The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

68 even the vultures he had infrequently seen were low enough to be likened unto this fellow. So he faltered. Joloff, however, was evidently bent on continuing a quarrel in which he could expect to get only the worst end. Perhaps he hoped to goad Crusoe to some act of violence that would not end his life, but would be so serious that some action in law might deprive Donaldson of his liberty. “Well, go on, savage,” he snarled. “What am [?”’ Crusoe had his arms folded, and was looking straight at his tormentor. His eyes glowed with the dark, lurking fires Ordway and I had seen in them a few times. “Long ago,” said the islander, speaking slowly, and distinctly, choos- ing his words from the deep recesses of a memory which was marvelous, “ Mr. Donaldson told me of all the different creatures in the world. Some, he said, were bold and noble. Of these he spoke of the lion, which he said was found in warin countries. And he mentioned a beast called a horse, which men use for drawing wagons. And he spoke of others, living things that were—that were imean, low, he—he had a word-- I'll think of it—de—detest—detestable. “ That’s the word, detestable. He said that some men were mean and de- testable like the crawling things that bite or sting and kill. He said the most detestable was a poisonous. snake. That is what you are. A poisonous snake.” “Right!” shouted Sanderman, who had found his nerve and joined the group. . Joloff, with an oath, and a clenched fist, sprang toward the airman. Ord- way grabbed him by the collar and hurled him backward. The eyes of Miss Sanderman rest- lessly shifted from one to another of us, and her face was white with fear. It seemed an involuntary act when she stepped close to Crusoe’s side. It was time somebody took com- mand. THE ARGOSY. “Now, see here,” I said sternly, thrusting myself forward, “ we’ve got to have an understanding right now. “For us to say now that Donaldson was wrong in bringing Sanderman here to hide is a waste of time. What he did was done in a spirit of chivalry, not understanding the necessity of having laws, nor the absolutely essential, obedience to those laws for the govern- ment of and protection of the majority. “ He knew nothing about the misera- ble motives that govern the minds of some of the people in the world. His only law has been the law of nature— a law that has thus far been kind to him, in as much as it has brought him food and clothing and kept him from contact with evil men. “Let that all pass. Sanderman is here, and will return with us. Now you, Joloff, coming from that civiliza- tion into which we are about to intro- duce Donaldson, having the benefit of an education and a knowledge of what one man owes another, are to be remon- strated with. At heart you are a mur- derer. I don’t know whether it was your intention to shoot Donaldson only, or all three. You were bent on slaying of the meanest kind. The man had done you no harm. He had for the moment outwitted the Paris police. That had nothing to do with you.” ‘“Nicasse was my partner:” “You knew, when you saw Sander- man appear, that there was a way— the proper way—of bringing him be- fore a proper tribunal for trial. You chose to shoot. Ordway and I were, thank God, on hand to prevent your insane act from doing harm. “ This affair, as I look at it now, must remain a secret between us five. Had a bullet from your pistol struck anybody it would be different. But we have enough trouble on our hands without grabbing at any we can leave alone. There are five witnesses to your attempt. If there is another one we shall tell what we have seen.” “Tet me talk, if you are through your sermon,” growled Joloff. CoOMmicbook CO