Adventure Magazine Cover — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

126 secure no more reenforcements from Nini- vois.”’ “Tf Ninivois would choose the new guns in place of the white woman, what would Pontiac say?” asked Ninivois. A hundred guns was more than Pontiac cared to part with, yet the moment was - crucial, He replied: “Then Ninovois shall have the guns, but not those here at Sandusky, for Tamaque must have those. But at Detroit, when we go back, Ninovois shall have the guns and Pontiac will keep the white woman. He can trade her to Gladwin if any Ottawa warriors are held in the fort.” ‘“‘Ninivois does not say now he will take the guns in place of the woman. He will talk after one sleep,” said the chief, won- dering if, after all, the possession of the woman would not be a more valuable asset than the muskets. For Fox warriors might be held as prisoners. “Let Ninivois speak any time he will,” gently said Pontiac, hoping the chief would prefer the woman. Then he turned to the silent mass of warriors, and loudly tried: “Men of the Three Fires and ‘all other brave tribes. This is a very bad business. It makes our hearts very sad. We will give milk to all warriors, a little to each, to take the load off their hearts. two men be placed in the hut of the dead. Let Ninivois and Take follow Pontiac so the three can look into this bad business and learn from our medicines what shall be done.” There was less elasticity in the war- chief’s step as he moodily stalked back to his hut, followed by the two chiefs. Nor could the promise of rum dispel the gloom from the camp. It was not the death of the Rat that weighed on the red minds, but the manner in which he had been killed. The Ottawa arrows let suspicion in. The Wyandottes and a scattering of Foxes, Mingoes, and Shawnees gradually came together in one large group and with blan- kets over their heads sat and smoked in silence, their gaze inclined to be distrustful whenever they glanced at the larger band of Chippewas, Potawatomis, and Ottawas. The memory of the four scalps found in the trail was in all minds, even as they had worried Pontiac. The killing of the men near the Cuyahoga, and of the two men so near the camp, had passed beyond the ordi- Let the’ Adventure nary bounds of death by violence and was now tinged with the mysterious. The find- ing of the scalps so near the camp continued a mystery. In the two tragedies the evi- dence pointed to two facts: Red men had cured the scalps; and a red man’s arrows had slain. A Shawnee spoke a common thought when he said to his circle— “When will the two scalps be picked up?” ‘Some manito is very angry,’”’ muttered a Wyandotte. “‘The False-faces are angry,” shivered a Mingo. Rickards came blundering through the camp, and even his clouded mind took note of the general silence. He paused on reaching the larger band and stared vacant- ly at the downcast faces. He passed on to the second assemblage and again halted. The Wyandotte at his feet shivered as if cold and drew his blanket over his head. After Rickards had passed on to find his friends the Wyandotte whispered— “The manito was not angry with us until after his white child came.”’ There was a minute of silence and then a Mingo, with an uneasy glance toward Black Beaver, remarked, ““The manitos were not angry until after the Seneca and his False- face came.” A Shawnee raised his voice and boldly declared— “The white woman has been bad medi- cine.” From the larger circle an Ottawa pro- claimed— : “Our medicine will not be strong unti! the Trade Knife roasts his prisoner.” Each suggestion found ready favor with many, but it was the Ottawa’s declaration that won the largest number of supporters. Even warriors outside the Three Fires hailed it as being the truth. Still no man had the hardihood to take the initiative. All felt that only Pontiac could cope with the crisis now thrust upon them. So they waited while the war-chief and his lieuten- ants took counsel together. And Ballou and Meekly were also waiting, and counting the minutes as they watched the sun move slowly down the sky. “It’s the first time I ever see the sun git stuck!” groaned Meekly. Ballou finished filling his pipe and re- plied— — Connicloool C©@