A JUNGLE QUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 196, 19 August 1919, Page 10

A JUNGLE QUEST.

(Short Story Complete.)

(By F. EUGENE ACKERMAX.)

Taguan.. the Canibo Indian guide, sucked at his coca leaves and stripped off the hide of the little sambo monkey, grunting now and then as he 'brushed away the myriads of insects that attacked him and the almost human form prone across his lap. Oritz. the engineer, sat moodily in his hammock swung from stakes, and arranged bis not canopy. Taguano swept his machete under the armpit of the monkey with a semi-circu-lar motion, and I turned away as the red hide came loose. It looked like a tlaved child—

And then Oritz screamed and leaped free of his hammock. I rose trembling and cold, hating myself for the helplessness that seeped into my marrow. Oritz lay for a moment where he had fallen: and then whipping out his pistol fired once-twi.-e-throe times—at his hammock. I thought the jungle fever had maddened him and instinctively my hand went to my own holster- He perceived the motion, and smiled wanly. "Xo—No, amigo," bo said. "I am not yet loco—just astonished —for see," and he pointed to the hammock. A huge tarantula, torn by his bullets, lay there. Somehow it epitomised the jungle—dead, terrible, mysterious. "It fell upon mc." he added. "Bali, what unutterable vileness." And we endure this for gold to till our bellies and dross our bodies in raiment. All my life _ have sought this metal in these places of death, and now I have neither soul nor jold."

"'And yet you have always sought the jungle,'' I said. "Hating it as you do, why do you come back ?" For a long time Ortiz stared at the sluggish river, now black with night. "Amigo." he said, "for you are my friend—and for five years Gabriel Ortiz de Gama has had no friends—l will tell you. Somewhere in its entrails there is a human tarantula, whom I seek. When I find him, I will never set foot outside Quito again " And Ortiz told mc of his quest, while the jungle that canie down and about us as if hungry to draw us into its maw, murmured uneasily to the sluggish night. '"I had a wife." he said. "Ah, senor. 1 adored her. She was from Andalusia, gay with a lightness of heart that comes only from a pure soul. For two years we were happy—there is no word to tell you the joy of that time- Then I went into the jungle. It was for rubber and gold; one to bring the other. I said I wanted gold to deck Francita with jewels which would rival the glory of her eves and shimmering silks that would do justice to her slender graciousness. She begged mc not to go. But T, Gabriel Ortiz de Gama. descendant of the conquistador who planted the banner of Spain in far-off Bogota, demanded that- tho name should have a setting worthy of its heritage. That, senor, was the reason, but I deluded myself into believing that it was for my Francita. "So, senor, I set forth with a heart heavy as the pack my cholo carried. For two years I was gone. On the Alto Yucayali the fever took mc- £jSbn.t mc my men died like the rotting things that spoil this night here. In my madness I wandered away and fell finally into the hands of a roving band of Piro Indians. w]k> cared for mc with incantations and herbs—and finally I was well. ""Then I turned homeward—-weak, fired, and without the gold of trtiich I had dreamed. I shall not dwell on that journey. There came a day when I reached Quito, and found Francita gone. An Aleman—a cursed German pig— called by name Yon llulst—had taken her. You see, amigo, she believed I was dead. Only two of my men had returned, _nd they told her I bad wandered away into the jungle—which means death. "The German had married her and carried her off with him. so my friends told _>c- And what, senor, think you, he was •seeking? Tlie secret of Jivaros. What accursed perversion of mind set him on this quest only his kind can tell. He wanted to know how they shrunk the heads of their enemies and kept thorn rare cloissones, in the niches of their thatched huts.

