Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

24 two r.ion and the pirl. and when they jiie.-ented thoniselves at the temple 1 overheaid purt of then- interview with Taiiaga." ■'And what did yon learn?" Kinso demanded. "What are the high priest's plans?" Dehor smiled complacently. '■ He has sent a party of ten warriors to the coast,'" he answered. "They bear a signed order from the yonng man who is called Bradley, authorising the cap- tain of the Oriental to sunender the god horse to them. A party of ten warriors, Kinso—that is tiae escort which has been provided for the stallion—and we are double that number." "Yes," his accomplice breathed, "we are double that lumiber, and we must act decisively. The escort will iievei reach the temple. Deboj-. We shall ambush them as they return from the coast. We shall lie in wait for them at the point where the main trail breaks into three forks." The other frowned at that, and fingered his chin doubtfully. " The spot which you name is peri- lously close to the settlement," he ob- served. "But not so close as to be within ear- shot," Kinso retorted, "and you cannot name me one which is better suited to an ambuscade. Come, let us ride, so that we may be well prepared for action when the escort returns from the ship." There was a troop of horses in the background, and, two of these animals having been placed at the disposal of Crawford and Wheeler, the whole party soon mounted. Then, at a sign from Kinso, the plotters spurred from the clearing, picking up a narrow track that led in an easterly direction. Half an hour later they gained their destination, and here, at the junction of the three routes that Kinso had men- tioned, the armed band took up a posi- tion amid the dense thickets which grew in profusion amongst the tree-stems of the jungle. ^ There now ensued a period of in- activity that seemed never-ending to Crawford ^nd Wheeler, and as they waited in the imderbrush with their native allies the brooding silence of the night served to accentuate the tension which both of them experienced. It was a silence broken only by the occasional piping of a bird nearbj-, and once by a distant snarling roar that caused the swarthy islanders of the party to turn their heads. "What's that?" jerked Crawford. "A tiger," Dehor informed him. "The jungle abounds in them. Brutes— they even raid the outlying huts of the settlement when they are driven des- perate with hunger. From time to time we set traps for them all over the island. Only this morning one was dug—on that fork-trail over there which leads off to the north-west. The imprints of several of the beasts had been seen in the loam of that trail." Crawford fidgeted uncomfortably, and j)ursed his lips as that far-off, savage roar echoed through the tropical forest once more. Then all was quiet again, and not another sound was audible until at last thfe pounding of horses' hoofs reached the ears of the waiting men. "The e.scort," Kinso said in a terse voice, " returning from the coast with the god horse Re.x !" Dehor nodded, and glanced round at the warriors upon whom he and his con- federate were depending. "Draw your swords," he commanded, "and when the word is given to attack, see that you strike hard and true. He- member, every man of the escort is a trusted partisan of Timaga, and there- fore a sworn enemy of our cause L" •January 9tli, 1937- BOY'S CINEMA There was a rasping of steel as the supporters of Dehor and Kinso whipped their gleaming blades from their scab- bards, and less than a minute afterwards the escort of temple guards hove into sight, clearly revealed to the waiting assassins by the moonlight that flooded the main trail. In the midst of the escort was a rider- less stallion of magnificent bearing. It was the god horse Rex. and on perceiv- ing it the eyes of Crawford and Wheeler kindled with greed—greed that became expectation as a sharp, imperious cry was suddenly raised. The Americans were never quite cer- tain whether it was Dehor or Kinso who uttered that shout, but on the instant it was taken up by a score of voices as their adherents dashed from cover to assail Tanaga's men, and all at once the night was made hideous by the din of battle. It was a fight in which Crawford and Wheeler played no part, and neither did Kin.so and Dehor. These four kept out of harm's way, and contented themselves with watching the action from the shelter of the thickets, looking on with satisfac- tion and approval while the one-sided and bloodthirsty combat ran its course. Taken utterly by surprise, the temple guards had been thrown into disorder by the ambuscade, and those who were nearest to Rex were cut down before they could raise a hand to defend them- selves. Indeed, the first few seconds of the onslaught were marked by the fall of three of Tanaga's devotees and the capture of the god horse, who was quickly led to one side. The remainder of the guards contrived to put up a resistance, but they were outnumbered, and went down in swift succession under the