The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

A PERUVIAN PARADISE, 53 In a few moments they reached a good sized room, in the middle of which a small fire was burning. Their guide went quickly to a pile of fuel in one corner and threw an armful on the blaze. The flames flashed up instantly and illuminated the place, revealing the features of all. ; Keeth and his two comrades stared at the scarcely human looking figure of their rescuer. He was clad ina few shreds of garments, the original nature of which it was scarcely possible to guess. His bare arms were lean and his hands like claws. His gaunt, drawn face seemed familiar, yet it was only Keeth who was sure of his identity. He walked quickly forward and placed his hands upon the shoulders of the attenuated creature. ‘Jose !’’ he exclaimed, ‘‘ how did you get here?”’ CHAPTER XIV.—ONCE MorE IMOZENRE. Fitcu uttered an imprecation and fell back against the wall of the cav- ern, utterly unable to properly express his astonishment. ‘It’s never Jose Rodriguez!’’ exclaimed Ford, scarcely above a whisper. ‘Sz, senor-—eet indeed ees,’’ responded the strange looking individual hoarsely. ‘‘ Alive?’?’ cried Ford again, scarcely willing to believe his eyes. ‘‘ Don’t be a goose, Ford,’’ said Keeth good naturedly. ‘‘ Of course he’s alive, though he looks more like a ghost than a human being.”’ ‘I haf eaten leetle for weeks,’’ explained the Spaniard simply. ‘‘ Only such food as I could pick up in the herdsmen’s huts yonder.”’ ‘“And we’ve been living on the fat of the land,’”’ said Ford. ‘‘Haven’t we some food here, Keeth?”’ ‘I lost my pack when I got into that quicksand,’ returned the engineer. ‘‘ Perhaps Fitch has something.’’ : ‘Food hand torches ’ave all gone,’’ declared the Cockney, still staring at Rodriguez with protruding eyeballs. ‘Everything was swept away in the rush of the waters,’’ said Keeth, with disappointment, ‘‘ but we will get more.’’ » ‘How ?’’ demanded Ford Kinsale. ‘“ By going back to the town.”’ ‘‘ What—tonight ?’’ cried Ford. “It is already morning, senors,’’ said Rodriguez. , ‘‘’The storm did not arise till near midnight. When it began to rain I feared for you and hurried down the tunnel to warn you.’’ ‘You hurried to warn us?’’ repeated Keeth. ‘‘ How did you know we were here? Come, Jose, you must tell us your story. We have believed you dead. We searched for you all along the shore below the spot where you and that guide fell over the cliff. How did you get here? And how long have you been here?’’ : ‘The senor must wait. I cannot tell him all ina breath—eh, wha-at ?’’ responded the Spaniard, with a smile. ‘‘Let us sit down about the fire. I am easily chilled when I haf so leetle on.’’ : (E@) comicbook