The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

26 | A PERUVIAN PARADISE, then suffered himself to be led to the other dwelling. He found that it consisted of but one room; nevertheless it was light and airy. The windows were mere slits in the thick walls; but the door was a heavy wooden one, hung upon roughly wrought hinges of some kind of metal-——just what he could not decide. He was left to himself but a few minutes, and then a tall woman entered with a jar of water on her head and a pile of garments over her arm: She placed the water on the floor and laid down the garments: ‘Then, bowing deeply; but without looking at him, she went out: ‘Good !’’ thought Keeth. ‘‘ A chance for a bath and something better than these rags, I hope, to put on. I wonder if the other boys will fare as well? ’’ But when he came to look the garments over he was a little doubtful about donning them. ‘There was a shirt of finely spun llama wool, cut very low inthe neck and sleeveless. It clung close to his body and reached half way between his waist and his knees. ‘The tunic of cured skin (probably from the same useful animal) was likewise sleeveless and fell scarcely lower than the shirt. ‘There were sandals, too—and queer enough they were. The soles were covered by a series of small scales of metal, and upon examination he found that metal to be gold ! ‘Talk about the riches of the Incas!’’ he gasped, when he made this discovery. ‘‘ Why, these people don’t know the value of the stuff.’’ But he was a sight when he was dressed ! ‘“Won’t Ford guy me!’’ he thought, as he tried to see his manly pro- portions as he stood in the light from the window. . ‘‘ But I can’t wear those tattered and torn clothes I had on. ‘Then, I might offend my entertainers if I refused to wear these.’’ At that moment there was a gentle rap at the door. He turned about and hastened to throw it open. ‘The girl who had already so well proved her friendliness for him and his comrades stood without, and the tall woman, who was evidently a servant, was with her. They entered, and the girl, taking a small jar from the woman’s hands, approached him. She smiled up into his face and touched the wound on his cheek and pointed to his bruised hands. Removing the cover of the jar she began to bathe his wounds with its contents. It was an ointment which gave relief at ouce as she rubbed it gently in with her fingers. Keeth thrilled beneath her touch and felt himself blushing furiously. Somehow he couldn’t make himself look wpon her as merely an ignorant savage, and felt vexed with Ford because he had laughingly referred to her as ‘‘ Poca- hontas.’’ When she had gone the woman spread a cloth upon the floor and brought an abundant supply of food. ‘There was some boiled meat—Keeth thought it probably kid—with vegetables not unlike mealy potatoes, and cakes of coarse flour: There was also a jar of liquor which, although of a rather pungent odor, was not unpleasant to the taste. He madea hearty repast, and when he had finished saw by the waning light that it was almost night. He was left undisturbed until it was quite dark. Once he heard the loud Eomichbooks (S@)