’em.” you would load that shotgun. I might
“Oh, all right. But you two better have to shoot next time.”
not be here.” “You spoke your piece, pardner,”
“We will be, Morgan. Adios.” laughed Hashknife. “I’ll load the gun
Hashknife watched them ride away in for you.”
the darkness, and then he went back in He took a box of shells off a shelf and
the house, where he found Lane shaking dropped one in each barrel, after which
hands with Rex and thanking him for his he stood the gun in a comer.
timely aid with the shotgun. “Thank you so much,” said Rex.
“Oh, it wasn’t anything,” said Rex. “I “Good huntin’ to you, brother,” grinned
just saw the gun in the comer, and Hashknife.
thought I might frighten them with it.” “Oh, but I’m not going hunting for
“Well, you shore did,” laughed Hash¬ any one.”
knife. “They know what a shotgun will “You won’t have to. In Arizona, that
do at short range, and they took no kind of game comes right up to your
chances. Now—” he turned to Lane— door.”
“what are you goin’ to do?”
CHAPTER XI
“I’m goin’ to see Walter and get him to
go to Canonville with me. We might as WHISKY TALKS
well give up and take a chance with the
law. I didn’t realize until just now how TT IS doubtful whether any of his friends
safe a jail could be.” A would have recognized Napoleon Bon¬
“Oh, I’m glad!” exclaimed Nan. “Any¬ aparte Briggs, as he stood against the
thing would be better than this suspense. Oasis bar that night. On his narrow,
But will Walter go with you, dad?” slightly grizzled head was an ancient
“I think so. He is tired of dodging in brown derby hat, several sizes too small.
the hills.” Around his skinny neck was a high, bat¬
“Well, I wouldn’t lose any time,” de¬ wing collar, plenty large enough for
clared Hashknife. “That bunch will Napoleon to sink into up to his generous
probably get drunk in Mesa City, and ears, and his bosom was resplendent in a
you never can tell what they will do.” once white starched bosom shirt—strange
“I know,” nodded Lane, “but I don’t garb for Peter Morgan’s old ranch
know what to do about Nan. She can’t cook.
stay here—” He wore no vest, no necktie, and his old
“I can’t stay anywhere else, dad. I brown coat showed evidences of its long
can’t afford to live at a hotel. Oh, I’ll vacation inside a warbag. His overalls
be all right.” were glaringly new, tucked inside a pair
“We’ll stay awhile,” offered Hash¬ of high heel boots, which emitted an un¬
knife. “I can’t run away now; not after mistakable odor of stove polish. Inside
that warnin’. As soon as you see the the waistband of his overalls, the butt of
sheriff, send him up here. I want him to it reposing against the lower edge of his
understand about that warnin’, ’cause I shirt bosom, was a heavy Colt revolver.
 W. C. TUTTLE

And Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs was drinks, before they were able to discuss
drunk. It was seldom that Briggs ever the events of the evening.
came to Mesa City op a drunk, and no one Napoleon moved to the end of the bar,
had ever seen him dressed in this manner. standing in solitary grandeur, as if not
“I’m goin’ awa-a-ay, fer, fer awa-a-a- wishing to associate with the common
ay,” he sang mournfully. “Where the herd in his present habiliments.
swee-e-e-et swy-ring-ga bloo-o-ooms.” “My Lord!” blurted Spike Cahill, spy¬
“You thinkin’ of takin’ a long trip?” ing Napoleon. “There’s the ghost of Old
asked the bartender. Man Briggs, lookin’ over his own tomb¬
Nap cuffed his derby over one eye and stone!”
considered the bartender solemnly. # “Oh, to the devil with him!” snorted
“Feller, when Napoleon Bonaparte Dave Morgan, invigorated by the potent
Briggs dudes up thisaway, he’s halfway liquor. “Let’s decide what’s to be done.”
there.” “And not a gun in the crowd,” said
“Ocean voyage, Nap?” Napoleon, noting the empty holsters.
“Not unless there’s a cloudburst be¬ “O-o-o-oh, I’m go-in’ fer, fer awa-a-ay,
tween here and Canonville. I aims to where the swee-e-e-e-et swy-rin-ga
ride a fo’ legged hoss. Gimme another bloo-o-o-oms.”
scoop of that liquor, which tempers the “What’s the idea of the boiled clothes,
wind to the shorn lamb, and charge it to Nap?” asked Spike.
the house.” “Celebratin’ m’ releash from bondage.
“Can’t do that. Nap. Jack says to Spike. I’m through cookin’.”
make everythin’ cash, until he finds out “No-o-o-o!”
what’s to become of this place.” “Yes, sir. Been rasslin’ pots for the
“Become of it?” 6X6 for over twenty years, and it’s time I
“Yeah, you know, since Peter Morgan retired.”
died.”
“Oh, yeah,” sadly. ACK FAIR WEATHER, manager of
“Have one on me.” the Oasis, came in beside Dave Mor¬
Napoleon considered the bartender gan, nodding to each of the boys. Fair-
thoughtfully, as the glasses were placed weather was a small man, about fifty
on the bar, and he saw the bartender take years of age, who had been long in the
money from his own pocket and put it in employ of Peter Morgan.
the till. “I’ve been tryin’ to get some dope on
“Well, here’s luck, Nap,” said the bar¬ this situation,” he told Dave. “Nobody
tender. seems to know just what is to be done.
They drank their liquor straight, and As far as I can find out, Peter left no will.
Nap cuffed his hat to the back of his He never had any use for a lawyer, and
head. they tell me at the bank that there is no
“I reckon I’ll keep you,” he said will, as far as they know. What’s to be
seriously. done?”
“Keep me?” queried the bartender. “I dunno,” growled Dave. “What’s
“Uh-huh. You’re kinda human. I usually done in a case of this kind?”
thought at first that I’d do m’ own bar- “Well, I suppose the property belongs
tendin’, but mebbe I won’t. Now, let’s to his nearest relative. You ought to
have one on me. I’ve got money.” know who that would be, Dave.”
Came the staccato thudding of hoofs, “He didn’t have no real close relatives.
the rattle of spurs on the wooden side¬ Jack. His mother and father are both
walk, and in came Dave Morgan, leading dead, and he was the only kid they had.
the boys who had been with him at the There was just two boys in the family, my
Lane ranch. They were all thirsty and father and Pete’s father. They’re both
mad, and it required two rounds of dead.”
 BUZZARDS 81

“Well, it looks as though you owned efforts to draw the gun, he made a gesture
somethin’, Dave.” of despair, slumped down in the chair and
“I suppose so. As long as there’s no began snoring.
will—” “If he’d been sober, he’d have killed
“Who the hell says there ain’t?” de¬ you, Red,” declared Spike.
manded Napoleon. “If he’d been sober, I wouldn’t have
And thus Napoleon became the center kicked the hat.”
of attraction. He had been so long with “Hell!” snorted Ed Jones. “If he had
the 6X6 that it might be possible he did been sober, he wouldn’t have worn such a
know something of interest. Dave Mor¬ lookin’ hat.”
gan glared at him, but Napoleon was too “Who cares what he would have done?”
drunk to mind a glare. growled Dave. “What I want to know is,
“What are you talkin’ about?” de¬ what are we goin’ to do?”
manded Dave. “Search me,” said Spike. “I know I’m
“What do you know about it?” coun¬ not goin’ back there agin’ tonight.”
tered Napoleon. “Goin’ to crawfish on this job?”
He almost lost his derby, giving his “Not crawfish, Dave. Old Man Lane
head a quick jerk. won’t be there; so what could we gain by
“What about a will, Nap?” asked goin’ back?”
Fairweather. “I reckon that’s true.”
“Oh, thasall right,” muttered Napoleon Dave explained to Fairweather what
foolishly. had taken place at the Lane ranch, but
“Did you ever see a will?” asked Spike. the gambler had no suggestions to offer.
“I’ve seen a lot of ’em.” “I’ll ride down in the mornin’ and col¬
“A lot of ’em that Peter Morgan lect the guns,” offered Spike. “I’m not
wrote?” asked Fairweather. scared. They said we could have ’em
“Nossir.” in daylight.”
“Drunk as a boiled owl,” grunted Red Red Eller and Ed Jones decided that
Eller. “He don’t know what it’s all they wanted to play a little poker, and
about. Let’s have another drink.” Dave Morgan wanted to go home: so
“I’m not drunk,” declared Napoleon. Dave went away alone. Others drifted
“I know a will, when I shee one. Gimme in and the games filled up, while Napoleon
shome of your tannin’ fluid.” Bonaparte Briggs slept off his jag, and
“What’s the idea of the clothes?” awoke, with a stiff neck and the disposi¬
queried Spike. tion of a grizzly.
“Duded up Fr a trip to Canonville.” He found the brim of his derby hat,
“Napoleon,” grinned Spike, “have you which Red Eller had kicked loose from its
got a girl?” crown, and it pained him greatly. He
“Nossir, I ain’t got no girl; I’m goin’ on accepted a drink, went out to his horse,
’ficial business to the county sheat. where he mounted and headed for Canon¬
These are m’ ’ficial clothes. Here’s m’ ville.
regards, gents.” “If that horse ever bucks, that collar

N apoleon drank a full glass of

liquor, groped his way to a chair,
will slice old Briggs’ ears off,” declared
Spike Cahill. “Funny old coot. Him
and Pete Morgan was pretty close friends,
where he flopped down heavily. His even if they did cuss each other out at
derby rolled off across the floor, and Red least once a day.” i
Eller kicked it the length of the room. “What do you suppose he meant—
But Napoleon was not too drunk to wit¬ about that will?” asked Jack Fairweather.
ness this bit of horseplay, and his hand “Liquor talkin’. Old Briggs would
groped drunkenly for the butt of his six- rather argue than eat. The minute some¬
shooter. But after several ineffectual body says, ‘There is,’ old Briggs is sure to’
 W. C. TUTTLE

say, ‘There ain’t’. l}ut I sure don’t sabe the sheriff had ridden to Mesa City.
that boiled shirt and collar and the hard Hashknife had talked it over with Lem
hat.” Sheeley and decided to seek information
at the Mesa City Bank.
CHAPTER XII

BUZZARDS J OHN HARPER, the Mesa City bank¬

er, a small, wiry man, with heavy
I T WAS three days after the voluntary
surrender of Paul Lane and his son
glasses, welcomed Lem and Hashknife
cordially. Harper had known the sheriff
that Hashknife, Rex and Lem Sheeley for years.
rode to Mesa City from the Lane ranch. “Well, what’s on your mind, Lem?”
Spike Cahill had come to the ranch the he asked, after Lem had introduced the
day after the attempt to capture Paul others.
Lane and recovered the suns. If Spike “Peter Morgan banked with you,
bore any malice toward Hashknife, Sleepy didn’t he, John?”
or Rex he failed to show it, but at that The banker smiled slowly
time he did not know that Paul Lane had “What banking he did—yes.”
surrendered to the sheriff. “What do you mean by that, John?”
'■ Both men had sworn that they were “He didn’t do much banking, Lem.
innocent of the charge, and they both Peter Morgan was rather a queer person
denied shooting Noah Evans, who was and preferred having his money nearer
slowly recovering. Long Lane swore he than a bank vault.”
had not seen Ben Leach after Leach left “You mean he kept it at the ranch?”
the Oasis Saloon and that he did not “I suspect he did, Lem.”
take Ben’s horse and gun. “Well, here’s somethin’ we want to find
Of course, no one believed the father out, John”, and Lem explained about
and son, and every one knew that they Rex’s mother’s receiving the seventy-
had surrendered to the law rather than five dollar check.
take a chance of being lynched. Their The banker listened closely, and when
guilt was so firmly fixed in the eyes of the Lem finished he shook his head thought¬
cattlemen that any twelve men in the fully.
county would have convicted them with¬ “Was that the only check from here
out leaving the jury box. that you have seen?” he asked Rex.
Sleepy urged Hashknife to forget the “That was the only one, Mr. Harper.
case. As far as he could see there was But I feel sure that my mother received
nothing to keep them in the Black Horse money from some one.”
range any longer, and Sleepy was anxious “The name of Morgan kinda had us
to get settled to a job for the winter. guessin’,” said Lem.
But Hashknife was not satisfied. The The banker smiled slowly, thoughtfully.
shooting of Noah Evans was one thing “I don’t suppose I’d be violating any
unexplained. After talking with Paul confidence, now that Peter Morgan is
Lane, he was satisfied that neither the old dead,” he said, “but the fact of the matter
man nor his son were bitter enough is this—Peter Morgan could not write.”
against the 6X6 to bushwhack one of that “Couldn’t write?” pondered Lem.
outfit, especially when the light was so “He had no education whatever. In
bad that they could not identify their fact, when he wished to draw a check, I
target. signed his name for him. *So that an¬
And there was Rex Morgan, whom swers your question regarding that par¬
Sleepy had dubbed the Orejano. 1 Who ticular check.”
in Mesa City had sent money to Rex’s “Could it have been Dave Morgan?”
ipother, wondered Hashknife? And that asked Hashknife.
was the reason why Hashknife, Rex and The banker shook his head quickly.
 BUZZARDS 83

“No. Dave Morgan closed his account and Sleepy have enough for a grubstake
with us several months ago. I think I for all of us, I reckon.”
was the only one in this country who “Well, I suppose we’ll have to do some¬
knew that Peter Morgan could not write. thing like that.”
He was very sensitive about it. I don’t “Sure. But the limb of the law waves
believe Dave Morgan knew it. When so slow in a country like this that we’ll
there were any papers to be signed, Peter wear the seats out of our pants, waitin’
always brought them to me.” for them to try the Lane family for mur¬
“You never heard him mention a will, der. I reckon we’ll just stick around and
did you?” asked Hashknife. see what happens.”
“No, I never did. I’m sure I would They talked it over with Nan and
have known about it, if there had been Sleepy at the ranch. Nan wanted to go
one. I understand you have Paul Lane to Canonville and look for a job.
in jail for murdering Peter.” “I might get work in a restaurant,” she
“Yeah, he’s down there,” sighed Lem. said. “That would relieve you boys of my
“Any question about his guilt, Lem?” presence. I didn’t realize the situation
“I hope so, John. I dunno what de¬ until now.”
fense the old man will put up. If he “You are not going to work in any
wasn’t a nester he might get off. You restaurant,” declared Rex warmly. “We
see, he warned Peter to keep away from can get along out here. I’ve still got my
his place. There ain’t no direct evidence five dollars.”
that Morgan was killed on the Lane “You bloated financier!” exploded
ranch, but the jury will probably think he Sleepy. “If you knew anythin’ about
was.” poker, I’d take that five away from you.”
“How is Noah Evans getting along?” “I don’t know anything about poker,”
“Kinda slow. The doctor seems to said Rex quickly, “but if you want the
think he’s out of danger. I reckon he is; five, I’ll give it to you, Sleepy.”
he cusses all the time.” “Thank you,” grunted Sleepy, rather
They thanked the banker for his infor¬ taken back by Rex’s generosity. “I
mation. Lem had other business to reckon you’re all right, kid; we’ll get
transact, so Hashknife and Rex left him along. Can you imagine that?” he asked
in Mesa City and rode back to the ranch. Hashknife, a little later on.

H ashknife was disappointed. He

had expected some information
“Rex is all right, Sleepy.”
“Shore, he’s all right. Pretty heavy
on education, but he’ll get that knocked
from the banker that might be of some out of him in a short time. Do you know,
value to him, but as far as he could see, I’ve got a hunch that Nan thinks quite a
they were up against a blank wall. lot of him.”
Rex had nothing to offer. He couldn’t “She’s sorry for him.”
remember what the signature on that “Yeah, and he’s sorry for her. He
check looked like. looks at her like a dyin’ calf in the spring
“I don’t know what to do,” he told thaw.”
Hashknife. “I can’t stay here all my life. They took care of their horses and
I haven’t any money, and no place to go. wandered back to the house, where they
Rather a puzzling situation, isn’t it?” found Nan and Rex on the porch, talking
“Well, we’re in the same boat,” smiled confidentially. Nan seemed very de¬
Hashknife. “But our case is a little termined about something, and Rex
little different, except that we can’t all seemed troubled. Hashknife sprawled on
pull out and leave that girl here alone. the steps and rolled a cigaret.
The Lanes haven’t any money, either. It “I want to tell you something, Hash¬
looks to me as though we’ve all got to knife,” said Nan. “Rex don’t think I
stay here and see what works out. Me should, but—”
84 W. C. TUTTLE

“I wouldn’t,” said Rex firmly. sumption would have been that Morgan
“But I think you boys understand,” rode up to the willows from that side of
said Nan. “Oh, it won’t hurt anything, the creek, not taking any chances of being
Rex—not now. We haven’t told any¬ seen, but the tracks showed that the
body, except my father.” horse had crossed the stream twice; one
“Go ahead,” urged Hashknife. “I set of tracks, of course, were made when
suppose it’s about findin’ Peter Morgan’s Rex took the animal over to the corral.
body, ain’t it? And sendin’ it home on It proved that the rider had come in past
the horse?” the corral, crossed the creek and tied the
Nan gasped, staring at Hashknife. horse over there.
“What—why, how did you know?” They came back to the bank of the
“Guessed it. Nan. Lem found you and little creek, where Hashknife stopped
Rex in the corral. Rex had fainted. And again to examine the tracks. The stream
then Lem found Peter Morgan’s six-gun was about four feet wide and two feet
in the corral. It wasn’t more than an deep at this point. Rex sprang across and
hour or so later that the body of Morgan went back to the corral fence, while
came to the 6X6.” Hashknife squatted on his heels on the
“And you just guessed it?” asked Nan creek bank.
wonderingly. Suddenly he got to his feet and looked
“Somethin’ like that. Nan. I figured down the stream, where the water swung
that you and Rex had a secret between around an undercut bank, practically
you. Would you mind takin’ me down to undermining a heavy growth of willows.
the corral and showin’ me just how the Something had attracted his attention,
body laid, and all that?” and he shoved down through the brush to
“And—and you don’t blame us for this spot, where he sprawled along the
what we done?” asked Nan. bank, reaching down in the water.
“Certainly not; I’d have done the After some little effort he was able to
same. C’mon.” drag out the object, which he lugged back
to a clear space. It was a Navaho rug,
T HEY all went down to the corral,
where Nan explained all about the
about four feet wide and five feet long,
which had been rolled tightly and tied
position of the body and how they had at both ends with whang leather strings.
secured the horse from the willows across Hashknife cut the strings and unrolled
the stream and had managed to rope the the rug. It was rather difficult to tell how
body to the saddle. long the rug had been in the water. It
Hashknife listened closely, questioning was rather discolored, but the pattern
both of them as to small details, and even was clear enough. The two ends of the
examined the dust closely, where Peter rug were of red and gray design, while
Morgan’s body had lain. Nan pointed the center was dead black, with a jagged
out the place where the horse had been strip of white, representing the Navaho
tied, and Rex took Hashknife over to the idea of lightning.
spot where he had secured the horse. Hashknife carried the rug over to the
The ground was fairly soft along the corral, where he spread it out on the
creek, and Hashknife was able to dis¬ ground. It was a very distinctive pat¬
tinguish the tracks of the shod horse. tern, and Nan was sure she had never
“Mr. Morgan must have left his horse seen it before. Just why it was in the
here while he went over to the corner of creek, none of them was able to say.
the stable,” said Rex. It was not a rug that any one would
Hashknife grunted, as he studied the discard.
tracks closely. From where they stood Hashknife’hung it over the top pole
the horse would have been invisible to of the corral to dry out, and let it there,
any one at the ranch-house. The pre¬ dripping down across the poles.
 BUZZARDS 85

“That must have been a beautiful says he don’t know any Mary Morgan.”
rug,” sighed Nan. “I have always ad¬ “Old Man Briggs is the cook at the
mired Navaho rugs, but we have always 6X6, ain’t he, Lem?” asked Hashknife.
been too poor to buy one.” “Yeah, a queer old pelican. Been with
“You can have that one,” smiled the 6X6 since these hills were holes in
Hashknife. “Probably take a lot of the ground. Don’t start any argument,
washin’ to clean it up. Lot of that silt ’cause it won’t get you anywhere with
has soaked up in it, and it’ll take time to him. I wish you luck in findin’ out any¬
get it out. Might be better to let it dry, thin’. Just thought mebbe you’d like to
and then beat it out.” know, so I dropped in. Got to get back
“What would they do to us, if they before dark.”
knew what we had done?” asked Rex Hashknife thanked him for the informa¬
anxiously. tion, and the sheriff rode on toward
“I dunno,” smiled Hashknife. “Bet¬ Canonville.
ter not tell anybody else. It would be a “It shore is worse tangled than ever
point for the prosecution, you know. It now,” said Hashknife. “I reckon the
would prove just where Peter Morgan name Morgan is just a coincidence in
was killed. It’s too bad you didn’t think this case, Rex. But just where does
to get that gun.” Briggs come in on it?”
“We were too excited to think of any¬ “Oh, I suppose we’ll never find out,”
thing, except to get the body away from sighed Rex. “But after all, what dif¬
here,” said Nan. ference does it make? It can’t affect my
“I’ll betcha. That was shore some job future in any way. Still, I’d like to know.
for you two. Now, we’ll just forget all Don’t you see the position I am in? Sup¬
that.” pose—” Rex hesitated for a moment—
“suppose I wanted to marry a girl, and
AN HOUR later, Lem Sheely rode in at she asked me about my father?”
the ranch. Nan was busy in the “Tell her he died before you was bom,”
kitchen, but the three men were on the advised Hashknife.
porch to meet him. “But that would be a lie.”
“I’ve got a little information for you,” “How do you know?”
said the sheriff, declining to dismount. “But I couldn’t prove it, Hashknife.”
“After you boys left [town, John Harper “Any girl who likes you well enough to
called me back to the bank. You see, marry you won’t make you prove when
bankers are kinda close when it comes to your father died, kid.”
talkin’ about things, and he didn’t know “But I don’t even know I had a father.”
you very well. “Well, you won’t have to prove that.
“Here’s what he told me, boys. Napo¬ Just forget that you went through life
leon Bonaparte Briggs is the one who has kinda one sided on parents. And don’t
been sendin’ money to a Mary Morgan. argue with me. I want to set down and
He has been sendin’ it for years. John think about Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs
said he never asked Nap about it, ’cause and a dirty Navaho rug.”
he figured it wasn’t his business.
“He said he wondered where Briggs S LEEPY went into the house, where he
got the money, until one day Peter Mor¬ flopped on the old couch, burying his
gan told him that Briggs had an interest nose in an old magazine, while Rex sat
in the 6X6. Now, mebbe you can find down on a comer of the porch, watching
out from Briggs what it’s all about, the changing lights on the hills, as the sun
Hashknife. Harper don’t know a thing sank lower in the west.
about it, except that Briggs kept a It was as if a painter, unsatisfied with
balance in the bank, and mostly every an effect, would swiftly blot out a streak
month he sent a check away. Harper of gold and draw in a full brush of violet,
 W. C. TUTTLE

only to change it to a deep mauve, and mile for all the coyotes in Arizona.’'
then to an opaque cobalt, striking new Hashknife took Paul Lane’s .30-30,
highlights with glowing gold. and they walked up the road, while the
Farther to the north a great flock of buzzards still circled. It was a little over
birds, like a lot of black sheets of paper a mile to where they left the road and
caught in a whirlwind, spiraled up from about a quarter of a mile from where
among the hills, always traveling in Ben Leach had been killed.
circles. Rex watched them, fascinated. From the road they went cautiously
They did not seem to flap their wings, through the brushy swale, circling the
but mounted higher and higher. Some of thickets of mesquite. Suddenly a coyote
them circled back to earth, but seemed to went streaking across the swale, almost
come back, flapping their wings, as if in invisible in the waning light. Hashknife
haste to gain altitude. stepped back, swinging up the Winches¬
“What kind of birds are those. Hash- ter, and as the animal started up the slope
knife?” asked Rex. of the hill on the opposite side of the
Hashknife glanced quickly at Rex, swale, the rifle cracked sharply and the
turned and scanned the hills. coyote gave a convulsive sidewise leap,
“Buzzards,” he said indifferently. landed in a Spanish dagger, from whence
“I tried to count them, but they weave it went yipping along through the brush,
back and forth so swiftly, and each one telling the world in coyote language what
looks like the other.” it thought of a man who would drive a
Hashknife relaxed and reached for his .30-30 bullet in front of the nose of any
cigaret papers. well meaning coyote.
“Scavengers, Rex; a big bird who smells “Led him too much,” laughed Hash¬
death, they say. But I don’t believe it, knife. “Didja see him set down in that
because I’ve fooled ’em. I’ve stretched dagger? Talk about anythin’ bein’ full
out on the desert, played dead, and had of pins and needles! I had a hunch that
them down so close I pulled feathers out some coyotes had chased them buzzards
of their tails.” from their supper.”
“Is there something dead over there,
Hashknife?”
“Undoubtedly. They’ve been having
T HEY circled another clump of mes¬
quite and found what had attracted
a feast and are pulling out before dark. the scavengers. It was what was left of
Mebbe a coyote or two came along and a sorrel horse, which was still wearing a
started an argument.” saddle and bridle. The buzzards and
“Dead cow, do you suppose?” coyotes had made a sorry mess of it, but
Hashknife squinted quizzically at the the saddle and bridle were still intact.
gyrating flock, slowly mounting higher. With his pocket knife, Hashknife cut
They were not splitting up, as a flock the latigo, and drew the saddle away from
usually does, when the feast is over; but the carcass. It was a good grade of stock
rather they were acting as if something saddle, with stamped seat and fenders.
had interrupted them. Hashknife grinned The skin of the animal had been literally
and turned to Rex. torn to shreds, obliterating the brand,
“Let’s take a rifle and go over there, but leaving enough to identify its color.
kid. It’s in a little swale off the road, and Hashknife examined the head of the
we might knock over a coyote.” animal for possible bullet holes, but found
Rex was willing. Hashknife called to none. Upon closer examination he found
Sleepy, asking him to go along. that the horse’s shoulder had been broken.
“Goin’ to ride over?” asked Sleepy. The bridle reins were tangled about the
“It’s only a little ways,” replied Hash¬ other leg, drawing the head of the animal
knife. sharply downward.
“Count me out. I wouldn’t walk a No doubt the coyotes had pulled the
 BUZZARDS 87

body about to some extent, but Hash- “Yea-a-ah? Well, I’m just a little
knife was able to read the signs fairly well. curious to know what’s in that safe, Dell.
“I reckon this was Ben Leach’s horse,” All this talk about wills has kinda made
he told Rex. “It busted its shoulder in me wonder if there is such a thing. You
some way, leavin’ it to hobble on three boys can check up everythin’ in there,
legs, until the reins got tangled in the and I won’t take anythin’.”
other front leg and threw it. Mebbe the “Well, that might be all right. As long
fall broke its neck, and mebbe it just as we put everythin’ back, Dave. I
couldn’t get up, and the coyotes fin¬ don’t want to get in bad with the law,
ished it.” you know.”
“Does it mean anything?” asked Rex. They went over to the safe and watched
“Well, it means that Walter Lane didn’t Dave Morgan insert the key. The safe
steal the horse, which is one point in his opened easily. For a moment there was
favor.” no sound, and then Spike Cahill whistled
Hashknife hung the saddle in a mes- softly.
quite thicket, and they went back home, The safe was empty! Not even a scrap
leaving the way clear for the coyotes to of paper. Dave got to his feet, looking
continue their interrupted meal. The from face to face.
buzzards had disappeared by this time. “Looks pretty clean, don’t it?” he
“If it hadn’t been for those buzzards, asked softly.
we would never have found that horse,” “It does,” admitted Dell Bowen.
said Rex. Dave walked back to the table and
“That’s true,” thoughtfully. “Some dropped the key. He did not bother to
times it’s a good plan to foller the buz¬ lock it again.
zards, kid. You never can tell what you “I don’t quite sabe that empty safe,”
might find.” said Bowen. “The boss must ’a’ cleaned
it out before he got killed.”
“You think he did, eh?” sneered
CHAPTER XIII
Morgan.
DAVE MORGAN TAKES CHARGE “Well, it shore looks thataway, Dave.”
“Yea-a-ah? Huh! I don’t sabe why
“ T T/"HAT right have you got to open that key wasn’t turned over to the sheriff.
VV the safe?” demanded Dell Bowen. Leavin’ it layin’ around—”
“This ranch ain’t never been turned over “Wait a minute,” cautioned Bowen.
to you, Dave.” “You ain’t aimin’ to put the deadwood
Dave Morgan, standing in the center on any of us, are you?”
of the 6X6 ranch-house living room, “I’m not aimin’ at anybody,” said
smiled sarcastically at Dell Bowen. With Dave angrily, “but it don’t look right for
Morgan was Ed Jones, his right hand that safe to be empty, does it?”
man. Spike Cahill and Bert Roddy were “Aw, what the hell?” snorted Spike.
standing beside a small, old fashioned iron “It’s empty, and that’s all there is to it.”
safe against the west wall of the room. “Mebbe not all,” retorted Dave.
On the table, beside Morgan, was a “Pete must have had some money.
collection of papers, some money, the mis¬ There’s very little in the bank; I found
cellaneous stuff which had been taken that out.”
from Peter Morgan’s pockets. Dave “Well, what are you goin’ to do about
Morgan had in his hand a key which he it?” demanded Dell. “It shore looks to
had taken from the table. me as though you was a little previous,
“It will be, as far as that’s concerned,” Dave.”
said Morgan. “You think so, do you, Bowen?” Dave
“Then you better wait until it is, hooked his thumbs over his cartridge belt
Dave.” and glared at the red faced cowboy who
 W. C. TUTTLE

had acted as Peter Morgan’s foreman. was a better building than the ranch-
“Lemme tell you somethin’. This house at the Flying M.
6X6 belongs to me. It’s only a matter “Got kinda salty, didn’t they?” grinned
of a few days until I move in here and Dave.
take charge.” “They alius have been,” said Ed
“Suits me,” grunted Bowen. slowly. “I was wonderin’ about Old
Dave hunched his shoulders and Man Briggs, Dave. He pulled out several
scanned the faces of the three 6X6 cow¬ days ago, and he had plenty chance to
boys. open that safe.”
“And I’ll prob’ly hire my own crew,” Dave smiled thoughtfully.
he added meaningly. “I’ll betcha you’re right, Ed. That old
“And far as I’m concerned, you can hire pelican cleaned out that safe and skipped
’em right now, Morgan; I’m through.” the country. I’ll get in touch with the
“Same here,” nodded Spike, and Bert sheriff as soon as I can, and we’ll see if
nodded in agreement . we can’t find Briggs. He’s the man.”
“You don’t need to go off half cocked,” “Another thing,” said Jones. “You’ll
said Dave quickly. have to hire some punchers, Dave. We
“As far as I’m concerned, you can go can’t run both places. What you ort to
to hell,” said Bowen coldly. “And an¬ do is to hire a crew to run the Flyin’ M,
other thing, Morgan; don’t ever make the and let us come here.”
crack that any of us unlocked that safe. Dave pondered a moment.
If you do, we’ll shore take you apart to “Might be a good idea. I dunno where
see what makes you tick.” I’d find any men right now.”
“I don’t reckon I need to make any “How about them two jiggers at the
cracks, Bowen. And as far as takin’ Lane place. Oh, I know you don’t like
me apart is concerned. I’ll be right ’em, but they look like cowmen, Dave.”
there, showin’ you what makes me “I know,” nodded Dave. “I kinda hate
tick.” to go ahead and hire a crew until this

T HE THREE cowboys headed for the

door.
thing is all settled up, but I reckon I
might as well. Tomorrow I’ll go down to
Canonville and have a talk with a lawyer.
“You might take Napoleon Bonaparte He can fix it all up for me, and in the
Briggs along with you,” said Dave. “I meantime I’ll ride down to the Lane place
reckon I can find a cook.” and have a talk with them two fellers.
“He’s gone already,” growled Spike. I don’t quite sabe what they’re doin’
“Pulled out several days ago. The night around here, and it might be a good
the tenderfoot made us back water with scheme to have ’em where we know what
an empty shotgun, Old Man Briggs they’re doin’.”
headed for Canonville.” “You don’t think they’re in here to
“Well, if you see him, you can tell him pull anythin’ crooked, do you, Dave?”
he don’t need to come back.” asked Ed.
“If he knows you’re here, it’s a cinch “Quien sabe? They’re shore backin’
he won’t want to.” the Lane family, and I might be doin’ the
It did not take the three boys long to law a favor by hirin’ ’em away from the
pack their belongings in their warbags. Lane ranch.
Dave Morgan and Ed Jones sat on the “You can stay here, Ed. Mebbe you
spacious porch of the ranch-house and better ride back to the ranch and get
watched them saddle their horses and Red to come over with you. Move your
leave the ranch. stuff over. I’ll stay at the Flyin’ M with
Dave Morgan smiled around at his Cal, until I get things fixed up. And I’ll
possessions. The 6X6 was the biggest see if I can rustle a cook for here. Then
ranch in the country. Even the stable I’ll be all set.”
 BUZZARDS

T HAT same morning Hashknife had

been doing considerable thinking
“Yea-a-ah?” Dave rubbed his chin
thoughtfully. “Well, that's funny.”
about the dead horse they had found, so He turned to Nan.
he decided to ride to Canonville and have “Mebbe your brother didn’t take Ben's
a talk with the sheriff. Nan wanted to horse, after all. That’ll be good evidence
send some clean clothes to the jail; so in his favor.”
Sleepy decided to go along. With both “I hope somet hing will be in his favor,”
of the Lanes in jail, there was nothing for she said wearily.
Nan to be worried about, as far as the 6X6 “You just leave it to Hashknife Hart¬
was concerned. Anyway, Rex would stay. ley,” said Rex. “He knows things.
After Hashknife and Sleepy went away Sleepy told me that Hashknife saw things
Rex investigated the Navaho rug and that other men overlooked.”
found it practically dry. He carried it up “Is that so? I wanted to have a talk
beside the house and proceeded to ham¬ with ’em today. I’ve taken over the
mer the dirt out of it. Armed with a 6X6, and I need some help. In fact, I’d
section of broom handle, he beat indus¬ like to get them to run the Flyin’ M for
triously, and was so engaged when Dave me, because I want to move my crew
Morgan rode up. over to the 6X6.
Rex was a bit apprehensive when he “I might be able to use you, too,” he
saw who the rider was, but Dave’s grin said to Rex. “You can learn.”
was reassuring. “Certainly, I can learn,” said Rex
“Cleanin’ house?’’ he asked, glancing smiling.
at the rug. Dave looked at Nan thoughtfully.
“Not exactly,” said Rex, wiping the “You’ve been cookin’ for these three
perspiration off his nose. “Mr. Hartley men, ain’t you?"
discovered this rug in the creek yester¬ Nan nodded.
day. I doubt that I shall ever be able to “After a fashion.”
beat the dirt out of it.” ' “Well, now here’s what I was thinkin’
“Found it in the creek, eh?” about. This place don’t need much
“Yes. Queer, isn’t it? Looks like a attention. Why don’t you all move over
good rug. It has a very distinctive pat¬ to the Flyin’ M, Miss Lane. You can
tern, don’t you think?” do the cookin’. Take what little stock
“Yea-a-ah, it has.” you’ve got over there. It’s better than
Nan came to the door and saw Dave this. Under the circumstances, there
Morgan. He smiled at her and lifted his ain’t a thing you can do here. That trial
hat. won’t come off for another month, at
“How do you do. Miss Lane?” least. Why not try a whirl at the Flyin’
Nan nodded coldly. M? At least you’ll get paid for your
“Aw, let’s be friends,” he laughed. “I work.”
don’t blame you for the way you feel. “Why, I don’t know—” faltered Nan.
No? Well, I’m sorry. Where’s Hartley “I—I don’t know what to say.”
and his pardner?” “Well, think it over. When Hartley
“Oh, they went to Canonville today,” comes back, talk it over with him. If
said Rex quickly. “We found the horse you want the jobs, you’ll probably find
and saddle which belonged to Ben Leach me at the Flyin’ M. I’m goin’ to Canon¬
last night, and I think Mr. Hartley ville tomorrow to see a lawyer, but I’ll be
wished to talk to the sheriff about it.” back late in the afternoon. Don’t hold
“Thasso? Where did you find it?” it against me for the things my cousin
Rex pointed vaguely toward the hills. done to you. I’m owner of the 6X6 now,
“Out there. It had a broken shoulder, and I don’t mind a nester.”
and the coyotes had eaten it nearly “It is nice of you to make us that offer,”
all up.” said Nan.
90 W. C. TUTTLE

“Nothin’ of the kind; I need you. Let Briggs of theft, but he intimated that the
me know what you decide to do. Well, guilt lay between Briggs and the three
I’ll see you later.” other cowboys, with most of the evidence

D AVE MORGAN tipped his sombrero

and rode away, while Rex essayed
against Briggs, because he had seemingly
left the country.
“How do you know there was anythin’
an awkward dance toward the half cleaned in the safe before Peter Morgan was
rug. He was delighted with the chance killed?” asked Hashknife.
to get a job; but Nan did not share his “I don’t know that there was, Hartley;
enthusiasm. but there should have been. Pete wasn’t
“Why, Nan, he’s all right,” said Rex. very strong for banks, and it don’t
“He’s so different than he was the last seem reasonable that the safe would be
time he was here.” empty, does it?”
“Very much different,” said Nan seri¬ “Who had charge of the key?” asked
ously. “I can’t trust men who suffer Lem.
such great changes. Hang that dirty “Anybody at the ranch. They had the
rug on the fence and get me some wood. keys, along with the other stuff they took
I’m trying to bake an apple pie for sup¬ from Pete’s pockets, in a drawer of the
per, and I need a hot oven.” table. Any of them could have swiped
Rex shouldered the rug and turned the key and looted the safe, Lem.”
toward the corral, then swung around, Lem considered the matter gravely.
facing Nan. “It’s kinda hard to accuse anybody of
“If I had a lucrative position, would theft, when you don’t know anythin’ has
you marry me?” been stolen, Dave. There’s no record of
Nan flushed slightly. what was in the safe. Old Briggs has
“That question is a whole lot like the had several days to make his getaway,
saying ‘If we had some ham we could and nobody knows which way he went.”
have some ham and eggs, if we had some “Yeah, that’s true. I suppose we might
eggs.’ ” as well forget that safe.”
“I see,” blankly. “Well, I shall get you “Best thing to do, Dave. Have you
the wood, Nan. I’m afraid I’ll never get taken over the 6X6?”
this rug cleaned. It seems to be badly “Just about. I’m goin’ to see a lawyer
stained.” now, and have him fix it up.”
“Well, hang it on the fence.” He turned to Hashknife.
“I need two good men. Hartley. The
D ave Morgan decided to go to
Canonville that day, instead of
crew at the 6X6 have quit, and I’m kinda
short handed. If you’ll take the job,
waiting until the next, and he was within I’ll put you in charge of the Flyin’ M.
a couple of miles of the town, when he I had a talk with Miss Lane and the
met the sheriff, Hashknife and Sleepy. young feller awhile ago, and I made her a
The sheriff had considered the dead horse proposition to cook for you. She's cookin’
worthy of further investigation, and they for you now; so she might as well make
were on their way to the Lane ranch. some money out of it. I can use the kid,
Dave greeted them in a friendly man¬ too. He ain’t worth much, but he’ll
ner and told them he had been at the Lane learn. What do you say?”
ranch. “I dunno,” smiled Hashknife. “Sounds
“Didja see old Briggs in Canonville?” all right. I’ll talk it over with Miss Lane
he asked Lem. and see what she thinks. We can’t step
“He ain’t there, Dave. What do you out and leave her alone, you see.”
want Briggs for?” “No, that wouldn’t be right. You talk
Dave told them of the empty safe at it over with her, and let me know. 1
the 6X6. He did not directly accuse want to move my outfit over to the 6X6
 BUZZARDS 91

as soon as I can. As far as Lane’s stock horses and came over to him. The spur
is concerned, he’s only got a few head, of the hammer had been broken off, and
and you can herd them over to my place.” one shot had been fired. It was a single
“Well, that’s nice of you, Morgan.” action gun, well oiled.
“It’ll help me out a whole lot.” Hashknife examined it closely and
smiled at Lem, as he handed him the gun.
H ASHKNIFE promised to talk it over
with Nan, and they rode on. Sleepy
“There’s the missin’ six-shooter,” he
said. “Ben Leach shot himself.”
was rather jubilant over the chance to “Shot himself? How do you—”
go to work, especially if Hashknife was to “Probably ridin’ with the gun in his
have charge of the ranch. But Hash¬ hand, Lem. The horse stumbled on this
knife had little to say about it. rocky ground, fell and broke its shoulder,
“Don’t you think he’s a little previous throwin’ Ben. See where the spur of that
about takin’ over the 6X6?” asked Hash¬ hammer hit a rock?”
knife. “You mean, the hammer hit the rock,
“Looks thataway,” replied Lem. “Still, fired the shell—and killed Ben?”
he might as well, I suppose. Now that he “Don’t it look reasonable, Lem? He
owns the Oasis, he’ll probably drink him¬ was probably ridin’ fast, and when the
self to death. Dave’s all right though. horse fell he flung the gun on the rocks.
He’s all excited over that 6X6.” The horse got up and went limpin’ off
“Probably was an awful blow to find across country, until it got the other front
the safe empty,” grinned Sleepy. foot tangled in the reins, and went down
“Sure. Just between us. I’ll bet old for keeps. You can see that the hammer
Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs did clean of the gun hit the rocks and fired that
out that safe. He just about emptied it, shell.”
and headed out of the country.” “Well, by gosh!” blurted Lem. “I can
“What about his share of the 6X6?” see it all now, Hashknife. It’s all simple,
queried Hashknife. “The banker at Mesa when you can see if. Ain’t that fate for
City mentioned it to you, didn’t he?” you?”
“Mebbe Briggs’ share was in the safe,” “It was his way lo die,” said Hash¬
chuckled Lem. “Briggs hated Dave knife thoughtfully.
Morgan, and he knew Dave would inherit “That’s right, I reckoh. Nobody ever
the 6X6; so he just took his share out of thought of it bein’ an accident. Let’s go
the safe and busted up the partnership. and find that horse. I want to take the
Anyway, it’s too bad they didn’t turn saddle back to Canonville for evidence,
that key over to me.” too. After I explain things to the prose¬
They left the main road and soon came cutin’ attorney, he’ll have to turn young
to the spot where Ben Leach had been Lane loose. Now, if we could only dis¬
killed. Hashknife had never had much of cover that Peter Morgan accidentally
that incident explained to him,, but Lem killed himself.”
pointed out where Ben had fallen, accord¬ “Mebbe he butted his head against the
ing to what the others had told him; they stable,” suggested Sleepy, as they rode
had moved the body before the sheriff up through the swale.
had had a chance to view it. “I reckon we’ll have to look further
The old road was very rocky at this than that,” smiled Hashknife.
point. Hashknife dismounted and walked They found the carcass of the horse, and
along the right side of the road, which Lem verified what Hashknife had told
was piled with broken boulders. Sud¬ him about the broken shoulder. The
denly he grunted aloud and reached down reins were still twisted around the left
among the rocks. foot of the animal. They fastened the
He had found a Colt .45 revolver. The saddle behind the saddle on Lem’s horse
two other men swung down from their and went back to the road, where Lem
92 W. C. TUTTLE

left them and went back to Canonville. Hashknife accepted the drink in order
He was anxious to get Walter Lane out to find out a few things from Spike. He
of jail. wasn’t quite certain of Spike; so he
didn’t want to rush matters.
I T WAS still early in the afternoon, and
they discovered that both of them
“What are you boys goin’ to do now?”
asked Hashknife.
were almost out of tobacco. “We don’t know,” replied Spike.
“Might as well head for Mesa City and “We got to get jobs. I think I’ll head
stock up,” said Hashknife. “We can south, down into the Juniper River coun¬
get back by supper time. Might also try. Used to punch cows down there,
pick up a few cans of groceries, ’cause I $nd I mebbe can land a winter job.”
figure Nan’s cupboard is jist about “You’ve been on the 6X6 quite a while,
cleaned out.” ain’t you?”
They found the three boys from the “Two seasons is all.”
6X6 in town, already a little more than “I’m goin’ to ask you somethin’,
half-drunk, quarreling over a dice game. Cahill,” said Hashknife confidentially.
“We’ve done quit the 6X6,” said Spike “You’ve been in the 6X6 ranch-house
Cahill,” so you don’t need to be scared quite a lot, ain’t you?”
of us. We’re plumb neutral now. Old Spike looked curiously at him, but
Dave Morgan came out and took charge nodded slowly.
today. In fact he became so full of owner¬ “Yea-a-ah, quite a lot.”
ship that we pulled out and left him flat.” “Are there any Navaho rugs on the
“That’s what he told us,” said Hash- floor?”
knife. “Mm-m-m-m. Yeah, I think there
“Yeah? I suppose he’s braggin’ about is a few.”
it. I’d jist like to bend him so bad that “Didja ever notice one that had a
every time he coughed he’d snag his lightnin’ mark—zigzag streak of white on
nose on his own spurs.” a black background?”
“What became of your cook out there?” “Lemme see.” Spike scratched his
“Old Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs? Did head thoughtfully. “I’m not awful sure
Morgan say anythin’ about him. Hart¬ about that, but it seems to me-e-e that
ley?” I’ve seen somethin’ like that. Now, I
“Somethin’ about bustin’ a safe at can’t swear to it. Mebbe Bert or Dell
the 6X6.” would remember.”
“Uh-huh.” Spike wiped his lips with
the back of his hand. “Well, I dunno. D ELL and Bert had settled their
Far be it from me to say he did or didn’t. quarrel over the dice and were
I’m no mind reader. Dave Morgan found ordering their drink, when Spike moved
the safe empty, and he kinda intimated in beside them and propounded the ques¬
that some of us had a hand in the thing. tion. They looked solemnly at Spike and
We shore called his bet—and quit. I wanted to know why he wanted to know.
don’t say I wouldn’t snag me an orejano, “This tall feller asked me,” said Spike
but I won’t rob no penny-ante safe. Let’s humbly. “I didn’t know for sure, so I
have us a drink, tall feller. How's the ask you.”
tenderfoot?” Bowen and Roddy moved over closer
“He’s all right,” laughed Hashknife. to Hashknife, prompted by curiosity.
“What’s that lunatic doin’ here, any¬ “What’s the idea?” queried Bowen.
way? Nobody knows what he came for. “I can’t tell you,” smiled Hashknife.
I thought he was a weak sister, and I “I just wanted to know, thasall.”
found m’self flat on m’ back. I could “Uh-huh. We-e-ell,” drawled Bowen,
almost be friends with a feller who can hit “I reckon there is.”
that hard. Let’s go and have that drink.” “Is it there now?”
 BUZZARDS 93

