Adventure Magazine Cover — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

The commander of the hill people. shouted an order: “This way. Follow me.’ The fighting ceased, i foe melted into. the night. The mocking laugh floated back and then died away. The padding of feet was heard no more. In the darkness of the night they had come; in the darkness of the night they went away. Torches were lighted by the warriors of the plains and the sound of wailing rent the air when it was seen that the head chief was dead. A spear had transfixed his throat. Squads of warriors were instructed to follow the night attackers and warned not to come back until all the enemy were killed. | Then the main body resumed its march to the kraal of the head chief, whose body - was carried by two stalwart warriors. _ Five days later they came to the kraal. Women and children rushed out of. the gate to meet them—greeting them with shouts of joy. But the laughter of some : 2 os turned to sobs when they learned that the ones they had waited for would not return. A burial trench was dug, and in it was placed the body of the dead chief—sitting upright, facing the east. The witch-doctor ordered one of the dead man’s wives to come forward and, slitting her throat, threw her into the trench. This was done in order - that the chief would not travel alone on his Great Journey. Then the hole was rapidly filled with stones and dirt. The red sun set slowly. The drums beat an enticing dance measure as the warriors trooped back toward their temporary’ en- - campment. _ Voices droned incessantly; loud laughter filled the air. Sparks from many fires ascended in the still night air. A lean-faced witch-doctor, followed by a band of councilors and captains of regi- ments, walked in and out the groups of _ joyful warriors. He was the new head chief. men of his regiment were feasting. “Fat and fill your bellies,” said the lean- faced man. jackals.” Sobosabo rose to his feet and, taking his spear, broke it in two. The broken spear he then gave to the chief. “Tomorrow you will feed the He came to a halt where Sobosabo and : Adventure = The lean-faced man called for some thread and when that was given to him he said: “The broken spear has been given to me. It is the sign that a regiment was defeated © If this be because no support was given. true, then shall the: warriors live and their ~ captain be greatly honored. If it be false, then shall the captain be branded and he and all his men shall die. He who was chief has gone to another place and his ‘snake’ has not yet come out. was his is in my hands. You have all felt the bitter end of the flying spear and you have seen mountains fall. Had not a regi- nient forgot their manhood, had their cap- tain been a brave warrior, all-the evil that has befallen you would not have happened. “But now see. As I twine this thread about the broken spear it is made whole again. The captain’s appeal is not a true appeal. He knew that support was hasten- ing to him. This then is my order. “At high noon tomorrow this regiment of cowardly dogs shall march over the precipice and be dashed to pieces on the rocks below. To all other commanders I say this: You shall have your regiments ready tomorrow, for even a cowardly jackal will fight when he knows he must die. ‘“‘A flung spear knows no friends. A knobkerrie has no brother. You are war- riors—you have no dealing with cowards and outcasts.” ‘“‘Sobosabo! Son of a dog! Stand for- ward and I will give you the mark of shame,” Perspiration streaming down his face and body, Sobosabo obeyed. Chest to chest the two men stood, and the captains of the regiments closed around them. One of Sobosabo’ S arms was placed around the body of the lean-faced witch- doctor while his left was twisted behind him, his hand held against his back, the fingers spread open, his thumb pointing straight up his spine. In that position it was held by one of the captains. But the power that ‘The lean-faced man, a spear in his right hand, twined his arms about Sobosabo and guided by his forefinger, slashed Sobosabo’s back, tracing the outline of his digits. The luckless man did not move; not an eyelash quivered. The lean-faced man flung the weapon to the ground. It madea loud clattering noise in the terrific silence. COLIC HOOKS (E@)