Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

The King of No Man’s Land flows west instead of east; and so reach the. Morona. We shall lose no time. So, Sefor Tim, it will not be necessary for you and Nuné to steal away tonight.” The concluding words came so wunex- pectedly that Tim stood petrified. McKay and Knowlton wheeled and stared at him; saw his dazed expression, and turned frowning faces to José. “What do you mean by that?’”’ snapped McKay. “Ask Tim. Sefior Tim, there are always two sides to a hut—the inside and the out- side. What is said inside can be heard by good ears outside, unless spoken very low.” Then Tim understood. “He reddened furiously. “So ye sicked a spy on us, hey? This here guy in the door that come and spilled the beans in yer ear jest now was listenin’ over yonder, hey? Wal, lemme tell ye I don’t give——” “Wrong!” José cut in. “TI did not even know you were out of this house. But orders were given long ago that this girl must be watched at all times, day and night; and my orders are obeyed. My men—my ‘lousy Indians’, Sefior Tim—are faithful to me at all times. I have found few white men of whom I could say the same. Indeed, I do not know that I have found any.” Abruptly he turned away. Slowly he walked toward the other end of the house and stood there, looking at the ground. There was a hurt tone to his last words, a sudden loneliness in his manner, a weary droop to his shoulders, that stopped Tim’s mouth as if an invisible hand had clapped over it. McKay and Knowlton, too, lost their angry flush and looked queerly at Tim, then at the dejected figure of Nuné. There was a Silence. With the same weary movements, José came back again, looking now at the little head of Montez. Gently he picked it up. “Here was one man who died faithful,” he mused. ‘‘Faithful to his country and his commander, though over-bold. It seems that he forsook the river and came up the Yana Yacu, probably thinking to reach the Morona sooner in that way. He met Jiveros. Four of them he killed before the rest could finish him. He was a man.” Tim found his voice. He — spoke doggedly: . “Yeah. Areg’larguy. About this thing 103 over yonder, now, listen here. I ain’t makin’ no excuses to nobody. But if yer spy said me and her was fixin’ to beat it— jest the two of us—he’s a liar. The idea was to put it up to cap and looey and see how they felt about cuttin’ loose and goin’ on our own. Now I don’t have te ask ’em. That’s all—excep’ this much: Any guy that tries to make it hot for Noony for talkin’ to me about it, I'll blow his block off. And that’s that!” José shrugged, glancing with a mirthless smile at Nuné. “T do not blame her,” he denied. “It is only natural. And it seems that your capitén and teniente had the same idea in mind without her suggesting it. Bien. Do we understand one another now, and shall we continue as partners? Or do you who have been my comrades wish to go your own way?” The three looked searchingly at one an- other. McKay voiced the verdict— “As partners—we’ll stick.” “Bueno!” A quick smile lit up the somber face. “It would grieve me much if a Huambiza. girl should carry away my three last partners, as the Huambizas have taken away the man who once was partner to all four of us—Sefior Dave. Let no more be said. Now we shall make a fitting grave for another white man. Come.” At a sign from hin, the loitering Suma- tara vanished through the doorway. Si- lently the five filed out, Tim giving the girl a reassuring pat on one shapely shoulder, but evoking no smile in response. She who had so recently hovered on the bright verge of hope now looked into the black waters of despair, for she knew quite well what use would be made of the Jivero captive—she had heard his fervent promises to lead the way and help to kill the Huam- bizas of Rana. In her sudden despondency, her former staunch faith in the aid of Piatzo became a broken reed. Her réle of priestess had slipped rapidly from her in her recent new environment, and now she was only a heart-sick girl. Machete-men, waiting near, entered the house and fell swiftly to work. With blades and hands they bored in the earth floor a deep hole. Then they refilled it, packed the earth hard, and came out. Of Lieutenant Manuel Montez no-trace now remained above ground. Then other men, in an endless chain, bore COMICLOOCKKS. GO S|