Adventure Magazine Cover — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

latter ee forward his gun, cocked it and pulled the trigger; but the piece missed fire, and the next instant the savage had wrenched it from his hands and felled him with a blow from a chub. Although but partly stunned he was unable to offer any great resistance for several mo- ments, and when he would have renewed the conflict it was to find a rawhide thong looped about his wrists, which had been twisted be- hind his back. The Caughnawaga began re- treating toward the edge of the forest, keeping the throng taut and his captive’s wrists drawn well forward. Struggle as he would, the ranger was unable to overcome the savage’s great - advantage. Before he realized his captor’s intentions the latter had dodged around a small spruce and had a line of the tough cord entangling the prisoner’s legs. With great dexterity the savage further secured the kicking feet. To tie Put- nam against the tree was now easily accom- plished. Leaving him there to await the out- come of the baile the Indian darted back into the bush to win more glory. Putnam soon perceived that the provincials were slowly giving ground, although there was no suggestion of a panic. Indians and Cana- dians were streaming by him on both sides. The prisoner, regardless of his danger, began shouting for his men to stand firm, his sten- torian voice reaching across the clearing. A French bas-officier yelled for him to keep still, then leveled a fusee at his breast; but the Piece missed fire. With a furious oath the man reversed the gun and dashed the butt against Putnam’s jaw. The provincials continued falling back, but deploying to right and left and preventing Marin’s flanks from closing in. And if the surprize attack had cost the head of the column dear, so also had the enemy paid a heavy toll. Putnam, with jaw numb and all but fractured was no longer able to sound his battle-call. A young warrior, not overanxious to reach the forefront of the fighting, halted on beholding him and let drive with his ax. The prisoner did not move his head and the blade barely grazed his scalp. With a grunt of admiration at the captive’s bold bearing the brave recovered his ax and threw it a second time. Once more the iron sunk into the tree within a fraction of an inch of the prisoner’s head. ‘Several times did the brave prove his skill and the white man’s iron nerve before bounding away. From his position against the tree Putnam could see but little of the actual fighting, but his ears informed him quite accurately. When he heard the firing greatly increased at the opposite end of the clearing he knew Rogers and his men had come up at last. Not only did the firing increase, but it drew The Bushfighters % nearer; and Putnam’s heart leaped with joy. 75: Now painted. Canadians and painted red men ° began repassing him as the reenforced pro- vincials grimly set about routing the enemy. There followed a new ‘phase of danger for the prisoner, for this retreat of the enemy placed - him between two fires. Bullets discharged by friends struck the tree and even penetrated his °° clothing. into the bark on both sides of his head. Some of these, he believed, were purposely sent to. prevent his rescue. He was exposed to this cross-fire for some Arrows were constantly going plop > time, but by some miracle escaped being | wounded. Just, as his hopes were high that another five minutes would see him released Marin ordered a charge, and the mixed band of skrieking partizans again swept forward. The provincials recoiled a bit, then stiffened . and began to advance, for the deadly gun-fire © of Rogers’ eighty rangers was now registering heavily. Back again surged the enemy, dismayed by ~ the knowledge that they were whipped; and this time the big Caughnawaga was in the van of those retreating and remembered his prisoner long enough to cut the thong binding the ankles, and to sever the rawhide holding him to the tree. With upraised ax the Indian hurried his captive to the rear. As Putnam glimpsed the dead and the many wounded he grunted through his swollen jaws— ‘__- my blood, as Eph Willis says, but. we've licked them!”’ He was forced deep into the forest until well. . back of the French line, and on being allowed to halt was immediately divested of all his clothing, including his foot-gear, with the ex- ception of his breeches. By this time the In- dians were on the edge of a panic and eager to continue retreating. To add to their fears some sixty of Marin’s Canadians now burst through the undergrowth in a mad rabble and deserted the fighting. The Caughnawaga tightened the cord around Putnam’s wrists until the pain was unendurable, and added a long line as a leading string. Next he gathered up the packs of the dead and wounded and heaped them upon the captive’s broad shoulders until Putnam could hardly stand. Away streamed the Indians with the Caughnawaga making after them and relent- lessly pulling his prisoner along by means of the string. Glimpsing a white coat hurrying by Putnam managed to gasp: “A ttendez! tie my hands and take off some of this load.” “Go to the devil!” was the rejoinder in English. “Then kill me as an act of kindness.” The officer swung back, walking with a limp, and stooped to stare into Putnam’s sweat- smeared face. Speaking to the Indian in the GCOmiGodooks In God’s mercy make them un- - Z (C@