Adventure Magazine Cover — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

124 throaty foreign way, and the others an- swered him with all politeness, but I could see that none of them liked him. The coronel was displeased at the way the Spider’s eyes followed his daughter, and the girl herself avoided him. Senhor Af- fonso, though, was much interested some- times by the black-bearded man’s talk of things he had studied in the jungle, and now and then he went out with him to see those things for himself. At such times I always felt uneasy, and Senhorita Flora, too, kept watching anxiously until they returned. Mind you, senhores, the Spider never had done anything to make us distrust him. But dark crimes can easily be committed when two men are alone in the bush, and we knew that Senhor Affonso was wealthy and that, no doubt, he had a tempting sum of milreis with him; and, as I have said, there was that about the Spider which made one feel that it would not be well to trust him too far. So I always felt relieved when the Rio gentleman came back un- harmed, and I knew the senhorita did also, though she never spoke of what was in her mind. Then one day a man of ours reported seeing a splendid black jaguar in the forest, and Senhor Affonso and the Spider went to hunt it. They made the longest trip they had yet taken, for they were gone tWo days. This time we were more at ease about them, however, for by the coronel’s order two of our men went with them—the man who had seen the jaguar and another who was a good hunter. Not long after they departed, another boat came. It was the one which had brought the Spider to us. My leg was better now, though still stiff, and I limped down to watch the unloading of the supplies. As I started, the coronel asked me to request the captain to come up for a moment. I did so and thought no more of it. After the boat went, though, I noticed that the coronel seem disturbed. At times his eyes would snap angrily and then he would walk up and down, his face wrinkled in thought. I asked no questions, of course, but after the Spider and Senhor Affonso returned I soon learned what was the matter. They had found the jaguar, and brought with them his great, glossy hide, which Senhor Affonso proudly showed to the girl and her father. Adventure “Tt shall go back to Rio with us,” he said, looking at Flora, and there was that in his face which added: ‘‘And some day, beloved, it shall be in our home.”’ She smiled and blushed a little, dropping her eyes. I do not know why I did it, but I glanced at the Spider to see if he watched this. I saw he did and that a nasty expression crossed his face. The coronel saw this too, and his mouth tightened. When the others started into the house he said— “Senhor Schwartz, I would speak with you.” I turned to goaway. But, as I have said, my leg was stiff, and I had to walk slowly— and I will admit that I did not try very hard to hasten, for I knew the coronel was about to say something worth hearing. Before I had gone far the old gentleman spoke: ‘“Senhor, you have now made me quite a long visit. I have greatly enjoyed your companionship and I am grieved that in this poor home of mine I have been unable to offer you better entertainment. I trust, however, that the little I could do to show you the workings of the estate has been of some assistance to you, and that on your departure you will carry with you many pleasant memories.” The Spider said nothing. So the coronel added— “It is with sorrow that I learn that you are to leave us on the next boat.” After a pause the Spider said: “Ya, see. It is because I lost that bag mit my papers.” ‘Pardon, senhor,” said the coronal, “but the Aurora was here yesterday, and as you are my guest I asked the captain if any trace of your black bag, of which you told me, had been found. He told me, senhor, that you had no black bag whatever—only the brown one which you brought here, and that nothing had been taken from you. No doubt there is some mistake. Yet I have known this captain for years, and I know him to be honest and truthful.” There was another pause. Just as I passed out of hearing the Spider said— “He is a liar, but I will go.” I heard him walk into the house. As no boat was expected for a time, things went on as before. I said nothing of what I had overheard and I know the coronel did not tell the others, for he is the Gomicbooks (E(0) mn