“Now, you got me guessin’, pardner. caught young Lane. We would have
I reckon it is.” lynched him sure.”
“Do you remember it, Bert?” asked “Why don’tcha go ahead and clear the
Spike. old man?” asked Bert. “You might
“No,” growled Bert. “And I’d crave prove Pete hammered himself over the
to know what a darned Injun rug has got head.”
to do with this drink I jist won off Dell.” “Aw, he couldn’t ’a’ done it,” pro¬
“You didn’t win it,” contradicted Dell. tested Spike. “He couldn’t rope himself
“You was throwin’ sixes, Bert. You had on a horse, Bert.”
four sixes agin my five sixes, on the last “Might ’a’ roped himself on first, and
horse.” left one hand loose.”
“I had five sixes and I beat you on the “You’re a bright pair,” said Bowen
throw off.” disgustedly.
“You had four. On your last throw
you saw that six on the side of the dice— D AVE MORGAN came in, nodding
pleasantly to Hashknife, but ignor¬
not the top. But whatsa use of arguin’
with a drunken cowboy? Have a drink. ing the three cowboys with him. He
Hartley?” talked for a few minutes with Jack Fair-
“I’ll have a cigar, Bowen.” weather, and they went together to the
' “You know your own limitations. rear of the saloon, where they entered a
Their cigars are a lot older than their private room.
liquor. Would you mind tellin’ me what “Morgan’s probably takin’ over this
made you ask about that rug?” place,” said Spike. “He’ll be the stud
“I can’t tell you—yet,” replied Hash- road runner of the Black Horse River
knife, examining the ancient sample of a country, I suppose.”
cigarmaker’s art, which fairly crumbled Dell wanted to shake the dice again,
between his fingers. “You don’t happen and while they were arguing over the
to know where Napoleon Briggs went, game, Morgan came from the private
do you?” room. Hashknife stepped away from the
“If I did, I wouldn’t tell,” said Bowen bar and met Morgan near the door.
quickly. “Mebbe you been talkin’ with “I ain’t had a chance to speak with
Dave Morgan.” Miss Lane about takin’ that job,” he
“Mebbe I have.” told Morgan. “I dunno how she’ll feel
Hashknife tried to light the cigar, but about it now,” and he told Morgan about
it was too porous; so he discarded it in the evidence which would release Nan’s
favor of a cigaret. brother.
“Did you boys know that Ben Leach “I heard about it,” replied Dave.
was killed accidentally?” he asked. “Lem told me about it.”
“Accidentally hell!” snorted Spike, “Oh, you met him, eh?”
while the others merely smiled their dis¬ “Yeah. Well, if she don’t want the
belief. job, I’ll rustle another cook. You and
“He shot himself accidentally,” de¬ your pardner and the kid can take the
clared Hashknife, and proceeded to de¬ jobs, can’t you?”
scribe just how it happened. “Might do that, Morgan. Anyway, I’ll
“Well, for gosh sake!” blurted Bert. talk it over with you tomorrow.”
“So that’s why we never found that gun “That’s fine. I’m takin’ over this
and horse. Can you imagine that?” place, too.”
“It sounds reasonable,” agreed Bowen. “Goin’ to run it yourself?”
“Didja work all that out yourself, Hart¬ “Ain’t decided yet. I’ll see you to¬
ley?” morrow.”
“With the aid of the buzzards.” Morgan left the saloon, and Hashknife
“I know. By golly, I’m glad we never went back to the bar, where Sleepy joined
94 W. C. TUTTLE

them in a few minutes. He had made the Rex was not exactly sure of himself
purchases and was ready to go home. in the saddle; so they did not ride fast.
The ex-6X6 cowboys wanted them to His mount was a perfectly gentle horse.
make a night of it, but Hashknife and Nan’s horse fretted and danced, fighting
Sleepy declined. against the bit; but she was a good rider
It was nearing supper time when they and handled the horse easily.
rode away from town, and it was almost Rex showed her where the stage broke
dark when they arrived at the ranch. down the day he came into the country,
There were no lights in the ranch-house, and they laughed over the things that
no sign of any one about the place. When had happened to him during his short
they stabled their horses they discovered stay in the cattle country.
that the two extra saddle horses and “Do you really believe I will ever be a
riding rigs were missing. cowboy?” he asked, as they started up
“Betcha Nan and Rex went for a ride,” the crooked grades of Coyote Canon. .
said Sleepy, as they headed for the ranch- “Do you want to be, Rex?”
house. “I don’t know, Nan. When I look at
There was no one in the house. The Hashknife Hartley, I do. But when I
two cowboys lighted a lamp in the look at some of the other cowboys, I’m
kitchen, and on the table they found a not sure.”
penciled note: “He’s different,” she admitted. *
“Yes, he is, Nan. Sometimes I wonder
If we miss meeting you, this note will tell
what I am doing here. I don’t belong
you that we decided to ride to Canonville.
May be back tonight. Don’t worry. here, and no one realizes it more than I
—Nan and Rex. do. If I had what Hashknife calls horse
P. S. There’s an apple pie in the oven. sense, I would—oh, I don’t know. I’d
like to go somewhere and make a lot of
“Well, that explains it,” said Sleepy, money, and—and then come back here
visibly relieved. and get you.”
“Uh-huh,” grunted Hashknife. “I sup¬ “And get me?” smiled Nan. “What an
pose she wanted to see her folks.” ambition!”
“Can’t blame her for that, cowboy.” “Don’t laugh at me, Nan; I’m serious.
“No, I reckon you can’t. That afl|>le Ever since that morning, when I awoke
pie in the oven sounds good to me.” and saw you looking out through the
window, I’ve had just that ambition.”
“It will be dark before we reach Canon¬
CHAPTER XIV
ville,” said Nan, turning in her saddle
IN COYOTE CASON and looking at the fading sunset.

N AN’S decision to go to Canonville

was rather sudden. She wanted to
“You always change the subject, Nan.”
“I suppose I do, Rex. Why not?”
“Well, I can have ambitions, can’t I?”
see her father and ask him what he “I suppose so, Rex. I guess I haven’t
thought of her accepting that job at any. We have moved from pillar to post
Morgan’s ranch. Rex was of the opinion ever since I can remember, and we hav e
that she should wait until Hashknife and never stayed any one place long enough
Sleepy came back, but Nan was rather to have any ambition. Dad has always
impulsive. been restless. I’ll bet I have gone to
Together they saddled the horses. Nan more schools in this State than any other
wrote the note and left it on the kitchen person. We’d stay a few months in a
table, where she knew they would find it. place, and then dad would hear of another
“We’ll probably meet Hashknife and range. Then it was a case of pack up and
Sleepy between here and Canonville,” move on. This time he promised me that
said Nan, “and they’ll ride back with us.” we would stay.”
 BUZZARDS

“Hashknife and Sleepy always keep was getting up. His face was skinned
moving,” said Rex. “They have actu¬ and bleeding, and he was still dazed from
ally killed men, Nan. I don’t know how the fall. *
many. I asked Sleepy how many men Another bullet whistled past his ear,
Hashknife had killed, and he said that he and he jerked his head back quickly, as
didn’t know, because they had lost the if trying to dodge it. Nan grasped him
complete list. It must have been a great by the arm, and they both slid over the
many.” edge of the grade, while the fourth bullet
Nan smiled sidewise at Rex, whose ex¬ blinded them with a spray of dust and
pression was serious. She knew cowboys gravel from the roadbed.
and their well stretched yams. To get below the road level was their
“I asked him why it was they never got only chance—and a poor chance! The
hung,” said Rex seriously, “and he said gravel was loose, sliding. Nan tried to
it was because nobody had ever found grasp a bush at the edge of the grade, but
any of their victims.” it slipped from her hand. They were
“I should guess not,” laughed Nan. going down the steep slope, unable to
check themselves in any way.
F AR AHEAD of them stretched the Rex was over his daze now, and realized
what was happening. He had turned,
grades, winding around the rim of the
canon. They could look down on the facing the hill, and dropped to his knees,
precipitous sides of the canon, where a few trying to cling to Nan. They were not
pinon and junipers clung to the sides of sliding fast yet. Nan turned a white face
the slope. Farther down, the tops of toward him, clutching at the sliding gravel
larger trees blended with the purple of with her hands.
the depths. “Turn around!” she said hoarsely.
The opposite side of the canon seemed “Sit down and slide!”
to be a sheer, rocky wall, as far as they He obeyed quickly. They were going
could see in both directions. Coyote faster each moment. Just below them
Canon was not an inviting place. Nan was a small thicket of pinon pines, and
had heard her father say that at some unless their speed increased, there might
remote time an enormous quantity of be a chance to slide into that thicket of
water had rushed through that canon, small trees.
tearing out great holes in the canon bed. Another bullet snapped past them, and
It was a sanctuary for the lion and wild¬ the tip of a pinon was severed. Rex
cat, where men had never made a trail. glanced back, trying to see the grade, but
The short twilight of /the Southwest the angle was too abrupt. He could see
lasts but a few minutes ifter sundown. the trail, where the sifting gravel was fol¬
As they rounded a point on the high lowing them. Then a branch lashed him
grades, Rex was riding on the outside across the face, a pinon trunk sent him
when, without any warning, his horse spinning sidewise, and he was through the
plunged headlong to the ground, almost thicket. His eyes were filled with sand
off the edge of the grade. and tears, but he saw Nan a short dis¬
Nan’s horse whirled and reared, as the tance behind him. She had a pinon limb
hills echoed from the crashing report of in her hands.
a rifle. Without hardly knowing what Up to this point the sliding had not
she was doing. Nan dismounted and ran been painful. Instead of their sliding
to Rex. He was trying to sit up, looking over the loose gravel, it seemed to go
dazedly around. along with them. There was no more
Zawee-e-e-e! Another bullet struck the shooting now. Rex managed to slow up
ground beside Nan and went screaming sufficiently to half stand, and then to
off across the canon, while the cliffs run sidewise across the slope to where he
echoed back the report of the shot. Rex could reach Nan. Her hands were tom
 W. C. TUTTLE

by the pinon branches, and there was a they dug deeply into it, impeding their
welt across her cheek. She was slightly progress to such an extent that they were
dazed and hardly realized that their slide able to stand up, braced against the hill
was over for a moment. and work their way down.
“What happened?” she asked foolishly. Rex clung tightly to Nan. At times
“I don’t know,” said Rex, clinging with they would slip and slide for several feet,
toes and hands to the loose surface, in but always they were able to keep from
order to look back up the slope. pitching headlong. The slide was about

T HEY had managed to stop at the

edge of a sheer place. Something
two hundred yards long, and they came
out in a heavy thicket of fir and small
pines, still a long way from the bottom
was coming down the hill toward them. of the canon.
Rex saw it tear through the little thicket It was almost dark down there. They
above them, fairly knocking down the looked back up the slope and wondered
trees. It was going to pass them at about how they ever came down alive. Above
twenty feet, and as it came down past them the sky seemed very blue, but as
them, in a cloud of dust and sand, they they sat on a rock and took stock of their
saw it shoot over the edge just below injuries the blue sky faded out and a
them and go hurtling off into space. lone star winked down at them.
“That is my huh-horse!” blurted Rex. Both of them were badly bruised and
Nan nodded, her lips shut tight. their clothes torn, but luckily no bones
“How do you suppose it got off the were broken. They were covered with
road. Nan?” dust and sand and altogether miserable.
“The man who shot at us,” said Nan, “I think there is water in the bottom
choking back her tears. “He shoved it of the canon,” said Nan painfully. “We
off the grade. Oh, what are we going to must get to water, Rex.”
do? We can’t get back, Rex.” “Yes,” dully. “I am numb all over.
“And we can’t stay here, Nan. This Nan. I don’t feel a bit good.”
stuff is sliding all the time. That horse “Have you any matches, Rex?”
went over a precipice. If we could only He felt carefully through his pockets.
get around to that other slope.” Rex did not smoke, but due to the fact
“Maybe we can.” that Sleepy was always out of matches
Off to the left, about a hundred feet he had been carrying a goodly supply.
away, was another slope, which seemed to “Yes, I have some. Nan.”
lead around and down past the sheer “Good! At least we can keep varmints
cliffs. It was their only hope. The away from us.”
ground was slowly moving with them. “What is a varmint, Nan?”
They got to their feet and began fight¬ “Oh—mountain lions and things like
ing their way toward this slope, climbing that.”
upward, trying to keep away from the “Down here? And we have no gun.”
abrupt drop into the canon. It was a “Perhaps it is lucky we haven’t. I’m
terrific effort. It was like running on a not much good with a gun, and if you
treadmill. had one I’d be afraid you might shoot
With another ten feet to go, Nan would me.”
never have made it. She fell to her knees, “I suppose that is true, Nan. But do
heading down the slope, but Rex still had you mean that we are going to spend the
strength enough to grasp her by the night down here?”
shoulders and swing her around. They “Unless you know of a way out. I
both went over the edge of the steep slope. don’t. I doubt if there is a man in this
The dry dust and sand filled their eyes country who could get out of here at night.
and mouths to the point of suffocation, We’ll just have to make the best of it and
but luckily the rubble was so soft that be thankful we are alive. Tomorrow, if a
 BUZZARDS 97

lion don’t claw us, or a rattler bite us, other had heard it. Nan shook her head;
we may find a way out.” she could not speak.
“You are joking, Nan.” Slowly Rex got to his feet, knees trem¬
“I’d like to agree w’ith you, Rex. bling, his hand on Nan’s shoulder.
Come on.” “My God!” he breathed chokingly.

T RAVELING over the rocks in the

half light was difficult, but they
Just across the fire from them, as if
appearing from nowhere, stood a man, the
firelight glistening on his face. He wore
reached the bottom of the canon with no hat, and his face was gobby with dirt,
a few extra bruises. There were huge, swollen, contorted. He was wearing a
whitened boulders in the dry bed of the coat, one sleeve of which had been torn
old stream, relics of a day when much away, along with the sleeve of his shirt,
water had poured down through Coyote which had once been white, but was now
Canon. From the side of the bank stained and dirty.
trickled a tiny stream of cold water, and He was looking at them in a stony sort
they drank heavily, then built a fire. of way, hunched forward, one hand
It was cold down there, and a wind thrown up, as if to ward away the heat,
moaned through the tops of the trees. and in the other hand was a heavy Colt
There was plenty of wood, and they soon revolver, cocked.
had a fire burning in the lee of a big
polished boulder. Beyond the illumina¬
CHAPTER XV
tion of the fire was blackness and the
moaning wind. A stone rolled down the hashknife’s telegram hunch
slope and crashed through the brush,
bringing them both to their feet in a
sudden panic.
H ASHKNIFE and Sleepy did not
hurry their supper, and it was after
Rex piled more wood on the fire and dark before they began eating. Hash-
they stood together, trying to pierce the knife was rather thoughtful, and Sleepy
darkness. noticed him staring at the table top
“I—I guess it—it wasn’t anything,” several times.
faltered Rex. “You ain’t worryin’ about the two
Nan sat down against the boulder, try¬ kids, are you?” he asked.
ing to calm her nerves, while Rex hunched “Not exactly worryin’ Sleepy, but I
down beside her, poking at the fire with wish they had waited until we got back.”
a stick, his ears timed for the slightest “Well, my gosh, there ain’t nothin’
sound. goin’ to hurt ’em.”
“I have been wondering who shot at “I hope not. Better cut that pie.”
us,” he said nervously. “Do you sup¬ Sleepy took it from the oven and cut
pose they would follow us down here, two generous slices, which soon disap¬
Nan?” peared. But even the apple pie did not
“Not down here,” she replied. “No¬ serve to raise Hashknife’s spirits, and
body would ever come down here volun¬ Sleepy laughed at him.
tarily.” “You look like them pictures of Abe
“I suppose not. I know I—” Lincoln, when you get that serious ex¬
But Rex did not finish. From out in pression,” grinned Sleepy. “All you
the blackness came the sound of a mirth-; need is some whiskers and a plug hat.”
less laugh, a devilish chuckle, which Sleepy slid down in his chair and began
caused them to shrink back against the rolling a cigaret. He was just running his
boulder, staring wide into space. tongue along the edge of the paper, when
It was not repeated. After a space of something hit him squarely in the face,
perhaps twenty seconds they looked at knocking him over backwards, and he
each other, as if wondering whether the heard the clatter of glass.lthe thud of a shot.
 W. C. TUTTLE

Hashknife flung himself away from the S LEEPY got a basin of cold water and
table, going backwards in his chair, but began treating his eyes, while Hash¬
landed on his hands and knees. His knife went outside. He was back in less
cheek was slightly cut by flying glass from than five minutes, and with what little
the window, but he did not know it. He vision Sleepy had left he could see that
sprang to his feet, swept up the rifle that Hashknife was greatly perturbed.
stood in the corner and ran through the “What do you know?” he asked.
living room. “There’s hell to pay, Sleepy. I took a
Without hesitation he flung the door shot at what I thought was the bush¬
open and sprang off the porch. Just out whacker on a horse, and I killed one of
beyond the corral was a horse, going away Lane’s saddle horses—the one Nan said
at a sharp trot, and Hashknife thought she used. It has got her saddle on it.”
he saw a rider on it. He threw up the “What do you make of that, Hash¬
Winchester and fired twice. The flash knife?”
of the gun blinded him for a moment, and “Somethin’ has happened to ’em.”
he was unable to see what had happened, “Mebbe she got throwed. Say, who
but he could hear the horse no longer. do you suppose took that shot at us?”
He ran back in to the house, flinging “I wish I knew. They almost got you,
the rifle aside. Sleepy was still on his pardner.”
back, his feet sticking up over the over¬ “They shore condensed me for a mo¬
turned chair, apparently unconscious. ment,” grinned Sleepy.
As quickly as he was able, Hashknife His eyes were swollen almost shut.
dragged him out of line with the broken “Well, this ain’t gettin’ us nowhere.
window and made an examination. His Sleepy. You take care of the ranch; I’m
face was covered with a sticky liquid, and headin’ for Canonville.”
both of his eyes were rapidly turning “Why don’t we both go?”
black. He grunted and sat up. “Try and see yourself in the glass,”
“What in hell hit me?” he demanded. retorted Hashknife, picking up his hat.
“Looks to me as though it was the “You stay here, cowboy. If anybody
condensed milk,” said Hashknife thank¬ comes foolin’ around here, use that shot¬
fully. gun on ’em. I’ll be back as soon as I can
“Exploded?” find out somethin’. I may meet ’em on
“Yeah—from a bullet.” the road.”
“Bullet?” But Hashknife did not meet anybody
“Somebody tried to spot us through the on the road. He forced the tall gray over
window, Sleepy.” the Coyote Canon road as fast as he
Sleepy got to his feet, wiping the milk dared in the dark, but he had the road all
off his face, while Hashknife investigated. to himself. He tried to believe that every¬
The bullet had smashed through the thing was all right with Nan and Rex, but
window and riccocheted on the table top, down in his heart he knew something had
driving the can of condensed milk into gone wrong.
Sleepy’s face, and had struck the opposite
wall.
“Look at m’ eyes!” wailed Sleepy,
I T WAS late when Hashknife drew up
at the sheriff’s office in Canonville.
touching them tenderly with his fingers. He knew that Len slept in his office, and
“Can’t hardly see, damn it!” he had little trouble in arousing him.
“You’re lucky, cowboy. A few inches “Hello, you old son of a gun,” greeted
higher and you’d be an angel instead of a Lem sleepily. “Come on in. Wait’ll I
milkmaid.” light the lamp. What brings you here
“Well, who in hell fired the shot?” this time of the night?”
“I’d like to know. You stay here and “Has Nan Lane and Rex Morgan been
I’ll see what I can find.” here this evenin’?”
 BUZZARDS

“No-o-o, I ain’t seen nothin’ of ’em, have seen ’em, Lem. They must have
Hashknife.” come here behind you; otherwise we
“Well, they started for here, accordin’ would have met ’em on the road between
to a note they left for us. After we left here and the ranch.”
you, we went to Mesa City, Lem. They “That’s right.”
must have started out between the time Lem buckled on his belt, picked up his
you left us and the time we got back to rifle and led the way to the stable, where
the ranch. And while we was eatin’ sup¬ he saddled his horse.
per, somebody shot through the kitchen “What do you make of young Morgan,
window and almost got Sleepy. The Hashknife?”
bullet lifted a can of milk and slammed “Good kid.”
Sleepy between the eyes with it. I ran “Iggerant as hell, ain’t he?”
outside and I thought I seen a man goin’ “From our point of view, Lem.”
away; so I shot twice at the object, which “Uh-huh. I hope he ain’t to blame for
turned out to be Nan Lane’s saddle horse, them disappearin’.”
still wearin’ her saddle. I killed it too “Pshaw!” exploded Hashknife. “He’s
dead to kick. Now, what do you make of square as a dollar, Lem. Why, he’s
that, Lem?” civilized.”
“Well, fr heaven’s sake! Lemme “That’s the hell of it! If he was our
think. Somebody shot through your kind, we’d know what to expect. Well,
window? That’s bein’ tough, ain’t it? let’s hit the high spots, compadre.”
And was it the horse Nan rode today?” “Speed won’t get us nowhere, Lem.”
“There was only two horses in the “All right; you lead. I’m the best
stable, Lem.” little follower you ever saw.”
“What do you know? Huh! Well—”
Lem picked up his pants and began
dressing, his fat face very serious—“I
T HEY rode away from the stable, just
as a passenger train roared through
reckon it’s up to us to find out somethin’, the town. They were obliged to wait
Hashknife. Where could they go? Looks until the train had gone past, before
ridiculous, don’t it? Who’d want to crossing the tracks. Suddenly Hashknife
harm Nan Lane? Say, I took that evi¬ got an idea.
dence up with the prosecutor. He says “Do you know the depot agent very
he’ll release young Lane as soon as he well, Lem?” he asked.
has a talk with the judge. What did “Shore. Knowed him for a year or so.”
Nan think about it?” “Let’s go over and see him.”
“We never got a chance to tell her.” They tied their horses behind the depot
“Tha-a-at’s right. What had we ort to and went around to the little waiting-
do first? Can’t find a thing in the dark. room. The agent was busy with his tele¬
Mebbe we better ride to Mesa City and graph instrument, but he finally turned in
see what we can see, eh? There ain’t no his chair and nodded to Lem.
chance for them two folks to get off the “Hyah, sheriff. What’s on your mind?”
main road between here and the Lane “Shake hands with Mr. Hartley, Jim.
ranch. Are you shore they didn’t say Hashknife, this is Jim Horton.”
Mesa City instead of Canonville?” They shook hands.
“They wrote Canonville, Lem.” “You tell him what you want, Hash¬
“Well, if they got here, I never did see knife,” said Lem.
’em. I might inquire around a little.” “I dunno whether you can help me or
“I don’t think that would do any good. not, Horton. In case a telegram comes
They’d come here.” for anybody in Mesa City, how do you
“I could ask Joe Cave. He’s livin’ at handle it?”
the hotel.” “Mail it to ’em right away.”
“But you’ve been here long enough to “Do you keep any record of telegrams?”
100 W. C. TUTTLE

“Oh, sure, we keep a copy. Of course, that we ever heard about. The telegram
we never let anybody—” says that his son was headed this way.”
“If it was orders from the sheriff’s “Did he ever get here, sheriff?”
office?” Lem scratched his head foolishly.
Horton grinned. “Well, we dunno yet, Jim. Don’t tell
“Well, that’s different, of course.” (anybody about it.”
"In the last few weeks have you had i “Is that all I can do for you, gents?”
any telegrams for Peter Morgan?” asked Horton.
“The big cowman who got murdered? “Yeah, that’s all, I reckon. Thank
Mebbe I did. It seems to me I sent one— you, Horton.”
lemme see.” “You’re welcome.”
He lifted a bulky book to the counter They walked out of the depot and
and opened it. The leaves were of yellow mounted their horses.
tissue, bearing the imprint of telegrams “Well, just keep this information under
written in copying ink. Swiftly the agent our hat, Lem,” said Hashknife, as they
went through the recent imprints. Not rode away.
many telegrams came to Canonville. “Oh, shore. I may not be worth a
“There’s one,” he said, pointing at it, damn to find out anythin’, but I can keep
as he swung the book around for them to still about it when somebody else tells
read. me about it.”
Hashknife leaned in close and read:

CHAPTER XVI
MBS MOBGAN PASSED AWAY SUD¬
DENLY AND WAS BUBIED LAST SUNDAY NAPOLEON BONAPABTE BBIGGS
STOP TEACED SON TO DEPOT WHEBE
HE PURCHASED TICKET TO CANON¬ t'OR WHAT seemed hours Nan and
VILLE —J E BLAIR A Rex stared across the fire at the man.
It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but
Lem lifted his head and stared at they did not know him. His closest
Hashknife, who was smiling, as he copied friends would have had had difficulty in
the telegram on the back of an envelope. recognizing him now. His head seemed
“What in hell does that mean?” de¬ to have been battered until it was out of
manded Lem anxiously. shape. His forehead was swollen over
“Looks as though young Morgan was his eyes, giving him almost the appear¬
Peter’s son, don’t it?” ance of a gorilla, and on one side of his
“By golly, it shore does, Hashknife! head the scalp had been tom loose, dis¬
What made you think to come here and closing an ugly wound.
look for a telegram?” His eyes glittered brightly in the fire¬
“A hunch.” light, as he swayed on his feet, moving
“I’ll be darned. Hunch, eh? Wish I his head slowly, shifting his eyes from
had hunches.” Nan to Rex, as if trying to make up his
“What is it all about?” asked Horton mind just what to do. Rex and Nan
wonderingly. seemed incapable of speech. Neither of
“Didn’t you do any wonderin’ when them had known Briggs. Suddenly his
you got that telegram?” asked Lem. lips parted and he laughed insanely,
“I guess I didn’t. You see, I don’t disclosing two broken front teeth. Rex
know anything about Morgan.” started to step forward, but the gun
“You didn’t know he was a bachelor?” muzzle shifted toward him quickly.
“No. I’ve heard of him, but I never “What ’r’ you doin’ here?” he asked
knew he didn’t have a family; so the tele¬ gutturally.
gram didn’t mean anything to me.” “Somebody shot my horse,” said Rex
"Well, he never had any wife or a son weakly.
 BUZZARDS 101

“What V you doin’ here?” he re¬ “I won’t move,” promised Rex.

peated, as if he had not heard Rex. “Don’t move. I’ll come back for you.
“Keep back! I’ll kill you. I own this If you go away, I’ll find you. You can't
place, and I don’t allow nobody here.” get away.”
“We’ll go away,” said Nan quickly, He grasped Nan by the shoulder and
getting to her feet. shoved her ahead of him out into the
“Woman, eh?” blackness of the canon. Rex dropped on
He laughed foolishly. his knees beside the fire, piling on more
“Woman came on my place. Woman wood. His brain was in a whirl. This
and horse meat. Don’t move. Woman, crazy man was taking Nan away, and he
horse meat and them damn buzzards. was letting her go.
What ’r’ you doin’ here, I asked you?” In an access of fury at himself Rex
There was no question that the man flung a stick into the fire, sending up a
was insane, dangerously insane. The shower of sparks and for the first time in
fire was dying out now. Unconscious of his life he cursed openly, bitterly. From
the danger, Rex reached down to pick up far up the canon came the leering laughter
a piece of wood, and a bullet smashed the of the crazy Briggs.
dirt beneath his knuckles. The report of Then something snapped in the brain
the heavy cartridge echoed back from the of the young man at the fire, and he ran
cliffs, and Rex almost fell over backward. headlong up the canon, bruising himself
“I tell you I’ll kill you,” declared against boulders, whipped across the face
Briggs. “I own this place, and I don’t with branches, falling and swearing at
’low nobody here.” times.
“Will you let us go away?” asked Nan, He had lost all sense of reason. After
hardly speaking above a whisper. a fall he had picked up a club, and now
“No! You’d tell somebody where I am. he went sneaking along, alert to every
You can’t go.” sound, gripping the club in his right hand,
“We wouldn’t tell,” croaked Rex his left hand extended ahead of him, feel¬
pleadingly. ing out into the darkness.
“You’re a liar! You can’t go. I run
this place. Don’t you try to pick up
anythin’.”
G ONE was all fear of the darkness, of
wild animals. Rex Morgan had re¬
“Where do you live?” asked Nan. verted to the primitive. Another cave¬
She wanted to change the subject, to man had stolen his woman, and he was
get his mind away from killing some one. going to get her. On and on he went,
“Never mind where I live. You’ll find climbing boulders, stumbling over ex¬
out soon enough. That’s what they all posed roots, until he came to a spot where
want to know. Everybody asks me he could go no further.
where I live, but I don’t tell. C’mon.” In the darkness he discovered that he
He backed away from the fire, keeping was at the bottom of what had been an
them covered with the gun. ancient waterfall. There were high banks
Away from the firelight the darkness all around him, but he found a way out.
was intense. It was a sort of trail up the left bank,
“No!” he grunted. “The woman goes twisting between giant boulders.
first.” He reached what seemed to be the
Even through his twisted brain was a |canon level again and sank back on his
strain of intelligent cunning, he realized haunches to listen. Then he heard voices.
that he could not control both of them in They were very indistinct, and he strained
the darkness. He moved back closer to his ears. The wind whined among the
Rex, peering at him closely. boulders, drowning out the sound, but he
“You stay here,” he ordered. “You thought he had located it.
move and I’ll kill you.” Gripping his club tightly, he began
102 W. C. TUTTLE

working up the slope to the left, under

the towering cliffs. It was slow work,
R EX KNEW just where Briggs would
- pass in entering the cave; so he
this climbing in the darkness. He slipped climbed upon a slab of sandstone, several
and sprawled full length on a sloping feet higher than the level of a man’s
rock, losing his club, but got back to his head, and stretched out flat. He was
knees and kept going up over the ledges. in the deep shadow, but by lifting his
Then he saw the flicker of a fire, the n head he could see the fire in the cave
scent of burning meat. Pulling himself where Nan still huddled. He turned his
up to the rim of the rock he looked into a head and peered over the outer rim of the
cave. In reality he was in the cave him¬ rock. Something was moving down there;
self, as the ledge above him projected he could see its dark outline.
twenty feet farther out over the canon. It came closer, and he decided that it
Nan was huddled on the floor near the was the crazy man, sneaking back to the
fire, while Briggs towered over her, bulk¬ cave. Perhaps, thought Rex, he knows I
ing huge in the firelight. Their shadows am here, and is trying to surprise me.
were huge, goblinlike things against the Inching carefully forward, he swung up
wall of the cave. In the fire sizzled a his arm and sent the heavy stone crashing
huge hunk of raw meat, which was send¬ downward, where it thudded against some
ing off a strong odor. yielding object.
Briggs was talking to Nan, but Rex Came a spitting snarl, the rasp of
could not hear what was said. Finally claws on sandstone, and the object van¬
Briggs left her and came shambling past ished down the canon. Rex realized
where Rex crouched on the rock and dis¬ instantly that he had hit an animal
appeared in the darkness. Rex slid off instead of a man, because that snarl
the rock and crossed the entrance of the never came from a human throat. The
cave to the fire, and Nan looked up at animal was a mountain lion.
him wonderingly. But now Rex was without a weapon of
“How did you get here?” she asked. any kind. He slid off the sandstone shelf
Rex brushed a hand across his eyes and and went back toward the firelight, try¬
stared back at the entrance, seeking an ing to pick up another stone. The lion
answer to her question. had probably been attracted by the
“I—I just came,” he said, and squatted smell of the meat and was stalking the
down beside the fire. cave.
“He has gone after you, Rex.” Rex secured another stone and turned
“I suppose.” back toward the shelf. He heard the
“He’ll come back.” man coming back, talking to himself.
Rex stared at her dully. It was too late for Rex to regain the
“Very likely,” he said. shelf, so he darted in beside a small ledge,
“Don’t you realize what it means, Rex? crouching as low as possible.
The man is crazy. He says he will kill He heard the scuff of leather soles on
you, because he don’t want you here.” the rock, as Briggs came cautiously.
“That meat is burning, isn’t it?” Then he saw the huge bulk of the man
“He said it was horse meat. But don’t pass him, going slowly, evidently peering
you understand, Rex? That man will into the cave, trying to see if everything
come back and kill you.” was all right.
“No, he won’t.” Rex straightened up, drew back his
Rex got to his feet and picked up a arm and flung the stone. But it slipped
stone about the size of a baseball, swing¬ from his hand and crashed against the
ing it in his hand to test the weight. wall, far to the right of its victim, and
“I’m going to kill him first,” he said Briggs whirled quickly, grunting with
flatly, and went back toward the opening astonishment.
of the cave. But Rex did not wait to see whether he
 BUZZARDS

missed. As he flung the stone, he also

flung himself forward, locking both arms
B RIGGS did not hurry. Perhaps he
realized that Rex could not escape
around Briggs, and his rush carried him, and was playing with him. Nan
enough weight to send Briggs to his uttered no sound, as the two men came
knees against the sandstone wall of the into the firelight. Rex’s shirt had been
cave. almost tom from his body and one cheek
The heavy revolver went spinning was bleeding from a rasping contact with
across the stony floor, and the two men the wall of the cave.
surged to their feet, only to crash down Rex glanced behind him. He could not
again, fighting with tooth and nail, but go much farther. He tried to edge to the
silently. left, but Briggs blocked him. It was only
Although Briggs was past middle age, a matter of moments before he would be
he was as strong as any man in the coun¬ caught. Suddenly he remembered the
try, and his strength, added to his insane gun.
fury, would have made him a match for “Nan—the gun!” he panted. “Near
a professional wrestler. Rex was not par¬ the entrance—he dropped it, Nan!”
ticularly strong, but he was fighting for Briggs shifted his eyes to Nan. He
his life and for the life of Nan Lane, and was close enough to stop her if she started.
he clung to Briggs like a burr. But as he shifted his eyes Rex sprang to
He had his left arm around Brigg’s the side of the cave, trying to get past
neck, his right locked beneath Brigg’s Briggs.
right armpit, the while his knees dug He was not successful. As quick as a
into the small of Brigg’s back. Briggs flash Briggs reached out and caught part
managed to get hold of Rex’s left ankle of Rex’s tom sleeve. Rex tried to back
with his left hand, but Rex promptly away, but the cave wall was too close.
locked his other leg around Brigg’s waist, Briggs was slightly crouched, and as he
spurring him in the stomach. yanked Rex toward him, the young man
Rex’s grip around Brigg’s neck was struck with every ounce of his body in a
shutting off his wind; so he let loose of the sweeping uppercut, which caught Briggs
ankle, using both hands to tear Rex’s arm flush on the point of the chin.
away from his throat. Briggs’ head snapped back, his heel
It gave Rex a chance to release the caught on a stone, and he fell flat on his
right arm, but before he could do any¬ back, his head fairly bouncing on the
thing, Briggs had caught his left wrist sandstone floor.
with his left hand, reached back with his Rex fell to his knees from the force of
right, grasping Rex’s shoulder, and flung his blow, his right arm and hand paralyzed
him ten feet away. for the moment, but he got to his feet and
Rex landed on one knee, his left arm staggered out to the entrance, where he
numb to the shoulder. For several mo¬ found the gun. Nan was sitting against
ments Briggs stood there, trying to get the wall, crying, as he came back, and he
his balance. Perhaps his disordered brain looked at her curiously. Briggs had not
caused him to forget what was happening moved.
for a moment. Rex picked up some scattered wood
Rex had. got back to his feet now and threw it on the fire.
and was silhouetted against the light I “This is a better place than we were,
from the fire. Nan,” he said calmly. “At least we have
Nan had heard the scuffle and was try¬ a roof over our heads.”
ing to see what it meant. Then Briggs She took her hands from her face and
laughed harshly and started toward Rex, stared at him. It was such a ridiculous
who began backing toward the fire. He thing to say after what had happened.
did not care to get caught again in those “Rex, are you all right?” she whispered.
viselike hands. He looked at her and grinned.
104 W. C. TUTTLE

“You’re damn’ right! Isn’t that what CHAPTER XVn

Hashknife would say?”
“Oh, I’m glad, Rex. I don’t know A DRUNKEN DEPUTY
what to say. It is all like an awful
dream. I thought you had lost your I T WAS well after midnight when
mind, too.” Hashknife and the sheriff reached
“Me?” Rex blinked some of the blood Mesa City. The town was in darkness,
out of his eye. “Perhaps I did, Nan. I except the Oasis Saloon, where they found
don’t remember much about it. But I only Dave Morgan and Jack Fair-
was sane enough to realize that he would weather, discussing business, while the
kill me. I guess I missed him, with bartender rested his elbows on the bar,
the stone. I wonder whether I killed as he perused a dog eared book.
him.” Morgan welcomed the newcomers
Cautiously he examined Briggs. The heartily.
man’s heart was beating, but he was un¬ “C’mon and have a drink. You fellers
conscious. The blow on the jaw and the ridin’ kinda late, ain’t you?”
drop to the stone had given him a double “Kinda,” admitted Lem, as they lined
knockout. up at the bar. “What’s new, Dave?”
“He’s not dead, Nan. I’m glad of “Nothin’ much. I’m takin’ over this
that.” saloon, Lem.”
“But what will we do when he wakes “Yea-a-ah? Oh, shore. You goin’ to
up, Rex?” stay here, Jack?”
“That depends on him entirely. If he Fairweather shook his head slowly.
still persists in trying to be boss of this “You goin’ to run this place yourself,
place, I shall shoot him with his own Dave?”
gun.” “I don’t hardly think so, Lem. May
“Let me see that gun, Rex.” sell it after while.”
He handed it to her and she looked it “Where’s the boys from the 6X6?”
over carefully. asked Hashknife?
“Every cartridge has been fired,” she “Gone to bed, I reckon. Got pretty
said wonderingly. well loaded, all of ’em.”
“You mean it is of no value?” “You boys just rode in from Cafion-
“Not unless he has more cartridges in ville?” asked Fairweather.
his pockets.” Lem nodded, lifting his glass.
Briggs was wearing no belt, and a “Here’s how, gents.”
search of his pockets failed to show any They drank together.
ammunition. “You goin’ to the ranch with me, Lem?”
“Give me the gun,” said Rex. “I can asked Hashknife.
bluff with it.” “I think I’ll stay here, Hashknife. I’ll
“But he must know it is empty, Rex.” get a room at the hotel and be out to
“If he did, why was he carrying it? your place early.”
You try and get a little sleep, Nan; I’ll “All right.”
watch him. If he wasn’t born in this Hashknife went back to his horse,
canon, there must be a way out, and we’ll mounted and headed for the ranch, while
find it. That meat don’t make a very the three men at the bar had another
pleasant odor, does it.” drink.
“He was cooking it for me,” said Nan. “You ain’t takin’ an after midnight
“He said it was horse meat. He picked ride just for your health, are you, Lem?”
it up off the dirty floor and threw it on the queried Morgan.
fire—for my supper,’ The sheriff rolled a cigaret, shaping it
“He may be hungry when he wakes carefully, before replying:
up,” grinned Rex. “Nan Lane and that young tenderfoot
 BUZZARDS 105

started for Canonville late this afternoon, “He’s crazy,” laughed Dave. “Any¬
and they never arrived.” way, he’d have a hard time provin’ any¬
“Never arrived? What do you mean, thin’. His mother’s dead and Pete’s
Lem?” dead, and how in hell could he prove
“Never arrived, thasall. Her horse anythin’? Let’s have another drink.”
came back to Lane’s ranch, and Hash- “I guess you’ve right, Dave. No,
knife killed it.” thanks, I’ve had enough. Better grab a
“Killed what—the horse?” little sleep.”
“Shore.” “What does Hartley think about it,
“What for?” Lem?”
“Thought there was a man on it—the “Well, he don’t say much, except when
man who had just shot through the win¬ I get an idea, and then he shows me where
dow at them.” I’m all wrong. If I had his brains, I
“Well, I’ll be damned!” exploded Dave. wouldn’t be sheriff of no county. I’ll tell
“What’s this all about?” you that much.”
“Search me,” replied Lem wearily, as Lem left the saloon and took his horse
he lighted his cigaret. to the livery-stable.
“Did either of ’em get hit, Lem?”
“No-o-o, not exactly. The bullet hit
their can of milk, and the can hit Stevens
H ASHKNIFE rode straight back to
the ranch and stabled his horse.
between the eyes.” Sleepy was still awake and anxious to
“Can you imagine that? And you say know what Hashknife had discovered,
that Miss Lane and the tenderfoot never so he came down to the stable.
got to Canonville?” “But where can they be?” wondered
“So far as we know, they never did.” Sleepy.
“But where are they?” “I’m shore stuck,” said Hashknife
“Dave,” said Lem seriously, “I’m no gloomily. “This is the worst danged case
mind reader. I dunno a thing about it. I ever worked on. I can’t seem to get
I’m follerin’ Hartley, thasall. He says goin’. But, by golly, I’m—” Hashknife
he’s got a hunch—and that’s more ’n I’ve hesitated.
got. Let’s have one more drink.” The moon was high up over the hills,
The bartender served them and they illuminating the old buildings and corrals.
drank silently. Hashknife walked away from Sleepy
“Dave, did you ever hear Pete say any¬ and stopped beside the corral fence, only
thin’ about havin’ a woman?” asked Lem. a few feet away.
“About havin’ a woman?” The Navaho rug was not on the fence.
“Yeah—a wife.” “It was there when we came in this
“Where didja ever get that idea, Lem?” evenin’,” said Sleepy. “I remember
“Oh, I jist wondered.” seem’ it, Hashknife.”
“Funny ideas you get, Lem. Did you “I remember it, too, Sleepy. Let’s go
ever hear of him havin’ a wife?” to bed.”
“Nope.” “I used some raw meat on my eyes,”
“I never did,” said Fairweather. “I offered Sleepy. “I can see clearer than
don’t think he ever did, unless he was I could.”
married before he came to this country.” “I can see better now, too,” said Hash¬
“What ever put that idea in your knife meaningly.
mind?” persisted Dave. But Sleepy did not question him.
“Oh, I dunno. Mebbe it was that ten¬
derfoot. His name’s Morgan, and he
came here, tryin’ to find out who sent a
J OE CAVE, deputy sheriff, was very
drunk. He leaned on a saloon bar in
check to his mother. It came from Mesa Canonville and gazed gloomily about the
City, he says.” place, where a lone bartender polished
106 W. C. TUTTLE

glassware and busied himself with mop and he was able to see. Lem had come
and water bucket. to the ranch at daylight, and the three of
It was too early in the morning for them had headed for Canonville. They
much activity. In fact, it was rather out had tried to read the signs along the
of the ordinary for any one to be drunk Coyote Canon road, but the ground was
that early in the morning. Joe’s tow so hard that they were unable to distin¬
colored hair had not been brushed, and guish one track from another.
he looked as if he had slept in his clothes.
His thin lips parted over his prominent
front teeth, known as “buck-teeth,” as
T HE THREE men entered the office,
which was unlocked, and Lem swore
he indulged in a foolish grin. roundly when he did not find Joe Cave
“Whazzametter round here?” he de¬ there. It was against the rules to leave
manded. the place unlocked. Lem opened the
The bartender studied him gravely. barred door at the rear of the office and
He hated to see a man drunk so early in went down the narrow corridor between
the morning. the cells.
“I don’t see anything the matter,” he Old Paul Lane called a cheery good
replied shortly. morning to him. Young Lane wanted to
“Zasso?” Joe yawned foolishly. know how soon he was to be turned
He was wearing a once yellow shirt, a loose.
nearly red muffler around his scrawny “I hope to get you out today, son.
neck, and his overalls were so tight that How’s everything’?”
one knee had split over a too prominent “All right, if we had some breakfast.”
knee cap. Joe’s boots were run over on “Ain’t you had no breakfast yet?
the outside of the heels, causing him to be Where’s Joe?”
knock kneed. He wore a holstered gun, “He ain’t been in here this mornin’. I
and the loops of his belt were full of think he came to the office, but he didn’t
cartridges. come in here.”
Failing to strike up a conversation, Joe “Well, that’s a fine deal, folks. I’ll get
left that saloon and went down the street your grub right away.”
to another place, where he found condi¬ Lem told Hashknife and Sleepy to hold
tions much the same. down the office while he went to the
“Where’s the sheriff?” asked the bar¬ restaurant.
tender. “Go in and talk to ’em,” he said.
“Dunno. Went away last night.” “They been askin’ about you. But don’t
“And so you went and got drunk, eh? mention anythin’ about Nan bein’
Lem will jist about kick you off the job missin’.”
when he comes back.” Old Paul Lane shook hands with them
“Zasso? Huh! Let’m kick. I don’t through the bars, and the son thanked
like thish job. Nawthin’ to do but feed Hashknife for what he had done to secure
pris’ners. T’ the devil with it. Gimme evidence that he had not shot Ben Leach.
a drink.” “We been wonderin’ why Nan didn’t
Joe got his drink and went to the next come to see us,” said the old man wist¬
saloon. It seemed that he was making fully.
the rounds and still going strong when “She’s been awful busy,” said Hash¬
Hashknife, Sleepy and the sheriff rode in knife quickly. “Keeps her busy cookin’
and went to the office. The office and for three of us.”
jail were in the same building, and in fact “I imagine that’s right. Hartley.”
the sheriff’s office was the main entrance “Well, I’ll soon be out,” said Long
to the jail. Lane thankfully. “You ain’t been both¬
Sleepy’s eyes were still of a decidedly ered with any of the 6X6 outfit, have
mauve hue, but the swelling was gone you?”
 BUZZARDS 107

