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This episode sponsored by She's Birdie. Every woman knows that feeling and she's Bertie knows it too. The just in case feeling. Just in case I hear something. Just in case someone tries the door. Just in case I need to wake up fast. It's not fear, it's awareness. And Birdie Box from She's Birdie was made for exactly that. Birdie Box is a portable travel door alarm designed by She's Bertie for hotels, dorms, Airbnbs and anywhere you're staying away from home. It installs in seconds on the door frame and if the door is opened, it activates a loud siren and flashing strobe to help draw attention instantly. She's because peace of mind should check in with you. Birdie Box by She's birdie visit she's birdie.com that's S H-E-S-B-I-R-I-E.com and order your Birdie box before your next Stay away from home. Esc. You are groping in the dark of the African jungle night, trapped on a wharf above a crocodile infested river, fighting for your life against a ruthless giant from whom you must escape. Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure. Tonight we escape to the dank jungles of the Seguanga Valley in Africa, into the heart of a courageous man. As Robert Simpson told it in his story, John Jock Tod, No doubt you may presume my Scotch ancestry from a wee bit of the old speech that still clings to my voice, though it's been some years now since I last walked in the heather of the heathlands of Abergowree. My name is John Todd, the same as my father's, though to be sure he's more often called Jock Todd, Jock being the fighter's equivalent to John, and a name which in no wise applies to me. I am a peace loving man, not a fighter, and no man can deny it even today. However, in other respects, I was a raw lad for certain when I sailed up from Glasgow and came here to this heathen land of Africa. And that's a thing which cannot be said of me at present. If a man lives at all in this steaming hot jungle of the Niger river, then he must learn very quickly and most especially so if he lands at that dirty little trading post on Seguanga Creek. Map side by landing coming up. There you are, Mr. Dart, Siguanga Landing. And you can have it as far as I'm concerned. Well, I might say the parlor company had somewhat more elaborate offices in Glasgow, Mr. Simpson. No doubt about that. And how long did you sign up for? 4 years. 4 years. Lucky for them they catch you fellas in Glasgow before they ever seen the place. Can't it be so bad? Those are fair looking buildings there on the bank. Fair looking buildings. Hey, watch that. Help. He's into it. You want to tear out the wharf? I don't suppose you've heard anything about Druck? They told me I should report to the agent in charge here. A man named Captain Brock. Captain Brock? Every agent in this stinking jungle calls himself a captain. That's him there in the wharf. Easy, boy. Get a line ready now. All right, Pat the mortar. He's a fair sized man for certain. He's big enough, all right. In some ways. So is a gorilla. Watch out for him. Can I say I understand you? You will, Mr. Todd, if you live long enough. Up there topside. Throw the line by. Yes, sir. Make cuts quick. That little fellow with him is named Ganson. You got nothing to fear from him till after Brock's made a move. He's the snake and little jackal, but he never makes his own kill. I still can't understand what you're talking about, Mr. Simpson. You'll find out soon enough. Couldn't help you now to go ahead of time. I dock here once a week on the river run. But you're still on your own. You'd better know it right now. Mr. Simpson. You will have to explain, I hope. No, Master Simpson. All same. Plenty fast. All right, boy. Come on, Mr. Todd. You may as well meet your new boss. Go, Bloomy. Look what the home office sent out to us this time. Shut up, Gunson. Well, Simpson, you are half a day late. When I start running my boat on a schedule, I'll send you a copy of it. Brock, if there was another boat on this river I could ship my stuff on, you know what I would do then, don't you? No, you wouldn't, Brock. Not as long as you know I carry a gun. You there. You the new junior assistant? That's right, sir. My name is John Todd, and I assume you're. I'll take the time to find out your name later. And I do not give 2 cents for what you assume. That's telling the. Did not I tell you to shut up? Yes, sir. And get out. Clear those natives of the wharf. Right. Your captain. All right, move along now. You ready, Peggies? Come on, move now. You there. Oh. Teach you to step down, to get along. I have Some brandy over the bungalow, Simpson, if you would like a drink while the boys are loading. I