"I went mad with wrath and sorrow, hut I loved __y Francita, and finally I saw that my own selfishness had taken away from her the happiness necessary for her existence. So I made a vow io the Mad re de Dios that my path would never cros3 hers to do her h_.ni. And to keep that vow I hid myself in the desert vastnesses of Northern Chili. "Know you .lollendo, in Peru, that squats like some stark image of hopeless- j .ess at the edge of the Andes, staring at | .he Pacific? One year after I had left Quito I arrived there. The interval I had spent at an oficina of the nitrate works." Ortiz was silent for a long moment, then he began again in a whisper. There is a crooked street, that begins with llamas and donkeys resting at the base of the mountain and ends as it lunge, into the sea. The length of that street is iill&d with furtive figures, whose frayed charms are marketed to any buyer. I will not conceal from you, amigo, that my steps led mc thither —and there I found Francita. '"No, do not interrupt mc, friend of mine. She came through the darkness like a -wraith, and ere she spoke I knew her. What shall I say of that few moment.? Her eyes Tose to mine transfixed with a terror that I shall see ■while I live. She would have iled with weak footsteps, but I caught her. "Vaguely I know that as a gentleman I should kill her at once. Yet I could not. Instead my arms went about her, and I knew only that my Francita was with mc once more. And thus as we ' leaned drunkenly against the wall of an adobe house, from -which came those sounds that only lost souls may make, she told mc her tale. "This cureed pig had taken her into the jungle—through the steaming days and nights—and she was his beast. At night she would unlace his boots and rub his feet—ah, senor—his feet! All good things were for him. For my Francita, before whose white hands I had knelt', he left the tasks my cholo does. And then she sickened, and in a tambo in the montanas of Peru he left her, lying on a mud floor on which pig. "and chickens wandered. '"TV'hat could she do, this child? In my land, senor, the women are not as they are in yours. They are made for love only. They cannot find their war alone. There came to the tambo the jefe of a llama team bound for _ lollendo, and with him Francita went. She was penniless—and lie exacted pay; then when he went over the mountains again with his spitting brood, he left m her—where I found her. | "This all was told mc between Ion" I intervals, and my heart was eaten with W anguish and hatred. Yet through it all II s?as the knowledge that I had Franei+_

again. We Toused ourselves and went with lagging steps to the Casino, and then for the first time I saw her clearly. Amigo, -have you ever seen a beautiful lily, whose petals have been crushed in the mire? That wa. my Francita. Her eyes were mere slits of dullness. Her fair skin was gray, and —she was mouthing coco leaves —the cocaine of the Indians. "But 1 was resolved that since the blame had been mine so retribution would be mine, too. It was against my code as a gentleman, senor—hut I bad Francita. And yet I did not have her. For this was a different creature —a creature of ugliness and tempests; of craven humility and outbursts of rage. For a week we enduoed this. I was an outcast among my kind, for I boldly proclaimed my relationship with Francita." Ortiz rose heavily from his hammock and stamped to the river. Jaqiiano, bearing slices of the monkey, pattered up to mc, but I waved him away. Ortiz turned and came back, standing beside mc. "And then one night she killed herself," he said, gently. "She left mc a little note, and she said that our love was dragging mc down to her; that she could never lift her head to mine. She used this knife," and he whipped out the little curved machete he wore in a sheath ut his hip. "And I carry this knife now and seek in the jungle the beast who degraded her. That was why 1 came with you, amigo, from Lima. I have heard that he is .till here, living with the Jivaros. For he plans to write a great book on what he learns and be famous in bis country." 1 held out my hand. "If you should want an aid ," I said. Ortiz smiled.

"Muchisiinas Gracias, mi amigo." he responded. "It would be most agreeable to me—but I shall not, 1 hope, need an aid."

And abruptly he flung himself in his hammock and drew the net cover about him.

Taguano crept into his striped blanket, still crunching in the slender arm of the sambo monkey. I lay in my hammock, with wide eyes, listening to tho throbbing noises of tbe jungle. | The huge frogs sent up their endless j notes. "Plunk -plunk -plunk." Then I sat up stark with apprehension. For added to that never ending chorus there was a new sound: a nervous series of staccato noises that were not those of the frogs. Taguano, too, was alert, and he scrambled nervously to Ortiz's hammock. They spoke quickly, and then Ortiz whispered to mc. "Senor—with much quickness, please," and he leaped from this hammock and commenced to tear at tho stakes. I fol-1 lowed him. Ta_uano, with practised foot and hands, stamped out all vestige of our fire, and I stumbled numbly about, aiding in hiding in the jungle foliage our camping equipment. The "bolsa," canoe, was jerked into the river ready for immediate use. And all the time the ominous sounds grew louder. There came the crashing of underbrush and the sound of moving bodies, but whether of man or animals we could not tell. Above us tho moon rode heavily behind a black cloud. For a brief minute a knife-like edge shone out. and we saw about three hundred yards away from us a single form splashing toward our hidden retreat in the shallows of the river. The fugitive had evidently broken his way through the ragged undergrowth in the desperate hope that the easier path of the river 1 might save him. Twice lie turned to- , ward the brooding stream as if to trust himself to its current, but each time he j swerved and continued onward. Then the moon hid herself again, and he was , lost to view.

But that glimpse told us that this was a white man. 1 whispered so to Ortiz.

"Then," he said equably, "get your pistol in order, for perhaps we must die with him."