“They’ve quit the 6X6. Dave Morgan and leered at the men in the corridor
has taken charge of the ranch.” Lem walked out to him, looked him
“The devil he has!” over carefully, his face registering disgust.
“And of the Oasis Saloon, too.” “Drunk as a boiled owl, eh?”
“I’ve been worryin’ about Nan,” con¬ “Whazzamatter with you?” grunted
fessed the old man. “But Lem says she’s Joe.
safe as long as you boys are with her. “What’s the matter with me? I’ll
I’m shore much obliged to both of you. tell you what’s the matter with me. I’m
How about the tenderfoot?” through with you,. Joe.”
“Oh, he’s still alive,” smiled Hash- Lem reached over and unpinned the
knife, wondering down in his heart star from Joe’s vest, while Joe looked at
whether this was the truth. him owlishly.
“He’s lucky,” smiled Lane. “He done “Go and sober up,” said Lem coldly,
me a good turn—two of ’em. It’s “and then come back here and I’ll give
funny what a green kid will do thata- you an order on the county for your
way.” salary.”
“I was just wonderin’ why Joe Cave “Fired, eh?” queried Joe.
didn’t bring you any breakfast, said “You’re right! I don’t want a drunken
Hashknife. deputy around here, forgettin’ to feed the
“I dunno. Usually brings it about prisoners and leavin’ the jail unlocked.
eight o’clock. He was kinda snappy last Get away from here, before I flatten
night, when he brought our supper. your nose.”
Somebody rubbed him the wrong way “A-a-a-aw right!”
yesterday.” Joe surged away from the doorway and
“Yeah?” went to the edge of the sidewalk, where he
“I think so. We didn’t hear much balanced drunkenly for several moments,
of it, because the door was almost and then headed his erratic way toward
shut, but there was some kind of an the livery-stable.
argument.” Lem snorted with disgust and turned
“Who was he arguin’ with?” asked from the doorway, but Hashknife watched
Hashknife. him disappear through the wide door of
“We dunno, but we heard Joe say, the stable.
‘Well, don’t blame me. That was your “Gone after his horse?” asked Hash¬
fault,’ and after a few moments he said, knife.
‘By God, that was the agreement, and “He’ll probably head for Mesa City,
you better stick to it.’ Then there was the drunken bum,” said Lem.
quite a while that we can’t hear anythin’, Hashknife stepped outside, but turned
except a word once in a while, but before to Lem and Sleepy.
they quit talkin’, we heard Joe say, “Wait here for me,” he said quickly,
‘That’s the way Fm goin’ to work it, and and hurried out to his horse.
you better stick to your word.’ After¬ Lem and Sleepy came to the door and
wards, when Joe brought in our supper, watched Hashknife ride out of town,
he was mad about somethin’, and going north.
wouldn’t talk to us.” “What struck him so sudden?” won¬
“Was he arguin’ with Lem?” asked dered Lem.
Hashknife. “I dunno,” grinned Sleepy. “He’s
“I dunno who the other person was.” thataway, Lem.”

A FEW minutes later Lem brought in

their breakfast and, while they were
About five minutes later Joe C/ive
came from the stable, riding a chunky
bay gelding. He swayed drunkenly in his
eating, Joe Cave came to the office. He saddle, as he rode up the main street of
leaned against the side of the doorway the town, also heading north.
 W. C. TUTTLE

L EM WAS carrying the breakfast ner bank to let the stage pass.
dishes back to the restaurant when “Joe Cave used to drive stage, didn’t
Hashknife rode back to the front of the he?” asked Hashknife.
office. He did not explain where he had “For a long time,” replied Lem. “Been
been or why he had gone, but as he waited here a long time. Used to work for the
for Lem to come back from the restau¬ 6X6. Worked for the Flying M, too.
rant, Sleepy heard Hashknife singing I thought he’d make a good deputy, but
softly: I was wrong. Good shot, Joe is. I’ve
seen him shoot. Fast with a gun.”
“I know a girl down Pecos wa-a-ay,
Lem spoke jerkily. He was too fat to
And I’m goin' to marry her some da-a-a.v.
Her pa’s in jail and can't get bail; ride fast. Suddenly Hashknife drew up
They rode her ma out of town on a ra-a-ail. his horse and looked down into the canon.
Her lips are red and her hair is black; A flock of perhaps fifty buzzards were
She shot the sheriff in the ba-a-ack. circling below them; floating without
Oh, how my heart for her does pi-i-ine,
’Cause she's my little dingin’ vi-i-ine.” apparent effort. They could look down
on their backs from the grade. They
Sleepy knew the symptoms. It was were apparently keeping to a certain level.
not often that Hashknife sang. He “Quite a flock of buzzards,” observed
was not at all musical. Just now he was Lem. “Probably a lion killed a deer
deadly serious, and it is doubtful whether down there, and they want their share.
he realized that he was singing. Lots of lions down there, Hashknife.
“Feelin’ good, cowboy?” asked Sleepy. Rocks full of ’em. Notice the way them
Hashknife looked at him quickly. buzzards act? Probably the lion chased
“Yeah, I feel pretty good, Sleepy.” ’em away.”
Lem came back from the restaurant. “Uh-huh,” grunted Hashknife. “It’s a
He didn’t ask Hashknife where he had wonder that deer would go down in that
been. canon, Lem.”
“Get on your horse,” said Hashknife. “Water. They probably come from
“We’re goin’ to Mesa City.” out on the mesa. Not very much water
They mounted and rode away, after for ’em out there. Hard trip, I reckon.
Lem had locked the office door. At the I never been in the canon. Probably a
upper end of the street they met Bunty way in, if you know where to look.”
Smith, and Lem drew up his horse. “Probably.”
“Goin’ to be here all day, Bunty?” he They rode on toward Mesa City.
asked.
“Shore am, Lem.”
CHAPTER XVIII
“Here’s the key to my office. If I ain’t
back by five o’clock, I wish you’d feed THE MASKED MAN
my prisoners, Bunty.”
“Glad to do it, Lem. What do you I 'HAT night was years long to Nan and
know?” A Rex. She slept fitfully, but Rex did
“I don’t know a thing, Bunty. See not sleep at all. Briggs had not moved.
you later.” At times he groaned softly, and several
They rode back along the mesa to the times he babbled incoherently. There was
Coyote Canon grades, riding swiftly until plenty of wood, and Rex kept the fire
they started climbing. It was a long, going briskly.
slow climb to where the grades flattened It was fully daylight before Rex moved
out around the canon. They met the from the fire. He was stiff and sore in
stage coming from Mesa City. The every joint. His left shoulder pained
driver was a man from south of Canon- him greatly, and his right hand was badly
ville. He nodded pleasantly, as they swollen. Nan followed him out to the
crowded their horses against the in¬ mouth of the cave. She limped as badly
 BUZZARDS 109

as he, and together they stood on the badly mistreated. It seemed that -his
sandstone ledge, looking up at the sun¬ head had been battered until it was all
light on the high peaks. out of shape.
“It won’t shine down here much before “He is wearing a dress shirt,” said Rex.
noon,” she said, placing a hand on his “Isn’t it queer for a man down here to be
shoulder. “This canon is so deep that wearing a stiff bosom shirt? Did you
the sun doesn’t reach it quickly.” ever see him before. Nan?”
Rex nodded gloomily. “No, I never have. See if you can find
“What a night! And what next? I’m us a couple of green sticks, Rex, about a
so hungry I could almost eat that piece yard long and as big as your finger, to
of burned horse meat.” broil these quail on.”
“Same here,” Nan tried to smile, “but “But what are we going to do with this
we’ll have to go without food, I suppose. man. Nan? He’s in awful bad shape.
Which way was that spring?” Shouldn’t we tie him up, or something?”
“Down there.” Rex pointed to the “I don’t know, Rex. We haven’t any
right. “I wonder whether my old hat ropes. Oh, I don’t think he can hurt any¬
will hold water? I believe it will. Nan. body. He’s just an old man.”
You stay here and I’ll bring you some.”
He made his way down among the
boulders, sliding the last few feet to the
R EX SECURED the sticks and came
- back to the entrance of the cave,
bottom of the canon, where he picked up a where he stopped and looked at the sky.
sizeable club. His steps made little The buzzards were coming for their break¬
sound in the yielding sand, as he made his fast, a whole cloud of them, zooming
way down the bottom to where he circled down, like a great fleet of black airplanes.
the big boulder, where they had built Rex called Nan to the entrance to watch
their fire. the birds. Some of them sailed within a
Clustered around the little spring were few yards of them, croaking harshly.
dozens of quail, getting their morning One tried to alight on the sandstone shelf,
drink. Rex did not know what they were, where Rex had wasted his stone on a lion,
except that they were birds, and perhaps but it caught sight of the two human
food. They had probably never before beings and went away with a great flap¬
seen a human being, because they merely ping of wings.
squatted and looked at him. With a side Their objective seemed to be just across
swing of his hand he flung the club at the canon from the cave.
them, killing three and sending the rest ■ “Horrid, dirty things!” exclaimed Nan,
in a whirring, curving flight down the “Always looking for carrion.”
canon. “I suppose,” sighed Rex. “Still, they
He secured his birds, filled his hat with might be our salvation, Nan. I remem¬
water and started on his return journey ber what Hashknife said to me the night
to the cave. Nan danced with joy at the we found that horse. He said, ‘Some¬
sight of the three birds. times it’s a good thing to follow the
“I didn’t know what they were,” con- buzzards. You never can tell what you
. fessed Rex, “but they looked good to eat, might find.’ ”
so I hit them with a club.” “But do you suppose he might see the
Nan skinned the birds and went back buzzards down here?”
in to the cave where Rex had built up the “He might see them as they come
fire. Briggs had not moved yet, and Rex down. Nan. He’ll know today that we
was afraid he was dead, but the old man never reached Canonville, and he will
muttered brokenly as Rex leaned over start a search.”
him. “Oh, I hope so, Rex. But after break¬
He did not look so formidable now— fast we’ll see if there isn’t a way out of
• more like an oldish man who had been here. Come on and help cook it.”
110 W. C. TUTTLE

They each ate a half cooked quail. ance those two were not feeling so good
Without any seasoning it was far from as they had the evening before.
delicious, but they ate it and pronounced “What’s all this talk about M5ss Lane
it good. and the tenderfoot disappearin’?” asked
“I think you are a very brave girl, Spike. “Lotsa folks have been talkin’
Nan,” said Rex. “In fact, you are rather about it, and we want it straight.”
wonderful in every way, but you’ve got a Lem explained as well as he could.
lot of burned quail on your nose and a “Ain’t showed up yet?” Bert Roddy
black smudge on one cheek. I suppose shook his head painfully.
I’m a sight. But I don’t really care, “Not yet, Bert.”
do you?” “Well, I’ll be jiggered! Whatcha sup¬
“I don’t care how you look, Rex.” pose became of ’em, Lem?”
“Well, that’s fine. Now, I think we “Nobody knows.”
better look around and see whether there “Did Joe Cave show up here?” asked
isn’t a way out.” Hashknife.
They worked their way down through “About an hour ago,” said Spike, spit¬
the brush and crossed the bottom of the ting dryly. “Quit his job, didn’t he?”
canon above the cave, where they were looking at Lem.
able to climb to a wide shelf. It was here “I fired him,” said Lem.
that they disturbed the buzzard host, and “I told you!” crowed Bert. “Didn’t I
the birds went flapping and croaking their offer to make you a bet. Spike? I said
way up the side of the cliffs, only to soar that Lem canned him, didn’t I?”
in vast circles, halfway up the height of “A-a-aw, don’t brag; you make my
the canon, watching with their keen eyes head ache.”
for the two human beings to disappear. “Where’s Joe now?” asked Hashknife.
It was this flight of buzzards that “Gone out to the Flyin’ M. Dave
Hashknife, Sleepy and Lem saw from Morgan hired him and sent him right
the grades. out to the ranch. Dave needs men
“They were eating a horse!” exclaimed pretty bad. He even offered to take us
Nan. “Why, your horse never fell this back agin’, didn’t he, Bert?”
high up the canon, Rex.” “Shore did. And you tell ’em what I
They walked over and inspected the told him. Spike.”
almost obliterated carcass of a horse, “Aw, it wasn’t so smart. We need the
which still bore a saddle. It had been a job.”
roan horse, and a strip of the skin still “Not for that sidewinder. He jist the
bore the brand of the 6X6. same as accused us of openin’ the safe at
“That was one of Peter Morgan’s the 6X6. I may be a thief, but I don’t
horses,” declared Nan. “But how in the like to have it told before my friends.”
world did it get down here?” “That’s right; he did insult us, Bert.
Rex looked critically up the side of the I’m glad you said what you did to him.
sheer hillside. But—” he turned to Lem—“what are
“It surely didn’t walk down,” he re¬ you doin’ toward findin’ the lost folks?”
plied. “I think it must have come down “Not a thing—yet.”
like my horse did—end over end.” They all walked over to the Oasis,
“Well, I don’t like the odor,” said Nan where they found Dave Morgan and
finally. “Let’s see if we can’t go down several more men.
the canon.” “What’s the latest news?” asked
Morgan.
I N THE meantime, Hashknife, Sleepy
and Lem rode on to Mesa City. Spike
They were obliged to tell him that
there was nothing new.
Cahill and Bert Roddy met them at the “You know this country pretty well,
hitchrack, and from their general appear¬ don’t you, Morgan?” asked Hashknife.
 BUZZARDS 111

Dave Morgan smiled faintly, fingering They either went up or down, and I’m
his watch-chain. bettin’ they went down.”
“I ought to,” he said. “I’ve been here “But why should they, Hartley?”
a long time.” “Who knows? I’m playin’ the buz¬
“Ever been down in the middle of zards, Bowen.”
Coyote Canon?” “Uh-huh,” thoughtfully. “Well, it’s a
Morgan blinked quickly, thoughtfully. good bet. We’ll go with you, cowboy.
“No, I never have, Hartley.” I don’t know a trail down there, but we’ll
“Do you know if there’s a trail down find one. It’s worth a try. When do we
there?” start?”
“I’ve never heard of any.” “Right now.”
“I never have either,” said Spike. “Saddle up!” snorted Spike, sending his
“Why that thing is straight up and down. glass spinning down the bar. “C’mon.”
Talkin’ about it makes me thirsty; so “You might get in off the mesa on the
we better have a drink. The 6X6 owes lower end,” called Dave Morgan. “They
me some money, anyway.” tell me the deer come in that way.”
“And you’re goin’ to collect it over the “All right, Dave, thanks,” replied the
bar, eh?” queried Dell Bowen. sheriff.
“Aw, don’t preach. You spent part of
yours last night.” T HE THREE cowboys hurried to the
livery stable, where they saddled
“What about a trail into Coyote
Canon?” asked Morgan. their horses. Hashknife, Sleepy and
“I’d like to go down there,” replied Lem joined them, and the six men rode
Hashknife. out of town together. Lem and Hash¬
“You think there’s somethin’ down knife rode knee to knee.
there?” asked Spike. “We better try the canon jist south of
“About a hundred buzzards,” smiled the Lane place,” called Bowen. “It ain’t
Sleepy, accepting a glass from the bar¬ so high there.”
tender. “Suits me,” agreed Lem heartily.
“Buzzards, eh? Somethin’ dead, eh?”’ He had little hopes of ever getting to
“No, they go down there to eat brush,” the bottom of the canon, no matter where
said Bert sarcastically. they tried a descent.
“You’re comical,” said Spike admir¬ A quarter of a mile away from town,
ingly. “The only thing that keeps you Hashknife halted them.
off the stage is the fact that you can’t “Boys, I want you to do me a little
drive, and they wouldn’t trust you with favor,” he said. “Go right ahead and
the money box.” try to get down the canon.”
“Nobody interested in your comedy. “What’s the idea, Hashknife?” queries
Spike,” assured Bowen. “We want to Lem wonderingly.
know more about Coyote Canon. Hart¬ “I can’t tell you yet, Lem. It’s just a
ley, are you serious in wantin’ to go down hunch. I’m turnin’ back here.”
there?” “Let him go,” said Sleepy quickly.
“I’m goin’ down,” declared Hashknife. “It’s all in the game.”
“You don’t suppose that Nan Lane “All right,” agreed Lem, holding out
and that fool kid are down there, do his hand. “Good luck, Hashknife.”
you?” They swung their horses around and
Hashknife studied his glass of liquor rode swiftly southward, while Hashknife
for a moment. went back toward Mesa City again.
“Bowen,” he said slowly, “I don’t Just outside the town he halted his horse
know, but there’s no other place to look. behind a thicket of mesquite and dis¬
They never got to Canonville; they never mounted.
came home. Nan’s horse came back. He had not been there over five
112 W. C. TUTTLE

minutes, when Dave Morgan rode past,

his horse traveling at a swinging walk.
N AN AND Rex wandered down the
canon below where they had first
As [far as [Hashknife knew, Morgan was entered it, but were unable to find a way
merely heading for the 6X6 ranch. But out. After a supreme effort they were
as soon as he passed a turn in the road, able to climb back over the rocks to where
Hashknife mounted and followed him. the slide ended. They were unable to
For possibly half a mile farther Morgan go any farther.
rode slowly, but finally forced his horse “It doesn’t look very promising,” said
to a gallop. Hashknife kept far enough Rex wearily.
behind him so that Morgan would not see Nan sat on a rock, tired out from the
or hear him, and from a slight elevation climb. She realized better than Rex did
he saw Morgan swing to the 6X6 road. what they were up against. Unless help
Hashknife swore under his breath, but came to them, they were doomed to
followed, and it was with a great deal of starvation in the bottom of Coyote
satisfaction that he saw Morgan leave Canon. She knew that it was only
the road, possibly a quarter of a mile through great luck that Rex had been
from the forks, and travel south down a able to kill those quail.
brushy swale. “If we even had a gun,” she said help¬
It was rather difficult for Hashknife to lessly, “perhaps they could hear the
follow without being seen now, but he echo of it.”
was obliged to take a chance, in order to “But there must be a way out,” in¬
keep Morgan in sight. Morgan did not sisted Rex. “It seems to be an impassable
look back, but seemed intent on his pocket, but there must be a way.”
destination. “I almost wish we were buzzards,” he
It was a little over a mile from where said. “They are able to fly out with
Morgan left the road to the rim of Coyote scarcely any effort.”
Canon, and Hashknife was not over two “They are not the only buzzards in
hundred yards to the left of him, shielded this country,” said Nan.
by a mesquite thicket, when Morgan “You mean—human buzzards?”
reached the rim. “Yes. Whoever shot your horse must
For several minutes Morgan sat his know we are down here. They don’t
horse, scanning the canon, as if satisfying know whether we are alive or dead.
himself that no one was in sight. Hash¬ How did the crazy man get down here, I
knife was a little afraid that the five men wonder? That must be his horse.”
farther down the canon might interfere “Yes, it is all very queer. I wonder if
with things, but finally, Morgan, evi¬ he is still alive? Perhaps he knows a
dently satisfied, rode his horse over the way out. Nan. It seems a brutal thing
rim of the canon, cutting in between two to leave him up there alone in that cave.
live-oaks, and disappeared. But what can we do? At least, he is
Hashknife rode cautiously to the rim, unconscious and does not seem to be
behind the oaks, and dismounted. Here suffering. But I wish he would wake up
were the marks of Morgan’s horse in the sane again, because he might know a
loose earth, and for quite a distance way out.”
down the slope he could see where the “He wouldn’t know. I guess we better
horse had sidled along the steep slope. go back to the cave and gather a supply
Calmly he rolled and smoked a cigaret. of wood. All we can do is to pray that
He was not in such a hurry now. If some one will look down here for us.”
Morgan could get down, he could. And They went back to the bottom of the
he did not want to try the descent while canon and had a drink at the little spring.
there was danger of Morgan’s hearing A copper colored rattler, stretched out on
him come down. Finally he tightened the top of a boulder, waiting for the sun¬
his cinch, mounted and followed Morgan. shine, looked them over with beady eyes.
 BUZZARDS 113

as they went past. They did not see the The man had a lariat wrapped around
snake, and the snake was too torpid from his waist and now he began unwrapping it.
the cold to sound a warning.; “We just want to find the way out of
They climbed up from the bottom of here,” said Rex.
the canon near the old waterfall and “Thasso?”
twisted their way around the huge The man seemed amused. He shifted
boulders. Nan was in the lead, and as she his gaze to Nan.
circled an outcropping of sandstone she* “Set down on the rock!” he snapped
cried out sharply and stepped back, harshly. “Set down there and set still.”
bumping Rex sidewise. He shook the last coil of the rope loose,
A man was standing against the sand¬ catching the hondo and quickly making
stone, covering them with a rifle, and so his loop. Neither of them had any idea
close was he that Nan’s elbow struck the what he was intending to do. He flipped
barrel of the rifle, as she jerked back. the twist out of the loop, and with a jerk
Her first impression was that it was the of his wrist he flung the loop over Rex’s
crazy man, but a second glance dissipated shoulders, yanking it tight. Rex stum¬
this idea. bled forward, his arms cinched to his
sides, and the man kicked his feet from
T HE MAN was masked with a big
bandanna handkerchief, with jagged
under him, throwing him heavily.
“Stay there, damn yuh!” he snarled.
eyeholes, and his slouch hat was pulled He gave Nan a sharp glance. She had
low over his forehead. For several mo¬ jumped to her feet now, as if intending to
ments he did not move or speak. Rex help Rex.
put his arms around Nan, and tried to “You stay put!” warned the man.
draw her behind him. “Set down there!”
“Don’t move,” warned the man harshly.
“Who are you?” demanded Rex. N AN SANK back on the rock and
“Ne’mind who I am. Keep your watched the m3.iT deftly hogtie Rex.
hands up and foller me.” He knew ropes, and in a few moments
He backed slowly to the open hillside Rex was completely helpless.
below the cave, which was not visible “I reckon that’ll hold you,” said the
from there. Rex had shoved the empty man.
revolver inside the waist band of his “But what has he ever done to you?”
trousers, and now the man stepped over asked Nan. “Why are you tying him up?
and yanked it away. A quick glance He never harmed you.”
showed him that the gun was empty. “Who’s doin’ this? Keep your face
“Where’d you git that?” he asked. out of it.”
“I found it,” lied Rex. “But why are you tying him up?” per¬
“Uh-huh.” sisted Nan. “He never harmed you.
The man flung it far off down the canon. All we want is a chance to get out of
“How did you git down here?” he asked. here.”
Rex explained. She left the rock and came close to
“You came all the way down that him. He watched her through the jagged
side, eh?” slips in the handkerchief.
“It was quite a slide,” agreed Rex. “Keep away from me,” he growled. “I
“Now, I hope you will show us the way never hit no woman. Never thought a
out.” man ort to hit a woman. But I got to
“You hope so, do you? Who shot your protect myself.”
horse up there?” “Oh, I’m not going to fight with you,”
“We haven’t any idea.” wearily. “I just want to explain things.”
“Anybody gunnin’ for you?” “Yeah? You set down. I’ve gotta
“I don’t know why they should.” figure out somethin’.”
114 W. C. TUTTLE

“But won’t you let him go—please.” her voice was firm. The man came
“I can’t! Set down. If I had another closer to her, peering through his mask.
rope, I’d tie you, too.” “You ain’t gone loco, have you?”
Nan sat down, while the man perched “No, I am perfectly sane.”
on a convenient boulder. Rex was lying “And you’d give up a chance to git
on his side, facing them. He was bewil¬ home safe—for that?”
dered and unable to move. The man in He pointed disgustedly at Rex.
the mask rolled a cigaret, but discovered “I’ll stay with him,” she said chokingly.
that he would have to move his mask “Well, f’r God’s sake!”
aside in order to smoke, and tossed the
unlighted cigaret aside.
He made no mention of the cave, and
T HE MAN looked around, as if asking
the wide world whether the girl
Nan decided that he had not discovered wasn’t crazy. He looked at Rex, who
it. For possibly five minutes they sat was watching Nan, wide eyed.
there silently. At times the man leaned “Of all the loco things I ever heard of,”
forward, rubbing his face through the grunted the man. “Listen, sister, is this
handkerchief, as if unable to arrive at a on the square? Would you give up—
decision. At times he turned his head say, don’tcha know there ain’t a chance
and looked at the buzzards, which were of you ever gettin’ out here, unless some¬
circling about. Finally he got to his feet, body guides you? You’ll die here, and the
walked over and looked at the knotted buzzards will strip your bones. Do you
rope and then turned to Nan. realize that? Do you? And still you’d
“I’m goin’ to take you out,” he said. stay with that weak kneed tenderfoot?
“Goin to take me out?” Nan got to Sluff off a chance to git home safe? You
her feet quickly. “What about him?” would? Well, I’d like to know why.”
pointing at Rex. “Because,” said Nan wearily, “I love
The man shook his head. him!”
“He stays.” The man jerked forward.
“But we can’t leave him here alone.” “You what? You love him? You
“The hell we can’t? What’ll stop us?” love—”
“Why, he will die. Don’t you under¬ “I have told you why I will stay,” said
stand? We can’t leave him there.” Nan. “If he stays here, I stay, too.”
“He stays, do you sabe that? I’ll take “Well, hell!” exploded the man. “With
you out.” all the reg’lar men in the state of Arizona
“Go ahead. Nan,” panted Rex. “You —you pick that!”
—you can tell where I am, don’t you see?” * He moved back and sat down on the
“A lot of good it’ll do,” laughed the rock, where he rolled another cigaret,
man. only to toss it aside. After a long silence
He pointed at the circling buzzards he said softly—
meaningly. Nan knew what he meant, “Well, I’ll be jiggered!”
and her face went white. “Won’t you cut him loose?” begged
“I won’t go without him,” she said Nan. “Can’t you see those ropes are
firmly. cutting him?”
“You won’t? Well, I’ll declare! What’s “Pretty soft skinned. Why in hell
the idea? Are you—aw, have a little didn’t he stay where he belonged?”
sense, can’tcha? No use of both of you But he made no move to release Rex;
cashin’ in down here. I’m willin’ to take he was studying Nan, who humped on the
you out, and you act like a fool over this rock, her hands between her knees, as she
vhite faced jigger. I don’t git your idea. looked at Rex, her eyes filled with tears.
A’hat does he amount to, anyway?” Finally the masked man got to his feet,
“If he stays, I stay.” looking down at Rex,
Nan’s eyes were filled with tears, but “I ain’t got the sense- that Gawd gave
 BUZZARDS 115

geese in Ireland,” he said slowly. “I’ve drawn back as far as possible to escape
knowed lotsa married folks, and I’ve had the brush.
me a girl onct or twict; but I never Slipping and sliding, careening from
knowed that any woman ever cared side to side, the tall gray took him safely
enough f’r a man to sluff off a chance to to the bottom of the canon, where he dis¬
save her life—f’r him.” mounted. He had lost Morgan’s trail,
He stepped over to Rex and quickly and there did not seem to be any way of
unfastened the ropes. recovering it. The bottom of the canon
“You’re not going to leave him here?” at this point was a jumble of broken sand¬
asked Nan, hardly believing that such stone, boulders and brush, which seemed
was his intentions. an impassable barrier to man and beast;
“Not if you want him that bad. T’ but Hashknife knew there must be a
me, he don’t amount to a damn, and I’d way out.
jist as soon use him for buzzard bait as The canon Was about six miles in length,
not; but if you— You two wait here. and Hashknife had entered it at about a
I’ve got to git my bronc. There’s a way mile below the north end. After waiting
out the lower end of |his canon, if I can awhile, trying to figure out where Morgan
remember it. It’s a long ways around, had gone, Hashknife picked up his reins
but it can’t be helped.” and started to pick out a route down
He picked up his rope, swung it over the canon.
his arm, grasped his rifle and went stum¬ It was slow traveling. Time after time
bling up the canon, while Nan and Rex he was obliged to retrace his steps and
stood there, looking at each other. select a new route. For over a mile he
“Thank God!” breathed Nan. managed to find his way. His overall
“Did you mean what you told him. legs were flapping rags, and the knees of
Nan? Did you mean that you love me?” the tall gray were tom and bleeding.
“Well, I would have stayed,” she said “Tough goin’, Ghost,” grinned Hash¬
simply. knife. “If we ever go the length of this
canon, we deserve a medal.”
At last he came to a place where he
CHAPTER XIX
could not find a way through. The Canon
BEYOND DAVE MORGAN’S TRAIL narrowed to a boxlike affair, not over
sixty feet in width, with perpendicular
H ASHKNIFE had little trouble in sides, a hundred feet high.
Back went Hashknife and the gray
following Morgan, although Mor¬
gan seemed to be traveling more by guess horse to a point about three hundred
than following a trail. It was so steep yards away, where they began climbing
that a horse was obliged to sit on its the west side of the canon. It was slow
rump and to keep angling from one side work, but they managed to get above the
to another to keep from going headlong perpendicular sides of the box canon.
into the canon. And it was here that Hashknife was
About halfway down the side of the rewarded for his labor. Cut deeply in the
canon, Hashknife’s gray horse shoved side of the hill were the tracks of a horse,
loose a boulder of considerable size, which had come down the side of the
which went bounding down the steep canon at this point. Hashknife studied
slope, crashing through the brush and the situation, and from his point of view,
splitting itself on the boulders at the Dave Morgan had cut back to the top of
bottom. the canon again, and had tried the
Hashknife realized that Dave Morgan descent at another place.
would have to be deaf not to hear it; but But this time Hashknife was careful
there was no turning back now. He was to follow the tracks, which kept to the side
riding the rump of the gray, his feet of the hill, until reaching the sheer cliffs.
116 W. C. TUTTLE

less than a mile from where Nan and nor Rex had been armed when they left
Rex had found the cave. Hashknife the ranch; and this gun, with six empty
stopped near the cliffs and scanned the shells in the cylinder, proved that some
country. Far above him and across the one had been doing some shooting in the
canon, he could see the tiny scars, whicft’ canon.
indicated graded curves on the wagon He climbed the west bank and eame out
road. Far down the canon he could see S' almost under the overhang of the eave.
few buzzards, spiraling upward from the After a careful survey of the surrounding
canon bed. country hdSflimbed up over the shelves of
That was where he wanted to go— sandstone to the entrance of the cave.
down where the buzzards were. It meant Here was an odor of wood smoke,
another hard slide down the canon, but although the fire had long since died out.
he made it in safety. For some distance Cautiously he advanced into the shallow
the trail led down the bottom of the cave, gun in hand. It was light enough
canon, where the tracks in the sand made for him to see the outstretched form of
it easy to follow the spoor of the other Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs near the pile
horse. of ashes.
Briggs had been tied securely with a
T HE BUZZARDS were getting closer
all the time. Again the trail led from
length of lariat rope, with the loop drawn
tightly around his neck. Napoleon Bona¬
the bottom, and Hashknife was obliged to parte Briggs was as dead as a man might
dismount to follow, leading his horse. be, and Hashknife could see that he had
The last few hundred yards required died from strangulation, although he had
nearly an hour to negotiate, and he sud¬ been badly battered.
denly broke through the brush on the Hashknife loosened the ropes. In spite
very spot where the buzzards had been of the battered face, Hashknife was able to
feeding on the roan horse from the 6X6, recognize the old 6X6 cook. On the left
across the canon bottom from the cave. side of his head was a furrow, which
Hashknife watched the big birds leave seemed to have been made by a bullet,
their meal and then he examined the but with so many cuts and bruises it was
carcass. He found the strip of skin, difficult to say which were the worse
which carried the 6X6 brand, and he sat wounds.
down to ponder over it. There was not The old man’s coat had been almost
question in his mind that this.horse had tom from his body, but in the inside
slid down from the grades, as the bones pocket Hashknife found several folded
of the legs were broken, and as far as he papers, which he took to the cave en¬
was able to determine, the neck had also trance to examine.
been broken. The saddle bore no name, For perhaps five minutes he sat On a
and had been badly damaged. sandstone ledge, pondering deeply over
Hashknife left the carcass and tied his them, while the shadows of the buzzards
horse to a snag. Sliding down into the drifted back and forth across the slope
bottom of the canon, he discovered Nan’s below him.
tracks, which were very plain. This Finally he pocketed the papers and
proved to him that Nan had reached the went back in the cave, where he dragged
bottom alive and he heaved a sigh of the old man’s body farther away from the
satisfaction. Fifty feet farther down the entrance.
canon he found the empty revolver “Mebbe you’ll be a mummy by the
where the masked man had thrown it. time you get out/ of here, old-timer,” he
From the way it had skidded in the sand, said. “I’d take you out, if I could; but I
he knew it had been thrown from the can’t. So long.” •
west side of the canon. Hashknife went back down the slope,
Hashknife felt sure that neither Nan’ where he found the track of a horse, going
 BUZZARDS 117

down the canon. It went down past the “I’d like to thank you,” she said.
old waterfall, where the tracks were “You don’t need to. Your sweetheart
plainly outlined in the sand. shore looks fagged, don’t he? You ain’t
“Must be a way out the lower end,” he a very good picker, ma’am. Them shoes
decided. “If I can get Ghost down into fye’s wearin’ wasn’t built Fr Coyote
this danged place, I’ll try my luck. It Canon. Good luck to you. I don’t sabe
can’t be any worse than the way I came women—not a-tall. So long.”
in—and it must be shorter.” He spurred his horse to a gallop and
He managed to pick out a possible place soon disappeared, traveling south. Nan
to get down, and went back for the gray and Rex looked foolishly at each other.
horse. Rex’s shoes were ready to fall off his feet,
which were bleeding. Nan was a little
T HE SHADOWS from the mesquite
clumps were growing long on the
better off, because she had ridden the
horse, but her face was drawn from
mesa below the mouth of Coyote Canon. suffering and lack of food.
Farther to the south was the blue haze “We’ve got to walk home,” she said.
over the flat land toward Canonville. Rex nodded, shifting his feet painfully,
Blue quail were calling to one another and they started toward the road.
from the brushy slopes, their plaintive Rex was game. Every step was torture,
da Cuckoo, ca Cuckoo being the only but he gritted his teeth and kept going.
sound to break the silence. They were both staggering before they
A lean coyote, like a gray shadow, came reached the road, and Rex was laughing
limping along past a mesquite, where he foolishly, as they sat down to gain a
stopped in the shade, his ears cocked little strength before attempting the steep
toward the sound of feeding quail. A grades.
brush rabbit rustled in the mesquite, and “I haven’t any feeling,” said Rex
the coyote shifted his head quickly. Sud¬ weakly. “My legs and arms belong to
denly he lifted his nose. Down the wind some one else, I think.”
came a scent, which he quickly associated “And your feet are all blood, Rex.”
with men who carried guns and lariat “I know. But we are out of that ter¬
ropes. More like a shadow than before, rible canon. Everything will be all right
the coyote seemed to fade out of sight now, Nan. I want to sing, but I can’t
through a convenient cover, while from a think of a single song. It is like waking
spot upwind came the soft crackling of up from an awful dream. I wonder who
brush. that man is, Nan. What was he doing in
First came the masked man, leading that canon, and why did he want to
the bay horse, with Nan in the saddle. leave me there, all tied up in that rope?
Behind them—quite a way behind them— It all seems so ridiculous—now. I have
came Rex Morgan, staggering along, look¬ never harmed any one in my life, except
ing like a rag man, or rather a man of the clothing clerk in Northport, Spike
rags. Cahill and the crazy man. And they
The masked man stopped the horse couldn’t really hold any grudge for that,
and allowed Rex to join them. because it was in self-defense. Queer
“Devil of a trip, huh?” grunted the country out here. Somebody always
man. “Well, here’s where I leave you.” trying to kill somebody else. But I like
He pointed up the slope. it, Nan.”
“About half a mile up thataway you She did not reply. After a few moments
strike the road. Turn left for Mesa he turned his head and looked at her.
City.” She was leaning against a rock, sound
Nan dismounted and stood beside asleep, her hands folded in her lap. He
Rex, while the masked man mounted sighed and shifted to a more comfortable
his horse. position.
118 W. C. TUTTLE

I T WAS nearly dark when something

awoke Rex. He lifted his head
said Nan, “when he fought with the
crazy man.”
quickly, trying to understand what it was “Did you tie him up after the fight?”
all about, trying to realize where he was. asked Hashknife.
A great, gray shape loomed over him in “We didn’t have anything to tie him
the half light, and there sounded the with,” said Rex, “but he never tried to
creak of saddle leather, the jingle of spurs. get up, you see.”
Then he heard the voice of Hashknife “Uh-huh.”
Hartley saying— The moon was up when they reached
“You poor kid, this is Hashknife.” the spot where Rex and Nah had dropped
But Hashknife wasn’t talking to him, into the canon. It silvered the hills and
he was talking to Nan. And the great, the cliffs on the opposite side of the canon.
gray shape was Ghost. “Oh, we forgot about the crazy man!”
Nan was crying and Hashknife was exclaimed Nan. “He’s still down there in
patting her on the shoulder, telling her the cave, you know, Hashknife.”
that everything was all right. Rex stag¬ “Don’t worry about him, Nan.”
gered around the horse to Hashknife, and They plodded on around the grades,
the tall cowboy put an arm around his down around the sharp turns, where the
shoulders. stage had given Rex his wild introduction
“I trailed you out of the canon,” said to the country, and on through the flat
Hashknife. “My Lord, what a trail! land to the forks of the road, where they
You’re all right now. Nan. How V you turned to the Lane ranch.
cornin’, Rex?” The ranch-house was dark.
“I don’t know,” confessed Rex weakly. “Queer isn’t it?” said Rex. “When I
“I’ve got so many sore spots that I am was asleep back there, I dreamed about
just one big ache. Are you all right, that Navaho rug. It had blood on it—
Nan?” in my dream, Hashknife.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she replied wearily. “Yeah. It ain’t on the fence down
“I must have gone to sleep, you see.” there now; somebody took it.”
^ “Well, that’s all right,” laughed Hash¬ “Oh, I’ll bet your feet are worn raw,”
knife. “I’ll boost you up on Ghost, and saidNan. “With those high heel boots on.”
we’ll head for home.” “Feet are all right. Here we are.”
He picked Nan up in his arms and Rex slid down, and Hashknife lifted
placed her in the saddle. Nan from the saddle.
“I’ll give you a leg up, Rex,” he said.
“You ride behind Nan. Ghost is broke
to ride double.”
T HE KITCHEN table was just as
Hashknife and Sleepy had left it
“But you can’t walk all the way,” pro¬ after the bullet had driven the milk can
tested Nan. between Sleepy’s eyes. Both Nan and
“Can’t I? Shucks, I could walk to the Rex were still wobbling, and they watched
modn right now.” Hashknife build a fire in the kitchen
He helped Rex on behind the saddle, Stove. He put on a big kettle of water.
and they went on up the winding grades, “I can get the meal,” said Nan. “I
while Nan told Hashknife the story of feel fine again.”
what had happened to them from the “Start in with some coffee, Nan.
time some one shot Rex’s horse until they There’s half of that pie in the oven. I
left the masked man on the mesa. could drink a pot of coffee myself. Show
“I thought you’d see the buzzards,” me where you keep your writm’ paper
said Rex. and ink, will you. Nan?”
“I seen ’em. Gosh, what an experience They found it in the drawer of the
you had.” table in the living room, along with an
“I think Rex went crazy for a while,” old pen.
 BUZZARDS 119

