The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

A PERUVIAN PARADISE, 5 The wounded man opened his eyes once or twice; but his conflict with the Indians had completely exhausted him, and he rallied slowly. ‘There was a nasty wound in his forehead just at the roots of the hair and the blood had streamed down his face; Keeth wiped it away carefully. ‘There was no other serious wound, but upon the right cheek, just below the eye, was a mark tattooed upon the skin about the size of an American half dollar. Keeth’s attention was at once attracted to the cabalistic figure and he pointed it out to Ford and the trader. Upon the three white men the tattooed sign made no impression other than serving to stimulate their curiosity. But it had a most surprising effect upon the three Indians who were staring over their employer’s shoulder at the wounded Spaniard. They began to jabber together in their own Onn pointing excitedly at the strange mark. ‘“ Well, wot’s the matter with you ?’’ demanded Fitch, who, despite his ten years’ experience in Peru, had never been able to master the ‘‘gibberish’’ of the natives, and even spoke the Spanish with a Cockney accent that would have driven a linguist crazy. ‘Senor,’ said the oldest of the drivers, replying in fair English, ‘‘ no good you he’p that man. We come away and leave him here, eh?” ‘‘'What’s that? Leave the poor fellow here to die?’’ cried Ford. ‘‘ What’s the matter with ’im?’’ demanded the trader. ‘‘’E ain’t got the small pox, has he?”’ ‘“He mooch better haf small poc. Wenohe’p him. We mooch better go on and leave him.’’ ‘“Why, Hi’dlike to know ?”’ cried Fitch. The Indian pointed slowly to the tattooed cheek. ‘‘ What the dickens does he mean, Fitch?’’ asked Ford. ‘“ Some o’ their bloomin’ superstition, Hi suppose,’’ replied the trader, in disgust. ‘Then turning to the Indian he said: ‘‘ Now look-er ’ere, Juan, Hi wanter know wot you mean? Wot’s the matter with this ’ere fellow that we should leave ’im hout ’ere on the trail to die?’’ Again the Indian pointed solemnly to the tattoo mark. ‘* He is forbid,’’ he said. Fitch muttered an oath; but the llama driver continued : ‘Senor, that sign is a command to us. We must obey. He is accursed, He should die !’’ Keeth reached for his Winchester and cocked it. ‘Tell them that if they undertake to follow out that idea I’ll give them a taste of lead myself,’’ he said to Fitch. ‘" Don’t you fret, Mr. Keeth,’’ returned the trader. ‘‘ Hi’m blessed if I ‘aven’t a mind to ide the ’ole three of them. The hignerant niggers!’ ‘’ What do you mean by his being accursed ?’’ asked Ford, looking at Juan. ‘' Los Americanos ees stranger here, eh? You know not my people,’’ said the Indian, drawing himself up proudly. ‘‘ We were a great people once. We haf not forget that, though we speak a tongue other than our own and worship a god other than that of our forefathers. But that mark we know.’’ Eomichook (S@)