Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

226 Pan stood beside her, his usually placid brow wringled by a frown. . “T do not know all he says, Mr. Bradshaw,” said Pan, directly, “ but he is threatening her.” ‘“ Murdock! ” cried Bradslrw, stern- ly, ‘that woman is under my protec- tion. Treat ‘her accordingly or it will be the worse for you.” Murdock’s bronzed cheeks paled. He mumbled something unintelligible and turned away. Bradshaw looked at him steadily for several seconds, and satisfied that self interest would preverft him from leav- ing the party, went about his work with a heart on fire with conflicting emo- tions. He had been obliged to threaten Irene’s father. He was obliged to har- bor this man whose character had be- come distorted to the vilest degree of savagery. He was distraught by the immeasurable grief it would be to Irene to learn the facts about her fath- er’s downfall. And yet, he saw no other possible course than to adhere to his resolution and take Murdock home to America. CHAPTER IX. MURDOCK AND MTEMA. THE party was soon on the march. With one forerunner as an advance guard, Bradshaw and Pan were in the lead. The woman walked beside Pan, and immediately after them came Mur- dock, silent and sullen. No event of importance attended the first stage of their journey. For an hour or two Bradshaw kept a man far in the rear to apprise him of any possible pur- suit by the Marotses; but it seemed that whatever the tribesmen might be planning to do, their suspicions had not been aroused concerning a party of in- vaders so near their town. IXventually, therefore, the expedition proceeded as ustial, and as time passed, Bradshaw’s buoyancy once more as- THE ARGOSY. serted itself. He was far from being assured when he thought of Murdock, but he gave as little thought as possible to that uncomfortable subject. It was such a relief to be on the way home again that he could not do other- wise than hope that with a return to the associations of civilization, Murdock would be restored to some endurable semblance of his former self. Bradshaw counted heavily on the influence Irene would have over her father. It seemed impossible that in his daughter's presence Murdock would continue to manifest the sav- age traits that he had acquired by long residence among the Africans. In order to stimulate the reawaken- ing of better feelings, Bradshaw had a pack of clothing opened the first time the party paused for rest. “Mr. Murdock,” he said gently, “ I should think it was about time you had a new suit. I'll be your shopkeeper. How’'ll this do for a ‘hand me down?” and he held forth a suit of light cloth with a gesture to suggest the typical second hand clothing dealer. There was no change in Murdock’s expression to show that he appreciated or even understood the pleasantry. “Tl do anything you say, Elmer,” he answered submissively, as he took the garments. He put them on and seemed to shrink from the glances of his companions. “They feel a bit strange,” he said sullenly. “T shall be surprised if they do not make you feel more like returning home,” Bradshaw responded. Murdock made no further remark, and the matter was not mentioned again. They camped that night at the edge of the great forest through which they had traveled so blindly to the kingdom of the Marotses, and next day plunged into it along their beaten track. It was nothing like so tedious as before, the main reason being, perhaps, that now there was a definite end in view. ECOMRRIC Oe CO