Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

TARZAN AND THE GOLDEN LION. ‘“ He will sot hurt you—unless I tell him to,” said Tarzan. “Den please don’t tell him to!” cried Bluber. ‘Where do you want to go?” asked Tar- zan, “ We are trying to get back to the coast,” replied Kraski, “and from there to Lon- don.” “Come with me,” said Tarzan, “ Pos- sibly I can help you. You do not deserve it, but I cannot see white men perish here in the jungle.” They followed him toward the west, and that night they made camp beside a small jungle stream. It was difficult for the four Londoners to accustom themselves to the presence of the great lion, and Bluber was constantly in a state of palpable terror. ‘As they squatted around the fire after the evening meal, which Tarzan had pro- vided, Kraski suggested that they set to and build some sort of a shelter against the wild beasts. “Tt will not be necessary,” said Tarzan. “ Jad-bal-ja will guard you. He will sleep here beside Tarzan of the Apes, and what one of us does not hear the other will.”’ Bluber sighed. “ Mein Gott!” he cried. “T should giff ten pounds for vun night’s sleep.” “You may have it to-night for less than that,” replied Tarzan; ‘“ for nothing shall befall you while Jad-bal-ja and I are here.” “Vell, den, I t’ink I say good night,” said the jew, and, moving a few paces away from the fire, he curled up and was soon asleep. Throck and Peebles followed suit, and, shortly after, Kraski too. As the Russian lay, half dozing, Se eyes partially open, he saw the Ape-man rise from the squatting position he had main- tained before the fire, and turn toward a near-by tree. As he did so something fell _ from beneath his loin cloth—a little sack - made of hides—a little sack bulging with its contents. Kraski, thoroughly awakened now, watched it as the Ape-man moved off a short distance, accompanied by Jad-bal- ja, and lay down to sleep. The great lion curled beside the vrostiaee -man, and presently the Russian was as- sured that both slept. Immediately he com- menced crawling stealthily and slowly to- ward the little package lying beside the fire. With each forward move that he made he paused and looked at the recumbent figures of the two ferocious beasts before him, but both slept on peacefully. At last the Rus- sian could reach out and grasp the sack, and, drawing it toward him, he stuffed it quickly inside his shirt. Then he turned and crawled slowly and carefully back to his place beyond the fire. There, lying with his head upon one arm as though in profound slumber, he felt carefully of the sack with the fingers of his left hand. ‘They feel like pebbles,” he muttered to himself; “and doubtless that is what they are, for the barbaric ornamentation of this savage barbarian who is a peer of England. It does not seem possible that this wild beast has sat in the House of Lords.” Noiselessly Kraski undid the knot which held the mouth of the sack closed, and a moment later he let a portion of the con- tents trickle forth into his open palm. “My God!” he cried. ‘ Diamonds!” Greedily he poured them all out and gloated over them—great scintillating stones of the first water—five pounds of pure, white diamonds, representing so fabulous a fortune that the very contemplation of it staggered the Russian. “My God!” he repeated. of Creesus in my own hand.” Quickly he gathered up the stones and replaced them in the sack, always with one eye upon Tarzan and Jad-bal-ja; but neither stirred, and presently he had re- turned them all to the pouch and slipped the package inside his shirt. “ To-morrow,” he muttered, “ to-morrow. Would to God ‘that I had the nerve to at- tempt it to-night!” In the middle of the following morning Tarzan, with the four Londoners, ap- proached a good-sized stockaded village, containing many huts. He was received not only graciously, but with the deference due an emperor. “The wealth 1, " fA ' Neh Poe Vie rate Alt By AF alfa r] nN . : A ‘ay ea Pl tient Wits NAN on" ay AN a > yee A . y pa AY ARO AAT iL ee ; veh Papi | Al? ¥ ty ry; y ¥ ; ty ri Ar. AY it i non é = andiie se eS ina —s » rare a. . Le ce Ss — SE oa. Sp = at oa "a a i Leo RE Poe ey > > ee = wc ee ae i SS Ty, Ss —— i See ae i mes r ~~ * _ a" ok Cs => “< ae a a ~ me Ore ~ ss “4. —_- "3s. + —— ee -. = ~ RS ee, es = t= = - ee a Se eo ee ea Ss 2S, - naa ae ep aed ae a a ts Se =e oe ire hh Fae 7 s The whites were awed by the attitude of : —e EOPMICL OOO