Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

WHITE EYE, could of this one. But when he had edged his way through the tense mass of soldiers surrounding the square he was shocked to find that Braulio was one of the princi- pals. The two enemies, evenly matched in size and strength, stood calmly side by side without hats or coats, smiling slightly while the seconds bound the right arm of one to the left arm of the other, from the elbow to the wrist, with a strong rawhide thong. At first the full import of their actions did not strike Larry. But when he saw the seconds choosing two thin, double-edged knives with ten-inch blades set in strong, heavily carved handles, his face blanched. Turning to Aguilar, he said: “ But you will stop it, general? It is death!” “Yes, captain, it is death. The unwrit- ten law does not brook interference, once they have agreed to meet on the field of honor. I am helpless to stop it.” In fascinated horror Larry watched the seconds place a knife in the hand of each. For a moment the two stood motionless, waiting for the signal to begin. What a setting for grim tragedy it was! The bright sunlight poured down upon the mass of tense dark faces inclosing the squared space where the principals stood in close inti- macy, to all appearances about to engage in some friendly contest; only the gleaming blades in their hands betrayed the deadly import of their attitudes. The signal was given. With a lightning- like movement of the arms, the knives flashed for an instant as each drove his into the chest of the other. The strokes fell faster than the eye could follow. There was no defense offered. The duel was only a monotonous repetition of the first move- ment, except that after the first blow the knives did not flash. They and the hands that held them were crimson with blood. How wicked, how cruel, how wasteful it all was! rebelled Larry—like some hideous nightmare. Could that be Braulio, the boy that he had known so well? How cruelly he had misjudged him, believing that because at times he stole, lied and shirked, he had no other quality except his blind loyalty to 189 recommend him. Yet there he was, defend- ing what he deemed his honor with his heart’s blood. No, he did not understand this boy, whose childlike demeanor masked the soul of a martyr—a soul capable of ris- ing to the heights of sublimity. The blows were falling more slowly now, as the crimson stains covered the chests of the fighters and spread below their waists. Suddenly Braulio’s antagonist coughed. A great quantity of blood rushed from his mouth. With a last superhuman effort, he drew his knife back the length of his arm and plunged it into Braulio’s chest, but had not the strength to withdraw it. He sank dying to the ground, drawing the other with him. Before Larry could reach his side, Brau- lio fell across the body. Quickly the sec- onds cut the rawhide thongs. As Larry raised the head of the fainting boy in his arms, Braulio weakly indicated the knife in his chest. Fearing to remove it, Larry hesi- tated, but when Braulio, through tightly drawn lips, gasped, ‘“‘ The pain—the pain!” he drew it out with a quick movement. A wan smile crept over the face of the dying youth. Larry had to place his ear to his lips to catch the whispered words, “When the thorn comes out, the pain will stop! Is it not true, my captain?” Larry’s tears fell unrestrained upon the upturned face. Ah, it was terrible, this grim, unyielding courage! And yet there was an awful majesty about the act—dying cheerfully to uphold a code of honor. He felt himself pushed aside as the army surgeon knelt in his place and began mak- ing an examination. ‘““He is not dead,” the surgeon assured him after a few moments. “ He has fainted from loss of blood.” Then began the work of skillfully binding up the innumerable wounds. ““ Has he a chance, major?” asked Larry, hardly daring to hope. ‘“‘ As far as I am able to determine, the knife has not reached a vital spot. If we can stop these hemorrhages, he may re- cover.” Braulio was removed to the improvised hospital, where his wounds, receiving care- ful attention, soon began to heal. In two GOMIGIOO SS (C@) nn