Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

240 ‘“T want to save lives on both sides. Come! I’ll go with you if you’re afraid.” He caught Murdock by the arm, but the old man held back and struggled violently. “They'll fill me with arrows,” he gasped, and when Bradshaw released him in disgust, he fell sprawling in a helpless heap on the ground. ‘“ There’s one more chance—for de- lay at least,” cried Bradshaw. “ Pan, tell the men to fire, one after the other, in the direction of the canoe. If we hap- pen to hit anybody, so much the better, but we may be able to convince them that we’ve got a small army here pre- pared to fight desperately.” He set the example by discharging all the chambers of his revolver one after the other in rapid succession. Pan and the others followed suit till the wilderness rang with the fusillade. “That will do,” said Bradshaw, presently, as he reloaded his weapon. ‘We'll save the rest of our ammunition for business.” CHAPTER XIII. BATTLE. THE ruse evidently had the effect in- tended, for the canoe of warriors did not come into view at the end of the lane. Bradshaw took advantage of every second to encourage his carriers and place them in the most advantage- ous position for a fierce struggle. Most of them were easily ordered, for | they had had experience in other trans- continental expeditions, and the few who could not recover from the panic into which the coming of the Marotses threw them were left cowering at the far end of the mine. | There was no effective force lost by the timidity of this fraction of the party, for there were not firearms sufficient properly to equip those who were eager to fight. “ Elmer,” said Murdock, a a moment after his refusal to parley with the Ma- THE ARGOSY. rotses, “you mustn’t think me a coward. [——” “I’m not thinking of you at all,” interrupted Bradshaw, curtly; “ keep out of the way.” ‘I want to help,” persisted Murdock, following Bradshaw around; “ no good would come of my going down there to be shot before I could open my mouth, but I'll fight for the mine as bravely as anybody. Give me a rifle, or a revolver, Elmer. I'll stand by you and defend the mine as if I were fight- ing for my family.” Which family?” demanded Brad- shaw, turning suddenly .and facing the old man. He regretted the words as soon as they were uttered, but the mischief if mischief it were, had been done, and the words could not be taken back. Murdock’s jaw dropped and a villain- ous light flashed in his eyes. ‘‘ Never mind, boy!” he rasped, “ Ill fight for the mine, and we can settle our account later. Will you give me a n? 93 “ There’s none to spare,” said Brad- shaw, turning abruptly to the carriers. It was probably well for Murdock that the hateful expression of his face and his threatening gesture were not seen by Pan, who had gone to place Mtema where she would be secure from stray shots from the enemy. He came up now and stood for a moment at the head of the lane. The carriers had been placed under cover of the trees along one side of the lane, so that, if an attack should be made along it, the enemy could be en- filaded after a fashion. Being near the excavation, they could also fire in that direction if the Marotses should disem- bark elsewhere than at the landing and make their way through the forest to the mine. “Think of: anything else, Pan?” asked Bradshaw, coming from among the trees and standing beside his black lieutenant. “Yes, many,” was the quiet answer, GONMUC AOOLK CO