Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

THE LADY FROM MACASSAR. 139 along the walls. In the rear, closely guard- ed, marched the victims of the wreck. Last of all came Teema. He walked slowly and sedately down the long hall, with two warriors on each side. As he neared the lady from Macassar and Puddlewhit his eyes rested on them for a moment, then passed quickly on. There was an elevated platform near the clay hearth, and this he mounted. Puddlewhit tried to intercept him as he passed, but a browny Battah intervened and pressed him back. “ Teema, I want a word with you,” Pud- dlewhit cried desperately, in English. The coolie king glanced at him sternly. “Tt is not necessary,” he returned signifi- cantly. Thou shalt see the justice of Teema Doud.”’ His glance passed on the length of the long hall to the guard at the door. “Let the baskets be brought in,” he di- rected in the language of his people. The Battahs at the entrance stood aside. A wrinkled hag shuffled in. Her back was crooked with age and she leaned heavily on a staff. She was the very picture of the ‘wicked old woman of fairy tales, only much more wrinkled and fiendish in expression. Her garments were indescribably filthy, and as she hobbled in she leered evilly at those about her, evidently proud of her momen- tary prominence. Such a woman, Puddle- whit thought as he looked at her in hor- ror, could cheerfully thrust a red hot iron into a shrinking victim’s flesh. She car- ried a basket of woven reed about a foot high, handling it gingerly so that it did not come too near her person. Behind her was a slender, olive cheeked girl, with bright, black eyes and a shy, pleasing smile. Her head and body were wreathed with garlands of oleander, jas- mine, and flaming hibiscus. She also car- ried a basket, similar in shape and size to the old woman’s. Girl and hag proceeded through the ranks of Battahs and wreck victims until they reached Teema. They placed the baskets - on the platform before him and retired. Teema rose. A royal figure he looked in his rajahal robes and vestments. ‘“One-of these baskets contains life, and protection for you all, and my friendship,” he announced. ‘“ The other contains— death!” He paused, and his eyes roamed the assemblage. There was silence in the hall, only the sound of rapid breathing could be heard. His glance rested on the lady from Macassar. “We shall let this woman choose,” he announced. “Teema!” Puddlewhit cried in sharp ex- postulation. A grimy brown paw closed over his mouth and shut off further utter- ance. The lady from Macassar rose. She swayed a trifle, but instantly recovered. With proud mien and firm and unfaltering step she walked toward the platform and paused before the baskets, scanning them speculatively. The hush was profound. In the utter silence the guttural grunting of the pigs below and the clucking of fowls grated discordantly as the grinding of machinery in a deep forest. The lady from Macassar reached a tentative hand toward the basket which the hag had brought in. She was watching Teema’s eyes. Puddlewhit, star- ing intently, saw a momentary doubt come into the young ruler’s face and his limbs stiffen. As her fingers touched the basket a hiss- ing sound came from within, then a dull, padded blow. She shrank away, her face blanching. Timidly she extended her hand toward the other basket, the basket the flower decked girl had brought. “This is your choice?” Teema demanded in a sharp, strained voice. She looked at him. Doubt was in her eyes, doubt and fear both. More than her own life depended on her action, she knew. Something she saw in Teema’s face decided her. “It is,” she declared in a low whisper. “It is well,” Teema pronounced sonor- ously. He drew his kris and leaped eagerly forward. The shining blade executed an arc and came down upon the rejected basket. As it clove the straw in twain, a living, writhing something parted with it. Twice the stroke was repeated and the third blow separated the cobra’s head from its body. oO CORnICLOOKSsEO