"You fix the coffee,” said Hashknife. “Are you run down?” queried Hash¬
“I’ve got to write a note.” knife mildly.
He placed a lamp on the table, while “Well—yeah!” snorted Sleepy. “Talk
Nan went back to the kitchen, where a little.”
Rex was removing what was left of his i Both Sleepy and Lem crowded into the
shoes. Hashknife took a folded piece of I kitchen and humped on their heels against
paper from his pocket, propped it up • the wall, while Hashknife told what he
against a book and filled his pen. knew and what Nan and Rex had told
He wrote slowly on the cheap sheet of him. The coffee pot boiled over before
paper, so slowly that it seemed he was the tale was told, but no one noticed such
copying something. His brow was knitted a small detail.
deeply, almost covering the gray eyes, as “But what’s it all about?” complained
the broken pen holder moved slowly in Lem. “There ain’t head nor tail to it.
his cramped fingers. All this crazy man in the canon, and a
Finally the document was finished to man with a mask stuff. Sounds kinda
his satisfaction and, after folding it looney to me.”
roughly, he placed it in the inside pocket “It does sound crazy,” smiled Hash¬
of his vest. The paper he had propped knife.
against the book went into a hip pocket, “Like a sheepherder’s dream,” grunted
and he got up from the table, a half smile Sleepy. “After we left you we spent
on his thin lips. about three hours tryin’ to find a way
Nan was limping around the table in down into that canon, but had to give up.
the kitchen, while Rex looked ruefully at It’s one awful place, Hashknife. I don’t
his swollen feet. sabe how you ever found a place to get in.
“I’ll have some hot water for you in a Me and Lem had an idea of tryin’ to get
few minutes, dear,” said Nan. down at the lower end, but gave it up
Rex looked up quickly at Hashknife. until we heard from you.”
It was the first time she had ever called “Where are the other boys?” asked
Rex by that title. The gray eyes shifted Hashknife.
to Nan and back to Rex. Neither of “Mesa City, gettin’ their bills wet,”
them had told Hashknife just why the grunted Sleepy. “Spike Cahill dang near
masked man had taken them out of the broke his neck in that canon. He thought
canon. Perhaps it was a subject that he could slide a hundred feet down a
neither of them cared to discuss with a thirty foot rope, but found it was too
third party. short on one end.”
Nan poured the coffee and refilled the
pot. She and Rex split the half pie, while
CHAPTER XX
Rex bathed his feet in warm water. He
INDIRECT INHERITANCE was too tired even to tell them whether

C AME the sound of running horses,

the thump of footsteps on the
the water was too hot, and Sleepy almost
cooked him with it.
“Well, what next?” asked Lem, finish¬
rickety porch, and Sleepy came stamping ing his coffee.
through the living room, while behind Hashknife shoved his cup aside and got
him came Lem Sheeley. At sight of Nan, to his feet.
Sleepy let out a joyful yelp and grabbed “I reckon we’ll go back to Mesa City,”
Hashknife by the shoulders. he said.
“Where didja find ’em?” he yelled. Sleepy eyed him closely, knowing that
“My, this is great, ain’t it? Where you something real had caused him to make
been? Look at the kid’s feet, will you? that decision. It was not merely to go
Why don’t somebody say somethin’? to town. Hashknife’s feet were too sore
All dumb, are you?” for a pleasure trip.
120 W. C. TUTTLE

“We’re with you, cowboy,” declared Adam’s apple didn’t jump sideways to
Sleepy. “My, you’re feet must be let that drink jump past.”
tender.” “His Adam’s apple ain’t so dumb,”
“Not a bit; can’t feel anythin’.” said Bert Roddy solemnly. “It knows
He turned to Nan. what it means to git in front of a runaway
“Better go to bed pretty quick, and drink of Oasis liquor. Sleepy Stevens
don’t worry any more. Fix up the kid’s says the only safe way is to drink quick,
feet the best you can, and they’ll be all and shut your mouth. He says that
right. C’mon, boys.” kinda whisky bounces.”
He limped from the house to his horse, “Where’s Sleepy?” asked a cowboy.
with the two men close behind him. “Him and Lem pulled out about an
Ghost nickered softly and rubbed his hour ago.”
muzzle against Hashknife’s vest. “What was Lem doin’ here?” asked
“Can’t travel very fast,” said Hash- Joe Cave.
knife. “That canon is shore hard on a “Prob’ly lookin’ for you,” grinned
horse. There’s places where Ghost had to Spike. “He shore did look sad. Mebbe
almost crawl on his knees. You shore he mourns his loss.”
need sky hooks and a lot of faith in the “I s’pose he does,” grinned Joe.
Almighty to make that trip.” “That’s a awful job—packin’ food to a

I T WAS rather a big night at the Oasis,

as far as the bar was concerned.
prisoner. I’m glad I quit.”
“Yea-a-ah, you quit!” flared Bert
Roddy. “You got drunk, and he fired
Morgan was helping the overworked you, Joe.”
bartender, while -Mesa City discussed Joe grimaced and reached for the
what had become of Nan and Rex. Hash- bottle.
knife, too, had not been accounted for, “I suppose that’s what Lem said.”
but Spike Cahill declared that Hashknife “Yeah, and he don’t lie,” declared
could take care of himself. Spike.
“But he never got into that canon,” Joe glared at Spike, but dropped the
said Cal Dickenson, of Dave Morgan’s argument. He had no desire to tangle
outfit. “I tell you, it can’t be done.” with that ex-6X6 gang.
“The devil it can’t!” snorted Spike. “How about a little poker,” suggested
“I was jist one inch of goin’ into it myself Dave Morgan.
today. A hondo on that rope was all that “Very little for me,” replied Dell
saved me. A inch ain’t far. Cal.” Bowen. “I’m almost broke enough to
The boys laughed with Spike. They take a job with you, Dave.”
knew just how close he had come to “That’s fine with me; I can use you.”
smashing his bones on the rocks.
Joe Cave came in from the Flying M
and joined the gang. Joe was cold sober
M ORGAN left the bar and began
arranging a check rack on one of
now, but willing to be otherwise. the tables, when Hashknife limped in,
“It’s too lonesome out there,” he told followed by Sleepy and Lem.
Morgan. “You didn’t tell me that all the “There’s the old canon crawler now!”
rest of the gang had left.” whooped Spike.
“I did, too,” said Morgan. “Mebbe Hashknife smiled thinly and looked
you was too drunk to pay any attention.” around, nodding to the men. Morgan
“Mebbe,” grinned Joe sourly. “Gimme halted with a stack of chips in his hand.
whisky.” “Just in time, Hartley,” he said.
“Whatsa matter?” asked Spike, watch¬ “Grab a seat.”
ing Joe gulp down a glass of liquor. “Is “Didja get down into the canon?”
your swallerin’ apparatus busted. I’ll asked Spike.
leave it to anybody around her, if Joe’s “I shore did,” smiled Hashknife.
 BUZZARDS 1«1

“Fr gosh sake, where? Did Sleepy choked himself to death with the rope?”
tell you the trouble we had? Where’d asked Hashknife slowly.
you get down?” “Oh, I forgot that,” said Bert. “He
“Morgan showed me the place.” couldn’t have done all that. Hartley.”
All eyes were turned to Dave Morgan. “Sounds foolish,” said Dave Morgan.
He placed his chips on the table and “The body is down there in a cave to
looked at Hashknife. prove it.”
“Did you foller me down?” he asked “Oh, I’m not disputin’ your word.
easily. Hartley.”
“I did.” “And last night,” said Hashknife
“Well, I’ll be darned. After you boys slowly, “somebody shot Rex Morgan’s
left here, I got an idea that there might horse on the Coyote Canon grade, while
be a place to get down; so I rode down him and Nan Lane was ridin’ to Cafion-
and tried it. I never knew anybody was ville. They kept shootin’, and drove the
follerin’ me. Sure, I got down. But I kid and the girl over the edge, where they
couldn’t get anywhere; so I went north slid all the way to the bottom. God only
agin’, and finally gave it up.” knows how they lived. I reckon they had
Hashknife’s eyes narrowed slightly. a hell of a time. Briggs was down there,
He knew that the falling stone in the crazy as a loon. He stuck ’em up with a
canon had warned Morgan. gun and took the girl to a cave; but the
“I see,” he said thoughtfully. “That’s kid follered and whipped Briggs, knockin’
how I missed your trail down there. But him out cold. I reckon it bumped Briggs’
I found a way through.” head pretty hard, ’cause he didn’t wake
“The devil you did!” exploded Spike. up the last they saw of him. But they
"What’d you find?” never roped him.”
Hashknife’s eyes traveled slowly over Hashknife paused to let this soak in.
the crowd.
“I found a blue roan 6X6 horse, with a “ VT'OU MEAN there was somebody else
saddle on it. The buzzards found it first, X down there?” asked Lem hoarsely.
but there was enough left.” “A masked man,” said Hashknife.
“Blue roan?” queried Bert Roddy. “He choked Briggs to death with the rope
Was it Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs’ blue and then brought them two kids out to
roan?” the south mesa, where he left ’em. I
“I think so, Bert.” found ’em down there, all fagged out, and
“Where’s old Briggs?” demanded Mor¬ brought ’em home.”
gan. “I want to get my hands on that “What maskes^man?” demanded Dave
old thief. He opened that safe—” Morgan. “Talk sense.”
“Briggs is dead,” interrupted Hash- “The man who shot Rex Morgan’s
knife. “He had been all battered up, horse last night. The same man who
and I think a bullet had scored his head. shot Noah Evans on the porch of the Lane
I found him down there in a cave, with a ranch-house, Morgan—shot him, thinkin’
tight rope around his neck—jist buzzard it was the tenderfoot kid. The same man
bait.” who fired a shot through the window at
For several moments there was silence, the Lane ranch-house last night and
broken bv Spike’s— almost killed Sleepy Stevens.”
“My God!" “There’s been quite a lot goin’ on
Sleepy moved back slightly, his right around here, it seems to me,” said Joe
hand brushing over his gun butt. Cave, laughing shortly.
“He was drunk when he left here,” “But your explanation don’t tell us any¬
said Bert Roddy. “He must ’a’ rode off thin’,” said Dave Morgan, stepping away
the grade. Poor old Briggs.” from the table.
“Do you think he shot himself and then “It told me quite a lot,” said Hashknife.
122 W. C. TUTTLE

“But there’s more to it than that, folks. Morgan went to his knees, blindly
Did any of you examine the spot where groping for the gun which had fallen from
Peter Morgan was killed? Well, you his nerveless hand, but Hashknife kicked
might ’a’ been surprised. There wasn’t it aside, and Morgan sprawled on his face.
any blood spilled. Peter Morgan was They flung Cave in a chair, and Lem
dead long before he came to that place. handcuffed him, while Cave cursed them
And the man or men who brought him bitterly.
there, killed him in the 6X6 ranch-house
on a Navaho rug, which has a lightenin’ O NE OF the men ran for the doctor,
but Lem turned Morgan over to dis¬
mark on it. To remove the blood, they
took rug and all with ’em. And when cover that a doctor was not needed.
they was gettin’ away, that tenderfoot Hashknife patted Sleepy on the back and
kid rode in on ’em, and they popped him leaned against the bar.
over the head. They thought they had “Dead, is he?” gritted Joe Cave.
killed him, and took him along to the “You’re lucky not to be with him,”
Lane ranch. They sunk the rug in the said Spike nervously.
creek. And when they knew we had “Like hell I am! Why didn’t he live
found the rug—they stole it.” long enough to tell the truth? Nobody
The men were all staring at Hashknife, will believe me. Dave killed Pete. I
whose face was drawn, lips almost white. was out there with him. He didn’t go
“Cave!” he snapped. “You made a to kill him; he went to borrow money. I
mistake this mornin’. You should have wasn’t even in the house. He wouldn’t
been just as drunk outside of town as lend Dave money; so Dave killed him,
you was in it.” I don’t know how Hartley knows so much
Joe Cave flinched, as if some one had about it. Dave wanted to lay the blame
seared him with a hot iron. on Lane; so we took the body there.
“You’ve got mask marks on your face. We didn’t know who that kid was, but
Cave!” Hashknife’s voice snapped like a Dave said to take him along. I shot
whip. Noah Evans by mistake. Dave promised
With a jerk of his hand, Cave started to give me this saloon for helpin’ him.
to reach for his face, but sagged back He wanted to git rid of that tenderfoot,
against the bar. and yesterday we had a quarrel about it.
“And you made a mistake, Morgan,” I was afraid he’d kill me as soon as I done
whispered Hashknife. “Why didn’t you his dirty work. I shot the kid’s horse on
kill Briggs on flat ground, so you could the grade, and I swiped the rug, jist
search him, instead of, shooting him off before I shot through the winder. And
the grade into the canon, where you that’s all the truth.”
couldn’t get at him? He had somethin’ “And Dave Morgan robbed Pete’s safe,
in his pocket that you needed bad.” didn’t he?” asked Spike.
Joe Cave was the first to act. As he “Sure did. He was worried about a
sagged back against the bar, his right will. He thought old Briggs knowed too
hand flashed down to his gun. He was much; so he waylaid Briggs on the
trapped. Morgan’s gun was coming out Coyote Canon grade. But Briggs went
like a flash, but his bullet ripped into the into the canon.”
floor, echoing the crash of Sleepy’s .45. “What did you go down there for to¬
Cave sprang away from the bar, scream¬ day?” asked Hashknife.
ing a curse, with Spike Cahill clinging like “To see what happened. I know that
grim death to his gun hand. Lem shot canon like a book.”
across the space, knocking the table aside, “And you choked Briggs?”
and threw one arm around Cave’s neck, “You found him, didn’t you. No use
shutting off his wind, while Spike tore of me lyin’.”
away the gun. “Well, for God’s sake!” blurted Lem.
 BUZZARDS 123

“Old Man Lane ain’t guilty a-tall.” nothing much but a buzzard or a lion can
“But who tied Pete on the horse?” git, you can sabe how bad she wanted
asked Lem. “That part of it ain’t ex¬ him.”
plained.” “And that’s why you brojight ’em out,
“Nan and Rex,” said Hashknife. “They Joe?”
found the body in the corral and wanted “Wasn’t that enough?”
to get rid of it. That’s what made me
sure Paul Lane never killed him, Lem.
If he had, he’d have hid the body—not
T HE DOCTOR came and made an
examination of Dave Morgan’s body.
left it there to cinch him for murder. If He did not even open his black bag.
there hadn’t been any more shootin’, I The crowd wanted more explanation.
might have believed Old Man Lane Hashknife drew a folded paper from his
guilty; but there was too much shootin’ inside vest pocket and handed it to Lem,
goin’ on. The fact that Dave Morgan who read it, while the crowd leaned in
would inherit the 6X6 made me suspect over his wide shoulders to see what it was
him; but he couldn’t do it all alone. He all about. It read:
had to have help, but I didn’t know who
This is mi last will—when im ded.
to suspect. I never thought of Joe Cave,
until Lem fired him for bein’ drunk.” To Mary Morgan, mi legil wife i hearby
“Wasn’t anythin’ about that, was leave the 6X6 ranch and everything on it.
there?” asked Lem. i don’t leave nuthing to Dave Morgan cause
he dont diserve it.
“A puncher,” said Hashknife slowly,
“don’t usually get drunk that early in the If Mary dyes it goes to her nearist kin.
momin’, and they don’t usually take a To Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs i hearby give
the Oasis saloon he aint got no branes so he
chance on losin’ a good job. It kinda will have to give Jack Farewether a job as
looked to me as though Joe wanted to lose long as the saloon keeps open. This is mi
that job; so I rode out of town to see how
he acted after he got away from town.
—Peter Morgan
He sobered up too quick. He had to be
his X mark
fired in order to make it look right. You
see, he was due to take over this saloon.” P. S. wrote bi Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs
oct 18 1904 because Pete Morgan cant
“Morgan said you ought to be killed,”
wright.
said Joe wearily.
“What did you and Morgan quarrel Len read it aloud to the men. Spike
about down in the sheriff’s office, Joe?” Cahill examined it closely, handing it
“Did you hear that, too? He wanted back to Lem.
me to go out to the ranch and kill Rex “That’s old Briggs’ writin’, he declared.
Morgan. I was gettin’ scared. But I “I’d know it among a million.”
wanted this saloon. I heard them cornin’ The other boys agreed with Spike.
on the grade; so I let ’em past before I “That’s it,” said Bert Roddy. “I
shot. I never missed so bad before, but know how he writes his name. But where
the light was awful bad. is Pete’s wife? Nobody around here
“Just one thing more. Cave,” said knows he ever had a wife.”
Hashknife. “When you had a chance “The tenderfoot is her son,” said Hash¬
down there, why didn’t you kill the knife. “We can prove it, can’t we, Lem?"
tenderfoot?” The big sheriff nodded quickly.
Joe sighed and looked at the handcuffs. “Somebody wired him when his wife
“I was a fool,” he said slowly. “I don’t died. We got a copy of the telegram.”
sabe women. This ’n said she wanted “Pete never got it,” said Joe Cave.
the tenderfoot so bad that she’d rather “It came to the post office, and Dave
stay with him than git out alone. And claimed it. He knowed that the kid was
if you’ve ever been down there, where Pete’s son.”
124 W. C. TUTTLE

“Well, it’s all perfectly clear now,” said “And I—I own the 6X6?” asked Rex
Lem. “Ready to take a ride, Joe?” foolishly.
“It ain’t because I’m ready, Lem. “You shore do!” exclaimed Spike.
Better get me a fresh horse. I had to “It’s your ranch, kid.”
circle and go across the river to get back Rex blinked at them foolishly.
from that mesa.” “And Peter Morgan was my father?
It was he who sent that check to my
“TET’S all go down and congratulate mother?”
■L' the tenderfoot,” suggested Spike, “I reckon it was Briggs,” said Hash¬
and when Lem took his prisoner to knife. “Peter Morgan didn’t want any¬
Canonville, there were nine other riders, body to know; so he had Briggs send the
who accompanied them to the forks of checks.”
the road. “Was he ashamed of my mother?”
They rode up to the ranch-house and “I dunno. We’ll never know, Rex;
trooped inside, where they found Rex they’re both gone. You be content with
humped down in a rocking chair, his feet what he left you.”
bandaged. Nan was in her room, but Rex nodded dumbly. He could hardly
the uproar awoke her and she peered out understand his great fortune. The boys
at the crowd. came and shook hands with him. • They
Spike was hammering Rex on the back all wanted to shake hands with Nan, but
and trying to shake hands with him at she had slipped away to her room. The
the same time, while the bewildered Rex boys filed out of the house, mounted their
was trying to puzzle out what it was all horses and headed back to Mesa City.
about. Hashknife yawned wearily and started
“Put on a blanket and come out, for the door.
Nan,” advised Hashknife. “This gang “Hashknife,” said Rex slowly, “I don’t
won’t take no for an answer.” understand anything. I know you are the
Nan wrapped herself in a gaudy blanket one responsible for all this good fortune,
and came out timidly. She looked like a but I can’t think of just what to say.
very little and very tired Indian. If, as you say, the 6X6 belongs to me, will
“You tell ’em, Hashknife,” said Spike. you take charge of it? I don’t know any¬
“It’s too long a tale to tell now,” said thing about it. I’d like to hire all those
Hashknife, “but it amounts to this. Nan. boys.”
Your father will be turned loose tomor¬ “Well, I dunno. Might work out that-
row. Dave Morgan killed Pete Morgan, way, Rex. We’ve got to put up our
who was the father of Rex. We’ve cleared horses now.”
that all up. Dave Morgan is dead, and I He and Sleepy stabled their mounts and
found the will that gives Rex the 6X6. gave them a meal of oats. As they closed
“You mean—my dad is free?” asked the stable door, Sleepy said—
Nan. “How much of that will is true, Hash¬
“Jist as soon as they can unlock the knife?”
jail, Nan.” “How much?” Hashknife hesitated for
She stood there in front of them, the several moments.
blanket tucked up around her chin, cry¬ “Your fingers are all stainedjwi thin k,
ing. There was no effort to hide the cowboy.”
tears. The cowboys turned away. Hashknife chuckled softly.
“Oh!” snorted Spike. “Some day, you’ll be a detective.
“What are you kickin’ about?” growled Sleepy. C’mere.”
Bert. They backed against the stable, where
“Somebody stepped on my foot.” Hashknife took a crumpled piece of paper
“Ain’t been anybody within six feet from his hip pocket. He scratched a
of you.” match and held the paper for Sleepy
 BUZZARDS 125

to read. The writing was identical with to marry a danged sweet young lady,
that of the other will, but read: and don’t know anythin’ about his pater¬
nal ancestor, why not start him off right,
This is mi last will—when im ded. as far as his father is concerned?”
To Mary Morgan, legal wife of Dave “That’s right,” said Sleepy softly..
Morgan i hearby give the 6X6 ranch to own. “It don’t hurt nobody. Look at that,
i dont give nothing to Dave Morgan he will you?”
dont deserve it. Silhouetted against the ranch-house
If Mary dyes it goes to her nearist kin. window were two figures, about a foot
To Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs I hearby apart. One figure greatly resembled a
give the Oasis saloon he aint got no branes blanketed Indian, the other a scarecrow,
so he will have to give Jack Farewether a
with rags dangling from its arms, making
job as long as the saloon keeps open. This
is mi onely will. Yrs Respy queer motions.
—Peter Morgan Sleepy laughed softly.
his X mark “Look at him, will you? He’s probably
P. S. wrote bi Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs tellin’ her in good English what he’s
oct 18 1904 because Pete Morgan cant goin’ to do with the 6X6. Betcha he
wright. ain’t even kissed her. Hashknife, thai

H ASHKNIFE was obliged to light a

second match before Sleepy could
feller is almost dumb enough to make a
good cowpuncher.”
Suddenly the figures blended, and
finish reading the document, and as Hashknife turned his back, as he fumbled
Sleepy straightened up with a soft whistle for his cigaret papers.
of astonishment, Hashknife touched the “Not so dumb,” he said slowly.
match to a corner of the paper and they “Well, that one is over,” chuckled
watched it bum to crinkly ashes. Sleepy.
“I wrote that other will. Sleepy,” said “Good. Now, I can heat some water
Hashknife slowly. “It works out the and soak my blisters.”
same way, as far as the property is con¬ They pulled their hats low over their
cerned. But when a young man is slated eyes and headed for the kitchen door.
 It cost the Crown hut a few cents, hut the gold
of the world could not huy it”

For Valour
By FRANK RICHARDSON PIERCE

T he or¬
derly
And Sir Guy.
just home from
departed; a big game ex¬
Sir Guy would be pedition in the
alone for ten min¬ provinces, had
utes. Reverently promised his
he picked up the father he would
Victoria Cross, be in the thick of
pinned it beside a it. But those in
number of med¬ command re*
als on his breast membered his
and stepped astute strategy
to a mirror. during annual
It was a beauti¬ maneuvers and
ful thing of ordered him to
bronze, crimson duty well behind
ribbon and the the lines. He
simple, eloquent cursed them
letters, “For Val¬ roundly to their
our”. It cost the faces, then apol¬
Crown but a few ogized and threw
cents, but the himself into the
gold of the world assignment.
could not buy it. And now they
His grandfather had given him
fought in the the Victoria
Crimean War and almost won it; and died Cross to pin on the breast of a halfbreed
believing the next in line would win this youth from the provinces. Slowly he.
most coveted order in British military removed the decoration. It did not
service. But fortune had denied Sir Guy’s belong on his breast. He had not won
father the honor and he died as the first it, but he had gratified in small measure
shots of the World War were fired. the desire to see how it looked on his
“But Guy will win it,” the old knight breast. No one had witnessed his action;
whispered as he was passing. “It’s in the no harm done.
blood to be in the thick of it—fight or “Damn it! If they’d give me a day or
frolic. Blood tells! Blood always tells two in the thick of it I might . . .”
in fight or frolic!” He was too big; too broad to envy any
146
 FOR VALOUR 127

man, yet what knight-worthy the dubbing returned with one of the finest bags ever
would not have exchanged places with brought to England. The men were big.
humble Corporal Joseph Tench, the capable, fearless fellows; the squaws fat
breed boy from the provinces? It would and solemn; the maids afire with life and
be an honor to pin the V. C. on so heroic color. He recalled Nakota, a princes^'in
a breast and to salute the man. bearing, copper in color.
On the field the men were forming rank And this corporal from that remote land
on rank to honor one of their number. Sir had displayed the leadership of a chief¬
Guy sensed rather than heard the thunder tain, had so handled his men and machine
of their marching feet. Providence had guns that an army corps paused and hell
been kind. He had been granted wealth was unleashed. Only the corporal lived,
and honor among men, yet the priceless and he fought them alone for a half hour.
gift of children had been denied him. The deed stirred Sir Guy to the depths.
“When I die,” he said aloud, “blood It was the sort of row he would have en¬
that has been in the thick of it for genera¬ joyed. The aide interrupted him:
tions will cease.” “Corporal Tench requested his part be
He began to pace the room. overlooked, sir, and the crosses be sent to
“If I had a son . . .” the mothers of the men who died. He
He did not finish, but the picture was said that squaws are mothers, sir! Said
there, for the line was alike—steel blue it in a way . . .”
eyes, jaw that was peculiarly square, a “Exactly!”
daring smile, a strange blending of utter And this Corporal Tench had made it
recklessness and caution. But it was the known he wished Sir Guy to decorate him
jaw and smile that stamped the blood. —if they insisted on the decoration.
He was proud of his line. The women Somehow the knight was touched. He
were beautiful and loyal; the men fought, remembered Nakota again. It was pos¬
played, loved and died. sible her son—she was beautiful and
“Before God! I’d sell my soul for a doubtless married—was in the thick of it;
son in the thick of it!” had died in action. He could picture her
It seemed as if every man but himself grief, alone on the river bank.
had a son at the front: superiors, subordi¬
nates, equals. Even the dried up little
chap who wrote his letters fathered three
T HE RANKS of men became a setting
for the single man who had suddenly
youths in the thick of it. stepped before him—Corporal Joseph
The rumble of marching feet ceased; an Tench. Steel blue eyes met steel blue
aide knocked, entered and smartly saluted. eyes; such eyes are rare among natives;
The escort was waiting. Sir Guy experi¬ a peculiarly square jaw opposed a pecu¬
enced a strange thrill as he stepped into liarly square jaw, and the aide noticed Sir
place; an instinctive feeling that he faced Guy falter and almost drop the medal
an unusual situation. He had decorated which three generations had coveted.
men before, but this was the first time he With an effort Sir Guy recovered a de¬
had been given the honor of pinning the gree of self-control. His nervous fingers
V. C. on a man’s breast. And what a pinned the medal on the corporal's
man this Corporal Tench must be! breast; rigidly he stepped back and sa¬
The incident was fresh in his mind. luted. And then . . .
The company had been wiped out but for A thousand men speculated on why this
a platoon in command of a corporal. The native’s deed should prove so moving.
platoon was composed exclusively of na¬ Sir Guy gathered the youth to his breast,
tives and breeds from the Yukon and kissed him after the manner of the French
Pelly River country. Sir Guy was fami¬ officers, then with upturned face breathed
liar with the type. He had hunted in the a prayer to his God while knightly tears
district twenty-three years before and fell on the bronze and ribbon of the V. C.
 A STORY OF

KO-BO
the
CROCODILE
“Kroon has always called himself a
great hunter,” Blay began. “When he is
in his right mind he always says he is
afraid of nothing that man can see or
hear. When he is half-full of rice wine he
is ready to kill an elephant with his bare
hands; but when he is filled up with rice
wine he forgets to brag and goes to sleep.”
Blay told the story in long loving repe?
titions of detail. How the egregious
Kroon snored and mumbled in his drunk¬
en sleep, and the charming picture h$

H E HATES me,” said Blay, son of

Tu-op, “as the crocodile hates
made lying full length in the mud of the
river bank, were minutely described. It
was to the river that Blay dragged him,
the monkey.” an impudent liberty to take with any man
His father grinned. They were squat¬ who had passed into the dreams of alco¬
ting in the smoky, flame-reddened dusk of hol; and he left him there with his face'
the corner of the house, and Tu-op pulled toward the brown water.
tranquilly at his pipe. While the other pakams of Ban Dong
“And for the same reason?” he asked. grinned and watched, Blay ran upstream
The question hinted at a story so vastly to where, just beyond the village stock¬
improper that it could only be told in the ade, he had moored the limp body of a
Moi language and probably no one but a dead crocodile. The monster, which Blay
jungle villager could fully appreciate it. himself had captured and killed the day
“I made a fool of him,” said Blay, “as before, was towed down to the place where
the monkey made a fool of Ko-bo, but it the unconscious Kroon was lying. His
was in a different way.” awakening had to take place in full sigh^
Tu-op knew the story. It would be of all the village. Within a foot of Kroon’s
difficult for anything of that sort to hap¬ face the crocodile’s jaws were propped
pen in Ban Dong without coming to Tu- open and his forelegs were stretched out
op’s inquisitive old ears. But he allowed in a vague semblance of life.
his son to go on and tell it, for it did the It was a great joke, of course, when
boy honor and one can never hear too Kroon awoke. He did not see his friends
much of such things. perched around in trees and all along the
INDO-CHINA

By
Lyman Bryson

bank. He yawned and rubbed his eyes

and opened them upon the vision of a
crocodile’s gullet. For a moment at least
he was not a great hunter. He shrieked
in abject fright and curled back from the
thing like a startled cat. His bronze
cheeks were bloodless and his knees bent
under him when he tried to'rise and rim.
It was a long moment before the de¬
lighted shouts of men and women and
children all around brought him to. Then,
of course, he tried hard to brave it out.
He kicked the propped crocodile over with
a bare foot and waved his arms in wrath. “Enjoy him while you can,” he said,
“Go back to your master, Ko-bo,” he “but remember, my son, that he is himself
shouted. “Tell him I eat dead beasts that like Ko-bo. Kroon is of the crocodile
are clean. And only live beasts can eat breed. Kroon knows how to lie in wait—
me.” v in the mud if necessary, until he gets his
He marched off in very solemn dignity chance.”
while the shouts of the audience went joy¬ “And the monkey swings on the vines
ously after him and echoed in the forest. and jeers him, doesn’t he?” demanded
And in the smoky shadows of Tu-op’s Blay confidently. “He cannot hurt me.”
house, where Blay’s own family and the “Watch the mud,” Tu-op cautioned.
family from which he sprang lived to¬ “Sometimes it comes alive and bites.”
gether in filial amity, the reminiscent
laughter of Blay re-echoed. II
He went on to recall the equally splen¬
did fact that he had been challenged by
the humiliated Kroon to a wrestling match
I T WAS impossible to tell what might be
brewing in the resentful mind of
and had thrown Kroon so hard against the Kroon. He had always been surnamed
baked dirt of the village street that the “The Surly”, and his truculence did not
challenger suffered a crippled shoulder for betray how much he felt this new chagrin.
a month. He kept out of Blay’s way and poked at
Tu-op’s own laughter was milder and his own rice field with a sharp stick and
died in an old man’s wheeze. in public kept his own counsel. It was a
189
130 LYMAN BRYSON

quiet season in Ban Dong. The men had great price for saving their lives in the
nothing to do but watch the ill-tended rice deep jungle.”
grow scantily in the clearings. The wo¬ Old Irap grinned.
men had only to weave and bake and cook “He is my daughter’s husband and I
and carry and tend their babies and humor also know his temper. He will return safe
their husbands. Quarrels grow easily in and we shall feel no shame for him.”
such a season, unless there is hunting or “Shame? For my son?” Tu-op spat in
war or something else to make men forget contemptuous assurance.
their smallest troubles. It was in the midst of one of these sol¬
But two explorers from Saigon, two of emnly cheerful exchanges that they saw
those queer pale faced men with black the lost one coming down the village
hair on their chins, came by Ban Dong one street. He was whole and happy. He
morning with their smala and asked for greeted them with an upflung arm and a
guides. There were four candidates for shout. He carried something very care¬
the work. Rather incredible promises of fully in a long bag. He was alone.
payment at the end of the journey brought Neither his father nor the father of his
out that response. Blay was chosen, as a woman relaxed any dignity in greeting the
matter of course; but when the French¬ returned hero. They blinked at him sol¬
men said they would take Kroon as Blay’s emnly, embraced him with ceremonious
partner there was shaking of heads. Tu- restraint and permitted him to ask re¬
op did no more than caution his son spectful questions about his home and
curtly. how things had progressed in his absence.
“Remember, you have said he hates you Then, as was decent, he came to matters
as a crocodile hates his enemy. Keep an of his own.
eye on the mud where he can hide.” “Look!” he commanded, and pulled a
So Kroon and Blay, watching each fistful of glittering circles out of his bag.
other like two panthers and hiding their They were copper rings, shining like rings
hostility only from the Frenchmen—who of moonshine on the river, ornaments
see little enough of anything—set off to enough for the arms of several generations
guide the exploring smala into the wilder¬ of sons and daughters. Tu-op so far for¬
ness. The moon grew full and withered got himself as to jump up and down at
away again, twice. Tu-op found his son’s Blay’s side as he conducted him toward
wife mourning the departed one on a their own house, like a rheumy old pony
bright warm evening of changing weather that feels the spring.
and had to chastise her out of her melan¬ His women folks were not so restrained
choly. He beat her very gently. He and they shrieked with joy over his riches.
knew Blay would return and it was un¬ “And did Kroon also get as splendid
seemly to vex the gods of the forest with pay as this?” asked his grandmother spite¬
this uncalled-for grief, but he also missed fully, after they were calm again.
the boy and wondered why he was so long “Certainly, the Frenchmen were just to
absent. both of us. What do Kroon’s people think
The air of gloomy foreboding that fell of it?” Blay said.
on his own household was insupportable, Kroon was not yet home, they told him.
but his discipline was futile against it. He “Not yet home?” cried Blay. “He left
took to spending the late afternoon hours me three days ago in the brush. He would
with Irap—also old enough for wisdom— not come with me any farther and I trav¬
and they sat in Irap’s doorway and reas¬ eled slowly because there was hunting—”
sured themselves by trying to guess what Certainly Kroon had not come home,
great glory Blay would bring back with nor did he come. Seven sunsets, then ten,
him. the Ban Dong people waited, and there
“He is my son,” said Tu-op, “and I was no sign of him. Blay went over to
know he will make the Frenchmen pay a Kroon’s house w here he did not expect to
 KO-BO THE CROCODILE 131

be welcome and took his copper arm rings to stumble over him. Whenever any one
with him. approached, Tu-op growled at him.
“Be happy,” he said to Kroon’s wife “Keep away! The wise old man is
who scowled down at him from the top of much occupied.”
the ladder. “When Kroon comes he will So at the end of the second hour the
bring you a treasure like this for the great¬ chief told him to come up. What was his
ness of your family.” business?
He meant to quiet her natural uneasi¬ “The wife of Kroon the Surly has lost
ness. But Kroon’s woman spat words out her mind,” said Tu-op, “and in her rav¬
at him that made Blay put his hand on ings she has excited her family. Now they
his knife and roar back at her for silence. all believe that Blay, my son, is in some
“Murderer!” screamed Kroon’s woman. way to blame—”
“Murderer! He trusted himself in the “I know all this,” said the old chief.
brush with you—alone—and with treas¬ “Is it possible?” Tu-op was astonished.
ure. Tell me where you hid him when “Do you know also that a man of Kroon’s
you killed him! Tell me where his body kin came to my house with foolish talk
was left to the birds . . .” about a summons—”
People came running to hear her from “I sent him,” said the chief.
neighboring houses. Tu-op smote his forehead.
“The woman is crazy with waiting for “Impossible! You sent that swine to
her husband,” said Blay when he found me, O wise old man?”
he could not still her clamoring. The old chief shuffled his useless crip¬
He noticed there were some among pled feet and spat uneasily.
them, the pakams who had been mates of “Make an end, Tu-op,” he said. “They
Kroon, who did not shake their heads in started home together laden with treasure
agreement. A dull murmur, unfriendly and Blay came in alone. How can I re¬
and suspicious, came from the edges of the fuse to try him by the bidouway?"
crowd. “So let it be,” said Tu-op, “and the
“Is there any man who wishes to ques¬ trial must start when the kinsman of
tion me?” he asked, facing them. Kroon can bring in his body to show that
No one answered. But that night they harm came to him.”
took the woman before the old chief to “The trial will begin tomorrow, Tu-op”.
make her accusation, and the next morn¬ “Behold the justice of Ban Dong!” cried
ing the old chief sent a sneering friend of the old hunter bitterly. “A man is ac¬
Kroon’s family with a message for Tu-op. cused and tried when his accusers can not
Would he surrender his son to be tried for even prove that the crime was done.”
murder or should they come and take He rose and took his leave ceremonially.
him? He paid no attention to a mumbled re¬
Tu-op did not answer a messenger who mark of his chief that a guilty man would
came in that spirit. Instead of speaking, certainly be clever enough to hide.his vic¬
he made a sign to his son to rest where he tim away in the forest.
was and went off to the old chiefs house
slowly, thinking hard. The old chief had Ill
his reasons for not wanting to see Tu-op
just then, chief of them being a natural
desire not to struggle with a prickly argu¬
N EXT day the men of Ban Dong sat
in sweaty silence and heard the old
ment. chief sing the chants of the bidouway, the
But when the chief sent out word to the ancient law which tells how men who are
old pakam that he was very much occu¬ brothers in the tribe must protect each
pied, Tu-op grunted noncommitally and other against the common enemy and
sat down at the foot of the ladder where when they have grievances against each
any one who went in or out would have other must not take revenge and punish-
182 LYMAN BRYSON

ment into their own hands. Kroon and Instantly his grandmother and his wife
Blay were protectors of each other in the set up a great cry. His stepmother began
brush, the old chief said, and Kroon had to weep silently because she loved him
not returned. and had been hoping bravely that he
There were pakams in the crowd who would not be condemned. Tu-op, his
sympathized with Blay, but none who did father, stepped up to him and put a hand
not believe he had taken summary action on his shoulder. Only those who stood
against an old enemy because he had had near heard what Tu-op said, and to them
a chance. They respected him for his it meant nothing.
manly slaying. They did not believe his “Ko-bo the crocodile,” he whispered,
cry of innocence. His punishment should “hides in the mud.”
be very light, they thought, and he should So Blay the valiant was put in a cage
soon be forgiven and set free again. like a savage ape for the women to mock
Kroon was a worthless, disagreeable and at, and the disgrace fell heavily on his
cantankerous person. The tribe, even family. Tu-op bore it with the sage wis¬
his own family, were well rid of him. dom which had helped him weather so
“Have I a right now to speak?” asked many changes of fortune. His wife tried
Blay, when they had heard him incredu¬ to comfort him.
lously and condemned him. “But I do not understand, Tu-op,” she
The old chief made a sign of permission. said to him, “what the crocodile has to do
“First,” said the young hunter proudly, with it. You spoke to our son of Ko-bo
“I will give not half of my rightful share when they led him away and last night
of the Frenchman’s payment to the wife when you were half asleep you talked.
of Kroon as you have commanded me. I I was watching the moon through the
will give her all of it. I have no use for door. It has a pleasant way of creeping
treasure which I can keep only under around the posts and questioning me
suspicion of a crime!” when I can not sleep. While I watched'
“Yah!” cried Kroon’s woman, ugly and the moon I heard you speak and you said,
avaricious in her triumph. “That is an ‘Ko-bo! Ko-bo!’ twice over—”
admission of his guilt!” “Woman,” said Tu-op, interrupting,
“Silence!” roared the chief, whose voice “I am an old man and a foolish one or I
came sometimes with thunderous vigor would not talk to the moon rays when I
from his palsied lips. “You might return am troubled. But I have lived too long
thanks to a man for giving up more than to believe that my son would kill an
the law has required.” enemy without good reason, or that, if he
Kroon’s woman shook her ugly head had good reason, he would lie. But the
and leered at Blay when he extended the ways of crocodiles are not the ways of
shining rings toward her. men.”
“Bring them to me,” she commanded. His wife shook her head sadly and won¬
Blay cast his treasure on the ground dered whether trouble perhaps might be
and turned his back on her. making the old man’s mind wander. Next
► “But my disgrace I accept with a heavy morning she was sure of it. Tu-op was
heart, O judge,” he said. “I shall keep gone. Mumbling of crocodiles, he had
the terms of the sentence in honor and taken his great knife and a handful of
faithfulness. When Kroon comes back rice wadded up in an old turban, and had
again—or proof comes that I am inno¬ slipped down his ladder before sunrise.
cent of harming him—my reward will be His wife woke early and when she saw
the greater for having submitted?” the empty mat of her lord she went to the
The chief nodded. doorway. Most of Ban Dong was still
“That is so,” he agreed. asleep. Down the main lane of the vil¬
“Then I am ready to go to prison,” lage past her house walked a mother
said Blay. monkey leading its little one by the hand,
 KO-BO THE CROCODILE 133

on the scent of its own morning meal, and and she pretended to be busy with her
watching with blinking, fierce little eyes water jug while she listened.
for a sign of human waking. At sight of “I have gone away because I have been
Tu-op’s woman the monkey showed her crazed by grief for the unjust punish¬
teeth and dashed away, dragging the ment of my son,” he said. “Do you
baby in the dirt. understand?”
The pigs under the house grunted She nodded as she stooped over the
amiably as they bestirred themselves. A water.
buffalo, comfortably wallowing in a pud¬ “Let them all know that Tu-op who
dle, was like a gray rock until an enter¬ has been half-mad all his life has gone
prising rooster mounted the ridge of the mad in earnest. Tell my mother first,
rock and crowed. The rock moved in¬ she will help spread the news,”
dignantly and the rooster went squawk¬ “But you will come back, husband?”
ing for its life. The domestic life of Ban There was a moment’s silence and then
Dong getting into action for another his whisper had a teasing note—
day. “You want me back again, woman?”
Tu-op’s wife, quick and confident in Her eyes Were on the far blue of the
her motion in spite of her limp, looked mountain toward her own people. But
about for signs of him. But she said she put into the sudden gesture of her
nothing to the other two women still hand all the faithful love of her life.
sleeping in the house. The grandmother “Yes,” she answered.
was snoring monotonously and poor Tu-op laughed quietly in his hiding
Blay’s little wife was curled tight against place.
the old woman as if needing comfort even “Do not be afraid then. I know from
in her dreams. Tu-op’s wife took her Blay where he last saw his enemy. I am
water jug and slipped down toward the going to dig in the mud.”
river. She heard a very swift, soft, brushing
Behind the far-off crest of the Yumbra sound beyond the tree.
Hills the sun was coming out of hiding. With her water pot poised skillfully,
A saffron glow behind the mountains she limped back to the house and roused
made them dark purple, clear edged but the grandmother. When the dreadful
soft as the clouds. Through the opening news was told, the last calamity of a
of the trees cut by the wide river, she house that seemed eternally smitten with
could see the mountains; she could see calamities, the old woman asked:
out of the jungle, and into the farthest “Haven’t I always said he would go
reaches of the world. Her own village, crazy sometime? It is the judgment of
where she had been a girl, was off there the gods on his head at last.”
toward the blue hill, where Tu-op had She broke out into lamentations which
found her and saved her from a savage brought half the village to her door.
elephant years and years ago. Perhaps When the news reached the chief it
if Tu-op were really gone she could find was a tale of some interest, for by that
a way to go back there again and ask time every one in Ban Dong knew that
where her mother was buried. old Tu-op, the impious, had run amok
An insistent hissing sound startled her. and had been kept from killing his whole
Then her name was called very cau¬ family only by the incredible bravery of
tiously. She could see no one. his mother. Balked in filial murders, he
“Here,” said the voice of Tu-op. had charged away into the forest and
“Come down by the big tree if you are probably would never be heard of by the
sure no one has seen you.” village again.
Very casually, she looked all about to The gods were working together, it was
to be certain they were alone, she moved remarked by Kroon’s household, to pun¬
down the bank. She could not see Tu-op ish the evil minded.
134 LYMAN BRYSON

