Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

THE RADIO BEASTS. The center of each circle will then repre- sent a post, and the circle will represent the area in which the woofus, tied to that post, can bite. The small star-shaped hgure, bounded by the five circles, will represent the space in which Myles Cabot was to live during the next twenty-four days, while King Yuri was getting Cabot’s marriage annulled by the Assembly, and was trying to persuade Lilla to reconsider her choice. What irony of fate! The ground which Cabot now occupied was the identical spot where, a little over two years ago, he had directed the firing of the first shot for Cup- ian freedom. Here had been erected by him the stadium which was to have commem- orated his victory over the Formians. And here he now languished in his own stadium, a prisoner of those same accursed Formians, whom he had thought he had driven from Cupia forever. What irony of fate! The first night of his peculiar incarcera- tion was uneventfully spent. Cabot switched off his headset, so as to shut out the screaming of the purple beasts, and slept the sleep of the just. The joke was on the _ king, if that august personage had thought to annoy his victim with the noise of the woofuses. | The next morning was unusually hot. Myles awoke, stretched himself, sat up and watched his purple jailers. The largest of them appeared to be ill. Its eves were running, and its head was covered with swarms of brinks, those minute hopping- lizards which infest the concrete roads and other flat open spaces of Poros. Instantly Cabot’s interest turned to pity. This poor creature was, of course, a dreaded Carnivore, a man-eater, and all that; but it was in dire trouble. Switching on nis head- set, he started talking to the woofus in a soothing crooning tone. The huge beast pricked up its antenne, then whined and rubbed its paw across its face, to wipe off some of the crawling brinks. The other purple saurians eyed Cabot hungrily and ferociously. Cabot’s bowl of water from the night be- fore was still standing at his side. Tearing off one corner of his toga, he dipped it in the bowl, and shook a few drops onto the 899 head of the sick woofus. The poor beast started with surprise. then settled down again and whined a bit more contentedly. Creeping cautiously forward, Cabot wiped some of the brinks away with the cool, wet rag. The whining ceased, and the woofus flattened itself out with a sigh. It made no attempt to strike at its benefactor; and Cabot, emboldened, drew the bowl nearer and tenderly cleaned every filthy brink from the creature’s face. As the washing was concluded, the woofus opened its eyes and stared steadily at the man. vet still made no move to at- tack him; and Cabot with a sudden inspira- tion, began to scratch the edge of the woofus’s jaw. The beast stretched its claws with pleasure and submitted to the Caress. Thus the prisoner seemed to have made a friend where one would be least expected. Yet, when the man moved as if to pass by his keeper. the latter growled menacingly and started to rise; whereat Cabot beat a hasty retreat to the center of his prison. After a while the huge woofus settled down again. Then it whined softly. Once more Cabot bathed its sore eyes. They were friends again. All this time Cabot kept a careful watch for his Formian jailers, and finally one of them arrived with breakfast, which was shoved in to him at the end of a long pole. Plain fare, but satisfying, alta and green muk. Cabot asked for wash water, rags, and a clean toga. The wash water and rags were forthcoming, but the toga was refused. Then the Formian withdrew, and Cabot re- sumed the care of his patient. Off and on throughout the day he bathed the poor creature’s eyes and mas- saged its tired muscles. Toward evening Yuri appeared, carrying a long whip, with which he proceeded to flick the five purple guardians into a state of frenzy. “Stand up, or Ill flick you, too,’’ he called out to the captive. ‘“‘ Haven't you sufficient manners to stand in the presence of your king?” “Yes,” answered Myles, ‘“‘ but, accord- ing to your own statement, I am only a Conn GIOok