just had a drink on board. You there, whatever your name is. It's John Todd, sir. Aha. So it is John Todd, is it? And I suppose you call yourself Jack like the rest of your blasted countrymen. No, sir. Jock is the name for a fighting man such as my father gonna say. It fits me. So you are not a fighting man, eh? It makes things a lot easier, don't it? Brock? As soon as your boat is loaded, you can bring the lading bills up to the office. Well, Todd, are you going to stand here on the wharf the rest of the day? No, sir, but I thought you'd be one. You thought? You are not paid to think. Get your stuff up to the bungalow and be quick about it. Whatever you say, Captain Brock. Four years of it, Mr. Todd. Welcome to Seguanga. I didn't understand it at all, the reason for Captain Brock having acted in such a strange way. I'd never met the man, nor could I think that he'd ever heard of me before. And I couldn't be certain of the extent of the man's authority here in the jungle. The home office in Glasgow having been a wee bit unclear about the matter. They had said only that the agent was very much like the captain aboard a ship and that he carried full responsibility in his own two hands. But about the attitude of Captain Brock himself, I very soon had few doubts left in my head. I didn't see the man again the afternoon I arrived, but a houseboy came and wakened me in the middle of the night and said the captain wished to see me in the main room with the bungalow immediately. Captain Brock. The boy said you'd sent for me, sir. You do not have to tell me that it took you long enough to get here, too. It took no more time than to pull on a pair of pants. So it makes you argumentive to wake you up in the middle of the night. I was not intending to be. So I am not interested in your intentions, Mr. Todd. You will learn to keep a civil tongue in your head. Well, I was not mean. Shut up. That's better. And I suppose you're wondering why I had you waked up like this in the middle of the night. I presume you had a reason. Oh, you presume, do you? Oh, yes. And what do you presume the reason is? I'm afraid I couldn't say. Then I will tell you. I sent for you, Mr. Todd, simply to show you I can have you Waked up anytime I please to. You had no other reason than that? None at all, Mr. Tut. A fighting man might resent it, but then you are not one, are you? Too bad. If that's all you've got to say to me, then I'll go back to my bed. That is all. Now get out of my office. Just as you say, Captain Brock. The attitude of the man didn't change none of the next few weeks. And I couldn't find in my head any reason for his hatred. And it was hatred. It was in his eyes every time he spoke to me. I took care of my duties and stayed clean clear of them otherwise. And for the most part, we came to no head on clash. That with two exceptions, however. The first one happened about a week after I'd arrived. I was supervising a group of natives at the time working on the breakwater at the end of the wharf. Mr. Todd, what the devil are those boys supposed to be doing? They're repairing the breakwater. I can see that without being told. Now, where did you get the authority to buy the timber? Why, you ordered it last week yourself. From Chiefi Laurie, maybe. I told you to accept delivery without having me look at it first. You told me to receive it when it came in, and that's what I did. It's good timber. I checked it myself. How would you know if it is good timber? My father happens to be a forester back in Scotland. Did. They will take you and your father both. I'd advise you never to say that in my father's hearing. Are you threatening me? No, man, nothing like that. But I'm sort of suggesting it isn't always wise to insult a man you've never seen. I see. Now that I come to think of it, he is the one that is a fighter, isn't he? That's correct. The one they call Jack Tart, huh? Well, it is too bad he is not around here, Mr. John. Tug boy, you there. Draw that piece of timber you're using. Any fool could see it is too short. I said throw it out. I will teach you to argue. Get back on your feet. I said get up. Get on your feet before I kick your head off. I'd seen him knock Ganson down the same way and then kick him like he did the natives. And Ganson took it and saved his curses until Brock was not around. I wondered what I might do if he ever tried it on me. And the next week I saw that he would try it sooner or later. Chief Dewana and his boys had Come in from backcountry with a dozen canoes full of palm nuts. And I was out in the warehouse checking in the load. We used a big wicker basket for measuring called a cooler for some reason. Or other. And