Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

152 ‘““Where is Teema?” was the question that repeated itself over and over again in his burning brain as he looked anxiously toward the entrance of the long hall, where the Battahs had converged the most thickly. “Pray God, he come in time,” he breathed silently and prayerfully. The fire died low. None thought to re- plenish it. Through the chinks in the bamboo the gray dawn came stealing, filter- ing gradually through a leafy canopy of manggwa and agapetes-tree. In the far dis- tance a wild jungle-cock uttered its matin welcome to the sun. But none stirred within the hut. A gecko, crawling from its noc- turnal security among the broad-leaved palm thatch, lost its grip and fell into the fire. But not a voice was raised, though the women shivered. Presently there was a stirring at the en- trance. A messenger entered and spoke to the chief of the Battahs. That dignitary strode crouchingly through the ranks of his involuntary guests, his sharp, ferret eyes alert for a hostile move. Approaching Pud- dlewhit he said curtly, in the Battah tongue: “The king would speak with thee, baboon.” Puddlewhit did not lift his eyes from the fire. He was thinking. If he left now, he said to himself, the blow would fall. He would escape, and he alone. There would be no witnesses to prove the massacre was unprovoked. -“ Tell the king I am here,” he returned calmly and dispassionately, in the same language. The chief looked puzzled for a moment. Then an angry gleam appeared in his eyes. Gripping his spear and-pulling it back with a menacing motion, he announced more loudly, in deep, guttural tones; “Teema Doud, the king, sends for thee, baboon.” ; Again came the reply, without change of tone, or inflection: “Tell the king I am here.” The chief scowled and paused uncertainly. The point of his spear dropped to the floor as he scratched his woolly head in perplexity and stared down on the unobservant Pud- dlewhit, who continued his calm scrutiny of the dying embers. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, He was plainly at a loss what to do. Twice he bent and reached a long, skinny claw toward Puddlewhit’s shoulders, and twice he straightened again and withdrew his hand. Reaching a decision, finally he wheeled, darted a ferocious glance at the watchful but unexpressive wreck victims, and shuffled back to the messenger, who darted away with a whispered order from his chief. There was a brief interim of silence, then the door of the hut swung wide. The Battahs who had been squatting on the floor swiftly rose to their feet and as swiftly bent till their noses touched the ground. Teema walked grandly in, a transformed Teema. The silks and satins of a rajah draped his form, rose and emerald green, with a flashing ruby in his topp7 turban and a long, curved blade at his side. He strode slowly and resplendently down the long hall through the ranks of his recumbent sub- jects with the grace and elegant languor of one to royal honors born. A gesture of his hand and the fierce-visaged Battah chief slunk back against the wall. Reaching Puddlewhit, he halted. The little man’s head slowly lifted. He ob- served Teema’s magnificence from foot to head and head to foot again, misssing no detail. A ghost of a smile lurked in the corners of his mouth. Teema’s face was flushed with pride and eratified vanity.. There was a new-born arrogance in his tilted chin and puffed chest and the swing of his shoulders. His eyes roamed slowly and significantly over the wreck victims. Puddlewhit saw the vindictive gleam that came into them every time they rested upon one of those who had laughed at him and called him “ peranakan tjina,” the day before. Presently he glanced down at the lady from Macassar. She was still holding her slumbering child close to her bosom. Her calm, clear eyes met his without fear. There was a peculiar exultation in his look for a moment, then a granite frigidity impressed itself upon his features. He continued staring at her, like one who dislikes to relinquish his moment of triumph, finding it all too short. Presently his glance shifted to the boy and then back to her. She : TA COMME IOO<S,EO