Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

THE THRALDOM OF SINGAN qui vive all right. The fellow opposite was on you like a knife.” “Yes,” said Charles casually. “I’ve sent them both away.” Eade sat up in his chair. “Whatever for?” he asked. “Because we can look after ourselves, John. Those two men have gone up to Headley’s, whether he wants them or not. You and [ are going to bed right now.” “J don’t exactly feel inclined to go to sleep yet,” said the other. “I’m as wide awake asa tomtit. I feel as if I had eyes all round my head.” “T don’t want you to go to sleep,” said Cartwright. “You would be a fool if you did. You needn’t even take off your clothes. All the lights are going out in the bungalow anyway. You’ve got to lie down on your bed, my son, and have your revolver ready under your pillow. I ask for nothing better than for Liu Tang to come here looking for trouble. He'll get tt.” Eade rose from his chair. “Give me another of those whisky pegs, as you call them,” said he, “and Pll obey orders. If that’s all you want, Charles, ’'m game. Another drink and I’m sure ready for any one. I seem to have picked up-the customs of this darned country mighty quick. You keep your soda nicely iced, by the way.” “And another wouldn’t do me any harm either,” said Charles, helping him- self to a good three fingers’ worth. “Here’s to the night!” he cried, raising his glass. “I’ve had some exciting ex- periences since I came out here; but ve got a hunch that the next six or seven hours are going to produce something extra special.” “This morning,” said Eade, “I was a sick man, dead tired and all nerves. I wouldn’t have been much use to you. But now, why, I’m just glad of the chance to see this thing through, though I warn you I’m not a particularly good shot.” “T’ll give you an electric terch,” said the other. ‘‘There’s a spare one. And after midnight the moon comes up—a full 173 moon, too. If nothing happens before then, it’ll be almost as light as day.” the Chinese lanterns on the ver- anda, and then put out the lights in the sitting room beyond. Eade had the spare room from which the steps led down to the bathroom. That no intruder might enter by this way, the door of the bathroom that connected with the garden was locked from the inner side, and the trapdoor at the top of the steps was lowered. In consequence Eade felt tolerably safe. Any one who proposed to attack them must cross both the veranda and the front room, before he could enter either bedroom. Nonetheless John Eade’s sense of security diminished somewhat the mo- ment the bedroom lights were out, and he found himself straining his ears, listening to sounds imaginary and real. There was not a breath of air. The stillness was broken only occasionally by faint and indefinite noises in the jungle. A gigantic moth brushed with velvet wings past his face, so suddenly that it frightened him. He certainly had no inclination to fall asleep. He lay there trying to imagine what kind of man this Seala was, trying to picture the island of Singan. He had read about places like that in Conrad’s books, but, it had never occurred to him before that that sort of thing could be real, In a way, he was sorry for Charles. He couldn’t blame his cousin for having fallen in love with Madame Scala. He actually smiled when he remembered the Chauve-Souris. He felt that the whole of this place—or rather, the little he had seen of it—had confounded his capacity to associate ideas. Little, painted, powdered women hadn’t, as a rule, got the reputation for being courageous. She didn’t look strong either; and yet, how many of her sex would have been able to travel all those miles. through the jungle? And in pajamas! Ye gods, what a land! For more than an hour John Eade’s ()*: AFTER the other he blew out comiclooolks. com.