Adventure Magazine Cover — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

= E42 When they had eaten their fill the chief said: “You are men. You have eaten raw meat, and your faces are smeared with blood. Soon you will meet the dogs of the . A‘ “ . Kill! * ‘ 7 4 “ . - so given to all in the council-hut. mountain. You will kill them and wash _ your spears in their blood. Break their bones and rip their flesh. ~Every one that you see strike. Kill them! Kill them! Kill!” “Aye! Yes, we will kill!’ shouted the warriors. “This is the night,” the chief continued, “the women will return from the forest.” Then he uttered the age-old military command— “Breed before you die!’”’ The sun set slowly in a blaze of ominous red. The hours passed quickly as the men stopped in their huts bragging, smoking, awaiting midnight. The sweet-sounding" chant of the women and girls, borne on the cool breeze of the night, came from the forest. The warriors echoed their song as they went out of the kraal to meet their womenfolk. As the two groups neared the tones blended musically and then died away. And there was no sound, save the leaves of the trees whisper- ing in the night air and the crooning of owls. © In response to its call the warriors and young boys raced from the huts and came to a knoll where the horn-blower stood. About the base of the hill were a number of the councilors. With them were the two boys who had been sent out as spies. ee | ““These two have just returned and have told of certain things they have seen,” said SOUNDED a long blast on a horn. @ warrior. . The chief turned to the crowd of boys and said: “Some of you will carry mats; others are to go with the warriors; the rest will drive cattle. All of you will carry spears. When you meet an enemy, killhim! Take out his heart, cook it and then eat it. Thus you will gain his strength. Keep up with the warriors, you mat-boys. © “The pass-word and the grips will be Go!” As the boys shuffled away toward the kraal a war-drum boomed and was quickly echoed by another and another. At the council-hut the witch-doctor was Adventure awaiting them. ‘The oath of a warrior was administered and then each was given the pass-word. - : ‘‘And now,” said the nasal voice of the head witch-doctor, ‘‘remember this: When in the fight and you get your enemy by the throat, if he should grip your arm thus, you will know that he is one of you. In the dark challenge every man and kill him if he can not give you the right pass-word. Watch. for all signs along the path and beware of the broken spear. A coward never lives! You have permission to go.” As the witch-doctor finished speaking, the steady throb of marching feet came to the ears of the boys. Louder it came with thunder spéed—the tramp of a mighty host. Suddenly it burst into view. Battle-axes brightly gleaming, spears shining in the sun, shields raised high, the warriors came on. ‘The ground shook to the thud of their feet. War-drums throbbed unceasingly as regiment after regiment marched up to the councilors that their captains might get their orders. “You are the advance guard,”’ was the order given to. the captain of the first impz. “You will attack the dogs of the mountains when the lions roar their loudest and the elephants go down to drink. Go!” The captain bowed and led his regiment” away. The second regiment was ordered to attack at midnight, and the third was in- structed to make a feint attack in the night but to defer their real attack until the breaking of dawn. The other regiments were ordered to be ready to support the others. They were to hold themselves ready to act on any order that would be transmitted to them by word of mouth. At last all the warriors were on their way; chanting the fierce battle-song of their race. Before following the regiments the head chief addressed the women of the kraal. “Be brave,” he said. “Do not disgrace your men-folk who now go out to die that you may live. act in battle—your spirits will affect us. Therefore, be good vessels for ‘your masters.”’ ; : With that the chief mounted his riding-ox and hastened after the fast traveling’impis. Soon all the warriors disappeared from sight, yet for a long time the women watched listening tearfully to the song of — EComichoo SS As you act here, so will we (E@)