A medley of long drawn cries interrupted him, and as if answering a signal the moon suddenly burst forth. It revealed half a dozen naked figures on the river bank, where we had caught the momentary glinqise of the fugitive. A dark shadow whisked through the air a. an arrow splashed into the river, just ahead of the man, now not more than one hundred yards from our hiding place.

"Jivaros," Ortiz whispered. "Senor, wo must make a sally, for we cannot permit that these despicable, should gain their ends." With trembling voice I agreed.

"In a little moment, then," he said. "When I call 'now,' you will leap with mc into the river, yelling loudly, and yon will rush past this fugitive, firing your revolver as rapidly and with all possible accuracy at those Indians."

"Now," he screamed suddenly and leaped toward the river. I followed, yelling as loudly as I could. new sally was too much for the unfordinate fugitive. Evidently convinced that his escape had been cut off be fell heavily into the water, and Ortiz and I rushed past him firing point blank at the naked savages. They hesitated only for an instant. As our pistol shots rang out, spitting long streams of flame, two leaped into the air and splased back into the river. I We were yelling with crazy ferocity. The Indians turned with cries of dismay, deeming us most probably evil spirits questing their deatlis. Before they had hurst into tbe jungle two more fell. The other two could be heard amidst a chorus of angry cries from monkeys and parrots, lighting their way to safety. "Most elegant," Ortiz commented calmly, as we made our way back toward our hidden camp. "Ah, and here is our friend." The fugitive was slumped wearily in the shallows of the river, only his head showing above water. We lifted him to his feet, as he strove to speak through swollen lips. His garments were in rags and his whole body was covered with bruises and cuts. Ortiz forced some chicha—powerful native brandy of sugar cane—tbrou •_ his swollen lips, and the liquor acted like . magic potion. In stumbling, nervous words he began to thank us for savin" him. He spoke a thick, guttural Spanish, pausing for words occasional!..

As be talked I had my first opportunity ot observing him. The mellow moon, now late on her course, spread a

