Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

_ AN AFRICAN SECRET. “ Doubtless you wonder that I am willing to take back with me a man who has become so degraded as to at- tempt murder. I am not exactly will- ing to do so, but I feel that I have no choice. If he is insane, as I still think, or if there is any chance for his re- demption, it will be better for him to place him in the care of his family, to ) say nothing of the tender interest the one near member of Murdock’s family will have in his welfare.” “Mr. Bradshaw,” cried Pan, in a low voice tense with pain, while his prave eyes were lustrous with sym- pathy, “it may be a question as to which family has the right to care for Murdock, or be cared for by him.” “Which family?” Bradshaw re- peated blankly, the dark truth begin- ning to throw its shadow over him. “ He took a Marotse wife eight or nine years ago. It was an essential feature of his initiation into the tribe, and he did not gain the entire confi- dence of the king until his child was born.” Bradshaw could utter only a low moan of distress. The hofrid stain at last laid bare, Pan spoke with more freedom and di- rectness than he had at first. ‘‘ You can see now,” he said, “ strong enough reason for every crime this man has committed and attempted. Doubtless he does wish to return to civilization, but you may be sure he does not wish to take a black wife with him. He has the pride of white birth left in him. Could he face his friends and the members of his American fam- ily 1f they knew that he had adopted savagery with all that that implies? “ You know well that he could not, and no one knows it better than Mur- dock himself. That fact explains everything. Shall I go on, Mr. Brad- shaw ? “ Yes,” groaned Bradshaw, “ go on, Pan, and set all in the clearest possible light.” “ Then understand first that we have 4 A 235 been mistaken about the Marotses. They are not a warlike tribe. To be sure they ‘have their soldiers, and they have had their little wars, and like all Africans of the far interior they are given to bloody practices; but as tribes go, the Marotses are reasonably peaceable.- Their reputation for ex- treme savagery and power is due to the crafty management of the diamond hunting Arabs who have spread rezorts about them in order to frighten o:hers away.” “Can ’Tema tell you all this?” “No, but she gives me certain facts which I put with other facts and then draw conclusions. I am not likely to be mistaken.” “No. I have no doubt that you are right. Go on.” “This reputation of the tribe suited Murdock’s designs. He was not only fearful of the coming of white men on account of the diamond mine, of which they might take possession, but he dreaded lest some passing traveler should linger long enough to learn his history and take reports of it back to America. So, when he saw our camp- fires he came out to frighten you away, not dreaming, of course, that he would be recognized at once. “ When he found that you knew him he had to face a dangerous crisis and act quickly. If he consented to return with you he would have to abandon hope of.finding the mine, and that he could not do. If he persuaded you to help him search for the mine, it was a thousand chances to one that some day you would discover his exact relations to the Marotse tribe. “There was only one way to solve his problem, and that ‘he tried to do by bringing you poisoned food. “Why he repented of this attempt is already clear to you, for with the re- turn of Dirtk’s men he perceived that through you lay his best chance of finding the mine. You knew where it was. So then he treacherously advised the king to look out tor an. ‘nyasion by CO