Dewana's boys would fill this and then we'd dump it on the pile at the end of the building. Ganson was boss in the loading and I'd check off each cooler in the tally book as it was dumped. It was late in the afternoon when we finally finished. All right, all right. Step loudly now, ye then blight as you. There ain't no more to trouble about after this one. All right, Todd, here's the last one. You got it marked, have you? Right, Canton. All right now you runny beggars, let's take it back and dump it. Come on, put your backs to it now. Eve in. Adam, tip her up. Let's go. That's it. Oh, shake em out. Shake em out. Every feminine ass one at em. Come on, shake him out. All right. How many colas did we have, Todd? 8, 10, 12, 14. How many you count? How many cola you get? All same me maybe 17. Eight, 19, Dubala, 19. Me count all same. 20. Well, luck is not you miss one. Todd, give him his 20. I didn't miss one, Mr. Gunson. The tally is 19. You pay me 20. We cross trouble. Sally Dewana, the cart stands at 19. Don't be a crazy fool, Todd. Give it to him. What's one cooler more or less? Me tell Captain Brock he fix good. That will not be necessary, Dewana. What is the trouble here, Todd? Haven't you got sense enough to take in a few palm nuts without getting your feet twisted? I'm afraid to have nothing to do with it, Captain Brock. He claims 20 coolers and I counted 19. Then you missed one. Give him 20. Can I do that, sir? You what? Can I sign my name to help cheat the company? Cool. Blimey, if it ain't downright. Shut up, Jansen. Mr. Todd. Out here. I am the company. Now write out that credit check. Whatever you say, Captain Brock. It's taken your orders like a good chap, Mr. Todd. I thought you'd change of gunson. Well, have you Got it written, Mr. Todd? There you are, Captain Brock. Well, it is lucky you decided, Mr. Todd. You have made this out for 19, which is according to my count. Why you blusted little rat. I'll advise you to stop and think before you move. Well now, you wouldn't be picking up that shovel with any hostile intent, would you? No man. No more than you'd be advancing toward me with a hostile intent like that, eh, Dewana? I'm tearing up this track. I will give you one myself. For 20. You always come to me. I will make it right with you. Yes, Captain. All same like you say. Mm. And, Mr. Todd, I will make it right with you too. You can depend on. Brock Stayed clear of me for a few weeks, and outside of the job of work I was hired to do, I had no words with him. I recalled Mr. Simpson saying to watch out for him, and I was fair certain he was only waiting for the chance to make his move. He outweighed me for 50 pound, and I knew beyond doubt that I couldn't stand up to him. But what really worried me was not known of any reason for the man's attitude. It made no sense that a man should go looking for a fight without no reason at all. At any rate, the weeks passed. The jungle steamed and the muddy river rolled past the wharf. And then one day it happened. Sunday was my one free day in the week, so I'd hired a canoe and paddled upstream for a visit with a fellow countryman at another trading post some few miles away. It was just getting dark when I came back to the wharf, and when I got in close, I saw Brock standing there smoking and leaning on a piling at the far side. The watch boy squatted near the edge, waiting to take the line from my canoe. He caught it and pulled the boat in and made it fast, and I climbed out onto the wharf. Have good trick, Mr. Tot. Not so bad. Bit hot, that was all. You savvy? Which place canoe man live? Yes, sir. Live on breakwater side. Then go tell him. Come get canoe. Tell him two day pass. I give him check for pay. Oh, yes, sir. May go now. Tell man plenty soon. Boy. You there. Yes, sir. Captain Brock, did I give you permission to leave the war? No, sir. But Master Tout isn't. I tell you you could leave? No, sir. All right, then. Go get the head man. Tell him I want him here right away. And you come back with him. Move, boy. Yes. Out. All right, Todd, get up to your quarters. I think I'll be staying right here, Captain. Brock, if you're planning to tie that boy to a post and flog him, as I've no doubt you've decided to do, then you'll be having a word with me first. Go. Blimey. Genson, is that you? All right, child. Captain. I heard what he said of it. To witness. You want it? I Will tell you when I want anything. All right, Captain. No, I'll met you. Take Mr. Todd up to his room and keep him there. I will attend to him later. If either of you lay a hand on me, it'll be a most unfortunate day in your lives. Oh, you don't say so. Mr. Tar. Mr. John Tar. I've told you what you may expect, so