Adventure Magazine Cover — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

52 closely, atlas their thoughts, and who was on the qui vive for their every little fault, which he meant to punish terrifically. At the conclusion of the address, Bird- song called upon his hearers to testify to the experiences through which they had - passed in gaining salvation for their souls, or, as Birdsong expressed it, how did they know they had made their calling and elec- tion sure? They arose one at a time. Some had seen visions, others had dreamed dreams. One fisherman avouched that a fish in his net had spoken to him. Birdsong greeted each new testimonial with fervent ejacula- _ tions and vigorous shakes of the hand. In the midst of these felicitations, a mid- -dle-aged Indian arose and said that his wife would soon bear him a baby, his eighth child. He wanted to know what he should do in order that it should go to Heaven, instead of to the Sun. Birdsong advised him to bring it to the banyan for baptism. “Then what must I do with it, Brother Birdsong?” “Train it to serve God and keep His commandments.” The Indian, whose name was Chacala, seemed astonished. “Train it here in Motobatl?” “Certainly!” “My eighth child?” “God numbers the hairs of your head, brother Chacala,” said Birdsong, “but I never heard of him numbering a man’s children, or caring what number it was. He loves ’em all.” Chacala sprang up with a glowing face. ‘Then I may keep my child! Your God lets me keep my child! Praise God! You will excuse me, Brother Birdsong, I must hurry to my wife! She may be delivered of a boy while I sit here talking! Praise God!” And to Lassiter’s amazement, Chacala turned and ran from thé banyan, going northward toward the lake. bee | CHACALA’S explosiveness ended , 2° % the meeting. The colporteur and Nunes joined Lassiter and walked with him out of the banyan. Birdsong said Nunes had just joined his congrega- tion and was doing a great work as an interrupter. He was anxious that Lassiter should be reconciled to Balthasar in order Adventure to aid the muleteer in his Christian life. The colporteur interlarded this with many quotations such as hew good it is for breth- ren to dwell together in unity, blessed is the peacemaker, etc., etc. So accordingly the two men shook hands and became friends. The Colombian began an apology for his violence on Tiliti. ‘““My dear Brother Carlos, as a Christian man, awakened to a new sense of duty, I crave your pardon for——”’ Lassiter assured him he had it. “And the pardon of the hermosa sefo- rita é He had that, too; Lassiter granted it. “Certainly the devil of temptation is wrapped up in a woman, Brother Carlos,” moralized Nunes. Lassiter agreed briefly. “You have felt it, Brother Carlos, you understand ss The promoter made no reply. “So you can excuse me more readily if. I went beside myself— Mzos Dios! I swear to you, my brother, the mere memory of it—’’ He gave.a little shiver, checked him- self, swallowed. “But that is all over now, put behind me by the help of the Blessed Virgin.” “Redeemer,” prompted Birdsong. “Si, st,” nodded Balthasar, “a man— you cold Norte Americanos.” “Amen,” drawled Birdsong fervently. “God has taken away your filthy lusts, brother Nunes.” “‘That’s all over now; let’s drop it,” sug- gested Lassiter. ‘Sz, it’s all over now—now I spend my time on my knees praying—praying—”’ He fell to shivering violently. ‘Ugh, Brother Carlos, it’s cold work, I tell you, on your knees praying to the Blessed Virgin when you know another man holds your querida wrapped in his arms, kissing— hugging—fondling—and she kissing back— Mios Dios—It’s chilly, chilly work!” Balthasar’s teeth chattered even in the heat of the sun. The men walked on in silence for a few paces, then Lassiter said, to fill the void: “Birdsong, you are having nice weather for your meetings.” The colporteur was beginning to thank the Lord for the weather when Nunes interrupted: “My dear brother Carlos, may I ask as DOOK (©