Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

‘and of Gideon!”’ “Aye!” they answered and immediately began milling about, sorting themselves according to his orders. Soon it was done and two groups of war- riors faced Isaacs, waiting expectantiy. And those on the right, the men who had clenched their fists, numbered about five hundred. ‘To the others Isaacs said, “T have no need of you—get to your kraals. Hasten, we waste much time.” They obeyed him silently, swiitly. “You are still too many,” Isaacs said to those who were left. ‘The charm is strong; the charm is jealous. Follow me.” Climbing down from the rock he led the way to the river. “Drink,” he said, and watched closely. Miles, also, closely scrutinized each war- rior as he came to drink. Soon all had satisfied their thirst—all ex- cept the young warrior, and he was about to do so. “And now,” Isaacs cried, “those of you who took the water up in your hands, get together in one place; those of you who put your heads down to the water get to an- other.” And then the young warrior who had not yet quenched his thirst but stood listening to Isaacs’ commands his face lined with thought, stooped down and bringing water up to his mouth in his cupped hands drank, his eyes fixed on Isaacs. “Why did you drink that way, warrior,” Isaacs asked softly. “Tt came to me that that is the way the charm would have warriors drink, store- keeper. By drinking so, my eyes are open to see all that goes on about me. Had I put my face down to the water an enemy might have come up behind, unseen and—’ he chuckled—“T should not have had need of water again. Also, it came to me, the charm selected those men whose fists were clenched because - “That is enough, warrior,’ Isaacs inter- rupted sternly, yet his eyes twinkled. ‘‘Go and join those who drank as you drank but, remember, the charm also likes those who keep a still tongue.”’ Then to those who had put their heads down to the water, Isaacs said, “Get you to your kraals, the charm has no need of you: Go-—remembering that there is no shame.” And when they had gone he turned to the men who were left—three hundred of them, _ mention a good position. 171 full of confidence. Had they not been selected by the charm? Who could stand against them?—and divided them into two companies. In one company, which he placed under the command of Miles, there were one hundred men. The other, two hundred strong, looked to him for orders. “Now sleep, if you wish,” Isaacs ordered. “The time is not yet at hand!” “You see,” Isaacs said softly to Miles. “There is no fear in them. If you vas to give the order they vould march with you to attack an’ that ain’t swearin’ neither, missioner.” Miles nodded. “Yes, they would follow me,” he agreed, “if you ordered them to. Ive got a lot to learn, Isaacs. Sometimes—” he sighed— “Tm afraid Vil never learn.” “You ain’t got nothing to grumble at, missioner. You’re learnin’ all the time. But you're too old yet to know these people as I know them. They’re only kids an’ you must be like a kid if you want to under- stand them. Y’ got to grow younger, mis- sioner, that’s all. Course, had you stayed with them you might have held ’em just vith that big gold cross of yours—maybe not. No. Ithink not. Before these peo- ple believe in charms, they vant to see vonders worked by that charm. Now they think my charm selected ’em an’ they know the charm picked vell. They don’t stop to think that I could have picked me men just as vell vithout all that mumbojumbo. Sure, missioner; if ['d have counted ’em out—“‘eenie, meenie, minee mo’— that ’d have heid ’em better than the cross vithout any mystery talk. 3 ‘“An’ now,” he yawned and stretched his hands high above his head, “I’m goin’ to sleep. I vas trekking all last night. An’ you had better sleep too.”’ “No! I can’t sleep, Isaacs. [’m too worried. I still don’t see how what you’re planning to do will help us.” “Tchat!’ Isaacs clicked impatiently. “Never mind about me and vot I’m a-goin’ todo. You make sure you know vot you are to do. You see, missioner: It may be that we could pull off vot we vant to do vithout the help of my big army—”’ he chuckled softly—‘on the other hand maybe not, an’ we can’t afford to take chances. Remember: They’ve got a dis- ciplined force, an’ rifles, an’ Maxims—not to You know the COMIGDIOOKSEEO