The Argosy — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

338 THE ARGOSY. Springing forward he snatched up an armful of the native weapons, spears, and axes, and distributed them to his companions. ‘‘We must fight the monster with these,’’ he cried; ‘‘ and while we are keeping him off, you, Canaris, run to the shore and keep on shouting to Sir Arthur. He may wake and get here in time to save us yet.’’ ‘* He must be in a faint,’’ exclaimed the colonel, ‘‘or the noise would surely have wakened him. Come on, Chutney, the serpent is half way to the shore. We may keep him off with these arms.’’ The torch was hastily placed in the sand near the water’s edge, and grasping their weapons firmly, they prepared to check the advance of the monster. Fortunately the spears and axes were of hard iron and fitted with strong handles which the long confinement in the cavern seemed to have toughened. Meanwhile the air echoed with the Greek’s loud cries, but at that moment none thought of Sir Arthur or of the canoe, for the serpent was within half a dozen yards of the island and his great body was undulating through the ater for thirty feet behind him. ‘“ Keep cool,’’ said Chutney. ‘“ Aim well for the head and make every stroke tell.’’ | The sight of the glaring eyes and the blood red fangs was enough to appal the stoutest heart. They shrank back in uncontrollable fear, as the long neck suddenly rose four feet in air and the body sank under the water. The monster uttered an angry hiss, but before he eobia spring Forbes cast a spear with all his might, and the sharp point pierced the serpent’s body a foot below the head. ‘Back for your lives,’’ he cried, and as they darted up the island the monster uttered a fearful sound, part hiss, part bellow, and flung half his length in contortions on the sand. Guy sprang forward and launched another spear that entered the slimy body near the center, but neither wound was mortal and the great pesbent came on unchecked. In one respect they had the advantage of him, as Guy neolisttatly dis- covered, for the wicked eyes blinked in the torchlight and the monster’s actions showed that his powers of sight were limited to darkness. He was wonderfully quick and agile, however, for a sudden convulsive _ leap carried him almost to the feet of his antagonists, and again they scattered in alarm. The serpent’s whole body was now on shore, with the exception of the tail, which was lashing the water to a milky foam. Seizing another spear Guy circled to one side, and boldly approaching the trembling coils, with one terrific blow he planted his weapon into the serpent’s body so deeply that the spear pinned the monster firmly to the ground. A cry of horror burst from his companions as the huge head swung round with awful quickness, but Guy missed it by barely an inch as he sprang aside. cComicbook (S@)