you have. I am not to lay a hand on you, not even like this. I'll do my proper Captain. Hit him again. I missed the target. I felt his foot smashing to my side. I tried to get up onto my knees and I couldn't. I told you to get up again. I knew it wouldn't take many to finish me off. My head hung over the side of the wharf. I made one effort and rolled off into the water. He's going into the water, Captain. Maybe can't swim. That is his hard luck. But suppose he drowns? The resident commissioner will be down on us but certain. I don't want no trap anymore. Yes, he can't swim, all right. There he is now, climbing out on the bank. What's the matter, Mr. Tod? You are not leaving us, are you? You have not changed your mind about having a word with me, have you, Mr. John Todd? Back in my own quarters, I changed into dry clothes, hurrying as fast as I could. I couldn't find it in my heart to be angry with a man. He had struck me without warning and kicked me while I was down. And he was panning out to flog a native boy without the lad having committed a fault. It was not a thing to become angry about, Captain. Brock had to be punished, that was all. And though it would mean my own life, most likely it had to be done. It was no more than a matter of simple justice. Within five minutes, I was back at the wharf. The watch boy had come back with a headman and a group of natives had gathered around the circle of light, thrown out by a hurricane lantern. They didn't see me at first. All right, Gunson. Put his hands up over his head and tie them there. Stretch him out right, y'. All, Captain. The watch boy stood there trembling with fear while Gunson bound his hands to the heavy post. Hurry up, you clumsy fool. And naked. Tight. I wanted to hang there after I'm through with him. Oh, he'll do that, all right. Captain, is Todd well? Mr. Todd, you are just in time to see the boy get what is coming to him. Brock, I told you before, you'll not be doing this without having a word with Me? I was under the impression that you had already had your word, Mr. Torture Todd. You've been laying into me ever since I came here. For reasons of your own, whatever they might be. And what do you plan to do about it, Mr. Todd? You may be somewhat within your rights in that respect, but you're not. So when you hit a man with that warning and kick him while he's lying on the ground. Go on, Captain, give him what for. Go. I take it then, Mr. Todd, you have objections to hitting a man without warning. Perhaps it is a thing your father would not think of doing. No objections, Mr. Brock, now that I know you do it. For it's a thing that one can do as well as the other. God blummy at you, Captain. I don't mind now that I know it. I coughed him along one side of the head and then again at the other. And while he rocked back from the blows, I clutched my hands around his stick neck and flanked my fingers into his throat. Stop him, Captain boy. Tears out your bloody throat. Stop. Cursed and struggled and twisted, but I held down and kept choking him. Clenching my hands tighter and tighter, he struck at me and I let go with one hand and cuffed him again and fight the head. That was somewhat of a mistake on my part for the blow enraged him. So he tore himself loose and smashed his fist into my face. You got him now, Captain. Give it to him. Give it to him. I will show you if you can kill him, Captain. Go and kill him. Get up, T. Get up. Go on, Captain. Kick his bloody head in for him. Give him a good look out, Captain. Look out. He's got your ankles. Head guy, when he's done. Hey now. Hey. You're running fool. You're breaking his leg. That's right, Ganson. Get up, Brock. On your feet, man. Are you through or only pretending? Come on, get up on your feet. I get up, you kill us. Blimey, if you ain't broke his blooming leg. I doubt it. I'm thinking it's only twisted. Gunsen. Yes. Have the boys give him a hand to his room if he needs it. I'm going to my quarters and clean up a bit. Right you are, Mr. Todd. And Captain Brock, you have no reason to be calling me a killer. I'm a peace loving man and I've no good opinion of such things as killing. In fighting you tried to do mean, Todd. You are going to pay for it. I'm going to kill you for it. Maybe today or maybe next month. But I'm going to Kill you, you can. I went to my quarters then, and I didn't know what happened just after this. I didn't know about Brock kicking Gunson off the stairs while the little man was trying to help him. Nor about Gunson going to the captain's room a few minutes afterwards. How are you feeling, Captain? Oh, shut your mouth, Gunsen, or I will shut it for you. You got no call to be treating