Adventure Magazine Cover — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

The Bushfighters and if need be he could take the wild gorges and hidden gullies back of this. But land travel did not appeal to him, and. as Sabbath Day Point was not more than ten miles away he was determined to keep within striking distance of shore and make it by canoe if possible. He steered a course that took him - behind the numerous islands, expecting at any moment to run into an ambush of some wan- dering scouting band. Once he saw a smoke ashore and placed a long island between himself and it. None of Rogers’ men would make a smoke so far down the lake. By sunset he rounded the point, concealed the. canoe and went ashore. His unusual exertions ‘had told on his iron muscles; and although he was within seven or eight miles of the appointed rendezvous at North West Bay he knew he must rest before making it. The puppy whined and whimpered and alto- gether was a nuisance. Putnam eyed him -. grimly, then smiled broadly at-the silly, wrin- kled face. = ~ “Guess, pup, you like to live like other folks,” he solemnly remarked as he pressed deeper into the woods in®search of a resting-place. “‘You ain’t intended for a ranger; but if you'd stayed behind they’d barbecued ‘you in fancy fashion to drive the devil out.” The puppy licked his hand and wagged its stubby tail. Putnam knocked* over a squirrel with his ax and gave it to his pet to worry, saying: “There’s victuals for you. But what you need is milk. Well, if we're lucky we'll get where we.can find some milk sometime.” With this promise he threw himself-on a bank of moss and fell asleep. When he awoke it was dark and the deg was curled up under his chin. . several minutes and satisfied himself that no enemy was lurking near. Stuffing the dog into hisshirt, he stole back to the canoe. As he was about to put the birch in the water . his nose detected the pleasing aroma of wood- smoke. Placing his cap in the canoe, he dropped the puppy into it and turned inland to reconnoiter, scouting through the woods to the northern side of the point. He fraveled a quarter of a mile and = _ upon several fires. The lavish use of fuel would have told him that no red men built the fires even if he had not heard the careless conver- sation of the soldiers. For neatly half a minute he watched them with contempt twisting his lps. Then he stiffened and half-raised his gun as a tall savage abruptly glided from the black forest wall and stood among the soldiers and briefly addressed an officer. The ranger studied this newcomer with \ Without moving, the ranger listened for. great respect. He carried a gun and had th Bear totem painted on his chest. * He talked in French to the officer, and Put- nam knew he must come from the Caughna- waga village and was either a Mohawk or an Oneida, the converted Iroquois being largely from these two nations. 3 The savage seemed to be alone,”and what 63-— he reported brought a sharp order from the | officer: Men sprang from the ground and began buckling on their accouterments. A second order sent a squad hurrying to the boats, while six men with the officer in the lead followed the Indian directly toward Putnam’s — hiding-place. The ranger fell back and, strik- ing into a path, ran as fast as the darkness would it until he came to his canoe. — the islands just south of the point. Indian had discovered something which made him believe that Putnam was hiding on the point. Possibly he had heard the puppy com- plaining and had located the canoe. Refreshed by his nap, Putnam made good time up the Jake until he was at the mouthof North West Bay. Tongue Mountain cut the sky on the right. The canoe nosed its way round the tip of the point, the ranger wonder- ing if his men were waiting for him in the deep bay. The puppy lifted his head and barked. Instantly the challenge rang out— “Who comes?” “Tsrael Putnam and a fool dog.” “Ts it really you, cap’n?” “You should know my voice,” testily replied Putnam, sending his canoe ahead. “T thought I did; but the dog?” Leaping in, he paddled swiftly to get ae “Prisoner I fetched along,” soberly replied Putnam, . “How many men?” “Twenty, with Major Rogers.” “Then hooray. for us!” softly cried Putnam. “Lead the way.” “TJ must stay here. Major’s orders. Keep on till you pass the island and you'll see the camp-fire. And, cap’n, we had to leave that derned wounded Frenchman in the boat when two bateauxk and some canoes piled down on us from Sloop Island.” “Vou remembered my orders and didn’t kill him?” sternly questioned Putnam. “Kill him? Lordy, no. He sent some word to you in French. One of the boys said it was that he was much obleeged to you.” PUTNAM dug his paddle deep, soon rounded one of the two islands 'that same partly choked the mouth of the bay and came in sight of a small fire. A sentry sharply challenged him, and figures of sleepers suddenly became armed men erect and ready for a fight. Putnam called out his name and jumped ashore. CS Major Rogers came down to the beach to Com IC ES JOO (E@)