Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

842 of medicos for analysis. Of course, they never ought to be put on sale, or anything like that. They’re too easy to take, and too pleasant a way of getting out of our jobs here on earth. But for a person who’s in agony, they certainly are a God-send.” ‘‘T have the strangest thought,” she said, looking up from her hand. ‘“ Uncle and Barker—if they’re gone, they haven’t had anything said for them, have they? I mean prayers. It doesn’t seem right.” ‘“We can remedy that. You won’t let that worry you, will you?” He closed that left hand of hers and held it again in both of his. ‘“No,’ she answered. thinking that if we go—” “Don’t, Marcia!” ‘I'm not breaking down, Philip. But it would be strange, to go out here in the jungle, and not have anything said, or read.” She looked at him wonderingly. * Dear little woman, what would it mat- ter?” he asked. ‘“‘ Besides, we're not going to go out. So just set your mind at rest.” On that platform where the Dyaks were in council, there was now a Stir, as the circle of natives rose with a bobbing of torches and descended to the ground. ‘ They're coming this way,” Marcia an- nounced. Without turning to look, Lansdell, keep- ing the girl beside him, went to the first Dyak on the left of the line of wounded, examined him, then proceeded along the mats, ostentatiously taking the pulse of each. The tramping of sandaled feet came near. The platform was lighted by a score of smoking torches. But not a word was spoken as those Dvaks who had been in conference came to stand against the edge of the flooring, looking up at the white dukun and his companion. ‘* Excellent!’’—it was Dukut speaking in his own tongue. He nodded at Lansdell. ‘All rest without agony,” replied the latter. ‘‘ All mend fast.” Then pointing down at one of the older men, “ What is thought of such power? I ask of him who Wears a sword at his side.” The savage gestured solemnly. most surely magic!” “Only I was “It is ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Lansdell grunted. ‘‘ Magic, yes. But it is child’s work compared with what oth- er wonders the white men who understand medicine can do. Huh! _ It is, indeed, little.” Now Dukut was speaking, smoothly, his betel-reddened lips twisted in a sneer. ‘“‘ So the white worker of magic understands greater magic,” he observed. ‘ That is good fortune—for him.” Lansdell half whirled about to glare at him, pointing again, his face suddenly hard- ening with anger. ‘‘ Be fearful of that magic!” he warned. ‘ Lest great ill-doing comes upon Moeara Koli!” Dukut shrugged. ‘ A challenge,” he re- marked carelessly. ‘ Then let us see how great a value is the saying through which blows so great a wind.” And he laughed. Marcia saw the look on that cruel face upraised to Lansdell’s. She gripped the arm of the latter. ‘ Philip,” she quavered, ‘“ they’ve come for us!” “No! No! They don’t dare!” His voice rose piercingly. ‘‘ They’ll be cleaned out ir they harm us! They know it: The Dutch’ll make them pay!” Dukut spoke again, slowly, quietly, using only a few words. These brought a furious, impassioned reply from Lansdell. He faced, now this way, and now that, as he spoke, painting the wrath of the authorities, charging Barker and Wray with the plot, pointing out that, rich as the young white woman was, she could not possibly need to rob them; and he ended by making them a promise of a rieh reward. Once more it was Dukut who answered: ‘“ Moeara Koli has no further need of gold Moeara Koli has much gold.” Lansde]] bent toward that older man with the sword. ‘It is not just treatment, not generous treatment, that the men of Moe- ara Koli desire,” he asserted. ‘It is only revenge for this one.” He pointed at Dukut. | The Death’s-head replied: ‘‘ What must be done, must be done. Doubtless some of the Malay robbers went free. These will NO But if a white man tell of the buried gold—as always. man will believe. tells—” cCoOmicoook