me like that. I'd have helped you if I could, but there just weren't no chance. He'd have done for me the same as you can shut up. Cannot even move my leg. There was no call to kick me a while ago, neither. If I could get out of this chair, I'll do the same again. You can't get up, Captain Brock. How could I hope to? Well, what is in your mind? You, you little beggar. You've been booting me around for nearly two years now, haven't you? He hopped onto me the first minute I landed, like you got an habit of doing when a bloke is new. And I will break your dirty little neck as soon as I can walk. You've been treating me like a ruddy dog, Captain. And I've been taking it, too, until now. Poor. What are you up to, Kenshin? Genshin. I sat there in my room for a long time, holding the pistol I'd taken from a drawer of the desk. I couldn't see any way out of it. Sooner or later, at the first chance he could find Brock was going to kill me. And aside from murdering the man in cold blood, I didn't see any way of preventing him. I couldn't leave the trading post, and for certain I couldn't stay on my guard for 24 hours a day. I couldn't say how long it was I sat there holding the pistol in my hand and trying to think how I might keep from dying and not even knowing why the man hated me enough to wish to kill me. Then I heard somebody coming down the hall outside my door. I thought for a moment they might be going past, but then. I raised the gun and pointed it at the door. Ganson. Ganson, man. What have you done to your hands, lads? Oh, you ought to see him, Mr. Todd. You oughta come take a look at him. Oh, blimey, if I ain't marked him up all right. I marked him good. What are you saying, man? What have you done? Him has always thought he was so much just because he was bigger than me. Oh, I showed him, all right. What have you done? Why don't you come take a look for yourself, Mr. Todd. Come and see what used to be so high and mighty, calling itself Captain Brock. Take a look at him, Mr. Todd. He ain't quite so tough now as he was before. What have you done to him? Please, please do not let me hit me. Please do not let me. Hit me again with my own two hands. I done it, Mr. Todd. I beat his face to a pulp. I did meet no man while he's helpless get as bad as he is, Gunson. Please do not let him hit me again, Mr. Todd. He's not going to hit you, Brock. Get to your room, Gunson. Come on. All right, Mr. Todd. Anyway, I marked him. I marked his face up good so it'll show for a long time. Don't let him hit me again. Shut up, you great blubbering baby. Most likely live through it all right. Though you may never look the same again. Well, I heard you've been having a bit of excitement. Oh, Mr. Simpson. I docked at the wharf ten minutes ago. The boys told me what had happened. I. Good Lord. You did all that? Not to his face. Gonson has been settling up an old score. I'm afeard the little man has a vicious disposition. I never thought I'd see it. Brock crying like a baby. Aye, the sound of it fairly sickens me. Suppose we step outside and let him be. Please don't, Mr. Simpson. I found out why Captain Brock hated me the way he did. Why he threatened to kill me. What do you think it is? The man's a coward, that's all. You saw him in there just now. He knew he was a coward and he was afraid I'd find it out. You may be right. There's no doubt of it. And I'm thinking you'll have him for a passenger when you go back downriver. He'll not be able to stay here now that we understand him. And I'll see to it that Ganson goes along with him. Well, I can't say that I'll mind the change. I mean doing business here from now on with a gent by the name of Jock Todd. Jock? Oh, now you're taking me all wrong. I'm a peace loving man and my name is John. It's nowise proper to call a man Jock unless he's a fighter. Now, you take my father, for instance. There's a man who can hold his own in any kind of company. But I don'. Escape. Produced and Directed by Norman McDonald Tonight brought you John Jacques Todd by Robert Simpson adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield. Featuring Wilms Herbert as John Todd, Jack Crucian as Captain Brock and Tony Barrett as Ganson. With Don diamond and Paul McVeigh. The musical score was conducted by Wilbur Ha. Next week you are rushing forward through time, far into the future, trying desperately to flee the clutching fingers of a band of night creatures. A dreamlike horror from whom there seems no escape. Next week, we escape with H.G. wells. Awesome story, the Time Machine. Good night. Then, until this same time next week, when once again, we offer you escape. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.