The Washington times., 1919-07-10
HEARTS OF THREE
By JACK LONDON.
By JACK LONDON.
With PeOn as Guide, Francis and
Party Set Out on Search
For the Treasure

And in wrath he burst out. inter
mtngling occasional Spanish words
and phrases with the flood OF de-
nunciation In Maya.
He says that women are no
good" the peon interrupted in the
first pause. He says women bring
Quarrels among men. the quick
steel and sudden death. Bad luck
and Gods wrath are ever upon
. them. Their ways are not Gods
way and they lead men to destruc-
ton. He says women are the eter-
nal enemy OF God and have kept
keeping God and man apart. He
says women have ever cluttered the
footsteps OF God and have kept
men from travelling the path OF
God to God. He says this woman
must go back"
With laughing eyes Francis whis-
. tied his appreciation Of this d.
atribe, while Henry said:
Now win you be good. LeoneiAP
You see what a Maya thinks 81
your sex. This Is no place for you.
California's the place. Women vote
there"
The trouble Is that the old man
Is. remembering the woman who
brought misfortune on him in the
heyday OF his youth" Francis said.
He turned to the peon. ASK your
father to read the knot-writing and
see what It says for or against
women travelling In the footsteps 81
God"
In vain the. ancient high priest
fumbled the sacred writing. There
was not to be found the slightest
authoritative objecttoR to woman.
Mixing Experiences.
Hes mixing his own experiences
up with his mythology" Francis
Srinned triumphantIy. so I guess
it's pretty near all right. Leoncia,
for you to stay for q bite to eat.
This coffee's made. After that
But after that" came before
Scarcely had they seated themselves
on the ground and begun to eat
when Francis, standing up to serve
LeonciG with tortInas, had his hat
knocked on
NY wordg' he said. THAT was
sudden Henry, take q squint and
ses who tried to- pOt-shoot me-"
The next moment, save for the
poems father, all eyes were peeping
across the rim OF the foct-step.
What they saw, creeping upon them
from every side was a nondescript
and bizarrely clad horde OF men,
who seemed members OF no particu-
lar race. but composed Of all races
The breeds Of the entire human
family seemed to have nodded their
lineaments and Yari-coIored their
skins.
The mangiest bunch I ever laid
my eyes on" was Francis's com
ment.
They are the Garoos." the peon
muttered, betraying fear.
And who in began Francis. e.
Instantly he amended; And who
are the Garoos2'
They come from hell" was the
poems answer. They are more
savage than the Spaniard, more
terrible than the Maya They neith-
er give nor take the marriage, nor
does a priest reside among them.
They are the DEVILS own spawn,
and their ways are the DEVILS ways,
only worse"
Here the Maya arose. and. with
accusing finger. denounced Leoncia
for being the cause OF the latest
trouble. A bullet creased his shout
der and half whirled HIM about
Drag him down." Henry shouted
to Francis. Hes the only man
who knows the knot-language; and
the eyes OF CHA. whateyer that
may mean. have not yet-flashed-"
Francis obeyed, with an outreaeh
OF arm to the old fellows legs,
jerking him down in a crumpled,
skeleton-like fall.
Henry loosed his rifle and elected
a fusillade in response. Next Ri
cardo, Francis and the peOn Joined
in But the old man. still running
his knots, fixed his gaze across
the. far rim Of the foot-step upon
q rugged wall of mountain beyond.
Hold on" shouted Francis. in
a vain attempt to make himself
heard above the shooting.
He was compelled to crawl from
one to another and shake them
into ceasing from firing. And to
each, separately, he had to explain
that all their ammunition was with
the mules. and that they must be
sparing with the little they had In
their magazines and belts
And don't let them hit you"
Henry warned They've got old
muslxets and blundsrbuses that will
drive holes through you the size OF
dinner plates"
An hour later the last cartridge,
save several in Francis automatic
pistol, was gone; and to the irregu-
lar firing OF the Garoos the pit re-
piled with silence. Jose Mancheno
was the first to guess the situa-
tion. He cautiously crept up to the
edge OF the pit to make sure, then
signaled to the Garoos that the am
munition OF the besieged was ex-
hausted and to come on.
Nicely Trapped.
Nicely trapped. senors," he ex-
ulted down at the defenders, while
all around the rim laughter arose
from the Garoos.
But the next moment the change
that came over the situation was
as astounding as a transformation
scene in a pantomime. With wild
cries Of terror the Garoos were flee
ing. Such was their disorder and
haste that numbers Of them dropped
their muSkets and machetes.
Anyway, I'll get you, Senior Buzz
zard,", Francis pleasantly assured
Mancheno, at the same time -four
ishing a pistol at him.
He leveled his weapon as Man
cheno ned. but reconsidered and did
not draw the trigger.
I've only three shots left" he
Vplained to Henry, half in apology.
And in this country one can never
tell when three shots will come in
nandiest, as I've found out, beyond
a doubt"