Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

122 I bowed. “Gentlemen,” I said, “I am satisfied— that Master Murray hath a stout case. There is no more need be said.” “Ah, but there is more to be said,” flared Marjory. ‘Think shame of yourself, sir, to be forever believing against others motives which you know yourself to be laden with. You were once an honorable man. Why do you not mend your ways and regain the self-respect of your kind?” “God send there be an honorable man to hand when your need comes, mistress,” I said. ‘‘Good evening, gentlemen.”’ MURRAY escorted us to the door. “I must congratulate you,” he said in a low voice. “Faith, you are an enterprising young man. You are doing famously in your new surroundings.” “But I shall not suffer another such at- tempt as to-night’s to pass unanswered,” I replied. : “Sure, sir,” he said earnestly, “can you not bethink yourself of some trouble in your past which might bring down these troubles upon you!” I laughed despite myself. “I can,” I agreed. “And so can you. But I would risk denunciation at an ex- tremity, Murray. Red Jack sought the pro- tection of the wilderness. So might I.” “You are safe,” he returned. “Believe meornot. ’Tis true.” “You hear?” I said to Ta-wan-ne-ars be- side us. He smiled gravely. “My brother is safe,” he agreed, “for Ta-wan-ne-ars will watch.” “You are thrice fortunate,” Murray con- gratulated me. ‘You have won the confi- dence of the noble red man.” Ta-wan-ne-ars looked squarely at him. “He will win the confidence of the red man, Murray, because he speaks straight. But you speak with the tongue.of an Eng- lishman, and think with the mind of a Frenchman.” Murray smiled. “But always to my own interest, Ta- wan-ne-ars. Well, good luck to the two of you. And do not permit the Keepers to take you alive.” His smile became a sardonic grin. “The Keepers have their own way with prisoners, you know. ’Tis part of their re- ward—or so the story goes.” Adventure I felt a shock of revulsion against the man. And he was the father of Marjory! “You double-dyed scoundrel!’’ I ripped out at him. ‘“‘Have I touched your nerves?” he gibed. “Zooks, how sad! Well, Ihave company. I will bid you good evening.” The door shut behind his mocking grin, and we descended the stairs to the street. Ta-wan-ne-ars walked beside me without speaking until we had left the tavern. “I understand your thoughts, my brother,” he said suddenly. ‘‘We go upon the same quest.” “Quest?” I repeated. “‘What quest?” ‘““‘We each seek a soul which is lost, a sick soul.” I remembered his rage against de Veulle, and caught his meaning. “Yes, that is true of you, Ta-wan-ne-ars. But there is no soul which I have the right to seek.”’ ‘Nevertheless, my brother would find the soul of the maiden and guard it,” he in- sisted. “I have seen.” “But I may not help her,” I objected. “She will have none of me.” 3 “O my brother,” he answered, “‘once there was one of my people who loved a maiden. And this maiden’s soul was taken away by illness and went to dwell with Ata-ent-sic, the Goddess of Lost Souls, who rules the Land of Lost Souls which is behind the Set- ting Sun. The warrior was bidden in a dream to seek the maiden’s soul, and ke journeyed for three months to the Setting Sun, past the Abode of Evil, where dwélls Ha-ne-go-ate-geh, the Evil Spirit. “‘And when he came to the Land of Souls he found his maiden’s soul dancing with the other lost souls in a bark cabin before Ata- ent-sic. And Jous-ke-ha, the grandson of - Ata-ent-sic, who was a very old man, brought him a pumpkin which had been hol- lowed out, and told him to place the maid- en’s soul within. And he did so. And he returned to his people, and made a feast, and after the feast they raised up the maiden’s soul out of the pumpkin shell.” He stopped under a flickering lanthorn, which cast a feeble light befote the George. “Surely, my brother, we shall not have to travel so dreadful a journey to regain the souls which we seek?” I saw the grave smile, with a hint of plead- ing, on his face; and I reached out and caught his hand. COmiclbook CO