The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 A PERUVIAN PARADISE, and his remarkable activity was all that had saved him up to this point. He was bleeding badly from several wounds, but was dexterously catching most of his enemies’ thrusts upon a round rawhide shield attached to his left arm. With his own spear (it seemed his only weapon) he was doing no little dam- age to his foes. One lay face downward at his feet, quite dead. The Indians themselves were plainly of a different tribe from those who bore the llama train company. ‘hey were a fiercer people—that was evident ; and they were taller and more sturdy. ‘Their soled sandals rattled on the rocky path and they fought like furies. ‘The outcome of the uneven battle could not have long remained in doubt. These facts Keeth saw at almost a glance. He shifted the. rifle from his arm to his shoulder in a trice and the crack of the piece rose above the shouts of the savages. He had purposely aimed high, and the bullet splintered the rock above their heads. They ceased their onslaught ‘and fell back at once, turning their angry faces toward this new antagonist. At the same moment Ford and the trader appeared beside Keeth, both equally well armed. ‘The Indians were evidently cowed by the appearance of the Europeans with rifles in their hands. While they hesitated, the man whom they had attacked suddenly leaped out into the trail and ran at break- neck speed toward his rescuers. The Indians started in pursuit, but both Keeth and Ford Kinsale raised their weapons, and, instead of keeping on, the natives wheeled and scattered among the rocks, evidently expecting a volley from the guns. Ina moment they were out of sight, and their victim, covered with blood and well nigh exhausted, fell into Keeth’s arms. : CHAPTER II.—‘‘ WiLL You Go?”’ ‘‘ WHAT about your booger stories now, Fitch?’’ demanded Ford, as he assisted Keeth to place the wounded stranger on the ground. But the trader, leaving his two companions to care for the victim of the Indians’ wrath, ran forward and examined the dead man lying in the trail. When he returned he found the stranger sitting up with his back against a boulder and Keeth bathing his face. Ford and the three llama drivers were looking on, Ford’s expression depicting the liveliest interest, the Indians’ features as expressionless as so many tobacco store signs. ‘There ben’t nothin’ strange about fhem Hinjuns,’’ declared the Lon- doner. ‘* What do you mean ?’’ asked Keeth, looking up. ‘Hi know them,’ said Fitch. ‘‘ They were mountain Hinjuns, but Hi’ve been among ’em hall. They’re as civilized as my llama men ’ere,’’ and he pointed to the three drivers. ‘They acted mighty civilized,’’ said Ford. ‘‘If we’d been a minute later our friend here would likely have been a victim of their excessive civil- ization.”’ ‘Hi don’t understand it,’’ muttered Fitch, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at the dead man. ‘‘ Hi’ve hoften traded with that fellow yonder.’’ COMMGCIOOLKE (SO)