Adventure Magazine Cover — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

Pay Gravel he sent the guard. rolling headlong. The camp was in an uproar in an instant, the ‘warriors scrambling for their weapons. Scissors sternly called out: “The Ogalala are very foolish. My medi- cine will grow very angry. Some of you will go to Mato tipi tonight as ghosts. What do you mean by treating the friends of your war-chief in this way? Are we Crows or Poncas?” Little Big Man chewed his lips and puz- zled over the situation. To leave the pris- oner’s hands free was to confess failure. To tie them up was useless. His quandary was interrupted by the rapid drumming of fly- ing hoofs. A pony raced in among the lodges and a rider threw himself to the ground. With a gleam of hope lighting his sullen eyes Little Big Man called on the man to speak. ‘“Tashunco-uitco and Shunca-luta, his medicine-man, even ‘now are riding to this camp,’ announced the man. “They were on the way here with a dozen warriors when Little Big Man’s first ‘messenger met them and told them about the white men. They will be here very soon.” “Tt is good!” cried Little Big Man in great relief. ‘“‘What’s he saying?”’ muttered Dinsdale. “Crazy Horse and his medicine man, Sorrel Horse, will arrive in a minute or so. I am very wakan, but only Taku wakan can straighten this‘mess out. If only Crazy Horse was coming it would be better. Sorrel Horse is jealous of all medicine-men. He’ll*work to have us skinned alive. But a man ain’t done for so long as he can hope.”’ CHAPTER IX = THE DUEL OF THE MEDICINES ALTHOUGH Crazy Horse and Sorrel Horse rode into Little Big Man’s camp shortly before midnight the prisoners saw nothing of either. Before the great leader of the hostiles arrived the white mer were conducted back to the lodge-and the flap tightly closed. A small fire was lighted in- side and by its light three warriors stood on guard to prevent any attempt at escape. The prisoners were allowed to recline on buffalo robes, but cords were attached to their wrists and looped around the arms of the guard. Men were also stationed around the lodge on the outside. asleep when the war-chief and his escort of a dozen men made the camp and was aroused by the commotion. On opening his eyes he beheld the thrée silent figures of the guards, their eyes re- flecting the light from the heap of coals. Scissors was awake, and whispered: “Tf I can have a talk with Crazy Horse I think we would be all right for a while. But that Shunca-luta will try to keep be- tween us. He ranks high as a mystery-man and is a fair magician and ventriloquist. He claims to get his help from Taskuskan- skan, their moving god, who lives in the four winds and is never seen but is repre- sented by Tunkan, who in turn is prayed to through, rocks and stones. Queer mess. Reckon a white man can never get it all straightened out. I made a picture of Sorrel Horse when I was prisoner that other time, and it’scared him. He’s bound to work against us. But I’m wakan— Wish Crazy Horse would come in to look us over.” Scissors would have felt more at ease had he known that the chief’s first desire was to have the prisoners brought before him. Sorrel Horse, however, requested time for consulting his medicine, and reported back to the chief that it would be better to wait until the sun rode the sky. Although con- siderably disturbed that the chief should ignore him Scissors dissimulated and Dins- dale fell asleep and did not awake until morning. With the sunrise came another kettle of meat. Scissors pronounced it to be mule-deer and Dinsdale ate heartily. After they had eaten Little Big Man visited them, and he could not conceal his secret exultation. .Scissors pretended not to see him, and after waiting several minutes the Indian said: . | “Now Shunca-luta has come Two Knives Talking has lost both his medicine and tongue. They say the white man was tied up all night-and could not get free.” Scissors, who had finished his bowl of meat and had his hands free, picked. up some thongs his guards had left on the ground and rolled them into a small ball and held them in one palm. ‘Then his fingers closed over them, contracting as if squeezing them into very small compass, then flew open and the ball had vanished. Little Big Man scowled malevolently. Scissors said: : _ “Two Knives Talking finds his medicine cS 97 Dinsdale sera: EComichboo co ip).