Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

WHITE EYE. patron was going, but was not told. When Larry was ready to start he found the boy with his few belongings rolled in a pack of his own, waiting for him. ‘Here, Braulio, is a month’s wages in advance. You have been a good boy. I am sorry to have to leave you.” ‘But, patron, I am going with you!” exclaimed Braulio, refusing to take the money. “No, Braulio. You must find another patron. Take this—you’ve earned it.” ‘“‘T do not want the money, patron. It is not for that I serve you.» I am going with you!” ‘It is impossible. I am leaving Guate- mala, never to return—going into a strange country, far away.” “Then I, too, am leaving Guatemala, and going into a far country. For where you go, I, too, shall go!” At last Larry explained that he was going to war, thinking this would deter him. ‘“‘ But I am a soldier!” asserted the faith- ful Indian. “I, too, am going to war. You cannot leave me, patron, for I shall follow. You have said I served you well. Muy bien, I shall continue with you.” “‘ Tf you persist, Braulio, I shall ask the police to lock you up. Have I not told you it is impossible?” “Oue importa if you have me jailed? When I am free I will find you.” Larry was compelled to obtain Aguilar’s permission for him to follow on foot. II. THE general and his staff, numbering about a dozen men, in field uniforms of light and dark blue, set forth on their march. After several days of hard riding they topped the last mountain ridge over- looking Macuelizo. It was midday, and the hot, tropical sun beat down upon the little valley lying inert and helpless at the foot of Cerro Azul, which towered eight thousand feet above the town sweltering in the distorted heat waves which seemed to overhang the valley. Here and there the glistening white face of a precipice gleamed like snow amid the dark green of the jungle-clad slopes. 187 The camino real writhed tortuously through the valley, like the bleached skele- ton of some gigantic serpent. As they de- scended into the plain, dim trails leading upward through the cool depths of the jungle tempted Larry to stray aside. The only sound to break the stillness other than the creaking of the saddles was the shrill, strident note of the locusts. Their unend- ing “‘ chicareen, chicareen ”? seemed to ac- centuate the stinging rays of the sun. More than two thousand men were gath- ered in the town: Gracianos, Yorenos, Olanchanos, Cholutecas—each group under some local leader, and all eager to enlist under the banner of the exiled president. They knew little about the manual of arms, but at close quarters their skill with the machete made them terrible opponents. There was no heavy artillery, but a great number of machine guns were in evidence. The general at once set about whipping the unwieldy mob into some semblance of an army. Most of the officers were veterans of past revolutions, with many years’ expe- rience in this system of warfare. Larry was given a company, and at once started teaching them to drill, Braulio being trained as hard as the rest. One morning the latter appeared limping painfully, with a sheet wrapped around his head. His people had a custom of wrapping their heads in a towel or sheet for every ailment, whether toothache, stomach-ache or toe- ache, The third morning he asked thus to be excused, Captain Simms decided to in- vestigate. ‘ ‘What’s the trouble, Braulio?” ‘Oh, mi capitan, my heel!” “Let me take a look at that heel!’— noting that it was very slightly wrapped. “Ai! Ail Capitan, how it pains!” “Well, let’s see what we can do for it.” “Ai! Ai!’’—submitting, but almost on the verge of tears. ‘““Doesn’t seem to be much inflamed. Where does it hurt most?” “Oh, mi capitan, the whole foot, the whole leg!” He gave utterance to a pitiful howl as Captain Larry took hold of the foot. After pressing tenderly on various parts, Larry decided that the heel seemed to cause the GOMIGIOO S (C@) nn