The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 A PERUVIAN PARADISE, ‘‘Senors,’’ said Rodriguez, ‘‘I feel better. Give me of food, for I haf eat not’ing for two days.’’ ‘“Give ’im a bit of that /assajo to chew,’’ commanded the trader. ‘‘It won't do to feed ’im too ’igh at first. ’Ow long ’ave you been traveling in these ’ere bloomin’ mountains? ’’ ‘‘ Quite two weeks, senor. But only till two days ago did I quite lose my way.”’ ‘“Well, you’re ’alf a day’s journey to ’Ualpa now,’’ said Fitch. ‘“Ah, I haf come a long way—a long way,’’ muttered the Spaniard, shaking his head slowly. ‘““And you are sure you can find your way cee ?’? inquired Ford anx- iously. ‘“ After reaching a certain place in the mountains—eet must be t’irty niile to the nort’ of here—TI shall know the way back to de Incas’ cave ver’ well.”’ ‘But how will we find this place? ’’ ““We must haf a guide to that spot, senors. Eet is a place known to many of the mountain people—eet must be known to them. LEet is.a spot where three great pines overhang achasm. ‘There ees a bridge across the river—a bridge which you, Senor /ugentero, will wonder at,’’ and he bowed to Keeth. ‘“T don’t like that,’’ interrupted Fitch. ‘‘ We’ll ave to tyke one o’ these bloody savages into hour confidence.”’ | ‘Oh, these Indians are perfectly civilized,’’ interjected Ford, with a grimace. ‘Shut up, Ford,’’ commanded Keeth. ‘‘I agree with Fitch. It will be dangerous to allow an Indian of any — bs accompany us. If they are all banded together as they appear to be | ‘‘T tink, senor, that we can get a guide wit’out arousing suspicions as to our intentions. Let us once get to the three pines and I will get rid of the guide on some pretense—send him back for food, or ammunition, or somet’i ing, Surely, somet’ing will turn up—gqzuzen sabe ?”’ ‘“That’s hall right,’’ growled Fitch ; ‘‘ but Hi don’t like goin’ hit so blind.’ ‘“Don’t be a wet blanket,’’ interposed Ford. ‘‘ Come, let’s have some lunch ourselves. We ought to be on our way to Hualpa.’’ ‘* Before we start it would be better for Senor Feetch to try to cover this,’’ and Jose touched the tattoo mark upon his cheek. ‘‘ I wish to enter Hualpa wit’out that so plainly showing.”’ ‘“Good hidea,’’ returned the trader; and he got out his paint at once. Keeth had bound up the cut in Jose’s forehead and removed all traces of blood and dust from his face. Fiteh set to work, and with more art than his American friends would have given him credit for, changed the Spaniard’s appearance completely. The mark was entirely hidden, although the paint had to be laid on rather heavily for the purpose ; but when the job was done it would stand pretty close scrutiny. ‘“ Hill guarantee none o’ them Hinjuns will know you now, sir, ?) said a3 Eomichbooks (S@)