Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOLD-DUST RAJAH. the glory of God; and the firmament shew- eth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech—”’ Her voice had grown more firm: her face was raised now to the dark, almost starless sky. It was as if she were listening to her own words, and they held her. She walked with a surer step, Lansdell noted. Her hands were clasped against her breast. “Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world, In them hath He set a tabernacle for the sun.” The Dyaks scarcely breathed. Some of them were plainly nervous, and were hold- ing back irresolutely. Noting the silence, Lansdell lifted his eyes and saw how they were lagging, and that there were signs of weakening. ‘“Go on, Marcia!” he urged. ‘“ They don’t like it! It’s scaring them! Go on! Say it over if you can’t remember the rest!”’ ‘““Tt’s our own service,” she answered quaveringly. ‘“ Think of it! I don’t re- member it right, Philip! ‘‘ His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and His cir- cuit unto the ends of it; and there is noth- ing hid from the heat thereof—” A hand suddenly dragged at Lansdell, Stopping him. But though the girl came to a standstill beside him, she went on with the Psalm, her voice steadier and louder: “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. AMfore to be de- sired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold—” The first surge of her terror seemed to be gone. Yet the very strength she was showing unnerved Lansdell. He seemed uncertain on his feet, and swayed groggily. Staring down at her, in the next half-minute he seemed to be two men, and the one talked with the other: ‘“* Sickness isn’t pleasant either, Lansdell —fever and things of that kind. They're all rotten to go through with.” And he answered: ‘‘ Yes, and heaven will be all the happier for having such a young and lovely creature. She'll sleep and never know a thing. Even water isn’t the worst rcute.”” That inner voice went on again: 845 ‘But be sure that she goes first.” Lans- dell laughed at that. ‘‘ Don’t have to re- mind me,” he declared. That spasm of something which was like delirium passed. What the Dyaks were halted for, he had not looked to see. He stared down at her, his throat aching, his breath stifled, his heart sick within him. But she was continuing the Psalm: “Keep back thy servant also from pre- Sumptuous sins: let them not have domin- ion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent—” It came from behind them, and from the farther side of the village. It came as sud- denly as a flash of lightning; and like light- ning, for one terrifying moment, it drove the darkness from the kampong and the river. It was a great flash of fire that went tree-high, and with a mighty sucking breath. Rising with it went a scream. That scream mingled the voices of the Dvyaks with the voices of their women and chil- dren, these last far and faint. out of jungle hiding places. And Lansdell’s voice swelled the chorus, joyously, for he guessed that either Barker or Wray. or both, were still alive and were helping. ‘“ Ha-a-a-a!"’ he shouted at the Dyaks. “Did I not say it? All shall perish by flame as perished their shadows! Ha-a-a! A wonder charm!” And to the girl, bend- ing down to her, ‘Go on! They think the film worked! Talk, Marcia! Talk! They think you’re a sorceress! That it’s all in- cantations! ” As she continued, they found themselves Standing quite alone, for at that flash the Dyaks had darted aside with the swiftness of so many brown monkeys, striking against One another in their consternation, and concluding their first yells with a wild gab- bling. Every dark face was anxious. The torches trembled in the hands of the bear- ers. Fingers pointed shakingly at them. Guttural voices uttered husky warnings. ‘“Go on! Go on!” Lansdell shouted. “ Marcia, thev’re ready to bolt!”” Yiercely he turned on the crowd. ‘ This comes of a broken pledge!’’ he cried. ‘‘ The spirits help us! Here is the answer to a strong Conn GIOok