Adventure Magazine Cover — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

14 quiet voice full of amusement, and Tom Tripe started. , He turned about in his chair and for the first time looked the third member of the party full in the face. : “Hoity-toity! Well, I’m jiggered! Of all things! Dash my door-knob, it’s the princess!” . HE ROSE and saluted cavalierly, =| jocularly, yet with a deference one could not doubt, showing tobacco- darkened teeth in a smile of almost paternal indulgence. “So the Princess Yasmini is Gunga Singh this morning, eh? And here’s Tom Tripe riding up-hill and down-dale, laming his horse and sweating through a clean tunic— - -with a threat in his ear and a reward promised that he’ll never see a smell of— while the princess smokes cigarets ——!” “Tn very good company!” “In good company, aye; but not out of mischief, Pll be bound. Naughty, naughty!” he said, wagging a finger at her. ‘Your ladyship ‘ll get caught one of these days, and where will Tom Tripe be then? I’ve got my job to keep, youknow. Friend- ship’s friendship, and respect’s respect, but duty’s what I’m paid to do. ‘‘Hexe’s me, drillmaster of the maharaja’s troops and a pension coming to me conse- quent on good behavior, with orders to set a guard over you, miss, and prevent your going and coming without his Highness’ leave. And here’s you giving the guard the slip! Somebody tipped his Highness off, and I wish you’d heard what’s going to hap- pen to me unless I find you.” “You can’t find me, Tom Tripe. not Yasmini today; I’m Gunga Singh.” “Tut-tut, your ladyship; that won’t do! I swore on my Bible oath to the maharaja day before yesterday that Id left you closely guarded in the palace place across ‘the river. He felt easy for the first time for a week. Now, because they’re afraid for their skins, the guard all swear by Krishna you were never in there, and that I’ve been bribed. How did you get out of the grounds, miss?”’ “Climbed the wall.” “T might have remembered you’re as active as a cat! Next time Ill mount a double guard on the wall, so they’ll fall off and break their necks if they fall asleep. But there are no boats, for I saw to it, and I’m Adventure the bridge is watched. How did you cross the river?”’ “Swam,” “At night?” The blue eyes smiled assent. “Missy—your ladyship—you mustn’t do that. Little ladies that act that way might lose the number of their mess. There’s crockadowndillies in that river—aggilators -—what d’ye call the —— things? Mugger! They snap their jaws on a leg and pull you under. The sweeter and prettier you are the more they like you- Besides, missy, princesses aren’t supposed to swim; it’s vulgar.” He contrived to look the very incarnation of offended pr.dery, and she laughed at him with a voice like a golden bell. He faced Tess again with a gesture of apology. < “You'll pardon me, ma’am, but duty’s duty.” Tess was enjoying the play immensely, shrewdly suspecting Tom Tripe of more complaisance than hé chose to admit to his prisoner. “You must treat my house as a sanctuary, Tom. Outside the garden wall orders, I suppose, are orders. Inside it I insist all guests are free and equal.” The Princess Yasmini slapped her boot with a little riding-switch and laughed delightedly. ‘There, Tom Tripe! do?” “T’ll have to use persuasion, miss. Tell me how you got into your own palace un- seen and out again with a horse without a soul knowing?” ‘“‘ ‘Come into my net and get caught,’ said the hunter; but the leopard is still at large. ‘Teach me your tracks,’ begged the hunter; but the leopard answered, ‘Learn them!’ ” “Oopsichefoosalum!”’ Tom Tripe scratched his head and wiped sweat from his collar. The princess was gazing away into the distance, not appar- ently inclined to take the soldier seriously. Tess, wondering what her guest found in- teresting on the horizon all of a sudden, herself picked out the third beggar’s shabby outline on the same high rock from which Yasmini had confessed to watching before dawn. 7 Now what will you asked Tom Tripe. ce N 0. 39 a “Will your ladyship ride home with me?” 100 (E@) “S (CO) im