Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

204 * Too easy,” said Bradshaw, “ but it will do to talk about at home.” Just then Pan fired at the cub, but not before Bradshaw had knocked up the muzzle of his rifle so that the bullet went cutting leaves off the tree tops. “ Why ” began Pan, in amaze- ment, and then stopped abruptly, as it he would not venture to question his employer’s proceedings. ‘We'll capture the cub,” said Brad- shaw. “ He’s too young to be dan- gerous.” “ If he’s with us,” Pan suggested, “ it may bring other lions about.” ‘‘So much the better. If I don’t have a brush with something once in a while I shall grow rusty.” Pan had done so much advising and insisting recently that he evidently felt unequal to opposing this freak of his employer, and the upshot was the speedy capture of the cub. The little fellow, startled at what had happened, but evidently uncompre- hending his loss, made not the slightest resistance, and though he whined a good deal, he trotted on after one of the carriers as docile as a lamb. When they made camp for the night he was teth- ered near Bradshaw’s shake down. ‘* What do you think you will do with hime” asked Pan. ‘I haven’t got that far,” the Amer- ican answered. ‘“ He’d make a fine souvenir to take home, though serious- ly I have no idea that can be managed. I have saved his life from sudden im- pulse, and ever since then I’ve been wondering whether it wouldn’t have been much more sensible to put him out of the way.” “TI think so,” said Pan; “ of course it is so if you say so.” This ambiguous speech, which might be interpreted as a reflection upon his good sense, tickled Bradshaw hugely, and he chuckled some time over it, much to Pan’s mystification. “As long as we’ve got him, Pan,” said Bradshaw, at length, “ we'll feed him well, and if it seems best to get rid THE ARGOSY. of him we'll do it in some quick, easy fashion.” It was then near sundown. The sim- ple business of camp making had been finished, and the cooks of the party were preparing supper. Bradshaw and Pan had gone out to the mouth of the ravine to determine the advisability of posting a picket there through the night. Suddenly Pan seized his employcr by the arm and drew him behind a talt shrub. | “ Look!” he whispered; “a little to the right. He’s back of that rock.” Instinctively Bradshaw had unslung his rifle, and he held it now in readiness for quick firing as he péered in the direction Pan indicated. For just an instant he saw nothing; then from behind the rock, a boulder that stood quite by itself at the mouth of the ravine, a man stepped cautiously forth and gazed steadily toward them. He was half nude, and such garments as he wore were of the kind used by savages; but even in the gathering gloom of early evening the most casual glance showed that he was not a native of the wilds. His skin was dark, but it had the rich hue of sun bronzed white. His hair was long and unmarked by kinks. Moreover, a long beard de- pended from his chin and covered the greater part of his face. A light gust set it to fluttering, and as he stood with one hand upon the boulder, solitary in this vast wilderness, he might have seemed like a druid of old awakened after centuries of sleep. Bradshaw slowly lowered his rifle, and, still gazing at the stranger, placed his hand on Pan’s shoulder. He gripped hard into his companion’s flesh, and- Pan noticed that his employer was trembling violently. After a moment thus Bradshaw's agitation ceased. “Wait here,” he said, and, handing YN Sn (GO his rifle to Pan, he wa ee OTR behind - t the shrub and went toward the stranger.