IV than the one in the river. He climbed

down and made for that rock, a small
T U-OP, struggling alone through the
forest paths, would not have denied
mountain raising its jagged crown free
of the waving trees. Carefully, because
the accusation that he had an evil heart. hi% feet were not used to sharp stone
“A heart full of rancor and hate and pain,” edjjes, Tu-op clambered up the face of
he would have said, “like the heart of that hill until he was a hundred feet above
every other man—and full of love for his the highest tree. The treetops swayed
own also.” toward him like waves beating between
He had no clear road to the place where his refuge and the farthest bulwarks of
Blay had parted fatally with Kroon on the Yumbra.
their way home. It was half a day’s Tu-op was awed by the largeness of
travel straight toward the sun along the the world. He clung tightly with a vine
river, then two days with the sun on the root in each hand, squatting on his heels
right hand, until one came to a place and peering straight ahead of him. He
where there was an island and beyond the felt that the wind was blowing the soul
island a great square rock—shaped like out of his body; he was an old man and
an elephant’s skull, Blay said—jutting alone. He forgot Kroon and all his
into the river’s swift brown current and troubles. Blay and home and his woman
stirring a whirl pool. —all those things were vague faintly
After their quarrel, which Blay had re¬ fragrant memories. He trembled a little
counted to his father very vaguely be¬ and closed his eyes in dizziness.
cause when he tried to tell about it his When he opened his eyes he kept his
neck swelled and his brave heart choked immobility for a moment and looked
him, Kroon had taken his weapons and slowly around. Beside his left hand,
his copper treasures and gone around that coiled with exquisite neatness on a ledge
great rock. That would be in the direc¬ of rock, was a coral-colored snake. Its
tion away from the mountain. narrow, diamond-shaped head was weav¬
Tu-op traveled more slowly than his ing slowly and its scarlet tongue flicked at
boy, but his stout old legs trotted through him.
the open along the river and scrambled Only Tu-op’s eyes moved. His right
through the brush, bringing him to the hand took a stronger hold on the thick
great rock early on the third day. He root supporting him; his left hand was
came upon it suddenly around a bend of jerked back. The snake struck at noth¬
the stream. The place was peaceful now. ing. Tu-op was swung clear away on the
The only living thing on the rock was a other side. He killed the venomous thing
green bird which balanced there like a methodically with a stone and came back
jewel spreading its glories in the tranquil to his workday mood.
sunlight. He looked out over the forest in every
Tu-op rested. He sat like a lizard and direction. Off toward the sunset there
studied the rock as if the bare gnarled was one almost invisible sign. A haze,
foot of Kroon the Surly might have been not much more than a thickening of the
expected to leave a footprint in the stone. air, showed where there must be smoke.
But when he had rested awhile he slapped Tu-op climbed down and set off without
a little of the weariness out of his leg any guide but his sense of space and direc¬
muscles and went up a tree with agile tion through the thickest tangle of the
monkey-cunning. From the upper fronds brush.
of his areca palm he surveyed the level When he came to the village late the
green top of the forest, but it was like afternoon of that day he walked boldly
a swimmer trying to see the ocean by to the gate in the stockade that guarded
lifting his head out of water. its little cluster of stilted huts and made
He did find a limestone rock, bigger a sign of friendliness.
 KO-BO THE CROCODILE 135

They asked him suspiciously who he He kept listening for hunting parties in
was and where he was going and Tu-op the brush and at every turn in the path
replied that he was an old man without his sharp old eyes darted from side to
a home—the last man in his village, he side, examining every vine and twig for
said, and from a place many days journey a trap.
to the south. Where was he going? He If this village was at peace with all its
might stay there—if they wanted him. neighbors all was safe. If not, some in¬
Well, they didn’t want him. There were nocent looking liana strung across the
no diplomatic parleyings about that. path, ankle-high, might loosen a bent-
They were not fond of wandering strang¬ back sapling which would crush him, or
ers and their most recent experience, they it might release a heavy pointed log that
didn’t mind saying, had not changed would drop down on him from the thick
their opinions much. treetops. Tu-op was exploring what was
Tu-op looked stupidly uninterested. to him an unknown and dangerous coun¬
The last stranger passing that way had try. There was no commerce between
stayed for a week and they had been kind the Ban Dong tribe and these villages,
to him, but he was so surly they had been and hunting expeditions always give other
compelled to drive him out. Tu-op, they settlements in the jungle a wide berth.
said, had better stay outside the stock¬ He came to a place where several small
ade. They could give him food and trails converged in one wide one. Just
water. ahead of him across the wide path was a
“And am I to go somewhere else to find barrier, a fragile bamboo pole breast-high
a home?” asked Tu-op, looking very in the notches of two opposite bushes. It
feeble and tired. was a tribal boundary line and it meant
He might go where the other stranger that the village beyond was dieng—closed
had gone, they said. Tu-op looked at to strangers. He did not pause however;
them timidly and showed no interest in he only increased his caution.
that suggestion. Couldn’t he stay there? Three or four yards farther on he
Then they all pressed around him and stopped again, checking his step midway
told him to go on, by all means, to the with one, foot upraised in the air, like a
village where the other man had gone. stalking cat. The path ahead of him was
It was three days’ fast journey straight perfectly silent. The green shadow was
south. He could easily make it and they flecked with spots of light where the sun
would— broke through the tangles overhead.
Tu-op looked much abused. He showed The air was scarcely moving and, be¬
no interest whatever in following the cause of the utter stillness of the place,
other stranger. What had he to do with it had that smell of dying things which is
surly men? He told them he would go sometimes in the breath of the forest—
north until he found men who knew what an exhalation from the loam of dying
hospitality was. When he had gone a leaves and flowers. Tu-op sniffed. His
mile north he circled and went south as eye was on a single round leaf lying al¬
fast as he could go. most in the middle of the path. Other
leaves were all along the edges of the
V trail. Something in the position of this

I T WAS part of Tu-op’s nature to in¬

dulge in mystifications and ruses,
one and the manner in which it had been
broken from its stem made him draw
back, stoop over it and lift it carefully
which were only doubtfully necessary, with the point of his knife.
whenever he met strangers; and he did Underneath, just showing above the
not expect others to be any more simple dirt, was the sharp point of a sliver of
than himself. He approached the new bamboo, set in the ground. On the nib
village, a large place, with great caution. of it was a dark poison-stain. Tu-op
136 LYMAN BRYSON

grunted and replaced the leaf. There¬ When Kroon the Surly, decorated like
after he went more slowly and his eyes a great chief, saw the cringing Tu-op
watched all sides of the trail, above and brought before his seat, he did not recog¬
along the ground. When a man barred nize him as an enemy. He refused to
his way farther on and shouted an angry look at him or recognize him at all. When
challenge, he showed no surprize but they pressed him to decide what they
squatted where he was and stuck his own should do with this stranger he said it
knife in the ground in token of peace. didn’t matter—but he should not be al¬
He was an old man, he said, wandering lowed to escape. He should be kept for
friendless and alone, very tired and future investigation. Tu-op was led out
hungry. of his presence and no one but Kroon
“Yahhhh!” snarled the sentry. “The himself saw a gleam of wicked defiance
village is dieng. No strangers.” in the old man’s eye.
“I am starving.” Tu-op was fed. He crammed rice into
“Go die somewhere else.” his mouth with both hands and chewed
“I will die here and haunt your trails enthusiastically. After he had slept off
forever.” the effects of his feed, he lighted his pipe
Tu-op looked very malign and danger¬ and selected a convenient house-post
ous for a moment, then began to plead against which he could lean his back
again, launching into a long and fasci¬ while he went over the situation. A few
nating tale of his troubles, which made children of the village stood at a safe dis¬
the sentry first stop snarling active tance and stared at him while they
threats, then drop his spear point, then sucked their thumbs. After an interval
squat down beside Tu-op in the sun- they began throwing things at him to see
flecked trail and ask excited questions. whether he would chase them. Nothing
“And did this witch-woman that you they did roused him from profound con¬
married have the power to change pigs templation. Tu-op had a first degree
into chickens?” he asked. problem on his hands.
“No,” answered Tu-op thoughtfully,
“everything she changed was changed into VI
something bigger—pigs into buffaloes,
buffaloes into elephants—”
“We have a great chief in our village,”
T HE QUESTION as to how Kroon
had succeeded in getting such pres¬
boasted the sentry, “who has that power tige in a strange tribe did not hold him
also. He came to us from a hundred long. The people of this tribe, like all
days’ march away, the other side of the the people in the world outside of Ban
Yumbra Mountain. We were going to Dong, were stupid. That was all. He
kill him when he first came but he had could not credit Kroon with having
a bright shiny thing—like the things the planned all this out in advance. It was
white men give you if you carry things impossible to believe that a surly, dull
for them through the forest—and he and resentful fool would have deserted his
changed it into a whole handful of such own tribe and family and struck off into
bright shiny things before the eyes of dangerous territory with the definite in¬
our elders.” tention of trying any such venture.
“Wonderful!” cried Tu-op. “With No, Kroon had left Blay on the return
such a powerful chief why are you closing journey from the exploring trip with quite
your village?” different ideas, Tu-op was sure of that.
“Because the chief has enemies and we And his intentions had been unfriendly to
are—why should I tell you? Are you one Blay. Ko-Bo the crocodile always works
of his enemies?” under cover of mud or water—never in
‘Take me before him,” replied Tu-op, sight of his prey. When he seeems to be
“and then you will see. Here is my knife.” carelessly asleep he is most dangerous.
 KO-BO THE CROCODILE 137

It would be useful first to find out ex¬ homesickness in his unfriendly soul over¬
actly what Kroon was planning to do. came his prudence. He had the old man
That would be only the beginning of brought into his presence again, in the
the business, however. Kroon as a splendid house where he lived alone, on
mighty man of a distant tribe was of no the pretext of examining him.
use to Tu-op, he wanted Kroon back in The two men who brought Tu-op to
Ban Dong to prove himself alive and re¬ the foot of the ladder made a sign of re¬
lease Blay from a shameful punishment. spect and waited there. Tu-op scram¬
Also, Tu-op thought in passing, to beat bled up the ladder and squatted without
Kroon’s wife; she needed beating very invitation on the bamboo floor, selecting
badly. It resolved itself down to this his place carefully near a crack through
discouraging proposition: How could which excess betel could be decorously
an old man, suspected of hostility, and spat. The hut was new and clean and,
without any friends in the place, get this because there were no woman there—
admired rascal away from these people since Kroon dined elsewhere—the air in¬
and home again against his will? side was free of blinding smoke. Kroon
Tu-op’s pipe was out and he had no was crosslegged on a new grass mat.
more tobacco. Thinking without smok¬ “Tell me the news of my people while
ing was almost impossible so he stuck you have breath left in you, Tu-op,” he
the pipe in his hair and begged one of the commanded, without parleying.
children, a little girl who had lingered on “I have great news of them for you.
when the others ran away to more excit¬ Kroon. And when I go back to Ban Dong
ing pleasure, for a chew of betel. She I will have great news of you to tell
was a demure young lady of perhaps six everybody.”
years. She declared herself his first ally “You are not going back to Ban Dong,
by producing a fresh chew from the waist Tu-op.”
of her garment and handing it to him with “That will be as the gods will. Do you
a betel-reddened smile. Tu-op guessed love me as a brother, that you want me
that she might be a daughter of impor¬ to stay and share your honors with you?”
tance by the fact that—at her age—she “Yahhhh! In a few day you will try to
wore any garment at all. escape and my sentries will kill you while
“Your father is a great chief, my child,” you rim.”
he asserted confidently. Tu-op blinked at him. His next ques¬
“My father is a great chief,” she re¬ tion was insinuating.
peated after him, grinning wider, but “My story of your new glory will be
added, “and he hates strangers because wonderful, Kroon. They will be proud of
they axe evil men.” you—when you return.”
“Not all of them,” Tu-op protested. “Neither you nor I will ever see Ban
“Oh yes, old man, all of them. My Dong again,” Kroon hunched his shoulder
father says so because this new stranger nervously and took a fresh leaf-wrapped
who has come to the village has robbed mouthful of betel.
my father of things that are his right.” “That would be a calamity. There is
A look of alarm spread suddenly over now a great injustice being done in our
her small face. She seemed to recollect home and you are the only one who can
that she had been forbidden to say such right it.” Tu-op saw a gleam in Kroon’s
things and she ran away like a little shifty eyes. “My son is in prison be¬
brown rabbitt. cause you have not come back. They
Tu-op’s estimate of Kroon’s intelli¬ think he killed you for your share of the
gence was justified in the next event. Frenchman’s treasure. Until they see
Kroon might have kept himself out of you again he will have to suffer.”
the reach of Tu-op’s searching conversa¬ Kroon smiled and hugged himself,
tion, but he did not. Perhaps a trace of winding his^ scrawny arms around his
 LYMAN BRYSON

bare torso and rocking back and forth. Kroonhismoney’sworthoftriumph. Once

He was too much amused to see the il¬ out of sight he reached mechanically for
lumination which glittered for a moment the pipe stuck in his hair and drifted to¬
in Tu-op’s wrinkled face, or the look of ward the center of the village. The vil¬
confirmed hate which even so crafty a lagers, more or less occupied with their
man could not suppress in that moment. own affairs and managing to keep busy
His smile widened into a foolish laugh. with gossip and gambling if they had
“My son is an honest and decent man,” nothing else to do, paid little attention to
said Tu-op. “He suffers in this disgrace.” him. He was thought to be only some
“Let him rot in the cage like dead old dodderer, wandered away from his
tiger bait!” cried the surly one, changing own tribe perhaps, and too senile to find
from laughter to a snarl of satisfied his way back. He could be put out of his
cruelty. “Let him yelp and howl and misery anytime; it didn’t much matter.
curse. Neither you nor I will ever come He moved among them stupidly. The
back to explain what happened to me. I first sign of life he gave was when the
am dead, Tu-op, dead! Blay murdered little girl who had given him a share of
me and Blay will pay for it, Yahh! What her betel leaf went by. He called. She
a great happiness at last to bring him gave him a frightened glance and ran,
down! He scorned me. He laughed at but he watched to see up which ladder
me. He made me a fool. One day per¬ she scrambled and that was all he wanted
haps, when he is gray and shrivelled up to know.
with being in a cage, I will send him a In the dusk, when all the villagers were
message so he can know who was the fool busy with their rice pots, he came to the
—he or I.” foot of that ladder. An old woman
“That is why you did not come back answered his call and put all the venom
then?” possible into asking what on earth he
“Of course. Am I a fool, Tu-op, am I wanted.
a fool?” “I am looking for a pakam,” said Tu-op.
“You are a crocodile,” answered Tu-op. “I am a wanderer and I can not find any¬
“But the sun still rises on Blay and the body in this village who seems to have
tale is not yet finished.” any sense. They sent me to one they
“What can you do, old man? If you called their new chief and I found him a
escape me—which you will never do— fool. Is there no one else?”
you could only go and tell them what they “Sssssh,” warned the old woman.
will not believe. If you come back with “Come up the ladder quickly.”
force I will have my people here drive you Inside he found the little girl and the
out and none would get a chance to see little girl’s father, who was sulking in a
me. If you try to touch me—” He comer as he had sulked for days. On the
whistled suddenly through his teeth. Two basis of a few roundabout but expressive
men and two spear points came into the phrases Tu-op and this disgrunted chief
room. Tu-op did not move and Kroon came to a sympathetic understanding.
laughed again. “You see, Tu-op? Go Tu-op was supplied with tobacco and
and pray to the spirits of your disgraced betel and rice and the sulking one growled:
ancestors so you will be ready when I de¬ “I have warned my people that this
cide to send you to them.” brazen fellow is evil. When were we ever
so taken in by a stranger before? Moon
VII madness! There must be some curse on
my people when they forsake my advice
T U-OP left the hut with more dejec¬
tion in the droop of his shoulders and
and let a stranger, wandering in from no¬
where, get such power.”
in the hangdog look on his face than he “When I first saw you,” said Tu-op,
had ever really felt in his life. He gave “I knew you were the rightful counselor of
 KO-BO THE CROCODILE

this tribe.” He had really not seen the lage who smarted still under an insult to
pakam at all as yet, for the house was his prowess which Kroon had recklessly
lighted only by a smudge and his host offered. There was another who had
was a menacing somberness in the corner. offered Kroon one of his daughters as a
“And as a matter of truth—is any one wife and Kroon, for no reason which he
hearing us who can not be trusted?” He could explain, had refused the bride.
looked about anxiously. “I know who There were these rifts in Kroon’s prestige
this insolent one really is. Listen. In and Thut played on them.
my wanderings I passed by a tribe called After all, he had his old accustomed
Ban Dong. They live over toward the honors as a resource. Kroon was in¬
Yumbra and they are very rich in buffa¬ experienced in the politics of being a
loes and elephants—” great man, and had no resource but im¬
“We have three elephants here,” said pudence. The trick of multiplying the
his host. copper circles by a crude sleight of hand
“In Ban Dong they have four tens of had worked once, it could not be relied
elephants,” answered Tu-op, holding up on forever.
his fingers to make the count. “They Suspicions and uncertainty began to
have every kind of riches and when I grow swiftly by contagion. Kroon first
was there I heard that the son of a chief felt the change when an expected tribute
had run away. He was a great fool, they of food failed to reach his house at the
said, and wilful. He quarreled with his appointed time. He asked questions and
father who rules Ban Dong and ran away. was evasively answered.
Now his father will give him three ele¬ “Am I a chief,” shouted Kroon, “or
phants to any one who will bring him am I a slave?”
back.” “The chief of my tribe is Thut,” an¬
“Three elephants?” swered the servant with embarrassed
“Yes, three. All bulls and perfect from resoluteness.
toenail to top.” He was standing under the edge of
“And this escaped one doesn’t want Kroon’s porch. The water pot Kroon
to go back?” threw at him was dodged with a jerk of
“Why would he be staying here in your his head.
village if he was willing to go back?” “Bring Thut to me!” Kroon shrieked,
asked Tu-op. beside himself with rage and the fear that
The sullen pakam’s breath came out in this revolt would spread unless imper¬
a snort, a sign of resolution. iously checked.
“Three elephants, all bulls and perfect,” He stormed on his porch while the
Tu-op repeated, but the other inter¬ servant watched him carefully for more
rupted him. missiles, and others gathered in the sun¬
“Stay in my house,” he commanded. shine and observed with solemn curi¬
“You are my friend. I am going now to osity the gyrations and curses with which
see if I have any other friends left among he lashed himself into action.
my people.” “Bring this Thut to me,” he yelled.
“Bring him before a chief and let him
VIII find out who has the power!”
No one went to bring Thut. They
“ ARE YOU such a fool as to be taken in might be afraid of his stranger but they
ik by the stories and the magic of this were also afraid of their old leader.
fellow you know nothing about?” That Kroon’s rage was not mere pretense. He
was the question by which Thut, as lashed himself like a beast, because only
Tu-op’s new friend was named, began to murderous rage could drive the sudden
undermine the prestige of the haughty fear out of his heart. He caught up a
Kroon. There was one pakam of the vil¬ lance and leaped from the edge of hi?
140 LYMAN BRYSON

porch straight at the heads of the gaping their chief than Kroon dead. This would
crowd. They fled, trampling on each have been a serious handicap in Kroon’s
other, and let him fall on all fours in the favor except for a secret thought which
dirt. worried Kroon’s mind. He was not sure
All around him at a safe distance they he would be allowed by the villagers to
stood. They knew what they were about fight this out, man to man. He feared
to see, a spectacle which only very few that a remnant of loyalty in the breast
fortunate villages see more than once in of some pakam of this crowd would make
a life time, a fight for rule. Toward the him leap in to Thut’s rescue. He had
house of Thut went the invader, his long to keep half an eye on the circle. Their
lance in his hand, his oxhide target on two knives rang heavily against each
his left arm, his coupe-coupe handy at other and they danced back and forth.”
his shoulder. “Son of a wild pig,” yelled Kroon,
Thut came to the door of his house un¬ swinging a mighty blow, “take that!”
armed but for his knife and unprepared Thut took it on the side of his own
for this sudden enemy. knife expertly and in return surprized
Treacherously Kroon leaped forward Kroon by aiming not at his head and
and threw his lance. That was his first throat but at his legs. Kroon hopped
mistake. Thut saw the glint of polished aside, disconcerted. Again Thut swung
wood in the sunshine and swayed to one at his legs. It left Thut’s own more
side. The lance struck through the wall vulnerable parts exposed but it worried
of the hut, and a shrill childish scream Kroon at first. He had been nipped
came from inside. Without looking back twice in the thigh by the point of Thut’s
to see how much his little girl had been coupe-coupe before it occurred to him to
harmed, but knowing it was her voice, counter to Thut’s throat. His swift blow
Thut gave a roar like a wounded tiger,' might have been the end of the battle—
plucked the lance from the wall and but just as he swung it there was a sud¬
leaped to the ground. den cry from among the spectators.
It was for the moment lance against “Look out. Kroon!”
knife. Kroon had his carefully worked-up It was his own name—in the very ac¬
fury, and his new won honor was at stake. cent of his own people. He half-turned,
The rightful chief had a more desperate looking for an attack from a new quarter.
anger—with the scream of his child in his The side of Thut’s heavy knife came down
ears—and he had his lost prestige to get on his head with a crunching thump and
back again. They were evenly matched, he rolled over senseless.
except for the fact that Thut now had the Thut, hot and panting, a slaver of
long lance. Kroon made a motion as crazy anger in his betel-red lips, turned
deft as it was needful and the lance shaft toward his people.
was cut in two. Then it was knife to “Is there any other,” he demanded,
knife. “who cares to challenge Thut?”
The people of the village circled around No one replied.
the fighters and took it calmly for granted “And who was it that cried a warning
that this was war to the death. If they to this rash fool? I will put him here in
had any wish at all it was for Thut to the dirt with his friend.”
win, because Thut had been a good chief But the man who had shouted at
in the past. But they feared the stranger Kroon held his peace.
and respected his prowess, and if he could Tu-op knew it would be difficult to ex¬
defeat Thut, then he had a right to claim plain, especially while Thut was in this
first place. In any case, a good fight was lather of triumph, that the cry of warn¬
a good fight; they stood by. ing to Kroon had been an intentional and
It was not a fight to the death however, successful stroke for Thut’s own victory.
for Kroon alive was worth much more to Tu-op was silent.
 KO-BO THE CROCODILE 1«

“Tie this fellow up,” commanded Thut. going to claim for yourself?” asked Thut.
“He is an imposter and a runaway. I am “I will pay you one jar of rice wine and if
going to take him back to his people and you want to spend the few days you have
claim the reward that they are foolish left in life in the comfort of my village
enough to pay for his worthless carcass.” you will be kindly treated here.”
Kroon stirred a little and moaned as “That is too much,” said Tu-op. “Let
they tied him. Thut’s little girl came me join in your feasts once or twice and
trembling to the door of the house. She then I will go on—”
had been frightened by the spear thrust “Where is your home?” asked Thut
through the wall, not hurt, and her shud¬ with what was almost kindness. He was
dering now was as much pride and fear. ready to show gratitude, now that he was
“Three elephants—all perfect—will be sure it would cost him little.
no more than you deserve, O mighty “My home?” Tu-op looked pensive.
chief,” observed Tu-op to Thut from He waved one thin arm toward the east
among the anonymous crowd. where the Yumbra range, invisible from
Thut swelled and did not bother to this forest clearing, lifted its blue height
answer. into the air. “My village was destroyed
by a great sickness. My wife and my
IX sons and my daughters—all my people
died one after another. My friends who
T HUT chose seven of his men to make
the expedition to Ban Dong.
did not die knew that place was accursed
and moved on, but I was left behind. I
“There will need to be three good followed them—” he seemed overcome
elephant drivers,” he explained to Tu-op, for the moment with his melancholy
“myself and two others, and I will need fate—“and when another great sickness
at least four men to carry whatever else struck them in their new home they
they give me as a reward for bringing blamed me for it and drove me out. Since
back their runaway.” then I have been a wanderer.”
Tu-op scratched his head sagely. He went on and elaborated with great
“They will need to be very good skill and deep emotion the story of his
drivers too, because the three best ele¬ unhappiness. Thut gave him a half dis¬
phants in Ban Dong may not like being dainful sympathy. Such things might
taken from their home by men they do happen to ordinary men.
not know.” They marched on through the forest,
“Humph!” Thut grunted his assur¬ retracing the steps by which Tu-op had
ance on that point. “I have caught two found his way from Ban Dong in pur¬
wild ones myself and tamed them. It suit of Kroon. Thut led the way with
probably seems difficult to you because Tu-op. Two of his men, with Kroon be¬
you are an old man and timid. Have you tween them, marched just behind, and
ever ridden elephants yourself?” the other five followed. They did not
Through Tu-op’s mind went visions of love spending nights in the brush but
a gray procession—Hee-way the perfect they avoided other villages for fear the
tusker with the twisted tail, elephants precious prisoner might be taken from
marching in single file out of Ban Dong them.
for the hunt, elephants met face to face in Kroon had scarcely spoken since his
the green forests, elephants tamed, ele¬ defeat. He retired into his natural
phants killed even and the curse of the surliness. Occasionally he tested the
god of all the elephants, Nget-Ngwal, bands around his wrists with a slow pres¬
once defied over the body of his woman. sure to see whether they could be budged.
He shook his head. Tu-op kept away from him, not because
“No,” he answered. “Never.” he feared a possible escape or any re¬
“And what share of this reward are you venge Kroon was likely to devise, but
142 LYMAN BRYSON

because he hid not want Thut to guess tions tonelessly. Tu-op came closer.
that Kroon knew him. Widows are shameless creatures, Tu-op
“Are we not getting near this tribe of was thinking, shameless and without
Ban Dong?” Thut demanded every gratitude. Suppose it were his own
evening—every morning, too, and some¬ woman there in the darkness listening to
times during the moist green days. folly. Tu-op spat. All a man had to do
“It takes time,” answered Tu-op. was to go away for a while and he would
“We are still far from the place.” In find out how little his woman really cared
fact they were only a few hours’ journey for him. He put his hand on his knife and
from his home before he admitted even shifted his feet.
that they were approaching. “A few “Are you not lonely for a man? A
miles more,” he said. “Perhaps to¬ man to keep your riches safe—”
morrow I may see the signs that will The lover and his lady were startled by
show the place.” a sudden laugh from the jungle near them.
And that night while Thut slept, un¬ Tu-op had seen the woman. It was not
easy with his dreams of grandeur, pa¬ his woman. It was the wife of Kroon.
rading three perfect bull elephants back Rich now with Blay’s scornful gift, she
through the forest to his people, Tu-op was being pursued as she had never been
rolled noiselessly away from the fire and before, even in the comparative freshness
sped on his limping old feet toward Ban of her youth. Tu-op’s laugh was like the
Dong. mocking of the forest spirit. The lovers
He came first to the little open meadow shrieked and ran and Tu-op, smiling in
where the village men and maidens have relief, went on toward the village.
always gone to sing love songs in the His own woman left her mat that night
evening. Those who are only dalliers in response to a call no one else heard and
soon have their fill of music and go back had a whispered talk with a visitor no one
into the houses to sleep. No one has else saw.
ever explained in Ban Dong why the
Great Lord who stalks the forest never X
threatens lovers in the meadow. That
is one of the dispensations of the spirits
who rule life.
W HEN the hour of the “sun in the
treetops” came, Tu-op was sleep¬
When Tu-op came close to the clearing ing again in Thut’s camp.
he circled. It was very late. Almost no “Today,” he predicted, when they
one was there. But one wailing solo be¬ woke him, “you shall come in to Ban
neath the edge of the largest banyan tree Dong and claim the great reward. The
betrayed late devotees of love and music. old chief will be foolish with joy when he
The solo was interesting. Its impromptu sees his son.”
phrases had something to say about a Thut was still a little dim-eyed from
very lovely and desirable widow. Tu-op heavy dreaming but he stirred himself to
was interested in widows. He crept smile in anticipation. As they went on
closer. he began to gallop in his steps like a
Her husband was gone far away where skittish pony. He pranced and shouted.
no man knew what had befallen him. It “Three elephants—all perfect, old man?
was an unhappy fate to meet death in the All bulls?”
jungle and leave behind this lovely and “Three elephants, 0 wise and mighty
desirable one. She must not suffer loneli¬ Chief,” answered Tu-op. “The path di¬
ness. She must not lack for a brave vides there for the village of Ban Dong.”
■pakam as her defense and her friend. The But as they came nearer, Tu-op went
singer was not very adept at invention. more slowly.
He sang the old songs with shrill passion “Perhaps it would be better, O Chief,”
and then chanted his personal applica¬ he suggested, “if I did not present myself
 KO-BO THE CROCODILE 148

at your side when you march up to Ban village from a pleasant, dreamless snooz¬
Dong and claim your elephants. If I am ing. His temper was not good when
beside you they may think I should have suddenly awakened. He inquired of the
some share in the rewards and—” surrounding attendants, as sleepy and
“Enough!” Thut showed his intelli¬ outraged as himself, what they meant by
gence and his manhood in the quickness their infernal impudent racket. One of
of his decision. “Fall behind, old man. them replied that some pakarn had got
I will go first.” He turned toward the biol and gone mad. He was sent to find
three retainers who were bringing up the out the details.
prisoner. “Take care there, you fools!” In an obscure corner of the village,
Kroon had ceased to sulk. Seeing him¬ Blay, the son of Tu-op, locked up in his
self almost in sight of home, not knowing prison, grunted and rolled over. What
what the end of this might be, and sure happened to the rest of the world had
only that it meant no good to him, he ceased to interest him much. They were
made a wild dash to escape. He got all a crowd of fools, easily deceived,
away in spite of his bonds for a blind malicious against a good man and a
plunge into the brush. But the tangled mighty pakarn, preferring to believe evil
vines held him back and Thut’s men were rather than uncertain good.
on him like hounds. They sat on him “Stir yourself, my son,” said a voice at
while he worked his infuriated face full his prison door.
of jungle dirt and cursed. It was impossible but it was true,
“That old man is a liar!” he yelled. nevertheless. That voice was the voice
“He is leading you into danger. The of Tu-op. He was hacking at the fasten¬
men of Ban Dong do not know me. They ings of the bamboo gate which held Blay
will pay you nothing. He is a liar! A in. His father—returned from his crazy
liar!” flight into the brush many many days
“Is that not what he would be ex¬ ago!
pected to say?” asked Tu-op, looking “Come quickly,” Tu-op whispered, as
down on Kroon’s futile spasms gently. his son groaned with the pain of long-
“Of course,” Thut agreed. “He does cramped legs while sliding down the
not want to be taken back. Carry him.” notched bamboo to the ground. “There
Kroon went forward into his home, is something you will enjoy seeing.
trussed to a pole like a pig. Tu-op, as Hurry.”
they marched into the village, vanished In another hut a woman who had been
behind them into the brush beside the spending the last hour in a vain attempt
path. to make an ugly face look young and
pleasing was equally annoyed by the out¬
XI burst of shouts outside. Before a mirror

T HE MIDDAY laziness, the very

reasonable concession to jungle heat
made of a polished scrap of tin, an
abandoned can from some passing ex¬
pedition, she was rearranging her scraggly
which is customary for beasts and men, black hair. It was well greased; it should
had fallen upon Ban Dong. Besides, the havb been more amenable to her anxious
tribe was at peace with the known world plying. One black, sharpened tooth was
and the village was not dieng; strangers loose and looked out of line when she
could come freely. Polite strangers smiled and revealed the betel-bloodied
would have come quietly also, but Thut cave of her mouth. She was trying to
was in no mood for politeness. He sum¬ decide whether to pull that tooth out or
moned the men of Ban Dong to come and try to file it down to its proper propor¬
see the prize he had brought them. tions. A bigger knob of wood in her left
His savage shouts echoed along the earlobe might help a little . . .
lanes and stirred the aged chief of the Why in the name of all the ghosts was
144 LYMAN BRYSON

that wild man yelling so? The wife of maintained his mild solemnity. “Turn
Kroon the Surly gave up her worship of him over and let me see.”
the Moi Aphrodite and went to her door. But as Thut’s men stooped over
Everybody was going toward the river by Kroon’s bent figure, a yell of astonish¬
the house of the old chief. She gave her ment and recognition went up from the
sampot a twist and slid down among crowd.
them. She bore herself haughtily, as be¬ “It is Kroon!”
came a rich and much-wooed widow. She His widow yelled louder than anybody,
yapped at those who jostled her and when and there was no joy in her acknowledge¬
she saw the woman of old Tu-op, a ment. Not even her most disappointed
widow of very different standing, she suitor, seeing a chance at her great riches
elbowed in ahead of her. snatched from him, put more disgust and
The chief had been carried to the edge fury into his remarks than she did. No¬
of the river by the entrance to the village, body in fact seemed pleased that Kroon
where Thut and his seven men had put was returned to them except the women
the trussed-up Kroon down on the earth. of Tu-op’s household, his woman and the
The chief waited, backed by his pushing wife of his son, and the old grandmother.
chattering people, for the stranger to ex¬ They were too overcome with unex¬
plain. No one paid much attention to pected relief to make any noise whatever.
the prisoner and he, dumb with rage, kept “You know him then?” asked Thut,
his face turned from them. recovering a little.
“I have brought him back, O Chief of “O, yes. We know him. He is a mem¬
Ban Dong,” cried Thut, holding up his ber of our tribe. We thought he had been
arms. murdered. But he is not important.”
“You are welcome, stranger,” an¬ “My reward then? Three elephants?”
swered the old chief mildly bewildered. The chief laughed and ordered his
"But who is it you have brought back?” bearers to take him to the other end of
“1 have brought back your son and I the village. Thut followed him for a
claim the great reward—three elephants step or two.
—all perfect. Three bull elephants—” “My three elephants? How am I to
“I have no son, stranger.” The chief be paid for my trouble? My elephants?
drew back in his chair from Thut’s en¬ What shall I do with your man?”
thusiastic gestures. “Leave him and perhaps his women
“I have restored him to you—the one will take him home,” answered the old
who ran away—the one you have sought chief. “I am going to undo a great in¬
everywhere.” justice.”
“I and my people are at peace with the Thut saw all the people of Ban Dong
world,” answered the chief. “I have no going away from him. What the chief
son and have never had one. No one is had said was being repeated among them
missing from Ban Dong except one old man and they wanted to see Blay released
called Tu-op who has defied the gods for from prison. They were gone like a herd
years and has at last gone mad with his of elephants when a man’s scent is in the
misfortunes.” breeze. Thut looked down at Kroon.
Thut put down his arms and the wild The completely cowed prisoner turned a
eagerness in his face was guttered like a terrified eye away from him. For a mo¬
torch in the wind. ment Thut glared around, remembering
“Do men of Ban Dong lie?” he asked. that there had been an old man mixed up
“Some of them, doubtless,” replied the in this business, an old man of gentle in¬
chief without resentment. sinuating ways and persuasive tongue.
“Then who is this?” Thut prodded his But the old man was not available.
prisoner with his great toe. He leaped upon Kroon and began to
“How can I answer that?” The chief hammer him. His retainers helped, al-
 KO-BO THE CROCODILE 145

though no help was necessary, and their discovered Blay gone from his prison just
fists and feet, the handles of their knives, when the old chief had arrived to free
and the butt-ends of their hefty spears him. That was unimportant to Blay;
rattled on the head and body of the help- explanations could be made later,
less Kroon. He howled for mercy, for “I think I will go home now,” said
help from the friends who were running Blay. “My woman will be scared.”
away from him, he cursed and cried, but “Good.” said Tu-op, “but look there
the battering went on until they were •—in the river!”
tired. Thut gave him a final kick with a The drowsy hot stillness lay over the
bare but none the less tough and formid- brown water, pressing down the ripples by
able big toe. the bank. One black lump was moving
“And if I could find that lying old slowly across the stream, breaking the
man,” he said, “I’d give him worse!” glistening surface. They both recog-
The lying old man, with his son at his nized it as a snout. Ko-bo, the real Ko-
side, was watching from the shadow of bo, the treacherous, dull-witted, saurian
the deep brush along the river a few yards whose habits were so much like those of
away. He nudged Blay and smiled. the fallen Kroon, was coming over to in-
“Is Kroon a fool?” he said “Is he a vestigate the bundle of human flesh on
crocodile as I told you long ago?” the shore.
“He’s Ko-bo, sure enough,” answered Blay watched death come slowly to-
Blay, “but he is tied up now and beaten ward the man who had caused him so
into a pulp. Shall I beat him some more?” many days of bitterness.
“He wouldn’t feel it now,” said Tu-op. “Go pull him out of danger,” said
“Better wait.” Tu-op.
The afternoon sun glistened on the “But why?”
mud of the river bank. Tu-op and his “Hurry, my son. He is a beaten
son were very still. They had too much enemy and a beaten enemy is a great
to talk about; neither one wanted to be- luxury to be enjoyed for a long time. Pull
gin. On the other side of the village him up out of danger and let us go home
arose a clamor; evidently the crowd had in peace.”
 A Story of the Grand Banks Fishermen
By KENNETH PAYSON KEMPTON

Sea Magic
“ T"\ ACE you home, you!” lee rails under and every stitch of canvas
No answer. hard as rock, slashing and pounding
“Come on!” Over the water across the wind tom Bay of Fundy for
the hoarse voice in the megaphone home.
boomed, half a challenge, half a prayer. That’s the way it always started. And
“First to pass Burnt Island Light gets almost always Rodney’s schooner won.
the other’s lay of his catch. Start in ten “It’s the boats, Rod,” Lowe would
minutes. Wha’s that?” sigh, paying up. “Somehow my Witch
Silence. don’t—”
Then the big bulk of Rodney Greene, “You’re a liar, Jeffrey Lowe,” the other
braced on the Wizard’s rail, would swell skipper would cut in, safe in the knowl¬
bigger. Out of the megaphone would pour edge of his fifty pound, six inch advantage.
a very torrent of sound. “It ain’t the boats and you know it. It’s
“We-ell, you little lopped off son of a the men that sail ’em.”
mud spawned, yellow Allied sculpin! Was Rodney right? For a fact, Jeff’s
D’you hear me talk or ha\*4 you lost ears Witch and his Wizard were alike as two
as well as guts? What I say, will you or thole pins. They had been laid down in
won’t you?” the same yards, from the same blueprints,
“Oh, all right!” Jeff Lowe, stung be¬ for the same firm. Look at them bow on,
yond endurance, would wearily snap at or broadside, or in any position that hid
last. And in ten minutes off they’d go, the nameplates on their sleek black sterns,
 SEA MAGIC 147

and you thought you were: seeing double. on my note.” The banker-was so sur¬
Nor was this likeness merely a matter prised to hear Jeff talk that he-gavehim
of hull, spars, and canvas. the money, on-condition he would insure
To the last detail of gear those schoon¬ the Witch for every cent of her purchase
ers were identical; even their fittings be¬ price. Jeff promised with a nod, scratched
low, their cabin tables, the bunks in their his name, ran the two miles home. Half
forecastles, the pots and pans hanging an hour later the Witch was his.
to their galley bulkheads. Why, it’s That night Rodney was down at the
common knowledge that Louis Nap, store hiring hands and shouting round
Canuck cook of the Wizard, coming how he was going to clean up a million.
aboard one dark night when the two As usual, Jeff never said a word.
vessels lay at anchor, got into what he Jeff didn’t want to show Rodney
thought was his galley and cooked a where he got off. He wanted to be left
chowder and two pans of biscuit, and strictly alone to earn his six per cent,
turned in to wake up next day aboard on eighteen thousand, and maybe a little
the Witch a hundred miles out to over, in peace.
sea! - - But this the fates and Rod would not
But was Rodney Greene right? allow. It seemed to Jeff that as far
For another fact, there surely was an back as he could remember, he’d always
amazing sight of difference between those heard that arrogant, taunting challenge
two skippers. Cap’n Rod Greene was a in his ear, “Race you home, you!”
fine figure, a big broad, upstanding hunk After school, when their road was the
of a man with a ruddy face and a heavy same. Now on the Banks, in harbor, at
jaw, a blazing eye and a voice like a brass Fell’s Landing getting bait. “Race you
band. Beside him, Jeff looked a wisp, home, you! Come on!” Drat the man!
a shadow—short, scrawny, his lean fea¬ He was race crazy . . .
tures weathered and lined, his eye a So the Witch and the Wizard clung
washed out gray, his voice—when he together like a magnet and a nail.
spoke at all, which was very seldom— Folks ashore remarked it.
mild and even. “What a friendship!” they’d say.
Rod seemed bom lucky. His people “Richest and poorest in town, too. Like
had money; when his father, old Irvah a couple kids, can’t let each other out of
Greene, died, something like forty thou¬ sight. Like blood brothers.”
sand came to Rodney. Soon afterward Folks ashore were as near right as they
the firm that had built the Witch and are usually. There was certainly no real
the Wizard, trawlers for the Banks trade, enmity between those two. But it should
went broke. Rod stepped in and got the be remembered that Rod Greene had
Wizard for two bars of a song. He had wanted both schooners. Perhaps he
wanted both boats. On a pinch he had hadn’t lost sight of the desire, either.
money enough for both. But he wasn’t
quite quick enough.
JefFs dad kept the general store, which
A T ANY rate this was the situation,
- one foggy night in late November,
was mortgaged to the faded awning over when the Witch and the Wizard, together
its door. Jeff had worked since he was fif¬ as usual, crept up the Narrows and into
teen, first running errands, berrying, Fell’s Cove,, and berthed on opposite
later hauling lobsters and fishing. He’d sides of the wharf to get their bait. Sim
saved a thousand dollars. When the Fell was waiting for them. Sim’s gang
Banks firm went up the creek, Jeff ran took the schooners’ lines and then moved
two miles across country to the Lincoln at once to the kegs of herring up-ended
National at the county seat. Panting a in long rows on the wharf. Flares were
little, he asked Treasurer, Jud Moseley, lighted, dispelling fog and darkness.
for eighteen thousand, “at six per cent.— The kegs came rumbling aboard. And
148 KENNETH PAYSON KEMPTON

the two crews, idle now till dawn, saun¬ brushes and sprints here and there, all
tered ashore. friendly and nothing lost either way.
That is, they sauntered up the wharf But what I was telling the boys at supper,
and stood in little groups wondering what about a real race to settle this mat¬
what to do. Fell’s Landing is no more ter once for all?”
than that. A wharf, a ramshackle ware¬ Jeff lifted his head slightly.
house, Sim’s shanty in which one light “What I mean by real race?” Rodney
glows feebly, and a ghostly pale clamshell shouted as if something had bitten him.
road running inland between solid black “Why, I mean a race that is a race. I
ranks of spruces. Not a wild prospect, mean, start right from this wharf to¬
you’d say, for forty hard worked men on morrow daylight. I mean, race out to
shore leave. La Have Bank. I mean, race fishing—
But some one suggested the movies! each man to lay four sets of trawls, two
True enough, five miles up that road for his forehold and two for his main,
lay Hebron. Lights, people, a picture and start home soon’s the last fish is
house, a place where you could eat steak aboard. And I mean, race home, all the
and pie. Sure, some one said, this way—and the first man to pass Burnt
Hebron was quite a town. Early yet. Island Light wins. That’s what I
Phone in Sim’s shack. Why not call up mean.”
and see if they had any cars they’d send The crowd stirred. Some one chuckled.
over? Make a game of the whole thing, eh?
Just then Rodney strode up, took com¬ “That’s the talk, Rod!” On the edge of
mand of the situation. the throng, a man began to clog neatly,
“What’s this?” He shouldered into the with passionate fervor.
crowd. “Movies? Surest thing you These sounds died as the crowd realized
know. Sam, you run up and phone. that Jeff Lowe hadn’t said a word. The
But there’s just one thing I want— little man stood motionless, Rod’s hand
Where’s that Jeff-?” still gripping his shoulder; with head bent
Everybody looked for Cap’n Jeff Lowe. sidewise, he still looked steadily up into
He was discovered on the outskirts, Rod’s face, as if waiting. At that Rod
where he’d been standing inconspicuously, laughed.
lost behind burly shoulders in the gloom. “I know what he wants, boys. Dog¬
But the effect was as if he’d been hiding. gone him! You don’t catch Jeff Lowe
Rod’s masterful voice increased it. going into something for love. He wants
“Jeff! Hey, you!” The crowd made to know what’s on it!”
way for Jeff Lowe, closed in again behind The laugh spread round.
him. The big bulk of Rodney towered “Wha’ d’you think of that! Sly bird,
over him in that thick circle of shadowy our Jeff! Yessir.”
men. “Now see here.” Rodney put a “Well, we’ll tell him. We’ll put the
hand on Jeff’s shoulder. You could take stakes on this race high enough to please
it for a sign of friendship. Or you could anybody. What I say, have every man
take it that Jeff wasn’t going to get away. aboard the boat that gets licked fork over
“Before we kite off to the movies, his lay of the catch to a man on the boat
there’s something I want to settle.” that licks. And as for the skippers, what
Jeff wriggled uncomfortably. He knew I say, let him put up his Witch on this
what was coming. In the pause you could race, and I’ll do the same with my Wizard.
hear the rumble of those ukegs moving Wha’s that?”
steadily aboard. For Jeff Lowe had shaken his head.
“Here’s your Witch and my Wizard,” Somebody near enough to see that quick
Rod went on grandly, “two best schooners negative said hoarsely—
in the Banks fleet, laying here all cozy “He ain’t goin’ to do it!”
ready to go. We been having little The effect was electric. A low catcall.
 SEA MAGIC 149

