Adventure Magazine Cover — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

54 from a possible volley. After increasing the — -eloser than, when he first spied it. distance to his satisfaction he resumed studying the dark forest wall, and incidentally noted that the bush in the water was as close as, if not The drift of the bush had been pronounced and could not have resulted from any slight current making round the point, as its advance would be at right angles with such a current. There was scarcely any movement of the air. He wet his finger and held it up and the back of it felt cold. The almost imperceptible breeze was from the west. The bush was drifting against it. He stooped low and studied the vague shape curiously. He could see that it was a bush, and that was all. A slight splash near it might have been a fish breaking water. And _ it might be something entirely different. He gently advanced his gun and brought it to -bear on the floating mass. Now its drift suddenly ceased. It was scarcely twenty feet _ from the canoe and seemed to be stationary. _ In less suspicious times he would have believed thesubmerged branches had caught on a sandbar. All speculation was abruptly terminated as the bush became alive with motion, as if a gigantic fish had become entangled in its web of branches. There was a loud splash; then the foliage seemed to elongate, and witha sul- len swish a long war-arrow plumped into the gunwale within a few inches of the ranger’s head. -He discharged his gun, and from the heart of the bush rang out a prolonged howl, the death-cry of a warrior mortally wounded. Putnam snatched up the paddle to increase the distance between him and the woods, and he wondered why the shore was not streaked with gun-fire. The canoe moved sluggishly; and instantly he remembered the loud splash preceding the discharge of the arrow. Drawing his ax, ne crouched low. The stern of the craft began settling. Next there appeared the dripping scalp-knot of a _ warrior, and an outstretched hand was lunging a knife at him. He felt the point rip the front of his. shit, and then he struck with his ax. With his head smashed in like a pumpkin the warrior slipped back into the water without a sound. Taking the paddle and working desperately, Putnam sent the canoe deeper into the night. A sharp command in French, and a volley of balls hurtled around him, He continued his flight for half a mile before taking time to reload. He could not see that - he was pursued. He upbraided himself for not suspecting that there was more than one savage hidden behind the bush. One had dived to gain the canoe while the other was treading water and using his bow. ‘Those ashore withheld their fire until anne that the second warrior had failed. Adventure “Tf he’d had brains enough to rip open the canoe they might ’a’ had me,’”’ mused Putnam. “Their gun-fire showed there was at least a dozen of them, and probably as many more Indians. “They won’t try to chase me in the boat, but the red devils may come in their canoes, Seep left them at the south end of the Assuming that the Indians would expect him to continue across the lake to the western shore, he shifted his course back to the north- east and ran for Long Island, a mile north of Sloop. He made the island without detecting any signs of the enemy. His first thought was to remain there and spy on the band. But men were stationed at th Bay to intercept any of Montcalm’s spies, and General Winslow would soon be sending men to deal with these intruders. This realization left but one course for Put- nam to pursue. He must make for the Carry- ing-Place at the foot of the lake and cross to the vicinity of Ticonderoga. Then he must lie in wait for Pean and incidentally collect informa- tion about the fort and the outposts. Thus there would be three barriers erected against Pean’s entering Ticonderoga: one at South Bay, where the rangers were holding the sack for all stragglers; one composed of the various small bands of rangers beating the forest and compelling the spy to move on; and this one under the walls of Ticonderoga itself. He coasted along the western shore of Long Island, and, being satisfied that the savages were not seeking him, struck across the lake to Round Island. On nearing this he heard the . click of a hammer being' drawn back and hur- riedly called out the word for the night, “The king and the provinces.” As he had suspected he had again come upon his rangers in the whale-boat. On inquiring why they had taken refuge there instead of proceeding to the mouth of North West Bay, two miles above, he was informed that two bateaux heavily loaded with men had given them a hard chase and had driven them well actoss the lake. They had feared the Indians in their canoes more than they did the big boats, but had encountered none of the red men. “They was hunting. for me,” said Putnam, “There’s two less since I saw you last. The lake seems to be clear. You can make Squaw Island in a few minutes. You must get as close to the bay as possible before light. Tl scout ahead in the canoe.’ The men pulled smartly for Squaw Island and on running into a cove were rejoined by Putnam, who cautioned them about building a * and explained: “Some one has started a blaze across at the Narrows. I’m going over to look at it. Be CORMICOOOKS (C@