Adventure Magazine Cover — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

168 the horsemen rode slowly and silently, tensely concentrating every nerve on un- ostentatiously keeping in exactly the right place to prevent a break to get away. When the horses were safely shut in the corral, the San Pete greenhorn appeared from out the saddle-room with a rawhide lariat wrapped tightly about his waist and a pair of spurs strapped on his worn boots. At any other*time such liberties with some one else’s property would not have been tolerated, but as the official victim of the afternoon sport, his conduct was overlooked. “How skal Ay ketch dat horse?” he asked in a tone of lamb-like confidence. Ol Acord swung his horse away from his comrades and rode over to the strangely togged-out youth. He leaned forward grace- fully, hand and breast resting on the horn of the saddle, as he spoke confidentially— “Til tell you how a real cowman ketches an’ rides one o’ them wrangs in there.” He indicated with a wave of his hand the horses in the corral. “Yuh climb up on the bar post an’ then some one pulls out the bars an’ drives the horses out o’ the c’rel, sabe? Then when the horses is crowdin’ out yuh pick out the one yuh wanta ride an’ jump on to ’im.” Acord looked as innocent as a month- old pup as he imparted this information. The San Peter apparently neither resented Acord’s patronage nor responded to his show of fellowship and recognition. His face was as void of expression as ever when he said simply— “Ay vill twy dat.” Too stunned to express in words their surprize at the greenhorn’s evident intention the astonished cowboys cocked knees over saddle-horns and proceeded to roll cigarets while the boy walked toward the corral bars. Their eyes never once left his figure until he was calmly perched on top of a bar post overlooking the milling horses inside the corral. their unseen cigarets, they turned with one ; accord toward each other and a solemn “T’ll be was chorused. Not a move was made until the San Peter, turning, toward them called out— “Von off you cowherderss, let dat iid out!”’ g Ol Acord looked inquiringly at the othersk 1)? Swazey, speaking for the rest of them, ~ voiced their feeling that the decision to go Then, having rolled and licked , Adventure through with the play or drop it rested with its originator. “Tt’s up to you, Ol.” An extra glint of deviltry showed in Acord’s eyes. ‘All right,” he said a bit defiantly, and swung gracefully off his horse to the ground. He walked to the corral bars and pulled them all out, leaving the gateway open. But the horses feared to pass the silent, figure standing on top of the bar post. “Say, that fool kid’ll kill ’is self!’ de- murred Simpers. ‘“’Sall right tuh see the kid git throwed, but he'll be a of a mess tuh gather up an’ take back to San Pete after them horses git th’oo trompin’ on ’im.” Simpers started toward the corral to remonstrate with the youth. But Acord, returning, headed him off. “Oh, hold on Simp,” he said easily in a lowered voice. “Whoever heard of a drunk or a greenhorn gittin’ hurt by a horse? Anyway, the kid’s afraid for scare. He won’t jump.” : No one else interfered, and as Acord tied up his horse and otherwise prepared to drive the horses out, all subsided into silence. Every man realized the. fearful chances for a nasty accident in case the boy did as he appeared resolved to do. But considering that Acord’s judgment of the youth’s nerve was correct, they were willing to leave the initiative and its re- sponsibility with the reckless, mischief- loving little puncher. Calling to the men to follow him, Acord walked around to the side of the corral opposite the bars. Then he climbed up on the high palisade wall and jumped with a yell and flourish of his hat into the space which the horses quickly vacated in their first scared movement to crowd away from him. The heavy weight of many horses thrown suddenly against the crowded animals pushed several unwilling horses out through the open gateway. ‘These finding themselves past the man on the bar post, dashed wildly out to the field, and the horses next the gateway, tempted too strongly by sight of their mates fleeing to freedom, jumped out after them. Soon the whole band was crowding frantically out, four to six abreast, regardless of the enemy above them. The San Pete greenhorn made no move, nor did he appear to be watching the horses CORMICLOO® S (C@)