a hooted murmur, a snort of disappoint¬ breaths every man in the crowd. Witch
ment—and then above the vague stirring and Wizard happily intermingled, was up
Rodney Greene was bawling words, words and aboard. In three more the pale road
in a rush of scorn, and shaking what his was vacant, the head of Sim Fell’s wharf
right fist held, back and forth in jerks clear.
and vicious snatches to every phrase. But not every man in both crews had
“Won’t, huh? He won’t! The little gone. And thereby hangs this tale.
rat! Get me to bet with him and then
lay down and curl up! Yellow, that’s
him! Yah! Mammy told me not to!
U NDER cover of the excitement a
wiry dark figure had detached itself
Skunk! Yellow-belly! By Jude, I’m from the crowd and shuffled furtively off,
a good mind to—” down the wharf. Louis Nap, Canuck
Nobody found out what Rodney had cook of Rodney’s Wizard, had been listen¬
a good mind to do, for a strange thing ing attentively, listening proudly to the
happened. Suddenly Jeff Lowe was free. brave words of his idol, M’sieu Rodnee,
Suddenly he was four feet away, rigid on in whom he had unbounded faith; listen¬
spread legs, and talking in a low, clear ing contemptuously to the weak voice of
tone that cut the air like ax-strokes. that other, his skipper’s puny rival.
“You blasted bully,” he was saying Louis Nap had a score to settle. He had
evenly, a little wearily, “you make me been laughed at, that morning a fortnight
tired. You know darn well the Wizard’s ago, when coming up on deck all stupid
faster. But I’ll take you up on that with sleep he’d found himself aboard a
race. I will, see? And whichever strange vessel, among jeering strangers,
schooner passes Burnt Island first—” and incredibly at sea. He had sworn then
“Man!” howled Rod. “I said which¬ that those Witch pig-dogs would pay for
ever man!” this. He now saw a way. Louis Nap
Jeff clucked with exasperation. had a big idea.
“Same thing, ain’t it?” “By gar, we show zem,” he whispered
“Same thing! Yes, but I want it exultantly, stumbling over some ob¬
clear that this is you against me, your struction as he approached the wharf
men against my men. You’re all time end, the flares and moving men. “Louis
blatting about how the Wizard’s faster, Napoleon—” he dealt himself three smart
how it’s the boats that count. It ain’t, raps on the chest—“you an’ me, we show
and you know it. There’s not one particle zem. We mak’ zem laff out ozzer side ze
of difference between them two vessels, mouth, hein? Ze boat’ mak’ diff’rence
and you know it. It’s the men that sail you say. Mistaire Pig-Dog Jeff, hein?
’em, and I’m going to prove it.” Ze Wizar’ she faster, hein? Bonl We let
“Have it your own way,” Jeff agreed you try her. Ah-ha! We see!”
coldly. “The first man, of you and me, to Ahead, their decks and spars glimmer¬
pass Burnt Island wins.” ing under Sim Fell’s torches, the Wizard
An instant murmur of approval was cut lay moored on his left, the Witch on his
short. right. Sim’s men were still busy with
“Listen!” said Rodney. the Wizard, but on the other boat ap¬
Out of the black woods a growl of dis¬ parently their job was done. A solid
tant motors was rising to a humming row of kegs lined the Witch’s bulwarks;
roar. Three black bugs swept down the above her empty deck the flares guttered
clamshell road and with a screaming of and one by one died. Louis Nap stopped,
brakes circled madly, skidded to a stop. drew himself up. Uttering a last cour¬
In short, Sam had phoned. Here were ageous “By gar!” he stormed aboard
the cars. Jeff’s defenseless vessel.
A rush, a scramble, laughter, horseplay. He went first to her forecastle. Stand¬
Gears clashed, engines droned. In three ing under the swing-lamp in its centre, he
m KENNETH PAYSON KEMPTON

drew from his pocket the battered note¬ tern and hurried aft to the cabin com¬
book in which it was his habit to jot panion.
down lists of needed supplies when ashore. This was harder. Foremast hands get
From behind his ear came the inevitable along any old way, on mates’ clothes
stub of pencil. And frowning heavily, and blankets and pipes if their own aren’t
his pale face working, lifting his eyes to handy; but skippers like things just so.
let them rove slowly round the place, then A chart was unrolled on the cabin table;
dropping them quickly to the book on it lay parallels, dividers, three sheets
clutched in his fist, Louis Nap began to of paper, the log book open, a pen, three
write. pencils and a bitten apple. This table
He made a strange figure standing there alone took up a whole page of Louis
in his shabby carpet slippers, his faded Nap’s notebook. Then there were a
dungarees and jersey—a stiff little stick shelf of books, a lead-line coiled by the
of a man, his wispy mustache ends twitch¬ door, and some clothes on the lockers.
ing like a cat’s, and beads of sweat stand¬ The skipper’s stateroom adjoining took
ing out on his shaved round head; a more time, more pages. It was an hour
strange figure. But the words his fingers before Louis Nap’s round pate and wispy
made, the words his pinched lips mum¬ mustache appeared on deck again. But
bled, were stranger still. At the top of a he panted enthusiastically, bubbled “By
page he had spelled out “WICH”. gars!” to the foggy sky.
Then:
“Newspaper she lay on aftermos’
lower bunk starboar’. Hra-m. No
T HE WHARF was still and dark;
Sim Fell’s men were moving slowly
blanket in t’ird an’ fif bunk port . . . away. Then Louis Nap had his second
For’ bunk port she makYup so neat like big idea of the evening. Shrilly he hailed
hospital. Ozzers scramble’ anyhow . . . those retreating figures.
H-m. T’ree pipe on table. Oilskin coat, “Hola! M’sieu’ Fell!’?
two hat, one britch’, she hang to stan¬ The men stopped.
chion. By gar, Napoleon, you an’ me, “Huh?” came a tired growl.
hein? One more hat she fly on “Zey want you should move zese
floor . . schooner’, please you, M’sieu’ Fell.”
When he had covered three notebook Louis Nap was lying swiftly, with all the
pages with fierce black scratches, Louis earnest conviction of his Gallic nature.
Nap repaired to the galley. This was “Zey leave ver’ early, want ev’ryt’ing
easy—familiar ground. The condition prepare’. Please you, M’sieu’ Fell, you
of the fire in the range, a half filled coffee warp schooner’ ’longside end of wharf,
pot simmering at the back, the cake bot’ togezzer, bows head’ out.”
locker, the icebox—these were details A doubtful pause, while Louis Nap held
that Louis Nap observed carefully and his breath.
noted. A last swift look at the row of pots “Funny they didn’t say nothin’ to me,”
and pans and kettles, the sink, the tum¬ the voice on the wharf grumbled. Then,
bled bunk in the comer, and he was “All right.” Louis Nap beat his breast.
through. “Which one they want outside?”
On his way aft he took in the holds, Louis Nap hesitated only a moment.
getting a lantern and crawling down “Ze Witch, you please,” he caroled.
through sooty darkness. Not much here “M’sieu’ Lowe’s schooner outside.” Then
to detain him. A broom; .a tub of salt he skipped lightly ashore and was aboard
in the corner, a heap of litter; silvery the Wizard before Sim’s men had picked
scales plastered over the timbers, a pow¬ up her lines. He slipped down into her
erful stench of fish. All trawlers’ holds forecastle.
are alike, anyhow. With wrinkling nose His heart sang anthems. Thumpings
he swarmed up again, replaced the lan¬ on deck overhead, the measured grunts
 SEA MAGIC 151

of men heaving, the strain of cordage and the bunk in the corner. Somewhere a
the squeak of the Wizard's flank against ship’s clock struck two bells. Louis Nap
barnacled piles told him the schooner lay rigid, listening. The fog dripped;
was being moved to his bidding. But he far off, the siren moaned.
acknowledged these pleasant sounds by “You an’ me, Napoleon . .
hardly a twitch of an eyelid. There was But soon he dozed.
much yet to be done. No telling how soon It must have been an hour later that
those pig-dogs and his own mates would he was roused by footsteps overhead, and
return. sleepy gruff voices.
Scowling fiercely, he printed “WIZAR” “What they want to move ’em for?”
in shaky capitals at the top of a fresh “Which is which—that’s what I want
page, and so attacked this new job. By to know!”
the time a grinding bump told him the “All right, boys, here we are!” This
Witch had been brought alongside, he was M’sieu Rodnee, very near. “Here’s
had finished the forecastle, the holds, my old pipe right on the table where I
the cabin; and the notebook was filled up. left her. Come on, now, forty winks
Then Louis Nap stripped off his jersey and we’re off. And the first man to pass
and really set to work. He worked Burnt Island Light . . .”
steadily and almost in silence for two Then Louis Nap sighed with childlike
long hours. The notebook lay beside a satisfaction and fell soundly asleep, a
lantern on the Wizard's wheelbox; to it serene smile on his earnest little face.
he referred from time to time, pursing
his lips, scowling, muttering; from it he
would start off again with fresh zeal
N EXT day at crack of dawn, Jeff’s
Witch and Rodney’s Wizard put to
humming a snatch. Up the companion sea. Not much of a day for racing: the
of one schooner he would stagger, half fog still hung thick, the wind was south¬
buried under a mountain of dunnage, and easterly and light, and there seemed no
pause listening. No sound but the drip sign of change. All the same, those two
of fog off the rigging, the mournful faint schooners made a pretty sight as they
hoot of a lighthouse siren down the slipped their lines, dropped down the
coast . . . Narrows and, close-hauled, reached to¬
Not back yet. Off he would go, across gether for the open sea. Each of the
one deck, swinging laboriously over the schooners carried four lowers and a huge
joined bulwarks, across the other deck main topsail.
and below. Twenty trips he made, an All day they slid on into dripping blank¬
ant hoarding crumbs, a rat in the wood- ness, squarely abreast and not forty
pile. The sweat ran off his wiry body, his yards apart. Their dim gray shapes
wispy mustache drooped. He panted and slanted gently against white void, ghost¬
tugged, hissing encouragement. Blank¬ ing over water that was oily and sullen
ets, oilskins, newspapers, books, lead¬ and dark. The crew of each could just
line, charts, pipes, a bitten apple; keeping see the other. No word was spoken
all straight, referring to the notebook, between them; but at minute intervals
placing everything just so; standing back one foghorn called dully, and the other
to cock his head and survey his work like replied.
an artist ... On he labored, twenty And the next day Jeff Lowe’s troubles
trips and twenty more. really began.
And at last, by gar, he was through. He stood at the wheel, his lined face
A tour of inspection satisfied him. He blank, bitterly calling himself all the
paused on deck; still no sound from names he could think of. Not a look he
ashore. He dowsed his lantern, felt gave that ghostly shape abeam. He
his way to the galley of the outside knew Rodney too well. Rodney was
schooner and wearily tucked himself into cramping her; Rodney had her sheets
 mi KENNETH PAYSON KEMPTON

pinned too far in, killing her way; Rod¬

ney was playing with him as he’d played
T HE CATCH of that first set was
moderate—nothing to write home
before. Jeff bit his lip. Trapped, that’s about, but fifty quintals, a fair begin¬
what he was. How could he have been ning. They had it aboard, split, salted,
such a fool? The shame of it was bad and stowed by two o’clock and were
enough; he’d be the laughing stock of the away at once, leaving the cook and the
fleet. skipper to clean up. A silly hope began
But shame was the least part of this to rise in Jeff’s heart as he swabbed and
mess. He’d practically given Rod Greene scrubbed. Out of the tail of his eye he
what wasn’t his to give anybody. The had seen Rodney’s boats come in with
Witch was the bank’s, really; his only their haul, then spread out again. His
on loan. Fool! Trapped like a wood¬ own men had been quicker. The race
chuck . . . was even, now. If he could only get a
In the night the schooners separated. lead, fishing here, and start home an hour
Jeff expected it, gave no sign. He heard or two before Rod did, perhaps . . .
Rod’s horn growing fainter and fainter But the hope died by sundown. JefFs
to windward—at last listened for it in boats pulled in practically empty. The
vain. Rod had got tired of fooling. fish had moved, or else their anchors
That’s all. had drifted in what was by now a wicked
The fog lifted before dawn, and the breeze. No use trying to change ground
wind had backed to a point north of east in the darkness; they’d just have to sit
and freshened. A mean day, greasy tight and wait for morning. And then
scud overhead, the sea black in racing by the time they’d taken up a new posi¬
squalls. A bitter cold day, the glass tion, Rod would be a whole set ahead of
v falling; it would be worse before it got them. Trapped. What a fool he’d been!
better. Inwardly Jeff Lowe raged; out¬ Well, just for that he wouldn’t change
wardly he was his usual calm, composed, ground! What was the use of catching
silent self. fish that the Wizard’s men would profit
When he found it advisable, he got the by? No sir, he’d stay right here. Go
topsail off her; with it she had been sail¬ through his four sets as agreed, and be
ing her rail under, and bet or no bet, he off. The men would rather risk their
didn’t intend to pull her sticks out. He lays of the catch, win or lose, than see
got some doubtful glances as the order him part with the schooner. For in the
was obeyed, but he looked the other latter case they’d lose their jobs, too.
way. He put it to them and, nodding sagely,
They were over La Have now. The they agreed. Ov er their shoulders, though,
hands were baiting up with difficulty on some threw anxious glances eastward,
decks that bucked and quivered. In where a blur of lights dipping and rising
her bows a man was sounding at inter¬ showed that Rodney’s crowd were still
vals, calling the shoaling depths. At splitting their second set. It must have
ten o’clock Jeff found the spot he wanted, been a big one.
hove her to, and got the boats over. He There was little sleep for anybody
looked around him. that night.
A mile to the eastward lay Rodney Daylight crept into the east, red as
Greene. He’d been there some time, for a wound. The long crested seas ran high.
his dories were already strung out in All night the wind had screamed in the rig¬
position along the horizon, their trawls ging like a man tortured; it whipped up
down, getting fish. Jeff turned his back icy spray that froze as it landed on the
on the sight, waved stiffly to his own schooner’s decks. Number Eight dory
men as they pulled eagerly away. At smashed to splinters as the men labored
this remarkable demonstration the boats to launch her; the rest got over somehow,
sent baek a piping cheer. and staggered away.
 SEA MAGIC 155

And then they struck dogfish. own dories nested snugly, underway and
Through his glasses Jeff had seen the streaking for home.
ugly gray, snakelike bodies being slatted
off the nearest dory’s gunwale, and his
heart sank. Dogs run in immense schools;
H ALF AN HOUR later the crew
of Jeff’s Number Ten dory, farthest
they are vicious brutes, armed with in the line, snapped off the last fish and
spines that cut like razors; they swallow looked up, and opened their eyes wide.
the hooks and often have to be cut clear. A fury was descending upon them. Was
In short, they take time. It was noon that a schooner, Cap’n Lowe at her wheel?
before the boats were back, and then there Half a gale blowing, weather for double-
were new hooks to be bent on, parted reefed jib and a scrap of trysail, and this
snoods to be replaced, a stabbed hand to monster that roared down in a smother
be dressed. of foam carried jib, staysail, fore and
Jeff was everywhere, a strange, pathetic mainsail with not a reef-point anywhere!
figure in shabby oilskins and huge red At her helm a small drenched man, his
seaboots, his face rigid as if cut in eyes ablaze, struggled and danced and
stone. shouted hoarsely, pointing at the horizon,
“Try more to the west’ard,” he shouted as she rolled up into the wind and lay
after them as they got away for the last pounding. It was the Witch all right;
time. “That may clear ’em—the devils it was Jeff Lowe. But the man had gone
school down-wind sometimes. I’ll run crazy.
by and pick you up. Then we’ll—” he Nearly swamped with fish and sea
paused, drawing a breath as if to come out water, they blundered and hoisted aboard.
with some big pronouncement; but all he There was no thought of dressing that
said was—“then we’ll—go home.” haul. Simply, they dumped fish, tubs,
Again, stiffly, he waved. And again, trawls and boat gear below, battened
through set teeth as they fought to keep the hatches, nested and lashed the dories
those dories topside up, their dogged —and flew away. Panting then, they
cheer came back. sought shelter under the windward rail.
Whereupon, with that last set, they But a voice from aft belabored them.
found big fish. As if the gods laughed, They listened, stared.
they found the biggest single haul of the A topsail! But you couldn’t set a top¬
season. From the schooner Jeff saw the sail in this. The thing would go to rib¬
silvery haddock, the long brown cod come bons, men and hamper with it. Look at
flapping aboard in endless file, bent backs, those seas, man! Hear that wind!
taut roding, every hook burdened; and Feel it clawl JefFs eyes glittered. Would
at the sight he cried out in despair. they get that canvas or wouldn’t they?
Leaving the cook at the wheel, he ran up They got it. Somehow they set it. By
the ratlines to the crow’s-nest at her the grace of God it held.
swaying, plunging foretop, intent on The wind was on her quarter. She
knowing the instant the last snood was yawed wildly, sagged off and brought up
hauled in. with shattering jerks. She shot dizzily
He crouched there, haggard, biting up over the crest of a comber in a hiss of
his lip, the glasses fixed to his eyes, wait¬ seething water, dropped into the trough
ing, waiting, holding himself in. He’d with a sound like thunder, to bury her
been through tight places, had Jeff Lowe. nose in the next. Her spars groaned,
But this sitting still, doing nothing, her rigging sang and creaked and snapped.
feeling your vessel slipping from you She shuddered as if in despair, bowed
with the slipping minutes! In a fever with the weight of solid water coursing
of impatience he looked off to the east¬ over her; but still, under the mighty
ward. buffets dealt her, gallantly she flew. Over
And there he saw Rodney Greene, his her plunging bow on the westward horizon
154 KENNETH PAYSON KEMPTON

now and then a faint dark scrap was Swiftly they bore down upon the thing.
visible. At times that scrap seemed to It was the hull of a schooner rolled on her
grow slightly larger. beam ends, her stern awash and settling
But the dusk shut it from view. No¬ fast. Her foremast was gone; her big
body thought of going below. The cook’s mainsail lay on the water like a broken
fire was out, but nobody thought of eat¬ brown wing. Every wave creamed over
ing. At eight bells two men groped aft her. And along her round green flank a
clinging to anything handy; they offered line of men clung like flies, waving pite¬
to take the wheel. Out of red rimmed, ously.
sunken eyes Jeff Lowe stared back at Everybody knew what that derelict
them dumbly, as if he couldn’t under¬ was.
stand. They heard him mumbling some¬ Jeff put his helm down and came whirl¬
thing about a balloon jib . . . Sure, there ing into the wind to leeward. His face
was a good big ballooner, up for’rd was a study. He said no word; he didn’t
somewheres . . . Have to get it out, even smile, though deep within him some¬
come daylight. The two men groped thing had begun to sing. He waved
back, shaking their heads. stiffly, encouragingly, to Rodney Greene.
The schooner tore onward into shriek¬ An hour later the castaways were
ing black night. aboard. Jeff put his helm up, and they
were off again. The crews mingled
AS THE hours dragged by, a strange equably enough, joking about their
feeling came to Jeff. He tried to wagers which now couldn’t be paid, swap¬
shake it off, kept telling himself it was ping experiences of that ghastly night,
only because he had been so cautious— stamping round to get warm. Cheery
he’d never tested her before. But the smoke was bellying out of the galley stove¬
feeling returned. It danced before his pipe. The wind had dropped to mere
eyes as they peered into blackness; it two reef strength; in the west the sky was
tingled in his aching arms, his numb and clearing. Behind them, a long sea toppled
aching legs. Something was different, on that stricken hulk, which shivered once
here. Was it in him? It felt just as if— and sagged lower, and was gone.
as if he had a new vessel under him. Rodney sauntered aft to chat with his
Good old Witch, she was certainly savior. He was cheerful, full of alibis.
taking punishment; she was certainly It seems he’d found a balloon jib up for’rd
fighting hard. What a boat, to live under a somewhere that he didn’t know he owned!
load of canvas in this hell! What men, Temptation was too great. Foremast had
sticking by him like this! Salt spray snapped like a match—must have been
whipped his face; he dashed an arm rotten anyhow. Oh, he was sorry to lose
across his eyes. He clung on . . . her. Good boat, that Wizard—all that.
sailed her, sailed her. . . Good old girl! But he had her well covered. Jeff would
By the Lord, she deserved a better skipper. get his money, never fear. Man of his
And at long last the sky behind him word. Rod Greene.
paled, the black world turned a bleak and Jeff hardly listened. His eye had been
sickly gray. Morning, and the wind caught by one of Rod’s crew who stood
spent a little. Jeff’s burning eyes apart, out of the fun. Rod’s cook, he
searched the horizon. It was empty. thought—a Canuck called Pap or Nap or
That scrap of sail had gone. something. The man looked sick. He
Well, now for that ballooner. His cowered down by the cabin trunk, he was
mouth had opened on the order when shaking all over. His face was the color
down from the crow’s-nest came the look¬ of putty. His eyes rolled like a negro’s as
out’s frightened hail. they stared at Rodney Greene.
Rocks? The man was loony. Dead “Of course,” Rod’s voice was rolling
whale, more likely . . . smoothly on, “I am sorry to lose that
 SEA MAGIC 155

catch. Man, what a haul! Five hundred seemed ready to pop put of his head.
quintals in four sets. Wha’s that?” After that first agonized howl he couldn’t
The thin white pencil of Burnt Island seem to get words out. But at last—
Light hove in view, neared slowly, then “Look*—over—your—taffrail,” he whis¬
loomed big against its dark background of pered.
fir. Beyond it lay the harbor mouth. “Take this wheel a minute, Ed,” Jeff
They were nearly home. called. He stepped round the wheelbox,
Rod Greene glanced up. He looked bent, craned his neck, looked over the
astern at the cloud of seagulls wheeling taffrail as bidden. What he saw made
and whickering, following the schooner in. him start, then stare stupidly; and then he
He looked ahead and saw the light; and broke into a slow wide smile.
he stopped talking. It’s an odd fact that nameplates are
“Guess I’ll go see how the boys are,” read almost exclusively by strangers.
he mumbled, and stalked away. Whoever wants to read his own? Besides,
Jeffs eyes narrowed slightly. He the thing is upside down, viewed from
watched the big figure move slowly for¬ deck. Yet nameplates can be read upside
ward, stopping now and then for a word, down quite easily: Their legends are so
but always getting on. The lighthouse simple, their big gold letters so amply
was less than half a cable’s length away spaced. This one read “Wizard.”
when Rodney reached the bow. He stood Jeff straightened up.
there idly, one hand on her forestay, “Magic,” he observed. Then, fumb¬
gazing out across the water, very still. ling in an inside pocket, he drew out a
The light was near. small object and gazed at it quizzically.
Jeff gave a short harsh laugh. “Magic,” Jeff repeated. “But darned if
“First man to pass—so that’s it, eh? it don’t sort of fit in with this other piece
Rod Greene,” he called, “come back of—witchery. Darned if it don’t explain
here! You don’t get my Witch that way.” this little thing that I found on the wheel-
The man turned his head. His face was box, morning we left Fell’s Landing.
flushed, the eyes furtive; but he didn’t Good old magic!”
move. Every one was watching. The The thing in his hands was a battered
lighthouse was right off her bows. brown notebook, its cover warped and
“Come back here,” Jeff’s low calm soggy, its pages filled up with fierce black
voice repeated, “or I’ll have you carried. scratches. He looked up from it. HLs
You can’t have my Witch today.” mild gray eyes took in again that wretched
Rodney came. There was a dory Canuck still shivering by the cabin trunk;
towing astern, the very boat that had turned from him to the glaring figure in
brought him and his men off the wreck. the dory. Understandingly he grinned.
Jeff jerked a thumb. Rodney Greene was roaring:
“Get into it.” “If I ever find out who done this thingl
They passed Burnt Island Light in that If I ever find out—”
order, Jeff Lowe still at his wheel* Rod Jeff looked straight into the terrified
hunched up dejectedly on a thwart of the eyes of Louis Nap, and winked.
dory. They passed the light in silence. “Don’t worry. Rod,” he said softly,
But a moment later this silence was “you never will.”
broken by a very loud cry. Startled, Then whipping his arm back, with a
Jeff turned his head. fine free gesture such as he had never in
Rod was still in the dory, but he looked his life used before, he let the notebook
as if he might roll out any minute. He fly. It sailed in a high arc, pages flutter¬
gripped a gunwale on each side to steady ing, then dropped lightly on to the sea. A
him. His face was a mottled gray. His gull swooped with raucous cries, snatched
mouth gaped. His eyes, fixed balefully up the brown morsel and sped away with
on a point ahead and a little above him. it in triumph.
^Adventures
Abyssinian Expedition

Diminishing hippos, invisible kudos

and a lost caravan

By GORDON MacCREAGH

T HE SECOND wandering into the

wilderness. Alone and unafraid.
very nearly as magnificent do go out, even
from Abyssinia. There came a titled
When a dauntless explorer person Englishman who was an ex-governor of a
says “alone” in Africa he means un¬ British Colony, and he brought with him
accompanied by any other white man. an Indian rajah whose income reminded
He may have a hundred porters and a one of those statistics about the distance
twenty team ox wagon and a half a dozen in light years of the farther stellar sys¬
quarter-breed drivers and conductors and tems, and the rajah brought a retinue
a dozen armed askaris. But if he has no such as is befitting to his kind.
white companion he is “alone in the track¬ They were preparing to trek eastward
less wastes”. through Ogaden, a district with an evil
This splendidly equipped caravan, alas, reputation, into British Somaliland and
was not our own. It comes out of my out via Berbera. The British minister to
library of African travel. But caravans the court of Ethiopia bestirred himself to
166
 ADVENTURE’S ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION 157

obtain special permits from the prince against the Shankalias. Two fingers of
regent and special passports from the his left hand had been hewn from him in
minister of the interior; and secretaries of a private fight with shield and spear.
the legation bustled to engage nagadis and Three fingers of his right hand had been
to bind them with unbreakable con¬ blown off in an explosion of a gaspipe
tracts; and nagadis scurried to buy up trade gun such as nobody but an African
extra mules for the invasion—I hesitate would dare to use. And he limped just a
to say how many mules. I don’t know, as little on his right leg which had been
a matter of fact. But I do know that the clawed from thigh to ankle by a leopard
price of mules and mule feed soared so one time when the gun didn’t go off.
that I couldn’t think of buying any. There were other smaller scratches too.
A tremor of excitement shook the capi¬ With our own great store of knowledge,
tal for a couple of weeks. On the Somali¬ therefore, and with the little that Desta
land side the borderland officials must might have picked up, we figured that we
have had high temperatures. For an might get through.
army of Abyssinian nagadis and camp One day by train and another day by
followers could never be permitted to trek camel—so the secret that was im¬
through to Berbera. So hard working parted to us ran—was a hidden lake at
British officials on that side had to organ¬ the foot of an old volcano where the
ize a relay caravan of fifty camels, with hippopotami lay over each other in heaps
their own attendant army of smelly like seals and where there were no croco¬
Somalis to wait on the border and take diles and where kudu browsed on the hills
over the extravagant expedition. like cattle and smaller game infested the
The titled Englishman is quoted as lower slopes.
saying that it costs any man two thousand This paradise lost was to be our first
pounds to shoot a lion and an elephant; objective.
and his preparations were on a cor¬
responding scale. He talked of organizing npHE DIRECTIONS worked out with
a herd of a hundred Somali horsemen to A the perfection of all good ground floor
ride down lions and things for the ex¬ tips. A train did run for about a day, and
pedition of his rajah. from the appointed jumping off place the
I heard about all this splendor and I tip of an old volcano was visible. But the
wept. That was the proper, the only, lake at the foot of it could by no stretch
way to go forth into the trackless wastes of ten leagued boots be reduced to one
and slay large and ferocious beasts. day’s travel with pack camels; and it
We made up our own expedition of two turned out to be three lakes; and the
entirely hairless and very evil tempered crocodiles in them ranged up to twelve
camels and a sulky Arab boy to beat them lean and hungry feet basking in rows on
with a long bamboo and three camp boys the sand spits.
and a crafty old Amhara hunter by the Also, the directions had forgotten to say
name of Atto Desta, who had won our that the foot of the volcano with its lake
hearts during our last trip. was a good five miles on the further side
No nagadis this time—we remained of that pestiferous Hawash River which,
true to our oath never to deal with next to the Blue Nile, is the biggest in
nagadis again except as enemies. No Abyssinia and divides the country in half,
comforting and reliable hunter Jim. We flowing from east to west for some four
knew everything about African travel hundred miles before it suddenly turns
now, we felt. We and Atto Desta. northward to cut the railroad tracks and
Old Atto Desta was a man who bore his disappear in the sands of the Somali
scars of experience. He had an impossible desert.
circular weal where his neck must have I used to think that Kipling had said
been cut all the way through in a war all the evil things that could be said about
158 GORDON MacCREAGH

camels. But trying to drive an Arab boy We first met them when we had just
to drive camels over an impossible day’s decided that it was all a lie about there
march and through a river that was yet being any hippos—unless, perhaps, they
conceited with the little rains, I thought might be in a hidden creek on the further
up and said a lot that Kipling hadn’t side of the biggest lake, which was the
touched. only place we could not thoroughly ex¬
It was another of those joyous first day plore with the field-glasses.
treks after a period of softening up out of Since it was a long, long way through
the saddle. From 8 a.m. until it was too heavy bush to stalk around, we decided to
dark to see accurately enough to hit the row across in our “air raft”. That is to
camel boy so he would hit his camels. say, I decided. The other three fourths
It seems that only a hereditary camel of the expedition was not so keen on doing
driver knows how to hit a camel so that it that way. She felt that a crocodile
it will speed up rather than give vent to a could so easily bite a hole in the air raft,
bubbly howl and kick out with two feet at which was no more than a great inflatable
once at utterly unguessable angles. rubber tire with a bottom sewn in. But I
I suppose we have all done it and we reminded her that, pooh pooh, she
shall all just as surely do it again. Ex¬ needn’t be so nervous because that man
asperate ourselves into a frenzy, pushing who had given us this splendid tip about
on with the conviction that the desired the lake had told us there were no
objective can not be more than half a mile crocodiles.
ahead. And pushing on, and on, and So we set forth and Desta waved us a
finally making camp in the floundering gloomy farewell with three twisted fingers.
dark and in an arid desert of many miles And of course no crocodile bit a hole in
in extent. Till morning shows water two our tire. But that further shore where the
hundred yards away which the brute creek wound into its recess was at the
camels either could not, or did not want foot of the volcano, and an ancient lava
to find. had broken it up into the most pictur¬
The only ray of sunshine during that esque peaks and pinnacles upon which
day was that I got a greater bustard be- cormorants and spoonbills and brown
before the dark enveloped us; and greater geese posed and preened themselves.
bustard is about forty pounds of the best I was enjoying these with an artist’s
bird meat in Africa. delight—my lady not so much, because
That bird as a matter of fact, was very she still harbored that foolish thought
nearly the only bright spot of the entire about crocodiles—when our tire scraped
lake region. The hippos that lay on top of horribly on to a shoal pinnacle. My lady
each other like seals turned out to number squealed; I swore with instant presence
exactly six. One male, an enormous brute of mind and managed to joggle our craft
who, when he yawned, showed a mouth¬ free.
ful of tusks like the mammoth room of the And then I suddenly bent to it and
Natural History Museum and who left a rowed. Water was coming in. I rowed
track like an elephant; three females and well on to another pinnacle, though we
two calves. We got to know them per¬ got frantically off that one without
sonally by "name before we came away. another hole. A rubber tire is not easy
Beelzebub was the big bull, because he rowing; but I set ipy teeth and stuck
was as cunning as the devil. Elizabeth, manfully to it; and our next bump was
Betsy and Bess were the ladies because soft, shelving black mud a hundred feet
their ears, when they showed them above from the shore.
water were all exactly alike and the We leaped out and sloshed through the
names, therefore, when we called them, sinking ooze to dry and safe land. And
caused no confusion in their minds. then the critical portion of the expedition
Charles and Dave were the younger set. remarked that the hole was not so very
 ADVENTURE’S ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION 159

big and that not so much water had come steamily moist dens those tunnels were!
in as she had thought way out there and Overstudy of highbrow literature in the
that there hadn’t really been any need for foolish days of my extreme youth has left
such a hurry and particularly not for so me so shortsighted that I need glasses to
much swearful flurry. And the rest of the see a clean bead on a rifle front sight. It is
expedition took it meekly—as always— the most infernal nuisance to which a
and set to wiping the water out of the hunter can be subjected; for I, at all
rifle bolts. events, have never been able to investi¬
It was not till afterward that I told her gate the distant something that might be
that, just as we shoved off that first pin¬ game through the field-glasses without
nacle, I had seen, just beyond her back, first removing the spectacles and drop¬
a great weed grown chunk, a hundred feet ping them in the dirt; nor have I been
long at least, of dead, scaly lava forma¬ able to devise any form of sweat band
tion wake up and scuttle into the water, that will prevent sudden cataracts of
throwing a bow wave a lot bigger than perspiration from blurring up both lenses
did our boat. Then she had a qualm. I of the spectacles with a single hot
had already had mine when we stuck on cascade.
that second pinnacle. It was the sweat band that I needed
But for all that, I don’t believe that a most in those hippo tunnels. But, like the
crocodile would bite a hole in a rubber roads to Rome, all hippo tunnels lead to
boat. water. A crooked passage suddenly
opened out to the secluded creek; or
I T WAS a lot later in the torrid day that
we got to make the acquaintance of
rather, a wide arm of the lake, it was.
And there floated our hippo. Well out
our hippos. in the water, of course; while we were on
We crawled through the bush in the good dry land where crocodiles don’t have
direction that the creek should be and all the odds.
emerged presently into a maze of winding I don’t propose to dilate once again
hippo paths. Wide swathes, well trampled upon the difficulty of hunting these
and easy going—until our backs broke Abyssinian lake hippo. It is sufficient to
from stooping; for a hippo doesn’t build say that every night of two whole weeks
his tunnels more than four feet high. was devoted, first to a futile hope of just
And what a labyrinth! strolling out before the darkness fell and
I have no shame in saying that we lost bagging a big bull as he browsed along one
our way in the aimless wanderings of of his tunnels; then to a systematic map¬
those beasts. We knew, we thought, ping out of routes and feeding places; and
where the creek lay, and we ducked along last to wondering just what influences
a tunnel that went that way and then make a hippo decide upon which par¬
wound another way and then crossed two ticular restaurant it is going to patronize
other tunnels that looked as though they that night.
might go our way but later on changed That creek wound a long way inland,
their minds. and then a long way farther in soggy
Occasional glades of grass stamped flat swamp; and on the further side of it—
showed us tree tops that we thought we two miles by the shortest hippo boulevard
remembered and set us off down new tun¬ —was another labyrinth of feeding
nels, which went direct, we were sure, to grounds. When we would wait in the
the water; and then crossed a tunnel we falling dusk with all the caution of mice
knew for certain because of our boot on one side, and my wife would be getting
tracks. We felt distinctly glad to find ready to climb all the way up to the top of
boot tracks by means of which we would a euphorbia shrub, because the big beasts
at least be able to get out of that skyless surely looked as if they were making up
mess of back breaking steampipes. What their minds to come out right in front of
160 GORDON MacCREAGH

us, an accursed breath of vagrant wind formant had ever been out of the city
would drift over us waterwards, and im¬ In the case of my informant about this
mediately the whole family would sniff volcano with its overstocked lake and its
and snort to one another and sheer off. slopes swarming with game, it is easy to
And there they would remain, lifting believe that nearly all the hippopotami
just their microphone ears and periscope had died of some frightful epidemic since
eyes, and submerging again with all the he was there and that the remaining six
stealthy cunning of submarines, leading had become obsessed by a demon of sus¬
us to hope that they would forget their picion. It is even credible that my per¬
suspicion. Until it would be too dark to sonal imp of ill luck had chased all the
follow them. And then they would kudu away from the mountain slopes.
quietly dive, and ten minutes later we Accompanied by wise old Desta, I used
would hear the vast splashings of them to make futile trips up the sides of that
as they heaved their bulks out on the wretched volcano, enacting the epic of ex¬
other side of the creek, where black night celsior. Around its foot were sparse vil¬
would be upon us before we could ever get lages of Gallas, hospitable souls who
round to them. brought smoked milk in gourds which, for
Fot it was our fate that this was a my part, quite aside from its sepulchral
period between moons. taste, I was always afraid to drink be¬
These were the beasts that we had been cause at least half of these people seemed
told lay out on the shoal sands like seals. to be suffering from chorassu, which is the
This the place where we had expected to local name for yickuk, that vicious first
spend a week, get our game, and then go cousin of the scabies bug.
on to the far end of the Hawash River to They told us, oh yes, there were plenty
the borders of that Ogaden district so of kudu, on the slopes; but higher up. An
that the great expedition of the rajah hour or so higher up there were decrepit
wouldn’t get all the lions and things. huts of lean upland Gallas, two thirds of
whom had the yickuk, and who told us
E MARVELED that so much and that kudu were plentiful—but higher up.
such persistent misinformation was Another two hours higher were the wind
dealt out to apparently everybody about shelters of the goatherd boys, all of whom
the interior of the country by nearly had the yickuk, and who said that the
everybody else. I know now, of course, kudu were still higher.
that few people know anything about the The reason that the herd boys were no
interior at first hand; and that everybody higher themselves was because the slopes
feels qualified to pass on second hand in¬ began to be too steep even for goats and
formation, with the seriousness of gospel, because nothing grew that they could
to the new comer who has not yet learned eat. Still, having come so far, I toiled to
enough about the ropes to take the infor¬ the top—only once, the first time—and
mation at a ninety per cent, evaluation. looked into a dead crater and round at the
I am impelled in this respect to make view, and realized that the sun was so
the comment that many people who un¬ low that short cuts and high speed would
doubtedly do know facts lack entirely the be necessary in order to make camp in
faculty of conveying them with any de¬ time to go forth on the nightly hippo
gree of clarity. I have met old-timers, hope.
men who have traveled the country since It is not exaggeration that during a stay
the days of Menelik, who have been and of nearly three weeks at that place I never
seen with their own eyes, and who have once saw a kudu. I am prepared, too, to
given me descriptions of routes and con¬ swallow the miracle that some malicious
ditions which have proved to be so hazy, power had changed all the lesser game
so actually inaccurate that, had I not had that I had been promised into the huge
proof, I would have doubted that the in¬ tortoises over which we kept stumbling in
 ADVENTURE’S ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION 161

the undergrowth and which we dis¬ reprove camp boys for their sensitiveness-
tinguished from rocks only by their loud Wild Gallas prepare themselves for their
serpent hissing under foot. immersion by smearing themselves co¬

C LOSE upon three weeks accordingly

were wasted, while the “big rain”
piously with the oldest butter in their
villages; and the two score of them, then,
who are necessary for the salvage oper¬
period drew inexorably nearer, before we ations, constitute in themselves quite a
adapted a Kitchener craft to our hippos, powerful anodyne against submerged
and built roads to circumvent them. hippo.
Strait through the bush, with machete I have seen in museums and in one or
and ax, we hewed a path connecting two expensive clubs complete heads of
hippo tunnels by the shortest route all hippo mounted, and much I have
round the edges of the creek; so that when wondered how the strong minded slayers
the cunning beasts thought they had left of the beasts have ever managed to peel
us lamenting on one side and climbed out and preserve the skin, assuming even that
on the farther shore for their dinner we they conducted costly expeditions pro¬
could quickly run around and surprise vided with gas masks and derricks and all
them. the other bulky paraphernalia necessary
It was not until that had been done, to skinning pachyderms.
not until we had spent a couple of days The skin of a hippo head alone weighs,
tramping about and shooting off guns green, about two hundred pounds. Just
and showing ourselves in full view along to field cure the mass, owing to its enor¬
the creek bank on one side, so as to get mous fat content, requires: first, a pro¬
the beasts thoroughly disgusted with that tracted period of warm, dry weather,
shore, that we were able to work our trick; then, unthinkable quantities of salt.
to run round before the final dark and to The skins must be packed with salt for
get a fair chance of a shot while it was yet twelve hours, cleaned out, thoroughly
light enough to discern the front sight, scraped and repacked with salt. Six or
and particularly to distinguish the none eight times. The process is really one of
too large space between the big bull’s eye slow dehydration, and it can not be
and his ear as he floated off shore waiting hastened by the sun, otherwise the skin
for it to grow still darker. will be ruined by fat burn. A ten per
I shall not attempt to describe the cent, solution of formaldehyde helps, too,
gruesome process of waiting till a hippo’s with the ep.rs and eyelids.
carcass floats and then getting the beast I don’t know exactly how much salt
out of the water and cutting it up. would be necessary to dry out a hippo
Suffice it that many Galla tribesmen are mask, because I didn’t have that much.
needed for the purpose. Gallas, because But I estimate at least fifty pounds, nearly
a dead hippo floats after twenty-four half a mule load. Salt, in the outlying
hours, or possibly more, and it seems to portions of Abyssinia, is money, and is as
begin to be uncomfortably odorous after difficult to get as is money anywhere.
half that time. Nagadis carry it in bars and trade it at
Camp boys, even though of Galla stock the rate of about twenty-five cents a
themselves, pretend to a far too sensitive pound—when they have any. A pack
state of civilization to touch such a beast. mule today costs thirty dollars, and a
The salvage party must consist of wild mule boy gets paid five dollars. Let
Gallas from the neighboring villages. It mathematicians figure out the cost of
has been given to some of us to pass to fifty pounds of salt, plus the half mule to
leeward of a sea poodle, as our own river carry it, plus service, plus backsheesh to
police call a salvaged dog. Well, multi¬ any army of wild Galla taxidermists.
plying ordinary dog by a couple of tons However, there are no nagadi caravans
of hippopotamus, I can find no heart to traveling to hidden lakes where there is no
 GORDON MacCREAGH

trade: - and Gallas don’t know the use sight glow would cloud the front. But it
of salt for any purpose; and I have no would seem that a thin circle on the princi¬
hippopotamus mask all sweet and ready ple of a large peep would allow suf¬
for mounting on a specially strengthened ficiently clear view of a heavier front
wall in the office of AdWnture to hang it sight. If anything of the sort exists, why
on to. '“° have I not been able to buy it at a New
But there will arrive''"some day by York gunsmith’s?
ocean freight about a hundred pounds of Now let some observant reader ask
bone. A skull, picked clean and white by what do I expect to see beyond so
industrious driver ants, with a mouthful luminous a sight on a pitch black night
of ivory teeth like the piles of an old pier; when the existing patents are useless?
and if there’s a bigger one anywhere in My answer is that one can see moving
America I’d like to hear about it. game, shadows on the sky line, bulks
And I hope that ye Eds of Adventure against the sheen of a still water, eyes in
will think they want it when they have the blackness under bushes, when one
to pay the freight bill. can’t see one’s own hand, let alone the
front sight end of a rifle. It is more than
1 HAVE dwelt much in the foregoing
upon difficulties to be met with in
once, too, that I have wished I could see
to shoot at a stealthy sound.
shooting on dark nights and on the ways If I demand too great a miracle in a
and means to be devised for the avoid¬ sighting gadget let me be excused on the
ance of that necessity. And I find myself ground that lack of such a thing caused
asking the same question that others must me to spend three priceless weeks of dry
be asking of themselves. / weather, at the end of which time heavy
Why does there not exist a good and night showers began to remind me that
efficient night sight for a modem rifle? the big monsoon was fast on its way; and,
Or, if such a boon does exist, why is it not what was more unfortunate, began to
internationally advertised, or at least to be remind the camp crew that the home trail
found in our large sporting goods stores? was due.
There are gadgets of various sorts, I I had forgotten to say that the camel
know. Polished bulbs and aluminum boy went away long ago. By night,
beads and patent clip holders for tri¬ silently, and with both his smelly beasts.
angular bits of white paper, and so on. Had it not happened to me I would not
But all of them rely upon making the have believed that camels could be gotten
most of such faint sky reflections as there under way with so little noise. At all
may be. Let their inventors try to use other times they have bubbled and
them on a pitch black African night when howled and roared like tortured fiends
the sky is blanketed thick with the clouds from the moment that the hobbles were
getting ready for their big monsoon burst. slipped from their knees. But on this
And let not any helpful savant tell me occasion the flight was consummated
about luminous paint. I have two bottles without waking a soul in the camp.
of it—splendid stuff for illuminating the Morning came and the beasts were gone.
numbers on a house door, but a pin point That was all.
lost in the darkness on the bead of a front I can understand that line now about
sight. “they have folded their tents like the
Why, I wonder, has no inventor of gun Arabs and as silently stolen away”. Be¬
gadgets produced something on the prin¬ fore that I was convinced that an Arab
ciple of a radiolite watch? Some simple could do nothing without first making a
clip arrangement that could be snapped noise about it.
on, front and rear? The thing seems to be The method of hobbling a camel, in¬
so simple that possibly there are optical cidentally, is an interesting provision of
difficulties in the way. Possibly the rear nature for controlling an unruly beast.
 ADVENTURE’S ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION 163

