Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

48 would ignore their bargain and desert on the morrow, leaving the wagons to be taken in by Long Slim, Old Missouri, Laramie and Natchez, with the speaker and Reason act- ing as scouts. Unless attacked by Indians Joe assured his hearers that the wagons would go through, although making slow progress. It would be necessary for all to concentrate on one wagon at a time when descending some of the numerous ridges, and in ford- ing various creeks. So the night closed in with Laramie Pete’s mind at peace. Joe and Reason scouted around the camp during the early evening hours and reported no signs of Indians. The usual guard of two men was ordered. The trap- pers stood the first watch from nine until eleven, being relieved by Shirley and Lara- mie. These two went back to their blankets at one in the morning, after calling Natchez and Long Slim. Old Missouri, who was to go on duty at three with one of the teamsters, awoke au- ‘tomatically on the hour and waited some minutes to be called. Receiving no sum- mons, he crawled from his blankets and first proceeded to renew the fire, for the night was cold. Then he went in search of the sentinels. : He found young Natchez bound to a wagon-wheel, tied hand and foot and gagged. A long scalp-wound explained how he had been made a prisoner without giving an alarm. Be] MISSOURI set up a shouting, but ie only the trappers and Laramie re- sponded. By that time Natchez was released and was trying to say something about Long Slim. “‘Where’s t’ others?” cried Reason. “Vamoosed! Long Slim must ’a’ gone with ’em.” “No!” hoarsely gasped Natchez between his swollen lips. ‘He was honest! He was game!”’ “Then they had a fight,”’ muttered Joe. “An’ it’s mighty cur’ous it didn’t wake me up. Must ’a’ been a powerful quick one. Come on, Tommy! Scout!” The two gathered pine branches from the stock of fuel and used them for torches. Accompanied by Old Missouri they had advanced but a few rods when they came to Long Slim’s body on the bank of the creek. He had been knifed through the Adventure heart. That he had not died without striking a blow in his own defense was proved by a sanguinary blade clutched in his right hand. By the aid of the torches the trappers cast about and found the trail. The de- serters had crossed the creek afoot and were traveling in the direction of Cherry Creek. They followed the trail for a few hundred feet and then halted by the body of a teamster who had been killed by a knife through the neck. A slight attempt had been made to cover the corpse with brush, but only a beginning had been made. Satisfied that the men had stolen none of the mules, Joe led the way back to the wagons and reported what they had found, Natchez said that all he knew of the tragedy was that he came to his senses and found himself tied and gagged. He had not seen nor heard anything suspicious. He denied he had been guilty of falling asleep. “LT was just about to light my pipe. That’s the last thing I remember,” was his conclusion. Missouri searched the ground where Natchez had been posted and soon returned with a pipe, freshly filled, and a storm match. Joe reconstructed the affair. “Ye was ’bout to light yer pipe when one o’ them stole up behind ye without a sound an’ lambasted ye on th’ head. They made no noise in layin’ ye out or in tyin’ and gaggin’ ye. “But they didn’t have such good luck with poor Slim. They jumped him, prob’ly two of ’em, one catchin’ at his | throat to stop his makin’ a bleat. But while they was shuttin’ off his wind he soaked one feller through th’ throat; then they wiped him out an’ took th’ dead man over th’ crick. ‘They started to hide th’ body, got skeered an’ pushed on. We couldn’t find any sign o’ mules.” “Not one gone. Everything is as it should be,” spoke up Laramie. “Tt is ver’ much puzzling, M’sieu Joe. They could walk away any time if they were dogs enough to break their promise, but behold the way they go! In the night, with mur- der on their souls. “They say they want a third of my profits. They go without taking even their wages. They go afoot. Before they go they strike down! They keel! Sacré feul May they roast where it is ver’ hot! They are crazy men.” “Tf they’d done for Joe we’d say Shirley COMMICGLOOkKS (C@