Adventure Magazine Cover — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

Burning Sumac Pushmataha rose from his blankets in silent greeting as the scout saluted. In a previous campaign this old rapscallion had been accorded the title of ‘“General’’ by the whites for his services in keeping the Choctaws in line, and any recognition of his title flattered © him Forest, in spite of Orcutt’s whispered ad- monition, refused to grant this courtesy. “Salute that —— old pig?” he muttered audibly. ‘Not I!” Orcutt shook his head slightly, but did not argue. His way led past a single, larger bark teepee, about which no warriors were seated. From the crossed red sticks above - the flap—the sign of war—he knew it to house the dreaded Shawnee chieftain and his followers. Rather out of curiosity than from any sense that good might come of it, Orcutt chose the next cone-shaped house, which was empty, for the use of himself and Forest. “T advise you not to offer insult to our neighbors here,’”’ Orcutt remarked, as they staked out their horses. - “Who are they?” “Tecumseh and his Shawnees.”’ Forest’s eyes widened and he stared back at the sinister teepee, but offered no answer. Doubting Orcutt’s word was becoming more and more difficult. He never before had attended the council, and the presence about him of the thousands of stolid, good- natured savages, who, in the course of one evening might metamorphose into a yelling, blood-thirsty mob hot for coups and scalps, perhaps frightened him. He was a North Carolinian born and bred, and experience with indolent, grafting minkos—these for the most part were not the war leaders of the Indians—had not furnished him insight into the savage heart. A real test of his qualities was forthcom- ing immediately. The puskita ended, the busk was lighted in the center of the im- mense square, and a brand taken back to light the sweating-house fire, and then the whole Creek nation moved out in a body to occupy two sides of the square. The warri- ors banked themselves fifty rows deep about the central fire, which was kept con- stantly replenished till it leaped as high as the pine-tops of the ridge behind. The tribe-men took their place. The evening waned. Still Tecumseh did not put in an appearance. At one o’clock in the morning, however, ~ 123 the tall Shawnee with his braves, painted in vermilion and white and carrying red sticks, marched in perfect silence to the fire, circled it in their slouching, loose-hipped stride, and took their places near William Weather- ford, Pushmataha, and the two squads of warriors selected for the ceremony. Weatherford lighted the pipe, and it was passed. All of the squad of Shawnees, and some two dozen members of the other tribes sucked at it. Though Orcutt and Forest edged up close, it was not passed to them. - Orcutt guessed that the refusal of Forest to salute Pushmataha might be the reason behind this slight. At the conclusion, Tecumseh and his followers rose, still silent as so many evil specters of the night, and marched around the fire and back toward their guest wigwam. “Isn’t he going to talk, after all?” de- manded Forest irritably, aloud. The eyes of a thousand Indians turned in his direc- tion. se single shake of Orcutt’s head answered Later Orcutt, with cold fury shining in his eyes, pointed out to Forest the terrible breach of etiquette the latter had committed in daring to speak even,so much as a syllable before the guest of honor had had his say. “Ah, the —— with all this mummery!” snarled Forest. “When do you suppose he will speak?” “When he gets good and ready. Not before,” replied the scout briefly. ‘And, let me tell you something more,” he added, turning back toward the man who was wasting the chances for life of all white men on the border. ‘One more break of that sort in council, and you and I shall be spared the trouble of our duel!” The next day dawned to find the tribes assembling again. By sunrise all were in their places except the Shawnees. Food was dumped in huge piles before the fire, so that any who chose might allay the pangs of hunger, but such was the awe and respect for Tecumseh that few availed themselves of the privilege. Still Tecumseh delayed. Orcutt knew this was part of the crafty chieftain’s plan. The longer he forced the southern Indians to await his pleasure, the greater the ma- jority of them would think him. Forest scoffed at this explanation. ““He’s bluffed out,” Forest boasted. “Didn’t expect to find a white man here to comicbooks €om