The front knees of the brute have been had camped under a fig tree once before
specially designed loose jointed so that it and met the burst of the “little rains”.
can kick out without warning in any There would be no excuse for a man who
direction. But it can also, therefore, would twice pjfph his camp in a depres¬
bend back so that the leg folds upon itself sion through nwhich the drainage of a
as completely as a jack knife. So all that country side found its way. This fig tree
the camel driver has to do is to beat his grew on a gentle knoll where the pools
beast to kneel and then slip a circlet of formed all around us but not in our tents.
rope over the doubled up limb. And An ideal spot. Till the sun broke through
there the ungainly beast must squat, with the morning, and troops, herds, in¬
manacled as safely as in irons, and howl fernos of white whiskered monkeys came
the night through. to feast on the ripe fruit and all but drove
There is another way, too, which one us from the place.
sees in the camel market. This is to tie We shouted; we threw stones; we fired
the nose rope to a ridiculous peg of eight shots. They only screeched and danced
or ten inches in length, push the peg into up and down on all fours and peered like
the ground, then beat the the camel as a aged imps between parted leaves and went
warning and tell it that it is securely tied. on eating fruit. Nothing less than shoot¬
And it is astonishing for how long the ing one or two of them would have
foolish beast will believe it. frightened them off; and that I shrank
But this method is not so good for a from doing. I was too pitiful and weak
night fastening when the brute’s gentle for my own comfort. So there the little
tentative tugs at its rope will not bring a pests stayed.
whirlwind of yelling master and stick How romantic! How close to fasci¬
about its ears. Left to itself, it will event¬ nating nature at its cunningest! So we
ually root out its feeble peg and will go on thought, too, before we had been in camp
the prowl to feast on cactuses and tent beneath a thousand monkeys. One single
pegs and green canvas duffle bags, until it monkey in a cage in a zoo-where rations
flounders in among the tent ropes; and are measured can make a more insani¬
then the whole camp must wake up to tary mess of half chewed fruit peels and
hear about it. things than can a small boy of its own
The camel boy’s flight was sufficient to size. Consider, then, a thousand of them
start the slow current of ideas in our where food is limitless and only the best
camp boy’s heads. They began to be bite out of each piece need be taken.
restive. The rain was coming, and all the The camp boys crept about with their
ills of the monsoon would be upon them. blankets drawn over their heads and
The Hawash River, too, was rising; this wondered why we stayed. One reason
time not to go down again till some time obvious to them was because the Galla
in October. owners of the nondescript pack animals
So good old Desta went a-journeying would not let them travel a day beyond
among the Galla villages and hired a bony their ken and had immediately taken
horse here and a mule there and supple¬ them back home before the river should
mented with sturdy little donkeys; and rise and cut off all retreat for three months
we loaded up a heterogeneous caravan and or more.
got across the river—just in time once Another reason that appeased them for
more—and pitched camp on the farther a while was that big fat catfish were
shore in a beautiful grass flat under an running strong in the muddy river and we
enormous fig tree in full fruit. played a little with hooks and lines. But
the real reason was that I was trying
AND THAT night it rained. The un- stealthily with Desta’s help, to get to¬
A believable rain of a monsoon burst, gether enough pack beasts of one sort or
though not so disastrous to «s as when we another to move on to another district a
164 GORDON MacCREAGH

few thousand feet lower down where the wouldn’t go. The rain season was upon
rain would not come for two weeks. us and that was sufficient reason to ban
But the boys had the cunning intelli¬ the interior for all but lunatics. The
gence, almost, of the (Jftonkeys above railroad and civilization were a single
them. They were revive and sus¬ day’s trek from camp, and to security of
picious. And, as the African always does civilization he would go and nowhere
when he is nervous, they became sullen. else.
They scamped the little werk there was. The rule, of course, with mutinies is to
They had to be driven to rub down our quell them instantly with a heavy hand.
riding animals. My own beast was a Africa is full of people who will tell me
good wilful mule; but my lady’s on this that I ought to have jumped that in¬
trip was a horse. No mule for her after subordinate boy hand and foot and to
her experience of having been thrown into have beaten him, first, for so much as
a thorn bush on the very first day of her harboring the thought of disobedience,
life that she had ever ridden. and then to have continued beating him
The horse was tractable, but as deli¬ until he howled for mercy. Such a course
cately stupid about its food as horses would have established authority and
always are. The boys, instead of watch¬ would have been a salutory lesson to the
ing that it did not get in among the others.
poisonous new herbage that was coming A good rule, and sound psychology as
up with the rain, let it roam. They applied to the African boy; proven by
squatted moodily apart by the river’s many generations of white men all ov er
edge and muttered to each other; mut- the rest of Africa. Here, in Abyssinia—
terings that became silent when we and particularly there, in that spot—I
approached. take no shame that I did not lift a finger
There were all the regular marks of against that insolent boy.
trouble in the wind. And trouble with He knew too cunningly well what he
the African boy can be quelled only by was doing. And so did I.
making him more afraid of the conse¬ Had I beaten him as he deserved, he
quences than of the thing he is afraid of. would have howled, not for mercy, but
To make an African boy thoroughly for help. “Ooh-ooh-ooh,” he would have
afraid of consequences means a regime of squealed, for he was a Galla. Two hun¬
unbroken schrecklichkeit; and schreck- dred yards behind our camp was a Galla
lichkeit often leads to shooting. But they village. I had already seen Galla spear¬
had not been bad boys, as African boys men gather to that rallying call, and I
go. I didn’t want to shoot one of them was not prepared to start a Galla war for
any more than I did one of the monkeys. the sake of chastising an insolent boy.
So the trouble came right along accord¬ All I did was to tell him that if he
ing to schedule. wouldn’t take my orders he was not my
Atto Desta came back from his scouting servant and to order him to get out of
trip and announced that he had secured the camp at once. He went meekly
a fleet of donkeys to take us on our way. enough; though he had the effrontery to
Immediately there arose a howl. What ask for his nearly a month’s back pay.
way? Where? Of course I did not give it to him. I told
Whatever we said, was the answer; and him that he could wait at the railroad till
it was none of their business, but the way I came back and then sue me before an
would not be home for a while yet. Abyssinian judge. And if he didn’t take
Then there was mutiny. The boy the initiative, I would; and I would abide
whom we had considered to be quite the by the judge’s decision.
best of the lot, to whom we had been There is a very wholesome law in
planning to give a backsheesh for good Abyssinia which makes it a serious
work, rose up to state flatly that he offense for a Jooy to leave his master while
 ADVENTURE’S ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION 165

on trek; for it is recognized how entirely Donkeys have much the same character¬
dependent is a traveler in the wilderness istics, only much worse, and there must be
upon his servitors, whether he be a white many more of them for the same load.
man or a nagadi. Even old 'Desta shrank from the
In spite of that, another boy picked up thought of attempting to continue our
his meager goods and said that he too trek without 'boys, He came and said
would sacrifice his pay rather than his that he would come with us if we insisted.
life, and would head for civilization But now that the rain was coming, it was
rather than the bush; and he would take time to hurry up and plow his corn patch
his chance of being put into chains later and to plant seed so that they might at¬
by a judge. Which shows how actually tain to the best of their growth during the
terrified those people are of the rainy wet months and be ready to ripen with
season. the dry hot weather.
The only boy who stayed was the same There was nothing to do but to admit
faithful one who had stood by us so nobly defeat at the hands of the rain gods and
upon our return from the previous trek to send Desta out to collect up sufficient
when we left the caravan behind. Once beasts to carry our goods back to the rail¬
again this youth must have had a tele¬ road. Desta’s own village lay not very
pathic insight into our minds. For he was far across the river; and thither he went,
so utterly useless in the field that we had hoping that the news of our predicament
once again decided to fire him when we had not spread.
got home. Once again, therefore, his But all the Galla peoples, it seemed, had
faithfulness saved him his job. But he known instantly that white folks were
was wise enough, contemplating the pros¬ stuck and in need of help. All of a sud¬
pect of triple work, to lie right down and den every animal in the district was
groan with his frightful sickness that at¬ urgently needed for plowing. The per¬
tacked him in the head and in the back manent rain might come any day now,
and in the belly. and a day lost would have frightful and far
So there we were stuck with a campful reaching results. Fields unplowed. Seed
of gear under our monkey tree and one unsown. Loss of crops. Famine!
sick boy and our hunter Desta. Deserted All to the effect that donkeys—which
and helpless to move. can’t be used for plowing anyhow—

1 HAVE often wondered how our own

hardy prospectors can go out alone,
would cost three times as much as they
should. That is to say, fifty cents per
animal for the day’s trek to the railroad.
or perhaps a pair of them, with ten or a Well, what is the rich American for but
dozen burro loads of mining gear and food to pay out money? Whether to a gang of
for a six month’s sojourn in the moun¬ Galla robbers who own a fleet of pack
tains. Here in Africa the standard pro¬ animals or to a European syndicate that
portion is one driver to every three owns a fleet of steamships? So we sub¬
animals. Boys will positively not hire mitted; and it was immediately aston¬
out for less. And having helped to herd ishing how many people were cheerfully
the animals, I can hardly see how they ready to risk rain upon fields unplowed
could. and the consequent famine.
Pack mules are bad enough, but Beasts came. Not at 6 a.m. as we had
donkeys are worse. Mules, at least, are ordered, but at noon. The sick boy
supposed to follow a lead horse. Of miraculously recovered. We loaded up,
course they don’t, any more than they bade hurried farewell to Desta, and rode
want to. They wander, and stop, and forth. And urithin ten minutes the whole
feed, and break back unless driven caravan was lost.
ceaselessly and all the time. It is all of We had ridden not two hundred yards
one boy’s job to attend to three of them. ahead. We had looked back before taking
166 GORDON MacCREAGH

a turn in the trail and had seen the leading that he got up swiftly and went away.
animals coming along. Ten minutes later, But that was much later. There, at
remembering our past experience, we the Hawash, we had no time to speculate
thought we had better owait. Nothing upon anything except that it must have
came round the bend.-irWe waited no been raining cats and dogs in the hills;
longer. We rode right back. And empty for the river was coming down like a
wilderness, dripping with rain-drops and flume, rising inches as we watched. There
sun smiled joyously at us. was another smaller river about an hour’s
Gone was the caravan. Gone was our fast ride from there, which the caravan
lone remaining boy with it. Gone was would have to cross in order to reach
Atto Desta. Only the monkeys remained. the railroad. We hoped that it had been
Of course other trails led through the bush raining sheep and buffaloes up in its hills
to our destination. But which one? and that it would stop the caravan dead
Tracks? There were a thousand tracks of at the ford.
mules and horses and donkeys. Deep
tracks of loaded animals? In Galla land
no animal is ever taken out unless it is
F OR THAT ford we rode. But we
edged a little too much our left, fol¬
loaded all it can bear. Shoe tracks? Our lowing a well defined trail. And when we
much civilized mission boy wore ponder¬ reached the river we found, with sinking
ous native sandals studded with a hearts and a vast void at the pits of our
pattern of great hobnails. We could have stomachs, that there was a ford there too,
trailed those feet across all Africa. and that, while deep, the measly little
But we cursed our own stupid tender¬ river was crossable.
heartedness in impotent rage. At least, I Of course, there must be other fords.
did. My lady was too busy reviewing in Which one would our caravan take? We
her mind the pleasing prospect of another couldn’t patrol a couple of miles of river
night with the hyenas under a fig tree in front to lie in wait and catch it as its con¬
the rain. trolling demon of perversity sneaked it
Feeling for that wretched boy in his across.
sickness, which we were not diagnosticians We had just two courses open, either
enough to be sure of, we had let ourselves one as pleasing as the other: One was to
be bluffed into hiring a horse for him to loiter along the river bank until it was so
ride. And none of all those beasts, as far late that we would be sure the caravan
as we knew, was lame or had only three had crossed and then to start for the rail¬
legs or any other useful distinguishing road with a vague hope of overtaking it—
trail. which meant going through thorn bush
And the sun was already on its down¬ into the coming night without lanterns.
ward way, and the railroad was a day’s The other was to make up our minds in
journey away, and lanterns, matches, a hurry and ride back to the Hawash,
food,' everything was with the lost cara¬ cross it somehow while there was still
van. Our hearts were too full for words. daylight and seek the shelter of Desta’s
Later on, when we finally got back to village.
the capital, I sent that boy to the Ameri¬ We chose the Hawash in unhesitating
can mission hospital; and there he preference to the thorn bush. We knew
luxuriated in a clean white bed while a place where we had seen a dugout canoe,
white nurses ministered to him and white and we prayed during the whole of our
physicians pondered upon his mysterious hour’s hard ride that it might still be
pain. It was not till they talked within there.
his hearing about the seriousness of his We reached the river without delay or
case and decided that the only thing to do incident, other than trying a short cut and
would be to dissect out his stomach and coming out half a mile above the place
replace it with a healthy goat’s stomach. where we had seen the dugout canoe—
 ADVENTURE’S ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION 167

which is not bad bush navigation. But bargaining for his price before he under¬
has it ever happened to any one of the took any strenuous measures; and that
Camp-Fire to debouch on a river, thick his price for ferrying wealthy American
bush on either side, and not to know travelers was/one large round dollar.
whether one is above or below the de¬ So we promised. And he came across,
sired point? and insisted on collecting his dollar first.
At first thought it would seem that, It was not a comfortable ferry. A dugout
having found a river, one would just have canoe, loaded with three people and two
to follow it and presently arrive at one’s saddles and the precious guns, and drag¬
destination. But how to know whether ging a mule and a* horse swimming along¬
to follow down or up? side, is a finnicky sort of thing in fast
Dark as pea soup was the flood of the water. But the favor of the rain gods con¬
Hawash rolling rapidly. But what signs tinued with us, and the passage was con¬
does running water give of where it has summated. The bandit was so sur¬
been or where it is going? Soap suds? prised at his success that he asked for
Factory chemicals? Camp debris? The backsheesh; and we were so surprised that
Hawash had never known any of these we gave him two and a half cents.
things. And the sun was low enough to Atto Desta was so surprised at our
preclude flipping a coin and taking a chance sudden appearance before his hut that
one way or the other. We didn’t know he forgot to offer us hospitality and we
that our deviation and drift had been only had to ask for supper. Then he apolo¬
half a mile. gized with vast embarrassment and
But the gods of the rain relented for a routed out his whole village to supply us
moment and sent us a sign. Two croco¬ with its very best. Then he laid table.
diles, youngish to middling; that is to say, Two flat baskets, black from disin¬
about five feet long apiece. fection in smoke and shiny with polished
From them we reasoned our course. grease. It was good that the hut was too
We knew that for quite a way below the dark to permit of close examination into
place of the dugout, the bush was full of the interstices between the crossed fibers,
hidden Galla villages. The river, there¬ which were pretty well filled up and well
fore, would be intersected at several slicked from long use anyway. Out of
points with the drinking places of their a treasure bag, like a witch-doctor’s, came
cattle; and in dry weather there were two the guest silver—a battered enamel plate,
or three fords. Well, five foot crocodiles a huge spoon and two table knives, all
are too small to snatch any benefit from without handles. These were all for pure
lying up at fords, and the cattle scare swank. One ate off the baskets with
away the fish on which they feed. one’s hands, of course.
Therefore, said we, our crocodiles must The village’s best took some little time
be above the place of the canoe; and we to prepare. But it was quite the best
struck off down river. when it came. Corn bread and roasted
last season’s corn and horse gram. Hot
W E WERE more than merely
flattered to find the canoe within
milk, too, in a freshly smoked gourd and—
piece de resistance — boiled catfish in a
the half hour; and relieved to the point of black earthen pot; old, old catfish that we
tears to find a man with a paddle sitting had left in our camp. The fare of visiting
in it, even though he spoke only Galla chiefs, no less, though one of the women
and was on the other side of much tur¬ who brought in the repast scratched un¬
bulent water. comfortably with the yickuk itch.
We screamed at him and he screamed After that it was bedtime; and once
back at us—and budged never an inch. again we were constrained to feel that our
Much more screaming slowly got it into friend Desta was not failing in the best
our understanding that the bandit was manners of a host. He went out and
168 GORDON MacCREAGH

fetched in our horse blankets, all damp rain came and we blew up the last spark
from our hard riding, and he gave us of the fire and added more dry cattle chips
back a dry blanket—one that we had and scratched ourselves. The rain passed’
given him as a backsheesh and the only and a thin beginning of a moon flickered
one he possessed. between scurrying clouds, and the rooster
But after that it seemed that he felt he kept thinking day was breaking and
had sacrificed enough. He swept a place screamed his steam whistle call to each
clean for us on the floor where the roof cloud. And we cursed it and scratched
didn’t leak. For which same reason a ourselves.
rooster and two hens had chosen a beam I don’t know to this day which of
there for their bedroom. Egypt’s plagues persisted in that bed.
We, with our inhibitions of civilization, The physicians of the American Mission
felt that we should assert ourselves. Hospital don’t know either. Another
We said right out that there was nothing wanderer in Galla land told us afterward
doing on the mud floor, because we knew that he had met the things too. They
that the huge Abyssinian fleas flourished were tiny, black, almost microscopic
in the warm dust of such floors. We Galla lice. But I know all the kinds of
would sleep in the bed. There was a bed, cooties. None of them act that way. I
a sort of cradle of crooked sticks and have a hope, some day, of baiting such a
twigs covered with hay. Desta meekly trap with an unruly servant who de¬
removed the litter of his belongings from serves punishment and of bringing home
the bed and then unrolled his own painted some samples in a vial of alcohol to my
bull hide in what was clearly his custom¬ good friend Dr. Mann, an entomobgist
ary corner of the floor. It seemed that he of the Smithsonian Institute, who knows
never slept in his bed. everything.
We were glad to let the cow dung fire But that must be when I have means at
die out and to rest our smarting eyes hand to make brilliant light for the hunt¬
while we slept. And in ten minutes we ing. With the morning the pests and their
knew why Desta slept amongst the fleas burning itch were gone. Once again we
on the floor. paid our dollar to the bandit with the
It was a burning sensation, first at the boat and dragged our animals by the
wrists and neck. Something like the little neck through the Ha wash River, and
red ants, but not localized as to each made straight and fast for a place near
separate bite. It was just an all-pervad¬ the railroad where we knew we could find
ing red hot smart. The dim glow of the food and bdging with a kindly German
dung fire was useless to hunt and try to farmer.
catch anything. Desta, of course, pos¬ And there was our caravan too. It had
sessed neither lantern nor matches. And come in only a couple of hours before us,
the things, whatever they were, spread. having wandered about in the bush till
Up our arms and down our backs. Desta darkness forced it to make camp and
heard us talking to them—heard me, says having made a second leg to this place.
my lady—and he woke up and said, yes, There was all our gear, and our boy. The
he couldn’t stand it himself and that was owners of the pack fleet had deposited
why he slept on the floor. Then he mut¬ their loads and had swiftly fled.
tered that he was a poor man with but a What could one say or do, then, to that
poor house and went to sleep again. foolish, faithful mission boy when one
But not so we. We sat on the floor with realized that he might just as well have
the friendly fleas and scratched ourselves; syndicated with those wild Gallas in the
and when our bones ached we lay down loot and never have come hack at all?
and scratched ourselves. Then the cold What but give him a backsheesh?
 ghe ROBBER BARONS

o/NANKAN PASS

B'y

Vtfilliam Ashley Anderson

AT DAWN I stood in the inn yard and mind and refused absolutely to procure
rK looked up at the peak of the bare, me a guide. But he would give no rea¬
“*■ rugged, conical mountain that sons! Inquiring among the villagers, I
almost Mocked the valley. It was a Max- met nothing but resistance, and emphatic
field Parrish mountain, its crest bathed in warning to keep away from the place.
the golden flood that swept across the But no illuminating information of any
Manchurian mountains to the north and kind.
east: its base, purple and ochre shadows, The best I could do was to persuade a
with a mud village straggling in the ruts of small boy to take me as far as the base of
the valley below. The lofty pinnacle was the cliff. I had to be satisfied with this.
cleft by a gorge; and this was spanned by So, eaten up with curiosity, we started out
a high-arched Chinese bridge, at either early in the afternoon, and approached
end of which rose the turrets of a castle. within fair view of the cliff after a couple
The castle could be approached only of hours’ climbing. As we neared the
from the north, by a winding toilsome cliffs we began to overtake a couple of
path that led up to the base of an impos¬ coolies who were toiling upward with
ing cliff hundreds of feet high. kutitzes on their shoulders, carrying buck¬
I stared at that remote castle with ets of water.
irresistible fascination. Who built it? The small boy gave up his chattering,
What was in it? It seemed to be one and became very silent. Finally he re¬
of the isolated posts that gave tactical fused to go farther. I continued on alone,
strength to the solid barrier of the Great looking up at the beetling cliff, and won¬
Wall that followed the bleak mountain dering more and more at the mystery that
ranges. Marco Polo must have looked up was hidden within those ancient castle
at it as he descended into China; dust walls. As I drew near the coolies, they
clouds raised by conquering Mongol stopped, looking at me with horrified
horsemen rolled against its buttresses. I expressions and urged me excitedly to
thought to myself, what relics might I not turn back.
find there now! At this point a doubt entered my head.
When I asked the inn-keeper for a guide I was completely unarmed; hundreds of
to take me up, he became frightened, told miles away from help: and alone. On the
me to dismiss the idea entirely from my other hand I still retained some of the
170 WILLIAM ASHLEY ANDERSON

arrogance of the foreigner, and certainly intended to burn him, when he escaped
did not intend to be turned back by a naked in a night of Manchurian winter,
couple of coolies. after digging his way through the wall of
I had not advanced much farther, when the inn. Another friend came down this
suddenly voices began to call from above. same valley a few months later, a corpse,
I then discovered that carved steps zig¬ killed by bandits on the plains.
zagged to the top, and that there were Suspicion therefore filled my mind. I
platforms for defense cut at different raised both hands and called out as geni¬
points on the face of the cliff. At these ally as I could:
points armed men appeared, gesticulating, “All ri t! I came; but now I go!”
calling. To continue to advance in the At that instant four hung hutzes jumped
face of this sort of opposition was of to their feet not more than twenty-five
course foolish. So I stopped and began yards away, and leveled rifles at me.
to consider. As the voices became more They wore black turbans, black quilted
furiously insistent, I felt it was hope¬ jackets, and bandoleers and belts of cart¬
less even to offer assurances of good char¬ ridges. Yelling at the water coolies to
acter and intentions. Besides, I began stand aside, they fired point-blank at me
to have an unpleasant suspicion of what I before I could move.
was deliberately walking into! It was a steep slope, and there was
This was the border country of the nothing to restrain me. But as I flew
hung hutzes, the red-beards who have cut downward, bounding from rock to rock,
northeast China into robber baronies, hung hutzes raced down other paths to
scornfully defying all government. They intercept me while eery voices yelled from
are notably without fear, and exercise an above, and bullets chipped the rocks
unmatched ferocity. One of their cus¬ along the path. So long as no bullets ac¬
toms is to post a guard on a road to tually hit me, there was no human being
market, and take as tribute every tenth who could have beaten me down that slope.
cart that passes. In the most casual and A third of the way down I overtook the
practical fashion they cut the feet off their Chinese boy who had guided me up. He
prisoners to prevent their walking away was yelling over his shoulder:
and informing others of danger. Subse¬ “Kwei-kwei, lao-jenl Hurry, hurry, old
quently I learned that a European friend man! Hurry!”
of mine, at about the time I was ascending This happened very shortly after the
this mountain, had been captured in this burning and looting of Peking, Tientsin
fashion. A great fire was being prepared and Paotingfu. That castle must have
in the inn yard, upon which the hung hutzes held the loot of a kingdom.
The TELLTALE MUSTACHE
A Story of the War Flyers
By H. P. S. GREENE

T HE AIR of the Cafe Bar le Due was

full of tobacco smoke, the smell of
French think they can feed the Americans
anything and get away with it, and
food and harsh red wine, and the they’re right. This always was the worst
clatter of American voices. Most of the town of its size in France ever since Ver¬
diners were quartermaster or transport dun, and now the Americans have de¬
officers, with a sprinkling of motorcycle scended on it like a swarm of locusts and
dispatch riders. eaten and drunk everything in the place.
In one comer, facing the door, Flying No mm, no champagne, no eggs, no pota¬
Lieutenant “Dizzy” Smith sat alone at a toes, no white bread, nothing but tomcat
table still cluttered with the debris left stew, horse meat, war bread, and the
by other diners and pecked disconso¬ worst pinard to drink I ever cocked a lip
lately at a ragout of rabbit a la chatte. over. I’ll have to get out of here and
Occasionally he washed down a morsel find the squadron I’m ordered to first
with a swallow of the vilest variety of red thing tomorrow. The mess can’t be
wine and shuddered slightly. worse than this.”
“And to think,” he said to himself, He caught sight of a small figure with
“that I’m the man who has often boasted the wings of a pilot on his blouse wander¬
that he could walk into any hamlet in ing toward him uncertainly among the
France and get a good meal and some¬ crowded tables. The little man’s face was
thing fit to drink in half an hour. The Woebegone in expression, and his long
172 H. P. S. GREENE

mustache, evidently grown for the pur¬ “I know, but I got the itch at Issy, and
pose of being waxed, drooped on eacli they stuck me in the hospital washing
side of his mouth like that of a mandarin. dishes. I guess I’d be there yet if my or¬
To those who knew him well, this was a ders to active duty as a first lieutenant
sure sign that Tommy Lang had just been hadn’t come along. They couldn’t keep
on a party. If the mustache had been me any longer after that. They never
freshly waxed and belligerent, it would did cure the itch, though. When I finally
have meant that he was about to start did get out I was so sick of Issy I volun¬
one. His eyes brightened as he saw his teered to go to Clermont and train to be a
fellow flyer’s wings, and he headed for the day bomber. What I really wanted was a
table where he was sitting. bath, and I’d heard you could get one at
“If it isn’t the Lucky Little Stiff!” said Clermont.
Dizzy to himself. “Come here and sit “I’d almost finished my training there
down, you little bum,” he called. “Where and was about ready to come up to the
did you come from, anyway? I haven’t front when they took me off flying and
seen you since Issy. I thought you were put me under arrest. I hung around there
out with the French.” for a while, but I guess they couldn’t de¬
“So I was,” grumbled Tommy as he cide what to do with me, so when a hurry
pushed a pile of dirty dishes aside. “And call came for observers they gave me a
having a good enough time of it too, ex¬ few days’ training and sent me up here as
cept for a while around Chateau-Thierry, an observer instead of a pilot—for pun¬
where they had us doing contact patrol ishment, I suppose. I don’t see any sense
and ground strafing. But of course I had to it myself, but I wanted to get to the
to gum it up.” front, so I didn’t squawk.”
“How was that?” “But what did they arrest you for?”
“Oh, I fell off the steps of the canteen “Well, it’s a long story. You know
and sprained my ankle one night, and the there’s a big T. N. T. factory there that
captain gave me a week’s leave in Paris. the French are awful nervous about, and
Like a damn’ fool, I went around to the they got excited and claimed I tried to
American Air Service headquarters at the blow it up.”
Avenue Montaigne, and they grabbed “What did you do—fly over it?”
me and sent me up here to C Squadron “Yes, I did that, too, and they fired at
of the Bewilderment Group to fly Flaming me with a machine gun, but that wasn’t
Coffins. But what are you doing here?” the main thing. You see, I went down
“Me?” inquired Dizzy, “Why, I’m go¬ town one night and missed the last car,
ing up to C Squadron to fly as an ob¬ and I couldn’t find a sea-going hack, so I
server. But don’t you want anything to had to stay there over night. Next morn¬
eat?” ing I was afraid I’d be late for formation,
“Never mind. I’ll have something to so when I got on the street car I told the
drink, though. Hey, mamselle, autre motorette, or whatever you’d call the
bouteille de vin. Say, what’s the matter— woman that ran it, that if she’d get me
haven’t they got anything fit to drink in out to the field in time I’d give her twenty
this place?” francs. There wasn’t another soul on the
“If they have they’re keeping it dark. car, and the old woman gave her the gun
Maybe we can get some champagne if we and went off like a bat out of hell about
stick around till this mob of quarter¬ ten minutes before scheduled time.
masters clears out, but the Madame “There were people waiting all along
swears she hasn’t got any rum.” the line for the car, but she passed ’em
“We’ll try it anyway,” said Tommy. all up. I had a bottle of rum in my pocket
“But how come you’re an observer? and took a drink and offered her one, and
Last time I saw you, you were all for being the way she tied into it you’d thought she
a chasse pilote.” hadn’t had a drink for a year. When we
 THE TELLTALE MUSTACHE 173

got out to the field I gave her another

drink, and she finished the bottle. But
T HE TWO flyers went to the desk,
bowed to Madame and followed her
I made the formation all right.” through a dark corridor into a room fur¬
“What was wrong then?” demanded nished with red upholstery, various bric-
Tommy. a-brac and a picture of Uncle Alphonse,
“Well, on the Way back she was tight- who had served with more or less distinc¬
er’n a mink, and drove the car along with tion in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870;
one hand and waved the empty bottle in the middle of the' room was a large
with the other, and down by the munition table which Madame proceeded to deco¬
factory she ran the blamed car off the rate with an opened bottle of champagne
track into a freight car loaded with and two glasses. She then departed and
T. N. T. She said an American aviator left the aviators to their own devices.
had given her the rum, and the people “Come on, let’s hear the bad news,"
she’d passed up along the road identified directed Dizzy. “How long have you
me as the one who was with her, and the been up with that Suicide Club, anyway?”
French claimed I’d get her drunk on pur¬ “Suicide Club is right,” said Tom.
pose so as she’d wreck the munition plant. “When I blew in they were just cleaning
They couldn’t imagine a man giving any¬ up the remains of what they call ‘the St.
body a drink unless he had a deep purpose Mihiel picnic’. Say, that may have been
behind it. To keep ’em quiet Hie major a picnic for the Americans on the ground
,put me under arrest.” all right, but it was an aerial picnic for the
“Well, I guess you got out of it lucky at Boches. A day or two after the attack
that,” said Tommy judicially. “Say, go started they sent two circuses up here,
on and talk to the Madame and spill some the red one and the blue one, and made a
of that French you used to be so proud of lot of new aces.
|nd seeif you can’t get her to let us have “The sky was full of clouds most of the
a private room and something to’drink time, and we couldn’t keep any kind of a
after hours. Better start at it—it’s al¬ formation, but they sent us on two raids
most nine o’clock and they’re starting to every day, trying to keep the Boches from
close up now.” getting their stuff out of the salient. We
Dizzy went up to the high desk where were bombing the railroad station at Con-
Madame held sway and entered into a flans mostly. We had some French
long argument in fluent French he had squadrons under American command, too,
picked up in the two years since he had and one of them lost thirteen planes out
come to France to drive an ambulance. of eighteen one raid. They raised hell
After some minutes he returned to about it. One thing, though, the Boches
Tommy triumphant. were so busy shooting us down they
“The Madame says she’ll let us have a didn’t have much time to bother the
room to drink champagne in at thirty troops on the ground.
francs a bottle,” he announced. “In 1916 “We had Billy Cooper for a C. O.—a
it was . six francs, but it’s take it or leave hell of a nice little feller. One day I’d
it at thirty now. What do you say?” made one raid in the morning, and I didn’t
“I haven’t got so much money,” replied feel so good. Just as we were going to
Tom, “but at that I guess I can stand a take off for another one in the afternoon
couple of bottles. How are you fixed?” Cooper ran up and made me get out, and
“Oh, I’m O. K.,” returned Dizzy. “I said he was going to take in- that little
couldn’t spend much money while I was joy ride. He said for me to go over
under arrest, and I didn’t dare to take to where A Squadron had had some
but one night in Paris on the way up here. crashes trying to land after dark and try
Come on, they’re starting to clean up the to steal some instruments off the wrecks.
place for the night and we might get You know, they’ve got Breguets, and
swept out.” we’re flying Flaming Coffins. Say, wait
174 H. P. S. GREENE

till you’ve seen the damned things! Well, the blamed fool came up and
“Well, joy ride was right. They got played around for a while, but he never
into a cloud and broke up their formation, came within a quarter of a mile, so I
and when they came out they were cold didn’t bother taking a shot at him, for I
meat for the Boches. Four planes were knew it wouldn’t amount to anything. I
brought down in flames, and Cooper got was waiting for him to get close enough so
his ankle shot off by an explosive bullet, I could get a good picture, but he never
and the dumb boy I had for an oberver did. Instead, he went off and started
got his arm full of incendiaries. They say pulling stunts for some girl.
when they tried to dig them out at the “When I saw he was gone for good I
hospital the blamed things flamed up practised taking pictures of the Breguet
again and burned the surgeon’s fingers. across the formation, and of course I got
Yeah, Cooper got back to Toul and all perfect ones, seeing that he was flying
brought her down all right. right along with me. The instructor who
“After that there weren’t enough men gave us lectures on how to shoot didn’t
left in the squadron to make up a flight, so have sense enough to see that the pic¬
they sent up a lot of British trained kids tures were of a Breguet and not a Nieu¬
for replacements. They say they like to port, and as none of the other birds had
fly Coffins because they’ve used them for any pictures to speak of because they
training, though the British washed them didn’t have a chance to get any, he made
out at the front last year. They’re wel¬ them a speech and asked them why didn’t
come to them as far as I’m concerned. they be like me. He put my pictures up
I’d transfer to A and fly Breguets if on the wall of the classroom as an example
they’d let me, though they’ve got a regu¬ of perfect shooting, and I didn’t have the
lar for aC.O.,and you never know what a heart to spoil his fun by telling him about
regular’ll do. But you see that leaves me it. So now you see how I came to be so 'h
without a regular observer, and I might a wonder as a gunner.”
take you on. I’ve been carrying around a “Never mind,” returned Tommy, “you¬
gunnery sergeant for ballast in practise ’ve got brains, and we’ll get along to¬
flights. What kind of a shot are you?” gether fine. Tell the Madame to bring
“Shot?” asked Dizzy, glad to get in a in another bottle.
word. “Say, I’m the shootin’est fool “And now,” he went on, after the order
that ever came out of Clermont, and if had been given, “I’ll tell you why I need
you don’t believe me you can look at the an extra good gunner! The other day we
records. They held me up as an example were practising flying formation with
to the other guys as the kind of a shot a those replacements, and I was flying
man ought to be.” Number Two position right behind the
“Well, you’re the bird for me. What leader. Suddenly I felt a funny little
say, want to be my observer? Because bump, and I looked up and saw the wheel
I’ll tell you right now, I want a damned of a confounded Coffin spinning round and
good shot.” round right over my head. Before I
“Wait till I tell you how I made my could duck the thing gave a lurch and
record,” returned Dizzy. “I was always sideswiped right back across the forma¬
a pretty good wing shot, so I made as tion to where it belonged. It was that
good a record as anybody at the traps, -damned fool Sleepy Joe in a trance.
and on ground targets from a plane with “Say, I was so damn’ scared I left the
a machine gun. But how I made my big formation and flew back home and landed.
reputation was funny. When the new C. O. got back I told him
“One day they sent us up with camera when he got ready to fly over the front to
guns in formation and told a dumb bird let me know, but I’d had enough practise.
to go up and attack us in a Nieuport so I don’t mind being shot, but I’d hate like
we could practise taking pictures of him. hell to get run into. I raised such a row he
 THE TELLTALE MUSTACHE 175

asked me how I’d like to fly all alone up now thoroughly oiled. “Say, you don’t
above for protection, and I told him fine, know the half of it. By the way, Dizzy,
though it’s supposed to be the most dan¬ do you know who that major is? Why,
gerous. So you see where’ll you’ll stand it’s old Dunghill. Remember the speech
if you fly with me.” he made at Tours when he took command?
“You can’t make me mad,” answered Were you there when that misbegotten
Dizzy. “I’d hate to get run into myself.” cross-breed lined all us cadets up and said,
There was a knock at the door, and ‘I worked four years at West Point for my
Madame entered with another bottle. commission, and you young squirts are
“Messieurs,” he said, “there is another going to get yours in about six months.
American monsieur outside who desires But I’ll make ’em the hardest six months
company. He asked me to tell you that you ever saw. You think you’re some¬
if he might enter and drink with you he body because you’re flying cadets, but
would be glad to pay for this bottle of before I get through with you I’ll make
champagne.” you lower than any buck private that
“A man after my own heart,” yelled ever lived.’
Tommy, who was feeling better by this “He was sore because the French had
time. “Show him in.” been treating us like gentlemen and we’d
The self-invited member immediately been having a good time. But that was a
appeared around the doorpost, where he nice way to build up morale, wasn’t it?
had been waiting for an answer to his Some bright boy in the rear rank took it
proposition. He had evidently enter¬ all down in shorthand, though, and he
tained no doubt that it would be affirma¬ turned it in, and Dunghill got relieved.
tive, and in the A. E. F. he was justified But when we got to the front, why there
in his optimism. An invitation to drink he was in command of the group, and bad
champagne at another’s expense was rarely as ever. When we’re going to take off for
turned down. Dizzy looked at this angel a raid he comes up and makes us open our
curiously to see what manner of bird he flying suits to see if ‘we’re in proper uni¬
might be. form’. That means with choker collars
He was a smooth looking duck—in fact buttoned up tight. How does he expect
smooth all over were the words which a man to keep a lookout for the Boches in
described him. Smooth face, smooth hair, a choker collar?”
and a smooth new serge uniform like an The stranger clucked sympathetically,
officer’s, but lacking any distinguishing and filled everybody’s glasses. Dizzy
insignia. He might be some kind of field looked at him suspiciously. Who was
clerk or office man, Dizzy decided; but at this bird, anyway? He tried to shake a
all events he was a good mixer. warning head at Tom, but the little flyer
He started off at once into a stream of was off and nothing could stop him now.
Army anecdote, which showed him to be His limp mustache seemed to bristle with
familiar with the A. E. F. all over France. indignation as he went on.
It was all highly impersonal, however, and “And then one day B and C Squad¬
Dizzy couldn’t make him out. He himself rons took off for a raid with about
was always stand-offish with strangers. ten planes apiece, and three from each
Tommy, however, was just the contrary, squadron couldn’t keep up with the rest
and soon he was talking as fast as the and had to turn back. You know, there’s
stranger. a strict order out that no bombers shall
“By the way,” remarked the latter, cross the lines in less numbers than a for¬
after ordering a second bottle of cham¬ mation of six, so if you can’t keep up with
pagne. “You say you belong to that the rest, there’s nothing to do but turn
bombing group down the line. I’ve heard back. And those Coffins come so far from
you fellows don’t like your major.” being uniform there’s almost always two
“Like him!” howled Tommy, his tongue or three that can’t keep up with the rest.
176 H. P. S. GREENE

Well, this time those six planes from the though, so he doesn’t mind it so much.
two squadrons all came back and landed He told me they were going to open the
one right after the other. Old Dunghill squadron bar for the third time, so seeing
thought it was a whole formation come that I wouldn’t practise flying formation
back and he came driving out on to the any more, our C. O. gave me leave to go
field in his Cadillac as usual. over and help open it. The only trouble
“ ‘What’s wrong with you guys?’ he was there were so many there and they
yells. ‘Yellow, are you? Afraid to go were all so thirsty that we opened and
over the front?’ closed it the same night.
“And the funny part of it is we’ve been “They took up a fund and went over to
going over the front almost every day, the supply of the British Independent Air
and he’s never been over in his life! And Force that bombs Cologne and Coblenz
we’re yellow, he says! Why doesn’t he and got a truckload of Scotch and gin and
try it himself once before he gets in such all kinds of stuff and they sure had one
a hurry to call somebody else yellow? grand opening of the bar. By three
Somebody shot off a burst with a machine o’clock this morning there were only half
gun at his Cadillac the other day when we a dozen men and no liquor at all left, so
were taking off, and he can’t find out who they hung out a sign, ‘Bar Closed’, and
it was, and since then he hasn’t been I went back to bed. I’d already been
around where there were machine guns there once. When I woke up this after¬
so much.” noon they brought me in to town here,
“Do you know who it was?” inquired and we’ll go on out to the field in the
the stranger. morning.”
“I might have a blamed good idea, but “It must have been some party,” said
I’m not saying a word,” returned Tommy, the stranger, “and I wish I’d been there.
who still had some degree of caution. I might have learned a lot. Well, good
“Say, Tom,” interrupted Dizzy, who night, boys.”
would have said anything to change the “Say,” blurted Dizzy, “what branch o_f
subject, “how did you come to be here the Service do you belong to, anyway?”
in town, anyway?” “Counter-espionage,” answered the
“Me? Why, you know Hugh Kirby, stranger, “and I’ve had a very instructive
the Southern gentleman from Mobile? evening. Now I’ve got to go and make
He was with the pursuit group outside of out my report. Good night.”
town, and he brought down five Boches, He went out, closing the door behind
so they sent him to Paris to organize a him. The two flyers sat staring at each
new squadron and take command of it. other open-mouthed. Dizzy was the first
He beat up a Marine, and they pinched to recover.
him and sent him back to his squadron “Do you know what counter-espionage
under arrest. Seeing he’s under arrest, he means?” he inquired dryly.
can’t fly, so they gave him a touring car “Of course I do,” returned Tommy.
to play around with, and he came down to “It means Intelligence Department. That
see us. The Chasse have plenty of trans¬ guy will have a lot of nice stuff to put in
portation, and all we’ve got in our squad¬ his report, won’t he? Criticizing my su¬
ron is an Italian motorcycle that won’t perior officer, treason and what-not.
run." What do you suppose the penalty will be
“Can you imagine that?” he asked, —death or only Leavenworth?”
addressing the stranger. “Here’s a guy “Cheer up,” said Dizzy. “Everything
that’s an ace, and instead of letting him you said was true, wasn’t it? Besides,
go up and shoot some more Boches they they didn’t call you the Lucky Little
won’t let him fly just because he beat up Stiff for nothing. You have a good chance
some lousy Marine. of being shot by some Boche before his
“He’s having a pretty good time. report ever gets through. Let’s have an-
 THE TELLTALE MUSTACHE 177

other bottle and go to bed. Have you got from the window, gave it an inquiring
any place to sleep?” shake and remarked, as he held it out to
“Sure, I engaged a bed in that ‘Y’ Dizzy:
Hotel, and maybe they can scare up an¬ “Faithful Old Nick is still with us for a
other one for you. Call the Madame and wonder. Just two snorts left. Drink
order another bottle. I don’t feel much hearty up to fifty per cent.”
like sleeping now.” Dizzy did as requested gratefully, and
felt a comforting warmth spread over his
D AWN the next day, after an uneasy
night, found the pair pounding along
cold, damp body. An orderly stuck his
head in at the door.
through a slight mist down the road “Lieutenant Lang,” he remarked, “you
which led toward the airdrome of their are wanted at group headquarters.” He
group, but before they had gone far they then removed his head, after a longing
flagged a truck headed in the same direc¬ look at the bottle the petrified Tommy
tion, and an hour later hopped off at the was holding in one hand.
headquarters of their squadron. After a moment the little flyer sighed
When they went in to report they found and emptied it.
the C. O. presiding solemnly over a dance “Well, it’s come already,” he said.
which was being performed by several of “I suppose I might as well go on and have
his officers in propitiation of the god who it over with. You’d better come along
made it rain. It seemed as if their efforts in case they want you, too.”
might be wasted, however, for the mist He went out and lead the way along a
was stopping, and the sky showed signs of muddy path through the woods in which
brightening up. the barracks and hangars were supposed
“Come on over to the barracks and to be camouflaged, until they came to a
we’ll light a fire in the stove and get group of large huts.
warmed up,” invited Tommy. “We’ve “There’s the operations office,” said
got some little tin stoves they took out of Tommy, pointing to one of them. “Go
the German trenches at St. Mihiel. You ahead in and look over the map and find
might as well bunk in with me. There are the front. They change it every day now.
plenty of beds and blankets belonging to And you’d better make up a map and
birds who got brought down until your paste it on to a board for yourself, so it
own get here, if they ever do. You prob¬ won’t blow away when you use it in the
ably won’t need them by that time. By air. They might let you fly once before
the way, though, if you’re going to be my they put you in jail. I’m going in to see
observer, you’d better go on over to the the adjutant.”
group operations office and study the Dizzy went into the operations office and
map and find out where the front is. I found several observers, some of whom he
have enough to do to fly formation with¬ knew, working over their maps and cor¬
out worrying about where we are. That’s recting details from a large map of the
your job.” whole Western front which hung on the
They reached the barracks, which was wall. The others shook hands with him
gloomy and deserted except for ghosts. and made mocking condolences about his
Tommy led the way into a small room at probable fate in the near future. The
one end which was just big enough to hold general consensus of opinion was that he
two cots and the stove. He sat down on would undoubtedly be burned alive so
one of the beds and reached an inquiring soon that it was hardly worth his while
hand underneath. Presently he produced to bother making a map of the territory
a boot, and from the boot a black bottle where the painful scene would take place,
bound with straw and bearing a brightly but they agreed to help him out of old
colored picture of a young negress. He friendship.
squinted through the bottle at the light Suddenly Tommy burst into the room,
178 H. P. S. GREENE

hie eyes shining with excitement. train, so as to hand in a nice report. If

“What do you know, Dizzy!” he ex¬ some Boches come up and you don’t see
claimed. “They didn’t want me about them, you won’t be able to hand in any
that counter-spy business-after all. We’re report anyway. Well, let’s go. All O.K.,
going to fly a Breguet with A Squadron. Sergeant?”
No more Flaming Coffins with a big tin This is to a mechanic standing by. At
tank under pressure for Us. You know, an affirmative answer Tommy gave her
Breguets have a tank covered with some the gun and followed the rest of the bomb¬
land of soft rubber, and they can shoot ers who were already taxiing out on to the
incendiaries into them all day and they field. Dizzy felt strangely empty. No
won’t bum because the holes close up and wonder, for it must have been almost ‘
the gas won’t burn without air. Also, I noon, and he had had nothing to eat since
have a nice iron seat with a high back to coffee and a roll early that morning.
sit on. Of course the Boches hav e a good As they took off and started circling for
shot at you, but then, observers are ex¬ altitude with the others, he felt somewhat
pendable. numb. It seemed like taking off for any
“Come on, it's clearing up, and we’ll practise flight, and it was hard to realize
probably raid before long. Finish your that in a little while other men might be
map and go over to the supply and draw trying to shoot him down. He put maga¬
all the flying clothes you can. It’s cold zines from the rack on to each of his twin
at five thousand meters. Hell’s fire! We Lewis guns and cocked them, and then sat
haven’t got any rum. I’m going over to B down on the dinky seat at the rear of his
Squadron and see if Honest John or John cockpit, taking only an occasional glance
Y. haven’t got some. See you out on the over the side as they circled around.
line at A Squadron in a few minutes.” Every time he looked he saw Bar le Due

