Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

66 One night after I had been asleep some time I was awakened by the sound of cursing ‘and scuffling in his room. I flung myself from my berth and was about to rush out to see what was up when my own door was thrown violently open and Pence and Husk- way entered. “ ‘What does this mean?” 1 demand- ed. Without replying they flung them- selves upon me. Huskway was a very powerful man, and with Pence to aid him, could handle me with ease. I was but partly dressed, and there- fore at a disadvantage. Pence had a rope in his hand and with that they bound my arms behind me and flung me down on the bed I had just va- cated. “ Now, you lying tale bearing pup!” said Pence, “ how do you like the new order of things?” “What does this outrage mean? What are you doing with me, and what have you done to Desklit?” I de- manded. “Well, we haven't done much to you yet, nor to him. He ts on his berth tied up like a sheep to be killed, the same as you are. And if you keep your mouths shut perhaps that will be all that will happen to you for a while. But if you try any monkey tricks [ll cut your throats and give you to the crocodiles. Do you hear?” ‘“T hear, but I will not be still, Cap- tain Pence. The crime you have just committed ts enough to send you to prison, and I’ll send you there unless you at once release Desklit and my- self.” A loud and gross laugh came from both Pence and Huskway. “ My negro protecting friend,” said Pence, “ you will be a good deal older than you are now when you get back to any place where you can have us put in jail, And perhaps you will never get there. It all depends on the grace of the crocodiles.” ‘“ But what is vour object? How can THE ARGOSY. you expect to escape? When you re- turn to New York with the wood what will you say?” Another laugh, louder and more gleeful than the first, greeted this speech. “New York! Wood! Hol Ho!” roared Pence. “And do you think, my fine cub, that after getting such a laying out, and with prospects of a dis- charge at the end of the voyage, we are going to bother about wood? Not if we know it, and we think we know something. Ho! Ho! Ill show that old fool of a father of yours that Cap- tain Jacob Pence can’t be treated like a dog With impunity.. He'll never see his old tub of a ship again, and like as not he’ll never see his long tongued son again, either.” “Well,” I replied, striving to remain calm, “ what are you going to do? You talk big, but what is there in it?” “Tl tell you what’s in it, young man!” he answered. “ There’s a mil- lion or two in it for me, and another million or two for Huskway, and wealth for every man of the crew who sticks to us. And they will all stick, for they have said so.” “Ts it so easy to pick up millions in South America?” I asked incredu- lously. “It is 1f you go to the right place for them. I'll tell you now, since you are decent enough to ask questions, just what we are going to do. Up near the Tapajos river there is an island that sticks high up out of the water, with steep and rocky sides. I am going to put you and your scientific friend on that island. Then we are going as far up the Tapajos as‘the ship can go, and leave her there. We will go on to the Devil’s Ring by way of the forest trails. “ Have you ever heard of the Devil’s Ring? Well, I'll tell you what it 1s. The Devils Ring is a circular chain of very high and impassable moun- tains, inclosing a piece of country at least twenty miles in diameter. In that country, so the story goes, lives a race COL ElOOO eco