A PREHISTORIC SIEGE.
It was some job building a stockade, with knives as their only tools.
But it had to be done, and so it was done. Until it was completed, some
one always remained on guard while the others slept.
Then two roofed shelters were erected within the stockade, one for
the women and the other for the men. A little spring bubbled from
the ground within their inclosure; it was this that had determined
the location. The smooth-skinned lizards of the river proved not bad
eating, but their only vegetable was heart of palm, as they didn't dare
try anything else.
By tacit agreement, Norse was the only language used, even between
the two Americans, who rapidly mastered at least the rudiments of the
ancient tongue. Scarface was most attentive to Borghild, and Nils to
Theresa, while Helga acted as chaperon.
Their clothing rapidly became simplified. By pooling all their
dress-goods, they were able to fashion two simple tunics apiece. Helga
and Borghild did their hair in two long braids, and Terry looked
forward to the time when her now-scraggly bob would permit her to do
likewise. Jimmy let his--beard continue to grow, a magnificent black
mattress, which concealed most of his scar; but Nils, having little
facial hair because of his youth and blondness, was able to keep fairly
clean-shaved with a knife, except for his drooping yellow mustache.
Scarface and Theresa discarded their shoes and fashioned themselves
moccasins and Norse leggings out of lizard-hide.
Their days were fully employed: hunting, cooking, expeditions to the
sea for shell-fish and squid, strengthening their defenses, teaching
and studying Norse--and making love. It was only in the last-named
pastime that Helga could not share. At such times she was depressed,
quite naturally, being separated hundreds or thousands of miles from
her Eric. Were ships and gliders searching for her, she wondered, or
would he think her dead? And, horrible thought, would he marry again?
No wonder the love-making of the others, who seemed not discontented
with this opportunity to get acquainted, rendered her gloomy.
They started building a large raft down at the beach, for they figured
that it would be impossible to cross the rivers of this land, because
of the slimy denizens of its mucky shores, but that it should be
feasible to paddle out to sea and follow the shore.
One day one of the girls made an interesting discovery. For a mirror
they had all had to use a little pool in the brook, halfway from the
stockade to the river, and this was most inconvenient. But now Helga
noticed that the inner bark, where it peeled dryly off one of the logs
of the stockade, was shiny and silvery like tin-foil. This gave her
an idea. As time hung heavy on her hands, she set about to put her
discovery to practical use.
Finding another tree of the same species, she skinned some of the inner
bark and let it dry. But the result was disappointing, for it dried all
crinkly and rumpled-up, like used tin-foil.
However, the girl noticed that it shrank as it dried, and this gave
her a further idea. She made a circular drum of palm-branches, like an
embroidery-hoop, and on this she stretched some fresh inner bark. When
this dried, it was taut and smooth, and lo she had a mirror!
With these various occupations, days and perhaps weeks wore on. The
construction of a raft, and of paddles for it, was nearly completed at
the beach.
* * * * *
One tragic morning, however, they awoke at cock-crow. Now, generally
speaking, there is nothing strange or tragic in awakening in the
morning at cock-crow. But in a land where there is no morning, but
rather perpetual noonday with the sun always at the zenith, and where
there are no cocks to crow, nor for that matter any other birds of any
sort, such a combination of circumstances is a bit unusual, to say the
least.
Of course, there was no actual morning; merely the time for arising
from sleep. The sun shone squarely overhead as usual. But, as to the
cock-crowing, there could be no mistake. They all heard it. The two
Americans were used enough to the barnyard variety to recognize the
sound.
The crowing which had disturbed them was answered from another quarter,
and then there was silence. Hastily the five dressed, and mounted upon
the platform which ran around the inside face of their palisade.
At first nothing was to be seen, but soon there emerged from the jungle
the most peculiar gigantic fowl-like creature that any of them had
ever beheld. It looked for all the world like a plucked chicken from a
meat market, except that it towered all of ten feet high. It had thick
slate-colored skin; small arms bearing claws, instead of wings; and no
comb.
Stretching its neck aloft, and standing on tiptoe, the reptilian fowl
proceeded to crow, with a voice that shook the earth. The challenge
was answered by another stentorian crow from near by; and presently a
second similar beast came upon the scene.
The two reptiles crouched low, stretched their necks toward each other,
and teetered in unison for a moment; then suddenly, as at a signal,
leaped into the air together, striking at each other with huge spurs
which protruded from the inner sides of their legs. The little arms
were not used.
"Gee, Mr. Jimmy," exclaimed little Terry, quite forgetting her duty to
speak only Norse, "this is some cock-fight!"
And so it was. The two creatures repeated their cycle of maneuvers over
and over again, until one of them reeled backward upon the ground.
Thereupon the other, disregarding all further formalities, kicked his
prostrate foe about, until finally the body lay still. Then, standing
in triumph upon the dead body, he gave one victorious crow, and waddled
off.
