Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

$e" ep a ee ~ ~ — es ~~ ~ > - ~— JUNGLE TEST, ‘You need more than two for my com- fort,” the major said disgustedly. ‘Sahib! Heaven-born and Cherisher of the Needy!” the kneeling man broke in. ‘Tam a skilled chuprassi. I can cool water without ice—I can—-”’ ‘“ That settles it! Hire him!” the major cried peremptorily. These words were scarcely out of his mouth before the chuprassi lit a coal to the major’s cheroot. By this he indicated that there was no need for further argument; he had accepted the position. Vanishing in- stantly from the room, he returned a mo- ment later with a wet dish towel which he wrapped about the soda bottle. This he fanned for a moment, then mixed a whisky drink for his master, and brought it to him. He did not walk across the floor; he crawled —in much the same manner as a slave about to bring evil tidings to a king who will kill him. The major watched him, and as he watched he remarked to the proprietor: “You say these men beyond the jungle practice thuggee? Have they no fear of the British Raj?” ‘They never heard of the British Raj over there, sir,” the publican replied. “ Be- tween the jungle and that country there is a series of jheels or swamps which cannot be crossed by tonga or caravan or railroad. Government has forgotten that country, sir. The country is Jamgad, and the jheels have cut it off from thousands of years of history, invasions, battles, Aryan civilization, Mogul conquest. You and I, sir, white men as we are, find ourselves, I might say, on the threshold of that forgotten era which Jam- gad represents. As white men we are in danger. Before the night is over you and { might disappear. We would find our- selves in a country of two thousand years ago. ‘“ Government would miss us. An inves- tigation. A battalion from your canton- ment at Pangal wouid be sent through the swamps to find us. The maharajah and his counsellors would protest ignorance. Maybe we were lost in the j/eel, they would say. Maybe the man-eaters of the Pangal Hills caught us, maybe heat apoplexy, may- be the pestilence in the swamps, maybe crocodiles. What could Government do? Yes, they could massacre a million inhabit- ants. And would they know then where we had gone?” ‘And that’s why you don’t have ice in this rotten little hotel? Because you don’t care whether your business goes to pot or not? You're afraid to stay here?” This brought a breathless, almost sound- less, chuckle from the Being squatted in the shadows. In the ensuing silence Kesh watch the grin and the glittering black eyes. The punkah tolled off a dreary mo- ment, and then: “If we disappeared in the night,” the major said in an entirely . changed tone, “ just what would be the ex- planation?” ‘‘ Sir, there was no explanation when the last guest at this dak-house vanished. He was a subaltern with guns, kit and what not. We thought he had gune on his hunting trip earlier than he had planned. To bed at eleven in that room, sir.” The publican pointed behind his shoulder. chota hazri he was gone. chaff!” The major muttered a string of oaths, Puff! Like rose from his seat, and began to pace the ~ room. Suddenly he stopped and caught the eye of the houseboy, who was staring at him. ‘Say look here, you filthy devil!” he cried. “‘ Get your carcass out of here! You're making me crazy!” The chuprassit backed away into the darkness of the adjacent room, salaaming with elaborate and abject perfection. Surgeon-Major Kesh found himself alone, Outside in the world which seemed curi- ously remote there were faint unintelligible sounds, but in the big dining room Kesh was left in the silence of his own thoughts. He was not disposed to worry himself into a panic over what he had just heard. And yet it surprised him that this publican should be so earnest in condemning the very dak-house where he was employed as care- taker. : ‘“ Probably had a set-to with the owner of the place and wants to run down the business,’ the major smiled to himself. ‘“ And then, too, the smaller the patronage the less work for him—lazy beggar! Or CORMICLOOO© 483 *« And -at. —> a. —Z a a — - — ‘ — - ~* = com —