Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

AN AFRICAN SECRET. ly as the river could not be seen at ail from any place near the mine, except for the small patch of water revealed at the landing rtself where the Marotses had cut away the trees. “The scouts probably saw no more than Murdock and may report that he is the only one here,” suggested Brad- shaw, as he and Pan bore a box of food to the raft. “ You forget the man in the tree.” “ That’s so, but even then they might not have known that he was on guard there. They evidently didn’t see him in the tree.” “ I wish they-had.” “So? What’s your idea? ” “ This,” said Pan; “seeing only Murdock and one man on guard, they may suppose that he is here alone, or at best with but a few companions. There are none too many of us, but if they had seen the entire party, they might suppose that there were many more, and therefore they would be slower to make an attack. As it is, they - may come straight on—there! ”’ He broke off abruptly, for there was no further need for speculation. A long arrow whizzed through the air, struck the box they were carrying be- tween them, and stuck there. At the same moment a few blacks who were on the raft disposing of the luggage, set up loud cries and scurried ashore. - “ Halt!” cried Bradshaw and Pan together, but the carriers rushed past them unheeding. “Don’t let them desert us, Pan,” said Bradshaw, dropping the box; “ get them into some sort of order. I may be able to prevent an attack.” He ran out upon the raft and looked up the river. A huge canoe, crowded with armed blacks had just come around the point of land at the bend. Bradshaw raised both hands, palms open above his head as the best sign of friendliness he could think of. “Oh, Mr. Bradshaw, they’ll kill you!” he heard Pan cry. 239 It flashed upon him then that such must be the outcome if the Arabs held the Marotses to the policy of killing any man who had discovered the loca- tion of the mine. Only in that way could they maintain possession of their treasure ground with absolute cer- tainty. That this was good reasoning, what- ever else might be said of it, was imme- diately apparent ; for he had no sooner appeared on the raft and raised his hands, than a shower of arrows were let fly at him. It seemed as if every man in the canoe who was in a position to bend his bow, had shot. Perhaps from undue haste, or from the fact that the motion of the canoe prevented steadiness of aim, or both, none of the missiles did any damage. They splashed in the water, went singing over his head, and stuck in the logs of which the raft was constructed. The volley was not more than des- patched when the blacks, with hoarse cries, made ready for another. “I’m too good a target,” thought Bradshaw, and he retreated. He saw that his carriers had made for the mine. At the top of the lane Pan Was arranging the more courageous of them in line, and distributing the fire- arms carried by the expedition. Murdock, attracted by the commo- tion, had come from the mine, pick in hand, and was prancing about in all his chgracteristic excitement. One slender hope occurred to Brad- shaw, and he hurried up the lane, hear- ing the second volley of arrows clip the foliage and thud in the ground as he ran. ‘ Murdock,” he cried, “‘ these men doubtless know you. At all events, you can speak to them in their own lan- guage. Go down and assure them that the most we want to do 1s to get away, and that there is no need of a fight about it.” “ Merciful heaven, Elmer!” shrieked Murdock, ‘‘do you want me to be murdered? ” EOMRIC OOOkKS CO