The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

284 THE RIVER OF DARKNESS. plunging madly toward the wharf came a white clad figure, pursued by a howling group of Somali warriors, who brandished long spears and daggers. A shot from Melton’s pistol brought them to a sudden halt, and Momba, for it was indeed he, ran a few paces and fell breathless at his master’s feet. ‘What fiendishness is this?’’ shouted the captain furiously, from the deck of the steamer. Momba staggered to his knees. ‘The Arabs!’ he cried. ‘‘ They are coming—they have rifles—the Portuguese—he broke open long boxes—and handed out guns—Makar’s men all have them—the Somalis have them—they have plenty shells _ Guy ground his teeth. ‘The infernal scoundrel !’’ he cried. ‘‘ So that’s what those long boxes of his contained! ’’ ‘You mean Torres?’’ exclaimed Melton. ‘‘I know the villain. He is a partner of Makar Makalo’s. But come. We must fight our way to the garrison.’’ Alas! too late! Bang—bang—bang, bang—bang, a fusillade of rifle fire rang out from the town, hideous yells of triumph mingled with cries of des- pair and agony, and over the garrison walls floated a constantly increasing cloud of white smoke. ‘The firing deepened, and a hoarse yell arose as the Hnglish flag, shot from its staff, fluttered down into the curling smoke. ‘They are murdering the garrison !’’ cried Melton. He grasped a revolver in each hand, and would have gone madly forward, but at that moment a louder tumult burst forth close at hand, and swarming down the crooked street, curving in and out through the tents and heaped up stalls, came a fierce and frantic horde of Arabs and Somalis, waving rifles and spears, and yelling like ten thousand fiends. ‘On board for your lives!’’ shouted the captain, and as Guy and Melton dashed over the gangplank, followed by Momba, a kick from the captain sent it whirling down into the water. Providentially, steam was up, slowly the engines started, the screw revolved, and just as the steamer moved slowly out into the harbor, the en- raged mob swept to the very edge of the wharf. In futile rage they let fly showers of spears and a scattering rifle fire that pierced and shattered the wood work of the vessel, but fortunately without effect, for every man had got safely below. CHAPTER IV.—THE ALARM. THry rushed up on deck again as soon as the steamer was beyond rifle shot. A distant roar, like the blended shouts of thousands of people, floated across the water from the town, and at intervals a shot was fired. Smoke no longer hovered over the garrison. ‘The last man had succumbed, and with the fall of the garrison the massacre seemed to have come to an end, The uprising had been directed against the British troops alone. ‘‘ This is a terrible thing,’’ said Melton, ‘‘ and there is something back of it all. J can’t understand it. Can it be possible the wretches have designs S :boo a (E(0) AA) (E(0)