iweb of gold over the river and the jungle. jThe newcomer leaned easily in my hammock. He was of powerful build, with ' yellow hair and a square, coarse face. His I mouth was wide and cruel, and his nar-row-lidded eyes moved uneasily—partially from fright, bu. mainly, 1 con- i eluded, from habit. ) "I do not know why it was," be said, 1 "but to-night they turned on mc. 1 < have been among ibem for three years; ] in fact 1 have been one of them " I leaned forward at these words and . he turned to mc. i "Aeh, no," he said, and lifted a heavy hand, with a superior gesture. "1 am . not as you think. I have been with . the.-c Jivaros for science. lam Dr. ■ Johann yon lluls t, of Berlin University." , 1 don't think the full significance of , these words —spoken with .-i foolUh boastfulness—reached mc, until Ortiz, without moving from his place behind mc on his hammock, spoke up. , "1 was Franeiti's husband." Yon llulst peered at him with a puzzled , air, and then — , "Fiancita? Aeh, you are the engineer Ortiz then; but 1 thought you wore dead." "Xo-as you see. I still live—but tell mc of Francita. How is she?" Ortiz was still speaking in that thin drawl, and Yon llulst, perplexed, and still dazed from his late escape, shook his head. -She is—dead," he said. "A fever overtook her" '"Ah, you saw her die?" Yon llulst nodded, "Yes." Ortiz rose ominously and stood over the heavy German. ''Liar and devil," he said. "Francita is dead, but she died in these arms. Ah, Madre de Dios, be thanked that you have been delivered up to mc. If another hand than mine had killed you, I would never have rested. I have sworn to the little soul of Francita that I would strip you of your skin, but now I recall that vow" His voice was still calm and conteni- . plative, but his thin hands reached out as if to rend the stupefied man who crouched deep in the hammock. ''I'p— up, I tell you," Ortiz demanded, and beat at Yon Hulst's face. With a cry 1 remonstrated. "Man—he is weak from a terrible experience " "For sure—Mind in a moment ho will he ! bofore the devil," answered Ortiz. "Listen you swine I'm going to kill you and leave your body here to rot. But the Jivaros will not let all of you rot. They will save y.mr head—your big vol- ( low head. They will steam it with stones nnd place it iv the chiefs house and for years and years you will grin down on a world that will never hear ot you again." With crazy motions be jerked Yon llulst from his hammock. The German fell on his bands and knees. Ortiz tossed his long clasp knife to him. "Well, take this," he said, careosing tho slim matchote which ho always car- I jrie.l. "Now up, before I strip your skin I 'from you," and he slashed at the (Jer- ] man's face. With a cry of pain Yon Hulst's hand closed over the clasp knife land he dragged himself to lis feet. His eyes sought mine imploringly. In tlie i moonlight he "looked a most forlorn figure, ragged, bruised—and bowed witli fatigue. My voice was raised to shout an angry protest to Ortiz, when suddenly I Yon Hulst straightened up and his foot : shot out wickedly in a terrific kick. It i just grazed Ortiz' groin. He leaped back laughing. "For that," he said, "you shall suffer • ten thousand deaths." Some day, perhaps, I shall cease to dream of the few minutes that ensued. ' Ortiz never stopped talking in that thin, ■ deadly voice. As he talked he cut and ' slashed nt the thick and clumsy form : before him. Yon llulst alternately sobbed and made futile, vicious rushes at his light-footed adversary. Only once did he touch him—and that was a slight ' cut on the hand. The monkeys in the frees behind us chatted and rustled, while over the combatants a cluster of vampire bats swung uneasily. "She bat hod your feet when you were and she washed your dirty linen," Ortiz jeered. "For that I wouid gouge out your eyes—yet did I so, perhaps the Jivaros would not steam your head for their chief. Yon llulst staggered and his arm dropped. "Please," ho screamed. "Please don't — : don't " With outstretched hand he turned toward mc. Ortiz leaped lightly 1 1 in front of him. ■j "Please," he mimicked. "Did you 1 1 answer in kindness when Francita was • at your knees, bogging you not to desert ' her in that pig littered tambo; and when - you beat her, did you cease when she knelt .before you ? Senor —die." His arm described a short parabola. • Yon llulst dropped suddenly, his weight 1 against Ortiz's body. Ortiz struck again ' and Yon llulst rolled easily to the ground. ; "So it is done, after many years, Madre de Dios. Come, senor, we must l |go and go quickly; for before long the ' Jivaros will be returning with their medicine chiefs to dare the evil spirits ' and claim the heads of the dead—far ' they take those of friend and foe ' alike." 1 "But Ortiz," T begged. "Purely you will not let this white man lie thus —he is • barely dead. It Ls terrible." ' "Amigo—in this lam adamant. Think ' you his mere death satisfies mc? Why, ■ were the knowledge mine, I myself wouid ; ] have bis bead made as the Jivaros do 'land forever keep it." ' I shuddered and turned away without M further words. Taguano, who had been 'huddled, half dead from successive .frights, under some insect littered ' bushes, 'was jerked into the open, and we made ready quickly to proceed down ' the river. ' And barely in time. Hardly had our r bolsa poled into deep water, when fur- ' tive figures began to make their way •' up and down the river shallows. Evi--5 dently the Jivaros this time had come in I ' force. Their exeitcd.cries told us they had found their companions and then 3 suddenly a scream of triumph pierced 1 its way to us. My fascinated eyes could not with--1 draw themselves from the knot of shift--3 ing figures from which this cry came. 3 It brought other men, who leaped and • shouted triumphantly. For an instant '■> I Kiff a limp figure lifted—and held straight out by head and legs. And my 'burning eyes seem to per- ' ceive that this figure was wriggling . weakly. My hand clutched at Ortiz' ; arm, just as a long whimpering moan floated out to us. "Ortiz," I mumbled weakly, "he wasn't dead?" . Ortiz swept tbe bolsa far into the J swift current with a twist of his paddle. j I We were taken up and whirled past a ' , bend in the river. : "No, Senor," he replied equal.y. "The t wound I gave him was not fatal. I r j knew the Jivaros were coming—for I j heard sounds not usual in the jungle. And when the beast staggered and made Ito be weary, be bit at me—and senor, |T I 6truck him with the butt of my maehette, on the temple of his heail."

110 lighted a cigarette with steady hand and rebuked Taguano for a careless stroke. - - "~'

"We ( should make the village of the Piros to-morrow at daybreak," he said. "We will rest there the day—for I ana tired." Everybody seems fed tip with restriction, and the last straw seemed to have been reached when the fiat went forth that our gas was to be rationed (says "Tit-Bits"). Hut such a decree would have few terrors for the inhabitants of British Columbia who possess a prolific breed of fish, which not only supplies them generously with food, hut saves tin-i the cost of electric light, gas, and candles. Jt is a species of smelt, and when dried you either eat him or light him. The lish is full of oil. and can easily be adapted to any form of candlestick. The dried lish is stuck tail uppermost in the receptacle, and when a light is applied it burns with a power which puts an oi-.l in .-try dip in the shade. The oil, too, is often spoken of as being efficacious as cod-liver oil, while it is infinitely more palatable.