murderous strokes rained upon them by their foes, agonis- ing death-cries mingling with the ugly clangour of steel. Onlj' one member of the ill-fated escort escaped the pitiless slaughter, a man of gigantic proportions who hacked his way through his foes and galloped onward down the t^il that led to the settlement, with the blood streaming from a dozen wounds that he had sustained. And now, their purpose fulfilled, the followers of Dehor and Kinso turned towards the spot whence those two arch- schemers and their American allies had watched the massacre. Accompanied by Wheeler and Craw- ford, Dehor and Kinso moved out of the thickets to join the victorious warriors, and in another moment Kinso was grasp- ing the end of a rope bridle that was attached to Rex's head. "So!" he declared in a ringing tone. "The god horse is ours. It is well, and now he shall be taken to the altar of sacrifice deep in the heart of the jungle!" He had spoken in English, and as the.\ heard his words Crawford and Wheeler looked at each other in blank dismay. Then the rancher attempted to utter an exclamation of protest, but ere he could give vent to his angry thoughts Dehor clapped a hand upon his wrist and flashed him a glance that warned him to be silent. Crawford held his peace, but there was an ugly expression on his features when Kinso proceeded to lead Rex along the track by which the party had galloped to the forks. The warriors who had slain the temple guards rode after Debor's accomplice-in- chicf. Dehor himself remained at the scene of the mas.sacre, however, together with Crawford and Wheeler, and as the rest of the band vanished down the side-track he turned to address the Americans in an undertone. "The time has come for strategy," he said. " Kinso must take the god Every Tuesday horse to the altar of sacrifice, but have no fear. He and I have no intention of breaking our promise to you." Crawford lowered his hand to Ins hip- pocket. "Dehor," he ground out, "if j-ou do break that promise " "No, no, I tell you we shall keep faith with you," the Sujanese interrupted. "But listen, if our men had known that we were to let you take the god horse they would never have obeyed our com- mands. It is necessary that we should convince them that the god hoi-se will be destroyed—yes, and it is necessary to our cause that the news of his death should be accepted by all the people of Sujan." He paused, and leaned closer to the two Americans. "For that reason," he added, "the stallion will actually be placed on the altar of sacrifice, and his funeral pyre actually lit. But I have arranged with Kinso to create a diversion which will leave you free to release the god horse, and it will then be your task to convey him secretly to the coast—and to the anchorage where your ship awaits you." Pursuit THROUGH the fastnesses of the jungle a lone rider galloped, his horse covering the ground at speed which was inspired by its own tenor rather than bj- the touch of its master's heels. Indeed, the man in the saddle was scarcely capable of exercising any influ- ence over the animal, for it was as much as he could do to keep his seat, weak- ened as he was by loss of blood. He was the sole survivor of the escort that had been ambushed by the followers of Kinso and Dehor, and he was in a pitiable condition when at length his pony carried him in sight of the village where the main bulk of Sujan's popula- tion was concentrated. But as the horse proceeded to make for its stable tlie woimded guard managed to rouse him- self with an effort and turn its head towards a building which stood on the western edge of the settlement. The building in question was the temple dedicated to the strange relision practised by the Sujanese. and. reaching the entrance of it, the guard slid from his pony's back and tottered across the threshold into the presence of three men and a girl. The group was composed of Tanaga, Frank Bradley. Dorothy Bruce and her father, and with that courtesy which was so characteristic of him, the high priest had been assuring his visitors that com- fortable quarters would be found for them in the settlement if they cared to stay in Sujan for any length of time. But at the sudden appearance of the wounded guard all conversation between them was brought to an.end, and with an expression of anxiety on liis face Tanaga started forward to meet tlie newcomer. "Sibil, what has happened?" he ejaculated in the native tongue. "Speak, man! What has happened?" In faltering accents the survivor of the ainbush told his story, and, when he had learned all, Tanaga swung round upon his guests and translated the dramatic news to them. Then he hastene ". *o a great gong that hung in the temple, and with loud, resounding blows he gave an alarm that was calcu- lated to summon all men who were faithful to his rule. Before the reverl)erations of the gong had died away, however, Frank Bradley had turned to Dorothy Bruce and her father. "I'm going to find otit what's hap- pened to Rex." he announced. "You two wait here."