Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

128 he should not have expected to conclude matters in a few hours. Bo Diare unexpectedly grasped him by the arm, took the cigaret from his lips, crushed the burning end beneath his horny sole. “Listen!” From far off came the voices of men, clearly perceptible above the concert of bush sounds. “Vakomas?” whisper. “No savvy. I hear talk, no words.” “Tie the boy and gag him,” Peller ordered for in any event caution was needed. The youth was relieved of his burden, tied hand and foot, his head bound in a scarf. Yatera, whose wounds unfitted him for active duty, was detailed to watch him. “Hide him in the bushes,” Peller said, Peller questioned in a , then turned to the others. “You three, stay * close by the trail, on the left side. Bo Diare and I will take the right. No sound. No one to fire before I do. When you shoot, shoot down or up the trail, not across it. You might hit us. Understand?’ A whispered assent, and the men disap- peared into the bush. Peller crouched in the undergrowth, rifle by his side. He took the revolver from its holster, and placed it in the waist-band of his trousers. The sound of tramping men drew closer, and grunted words came to the listeners. Bo Diare brought his lips close. “Vakomas fs Peller braced himself for a leap. A man passed on the trail. The weapon was too short to be a trade-musket. Peller became certain that the men were in possession of his guns. He aimed and fired. From their hiding-places, his men brought their pieces into action. The attacked party, with surprizing celerity, replied, and flashes streaked the darkness. But the men on the trail were at a great disadvantage, being in a comparatively lighter spot than the thicket on each side. From a dark bundle slung on a pole between two men, a white shadow emerged. A man in a ham- mock, and wearing a white bougnou cloth was certainly a leader. To capture him meant that Peller could claim his rifles for ransom. “Bayonet!” he called. He himself led the way, and made for the nammock. His well-aimed blow with the Adventure bayonet was shoved aside, and a terrific smash against his helmet dazed him. Bo Diare had the man about the chest, Peller seized him round the knees, and brought him crashing to the ground. “Tie him up, Bo Diare,”’ he said, in French. ‘He’s the chief.’ The fallen man stopped struggling. “T surrender, monsieur, I surrender,” he said in French. “Who are you?” startled. “Belgian Service—Captain Carlotti.” _ “Are those your men?” “Ves, D IP fins “Nom de Dieul” Peller oonet straight- ening up. Then he bellowed: “Cease firing! At ease! Rest!” <A suc- cession of orders meant. to bring a halt to the butchery. The stranger also scrambled up, called to his men, first in dialect, then in French. Gradually, the firing ceased. The natives stood still, surprized to hear the voices of two white men. “Tiratleurs, here!’ Peller ordered. The soldiers grouped near him. ‘There were no wounded, due to the advantage of concealment and surprize. The Belgian officer was counting his men, getting reports. The supposed Yakomas were in uniforms. The rifles they carried were Belgian rifles and not Peller’s Gras carbines. The sergeant wiped the sweat from his face. What a ghastly business! “Any one hurt?” he asked the captain. “Three killed, two wounded,” Carlotti replied, without emotion. “TY thought you were Yakomas,” Peller offered lamely. “I’m certain I heard “T have several Yakomas in my troop,” Carlotti pointed out. ‘‘As they know this part of the country, naturally I had them lead. First thing I knew, I was dumped from my hammock, and you were on me! But.what are you doing here?”’ “Tm after Yakomas who stole a cargo of rifles for the Bakkasu Post.” “You’re on Belgian territory.” “Am I?” Peller exclaimed, with feigned surprize. “T don’t see how you can. ignore it,” Carlotti said, dryly. ‘The Ubangi’s be- tween here and French soil.” “That’s right,” Peller agreed. “But don’t you think we’d better make for a clearing, Peller demanded, COmiclboookSs.G©