Avon Fantasy Reader No. 11 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

“Why should one wood-man stop chasing the Baloonga girls on account of other wood-men than himself?” “Good Lord!” ejaculated Mogglesby. “Out of public spirit, out of patriotism!” The creature in the tree became puzzled. “Public spirit, patriotism—-what are those things?” Here began a long dissertation by the Englishman attempting to explain to Keckechex, through Luomo, the meaning of the altruistic emotions. But the oldest wood-man became lost in a maze of reasoning. The whole idea of patriotism and altruism was incomprehensible to him. Finally he chattered out in bewilderment: “Why should one wood-man deny himself pleasure in order that other wood-men may be safe. It is absurd, unthinkable. What connection is there between one wood-man and another wood-man?”’ “Listen,”’ cried Mogglesby. ‘“When the gorillas last attacked the Baloonga village, one of them gave his life so his comrades might win the battle.” “He did nothing of the sort,” chattered Keckechex. “He gave his life hoping to kill a Baloonga!”’ “All right, damn it, all right, take it on those grounds then! If the young wood-men wilt return the Baloonga girls to the village perhaps the very young wood-man who does so will be saved from war and danger. There you are; each gorilla is working for his own hide and to the devil with the others!" The creature in the banyan pondered this and finally agreed that it was true. He then stipulated that he would have the Baloonga girls returned provided the Baloongas themselves would cease killing and eating other men. Mogglesby was on the point of agreeing to this when he began to think more carefully of what he was trafhcking away. It occurred to him that in conflicts for mastery between two sub-human species victory would always lean toward the group which practiced cannibalism and human sacrifice, The cannibals would always believe they could absorb the strength and cunning of their enemies and this would bring a distinct psychological advantage.. Further, the feeling that a man's life had been given for their own would hold them together by its drama and pathos. Moreover, out of this drama and pathos would bloom the spirit of triotism and self-sacrifice which had been so entirely lacking in the mon- Leys Indeed, Keckechex could not even understand what the terms meant. These thoughts brought a sudden reversal of values to Mogglesby. For moral stagnation perhaps nothing could be more deadly than the even peaceful fruit-eating lives of the monkeys. It gtew upon Mogglesby that perhaps cannibalism and blood sacrifice were the foundation stones upon which all human civilizations had been built. The simian made a drop and the next moment was hanging to a lower limb by a foot and an arm. He chattered at Luomo and the woman said he wanted to know Mogglesby’s decision. ‘Fell him,” said Mogglesby, “that I can't do it. Tell him I see only one 71 Comicbooks.com