Untitled and Incomplete Fragment

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determined.

So I set out up the hill-trail as if on a hunt and was pleased to note that she was following me. When I came to a rather wild, craggy place among the hill, I walked around a great boulder and then turned back on the trail and waited, with a certain glee. Ah-lala came face to face with me before she knew I was about. I caught her by the wrists and dragged her along the trail for some distance before she came to herself, so astonished she was, and then she fought like a little demon.

Smiling, I over-powered her with ease, and presently she ceased to struggle and stood, glaring at me furiously.

“Beast!” she quoth, “Let me go!”

“Zukor Na, little wildcat.” I taunted her.

She stamped her little foot passionately, “Dont you call me that!” she blazed.

I laughed and glanced about, not finding what I wanted.

“What are you going to do to me?” she asked, somewhat frightently.

“What I should have done long ago.” I answered, “Spank you.”

“You shant!” she screamed, “You shant spank me.”

“Will you promise to leave me alone?” I asked her, hoping she would.

“No!” she answered sulkily, like an indulged child.

So in spite of her struggles and protests I tucked her under one arm and strode up the trail, despising myself but still determined.

When I came to where some bushes grew beside the trail, I stopped and set the girl down. Holding both her wrists with one hand, I broke off several long twigs. I felt that what I was doing was degrading and debasing myself and that I would never have the same self-respect, but I felt forced to go on with what I had started. Woman-whipping was not a custom among the tribes of the Magnard although it was common enough. It had always been repellant to me but none of the tribe thought it improper to spank a child who deserved it, no matter what age or sex. I considered Ah-lala as no more than a naughty child and certainly I had had enough provocation.

She watched me without struggling until I bunched the twigs in my hand and drew her in front of me. Then she fought with a desperation that startled me. When I had quelled her rebellion she panted, “You beast! To whip a woman!”

I laughed, “Who mentioned whipping a woman? Anyone may switch a naughty child.”

The rage that blazed from her small face was so furious and concentrated that I involuntarily drew back a step. Her eyes fairly blazed, her pretty lip drew back from her small teeth in a surprizing manner. For a moment she glared at me in fury and then turned away as much as my grip on her arm would allow, refusing to looking. I was becoming more bewildered every instant at the surprizing girl. I drew her toward me and was further suprized to see her eyeing me with a reproachful gaze. I found it difficult to meet that level gaze, although I knew and she knew that she deserved a whipping if a girl every did. But her clear eyes made me feel as if I were about to murder an innocent baby.

I expected her to begin to fight again, but she had changed her whole manner.

To my wonder she assumed a humble air that discomforted me more than any of her other moods.

“Please dont whip me, Am-ra.” she begged, timidly trying to free her hands and then desisting, “Dont, please. Dont shame me so, I beg you.”

I wavered.

“Am-ra,” she said, wearily, it seemed, “if you whip me I’ll hate you always.”

Of all the ridiculous pleas! Yet somehow it shamed me more than anything else she said.

Then, angry with myself and angry at her for confusing me so, I jerked her around with no very gentle hand and raised the switches. All such furore over the switching of a young girl scarcely out of the spanking age. Remember, before you condemn me, that in that age all was primitive and direct. We were lusty animals and what would horrify people of a civilized age were but commonplaces in that age.

Yet as I looked upon the girl I held so helpless in my grasp, I knew I could not bring the switch across that slim, shrinking form. With a snarl of disgust at my own weakness, I threw the switches away.

“I wont whip you, child.” I said kindly, and Ah-lala opened her eyes which she had tightly closed when I started to whip her.

She tugged to free herself, “Then please let me go.” she begged.

“Wait.” said I, “First tell me why you have tormented me so much. Surely I never offended you.”

“You did, too.” she answered, indinantly.

“Then how, in the name of the White Wolf?” I asked bewilderedly.

She hung her head and would not answer for awhile, then she suddenly burst in speech so rapid and heated that I had some difficulty in grasping what she was saying.

“You never paid any attention to me.” she stormed, “You went on your way and didnt seem to know I was in the world! You took up all your time with

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