["The Good werdаль Newton"] Again, the World Adventurers Club greets you and invites you to join its members in listening to the strange adventures of one of the younger men, a good-looking chap with sad eyes. These men vary in age and appearance, but courage is in every line of their features, branded there by tropical suns or the howling winds at the poles. Now let us make ourselves comfortable and listen to what transpires in the World Adventurers Club. Should all acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should all acquaintance be forgot and days of lang syne? For all lang syne, my dear, for all lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet. For all lang syne, my dear, for all lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet. For all lang syne. For all lang syne. Mr. Hogan, you should have a story for us. How about it, gentlemen? Come on, come on, out with it, Hogan. Let us in on your past. You're more romantic-looking than most of us, Larry. Haven't you ever rescued a princess in some faraway country or at least killed a dragon? Well, yes, I have a story for you, gentlemen. The dragons killed the princess before I could rescue her. You see, both were under the spell of an old magician. Careful, Hogan. Keep your story out of the realm of fantasy. But it's all too true, Mr. Chairman. Let's have the story, Larry. Yes, yes, go ahead. Very well, then. Imagine yourselves in a tiny native village on the coast of Indochina, washed by the warm currents of the South China Sea. This spot was a paradise to me, a good place to rest as well as to learn many interesting things. I became acquainted with a witch doctor who was also a snake charmer, Chandra Bag, a Brahmin of high caste. I was a welcome visitor to their home and gathered a great deal of valuable and interesting information from old Chandra Bag. It wasn't long before Munari, his beautiful daughter, began taking a romantic interest in me, however. And one night while her father was beating his prayer drum before his statue of Brahma, Munari drew me out on the moonlit, hysteria-hung porch. Larry Saheb, I want you to take me away. Away, Munari? But why? My father wished that I wed Hunya. Too many years have been his life. The snow of time is on his head. Hunya, the local witch doctor? Hmm, sounds more like good business than romance. But I can't interfere, child. Oh yes, yes. Can't thou not see, Larry Saheb? Thou art the keeper of my heart. I will fly with thee to the ends of the earth. Oh, don Munari, Chandra Bag has been too kind for me to rob him of his daughter like that. Besides, you hardly know me. I have known thee since the beginning of time, Larry Saheb. Thy faith has always been before me. Chandra Bag, race barriers, what are they to a love that is endured through the centuries? I won't try to argue with your eastern philosophy, Munari, but right's right and I can't go on. What's wrong? My father's servant. He has been listening to us. Munari, my child. Yes, father. Bring Hogan Saheb before me. Yes, father. See, Larry Saheb, the servant approaches my father now. By George, yes. Wait here a moment, I'll try to overhear them. Master, I would speak with thee. Very well. What hast thou discovered? Thy daughter wishes to go away with the white Saheb. She loved him. Oh, I suspected that. And what of him? He is undecided, but thou knowest that man is but clay in the fingers of a woman. Enough, enough. I wish to be alone with my snakes. So she desires to flee. Munari, flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone. I am accursed. Didst thee hear, O speckled gods? Rather than wed Hunyaa, she will break cast and go with the white Saheb. My fatherhood is heavy upon my shoulders. Help me solve this problem. Munari. Yes, keeper of my heart. You were right. We've got to get out of here right away. Gather what you want to take with you, but hurry for God's sake. My father. Yes. Your father knows everything. Last I heard he was talking to his snake. I am done. Flee for thy life, Lahiri Saheb. Not much. We'll board that English boat in the harbor together. You'll be safe there. One is never safe once the poisoned people are angered. What rot! Your father has been filling your head with all this. Lahiri Saheb, look out! Behind me! Thou hast bound him. For what purpose? Ay, daughter. He is to watch a ceremony never before seen by a white Saheb. Bring him in here, Gunnar. And thee, Munari, light of my life, come with him. Father, mercy! Mercy! Peace, daughter. Only evil fears evil. I don't know your game, Chunderbagh, but whatever you think, Munari is innocent. Softly, softly. Thou wilt anger the yellow gods. They must be hungry too. Munari, thou shalt feed them tonight. Thou wouldst not have me do that, father. I have done nothing wrong. Have I asked thee what thou hast done, or blamed thee in any way? Come, my daughter, prove to me thine innocence. Caress the speckled gods with thy fingers. The banded yellow cry eat first. The swift striker, I dare not. Yesterday he was peaceful, charned under thy stele. But tonight thou art angry. Am I angry with thee now? Thy voice is soft, but thine eyes are the eyes of the poisoned people before they strike. They are thy friends. Feel as thou feelest, nor thy thoughts. Whom they kiss, sleep well. Evil sows cowardice. Are you mad, Chunderbagh? Suppose Munari did say that she'd like to go away. It was but a mad whim. The basket, Munari. Don't touch it, Munari. For God's sake, Chunderbagh, have some understanding in your heart. The basket, Munari. I am waiting, thy father. Don't do what he says, child. Let me go. I must obey my father, Larisaip. It is the law. That is right. Raise the cover, Munari. Let not thy hand tremble. God! See, keeper of my heart. Death coils softly, fold unfold. He is watching, waiting. Now, my daughter, we shall see if thou art without guilt. There! Larisaip! He has imprisoned my arm in the basket. Help me! Help me! You devil! You madman! Munari! Munari! It is over, Larisaip. The snake has kissed me. Those whom they kiss sleep well. But not for it. Munari. Dead. You, you mightering devil, you! Better death than defilement of caste. I am lonely. I am old. But one who lives long sees all things pass. The long days will come, the sudden twilights. And I am alone. But better this than dishonor. Take him away to his people, Gunnar, and leave my dead to me. That was tragedy, now. The servants took me aboard the English boat in the harbor. I wanted to return, but the captain was a native. Poor little Munari. But she said she wouldn't sleep forever. Fortunately, you all know something of the mysteries of these gentlemen. Perhaps she was right. Maybe we too shall meet again. Some other time, some other place. Be thou my heart, thou wilt come, thou wilt come. Be thou my heart, thou wilt come, thou wilt come. When the world asleep and the night moth flies, And the dawn falls, struck with dreams, Love will revive, struck with dreams, Light of my eyes, thou wilt come, thou. And so another strange adventure has been told. This time a tender love story ran through the scarlet cloth of intrigue like a thread of gold. Join us again at the next meeting of the club to hear of their strange adventures in strange land. The End
