Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

478 “Tell him that last is none of his ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. steadily on the broad chest of the chief- damned business,” said Jim nervously; . tain. _“ and as for the rest of it, it is likely that considerable more of my ‘ Aguaruna broth- ers’ will die—unless he will consent to let us go out of here with the rising of the sun to-morrow.” “Tf he does that, then he will ambush us and slay us before we have gone a league in the jungle,” protested Tomas. “ It is best to die here, senor, where we can be sure of killing more of them.” Jim’ insisted that the Aymara translate his demand. It was a slender chance enough, he knew; but it was the only one. At first, the curaca was minded to comply, viewing the matter exactly as Tomas had suggested. On second thought, he began to fear outside collusion. - ‘“‘ Say to my son,” he answered, “ that the heart of his red father is heavy be- cause of the young’ men he has slain, and because he is not content to dwell in peace with his brothers. Say to him further that such is the love his red father bears him, ‘that if he will come forth and make no more trouble, and will give up the white woman and the other who entered with her, he shall -still be forgiven. But if he shall refuse to do that, then my young men will " come and take him, and he shall surely die as the fat white man died.” “‘ Ask him if he will let the white woman go again to the jungle, if I will give up,” responded Arnoid. Once beyond the walls, he knew that Nee-Nah could take care of herself; and he.was willing to make any. sacrifice that would insure her safety. “No,” was the decided reply of the curaca. “It is not for my son to tell his red father what he shall do. I have seen the white girl before. She is fair to look upon. Is not my son content that I give him my own daughter for a wife? The ‘white girl shall go to my malocca. None of my wives are so fair.” “Tell him, Tomas, that if he doesn’t get himself out of my sight in about three wags of a very small monkey’s tail, I'll let the moon shine through him!” exclaimed Jim, more nervously than ever and through set teeth. Across the barricade he leveled the automatic and brought .it to bear - peared than his Tomas’s translation, embellished by one or two little inventions of his own, was greeted by a howl of fury from the Aguar- unas. With an ironic wave of his band, the curaca stalked majestically back into the shadow. He had no sooner disap- warriors broke cover and charged the malocca. ‘Lord help us! I did the best I could,” said Jim, seeing them start. ‘‘ Never was much of a diplomat, anyhow.” He kissed Nee-Nah and put her to one side in the shelter of the wall. , the range was short, and the light was good. Resting his pistol-arm on one of the upturned beds, Jim made every bullet count—some of them double, as the yellmg crowd came nearer. When the rush broke on the front of the malocca, eight of the curaca’s fighting men had shouted their last war-cry, and Jim was sliding the sec- ond clip into his automatic. _ Tomas heaved himself up, swinging his formidable double club with both hands. “Save your bullets, se#or/”’ he grunted. ‘‘ Let the moma and I crack the skulls of these eager dogs.” Crash! the club fell, and the skull of the first warrior who reached the deorway was cracked indeed. A second man fell back screaming, his collar-bone cloven through by Jaqui’s ax. | Then the fighting became so close and desperate that wounded and dying men found no room in which to fall, but were upborne and thrust forward by the weight of their comrades pressing from behind. The cane walls about the doorway cracked and bulged under the pressure; but they held. The ax and club swung ceaselessly. Jim’s pistol spat .again. Out of the ruck of § of swarming, struggling men one warrior, greatly daring, scfambled_ - orto the shoulders of his fellows and leaped high over their heads at the arch of the doorway. Tomés saw him coming, and, letting fall his club, he caught the flying figure by the wrist and waist-cloth. With a heave of his magnificent shoul- ders, the giant Aymara pitched the man back, clear of the crowd, a sheer toss of THE OF )| rigina | from | | lO STATE UN EHENME DOCG LO