The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

34 A PERUVIAN PARADISE. can do. We’ll find a way to escape, too. But at present I think we had better seem to acquiesce in the priest’s decision. I think because of what we did for the girl—who, by the way, is his granddaughter, not his daughter, Ford—he is inclined to be friendly to us; but how the rest of the Indians feel about it, I don’t know. We'd best go easy.’’ ‘We'll go easy, fast enough, if we once get the chance to go at all,’’ murmured Ford. ‘Hif you think Bob Fitch is goin’ to be shut hup in this bloomin’ valley for the rest of his natural life, you’re mistaken,’’ said the Cockney. ‘‘ But, as Mr. Keeth says, there hain’t no use a-rushin’ things. So, if hit’s all the same to you, Hi’ll finish my breakfast.’’ But Ford had lost his appetite and followed Keeth outside where they could talk together undisturbed. Sitting in the sun by the wall of the house, Keeth told him all that had occurred during his interview with the old priest. ‘That old chap must be the very devil,’’ was Ford’s comment. ‘‘ He is a wonderful man,’’ responded Keeth. ‘‘ But there’s nothing so very remarkable about the hypnotic power he displayed, although I never met the mesmerist before who could control me.’’ ‘But all that stuff you say you saw ‘“Tve studied that out,’’ interrupted Keeth. ‘‘ I was dazed by it all last night, but I’ve been thinking about it this morning. He couldn’t have seen what I did. If he had, he’d have acted differently. He couldn’t have helped showing it.’’ | “Then he didn’t suggest the pictures which you thought you saw?”’ ‘““T suggested them myself. I saw what was in my own mind, or what was the legitimate outgrowth of the thoughts which filled my mind at the moment he placed me in the trance. He was more than half right when he said that if he let us go we would in the end destroy him and his people. On that plateau across which we came, and at other points in the mountains, I have seen sure signs of rich deposits of nitrate, and other minerals which would pay men well to look into. When once the riches of these upper Andes are known people will flock here, and that will mean death to this handful of an already down trodden people.’”’ ‘“Seems to me,’’ said Ford gloomily, ‘‘that you’re dreadfully tender hearted toward them. ‘To my mind they’d kill us quicker than a wink if they thought it would benefit them any.’’ CHAPTER IX.—IMOZENE AND KEETH. Tat day Keeth took up his residence in°the temple as a guest of the old priest. ‘The rear apartments were occupied by his household, including the grandchild, Imozene. ‘The American felt some little difiidence in allow- ing his captors to lodge him so much better than his companions ; but both Ford and the Englishman advised him to accept the priest’s invitation. ‘““'There’s no use in making an enemy of the old fellow,’’ said Ford. ‘‘We’re getting good food and a decent place to sleep. If you can get any- thing better, why take it.”’ Eomichbooks (S@)