Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

78 “Thank God!” yelled Morden at father and daughter: ‘“ It’s Rabbit!” The next moment, to the gruff exclama- tions of men and snorts of animals, the party drew up before the darkened tent. “You come quick, ol’ chap, and your girl!” came Rabbit’s voice. ‘“ Wild man he come, too.” “Dear!” exclaimed Eileen, shrinking in- stinctively from being parted from her lover and father. “ Quick, Eileen! Please!” urged Morden. ‘Where your girl?” demanded Rabbit, bending over his horse in the doorway of the tent. “ By Sinfooloosir! ‘long me!” Without hesitation Morden picked Ejieen up and hoisted her beside Rabbit. “Oh, boy!” assured Rabbit. ‘‘ You miss hug me, what? Fine! You go long my frien’ Larbi! An’ vou, lady father, go ‘long Wakid! Fine! Quick! Wild man he come, too!” Urged by the confidence of Morden and the fact that Eileen was already on a horse beside Rabbit, Seagrove obeyed and was dragged roughly beside his destined rescuer as Morden scrambled behind Larbi. Immediately the cavalcade wheeled and galloped off into the night, Eileen clinging desperately to Rabbit and thoroughly en- joying the excitement in spite of her natural nervousness. Renewed yells, shots, and the scattered flashes of rifles from the village a hundred yards away informed the party that Ben Ghali did not intend to part with his booty without an effort at recovery. Sprawling sidewise upon the back of the great saddle, Eileen clung desperately to Rabbit, wishing fervently that she had adopted man’s riding breeches. But she even spluttered as she heard Rabbit’s voice reassuring her: | ‘ All right, ol’ lady, you frien’ o’ Rabbit, an’ your lover frien’ o’ Rabbit! You hug me tight, we loose brig’n’, an’ come ’long my frien’s. Yessir, madam!” And Eileen had to hug tight as in- structed, for their course lay down the steep hill, and Rabbit’s spurs were apparently busy. Once she heard a whistling sound which, fortunately for her momentary peace You get girl THE ARGOSY. of mind, she did not recognize as the whine of a bullet. Only was she conscious of the heaving stars above a dim and wabbly line of hilltops, and of the thrum of galloping hoofs near to them. At last the stars ceased to wabble so violently. The horse slowed to a walk. “Morden! Dad!” she. cried. ‘ Eileen!” called Morden. “ Are you all” right?” “Yes. But dad?” ‘““T’m here, damnation!” came Seagrove’s voice to comfort his daughter. ‘“What’s the matter?” ‘““ Matter! My back’s broken, my right leg’s gone to sleep, and my nails are torn off, and this fellow stinks like a skunk! Hell!” “Fine!” shouted Rabbit, catching the drift. ““ Mohammed he say you have ‘ ’rage in ’versity ’!” CHAPTER VIII. —INTO THE FIRE. “OH Lordy, I’m so sore I scarcely dare move!’ moaned Seagrove, stretched on the flowered turf of the mountainside. “Every durned bone seems broken!” ‘““T feel bruised all over, and it’s chilly, too!” agreed Eileen; “ but still, dad, this is better than paying all those dollars to a brigand!” ‘“H-m!” snorted Seagrove ungratefully, ‘““T don’t know that I’d rather not have paid the confounded money than be treated like a sack of potatoes—and, anyway, it’s only one hold-up for another.” “No, Mr. Seagrove,” said Morden wear- ily, “‘ the arrangement was that Rabbit here was.to rescue you for one-fourth of the ransom demanded. And I think he’ll keep to the bargain, just as he has not deserted us now.” ‘Oh, do be quiet, you two!” protested Eileen. “ What does it matter, now we’re free? Qh, to think that I shall have a bath soon! It’s just too romantic!” ‘“ Romantic!” muttered her father, mov- ing his limbs warily. The hills on the opposite side of the valley were suffused with pale rose: even GOMIIGIOO S (CO