The five spectators immediately shifted their interest from the thrill
of battle to the prospect of a chicken dinner. Unbarring their gate,
they rushed out and dragged the huge carcass within. But the victor,
seeing his victim apparently alive and moving away from him, came
running back with angry clucks, and nearly got in after his dead
adversary, before they could close and bar the gate.
After a period of silence, Jimmy mounted the platform to see if the
coast was clear again, and just barely escaped a vicious poke in the
face from the giant gamecock, which had been standing quietly outside.
The beast then stuck its head over the edge and tried to reach for
Jimmy, who hastily scrambled down.
Thereafter, no one dared to get onto the platform, for fear of being
pecked--and it would only take one peck from that great bill to kill a
man.
But for the present the presence of their besieger didn't matter, as
they busied themselves with cooking slices of his victim.
* * * * *
Presently they heard much clucking outside, and glancing through the
cracks between the posts of their wall, they saw twenty or more similar
giant fowl on the hill-top. But these new creatures had shorter necks
and no spurs, and were rather stouter in build than the two who had
fought.
The reptilian family settled down and made a regular ogres' farmyard
out of the entire open space around the fort. They became more and more
inquisitive as to what was inside, especially after devouring the offal
from the slain rooster which was thrown outside. Not only did they
keep craning over the top of the palisade, and snapping at any one who
ventured upon the platform, but finally they took to pecking at any one
who even tried to peek at them through the cracks. It was a state of
siege.
The supply of heart of palm gave out. The remains of the chicken meat
spoiled, and had to be thrown away. It soon became evident that they
would have to fight or starve, so they called a council.
"We must try to make our way through them to the raft," announced
Scarface. "Yet we may not survive to reach the shore. Before I die, I
should like to marry Borghild. Can it not be arranged?"
"It can," replied Nils, "for I am not only a bishop, but also the head
of her family. However, you have no man to act as your best friend and
recount to me your deeds of prowess, in order to obtain my consent."
"Need it be a man?" asked the gangster.
"It always has been a man, since the beginning of our race," replied
the Viking.
"But need it be?" insisted Scarface. "Is there any rule or law, other
than mere custom, which compels it?"
"No-o," hesitated Nils.
"Then, Helga, quick! Be my sponsor."
Helga smiled. She remembered how she had sent Eric Redmond to Nils,
when the latter was still a boy, to ask him to vouch for Eric to her
father, the Bishop Thorvald.
She reminded Nils of that episode, and then launched into a panegyric,
in which Scarface Boston Jimmy's tales of his World War adventures
and career as a Chicago bootlegger--all strangely garbled--were made
a foundation for his bravely risking his life in the Viking glider
against Nick Fratelli, his defense of the Viking ship from pursuit,
his rescue of the girl whom now he claimed, and his wood-craft and
leadership in their present predicament.
It was a stirring saga, and all present were much impressed, not the
least of them Jimmy himself. Nils gave his consent, and the nuptials
were rushed, for there was no time to be lost if they would escape
before starvation overcame them.
Thus Borghild Hoglund, the Viking maid, became Mrs. James Lefavour.
* * * * *
When the ceremony was over, Nils said, "I, too, wish to marry, if
Theresa will have me. As bishop, I can ordain Jimmy to the Norse
ministry, so that he can perform the sacrament. He is the nearest to
a legal guardian that Terry has; and anyway, by virtue of being a
bishop, I can appoint him to that position, too. Helga, will you sing a
sister's praises of her brother, for Jimmy's ears to hear?"
Helga and Borghild smiled their approval. Scarface, however, was a
bit appalled at the thought of himself, a bootlegger and gangster,
receiving holy orders.
But little Terry interrupted. "Oh, Nils, I'm not sure, I'm not sure.
Aren't we rushing into this merely because we may be about to die?
Please give me time to think calmly."
Nils pleaded with her in vain; then at last he put his arms around her
protectingly.
"I'll wait."
Scarface then outlined the plan of attack. They were to wrap their
spare garments about their heads for protection. Each was to carry a
stout stick. He would begin by trying to shoot the rooster. Then they
were to fling open the gates, throw the coals of their cooking-fire at
the hens, and run the gantlet to the beach.
So Scarface mounted the platform; and, as the cock's head appeared, he
discharged his entire clip in its hideous face. Blinded and squawking,
the beast rushed away, and tore around the inclosure like mad, finally
dropping in his tracks.
Then the door was unbarred; and, as the female reptiles made a rush for
it, hot coals were shoveled in their faces. They withdrew, squawking,
for a short distance; but, when the five humans emerged, the hens
rushed back at them again.
Beating the hens about the legs, and on the heads whenever they stooped
to peck, the five prisoners fought their way onward. But something like
the senseless persistency which causes a modern hen to run across the
road in front of an automobile caused these prehistoric creatures to go
perversely in the opposite direction from that in which they were being
driven.
Gradually the progress of the five humans slowed down. Gradually they
tired. At last Scarface gave the command to fall back toward the
palisade again. Soon they were within its protecting walls, with the
gate barred once more; trapped by carnivorous reptiles of a bygone age.