Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

220 “No,” thought Bradshaw, “ 1 don't, and I hope { never shall.” “ ‘Where is the man,’ Murdock con- tinued, ‘who ever had enough? The more you get the more you want, and I can as soon think of these Arabs giving up the mine as that I would give it up myself if I had found it.” “Then I’d better not show the way to it.” Murdock stared in momentary sur- prise. Then he perceived that he had blundered, and tried speedily to right himself. , “My case is different,” he stam- mered. “I am growing old. Many vears have been spent in fruitless effort to make the fortune I desire. Now all I ask is to be able to go home with a good showing for my effort, and that can be had 1f you will help. You will, I know you will. You promised . “T made no promise,” Bradshaw in- terrupted. “I clearly left my course to be decided in the light of reason. You haven't told me all yet. What are your relations to the Marotses? ” “My relations with the tribe?” re- peated Murdock, blankly; “ what can that have to do with it? Not,’’ he added hastily, “that [ would reserve anything.” ‘“T don’t see anything embarrassing in my question,” said Bradshaw; “ [ am naturally curious to know how you have managed to pick up as much in- formation as you have, and how you have kept out of the Arabs’ way. Dirik gave me to understand that it was death to a white man to enter this territory. You said as much yourself, you know, when you first met me last night.” “Oh!” and Murdock seemed to be relieved; “of course there’s nothing embarrassing in that. I didn’t under- stand you, and, in fact, I was coming to that matter. “It was after my arrival that the Arabs, or, as the tribesmen always call them, the high priests, made it an iron law that no stranger of any race or color should be permitted to live if he THE ARGOSY. set foot on Marotse territory. So in one sense I am no exception. The three priests were all absent when I[ came. “ One of the king’s high officers had mutinied. I suppose it was a part of the trouble that grew out of the semi revo- lution effected by the Arabs. At all events, this fellow tried to subvert the government and dethrone Bangwe. By the merest accident I came upon the king just as the rebel was about to assassinate him. “ Of course I had no interest in the matter other than to promote my own ends, and those would better be sub- served by maintaining established au- thority than by risking the favor of an insurrectionary party. “It was really quite a crisis for me, for I could have aided either side, or I could have refrained from action, which, as matters stood, would have been the same thing as aiding the insurgent. So I shot the insurgent.” Bradshaw started, not at the tragedy narrated, but at Murdock’s cold blood- ed manner of relating it. The old man observed the effect of his narrative, and was proceeding to justify his course at length, adducing, however, no better arguments than he had already indi- cated, when Bradshaw interposed. “Never mind,” he said sharply; “you shot him. What happened then?” | “ Naturally enough, the king was grateful. The death of the insurgent settled the rebellion, and there was no more trouble of that kind. Bangwe entertained me to the extent of his lim- ited notions of royal hospitality, and eventually made me his adviser, a kind of prime minister, you know.” “ But what induced you to remain? Surely the dignity of office under such 2 99 “The diamonds, Elmer, the dia- — monds!” cried Murdock. “ Don’t you understand that that had been my sole incentive to exploration ever since I set forth? ” COMicloool« CO