Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

‘‘_-and of Gideon!’’ withstand a long siege—long enough, at least, for Portugal to present their case to the Hague Tribunal.” “Ves,” Isaacs agreed. “I don’t yet see how they’re going to carry their plan through—an’ that’s no matter. The only thing that counts with us is that they’re dangerous; they do bad things to our people. But vhy does the professor tell you the plans of his countrymen?”’ “He didn’t really tell me all this, Big ’Un. He didn’t know what he was saying—he was half-delirious with fever. He’s afraid of those two men; he’s afraid they will kill him—he was horrified by the way Gonzales beats the natives. But—I-—I don’t think he would have told anything if it had not been for the fever.” “Vell, you can let your conscience rest easy. I knew all that he has told you—ex- cept about the concession; an’ that doesn’t count much, anyvays. Vot we’ve got to do, missioner, is put Gonzales and D’Andra vhere they can’t do no harm. An’ it’ll bea hard job, missioner. They have two ma- chine guns, perhaps more, an’ a hundred an’ fifty native soldiers who can shoot—unless the one who fired at me tried to hit me.” “We can do it,”’ Miles said stoutly. “The Lord is on our side.” His eyes glowed with fanatical fervor. “He will not give this land, which is His vineyard, into tkee hand of those despicable creatures.’ “How are you going to do it?” Isaacs asked abruptly. “The sword of the Lord—’’Miles began, but Isaacs interrupted him. “Never mind that, missioner—vot are you going to do?” “Last night I sent a messenger to all the kraals, telling them what was happening at Misongwe and telling the warriors to come to the mission that we might make lans——” “‘Good!” Isaacs exclaimed. came?” “Twelve hundred—young men and old— armed with spears and knobkerries—all ready to strike a blow for the right.” Isaacs smiled sadly at Miles’ demonstra- tion of fervor. “Vell,” he asked. going to do now?” “I’m going to lead them to Misongwe— it will be a crusade. We shall attack the force of Gonzales and we shall win because the sword of the Lord “How many “And vot are you 169 ‘Vith one machine gun alone they could wipe out your crusaders!” Isaacs com- mented. The missionary laughed scornfully. “You're afraid!” he said. ‘‘You’re think- ing of your precious skin. You’re too con- cerned in thinking of—"” He broke off suddenly as Isaacs chuckled. Then, ‘I’m sorry, Big ’Un! I shouldn’t talk that way; IT ought to know better—I’m still very much of a fool, I am afraid.” “Sure you are,” Isaacs agreed cheerfully. “You just imagine yourself marching at the head of the warriors to Misongwe and ex- pect to vin just by showing yourselves. It vould be nice if it could be like that—but that ain’t the vay it’ll have to be done. We've got to be cunning—very cunning.” “Vou mean that we should wait for dark ness and make a surprize attack,” Miles said slowly. “But we don’t dare wait, Big ’7Un. Any moment they may take it into their heads to do something dreadful; or the natives at Misongwe may try to res- cue their chief and then there’d be frightful bloodshed. I think my way’s better than that.” Miles was still lost in the glorious idea of leading his crusaders to victory. “Maybe,” Isaacs admitted. “But, in a vay, you're right. I vas thinking myself of a surprize attack—but not just vith your men.” “You mean that we must wait for rein- forcements—you need a bigger army?” “Ves.” Tsaacs giggled slightly. “It'll be bigger—much bigger.” “But we can’t wait too long,’ Miles said fearfully. “Not more than two or three days at the most.” “Listen,” Isaacs said patiently. “Ve could almost afford to wait until troops came from Inyati, I vould vait, only I’m afraid, as you say, that the natives will try to rescue Macombe by themselves; and I’m afraid the big fellow Dixon vill say some- thing that vill make Gonzales mad—and then there’d be no more Dixon. So ve von’t wait. Ve’ll start at once. But you army’s too big.” “Too big!’ Miles echoed incredulously. | “Sure! You'll understand in a little while—only you’ve got to trust me. Now vhere did you leave this army of yours.” “The warriors are all down at the foot of the hill—”’ “Vou vas a fool to leave them so far avay. COMIGDIOOKSEEO