Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

The Pathless Trail “You can start at once?” ey sas “What pay?” “We leave that to you.” “Um. ‘A dollar a day for each man?” "Money or goods?” “American gold.” “Si. Bueno.” “Very well. Take those two men back to Nazareth, get what belongings you need, return here and report to me at the hotel. I am captain. Understand?” “Si, capitan.” “AT right. On your way!” As the boat drew out the two rejected men bade the Americans an, ironical adzos, and one spat in the stream. In the faces of the others, however, showed something like respect for the crisp-spoken captain, and Jose snarled something at the ill-mannered Three and Four. “You might need those men,’ Schwandorf. “‘Guess not,” McKay answered serenely, turning toward the hotel. “Come on, boys. Let’s get our stuff ready to ride.” Less than two hours later their rooms were vacant, their duffel was stowed in the long dugout, the Peruvian crew stood arrogantly eyeing the Brazilians who had gathered to witness the departure and the Americans were bidding good-by to Remate de Males in general and its German resident in particular. “Mr, Schwandorf, we thank you for your efficient said,” aid Knowlton, extending a hearty hand. ‘You have helped us to get going with all dispatch, and we trust that we can repay the favor soon.”’ . “You owe me no thanks,” was the curt reply. “I would expect you to do as much for me if our positions were reversed. I wish you luck.” “Get aboard, Tim!” McKay ordered, setting the example himself. Tim obeyed, first giving the important Joao d’Almeida Magalhaes Nabuco Pestana da Fonseca a real American hand-grip and getting in return a double embrace from that worthy official... Whereafter he winked and grinned expansively at several women garbed in violent hues of red, yellow and green, frowned slightly at Schwandorf, lighted the last cigar he was to smoke for many a long day, and, as the dugout bdgan to move, erupted into a more or less musical farewell to the females of the species. ’ rumbled 85 “The Yanks are goin’ away, Pa-a-arley-voo! They’re movin’ on today, Pa-a-arley-voo! The Yanks are goin’ away, they say, Leavin’ the girls in a heartless way, Rinky dinky-parley-voo!”’ With one final wave of his cigar to the gesticulating Joao and the grinning women -he turned his back on the town and faced the little-known river and the inscrutable jungle. But neither his eyes nor his thoughts traveled beyond the bow of the boat. Through narrowed lids he studied the swaying paddlers and the piratical Jose. And in his mind echoed the whispered warning of Joao, delivered during the effusive embrace at parting. “Comrade, watch those——Peruanos!”’ CHAPTER VI IN THE NIGHT WATCH I) by day the long canoe crawled into the vast unknown. Day by day the down-flowing jungte river pushed steadi- ly, sullenly against its prow as if striving to repel the invasion of its secret places by the fair-skinned men of another con- tinent. Day by day it slid past in resentful impotence, conquered by the swinging blades of the Peruvian bogas. And day by day the close companionship of canoe and camp seemed to weld the voyagers into one compact unit. Through hours of blazing sun, when the mercury of the thermometer which Knowl- ton had hung inside the shady foldo cabin fluctuated between 100 and 110 degrees, the hardy crew forged on. Through drenching rains they still hung doggedly to their work, suspending it only when the water fell in such drowning quantities that they were forced to tie up hastily to shore and seek cover in order to breathe. When sunset neared they picked with unerring eye a spot fit for camping, attacked the bush with whirling machetes, cleared a space, threw up pole frameworks, swiftly thatched them with great palm-leaves, and thus created from the jungle crudé but efficient huts—one for themselves and one for their patrones. When ‘night had shut down and all hands squatted around the fire in a nightly smoke- talk they regaled their employers with wild tales of adventures in bush and town, cComicloooks C©