The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-04-29
CHNPTER Nm-ConIInned

CHAPTER NIu.-Continued
Eyes. slr Nar drums" said Gomez
the half-hrred "wud Indians
braves. not mansos. they watch ms
every mile Of Tho way Kan us II they
can"
How can they watch u.s." asked.
easing into tho dark moilonlesa
void
The half breed shrugged his broad
shoulders.
''Tho Indians know They have
their own way They watch US.
They talk the drum talk 20 each
other. XIII us II they can"
ny tho afternoon OF that day--my
pocket diary shows me that Il was
Tuesday. August lS--0t least six or
seven drums were throbbing tGnm
various points, Sometimes they beat
quickly. sometimes slowly. sometimes
IN obvious question and answer. ono
sar to the east breaking out In a
high staccato rattle, and being FOL.
lowed after a pause by deep roll
from the north. There was SOME
thing indeScrib8bly nerve shaking and
mrnacing IN that constant muttcr
which seemed 10 shape itself into tho
very syllahlcs OF tho half,breei.
endlessiy repeated. we win kill you
II we can. We viii XIII you II we
can" No one ever moved VA the
silent woods All the peace and
soothing Of quiet Nature lay IN that
dark curtgin OF vegetation, but away
from behind there came ever The one
message from our fellow man. We
viii Kill YOU u We can said the
men IN the east, we VIII KIN YOU
II We can, said the men in the
north.
An day the drums rlmbled and
whispered. while their menace re-
Elected itself IN the faces q our
colored companions. Even the hardy.
staggering half breed seemed oowed
I'learncd, however that day once for
ali that both Summeriec and Chai'
Isnger possessed that highest type
81 bravery. the bravery % the sclen-
tHic mind. Theirs was the spirit
which upheld Darwin among the
-puchos Of the Argentine or Wal
lace among tho head.hunters OF
Malaga. Il Is decreed by merciful
Nature that the human brain can
not think OF two things stimuli
taneously. so that II It be stepped IA
curiosity as % science q has no room
for merely personal considerations.
All day amid that iuecssant and mys-
ferrous menace our two professors
watched every bird upon the wing.
and every shrub upon the bank. with
many sharp wordy contention,
when the snarl q Summarize came
quick upon the deep growl OF Chal-
lenger. but with no more sense %
danger and no more reference to
drum.bcating Indians than II they
were seated together IN the smoking
room OF the Royal Soesely's club in
st. James street. Once only did they
eondescend to discuss them.
-''Miranha or Amaiuaca caunlhals"
said Challenger. jerking his thumb
towards the reyeTbcratins wood.
no doubt. SIR" Surnmerlee an
swered. Like all such tribes, shall
expect 10 fin1 them Of polysynthetic
speech and OF Monaghan type"
''Polysynihctic certainly" said
Challenger. indulgently. Il am not
aware that any other type Of langu.
age exists in this continent ana |
have notes OF more than hundred.
The Monaghan theory regard with
deep suspicion
Il should have thought that even
a limited knowledge OF comparative
anatomy would have helped to yeTt.
~ IT," said Summeriee. bitterly
Challenger thrust out his aggres-
sive chin until he was all beard and
hat.rim. No doubt. sir. limited
knowledge would have that effect.
When ones knoxlodge Is exhaustive.
one comes 70 other conclusions"
They glared At each other Ia mutual
defiance. while all round rose tho
distant whisper. we vii XIII you
We will kin you u ~e can"
That night we moored our canoes
with heavy stones for anchors in the
center Of the stream. and made every
preparation for a possible attack.
Nothing came, however. and with the
dawn we pushed upon our way. the
drum-beatlng dying out behind us.