Avon Fantasy Reader No. 11 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

way to end the perpetual strife between the wood-men and the Baloongas.” “What way?" jabbered the oldest gorilla, lifting himself up on the limb from which he hung. “Why should all the gorillas fight all the Baloongas?” queried the white man. ‘‘Why not let one contest settle the whole fair ‘Who would contest?’ asked the anthropoid. “You select one gorilla to fight and let the Baloongas select one maa to fight. Their battle would settle the question. If the wood-man wins, the Baloongas will move away and give land to wood-men. If the Baloonga wins, then the wood-men will go to some other part of the country beyond the mountains and disturb the Baloongas no mote.” To get the gorilla to see this required a further long explanation. Since the gorillas had never practiced human sacrifice, the idea of a champion who would fight for his group and whose victory or defeat would settle the rights of his group lay completely outside the simian psychology. It caused Mog- glesby to see more clearly than ever how necessary it was that cannibalism and human sacrifice enter into the foundation of every great civilization. When the white man finally had conveyed his idea to the wood-man the question arose where the duel should be held. Keckechex desired the fight should be held in a tree. But Mogglesby pointed out that it would have to be held in a plain between the two armies, where all! could see, if the contest was to have any symbolic value. This, of course, was self- evident the moment it was stated, so a savanna in the jungle about halfway between the banyan and the Baloonga village was selected as the dueling ground. The date of the contest was set for noon of the third day fol- lowing; then Mogglesby and Luomo turned back through the jungle for ome. It was late at night before the two reached the village. The Baloongas came out en masse to hear the result of the strange expedition. When Mog- giesby told them it was not peace but a single combat, the black men were in consternation. Who, they asked, could stand up alone against a wood- man? Loaga, however, thought he saw a ruse in the plan. He suggested to Mogglesby that when all the gorillas were watching the fight the warriors could suddenly attack the wood-men and kull a great number of them. ‘Listen, Loaga,” said the white man sharply. ‘There will be a fight be- tween one man and one gorilla and the victor wins the land for his people!” Loaga was distressed, “Then the Baloongas are Jost,”’ cried the head-man with a dismal shake of his head that swung his earplates. “What warrior can stand against a wood-man ?”’ “We'll have to select a man,” repeated Mogglesby. “May a serpent swallow me,” wailed Loaga, ‘‘but the Baloongas are lost." He pondered a moment longer and then added. ‘We are forbidden even to make a feast and fortify our strength by a sacrifice, and still in three days one of our warriors must meet 2 wood-man.” “Listen, Loaga,”” said Mopglesby. “I have thought that over too. There 72 Comicooks.com