Adventure Magazine Cover — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

Jungle Business loose and fired at the flash; and though he missed in the dark, he heard the startled squeal of the man as the bullet must have passed very close to his head. That would hold venturesome snipers for a while. But needless risk is foolish. The Pelloroxo called his men to scoop him a pit in the top of his pile of nuts; and in that-fortress he spent the night on guard. With the coming of morning his cargo was still intact. But the light disclosed a string of baieldos straining in the stiff current of that place against their head ropes tied to stakes. The more fortunate early comers nestled along the outer side of the steamer. Though not more than a half dozen or so; for the captain would not allow too great a weight to attach itself to the strain against his own cable which was bent round a stout paxiuba palm. The owners stood about in groups or busied themselves with their boats; all elaborately unconcerned with the doings of _ the lone foreigner. Yet all eyes shot furtive glances at him and heads turned to look after he had passed. A veritable camp had risen over night, and all of it was hostile to him. What could he do? He could not accuse this man or that one at random of coming in the night and attempting to. steal his nuts.. So, as he passed among them, he took the cue to pretend that he had no sus- picions against any man. He greeted those whom he knew as he went about his busi- ness, and showed an unconcern as great as anybody’s. By daylight he felt safe; for nobody would care to make an issue against that very wholesome reputation of his shooting. And the day passed without trouble, of course. But that night was a different matter again. More of the back creek padréos had arrived, and among them were bold spirits who had to learn by experience. Attempts to steal nuts, more or less desperate, were made all through the night. Had it not been for the fortunate convenience of the fortress within the great pile of nuts who can tell what ill chance might not have happened? For the shot of even the poorest sniper in the dark might speed true. This thing could not go on. So the Pel- loroxo with the next morning bestirred him- self betimes and stalked down to the steamer, both pistols swinging very much in evidence, to hold a parley with Da 7 ~~ -? Ba ry a. ee, en eee dees TA — al ace od ee, Se ee 4 aa eS = Vets i 2 te, LC 7 97 Sylvestra. But that crafty one, pretending to be still full of sleep in his hammock, snarled from the upper deck that he. was not in a mood to parley just now. After taking his morning toffee he would talk. So the Pelloroxo, poor innocent, returned to his watch and sat down to wait without thought of treachery. Had I been there I could not have been so easily hoodwinked. For I have experience of some of those busi- ness men of ours. It would have been clear to me that Da Sylvestra played only for time to plan some new line of assault; since it must have been clear to him that his paltry thought of bribing others to claw the nuts out of the fire for him was not so sue- cessful as he had hoped against the existing respect for the gringo’s pistols. He utilized his time, of course, as well as amy other cunning fellow might. The plan was simple He collected a gang. The senhor must not misunderstand me in thinking that all those bateleros who gather monthly at Santa Isabel are scoun- drels. Most of them are’ good fellows enough; and some of the best have even the makings of a good up-river man. An- tagonistic to the gringo who usurped their trade they might well be, as is natural; but the most of them would not stoop to regular villainy. Yet in such a gathering of rough men there are always enough who will undertake much for money. Da Sylvestra gathered some half dozen such round himself and then sent a message to the Pelloroxo to say that he was ready to talk. The latter walked down to the steamer without sus- picion. Da Sylvestra himself came down the gang plank to meet)}him on the bank where his hirelings lounged with unconcern. It was allso simple. And like many a simple plan, it worked without a hitch. Da Sylvestra proffered his hand in greet- ing. The Pelloroxo accepted it. Da Syl vestra gripped that dangerous right hand fast; and on the instant the rest leaped upon the dupe. What chance had he to struggle against half a dozen? He was quickly bound and laid helpless; and then at last Da Sylvestra felt that he could afford himself the luxury of the customary sneers that men of small mind heap upon their adversaries when helpless. | “Fool. You thought to pit your feeble wits against me?” and so forth. Eomicbooks.com