Adventure Magazine Cover — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

War Wampum Ottawas are like children. They fear Tamaque will blame them for the dead men. They wanted to know the truth so they could tell him when he comes. Tomorrow they will be very sad to think they offered harm to another man’s prisoner. It was _ Pontiac’s wish to roast one side of the man until he told about the fight near the river. But the man is the Knife’s prisoner and Pontiac will not touch him. Evil birds whispered to the Ottawas, the Chippewas, and the Potawatomi. Now their ears have heard the truth and they will be ashamed. Did the white man talk while the fire was being made ready?” “Only to call the Oi ‘dogs,’ and to say his heart was heavy with shame that children should put him, a great warrior, to the torture,” replied Ballou. Pontiac scowled and then glanced askance at Meekly’s bald head— “Ts the white man medicine?” he uneasily asked. “The top of his head was scalped. He lives and no scars show where the knife ripped off the flesh. But after the Trade Knife has finished with him there will be scars his medicine can not hide,” boasted Ballou. By the time they reached the fire Rick- ards and the Beaver had disappeared. After Meekly had been tied to the tree Pontiac bent over him and examined the bald head. There was not a sign of a hair, nor the sug- gestion of a scar. With more respect than Meekly ever before had received from any red man Pontiac backed away, and muttered: “He has a medicine. I do not know what it is, but the Master of Life knows and will some time tell me ina dream. The child of the manitos has gone again?” “He goes and comes like a water-bird. The medicine of the Seneca is following him. 9 Pontiac rearranged his blanket and, haughty of mien, stalked away to be joined by Ninivois and Take. The fires sprang up as new fuel was added, and soon the camp was a scene of activity as several hunters returned with three deer and much small game. The kettles were filled and set to boiling. Sleeping Wolf suddenly emerged from the forest and made the camp forget its hunger by lifting his voice in an ululating cry. Every Indian sprang erect. “Scouts are coming back! —— to pay!” grunted Meekly. III - Ballou bent over him and loosened his bonds and kicked his rifle within reach. Rickards and the Beaver came through the excited mob of savages atiracting scarcely any attention; for all eyes were fixed on the figure of the Wolf. “«é Rickards dropped to the ground and idly stared at the fire. The Beaver reported: “In a cabin on the north of the Wyan- dotte village, guarded by two warriors, is a white woman, I saw the white man push by the guards and go inside and come out again.” ‘White face. Rickards. Sleeping Wolf howled again, to make sure the stage would be set for a dramatic en- trance, and came forward on the run. Be- hind him streamed a dozen scouts, and the leader of these held something above his head and yelled most mournfully. “What the —— is up now?” gasped Meekly. “The medicine of the Ga-go-sa is very strong,” proudly informed the Beaver. “They can not say we were among those who killed the Leni-lenape. They have found the scalps I placed in the trail after they traveled east. They found them when they came back. The Beaver swam with the Yaller hair,’ muttered scalps held above the water until he reached the lake. Then he found a canoe and paddled along the shore and landed and found the Cuyahoga trail. So much did Ga-go-sa tell him to do.” Even Pontiac could not resist the drive of curiosity, and now he came from his hut and hastened to meet the scouts. With a word for the Beaver to stay by the fire Ballou hurried to learn what acutally had happened. His course cut that of Pontiac, and they went on together. They soon met the leader of the scouts. He held up the four scalps, painted red on the inside and mounted on red hoops. Sleeping Wolf loudly announced: “My scouts have found the scalps of the dead men. The scalps were in the trail that follows the shore of the lake. They were not there when the scouts went to the east. They were there‘when the scouts came back. The men who killed the Leni-lenape took time to dry and mount and paint the scalps. While the scouts were following the Cuya- hoga trail a long way the killers came within two arrow-shots of Sandusky, and one of them lost these scalps.”’ DOOK (C@