Adventure Magazine Cover — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

90 Adventure “ll hand you something, you fat desk war- rior, if I ever get a chance. Come on, young felluh.” A BEFORE them the road led between rs two thickets to a ford at a swift, hissing, black stream. When they had nearly reached it the mule-skinner pulled in shortly. “There’s a native just gone down-stream in a barroto,” he announced ominously. “Well, de complained the major, “what of it? How deep is it?” “Bout hub deep.” Well, that’s deep enough to float a barroto, isn’t it? That’s what it’s for, isn’t it? You aren’t afraid of one, are you?” 3 “No, I ain’t!”’ snarled Joe furiously. ‘An’ I ain’t no soldier, neither, to be ragged by no one. Ill go on all right jest as far as you like, but [ll tell you right now that there’s nothin’ up or down this stream for a barroto. Hike, you mules!” . » He set his jaw on his quid and took a fresh grip on his lines. “Watch out now,” he called back. _ The major had no time to reply. With a splash and a bound the old ambulance took the river. It bounded and swayed toward mid- stream, obedient to mules that lunged and strained, up to their girths in the swirl, urged by the lash and the curses of a challenged driver. “Easy, there!” roared the major. “Easy, ——!” retorted Joe. ‘“There’s no time to lose, I’m thinkin’! : And then there was a crash of firearms from the road and the bank of the stream they had left, and a sound like bees swarming. Quietly the major tapped Joe on the shoulder. “Halt,’’ he commanded. “Halt!’’ repeated Joe, surprized. ‘What for?” “Because I’ll shoot you if you don’t,” the major replied softly. ‘Dismount.” The mule-skinner suddenly developed an admirable sense of obedience and dropped into the water. “Now keep down as low as you can in the water and make for the other side. You two men close up here with me., Don’t return the fire unless they come after us or you can see a - target. Keep down!” In this manner, with their bodies as nearly submerged as possible, they continued to cross the river, tilted against its whirling current. Little splashes all around them plopped up in response to the furious discharges behind them, and mingled with these were occasional shouts. “Steady now!” cautioned the major as they approached the bank. ‘Gather close and stand up a moment. Stand squarely behind the ambulance so that the natives can not see into * 3 down with it. it. I think the box will slide out as the front rises. There, that’s it! Don’t let those devils see it. Let it down into the stream and stay “Now Joe, turn the mules loose. them the whip for a good start. Send them up the road. That’s it!” Out of the hindering swirl, with familiar hard coral beneath their shoes, the mule team clattered wildly toward Allegria. But not a hundred yards ahead an ambush opened, yet not from near, for gu-gus fear mules and American horses as they do American marks- manship. “Thought sol’? chuckled the major. “But the team got through at that. Lordy, see Good thing gu-gus can’t shoot, isn’t “They’re coming across with bolos,’” an- nounced Lanky, and opened fire. Two rifles and two revolvers were their only weapons, but every shot scored. The natives retreated to cover. “They'll be after us again in a moment,” “We'll commence fir- observed the major. ing into the brush as soon as they open up on us. When I give the word you two men jump’ up and begin shooting. Then you, Lanky, throw up your hands as if you were hit and drop into the water. Hang on to your rifle, though. And then—”’ turning to the brown-eyed one—”’ you do the same. “Note that fringe of nipa palms along ee edge of the swamp on this side, down-stream. Keep your heads below all you can. Stay close to the bank and come up for air in the shadow under it, face toward it. Drag the box along with you. Make for,those nipas and hide under them. The driver and I will work past you down-stream. “Guard that box till you are relieved, if possible. In case some gu-gu should find you use the bayonet. ‘Don’t shoot. If necessary to save your lives, do what seems best. I'll — join you if I can. ‘Understand? They understood, but Joe protested agaihst: the silence of two rifles at such a time. The major cursed him. “Your first duty,’’.he said, “‘even if you are a civilian, is to obey your orders, which are to do your share toward saving those funds and getting them to where the Government sent them. And I’d as soon shoot an American — who fails in his duty as a gu-gu who attacks me. D’ye hear me? All I want of you is for you to save your skin and get word to Allegria. You know your duty; now do it.” The fusillade broke forth again from the cover of the jungle. “Spread out, everybody,” shouted the major as they returned the fire. “Keep down and work toward the bank. Keep moving down- stream. That’s good. Now, driver, you Pa GoOmiGcdooks Give