Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

170 VI WARREN-DUKELY hurled his cigar stump into the fire, turned on his heel and flung his body into his chair. The doctor remained for a moment, staring incredulously; then, as if he had grasped the import of the man’s words and had decided that they were sane, he stood up abruptly and came over to Warren-Dukely. “This—this seems incredible! twentieth century! I a The polished nails gleamed in the fire- light as the delicate hand patted the doctor’s arm half-caressingly, half-reas- suringly. “Tt isn’t, my dear old boy; this isn’t! ‘It’s before the flood. Sit down, Doc; I feel better now I’ve got that off my chest. For twelve moons I’ve been dying to tell a white man that! My God!” “But—is it true?” demanded the doctor, conscious of the fingers spasmodically clutching his arm. “Tt’s true, all right; true as death!” The eyes gleamed as the beard emitted the throaty chuckle. “Sit down, old boy.” Doctor Herdwether returned to his chair confusedly, unable yet to decide whether or no the story was the result of a dis- ordered brain. Warren-Dukely dragged over his chair close beside the doctor’s and leaned forward. “My brain’s all nght now, Doc. Er— forgive me, but I can’t resist touching you— to see if you’re there, y'know. By the way, that’s why I dress sometimes. Just to try to keep myself sane. Helps. Can’t fool around all day an’ night doin’ nothin’. I mean even cleanin’ oneself an’ pretendin’ things ‘keeps—oh, reminds one of what one was. Otherwise—well, it isn’t done, ) is it? Not playing the game.” i “But if—what you inferred—we might ‘escape—ought not to lose any time.” H “Time! You dear old thing! T’ve been 7 sitting here for twelve moons wastin’ time, ain’t I? This is an island: crocs all Th the Bi | round.” “But I’ve got a canoe!” sone the | doctor. ‘I came init.” ‘ “Really? An’ what the Blawes ’s the good of that? I tried, old boy. You bet your life I did. I hadn’t got a canoe, but T got across on a log in spite of the bloody crocs. I wished I hadn’t. They got me , ‘Aaventute & Ae ei ae 5 « a three da sor centuries ater, mf donno, — Want to live in the jungle, eh?” - | “God!” said the doctor and shuddered. a “But we cotild make my camp an’——” : “Your camp! In the village, isn’t it? ‘Sides, did you blaze your trail here, eh? Which direction did you come from?” = ap doctor made an inarticulate noise he glanced over his shoulder. “No, it water that way. That's where the village is. And, I say, for how long d’you think we two an’ your twenty-five rats could put up a scrap against the mob? My dear old boy, we haven’t got a dog’s chance. I've known it for twelve moons. Come, buck up’ an’ we’ll have a chat before we go—or rather I go! But I’m not goin’ that way, by God! Playing the game or not!” “What do you mean?” One long arm shot up like a salute to the grea aes bough above ey “You'll see in daylight. Has a thing. Poison.’’ aS “But—but—” exclaimed the jumping to his feet. “But! But!” mocked Warren-Dukely harshly. ‘ t the devil’s the use of butting? We're not goats. "Sides, I've butted for twelve bloody moons. Come, old boy, let’s have a drink, an’—an’ we'll toddle along to Stone’s an’ finish up at the Empire! Sit down, man!” Suddenly he sprang to his height and slapped the doctor on the shoulder so that he sat down hurriedly. Then, tilting the opera hat upon the side of his head like a comedian, he lifted up his beard toward the moon and trolled in a husky tenor: t “Come, landlord, fill the flowing bowl until it doth Tun over—ove-tr! doctor, For tonight we'll merry, merry be! For tonight we'll merry, merry be! For tonight we'll merry, mert-y b-e-e-! Tomorrow we'll be so-ber!"” At the last word he snatched off his hat and stood bareheaded in the moonlight as the forest answered coldly— hg be-r. > “Listen!” pas indd Bere er “*There’s my fai Always agrees with me! never gostak lish voice I’ve heard for foureseen ae os . on, old boy! Let’s have a drink. God — knows I’m dry ese ie che Ce comicbooks.com