The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-12-10


/ No more wood was brought, but
all were asScmblying by now. And
! fro ma number of houses came
men in fantastic costumes of skins
land paint. with all manner of
ceremonial objects dangling from
them. Without any sort Of prclim-
mary. these men, evidently high
pricscs of some for msignaled to
I the drummers and the rhythm
again changed. Now it became a
one, onc-twO-thrcc beat: OOM-
oom-oom-oom. DOM DOM oom-
Dom. with double emphasis on the
! first, done rather slowly at the
outset but gradually getting a lit
tie faster. Ii seemed to be perfect
time for the extraordinary dances
begun by the costumed ones.
The priests stamped and hoped
and chantcd and ratified the sticks
they held, and soon the villagers
all were chanting too, to make q
rumbling background of sound.
This continued for at least half
an hour. but stopped so abruptly
that LISA almost jumped, The
chicttain of the brown people
walked to LISA and Bob. He
made motions.
This is the moment" Bob
whispered. We've got to make
our choice, Now! Which maiden
is 20 die. God. this is awful,
LISA"
"No. no, You can't. Do some
thing, Anything"
Robert Barry swallowed. then
took deep breath. He was still
without much hope. and he didn't
dare offend these people lest he
and LISA themselves be- sacri-
feed. But he determined 20 try
the biggest bluff in his career.
He turned oStentatiOuSly to the
sun. and mumblcd a long iargon.
He winked at LISA, and raised
his hands 10 the sun. She did like
wise. They sank 70 their knees.
Act il on" Bob mumbled.
LISA was trembling.
Ignoring the four maidcnS, who
had been brought out tied hand
and foot. Bob kept pointing To
the sun and talking steadily to
the chief, gcSticulating as impress
lively as ne knew how, but &C
tually without meaning. He kept
up this mumbO-iumbO for two or
three minutes.
Then he looked impcriouSly mt
the chief and began serious sign
talk. as they had convcrsed at
length the day before, Twice Bob
had 20 resort to hiG pencil-which
the brown folk seemed TO regard
aS magic anyway-but in time nc
got his thoughts across.
Suddenly then the chief issued
command TO his people. Six or
eight hurried away, while the AS
sembly waited. To fill in the gap,
Bob grated mcaninglesSly to the
sun. When the messengers re-
turned with live RABBITS, live
snakes. and other small animals,
'LiSSa's curiosity popped. She
hadn't spoken for nearly half an
hour.
What is it, Bob" she whis-
pcred. What's happening"
I'm playing a bunch. Keep
acting"
Bob signed a bit more to the
chief. Then, surprisingly, he took
one of the wild rabbits, killed it,
skinned it with his pocket knife,
all with elaborate ceremony.
Each piece of the carcass he
placed on the great pile of wood,
but he presented the dressed meat
portion 10 the chief, instructing
him TO cook il. Then. Bob osten-
tatiously cat the thongs that
bound the maidenS. and set them
free. He signed to the chieftain
and folded his arms, standing be-
side LISA with imperious micn.
The chief. duly awed by it all.
shouted excitedly then to his peo-
pie. and the fire was lighted.
Quickly there was a frenzy of
yelling and jubilant dancing.
The sacrificial maidcnS ran
away 10 join thoir, families. Dane
ing continued as the fire cracked
higher and higher. The priests
chantcd. the drummcrs pounded
on their tOm-tOmS. HyStCriCal
gladncSS and gratitude seemed
rampant there. in wcirdcSt posi-
Bile sound and motion. II was
theatrical. intense.
What is il. Bob? Tell me.
What did you do?" LISA chung
TO her lovers arm.
81 don't know where we go from
here. sweetheart, but | think we
bluffcd that one through. | told
them We were messengers from
the real sun god. and that he COM