Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

34 blanket to the Indian. With never a word of thanks Oakes accepted the loan and rolled himself-up until only his white thatch showed. Joe was the first to awake in 1 the morning. With a howl of rage he aroused his friend and cried out: “That skunk’s dusted out with all th’ elk meat an’ them two blankets. He’d ’a’ took our guns an’ hosses if he’d dared to try for ’°em. Tom Reason, if ever ye go out yer way to do a good turn for a rattlesnake don’t come bleatin’ to me after- wards an’ a-sayin’ as how th’ varmint bit > ye. CHAPTER V THE FIGHT FOR THE WAGONS R threescore miles the two friends traveled north, occasionally retiring to the intricacies of the foot-hills, especially at night, and at other times boldly follow- ing the traders’ trail. As usual, California Joe beguiled the time with stories, his friend listening but giving no sign of hear- ing. Sometimes, just to test his companion, Joe would break off at the crucial point of some hair-raising yarn to speak of trivial things. Then would Reason’s head fly up while he made explosive sounds deep in his throat; and with a broad grin Joe would complete his tale. On the third night they pitched their camp on the ridge paralleling the west bank of Kiowa Creek, where the fuel and water were abundant and the grazing ex- cellent. ‘To the east were Bijou and Beaver Creeks, like the Kiowa flowing north into the Platte. The high divides between these _ waterways boasted of growths of pine, while the bottoms gave every indication of some day making good farms. From the ridge near the Kiowa one hundred and fifty miles of the Rocky Mountains could be seen, extending from the Sangre de Cristo to the Medicine Bow Range in the north. As usual, Joe assumed the duties of hunter and secured an antelope. They were early astir next morning, eager to make Bridger’s Pass and follow the immi- grant trail down to Salt Lake by the way of Fort Bridger. While intending to adhere to his original plan of returning to the terri- tory of Oregon, Joe had succumbed to Adventure Reason’s desire to visit the great lake. As neither was hurried for time this lengthen- ing of the trip was no hardship. As Joe truthfully remarked: ‘““More’n likely we may hanker to shift our plans by th’ time we reach th’ Mormon country an’ go somewhere else entirely.” One thing théy were both agreed upon: they would have nothing to do with the Colorado Mountains as long as the gold -fever turned its valleys and parks into mining-camps. The day’s march followed the ridge; and at high noon they halted and looked down on the traders’ trail. In the south- west rose a column of smoke which they attributed to Indians. As they started to descend from the ridge they discovered a wagon working down a low hill in the north. As the wagon de- scended another took its place on the sky- line, and this was repeated until four wagons were in line. “Traders!” grunted Reason. “Traders bound for th’ new diggin’s,” supplemented Joe. ‘Say it without wast- in’ words, Tommy.”’ ‘Bet ye they was bound for th’ Oregon or Mormon country an’ heard ’bout. th’ gold strike when they made Fort Laramie, then turned south to git in afore th’ rush comes.” “Sculp me, Tommy, if ye ain’t thought it all out. That fool head o’ yers got some idees in it after all! If they git their goods there afore th’ first big rush comes they’ll make a rich haul. Knew a trader that took five hundred blankets into th’ Washoe country an’ rented lots of ’em at adollara night. Sold shovels at nine dollars apiece. But them fellers will be lucky to pull their freight through ’“Rapaho country without payin’ toll. ’Rapahoes must be gittin’ mad by this time. “Let’s bust ahead an’ git some bread. Lived nine years once without eatin’ bread.” ‘“An’ mebbe some Taos lightnin’,” mured Reason, smacking his lips. By the time the trappers had slipped down into the bottom and gained the trail the four wagons were clear of the hill and moving along a comparatively level stretch. Now and then one would vanish as if sink- ing through the floor of the trail, then mur- emerge from the hollow while the one behind, took a turn at disappearing. CORMICLOOOKS (C@)