Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

4 THE ARGOSY. body, slender at the hips, strong-chested, round and smooth of limb, with long mus- cles everywhere leaping and trembling at every move. He, like the big Canuck, circled cautious- ly about, but the impression he gave was as different from the other as day is from night. His head was carried high; in place of a scowl, he smiled with a sort of boyish eagerness, and a light which was partly exultation and_ partly mischief sparkled in his eyes. Once or twice the giant caught at the other, but David slipped from under the grip of Goliath easily. It seemed as if his skin were oiled. The big man snarled with anger, and lunged more eagerly at Pierre. Father Anthony caught the shoul- der of his friend. “‘ Quick!’’ he whispered anxiously. ‘‘ Stop them, for if the black fellow sets his fingers _ on the boy he will break him like a willow wand, and—in the name of God, Jean Paul!” For the two, abandoning their feints, sud- denly rushed together, and the swarthy arms of the monster slipped around the white body of Pierre. For a moment they whirled, twisting and struggling. “Now!” murmured Father Victor; and as if in answer to a command, Pierre slipped down, whipped his hands to a new grip, and the two crashed to the mat, with Pierre above. ‘““Qpen your eyes, Father Anthony. The lad is safe. How Goliath grunts!” The boy had not cared to follow his ad- vantage, but rose and danced away, laugh- ing softly. The Canuck floundered up and rushed like a furious bull. His downfall was only the swifter. The impact of the two bodies sounded like hands clapped to- gether, and then Goliath rose into the air. struggling mightily, and pitched with a thud to the mat. He writhed there, for the wind was knocked from his body by the fall. At length he struggled to a sitting posture and glared up at the conqueror. The boy reached out a hand to his fallen foe. “You would have thrown me that way the first time,” he said, ‘‘ but you let me change grips on you. In another week you will be too much for me, bon ami.” The other accepted the hand after an instant of hesitation and was dragged to his feet. He stood resting one elbow on the gleaming shoulder of Pierre and look- ing down into the boy’s face with a singular grin. But there was no triumph in the eye of Pierre—only a good-natured interest. “In another week,” answered the giant, “there will not be a sound bone in my body. This very night I shall go to Fa- ther Victor. I had rather starve for three days in the forest than stand up to you for three minutes, little brother.” CHAPTER II. IRENE. “VOU have seen him,” murmured the tall priest. “ Now let us go back and wait for him. I will leave word.” He touched one of the two or three men who were watching the athletes, and whis- pered his message in the other’s ear. Then he went back with Father Anthony. “You have seen him,” he repeated, when they sat once more in the cheerless room. ‘“* Now pronounce on him.” The other answered: ‘‘I have seen a wonderful body — but the mind, Father Victor?” ‘Tt is as simple as that of a child-—his thoughts run as clear as spring water.” ‘‘ Ah, but they are swift thoughts. Sup- pose the spring waier gathers up a few stones and rushes on down the side of the mountain. Very soon it is wearing a deep- er channel—then but a little space, and it is a raging torrent and tears down great trees from its banks and goes shouting and leaping out toward the sea. ‘‘ Suppose a strange thought came in the mind of your Pierre. It would be like the pebbles in the swift-running spring water. He would carry it on, rushing. It would tear away the old boundaries of his mind— it might wipe out the banks you have set down for him — it might tear away the choicest teachings.”’ Father Victor sat straight and stiff with stern, set lips. He said dryly: ‘ Father Anthony has been much in the world.” COMmiiclooo S (CO