H ALF an hour later Dizzy appeared

on the line in front of A Squadron
and the Meuse somewhere below him.
Suddenly he felt the ship shake savagely*
and stood up to see Tommy pointing
hangars and found seven Breguets warm¬ below.
ing up, and Tommy waiting for him. He studied the terrain and saw what
The little man was downcast from dis¬ must be Verdun, and some of the forts
covering a rum famine, but still enthusi¬ and towns to which he had driven an am¬
astic over the chance to fly Breguets. bulance two years before. The Breguets
“Let’s go,” he commanded. “Get into were flying in formation now and heading
your clothes. We are going to fly protec¬ northeast at a speed which showed they
tion in a Corps d’Armee machine, above must have a strong wind behind them.
and to the rear. They don’t have any of Tommy was flying wide to the right and
those big automatic ailerons on the bot¬ taking no chances on a collision.
tom wings, and we can’t cany much of a Dizzy could see no other airplanes any¬
load of bombs—only two incendiaries on where in the sky except one faT below
each wing—but we're faster than the which was flying methodically back and
bombers and carry' five hours’ gas. The forth, evidently on artillery reglage. He
only trouble is it’s hard not to overrun could also see several balloons. Then
the bombers. there were "four sharp woofs! and four
“Come on, here’s our bus over here. large black oily clouds appeared around
They’ve got your guns all on. Here’s him.
your bomb releases, one on each side. So this was Archie! He knew fellows
Now all I want to do is look out for always said Archie wasn’t alarming, but
Boches. You can tap me on the head in his experience six inch high explosiv e
and point them out if you see any. often meant dismembered men and dis¬
Never mind hanging your head over the emboweled horses on the roads at night.
side and counting the cars in some freight There were more woofs! and the black
 THE TELLTALE MUSTACHE 179

clouds were all around them, but the pilot pulled his nose up in a vain endeavor to
of the leading plane kept straight on. He catch up with the rest.
couldn’t dodge as an observation or pur¬ Dizzy looked over the side and saw a
suit flyer would have done, for to change town ahead of them. Squinting over the
his course would have upset the calcula¬ lower wing, he gave the stubborn bomb
tions of his observer at his bomb sight, release a furious jerk. It would be no
and ruined all chances for a successful joke to land loaded on one wing. The
raid. little handle gave way, and he saw two
One of the Breguets started to blow out long, red incendiary bombs leave the wing
clouds of steam and to lose altitude. Evi- and start on their long trip to the earth.
* dently the motor had been hit. Then it In a few moments two fires broke out
turned and started for the American lines. in the town below. He hugged himself
Small chance of making it, however, and and turned his machine guns on it. He
cold meat for any Boches who happened might as well annoy the Boches if they
along. The other bombers closed up. were trying to put the fires out, and the
“Fly formation, bomb your objective, guns needed warming, anyway.
and the devil take the hindermost,” were Again Archie cut loose furiously, but
the orders. this time he was wide of the mark, and
Ahead was a fairly large town which ten minutes saw them back to the Ameri¬
must be their objective, and Dizzy can lines.
watched the observer in the leading plane A wandering patrol of American Spads
for the signal to bomb. His own plane swept by and looked them over, which
was not equipped with a bomb sight. As might have accounted for the lack of any
a red ball shot up from the leader he Boches in that part of the sky. Dizzy
stooped and yanked at his two bomb re¬ chuckled to himself. One raid to his
leases. The left one worked easily, but credit, and he had lighted a couple of
the one on the right refused to budge. fires all by himself! He must get those
Suddenly there was a terrific woof! di¬ fires into the communique.
rectly underneath their right wing, and he Then his airman’s sense, unconsciously
felt the ship give a sickening lurch. He always attuned to the rhythm of the
raised his head, and directly above it and motor, detected something wrong. The
hardly six feet away he saw the descend¬ Breguet was commencing to skip badly,
ing nose of a great 155 m. m. bomb! By and Tommy headed her down. Below
some miracle it missed him and hurtled by them was a fairly large town, and after
the right side of the ship with a nauseating a look at his map he decided that it must
swish. be Toul. The rest of the formation had
already disappeared from sight.
D IZZY stood up on weak knees. From
the formation above he could see
They were approaching a large air¬
drome. Tommy pointed below and
bombs falling all around them as they shouted—
sideslipped directly under it. As they “French?”
came out of the slip and headed south Dizzy looked down long and carefully.
they were several hundred meters below There were several planes in front of the
and behind the other ships, which were al¬ hangars, and finally he could make out
ready hightailing it for home. that the circles on their wings were red on
Quickly the observer looked up, down the outside, blue in the middle and white
and around on every side. For a wonder in the center.
there were no enemy planes near, but he “No, American,” he replied.
could see a large formation several miles Tommy gave her the gun and zoomed
away. He wondered whether they could away again. Faltering but still losing but
catch them. He could feel the ship vi¬ little altitude, they moved on. Ahead
brate as Tommy turned on full motor and Dizzy saw another field. The cocardes on
180 H. P. S. GREENE

the planes’ wings were reassuring, for the counter-spying stuff when we escaped, or
spots in the center were blue. came back after the war. Do you suppose
“French,” he yelled, tapping Tommy we’ve got enough gas in this bus to make
on the head. Switzerland?”
The little pilot cut the gun and de¬ “Cheer up,” said Dizzy consolingly.
scended. He made a perfect landing, and “This might be another false alarm, and
several mechanics ran out and helped him we might get a chance to get brought
taxi to a hangar. The two flyers crawled down yet.”
out and lighted cigarets. The repairs were made, and late that
“What in hell did you go into that side¬ afternoon they landed on their home air¬
slip for?” inquired Dizzy. “I was scared drome.
stiff when all those bombs fell around us, “Go on and turn in your observer’s re¬
and it was worse being left all alone over port,” said Tommy, “and I’ll see the
Germany.” adjutant. If they don’t arrest me I’ll
“What did / go into it for!” howled meet you at the barracks and we’ll go
Tommy. “I was almost stalling so as not down the road to Mamselle Lucie’s cafe
to overrun the formation on the inside of for supper.”
the turn, and that damned woof right Taking off his flying clothes, the little
under the wing blew us into it. And only man dragged himself slowly toward the
a few little tears to show for it, too,” he headquarters hut. There the adjutant,
went on, examining the wing. “Wonder a nice enough young fellow whose only
where all the parts of those things go, fault was a dislike for flying, greeted him
anyway? We might have made it home in a friendly manner. Tommy started as
with that motor, but I thought I might as he saluted and saw a tall man with silver
well make it safe and land at a French air¬ leaves on his shoulders, who was standing
drome and be sure of a drink and a good in the office.
meal.” “Hallo, Tommy,” said the adjutant.
A French lieutenant came up and wel¬ “Say, you knew Blink pretty well, didn’t
comed them, and after being told of their you? Met his folks and all that? I wish
trouble offered them the bar, dinner and a you’d go over his things and send them
lodging for the night. what you think they ought to have, with a
“I will try to get your squadron for you nice letter. You know the thing—what a
later,” he remarked, “but it is hard to nice fellow he was and how we regretted it
telephone since you Americans have when he was brought down.”
changed the lovely names of our French “I know he burned up the mess fund
towns to such ones as Podunk!” along with him,” growled Tommy, “but
They finally managed to get the call all right. Was that all you wanted?
through, however, and later the next Who was all the rank?” he asked, shrug¬
morning two mechanics from their squad- ging in the direction of the door by
dron arrived in a truck and went to work which the tall officer with the shoulder
on the motor. From them the two flyers ornaments had gone out.
learned that the machine which was hit by “Oh,” said the adjutant, “that’s right.
Archie had not been heard of. You haven’t heard. Why, the major has
“By the way. Lieutenant Lang,” re¬ been relieved and sent back to the S. O. S.,
marked one of the mechanics, a corporal, and that’s our new commanding officer.
“the group adjutant said he wanted to see Colonel Bones. He seems to be a pretty
you when you got back.” good fellow and says he’s going over the
“Here it comes,” groaned Tommy. “I lines.”
wish we had been the ones to come down A few minutes later when Dizzy ar¬
in Germany. A Boche jail might not be so rived at the barracks he found that
much worse than an American one, and Tommy had already shaved, and was
they would have forgotten all about that busy waxing his mustache.
 Another Impostor stories. He has been entertained and helped, and
in at least one case known to me personally has
XPERIENCES like the following are taken a loan of a hundred dollars from a dear old
enough to explain why there is such couple on the fake that he was buying a vessel which
as “justifiable homicide.” For one, I was to make a good profit, when they would be
reimbursed. The old folks gave him their savings.
should not blame Captain Dingle—sup¬
The only vessel he ever came near buying was also
posing once he could catch the crook and by the fake of claiming to be me, but fortunately
liar who is using his name—for slicing up to an old deepwater ’prentice, who failed to find in
the culprit into cannibal jerky. him the salty tang of the man who wrote deep¬
water stories.
Adventure has the impostor’s name and
This panhandler will be welcomed by the police
description, but refrains from publishing in Bellingham, Washington, the coastguard in
the name—as it is a very common one, Sabine, Texas, more than one yacht and vessel
and probably no more than a temporary broker in New York, San Francisco, Long Island,
alias, anyway. Injustice to some per¬ and Thousand Isles. He bought several of my
books for Christmas presents to people he had
fectly innocent person of the same name, fooled, inscribing them as from me. I have one
has to be-avoided. here, sent to me by a disillusioned victim, to whom
But if some stranger represents himself I sent a book properly inscribed. The one I have is
as Dingle, and is five feet nine inches in inscribed: “To the best friends a man ever had.
Hoping they will get as much pleasure in the reading
height, weighs about 140 pounds, has
as I got from the writing of it, while sailing alone
dark brown hair, blue eyes, and is strictly across the Atlantic.” Signed “Dingle.”
American in type and speech, swat him Would you mind putting this in Camp-Fire?
first and investigate afterwards—for this I wish you could use the man’s name too. I have
is just the sort of man Captain Dingle is his photograph. Once, when I was tipped off that
he was trying to get some Dodge watercars on the
not! (The real author is shorter, forty
same system, I made a long trip to New York trying
pounds heavier, has brown eyes, and is to get him. I got there the day after people got wise
English). to him and he skipped. I have received letters
from every part of Coastal America, asking me if
Comrade FriePs experience with a waster who is he were I or I were he. I have got letters through
using his name was not a circumstance compared various magazines reminding me of certain meet¬
with mine. For four or five years now a human rat ings, promises, and so forth, which never happened
has been bumming around the whole United States, in my experience. One man, late U. S. Navy,
claiming to be the author of the Captain Dingle sea reminded me of meeting me in Athens, when I was
 ADVENTURE

eating raw iteak! I was supposed to have promised was forced to abdicate. Since then the territory
this ex-gob a berth in my yacht! And raw steak! has been an integral part of Nicaragua.
I may have chewed a fellow's ear, or eke a nose, but Albert Wehde, in “Since Leaving Home,” gives a
raw steak! Gosh! brief history of the country and an amusing account
But seriously, this swine is making my name a of the coronation of its last king.—e. v. sacken
stench in so many places that J scarcely dare put
in at a new port for fear somebody will tar and Fight On Foot
feather me for him. Won't you please put this in
Camp-Fire.- Some slight mention was made once, OMRADE ELWOOD was moved to
in Mr Hoffman's time, but it was not enough. verse by his appreciation of the Major
And surely it’s a crying shame. Wheeler-Nicholson novelette. Several
Cheer oh! Sincerely,
more stories by this gifted author are
—dingle. Schooner Gauntlet, Nantucket, Mass.
scheduled for coming issues.
The Legion of Valor Although I am now a full fledged traveling sales¬
HIS is probably one of the most ex¬ man, I have two years service with the cavalry
clusive organizations in the world. under my belt. Thought that Malcolm Nicholson’s
story, ‘Tight On Foot!” was great stuff, and felt
Adventure is very glad to bring it to the
inspired to commit the following because of it.
notice of comrades who may be eligible
for membership. You can sing of high adventure
Of a life that’s full and bold—
The Legion of Valor is an organization of soldiers From the shores of festered China,
who have been decorated for extraordinary heroism To the Arctic, dead and cold—
in action. There are a number of soldiers in active
service throughout the world, who are eligible tp You can tell of thrilling moments.
membership in the Legion, and who do not know of When your life hung by few threads.
its existence. Also a number of men who are not In the fevered trackless jungles,
now in active service. The writer believes that a 'Where-the natives fancy heads-
number of them might be reached through your
But you’ll never know real living
magazine, and we are requesting that, if consistent
Or a thrill that’s worth a hoot.
with your policy, you make mention of the order,
Until you’ve heard one curt command—
and say that its purpose is to keep in touch with
“Dismount and fight on foot!”
those men who have been honored.
—philips elwood, 593 McDonough Street,
The yearly dues are insignificant. We meet for a Brooklyn, New York.
few days each year somewhere in the United States.
Only those men who have received the Congres¬
sional Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Norman Reilly Raine
Cross, are eligible to membership; and of course,
there are not very many. Our membership to date
O N THE occasion of publishing his
second Adventure tale—“The Little
is 280. If you will run a little notice to the effect
that full particulars concerning the organization Things,” which appears in this number—
may be obtained by writing Sgt. Ben Prager, Ajt., Mr. Raine tells of his fiction background.
Allegheny County Court House, Pittsburgh, Pa„ we A colorful one it is, indeed!
will feel greatly obliged.
—dan macsweeney. Union Trust Bldg., Pittsburgh, P I was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 1894, on the
Pa. - same day in which Edward the Prince was born in
A Strategical Kingdom London, from which point our mutual interests
diverge. The acquirement of knowledge was inter¬
OMRADE SACKEN arises to volun¬ rupted—supplemented, perhaps—by several trips
teer an interesting answer to a to the Old World between the ages of one and twelve
question asked in Camp-Fire. Somehow years, to which early depravity I ow-e my present
love of roaming. Educated in the United States
or other it really seems that any king
and England the years immediately preceding 1914
named Clarence ought to be forced to found me a newspaper reporter on Buffalo papers
abdicate! until the Big Story broke in August and I donned a
Howard X. Whitener wants information about Canadian uniform. Was given a commission on
the Mosquito Indians. the field and walked the chalkline of elemental emo¬
Great Britain created the Kingdom of Mosquitia tions for nearly five hectic years, during actions at
so as to obtain the help of these Indians and the Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele,
numerous white pirates who had settled on the east Amiens, Arras, and subsidiary engagements. After
eoast of Nicaragua, in her wars with Spain. The demobilization at Toronto in March, 1919, the
kingdom existed until 1863 when King Clarence seed of my youthful voyagings came into active
 THE CAMP-FIRE 18f

germination and bore successful fruit, for since that I am using the true names of some real people, and
time I have covered most of the globe. narrating some actual events.
Turning the diamond of experience before your In the time of Funes (1913-21) a family named
evening blaze, the facets flash with the blue of the Carasquel lived at Babilla Flaca. And four Cara-
skies of the world; the white of Canadian snows; squel boys joined the Funes outfit at Zamuro, out¬
the crimson gleam of the Western Front; the post of Atures. And the sergeant in charge did
lambent green of terraced hillsides on the Inland exactly what Matanza does to them in this story,
Sea of Japan; the soft pink of blossom mist on the including the sending of Vicente to bring up the rest
rugged heights of Manchuria; the yellow gleam of of the family. And later on Matanza went as mes¬
Nubian Desert sands; the living turquoise of a senger down-river, became ill on the way back,
Bengal sky; the cold jade of a distant Aleutian sought relief at Babilla Flaca without knowing
Island, tipped by the storm-light of a North Pacific where he was, and got the same quick and perma¬
winter day; a pool of vivid carnelian amid the purple nent cure described herein.
shadows of Australian gum trees; the gold of a I cannot vouch for correctness of spelling in the
burnished idol in a temple of Hong-Kong; the name Carasquel; but I spell it in accordance with
russet stain of battering seas on the plates of a the pronunciation used by the rivermen. As for
Danish tramp, the dreamy mauve of the Tasmanian Matanza, I’ve had to invent his name, because the
dusk; the fluttering emerald pennant on the stem pencilled notation in my Orinoco diary has become
of an Arab dhow; the rainbow shimmer of tropic so blurred that I can make out only the letters
fish in the depths of a lost lagoon; the scarlet flow “Mat ...” But that’s close enough.
of a wastrel’s life on the floor of a Brisbane “pub”; Beheading, I might add, was the usual mode of
the rippling beauty of an Eastern dawn in the execution in the Funes gang. It saved bullets, and
Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. looked more interesting; they liked to see the blood
Had you the patience and I the space, the subtle¬ squirt. At Atures, and also at Maipures, can still
ties of these far glimpses might be infinitely pro¬ be seen trees with old gashes in the bark, neck high.
longed, and yet what would be the use? The world Those scars mean something, amigos!—a. o. friel.
is sweet, the world is good, wherever we be! If you,
too, are a seeker after loveliness and the eternal “They Wear Forever”
verities, come with me on a morning, and I will
show you from my window a sight that, for beauty,
a blade of grass may equal, but which the wonders
T HAT, at least, was the reputation en¬
joyed by these robes and blankets in
of the world can not excel—a slender Canadian
the days when the old-fashioned weaves
silver birch against the blue spring sky.—Norman
Reilly Raine. were in more common use than now.
Comrade Bertha Little arises to tell of
them from her experience.
Cowboys in the East
I saw an inquiry in your magazine in regard to
F ROM A1 Miller, 723 Fifty-third Street,
Brooklyn, New York, comes a letter,
the old-time all wool, hand made Navajo Indian
blankets and am writing to tell you that in some of
the desolate places on the reservation, the old-time
telling of a club he. Bill Miller, and Chey¬ blankets are still made. The wool is clipped by the
enne A1 MacDowell have formed, known men from the Navajo sheep, then carded, spun on a
as the—Z Ranch Association. Membership hand reel, dyed and woven by the women, into the
is restricted to riders of western range ex¬ blankets (or rugs) that have become famous through¬
out the country.
perience, buckaroos, steer wrestlers and As a teacher for a number of years, among the
riders, calf ropers and rodeo performers. Navajos, I often visited the hogans (houses) with
Perhaps there are some cowboys ma¬ the schoolgirls and watched the processes of blanket
rooned in this section, who would care to making. I have a collection of six of the old-fash¬
ioned, hand made blankets and can get more by
write Mr. Miller.
sending to my friends in some of the out of the way
places on the reservation. Commercial dyes are
used at the present time but in this respect, only,
Scars On The Trees these blankets differ from the weaves of one hundred

A RTHUR O. FRIEL has an interest-

l ing word concerning the factual
years ago. Some traders encourage the use of Ger¬
mantown yam but I prefer the old-time weaves, for
my own use. The blankets made from black, white
background of his novelette, “Coinci¬ and gray and covered with symbolical designs, are
the most interesting, and many of them are of the
dence,” which appears in this number of
thickness of Oriental rugs.
the magazine. —bertha LITTLE, 2857 Fifth Avenue, San Diego,
This tale of “Coincidence” is so full of fact that Calif.
184 ADVENTURE

HARDPAN VALUES

Met a feller yesterday I used to know in Candle;

Worked the claim below him in the fall of ’99;
He was husky back in them days; lean an’ tough, an’ hard to handle;
But a guy in need could have his bottom nugget, any time.

A year don’t seem so long, but twenty-five—that’s half o’ fifty:

I hardly knowed this jasper when I met him yesterday;
He’s got a big bay winder, and his eyes are bleak an’ shifty:
His face is fat an’ flabby, an’ what hair he’s got is gray.

We’d been good pals up there, but human nature’s kinda funny;
It’s twenty years or better since he quit an’ went Outside;
I remember hearin’ once he’d made himself a flock of money,
Bought hisself a seat in Congress, an’ a Broadway Follies bride.

He knowed me, right enough, an’ tried to act purt’ nearly human;
A ketle condescendin’, which he couldn’t help, o’ course;
Here I was nearin’ fifty, without bank account or woman.
While he’d gathered seven millions, an’ had got his third divorce.

We set an’ gassed awhile about “the good old days” up yonder.
When he was "Skookum Jim”, an’ I was called the “Bluegrass Kid”;
Of the booze we used to punish, an’ the dust we used to squander;
How the things we wisely planned on were the things we never did.

I called to mind the time pneumony caught big Bruce McGavin;

No dogs—six feet o’ snow—the doctor forty miles away;
I’d frosted both my hoofs an’ couldn’t stir outside the cabin;
“I'll take him in,” says Jim; “I need terbacker, anyway.”

He made it through in thirty hours, an’ would have made it quicker,

But half the time he packed that ravin’ Scotchman on his back.
Six hours of sleep—some ham an’ eggs—a shot or two of likker—
Then he took his plug of Horseshoe an’ mushed down the homeward track.

A score or more of sim’lar stunts from out the past came thronging;
He snapped at each one hungrily, an’ licked up every crumb;
’Twas kinder sad to see a man so wishful-like, an’ longing
To recall the man he once had been—an’ see what he’d become.

Then, sudden-like, he caught hisself, like one who’s lost his balance:
His eye went bleak again, his ardent interest seemed to cool.
“That stuff's all right for kids,” says he; “But men should turn their talents
To the things of weight an’ value, an’ should cease to act the fool.”

He lights a new perfecto, an’ says he to me: “Old Bummer,

You’ve wasted most your life here, chasin’ things you’ll never get.
Come on with me; I’ll let you run a plant I bought last summer,
An’ with me to show you how, you’d ought to make a million yet.”
 THE CAMP-FIRE 185

I must have smiled a leetle mite superior, I reckon,

As I thanked him for his offer; for his face went red an’ hot;
“But,” says I; “there’s lots of unmapped spots that call, an’ wink, an’ beckon,
An’ my grub-stake’s packed an’ ready, an’ I’m set to see the lot.”

“They say that strike on Russian Lake’s as rich as two Bonanzas;

There’s a line-up now in Wrangell, for to rush the Cassiar;
Old Wildcat Redmond’s wired to his old side-kick back in Kansas
To ‘come at once’; that means he’d struck it rich on Chandelar

“Jack Reed, from the Klahina, is in town, an’ isn’t boozin’—

(The likker starts his tongue, an’ he’s not sayin’ what he’s found);
But he’s hired a crew of men, an’ bought a duplex pump for sluicin’—
No, thank ye kindly, pardner; I’ll jest have to stick around.”

His faee was tense an’ eager; in his eye I caught a glitter
That was speakin’, plain an’ eloquent, of things he’d jest denied;
But he shook his head, regretful, an’ his twisted smile was bitter.
As his gaze swept down the bulk of fat encased within his hide.

His steamer’s whistle warned us then he’d barely time to make it;
He puffed aboard an’ faced me as the “cast-off” whistle blew.
“That job is yours whenever you decide to come an’ take it;
But”—his old-time grin flashed out again—“You’re crazy if you do!”
—Larry O’Conner

Readers’ Votes Circulation figures tell an editor how a

READER writes in to say emphat¬ magazine is selling; unfortunately they
don’t tell why. And though the tabulated
ically that he doubts the value of
vote of readers need not be his only guide
conducting a reader’s vote to determine
in choosing stories (as indeed it isn’t, for
what types of stories and what authors
he will buy a truly good story when and
should merit preference in our magazine.
where he finds it) it is nonetheless an
He points out that only a meager fraction
important one—one that he should re¬
of a magazine’s public ever takes advan¬
spect, take cognizance of, and for which,
tage of an editor’s invitation to make ar¬
if he is like myself, he is sincerely grateful.
ticulate its likes or dislikes; that the ver¬
dict is not indicative of general taste, for
Slinging Mud
the same people always respond, the rest
remaining soundly silent; that, after all, OMRADE COPPAGE of the United
the editor, his judgment refined and crys¬ States Marines in Nicaragua, sends
tallized by wide experience, is the best in the following letter, which I am glad to
authority, and that his choice of stories print just at this time—when the hands of
ought to be unquestioned and absolute. politicians are on all the lanyards, bring¬
Of course there is truth in the above ing into action all the big guns (and the
view, and it is certainly flattering to an pea-shooters) of the Presidential campaign.
editor’s ego to find such*stanch confidence I am aH riled up. With me it is a case of put up or
in himself, yet is it the whole truth? shut up; so excuse me while I put up, will you?
Granted that the response from readers This talk about us Marines being the soldiers of
Wall Street, oppressing weak nations and in general
is limited, such still is the sole means at an having a big time at the other fellow’s expense.
editor’s disposal of obtaining a direct and It was not damn fools who started this line of talk.
unequivocal measure of patrons’ tastes. It was a very wise, slick party who realizes very
186 ADVENTURE

well that Americans believe ’most everything they home I get nothing but native cooking. Gosh, but
see in print. I get hungry for good home cooked food like my
All right, I can play at this game too. And per¬ mother makes! At night I dream of ice-cold butter¬
haps when you see the truth in print, in plain milk, hot biscuits, spare-ribs and pie. You folks
American language, you will believe it. I am one of who get all these regularly can not understand how
the Leathernecks loaned to the Nicaraguan people it can mean so much to us.
by our own Government, and if I have no guile left The heat, the dust, the insects, the smells; they all
in me, the reason is simply that it is all melted out. leave their mark. Unseen, unnameable diseases
This climate would be good for the honorable Sena¬ which make a victim of one in a week. The ever
tors who proposed to stop our allowances so we present buzzards who can hardly wait until a thing
would leave here. Do they think we want to stay in dies to start tearing at it. Did you hear of the
this place for the fun of it? Marine who was wounded in one of the first bat¬
Why are we here in the first place? “Because we tles down here, and lay for hours with his pistol
were ordered here by higher authority.” We don’t in hand keeping back an ever growing circle of
ask how come we got this job handed us, we took it impatient buzzards? Gruesome, is it not? And
over and some of our gang have passed out holding your eyes are the first thing they pick at. Nice to
it down. So why climb our frames? You have a remember.
bunch of the best soldiers in the world asking one Such is life in the tropics. We don’t growl about
question: “What is the matter with the folks back it. Other things more important to attend to.
home?” Eighty-two dollars was the sum total of my pay
Don’t knock us and call us names; we are a proud for the month of January 1928, and my entire living
lot and touchy as hell. If you want us out of here, expenses came out of this. What are we down here
jive us orders to that effect through the same me¬ for; surely not money?
dium that ordered us down here. It is low-down to We are here from a sense of duty, and while we
shoot a man’s dog because you are mad at the man. will be glad to come home when we can do so hon¬
This life is supposed to be an easy snap is it, at big orably we prefer to stay on the job until that time.
wages? Surely if we are working for Wall Street we But we want our own people to believe in us and
are drawing big pay, no doubt. Good, I will hand back us up, heart and soul.
you a slice out of my own personal life for the period —Alton o. coppage, Cadet Guardia Nacional de
of January, 19*8. Remember, I had it easy too, Nicaragua. Private U. S. M. C.
compared with the majority of our bunch here at the
same'time. I can’t imagine just what sort of propa¬
On January 3rd, I was sent here from Head¬ gandist bilge Private Coppage must have
quarters of the Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua, in come across—but surely hope that he and
Managua, to take command of this Sub-Division.
his gallant comrades will take it no more
The town of El Viejo (meaning the old) has a popu¬
lation of about three thousand. My headquarters seriously than they would the spoutings
are in this town. The country around is thickly of a street corner fountain pen fakir.
settled and I have never been able as yet to cover it America has not forgotten its heroes of
all, regardless of the fact that I spend from one to Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry and
two-thirds of my time in the saddle. Being the
only American in this section I would soon grow other salients; it does not think of them as
lonesome if I did not keep busy. Am I busy, polic¬ cynical hirelings of a money power, or as
ing this area with the sole aid of ten native soldiers, meddling busybodies in uniform. Never!
capturing thieves, murderers, wild-eyed drunks, Whatever may be the rights or wrongs
shooting mad dogs, recovering stolen animals and
of our position in Nicaragua—and at the
investigating rumors of armed bandits? In my spare
time I train my men, hold drills and inspections, moment of this writing (March 16th) it
study Spanish, the laws of Nicaragua and general seems that the diplomatic situation is
orders. Then to be sure that I earn my money from more muddled than ever—the hearts of
month to month, I am making a road map of my real Americans are with our men and with
entire district showing the traveled roads and trails.
Old Glory, wherever they may be.
In the heat and dust, this is a six months’ job.
My food is simple but good. Boarding at a native . —ANTHONY M. BXJD
 ask Adventure

For free information and services you can’t get elsewhere

Decorations About 12,000 awards of the French Croix de

O RIGIN and significance of the Croix

de Guerre and the Legion of Honor.
Guerre were made to American soldiers during the
World War.*

Request:—“Would you fully describe the French

T HE LEGION OF HONOR is the oldest and
highest of the French decorations. It was
war decoration, the Croix de Guerre? Also the established by Napoleon to reward services in
medal of the Legion of Honor of France? I would both civilian and military life. The order is divided
greatly appreciate any information you would care into five classes, the lowest being Chevalier, then
to give me with reference to these decorations.”— Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand
donald Matthews, Cleveland, Ohio. Cross. In time of peace the original award to an
individual is usually made in the lowest grade.
Reply, by Lieut. Glen R. Townsend:—The French He must then serve in that grade and in each
Croix de Guerre is a military decoration which was successive grade for a stated period before being
established during the early part of the World War. eligible for promotion to the next higher grade,
Its purpose is to recognize the services of the promotions being made as a reward for additional
officers and enlisted men of the French army and its services. In time of war, and sometimes in time
Allies performed in the theater of operations. of peace, especially in the case of foreigners, original
The decorations consists of a Maltese cross of awards are made in the higher classes.
bronze metal suspended from a ribbon of alternate The badge of the order is a white enameled star
narrow red and wide green vertical stripes. The stars surmounted by a laurel wreath and suspended from
and palms worn on the ribbon indicate the origin of a ribbon of red watered silk. It is silver for the
the citation on which the award is based. A bronze grade of Chevalier and gold for all other grades and
star indicates a citation by a regiment or a brigade; the grade is distinguished by the manner in which
a silver star a citation by a division; a gold star the badge is worn. The two highest classes wear
citation by an army corps and the bronze palm indi¬ the star of the order in addition to the badge. The
cates citation in the orders of an army. service ribbon is plain for the Chevalier. The
In case of second and subsequent awards the ap¬ Officer wears a rosette on the service ribbon, the
propriate star or palm is added to the decoration. Commander a silver bowknot, Grand Officer a silver
Should one person receive the award of five bronze and gold bowknot and Grand Cross a gold bowknot.
palms he may replace them with one silver palm. Similar devices may also be worn with civilian cloth¬
When the service ribbon is worn instead of the deco¬ ing to indicate possession of the decoration.
ration itself the palms or star is worn on the ribbon More than a thousand Americans were decorated
and if there is more than one award the device repre¬ with various grades of the Legion of Honor for
senting the senior award is placed on the right. services in the World War.
187
 ADVENTURE

Trade Dollar b£che-de-mer and sends pineapples and bananas to

New Zealand.
HE INTERESTING history of an The population of the islands is estimated at
American coin intended for circula¬ about 160,000. Among this number there are about
tion in China. 70,000 Hindus, who were originally imported to
work on the sugar plantations. At least half of the
Request:—“At a money exchange in Shanghai people in Suva are Hindus. The white population is
recently I was given a U. S. trade dollar. As I have not over four or five thousand. The natives were at
never seen one before am interested in their history one time the fiercest of the islanders and are of
and present value. (Date 1876.)”—g. a. Ander¬ mixed Melanesian and Polynesian stock, having
son, Hong Kong, China. thick woolly hair and black skins. Today they are
pretty well civilized and are considered model
Reply, by Mr. Howland Wood:—The Trade Dol¬ citizens.
lar that you write about was made by this Govern¬ The parts of Levuka and Lautoka are reached by
ment between the years of 1873 and 1885. They inter-island steamer from Suva, are like the usual
were not intended for circulation in the United South Seas small port, consisting of a single street
States, but for export to China to compete with the running along the beach, some residences, etc.,
old Spanish and later Mexican dollars that for a back of this and a wharf for the steamer and
century had been the chief circulating medium in schooners.
the Treaty ports. Not having gold back of them Outside of places of this description it is a native
they circulated at their silver value, which in the village proposition, and wild bush country. As
early days was about the same as their face value. there is abundant rainfall in the Fijis, the country
The Chinese never took well to our Trade dollars, is usually very fertile and there are considerable
and the production of these greatly dwindled away, plantations to be found here. Sugar is one of the
so that in the 80’s very few were made. About 1887 principal exports and there are many canefields and
the Government recalled and redeemed all of those several sugar mills. Rice is also grown extensively.
that were offered. Since that date they are not re¬ As regards getting a job, this is of course a matter
deemable and are worth only their silver content, of speculation. Getting a job to suit one is rather
today somewhere about 30 cents each, except per¬ a hard proposition in islands of this description,
haps to collectors. especially if one has no definite idea. You might be
It is an interesting thing that the weight of these able to pick up a job of some kind and again you
dollars was based not on the American dollar but might not; you take a chance, that’s all. Companies
on the Spanish dollar, and in consequence is a few operating in these islands are usually swamped with
grains heavier than our own silver dollar. Your applications for the better class of jobs, from men
dollar today is worth just about its silver value. who want to go on foreign service, and there is an
opening only occasionally.

Fiji Islands Forest Rangers

SOUTH SEA ISLAND city that UALIFICATIONS necessary to join
boasts a cable station, a Carnegie these guardians of our National
Library and a population half of which is forests.
Hindu. Request:—“I would appreciate any information
you can give me about the position of forest ranger.
Request:—“I am interested in the Fiji Islands.
Could you tell me where and when the examina¬
Could a young man going down there land any
tion is held for this position? And where I could get
kind of job?”—a. B. johnston, Vancouver, B. C.
the information to enable me to pass this examina¬
Reply, by Mr. J. S. Meagher:—There are more tion?
than two hundred isles and islets in the Fiji group. Would it be necessary to go to school to obtain
Of these about eighty are inhabited. Viti Levu is this information? I’d prefer not to go to school if
the largest island of the group and here the capital, any other source of information were available.
Suva, is located. Suva, although a scattered com¬ I am a high school graduate and have done much
munity situated around a bay, and sloping down on hunting and nature studying. I mention this for
terraces to the sea, is the largest community in the what you may think it’s worth.”—Warner A.
South Seas. Brown, Rome, N. Y.
It has many of the amenities of civilization, Reply, by Mr. Ernest W. Shaw:—Write the U. S.
something unusual in the broad areas and expanse Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C., for
of the South Pacific. Among numerous public application papers and points where examination is
buildings is to be found a Carnegie Library. A held. It is given at all National Forest headquarter
cable station keeps the community in touch with towns and at some few other points. There is no one
the outside world. Suva is also a trade center, and place that I know of where one can get information
exports sugar, molasses, copra, mother of pearl and which will enable him to pass this examination. It
 ASK ADVENTURE

is not the desire of the Government that men should Salary is $1,500 per annum to start. Rangers
study up or cram in order to pass it. Rather they when given a district, are allowed certain sums for
are looking for men whose past experience would travel when away from headquarters, and for forage
permit of their passing it with creditable rating allowance, both if actually expended. It is re¬
without study. ceived as reimbursement for moneys spent. If one
I understand there are a few correspondence is not a resident of the West with the necessary out¬
schools that advertise to fit men to pass it, but they fit, he will find it rather expensive to outfit him¬
can not make promises of a student's passing for the self properly. Horses, saddles—riding and pack—
reason that no one outside of the Commission has bedding, etc. The Service supplies tents and tools,
any idea of what the questions will consist, prior to and in most instances headquarter dwellings and
the opening of the papers before the assembled class barn with out-buildings.
on the morning of the day given, and it is held at the
same hour and same date throughout the country. I DOUBT if a man could properly outfit himself
. One should have some knowledge of surveying for less than $250, and from that up to $500
and mapping. Know the number of feet and rods or more depending on the quality of outfit. It is
in a mile and the acres in a square mile, in a section no uncommon thing for experienced men to pay
of land, in a township. Also the number of square as much as $200 for a horse. Some men seem to
feet in an acre. He should have some knowledge of get along with one or two, but most men find that
the methods used in subdividing the public domain they have to have at least three and up to five and
and the markings of the various corners to identify six, depending on size of district and how hard it is
them. He should have had experience in logging, on horseflesh.
sawmilling, ranching and with horses and livestock. When in the Service I usually had two or three
Also fire fighting. Much of these matters one can top saddle horses and two pack mules. Never had
post himself on by reading, but there is no one set less than $1,000 tied up in my outfit. I trained my
of books containing it all. Write the Forester, horses to stay close to camp and come to me when
Forest Service, Washington, D. C., for a copy of the I called or whistled. My mules would follow my
Use Book. It will give you very real information as saddle horses anywhere all day with loads on their
to duties, salary, service, etc. backs. They were broke to mountains and plains
'One does not sign up for any given period. If you work, and I knew just what they could do under any
pass the exam you will receive an offer of appoint¬ given circumstances and so knew what to expect of
ment from some Forest supervisor in some State, them. For the kind of stock I have in mind I would
usually the State in which you took the exam. If pay $200 or $250 just as readily as $30 for green
you accept, yon will be given a temporary appoint¬ unbroken stock.
ment, which becomes automatically permanent pro¬ Your experience in nature study and hunting
vided you make good during the first year or pro¬ might or might not be of special benefit. All such
bationary period. When appointment is received, things are helpful in training a man for outdoor
you take the oath of office, and are ready to enter work, but they do not enter often in the actual per¬
on duty. formance of duty.

Our Experts—They have been chosen by us not only for their knowledge and experience but with an
eye to their integrity and reliability. We have emphatically assured each of them that his advice or infor¬
mation is not to be affected in any way by whether a commodity is or is not advertised in this magazine.
They will in all cases answer to the best of their ability, using their own discretion in all matters pertain¬
ing to their sections, subject only to our general rules for "Ask Adventure,” but neither they nor the maga¬
zine assume any responsibility beyond the moral one of trying to do the best that is possible.
1. Service—It is free to anybody, provided self-addressed envelop and full postage, not attached, are en¬
closed. Correspondents writing to or from foreign countries will please enclose International Reply
Coupons, purchasable at any post-office, and exchangeable for stamps of any country in the Interna¬
tional Postal Union. Be sure that the issuing office stamps the coupon in the left-hand circle.
2. Where to Send—Send each question direct to the expert in charge of the particular section whose
field covers it. He will reply by mail. Do NOT send questions to this magazine.
3. Extent of Service—No reply will be made to requests for partners, for financial backing, or for
chances to join expeditions. “Ask Adventure” covers business and work opportunities, but only if
they are outdoor activities, and only in the way of general data and advice. It is in no sense an em¬
ployment bureau.
4. Be Definite—Explain your case sufficiently to guide the expert you question.
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 ASK ADVENTURE
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 The TRAIL
AHEAD
The next issue of
ADVENTURE

''Beginning
In The Year 2000
By Arthur O. Friel
Do you remember “The King of No Man’s Land” and “Tiger River”, in which the adventurers,
McKay, Knmdton and Rand set up a kingdom in the throbbing jungles of the Orinoco? In this
absorbing new novel the author describes the even more exciting experiences of the grandson of
McKay in this far and mysterious land.

THREE COMPLETE NOVELETTES

The Bloody Decks of Every

By H. Bedford-Jones
How by a trick of fate young Willingham, having walked the plank of the great pirate Every,
lived to become a lieutenant of that red sea rover and to wield a cutlas for him in the sack
of the Grand Mogul.

Inco
By Georges Surdez
A story of the the fierce and warring tribesmen of the North African deserts and the riff-raff
of the French Colonial troops, who were deemed worthless—till it came time to fight to the
death for their flag.

Misfortune Hunters
By Thomson Burtis
Slim Evans, lank lieutenant of the Border Air Patrol, runs into a snug little conspiracy to
fly smuggled dope in from Mexico.

And—Other Good Stories

Six Pounds of Fury, a Swede blacksmith and his mighty hammer, by Hal Field
Leslie; Betelnut, the last story by this favorite Adventure author, Charles Victor
Fischer; Courage, an arrow, a bullet and a great Kadiak bear, Frank Richardson
Pierce; Hank Joins The Vijiluntys, letters of a wandering partner, by Alan LeMay;
Adventure’s Abyssinian Expedition, notes along the trail, by Gordon MacCreagh;
Lead—No Grit, a story of an Alaskan man hunt, by Dex Volney.
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