The Argosy, April 1912 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

AS THE DICE FELL. But in another moment the squaws were back again ‘carrying in to the room wooden platters piled high with venison and wild fruits. As the platters and earthen cups full of some brownish, sweetish drink were set be- fore us, Powhatan asked: “Why have you honored my Poor hut by journeying so far to it?” This was Smith’s opport.nity. He rose impressively and began his oration. He told in flowery diction how he had jour- neyed from the home of the manitous, far beyond the rising sun; how he sought to honor America and bless its natives by con- ferring our presence upon the wilderness land and by founding here a colony. He went on to say that he had persuaded his fellow white spirits not to wipe the In- dians from off the face of the earth, but to be friendly and merciful to them, in token of which, he said, he had journeyed in person to Powhatan to consent graciously to a treaty of alliance, to receive the In- dian king’s allegiance, and to accept from him all the food he could spare. It was a fine speech—had it been ad- dressed to the inmates of a madhouse. But at every glance toward Powhatan’s face I read a wisdom as great as mercy was scant. And I wondered why he listened to the ora- tion with such an air of credulous cour- tesy. As Smith paused for breath, I mut- tered in English: “Keep your sword held where you can reach it with ease.” “Pshaw!” Smith sneered, in the same undertone. “ Your dream and your croak- ing fears were moonshine. This welcome proved it. We are carrying all before us. I know Indians.”’ “You will know them better ere we are out of this,” I muttered. “Brother,” interposed Powhatan suavely, “You say you are manitous. Is it indeed true?” “True?” echoed Smith indignantly. “Can you doubt it?” Ask your men how we struck flame from out the wet ground, how we spoke with the death-voice of thun- der and lightning, how we made birchbark to talk! Ask how our invisible red manitou servant slew -three of your warriors who dared to raise impious hands against us. And, if further proof be lacking, ask your- self how I, who came from across the big water, can speak your language as I do.” AT “Yet,” politely argued Powhatan, “I should scarce have thought an all-wise manitou could speak it so very badly.” Smith reddened, and glared suspiciously at the king. But old Powhatan’s face was a mask of mild courtesy. “T doubt you not,” continued the king, “nor for one moment did I doubt you. Yet, for my people’s sake I wished you to de- clare your powers before them all, that none might henceforth doubt. Manitous you are. Masters of us you are. And we rejoice to serve and obey you. Will you deign to feast?” Smith sat down with a great sigh of re- hef. At that instant there was a sudden commotion from the outer doorway. And a truly terrible creature whirled screeching into the great room. At sight of the apparition my hair began to rise. Even Smith’s stout nerve was vis- ibly shaken. CHAPTER XIX. IN THE HOUSE OF THE FOE. AT first glance one could not tell whether. the thing that had dashed into Powhatan’s great audience-hall was bird, beast, or human. It was perhaps four feet in height. Its head was the head of a wide-jawed wolf. Its body was one mass of outstanding feath- ers of a hundred hues that flapped and slithered at every fantastic step the creature took. The-horns of a stag jutted out between the narrow shoulders. The hands were skinny claws with unbelievably long carved nails. It spun about like a tee-totum, uttering shrill screeches and pounding on a queer little drum that was slung from its neck. Then, on second glance, I saw the awful thing was human. The wolf-head was a sort of helmet, under which peeped out a hairless little face, fleshless, withered like a mummy’s, and seemingly a _ thousand years old. The stag horns were but affixed to the feather mantle. And all the dozen other grotesque details of the tiny figure were matters of costume. On noticing this I felt a wave of relief. Yet so deadly, and so full of crazy hatred was the little monkeylike face that I could scarce endure to look upon it. And now I remembered a tale long since GOMIIGIOO S