Adventure Magazine Cover — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Sag fight except in the bush. They can’t manage their savages. Once they hear our big guns they’ll start for the St. Lawrence.” “But some of your fellow rangers say the French have some stiff defenses at the foot of the lake.” “Just entrenchments and the usual abatis. Of course they have defenses, but a few hours’ play with our artillery would make an open- ing. “Of course, of course. I lost last season’s fun by taking the Oswego march. I was with Shirley when he heard his son was killed at Braddock’s side. Left me pretty green about this section of the country. Well, best of luck.” “T don’t feel I’ve thanked you for the hearty ‘Way you joined me,” warmly declared Willis. “But I guess you know how I feel about it. I shall look for you up Fort William Henry Way.” With a hearty handshake they parted, and the sergeant’s brave figure became lost in the streams of soldiers. Willis remained and bitter- ly arraigned himself for the day’s adventure. “Why stay here even a night?” he mused, at last rising and limping into the street. “I was a fool to come. that tavern fracas! It’s given a wrench to my leg that’ll put me back a day.” He wandered down the hill and sunned him- self for an hour where he could watch the bustle and confusion of departing troops. Moving along the river-bank, he paused to wonder at the arrangement of sloops and bateaux strung across the Hudson above the town. my The sloops were anchored in line in the mid- dle of the river. On each side bateaux were kept abreast of them. A citizen pointed them out to a neighbor and excitedly cried that they were there to stop an enemy flotilla from de- scending the river to attack the town. Willis smiled in quiet amusement. But at that he had no idea why the boats were strung across the river. that he was hungry and set about pro- ‘ ¢ curing some food. After eating he leisurely ascended the hill street to the town- house, and, repairing to headquarters, identified himself and offered to carry any dispatches to Forts Edward or William Henry. The lieutenant on duty in the outer room eyed him sharply, then smiled and stretched forth a cordial hand. | “I remember you now; Ephraim Willis of Connecticut. Saw you with Putnam. Lucky I can vouch for you, or you might be detained. “Wait a minute and I’ll fix you out.” ' He entered another room, and as the heavy door swung open the clink of glasses and loud talk could be heard. Willis was slightly puzzled by the officer’s words, but took it for granted & LATE in the afternoon he discovered Adventure he had referred to dispatches. Finally he emerged and winked an eye and jerked his head back as he closed the door. “Suspicious as »’. he chuckled. “Had to pledge my word that you are what you claim to be. But I got it.” . And he handed out a pass which stated that the bearer, Ephraim Willis, was to be allowed to leave town at any hour. Willis blinked and reread it. “Leave the town at any hour! God’s mercy! Does any one want to keep me here?” “The town’s sealed up for the next twenty- four hours, perhaps longer. All depends on the finding of a certain paper,”’ whispered the lieu- tenant. ‘We’ve even thrown boats across the river above and below the town. No chance for a man to get out of Albany tonight unless he goes with troops, and each commander is held responsible for the men under him.” “The——! Some onestolea valuable paper? Do they know who did it?” The lieutenant glanced toward the closed — door and murmured: “Any friend of Captain Putnam’s must be a stanch man. The paper is very important if it reaches Montcalm. Gives the details of our strength and location of the troops and guns. Of course the French know in round numbers what we’ve got, thanks to spies, but they don’t know how the army’s placed. We’ve moved lots of men back and forth just to blind them—the spies.” “But you must have some idea who took the paper. Who had a chance?” “That’s the mystery. It was on a certain officer’s desk. He was called to the door for a few moments to receive an order from his superior’s orderly. When he turned back the paper was gone. They’re examining him now— Just wasting time. He’s told all he knows, but they’re still baiting him.” “T hope they get it back,” sighed Willis. “Tf they won’t take old Ti they ought to keep a good grip on their papers. Much obliged for the pass, lieutenant, but between you and me I can quit this town with a drove of cattle at almost any hour and not be stopped.” The officer laughed and agreed: “One of Roberts’ Rangers can do wonderful things, I admit. But perhaps the pass will make it easier. When you see old Wolf Put- nam remember me to him. My name is Wat- kins. Rhode Island man.”’ Warmly appreciative of his courtesy, Willis returned to wander the streets until he should make up his mind whether to sleep in town or find a bed in the bush. He began to doubt the wisdom of leaving town that night, as the ne in the tavern had lamed his wounded eg. He mounted the hill to the fort and watched the two lines of boats fade from view beneath - Comicbookss