Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

The Road to El Dorado they were doing, but both knew when the tide broke against their. barricade. Joe, with his long knife, crouched low and thrust upward whenever he detected motion overhead. Reason backed his frightened horse into the opening and obligated it with many broken oaths to keep the passage clear. ‘The horse began lashing out with his nimble hoofs, his first kick catching a war- rior in the chest and causing him to cough hideously. Others crowded into the nar- row way, ignorant of the terrible hoofs, and were hurled back maimed and shattered. In the darkness the Utes fought at a dis- advantage. ‘They got in each othet’s way, and more than one brave wounded a friend. Thinking to deceive the enemy into be- lieving that a band of Arapahoes held the rocks, California Joe raised his lusty voice in the war-cry of the Cloud People. It was answered from up the slope. At first Joe supposed it to be the echo, but after it was repeated several times he yelled: “Hooray, Tommy! Yer snake medicine is some powerful! Ol’ Left Hand’s crawlin’ down to take a hand!” “They come too late. away,’ panted Reason. Utes are runnin’ CHAPTER XI THE MEDICINE SPRING ORNING brought the Arapaho scouts galloping back to Left Hand and his warriors, shouting the news that the Utes had fled and were making for home, con- founded by the weakness of their war medicine. Instantly the camp was alive with preparations for the chase. While the men gathered up their war-gear and made haste to follow the scouts Left Hand rode back and forth on his spotted pony and loudly harangued his braves. He reminded them that the women were wait- ing to hear how each man bore himself. He told them that the hereditary enemy were dogs and already had been whipped by two white men. California Joe and Reason, who had quit the cafion to spend the night in the Indian camp, viewed these proceedings with in- difference. They had no desire to partici- pate in a tribal war. Joe had recovered his saddle from the dead horse, but it was with the greatest difficulty that he had persuaded Left Hand to lend him a war-pony in return retreat: 79 for an order on Laramie Pete for blankets and calico. Had it not been for the chief’s friendship for the trader and his knowledge that the white men were on the trader’s business he would have loaned none of his war-ponies at any price; and he had three with him and more at his village. But the war-pony was the Indian’s strongest link to life. Buffalo ponies were held in high esteem and seldom could be purchased. The war-pony meant life itself. “They say my white brothers ride with us to wipe out the trick the Utes played on them in the canon,” said Left Hand after ending a long speech and observing that his men were waiting for him to head the line. “We have lost no blood,” replied Joe. ‘Your warriors wear many scalps that our guns brought down. We are satisfied. Our hearts are light. We go back to the trader’s wagons.” Left Hand was disgruntled. He had hoped to profit by the firearms and marks- manship of the whites. He also knew that to attack the Utes in their own country would call for much finesse and courage; and that at the best the Arapahoes could only dash in and strike a blow and then hastily For many years the two tribes had fought thus—one attacking, one run- ning away, the victor of today being the fugitive of tomorrow. But Joe was not to be tempted. Apart from his disinclination to take sides in a red fight there was his realization that the Utes would bitterly resent any white aid given their foes and would retaliate against the infant town on Cherry Creek. “We have work to do. We must go back and hunt for the bad white man who wears a black cloth over his face,” he firmly told the chief when the latter insisted the two accompany him, For a minute the trapper believed that the chief was about to demand his war- pony back. But Left Hand was greedy to transmute the order on Laramie Pete into new blankets and gay calicos, so with a grunt of anger he wheeled and took his place at the head of the advance, and within five minutes not an Indian was in sight. “My medicine kept a-tellin’ me all th’ time we oughter go to Clear Crick Cafion,” complained Reason. “Wal, ver medicine can’t say we didn’t . find somethin’ here,’ growled Joe. “If GoOmichdooks (C@