Adventure Magazine Cover — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

=a CHAPTER XIII THE VOTE OF THE AXES - FFoR three days the Indian boy, the two rangers and the woman spy made their way south. The pace was slow. Willis suffered more from exhaustion and nerve-strain than Putnam had anticipated. He seemed indiffer- ent to the danger of pursuit by the Pota- watomi and desired only to rest on the clean forest floor with his head pillowed on the‘%girl’s knees. Young Brant soouted for small game, some- thing he could knock over with ax or arrow. Willis seldom spoke and the girl was lost to all but her lover’s eloquent eyes. Two young fools, Putnam called them. After twenty-four hours had failed to show that the Potawatomi were on their trail Putnam ceased to fear pur- - suit. To make sure he scouted far up the back trail seeking signs and found none. So soon as he decided that there was no danger he grew impatient to return to active duty on the lake. a curious physical apathy, and it required the efforts of young Brant and Putnam to keep him moving. But on the third day a marked improvement was noticeable in the rescued ranger. His senses became objective, and he declared that he could walk without help. Although this proved to be true the girl in- sisted that he must go with her to the nearest Mohawk village and rest; and it resulted in Putnam’s bidding them good-by in the depths of the forest. Leaving the boy and the girl to conduct Willis to some Mohawk Castle, the ranger tucked his gun under his arm and gladly struck off for the head of Lake George. He was impatient to learn how Major Rogers had fared with-the Canadian regulars at Sab- bath Day Point. He was anxious to get back into harness and have done with side ex- ploits. _ The status of the girl impressed him as being more favorable. He was convinced that she would not leave her lover to go forest-running and collecting news for the French. - So long as Willis remained incapacitated she would re- main anchored at his side. On the morning of the fourth day Putnam reached the Fort Edward military road, striking into it where Sir William Johnson had camped the year before. It was his intention to fol- low it to Fort William Henry near by, but one of Rogers’ men overtook him and electrified him by announcing: “Major Rogers sends me to the fort for re- enforcements. Marin and his men are back there somewhere near old Fort Anne. Our scouts found their trail yesterday.” “What is the major’s force?” Willis, however, developed. The Bushfighters _ 73 “Some eighty rangers, some light infantry and some provincials.” | This news was sufficient to send Putnam speeding across-country toward the abandoned. post. Marin was: Montcalm’s most famous partizan leader, a foe worthy of any opponent’ Ss best efforts. Wherever Marin led his Canadi and red allies, there was the crux of danger. Less than two hours of travel brought Put- | nam to the west branch of Wood Creek a short distance above its junction with the east branch. As he gained the bank two shots rang out directly south of him, or in the direction of Fort Anne a mile away. He waited several minutes and two more shots split the air. “That can’t be a fight,” he muttered, turning and following the bank up-stream. “But if it isn’t a fight, what is it? And Marin supposed to be close at hand.” He had not traveled more than an eighth of a mile before he came to an opening and was astonished to behold some threescore rangers lounging on the ground and watching Major Rogers and another shooting at a birch-bark target. The second man Putnam recognized as Lieutenant Irwin. “Captain Putnam! Glad to see you!” cried Rogers. ‘‘How about the young man?” “Got him clear all right. Queer story, but it can keep. You're not afraid your shots will bring Marin down on you?” “No danger. Wish they would,” lightly re- plied Rogers. ‘‘Leftenant Irwin and I have a little wager up. And, —— me, I’m afraid he’s going to best me.” “But, major,” remonstrated Putnam, “if Marin should come and find this handful of men——”’ “And the men you’don’t see,” chuckled Rogers, pointing toward the woods. “I’ve got infantry and provincials. We whipped that detachment at Sabbath Day Point. Glorious fight. You ought ’a’ been there. Wait a minute,” He turned back to the firing-line and sent a bullet within a hair’s-breath of dead center. Lieutenant Irwin fired and missed by an eighth of aninch. As Rogers reloaded he said: ““Marin’s down here for mischief. Hit his trail yesterday. Think he’s planning a raid on Fort Edward. He’s got between four and five hundred Canadians and Indians. I’m waiting for my scouts to come in. “You will lead the provincials, as they are nearly all Connecticut men. You'll find them in the bush there, also Captain Dalzell, who’s to hold the middle of the line, the regulars, I shall bring up the rear with the rangers.’ “IT met your scout going for reenforcements. Will you wait for them?” “Lord, no! Just like to know they’re coming. au right, leftenant; see if you can match this.” COMNICLOOOKS