Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-05-21
The Lady of Disdain
By wtred Douglas
HNINNIIHNBIIINIIlln INIHl
By Wilfred Douglas Newton

lliilliiilIllliii
is nothing to fear on that score II vol
and the woman and boy obey"
I Il see to It. she said. What els
IS there to fear?"
That Tshipi-llx and his tribe re.
vert 70 cOwmen and fail to attack thii
plateau at dawn"
While we're at the mercy Of E
Harami?" she gasped, "but that vii
mean death to u"
4 That" he shrugged largely, "Or that
i Saravan conQuers yet again. I think
he will think the torments promised
lTShipi-Nkwe will make even him brave
\ All. the guards bring the woman
ana boy Join them, Ann, do all I ask
and trust SaraYan."
You are utterly impossible" she
cried with a strange, soft break in
her voice.
There was a tumult on the plateau
long before dawn, while the guards who
! took them to the palaver gave them
! such black looks that Ann asked an
xiously If anything had gone wrong"
No, right" the eagle face had the
! laughing ferocity that always came to
| 1t IN danger. Fear Of Saravan has
proved stronger than terror Of war.
The Baakgomo even now mass in the
plain below while even the Cola be-
GIN to suspect the might of Saravan. "
And FL Harami?"
He is so fat with pride that his
mind like his nostrils is plugged against
understanding. He Is less in fear than
his tribe"
And there don't seem to be so many
OF them today" Ann said as she entered
the palaver place.
"Three-fourths Of them are rounding
-,
the gorge when the Baakgomo attack"
"Oh-they1l never stand against such
q torrent" she shuddered.
"Never?" he grinned. See, Fl Harami
is so sure of 1t that he positively purrs
at the prospect Of easy slaughter"
Still, even the Chief was half sus-
piciOus, he had encountered Saravan
before. He snarled: Why are the Baak-
Como gathered before my land? Is this
a trick you play, braggart?"
They come to greet the heir and
wife Of their king at their release,
Sarayan answered mildly, then he
threw back his head in a below of
laughter by Allah, believe e.
Harami fears Saravan so much that
he even thinks him capable of squirting
cowmen to dare the Cola spears
That is finel That is a tribute"
1T was but a hope, boaster," e
under the mockery we forgot for q /
moment that not even a loud mouth
can grow lions hearts in the breasts /
Of he-heifers. Well, let us eat our dis /
appointment, and see what the sons of /
dung have instead Of blows. Open your
cases"
With consciously dramatic gestures
the lean adventurer approached the
boxes that had been put along the edge
of the King dais, cut their hide thongs
sven Ell Harami, craning forward to
feast their eyes on treasure, uttered
gutturals of bewilderment.
Instead Of gold the cases seemed full
Il green branches. Then as they hung
)ver the big boxes, Saravan spoke a
word, but carriers whipped away the
branches and, with the hum Of an
Ingry dynamo a cloud Of winged in
ects shot out Of each case.
They rose in a whirl into the very
aces of the Cola, striking and cling
ng to their naked bodies and as they
lung the negroes screamed. They
elped as though hot irons had struck
hem, leaped frantically into the air
nd, casting away spears and shields,
ried to beat the swarnns off. But the
Insects, vicious from confinement, we're
wv W NC 0CtSJCA4 OAA hAlEJ 0AAACu &4Adi
Vhtrled and stlng, so that with wild ;
creams the blacks broke and bolted
or the nearest water-El Haramt, his
quat body the center of the fray, lead
1g the mob by a head. In q flash the [
alaver was empty. save for their party, !
ven the insects had gone.
What Is 1t? What are they?" Ann
RED amazed.
Bush wasps. They shatter the Co s
10 +hnfsoh a. 4rNlr Ov.1xr Eoahr-
ONO brats to collect them"
"WaspSi" Ann laughed Historically.
How comicI But-but why didn't they
ing us?"
They're fastidious. They hate our
,ench as much as we do"
"Oh, the stuff on us 1t keeps
asps away, as lavendar oil keeps off
losquitoes?"
Saravan nodded, but already he was
aiding them away, for shouts were
)mtng from the gorge. He had in fact
My time to hide the party In a hut
ear the gate of the kraal before the
ain body Of Cola braves dashed by.
The loyal legions race to rescue their
king" Saravau chuckled.
low to the gorge-hurry."
They raced for the gorge, skirting
/ immense herd Of frightened cattle
altered ready. to defend the plateau.
rev Cola braves had been left 70
lard them, but they dared not leave
e restless beasts. So the party reached
e gully and sped down It, Saravan's
an legs thrusting him we'll ahead. At
e turn In the gorge the little group
Cola guards was already shooting
the attacking Baakgomo. They
Jung about at Saravan's shout and a
ear or two was flung; then the spare
ans pistol spoke thrice, and it was
er. The guards threw down their
sapons, having no stomach to face
at shooting with the Baakgomo at
cir backs.
up on that" he cried to Ann. ~Get
e woman and boy up before the
tile come down"
The cattlel" horror sounded in AIMS
Ice. But nothing can live before the
tile. The Baakgomo coming up will
trampled flat-and you, Saravan.
lick, we might reach the plain"
Too late" he cried cheerfulIy.
isteni The Cola gather on the
.teau even now"
t was true. The Cola realizing how
~ had been tricked were returning
beat the Baakgomo back. And now
ground haoof1 IN trar1al-lo straHo~