The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

240 beating tom-toms. Then the escort of head men. ‘You will hear some very handsome oratory now,” said the professor, who, with Mr. Donaldson, had come out on the porch to witness the proceedings. “That fellow is well got up,” said Mr. Donaldson. “I fancy Mary and I were fortunate 1n being thrown on an uninhabited island instead of one with creatures of that sort to annoy us.” “Let loose the kaybees, professor,” suggested Ross. “ They'll settle those tom-toms.” The mass of waiting warriors, flanked by the men and women of the village, opened a way, and Makolota came in his stately fashion down the avenue. The queen stood on the porch wait- ing, and I could see that while out- wardly she was calm the occasion had rufiled her. Makolota came straight to the porch and stopped, while his drummers fin- ished their banging. “Oh, great and beautiful queen! ” began the chief, and we all gazed at one another in astonishment. . He spoke English. It was, of course, not spoken as clearly as it is written. In fact, if it were written as he pro- nounced it no one could read it. But it was English, and we understood. “Oh, great and beautiful queen, I have come to’speak words into your ears that it will be wise for you to hear. 1 have with me a token of my regard for you, which I now give you in the name of the soldiers of Makolota, the ereat war chief. Will you, oh great and beautiful queen, accept this from the hands of Makolota ? ” “Tt is very beautiful, Makolota,” said the queen. “I will accept it.” “And will the good and holy queen listen silently to the words that Mako- lota will say to her?” “Yes, Makolota, I will listen.” “Years ago I learned, oh gracious queen, to love your father, the great white king who caine to us and taught us and gave us to understand that we were rich and powerful. I learned to talk with him in his own tongue, and he was my friend. “Now the heart of Makolota is sad because he has no longer the white king THE ARGOSY. to love. But there is not a tear in the war-chief’s eye, because upon the throne where sat the great white king there sits a beautiful white queen, the daugh- ter of her father. Is all this not so, oh beautiful one? ” “It is so, Makolota.” “And the heart of Makolota beats fast for the white queen who fills her father’s throne. Makolota is the great- est chief in Maltoona. He it is who has kept the enemies of his race from com- ing here to overpower them. And he looks with delight upon the lovely face of the daughter of her father, and he wants to have her for his wife. ‘“* Makolota bends the knee to no one, but to you, oh beautiful one. Makolo- ta’s spear is always ready for your ene- mies. I do not know these white men, but I have heard of the strange, flat vessel on our shores. If they are ene- mies, my warriors will drive them far away. If they are friends, we will give them gifts. “With Makolota on the throne be- side you, no tribe could defeat us. We would have ships, and sail to other countries and capture them. Makolota, . the great war chief, has spoken. Will the white queen answer? ” The chief rested his spear on the ground as he finished, and stood in the attitude of “ attention.” .““The great war chief is kind,” said the queen, dropping into his own style. “The white queen knows he loved her father, but she cannot become his wife. The white skins must not marry the dark, for it is not wise.’ Yet will I say to Makolota that I shall always like him and hope he will be a loyal chief.” Makolota stood a moment as if para- lyzed by this answer. He stepped for- ward, and [saw Ross getting closer. But Makolota meant no mischief then. He simply held out his hand, and the queen put the string of pearls in it. “Injun giver,” whispered Ross to me. Then the chief turned and stalked away with even more dignity than he had shown when arriving. The drums were silent, and, without comment or glance toward any of us, the guard fell in line and marched off. But just before passing out of sight ECOMRiNIEloOO@ SS) Colin