Shackled Mitts
Introduction
The title "Shackled Mitts" was erroneously applied to an untitled story, as Glenn Lord thought it was a story of that title mentioned in REH's papers, which REH said he had offered to Fiction House on April 22nd, 1931; but as this story was not written until after early 1932, this can not be that story.
Summary spoilers
The story opens with the narrator, Bill McGlory, encountering Biz Barlow at the Suva wharf. Bill immediately attacks Biz, demanding the ten dollars Biz owes him. Biz, ever the smooth talker, persuades Bill to let him explain a scheme that promises much more than ten dollars. Biz tells Bill about Tangua Island, a place divided between two warring tribes, the Tannis and the Guais. According to Biz, the king of the Tannis is the strongest man on the island, and anyone who defeats him in combat becomes the new king and gains control of a hidden treasure.
Biz convinces Bill to fight the Tannis king, Tanabwa, by promising that they will share the treasure. After some hesitation, Bill agrees, and they set off to Tangua. However, the ship's captain, Hogan, dislikes Bill and Biz and eventually maroons them on the Guai side of the island, leaving them in grave danger.
On the island, Bill and Biz meet Alala, a native girl who helps them cross the lagoon to the Tanni side, where Bill can challenge Tanabwa. Despite initial trepidation and misunderstanding of the combat rules, Bill accidentally wins the fight when a coconut, dislodged by Bill's charge, knocks Tanabwa unconscious. The Tannis declare Bill their new king.
As king, Bill asserts his authority by stopping the Tannis from killing Tanabwa and later plans to establish peace with the Guai tribe. The fragment ends with Bill beginning to navigate his unexpected role as a tribal king.
Textual states
Shown in a practical developmental order where possible: synopsis/outline, numbered drafts, submission states, then published or posthumous states. This display order does not itself assert exact chronology or textual authority.
From the letters
In a letter (#164) to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa mid-May, 1931 we learn:
Fiction House has been turning down Steve regular. I got a long letter from Byrne which said, in part:
“My idea of a Steve Costigan yarn is one in which Steve is recovering from an overdose of belladonna that some tricky opponent has put into his eyes before the bout. He is wearing glasses and has a scholastic, weak-kneed appearance. They get him to box an exhibition bout for society with the east coast champ refereeing. And the heat of battle, plus Steve’s near-sightedness causes him to sock the champ by mistake . . . . . the champ comes back at Steve . . . . Mike, the bulldog, leaps into the ring, tearing the champ’s pants off in front of the society queens. And then in the things that follow you have Steve in his normal sphere, doing the things we like to see him doing.”
The story Fiction House turned down was Shackled Mitts. The suggestion Byrne came up with turned into the story "Cultured Cauliflowers".
Characters in this Work
Counts are across exact Textual Versions currently represented. Additional textual research may add further appearances.
