Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 7, 1928 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

HIS SERVICE TO FOLLY. “ Wed?” De Banana looked at Basil in bewilderment. “If this is the man who claims her, it is a lie. He’s noth- ing more than a renegade Englishman who joined us when I took the guns. He swam ashore yesterday or else I’d have hanged him as I planned.” “You'd have hanged an English- man? We make no war on England. For what reason, my Lord de Ba- nana?” With cold fingers of dread plucking at his heart and his hair rising in ap- prehension, Basil was desperately plunged in confusing thoughts. He swallowed the lump in his throat, then turning a gray face to the sea oi black faces about them, he saw from a car- riage behind the royal coach, a man emerging and running to where Vio- lette stood. “What is all this confusion?’ de- manded the Marquis de Tourraine, his breath seeming to catch at sight of Basil. “And Trelawney—my kins- man—how come you to be at my daughter’s side?” | He caught the girl’s cold hand and drew her from Basil’s arm. “See!” crowed De Banana in quick triumph. ‘‘ Her father’s word ‘adds weight to mine. Seize that man!’ he commanded his black soldiers. “ Bind him, and we'll hang him twice for this other crime.”’ But a new diversion came. Pushing his way through the crowd a man ran to the royal coach, and there dropped on one knee. He was followed close behind by a second figure with gaping horrid mouth, and one hand grasping the fist of a shock-headed giant whose red hair contrasted strangely with his blackened visage. “ Gefondo!’ boomed the stentorian voice of Christophe. ‘“‘ And the Silent One!” “Gefondo!”’ repeated the hunch- back, rising to his feet and gazing bold- ly at the emperor. “ Gefondo comes from the jungle where rites of sacrifice 71 and ill-omened words of prophesy have been uttered by the spirits. “Word comes that the stars are warning of strange events going for- ward. ‘The wind voices tell that great care should be taken in dealing with the pale-faced rams. This man ac- cused, is known to me your majesty. “T brought him ashore. Fate pre- served him from the drunken wrath of De Banana to scatter light and laughter in your court. His crime on board Le Diable Noir was a song he sang of De Banana. Hear but that roundelay, oh mighty emperor, and judge if it merits the stillings of his carols by a hempen collar.”’ At the words of the hunchback, faint in his ears from the rapid beating of his own heart, Basil had wit enough to observe the deference displayed by the black men around him, for Gefondo, and their fear of the tongueless horror called by Christophe, ‘‘ The Silent One.” He saw the half naked wretch, from whom Violette had turned her face un- able to bear the sight. He wore fresh red combs of cocks hung in a necklace. His belt of a snake’s skin dangled pendant cock’s-claws, and from a cord over his shoulder hung such a dreadful thing that Basil shuddered. It was the skeleton of a child, the bones of which had been strung on cords and rattled as the Silent One moved about. The Marquis de Tourraine stepped nearer Basil, his face gray, his eyes starting from their lids. _ “Mon Diew! I thought to escape the tragedies of France by coming here. I have left fear and found hor- ror. I'll not stay. Come, Violette— we return to the ship.” But black hands barred his way, even kept him from speaking to the emperor. Father and daughter clung together, shaking like aspen leaves as Gefondo swung a long arm to brush aside the crowd so that Basil could be seen by Emperor Christophe. GEomichbooks (E)