Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 330: what you’re looking at

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

BEYOND THE GREAT SOUTH WALL. began to pass it backwards and for- wards to each other, and it was then that an inspiration—I think I may just- ly call it that—flashed into my brain. With the tin in my hand I turned to face the great head again, waiting tull the thin lips parted in one of their deep drawn breaths. Then I tossed my mis- sile accurately towards the open jaws, and like a flash of crimson the gums gaped wide and the yellow teeth closed upon it. For a single instant we saw it gleam brightly between them. There was a scrunch and a grinding sound among the great fangs, and then the yellow powder sank bitingly into the saliva. The brute opened his mouth, and a bellow pealed out of the strained throat, enveloping us in a vol- ume of merciless sound and hot putrid air. The long pink tongue slavered and twisted between the burning gums, showing ruddy streaks where the metal had gashed it. In one such ragged wound a remnant of the bright tin was still sticking; the flaming paste of powder and saliva was filling the torn veins with agony. . He beat his head desperately from side to side, slamming it on the hard rock walls of the cavern. His unearth- ly screams threatened to burst our ear drums. He beat the air with his great clumsy foot, and we could hear the thunderous boom of his great tail against the timbers of the ship. Finally with the swiftness of an es- caping bird the tortured head fled out of the cave mouth, and we heard his great carcass drag and rustle from the cleft. The blessed sunlight began to flow down to us again. I let go my grip upon the rock, and, more unwillingly, my encirclement of Gwen’s waist. I looked inquiringly into her eyes as I helped her up. She staggered as she rose, and for one de- lightful moment clung to me. I felt that mere courtesy bade me tender again my support, and so for two or three delicious seconds we 321 stood. Then she found her voice and the ghost of a smile. “I think you’re quite the cleverest person I ever met,” she said gratefully. “ How on earth did you come to think ot the mustard ? ” ‘I really haven’t the least idea,” said I honestly. “ His mouth was there and I had the tin in my hand. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to throw it in. The effect was more than I dared to hope for.” She drew herself unostentatiously away from my arm as she spoke, and leaned against the rocks behind her. “Well,” she remarked, “ we’ve saved poor little Fidget, at any rate. Even if we’re doomed to be devoured we shall have the satisfaction of knowing that.” “We!” said I rebukingly. “ Should I ever have been such a sentimentalist as to risk a horrible death for a dog!” “T rank above Fidget in your opin- ion then, as you have chosen to accom- pany me intothis trap. You do me too much honor,” and she bowed to me charmingly. I couldn’t quite command myself to auswer this in any ordered phrase, but I suppose the expression on my face must have spoken. At any rate Gwen blushed delightfully, and con- tinued rather hurriedly, “ Don’t you think we might make a run for it now?” “T’ll reconnoiter,” said I, “and see if he’s really taken himself off or not.” I climbed gingerly out of the cleft, and very cautiously raised my head above the edge. _ No, by no manner of means was he gone.. He was lying about fifty yards away, and banging his head upon the ground and lashing the boulders with his tail; some of them were smitten to splinters as I watched. His mouth still dripped yellow saliva, and his teeth were meeting with resounding cracks. His tongue still lapped itself about his tortured lips, and in his agony he rolled over, writhing COMIC DOCKS CO