Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

: WINNIN’ WAYS The mate was called and preparations for Sassafras’s plan began in earnest. Sassafras climbed over the vessel’s side. ‘“ Come ‘long heah, Slivah, sonny. Ise done choose you fo’ mah terprelatah. Hop on boa’d yo’ lil ol’ bun’le of matches an’ trail ‘long behine me ’speckful-like and proppah. Goin’ to be big doings when we gits asho’!” Sliver obeyed, and Sassafras took his seat in the stern of the agent’s six-oared gig. Five bulky packages were carefully lowered and placed before him. ‘Then the skipper called from the rail: ‘“ That’s all, Sassafras. Now are you sure you don’t need me or Mr. Forbes?” Sassafras shook his head. ‘ Ain’t mean- in’ no disrespec’, Mistuh Cap’n, suh, but it’s jes’ lak I tol’ you, I calculates Ise goin’ to have mo’ weight ’mongst them niggahs effin I acts direc’.” The boat shoved off and Sassafras sat up stiffly. ‘“‘ Aw, ma-a-an, this heah’s what I calls sailah-farin’ propah! Got six rabble niggahs to row me ’roun’! Speed up thah, ol Blacker’n-I-Is!” Sassafras made a vig- orous gesture as if he would rap the nearest oarsman across the crown. “ Speed up lak Ise tellin’ you, we-all ain’t travelin’ ha’f fas’ enough!” The party reached the shore and set off solemnly along the beach. Sliver was lead- ing—lagging occasionally to catch a stimu- lating glimpse of the seaman’s flaming bon- net. The oarsmen with the bundles fol- lowed. “Go “head, Slivah, you leads me to yo’ res‘dence,” Sassafras imstructed. “Us makes that headqua’tahs, Then you c’n so? Sassafras’s speech broke suddenly. They had reached the first hut of the group of native dwellings. There was a buxom dam- sel lounging in the doorway. She was toy- ing with a captive sand crab and her dark eyes lifted with a languid interest as the men trooped into view. Sassafras nudged his frail companion. “ Tha’s her! Tha’s her!” came a breathy whisper. ‘‘ What I definates « woman! Uh-uuh! How she evah get all them iron lookin’ rings en—reckons she evah takes ‘em off to wash her neck?” They reached Sliver’s bachelor apart- WID WIMMIN, 117 ment: a small round kraal with a kennel .door and not a single window. The cortége entered and the packages were deposited on the bare sand floor. The oarsmen were stationed as guards about the dwelling. Sliver lingered curiously. ‘“ N’mind ’bout seein’ what I got!” Sassa- fras objected. ‘“‘ You gits out an’ drums up mah congregation. Wants ev’ybody pres- ent—’specially the wimmin. An’, listen at me!” Sassafras led the wizen native to the door. ‘ Fust off, you gits that bracelet- weahin’ gal I pointed out to you. N’mind why I wants her, Pawk her jes’ outside mah do’. Hurry ‘long, now, sonny. ’“Mem- bah I give you back that coat you’s wear- in’! 3, The small man departed and Sassafras set himself to the task of opening the bun- dies. He had scarcely started when the low, weird rumble of a tom-tom sounded close at hand. “Wow! Sliver done got the fiahwuks started! Uh-uuh! Soun’s turruble wile an’ recklesslike! _Wouldn’t like to heah that thing in the night time when I didn’t know what it was!” Outside there arose a drone of voices. A crowd was forming and the noise soon in- creased. When Sliver returned he an- nounced that all was ready. Sassafras pulled down his cuffs and adjusted his cra- vat. He strode forth grandly and a silence fell, ‘“ Niggahs—cullud men of Af?ica! Ladies of this heah honorable community!” The Speaker paused and turned to Sliver. ‘“‘ Ain’t nary one of ’em c’n understan’ a word I has to say?” Sliver’s brow grew troubled and he wagged his head. “You tells °em, sonny. I done ’point you superficial ‘terpretator to ’splain mah plan.” Sassafras took off his scarlet cap and placed it at a jaunty slant on the small man’s head. “ There now!” Sliver’s chest swelled proudly. A spon- taneous ripple of admiration swept the throng. : ‘““Go “head, now, Sliver,’ the seaman prompted. “ Tell these heah ign’ant nig- gahs Ise done arrive an’ brung ’em special offerin’s. Tell ’em I has gorgeous finements EOMIGIoOO <S) (S@)