Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

128 His somber eyes looked through and beyond me. “My Lost Soul!” was his response. must seek my Lost Soul, brother!’ “In time,” I assured him gently. ‘‘Do you bide here and await me, and presently you shall go hence and seek her if you wish.” cer CHAPTER XXIX THE BARRING OF THE DOOM TRAIL UA, O-te-ti-an-i!” Do-ne-ho-ga-weh’s right arm was lifted in the salute. The little group of In- dians standing at his side on the fringe of the woods overlooking the smoking ruins of La Vierge du Bois repeated the greeting. Cor- laer, his broad face with its insignificant, haphazard features shining with emotion, grasped my hand and wrung it heartily. “You hafe der lifes of a cat, my friendt!” he exclaimed. ‘We hafe foundt der torture stakes with der bodies of some of your party andt He paused and glanced at Do-ne-ho-ga- weh. The Guardian of the Western Door | drew himself up proudly. “‘Ga-ha-no did wrong,” he said, “but she died as became the daughter of a roy-an-eh of the Long House.” “She died like a warrior,” I replied. “‘Q-te-ti-an-1 makes the heart of Do-ne- ho-ga-weh very glad,’ acknowledged the roy-an-eh. “Can he still my fears for my nephew?” ‘“‘Ta-wan-ne-ars fought like a chief,’’ I an- swered. ‘But his heart was made very sad by the death of Ga-ha-no and his mind has wandered from him for a space.” “Tt will return,” affirmed Do-ne-ho-ga- weh. ‘Now tell us, O my white son, do you come hither as a captive or a con- queror?”’ “T come to offer the terms of Murray; but first tell me how successful you have been, so that I may know whether I should advise acceptance of what he offers.” Do-ne-ho-ga-weh swept his arm around the horizon. ‘Everywhere you see ashes and destruc- tion,’ he replied. ‘The Keepers of the Trail are dead or imprisoned in Murray’s stockade. Their women and children are our prisoners. Our belts can scarcely sup- port the loads of scalps we have taken. We have swept the Doom Trail.” Adventure A new figure stepped forward—modestly, as became a young warrior in the company of roy-an-ehs and chiefs. Twas the Otter. He too saluted me. “We thought that you escaped the am- bush,” I said. ‘“‘You did well. Great will be the fame of the Otter.” He selected two from a bundle of scalps at his belt and held them aloft. “Two pursued the Otter when he ran from the Evil Wood,” he boasted. none returned to tell the way he took. The Otter hastened day and night, O my white brother, O-te-ti-an-i, hoping he might bring warriors to rescue you from the Keepers.” ‘“‘The Otter did well,” I repeated. “Had it not beenfor him, Murray might have been able to flee to Canada. As it is, the warriors of the Long House have surround- ed ‘him. He wishes only to save his life. Harken to the terms he offers.”’ They listened without comment to Mur- ray’s proposition. “But we have a hostage, also,’”’ objected Do-ne-ho-ga-weh when I had finished. “‘We have been holding him for the torture-stake. Perhaps Murray will be willing to accept less when he learns that we have taken Black Robe.” “No, Black Robe means nothing to Mur- ray,” I said. And I described the clash between the two rulers of La Vierge du Bois over the wedding of Marjory. “It does not matter,’ commented Do-ne- ho-ga-weh. “Black Robe is our enemy, and we will torture him to avenge our warriors who have perished here at the stake.”’ “No, no,” I objected. ‘You must let him go. The Great Spirit has set his seal upon him. ‘Twice before this he has been tortured, yet he still lives.” “The third time may be the last,”’ insisted Do-ne-ho-ga-weh, and the other chiefs mur- mured agreement with him. “Will my father yield the life of Black Robe to me as a Special gift?” I tried again. “He befriended the maiden I hope to marry. I should like to set him free.”’ They consulted together, and Corlaer urged my cause. In the end Do-ne-ho- ga-weh assented because, he said, I had brought good luck to the Long House and this was the first favor I had requested. ‘“‘And now,” he concluded, ‘‘take back this message to Murray, my white son. Tell him that he is to surrender his house as it COMmIGH OO “But. S C@